US1663016A - Internal-combustion-engine cooling system - Google Patents

Description

E. MANNING Filed Da e. 29, 1922 llwzniam March 20, 1928.

INTERNAL cougsusuou ENGINE COOLINGJYSTEM n" 9 Mr I 3 VD vfiv V .7 .u 7 W M" Z 6 i w w a M 9 1 A 5 8 v Z Z any suitable character.

Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

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ELMER J. MANNING, OF JANESVILLE. WISCONSIN, ASSIG'NOB OF ONE-HALF TO ALVARO S. KROTZ, E JANIESVILLE, VTISCONSIN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTICK-ENGINE I COOLING SYSTEM.

Application filed December 29, 1922. Serial No. 609,598.

This invention relates to internal combustion engine cooling systems, in which a radiator is employed for the condensation of steam, instead of for the cooling of the water, and in which theradiator is, therefore, normally free of water.- 1

Generally stated, the ob'ect of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement whereby, in a cooling system of the foregoing general character, a tank is provided at the bottom of the radiator, for the accumulation of the water of condensation, in combination with a steam separator, water level in the tankis always the same as that in the return water connection from the separator, and'so that the radiator is normally free of water, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and novel combinations tending to increase the general eiiiciency and the desirability of an internal combustion engine water cooling system of this particular construction. To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set system embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the water cooling system in section.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing another form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a check valve for the vent of the tank at the bottom of the radiator.

As thus illustrated, the internal combustion engine 1 may be of any suitable known or approved character. As shown, the engine has a water jacket 2 of the usual 'or The radiator 3 for the condensation of steam may be of any suitable character, but at shown is composed of vertical tubes having a header 4 at their upper ends, and the bottom of the radiator thus provided is provided with a tank 5 for the accumulation therein of the water of condensation. A steam separator 6 is provided, in the form of a horizontally disposed hollow element, and a steam and water connection 7 leads from the top of said water and connections whereby the jacketto the separator. A steam connection 8 leads from the top of the separator to the header 4 which is the top of the radiator. A return water connection 9 leads from the lower end of the separator to the bottom of the water jacket. Also, as shown, an outlet water connection 10 leads from the bottom of the tank 5 to the return water connection 9, so that the normal water level 11 in the tank 5 is always the same as that in the connection 9, when the system is working under normal conditions. As shown in Figure 2 the header 4 has a closure 12 which can be removed for the introduction of water into the system, so that in this case the system is filled through the radiator, until the water'rises to the level 11 as previously explained. To assist in the maintaining of the water level at the proper height, an overflow outlet 13 is provided for the upper portion of the tank 5, and as shown in Figure 2 the same water level will. be maintained in the waterand steam connection 7 leading from the top of the jacket. A fan 14 is provided for cooling the radiator, and means 15 are provided on the separator to support said fan, so that the air is drawn through the radiator,- as indicated by the arrows.

In operation, the water boils over through the connection 7 into the separator 6, and the steam escapes through the connection 8 into the top of the radiator, while the unvaporized water drops down and into the return water connection 9, and then flowsv to the bottom of the jacket. The steam thus.

entering the rad ator will be condensed therein, and the water of condensation will fall into the tank 5, and this water of condensation will flow through the connection 10 to the water jacket of the engine, but the water in the connection 9 and in the tank 5 is balanced, so to speak, and will preserve an even level at a point somewhere below the overflow outlet 13, for should the water in filling the system rise above this level it will overflow through this outlet and thereby ensure or maintain the desired conditions, for in a system of this kind it is desirable to keep the radiator free of water so that the steam may freely condense therein and fall into the tank below.

In. Figure'3 the cooling system is substantially the same as that previously described, but in this case the radiator and its tank 5 all lUt) water 'level 16 maintained in the tank and in the return water connection 17 is below the water level 18 which is permissible in the Water and steam outlet leading from the top of the water jacket 19 ofthe engine. Also, as shown in Figure 3, a pump 20 is located in the return water connection ,21 which leads to the bottom of the water. jacket, so that all water in-the system must pass through this pump betorereturning to thefbottom of the water acket. Int-his case, also, an overflow 22 is provided for the tank 5, so that in filling the system the water in this tank and in the connection 17 will assume' the desiredlevel, it too much water is -introduceiil into' the system. The top off the radiator, in Figure 3, has a screw cap23, like the ordinary radiator, but with this arrangement it is also desirable to provide a be'removed for the introduction of water screw cap 24 on-the connection 25 which may into said jacket, and when this is done the water will rise in the connection 25 leading from the top of the water jacket until it overflows into the separator 26, and the -wat'er will then rise from the latter'and in the tank 5 until it assumes thelevel 16 previously mentioned. This level 16 is maintained wlienthe pump 20 is operating substantially at normal speed, or under proper conditions, but no matter how fast the pump may operate the water will not flood the radiator, and the latter will be kept substantially tree of water and in condition to rapidly condense any steam which enters at the top thereof from the separator. A check valve 27 may be interposed in theconnection 21 to ,prevent back flow through the pump and to maintain the water level 18 when the pump stops. 2

With the provision of the overflow outlet (13 (W22) atmospheric pressure will be 'maintained in the radiator and :tank at the :base thereof. Cold air can enter and chill the steam, and should the pressure rise too vgradually forces the air down and out of the outlet (13 or 22.), as the temperature of the engine rises, and will blow otfthrough *said outlet if the engine overheats until the steam enters the'tank 5 at the bottom of :the radiator. The water circulation is maintained independently of the radiator. In Figure 2, the water circulation does not start until the water 'boils over from the connection '7 into the separator 6, but in Figure 3 the circulation starts as soon as the pump 20 'begins to run. Of course,

vacuum therein, or a partial this pump may be operated by the engine in the ordinary or any suitable manner. WViththe open vent shown at 13 or 22 air will enter freely to maintain atmospheric pressure, and will .flow in and out as the load" on the engine changes. Of course, steam will'on'ly blow off through this vent in case of a very heavy load, as in very hot weather this might occur. On the other hand, with a very light load, the steam may not move downward more than two or three inches in the top of the radiaton but if the load were suddenly increased it might beyforced half way down or more through and willbe condensed in the condenser tubes 1 and the air in the base portion of the radiator will automatically flow in or out to maintain atmospheric, pressure within the system. f

In Figure 4 the vent is provided with a check valve 28 which permits steam and water to escape, but prevents air from entering, so that in such case of the steam in the radiator will leave a the steam generated when the engine starts up again will comequickly into the radiator without having to first push the air out of the radiator. handvalve 29 is provided below the check valve 28, which can be left open for the escape of water, in filling the system, so that' an indication will be given when the proper water level is reached in the tank below the radiator and the return water connection -from the separator.

One of the distinguishing features, it will be seen, of the invention shown and described as per Fig. 3, is that the construction involves a steam separator having a steam and water connection 7 to the bottom of the water jacket and a drain con nection 9 tothe bottom of the water jacket and a steam connection 8 to the top of the condenser, in a structure in which the water level is equalized inthe tank or reservoir 5 and in the drain connection 9 of the circulating system, and in a system in which all water must pass through the pump 20 from the drain connection 9 and from the tank 5 in which the condensate is accumulated from thecondenser.

2 Of course, in either :form of the invention, the water can circulate without pass ing through the tank, and without passing through any part of the condenser. The steam separator in each case is above the normal water level inthe tank or reservoir atithe bottom of the condenser, which :tank serves as .a reservoir for a varying quantity of water. In each case the filling means for filling'the system with water are above the chamber of the steam separator,.so that condensation IUD while the system is being filled.

the system can be filled until the water overable.

in Fig. 3, means are provided to maintain the water level in the return connection and the tank, including the elements 13 and 22, and whereby said tank and condenser and said jacket and return tube form independent units, one for condensing the vapor and holding the condensate and extra supply of cooling liquid and the other providing circulating means for the cooling liquid in the jacket, and whereby steam only can pass into I the condenser, and cooling liquid to compensate for evaporization can only pass into. the jacket from said tank. In other words,

' of evaporization) liquid will flow from the I tank into the-jacket. As a matter of fact,

the separator forms an overflow level for the acket, and this level never changes.

condenser the overflow level not being permitted to change 7 means that the amount must be supplied by the level in the return tube which did not receive the amount supplied the jacket, and this tube level dropping will receive enough from the tank to equalize the two levels, and the water supplied'will of course be at a much lower temperature, but the small quantity joining'the rapidly circulating large volume will not reduce the temperature more than a degree or so.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an internal combustion engine, a cooling system the predetermined working temperature of which is the boiling point of the liquid employed therein, comprising a water jacket for cooling the engine, a condenser having a header forming a tank at the bottom thereof to serve as a reservoir for a varying quantity of water and to keep the condenser normally free of condensate, a steam separator having a steam and waterv connection to the top of said jacket, inwhich Thus, in the form of the invention shown water in the form of steam pa ses into the connection the normal water level is below the chamber of the separator, said separator having a drain connection to the bottom of the jacket and a steam connection to the top of said condenser, said tank having'means to keep the water level therein below the condenser, and a water connection from the bottom of said reservoir to said drain connection, wherebyto equalize the water level in said drain connection and. in said tank.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, having an outlet in said tank whereby steam and air and water can escape to the atmosphere from said condenser.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1,

comprising a pump in said drain and water connection, whereby all water and condensate in the system must pass through said pump and flow into said jacket from said separator and tank, while all steam must pass into the top of said condenser, and an outlet in said tank whereby air or steam can escape. i

4:- In an internal combustion engine, a cooling system the predetermined working temperature of which is the boiling point of the liquid employed therein, comprising a water jacket for cooling the engine, a condenser havinga water connection from the bottom thereof to the bottom of said jacket, a steam separator attached to the top of saidjacket and having a steam connection to the top of said condenser and a drain connection to the bottom of said jacket, a pump in said water connection, a tank in the system to serve as a reservoir for a varying quantity of water and condensate, so that.a. water level is maintained by gravity above said pump but below the said separator and said condenser, and whereby steam must passv into the top of said condenser, while the water must circulate through said jacket and overflow into said drain connection, and whereby condensate will return to said j acket.

cooling system the predetermined working- 'temperature of which is the boiling. point of the liquid employed therein, comprising a water jacket for cooling the engine, a condenser having a header forming a tank at the bottom thereof to serve as a reservoir for a varying quantity of water and conden-sate, a steam separator connected to the top of said jacket and having a steam connection to the top of said condenser and a drain connection to the bottom of said jacket, a water connection from the bottom of said tank to the bottom of said jacket, said tank disposed in position whereby its water level is'maintained by gravity in said drain connection, and a pump in said water gravity into said tank and returns through said pump to said jacket.

7, A structure as specified in claim 6, having an outlet at sald condenser whereby steam or air can escape.

' 8. An internal combustion engine cooling system the predetermined WOl'kiIL; temperature of which is the boiling; point of the liquid employed therein, comprising a water jacket for the engine, a radiator tor the cooling and co n densarion at steam only, haviag its bottom provided with a tank for the water of condensation, thereby to keep the radiator normally tree of water, a steam separator ahove the normal Water level in said tank, a steam and water connection from the top of said jacket to the separator, in which connection the normal water level is below the chamber of the separator, a steam connection from the separator to the topoi said radiator, a return water connection from the separator to the bottom of said jacket, so thatwater can circulate Without passing through the tank, a connection from the bottom of the tank to said return ater connection, so that the water level in said return connection and in'the tank will always be the same, means to maintain this water level, and means for V introduclng Water into the system.

9. An internal combustion engine cooling system the predetermined working temperature of whichis the boiling point'of the liquid employed therein, comprising a radiator for the condensation of steam, a tank forming a base for said radiator, serving as a reservoir for the accumulation of the water 01" condensation, a water acket having its bottom connected to the bottom of said tank, a steam and Water separator for the top of said jacket, filling means above the chamber of the separator, and an overflow outlet for the upper portion of said tank, adapted to permit air or steam or water to escape to the atmosphere, and so that in filling the water is prevented from rising above the separator orinto the radiator.

10. An internal combustion engine cooling system the predetermined working temperature of which is the boiling point or the liquid employed therein, comprising a water jacket for the engine, a radiator for the cooling and condensation of steam only, having its bottom provided with a tank for the water of condensation, thereby to keep the radiator normally free'of water, whereby said tank and condenser and said jacket and return tube form independent units, one for condensingthe vapor andholding the condensate and eXtra supply of. cooling liquid and the other providing circulating means for the cooling liquid in the jacket, and

whereby steam only can pass into the com rator to the bottom of said jacket, "so that water can circulate Without passing through the tank, a connection from the bottom of the tank to said return water connection, so that the water level in said return. connection and in the tank will always be the same, means to maintain this water level, and means for introducing water into the system.

1.1. An internal combustion engine cooling system the predetermined Workingtemperature of which. is the boiling point ofthe liquid employed therein, comprising "a radiator for the condensation of steam, a tank forming a base for said radiator, serving as a reservoir for the accumulation of the water of condensation, whereby said tank and condenser andsai'd jacket and return tube form independent units, one for condensing the vapor and holding the condensate and extra supply of cooling liquid and the other providing circulating means for the cooling liquid in the jacket, and whereby steam only can pass into the condenser, and cooling liquid to compensate for ev'aporizationcan only pass into the jacket from said tank, a water acket having its bottom cbnnected to the bottom of said tank, a steam and water separator for the top of said jacket, filling means above the chamber of the separator, and an overflow outlet for the upper portion of said tank, adapted to permit air or steam or Water to escape to the atmosphere,a1 1d so that in filling the water is prevented from rising above the separator or mto the radiator.

ELMER J. MANNING.

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