US3071285A

US3071285A - Depressed pressure cap

Info

Publication number: US3071285A
Application number: US844893A
Authority: US
Inventors: Friend Dawson
Original assignee: Stant USA Corp
Current assignee: Stant USA Corp
Priority date: 1959-10-07
Filing date: 1959-10-07
Publication date: 1963-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1963 D. FRIEND DEPRESSED PRESSURE CAP Filed Oct. 7, 1959 INVENTOR. DAWSON FRIEND ATTORNE Y United States Patent 3,071,285 DEPRESSED PRESSURE CAP Dawson Friend, Connersville, 11111., assignor to Stant Manufacturing Company, Inc., Connersville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 844,893 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-44) The present invention relates to closure means for the filling openings of tanks, and has been designed primarily for use in automobile engine cooling systems of the open type in which the system operates normally under substantially atmospheric pressure. While the invention has been illustrated and will be described in connection with such cooling systems, it will be appreciated that it may be useful, as well, in other environments.

In such open type cooling systems, it is conventional to provide a filler neck which is a tubular element secured to the top wall of the radiator tank in registry with the filling opening in that wall and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a lip retainingly engageable by the cover element of a closure cap. The filler neck further provides, at a level below such lip, a seat adapted for closing engagement by an annular valve reciprocably supported from the cover element and resiliently urged into such engagement when the cover element is in place on the lip. A normally open valve is associated with the port in the annular valve means in such fashion as to close that port in response to a sudden and substantial increase in pressure within the tank; but under normal conditions, the interior of the tank is in open communication with an overflow pipe.

It has been found that, in such systems, the conventional coolant-circulating pump returns the liquid coolant to the tank so forcefully, at times, as to produce such a. degree of surging in the tank as causes the coolant to be splashed out through the open valve port, to be lost through the overflow pipe; and that such splashing, which may also be produced in part by the motion of the vehicle, may ultimately result in the loss of such a quantity of coolant liquid as to cause overheating of the engine with which the cooling system is associated.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide means which will guard against the loss of coolant without interfering with the normal operation of the valving mechanism carried by the closurecap in such a system.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic, fragmental view of the upper portion of one form of conventional automobile radiator, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental section of a part of the radiator of FIG. 1, showing my novel closure means, and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a different form of radiator; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 but showing the closure means installed in a radiator of the character illustrated in FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that I have indicated an automobile radiator including a tank portion 14) having a top wall 11 formed with a filler opening 12 (FIG. 2) in a depressed portion 13 of said wall, a filler neck assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 14, being associated with the opening 12. The depression 13 and the arrangement of the opening 12 in that depression provides for the establishment of an air space 15 at the top of the tank. This is, of course, desirable to provide for expansion of the liquid body in the tank without overflow thereof.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, the assembly 14 comprises a filler neck having a tubular body 16 provided, at its upper end, with an outturned lip 16 defining an annular seat 17 and terminating in a downturned flange 18 formed with cam surfaces 19 at its lower edge, in accordance with conventional practice. Intermediate its ends, the body 16 is shaped to provide an inturned portion 2% adapted to be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the portion 13 of the top wall 11; and the inner peripheral region of the flange 20 is formed to define an annular seat 21 for a purpose which will become apparent.

Between the levels of the seats 17 and 21, the body 16 is formed with a lateral overflow port 22 with which communicates an overflow conduit 23. All of the structure thus far described is conventional.

According to the present invention, the body 16 is further provided with a downward, tubular extension 24 which penetrates the opening 12 and extends into the tank 10 to a level significantly below the wall portion 13 where it terminates in an open mouth 25. At a level substantially above the level of the mouth 25, and preferably closely adjacent the wall portion 13, the extension 24 is formed with a small-diameter bleed port 26 in which is supported, in this form of the invention, one end of a I bleed tube 27 the other end 28 of which is upwardly direeted and preferably disposed adjacent the level of the major portion of the top wall 11. At any rate, the open end 28 of the tube 27 is disposed within the air chamber 15. The optimum level for the liquid coolant within, the

, tank is indicated at 29 and is at'the level of the mouth 25 of the filler neck extension 24-.

While the extension 24 is preferably an integral part of the body 16, as here illustrated, it will be clear that it may,

' alternatively, be a separate element suitably fixed in the wall opening 12.

The closure cap of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 30 and comprisesa cover member 31 provided with a skirt portion terminating in inturned fingers 32 for cooperation with the cammed surfaces 19 of the flange 18 of the filler neck 16, in accordance with conventional practice. The cover member 31 is centrally perforated to support fixedly a I bell-shaped element 33 whose lower edge is outturned to define a broken peripheral lip 34. A second bell-shaped element 35 has an inturned flange 36 which is reciprocably supported upon the element 33. The lower end of the element 35 is formed to define an annular pan 37 upon whose lower face is supported an annular gasket 38. A coiled spring 39 is confined between a shoulder 40 on the element 35 and a flexible diaphragm 41 which, when the cap is in place on the filler neck, bears upon the seat 17. The spring 39 resiliently holds the element 35 in its lowermost position with respect to the element 33 and therefore, when the cap is in place, resiliently presses the gasket 38 against the seat 21.

The element 35 is formed to provide an inturned annular seat 42 facing a partition 43 which is fixed within the element 35. As shown, the partition 43 is formed with a central port 44 and a plurality of eccentric ports 45 and, on its upper face, provides a plurality of small protrusions 46. A valve member 47 is freely mounted within the element 35 and is confined between the partition 43 and the seat 42. Said valve 47 normally rests upon the protrusions 46 and there is a substantial clearance between the external periphery of the valve 47 and the internal periphery of the element 35.

Fixedly mounted with respect to the partition 43 is an inverted bell-shaped member 48, the lower end of which carries a flexible gasket 49 which is centrally secured to the element 48 by any suitable means such as the rivet assembly 50. The external diameter of the gasket 49 is at least equal to, and preferably somewhat larger than, the internal diameter of the extension 24; and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that, when the cover member 31 has its fingers 32 retainingly engaged with the cammed surfaces 19 of the filler neck flange 18, the gasket 49 will be positioned within the extension 214 at a level between the mouth 25 and the bleed port 26. In the optimum form of the invention, the gasket 49, when so located, will be downwardly convex, as shown.

With the parts in their illustrated positions, it will be clear that gradual variations in the pressure within the tank will be equalized by gas or vapor flow through the tube 27 and bleed port 26, since gas or vapor can flow freely through the ports 51 in the

elements

48, 44 and 45 in the partition 43 and 52 in the element 33 to the overflow pipe 23. The gasket 49, however, seals the lower end of the extension 24 against the passage of surging liquid from the tank 10. While said gasket is sufliciently flexible so that any substantial excess of pressure within the tank over atmospheric pressure will flex the perimetral region of the gasket upwardly to permit fluid flow therepast, mere splashing and surging of the liquid will not create a suflicient force to flex the gasket out of sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the extension 24.

Obviously, any sudden increase in pressure within the tank 1%) will thus flex the gasket 49 and force the valve 47 into sealing engagement with the seat 42; and if the accumulated pressure attains suflicient value, the gasket 38 will be forced off its seat 21 to permit fluid flow past said gasket to the overflow pipe 23.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4,

the tank 60 is formed with a planar top wall 61 which is provided with a filler opening 62 with which the filler neck assembly 14 is similarly associated. The extension 24 is in all respects similar to the extension 24 and is provided with a bleed port 26. In this case, no equivalent of the tube 27 is used.

The closure cap assembly 30 is identical with the assembly 30 of FIG. 2 and cooperates in a similar fashion with the filler neck 14, the gasket 38 being resiliently held against the seat 71 and the gasket 49 being similarly positioned in the extension 24' between the lower open mouth of that extension and the bleed port 26.

The extension 24' provides for maintenance of an air space 65 in the tank 60. That is, it is the usual practice of attendants in service stations to pour water into the filler neck of a radiator until water overflows the upwardly opening mouth of the filler neck. With the arrangement herein disclosed, when the liquid in the

tank

10 or 60 reaches the level 29 or 79, further liquid poured into the filler neck will quickly rise therein and overflow the upper end of the filler neck. The relatively small 4 amount of liquid remaining in the filler neck will drain through the lower open mouth of the extension 24 or 24' without substantially raising the level 29 or 79; and pressures will be equalized through the pipe 27 or port 26'.

When the cap 30 is associated with the tiller neck 14, the diaphragm 41 will engage the seat 67 and the gasket 38 will be resiliently pressed against the seat 71, while the gasket 49 will be positioned within the extension 24 at a level between the lower open mouth of said extension and the bleed port 26'. The operation of the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is identical with that of the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of the class described, a tank having a top wall, a filler neck mounted in and penetrating said top wall, said filler neck being formed to provide an upper mouth, an annular upwardly-facing seat below said mouth, and a tubular extension below said seat and terminating in a lower mouth disposed Within said tank at a level significantly below said tank top wall, said neck being provided with an overflow port between said upper mouth and said seat, and said extension being provided with a bleed port between said lower mouth and said tank top wall, and a closure cap for said filler neck, said cap including a cover member rctainingly engageable with said neck to span and cover said upper mouth, ported valve means reciprocably supported from said cover member and yieldingly pressed into closing engagement with said seat when said cover member is so engaged, a second valve means constructed and arranged to close the port in said ported valve means at times but biased to open position, and a gasket centrally supported from said cover member and disposed, when said cover member is so engaged, within said extension at a level between said lower mouth and said bleed port and in peripheral engagement with said tubular extension.

2. In a system of the class described, a tank having a top wall formed with a port therein, a tube registering with said port, extending into said tank and terminating therein in a downwardly-opening mouth disposed at a level significantly below said wall, said tube body being provided with a bleed port between said wall and said mouth, a filler neck secured to said wall in registry with said port and providing an upwardly-opening mouth outside said tank and an upwardly-facing seat, said neck further being provided with an overflow port between said seat and said upwardly-opening mouth, and a closure cap including a cover member retainingly engageable with said neck to span and cover said upwardly-opening mouth, ported valve means reciprocably supported from said cap and yieldingly urged, when said cover member is so engaged, against said seat, a second valve means constructed and arranged to close the port in said ported valve means at times, but biased to open position, and a gasket centrally fixedly supported from said ported valve means and disposed, when said ported valve means is on said seat, within said tube at a level between said downwardly-opening mouth and said bleed port and in pheripheral sealing engagement with said tube.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said gasket is axially flexible.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said gasket is downwardly-convex.

5. The combination of claim 2 in which the port in said tank top wall is formed in a depressed region of said wall, and a conduit leads from said bleed port and opens into the interior of said tank at a point spaced from said depressed region and at a level above the level of said seat.

6. In a radiator for an automobile engine cooling sys tem or the like, said radiator having a tank including a top wall formed with a filler opening, a tube registering with said opening and extending into said tank to terminate in a downwardly-opening mouth disposed at a level significantly below said wall, said tube being formed, within said tank, with a bleed port at a level beneath but closely adjacent said tank top wall, and a closure for said opening, said closure carrying a centrally-supported baffle disposed, when said closure is in operative position, Within said tube at a level between said mouth and said bleed port.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which said bafiie is an axially-flexible gasket proportioned and arranged, when so disposed, for sealing peripheral engagement with the 1() internal wall of said tube.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith July 4, 1939 Le'bus Nov. 23, 1954 Pipes et al Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 27, 1929 Great Britain I an 5, 1942

Claims

1. IN A SYSTEM OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A TANK HAVING A TOP WALL, A FILLER NECK MOUNTED IN AND PENETRATING SAID TOP WALL, SAID FILLER NECK BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE AN UPPER MOUTH, AN ANNULAR UPWARDLY-FACING SEAT BELOW SAID MOUTH, AND A TUBULAR EXTENSION BELOW SAID SEAT AND TERMINATING IN A LOWER MOUTH DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TANK AT A LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW SAID TANK TOP WALL, SAID NECK BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OVERFLOW PORT BETWEEN SAID UPPER MOUTH AND SAID SEAT, AND SAID EXTENSION BEING PROVIDED WITH A BLEED PORT BETWEEN SAID LOWER MOUTH AND SAID TANK TOP WALL, AND A CLOSURE CAP FOR SAID FILLER NECK, SAID CAP INCLUDING A COVER MEMBER RETAININGLY ENGAGABLE WITH SAID NECK TO SPAN AND COVER SAID UPPER MOUTH, PORTED VALVE MEANS RECIPROCABLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID COVER MEMBER AND YIELDINGLY PRESSED INTO CLOSING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEAT WHEN SAID COVER MEMBER IS SO ENGAGED, A SECOND VALVE MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO CLOSE THE PORT IN SAID PORTED VALVE MEANS AT TIMES BUT BIASED TO OPEN POSITION, AND A GASKET CENTRALLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID COVER MEMBER AND DISPOSED, WHEN SAID COVER MEMBER IS SO ENGAGED, WITHIN SAID EXTENSION AT A LEVEL BETWEEN SAID LOWER MOUTH AND SAID BLEED PORT AND IN PERIPHERAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBULAR EXTENSION.