AU698768B2

AU698768B2 - Radiator fitting

Info

Publication number: AU698768B2
Application number: AU59490/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Craig William Coxon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-17
Filing date: 1996-07-15
Publication date: 1998-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-15
Also published as: AU5949096A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: CRAIG WILLIAM COXON CRAIG WILLIAM COXON S S.

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CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: RADIATOR FITTING Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PN4168 filed 17 July 1995 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: a, i; zj: I F_ -C I- I i 1 I :i *4 *r p.

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THIS INVENTION relates to a fitting for a radiator or similar heat exchanger. In particular, the invention is directed to a fitting adapted to be used on radiators such as those found in CATERPILLAR M D9, D10 and D11 machines, to enable a safety release cap to be used in conjunction with the radiator.

Some radiators, such as those found in the CATERPILLAR D9, D10 and D11 earthmoving machines, have a "screw on" radiator cap. Such caps do not permit pressure built up inside the radiator to be safely released. If it is necessary to gain access to the radiator, impatient operators may unscrew the radiator cap without waiting for the coolant to cool down, and hence, for the pressure to fall to a safe level.

Consequently, such operators can easily be burnt by the pressurised steam escaping from the radiator as the cap is unscrewed.

Safety release caps for automotive radiators are known. These caps enable the pressure within a radiator to be released safely. Typically, a safety release cap has a push button, lever or other mechanism which vents the interior of the radiator to the atmosphere while the cap remains fitted to the radiator.

However, known safety release caps are not suitable for use with large industrial radiators such as those found in certain CATERPILLAR models for several reasons. First, known radiator caps have bayonet fittings and hence are unsuitable for radiators with screw on caps. Secondly, known safety release caps are not always able to contain the high pressures which build up inside such radiators. Further, they are unable to vent the highly pressurised coolant to the atmosphere in a controlled manner.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate the abovedescribed disadvantages, by providing a fitting for a screw cap radiator which enables a safety release cap to be used in conjunction with that radiator.

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,Ir 3 In one broad form, the present invention provides a fitting for a radiator or similar heat exchanger having a mouth normally adapted to be closed by a threaded radiator cap, the fitting comprising a housing adapted to be threadedly mounted to the mouth and having a cap mount portion to which a safety release radiator cap may be mounted, wherein when the housing is mounted to the mouth of the radiator, the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator such that the interior of the radiator may be vented to the atmosphere by the operation of the safety release radiator cap.

Preferably, the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator by means of at least one passageway through the housing, the passageway having an aperture which is substantially smaller in area than the radiator mouth. The passageway may be a small diameter bore.

Preferably, a conduit, such as a metal tube, extends from the cap mount portion to the exterior of the fitting, such that upon operation of the safety release radiator cap, the interior of the radiator is vented to the atmosphere via that conduit. The conduit has a 25 downwardly directed opening at its end, to minimise the risk of scalding.

In another form, the invention provides a fitting for a radiator or similar heat exchanger having a mouth normally adapted to be closed by a threaded radiator cap, the fitting being able to be threadedly mounted to the radiator mouth in place of the threaded radiator cap and having a closure portion on the underside of the fitting adapted to abut against the mouth of the radiator to form a sealed closure, and a cap mount portion on the topside of the fitting, the cap mount portion being adapted to have a safety release radiator cap fitted thereto, the cap mount ~L P-C m BP*b* l~ril i L 4 portion being in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator via at least one passageway through the fitting, the passageway(s) having an aperture of substantially smaller area than the radiator mouth.

In yet another form, the invention provides a radiator assembly, comprising a radiator having a mouth portion adapted to receive a threaded radiator cap, a fitting screwed to the radiator mouth portion in place of the threaded radiator cap, to substantially close the mouth, a cap mount portion on the fitting, and a safety release radiator cap fitted to the cap mount portion, wherein the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator through one or more passageways of substantially smaller aperture S"than the radiator mouth portion.

~In order that the invention may be more fully 20 understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment I.f: thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: A Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a tt t: radiator closure assembly incorporating the preferred embodiment, and c Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view of the to.. radiator closure assembly of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, a radiator fitting 1 is mounted to the mouth of a radiator 10. Typically the 30 radiator is of the type used in CATERPILLAR crawlers, and has a threaded stem 11 protruding upwardly through the mouth of the radiator. In conventional CATERPILLAR radiators, a radiator cap (not shown) is screwed onto the stem 11 and seals against the upper annular lip of the mouth.

In the closure assembly of the illustrated embodiment, thie conventional threaded radiator cap is replaced by a fitting 1 which is screwed onto the threaded stem 11. The fitting 1 is generally of cup-like configuration. That is, it comprises a cylindrical wall 12 having a radial wall 12A at the bottom end thereof, the top end being open.

The fitting 1 of the illustrated embodiment was made from mild steel solid bar, machined down to 115m in height and 138mm in diameter. The middle portion of the solid steel bar was then machined out to an inside diameter of 127mm, to a depth of 89mm. The underside of the steel bar was machined down to a depth of 13mm, with an inside diameter of 127mm.

However, in the centre of the underside, a cylindrical boss 15 of 38mm diameter and 20mm height is retained. The boss 15 is bored and threaded to enable it to be screwed onto the threaded stem 11 of the radiator Two 20mm x 20mm lugs 13 were welded to the outside of the cylindrical housing for ease of screwing 0, the fitting 1 on to the threaded stem 11. In addition, two 15mm diameter holes 14 were drilled at diametrically E, opposed positions on the cylindrical housing 12, at approximately the same height as the lugs 13, to allow a i' small bar, lever or screwdriver to be inserted through Sthe holes 14 and used for added leverage when screwing the fitting 1 onto the threaded stem 11 to the required tightness.

ir The annular machined area on the underside of fitting 1 around the boss 15 is provided with a rubber seal 16, 110mm in outer diameter and 2.5mm thickness.

The seal 16 is retained on the underside of the fitting 1 by a brass plate 17, having 73mm outside diameter, inside diameter and 1.6mm thickness. The brass plate 17, in turn, is retained in position by a 38mm inside diameter stainless steel clip 18 fitted to the boss When the fitting 1 is screwed onto the threaded stem 11, the annular seal 16 is sandwiched between the underside of the fitting 1 and the upper lip of the radiator :i opening, thereby providing a sealed joint between the Ii L i 6 fitting 1 and radiator A radiator cap mount 20 is provided within the chamber defined by cylindrical wall 12. Typically, the cap mount 20 is generally of tubular configuration with a stepped diameter. The cap mount 20 is suitably fixed to the bottom wall 12A of fitting 1, e.g. by welding. The transition in diameter of the cap mount 12 forms an internal ledge 21 which provides an intermediate annular sealing surface. The upper annular end 22 of cap mount is shaped to receive a safety release cap 23 in a bayonet mount, as shown in the drawings.

The safety release cap 23 has a spring-loaded sealing member 24 which seals against the intermediate sealing surface 21. The sealing member 24 may be lifted off the sealing surface 21 while the cap 23 is still mounted to the cap mount 20, by lifting handle 23A.

Chamber 25, formed within the cap mount .below the sealing member 24, is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator 10 by means of two 6mm holes 28 drilled through the boss 15 on either side of its threaded bore. Chamber 26 in the upper part of the cap mount 20 is vented to the atmosphere via a metal tube 27 which passes to the outside of the cylindrical wall 12 and has a downwardly directed opening 27A.

25 In use, the conventional threaded radiator cap tc is replaced by the fitting 1, which is screwed tightly to the radiator 10. A safety release cap 23 is placed on cap mount 20. To release pressure within the radiator the lever 23A on the safety cap 23 is raised to thereby lift the sealing member 24 against the bias of its associated spring. This establishes fluid communication between the interior of the radiator 10 and the atmosphere, allowing hot pressurised vapour or water to be vented to the atmosphere. The small bore passageways 28 limit the flow of water/vapour, and the pressure within chamber 26. Consequently, the pressure within the radiator is able to be released in a controlled manner.

7 As any liquid or vapour expelled through tube 27 will be directed downwardly, danger to the operator is minimised. Once the pressure within the radiator 10 has been brought down to atmospheric pressure, the radiator cap 23 can be removed safely.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

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Claims

1. A fitting for a radiator or similar heat exchanger having a mouth normally adapted to be closed by a threaded radiator cap, the fitting comprising a housing adapted to be threadedly mounted to the mouth and having a cap mount portion to which a safety release radiator cap may be mounted, wherein when the housing is mounted to the mouth of the radiator, the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator such that the interior of the radiator may be vented to the atmosphere by the operation of the safety release radiator cap.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator by means of at least one ,passageway through the housing, the passageway having an aperture which is substantially smaller in area than the Smouth.

3. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a conduit extending from the cap mount portion to the exterior of the fitting, the interior of the radiator being vented to the atmosphere via the conduit upon said operation of the safety release radiator cap.

4. A fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the exterior end of the conduit has a downwardly directed opening.

A fitting as claimed in any preceding claim, a wherein the fitting is generally of cup-like 30 configuration and comprises a cylindrical wall, a bottom wall extending radially within the cylindrical wall and adapted to rest on the mouth of the radiator when the fitting is threaded thereto, the cap mount portion being located on the topside of the bottom wall and being in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator through at least one passageway extending through the bottom wall.

6. A fitting as claimed in claim 5, further i V ft f ft. f *0 Q ft ft Oftf 4 o 4*o ft C fta ft i t f (Oft f *ft o 9 comprising a boss portion located generally centrally of the bottom wall, the boss portion having a threaded bore therein into which a threaded stem in the radiator mouth is received when the fitting is threadedly mounted to the radiator.

7. A fitting as claimed in claim 6, wherein the passageway(s) extend through the boss portion.

8. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a planar sealing member on the underside of the bottom wall, wherein in use, the sealing layer is sandwiched between the bottom wall and the radiator mouth to form a sealed closure.

9. A fitting as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cap mount portion is generally of tubular configuration and comprises an upper annular portion on which the safety release radiator cap may be fitted in a bayonet mount.

10. A fitting as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tubular cap mount portion has an internal annular ledge 20 such that when the safety release radiator cap is fitted to the cap mount portion, an annular sealing member of the safety release radiator cap abuts against the ledge to form a closure.

11. A fitting for a radiator or similar heat 25 exchanger having a mouth normally adapted to be closed by a threaded radiator cap, the fitting being able to be threadedly mounted to the radiator mouth in place of the threaded radiator cap and having a closure portion on the underside of the 30 fitting adapted to abut against the mouth of the radiator to form a sealed closure, and a cap mount portion on the topside of the fitting, the cap mount portion being adapted to have a safety release radiator cap fitted thereto, the cap mount portion being in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator via at least one passageway through the fitting, the passageway(s) having an aperture of substantially smaller area than the radiator mouth. I L li I- -VL pl- -L -1 1

12. A radiator assembly, comprising a radiator having a mouth portion adapted to receive a threaded radiator cap, a fitting screwed to the radiator mouth portion in place of the threaded radiator cap, to substantially close the mouth, a cap mount portion on the fitting, and a safety release radiator cap fitted to the cap mount portion, wherein the cap mount portion is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator through one or more passageways of substantially smaller aperture than the radiator mouth portion.

13. A fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A radiator closure assembly substantially as hereinbefore described. ATED this fifteenth day of July 1996 CRAIG WILLIAM COXON 20 By his Patent Attorneys Cullen Co. 0 *r 4 o *8 i* l~l 1 11 ABSTRACT A fitting is threaded onto a radiator (10) in place of its usual threaded radiator cap. The fitting has a cap mount (20) on which a safety release cap (23) may be fitted. The chamber (25) within the cap mount (20) is in fluid communication with the interior of the radiator via two relatively small diameter holes (28) in the bottom wall (12A) of the fitting When the sealing member (24) in the safety release cap (23) is lifted, pressurised vapour and fluid within the radiator (10) are vented to the atmosphere via the small diameter holes (28) in a controlled manner. The fitting enables a safety release cap to be applied to a radiator which normally uses a threaded cap, and further enables the safety release cap to be used in a safe controlled manner. *t C o4* i t t t i c.