US3182436A

US3182436A - Engine drier plug

Info

Publication number: US3182436A
Application number: US153615A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cigliano Irving
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-11-20
Filing date: 1961-11-20
Publication date: 1965-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-11

Description

May 11, 1965 CIGLIANO ENGINE DRIER PLUG Filed Nov. 20. 1961 INVENTOR.

lRVINC CIGLIANO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,182,436 ENGINE DRIER PLUG Irving Cigliano, 566 Bothncr Sh, Oceanside, N.Y. Filed Nov. 29, 1961, Ser. N0. 153,615 3 Claims. (Ci. 55-387) This invention is concerned with a device for drying up moisture from the cylinders of internal combustion engines during the time such engines are in storage.

The general purpose of the invention is to prevent rust, scale, and other harmful substances from developing in the cylinders of such engines from moisture. I

Inasmuch as vessels carrying marine inboard engines are usually stored or placed in dry dock near bodies of water, the cylinders of such engines are continuously subject to'dampness. Accordingly, while the device of the present invention may find use with various internal combustion engines, it is particularly useful in association with inboard internal combustion marine engines.

A further object of this invention is to provide practical and efficient means for drying up moisture from, and maintaining free of moisture the cylinders of internal combustion engines, particularly inboard marine engines, during the period such engines are in storage.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a device for the foregoing purpose, which may be plugged into the open tail end of the gas exhaust pipe of the engine. a

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device having a tubular portion containing a suitable moisture absorbing agent and having a coned portion extending from one end of the tubular portion, the tubular portion being adapted to be freely inserted into the open tail end of the gas exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, the coned portion being adapted to be plugged into the said open end to seal it against the entrance of air, and the tubular portion having openings therein which allow access of air within the pipe to con tact the moisture absorbing agent, the latter agent having a strong afiinity for moisture, whereby air laden moisture in the exhaust pipe and in the cylinders of the engine is drawn to the absorbing agent within the tubular portion of the device.

The invention further lies not only in its particular structure, but also in the mode of its employment to effect the benefits and objects intended herein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings, wherein the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purposes of illustration and description, and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the device illustrating the invention, and shows the invention in association with the exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tube apart from the other components of the device; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of the device.

In the drawings is disclosed an engine drier plug or moisture absorbing device 1 which is adapted to be plugged into the open tail end 2 of the gas exhaust pipe 3 of an internal combustion engine, particularly the exhaust pipe of an inboard marine engine, not shown.

The device 1 includes an elongated tube 4 containing a suitable moisture absorbing agent or desiccant 5, which may be a material known as Silica Gel, or other desiccant 3,182,436 Patented May 11, 19565 ice having a strong afiinity for moisture. A removable cap 6 closes over the forward end of the tube. The cap may be manually removed when it is desired to replace the drying agent with a fresh supply. The rear end of the tube has a tight fit in a complementary axial recess 7 formed in the tapered end 8 of a coned plug 9. A partition wall 10 which divides the recess 7 off from an outer coned recess 11 closes over and abuts the rear end of the tube. The tube has a plurality of small holes 12 in the upper area thereof. These allow moisture laden air to enter the interior of the tube to contact the moisture drying agent. Upon such contact the air is dried out or deprived of its moisture.

The device is intended for use in drawing and drying up moisture from the cylinders, particularly of inboard internal combustion marine engines, while such engines are out of the water for an appreciable length of time. In using the device, the tube portion 4 is inserted within its perforated area 12 uppermost into the open tail end 2 of the exhaust pipe 3, the exhaust pipe being associated through the usual exhaust valves with the cylinders of the engine. The coned plug portion 9 is pressed tightly into the open end 2 to seal the latter against the entrance of air. The diameter of the tube 4 is less than that of the cylindrical exhaust pipe 3 in which it is inserted, so that it will be disposed therein clear of the surrounding wall of the pipe. The minor diameter of the coned plug is less than that of the open end 2 of the pipe, and the major diameter 13 is greater than that of the latter, whereby the coned plug is enabled to be entered partway into the pipe and wedged fast therein. The coned plug is preferably formed of resilient material such as rubber, whereby it will provide a tight grip with the pipe. The outer coned recess has various advantages. It serves as an aid in obtaining a tight fit of the plug in the open end of the pipe. In this respect, after the tube end of the device has been inserted into the pipe, and after the plug has been manually pressed partway into the pipe, the fit of the plug may be further tightened by inserting a ram into the outer recess 11 and pressing the ram forcefully against the partition wall 14). The recess 11 also serves as an aid in removing the tightly fitted plug from the pipe. In this respect, the user is able to grip the coned plug between the thumbs and forefingers, the thumbs extending into the recess and the forefingers extending over the outside of the plug. By gripping the plug in this manner the user may pull outwardly on the plug with both hands.

During the time that the device is plugged into the exhaust pipe, the drying agent, having a strong affinity for moisture, draws the moisture from the air within the pipe and also from the cylinders of the engine, the cylinders being connected with the exhaust pipe through the exhaust valves. It is understood that at any particular time only some of the exhaust valves are open to the exhaust pipe. Hence, from time to time the user may turn the engine so as to insure association of all of the cylinders with the exhaust pipe, and as a consequence with the effects of the device 1. It is preferable that the usual air intake means to the cylinders be covered over, as by a suitable covering, so as to prevent entrance of air into the cylinders during the time that the device 11 is being used.

It is to be noted that the tube portion 4 is disposed in the exhaust pipe 3 in such manner that the area of the tube containing the holes 12 is uppermost. This method of use enables excessive moisture accumulating in the tube to be retained therein. However, it is preferable that when the device is to be used with an engine that is remain in storage for an extended period, that the drying agent be replaced with a fresh supply from time to time.

- as A further feature of the coned plug portion 9 of the device is that its minor diameter is less than that of the smallest diameter exhaust pipe in use withv conventional inboard marine engines, and the major diameter of the plug portion is greater than that of the largest diameter pipe inuse with said engines.

FIGURE 3 in the drawing discloses a modified form of'the device which is constructed entirely of plastic: In,

this form the plug portion 14 and the tube portion 15 are integral with one another; and the cap element 16 is Welded to the tube portion, the drying agent 17 having been first'entered into the tube portion. This modified form of the invention is relatively inexpensive, and ac.- cordingly the device may be discarded after it has been used.

While the invention has been illustrated and described above in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intent, therefore, to claim the invention not only as shown above and described, but also in all such forms and' modifications thereof as may be reasonably construed to fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. A device for drying air moisture in a cylindricalv pipe, comprising a resilient coned frustum adapted to be plugged in part into an open end of the pipewith its minor diameter end foremost, the coned frustum having an axial recess extending therein from its minor diameter end, an elongated tube seated and closed at one end in the axial recess and closedat its opposite end, a moisture absorbent disposed in the interior of the tube, and a plurality of'holes in the tube communicating with the interior thereof.

2. A device for drying up air moisture in a cylindrical pipe, comprising a resilient coned hollow frustum portion adapted to be plugged in part into an open end of a pipe with its minor diameter end foremost, an elongated tube portion extending axially from the minor diameter end of the coned frustum and being integral therewith, the free endtof the tube portion being closed, a partition Wall extending transversely of the interior of the hollow frustum portion closing over the opposite end of the tube portion, a plurality of holes in the side'area of the tube portion communicating with the interior of the latter, and a moisture absorbent disposed within the interior of the tube portion.- V

3. In :cornbina'tion with acylindrical pipe, a device for drying up air moisture within the pipe, comprising a resilient hollow coned frustum plugged in part in an open end of the pipe with its minor diameter end foremost, the coned frustum having an elongated tubular container means extending forwardly from the minor diameter end thereof into the pipe, a moisture absorbent Within the tubular container means, the tubular container means having a plurality of holes in its side wall area communicating with the interior thereof, and Wall means closing over opposite ends of the tubular container.

References Cited byithe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,197 8/22' Hamlin -387 1,637,656 8/ 27 Radcliffe 55384 2,317,882 4/43 BOeSel 312-311 X 2,335,901 12/43 Ayers 55387 2,557,277 6/51 Gibson a 55-387 2,671,526 3/54 'Huntet al. 55- 387 699,287 1/55 Daninhirsch 55-387 2,728,407 12/55 Squier- 2 55-387 2,813,010 11/57 Hutchins 5573 REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR DRYING AIR MOISTURE IN A CYLINDRICAL PIPE, COMPRISING A RESILIENT CONED FRUSTUM ADAPTED TO BE PLUGGED IN PART INTO AN OPEN END OF THE PIPE WITH ITS MINOR DIAMETER END FOREMOST, THE CONED FRUSTUM HAVING AN AXIAL RECESS EXTENDING THEREIN FROM ITS MINOR DIAMETER END, AN ELONGATED TUBE SEATED AND CLOSED AT ONE END IN THE AXIAL RECESS AND CLOSED AT ITS OPPOSITE END, A MOISTURE ABSORBENT DISPOSED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE TUBE, AND A PLURALITY OF HOLES IN THE TUBE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF.