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US4793403A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Engine coolant flush-filtering, using external gas pressure

Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1987-08-20
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Granted: 1988-12-27
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Expires: 2007-08-20
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Abstract

Abstract A method for rapid cleaning of an internal combustion engine cooling system includes: (a) forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) treating the coolant liquid in a zone or zones outside the cooling system, said treating including removing contaminant from the coolant liquid, and (c) returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system.

Inventors

  • 👤 Marcel Vataru
  • 👤 Richard W. Smith
  • 👤 Rainer H. Labus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 17:16
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/06; F01P2011/065

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 135 words
For use with an internal combustion engine cooling system, the combination comprising: (a) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (c) third means in communication with said second means for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (d) the cooling system including a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, and said first means includes tube means to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with said tube means for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 135 words
For use with an internal combustion engine cooling system, the combination comprising: (a) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (c) third means in communication with said second means for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (d) the cooling system including a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, and said first means includes tube means to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with said tube means for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 143 words
For use with an internal combination engine cooling system, the combination comprising: (a) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (c) third means in communication with said second menas for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system. (d) the cooling system including a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, and said first means including an elongated tube insertible into the container via said fill opening to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with the tube for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 143 words
For use with an internal combination engine cooling system, the combination comprising: (a) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (c) third means in communication with said second menas for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system. (d) the cooling system including a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, and said first means including an elongated tube insertible into the container via said fill opening to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with the tube for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means includes a holding tank for collecting said coolant liquid in a holding zone, for addition of chemical agent or agents to the liquid in said zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said second means includes a filter connected to pass coolant liquid flowing to said holding zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said third means includes a filter connected to pass coolant liquid being returned from the holding zone to the cooling system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The combination of claim 1 including means for dispensing metallic plating ions into the liquid being returned to the cooling system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 54 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein the cooling system includes cooling passages in an engine block and in a heater, there being a coolant flow connection passage between said coolant passages in the block and heater, and wherein said third means includes a coolant return flow duct in communication with said flow connection passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said first means includes a valve and ducting, and a pressurized gas source connectible via said valve and ducting with said flow connection passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 48 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said third means includes a valve and ducting in communication with said holding tank, and a pressurized gas source connectible via said valve and ducting with said tank for driving liquid from the tank to return the liquid to the cooling system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 54 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein the cooling system includes cooling passages in an engine block and in a heater, there being a coolant flow connection passage between said coolant passages in the block and heater, and wherein said third means includes a coolant return flow duct in communication with said flow connection passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the fill opening is maintained open during said return of treated coolant to the cooling system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said third means includes a source of pressurized gas connected to drive treated coolant back into the coolant system, at a location spaced from the radiator, spent gas leaving the system via said open fill opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said gas consists of air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 30 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a thermostat controlled valve that only opens when coolant has reached a predetermined temperature during initial operation of the engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The combination of claim 9 including a pressure gauge in communication with said ducting for monitoring the pressure in said cooling system after return of treated coolant thereto, and after pressurization of said system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein the system includes a vent for escape of spent pressurization gas, and means for closing said vent during said monitoring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 196 words
A coolant system For use in the method of treating coolant liquid in an internal combustion engine cooling system, the method steps including: (a) forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) treating the coolant liquid in a zone or zones outside the cooling system, said treating including removing contaminant from the coolant liquid, and (c) returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (d) and wherein the cooling system includes a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, the improvement comprising: (e) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (f) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (g) third means in communication with said second means for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (h) tube means to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with said tube means for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 196 words
A coolant system For use in the method of treating coolant liquid in an internal combustion engine cooling system, the method steps including: (a) forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (b) treating the coolant liquid in a zone or zones outside the cooling system, said treating including removing contaminant from the coolant liquid, and (c) returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (d) and wherein the cooling system includes a heat radiator including a container having a coolant liquid fill opening, the improvement comprising: (e) first means for forcing the coolant liquid from the cooling system to the exterior of that system, (f) second means in communication with said first means for receiving the coolant liquid at the exterior of the cooling system, for treatment thereof, and (g) third means in communication with said second means for returning the treated coolant liquid to the cooling system, (h) tube means to extract coolant liquid from lower extent of the radiator for passage from the radiator, and means associated with said tube means for maintaining the fill opening otherwise closed during said passage of coolant from the radiator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said tube means includes an elongated tube insertible into the container via said fill opening to extract said coolant liquid.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-12-27 1992-06-27 1992-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-12-27 1996-06-27 1996-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-12-27 2000-06-27 2000-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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