US1607610A - Oil cooling and refining device - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

WILLIAM ECKS'I'EIN AND ELROY H. MACE, or CLEVELAND, oHIo.

OIL COOLING AND REFINING DEVICE.

Application filed August 12, 1922. Serial No. 581,461.'

This invention relates to oil-cooling de vices, particularly for internal-combustion engines; and is shown in this application as applied to the crank case of such an engine,

for the purpose of cooling the lubricating oil of the case, though it is clear that it may be applied to other closed chambers con taining lubrication media with slight modification of the mounting and connecting it) means here described. Its objectsare to lower the temperature of the oil in the case without having to modify the structure of the latter in any way, and without provid ing any additional mechanical means for creating an outside circulation, such'as water jacket or a fan.

Another object of .this invention is to utilize the lighter vapors from the heated oil in the case for fuel by conducting them into the intake manifold.

Another object is to provide a device to be connected with the case, and in which device outer air may be circulated through the oil, cooling the latter, and then bubbling up and passing off with the vapors as before mentioned.

Another object is to provide an easily detachable device so that it may be quickly removed and cleaned when it should be desirable to do so, though our device will require very little attention and will not become easily choked by solids apt to be found, even in the cheaper oils.

A still further object is the use of means in the cooling device which will purify the oil as well as attain the cooling function,

From these purposes it will be seen that great economy in lubrication is attained, economy in fuel results by burning the hot vapors released from the oil, and the lubricated parts are better served by the heavier oils which result from the cooling.

\Vith the above and other objects in view our invention consists of the improved oilcooling device hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views: Figure 1 is an elevation of the crank case of an automobile (parts losing broken away) with our improved device connected therewith, a part of the wall of. the latter, being also broken away;

and

Figure 3-is af vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the oil cooler is shown as a receptacle A rectangular in cross-section and about twice as high as it is wide. It is to be understood that we are by no means to be limited to this shape of receptacle-as it may be cylindrical or of other relative proportions; it is only so shown as probably convenient for-mounting, though other shapes may be adapted to particular conditions.

The device A is mountedon the case 1 by drilling a hole in the latter and fitting a pipe at thereinto and securing the other end in the side wall of the receptacle; and the capacity of the latter is foundto be appropriately about two quarts, so that with the usual oil supply in the case, the cooler will be about half full. It is to he noted that it is not essential that another opening I shall be drilled in the case, as it willoften.

be found convenient to mount the tube at in the lower pet-cock of the case, which will avoid another drilling.

Through an opening 8, in the top of the i I cooler, a tube 3 is extended into the body until its lower open end 5 approaches the bottom of the can though slightly spaced therefrom. The upper end of the tube 3 is protected by a hood 2 in which a membrane or screen 7 prevents the entrance of extraneous matter into the tube. Air can therefore enter the tube and descend therein and bubble up through the'loil in the can when suflicient vacuum exists to cause such entrance. A smaller pipe is screwed into an other portion of the top of thecan, and a pipe 10 is connected detachably thereto by means of a turnbuckle nut. 9.

Said pipe 10 leads to the intake manifold,

11 conveying thereto the hot and light a. pors from. the lubricating oilthat has become heated in the crank case. These vapors will be burned in the cylinders along with the ordinary fuel coming from the carburettor 12.

The rece tacle A is provided with fins .6, if it is desired, to assist somewhat in the cooling function though it may not be thought desirable in some cases; and may also be provided with a plug 14 in its bottom, for cleaning purposes.

It will be understood that while the engine is running, there will be a material vacuum in the intake manifold, which results in a corresponding vacuum in the receptacle A above the oil therein which latter condition causes the outside air to rush in through the screen 9 and down the tube as before explained, thus cooling the oil.

This constant ingress of air into the receptacle and bubbling through the oil therein has a very positive cooling action on the oil through which'it passes and consequently on the oil in the crank case with which it is in free communication by means of the tube 4. It is a marked advantage of our structure that the cooling effect is attained without requiring additional energy to be supplied from the common source of power of the engine itself. There is no fan to be driven and no pump to be actuated to produce a liquid circulation; in fact, power is sfaygd by the vapors conducted to the mani- While this device is shown attached to an engine for driving a vehicle, it is to be expressly understood that we do not desire to be so limited, but that it is adaptable, and will be found valuable for use with internalcombustion engines of any type, and whether applied to vehicles or to stationary machines; and if applied to vehicles, it may easily be used with autos of any make, or with trucks and tractors.

We do not desire to limit ourselves to the exact form of the elements, or the particular combination shown and described, for it would appear to be possible tomodif y the structure shown substantially without enlarging the scope or departing from the spirit of our invention, and we desire to claim broadly on the novel means and connections described.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cooling and refining device for lubricating oils in the crank case of internal combustion engines comprising a receptacle detachably mounted on the case by a tube having its ends secured in the wall of said case and receptacle, respectively, said tube having free communication with the contents of the receptacle at its lower portion and with the case at a point below the normal level of the oil therein, pipe connection between the top of the receptacle and the intake manifold, and means immersed below the level of the oil in said receptacle and communicating above the oil level with the outside air, to afford circulation of the latter through the oil in the receptacle to cool the oil in both the receptacle and the case, and carry off the lighter oils and direct them into said manifold;

2. A device for cooling and refining the oil in the crank case of internal combustion engines comprising a hollow receptacle having three openings in its walls, two above the level of the oil therein and one below, tubular means connecting the lower opening of the. receptacle with the interior of the crank case to mount the receptacle in spaced relation from the said case and to afford a common level of the oil in the two receptacles, a tube having an open end inserted through one of the upper openings into the oil receptacle and below the oil level therein and a screened upper end permitting the entrance of air therein and emergence thereof from the lower end through the oil contained therein to cool the latter, and tube means connecting the other upper opening of the receptacle with the intake manifold whereby a vacuum is created in the oil receptacle and the hot vapors are conveyed to and mixed with the fuel vapors received from the carburetter when the engine is running, substantially as set forth.

3. A cooling and refining device for the crank case of internal combustion engines comprising a hollow body detachably mounted on said case but spaced therefrom, and having communication means connected with the case for permitting the oil to rise in the said hollow body to the same level as the oil in the case, said body having two openings in its walls above the ordinary level of the oil in the body or case, means connecting one of said openings with the intake manifold, and an open-ended tube inserted through the other opening by a gastight fit and immersed below the common oil level in said body, substantially as set forth.

4:. Means for cooling and refining the oil in the crank case of an internal combustion engine comprising a closed receptacle, means for mounting the latter upon said case in spaced relation therefrom and in communication with the interior of said case, so as to have the same oil level in each, means on said receptacle communicating with the outside air for directing the latter down into the oil in said receptacle and an air-tight tube for conveying vapors from the recep-' tacle to the intake manifold, substantially as set forth.

5. Means for cooling and refining the oil in the crank case of an internal combustion engine comprising a closed, hollow receptacle mounted exteriorly upon and in communication with the interior of said case, though spaced therefrom, whereby the same oil level will exist in both receptacle and case, and means communicating with the outside air for directing the latter down through the oil within said receptacle and out therefrom and into the intake manifold.

6. Means for cooling and refining the 011 in the crank case of an internal combustion and in communication with the interior of said case, so as to have the same olllevel 1n both receptacle and case, and means for causing a aseous circulation of outside air into and through the oil in said receptacle and out therefrom.

' 7. A cooling and refining attachment for the oil in the crank case of internal combustion engines comprising a receptacle having tubular means for mounting the same upon the crank case, and allording free communication between the lower portions of both receptacle and case, so asto afford the same oil level in each, the top wall of the receptacle'being rovided with twoapertures, an open en ed tube having its lower end projecting below the normal level of the oil in said receptacle, mounted mom of said apertures and communicating with the outside air, and a tubular member connecting the other aperture with the intake manifold, whereby vacuum created in the latter by the running of the engine will cause a circulation of fresh air through the oil in said receptacle to cool the same and thereby the case oil.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

WILLIAM ECKSTEIN.

ELROY H. MACE.

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