US3096022A - Safety thermostatic control for marine engine cooling systems - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 3,096,022 SAFETY 'IHERMOSTATIC CONTROL FOR MARINE ENGINE COGLING SYSTEMS Donald A. Holley, 790 E. Bremer Ave, Waverly, Iowa Filed Dec. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 856,685 7 Claims. (Cl. 236-345) This invention relates to improvements in thermostatic controls for marine engine cooling systems and is directed more particularly to a new and novel type of safety valve.

In my prior Patent Nos. 2,536,642 and 2,757,650, I disclose a thermostatic control for marine engine cooling systems, wherein water is taken in from the body supporting the boat in which the marine engine is carried and is directed into the engine water jacket and also through a control valve unit, passing from the unit directly back to the source from which it is taken. This control valve unit embodies a normally seated poppet which in its closed position substantially blocks the passage of water from the engine jacket permitting a major portion of the water from the pump to bypass the heat sensitive unit housing chamber and permitting only a very small fraction of the water from the engine jacket to enter the chamber having the heat sensitive unit therein. Under normal conditions of operation of the engine the engine block heats up slowly and slowly increases the temperature of the water passing therethrough so that as this gradually heating water from the engine block passes through the heat sensitive unit containing chamber, the unit responds by gradually opening the valve to permit more and more of the heated water to pass around the unit and at the same time gradually shuts oi the flow of the water directly from the pump line to the return or discharge passage. Eventually the valve shifts the poppet portion which is actuated by the heat sensitive unit to a position Where the full flow of water from the engine jacket passes around the heat sensitive unit and the flow from the pump directly to the outlet is shut off.

In my patents above referred to there is disclosed the use of a bellows type of thermostatic or heat responsive device such as that known as the Sylphon bellows, which employs a highly volatile liquid having the action of expanding rapidly under the influence of a rise in temperature of the water surrounding the unit. Other types of heat sensitive units may be employed in this capacity, but in any case such units respond rather rapidly to a temperature rise.

In systems of the character to which the present thermostatic control device is employed, conditions frequently arise or are created which result in a very rapid reaction of the heat sensitive material in the thermostat, causing the thermostatically actuated poppet to move against a seat which shuts oil the flow of water from the discharge side of the pump. As an example, when an engine is started up, if it is rapidly accelerated, the escape means for the engine jacket water to the discharge line cannot carry off the water and the temperature of the latter builds up rapidly so that a more or less violent reaction in the heat sensitive element of the thermostat occurs, forcing the thermostatically actuated poppet onto its seat and if no relief is provided for the continued increase of pressure exerted by the heat sensitive material of the unit, the result is severe damage to the unit.

In the light of the foregoing it is a particular object of the present invention to provide .a new and novel thermostatic control for a marine engine cooling system which is designed in a novel manner whereby any overheating of the thermostatic unit or heat sensitive material of the unit will not result in the permanent damage of the unit.

"ice

novel supporting means for the active element of the unit whereby the thrust of the unit when opposed by the seating of a poppet valve actuated thereby, will result in a reverse movement of the unit to yield and absorb the thrust action and thereby prevent damage to the unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel yieldable support means for a heat sensitive unit of a type wherein the thermal element is comprised of a powdered copper and wax compound permanently encased in an expansion chamber and exerting when expanded under the application of heat, thrust against a valve actuating piston, whereby such support permits a reverse movement of the thermal element container when the poppet actuating piston is checked in its movement by the result of the poppet seating against an immovable seat.

The invention will be best understood from consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may 'be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional View through the thermostatic control unit, in closed position, showing the connections therewith of water conduits leading to diagrarnrned engine cooling system connections corresponding to those shown in my prior patents referred to and showing the heat sensitive element and spring thereof in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but showing the unit in open position and illustrating the relative position of the parts under excessive heating of the heat responsive element;

FIG. 3 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the element and its supporting means removed from the housing with the thermal element and piston housing in section;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of FIG. 1 and showing the poppet supporting pipes upon which the edge of the poppet rests in valve-closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the element for coupling the lower ends of the poppet return springs with the bottom of the heat responsive element;

FIG. 6 is a View looking at the underside of the poppet and showing the means for connecting the upper ends of the poppet return springs therewith.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates the safety thermostatic control device or unit of the present invention.

This unit comprises a housing having the two parts 12 and 14 which, for convenience of description, will be referred to as the upper and lower or first and second chamber parts although it will be understood that by referring to upper and lower parts it is not the intention to convey that the device must be used in this position since it can function in the inverted position from which it is shown in FIG. 1 or in any other desired position.

The parts 12 and 14 provide a poppet chamber 16 and a heat sensitive element encasing chamber 18.

The reference characters A, B and C designate pipelines or pipeline connections leading, respectively, from the internal combustion engine cylinder head, the discharge side of the water pump by which water is taken in from a source and circulated into and through the engine water A further object of the invention is to provide in a thermostatic control unit of the character referred to, a

jacket, and the exhaust stack or overboard outlet by way of which the water passes back to its source from the engine.

Only a diagrammatic illustration of the engine water jacket, the pump and the exhaust stack, is here shown in association with these pipes or conduits A, B and C. It

. a 3 is believed that the operation of the present invention in association therewith will be clearly understood and refer ence may be had to my herei-nbefore referred-to patents torfurther disclosure of the parts with which these pipes or conduits are connected.

The upper or first part 12 of the housing is provided with the Water inletport with which the pipe or conduit B is connected and, as shown, this port is located in the axial center or the housing and is directed downwardly toward the center of the chamber 18.

At one side of the port 24 is a second threaded port 22 in which the conduit C leading to the exhaust stack is connected so that it will be apparent that water entering the chamber 16 by way of the conduit B may flow under proper conditions through the chamber to and out through the conduit C.

The wall 24 of the second or lower part 14 of the housing is likewise provided with a threaded port 26 in which is connected a pipe or conduit A leading from the engine jacket oricylinder head.

. The upper and lower parts 12 and 14 have opposing ooupilinglfaces 23 and 30 respectively which are adapted to be secured together in a suitable manner as by means of bolts 31 and between which a peripheral part of the heat sensitive element and poppet supporting plate is secured. a

The numeral 32 designates. an annular plate having a ribbed peripheral portion 33 which is secured between the faces 28 and 30 and between at least one of these fiaces and the secured peripheral portion of the plate is a gasket 34, the rib 33. projecting upwardly and forming a tight seat. or contact with the face 28 of the top part 12.

.Theopening in the plate 32 is designated 35 and there is suspended from the plate a spider embodying a number otdownwardfly converging arms 36 each joining the plate 52 at theedge of the opening 35 and connected at their lower ends with the thrust absorbing spring supporting ring 37. v

.The annular plate 32 is formed with several upstanding pips or buttons 38, here shown as three in number, and these project only. a very small distance above the surface of the plate, as, for example, in the neighborhood of 0.006 of an inch.

The numeral 39 generally designates a solid fill pellet type heat responsive member of a standard or known type which embodies a chambered body portion 40 leading into a tubular neck 41, in the upper end of which is slidably positioned a thrust piston 42.. The chamber 43 in the portion 4% contains a powdered copper-wax compound 44 forming the thermal substance or heat responsive substance and interposed between the top of this substance in the neckAl, and the piston 42, is a rubber diaphragm 45. Upon the application of. heat to the body. 40 the compound 44 expand and imposes an upward thrust on the piston through the medium of the interposed diaphragm 45.

As illustrated, the body 40 is of larger outside diameter than the neck 41 so that there is thus provided a shoulder 46 and the neck 41 extends through the ring 37 which normally rests upon this shoulder 46.

.The neck 41 also passes through a thrust absorbing spring 47 which at its lowerend rests upon the ring 37 while atits upper end it is pressed against a collar 48 which'encircles the top end of the neck and is held in place in a suitable'm anner as, for example, by means of a snap ring 49. Thi spring 47 is under constant compression and, therefore, tends to pull the heat responsive member 39 upwardly and thereby pull the shoulder 46 of the part 40 against the underside of the ring 37 and also functions, upon excessive heating and expansion of the thermal heat responsive material 44 and excessive extension of the piston 42, to absorb the thrust by permitting the thermal compound and piston carrying element to move back.

The numeral 50 generally designates the poppet which 4 comprises the disc head 51 and the downturned surrounding flange 52. This poppet as shown i located in the upper chamber 16 with the flange 52 directed downwardly toward the annular plate 32 and this flange is of the proper diameter to contact or rest upon the pips 38 when the valve is in the closed position, shown in FIG. 1, thereby providing a narrow water passage 53 between the chamber 18 and the chamber 16.

The center of the poppet head 51 has an opening 54 therethrough. This opening is provided to receive the reduced terminal portion or stem portion 55 of the piston 42. This stem portion 55 is of suflicient length to extend into the overlying port 20 beyond'the poppet seat 61.

The poppet is thus free to rise on the reduced terminal portion or stem 55 if and when necessary to come into engagement with the seat and without, at the same time, becoming misaligned withthe stem. This action or condition might occur when a sudden injection or surge of water takes place into the lower or second chamber. Being free from fixed connection with the stem, the piston thus would not be drawn upwardly in the neck 41 away from the rubber diaphragm.

In starting upthe engine cold, it the engine is speeded up so that such a sudden surge of Water enters the second chamber, naturally the thermal material or composition 44 would remain unexpanded because such water would be cold. Therefore, if the piston were raised under these conditions and separated from the rubber diaphragm, as stated, a reduced pressure area could be formed between the piston and rubber diaphragm which mightresult in V the drawing of water or foreignmatter into such area past the piston with resultant injuryto the device. allowing for the 'free movement of the poppet on the stem, no such condition will arise from the sudden insurge of cold water into the lower chamber and the application of pressure against the underside ofthe poppet.

The numeral 56 designates poppet return springs which are connected between the poppet 50 and the lower end of the heat responsive member 39 in the folflowin g manner.

There is secured against the underside of the poppet head 51 the small plate 57 which has the outwardly extending hooks 58, the ends of which are directed to the underside of the head 51, these hooks corresponding in number to the springs 56. The upperend of each of the springs is connected with one of these hooks 58. The numeral 53 designates a saddle plate which is located beneath and in which rests the bottom end of the heat responsive member 39 and this saddle also carries the outwardly extending and downturned hock arms 60 to each of which the lower end of a poppet return spring 56 is tions, from a consideration of my prior patents hereinbefore referred to, it will'be understood that when the presout control device is installed for operation in a marine internal combustion engine, the poppet 56 will be separated from the seat 61 which encircles the inner end of the port 20 and :against which the outer'side of the body 51 of the poppet is adapted to engage when it is fully shifted away from the annular plate 32. The' poppet will thus'be in what will be understood as valve-closed position with the periphery of the flange 52 resting upon the buttons or pips 38.

Under normal working conditions when the engine is started and warmed up in the proper manner, the water from the circulating pump, not shown, will flow by two paths, one leading to the pipe or conduit A and into the chamber 18 and the other leading to the pipe or conduit B into the chamber 16. A small amount of this water entering the chamber 18 will pass through the passage 53 into the chamber 16' and pass from this chamber with the water entering by way of the port 20 out through the pipe or conduit C. Thus as the engine gradually warms up, the water gradually increasing in temperature will enter the chamber 18 and atfect the heat responsive compound 44 to extend the piston 42, thus moving the poppet toward the seat 61. Thus the flow directly from the port 20 to the port 22 will be gradually shut off and the flow from the port 26 into the chamber 18, then to the chamber 16 and from there to the outlet port 22 will gradually increase.

During the foregoing operation the poppet return springs 56 will be increased in tension so that when the engine is stopped and the thermal compound contracts the poppet will be drawn back to its closed position.

In the event that a sudden or rapid application of heat to the body 40 of the heat responsive member takes place through the action hereinbefore described, by the intensely heated water entering the chamber 18, so that the piston 42 is rapidly projected and the poppet seated to close the port 20, the thrust of the poppet against its seat by the tendency of the piston to continue to move outwardly will be absorbed by the spring 47 which supports the heat responsive member in the manner described, thus permitting the parts 40 and 41 of the heat responsive member to move away from the poppet or reversely with respect to the piston, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus the device will be protected against damage which it would otherwise receive if the heat responsive member were secured in its entirety against any such reverse movement so that the piston 42 will continue to be forced outwardly and the poppet 50 would continue to be pressed against its seat by the expanding thermal compound. Consequently with the above action occurring as described, through the provision of the thrust absorbing spring the poppet will be held open to permit free flow of water from the engine jacket to the chamber and out through the conduit C until normal operating conditions are established.

I claim:

1. A thermostatically actuated valve unit comprising a housing, a plate member therein and dividing the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, said plate member having a central opening therethrough, a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port opening directly into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, a spider structure supported by said plate member in said second chamber, a thermal element having a body and a piston carried by the body and movable relative to the body by thermal action, a resilient means connected with said body and supporting the thermal element on the spider, said piston being directed through said plate member opening, a valve poppet positioned within the first chamber over the plate member and supported by the piston and movable thereby between two extreme positions in one of which positions it engages the plate member over the opening therein, and in the other of which positions it closes the fluid inlet port communicating with the first chamber, said valve poppet embodying an annular flange directed toward said plate member and wherein the plate member carries spaced means forming a part thereof with which said flange is adapted to engage, whereby a restricted water passage is provided between the two chambers, and spring means connected with and between the valve poppet and the body portion of the thermal element and normally urging movement of the valve poppet toward said plate member.

2. A thermostatically actuated valve unit comprising a housing formed in .at least two parts having confronting peripheral surfaces, a centrally apertured plate member between said housing parts and secured around and adjacent to its periphery between said confronting surfaces whereby the plate member divides the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, a spider carried by the plate member and extending into the second chamber and including a ring arranged coaxially with the opening of the plate member, a fluid inlet port opening into the first chamber, a valve seat encircling said fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port opening into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, said opening of the plate member being coaxial with said valve seat and the first fluid inlet port, a thermal element having an elongate body comprising a thermally responsive medium containing part and an elongate neck part, said neck part extending through the spider ring and being limited in its movement therethrough by engagement of the ring with the said thermal responsive medium containing part, said thermal element further including a piston carried by and movable relative to said neck part and extending axially from the latter through the opening of said plate member, resilient means encircling said neck part of the thermal element body and being secured under compression between said spider ring and an element secured to the neck part whereby .to normally urge movement of the thermal body toward the first fluid inlet port, a valve poppet coupled with said piston and located within the first chamber and adapted to be moved by the piston between a first position in which it engages the plate member and covers the opening therein and a second position in which it engages the said valve seat and closes said first inlet port upon the extension of the piston in response to thermal expansion of the medium in the first mentioned part of the thermal element body, resilient means normally urging the traction of the piston to bring the valve poppet to said first position thereof, and said plate member carrying upon its top a number of upstanding elements disposed around the aperture therein and located in a position to be engaged by the valve poppet in the said first position of the latter to provide a flow passage between the poppet and the plate.

3. A thermostatically actuated valve unit comprising a housing formed in at least two parts having confronting peripheral surfaces, a centrally apertured plate member between said housing parts and secured around and adjacent to its periphery between said confronting surfaces whereby the plate member divides the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, a spider carried by the plate member and extending into the second chamber and including a ring arranged coaxially with the opening of the plate member, a fluid inlet port opening into the first chamber, a valve seat encircling said fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port opening into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, said opening of the plate member being coaxial with said valve seat and the first fluid inlet port, a thermal element having an elongate .body comprising a thermally respon sive medium containing part and an elongate neck part, said neck part extending through the spider ring and being limited in its movement therethrough by engagement of the ring with the said thermal responsive medium containing part, said thermal element further including a piston carried by and movable relative to said neck part and extending axially from the latter through the opening of said plate member, resilient means encircling said neck part of the thermal element body and being secured under compression between said spider ring and an element secured tothe neck part whereby to normally iirge movement of the thermal body toward the first fluid inlet port, a valve poppet coupled with said piston and located within the first chamber and adapted to be moved by the piston between a first position in which it engages the plate member and covers the opening therein and a second position in which it engages said valve seat and closes said first inlet port upon the extension of the piston in response to thermal expansion of the medium in the first mentioned part of the thermal element body, resilient means normally urging the traction of the piston to bring the valve poppet to said first position thereof, and the last named resilient means comprising spring elements connected at one end to the underside of the poppet and extending through the plate member aperture and connected at their other ends to the thermal element at the end of the latter on the side of the spider ring-remote from the first named resilient housing, a plate member therein and dividing the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, said plate member having a central opening therethrough, a spider connected with the plate member and supporting a ring disposed within the second chamber and concentric with the opening in the plate member, va fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port opening directly into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, a valve seat encircling the first inlet port and being coaxial with the spider carried ring, a poppet valve withinthe first chamber comprising a disc head having a top side adapted to engage said valve seat and having an encircling flange projecting from the opposite side toward said plate member, the poppet valve being movable between the valve seat and the plate member, said flange being designed to engage the plate member in encircling relation with the opening therethrough for substantially closing the opening, a thermal element comprising a body portion a neck portion and a piston carried by the body portion and movable relative thereto by thermal action,

said body portion being disposed in the second chamber on the side of the ring remote from the poppet valve and the neck portion extending through the ring toward the poppet valve, there being a connection between the piston and the poppet valve, resilient means encircling the neck portion and connected at one end therewith and engaging at its other end upon said ring, elongate spring elements eachconnected at one endwith the under side of the poppet valve head and extending into the second chamber, and means connecting the other ends of the spring elements with the body of the thermal element.

5. A thermostatically actuated valve unit compnising a housing, .a plate member therein and dividing the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, said plate member having a central opening therethrough, a spider connected with the plate member and supporting a ring disposed within thesecond chamber and concentric with the opening in the plate member, a fluid inlet port and 'a fluid outlet port opening directly into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, a valve seat encircling the first inlet port and being coaxial with the spider carried ring, a poppet valve within the first chamber comprising a disc having a top side adapted to engage said valve seat and having an encircling fiange projecting from the opposite side toward said platetrnember, the poppet valve being movable between the valve seat and the plate memben said flange being designed to engage the plate member in encircling engagement with the opening therethrough for substantially closing the opening, a thermal element comprising a body portion, a neck portion and a piston carried by the body portion and movable relative thereto by thermal action, said body portion being disposed in the second chamber on the side of the ring remote \from the poppet valve and the neck portion extending through the ring toward the poppet valve, there being a connectionbetween the piston and the poppet valve, resilient means encircling the neck portion andrconnected at one end therewith and engaging at its other end upon said ring,

hook elements secured to the under side of the poppet valve disc head in encircling relation with the thermal element piston, a plurality of elongate spring elements each having an end connected with a hook element and extending therefrom into the second chamber, a'saddle plate having said thermal element body resting thereagainst on the side of the body remote from said neck portion, said saddle plate including a plurality of hook elements and each of said spring elements having its other end connected with a hook element or the saddle plate.

6. A valve unit of the character stated in claim 4, wherein said poppet valve disc head has a central opening therethrough and the said connection between the piston and the disc head comprises a stem extending axially of and from the 'end'of the .piston adjacent to the a head and passing through the said opening in the head and free of fixed connection with the head whereby 'the poppet valve has limited free movement on the stem.

7. A thermostatically actuated valve unit comprising a housing, a' plate member therein 'and dividing the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, said plate member having a central opening therethrough, a spider connected with the plate member and supporting a ring disposed within the second chamber and concentric with the opening in the plate member, a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port opening directly into the first chamber, a fluid inlet port opening into the second chamber, a poppet valve within the first chamber comprising a disc head having'an encircling flange projecting towards said plate member, the poppet 'valvebeing movable in the first chamber relative to the plate member, there being means in the first chamber engageable by said disc head for limiting movement of the poppet valve away the side of the ring remote from the poppet valve and the neck portion extending through the ring toward the poppet valve, there being a connection between the piston and the poppet valve, resilient means encircling the neck portion and connected at one end therewith and engaging its other end upon said ring, elongate spring elemerits each connected at one end with the under side of the poppet valve head and extending into the second chamber, and means connecting .the other ends of the spring elements with the body'of the thermal element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,101,369 Jorgensen et a1. Dec. 7, 1937 2,419,630 Cruzan et al. ...5 Apr.. 29, 1947- 2,536,642 Holley Jan. 2, 1951 2,757,650 Holley Aug. 7, 1956v 2,847,165 Freismuth Aug. 12, 1958

Claims (1)

1. A THERMOSTATICALLY ACTUATED VALVE UNIT COMPRISING A HOUSING, A PLATE MEMBER THEREIN AND DIVIDING THE HOUSING INTO A FIRST CHAMBER AND A SECOND CHAMBER, SAID PLATE MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL OPERING THERETHROUGH, A FLUID INLET PORT AND A FLUID OUTLET PORT OPENING DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRST CHAMBER, A FLUID INLET PORT OPENING INTO THE SECOND CHAMBER, A SPIDER STRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY SAID PLATE MEMBER IN SAID SECOND CHAMBER, A THERMAL ELEMENT HAVING A BODY AND A PISTON CARRIED BY THE BODY AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE BODY BY THERMAL ACTION, A RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID BODY AND SUPPORTING THE THERMAL ELEMENT ON THE SPIDER, SAID PISTON BEING DIRECTED THROUGH SAID PLATE MEMBER OPENING, A VALVE POPPET POSITIONED WITHIN THE FIRST CHAMBER OVER THE PLATE MEMBER AND SUPPORTED BY THE PISTON AND MOVABLE THEREBY BETWEEN TWO EXTREME POSITIONS IN ONE OF WHICH POSITIONS IT ENGAGES THE PLATE MEMBER OVER THE OPENING THEREIN, AND IN THE OTHER OF WHICH POSITIONS IT CLOSES THE FLUID INLET PORT COMMUNICATION WITH THE FIRST CHAMBER, SAID VALVE POPPET

Images