US4333516A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corrodible container for automatic addition of corrosion inhibitor to a coolant system
Assignee: LONG MANUFACTURING Ltd A CORP OF CANADA
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Filing: 1980-12-10
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Granted: 1982-06-08
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Expires: 2000-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A corrodible container for the storage of a corrosion inhibitor to be suitably located in the coolant system of an automotive vehicle or other environment wherein the container has at least a portion thereof formed of substantially the same material as the material forming the heat exchange device in a coolant system so as to corrode when the coolant is partially or wholly replaced by a corrosive liquid such as water. More specifically, an aluminum radiator has a tendency to corrode rapidly where corrosive water is present and the container for the corrosion inhibitor has at least a portion thereof formed of aluminum foil or aluminum sheet material with a thinner portion so that the foil or thinner portion will corrode through to release the corrosion inhibitor into the coolant to minimize corrosion of the heat exchanger and coolant system.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H. Krueger
- 👤 Clarence E. Albertson
- 👤 Bruce P. Miglin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:40
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23F; C23F11/00; F; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/06; F28; F28F; F28F19/00; F01P2011/066; F01P2011/068; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/30; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/1624
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for the addition of a corrosion inhibitor to a coolant system when the coolant becomes corrosive, comprising the steps of forming a container to house the corrosion inhibitor, providing at least a portion of the container of substantially the same metal as a heat exchanger where corrosion is to be resisted but thinner than the metal stock forming the heat exchanger, and exposing said container portion of the same metal as the heat exchanger to the coolant, so that as the corrosiveness of the coolant increases, the container portion will be attacked until penetration occurs and the corrosion inhibitor is released.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for the addition of a corrosion inhibitor to a coolant system when the coolant becomes corrosive, comprising the steps of forming a container to house the corrosion inhibitor, providing at least a portion of the container of substantially the same metal as a heat exchanger where corrosion is to be resisted but thinner than the metal stock forming the heat exchanger, and exposing said container portion of the same metal as the heat exchanger to the coolant, so that as the corrosiveness of the coolant increases, the container portion will be attacked until penetration occurs and the corrosion inhibitor is released.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the container portion is formed of a metal foil of the same metal as the heat exchanger to be protected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, in which a plurality of partitions are located in the container formed of the metal resisting corrosion with inhibitor between the partitions to provide a sequential release of inhibitor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 2, in which a plurality of containers are nested one within the next with a charge of corrosion inhibitor in each container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, in which said container is a metal foil packet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 5, in which the foil packet is inserted into the heat exchanger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 5, in which a plurality of foil packets are nested one within the next with a charge of corrosion inhibitor in each packet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, including the step of providing an expandible anhydrous salt as a corrosion inhibitor in the container so that upon penetration of the container portion by the coolant to contact the salt, the salt rapidly expands to rupture said container portion and allow release of the inhibitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, including the step of positioning an expandible spring in the container biased against said container portion, so that upon weakening the container portion by corrosion, the spring will rupture the container portion to rapidly release the corrosion inhibitor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
67 words
A device for the automatic addition of a corrosion inhibitor into a coolant system to protect a heat exchanger subject to corrosion, comprising a container for the corrosion inhibitor having at least a portion thereof formed of a metal substantially identical to that forming the heat exchanger, said container being so positioned in the coolant system so that said container portion is exposed to the coolant stream.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
67 words
A device for the automatic addition of a corrosion inhibitor into a coolant system to protect a heat exchanger subject to corrosion, comprising a container for the corrosion inhibitor having at least a portion thereof formed of a metal substantially identical to that forming the heat exchanger, said container being so positioned in the coolant system so that said container portion is exposed to the coolant stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, in which said foil packet plus a second charge of corrosion inhibitor is sealed in a larger foil packet, and this packet plus a third charge of inhibitor is sealed in a third foil packet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, in which said container portion is formed of a metal foil which will corrode more rapidly than the heat exchanger when in contact with corrosive liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 12, in which said container is a foil packet with a predetermined quantity of corrosion inhibitor therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as set forth in claim 13, in which said foil packet is adapted to be placed in a radiator or overflow tank of an automobile coolant system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as set forth in claim 14, in which each foil packet is formed of two sheets of foil with all four edges sealed with an adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as set forth in claim 15, in which additional strips of metal foil are folded over and adhesively joined to the packet edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as set forth in claim 12, in which said container is a glass or plastic tube having metal foil covering one or both ends and sealed to the tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as set forth in claim 17, in which said tube has a closed end and the metal foil covers the open end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 18, in which the open end of said tube is externally threaded for a screw cap having a central opening therein, said cap acting to seal the foil in the tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as set forth in claim 18, in which said foil is adhesively secured to the exterior surface of the open end of the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as set forth in claim 20, in which said tube is open at both ends and metal foil covers and is adhesively bonded to the periphery of each open end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as set forth in claim 12, in which said container is a metal can having an opening in one end surface, and metal foil covering said opening and adhesively bonded to the end surface around the opening.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as set forth in claim 22, in which said metal foil is aluminum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, in which said container is a metal can having an integral closed end and an opposite open end, and a lid formed of a metal substantially identical to that of the heat exchanger is sealed onto the open end of the can.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as set forth in claim 24, in which said lid is scored or knurled to provide a limited portion of a lesser thickness than the remainder of the lid metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 25, in which said lid is formed of aluminum and the scored portion acts to induce crevice or pitting corrosion when in contact with a corrosive liquid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as set forth in claim 26, in which said can is positioned in a connection in the inlet or outlet hose of an aluminum radiator so that the aluminum lid is exposed to the coolant passing through the hose.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as set forth in claim 26, including at least one partition in said container of the same material as and scored or knurled in the same manner as said lid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as set forth in claim 28, in which said partitions divide the corrosion inhibitor therein into a plurality of charges to be added sequentially into said coolant system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 26, in which a second smaller container substantially identical to said first container and containing corrosion inhibitor is located within the corrosion inhibitor in said first container.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as set forth in claim 30, in which a third smaller container substantially identical to said first and second containers and containing corrosion inhibitor is located within the corrosion inhibitor within said second container.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, in which the corrosion inhibitor is an expandible anhydrous salt so that penetration of the container portion by the coolant results in a rapid expansion of the inhibitor and rupture of the container portion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein a spring is positioned in said container and compressed to be biased against said container portion, said container portion having sufficient strength to resist rupture under non-corrosive conditions.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as set forth in claim 33, in which corrosion of said container portion weakens the portion resulting in rupture thereof by said compressed spring.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as set forth in claim 33, in which said spring is a coil spring.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as set forth in claim 33, in which said spring is a leaf spring.
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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) | 1985-06-07 | 1985-12-07 | 1986-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-07 | 1989-12-07 | 1990-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-07 | 1993-12-07 | 1994-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |