WO2008124889A1

WO2008124889A1 - Cooling system leak stopper

Info

Publication number: WO2008124889A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/000535
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Kevin Ferris
Original assignee: Matthew Kevin Ferris
Priority date: 2007-04-17
Filing date: 2008-04-17
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: AU2008238620A1; AU2008238620B2

Abstract

A cooling system leak stopping system; said leak stopping system including a compound for adding to a cooling liquid of a leaking circuit of said cooling system; said compound comprising at least a proportion of particulate cellulose matter.

Description

COOLING SYSTEM LEAK STOPFER

The present invention relates to compounds for sealing perforations and, more particularly, although not exclusively, to compounds for sealing perforations of vehicular cooling systems.

BACKGROUND

Water cooled internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, as well as stationary engines, can suffer serious damage through loss of the cooling fluid, typically water. Radiators for the cooling of the fluid are most effective when placed at the front of a vehicle,- a position in which they are also most vulnerable to damage. Fluid loss can also occur at other locations in a closed circuit cooling system, including at the connections of hoses between radiator and engine, as well as internally ^' within the engine in breaches of gaskets, cracks in cylinder heads, and corrosion, allowing cooling liquid loss into the combustion chambers.

Even relatively minor leaks cannot be tolerated and require that the vehicle be taken out of service for repair. Some additive compounds have been available which when added to the cooling liquid could ameliorate or even stop the leakage for a time. Most of these however have been largely ineffectual and some have even led to permanent adverse effects on the cooling system.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative. Motes

1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly,, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a cooling system leak stopping system; said leak stopping system including a compound for adding to a cooling liquid of a leaking circuit of said cooling system; said compound comprising at least a proportion of particulate cellulose matter.

Accordingly, in a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a cooling system leak stopping system; said leak stopping system including a compound far adding to a cooling liquid of a leaking circuit Qf said cooling system; said compound comprising an effective amount of particulate cellulose matter.

Preferably, said compound further includes a proportion of powdered lead monoxide (or carnary litharge) .

Preferably, said compound further includes an effective amount of powdered lead monoxide (also known as canary litharge) .

Preferably, said compound further includes a proportion of powdered copper.

Preferably, said compound further includes an effective amount of powdered copper.

Preferably, said compound further includes an effective amount of adhesive resins.

Preferably, said proportion of cellulose material is sawdust .

Preferably said sawdust is recovered from cutting and shaping operations performed on engineered wood. Preferably, said adhesive resins are adhesive resins adhering to said sawdust.

Preferably, said lead monoxide comprises between 2% and 6% of said compound by volume.

Preferably, said powdered copper comprises between 15% and 25% of said compound by volume.

Preferably, said sawdust and adhering adhesive resins comprise between 71% and 83% by volume.

Preferably, said compound is transported to a perforation site in said cooling circuit by said cooling liquid; said compound reacting with heated cooling liquid in said cooling system; said compound adhering initially to a periphery of a perforation in said cooling circuit; said compound progressively filling said perforation so as to prevent loss of said cooling liquid through said perforation.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method for stopping a leak in a cooling system of an internal combustion engine; said method including the following steps:

(a) stopping said engine when a said leak is detected, (b) allowing said system to cool to a point where cooling system filling cap can be safely removed, from a filling point of said cooling system,

(c) pouring a prescribed volume of a leak stopping compound into said filling point of said cooling system,

(d) adding sufficient cooling liquid to said cooling system to bring said cooling liquid to a normal operating level,

(e) restarting said engine to allow said cooling liquid and said compound to circulate in said cooling system,

and wherein said compound includes an effective amount of cellulose particulate matter and adhesive resin.

Preferably said compound includes an effective amount of lead monoxide,

Preferably said compound includes an effective amount of powdered copper, Preferably said compound includes an effective amount of adhesive resin

Preferably,, said compound comprises said lead monoxide in a range of 2-6%.

Preferably said powdered copper is in a range of 15-25%.

Preferably said cellulose particulate matter and adhesive resins is in a range of 71-83% by volume.

Preferably, said prescribed volume of said compound is a function of average internal combustion engine size of a variety of vehicles.

Preferably, said volume is approximately one standard volume for a passenger motor vehicle.

Preferably, said volume is approximately one half standard volume for a motorcycle.

Preferably, said volume is approximately two standard volumes for a large load carrying vehicle.

Preferably, said standard volume is 8graπιs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is- a schematic of the main components of a vehicular cooling system indicating potential leakage locations,

Figure 2 is a flow chart indicating steps in using the compound of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figure 1, a typical cooling system 10 for an internal combustion engine 12 includes a radiator 14, a cooling liquid (typically primarily water in motor vehicles) , a pump 16, usually close coupled to the engine 12, and connection hoses 18 and 20 between the pump and radiator and between the engine and radiator respectively. Cooling fluid passes through passages around the combustion chamber and cylinders of the engine and through the radiator, where cooling air 22 passing through the radiator 14 acts to reduce the temperature of the fluid. Typically, vehicle cooling systems operates at some elevated pressure.

For maximum efficiency, the cooling liquid passages of the radiator are constructed of relatively thin metal and are easily damaged, so that when punctured by a flying rock for example, a rapid loss of cooling liquid from the puncture ensues. Cooling liquid may also be lost from loosened or ill- fitting hose connections, or from gasket damage at the pump/engine and thermostat housing interface, or into the engine's cylinders from damage to the gasket between cylinder head and engine block. Further possible causes of coolant loss include cracks in the cylinder head casting and corrosion, for example around the hose connection spigots at the pump and thermostat housing.

The present invention provides for a compound adapted to sealing even considerable leaks from a cooling system. The compound comprises a combination of several elements, including lead monoxide (also known as canary litharge) , powdered copper, cellulose matter and glues or resins.

The cellulose matter is preferably sawdust recovered from the cutting and shaping of engineered wood, a wood product compressed and extruded into sheet from wood particles and bonded by glues or resins. The sawdust residue from the working of this type of product retains the resins or glues used in its manufacture as at least partial coatings of the sawdust particles.

The powdered copper component is preferably 500 RL grade and ground to a mesh size 325 (a mesh opening of 44μm) . The proportions by volume of the components making up the compound are in the ranges of 2 to 6% lead monoxide, 15 to 25% powdered copper and 71 to 83% of the cellulose/resin.

After batch mixing, the compound powder is packed into δgrara sachets, ready for use.

In Use

The working of the compound relies on the interaction of the compound with the opening of the leak at temperature. If the leak is detected while the engine is in service, usually through an indicated overheating of the coolant, the vehicle should be stopped and the engine switched off.

After some delay to allow pressure in the^" system to subside to the point where the cooling system filling cap can be safely removed, the filling point of the system is opened and an appropriate volume of the compound poured into the system.

For a passenger vehicle, that volume is one sachet. For a large truck two sachets should be added to the cooling system, while for a motorcycle, a half sachet should suffice. After pouring in the compound powder, the cooling system should be topped up with cooling fluid, the filler cap replaced and the engine restarted.

Figure 2 shows the steps of the process.

The compound will be transported by the circulation of the cooling liquid, and will therefore be carried to the leak. Portions of the compound are trapped at the periphery of the leak opening where accretion occurs and the compound hardens due to the heat of the coolant and adjoining surfaces. Accretion progresses rapidly to the point where the leak is sealed.

Tests have shown that the compound is effective for leak apertures up to at least 3mm diameter equivalent, with the seal lasting indefinitely. Test have further shown that the compound has no deleterious effects on the cooling system or engine components.

Although the above description has concentrated on the cooling systems for internal combustion engines of vehicles, it will be understood that the compound of the present invention may be used to stop leaks in any liquid reticulation system where the liquid is principally water circulating at sufficiently elevated temperatures. The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example variations in proportions as specifically set out above is acceptable whereby the compound may be made of components in any range such that it is effective in many different applications and situations.

Claims

1. A cooling system leak stopping system; said leak stopping system including a compound for adding to a cooling liquid of a leaking circuit of said cooling system; said compound comprising at least a proportion of particulate cellulose matter.

2. The leak stopping system of claim 1 wherein said compound further includes a proportion of powdered lead monoxide (or carnary litharge) .

3. The leak stopping system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said compound further includes a proportion of powdered copper.

4. The leak stopping system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said compound further includes a proportion of adhesive resins.

5. The leak stopping system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said proportion of cellulose material is sawdust; said sawdust recovered from cutting and shaping operations performed on engineered wood.

6. The leak stopping system of claim 4 or 5 wherein said adhesive resins are adhesive resins adhering to said sawdust .

7. The leak stopping system of any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said lead monoxide comprises between 2% and 6% of said compound by volume.

8. The leak stopping system of any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein said powdered copper comprises between 15% and

25% of said compound by volume.

9. The leak stopping system of any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein said sawdust and adhering adhesive resins comprise between 71% and 83% by volume.

10. The leak stopping compound of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said compound is transported to a perforation site in ≤aid cooling circuit by said cooling liquid; said compound reacting with heated cooling liquid in said cooling system; said compound adhering initially to a periphery of a perforation in said cooling circuit; said compound progressively filling said perforation so as to prevent loss of said cooling liquid through said perforation.

11, A method for stopping a leak in a cooling system of an internal combustion engine; said method including the following steps:

(a) stopping said engine when a said leak is detected, (b) allowing said system to cool to a point where cooling system filling cap can be safely removed from a filling point of said cooling system,

{&) restarting said engine to allow said cooling liquid and said compound to circulate in said cooling system,

and wherein said compound includes a combination of lead monoxide, powdered copper, and cellulose particulate matter and adhesive resin.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said combination comprises said lead monoxide in a range of 2-6%, said powdered copper and in a range of 15-25%, said cellulose particulate matter and adhesive resins in a range of 71-83% by volume.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12 wherein said prescribed volume of said compound is a function of average internal combustion engine size of a variety of vehicles.

14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said volume is approximately one standard volume for a passenger motor vehicle.

15. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said volume is approximately one half standard volume for a motorcycle.

16. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13 wherein said volume is approximately two standard volumes for a large load carrying vehicle.

17. The method of any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein said standard volume is δgrams.