US2170214A

US2170214A - Radiator used with internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US2170214A
Application number: US146841A
Authority: US
Inventors: Homer B Morrow; George W Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-06-07
Filing date: 1937-06-07
Publication date: 1939-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-22

Description

Aug. 22, 1939. B MORRQW AL 2,170,214

RADIATOR USED WITH INTERNAL comsusnou ENGINES Filed June 7, i957 Z 7 INVENTOR 041 w. vul

ATTORNEYfi Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT OFFIQE RADIATOR USED WITH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Homer B, Morrow and George W. Walker,

Platteville, Wis.

Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,841

5 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in radiators used with internal combustion engines.

The object of our invention is to provide in an automotive type radiator an overflow pipe provided with a trap and means associated with the trap to insure the restoration of a sufficient quantity of liquid in the trap to prevent the escape of vapors, and to thereby control pressures in the radiator.

More particularly stated, it is the object of our invention to provide a trap in the overflow pipe of a radiator wherein a bleed hole is so positioned as to restore a liquid seal in the trap whenever pressures of vapor or air blow through the trap and displace the liquid seal, thus assuring a prompt restoration of the means for controlling pressures and limiting loss of vapor.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an automotive radiator of generally conventional type with my improved overflow pipe incorporated therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The conventional type of automotive radiator includes a core 50 made up of tubes H and fins l2. At the lower end of the tubes II is a tank or header l3, and at the top of the tubes is anothertank or header l4. Within the tubes and the tanks a liquid coolant is provided and the supply of liquid may be introduced through a filler opening l5, whereby to bring the liquid in the radiator, and especially in the upper tank i l, to the level desired.

In modern automotive practice, it is usually preferred that a cap I6 for the radiator filler opening l5, shall be substantially air-tight and an overflow pipe I! is provided for the relief of excess liquid or of vapors under high pressure. We are aware that outlet or overflow pipes have been provided heretofore with various types of traps, some of which have a configuration somewhat like the trap shown at l8, but if the trap l8 is merely a trap and nothing else, it is common for the trap to operate as follows:

Assuming that the liquid level has been properly established when the motor served by the radiator is cold, it is not long before the operation of the motor will heat the liquid in the radiator and cause expansion thereof, whereby to pass some of the liquid through the orifice E9 in the upper end of the overflow pipe. The liquid thus passing into the overflow pipe will pass through the trap and be delivered as excess coolant through the outlet opening 20. When the expansion of the coolant ceases and all of the excess has been delivered through the overflow pipe ll, the heating process may progress to the point where vapor under pressure accumulates in the filler opening l5 under the cap l6. Under the pressure of this vapor in the old type overflow pipes provided with a conventional trap it, the vapor will push the trapped liquid out of the U- tube 2|, and thus remove the liquid seal which is so much desired in modern automotive radiator practice. Thereafter any vapor accumulating in the upper portion of the-tank I4 will be passed out through the overflow pipe ll and will be lost since it is common knowledge that the aspirating effect of the air movement past the outlet opening 20 due to the movement of the automotive vehicle equipped with a radiator, will draw the vapor from the upper portion of the tank l4, and when this action has continued for sufficient time, will result in lowering the liquid in tank l4 below the normal or safe level.

In our improved overflow pipe provided with a U-tube 21 forming part of a trap l8, we provide 7 an opening 25 and this opening is so shaped and positioned as to receive liquid from a point in the tank M which is very definitely below the normal level of liquid in the tank,for instance, very definitely below the dotted line 26 which marks the point at which the trap l8 will normally control the liquid level in the tank I4.

The bleed opening 25 is of suitable diameter, preferably approximately of an inch to slowly fill the U-tube 2| with liquid after vapor has been blown down through the overflow pipe H.

Thus when the liquid in the radiator has been overheated and vapor under pressure has developed in the upper portion of the tank M, the pressure will force vapor through the overflow pipe IT by forcing the quantity of liquid out of the U-tube, and out of the outlet opening 20. When the excess pressures have been dissipated, the liquid seal in the U-tube 2! will be restored through the bleed opening 25. It will be understood that the diameter of the bleed opening 25 is gauged according to the diameter of the tube used in the overflow pipe 11, whereby to determine that the pressure upon the top of the liquid in the tank l4 cannot force liquid through the bleed opening 25 into the U-tube so rapidly that the pressure of vapors through the outlet orifice l9 cannot clear the liquid seal from the U-tube 2|, and we have found that in an overflow pipe I! of the inside diameter of A of an inch, a bleed opening 25 of a diameter of of an inch is satisfactory, and in an outlet pipe of of an inch a bleed opening of of an inch is satisfactory.

It thus appears that we have provided an overflow pipe for an automotive radiator which will be constantly sealed against vapor release, except at those times when excess pressures must be relieved, and after the relief of such excess pressures, the liquid seal in the U-tube 2! is restored so as to prevent escape of vapor under ordinary pressures.

Likewise, if there is a tendency to establish a partial vacuum in the radiator system, air to relieve it may be received through the trap and the liquid seal will be immediately re-established after the air has bubbled into the upper header or tank.

We claim:

1. In a radiator to be provided with liquid, an overflow pipe, a trap in the overflow pipe, and a connection for liquid between the radiator and the lowermost portion of the trap.

2. A radiator provided with liquid and having an overflow pipe extending from an orifice generally downwardly to an outlet for discharge of overflow liquid, a trap in the overflow pipe comprising a downward and upward reverse bend of the overflow pipe, whereby to accumulate liquid in the reverse bend and blockade vapor which might otherwise escape through the orifice, the lowermost portion of the reverse bend being below the normal liquid level in the radiator, and a connection for liquid between the lowermost portion of the trap and the liquid in the radiator, whereby to establish a quantity of liquid in the trap.

3. In a radiator provided with a header tank, an overflow pipe extending from a high point in the tank to a point of discharge at a point below the tank, a trap in the overflow pipe whereby to establish a liquid level in the tank below the overflow point, the trap having a convolution to receive liquid whereby to block Vapor attempting to escape through the overflow pipe from the upper portion of the tank, the lowermost portion of the convolution being connected with the liquid in the tank, whereby to pass liquid into the trap to restore the seal in the event that the liquid in the trap is inadequate in quantity to block the vapor, the liquid connection comprising a conduit of smaller diameter than the diameter of the overflow pipe.

4. In a radiator to be provided with liquid, an overflow pipe, a trap in the overflow pipe, and a connection for liquid between the radiator and the lowermost portion of the trap, the diameter of said connection being in the ratio of 'g fi of an inch or less for a inch overflow pipe.

5. In a radiator provided with a header tank, an overflow pipe extending from a high point in the tank to a point of discharge outside the radiator, a trap in the overflow pipe whereby to establish a liquid level in the tank below the overflow point, said trap being provided with a convolution the lower-most portion of which is contiguous to the radiator, said radiator and said convolution at their point of contiguity being provided with an opening for passage of liquid to assure a liquid seal in said trap.

HOMER B. MORROW. GEORGE W. WALKER.