US1799105A - Radiator-flushing unit - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 HENRY A. LASKO, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA PATENT OFF-ICE A RADIATOR-FLUSHING UNIT Application filed November 30, 1929. Serial No, 410,845.

My invention relates to apparatus'adapted for flushing or cleaning out automobile radiators and similar radiators, by continuous flow of water or other cleaning liquid therethrough under" pressure, in a direction opposite to the normal direction of flow of liquid through the radiator while the latter is in actual use.

My invention relates morcparticularly to a m novel apparatus or unit, which contains certain facilities inassemblcd and operative relation to each other, for heating a cleaning liquid, for circulating said liquid under pressure, for straining the cleaning liquid and for mounting a radiator core in operative relation to these facilities or instrumentalities, so that the same may be applied to the radiator with the greatest facility, efiiciency and ease.

My invention further relates to novel details of construction which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

With the above ends in view, my invention consists in a unitary piece of apparatus, or what is hereby termed a radiator flushing unit, preferably, though not necessarily, mounted on wheels so as to render it more portable, including a radiator mounting rack or radiator support, upon which the radiator core of an automobile or the like maybe mounted, a liquid reservoir for containing the cleaning liquid, suitable heating means associated with the reservoir for heating the cleaning liquid as may be desirable. a liquid pump. preferably of a rotary type. driven by anv suitable meanssuch as an electric motor, said pump having its intake connected to the liquid reservoir and having its discharge port connected to a regulating valve, means for mounting the radiator core upon the radiator rack or support in inverted position. and suitable flexible hose connections for connecting the bottom of the radiator core to the control valve and for connecting the top of the radiator core to the strainer, through which the cleaning liquid is again discharged into the liquid reservoir.

My invention further consists of a novel expansible plug adapted for effecting a quick detachable and liquid pressure proof connection between the flexible hose and the top or bottom inlet or outlet of the radiator core.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof .which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that theyarious instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously I arrangedand organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my novel radiator flushing unit, with the liquid reservoir shown in section.

Figure 2 represents a top plan View of the same.

Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the same. 1

Figure 4 represents-a sectional view of an expansible plug embodying my invention.

My novel radiatorflushing unit consists of any suitable base 5, of suitable length and width, mounted on suitable wheels or casters 6, so as to permit the unit to he moved'or wheeled about with facility. At one end of the base 5 I provide a generally upright panel 7, supported by a pair of suitable braces or stays 8, and having a pair of horizontally, projecting supporting brackets 9, upon which the radiator core 10 may be supported, in'the inverted position indicated in thedrawings. Any suitable clamping means 11 and 12 may be employed for retaining the radiator core 10 inposition upon the supports 9. Thus the vertical bracket or rod 12 may be anchored in the up-right panel 7, as by being bolted thereto or otherwise secured thereto, and the clamping rod 11 having a hooked end for engagement with the radiator 10, may be adapted 'to extend through the bracket 12. By any suitable nut, as for instance, a nut 45, threaded onto the end of the clamping rod 11, the radiator. 10 may be secured firmly on the panel 7.

At the opposed end of the base 5, a cylindrical reservoir 13 is mounted, having its sary. The direction of the flow of the cleanbottom 14. positioned a suitable distance ing 1i uid is indicated by the arrows 34. above the base 5, so as to accommodate a In *igure 4 I have illustrated an expanas burner or other heatingmeans 15 beneath sible, quick-detachable plug adapted for use the bottom 14 of the reservoir. A suitable on the free ends of the flexible hose 29 and 32, lid 16 may be provided on the top of the for establishing connection between said hose reservoir 13. and the inlet opening 33 and the outlet open- The inlet 17 of the reservoir 13, terminates ing 30 of the radiator core 10. The hose 29 in a straining or filtering device 18 of any is attached to a nipple 35, of iron or brass or suitable contructionwithin the rservoir 13, so the like, the free end 36 of which is screwthat the liquid returned into the reservoir 13 threaded. A manually operable wing nut is strained or filtered before it is actually disor the like 37 is threadedly mounted on the charged into the reservoir. threaded portion 36, and immediately adja- Intermediate of the radiator supporting cent to it a suitable loosely fitting washer 38 panel 7 and the reservoir 13, I mount a pump is placed over the threaded stem 36. A rela- 19 of any suitable type and of appropriate tively soft, yieldable and expansible plug 39, capacity (preferably a rotary pump), with formed of rubber or the like, and having a its axis extending transversely of the base 5. central bore 40 loosely fittingover the thread- An electric motor 20, or any other suitable ed portion 36 of the nipple, is provided in motor power may be provided on the base 5 in abutting relation to the washer 38. A coroperative juxtaposition to the pump 19, and responding washer 41 is then placed against either directly or otherwiseponnected to the the other end of the plug 39. and a suitable pump shaft 21. nut or other terminal fastening means 42 is The outlet 22 of the reservoir 13 is conthen provided to retain the assemblage of the nected to the inlet port 23 of the pump 1 parts on the threaded portion 36 of the nipthrough suitable piping 24. The outlet or ple 35. discharge port 25 of the pump 19 is connected In applying this plug, the nut 37 is loosy he piping 2 E Sl i COIIirOl Valve ened up and the plug is then inserted into the 27 positioned at a suitable height for conopening to which the hose 29 or 32 is to be venient manipulation. To the pipe 28 eX- secured, with the nut 37 remaining outside the tending from the' control valve 27, a flexible opening. The nut 37 is then tightened against hose 29 is attached, the free end of which may thewasher 38 and against the body of the then be secured to the bottom outlet 30 of the plug 39, causing the latter to be squeezed in an radiator 10. Suitable piping 31 is attached axial direction and to expand correspondto the inlet 17 of the reservoir 13, and to the ingly in a radial direction against the inner lower end of the piping 31 a flexible hose 32 wall of the opening. By thus tightening the is attached, the free end of which is in turn nnt37 the opening is plugged up tight in a connected to the upper inlet 33 of the radia quick and convenient manner, whlch can then tor 10. be released with e ual facility by simply In the normal operation of my novel flushloosening the nut 3 and allowing the plug ing'unit, the reservoir 13 is filled with a suit- 39 to contract again. able quantity of water or preferably some It will be understood that in the operation suitable cleansing fluid, as indicated in Figof my novel flushing unit the top refill openure 1. Byuneans of the gas-burner 15 or any ing 43 of the radiator core 10, as well as the other suitable heater, the liquid in the reserdrain pipe usually provided on radiator voir 13 is heated to a suitable temperature. cores, are suitably plugged up. The radiator 10, mounted upon the panel 7 in By my novel radiator flushing unit, I am the inverted position shown in Figure 1, is enabled to pass water or any other cleaning then connected to the piping 28 and 31 by the liquid through the radiator in a direction opflexible hose connection 29 and 32 respectiveposite to the normal flow of water through ly. The motor 20 and pump 19 are then set the radiator when the latter is in use as art in operation, causing a flow of liquid from of the cooling system of an internal com usthe reservoir 13 through the piping 24, tion engine. The sediment or scale forming through the pump 19 and then out through in the radiator while the latter is in use, the piping 26 and control valve 27 into the usually predominates at the top of the radiaoutlet 30 of the radiator core (normally positor where the water enters the radiator core. tioned at the bottom), then through the radi- Thus it is one of the objects of m invention ator in a downward direction and through to circulate the cleaning liquid t rough the the inlet 33 of the radiator back through the radiator in a direction directly opposite to piping 31 into the strainer or filter 1 8 and that in which the sediment forming liquid then into the reservoir 13. The sediment and was circulated through the radiator while the other, solid matter which is washed out of latter was in use. By this means the passages the radiator by the flow of cleaning liquid is of the radiator maybe cleaned more quickly, then filtered out by the filter 18 which may since the obstructions are not only removed be cleaned out or emptied whenever necesby reason of the cleaning liquid but also by the mechanical action of the stream of fluid. The novel radiator flushing unit of my present invention Works equally well on any type of radiator core, whether the same is of the tubular or the cellular or honeycomb type.

In extremely clogged up radiator cores it may be necessary to circulate the cleaning liquid through the radiator core comparative- 1y slowly in order to prevent any damage to the core by reason of the pressure of the cleaning liquid. This may be controlled by the valve 27. I

The cleaning liquid used in this flushing unit may be any suitable aqueous solution or the like, of which many have been devised.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialattributes thereof, and I therefore desire, the present embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,referencebeing had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by mounted upon said platform having its intake permanently connected with the bottom of said reservoir and having its exhaust adapted for detachable connection with the upper end of a radiator when mounted upon said radiator support, and .a pipe communieating with the upper portion of sald reservoir and with the lower end of a radiator when mounted upon said radiator support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of November, 1929. ENRY A. LASKO.

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