Abstract: A rotor core is manufactured by forming thin plate-like core pieces including holes, forming a lamination body including insertion holes by laminating the core pieces, and inserting and embedding a permanent magnet in each of the insertion holes of the lamination body. The holes of each core piece include one or more first holes, in each of which a position determining portion for determining the position of the permanent magnet is formed, and one or more second holes, in which a position determining portion is not formed. Each insertion hole of the lamination body is formed by overlapping first holes of some of the core pieces and second holes of the remaining core pieces.

Abstract: In an electric water pump for circulating cooling water of an engine mounted on a vehicle or similar, a time interval to switch energized phase of a pump motor is set to longer than a time interval during a normal flow rate control (during a flow rate control at a flow rate equal to or more than a flow rate where an electromotive force generated at a non-energized phase is detectable). In the case where a pump discharge pressure (or a water temperature of the cooling water) repeatedly increases and decreases in this extremely low flow rate state, it is determined that the electric water pump normally rotates as required. This allows providing the extremely low flow rate state between a water stop state and a water circulation state in a control for stop of water in an engine cooling system.

Abstract: When the passing of coolant in an internal combustion engine is restricted to accelerate the warm-up of the internal combustion engine and the coolant in this engine is undergoing nucleate boiling, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal engine is maintained. Specifically, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal combustion engine is maintained during nucleate boiling from the beginning of nucleate boiling of the coolant in the internal combustion engine until the maintenance period has elapsed. Thus, the warm-up of the internal combustion engine is effectively accelerated by restricting the passing of the coolant in the engine. Furthermore, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal combustion engine is canceled when the maintenance period has elapsed. Thus, low-temperature coolant flows in the internal combustion engine and the internal combustion engine is cooled by this coolant, so nucleate boiling of the coolant in the engine is suppressed.

Abstract: In an electric water pump for circulating cooling water of an engine mounted on a vehicle or similar, a time interval to switch energized phase of a pump motor is set to longer than a time interval during a normal flow rate control (during a flow rate control at a flow rate equal to or more than a flow rate where an electromotive force generated at a non-energized phase is detectable). In the case where a pump discharge pressure (or a water temperature of the cooling water) repeatedly increases and decreases in this extremely low flow rate state, it is determined that the electric water pump normally rotates as required. This allows providing the extremely low flow rate state between a water stop state and a water circulation state in a control for stop of water in an engine cooling system.

Abstract: A rotor core is manufactured by forming thin plate-like core pieces including holes, forming a lamination body including insertion holes by laminating the core pieces, and inserting and embedding a permanent magnet in each of the insertion holes of the lamination body. The holes of each core piece include one or more first holes, in each of which a position determining portion for determining the position of the permanent magnet is formed, and one or more second holes, in which a position determining portion is not formed. Each insertion hole of the lamination body is formed by overlapping first holes of some of the core pieces and second holes of the remaining core pieces.

Abstract: When the passing of coolant in an internal combustion engine is restricted to accelerate the warm-up of the internal combustion engine and the coolant in this engine is undergoing nucleate boiling, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal engine is maintained. Specifically, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal combustion engine is maintained during nucleate boiling from the beginning of nucleate boiling of the coolant in the internal combustion engine until the maintenance period has elapsed. Thus, the warm-up of the internal combustion engine is effectively accelerated by restricting the passing of the coolant in the engine. Furthermore, the restriction of the passing of the coolant in the internal combustion engine is canceled when the maintenance period has elapsed. Thus, low-temperature coolant flows in the internal combustion engine and the internal combustion engine is cooled by this coolant, so nucleate boiling of the coolant in the engine is suppressed.

Abstract: The position of a passage separating member in the axial direction of the cylinder bores is determined by causing a spacer to contact a bottom surface of a water jacket. When the separating member is inserted in the water jacket, the width of the separating member is reduced due to elastic deformation, so that the separating member can be arranged in the water jacket. After being arranged, the separating member tightly contacts the inner surface of the water jacket due to elastic restoration force. The tight contact prevents the separating member from moving upward in the water jacket. As a result, coolant is prevented from moving between the upper portion and the lower portion with respect to the separating member. The advantages of separate cooling of the coolant in the upper and lower portions with respect to the separating member are obtained. This reliably reduces the temperature difference along the axial direction of the cylinder bore forming body.

Abstract: A partition member used in a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The partition member is arranged in a groove-like cooling passage through which a cooling heat medium flows. The partition member includes a separating wall and a flexible lip member. The separating wall divides the cooling passage into an inner passage and an outer passage. The inner passage is located close to the cylinder bores, and the outer passage is located outside of the inner passage. The lip member extends from the separating wall toward the opening of the cooling passage in such a manner that, when the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the lip member contacts one of the inner surfaces of the cylinder block forming the cooling passage. When the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the distal edge portion of the flexible lip member contacts the inner surface due to force produced through flexible shape restoration of the lip member.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a water pump (10) is configured such that rotation is transmitted in a non-contact condition from a drive-end rotation member (20) whereto rotation is transmitted from an engine to a driven-end rotation member (30) having a pump impeller (31). The drive-end rotation member (20) includes a vacuum chamber (50) and a pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) provided so as to be mutually opposed with different polarities. The driven-end rotation member (30) includes an induction ring (32) having an induction section (32b) provided so as to form a prescribed interval between the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b). Furthermore, the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) is moved in a rotation axis direction with respect to the induction section (32b) due to the vacuum introduced into the vacuum chamber (50), and the overlap amount (L1) of the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) and the induction section (32b) in the rotation axis direction is changed.

Abstract: In a thermostat device, a high-temperature cooling water inlet that introduces high-temperature cooling water from a bypass path that has been heated by an engine and has bypassed a radiator is provided at a side position of the valve housing that is substantially orthogonal to a direction in which the temperature sensitive movable portion moves, and a heater path inlet that introduces cooling water from a heater path that has been supplied to a heater core is provided at a lower end portion of the valve housing. The high-temperature cooling water inlet is provided with a plurality of guide portions protruding from the right and left sides of the inlet along the lower face of a cut-off portion toward the temperature sensitive movable portion, and the high-temperature cooling water introduced from the high-temperature cooling water inlet by the guide portions is guided toward the temperature sensitive movable portion.

Abstract: A warming-up device of an internal combustion engine includes a latent heat storage material accommodated in the interior of the internal combustion engine and radiating heat based on a phase change, and a nucleation device within the heat storage material and operating to prompt the phase change of the heat storage material under a supercooled state. The nucleation device is operated based on an oscillation generated at a time of starting the engine. As a result, the warming-up device of the internal combustion engine dispenses with a machining operation for forming a through port passing through the interior and an outside of the heat storage material, a seal around the through port and an electric circuit, and the device is inexpensive and has a simple structure.

Abstract: The position of a passage separating member in the axial direction of the cylinder bores is determined by causing a spacer to contact a bottom surface of a water jacket. When the separating member is inserted in the water jacket, the width of the separating member is reduced due to elastic deformation, so that the separating member can be arranged in the water jacket. After being arranged, the separating member tightly contacts the inner surface of the water jacket due to elastic restoration force. The tight contact prevents the separating member from moving upward in the water jacket. As a result, coolant is prevented from moving between the upper portion and the lower portion with respect to the separating member. The advantages of separate cooling of the coolant in the upper and lower portions with respect to the separating member are obtained. This reliably reduces the temperature difference along the axial direction of the cylinder bore forming body.

Abstract: An inexpensive warm-up apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a simple structure and eliminating the need of forming a hole in a heat storage material retainer or the need for a seal around the hole or an electrical circuit. A heat storage material retainer (14) accommodating a latent heat type heat storage material (X) is arranged in a water jacket (13). The heat storage material retainer (14) has a nucleation device (2) that accelerates phase transition of the heat storage material in a supercooled state.

Abstract: A water pump is driven by a driving force generated by an internal combustion engine, and generates a larger driving force as a pressure introduced into a pressure chamber becomes higher. The pressure chamber is connected to a VSV through a first passage. A portion of an intake passage, which is located downstream of a throttle valve, is connected to the VSV through a second passage. An atmospheric pressure space is connected to the VSV through a third passage. In the VSV, the volume of wax in a temperature-sensitive case is increased to increase the ratio of the cross sectional area of an opening portion of the third passage, which is connected to the first passage, to the cross sectional area of an opening portion of the second passage, which is connected to the first passage, as the temperature of a coolant for the internal combustion engine increases.

Abstract: A container (14), which contains a latent heat storage material (X), is provided in a water jacket (13) of an internal combustion engine. A nucleation device (2) is provided in the container. The nucleation device includes a plate-like member (29), which is formed of bimetal, a water wheel (25), which is located in the water jacket, a rotating body (23), which is located in the container, and claws (24), which extend radially from the rotating body. When coolant starts circulating in the water jacket as the engine is started, the water wheel is rotated, thereby rotating the claws of the rotating body. The claws scratch the surface of the plate-like member to form a new surface. The nucleation device operates to nucleate the heat storage material by bringing the new surface into direct contact with the supercooled heat storage material. Thus, an inexpensive warming-up device of the internal combustion engine having a simple structure is provided.

Abstract: A partition member used in a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The partition member is arranged in a groove-like cooling passage through which a cooling heat medium flows. The partition member includes a separating wall and a flexible lip member. The separating wall divides the cooling passage into an inner passage and an outer passage. The inner passage is located close to the cylinder bores, and the outer passage is located outside of the inner passage. The lip member extends from the separating wall toward the opening of the cooling passage in such a manner that, when the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the lip member contacts one of the inner surfaces of the cylinder block forming the cooling passage. When the partition member is arranged in the cooling passage, the distal edge portion of the flexible lip member contacts the inner surface due to force produced through flexible shape restoration of the lip member.

Abstract: A warming-up device of an internal combustion engine includes a latent heat storage material accommodated in the interior of the internal combustion engine and radiating heat based on a phase change, and a nucleation device within the heat storage material and operating to prompt the phase change of the heat storage material under a supercooled state. The nucleation device is operated based on an oscillation generated at a time of starting the engine. As a result, the warming-up device of the internal combustion engine dispenses with a machining operation for forming a through port passing through the interior and an outside of the heat storage material, a seal around the through port and an electric circuit, and the device is inexpensive and has a simple structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a water pump (10) is configured such that rotation is transmitted in a non-contact condition from a drive-end rotation member (20) whereto rotation is transmitted from an engine to a driven-end rotation member (30) having a pump impeller (31). The drive-end rotation member (20) includes a vacuum chamber (50) and a pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) provided so as to be mutually opposed with different polarities. The driven-end rotation member (30) includes an induction ring (32) having an induction section (32b) provided so as to form a prescribed interval between the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b). Furthermore, the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) is moved in a rotation axis direction with respect to the induction section (32b) due to the vacuum introduced into the vacuum chamber (50), and the overlap amount (L1) of the pair of permanent magnets (26a, 26b) and the induction section (32b) in the rotation axis direction is changed.

Abstract: A water pump is driven by a driving force generated by an internal combustion engine, and generates a larger driving force as a pressure introduced into a pressure chamber becomes higher. The pressure chamber is connected to a VSV through a first passage. A portion of an intake passage, which is located downstream of a throttle valve, is connected to the VSV through a second passage. An atmospheric pressure space is connected to the VSV through a third passage. In the VSV, the volume of wax in a temperature-sensitive case is increased to increase the ratio of the cross sectional area of an opening portion of the third passage, which is connected to the first passage, to the cross sectional area of an opening portion of the second passage, which is connected to the first passage, as the temperature of a coolant for the internal combustion engine increases.

Abstract: An inexpensive warm-up apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a simple structure and eliminating the need of forming a hole in a heat storage material retainer or the need for a seal around the hole or an electrical circuit. A heat storage material retainer (14) accommodating a latent heat type heat storage material (X) is arranged in a water jacket (13). The heat storage material retainer (14) has a nucleation device (2) that accelerates phase transition of the heat storage material in a supercooled state.