US3910451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiator cap
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-29
•
Granted: 1975-10-07
•
Expires: 1994-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A radiator cap adapted to allow coolant to forcibly be added to the interior of the radiator while the cap remains attached thereto. The cap includes the usual cap body that grips the filler neck for removable attachment thereto and a pressure plate assembly including a gasket and having a spring for yieldably urging the gasket against a seat portion of the filler neck. The inventive cap also includes an outer tubular bypass communicating the interior of the radiator with the exterior thereof and a lower check valve selectively occluding the outer bypass. The lower check valve is automatically opened to admit air/fluid to pass into the radiator when the pressure therein drops below atmospheric pressure, i.e., the air/fluid passes through the outer bypass. The lower check valve may also be automatically opened by forcing fluid through the outer bypass thus allowing coolant to be admitted to the radiator without removing the cap therefrom. An alternate embodiment additionally includes an upper check valve also selectively occluding the outer bypass. The upper end of the outer bypass is provided with a transverse aperture disposed above the upper check valve. The aperture is communicated with a recovery overflow tank and coolant is allowed to pass one way only through this aperture, i.e., from the tank into the radiator.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur P Tusing
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:06
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/02; F01P11/0204; F01P11/0209; F01P11/0238; F01P11/0285; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/27; Y10S220/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
311 words
In combination with a vented recovery overflow tank and a radiator communicated one with the other through the filler neck of the radiator, of a closure device for closing the filler neck of the radiator and allowing coolant to be admitted to the interior of the radiator while said closure device remains attached to the radiator, said device comprising a cap body provided with an aperture disposed concentrically thereof, said filler neck including primary and secondary seat means coacting with said device for sealing the respective lower and upper ends of said filler neck, pressure plate means disposed adjacent said primary seal means and including spring means for yieldably allowing pressurized coolant to pass from said radiator into said filleR neck thence into said recovery overflow tank, outer tubular bypass means disposed within said filler neck and extending from said pressure plate means to said cap body for communicating the interior of said radiator with the exterior thereof, stopper means for selectively closing and opening said outer tubular bypass means, said pressure plate means being provided with an aperture for receiving the lower end of said outer bypass means with the upper end of said outer bypass means extending through said aperture in said cap body, said outer tubular bypass means being provided with at least one transverse hole opening into said filler neck, upper check valve means selectively occluding said outer tubular bypass means and being disposed therein subjacent said transverse hole for allowing oneway flow of coolant through said transverse hole, and lower check valve means for normally allowing a positive pressure within the interior of the radiator, said lower check valve means being operable selectively to allow coolant to pass from said recovery overflow tank into the interior of the radiator as the pressure therein drops below atmospheric pressure and by forcing fluid through said outer bypass means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
311 words
In combination with a vented recovery overflow tank and a radiator communicated one with the other through the filler neck of the radiator, of a closure device for closing the filler neck of the radiator and allowing coolant to be admitted to the interior of the radiator while said closure device remains attached to the radiator, said device comprising a cap body provided with an aperture disposed concentrically thereof, said filler neck including primary and secondary seat means coacting with said device for sealing the respective lower and upper ends of said filler neck, pressure plate means disposed adjacent said primary seal means and including spring means for yieldably allowing pressurized coolant to pass from said radiator into said filleR neck thence into said recovery overflow tank, outer tubular bypass means disposed within said filler neck and extending from said pressure plate means to said cap body for communicating the interior of said radiator with the exterior thereof, stopper means for selectively closing and opening said outer tubular bypass means, said pressure plate means being provided with an aperture for receiving the lower end of said outer bypass means with the upper end of said outer bypass means extending through said aperture in said cap body, said outer tubular bypass means being provided with at least one transverse hole opening into said filler neck, upper check valve means selectively occluding said outer tubular bypass means and being disposed therein subjacent said transverse hole for allowing oneway flow of coolant through said transverse hole, and lower check valve means for normally allowing a positive pressure within the interior of the radiator, said lower check valve means being operable selectively to allow coolant to pass from said recovery overflow tank into the interior of the radiator as the pressure therein drops below atmospheric pressure and by forcing fluid through said outer bypass means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1 in which is included means coacting with said upper check valve means for isolating the upper interior of said outer tubular bypass means from the lower interior thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said means coacting with said upper check valve means includes inner tubular bypass means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said upper check valve means includes a flexible unbrellalike member having an upper circular portion and a lower flared skirtlike portion, said flared skirtlike portion normally sealably engaging the interior wall of said outer tubular bypass means, said circular portion being provided with an aperture for receiving the lower end of said inner tubular bypass means, the upper end of said inner tubular bypass means extending through said aperture provided in said cap body and sealably engaging said cap body, said upper check valve means precluding fluid which passes through said inner and outer tubular bypass means from exiting outwardly through said transverse hole provided in said outer tubular bypass means, and said skirtlike portion thereof being automatically collapsible to allow free passage thereabout of coolant entering said outer tubular bypass means through said transverse hole provided therein to ultimately pass into the interior of the radiator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 4 in which said inner tubular bypass means includes an eyelet rivet extending through the apertures provided in the circular portion of the upper check valve means and the cap body, said eyelet rivet fixedly attaching said upper check valve means to said cap body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 1 in which is included O-ring means circumferentially engaging said outer tubular bypass means for sealing said pressure plate means to said outer tubular bypass means, said pressure plate means being free to slide up and down as the pressure in the radiator varies between predetermined limits.
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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |