Abstract: In a heat storage tank, an elbow pipe member defining a water introduction passage is formed by connecting an inlet-side cylinder portion and an outlet-side cylinder portion to have a corner portion. A step portion is disposed in the water introduction passage around a position where center lines of both the cylinder portions are crossed with each other. The step portion has a collision surface that is set to cross with a line parallel to the center line of the inlet-side cylinder portion, so that water introduced from the inlet-side cylinder portion collides with the collision surface of the step portion.

Abstract: In a water discharge mode (heat storage mode) for discharging low-temperature cooling water from a heat storage tank to a side of a heater core that heats air using cooling water from an engine as a heating source, a cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank is made smaller as a necessary heating capacity for heating air becomes larger. For example, as a ratio of an air amount flowing through the heater core becomes larger, the cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank becomes smaller. Further, as the temperature of the cooling water flowing into the heater core becomes higher, the cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank is increased.

Abstract: In a heat storage tank, a discharge port of an introduction passage is covered by a cup-shaped collision member constructed by a shield portion and a guide cover. In addition, a mixture protection plate having plural through holes is disposed in a tank body between the collision member and an inner surface of the tank body. Therefore, a high-speed water stream, upwardly injected from the discharge port, collides with the shield portion, and turns its flow direction by an approximately right angle. Thereafter, the water stream is guided by the guide cover to a lower side of the mixture protection plate. Accordingly, it can prevent water stored in the tank body from being mixed even when the injection water stream has a high speed.

Abstract: In a heat storage tank, first and second valve bodies are disposed to open and close first and second valve ports, respectively. A density of the first valve body is made larger than that of cooling water, and a density of the second valve body is made smaller than that of cooling water. When the dynamic pressure due to cooling water is applied to the first and second valve bodies, the first and second valve ports are opened by the first and second valve bodies. On the other hand, when the dynamic pressure is not applied to the first and second valve bodies, the first valve body closes the first valve port by the weight of the first valve body, and the second valve body closes the second valve port by the buoyancy.

Abstract: A combustion type heater of this invention includes fuel distribution means 11 for distributing a fuel to the whole surface of a wick 10, disposed upstream of the wick in a fuel passage. The fuel distribution means comprises fuel distribution grooves 15 and a fuel dispersion plate 16 having a large number of holes bored therein. The fuel distribution means can quickly supply the fuel to the whole surface of the wick. To shorten the heating time of the wick, the heater of the present invention uses a wick heating glow plug 14b outside an ignition glow plug 14a, or a planar heater 18, for heating the wick.

Abstract: In a heat storage tank, first and second valve bodies are disposed to open and close first and second valve ports, respectively. A density of the first valve body is made larger than that of cooling water, and a density of the second valve body is made smaller than that of cooling water. When the dynamical pressure due to cooling water is applied to the first and second valve bodies, the first and second valve ports are opened by the first and second valve bodies. On the other hand, when the dynamical pressure is not applied to the first and second valve bodies, the first valve body closes the first valve port by the weight of the first valve body, and the second valve body closes the second valve port by the buoyancy.

Abstract: A combustion type heater of this invention includes fuel distribution means 11 for distributing a fuel to the whole surface of a wick 10, disposed upstream of the wick in a fuel passage. The fuel distribution means comprises fuel distribution grooves 15 and a fuel dispersion plate 16 having a large number of holes bored therein. The fuel distribution means can quickly supply the fuel to the whole surface of the wick. To shorten the heating time of the wick, the heater of the present invention uses a wick heating glow plug 14b outside an ignition glow plug 14a, or a planar heater 18, for heating the wick.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a pump for circulating cooling water in a cooling water circuit, a heating heat exchanger for heating air blown into a passenger compartment of the vehicle using cooling water as a heating source, and a throttle valve disposed at a discharge side of the pump. In the heating apparatus, when the temperature of cooling water is low and heating capacity for heating the passenger compartment is insufficient, an opening degree of the throttle valve is reduced by a control unit. Therefore, heat is generated from the throttle valve and the pump so that the temperature of cooling water is increased. Thus, heating capacity of the heating apparatus can be improved without using a manual operation.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for controlling an automotive heater apparatus. The heater apparatus includes a coolant circuit for cooling an engine, a coolant circulating through the circuit, a heat generator for transferring heat to the coolant, and a heater core for transferring heat from the coolant. The heat generator houses a viscous fluid and a rotor selectively connected to and disconnected from the engine by a clutch. The clutch connects the engine with the rotor to shear the viscous fluid and generate heat. When the rotating speed of the rotor exceeds a rotor speed limit, which varies in accordance with the detected coolant temperature, the clutch disconnects the rotor of the heat generator from the engine and de-activates the heat generator.

Abstract: An engine cooling apparatus suitable for use in a vehicle shortens engine warm-up time without decreasing the heat-radiation capacity of a radiator. A shroud is disposed between a radiator and a water-cooled engine. A first air passage for blowing air toward the engine and its auxiliaries is formed in the upper side of the shroud, and a second air passage for discharging air having passed through the radiator to outside the engine compartment is formed in the lower side of the shroud. Accordingly, air is prevented from directly striking the engine and from passing around to the upstream side of the radiator through gaps between the walls of the engine compartment and the radiator. Thus the engine warm-up time is shortened without reducing the heat-radiation capacity of the radiator.

Abstract: In a cooling water circuit system, cooling water pumped by a mechanically-driven first water pump circulates in a cooling water circuit, and flows through a radiator and a heater core in parallel in the cooling water circuit. An electrically-driven second water pump is disposed in the cooling water circuit at a position where cooling water to be supplied to the radiator from the first water pump and cooling water to be supplied to the heater core from the first water pump flow together. A check valve is provided in the cooling water circuit in parallel with the second water pump so that cooling water flows in one way from a water suction side of the second water pump toward a discharge side thereof. Thus, when the second water pump is operated, a total amount of cooling water pumped by the first water pump and the second water pump can flow through the radiator and the heater core.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger for heating air blown into a passenger compartment by using cooling water for cooling an engine as a heating source, and a combustor for heating cooling water flowing into the heat exchanger. When the combustor is stopped, exhaust gas of the engine is introduced into the combustor so that the exhaust gas of the engine is heat-exchanged with cooling water in the combustor, and is introduced into an intake pipe of the engine. Therefore, exhaust gas of the engine, introducing into the intake pipe of the engine, is cooled in the combustor without an additional heat exchanger provided in an engine compartment.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a heating apparatus having a viscous heater using viscous fluid for heating cooling water, when an engine rotational speed is lower than a set rotational speed relative to a temperature of viscous fluid, a viscous clutch is turned on to transmit a rotational driving force of the engine to a rotor of the viscous heater. In this way, a shearing force is applied to the viscous fluid in the heat-generating chamber, and the circulating cooling water is heated by generated heat of the viscous fluid to improve the heating capacity. When the engine rotational speed is higher than the set rotational speed relative to a temperature of viscous fluid, a viscous clutch is not turned on. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the engine is not transmitted to the rotor of the viscous heater, so that the shearing force is not applied to the viscous fluid to prevent the oil temperature of the viscous fluid from increasing excessively higher than 200.degree. C.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when an air-conditioning clutch of a compressor is set on, even if an improvement of a heating capacity by a viscous heater is required, a viscous clutch is turned off not to transmit a rotational driving force of an engine to a rotor of the viscous heater, and further the rotational driving force of the engine is transmitted to the compressor. In this way, a torque applied to the engine E and the V-belt can be reduced, so that a fuel consumption ratio of the engine lowers and a fuel economical performance improves. Further, because an operation of the compressor is intermitted, it is possible to remove a fog of a front windshield, so that a safety of the vehicle travelling can be prevented from being deteriorated.

Abstract: When a driver performs a steering operation with a small steering angle when a vehicle is stopped, a viscous clutch of a viscous heater is turned on after setting an idling rotational speed of an engine to a high value to prevent an engine stall. Further, when a driver performs the steering operation with a large steering angle when the vehicle is stopped, the viscous clutch is not turned on so that the viscous heater is not operated, thereby greatly reducing a driving load applied to the engine and a V-belt thereof.

Abstract: A viscous heater for heating cooling water for cooling a water cooled engine is disposed in a cooling water circuit, and a front heater core is disposed in the cooling water circuit at a downstream side of the viscous heater with reference to a flow direction of the cooling water. Only when a heating operation is the maximum heating operation or the maximum heating operation is desired, a viscous clutch is turned on to transmit a driving force of the engine to the viscous heater. When the maximum heating operation is not desired, the viscous clutch is turned off so that the driving force of the engine is not transmitted to the viscous heater. Therefore, a load of the engine is reduced, and the cost for running the vehicle can be lowered.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when a vehicle speed is less than a set value (e.g., 40 km/h) and a throttle opening degree is more than a set value, it is determined that the vehicle is accelerating, and a viscous clutch is turned off. Therefore, a shearing operation of high-viscosity fluid by a rotor of a viscous heater is not performed. In this way, a driving load applied to an engine is reduced, so that an accelerating state suitable for an intention of a driver can be obtained. Further, when the vehicle speed is more than a set value (e.g., 40 km/h) and an engine rotational speed is more than a set value (e.g., 3500 r.p.m.), the viscous clutch is turned off, and a driving load applied to the engine and a V-belt is reduced.

Abstract: A viscous fluid heat generator includes: a shear chamber in which viscous fluid is contained and heat is generated by shearing the viscous fluid with a rotor rotating therein; and a space receiving viscous fluid drained from the shear chamber. The heat generator is rotated always as far as an engine rotates because it is driven by the engine without a clutch. The viscous fluid in the shear chamber is drained into the receiving space disposed underneath the shear chamber when the rotor halts or the heat generator is not in operation. The drained viscous fluid is pushed up again into the shear chamber when the rotor is re-started or the heat generator becomes in operation again. The heat generator is re-started easily with a very small starting torque because there is almost no viscous fluid left in the shear chamber and accordingly power to shear the viscous fluid with the rotor is not required.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for a vehicle includes a heat exchanger for implementing heat exchange between coolant which has cooled an engine and air directed to a vehicle interior to heat the vehicle interior. A viscous heater has a rotor and a heating chamber containing viscous fluid. The rotor rotates when being subjected to rotational power of the engine. The viscous fluid is subjected to a shear force and is heated when the rotor is subjected to the rotational power. The viscous heater heats the coolant fed to the heat exchanger as the viscous fluid in the heating chamber is heated. A clutch is operative for selectively permitting and inhibiting transmission of the rotational power from the engine to the rotor. A belt transmission device connects the engine and the clutch. A physical quantity detecting device is operative for detecting a physical quantity related to a rotational speed of the rotor.

Abstract: In a heating apparatus according to the present invention, when a temperature of cooling water in a cooling water circuit is equal to a set cooling water temperature or less, a viscous clutch is turned on to operate a viscous heater disposed in the cooling water circuit, for maintaining the temperature of the cooling water in the cooling water circuit at a predetermined value. A shaft of the viscous heater is rotated by a water-cooled engine through a belt transmitting mechanism and the viscous clutch. The set cooling water temperature is increased in accordance with an increase of a target air temperature calculated based on a set temperature, an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature, and a sunlight amount to optimize a used condition of the viscous heater.