US3576181A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for deaerating an engine cooling system
Assignee: Cummins Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-02
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Granted: 1971-04-27
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Expires: 1989-06-02
Abstract
Abstract In an engine-cooling system, apparatus for deaerating the system including a makeup water tank that can be placed laterally adjacent to the system''s radiator, instead of above the radiator. For a vehicular engine, such a placement of the makeup water tank enables one to achieve a low vehicle profile, but if the deaerating apparatus is not properly designed, serious problems arise in keeping air out of the radiator and the engine, both when the engine is running and when it is shut down, and in enabling the system to be properly filled and drained. The invention solves these problems by an aspirator connected to the vent lines from the engine and radiator, and a system of waterlines and ports that permit proper venting of the engine and radiator during filling and draining, yet prevent a backflow of air into the engine and radiator at times other than filling and draining.
Inventors
- 👤 James E Neal
- 👤 Kenneth C Kirkland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:24
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/02; F01P11/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In a cooling system for an engine that includes water passages in said engine, a radiator in communication with said water passages, and vent lines connected respectively to said water passages and said radiator, apparatus for deaerating said cooling system during all conditions while said engine is operating comprising: a makeup water tank having a fill chamber for storing water; a waterline connected to said fill chamber and communicating with said engine water passages and said radiator; suction means having fluid inlets connected to said vent lines and operable by means of the water moving in the vent line connected to said water passages to draw air and water through the vent line connected to said radiator; and fluid communicating means connected between the outlet of said suction means and said fill chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a cooling system for an engine that includes water passages in said engine, a radiator in communication with said water passages, and vent lines connected respectively to said water passages and said radiator, apparatus for deaerating said cooling system during all conditions while said engine is operating comprising: a makeup water tank having a fill chamber for storing water; a waterline connected to said fill chamber and communicating with said engine water passages and said radiator; suction means having fluid inlets connected to said vent lines and operable by means of the water moving in the vent line connected to said water passages to draw air and water through the vent line connected to said radiator; and fluid communicating means connected between the outlet of said suction means and said fill chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid communicating means includes a ''''water lock'''' means preventing fluid from flowing from said fill chamber through said fluid communicating means to said engine water passages and said radiator, saiD ''''water lock'''' means permitting said fluid to flow in the opposite direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid communicating means includes: a combined vent line connected to the outlet of said suction means; a vent chamber; said combined vent line connected to said vent chamber and having a port communicating therewith at an elevation below the minimum operating level of the water in said chamber; a siphon communicating between said vent chamber and said fill chamber, said siphon having one leg located in said vent chamber and another leg located in said fill chamber, said siphon also having a crossover section connecting said legs at at least an elevation slightly below the elevations of the top portions of said engine water passages and said radiator; and an air passage communicating between said chambers at at least an elevation substantially equal to said crossover section of said siphon; whereby water introduced into said fill chamber to the level of said crossover section of said siphon starts a siphoning action which causes water to flow into said vent chamber, eventually covering said combined vent line port and providing a water lock on said vent lines, engine water passages, and radiator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said fill chamber has a fill port through which water may be poured into the fill chamber, and a drain opening through which the water in said fill chamber may drain; and wherein: each of said legs of said siphon has an opening to its respective chamber located below said combined vent line port in said vent chamber; whereby said siphon operates during the draining of said fill chamber to siphon water from said vent chamber into said fill chamber until said combined vent line port is uncovered to destroy said ''''water lock'''' on said vent lines, engine water passages, and radiator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said combined vent line extends laterally into said vent chamber, and said combined vent line port faces upwardly in said chamber so as to direct upwardly air bubbles flowing from said combined vent line into the water in said vent chamber; and said siphon has a U-shaped section connected to the bottom of its leg in said fill chamber, said U-shaped section having an upwardly facing opening in said fill chamber, whereby air bubbles flowing from said siphon leg into said fill chamber are directed upwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid communicating means includes: a combined vent line connected to the outlet of said suction means; a vent chamber; said combined vent line connected to said vent chamber and having a port communicating therewith; a fluid passage connected between said vent chamber and said fill chamber, said fluid passage having a port communicating with said fill chamber at at least an elevation slightly below the elevations of the top portions of said engine water passages and said radiator, whereby the water in said fill chamber reaching the level of said fluid passage port spills into said vent chamber, fills the vent chamber above the level of said combined vent line port, and provides a ''''water lock'''' on said vent lines, engine water passages, and radiator; and a drain port in said vent chamber located at a level below said combined vent line port, said drain port thereby enabling water to flow out of said vent chamber and break said ''''water lock.''''
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus of claim 6 wherein: said vent chamber is an integral part of said makeup water tank; said fluid passage includes a standpipe extending upwardly from said vent chamber and within said fill chamber; said fluid passage port is an upwardly facing hole in the top of said standpipe; said drain port communicates between said vent chamber and said fill chamber; and said fill chamber has a fill port through which water many be poured into the fill chamber, and a drain opening through which the water in said fill chamber may drain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus of claim 7 including a valve for opening and closing said drain port between said vent chamber and fill chamber, said valve having a float member in said fill chamber which is positioned to rise and seat the valve against said drain port whenever the water in said fill chamber is above the level of said drain port, said float member also positioned to drop and open said drain port when the water in said fill chamber is below the drain port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid communicating means includes: a combined vent line connected between the outlet of said suction means and said fill chamber, said combined vent line having a port communicating with said fill chamber that is located at at least an elevation slightly below the elevations of the top portions of said engine water passages and said radiator; a check valve in said combined vent line that is normally open, but is loaded so as to close whenever the pressure on the engine and radiator side of the check valve is less than the pressure on the fill chamber side of the check valve, thereby preventing fluid from flowing from said fill chamber through said combined vent line to said engine and said radiator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said fluid communicating means includes a combined vent line connected to the outlet of said suction means, said combined vent line connected to said fill chamber at an elevation below the minimum operating level of the water in said fill chamber; and said apparatus includes a valve in the top of said radiator which can be opened to vent the top portion of the radiator during the filling and draining of said cooling system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |