U.S. patent application number 09/765814 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for apparatus and method for filling a motor vehicle cooling system with coolant.
Invention is credited to Klamm, Thomas L., Trigiani, Phil.
Application Number | 20010010237 09/765814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23974686 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klamm, Thomas L. ; et
al. |
August 2, 2001 |
Apparatus and method for filling a motor vehicle cooling system
with coolant
Abstract
An apparatus for adding coolant to a cooling system of a motor
vehicle includes a cap with a resilient sleeve that expands against
the inside walls of a radiator filler neck to provide an airtight
connection. A valve attached to the cap controls the flow of air
and coolant through the cap. A gauge on the cap indicates the
pressure inside the radiator. A venturi assembly connected to the
valve provides a source of vacuum for evacuating air from the
cooling system. Thereafter, coolant is drawn through the cap by the
vacuum created in the system.
Inventors: |
Klamm, Thomas L.; (Racine,
WI) ; Trigiani, Phil; (Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BELL, BOYD & LLOYD, LLC
PO BOX 1135
CHICAGO
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
23974686 |
Appl. No.: |
09/765814 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09765814 |
Jan 19, 2001 |
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09709141 |
Nov 10, 2000 |
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6234215 |
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09709141 |
Nov 10, 2000 |
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09496908 |
Feb 2, 2000 |
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6152193 |
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60119961 |
Feb 12, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01P 11/0214 20130101;
F01P 11/0204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 001/04; B65B
003/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for adding coolant to a cooling system of a
vehicle, comprising: a) a cylindrical body having a central
aperture and a traverse aperture; b) means for connecting said
apparatus to a filler neck or a remote recovery tank of a radiator,
wherein said connecting means has a central aperture and wherein
said central aperture of said connecting means is aligned with said
central aperture of said cylindrical body; and c) a compression
tube, wherein said compression tube extends through said central
aperture of said cylindrical body and said central aperture of said
connecting means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connecting means
comprises a resilient rubber cone.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure gauge
connected to said central aperture of said cylindrical body.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said traverse aperture
completely traverses through said cylindrical body.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a valve connected
to said traverse aperture of said cylindrical body.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a vacuum source
connected to said valve.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a venturi assembly
having a suction port connected to said valve, an inlet and an
outlet.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a muffler connected
to said outlet.
9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said valve is a self-closing
coupler.
10. A method for adding coolant to a cooling system of a vehicle,
comprising the steps of: a) draining coolant from a cooling system
of a vehicle; b) connecting said apparatus of claim 1 to a filler
neck or a remote recovery tank of a radiator; c) evacuating air
from the cooling system with said apparatus; and d) filling the
cooling system with coolant with said apparatus.
Description
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/709,141, filed Nov. 10, 2000, now
pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/496,908, filed Feb. 2, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,193,
which claimed benefit of U.S. provisional patent application
60,119,961, filed Feb. 12, 1999, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing
and filling a cooling system of a motor vehicle with coolant.
[0003] Periodically, it is necessary to replace the coolant in the
cooling system for a motor vehicle engine. For this purpose, a
stopcock has been provided at the bottom of the radiator. In order
to drain the system, the stopcock is opened and a cap at the top of
the radiator is removed to allow air to enter the system braking a
vacuum which would otherwise prevent the flow of old spent coolant
through the stopcock. On some newer vehicles, there is no radiator
cap on the radiator and a remote overflow recovery tank or
reservoir must be opened to access the cooling system.
[0004] Years ago a service technician draining the radiator simply
allowed the spent coolant to flow to a floor drain in the garage
from which it entered the municipal sewer system. With increased
concerns about harming the environment, such dumping of coolant
chemicals, which often contain heavy metals, into a sewer system
has been prohibited. Now the service technician must place a pan
beneath the stopcock in which to catch the coolant draining from
the engine. The technician must then pour the coolant into a
suitable container for proper disposal according to environmental
protection regulations. The recovered coolant alternatively may be
delivered to a recycling center which removes the contaminants and
sells the cleansed coolant.
[0005] After the spent coolant is removed from the motor vehicle,
the cooling system has to be filled with new coolant. This is
accomplished by closing the stopcock and pouring the new coolant
into the filler neck at the top of the engine that was opened by
removal of the radiator cap. In the newer vehicles without a
radiator cap, refilling is done through the remote overflow
recovery tank or reservoir. When the mechanic is working on the
cooling system, often the drained coolant is placed back into the
system, if the coolant is relatively fresh and uncontaminated.
[0006] Simply pouring the coolant into the filler opening is
relatively time consuming and prone to coolant being spilled onto
the floor of the garage. In addition, this process may not
completely fill the cooling system with new coolant, as air which
entered during the draining stage becomes entrapped within cavities
in upper sections of the engine during refilling. Therefore, the
engine often has to be operated for a period of time to flush the
air into the upper part of the radiator from which the air can be
replaced later with more coolant added to the system. Many new
vehicles manufacturers have recognized this entrapped air as a
significant problem. In response, they have manufactured and
inserted bleed valves at various locations to assist the technician
in ridding the unwanted, entrapped air. There have also been
various model specific procedures and guidelines developed to
assist the technician but few additional advantages have been
realized and it is still a very time consuming operation for the
service technicians.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides an apparatus for rapidly
filling a motor vehicle cooling system with coolant.
[0008] That apparatus includes a service cap for attachment to the
filler neck of the radiator. The service cap comprises a body, a
collar, a resilient sleeve and a compression tube. The body has a
passage there through and has external threads on an exterior
surface. The collar is threaded onto the external threads of the
body and has a first aperture. The resilient sleeve abuts the
collar and has a second aperture. A head at one end of the
compression tube abuts the sleeve with the compression tube
extending through the first and second apertures. Another end of
the compression tube is secured in the passage of the body.
Movement of the collar on the threads of the body draws the
compression tube through the collar and compresses the sleeve
against the collar. This action produces outward expansion of the
sleeve which seals the cap to the inside of the radiator filler
neck.
[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
valve is connected to the passage in the body to control flow of
air and coolant through the passage. A pressure gauge also can be
connected to the passage in the body.
[0010] The present cap is used to evacuate air from the cooling
system by a vacuum source connected to the valve. The vacuum source
can constitute a venturi assembly with a suction port connected to
the valve, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A muffler may be
connected to the fluid outlet. After the evacuation of air, a
source of coolant is connected to the valve with the coolant being
drawn into the cooling system by the previously created vacuum.
[0011] In another embodiment, the collar is incorporated into the
body and a resilient rubber cone that will accommodate various
sizes of openings replaces the tubular rubber sleeve. Instead of
expanding to seal on the inner opening of the radiator, the cone
can be held in place or just sit there. The vacuum generated in the
cooling system will hold the seal in place and allow quicker
connection and reuse in a variety of different openings.
[0012] In another embodiment, a traverse aperture extends from one
side across the body to the opposite side, thereby providing a
connection so that the vacuum source is always connected to the
apparatus. Thus, a coupler and a male coupling are not
required.
[0013] In yet another embodiment, the valve and coupling are
combined into one assembly, a self-closing coupler is used that
closes when disengaged and opens when engaged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an engine coolant apparatus according to
the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through part of the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention
where just a cone is used instead of the expanding sleeves.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention
where the vacuum source is always connected to the apparatus.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention
where the valve and coupling are combined into one assembly that
closes when disengaged and opens when engaged.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With initial reference to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle has a
cooling system which includes a radiator 20 with an upper radiator
hose 22. The radiator 20 contains a conventional coolant fluid made
up of a mixture of water and additives, such as propylene glycol.
Periodic maintenance requires that the coolant be drained from the
motor vehicle and replaced with new coolant. For that purpose, the
radiator 20 has a neck 24 at the top through which coolant can be
added. When the motor vehicle is operating, the neck 24 of the
radiator 20 is closed by an airtight cap (not shown). The standard
radiator cap has a spring-loaded pressure relief valve that enables
excessive coolant to flow to and from a recovery tank (not shown).
As previously mentioned, on some newer vehicles, there is no
radiator cap on the radiator and refilling must be done through the
remote overflow recovery tank or reservoir. The present apparatus
may be used at either location or both, if required.
[0020] Periodic maintenance procedures employ an apparatus 30 for
testing and filling the cooling system with the coolant. The
apparatus comprises a service cap 32 that replaces the standard cap
on the filler neck 24 of the radiator 20 during coolant
replacement. Unlike the standard radiator cap, service cap 32 does
not have a spring-loaded pressure relief valve.
[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, the service cap 32 has a
cylindrical body 70 with a threaded central aperture 72 extending
there through and a transverse aperture 74 extends from on side to
the central aperture. The lower external circumferential surface of
the body 70 is threaded to fit into a threaded collar 76, which has
an aperture 78 that is aligned with the central aperture 72. A
brass thrust washer 80 abuts the collar 76 and a cup-like, tubular
rubber sleeve 82 abuts the washer 80. A compression tube 84 with a
longitudinal aperture 86 extends through the sleeve, washer 80,
collar 76 and has one end 85 threaded into the central aperture 72
of body 70. The compression tube 84 has a head 88 at the opposite
end that contacts the end of the rubber sleeve 82 that is remote
from the washer 80. A small nipple 90 projects from the sleeve 82
around the head 88 of compression tube 84.
[0022] When the service cap 32 is applied to the radiator 20, the
rubber sleeve 82 slides into the radiator filler neck 24. While
holding the cap body 70 stationary, a service technician rotates
the collar 76 to unthread the collar from the body. This action
pulls the compression tube 84 through the collar 76 compressing the
rubber sleeve 82 between the collar 76 and the compression tube
head 88. This causes the sleeve 82 to expand outward against the
inner wall of the filler neck 24. The resiliency of the sleeve 82
provides an air tight seal with the filler neck 24.
[0023] Referring again to FIG. 1, the service cap 32 has a pressure
gauge 34 attached thereto, which indicates the pressure within the
radiator 20 when the service cap is sealed onto the neck 24. A
fitting is inserted into the transverse aperture 74 of the service
cap 32 and a manual valve 36 is connected to the fitting thereby
providing a closeable fluid passage into the radiator. A standard
quick release female hose coupling 38 is attached to the end of the
valve 36 that is remote from the service cap 32.
[0024] Either a vacuum source 40 or a coolant supply hose 42 may be
connected to the quick release female hose coupling 38. The vacuum
source 40 comprises a venturi assembly 44 having a suction port 45,
a fluid inlet 46 and a fluid outlet 48. A first quick release male
hose coupling 49 is connected to the venturi suction port 45 so
that the vacuum source can be attached to the assembly on the
radiator 20. The fluid inlet 46 is coupled to a hose 50 from a
compressed air supply, such as an air compressor and tank of the
type commonly found in motor vehicle repair garages. A filter may
be placed between the hose 50 and the venturi's fluid inlet 46 to
remove any particles in the compressed air which could adversely
affect the operation of the venturi.
[0025] The fluid outlet 48 of the venturi assembly 44 is connected
to a sound deadening muffler 52. The muffler is surrounded by an
enclosure 54 with an opening 58 at a remote end. During operation
of the apparatus 30, should any liquid coolant be drawn through the
venturi 44 and the muffler 52, the enclosure 54 prevents a liquid
stream from being sprayed into the environment of the
apparatus.
[0026] The coolant supply hose 42 has a second quick release male
hose coupling 60. The other end of the coolant supply hose 42 is
placed within a supply of coolant. For example, as shown in FIG. 1,
this end of the hose 42 is within a conventional drain pan 62 that
was used to catch the coolant 64 which was drained from the
radiator 20. Alternatively, the remote end of the hose 42 could be
placed into a container of new coolant.
[0027] The old coolant is removed from the radiator 20 by
conventional methods. For example, a stopcock (not shown) at the
bottom of the radiator 20 is opened and the standard radiator cap
is removed from the radiator filler neck 24 to allow air to enter
the system braking a vacuum which would otherwise prevent the flow
of old spent coolant through the stopcock. After all of the coolant
has drained from the cooling system, the stopcock is closed.
[0028] Then the service cap 32 is tightened onto the filler neck 24
and the vacuum source is attached to the female hose coupling 38.
The valve 36 is opened and the air supply hose is connected to a
source of compressed air 50. The air flows through the venturi
assembly 44 from the fluid inlet 46 to the fluid outlet 48. That
airflow creates a negative pressure at the suction port 45. That
negative pressure draws air from the cooling system through the
service cap 32, valve 36 and couplings 38 and 49. Eventually
substantially all of the air is evacuated from the cooling system
as indicated by the pressure reading on gauge 34. At that time, the
valve 36 is closed.
[0029] The technician then monitors the pressure gauge to observe
whether the pressure changes during a period of a few minutes. If
the cooling system is properly sealed, the pressure should not
change; that is, the vacuum produced by the suction from the
venturi assembly 40 should be maintained. When that occurs, the
technician knows that the repairs resulted in a properly sealed
cooling system.
[0030] Then the vacuum source 40 is removed from the female
coupling 38 and the coolant supply hose 42 is attached in its
place. With the other end of the supply hose 42 submerged in the
coolant 64, the valve 36 is opened. The partial vacuum within the
radiator 20 and the rest of the cooling system draws the coolant 64
into the radiator. The technician ensures that there is more
coolant 64 in the pan 62 than is needed to completely fill the
cooling system. Eventually the technician will observe that
additional coolant is not being drawn from the pan 62 which
indicates that the cooling system is full. Because substantially
all the air was removed from the cooling system before adding the
coolant, there were no air pockets that could otherwise prevent the
coolant from filling the system completely.
[0031] At this time, the service cap 32 can be removed from the
filler neck 24 of the radiator 20 and the standard cap attached
thereto completing the filling process.
[0032] In another embodiment, the collar is incorporated into the
body 70 and a resilient rubber cone 94 that will accommodate
various sizes of openings replaces the tubular rubber sleeve (see
FIG. 3). Instead of expanding to seal on the inner opening of the
radiator, the cone 94 can be held in place or just sit there. The
vacuum generated in the cooling system will hold the seal in place
and allow quicker connection and reuse in a variety of different
openings.
[0033] In another embodiment, the traverse aperture 74 extends from
one side across the body 70 to the opposite side, thereby providing
a connection 92 so that the vacuum source is always connected to
the apparatus (see FIG. 4). Thus, a coupler and a male coupling are
not required.
[0034] In yet another embodiment, the valve and coupling are
combined into a self-closing coupler 96 that closes when disengaged
and opens when engaged (see FIG. 5).
[0035] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0036] Thus, it is to be understood that variations in the present
invention can be made without departing from the novel aspects of
this invention as defined in the claims. All patents and articles
cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety
and relied upon.
* * * * *