GB2193195A

GB2193195A - Radiator cap

Info

Publication number: GB2193195A
Application number: GB08701422A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William J Segal
Original assignee: Mr Gasket Co
Current assignee: Mr Gasket Co
Priority date: 1986-07-31
Filing date: 1987-01-22
Publication date: 1988-02-03
Also published as: JPS6344459A; GB8701422D0

Abstract

A radiator cap (10) for an automotive pressurized cooling system includes a top (16) of non- round cross-sectional shape, and a decorative plastic cover (14), which has a mating internal non-round cross-sectional shape. The two parts are joined together by means such as bosses (22). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automotive radiator cap This invention relates to conventional pressurized automotive cooling systems. More in particular, the invention relates to the cap for use in such a system. Still more in particular, the invention relates to a unique arrangement of parts to produce a state-of-the-art as to function pressurized radiator cap with means to provide a unique decorative yet fully operative cover for such a conventional radiator cap.

There is substantial consumer demand for so called "dress up" items for automotive engines. One area in which such demand exists has to with the radiator and the radiator cap.

Radiators are functional and "hard working" components of modern automotive engines, and heretofore little has been done to dress up this area inside the engine compartment.

Little can be done with the radiator itself because of its vigorous service demands of high temperature, exposure to the wind stream, and the like. However, the radiator cap is the most visible part of the radiator, and the invention is directed towards providing a "dress up" cap for such pressurized cooling systems.

Heretofore, it has been known to provide various kinds of slip on caps, such additional elements having the disadvantage that they tend to fall off, can come apart from the functional radiator cap which they cover, can get lost, and the like.

It is, of course, possible to make a functional radiator cap from materials other than the brass, copper or steel normally used. In fact, one can simply chrome plate a conventional radiator cap which will improve its appearance. However, such a conventional radiator cap even when plated or made from non conventional materials, still looks like a conventional radiator cap.

It has also been known in the prior art to make radiator caps partly of plastic and partly of metal materials, the metals being used in the functional parts, and the plastic being used at the outside, thus presenting opportunities to "dress up" the radiator cap since plastic materials are easier to work with for this purpose. However, such prior art radiator caps include the disadvantages that they tend to come apart. That is, because of a lack of adequate securing means between the plastic and metal parts, the plastic parts can separate from the metal parts. This is even more serious than the class of prior art devices wherein a cover is fitted over an otherwise complete radiator cap, since in this case, that is a composite from the start of manufacture radiator cap, such a failure will result in failure of the cap itself.Since the radiator cap is an important functional part of the cooling system, such a failure means that the cooling system, and hence the vehicle with which is it associated, is thereby disabled.

The present invention is a substantial step forward in this art as typified by the prior art discussed above. More specifically, the invention comprises a combination of features including a conventional pressurized radiator cap, totally state-of-the-art as to all of its functional parts save, possibly, the top thereof. This top is the part which is grasped by the user in mounting and dismounting the radiator cap from the radiator neck.

So far as the invention is concerned, this conventional radiator cap top includes two lugs which mate with cooperating parts on the top of the neck to cam the cap tightly in place in pressure tight relationship with the neck. This cap top also serves the function of carrying all of the otherwise conventional pressure cap parts.

For modification and use with the invention, this cap top is made of a non-round crosssectional shape in plan view, and is also formed with a plurality of small holes. The invention includes a cover member which has a non-round inside shape that mates snugly with the non-round shape of the cap top. This cover is made of particular grades of high performance plastic material, and provides numerous advantages thereby. In addition, the cover includes a plurality of little tits or bosses which fit through the mating plurality of small openings in the cap top.

To assemble a decorative automotive pressurized radiator cap in accordance with the invention, the two parts, the functional radiator cap with the specially formed cap top is fitted into the cap cover, with the plurality of tits extending through the openings through the cap top. The tits are then heat sealed in place securing the two parts together. However, it is noteworthy that these little elements formed of plastic play no role in the transmission of torque from the cover and the user's hand to the operative parts of the cap.

This torque transmission function is performed entirely by the mating non-round cross-sectional shapes. In effect, the cover and the cap act as a wrench due to their close interfitting relationship to transmit the torque. The heat sealed tits merely hold the parts together.

They do absorb the slight amount of force required to lift the cap off of the radiator neck after the seals have been opened by twisting action in the conventional manner.

The cover of the invention cap is the most important element in providing the advantages of a decorative cap. By seiection of suitable plastics, a highly advantageous cover can be provided which can be formed into any desired aesthetic appearance, which appearance can be made to match other covers within the vehicle, such as a cover for the master cylinder, a cover for the power steering unit, and the like, to thereby give a' unity of decorative appearance to many elements within the en gine compartment.

The cover can be made substantially larger than the conventional radiator cap top. This provides advantages, in addition to appearance, of facilitating gripping by the user's hand, keeping the user's fingers away from hot parts of the radiator and its neck, and the like.

By selection of suitable plastics for the cover, material which will accept chrome plating and thus cause the cover to look like metal can be chosen. Materials which have good heat insulating qualities provide obvious advantages. In addition, the plastic should have some degree of strength for use in the tits which hold the cover onto the radiator cap top, as well as some resistance to breakage in the event the cap of the invention is dropped or the like. One such plastic which has been found to operate advantageously is known as "Norel", which is a kind of nylon.

Another advantage of the invention cap is that the plastic cover, in the event a failure should occur, does not render the system inoperative. That is, if the cover should crock, or the heat sealed tits should fail, and the plastic cover should be or have to be removed, what would remain is a completely functional radiator cap with a metal top having a prismatic shape and presenting no problems to a user in manipulating this cap in the ordinary manner. This is a substantial step forward for the invention as compared to prior art devices wherein the plastic parts are a functional part of the radiator cap.

In summary then, the invention radiator cap can be thought of as having the advantages of both of the two classes of prior art recited above. That is, it has the advantages of a cover in that it does not play a role in the functioning of the cap, and it also has the advantages of an integral cap in that under normal circumstances, the cap will serve as long as the radiator serves in the vehicle. Like a cover, in the event the decorative portion fails, the vehicle cooling system is left with an operative cap in place.

The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a decorative automotive radiator cap embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof; Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2, respectively; and Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the radiator cap cover of the invention shown before it is mounted onto the functional radiator cap portion of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention cap 10 comprises a functional radiator cap 12 to which is fixed a decorative cover 14. The cap 12 includes acap top element 16, see Figures 2 and 3.

The parts of the cap 12 other than the cap top 16 are completely conventional and stateof-the-art including the manner of securement of these parts to the center of the cap top 16. Thus, these functional parts need not be described in any further detail herein.

The cap top 16 includes a pair of lugs or fingers 18 which are at predetermined positions with respect to each other and with respect to the remaining functional parts of the cap 12. These lugs 18 cooperate with the radiator neck to secure the cap 10 in place on and in pressure tight relationship to the radiator neck, all in the conventional manner.

It is to be noted that the cross-sectional shape of the cap top 16, in plan view as shown in Figure 2, is prismatic, more in particular, octagonal. The inside of the decorative cover 14, as best shown in Figure 5, is formed in such a way as to snugly receive and mate with this cross-sectional shape.

The showing of an octagonal or prismatic configuration is not limiting of the invention, but is merely illustrative. That is, other shapes, such as five or six or seven or nine sided could be provided, conical sections, an oval section, or the like could also be provided. The functioning of the invention demands only that this mating configuration between the inside of the cover 14 and the mating outside configuration of the cap top 16 be non-round. This is required in order to permit a torque transmission or wrench effect between the cover 14 which is gripped by the user and the functional cap top 16 to disengage the lugs 18 from the radiator neck.

The cap 10 of the invention includes an axis of rotation 28, see Figure 3. This is the axis about which the cap is rotated in use of the cap on the neck of an automotive radiator.

The non-round cross-sectiqnal shapes of the cover 14 and the cap top 16 are located in planes transverse to this axis of rotation 28.

The decorative cover 14 is provided with an inner circular rib 20 which bears against the cap top 16, see Figure 3. Cover 14 also includes a set of four cylindrical tits 22 provided adjacent the periphery of the cover 14 and on the inside surface thereof. Cover 14 also includes an outer circular rib 24 provided primarily for decorative purposes. The skirt of the cover 14 is defined by a circular array of semicircular flutes 26. These flutes facilitate gripping by the user's hand and add considerably to the decorative appearance of the invention cap 10.

As best shown in Figure 1, the outside of the invention cap 10 and particularly the cover 14 thereof, presents a generally round appearance. This is desirable from the point of view of a matching the function of the cap, that is it must be turned about its vertical axis 28 (as viewed in Figure 3) in order to operate. However, the ability to modify the skirt as by the flutes 26 presents to a designer implementing the invention a great deal of flexibility as to changing the appearance of caps embodying the invention while not departing from the teaching hereof.

The flutes 26, as appear best in Figures 2 and 5, have a generally half round cross-sec tional shape when viewed in axially transverse planes. However, other shapes are also pos sible triangular, hexagonal or half hex shapes and the like. Further, combinations of such shapes could be used. For example, ever second flute 26 could be shaped differently from the companion alternate flutes. Many other such variations are possible given the flexibility of the invention as to its design and decorative features.

Viewed from another perspective, the inside of the cap has a non-round shape, while the outside has a generally round shape. Both features are highly advantageous, the non-round for the torque transmission or wrenching effect, and the external round appearance for use by the user's hand as well as giving a pleasing and a comfortable, as expected by the user appearance to the invention cap.

The rib 24 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 is an upstanding rib and is located on the flat top surface of the cover member 14. As will be clear to those skilled in the art, this is merely exemplative, other variations are also possible. For example, a manufacturer's logo could be located within the upstanding rib 24.

The rib itself could have features, such as an undulating top. A plurality of ribs, fractions of ribs, grooves and other design elements lend themselves to be provided on this top surface of the cover member. This is yet another important facet of the design flexibility afforded by the invention radiator cap.

To assemble the invention cap, cover 14 is fitted snugly over the., cap top 16, and the tits 22 are inserted through suitably formed openings in the top 16. The protruding ends of the tits are then heat sealed, see Figure 4, which secures the cover 14 tightly to the cap top 16. It is to be noted however that these heat sealed tits 22 as shown in Figure 4 do not carry the torque about the vertical axis 28 of the invention cap 10, this function being served by the mating non-round shapes. The heat sealed tits 22 merely hold the parts together and permit lifting of the unsealed cap from the radiator neck.

Further, it is to be noted that these openings, in the event there should be a failure of the cover 14, do not necessarily impair the functioning of the remainder of the cap 12, since they are in the cover and may not be part of the seal of the pressurized cooling system, which seals are provided by the remaining functional parts in the conventional manner.

It should also be noted that the functional cap 12 is made entirely of metal and other conventional materials used in such caps, while the cover 14 is made of plastic. This, in effect, provides the best of both worlds, that is an inexpensive state-of-the-art well proven functional radiator cap 12, while high perform ance plastics, such as the nylon known as "Norel" may be used for the cover to accept metal plating for its heat resistance, and for its impact resistance qualities. Other plastics well known to those skilled in the art could also be used for the cover 14, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

An advantage of this particular plastic, or any other plastic of which the invention cover member 14 may be fabricated, is that it will accept and adhere well to metal plating, in particular chromium plating. Chrome plated parts inside the engine compartment are highly desired by the consumers of the invention radiator cap.

While the invention has been described in some detail above, it is to be understood that this detailed description is by way of example only and the protection granted is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. In a cap assembly, said cap assembly comprising an axis of rotation, the combination comprising a functional cap comprising a cap top, said cap top comprising a portion having a non-round external cross-sectional shape in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly, said cap assembly comprising a cover member, said cover member comprising a portion having an internal non-round crosssectional shape in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly, said cap top crosssectional non-round shaped portion mating within said cover member internal non-round cross-sectional shaped portion, means to secure said two mating non-round cross-sectional shaped portions of said cap top and of said cover member together, and said cover member comprising an external generally circular shape in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1, said cover member consisting substantially entirely of plastic material.

3. The combination of claim 2, said plastic material comprising a grade of nylon having high resistances to heat and to fracture and being adapted to accept metal plating.

4. The combination of claim 2 or 3 wherein said means to secure said cap top and said cover member together comprises a plurality of heat sealable tits formed on an inside surface of said cover member which surface is adapted to contact said cap top in the assembled together condition of said cap assembly, said cap top being formed of metal, and said cap top being formed with a plurality of lopen- ings adapted to accept said heat sealable tits of said cover member.

5. The combination of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said mating cross-sectional non-round shapes comprises a prismatic shape.

6. The combination of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said mating cross-sectional non-round shapes comprises an octagonal shape.

7. The combination of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said mating cross-sectional non-round shapes comprises an oval shape.

8. A cap assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. The combination of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said cover member has a plurality of decorative features.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said decorative features include metal plating on all of the external visible surfaces of said cover member, and said cover member otherwise being formed of a plastic material.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said decorative features include a plurality of flutes each having a generally half round shape in planes transverse to said cap axis, and said flutes being arranged on said cover member into said external generally circular shape.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein said decorative features include at least one upstanding circular rib formed on a top surface of said cover member, and said top surface being located in a plane transverse to said cap axis.

12. A cap assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1 to 12 above have been deleted.

New claims have been filed as follows:

1. In a cap assembly, said cap assembly comprising an axis of rotation, the combination comprising a functional cap comprising a cap top, said cap top comprising a portion having a non-round external cross-sectional shape in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly, said cap assembly comprising a cover member, said cover member comprising a portion having an internal non-round crosssectional shape in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly, said cap top crosssectional non-round shaped portion mating within said cover member internal non-round cross-sectional shaped portion, means to secure said two mating non-round cross-sectional shaped portions of said cap top and of said cover member together, said mating cross-sectional non-round shapes comprising a prismatic shape for providing a wrenching action between said cap top and said cover member, said cover member comprising an external generally circular shap in planes transverse to said axis of said cap assembly, and said cover member consisting substantially entirely of plastic material.

2. The combination of claim 1, said plastic material comprising a grade of nylon having high resistances to heat and to fracture and being adapted to accept metal plating.

3. The combination of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said means to secure said cap top and said cover member together comprises a plurality of heat sealable tits formed on an inside surface of said cover member which surface is adapted to contact said cap top in the assembled together condition of said cap assembly, said cap top being formed of metal, and said cap top being formed with a plurality of openings adapted to accept said heat sealable tits of said cover member.

4. The combination of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said cover member was a plurality of decorative features.

5. The conbination of claim 4, wherein said decorative features include metal plating on all of the external visible surfaces of said cover member, and said cover member otherwise being formed of a plastic material.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said decorative features include a plurality of flutes each having a generally half round shape in planes transverse to said cap axis, and said flutes being arranged on said cover member into said external generally circular shape.

7. The combination of claim 4, wherein said decorative features include at least one upstanding circular rib formed on a top surface of said cover member, and said top surface being locared in a plane transverse to said cap axis.