GB2131945A

GB2131945A - Heating device for engine coolant

Info

Publication number: GB2131945A
Application number: GB08332798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sidney Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-12-08
Filing date: 1983-12-08
Publication date: 1984-06-27
Also published as: GB8332798D0

Abstract

A heating device (10, 50) comprises an electrical heating element (16, 53) operable to heat liquid in a housing which is incorporated in the cooling liquid circuit of a motor vehicle. The element is connected to an electrical supply via a lead (17, 54) incorporating a plug and socket. By means of the heating device, the cooling liquid of the vehicle may be heated prior to starting the engine so that use of the choke may not be required. Alternatively, the liquid may be heated by a gas burner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating device This invention relates to heating devices and in particular to heating devices for the purpose of heating the coolant liquid of a liquid cooled engine whilst that engine is not running. The heating device of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with a water-cooled internal combustion engine such as is provided in a motor vehicle.

In order that a motor vehicle internal combustion engine may start after a considerable period of non-use, particularly in cold and/or damp conditions, a system is provided whereby a greater fuel/air mixture may be introduced into the cylinders of the engine than is required for normal running. Such an engine condition is referred to as 'choked' and the fuel/air ratio in this condition may be four times that of the normal running condition, for example 13:1 instead of 3:1. Despite such provision starting the engine in very cold and/or damp conditions can often be difficult.

Furthermore there are disadvantages associated with the running of an engine in the choked condition even though it may be necessary to drive the vehicle for a considerable distance before the engine will run satisfactorily in the normal running condition, i.e.

unchoked. Considerably more fuel is used when the engine is choked than when it is running normally and there is greater atmospheric pollution. Also there is a considerable amount of wear of and damage to the moving parts of the engine during the initial start up and choked running periods due to the sluggishness of the lubricating oil and its dilution in the engine cylinders by the excess fuel.

Starting of the engine in cold and/or damp conditions can also put a severe strain on the battery and starter motor and even drain the battery of charge.

There are already known ways of, and means for reducing the effects of cold and damp weather on the starting and initial running of an engine. For example, the vehicle being kept in a garage, a blanket, a newspaper or the like being placed over the engine, and/or a portable heater being placed beneath the vehicle. However, such ways and means are only effective to a small degree.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means, use of which will enable an engine to be readily started and run without the aforementioned disadvantages or which will reduce those aforementioned disadvantages considerably.

The invention provides a heating device comprising a housing for a cooling liquid, an inlet to and an outlet from said housing each adapted to be connected into the cooling liquid circuit of a liquid-cooled engine whereby cooling liquid may circulate through said housing, and heating means operable to heat cooling liquid within said housing.

Preferably the heating means comprises electrical heating means and may comprise an electrical element, in which case the device may comprise means adapted to connect said heating means to a source of electrical power.

Preferably said connection means comprises a cooperable plug and socket, one of which is connected to said heating means and the other of which is connected or adapted to be connected to said source of electrical power.

The device may also comprise switch means provided in an electrical circuit connecting said heating means to said source of electrical power, and said switch means may comprise timing means.

The invention also provides a motor vehicle having an engine, a liquid cooling circuit operable to circulate cooling liquid to said engine, and comprising a heating device as aforesaid. In this case said cooling liquid circuit may comprise a hose extending between said engine and a radiator of said vehicle, said heating device being in liquid flow connection with said hose. Preferably said hose extends between substantially the lowermost parts of said radiator and said engine.

The source of electrical power may comprise a battery carried by said vehicle. Alternatively the source may be a mains supply. In the latter case said plug and socket may be readily separable on movement of said vehicle away from said mains supply.

The heating device may also comprise fan means operable to blow air around said housing.

Embodiments of heating device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 and Figure 2 are sectional elevation and end view respectively of a first embodiment.

Figure 3 is a plan view on section 111-111 of Fig. 1, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of part of a vehicle incorporating the heating device of Figs. 1 to 3, Figures 5 and 6 are a sectional elevation and an end view respectively of a second embodiment, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 installed in a hose, Figures 8 and 9 are an elevation and an end view respectively of a heater of a third embodiment before assembly, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the third embodiment after assembly, Figures 1 1 and 12 are an elevation and an end view respectively of a fourth embodiment, and Figure 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 1 2 installed in a hose.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a heating device 10 comprising a container 11 for cooling liquid. The container 11 has an inlet 1 2 thereto and an outlet 1 3 therefrom, onto each of which a pipe or hose 14 is secured by a clip 15. Within the container 11 is an electrical heating element 1 6 to which an electric lead 1 7 is connected. The lead 1 7 is also connected, at least when the heating device 10 is to be used, to a source of electrical power (not shown). Engine cooling liquid may be heated in the container 11 by the element 1 6 and may circulate by connection through the inlet 1 2 and outlet 13.

Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown the heating device 10 installed in a motor vehicle 1 8. The motor vehicle 18 comprises an engine 19, a radiator 20, a radiator grille 21, a fan 22, a top hose 23 and a bottom hose 24.

The top hose 23 extends between the uppermost parts of the radiator 20 and engine 1 9 whilst the bottom hose 24 extends between the lowermost parts of the radiator 20 and engine 19. The heating device 10 is installed so that a part of bottom hose 24 extends between the inlet 1 2 and the bottom of the radiator 20 and another part of bottom hose 24 extends between the outlet 1 3 and the bottom of the engine 1 9. Whilst the engine 1 9 is running a pump (not shown) circulates the engine cooling liquid through the engine 19, hoses 23 and 24 and radiator 20 in conventional manner, and in the case of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 through the container 11 also.In this situation the element 1 6 is not energised so that the circulating liquid performs its normal function of taking heat from the engine 1 9 and dissipating it to the air drawn through the radiator 20 by fan 22.

The electrical lead 1 7 is connected to a socket 25 which is mounted on vehicle 1 8 adjacent the radiator grille 21. A plug 26 is fitted to the socket 25 when the vehicle 1 8 is stationary, for example on a driveway or in a garage. The plug 26 and socket 25 are of a weatherproofed and robust construction and are readily separable so as to allow separation if the vehicle 18 is driven off without plug 26 being manually uncoupled from socket 25.

Plug 26 is attached to an electrical lead 27 which is in turn connected to a timing device 28 and a mains electrical supply 29. By this means the timing device 28 can be set so that the heating device is energised at a predetermined time.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7 there is shown an electrical heater 30 of the cartridge type. The heater 30 is secured into a length of pipe 31, for example copper pipe, and when installed as shown in Fig. 7 the pipe 31 has the hoses 32 attached thereto by means of clips 33. The hoses 32 may in practice be parts of an originally single hose, such as bottom base 24 of the engine of Fig. 4. The lead 34 for the cartridge heater 30 is connected to a source of electrical power preferably as described in relation to the Fig. 4 embodiment.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 10, there is again shown an electrical heater 40 of the cartridge type. In this case however the heater 40 is provided with a screwthreaded portion 41. The heater 40 is inserted in an aperture in the bottom hose 42( see Fig. 10) of a motor vehicle with sealing washers 43 located inside and outside of the hose 42 and then the nut 44 is tightened until a water-tight seal is effected. The electrical lead 45 is connected to a source of electrical power, preferably as described in relation to the Fig. 4 embodiment.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 1 3 there is shown an alternative form of heating device 50. In this case a length of tube 51, for example copper tube, has a casing 52 disposed coaxially therearound. In the enclosed space between the tube 51 and the casing 52 and around the tube 51 is an electrical heating coil 53 to which an electrical lead 54 is connected. The tube 51 extends axially beyond the casing 52 so that the hoses 55 can be fitted to the ends of tube 51 and secured thereto by clips 56 as shown in Fig. 1 3. The electrical lead 54 is connected to a source of electrical power through a plug and socket 57 (see Fig. 11).

The heating elements 16, 30, 40, 53 may be of such a heating capacity that for a given installation the cooling liquid in the engine/ hose/radiator circuit becomes heated sufficiently but not overheated. Alternatively a thermostat may be fitted to the heating devices 10, 30, 40, 50 if desired. When the elements 16, 30, 40, 53 are energised the cooling liquid in the housings provided by container 11, pipe 31, hose 42 or tube 51 is heated and circulates by convection into the engine 1 9 and the radiator 20. The heating devices 10, 30, 40, 50 may be switched on by the timing device 28 at a predetermined time interval before it is desired to start the engine.

Alternatively if the conditions under which the vehicle is kept stationary are severe it may be advantageous to keep the heating device energised for the whole of the time that the vehicle is stationary. In this way the engine 1 9 and the cooling liquid therein are warm when starting of the engine is required, thus obviating the requirement of choking the engine. Also the oil in the engine 1 9 will be warm and readily circulated. Use of the devices 10, 30, 40, 50 in consequence leads to lower fuel consumption, less wear and tear on the engine and less atmospheric pollution.

Furthermore the vehicle is more comfortable to travel in during the initial stages of a journey since the heater may be used immedi ately on starting and any misting or icing on the vehicle windows may be rapidly removed.

In respect of this latter point a small blower can be incorporated in the heating devices 10, 30, 40, 50 to blow air around the container 11, pipe 31, hose 42 or tube 51, and onto the windscreen of the vehicle 1 8 to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

If the vehicle is to be left stationary at a location remote from a mains supply of electrical power, a device 10, 30, 40, or 50 may be adapted to be energised by the battery of the vehicle or by an auxiliary battery. In this case a suitable rectifier, transformer and switch may be incorporated into the devices 10, 30, 40, 50 so that they can be energised by a mains, via the rectifier and transformer, or battery supply as may be available at any particular time.

Although the devices described incorporate an electrical heating element, in the case of the first embodiment described herein, alternative forms of heating may be provided if desired, particularly if a fully portable arrangement is desired. For example the container 11 may be heated by a gas burner supplied from a relatively small container of gas, for example propane or butane gas.

Although the heating devices described are principally intended for use prior to the starting of the engine, if such operation is not practicable the devices may be used whilst the engine is running so as to assist in bringing the engine up to its normal running temperature more quickly than would otherwise be the case. This is particularly advantageous if the source of electrical power is provided by the vehicle itself, i.e. battery and/or generator, since the vehicle may be driven immediately on starting the engine. This will ensure that the period of use of the choke is kept to an absolute minimum.

Claims

1. A heating device comprising a housing for a cooling liquid, an inlet to and an outlet from said housing each adapted to be connected into the cooling liquid circuit of a liquid cooled engine whereby liquid may circulate through said housing, and heating means operable to heat cooling liquid within said housing.

2. A heating device according to claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises electrical heating means.

3. A heating device according to claim 2 comprising connection means adapted to connect said heating means to a source of electrical power.

4. A heating device according to claim 3 wherein said connection means comprises a cooperable plug and socket, one of which is connected to said heating means and the other of which is connected to said source of electrical power.

5. A heating device according to claim 3 or claim 4 comprising switch means provided in an electrical circuit connecting said heating means to said source of electrical power.

6. A heating device according to claim 5 wherein said switch means comprises timing means.

7. A heating device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical coil disposed within said housing.

8. A heating device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said heating means comprises a cartridge heater disposed within said housing.

9. A heating device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein said heating means comprises an electric coil disposed around the outside of said housing.

10. A motor vehicle having an engine, a liquid cooling circuit operable to circulate cooling liquid to said engine, and a heating device according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said cooling liquid circuit comprises a hose extending between said engine and a radiator of said vehicle, said heating device being in liquid flow connection with said hose.

1 2. A motor vehicle according to claim 11 wherein said hose extends between substantially the lowermost parts of said radiator and said engine.

1 3. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 1 2 wherein said heating means comprises electrical heating means connected to a source of electrical power which comprises a battery carried by said vehicle.

1 4. A motor vehicle according to claim 1 3 wherein said heating device comprises a rectifier and transformer, and a switch is provided whereby said heating device may be connected to said battery or via said rectifier and transformer to a mains electrical supply.

1 5. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 1 3 comprising fan means operable to blow air around said housing and onto a windscreen of said vehicle.

1 6. A heating device substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 5 to 7, Figs. 8 to 10 or Figs. 11 to 1 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A motor vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to Fig. 4 or Fig. 4 as modified by Fig. 7, Fig. 10 or Fig.

1 3 of the accompanying drawings.