US1633794A - Shutter apparatus for radiators - Google Patents

Description

l 633 794 June 28, 1927. l J' RLEIGH 1 SHUTTER APPARATUS FOR RADIATRS Filed Deo. 23. v192s Y A j x?. f g

Patented .lune 28, N27.

rasant UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

u JAMES F. RALEIGH, QF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'lC PINES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.'

SHUTTER APPARATUS FOR RADIATORS.

Application tiled December 22, 1923. Serial No.l 682,219.

My invention relates to a shutter apparatus for controlling the flow' of air through the radiator' "of an internal combustion engine. An apparatus of this kind is particullarly useful when used in connection-with an internal combustion engine constituting the power plant of an automotive vehicle.

The specific embodiment of my invention hereinv disclosed-comprises shutters which, 1-0 during the operation of the engine, open to increase the-rate at which heat is radiated tirefiadiatesbetavhielripngdy return to closed position when the engineases to operate. As will hereinafter appear', I prefer to operate the shutters by fluid under pressure, preferably air, which may -be supplied from a pump actuated by the normal variations in iuid pressure Within one of the cylinders of the engine with which the apparatus is associated. The fluid under pressure operates the shutters through the agency of a fluid pressure responsive device, which, in turn, is controlled by a valve actuated by a thermostat which is responsive to changes in engine temperature, the thermo- 'stat preferably comprising portions in direct contact with the core of the radiator.

The foregoing and other. features, objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating various elements of my improved apparatus and the fluid pressure connections'between the same; Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational -view of a detachable type of radiator shutter apparatus embodying my present invention; and l Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the -line 3 3 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring first to Figures be seen that 'I have illustrated a detachable shutter apparatus which in many of its structural characteristics is, or may be, substant'ially identical with the shutter apparatus described and claimed inv my `Patent No.'1,458,i593, dated June 12, 1923. Such a 50l detachable shutter apparatus preferably includes a sheet metal shell comprising a mar-v .ginal flange 4, a fenestrated forwardly dished central portiony 5, a shutter frame;

whichis suitably mounted within the shell,

2 and a, it win' pivotally mounted. shutters 7--7 adapted to control the flow of air through the shell' rfenestration, a spring 8 .which cooperates .pivoted to the shutter frame is moved in a clockwise direction (F ig. 2). The shell flange 4,is beaded at its outer edge to provide a rearwardly opening channel which receives a. cushioning strand 12. s

Persons skilled in the art to which my invention relates and familiar with the construction illustrated in my prior patent aforesaid will vunderstand that the `attachment shell is,"or may be,applied to an automobile radiator by long, slender bolts (not shown) which extend through the radiator core and through apertures 13-18 in the marginalflange of the shell, said bolts serving to clamp the outer edges of the shell flange tightly against cushioning strip l2 and to clamp the latter tightly against the radiator front in such a way that all, or a very large part of all, of the air which passes through the radiator core must find its way f through the shell fenestration controlled by shutters 7--7.

As thus far described, the device of my present invention 4,need not differ substantially from a well-known radiator shutter attachment now in widespread use upon American automobiles. I shall now describe those parts of the apparatus which are the salient features of the present invention. y

Disposed within the forwardly dished central portion of the attachment shell and con- Disposed within the upper part of the forwardly dished central portion of the attach- "ment shell `is a therinostatically actuated Y. eo

V is of the well-known bi-metal type-and is so constructed that its free end moves away from the radiator core in response toV increased temperature.A The free end' of the thermostat embraces, or is otherwise operably connected with,r a valve element 21, which is adapted to reciprocate in a cylindrical bore formed in a bossi 22 which may constitute an integral part of the member intake stroke 'of piston 35, a pressure substantially less than atmospheric is established in cylinder 34. During each compre-ssion stroke of engine piston the pump,

piston 37 moves upwardly to cover )ort 36 and to deliver air into conduit 26. It desired, conduit 26 maybe provided with a check valve seating against pressure l'roai pump cylinder 37, but such a check valve is ordinarily not necessary due lo the tact that when the automobile engine is ruiming the pump can easily maintain a substantial pressure within conduits 26 and 3l, not withstanding the absence of'v such a checl.V valve.

Describing the operation of the apparatus ot my invention, it may be assumed that the engine is at rest and that the several moving parts of the apparatus occupy the positions illustrated in the drawings. As soon astheengine starts to operate, the pump 27 likewise operates and creates an air presn18. When--in-thepositien-ill-ustratedn-Fige-siLrre-grcaterthan atmospheric in the con- 1, the valve member 21 precludes communicationI between ports 23 and 24 Jformed in the aforesaid boss 22, but it will be noted the said valve member 21 is providedavith an annular groove 21a adapted to aiiord communication between the ports 23 and 24 when the thermostat responds to a' predetermined rise in temperature. Port 23 is Vconnected through a 4metal or other suitable conduit 25 with the cylinder 14 and port 24 is connectcd through. asimilar conduit 2 6 lwith a suitable air pump 27 which I shall presently describe in detail.

. It will be noted that cylinder 14 is provided with a relatively small opening 28 through which, when open, air under pressure in cylinder 14 may-escape to a vent 29.

The opening 28 is adapted to be closed by a reciprocating cone valve 30 which responds to fluid pressure delivered thereto through small cylinder 32 provided with an: externally threaded hollow stem 33 adapted to be threaded into the upper part of one of the engine cylinders indicated at 34 and to afford communication between the engine and pump cylinders. The piston which operates in the engine cylinder 34 is illustrated at 35. The pump cylinder 32 is provided with an air port 36. and operating in said pump cylinder isa piston 37 which is adapted to move downwardly to admit air to the upper part of the pump cylinder when, during any duits 26` and 31. The cone valve 30 thereupon seats. As the temperature of the engine increases, the temperatures of thecooling w-ater and radiator core likewise increase, with the result that the cylindrical.

valve member 21 is moved toward the position where it affords communication between ports and 24. As soon as such communication is established, the air pressurecreated by pump 27 is transmitted to cylinder 14, moving the piston 15 against the action of springs 8 and 17`and opening the shutters. Since that portion of valve member 21 which affords the annular groove 21a is frusto-coiiical in shape, the air which is' delivered to cylinder 14 is admitted gradually, with the result that the shutters are not opened with undue suddenness. Provided the engine continues to operate, the shutters remain open until the temperature of the radiator core' has fallen tovsuch a degree that the thermostat 19 has moved valve 21 to a position where it shuts off communication between' ports 23 and 24. When this` occurs the springs 8 and 9 move the shutters toward their closed position as fast as the air trapped in cylinder 14 can escape'around the piston 15. The piston 15 need not t the cylinder very tightly. This is true .because the air-delivering capacity of the pump 27 is sufficient to render a slight amount of leakage around the piston 15 negligible when communication is afforded between ports 23 and 24. Thermostatically controlled valve 21 continues to exercise control over the com-- munication betlween pump 27 and cylinder 14, and correspondingly exercises control over the shutters so long as the engine continues to operate.

In cold weather it is very desirable that the shutters close immediately after the engine is stopped, notwithstanding the tact that th engine may be Very hot at the time "it is stopped. This operation is assured. by

the apparatus of my present invention. As soon as the engine stops, the pressure in conduit 31 drops to. atmospheric, with the result that valve unseats toA permit piston l5 to assume its normal position, and the shutters `close under. the influence of springs 8 and 17. As soon as the engine is. again started, the valve 30 seats, vthereby again placing the shutters under the control of the thermostat 19 and its-valve 2l. j

While I have describedwhat I now regard to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myselfl to :the specific construction vor arrangement of parts herein shown and described, buticlaim broadly all other embodiments of my invention' as it is Vdefined by the appended claims.

IVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a shutter attachment unit,the combination of a'shejll, shutters supported by said shell, an expansible chamber supportedv by said shell, operating connections between the movable wall of said expansible chamber and said shutters, a thermostatic unit supported by said shell, a conduit connecting with said expaiisible chamber, a valve actuated by said therinostatic unit and controlling the passage of fluid through said conduit, and an engine-operated fluid pump connected to said conduit.

2. In combination with an engine and its radiator, shutters, spring means tending to close said shutters, an air pressure actuated, device adapted when operated to open s aid shutters against the-action of said spring means, an air pump which functions when, and only when, the engine is operating, a

passage through which said pump may deliver air to said pressure actuated device, and therinostatic means in contact with theradiator for controlling the flow of air through said passage.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, shutters, a fluid pressure pump which functions when and only when the engine is in operation, a fluid pressure actuated shutter operating device, a passage throughwhich fluid may be delivered from said pump to said device,fand a blocking valve responsive to changes in engine temperature interposed in said passage, saidshutter operating device receiving all ofthe displacement of s aid fluid pressure pump when said valve is open.

4. Inv an apparatus of the yclass described,

, shutters, an air pressure operated device 'for moving said shutters, an engine operated air pump,- thermostatic means for establishing communication between the lpump and the air pressure operated device, a vent for said air pressure operated device, and means for closing said vent when the engine is operating.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

shutters, an air pressure operated "device for movin said shutters an en ine o erated air pump, thermostatic inea-ns for establishing communication-between the pump and the air pressure operated device, a. vent for said air pressure operated device, and means respon- 'sive to air pressure created by said` pump valve controlled by said thermostat adapted to gradually establish and shut off communication between said deviceand said pump.'

7. In combination with an engine and its radiator, an air pump operating when and only when the engine is in operation, sliuty teis controlling the flow of air through said radiator, an operating device for said' shutters adapted to be actuated by air pressure created by said pump, a passage between said pump and said shutter operating device, a thermostat contacting with the exterior of said radiator responsive to changes in engine temperature,l and a valve controlled l by said thermostat adapted gradually to open and close said passage.

8. In combination with an engine and its radiator, an air pump operating when and only when the engine is in operation, shut- .ters controlling the flow of air through said radiator, an operating device for said sluitters adapted to be actuated by air pressure created by said pump, a 'passage between saidv pump and said shutter operating de-` vice, a thermostat responsive to changes in engine temperature, a valve controlled by said thermostat adapted gradually to open and close said passage, a vent for said shuti ter operating device, and means responsive to air pressure `created by said pump adapted vto close said vent when the pump vis operating. r J

9. In combination with an engine, means for controlling 'the flow of air which serves to cool said engine, an air pressure. actuated device for operating said air flow controlling means, an air pump adapted to operate Awhen and only when the engine is in operation, a passage aording communication between said air pump and said air pressure actuated device, a valve controlling said passage, a thermostat disposed outside of the cooling circuit and contacting with the radiator for operating said valve.-

10. In combination with an engine, means for regulating the flow of air which serves to cool said engine, an air pump which operatesv when and only when the engine is in operation, anair pressure actuated device for operating said air flow controlling means, a passage affording communication between said punipaiid said air pressure actuated device, a valve controlling said passage, a thermostat for operating said valve, a vent for said air pressure actuated device, and means responsive to air pressure created by said pump adapted to close said Vent when the pump is in operation.

11. In an apparatus of the class described and in combination with an engine and its radiator, shutters for controlling the `flow of air through said radiator, spring means normally tending to close said shutters, an air pressure actuated device adapted When operated to open said shutters against the action of said spring means, an air pump associated with one vof the cylinders of the engine and operated by variations in fiiiid' pressure within the engine cylinder, acondiiit affording communication between said air pump and said air pressure actuated device, a Valve controlling said conduit, a thermostat for operating said Valve,.a vent or said air pressure actuated device,.and means responsive to air pressure created by said pump for closing said vent when the pump is in operation. 12. In a shutter attachment unit, the combination of a shell, shutter mechanism supported by said shell, a cylinder supported by said shell, a piston in said cylinder, operating connections lbetween said piston and said shutter mechanism, aI thermostatic unit supported by said shell, a conduit connectling with said cylinder, a Valve actuated by said thermostatic unit controlling said conduit, and alrair pump connected to said conduit, said air pump being connectedto relniostatically controlled valve for said conduit, said expansible chamber havingone outlet for the fluid contained therein when said valve closeswith the engine running, and another outlet for the Huid contained therein when the engine stops.

v14. In an apparatus of the class described,

shutter mechanism,l an eXpansible'cli-aniber oper tivel connected for actuatimr said a) .Y e

`shutter mechanism, a fluid passageway communicating with said. expansible chamber,

and means responsive to .the stopping of the engine for controlling a second iuid passageway communicating with said expansible chamber.

15. Iii an apparatus of the class described, shutter mechanism, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, operating connections between said piston and said shutter mechanism, a

fluid passageway,communicating with said cylinder, a tliermostatically controlled valve for controlling said passageway, said cylinder having a leakage path for venting the same when said valve closes witl the engine running, and means responsive o the stopping o't the engine for opening a second Huid passageway venting said cylinder;-

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12 day of December, 1923.

` JAMES F. RALEIGH'.

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