US2147727A

US2147727A - Radiator cap

Info

Publication number: US2147727A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A White; David B Mecorney
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1936-09-03
Filing date: 1936-09-03
Publication date: 1939-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-21
Also published as: DE684907C

Description

Feb. 21, 1939. y l Av WHW'E ET AL 2,147,727

RADIATOR CAP Filed Sept. 3, 1956 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED USTATES PATENT OFFICE.

2447.727 RADIATOR cAP Application September s` claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure responsive means to lock a closure member against removal when a pressure differential exists between the interior and exterior of an engine cooling system or the like.

There are certain well known advantages to be obtained if the circulating liquid in an engine cooling system is maintained under a few pounds pressure and a number of automobile manufacturers have adopted the closed system which includes a blow-off valve acting automatically to relieve excess pressure through the overflow vent pipe. In a system of this kind it is here proposed to prevent removal of the ller cap at times when internal pressures are present, in order to avoid the possibility of injury by scalding, damage to the car nish, loss of cooling liquid and other undesirable resultants of vomition of the system contents through the filler opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention as designed for convenience, compactness, econorny and simplicity, there is provided as a part ofthe detachable cap assembly a movable plunger fitting the ller opening for outward projection under internal system pressure into position to engage a`flxed abutment which holds the cap assembly against removal. Also incorporated in the cap assembly is a spring seated valve which .opens a port in the plunger to communicate the system with the overiiow vent pipe leading from the filler spout for the relief of pressure in excess of a predetermined value.

For a better understanding of the structure involved reference may be made to the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cooling radiator and 'its connections with the front of the engine; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the filler assembly; Figure 3 is a similar view with the parts in position to prevent removal of the filler cap; Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, sectional views i taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 and line 5-5 of Figure -3, and Figure 6 illustrates the application of the invention to an alternate type of cap retainer. l

.In the drawing the radiator fan I and the pump assembly 2 aremounted on a common shaft driven by a belt 3 from the engine crankshaft, 'for drawing air through the radiator core 4 and circulating water or other cooling medium through the system. The system includes the radiator core 4 and the jacketed engine block 5 having an outlet connection 6 with the inlet header 1 of the radiator and being supplied with water from the pump 2 which is joined by the connection 8 with the outlet header 9 of the radiator.

For filling the system, the top tank is providedwith a rearward extension III which has 3, 1936, Serial No. 99,200

(Cl. 22o-24) l y in the top wall, a filling opening defined by a dependent annular flange II and an upstanding spout I2. The spout is closed by a removable cap I3 which may comprise a sheet metal stamping and the connection between the cap `and spout may be of any conventional type, as fo example, the familiar bayonet slot connection by which the cap is applied or removed by partial rotation thereof, Accordingly, the cap has riveted or otherwise secured internally thereof, a disc I4 .which clamps in place the sealing gasket I5 and carries at diametrically opposite points dependent legs I6 terminating in outwardly extending feet II, and the spout in turn is provided with a camming edge at the bottom of a dependent sleeve I8 for engagement with the feet or lugs I1. The sleeve I3 is formed as a part cf the inturned flange I9 on the spout and at given points both the flange and the sleeve are cut away as at 2D in-Figure 4 to allow the passage of the lug I1 when the cap is moved axially of the spout with thelugs alined with the slots.

In the present case the disc I4 also carries .a pair of spaced arms 2| having axially elongated slots 22 through which extend a transverse rod or shaft 23, the ends of which are riveted or peened over the ears 24 -on a stamped cup 25, constituting a plunger or piston. By reason of the pin and slot connection 23-22, the plunger is assembled as a unit with the cap and is permitted an axial movement relative to the cap within limits defined by the slot. This plunger is so constructed as to have a sliding fit within the dependent annular flange II for closing the filling opening when the capV is in its retained position on the ller spout I2. Also mounted on the pin 23 is the curled eye 26 on `one end of a coil spring 21, which seats at the other end within a pocket on the top of a disc valve 28, seated by the spring over an opening inthe plunger 25 and guided for outward movement against the resistance of the spring, by a'series of spaced guide fingers 29 projecting into the opening. The spring is so selected as to allow the valve to open outwardly under internal pressure of predetermined value for communicating the interior of the system with the filler spout, from which leads the usual overflow pipe 30 extending outwardly and downwardly beside the radiator core for discharge at the bottom of the i radiator assembly.

Inside the spout there is secured t0 the wall thereof a semi-circular strip 3| terminating in a pair of oppositely positioned inturned abutmentlugs 32 and these lugs are adapted for engagement byv bifurcated ears 33 extending outwardly from the upper edge of the plunger 25. The cooperating

interengaging parts

32 and 33 are so positioned with relation to each other and the the plunger.

retained position of the ller cap I3 that the presence of internal pressure within the system will lift the plunger 25 for keying the

parts

32 and 33 to lock the cap against rotation. Thus after the cap is once positioned on the iller spout it can be removed Vonly when the plunger is in the retracted position and, therefore, the likelihood of damage caused by gushing of hot water and steam through the filler spout by internal pressure is eliminated.

The nt of the plunger 25 within its guide flange l I is such as to allow free relative movement, and while sealing means may be added to reduce leakage, it is preferred merely to provide a close running fit. This may permit a slight ilud escape without material detriment to satisfactory system operation and will relieve low pressure when the spring pressed valve 28 is closed. The clearance may be quite large if the system is operated open to outside pressure without disturbing the locking action of the plunger. In other words, the operation of an open system under certain conditions is such that pressure builds up at a rate higher than the capacity of the overflow pipe to relieve it, and the automatic locking of the closure cap is a safety factor to avoid serious consequences.

With a close fit between the piston plunger 25 and ilange l l the cooling system operates, after an initial warm-up period, under a slight internal pressure which raises the boiling point of the liquid for increased cooling eiliciency and conservation of the liquid supply. Excess pressure is prevented through the automatic action of the relief valve 28. Subatmospheric pressure withn v the system is avoided by the provision of a small bleed hole or vent port 34 in the skirt of the plunger 25, so positioned that the port 34 is closed by the cylindrical wall or flange II when the plunger is raised, but is uncovered below the flange whenever the plunger is dropped in the absence of internal pressure.

Figure 6 illustrates the application of the pressure control device to a cap and illler spout of the type having^ external attachments. In this case the filler spout I 2 has an outturned ilange I9' from which extends downwardly the cam skirt I8' for engagement by a pair of diametrically opposite inturned lugs l1' on the closure cap I3. `liotatably mounted on the cap are a gasket 35, of rubber or the like, and a pressure ring 36 of spring metal for peripheral sealing engagement with the top flan'ge I9 of the spout. At their inner margins, the

rings

35 and 36 have a loose t within a shouldered portion of the mounting element I4? riveted or otherwise secured to thecap. The low-- er ends of the dependent arms 2|', below the slots for Vthe transverse shaft 23 of the plunger 25', in this instance, are offset inwardly as at 31 to aiord a seat for a coil spring 38'which bears against the bottom of the plunger. The optional addition of the spring 38 may be made to insure a more positive downward or return action of The construction and operation otherwise is as before described.

We claim:

1. An engine cooling system having a filling opening, an upstanding spout surrounding said opening, an overiiow vent pipe leading from said spout beyond said lling opening, a closure cap rotatably engageable with said spout for movement to and from its closed position, a plunger iltted to said opening to restrict system communication with said vent pe, an outwardly opening valve associated with aid plunger to communicate the system with the vent pipefor the relief of abnormal internal pressure, means joining the plunger and cap for unisonal rotation whilepermitting relative axial movement of the plunger in said opening and means carried by the spout for engagement with the plunger in its pressure projected position to lock the closure cap against rotation.

2. An engine cooling system having a filling opening, an upstanding spout surrounding said opening; an overilow vent pipe leading from said spout beyond said iilling opening, a closure cap rotatably engageable with said spout for movement to and from its closed position, a pair of spaced arms on the cap depending into the spout and having transversely alined laxially elongated slots therein, a transverse shaft projecting between l'said arms and into said slots for axially guided movement, a plunger carried by said shaft and tted to said opening, an outwardly opening valve adapted to close. a port in the plunger, a spring interposed between said shaft and valve, and interlocking formations on the plunger and spout adapted for engagement when the plunger is projected outwardly by internal system pressure.

3. A radiator closure, including a rotatable cap adapted for removable engagement with a illler spout, .a pressure actuated plunger, means joining the cap and the plunger for rotation in unison and for relative axial movement and an abutment on said plunger adapted to be projected into interlocking relation with a stop on a filler -spout.

4. In an engine cooling system having a ller spout and a removable closure cap, a plunger movably supported on the cap and adapted for relative movement in response to internal system pressure, and means on the spout to be engaged by said plunger to preclude removal of the cap.

5. In an engine cooling system having a vented ller spout and a removable closure cap, a pressure actuated piston carried by the cap and slidably iltted to a cooperating portion of the spout, cap locking means engageable by the piston, and a vent port in the piston Wall which is closed by said spout portion when the piston is in engagement with said locking means.

6. In an engine cooling system having a vented filler spout and a removable closure cap, a pressure actuated piston carried by the cap and slidably iltted to a cooperating portion of the spout, cap locking means engageable by the piston, a vent port in the piston wall which is closed by said spout portion when the piston is in engage- 'ment with said locking means, and a pressure actuated valve in said piston to relieve excess system pressure through the vented spout.

7. In an engineA cooling system, a vented illler spout, a closure therefor, interengaging closure locking members on the closure and spout, respectively, including a pressure actuated piston, piston guiiie means, and a vent in the wall of the piston adapted to be closed by said guide means when said locking members are engaged.

8. In an engine cooling system/, a vented filler spout, a closure therefor, interenga-ging closure locking members on the closure and spout, respectively, including a pressure actuated piston, means associated with the piston for relieving excess internal system pressure and other means associated with' the piston i'or relieving subatmospheric internal system pressure.

JALIES A. WHITE. DAVID B. MECORNEY.