Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating a fluid, essentially comprising a heating body with a solid element and one or more electric resistors of rectangular section of the PTC type which are arranged in grooves on the exterior surface of the solid element. The latter comprises a U-shaped passage for fluid. The invention also relates to a vehicle engine fitted with such a device for preheating or heating the coolant. The invention also relates to a method for preheating or heating using such a device.

Abstract: A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.

Abstract: A temperature control system for an internal combustion engine, to which a block heater for warming a coolant and keeping the coolant warm is attachable, the temperature control system includes a coolant circulating apparatus circulating the coolant, a fluid temperature detecting device detecting a fluid temperature of the coolant, a block heater disuse estimating portion estimating a possibility of disuse of the block heater under a condition that a circulation of the coolant is stopped, and a block heater usage determining portion determining whether or not the block heater is used on the basis of changes in the fluid temperature under a condition that the coolant is circulated in a case where the block heater disuse estimating portion does not estimate the disuse of the block heater.

Abstract: An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature associated with an engine is provided. The system includes a first fluid circulating system, including a first fluid pump and a heat exchanger. The engine, the first fluid pump, and the heat exchanger are in flow communication. The system also includes an electric power source. The system further includes a second fluid circulating system, including a second fluid pump and a heating element. The engine, the second fluid pump, the heat exchanger, and the heating element are in selective flow communication. The system further includes a sensor associated with the engine, the sensor configured to sense at least one parameter and to generate a signal indicative of the at least one parameter. Moreover, the system includes a controller configured to control operation of the second fluid circulating system in response to the signal, and to control the heating and cooling of the engine.

Abstract: An arrangement for a supercharged combustion engine (2), to prevent ice formation in a cooler (10, 15). The arrangement comprises a low-temperature cooling system with a circulating coolant and a cooler (10, 15) in which a gaseous medium which contains water vapour is cooled by the coolant in the cooling system. An electric circuit with an electric warming unit (28, 28a, 28b) is positioned in contact with the coolant in the second cooling system, a voltage source (36, 36a, 36b) and a circuit-breaker (30, 30a, 30b) which can be placed in a first position whereby it disconnects the warming unit (28, 28a, 28b) and the voltage source (36, 36a, 36b) and in a second position whereby it connects together the warming unit (28, 28a, 28b) and the voltage source (36) so that the warming unit (28, 28b, 28b) receives electrical energy and warms the coolant in the cooling system.

Abstract: A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.

Abstract: A plug of a power cord of a block heater, which is mounted to a cylinder block of an engine, is connected to a household power receptacle to energize the block heater during an engine stoppage in cold climate. Thus, an engine coolant is kept warm to prevent freeze. Existence/nonexistence of the energization to the block heater during the engine stoppage is determined based on a behavior of coolant temperature or a behavior of engine rotation speed immediately after an engine start. If it is determined that the energization to the block heater exists, abnormality diagnosis of a cooling system is prohibited or a condition for the abnormality diagnosis is corrected and estimation coolant temperature is corrected.

Abstract: An induction driven ignition system with an electrode projecting into the combustion chamber of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The electrode is adjacent to but electrically insulated from an electrical conductor which receives current at frequencies between 100 kHz to 500 kHz. Thermal insulation is also provided between the electrode and adjacent structure of the head. The induction driven ignition system causes the electrodes to rapidly and accurately heat up to very high temperatures. The electrodes may be formed in elongated edges throughout the combustion chamber to provide combustion initiation over a wide area.

Abstract: A device intended for heating the coolant of a motor driven vehicle in order to heat the engine of the vehicle. The device includes a connection arrangement arranged to allow electrical connection of the device to a current source and a heat-generating element including an electrical conductor designed to generate heat when a current flows through the conductor, which heat-generating element is designed to be in contact with and transfer the generated thermal energy to the coolant water, wherein the electrical conductor is designed in such a way that the conductor is destroyed if the heat transfer from the heat-generating element substantially decreases during a time period, wherein the current through the conductor is interrupted.

Abstract: A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.

Abstract: An engine pre-heater and heater assembly comprising a housing having a passage extending therethrough for passage of coolant through the pre-heater. The housing provides at least one opening defined therein separate from the passage, and an electric heating element is inserted therein, the heating element projecting into the passage whereby the heating element is in direct contact with the coolant to heat it. The heating element is supplied with electrical power from a power source for enabling the heating element to heat the coolant. In an alternative embodiment, an air blower directs heat generated by the heated coolant, or by air heated in the passage (dry heat), to an area external to the heater assembly.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a vehicle, comprising of an internal combustion engine, a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the engine, and a control system for controlling the engine and the thermoelectric device during a first mode, supply electrical energy to the thermoelectric device to cause the thermoelectric device to produce at least some heat, and during a second mode, operate the engine to produce at least some heat, where the thermoelectric device is operated to convert a temperature gradient at the thermoelectric device to electrical energy.

Abstract: A glow plug (20) for an internal combustion engine (110) essentially includes: a body (27) intended to be fixed to the engine, and a core (29) extending in a direction of elongation (11), connected to the body and intended to extend inside the combustion chamber (9) of the engine, measurement elements (200, 55, 65) intended to determine the pressure internal to the combustion chamber (9) through the displacement of the core (29) under the effect of pressure, characterized in that the glow plug is equipped with elements (50, 60) that make it possible to quantify the displacement of the core with respect to the cylinder head (5) of the engine on which the glow plug is installed.

Abstract: A signal is received (201, 301) via a wireless communication channel, which signal requests initiation of pre-cycle warm-up for one or more components of an internal combustion engine. It is determined (203, 303) whether at least one of the one or more components requires pre-cycle warm-up. When at least one of the one or more engine components requires pre-cycle warm-up, the at least one of the one or more components is warmed up (205, 207, 305, 307).

Abstract: A glow plug energization control apparatus is provided which includes a power supply working to supply electric power to a glow plug mounted in an internal combustion engine, an on-off switch working to produce a control trigger signal when turned on, and a controller including a microcomputer. The microcomputer is responsive to the control trigger signal to control supply of the electric power from the power supply to energize the glow plug. The microcomputer works to monitor an off-on interval from turning off to turning on of the on-off switch and control an amount of energization of the glow plug as a function of the off-on interval, thereby avoiding overheating of the glow plug.

Abstract: An engine oil heater suited to use with an engine having an oil fill port in fluid communication with an oil reservoir that is adapted to contain a quantity of oil. The engine heater generally includes a coupling member operable to engage the oil fill port and a heater element interconnected with the coupling member and having a sufficient length such that the heater element is adapted to be at least partially immersed in oil. A temperature sensor is positioned to measure a temperature and a first electrical connector is configured to engage a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is electrically connectable to the heater element to provide a flow of current and a control circuit is operable to vary the flow of current to the heater element in response to the measured temperature.

Abstract: A frost plug adapter assembly having a locking mechanism that provides a positive capture through an existing frost plug aperture. A cylindrical body is engaged within a frost plug aperture and is maintained in place by a bolt, a locking element and a wing nut. The bolt is advantageously positioned through the cylindrical body with a bolt head at the outer end. The wing nut is screwed onto a threaded end of the bolt so that the wings engage channels of arms of the locking element to spread the arms until they contact an inner annulus of the frost plug aperture. The frost plug adapter assembly is also capable of providing access to engine fluid by providing channels through the inner end of the cylindrical body. The frost plug adapter assembly is easy to install and the locking mechanism prevents the assembly from falling out under severe conditions.

Abstract: A method and a device for rapidly warming up a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle engine, by warming up the cooling liquid. The cooling liquid is warmed in a simple manner without additional provision of heating elements in that the cooling liquid is warmed using a generator that is operated during a heating phase at an operating point having high power loss and at the operating temperature of the engine at an operating point having low power loss.

Abstract: A diesel-electric locomotive includes an assembly including a diesel engine and a generator, to which a drive unit is connected. The diesel engine is connected to a cooling system holding fluid. The drive unit is electrically connected to a braking resistor. There is provision for the braking resistor to be arranged in the cooling system so as to give off heat to the fluid. For example, the braking resistor is connected to a separate heating voltage source which may be, for example, a voltage source in a second locomotive which is coupled to the locomotive in a traction grouping.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of utilizing the temperature of one electronic component (203) reduces pre-cycle warm-up of another component (107 or 113). For example, a temperature sensor (205) for a driver (203) of an electronic component (107 or 133), such as a glow plug or fuel injector coil, is utilized to determine when a temperature condition is exceeded. When that temperature condition is exceeded (305), pre-cycle warm-up for the electronic component associated with the component is reduced (311).

Abstract: An apparatus having an automobile engine block heater installed on a vehicle where the automobile engine block heater is automatically activated when the vehicle is properly positioned within a frame assembly. The apparatus includes at least two magnetic electrical adapters, one of which is mounted to the front of the vehicle and the other is mounted to the frame assembly. In one embodiment, the frame assembly includes an upright portion and a lower portion that lies flat on the floor. The upright portion secures the second magnetic electrical adapter that mates to the adapter on the front of the car. The upright portion is adjustable to match the height of the front of the car. Similarly, the lower portion includes a wheel well that receives a front vehicle wheel and is adjustable to match the length of the front end of the vehicle. The wheel well stops the vehicle when it is positioned properly, permitting the magnetic electrical adapters to mate.

Abstract: A cooling device for an internal combustion engine includes a brushless DC motor having a housing, an output shaft, a magnet rotor fixedly mounted on the output shaft, and a stator positioned in the housing and having three phase windings which are arranged in the circumferential direction around the magnet rotor, an impeller connected at an outside of the housing to one end of the output shaft of the motor and circulating a cooling liquid through the engine, and a radiator while the output shaft is being rotated. A device can be provided for generating heat at the phase windings for warming-up the cooling liquid if a temperature thereof is below a set value. A device can be provided for stopping the rotation of the output shaft of the motor without interrupting the energization of the motor when a temperature of the cooling liquid is below a set value.

Abstract: An improved electrical system for internal combustion engines which transfers electrically generated energy from the alternator to heat engine fluids, such as the coolant and the oil, thereby reducing engine warm up time, and/or exhaust emissions and/or fuel consumption.

Abstract: An engine oil heater suited to use with an engine having an oil fill port in fluid communication with an oil reservoir that is adapted to contain a quantity of oil. The engine heater generally includes a coupling member operable to engage the oil fill port and a heater element interconnected with the coupling member and having a sufficient length such that the heater element is adapted to be at least partially immersed in oil. A temperature sensor is positioned to measure a temperature and a first electrical connector is configured to engage a second electrical connector. The first electrical connector is electrically connectable to the heater element to provide a flow of current and a control circuit is operable to vary the flow of current to the heater element in response to the measured temperature.