US2521201A

US2521201A - Radiator pressure cap

Info

Publication number: US2521201A
Application number: US77708A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce E Clark; Gerald K Vieson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-02-23
Filing date: 1949-02-23
Publication date: 1950-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1967-09-05

Description

Sept. 5, 1950 B. E. CLARK ET AL 1,201

RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP Filed Feb. 23, 1949 INVENTORS. GERALD K. VIESON BY BRUCE E. CLARK QTTORNEV Patented Sept. 5, 1950 RAmA'roR PRESSURE CAP Bruce E. Clark and Gerald K. Vieson, ,Dearborn, Mich.

Application February 23, 1949, Serial No. 77,708

6 Claims. (01. 220-44) The present invention relates to a radiator pressure cap which is adapted to relieve both excessive pressures and negative pressures created within an engine cooling system utilizing a coolant liquid and a radiator.

Radiator pressure caps which have been developed previously to control pressure conditions in such a cooling system and to relieve conditions of excessive pressure and negative pressure have utilized two separate spring loaded valves. Such a construction is expensive and is not positive due to variations in the spring characteristics.

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a radiator pressure cap which controls pressure within the radiator and which is simple in construction and contains a relatively small number of parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a radiator pressure cap which contains only one valve assembly to accomplish a pressure normalizing effect when either excessive or negative pressures exist in the cooling system.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corersponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1, is an elevation in section showing a radiator cap embodying the present invention attached to the filler spout of a radiator.

Fig. 2 is an elevation in section of the radiator cap of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the position of the parts of the radiator pressure cap of the present invention when there is a negative pressure or partial vacuum in the cooling system.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the position of the parts of the radiator pressure cap of the present invention when there is an excessive pressure in the cooling system.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phaseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings, the top chamber or header of a radiator is indicated by the numeral It. A 66 2 neck [I extends upward from the said header and connects with the flller spout I2. An annular bead l3 surrounds the opening in the top of the neck II, and an overflow pipe or vent l4 leads from the filler spout IE to the open air. The upper edge of the filler spout i2 is rolled over to provide the collar IS in which are formed elements of the conventional bayonet lock (not shown) for detachably holding the radiator pres- .sure cap in position.

The radiator pressure cap of the present invention consists of a cap l6 which is formed with a circular groove l1 and a centrally located spring seat l8. The cap I6 is also formed with a downwardly and inwardly extending flange l9 which is adapted to engage the overturned end of the collar 15 in a'conventional locking engagement such as the bayonet type engagement whichis well known in this art.

An upper cup member 2a is located in place over the guide member 2| formed by the annular groove I in the cap It. The top part of the upper cup member 20 is formed into a downwardly extending resilient retainer member 22. This retainer member acts as a sealing gasket when in the position shown in Fig. 1. The lower part of the upper cup member 2% is inturned to form the surface 23.

Extending through the bottom opening of the upper cup member 26 is the lower cup member 24. The lower cup member 2a is closed at its bottom, and flared at its top to provide the surface 25. A shoulder portion 26 is formed near the top of the lower cup member 24, and a plurality of holes or ports 2'! are spaced around the circumference of the said lower cup member 2 1 near its bottom. A resilient stopper 28 is fitted around the lower portion of the lower cup member 24 and extends against the shoulder 26. A coil spring 29 is disposed between the spring seat I8 in the cap l6 and the bottom of the lower cup member 24.

Attachment The radiator pressure cap shown in Fig. 2 is attached to a radiator in the position shown in Fig. 1 as follows:

The stopper 28 is inserted in the flller spout l2 and over the top opening of the neck H. The stopper 28 seats against the bead l3. Force is exerted downwardly on the cap It, the coil spring 23 is compressed, and the

surfaces

23 and 25 separate to form the opening or gate At the same time, the end of the resilient retainer member 22 contacts the collar [5 on the filler spout 3 I2, thus closing and sealing the cap l6 under tension. In this position a sealed cooling system is provided so that none of the coolant escapes.

EIECCSSi C 2378881116 condition Fig. 4 demonstrates the position of the elements of the radiator cap of the present invention when there is excessive pressure in the cooling system of a vehicle. Thiscondition may result in several ways. If the radiator is filled while the motor is cool, there is a natural expansion of the fluid when it is heated and when circulation begins. Another way in whiclrthe' condition results is when the cooling system overheats and the coolant is converted to steafir or vapor.

When the pressure in thecooling; systenr ex ceeds a predetermined amount (determined by the pressure characteristics of the spring 299 the stopper 2 8 is forced upward against the tension-of the spring zs when compressed and is lifted clear of the bead I3 providedin' the neck ll. With the stopper 28: thus raised, the excess pressure and vapor or coolant is" allowed to escape along the' path indicatedby the arrows,- Fig. 4', through the neck I I, past the stopper 28, and out the vent'or overflow pipe l4. When thep're'ssure in the cooling system is reduced below the predetermined amount required to lift the'stopp'er 28 against the tension of the spring 2 9', the

stopper. 28"returns under tension ofthe' spring 2s mthe closed position;

Negative pressure condition when the coolant as; nce; been heated'an'd men the coolant and cooling system isallowedto cool, a partial vacuum or negative pressure is' created in the cooling system which, if riot re: leased, might bring about a collapse of the radiator header. When thiscondition prevails, the elem'er'its of the radiator: pressure cap; of the present invention are in the positionshown in Fig. 3.'

The unequalpressures inside saute sidethe cooling system cause the'lip'j3'l of the stopper 18" to be forced away from the lower'cup i4 ,as'ind'i cated in Fig. 3-. This" a'ctioriuncovers the holes or ports 21, and the outside air follows the path indicated by the arrows; throug the-vent or overflow 'pipe [4,- the' dpeningor "ate some ports 21,: and the neck H' int-o thec'oo g system. When the pressure withinthe eooim g sy tem returns to normal, the lip- 3! 6fthe stopper "2'8 returns.- to the notifier positiorr and covers th" p 3 The hardness of the rather or other" resirw material of which the stopper is made-armtl'i' thickness of the sectionof seen in tri'al were: lied uporrto regulate thfire'ssn differ' nai which the 11p will be forced awajfrom 'th vacuum rener ports"?! to afliriifi an fi'difi tfi l4 and filler spout l2 to satisfy the vacuum within the cooling system ataalpoint below which the radiator header in will collapse. Depending uponthe structure of the radiator ii-eases" Hi, this is'generally found to' be in the neiglib'o'rliood of ten pounds 7 v Referring to Fig. 2, it will be newsman-

1e surfaces

23 and 25 are in contact under tension of the spring 29 when the radiator pressurecan is removed from the filler sp'outl2 of a radiator; This constru'ctior'rprevents dirt and foreign mat ter'from accumulating in the interior'construc tionof the device:

The spring 29 is a low rate spring.-

That is,

it is a spring which has a low rate of change in tension as it is compressed. The device of the present invention is designed to permit use of a relatively long spring which aids in establishing such a low rate. This enables the spring to exert as nearly as possible a constant force throughout the movement of the plug or stopper 28, and enables the said stopper to reset promptly after the blow on pressure is relieved. The device of the present invention has been so designed that when manufactured to usual manufacturing tolerances, the cap will hold the pressure within limits of approximately one pound variation.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides .a simple and efficient radiator pressure cap which will effectively and closely control the pressuresin a cooling system within predeterni'i'ffd liriii'ts'. A' feature of importance in a cap of the: present invention is the ease of installation and replacement of the resilient stopper 28. As will beseen, this stopper is held' in place; at the top by the shoulder 26, but is removable from; the cap by a pull in a downward direction. Thus if the. stopper becomes worn or loses its resiliency it may readily be removed from the cap and re- 1. In a cooling system, a filler spout provided witha seating bead around thelower openingthereof, a neck communicating with the lower opening of said filler spout, avent or overflow pipe leading from said fillerspout, a closure member removably connected to' said filler spout and comprising a cap, means to lock-said cap to said filler spout, a hollow telescoping cup member extending downwardly fromsaid cap and having circumferentially spaced holes near the bottom thereof, a spring interposed within said cup member between said cap and the bottom of said cup member, 7 a resilient stopper surrounding the lower portion of the said cup member and normally covering the holes therein and movabl-y seating onsaicl seating bead. I 1 I 2. A device as claimed in claim 1- and further characterized in that a shoulder portion isformed on the said cupmember to prevent the stopper from moving upwardly out ofplace.

3. In a radiator pressure cape of the type wherein pressures-within a radiator are controlled by valvemeans-disposed-withirra hollow cup member communicating with the open air and extend ing into" the filler spout of a radiator, a combined excessive pressure and vacuum relief valve com prising a hollow telescoping cup member extending downwardly from a closure-member and having spaced holes in the lower portion thereof, a-

spring inter-posedbetwe'n the said closure mem ber and the bottom of said cup member, and aresilient stopper movably seated on the opening at the bottom ofthe, filler spout, stopperbeing disposedaround-said cupmemberand having a lower portion relatively thin incross sectioncoverin'g. the said holes in the normal. position whereby said portion will move" to open the saidhol'es' when the pressure of the atmosphere ex ceeds by a predetermined amount the pressure within the radiator.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 and further characterized in' thata shoulder portion is formed" in the side wallof the said cup member above said spaced holes to prevent the stopper from moving upwardly out of place.

51 A: device as olaimedin-claim Z aI-id further characterized in that the said resilient stopper formed in the shape of an inverted truncated cone which extends into the opening in the bottom of the said filler spout in the seated position.

6. A radiator pressure cap of the class described comprising a closure member, an upper and a lower cup member in telescoping engagement and extending downwardly from said closure member, said lower cup member having circumferential holes near the bottom thereof and a shoulder formed above said holes, a spring disposed within said cup member, a resilient stopper disposed around the lower cup member and against the shoulder provided therein and normally covering the said holes in the lower cup member, and surfaces formed near the bottom of the upper cup member and the top of the lower cup member which provide a gate and which closes when the cap is free from a, radiator and which opens when the cap is in its attached position.

BRUCE E. CLARK. GERALD K. VIESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,006,752 Swank July 2, 1935 2,124,648 Brennan July 26, 1938 2,133,575 Rosenberg Oct. 18 1938 2,164,450 Eshbaugh et al. July 4, 1939 2,191,614 Frantz Feb. 27, 1940