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 system 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 and for receiving overflow coolant from said system; b. an overflow conduit communicating 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 of fluid from said system into said accumulator when the pressure within said system exceeds a predetermined maximum value; d. vent valve means for venting said accumulator to atmosphere in response to a predetermined pressure being attained within said accumulator, said predetermined pressure having a value lesser than the maximum value of said system and greater than ambient; e. a make-up conduit communicating between said accumulator and a location within said system up-stream of said pump; and f. a check valve in series with said make-up conduit for permitting flow of fluid from said accumulator into said system in response to the differential pressure across said check valve exceeding a predetermined value.