US2226611A - Automobile heater - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1940. H. J. DE N. MccoLLuM AUTOMOBJ'CLE HEATER Filed April 6. 1938 mm, ULM

Patented Dec. 311, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE N 8 Claims.

The invention relates generally to automobile heaters and the present application is a continuation in part of a co-pending application, Serial No. 61,213 led January 28, 1936, which has 'matured into Patent No. 2,191,173.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the operation and control of those engine-created vacuums which may be used as a source of power lto provide the iluid pressure differential needed for the production and movement of a stream of hot gases through a radiator in the operation of the independent heat generator illustrated and described in said co-pending application.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the vacuum which is utilized for the purposes mentioned is that which is developed in the intake manifold of the engine. However, it is appreciated that, with this particular source, the degree of vacuum created ranges from zero to approximately twenty-six inches of mercury, depending upon the speed and the load to which the engine is subjected under operating conditions. Under such circumstances, if the degree of vacuum applied to the heat generator to draw the combustible mixture and hot gases through the heater were permitted to vary likewise, it is apparent that the operation of the heater would be irregular and unsatisfactory.

present invention to convert the widely varying degree of vacuum created in the intake manifold of an automobile engine into a substantially uniform working vacuum for operating a combustion heat generator of the class described.

Another object of the invention -is to `provide an improved means for causing a substantially uniform rate of flow of the gases of combustion through the heater.

Another 'object of the invention is to provid a heater of the class described of a character such that heat units are supplied uniformly to the radiator for heat transfer purpses. regardless of variations in the pressure differential ern-` ployed to operate the heater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum compensator for heaters of the class described which provides a gradual compensa/ting correction for wide or sudden variations in the 50 degree of vacuum developed in the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.\

Another object of the invention is to provide a i control for an internal combustion device of a character whereby the operation of the device is 55 governed for uniform performance by variably consequently, it is one of the objects of the (c1. zar-112.3) l

restricting the exhaust flow of the gases of combustion.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a heater o'f the class described, a compensator. therefor which is simple in construction and operation, effective in luse, and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent from the drawing herein, the description relating thereto and the appended claims.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, partly in section, in the single t view of the accompanying drawing, the heater construction I0, which is more particularly described in said co-pending application. comprises generally, a carbureting device I2 supplied with gasoline preferably from the float bowl Il of the usual engine carburetor. Suitable means is provided to control the iiow of gasoline to the heater Il and the amount of .air mixed therewith in order to supply to the heater several combustible mixtures of dliferent degrees of richness to take care of the various heater requirements encountered under starting and running conditions.

The combustible mixture supplied by the carbureting device is fed into the combustion chamber il through a tube I8 and a perforated baille plate 2l by means of which pre-heat and turbulence are eifected to thoroughly vaporiae the mixture entering the combustion chamber. 4The mixture is ignited by an electricalheating element 22v located in a recess 24 in the side of the chamber, and, in event the flame ever becomes extinguished. the mixture is reignited by a reiractory ceramic plug 26 at the outlet of the combustion chamber which acquires a sumciently high temperature for such purpose by being directly exposed to the ilame during the normal operation of the heater.

From the combustion chamber Il the hot gases pass through a radiator 28 comprising a circuitous tube 30 to which heat radiating iins 32 are thermally connected. Over these uns air is circulated in a manner whereby heat is transferred from the hot gases to the passenger compartment of the automobile for thecomfort of the passengers. j

The ilow of gases through the heater Il is oontrolled in two ways: one, by the ,valve Il which starts and stops the flow, and the other, by a compensator 4l interposed between the heater il and the intake manifold for regulating and rendering uniform the degree of vacuum to which the heater is subjected.-

In the particular embodiment of the compensator illustrated by enlargement in the accompanying drawing, the compensator 40 comprises a valve chamber 42, the outlet 44 of which is connected to the intake manifold by the pipe 46, and the inlet 48 of which is connected to the heater I 0 by the pipe 5t.

Within the valve chamber 42 is a balanced Valve member 52 which is adapted partially to cover ports 4B. The balanced valve 52 is in the form of a piston and is connected to the central portion of a diaphragm 54 by means of a link 56, the diaphragm being suitably mounted in a casing 58. One side of the diaphragm is subjected to atmospheric pressure because of the provision of a vent 60 in the casing 58, while the other side of the diaphragm is normally maintained at the same pressure as is present in the pipe 5D to which it is connected through a tube 62 which is provided with a damping restriction 6d. The central portion of the diaphragm is normally pressed to the left as viewed in the drawing by a light compression coil spring 66, the tension of which may be adjusted bymeans of a thumb screw 68.

This particular compensator operates in the following manner: Upon an increase in vacuum in the intake manifold, the pressure in the pipe 46 will be decreased, and if the decrease in pressure in suiliciently great and maintained for a suiiicient length of time, the pressure within the casing 58 at the right side of the diaphragm 54 will be decreased accordingly and the valve 52 moved to the right against the force of the spring 65 under the force of atmospheric pressure acting upon the opposite side of the diaphragm. Thus, the ports 46 are partially covered which results in a decrease in the ow of the gases of combustion therethrough and a consequent decrease in degree of vacuum present in the pipe 50. Because of the restriction 6d, uttering of the valve 52 will be prevented and the compensating correction applied by this valve will be effected gradually.

In this way an improved means is provided of a character causing a substantially uniform rate of flow of the hot gases of combustion through a heater of the class described. Where the heater derives its power from a source of widely varying pressure-differentials such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. Moreover, the improved device is one providing a gradual compensating correction for the wide and sudden Vvariations encountered with the vacuum as developed in the intake manifold, and otherwise comes within the expressed and implied objects outlined herein.

Consequently, although a single embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it

will be apparent to those skilled in the art that' various and further uses, modications, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims. i

What is claimed is:

1. In an automobile heater of the internal combustion type in which the products of combustion are drawn into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine of the automobile, the combination of a conduit connecting the heater with the intake manifold of the engine, a spool valve operably mounted in said conduit toregulate the ilow of fluid through said conduit,

a casing, a diaphragm in said casing, said diaazeaeii phragm being exposed on one side to spring pressure and restrictedly to thezvacuum existing in said conduit, and on the other side to atmosphere for operating said valve, thereby to compensate for variations in the vacuum of the intake manifold. A

2. In an `automobile heater of the internal combustion type in which the products of combustion are drawn into the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine of the automobile, the combination of a conduit connecting the heater with the intake manifold of the engine, a balanced spool valve operably mounted in said conduit to regulate the now of fluid through said conduit, a casing, a diaphragm in said casing, said diaphragm being exposed upon one side to spring `pressure and vacuum in said conduit and upon the other side to atmosphere for operating said valve, thereby to compensate for variations in the vacuum ofthe intake manifold.

3. In an automobile heater of the class described which utilizes vacuum developed in tl'ie intake manifold of the automobile engine-the combination comprising, means providing a heater combustion chamber, means for feeding fuel to the combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold to eect a reduction of pressure within the combustion chamber and to remove products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and means compensating for variations in pressure `in the intake manifold to eiiect more even pressure in the combustion chamber, the last mentioned means comprising a valve adapted to variably restrict said conduit, and a control mechanism for said valve including a movable element responsive to the degree of vacuum in the conduit between the valve and the combustion chamber for controlling the position of the valve.

d. In an automobile heater of the class described which utilizes vacuum developed in the intake manifold of the automobile engine, the combination comprising, means providing a heater combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold to etect a reduction of pressure Within the combustion chamber and to remove products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and means compensating for variations in pressure in the intake manifold to eiect more even pressure in the combustion chamber, the last mentioned means comprising a valve adapted to variably restrict said conduit, a flexible diaphragm connected by a link to the valve, a housingproviding a chamber on one side of the diaphragm, and means connecting the chamber to the conduit to effect ilexure of the diaphragm and consequent movement of the valve responsive to Variations in pressure within the conduit.

5. In an automobile heater of the class described whch utilizes vacuum developed in the intake manifold of the automobile engine, the combination comprising, means providing a heater combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold to eiect a reduction of pressure within the combustion chamber and to remove products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and means compensating for variations in pressure in the intake manifoldto eect more even pressure in the combustion chamber, the last mentioned means comprising a balanced spool valve adapted to variably restrict said conduit, a exible diaphragm connected by a link to the valve, a housing providing a chamber on one side of the dia- 75 phragm. and means connecting the chamber to the conduit'to eiect flexure of the diaphragm and consequent movement of the valve responsive to variations in pressure Within the conduit.

6. In an automobile heater of the class described Which utilizes vacuum developed in the intake manifold of the automobile engine, the combination comprising, means providing a heater combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold to eiect a reduction of pressure within the combus'tion chamber and to remove products of combustion from the combustion chamber, a valve for shutting off said conduit, and means compensating for variations in pressure in the intake manifold to eiect more even pressure in the combustion chamber, the last mentioned means comprising a valve adapted to variably restrict said intake manifold of the automobile engine, the combination comprising, means providing a heater combustion chamber, means for feeding fuel to. the combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion chamber to the intake manifold to eiect a reduction of pressure within the combustion chamber and to remove products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and means compensating for variations in pressure in the intake manifold to effect more even pressure in the combustion chamber, the last mentioned means comprising a valve adapted to variably restrict said conduit.

8. In an automobile heater of the internal combustion type adapted to be connected to a source of varying suction created by the operation of the automobile engine. the combination comprising, a heater'combustion chamber, means providing fuel to the combustion chamber, a conduit connecting the combustion 'chamber to said source of varying suction to provide the draft for combustion, a valve in the conduit, and a valve control means responsive to pressure in the conduit between the valve and the combustion chamber for controlling the valve to compensate for variations in said pressure.

HENRY J. DE N. McCOLLUM.l

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