US2627258A

US2627258A - Engine block heater

Info

Publication number: US2627258A
Application number: US224581A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton J Mariska
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-05-04
Filing date: 1951-05-04
Publication date: 1953-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1970-02-03

Description

Feb. 3, 1953 M. J. MARxsKA ENGINE BLOCK HEATER Filed May 4. 1951 Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

6 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in an engine block heater'and more speciiically pertains to a heating attachment specifically adapted to pre-heat or supplement the heating of the cooling water in the cooling water jacket of an internal combustion engine to facilitate the starting ofthe sameV or to` assist in warming the engine block and water jacket during idling of the engine and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an attachment which may be readily applied to conventional forms of internal combustion engines to provide a source of heat for warming or pre-heating the engine block through heating the coolant thereof.

A further important object ofl the invention is to provide a heating attachment for internal combustion engines as set forth hereinbefore wherein the heating unit shall be rendered as compact and of as simple a construction as possible in the interest of low cost of construction, economy of servicing and upkeep, convenience of mounting in confined or limited quarters and eiiiciency of operation.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a Water heating attachment for internal combustion engines which shall deliver pre-heated water at a predetermined temperature to the water jacket of an engine.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a heating attachment in conformity with the foregoing objects which shall be capable of utilizing various gaseous fuels such as bottled gas or the like as a source of heat.

A still further important object or" the invention is to provide a compact construction of heating attachment for internal combustion engines in `which the fuel burner shall be mounted upon and supported by a removable bottom wall of the devi-ce for ease of assembly and dis-assembly; wherein there shall be provided a baille for improving the efficiency of operation of the burner and preventing its accidental extinction by air currents; and wherein the baille may be conveniently mounted upon the removable bottom wall and the burner rernovabll mounted upon the baie.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects, of. the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by Way of example only, (in the 4accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a portion of a conventional internal combustion engine and its cooling system together with the heating attachment of this inn vention operatively associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the attachment of Figure l, the same being taken upon an enlarged scale and substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 3, the arrows showing the direc tion of gas flow and water now through the de vice;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of Figure 2 and showing the position of the thermostaticvalve in theV water heater of the device; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the removable bottom wall of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that the numeral I0 designates generally, in its entirety, the improved heating unit forming the subject of this invention, and which has been shown as operatively applied to an in ternal combustion engine, indicated generally by the numeral l2, of any conventional form, but which utilizes a water jacket and water cooling system,

As indicated, the block of the engine at Ul is connected with a cooling radiator l by a bottom hose connection i8 and a return or upper hose connection 20. By means of the rubber hose inlet conduit 22 and heated water outlet conduit 24, the heating unit I is operatively connected to the water jacket of the engine adjacent the bottom and top portions, respectively. Thus, relativelyA cool water is taken from the lower portion of the engine block I4, is heated bythe de vice as set forth hereinafter, andis discharged at a. predetermined temperature' to the upper portion of the block. The normal convection currents within the cooling system oi the engine, in conjunction with this heater, thus cause a thermo-syphonic circulation of water through the water jacket. and through the pre-heating unit.

In accordance with this invention, the heater unit is supplied with gaseous fuel from any suitable source, such, for example, as from a tank of bottled gas, by means of a gas supply conduit 26,. It is obvious that any desired source may be utilized for supplyingfuel to the heater, but bottled gas is deemed to be preferable in that it is. independent of a fixed source of supply,V and is eiective for supplying quick and intense heat at substantially any outside temperature prevailing, and thus is ideally adapted for pre-heating internal combustion engines in relatively severe climates.

The heater unit IU embodying the principles of this invention may conveniently comprise a sheet metal casing 28 of any suitable shape and size, such as a cylindrical configuration, which has welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto a closure or top wall 30 through which the heated water discharge conduit 24 extends. The top wall is further provided with a plurality of vents or apertures' 32 by means of which the fumes or products of combustion from within the device may be discharged to the atmosphere.

Adjacent the open bottom edge of the cylindrical member 28, and spaced slightly thereabove, is a plate 34 which may be of any desired shape, and which is preferably welded to the cylinder 28 and surrounds the same, this plate having welded thereto a cylindrical band 36 constituting a side wall. Removably secured to the bottom edge of the side wall 36, as by fastening bolts 38, is a bottom wall 40 which may likewise be in the form of a circular plate, and which is provided with a plurality of apertures 42 constituting air inlet openings. These openings constitute the air inlet means for the gaseous fuel burner to be set forth hereinafter.

Extending laterally from the side wall 36 is a tubular or sleeve-like member 44 which is welded to the wall 36 and communicates therewith, as through an opening 46. At its outer end, the member 44 is provided with a closure or end wall 48 thru which extends and to which is detachably connected the fuel supply conduit 2S, as shown.

The member 28, with the cylindrical member 36 attached thereto, constitutes a combustion chamber in which is received the fuel burner and the products of combustion arising therefrom.

Mounted upon the bottom wall 4U, as by spacer bushings'or collars 50, is a plate 52 which constitutes a baiiie adapted to overlie the air inlet openings 42 in spaced relation thereto. A conventional form of gaseous fuel burner, indicated generally by the numeral 54, is provided, the same consisting of a hollow annular member 56 having an annular combustible gas manifold 58 with discharge orifices 6U, and having a laterally extending tubular neck 62 which extends into the member 44 and terminates closely adjacent the end wall 48 thereof. The neck member 62, in turn, has a closed end wall 64 provided with air inlet openings 66 therein, there being provided a gaseous fuel discharge nozzle 68 extending through the wall 64 and into the neck member, as shown, and being connected with the fuel supply line 26.

The burner assembly 54 is detachably secured to and supported by the baffle member 52, as by fastening screws 10.

It will thus be seen that the burner unit has the air deflecting baille 52 interposed between the same and the air inlet means 42 to thereby shield the burner flame from the direct flow of air which might tend to blow out the burner. In addition, the burner is directly carried solely by the baffle member which, in turn, is directly mounted upon theremovable bottom wallv 48 for.. Y lremoval, therewith. Thus, the burner is readily removable for servicing the same as desired.

Any design and conventional form of burner may be employed, it being understood .that it is the arrangement and use of the burner in combination with the other elements rather than the construction of the burner itself which forms the essential feature of this invention.

It will now be readily seen that combustion supporting air passes through the air inlet means 42 and is deflected by the bafIie 52 so that part of the air passes around through the member 44 to the neck of the burner and through the air inlet opening 66, where the same mixes with the gaseous fuel supplied by the nozzle 68. The rest of the combustion supporting air passing around the baiiie 52 passes up through the central opening 'I2 of the burner head, or about the outside of the head, as indicated by the arrows, to mix with the burner flame and pass into the interior of the cylindrical member 28, from whence it rises and eventually is discharged to the atmosphere through the vents 32 in the top wall 36.

Disposed within the member 28 is a water heater, indicated generally by the numeral 15. This water heater may be of various desired types, and, as illustrated, comprises upper and lower removable housing members 'I6 and 'I8 detachably secured together as by fastening screws 8D extending through complementary flanges on the two section members. The

members

16 and 18 are provided with screw-threaded neck portions 82 and 84, respectively, which extend through the top and side walls of the unit for engagement by the associated

conduits

24 and 22, previously mentioned.

Within the member 15, there is provided a partition 86 which prevents free flow of Water through the cooling unit from the conduit 22 to the conduit 24. The partition 86 has removably secured thereto, as by fastening screws 88, and flange 9D, a sleeve or tube 92. This tube is open at both its upper and lower ends, and has mounted therein a conventional form of thermostat for controlling a water throttle valve 94. The construction of this thermostat may be of any of numerous known conventional designs and in itself forms no part of the present invention. The arrangement, however, is such that the thermostat will maintain the valve 94 closed to thereby prevent flow of water through the heating unit until the water in the member 18 has attained a predetermined temperature, such, for example, as 180 F. When this temperature is attained, the thermostat will be energized to cause the valve 94 to open, thereby permitting flow of water from the heater 'l5 into the upper portion or" the engine block.

It will now be readily understood that the relatively cool water from the engine block-drawn in by the conduit 22 into the bottom of the heater 'I5 will be heated to the predetermined temperature for which the thermostatic valve is set, and

when so heated will then be discharged through Y the conduit 24 to the upper vportion of the cooling jacket of the engine. 'I'his temperature difference between the water in the

conduits

22 and 24 will thus cause a continuous thermo-syphonic circulation of the water throughout the entire cooling system of the. engine, thereby eifectively heating and pre-heating all of the parts of the engine. The heated engine will thus be capable of being more readily started in extremely cold weather; and will operate more efficiently when run at .relatively low speedsor under idling con` .ditions 1 The invention thus provides a` means which may be readily applied to any conventional internal combustion engine, since the device will be supported solely by or-substantially `solely by 5 the

hot water conduits

22 and 24 which may be suitably connected with the cooling system oi' the engine. The device is independent of the engine operation for its source of fuel and is likewise independent of the external temperature for its operation.

In order to light the fuel burner, an opening 96 is provided, as in the wall of the cylindrical member 28, by means of which a lighted match may be placed against the fuel burner for igniting the same. This opening may be controlled by a closure plate 98 having a iinger-grip portion |00 and pivoted upon a retaining screw |02, a spring |04 being provided for yieldingly urging the closure plate into its closed or partially closed position. This plate may be employed solely for efficient purposes; or may be employed to control a regulated, supplemental quantity of air as desired.

Since, from the foregoing, the construction and advantage of this engine block heater are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modications and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A heater for internal combustion engines s heater is supported and mounted upon an engine by said conduit means.

3. The combination of claim. 1 including air inlet means in said casing for supplying combustion supporting air to said burner, a baile interposed between said air inlet means and said fuel burner.

4. The combination of claim 1 including air inlet means in said casing for supplying combustion supporting air to said burner, a baffle interposed between said air inlet means and said ifuel burner, said burner being directly mounted upon and supported by said baffle.

5. The combination of claim 1 including air inlet means in said casing for supplying combustion supporting air to said burner, a bafiie interposed between said air inlet means and said fuel burner, said burner being directly mounted upon and supported by said baffle, said casing having a removable bottom wall, said Vair inlet means consisting of openings in said bottom wall.

6. The combination of claim 1 including air inlet means in said casing for supplying combustion supporting air to said burner, a baille interposed between said air inlet means and said fuel burner, said burner being directly mounted upon and supported by said baffle, said casing having a removable bottom wall, said air inlet means consisting of openings in said bottom wall, said baffle being mounted upon said bottom wall and removable therewith.

MILTON J. MARISKA.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,258,068 Wetzler Mar. 5, 1918 1,357,598 Thompson Nov. 2, 1920 1,857,767 Rentz May 10, 1932 2,046,812 Danuser et al. July 7, 1936