Method and apparatus for continuously maintaining a volume of coolant within a pressurized cooling system

Claim 1

In a pressurized liquid cooling system for circulation of coolant and dissipation of heat from an internal combustion engine, which systems has a finite capacity and includes a water jacket having an inlet and an outlet, a radiator having an inlet tank and an outlet tank, a supply conduit communicating between the outlet tank and the inlet of the water jacket, a return conduit communicating between the outlet of the water jacket and the inlet tank, and a pump for circulating coolant through the supply conduit from the radiator to the water jacket, improvements therein for purging gaseous matter from the system and for continuous maintenance of the volumetric capacity of coolant within the system, said improvements comprising: (a) a normally sealed accumulator for holding a reserve supply of coolant; (b) an overflow conduit for flow of fluid between a high point in said system and said accumulator; (c) normally closed pressure valve mean in series with said overflow conduit for permitting flow from said system into said accumulator when the pressure within said system exceeds a predetermined maximum value; (d) a make-up conduit for flow of fluid between said accumulator and a location within said system upstream of said pump; and (e) a check valve in series with said make-up conduit for permitting flow of fluid from said accumulator into said system when the differential pressure across said check valve exceeds a predetermined value. (f) heat exchanger means in series with said overflow conduit for cooling said fluid before being received within said accumulator.