US3208438A

US3208438A - Cooling system for an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: US3208438A
Application number: US353383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore Z White
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1964-03-20
Filing date: 1964-03-20
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28
Also published as: GB1077745A

Description

T. Z. WHITE Sept. 28, 1965 COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 20, 1964 7A00 ORA Z. W///7' INVENTOR BY ,Q 6. 2. f

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,208,438 COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Theodore Z. White, Dearborn Heights, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,383 9 Claims. (Cl. 12341.5)

This invention relates to a liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine and more particularly to a cooling system embodying an improved expansion device.

In the liquid cooling system of an automotive engine it is now a common practice to use a crossfiow type radiator. The crossflow radiator is desirable since it permits a low hood line. A separate, expansion tank, however, must be used with the crossflow radiator to compensate for the increase in volume of the coolant at engine operating temperatures. The separate expansion tank normally employed with crossfiow radiators increases the possibility of coolant system leaks since additional conduits and fittings are required to connect the expansion tank into the system.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide an improved expansion device for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine that will not present the possibility of leakage.

The current emphasis upon low maintenance vehicles has also created a demand for sealed engine cooling systems. In addition to requiring premium coolants, the sealed cooling system requires higher quality components. It is essential that the number of conduits and connections be reduced in a sealed system to reduce the number of possible areas of leakage. is provided, additional areas of leakage are introduced into this system.

It therefore is a further object of this invention to provide a liquid cooling system that embodies an integral expansion device.

A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine embodying this invention includes a cooling jacket for the engine. Means including a flexible conduit are provided for circulating liquid cooling through the system. The flexible conduit includes an expandable section that is resilient in a radial direction. The expandable section expands upon temperature induced increases in the volume of the coolant contained in the system. Expansion limiting means surround the expandable section to limit the degree of expansion.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the expansion device employed in the cooling system shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side-elevational view of another form of expansion device.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, a liquid cooled internal combustion engine is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The engine 11 includes a cylinder block 12 and cylinder head 13 that are provided with cooling jackets through which a suitable liquid coolant may be circulated. A crankshaft driven coolant pump 14 is positioned at the front of the cylinder block 12 for circulating the liquid coolant.

The crossfiow radiator or heat exchanger, indicated If a separate expansion device generally by the reference numeral 15, is positioned at the front of the engine 11. The radiator 15 has a section 16 made up of a plurality of water tubes and heat exchanger fins.

Header tanks

17 and 18 are positioned at each end of the section 16. An engine driven fan 19 causes air circulation across the radiator 17.

A coolant outlet fitting 21 is positioned in the lower side of the header tank 18. One end of a flexible hose 22 is connected to the outlet fitting 21 by a hose clamp 23. The other end of the flexible hose 22 is affixed to the inlet side of the coolant pump 14. The coolant pump 14 discharges coolant into the cylinder block 12 and cylinder head 13. A flexible conduit 24 is provided to convey coolant from an engine coolant outlet fitting 25 positioned upon cylinder head 13, to a radiator inlet fitting 26 positioned at the upper end of the header tank 17.

Clamps

27 and 28 secure the respective ends of the flexible conduit 24 to their respective fittings.

The coolant system illustrated is of the sealed type. That is, a long-life liquid coolant having a low freezing point and a high boiling point is contained within the system. A filler cap 29 may be positioned upon the header tank 17 to permit topping up of the system. The filler cap 29 may also include a pressure relief valve of any known type (not shown).

If the system is completely filled with coolant when the engine is at normal ambient temperatures, the coolant will expand when it reaches the normal engine operating temperature. It is additionally desirable to permit a certain degree of pressurization in the system to raise the boiling point of the coolant. The changes in coolant volume are accommodated by an expansion device indicated generally by the reference numeral 31 and shown in greater detail in FIGURE 2. The expansion device 31 comprises an expandable section 32 that may be integral with the conduit 24 or may be a separate portion secured at each end to the conduit 26, as by

clamps

33 and 34. The expandable section 32 is more resilient in a radial direction than the conduit 26 so that the increased pressure in the coolant system generated by the expansion of the coolant may readily deform the outer diameter of the section 32 as shown in the dotted line view of FIGURE 2.

It is essential that some means is provided to limit the radial expansion of the section 32. For this purpose a barrel-shaped coiled steel wire 35 encircles the section 32. When the section 32 expands to the diameter shown in the dotted line view it will be contacted by the internal diameter of the barrel-shaped wire 35 and further radial expansion will be limited.

Another form of expansion limiting device is shown in FIGURE 3. In this figure the conduit 26 is continuous. A radially expandable section 52 is provided, however, by forming the section 52 with a thinner wall or with less internal reinforcing than the remaining portion of the conduit 26 or both. Upon increases in the volume of the coolant within the system, the section 52 will increase in diameter to the shape shown by the dotted line 52a. A woven wire or cloth expansion limiting element 53 encircles the section 52 and is aflixed axially thereto by the

clamps

54 and 55.

The internal volume of the expansion limiting element 53 is greater than the volume displaced by the expandable section 52 at normal, ambient coolant temperatures. The volume of the woven expansion limiting element 53 is suflicient, however, to permit normal expansion of the coolant and expandable section 52 at engine operating temperatures. Further expansion is limited by the contact of the outer surface of the section 52 with the inner surface of the expansion limiting element 53.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exact construction shown and described. As has been noted, the expandable section may be a separate or integral element of one of the cooling system conduits. The conduit that embodies the expansion device can be any conduit in the cooling system that carries the liquid coolant. In addition to being one of the conduits that interconnects the engine cooling jacket to the radiator, the conduit may connect the engine cooling jacket to a vehicle heater or an induction system heating device. Other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprising a cooling jacket for said engine, means including a flexible conduit for circulating coolant through said system, said flexible conduit comprising an expandable section, said section being resilient in a radial direction for expansion upon changes in the volume of the coolant contained in said system, and expansion limiting means surrounding said expandable section for engagement with said section upon a predetermined expansion for limiting further expansion.

2. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 1 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a coiled steel wire.

3. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 1 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a woven element surrounding the expandable section.

4. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprising a cooling jacket for said engine, a heat exchanger, conduit means for circulating liquid coolant between said heat exchanger and said cooling jacket, said conduit means including an expandable section, said expandable section being resilient in a radial direction for expansion from a normal diameter to an increased diameter upon a temperature induced increase in the volume of the coolant contained in said system, and expansion limiting means surrounding said expandable section for engagement with said section upon a predetermined expansion for limiting further expansion.

5. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 4 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a substantially rigid coiled Wire encircling the expandable section, the inside diameter of said coiled wire being greater than the normal external diameter of said expandable section.

6. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 4 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a woven element surrounding the expandable section, the internal volume of said woven element being greater than the volume displaced by said expandable section in its normal diameter.

7. A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine comprising a cooling jacket for said engine, a crossfiow heat exchanger, first conduit means intercon necting the outlet of said cooling jacket with one side of said heat exchanger, second conduit means interconnecting the inlet of said cooling jacket with the other side of said heat exchanger, at least one of said conduits comprising an expandable section, said section being resilient in a radial direction for expansion in the diameter of said section upon temperature induced changes in the volume of the coolant contained in said system, and expansion limiting means surrounding said expandable section for engagement with the external diameter of said section upon a predetermined expansion for limiting further expansion.

8. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 7 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a barrelshaped coiled Wire surrounding the expandable section.

9. A liquid cooling system as defined by claim 7 wherein the expansion limiting means comprises a substantially rigid woven element surrounding the expandable section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,994 10/50 Baber 123-415 X 2,890,686 6/59 Cassell 1234l.5

KARL J. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING A COOLING JACKET FOR SAID ENGINE, MEANS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT FOR CIRCULATING COOLANT THROUGH SAID SYSTEM, SAID FLEXIBLE CONDUIT COMPRISING AN EXPANDABLE SECTIION, SAID SECTION BEING RESILIENT IN A RADIAL DIRECTION FOR EXPANSION UPON CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF THE COOLANT CONTAINED IN SAID SYSTEM, AND EXPANSION LIMITING MEANS SURROUNDING SAID EXPANDABLE SECTION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECTION UPON A PREDETERMINED EXPANSION FOR LIMITING FURTHER EXPANSION.