US4051825A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine heater
Assignee: Hay Mar Corp
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Filing: 1976-08-06
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Granted: 1977-10-04
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Expires: 1996-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A simplified, yet highly effective, engine heating apparatus and method is provided which facilitates starting of a cold automotive engine by preheating the engine with hot antifreeze from a fluid-cooled service engine temporarily coupled to the cold engine; in this manner, the cold engine can be heated prior to attempts at starting so that damage to the battery, starter or other internal components thereof is eliminated. In preferred forms, the apparatus includes fluid-conveying conduits permanently coupled to the cooling systems of the cold and service engine and normally detachably secured together to define respective closed fluid loops with the associated engines, along with transfer conduits which can be quickly and easily connected through the use of quick-couplers between the disconnected engine conduits to establish fluid communication between the separate engine cooling systems. Running of the hot service engine thus circulates hot antifreeze through the cold engine block and serves to heat the cold antifreeze to permit quick starting of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Hayden O. Elder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:14
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02N; F02N19/00; F02N19/02; F02N19/04; F02N19/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
In combination with a cold, fluid-cooled automotive engine, apparatus for heating said cold engine to facilitate starting thereof, said apparatus comprising: an automotive service engine having a pressurized fluid-cooling system; first and second fluid conduit segments permanently connected to and in communication with the fluid cooling system of said cold engine; coupling means adjacent the outermost ends of said first and second segments for detachably connecting said segments to selectively present a closed fluid loop with said cold engine system, and alternately open-ended conduit segments when said coupling means are detached; first and second conduit sections permanently connected to and in communication with the fluid cooling system of said service engine; coupling structures adjacent the outermost ends of said first and second sections for detachably connecting said sections to selectively present a closed fluid loop with said service engine system, and alternately open-ended conduit sections when said coupling structures are detached; a pair of fluid-transfer conduits of length to span the distance between said conduit segments and sections; and attachment means adjacent the opposed ends of said transfer conduits for detachably connecting one of the transfer conduits between the coupling means of one of said segments and the coupling structure of one of said sections, and for detachably connecting the other of said transfer conduits between the remaining segment coupling means and section coupling structure, when said segments and sections are detached, in order to define a closed fluid loop with the cooling systems of said cold and service engines, whereby, upon running of said service engine with the cooling fluid therein in a heated condition, such heated fluid is circulated throughout the last-mentioned closed fluid loop for heating said cold engine and for facilitating starting thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
In combination with a cold, fluid-cooled automotive engine, apparatus for heating said cold engine to facilitate starting thereof, said apparatus comprising: an automotive service engine having a pressurized fluid-cooling system; first and second fluid conduit segments permanently connected to and in communication with the fluid cooling system of said cold engine; coupling means adjacent the outermost ends of said first and second segments for detachably connecting said segments to selectively present a closed fluid loop with said cold engine system, and alternately open-ended conduit segments when said coupling means are detached; first and second conduit sections permanently connected to and in communication with the fluid cooling system of said service engine; coupling structures adjacent the outermost ends of said first and second sections for detachably connecting said sections to selectively present a closed fluid loop with said service engine system, and alternately open-ended conduit sections when said coupling structures are detached; a pair of fluid-transfer conduits of length to span the distance between said conduit segments and sections; and attachment means adjacent the opposed ends of said transfer conduits for detachably connecting one of the transfer conduits between the coupling means of one of said segments and the coupling structure of one of said sections, and for detachably connecting the other of said transfer conduits between the remaining segment coupling means and section coupling structure, when said segments and sections are detached, in order to define a closed fluid loop with the cooling systems of said cold and service engines, whereby, upon running of said service engine with the cooling fluid therein in a heated condition, such heated fluid is circulated throughout the last-mentioned closed fluid loop for heating said cold engine and for facilitating starting thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sections are each coupled to fluid-conveying T-joints, the latter being operatively connected to the heater hoses of said service engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 including selectively operable valve structure interposed in one of said sections for selectively preventing fluid flow through the sections when the latter are coupled together.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of heating a cold, fluid-cooled automotive engine provided with a pair of fluid conduit segments operatively and permanently connected to the fluid-cooling system thereof and having corresponding detachable coupling means adjacent the outermost ends thereof connecting said segments to present a closed fluid loop with the cooling system of said engine, said method comprising the steps of: moving a mobile service vehicle having a heated service engine with a pressurized fluid-cooling system to a position adjacent said cold automotive engine; detaching said coupling means to present a pair of elongated, open-ended conduit segments connected to the fluid-cooling system of said cold engine; connecting said segments to respective fluid transfer conduits operatively connected to the pressurized fluid-cooling system of said service engine to present a closed fluid loop between said cold and service engines; running said service engine to effect circulation of the heated cooling fluid throughout said closed fluid loop for a sufficient time to heat said cold engine; disconnecting said segments from said tranfer conduits; and reconnecting said fluid conduit segments.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of heating a cold, fluid-cooled automotive engine provided with a pair of fluid conduit segments operatively and permanently connected to the fluid-cooling system thereof and having corresponding detachable coupling means adjacent the outermost ends thereof connecting said segments to present a closed fluid loop with the cooling system of said engine, said method comprising the steps of: moving a mobile service vehicle having a heated service engine with a pressurized fluid-cooling system to a position adjacent said cold automotive engine; detaching said coupling means to present a pair of elongated, open-ended conduit segments connected to the fluid-cooling system of said cold engine; connecting said segments to respective fluid transfer conduits operatively connected to the pressurized fluid-cooling system of said service engine to present a closed fluid loop between said cold and service engines; running said service engine to effect circulation of the heated cooling fluid throughout said closed fluid loop for a sufficient time to heat said cold engine; disconnecting said segments from said tranfer conduits; and reconnecting said fluid conduit segments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |