The present disclosure relates to cooling systems for engines, and particularly to cooling systems with coolant overflow tanks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to pressure-relief valves in cooling system closures.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a cooling system apparatus includes a coolant tank, an overflow tank arranged to receive fluid discharged from the coolant tank, and a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator is arranged to extend into the overflow tank normally to block flow of fluid between the coolant and the overflow tanks.
In illustrative embodiments, the pressure regulator includes a pressure-relief valve member and a biasing spring arranged normally to apply a biasing force to urge the pressure-relief valve member to assume a closed position. The pressure-relief valve and the biasing spring are located in the overflow tank. In certain embodiments, the biasing spring can be compressed to assume a predetermined state.
Also in illustrative embodiments, a compression controller is associated with the biasing spring. The compression controller is coupled to the overflow tank and configured to vary the biasing force applied by the biasing spring to the pressure-relief valve member.
An operator can use the compression controller to vary a “closure” force (e.g., the biasing force of the biasing spring) applied to maintain the pressure-relief valve member in a normally closed position. The compression controller can be mounted for rotary, linear, and/or other suitable movement relative to the overflow tank to change the biasing force of the biasing spring.
An operator can select a “lower” closure force by moving the compression controller relative to the overflow tank to “decompress” (i.e., relax) the biasing spring. In the case of a lower closure force, fluid extant in the extant tank can have a relatively low-pressure level and still “move” the pressure-relief valve member against the biasing spring to assume an opened position.
An operator can select a “higher” closure force by moving the compression controller relative to the overflow tank to “compress” (i.e., squeeze) the biasing spring. In the case of a higher closure force, fluid extant in the coolant tank must have a relatively higher pressure level to move the pressure-relief valve member against the biasing spring to assume an opened position.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
A degas bottle or cooling system apparatus 10 is adapted to be coupled to an engine cooling system 12 as suggested diagrammatically in
A pressure regulator 14 in accordance with the present disclosure is included in degas bottle 10 as suggested diagrammatically in
Degas bottle 10 also includes a coolant tank 24 coupled to cooling system and an overflow tank 26 coupled to coolant tank 24 through a passageway 28. Coolant tank 24 is formed to include an interior region 30 containing a pressurized liquid coolant 32. Pressure regulator 14 is configured normally to close passageway 28 to block flow of a fluid such as liquid, vapor, and/or air between coolant tank 24 and overflow tank 26 via passageway 28.
In the illustrative embodiment, a fill cap 34 is provided normally to close an inlet 36 that is configured to open into an interior region 38 of overflow tank 26 to allow users to admit liquid coolant 32 into interior region 38 of overflow tank 26. A vent passage 40 is provided to conduct vapor and/or air to the atmosphere from overflow tank 26. Although overflow tank 26 normally is mounted on and coupled to coolant tank 24 to form two liquid reservoirs in degas bottle 10 as suggested in
As suggested in
Using adjustor 22 it is possible for a technician to vary the maximum pressure level that will normally exist in interior region 30 of coolant tank 24 (and in cooling system 12) quickly and easily. It is within the scope of this disclosure to provide a “pressure-level” scale 23 associated with adjustor 22 (as suggested in
Vacuum-relief valve 18 is configured to move to an opened position allowing liquid and vapor and air to flow from interior region 38 of overflow tank 26 into interior region 30 of coolant tank 24 whenever the tank pressure level in interior region 30 falls below a predetermined level. Vacuum-relief valve 18 normally is moved to assume a closed position, yet is configured to move to an opened position (in the manner described herein) regardless of the pressure-relief valve biasing or closure force established by compression controller 20.
One illustrative embodiment of degas bottle 10 and pressure regulator 14 included in degas bottle 10 is shown in
Compression controller 20 includes a spring mount 58 coupled to an outer end 60 of biasing spring 52 and a drive shaft 62 extending in an outward direction from spring mount 58 to mate with adjustor 22. An inner end 61 of biasing spring 52 is coupled to pressure-relief valve member 50 as shown, for example, in
Drive shaft 62 is received for rotation (or other movement) in a bore 64 formed, for example, in a ring 66 mounted in an aperture 68 formed in a top wall 70 of overflow container 26. An O-ring seal (not shown) or other suitable seal is provided to establish a liquid and/or vapor seal between each of (1) ring 66 and top wall 70 and (2) ring 66 and drive shaft 62.
External threads 63 on drive shaft 62 mate with internal threads 65 in bore 64 of ring 66 to cause drive shaft 62 to move inwardly in direction 71 in response to clockwise rotation of adjustor 22 (and drive shaft 62) about axis 72 and to cause drive shaft to move outwardly in direction 73 in response to counterclockwise rotation of adjustor 22 (and drive shaft 62) about axis 72. It is within the scope of this disclosure to use other suitable means to move drive shaft 62 in directions 71, 73 relative to overflow container 26.
The biasing or closure force applied to pressure-relief valve member 50 by biasing spring 52 is increased (i.e., greatened) when drive shaft 62 is moved in direction 71 owing to greater compression of biasing spring 52a suggested, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, as suggested in
Coolant tank 24 includes an outer wall 25 formed to include passageway 28 therein in the illustrated embodiment. Overflow tank 26 is coupled to coolant tank 24 to cause interior region 30 of coolant tank 24 to lie on a first side 25a of outer wall 25 and interior region 38 of overflow tank 26 to lie on an opposite second side 25b of outer wall 25a suggested in
Pressure-relief valve member 50 is moved by biasing spring 52 and compression controller 20 normally to engage second surface 25b of outer wall 25 of coolant tank 24 normally to close passageway 28 as shown, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, vacuum-relief valve member 54 includes a seal member 85, seal plate 86, and post 87 coupled to seal plate 86, as shown, for example, in
During “vacuum” conditions in interior region 30 of coolant tank 24, vacuum-relief member 54 will be drawn in direction 71 into interior region 30 away from an annular valve seat 88 formed on inner seal plate 83 to open central aperture 80 formed in pressure-relief valve member 50 as shown, for example, in
In the illustrated embodiment, pressure-relief valve member 50, biasing spring 52, and at least a portion of compression controller 20 are located in interior region 38 of overflow tank 26. As suggested in
As suggested in
In the illustrated embodiment, overflow tank 26 includes internal threads 64 and compression controller 20 includes external threads 63. External threads 63 are configured to mate with internal threads 64 to support compression controller 20 for rotation about and linear motion along axis 72 relative to overflow tank 26. Such rotation and motion in a first direction compresses biasing spring 52 so as to greaten the biasing or closure force applied by biasing spring 52 to maintain pressure-relief valve member 50 in the closed position. Such rotation and motion in a second direction decompresses biasing spring 52 so as to lessen the biasing or closure force applied by biasing spring 52 to maintain pressure-relief valve member 50 in the closed position.
In the illustrated embodiment, compression controller 20 includes a drive shaft 62 formed to include external threads 63. Drive shaft 62 is arranged to extend through bore 64 formed in overflow tank 26 and defined by internal threads 65. As suggested, for example, in
In use, compression controller 20 is engaged to overflow tank 26 to provide means for varying the biasing (closure) force applied by biasing spring 52 to either lessen or greaten the biasing force applied by biasing spring 52 to maintain pressure-relief valve member 50 in the closed position. Thus, a relatively low pressure of fluid in coolant tank 24 is sufficient to move pressure-relief valve member 50 against the biasing (closure) force of biasing spring 52 to assume an opened position allowing flow of fluid from coolant tank 24 into overflow tank 26 when compression controller 20 is operated to “decompress” biasing spring 52. In contrast, a relatively high pressure of fluid in coolant tank 24 must be extant to move pressure-relief valve member 50 against the biasing (closure) force of biasing spring 52 to assume the opened position when compression controller 20 is operated to “compress” biasing spring 52.
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,114,035 and 6,276,312, which references are hereby incorporated by reference herein. These references disclose engine cooling systems and radiator caps. It is within the scope of this disclosure to couple pressure regulator 14 to a radiator cap.
A non-adjustable degas bottle 10′ in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure is shown, for example, in
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/491,704, filed Aug. 1, 2003, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4130159 | Ohta et al. | Dec 1978 | A |
4723596 | Spindelboeck et al. | Feb 1988 | A |
5114035 | Brown | May 1992 | A |
6056139 | Gericke | May 2000 | A |
6276312 | Summan et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6718916 | Hewkin | Apr 2004 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050045631 A1 | Mar 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60491704 | Aug 2003 | US |