Post-shutdown coolant-supply device

Claim 2

In combination with a post-shutdown cooling system for an apparatus receiving coolant under pressure from an engine including a coolant reservoir and a pump drawing coolant from the reservoir and supplying it to said apparatus during normal engine operation, said post-shutdown cooling system including a coolant accumulator comprising a cylinder having an upstream end and a downstream end, a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, means mounted in said cylinder for biasing said piston toward said upstream end, a first conduit for supplying coolant from said pump to said upstream end of said cylinder for moving said piston toward said downstream end of said cylinder to load said biasing means and a second conduit for supplying fluid from said accumulator to said apparatus, the improvement which comprises: means connecting said downstream end of said cylinder to said coolant reservoir for returning any coolant passing downstream of said piston to said reservoir; and valve means provided in said accumulator in fluid communication with said connecting means for controlling flow of coolant from said downstream end of said cylinder to said reservoir.

Claim 3

The combination as recited in claim 1 including: a unitary inlet-outlet fitting mounted to said upstream end of said cylinder; a T-shaped fitting having first, second and third ports; a pipe nipple connecting a first one of said ports to said inlet-outlet fitting; means for connecting a second one of said ports to said second conduit; a check valve having an inlet and an outlet, said check valve including a valve member for preventing reverse flow through said check valve inlet; means for connecting said check valve outlet to a third one of said ports on said T-shaped fitting; and means for connecting said check valve inlet to said first conduit, whereby said pump will unseat said valve member in said check valve, charge said accumulator while simultaneously supplying coolant to said apparatus until engine shutdown whereupon said biasing means will move said piston toward said upstream end of said cylinder causing the coolant stored in said accumulator to close said valve member and flow through said second one of said ports and said second conduit to said apparatus.

Claim 4

The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises: a valve seat mounted to said downstream end of said cylinder; and a valve extending from said piston in alignment with said valve seat for seating thereon when said piston is moved toward said downstream end of said cylinder until said biasing means is loaded.

Claim 5

The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said accumulator includes a spring follower reciprocably mounted in said cylinder in encompassing relationship with said depending valve and wherein said biasing means comprises: a first compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said first compression spring having a first end engaging said piston and a second end engaging said spring follower; and a second compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said second compression spring having a first end engaging said spring follower and a second end engaging said downstream end of said cylinder, whereby said first and second compression springs bias said piston to a position adjacent said upstream end of said cylinder.

Claim 6

Apparatus for post-shutdown cooling of a system component of an engine including an oil pan and an oil pump, comprising: (1) an accumulator including: (A) a hollow cylinder having first and second ends; (B) a first fluid outlet provided at one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, said first fluid outlet being in fluid communication with a first valve seat mounted inside of said cylinder; (C) a fluid inlet-outlet provided at the other of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (D) a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said piston having an upstream end facing said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder and a downstream end facing said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (E) a first valve depending from said downstream end of said piston in alignment with said first valve seat for preventing flow of fluid through said first fluid outlet when said first valve is seated on said first valve seat; (F) a spring follower reciprocably mounted in said cylinder between said downstream end of said piston and said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, said spring follower being provided with an aperture in which said depending valve is reciprocably mounted; (G) a first compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said first compression spring having a first end engaging said downstream end of said piston and a second end engaging said spring follower; and (H) a second compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said second compression spring having a first end engaging said spring follower and a second end engaging said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, whereby said first and second compression springs bias said piston to a position adjacent said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (2) a first conduit connecting said first outlet to said oil pan for returning any fluid passing downstream of said piston to said oil pan; (3) a check valve having an upstream end and a downstream end, said check valve also having a second valve seat mounted in said downstream end of said check valve, a second valve and a spring biasing said second valve into seated engagement with said second valve seat; (4) a fluid inlet connected to said second valve seat; (5) a second conduit connecting said fluid inlet to said oil pump for supplying pressurized fluid to said check valve to unseat said valve; (6) a third conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said inlet-outlet on said cylinder; and (7) a fourth conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said system component and to said third conduit, whereby fluid under pressure from said oil pump will unseat said second valve, supply cooling fluid to said system component and move said piston toward said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder until said first valve seats on said first valve seat until flow of fluid from said oil pump ceases at which time said first and second compression springs will move said piston to said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder for supplying fluid to said system component.

Claim 7

Apparatus for post-shutdown cooling of a system component of an engine including an oil pan and an oil pump, comprising: (1) an accumulator including: (A) a hollow cylinder having first and second ends; (B) a first fluid outlet provided at one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, said first fluid outlet being in fluid communication with a first valve seat mounted inside of said cylinder; (C) a fluid inlet-outlet provided at the other of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (D) a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, said piston having an upstream end facing said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder and a downstream end facing said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (E) a first valve depending from said downstream end of said piston in alignment with said first valve seat for preventing flow of fluid through said first fluid outlet when said first valve is seated on said first valve seat; (F) a spring follower reciprocably mounted in said cylinder between said downstream end of said piston and said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, said spring follower being provided with an aperture in which said depending valve is reciprocably mounted; (G) a first compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said first compression spring having a first end engaging said downstream end of said piston and a second end engaging said spring follower; and (H) a second compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said second compression spring having a first end engaging said spring follower and a second end engaging said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder, whereby said first and second compression springs bias said piston to a position adjacent said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder; (2) a first conduit connecting said first outlet to said oil pan for returning any fluid passing downstream of said piston to said oil pan; (3) a check valve having an upstream end and a downstream end, said check valve also having a second valve seat mounted in said downstream end of said check valve, a second valve and a spring biasing said second valve into seated engagement with said second valve seat; (4) a fluid inlet connected to said second valve seat; (5) a second conduit connecting said fluid inlet to said oil pump for supplying pressurized fluid to said check valve to unseat said valve; (6) a third conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said inlet-outlet on said cylinder; and (7) a fourth conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said system component and to said third conduit, whereby fluid under pressure from said oil pump will unseat said second valve, supply cooling fluid to said system component and move said piston toward said one of said first and second ends of said cylinder until said first valve seats on said first valve seat until flow of fluid from said oil pump ceases at which time said first and second compression springs will move said piston to said other of said first and second ends of said cylinder for supplying fluid to said system component.

Claim 8

In combination with a post-shutdown cooling system for an apparatus receiving coolant under pressure from an engine including a coolant reservoir and a pump drawing coolant from the reservoir and supplying it to said apparatus during normal engine operation, said post-shutdown cooling system including a coolant accumulator comprising a cylinder having an upstream end and a downstream end and a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, the improvement which comprises: a first valve seat mounted to said downstream end of said cylinder; means placing said first valve seat in fluid communication with said coolant reservoir; a unitary fluid inlet-outlet fitting mounted to said upstream end of said cylinder; a spring follower reciprocably mounted in said cylinder intermediate said piston and said downstream end, said spring follower being provided with an aperture; a first valve depending from said piston and extending through said aperture in alignment with said first valve seat for controlling flow of coolant therethrough; a first compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said first compression spring having a first end engaging said piston and a second end engaging said spring follower; a second compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said second compression spring having a first end engaging said spring follower and a second end engaging said downstream end of said cylinder, whereby said first and second compression springs bias said piston to a position adjacent said upstream end of said cylinder; a check valve having an upstream end and a downstream end, said check valve also having a second valve seat mounted in said downstream end of said check valve, a second valve and a spring biasing said second valve into seated engagement with said second valve seat; a first conduit connecting said second valve seat to said pump for supplying pressurized coolant to said check valve to unseat said valve; a second conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said unitary inlet-outlet fitting on said cylinder; and a third conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said apparatus and to said second conduit, whereby fluid under pressure from said pump will unseat said second valve, supply coolant to said apparatus and move said piston toward said downstream end of said cylinder to seat said first valve on said first valve seat until flow of fluid from said pump ceases at which time said first and second compression springs will move said piston to said upstream end of said cylinder for supplying post-shutdown coolant to said apparatus.

Claim 9

In combination with a post-shutdown cooling system for an apparatus receiving coolant under pressure from an engine including a coolant reservoir and a pump drawing coolant from the reservoir and supplying it to said apparatus during normal engine operation, said post-shutdown cooling system including a coolant accumulator comprising a cylinder having an upstream end and a downstream end and a piston reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, the improvement which comprises: a first valve seat mounted to said downstream end of said cylinder; means placing said first valve seat in fluid communication with said coolant reservoir; a unitary fluid inlet-outlet fitting mounted to said upstream end of said cylinder; a spring follower reciprocably mounted in said cylinder intermediate said piston and said downstream end, said spring follower being provided with an aperture; a first valve depending from said piston and extending through said aperture in alignment with said first valve seat for controlling flow of coolant therethrough; a first compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said first compression spring having a first end engaging said piston and a second end engaging said spring follower; a second compression spring mounted in said cylinder, said second compression spring having a first end engaging said spring follower and a second end engaging said downstream end of said cylinder, whereby said first and second compression springs bias said piston to a position adjacent said upstream end of said cylinder; a check valve having an upstream end and a downstream end, said check valve also having a second valve seat mounted in said downstream end of said check valve, a second valve and a spring biasing said second valve into seated engagement with said second valve seat; a first conduit connecting said second valve seat to said pump for supplying pressurized coolant to said check valve to unseat said valve; a second conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said unitary inlet-outlet fitting on said cylinder; and a third conduit connecting said upstream end of said check valve to said apparatus and to said second conduit, whereby fluid under pressure from said pump will unseat said second valve, supply coolant to said apparatus and move said piston toward said downstream end of said cylinder to seat said first valve on said first valve seat until flow of fluid from said pump ceases at which time said first and second compression springs will move said piston to said upstream end of said cylinder for supplying post-shutdown coolant to said apparatus.