US1452173A - Low-water indicator - Google Patents

Description

Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,373

R. 1.. SCOVILLE LOW WATER INDICATOR Filed April 5, 1921 EL Scovz'lfe @514 ad, GHQ 0440,13

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Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

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ROYAL L. SCOVILLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO EDWIN M. ROSENBLUTH, OF

- WALLINGFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

' LOW-WATER INDICATOR.

Application filed April 5, 1921. Serial No. 458,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ROYAL L. SoovlLnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 50 Church Street, New Yorkcity, in the county of Kings and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-VVater Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention relates to low-water indicators especially adapted for the radiators of automobiles. One object of the invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture of such indicators and at the same time to render them more reliable and unaffected by weather conditions. The further object of the invention is to improve the operation of such indicators so that they will not be affected by the surging of the water -in the radiator whereby the indicator will show the mean level of the water without registering temporary variations in the level.' A still further object of the invention is to prevent effectively the water the radiator from escaping or splashing out through the cap and attached indicator. A still further object is to design-an indicator of universal,

application to all makes of cars.

Referring to the drawings in which the preferred forms of the invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the radiator cap and low-water indicator as it is attached to the automobile radiator.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail and side elevation showing a slightly modified form of connection between the float and the push rod.

modification.

of valve or cup member located at the bottom of the float container.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the lower portion of a modified form of container float and cup valve.

The upper portion, of anautomobile radiator is indicated at 1 with the usual filling spout at 2. Preferably, my invention is attachedto and forms apart of the radiator cap 3 which is shown as threaded in the spout 2 at 4:. The upper portion of the cap 5 is provided with a slot 6 in which is pivoted on pin 7 an indicator arm 8. -When thearm is in the. position shown in Fig, 1

Fig.1 3 is a'similar view of a still further the outer end 9 of the same projects abo e the general contour of the cap so as to be plainly visible from the drivers seat. To render it easily discernible it may be especially colored or highly polished and may also he provided with a luminous button 10 containing radio-active material. When the arm, however, is in the lowered position, it lies entirely within the general contour of the cap and is invisible from the drivers seat. i

The upper portion 5 of. the cap is shown as threaded on a tube 11 of fairly small bore. Also threaded on said tube is a nut 12 which clamps the cap firmly against the upper portion5. Said tube extends downwardly below the mouth of the filling cap and is preferably provided adjacent its lower end with a threaded collar 13 or other enlargement. T he container proper 14 for the float is shown as threaded on saidcollar 13. Said container may be made of brass tubing or the like which is preferably drawn or swaged inwardly at the bottom thereof to provide an annular stop 15 limiting the downward movement of the float 16. Said container 1 1 may be very little longer than the float itself since the purpose of my indicator is not so much to show the exact Waterlevel as merely to indicate where the water in the radiator gets dangerously low or, in other words, falls about to the level of the top of the radiating tubes. For connecting the indicator Sand the float, I have shown a wire 17 pivoted at 18 to the indicator and at 19 to an intermediate valve member 20. Said member 20 is shown as formed of a conical piece 21 having secured to the bottom thereof as by means of a set screw 22 and washer 23, a rubber washer 24: or other valve member. When the member 21 is raised by the float, it can readily be seen that the washer 24% will seat against annular valve seat .25 on the lower end of the tube 11, thereby effectively preventing Water from being forced up the tube 11 and out of the top of the cap. The float 16 is shown as connected to washer 23 by hook 24' and an eye 25, the former being shown on the washer and the latter on the float. It will be seen that by this hook and eye connection between the float and member 22 and also the hook and eye connection 19 between the member 21 is shown in Fig. l as in the form of a cup fitting the lower rounded portion of the float and the annular inwardly curved lower portion oi the containerl l.

' The action of the valve 26 in preventing undue actuation '01- the indicator is as follows: -As the radiator is being filled and the Water rises around the voutside ot the container 16, the pressure speedily lifts the member 26 and the Heat 16 seated thereon and new into the interior of the container, the air therein being forced out through the uppervent 27 Thewaterspeedily gets be,-

ttve'en the member 26 and the float vher'e-r upon the member 26 settles upon its seat 15 While the float rises until valve 22 is seated against valve seat 24; and the indicator 3 ture 28 at'tli'e loiverportion thereof so as is'flbwerfed, If noiv tl'iefleyel or the vater sli'ould temporarily "fall below the loiver end of the container 14 the Water inside said container would not escape. immedi'atel'y'but would maintain the" float in its elei ated position untitthe normal ivaterlevel: wasyrestor ed, In order tl' atvvater may not be permanently trapped Withinsaid container 14 'and thus not only interfere ivith the proper functioning thereof when the Water got perm'an en'tlylow hut'also render the same subject "to damage freezing in cold Weather, I have provided the cap with a small aperto drain the same sl oivlyfSaid aperture may be covered with wire gauge 29 it de sired as llustrated in l? 1g. fl. Also said aperture may be dispensed with it pro-- vision is made so, that the valve .member 0 'fia a a ua This may be accomplished by corrugating the same as indicated at. 26 in Fig. the lovver end of' the container being; in; dicated at 15 and the float at 16" in this figure. A simple forin of hook and eye con ne'ction betiveen the flo'at and member 22 is sh'ovvn Fig. 3' vherein .thehoole 30 is secured to the top of the float 16avhile the eye is format. by a hole through the head 31 of In my indicator it should be observe di 'the upper vent 27 in the float cha er is normally beloiv the ivaterilevel asfijvell as thebottom"opening This also is use u'l in preventing improper, actuation; fit si tl 'e te t- 'In invention it is unnecessary to se cure the flo'atlfi tmthe member 21, since its;

movement is thoroughly guided and limited;

g qgiagf 15. Sush i iQ ti i is sh wn; In Fig, J h re e k b .4 1 s the head 31 0f set screw 23', the head be ing preferably hollowed out at 41 to forni I a universal connection; a

Particular attention is called to the fact that my construction permits employing a much smaller diameter intermediate'niember 1.1 thanthe float chamber 1% between the latter and the cap 3, thereby permitting me to employ a float of substantial diameter and at the same time not interior" ing with the placing of the indicator in the radiator. On some makes of automobiles, the drainage pipe, eiitendsupintO the 511- ing sp0ut2, so that it is impossible to have a substantial-float chamber, ifithe same is of the same diameter'throughoutlon account of interference With this pipe, By my. design, however, the float chamber may be dropped doyvn into the radiator off center until the float chamber clears the said pipe and; then moved" to thetpropervposition vto 's i t wt e. sa nto pl is a .i

In accordance'ivith the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of my inventiomtogether with the apparatus, which Inow .coni sider to represent the best embodiment'there V of, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatusgsho vn is only; illustrative and t that the invention can be, carried 1 out by other means, Also, whileit isdesigned to use the various features and elements in the combinationand, relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted vvithout interfering With the more general. resu lts outlined, and the invention extendsfto such; use.

Having described my, invention-what I claim and desire to secure by. LetterslPatsaid member when the .vvateryis; low and means connecting said fioat andt indicator, or onerating h sa e. r a

2,111 a low Water 'ndijcator, the combination With'a radiator spout and cap, of a float located; belo v 'thegs'a'me andjspaced therefrom, A a float chamben therefor enclosv ing the same, andfof not much greater lengththan saidfloat, atube ofmuchless diameter than said chamber connecting the same to the cap, whereby obstructions in the radiator, spoutneed not restrict the size 'oflthet fioat employed, aniindicator on said cap and means passing through said tube conneeting said indicator and float.

3; In a low Waterindbat'or, the combina tion with an indicating member, of a float,

the float merely abuts when raisedagainst a float chamber having anopening at'each end, a valve member for each of said openlngs, the lower valve member havmg a restricted opening for the purpose speolfied and means connecting said float and indicat- 5 mg member to operate the same. 7

4. In a loW Water indicator, the combination with .a radiator float located below spout and cap, of a the same andspaced therefrom, a float chamber therefor enclos- 10 ing the same, and of not much greater length than said float, said chamber having an upper and a lower opening both of which are normally below the Water level. a tube of less diameter than said chamber connecting the same to said cap an indicator on said cap and means passing through said tube connecting said float and indicator.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. a

ROYAL L. SCOVILLE.

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