US2010622A - Housing heater - Google Patents

Description

R. A. BROWN Aug. 6, 1935.

HOUSING HEATER Filed March 2Q, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l R. A. BROWN .HOUS ING HEATER Aug. 6, 1935.

Filed March 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AM%M% Qzzz,

Aug. 6, 1935.

R. A. BROWN HOUSING HEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 20, 1935 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING HEATER Ray A. Brown, Rockford, Ill. Application March 20, 1933, Serial No. 661,808 20 Claims. (01. 219-47) This invention relates to a heater for heating housings on motor vehicles principally with a view to facilitating servicing.

The present practice in cleaning out diflerential and transmission housings for replacing the lubricant is to use steam to loosen and clear out the lubricant, or to flush out the same with kerosene or gasoline. Both methods have serious objections. It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide a portable heater for application to the housing to render the lubricant sufiiciently fluid by heating to permit easy drainage. An important feature of this heater is that it heats by the passage of magnetic flux back and forth through the housing wall, the heater being of an electromagnetic type operated preferably on alternating current, or on direct current using an interrupter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater of the kind mentioned constructed to promote convenience in application to the housing to be heated, and so as to adapt the heater to use on diiferent sizes and shapes of housings.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the course of the following 'detailed description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a rear view of an automobile showing the heater of my invention in position on the diiferential housing;

Fig. 2 is a view of the housing and heater on a larger scale showing the heater in vertical crosssection;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the heater;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a heater of modified or alternative construction having adjustable jaws to accommodate a large range of housings of diflerent sizes and shapes;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the heater illustrating how the jaws are adapted to conform themselves to the contour of the housing;

' Fig. 6 is another view similar toFigs'. 2 and 4 but showing a still further modified or alternative construction;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the lower portion of the heater with a portion broken away to permit showing the parts on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section oi Fig. '7,and

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-4 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

In Figure 1 the heater or my invention is indicated generally by the numeral ID in position on the differential housing H of an automobile for the purpose of making the lubricant therein sufficiently fluid by heating the wall of the housing, to permit easy drainage when the plug is removed. In other words, nothing foreign is allowed to get into the housing and interfere 5 with good lubrication. Where steam was used, there was always some water left in the housing which in cold weather would freeze, and in any event, was objectionable for obvious reasons. Where kerosene or gasoline was used it got into 10 the working parts and kept lubricant from getting in so that the parts were improperly lubricated. The kerosene or gasoline also caused objectionable dilution of the lubricant. Aside from the fact that the steam; kerosene or gasoline left the housing in an unfit condition, the use of such a medium was objectionable because of the amount of time consumed; the heater of my in-. vention performs the operation in a fraction of the time. While I have shown the heater applied to a differential housing, it should be understood that it may also be applied to the transmission housing for a similar purpose or to the engine crank case either for the same purpose,

or for the purpose of preparing a frozen up car for starting. Heaters of this type willfind use at air ports for heating the crank cases of air-craft engines in preparation for flight, thereby reducing the fuel consumption and time loss in warming up. It will further appear that while I- have shown an automobile, the invention is applicable to any motor vehicle.

The heater I0 is of an electromagnetic type connected by means of a suitable extension cord I3 with an electric light socket in an A. C. or D. C. line with a view to heating the wall of the housing by the passage of magnetic flux back and forth through the wall. In a D. C. circuit it is apparent that an interrupter has to be used in order to secure reversal of the flux, or simply inter- 40 mittent flux. At present, I prefer the use of alternating current because it avoids any condition of residual magnetism in the part heated and seems to heat more efliciently. Reversal of direct current would, of course, give the same advantage. Experiment has shown that it takes but a few minutes to heat a cold housing sumciently to render the lubricant therein fluid so that it may be drained out easily. The heater, as best appears in Fig. 2, has a laminated core I, the pieces of which are placed at-right angles to each otherv and suitably riveted together, as indicated at II, the outer ends of the pieces having right angle portions l6 riveted together as at I! and forming the jaws for application to the wall of the housing. In Fig. 2 I have indicated flux lines to give a better idea. of the way in which the heater works. Two coils are indicated at I8 on the two legs of the core l4. These are suitably connected togethereither in series or parallel, and, of course, have connection with the wires of the extension cord H3. The housing IQ of the heater is of nonmagnetic material and made in two pieces, as appears in Fig. 3 so as to permit assembling on the heater from opposite sides. Any suitable means may be employed for fastening the housing sections together. Hooks 20 are formed on the housing sections topermit suspension of the heater on the rear axle by chains or cables, as indicated at 2 I. When the heater is brought into place from a pit or where the differential housing is high enough to permit, blocks or a jack may be provided to support the heater with or without the chain or cable. In that event, the flat surface 22 on thebottom of the heater is used for engagement of the blocks, or jack. The plunger of a jack is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in engagement with the surface 22. Any pressure exerted on the surface 22 is transmitted directly to the core l4 because of the fact that the crotch of the core fits into a right angle pocket 23 in the bottom of the housing. There is, therefore, no danger of distortion if more than the necessary pressure is brought to bear. Sufiicient space is left in the housing l9 between the coils l8 and alongside the core I4 to permit mounting a switch 24 directly on one of the housing sections. See Fig. 3. The lever 25 of the switch 24 projects from the housing for convenient operation, and has a projection 26 alongside the same to serve as a guard to prevent damage tothe switch and accidental opening or clpsing 'of the circuit by something coming in contact with the switch lever. When a heater of the present construction is so designed to bring the jaws l8 near the axle bearings at the ends of the housing ll, heat will be transmitted along the axle sections to the differential gearing so that the lubricant thereon will become fluid and drain oft. However, it may be found desirable to provide a heater with adjustable jaws to permit placing them in the most advantageous position on different sizes and shapes of housings. A heater of such construction is shown in Fig. 6, to which attention is now directed.

This construction also willffacilitate application ings and crank of the heater to transmission ho cases. Due to the fact that the heater consists of hinged sections, separate housings l9a and l--b are provided for the coils on the core connected with the extension cord 13. The core sections lla and M-b extend'from the lower end of the housings as shown, and have through bolts 38 and 31 extended therethrough to provide pivots as well as clamping means. Links 38 interconnect the bolts at the front and back and are received between the arms 39 of a yoke 48, through whichthe bolt 36 extends, as indicated in Figs. '7 and 9. By providing two pivots at 36 and 31 I am enabled to get away from the condition-illustrated in Fig. 5 on heater Ill; both sections of'the core can be made solid without any air spaces between laminae. As shown in Fig.

irthe pieces of the one core section have the center, and the mating pieces on the other core section have their lower ends cut out on a corresponding arc 42, to permit the angular adjustment of the section I4b about the bolt 31 as a center so as to widen or shorten the distance between the jaws Iii-a. Whenthe core has been adjusted as desired, the wingnuts ll on the bolts 36 and 31 can be tightened to clamp the parts rigidly in adjusted position. The bottom of the yoke 40 provides a place for engaging a jack or block to support the heater. Hooks 20 can be provided for suspension of the heater on the housing. The heater I0 shown in Fig. 4 is another one having adjustable jaws, and attention is now directed to Figs. 4 and 5. I The heater I0 has a laminated core Hi, the pieces of which are made to extend the full length of the housing l9 and to project from opposite ends thereof for attachment thereto of jointed adjustable jaws Hi. The jaws I6 are formed in two laminated sections 21 and 28, the former pivoted to the ends of the core M, as indicated at 29, and the other section pivoted to the end of the first section, as indicated at 30. Through bolts are provided for the pivots having heads on one end and wing nuts 3| on the other end to the pieces of the jaw section 28 to permit the pieces to slide endwise with respect to one another and relative to the bolt 30 to arrange the ends in an are or otherwise in" order to engage quite a large area on the surface of the housing, regardless of its curvature or other peculiar shape. See Fig. 5. The nuts 3| on the bolts 30 would; of course, have to be loosened sufiiciently to permit sliding of the pieces in the manner stated, and once the pieces were arranged as desired, the nuts could be retightened.

In order to relieve the jointed jaws l6 of pressure that might 'be sufficient to force them The heater l0-a has the laminated core thereout of position, I have provided a middle projection 34 on each of the pieces of the core It for engagement with the bottom of the housing. The sections of the housing l9 of the heater are formed asappears at 35 to have abutment with the core at the middle so as to transmit pressure directly to the core at the proper point when a jack or blocks are engaged on the flat surface 22' in holding the heater in place under the housing to be heated. Another advantage flowing from the provision of a middle pole is that the path of the magnetic flux is shortened proportionately and the operation of the heater is made more efficient. In this heater, as in the other, it is also contemplated to provide hooks 20 to permit suspension of the heater on therear" axle housing. The housing [9' in this case as in the In operation, it will-be apparent that the use I of chains or cables for suspension of the heater from the 'housing, or the use of 'ajack or. blocks to support the heater under the housing is in reality required only up to the time thatthe.

switch24 is closed and the coils l8- energized;

attraction. It is not necessary. therefore, to do anything more than bring the 'aws l6 or I 6' into contact with the housing at the outset, because these jaws will be drawn into firm contact with .the housing just as soon as the current is turned The present device, in addition to being useful in draining lubricant from housings, is also useful as a good means 01 checking the amount of lubricant present in a housing, because it can be applied to the housing long enough to drain all of the lubricant to the bottom, and then, when the plug at the sight opening, usually provided for the purpose of checking the level of lubricant, is removed, one can tell immediately whether there is sufficient lubricant or whether some should be added to bring the level up to the opening. In that way there is a saving in .expense to the motorist because he savesthe cost of what surplus lubricant might be put in and any repair bills that might arise from surplus lubricant working its way out of the housing, and, on the other hand,

- he saves repair bills due to not having suilicient lubricant.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The following claims have been drawn so as to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

l. A heater for application to a motor vehicle differential or transmission housing to be heated comprising contact jaws for engagement with the housing at spaced points, and meansfor inducing electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency and alternating direction through the wall of said housing from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the housing.

2. A heater for application to a motor vehicle differential or transmission housing to be heated comprising contact jaws for engagement with the housing at spaced points, a core of magnetic material completing a magnetic circuit between said contact jaws, whereby to permit the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and alternating direction through the wall of said housing between the points of contact of the jaws therewith to heat the same, and means for inducing the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and alternating direction in the circuit.

3. In combination, a rear axle differential housing having diiferential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and received in bearings at opposite ends of the hous ment with the housing at opposite ends in the vicinity of the bearings, and means for inducing electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency and alternating direction through the wall of said housing from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the housing and transmit. heat through the bearings and axle sections to the differential gearing.

4. In I combination, a rear axle differential housing having differential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and received in bearings at opposite ends of the housing, a heater for heating the housing and gearing therein comprising contact jaws forengagement with the housing at opposite ends in the vicinity of the bearings, a core of magnetic material completing a magnetic circuit between said contact jaws, whereby to permit the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and alternating direction through the wall of said housing between the points of contact of the jaws therewith to heat the same and transmit heat through the bearings and axle sections to the differential'gearing, and means for inducing the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and alter nating direction in the circuit.

5. In combination, a rear axle differential housing having differential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and received in bearings at opposite ends of the housing, a heater for heating the housing and gearing therein comprising means for applying heat to the housing in the vicinity of said bearings, whereby to heat the housing and at the same time transmit heat through the bearings and axle sections to the differential gearing.

' 6. As a means for heating an object of magnetic material, contact jaws for engagement with the object at spaced points, and means for inducing electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency and alternating direction through the object from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the object.

'7. As a means for heating an object of magnetic material, contact jaws for engagement with the object at spaced points, a core of magnetic material completing a magnetic circuit between said contact jaws, whereby to permit the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and alternating direction through the object between the points of contact of the jaws therewith to heat the same, and means for inducing the passage of magnetic flux of some frequency and altera device to be heated, comprising an electro-' magnetic core having object contacting portions to engage the object to be heated at spaced points thereon, one or more coils surrounding the core for induction of electromagnetic flux therein, said coils being arranged to have electric current supplied thereto so as to cause electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency and alternating direction through the core and the object engaged by its contact portions whereby to heat the latter, said core being attracted to the object magnetically during normal operation, whereby the same is self-supporting, and auxiliary supporting means for said device.

9. A portable electric heater of the character described for application to the raised bottom of a device to be heated, comprising an electromagnetic core having object contracting portions to engage the object to be heated at spaced points thereon, one or more coils surrounding the core for induction of electromagnetic flux therein,

said coils being arranged to have electric current supplied thereto so as to cause electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency through the core and the object engaged by its contact portions whereby to heat the latter, a housing of suitable material enclosing the core and coils and having provision for supporting the heater by means of the housing, and means in the housing engaging a portion of the core to transmit thrust from the housing to the core and thence to the object engaged by the latter.

10. As 'a heater, an electromagnet having a plurality of spaced jaws for engagement with a metallic object to be heated and means for inducing electromagnetic flux passage through the jaws and object of some frequency and alternating direction, whereby to cause heating of the object. Y

'11. A heater forapplication to a housing to be heated comprising contact jaws for engagement with the-housing at spaced points, and means for inducing electromagnetic flux of a certain frequency through the wall of the housing from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the housing.

12. In combination, a rear axle difierential housing having difierential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and re- Y ceived in bearings at opposite ends of the housing, a heater for heating the housing and gearing therein comprising contact jaws for engagement with the housing at opposite ends in the vicinity of the bearings, and means for inducing electro-' magnetic flux passage of some frequency through the wall of said housing from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the housing and transmit heat through thebearings and axle sections to the differential gearing.

13. As a means for heating an object of. magnetic material, contact jaws for engagement with the object at spaced points, and means for inducing electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency through the object from one of the jaws to the other, whereby to heat the object.

l4. A portable electric heater of the character described, comprising an electromagnetic core having object contacting portions to engage the object to be heated at spaced points thereon, one

or more coils surrounding the core for induction or electromagnetic fiux'therein, said coils being arranged to have electric current supplied thereto so as to cause electromagnetic flux passage of some frequency through the core and the object engaged by its contact portions whereby to heat the latter, said core being attracted to the object magnetically during normal operation, whereby the same is self-supporting, and auxiliary supanother to vary the spaced relationship, and means for inducing electromagnetic flux passage through the core and jaws and through the wall of said housing whereby to heat the latter.

17. In combination, a rear axle differential housing having differential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and received in bearings at opposite ends of the housing, and a heater comprising contact jaws adjustable toward and away from one another to permit placing the same in engagement with the housing at opposite ends in the vicinity of the bearings,

whereby to heat the housing and at the same time transmit heat through the bearings and axle sections to the differential gearing.

18. In combination, a rear axle difl'erential housing having differential gearing therein and axle sections connected with the gearing and received in bearings at opposite ends of the housing, and a heater comprising a core of magnetic material having contact jaws in magnetic circuit therewith adjustable relative to one another for engagement with the housing at opposite ends thereof, and means for inducing the passage of magnetic flux through the core and jaws whereby to heat the housing.

19. As a means for heating difierent sized objects of .magnetic' permeable material, contact jaws-for engagement with spaced points of the object to be heated, said jaws being mounted for adjustment toward and away from one another so as to be adapted for application on diflerent sized and different shaped objects, and a core with which said adjustable jaws maintain a closed magnetic circuit in difierent positions of adjustment, the circuit being closed bythe object interposed between the jaws, and said core having electrical means for inducing magnetic flux passage in the circuit for heating the object.

20, A portable heater of the character described comprising contact jaws for engagement with' spaced points of a housing of magnetic permeable material, said jaws being mounted for adjustment toward and away from one another so as to be adapted for application on different sized and different shaped housings, and a core with which said adjustable jaws maintain a closed magnetic circuit in different positions of adjustment, the

circuit being'closed by the housing interposed between the jaws, and said core having electrical means for inducing magnetic flux passage in the circuit for heating the housing.

RAY A. BROWN.

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