US4217864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heating apparatus for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-11-08
•
Granted: 1980-08-19
•
Expires: 1998-11-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to systems devised to rapidly heat an engine to facilitate the starting thereof. Substantial reduction in vehicle operator effort, in size and quantity of structure required, and in reliance upon moving parts of an engine for actuation of a device, are provided by the invention. An accumulator reservoir (26) is coupled to an insulated fluid storage reservoir (28) which in turn is coupled to the engine cooling system. A circuit (51) opens the valve structure (31), the accumulator (26) forcing fluid coolant out of the reservoir (28) into the cooling system, the circuit (51) disabling ignition of the engine until the coolant system is filled. Upon shut-down of the engine, the circuit (51) after a time delay operates a pump (41) to move the coolant back into the reservoir (28) where the coolant is stored at an elevated temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon M. Theodore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:40
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02N; F02N19/00; F02N19/02; F02N19/04; F02N19/10; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/14; F01P11/20; F01P5/00; F01P5/10; F01P2011/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A heat-assisted starting apparatus for a liquid-cooled internal-combustion engine including a liquid cooling system, an insulated reservoir capable of holding a substantial volume of the cooling system coolant, and coolant-transfer and retransfer means operative in a first cycle for discharging coolant from the cooling system to the reservoir incident to engine shut-down and in a second cycle for charging the cooling system from the reservoir incident to engine start-up, the improvement comprising: an accumulator liquid-connected to the reservoir; pump means serving in the first cycle and connected between the cooling system and the reservoir for discharging coolant from the cooling system to the reservoir and simultaneously pressurizing the accumulator; coolant-charge means connected between the reservoir and operative in the second cycle, independently of the pump means and under pressure stored in the accumulator during operation in the first cycle, for charging the cooling system from the reservoir; and control means selectively operative for selecting between operation in said first and second cycles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A heat-assisted starting apparatus for a liquid-cooled internal-combustion engine including a liquid cooling system, an insulated reservoir capable of holding a substantial volume of the cooling system coolant, and coolant-transfer and retransfer means operative in a first cycle for discharging coolant from the cooling system to the reservoir incident to engine shut-down and in a second cycle for charging the cooling system from the reservoir incident to engine start-up, the improvement comprising: an accumulator liquid-connected to the reservoir; pump means serving in the first cycle and connected between the cooling system and the reservoir for discharging coolant from the cooling system to the reservoir and simultaneously pressurizing the accumulator; coolant-charge means connected between the reservoir and operative in the second cycle, independently of the pump means and under pressure stored in the accumulator during operation in the first cycle, for charging the cooling system from the reservoir; and control means selectively operative for selecting between operation in said first and second cycles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the further improvement comprising means associated with the coolant-charge means for by-passing the pump during operation in the second cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the further improvement comprising time-delay means associated with the control means and responsive to a preselected rise in coolant temperature following engine shut-down to delay operation in the first cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3, the further improvement comprising means responsive to a preselected diminution of coolant in the coolant system during the first cycle for automatically stopping operation of the pump means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the further improvement comprising time-delay means associated with the control means for delaying starting of the engine following operation in the second cycle until the cooling system has been charged with a preselected volume of coolant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the further improvement comprising valve means in the control means selectively connectible to effectuate the pump means discharge and the coolant charge means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the further improvement comprising first time-delay means associated with the control means and responsive to a preselected rise in coolant temperature following engine shut-down to delay operation in the first cycle until said temperature is attained, and second time-delay means associated with the control means for delaying starting of the engine following operation in the second cycle until the cooling system has been charged with a preselected volume of coolant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1028808A
Cited
US1128133A
Cited
US1749286A
Cited
US2093599A
Cited
US1962932A
Cited
US3523644A
Cited
US3853270A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-19 | 1984-02-18 | 1984-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-19 | 1988-02-18 | 1988-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-19 | 1992-02-18 | 1992-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |