US2616295A

US2616295A - Water level indicator for engine radiators

Info

Publication number: US2616295A
Application number: US210193A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen M Thurmond; Donald V Thorne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-02-09
Filing date: 1951-02-09
Publication date: 1952-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1969-11-04

Description

Nov. 4, 1952 A. M. THURMoND ET Al. 2,616,295

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ENGINE RADIATORS Filed Feb. 9, 1951 'U0 FIG. z,

INVENTORS ALLEN M. T HURMOND BY@ DoNALD V. THQQNE A-v-roamavs Patented ov. 4, 195:2

OFFICE WATER LEVEL INDICATOR FOR ENGINE RADIATORS Allen M. Thurmond and Donald V. Thorne, Alice, Tex.

Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,193

(C1. 'I3-323)v 2 Claims.

This invention relates to water level indicators, and more particularly to a continuously indicating water level indicator for an engine radiator.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved water level indicator which can be easily mounted on an existing engine radiator and will continuously indicate the level of the water in the radiator by visual inspection; which may be mounted on a support, such as a structural element, spaced from the radiator when it is used in connection with a fixed engine; which will not cause leakage of the engine cooling uid; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install and positive and effective in use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of an engine` radiator and a water level indicator illustrative of the invention, operatively mounted on the radiator;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawing, the radiator therein illustrated is of well known or conventional construction and has a frame or housing I surrounding a radiator core II, and providing a top tank I2 and a bottom tank I3. The top of the radiator is provided with a filler opening surrounded by a ller neck I4, the upper end of which is closed by a removable radiator cap l5. The bottom end of the radiator is provided with a drain opening surrounded by a boss or tting I6.

A bracket I1 is secured at one end to the radiator and has an elongated arm I8 projecting outwardly from the radiator and substantially horizontally disposed.

A frame I9 issecured to the arm I8 of the bracket I'I and comprises a rectangular, substantially square metal plate having elongated slots 29 and 2I therein disposed one adjacent each of two opposite edges of the plate and extending along these opposite edges substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of the plate and to each other. These slots divide the plate into a center portion 22 and two side portions or

arms

23 and 24 spaced from and substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of the center portion and joined at the corresponding ends to the center portion by connecting portions 25 and 2B of the plate,

which connecting portions are disposed at the top of the plate when the plate or frame is mounted on the bracket arm I8, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Cleats

21 and 28 extend across the

slots

20 and 2|, respectively, with their ends in engagement at the opposite sides of the corresponding slots with the side of the plate I9 remote from the bracket arm I8 and

bolts

29 and 30 extend through registering apertures in the cleats and in the bracket arm and clamp the plate between the cleats and the bracket arm. By loosening the

bolts

29 and 39, the plate or frame I9 can be adjusted vertically relative to the bracket arm I9 and secured in adjusted position by tightening the bolts.

Suitable elements are mounted on the center portion 22 of the plate to constitute with this center portion a hollow casing 3| of rectangular shape. The means constituting the casing 3l includes two

side members

32 and 33 disposed against the side of the plate I9 remote from the bracket arm I3 in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other and secured to the plate by suitable means, such as the screws 34.

A bottom end member 35 extends between the bottom ends of the

side members

32 and 33 and is secured to the plate I9, while a top end memf ber 3E extends between the upper ends of the

side members

32 and 33 and is also secured to the plate I9. The bottom and

top members

35 and 36 are substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart a predetermined distance, and the bottom member is provided with an opening 3l into which is threaded a fitting 3B projecting from the lower surface of the bottom member 35, while the top member is provided with an opening receiving a tube 394 which extends from the lower side to a location above the upper side of the top end member 36 and is provided above the top end member with a downwardly directed elbow bend 49, so that the tube will provide a breather or vent for the upper portion of the space within the hollow casing and will prevent dirt and trash from falling into the casing through this vent or breather o-pening.

The inner edges of the side, bottom and top members remote from the plate I9 are rabbeted out to provide a groove 4I of rectangular shape .in outline and of rectangular cross-sectional shape surrounding the opening provided by these side and end members and a gasket 42 of rectangular shape and formed of suitable resilient sealing material is disposed in this groove.

A plate 43 of suitable transparent material, such as glass, is received in groove 4I against the outer face of the gasket 42 and a glass retaining plate 44 is disposed against the faces of the side and end members of the casing remote from the plate I9. This plate 44 is marginally secured to the side and end members of the casing by suitable screws 45 and is provided with an opening 46 of rectangular shape which exposes the major portion of the glass 43. The portion of the plate 44 surrounding the opening 46 therein marginally overlies the glass plate 43 so that the frame plate 44 compresses the glass plate against the gasket 42 to provide a water-tight seal between the glass plate and the side and end members of the casing.

A pipe or conduit 47 formed of a viiexible material, such as a length of rubber tubing, and having a bend intermediate its length is connected at one end to the radiator drain fitting IB by an elbow tting 4B and is connected at its other end to the tting 38 secured in the opening 3'l in the bottom end member 35 of the casing 3l. This pipe or conduit connects the drain opening in the bottom of the radiator to the opening in the bottom of the casing 3 i, so that cooling fluid, such as water, from the radiator will flow into the lcasing and the level of the iiuid in the casing visible through the transparent plate 43 will be the same as the level of the cooling uid in the radiator. The frame I9 may be adjusted vertically of the bracket arm i8 until the level of the cooling uid in the radiator when the radiator is full is just below the top end of the transparent plate 43.

The transparent plate is provided with suitable indicating marks, as designated at v'.50 and 5I, indicating whether the radiator is full or whether the cooling fluid in the radiator is dangerously low.

While the water level indicator has been'illustrated as mounted on the radiator itself by the bracket Il, it is obvious that the indicator may be mounted on some other supporting structure, such as a building structural element, at the proper height relative to the radiator and connected to the radiator by a conduit 41 which may be extended as necessary.

rIhe invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an engine cooling radiator having a top end provided with a filler opening and a bottom end provided with a drain opening, a bracket secured to said radiator and projecting outwardly therefrom, a frame disposed adjacent said bracket, means attaching said frame to said bracket for vertical movements of adjustment of the former relative to the latter, a hollow casing mounted on said frame and having a sight glass in onel side and an opening in the bottom thereof, and a conduit connected at one end to the bottom of said radiator yand at its other end to the bottom of said casing connectving the drain opening in said radiator with the opening in the Vbottom of said casing, said casing `being positioned relative to said radiator so that the top of said sight glass is near the level of the top of said radiator.

V2. A water level indicator comprising a supportingbracket, a frame plate adjustably mounted on said bracket, side and end member secured tosaid frame plate at one side thereof in surrounding relationship to a closed space, said side and end members being recessed along their edges remote from said frame plate and adjacent said Yspace to provide a groove surrounding said space, a gasket in said groove, a plate of transparent material marginally received in said groove and disposed against said gasket, a clamp plate secured to said side and end members and overlying said plate of transparent material to hold the latter in sealing engagement with said gasket, said clamp plate having an opening therein exposing said plate of transparent material and the end members secured to said frame plate each having an opening therethrough, and a conduit connected at one end to one of said end members in communication with the opening therethrough for connecting said space with a water container, said frame plate having slots therein extending one along each of said side members. cleats extending one across each of said slots and bearing at their ends against the side of said frame plate remote from said bracket, and bolts extending through registering apertures in said cleats and said bracket clamping said frame plate between said cleats and said bracket.

ALLEN M. THURMOND. DONALD V. THORNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record vin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,320,755 lGrikscheit Nov. 4, 1919 1,429,832 Bauer et al Sept. 19, 1922 1,630,632 Pekich May 31, 1927" 1,751,016 ONeill Mar. 18, 1930