US1619621A - Radiator-shutter - Google Patents

Description

R. M. LOVEJQY RADIATOR SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed Nev. 12. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 19- 192 7.,

lnveni'or. Ralph M. Love oy sl dg w' Atty;

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y o M WW nL w. M h m? a "R I March B1927,

R. M. LOVEJOY RADIATOR- SHUTTER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12. 1920 I. all 0" Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UETE- RALPH M. IOVEJOY, OF MEREDITH, NEVJ HAMPSHIRE.

RADIATOR-SHUTTER MECHANISM.

Application filed November 12, 1920. Serial no. 423,729.

This invention relates to shutters which comprise a series of louvers adapted to be opened and closed, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide means for operating said louvers by reason of which certain of said louvers may be actuated independently of, or in advance of, the acutation of others.

More specifically the invention relates to improvements in radiator shutters for engines and particularly those which are used for cooling the water which circulates about the engines of automobiles, aeroplanes, and other vehicles.

It is a well recognized fact that an internal combustion automobile engine operates at its greatest efficiency when the water in the radiator is maintained at a temperature slightly below the boiling point.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a shutter for regulating the circulation of air through the cells of the radiator which may be so controlled, either manually or thermostatically, as to maintain the water in the radiator at the most efficient temperature.

\Vhere automobiles and like vehicles are operated in freezing weather, the water at the lower portion of the radiator, which cir- 30 culates less freely than that at the upper portion thereof, often becomes frozen so that only aportion of the radiator is effected. Furthermore, such freezing of the water frequently bursts the walls of the radiator. Another object of the invention is to provide a radiator shutter construction in which the louvers may be so controlled that a sufficient number of the louvers may be closed to cover the lower portion of the radiator, while the louvers, which overlie the upper portion of the radiator, may be open. By such construction the lower portion of the radiator will be protected to enable a sufficient circulation of the water within the radiator to prevent freezing at the lower part thereof and also will permit a suflicient cooling of the water in the upper portion of the radiator to prevent boiling and consequent loss of water by vaporization.

In previous radiator constructions in which all of the louvers have been rigidly connected to an actuating rod it has frequently happened that the lower louvers, which are subject to the splashing of water and mud from the street, become frozen in place-and cannot be readily released, so that the automobile has to be driven long distances with the shutter entirely closed.

By the present invention means are provided which will enable the louvers at the upper portion of the radiator to be opened, notwithstanding the fact that the lower portions of the radiator are closed and the heat from the radiator, by thawing the accumulated ice upon the lower louvers, will finally release them so that they will automatically open when the radiator becomes sufliciently heated and will require the additional current of air which may be admitted by the opening of these lower louvers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel radiator shutter construction in which certain of the louvers may be operated independently of others.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the annexed draw ings and will be pointed out in the accompanying claims.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is lllust-rated as applied to the radiator shut ter of an automobile engine, but it will be understood that the invention in whole or in part is more comprehensive in scope and that the broad principles disclosed herein may be applied to various other devices and may be utilized in other relations within the meaning and scope of the claims herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a radiator construction showing a series of louvers yieldably connected to an actuatmg means;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the louvers in elevation, arranged in groups which are connected by suitable actuator bars to an equalizer adapted to operate the louvers of the upper group in advance of the lower group;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, similar to Fig.

l, of a radiator construction showing a different mechanism for actuating one group of louvers independently of the other; Fig. at is a detail front elevation showing a preferred form of yieldable transmitter for actuating one of the louvers from-the louver actuating bar;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a radiator construction illustrating a series of louvers yieldably connected to an actuating rod or rods which "are under the control of the thermostatic device which is subject to the temperature of the contents of the radiator;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing. diagrammatically the construction of a thermostatically controlled radiatorsimilar tothat shown in Fig. 6, illustrating the louvers arranged in groups, connected respectively tothe arms of an equalizer and showing means whereby the upper group of louvers will be opened in advance of the lower group:

In shutterconstructions for radiators and otherdevicesthe shutter usually comprised a series of parallel louvers pivotally mounted at their ends, and slightly overlapping at their edges, which were connected to a single actuating rod which was 0 erated manually or otherwise to open and c ose the louvers. If for anyreason any of the-louvers becamestuck, or was otherwise rendered inoperative, the entire system of louvers was put out of commission.

One-of the essential features of the present invention consists inproviding yieldable louver actuating means applied either to each individual louver, or to groupsof louvers, which will permit the actuation of some ofthe louvers, notwithstandingthe inoperati'veness of'others.

In the constructionillustrated in Fig. 1, a radiator 1 is diagrammaticall illustrated, to'which'is attached the usual s iutter frame Zhaving a series of louvers 3 which are pivotally' mounted 'upon' pintles or studs 4 in suitable bearings in the end of'the shutter frame 2. As illustrated in this figure, and in Figs. 4 and 5', each ofthe louvers is provided with a bracket, prefcrablylocated. adjacent the axis of the pivot 45, and presenting ears 5, 6 which receive a stud 7 forming apivot for a transmitter 8 which is also pivota'lly connected to an actuator rod 9 by a pintle 10;

A prei'ferred form of transmitter which is illustrated herein comprises a pair'of substantially triangularshaped members. The pintles and 10 extend through suitable hearings located adjacent'the ends of the lower sides of" these triangular shaped members' and pivotally connect said members with the ears5 of the louvers and the actuatior bar9. For convenience in construction these transmitters maybe made integral by providing a connecting web 11 extending across and joining, the upper edges of said members. 'lhe upper'portions'of'these triangular members desirably are provided with extensions 12 which are adapted to engage the rear faces of the respective louvers and act, when the actuator bar 9 is raised, to move the ]ouvers positively to closed position.

Yieldable means are provided for moving thelouvers intheother direction, or toward ward movement of the louver actuating. bar

9 will cause the extensions 12' of the trans-- initters which are connected to said actuator bar to engage the rear sides of their respective louvers and positively move them to ward closed position, while the downward movement of the actuator rod 9 will act, through-the springs-13, to rotatethe louvers in a reverse direction toward open position. If, therefore, one or more of the louvers should stick, the downward movement of the rod 9 would serve to actuate and to open such of the louvers as were freeto rotate.

VVherea radiator construction of this ty e is applied to an automobile, therefore, t e sticking of the lower louvers of the radiators, by reason of accumulation of ice, or for any other reason, does not hamper the actuation of the upper louvers of the radiator shutter. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the lower portion of the radiator remains enclosed by the sticking of the shutter, heat will rapidly accumulate by reason of the lack of circulation of" air, through the lower cells of the radiator until the lower portion of the radiator shutter be comes sufficiently warm to melt the ice, whereupon the spring 13, being under tension, will automatically move the louver'to open position.

Any suitable means maybe provided for raising and lowering the actuator bar. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper end' of'the actuator bar 9 is pivotally connected to a hanger 16 which is adjustably connected by a bolt 17, having screw threads of op osite pitch upon its ends, to a sleeve 18' which is pivotally connected. at its upper end to a stud 19 upon the end of one arm of a bell crank lever 20 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud. 21 carried by a bracket 22' securedto the front face of'the radiator. The other arm of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 23 to an operating rod or member 24 which, as illustrated herein, extends through asleeve 25 which passes through the upper portion'of' theradiator.

Any suitable means may be provided for operating therod 24. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the rod extends over the top of the engine and through an instrument board 26 and is provided with a handle??? which may be grasped by the operator.

Any usual means may be provided for ator or the radiator cover locking the rod 24 in adjusted positions, so that the shutters may be held open to any desired extent. Automatic means may also be provided for actuating the rod 24. as will hereinafter more fully appear.

While the louvers may all be connected to a single actuator bar in usual radiator shutter construct-ions, it is desirable in some instances to divide the louvers into two groups connected respectively with separate actuator bars which are so arranged that the upper set of louvers may be opened in advance of the lower set, such construction being particularly adapted for use in very cold weather in which it is necessary to have the lower portion of the radiator, in which the fluid-circulates more slowly, protected from blasts of very cold air. Under such circumstances the louvers may be connected to the actuator bars by a yielding transmitter as abovedescribed, or in a simplified construction the ears upon the louvers may be directly connected to the actuator bars.

A preferred construction of this character is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the louvers 3 are divided into two groups, an upper group 28 of three or more louvers, and a lower group 29 comprising the remainder of the louvers. The louvers of the upper group 28 are connected by ears 30 to an actuator rod 31 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to one end of a lever or equalizer bar 32, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an actuator bar 33 which is connected to cars 34 upon the louvers of the lower group 29. The equalizer bar 32 is pivotally connected, preferably at its middle, to a yoke 35 which is connected by an adjustable bolt 36, having at its ends screw threads of opposite pitch, to the lower end of a sleeve 37 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the end of one arm of a bell crank similar to the bell crank arm 20 illustrated in Fig. 1. Any suitable means, such as the rod 24, above described, may be provided for actuatrng the bell crank lever to raise and lower the equalizer bar 32. In order to cause one end of the equalizer bar to open the upper group of luovers in advance of the lower group resilient means such as a helical spring 38 is connected to the end of the equalizer bar 32 to which the actuator rod 33 is pivoted. The spring 38 isconnected at its opposite end to a suitable stationary stud 39 which may be mounted upon the radiator or upon the radiator cover. The opposite end of the equalizer 32 desirably is provided with an extension 40 which overlies a stud 41 upon the end of the radiand which is adapted to limit the downward movement of that end of the equalizer.

WVhen in the operation of the device the operating rod 24 is pushed inwardly, (to the left), by the operator, the bell crank lever 20 is rocked about its pivot 21 thereby depressing the equalizer lever Inasmuch as one end of said lever is held by the spring 38, the opposite end of the lever, which is connected to the actuator rod 31 is first depressed and thereby swings the louvers of the group 28 to an open position, thus permitting air to enter the upper portion of the radiator. After the operating rod 24 has been depressed sufliciently to cause the crtension 40 of the equalizer lever to engage the stud 41, further pressure upon said operating lever depresses the opposite end of the equalizer lever against the tension of J the spring 38, thereby forcing the actuator bar 33 downwardly, thus rocking the louvers of the group 29 toward open position. The operation, therefore, of this embodiment of the invention is similar to that above described in that the louvers, which cover the upper portion of the radiator may be operated independently of those of the group which covers the lower portion of the radi ator, so that if the latter should stick, by reason of accumulated ice, or for any other reason, the lower portion of the radiator will remain covered until the heat radiated thereby is suflicient to melt the ice, whereupon the louvers of the group 29 may be swung toward open position.

As above stated, each of the louvers of each group may if desired be connected to the actuator rods 31 and 33 by yieldable transmitters such as those previouslydescribed, so that each of the louvers will be capable of being opened independently of any other louver which may stick or otherwise be prevented from operation.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction is illustrated in which an upper group of louvers may be actuated notwithstanding the inoperativeness of the louvers of the lower group. In this construction the actuator bar 9 is formed in two sections, the upper section being connected preferably through. yieldable connections, such as above described, to the louvers of an upper group, while the lower section of said actuator bar is similarly connected to the louvers of the lower group. The upper section of the actuator bar may be connected by means, such as above described, to one arm of the bell crank lever 20, the other arm of which is connected to an operating rod 24 as above described.

The sections of the actuator bar 9 are connected by a yieldable device which will enable the upper section to be moved independently of the lower section when the louvers of the lower group are held in closed position.

In the preferred mechanism which is illustrated herein the upper section of the actuator bar 9 is pivotally connected to a cylindrical casing 42 in which a piston 43 is sli'da'bly'mounted, the piston rodbeing pivotally' connected to the lower actuator bar section 9. A helical spring 44in said cylin der, abutting atits upper end against the' head. of the cylinder and at its lower end upon the end of the piston 43,. serves normally to connect the sections of the actuator bar. together inisuch a manner that theupper and lower sections of the actuator bar move together and operate the louvers in the same manner as would an integral. actuator rod. If, however, the louvers-of the lower group are held in closed position by sticking or otherwise, the spring 44 will yield sufiiciently to permit the louvers of the upper group to be opened. As this spring remains under pressure while the upper louvers are in open position, the louvers of the lower section will be moved from closed to open position as soon as the means, which prevents their movement, is removed.

In F ig; 6 a construction is illustrated in which the actuation of the louvers is con trolled automatically by thermostatic means. In this construction the louvers 3 are pivotally mounted upon studs 4 and are provided with. ears 5 which are connected by yildable transmitters 8, of the character above described, to the actuator bar 9. The upper end of the actuator bar is pivotally connected by a link to one arm of a bell crank lever, the other arm of which is connected to 'av plunger 45 of a thermostatic regulator.

As illustrated herein the thermostatic regulator comprises an outer cylindrical casing 46 and an inner bellows-like casing 47 having a head 48 which isengaged by the end of the plunger 45. The space 49, between the outer cylindrical casing 46 and the inner casing. 47, is-filled with a volatile expansible fluid, such as ether or alcohol. The thermostatic member is secured in the upper portion of the radiator and is subject to the varying temperatures of the circulating fluid. within the radiator which serves to cool the engine. When, therefore, the heat of said circulating fluid increases, the volatile fluid within. the thermostatic regulator is-expanded thereby and causes the bellows- .like walls to collapse. This forces the plunger 45 outwardly, thus rocking. the bell crank lever about its pivot and thereby depressing the actuator rod in such a manner as to swing the louvers toward open position. AS the louvers are thus opened the current of air is permitted to pass through the radiator, cooling" the contents thereof. As the contents of the radiator become cooler, the volatile fluid in the thermostatic controller contracts, thus permitting the plunger 45 to be forced inwardly, thereby rocking. the bell crank in the opposite direc tion, thus raising the actuator bar 9 and rocking the louvers toward closed position.

Inithisconstrnction, flierefbm, the amount to which the louversiareopened will be correlated: to the temperature of the heating fluid, so that the. temperature of the-heating fluid may be maintained ata constant pradeterminedtemperature.

In this construction, as in theot'hersprey viously described, the actuation: of each louver is independent of. that of the others, so that if any one or more of them should stick the others willv still remain operative under theinfl uenceot the thermostatic rogu lator.

In Fig 7 amodifiedr construction i'ssillustrated in which a" thermostat 50 ofv any suitable character, preferably such as is illustrated in Fig. 6, is connected through a bell crank; lever 51,. of the character above described, to the central portion of an equalizer 52, one-endof which isoonnectedtto an actuator bar-'53 which is pivotally connected either directly or through a yieldable conmotion to the ears 54: of an upper group55 of louvers. The opposite end of the equalizer leveri52 isconnected to an actuator bar 56 which is connected directly or through a yieldable transmitter to the ears 57 of louvers of the lower group 58. A helical spring 59, similar. tothe spring}:v 38 of the construction illustrated in Fig. 2, serves to withhold themovement of the actuator bar 56=untili the-aotuatorbar 53 has been actuatcd sufficiently to open the upper group of louvers-, when the extension 60 of. said equaL izer lever engages a stud 61* upon the radiiator or radiator cover. lmsuoh construction, therefore, t'he'upper group of louvers will first be opened by thethermostat-ic regulator and after it: has-been opened. fully, and: the movement of. this end of theequalizer lever arrested by the stud 61, further actuation of the thermostatic regulator will. cause theop' posite end of the equalizer to be depressed thereby swinging the louvers of the lower group toward open position.

Thus it willbeunderstood that my invention contemplatesthe controlling of the operation ofthe louvers not only manually, but thermostatically, and also'includes the actuation ofv the louvers through a yieldable transmitter by means ofwhich each louver may be actuated independently of the other, and also includes-the actuation. of groups of louvers whether connected directly to an actuator bar or to a yieldingtransmitter.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and isnot restrictive; that various modifications in construction and arrangementv of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims which are intended to-cover broadly any shutter mechanism for radiators of engines havingrtwo or morev louversswhiehma be designated as'a series of loiwers,.in-whic of the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the, radiator, comprising a series of louvers, means operable normally to actuate said louvers simultaneously including yieldable means for permit-ting the actuation of certain of said louvers independently of the others.

2. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a series of louvers, means for actuating the same, and means yieldably connecting certain of said louvers to said actuating means whereby the sticking of one or more of the latter will not prevent the actuation of others.

3. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a series of louvers, actuating means therefor including an actuator bar, means yieldably connecting said louvers to said actuator bar whereby the sticking of one or more of said louvers will not prevent the actuation of others.

4. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a series of louvers, an actuator bar, a series of transmitters pivotally connected to said actuator bar and to the respective louvers, having means for positively moving said louvers in one direction and yieldable means for moving said louvers in the opposite direction.

5. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator. comprising a series of pivotally mounted louvers, an actuator bar, a series of transmitters pivotally mounted upon said actuator bar and pivotally connected respectively to the louvers of said series, having louver engaging means acting positively to close the louvers when said actuator bar moved in One direction and resilient means operable when said actuator bar is moved in the opposite direction to open said louvers.

6. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a series of pivotally mounted louvers having laterally extending ears, an actuator bar, a series of transmitters pivotally connected to said actuator bar and to said ears having extensions adapted to engage and close said louvers when said actuator is moved in one direction and resilient means connecting said transmitters and said louvers operable when said actuator bar is moved in the opposite direction to open said louvers.

7. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a series of pivotally mounted louvers having laterally extending ears, an actuator bar, a series of transmitters comprising pairs of triangular shaped members, the members of each pair being connected along one side by a web, and pivotally connected adjacent to two angles thereof respectively to the actuator bar and the ears of said louvers, the remaining angle portion of said triangular members being adapted to engage and close said louvers when the actuator bar is moved in one direction. and a spring connected to said transmitters and said ears operable when the actuator bar is moved in the opposite direction to open said louvers.

8. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a plurality of groups of louvers, actuating means, and yieldable means connecting said groups and operable'by said actuating means to permit one of said groups of louvers to be opened before the other group of louvers is actuated.

9. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a plurality of groups of louvers, ac tuating means therefor including an equalizer pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends, means connecting the respective ends of the same to the respective groups of louvers including resilient means operable to cause one group of said louvers to be actuated in advance of the actuation of the other group of louvers.

10. In a cooling system for engines having a radiator, a shutter, for the radiator, comprising a plurality of groups of louvers, actuating means including an equalizer pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends, actuator bars connected to opposite ends of said equalizer and to the respective groups of louvers, and resilient means connected to one end of said equalizer operable to restrain the movement of the actuator bar which is connected to that end of the equalizer until said equalizer has been operated to open fully the louvers of the other group.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

RALPH M. LOVEJOY.

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