Cooling system tester

Claim 2

In an apparatus for testing a vehicle cooling system that includes a radiator having a filler neck normally sealed by a removable radiator cap, the improvement comprising: cap test means for mounting a radiator cap in a manner identical to the intended mounting of the cap on a radiator filler neck, said cap test means comprising a chamber in open communication with and selectively sealed by a radiator cap mounted thereon; plug means having expandable sidewalls for selectively sealing the filler neck of a radiator, said plug means including a passage formed therethrough in open communication with the interior of a radiator sealed thereby; first conduit means adapted to be operatively connected between a source of pressurized gas and the chamber of said cap test means for selectively delivering gas from the source to said chamber; and second conduit means operatively connected between said chamber and the passage of said plug for selectively delivering gas from the chamber to a radiator interior, said second conduit means including first valve means having an exhaust port for selectively exhausting said interior of the radiator.

Claim 3

The apparatus as set out in claim 1 further comprising: block check means in the form of a receptacle having an opening at one end complementary to a device for determining the presence of leakage combustion gases within a cooling system; and a third conduit means operatively connected between the exhaust port of said first valve means and the interior of the receptacle of said block check means.

Claim 4

The apparatus as set out in claim 2 wherein the opening at said one end of the receptacle is also complementary to the sidewalls of said plug means so as to serve as safe storage for the walls of the plug means between uses of the apparatus.

Claim 5

The apparatus as set out in claim 2 wherein the receptacle is provided with a restricted liquid relief opening at the lower end thereof.

Claim 6

The apparatus as set out in claim 1 further comprising: gas pressure indicating means operatively connected to the chamber of said cap test means.

Claim 7

The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein the plug means is inflatable to expand the sidewalls thereof and further comprising: third conduit means operatively connected between the source of pressurized gas and the interior of said plug means for selectively directinG gas under pressure to the interior thereof.

Claim 8

The apparatus as set out in claim 6 wherein the third conduit means includes a control valve having an outlet connection operatively connected to the interior of said plug means and selectively exhausted to atmosphere.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for testing a vehicle cooling system that includes a radiator having a filler neck normally sealed by a removable radiator cap, the improvement comprising: an enclosure having a control panel formed thereon; a cap testing chamber mounted within the enclosure and including a cap mounting flange protruding outwardly through the control panel for selective closure by a radiator cap in a manner identical to the intended mounting of the cap on a radiator filler neck; a filler neck plug having expandable sidewalls adapted to selectively seal the filler neck of a radiator and including a passage formed therethrough in open communication with the interior of a radiator sealed thereby; a first conduit within the enclosure selectively connected to a source of pressurized air, said first conduit being in communication with the interior of said cap testing chamber; a second conduit within the enclosure also in communication with the interior of said cap testing chamber, said second conduit including a flexible section leading outward of the enclosure through the control panel and connected with the passage formed through the filler neck plug, said second conduit including a first valve within the enclosure for selectively connecting the passage and chamber, or exhausting the passage.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for testing a vehicle cooling system that includes a radiator having a filler neck normally sealed by a removable radiator cap, the improvement comprising: an enclosure having a control panel formed thereon; a cap testing chamber mounted within the enclosure and including a cap mounting flange protruding outwardly through the control panel for selective closure by a radiator cap in a manner identical to the intended mounting of the cap on a radiator filler neck; a filler neck plug having expandable sidewalls adapted to selectively seal the filler neck of a radiator and including a passage formed therethrough in open communication with the interior of a radiator sealed thereby; a first conduit within the enclosure selectively connected to a source of pressurized air, said first conduit being in communication with the interior of said cap testing chamber; a second conduit within the enclosure also in communication with the interior of said cap testing chamber, said second conduit including a flexible section leading outward of the enclosure through the control panel and connected with the passage formed through the filler neck plug, said second conduit including a first valve within the enclosure for selectively connecting the passage and chamber, or exhausting the passage.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set out in claim 8 wherein the first valve is operated by a manual control handle on the control panel of the enclosure.

Claim 12

An apparatus as set out in claim 8 further comprising: a pressure indicating device mounted on the control panel of the enclosure and operatively connected to the interior of said cap testing chamber.

Claim 13

An apparatus as set out in claim 8 wherein the filler neck plug is inflatable through a valve connection to expand the sidewalls thereof; said apparatus further comprising: a third conduit within the enclosure selectively connected to the source of pressurized air in common with said first conduit, said third conduit including a flexible conduit leading outward of the enclosure selectively connected with the valve connection of the filler neck plug.

Claim 14

An apparatus as set out in claim 11 further comprising: a receptacle recessed within the enclosure having an opening at one end on the control panel of the enclosure complementary to the sidewall configuration of the filler neck plug.

Claim 15

An apparatus as set out in claim 12 wherein the exhaust connection of said first valve leads to the interior of said receptacle.