US1894887A - Crank case oil heater - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1933. w. H. PINGREY 1,894,887

CRANK CASE OIL HEATER Filed April 22. 1951 Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT OFFICE- WILSON HUDSON PINGREY, OF BLAIRSTOWN, IOWA CRANK CASE OIL HEATER Application filed. April 22, 1931.

This invention relates to oil heaters, and more particularly to oil heaters designed for use in heating the oil contained in the crank casings of motor vehicles.

The primary object of the invent-ion is to provide a heater of this character which may be readily and easily inserted through the breather pipe or filling opening of an internal combustion engine, to heat the oil contained in the crank casing and thaw ice formations which usually clog the oil pipes and feed ducts to prevent the proper circulation of the lubricating oil.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater of this character including a heating element and a casing for the heating element to guard against damage to the heating element, should the heater be dropped or struck while it is being positioned or removed.

VVith the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a crank casing, illustrating an oil heater constructed in accordance with the invention, as positioned in the oil of the crank casing.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the heater.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the heating element.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4=l of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the heating element.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises an inner member 5 constructed Serial No. 532,039.

of suitable insulating material, and as shown, is provided with a plurality of cut out portions defining longitudinal grooves or compartments for the reception of the resistance coil 6, which is of the usual and well known construction.

One end of the resistance coil 6 is secured to the inner member at 7 from where it passes through the cut out portion 8 at the opposite end of the inner member and returns towards the connection 7 from where it passes diagonally through the inner member 5, as shown by Figure 4 of the drawing, through the passageway at the opposite side of the inner member, and through a notch formed in one end of the inner member, from where it extends to a point near the connection 7 where it is secured to the inner member 5. The inner member and resistance coil, are encased in the tubular casing 9, which has open ends to permit the free circulation of oil therethrough. Openings are formed throughout the length ofthe casing and disposed in spaced relation with respect to each other, the openings falling opposite to the cut out portions or longi tudinal grooves of the inner member, so that oil may pass laterally into the casing, after the circulation is set up.

Substantially large openings are formed near one end of the tubular casing and accommodate the right angled end 10 of the supporting rod 11, so that the heating member may be readily and easily handled, in positioning the heating element. A right angled portion 12 is formed at one end of the rod 11, and provides a rest to engage over one edge of the filling opening of the crank casing, indicated in the present showing by the reference character 13. The wires 14, which are connected with the resistance coil 8, extend to a suitable source of electricity supply, which may be controlled by aswitch not shown.

Openings are also formed near the upper end of the inner member to register with the large openings near one end of the tubular casing, so that when the right angled end 10 of the rod 11 is passed through the aligning openings, the inner member will be securely held within the casing.

In the'use of the device, the closure of the breather pipe or filling opening of the crank casing, is removed, and the heater passed ,into the crank casing, through the breather pipe or filling opening.

The electric circuit to the heater is 110W completed, causing the electric current to pass through the resistance coil, which causes the resistance coil to become heated, heating 15 the oil and frozen condensation within the crank casing and pipe lines, to free'theoil and allow the same to circulate freely.

I claim:

A portable electric heater to be submerged .in liquid, comprising a tubular member having open ends, an inner member fitted within the tubular member and held within the tubular member by frictional contact, said inner member being constructed of insulating material and having longitudinal grooves providing compartments with the tubular member, a resistance coil, one end of the resistance coil being secured to the inner member near one end thereof, said inner member having grooves in one end thereof in which the intermediate portion of the coil is held, said tubular member having openings opposite to the compartments to allow liquids to pass therethrough, a rod having an offset lower portion terminating in a right angled end extended through openings in the tubular member, and the opposite end of the rod extending laterally to fit over the upper end of the filling opening of the crank case in 40 which the heater is positoned, to support the heater in an upright position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature.

v 7 WILSON HUDSON PINGREY.

Images