Apparatus for maintaining a diesel engine in restarting condition

Claim 1

A standby system for maintaining a liquid cooled primary engine in restarting condition at very low ambient temperatures after the primary engine is shut off, the primary engine being of a type having a liquid cooling system including a radiator connected to the primary engine for normally cooling a coolant liquid circulated through the engine block and the radiator, and an expansion tank into which the coolant drains, the standby system comprising: an auxiliary engine having a liquid cooling system, a heat exchanger having at least two fluid passages therethrough for transferring heat from one fluid to another, fluid passage means including a pump, the auxiliary engine cooling system, and one passage of the heat exchanger, one end of said fluid passage means being connected to the expansion tank and the other end being connected to the outlet connection from the primary engine block to the radiator, said pump directing fluid through the primary engine block, the auxiliary engine block, and the heat exchanger in a closed path that shunts the radiator, for transferring heat from the auxiliary engine to the primary engine block, and means directing exhaust gases from the auxiliary engine through another passage of the heat exchanger.