US3165621A - Electric engine cooling jacket heater - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1965 L. E. WINDSOR ELECTRIC ENGINE coounc JACKET HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1961 a Z r 6 4 //V VE/V TOR. LY/V/VE E Wl/VDSOR ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATER Filed June 26, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fil/lf/l/fi 5 M 26? gg\ MZHB /5(////// 3e 36 4 x 40 26 fig. 5

//Y1/Enrv2.

ya/M Munoz United States Patent ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATER Lynne E. Windsor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, assignor to James B. Carter Ltd Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed June 26, 1961, Set. No. 119,720 6 Claims. (Cl. 219-208) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in frost plug immersion heaters for automobile engines.

While it is realized that f-rost plug apertures provide the most convenient means for the insertion of immersion heaters into the coolant system of automobile engines, nevertheless considerable difficulty is encountered in locking said heaters into said frost plug apertures due to the smooth bore thereof and inaccessibility of the inner walls thereof.-

Normally a deformable gasket having a round or rectangular section is utilized to seal the immersion heater within the frost plug with some mechanical means incorporated to prevent the heater from inadvertently becoming displaced from the frost plug aperture.

However, such means are normally permanently deformable means which prevents ready disengagement of the immersion heater from the frost plug aperture in the event of replacement.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing an immersion heater having end shiftable means upon the rear face thereof and means extending through the body portion of the heater adapted to extend and retract these means thus providing a positive lock for the retention of the immersion heat-er within the frost plug aperture as well as providing sealing means to prevent leakage of fluid therepast.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the immersion heater is readily installed and locked into position, yet which at the same time can be removed'if necessary for replacement purposes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes efficent sealing means between the immersion heater and the frost plug aperture walls acting independently of the locking means. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes means to locate accurately the immersion heater within the frost plug aperture prior to locking same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is particularly suitable for use with typical U-sha-ped immersion heater elements.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is adaptable for use with the majority of present day automotive engines.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of part all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 with the cover shown in phantom;

FIGURE 3 is the rear side view of my device showing an alternative embodiment.

ice

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing a still further embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a section substantially along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing a still further embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 5 and 6, but showing yet another embodiment of my device.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURES 1 and 2 which show the preferred embodiment of my device.

Reference character 10 shows a substantially cylindrical body portion having a shoulder 11 formed therearound and carrying a substantially conventional U- shaped immersion heater element 12 secured to the rear side 13 of the body portion and extending therethrough to terminate in conventional connector pins 14 by which means the device may be connected to a source of electrical energy.

Situated across the rear face 13 of the body portion is an enlargement 15, said enlargement carrying a transverse drilling 16 within which is mounted for endwise movement, a pair opposed pins 17.

The outer ends 18 of these pins are reduced indiameter thus forming shoulders 19 inboard thereof, and the ends 20 of the transverse drillings 16 are staked over or reduced in diameter thus permitting the ends 18 of the pins to move endwise there'through, but restraining the pins from extending beyond the limits imposed by the shoulders 19.

' A resilient pug 21 is situated within the transverse drilling and is engaged by the inner ends 22 of the pins 17 and means collectively designated 23 are provided to move the pins 17 endwise within the transverse drillings 16.

Means 23 comprises a screw-threaded axially located drilling 24 formed through the body portion from the outer face 25 thereof and terminating at the transverse drillings 16.

A screw-threaded bolt 26 engages the drilling 24 and the inner end 27 of the bolt bears against the aforementioned resilient plug 21.

An O-ring surrounds the body portion and the shoulder 11 and a cover 29 is adapted to enclose the front face 25 of the body portion as shown in phantom in FIGURE 2.

This cover plate is bored out internally as at 30 and is provided witha locating pin or pins 31 within the bored out portion, said pinor pins engaging a short drilling 32 or integral shoulders formed in the outer face 25 of the body portion.

A relatively rectangular aperture 33 is formed through the cover through which the aforementioned connector pins 14 pass thus permitting a conventional plug to engage these pin-s when used.

The cover 29 is apertured centrally as at 34 to allow the outer end 35 of bolt 26 to pass freely therethrough.

Ears or projections 36 are formed around the outer periphery of the cover portion and are adapted to engage the outer surface 37 of the engine block 38 surrounding the frost plug aperture 39 formed therein.

Finally, a lock-nut 40 engages the outer end 35 of the bolt 26, which outer end is slotted as at 41 so that it can be engaged by a screw driver or the like.

In operation, the bolt 26 is loosely mounted within the aperture 24 whereupon the O-ring is placed against the shoulder 11 and the cover plate engaged over the portion 10 so that pin 31 engages aperture 32 within the body portion.

The lock-nut 40 is lightly tightened to maintain the cover plate in position whereupon the immersion heater is entered into the frost plug aperture 33 until the ears or shoulders 36 of the cover plate come up against the outer surface 37 of the block. With the immersed heater held in this position, the bolt'26 is tightened within the drilling 24 so that the end127 compresses the resilient plug 21 thus expanding same within the transverse drillaperture and providing an efficient seal, preventing coolant passing thereby.

If 'it'is desired to remove the device, the nut 49 is loosened and the bolt 26 withdrawn whereupon slight v manipulation of the immersion heater will cause the pins 17 to move inwardly against thenow decompressed resilient plug 21 so that the heater can be withdrawn.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative embodiment insofar as the movable elements are concerned.

In this embodiment, I have provided a pair of sub stantially rectangular cam plates 42 pivoted together as at 43 by the ends 44 thereof and lying upon the rear face 13 of the body portion 10. The slots 45 are provided within the plates and headed rivets or the like 46 extending from the rear surface 13 of the body portion mounts the plates for movement in .the direction of arrows 47 upon the rear sides 13.

A spring 48 extends between the two portions and normally maintains them inwardly towards the center of the body portion;

The bolt 26 in this embodiment and also in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 4'and 5, is provided with a head 49 having cone-faced sides 50, said cone-faced sides engaging the edges 51 of the plates 42. Once again .when this bolt is drawn outwardly, the cone facings 50 force the plates outwardly around the pivot point 43 and in the direction of arrows 47 whereupon they act in a similar manner to pins 17. In this embodiment, of course, the spring 48 withdraws same upon release of the bolt 26 thus facilitating removal.

FIGURES 4 and show a further embodiment which includes substantially rectangular plates 52 mounted for endwise movement upon headed rivets or pins 53 extending from the rear surface 13 of the body portion 10. The bolt 26 is formed as hereinbefore described, for the embodiment in FIGURE 3 and operates in a similar manner. Once again spring 48 returns the plates towards center once the bolt is released thus facilitating withdrawal of the unit.

FIGURE 6 shows a further alternative in which the plates 54 incline upwardly towards the center when viewed in side elevation and are mounted upon elongated headed rivets 55 extending from the rear side 13 of the body portion 10.

In this embodiment the bolt 26 is headed as at 56 and compression springs 57 extend between the plates 54 and the surface 13 thus normally maintaining the inner ends 58 upwardly against the shoulder 59 of the bolt head 56. If the bolt is drawn downwardly with respect to FIGURE 6, the plates 54 end outside move endwise in direction of arrows 60 and as hereinbefore described. Springs 57, of course, withdraw the plates once the bolt is released. In this embodiment I find it preferable to provide a further O-ring 61 surrounding the bolt shank adjacent the inner surface 13 of the body portion and sitting within a recess 62 formed therearound in order to' facilitate sealing of the device at this point. FIGURE 7 is an embodiment very similar to that s shown in FIGURE 6, but without the necessity of the springs 57.

In this embodiment, I form a collar 63 around the bolt just below the head 56 and the ends 58 of the plates 54 engage between the collar and the head so that they are moved endwise as the bolt is moved inwardly or outwardly.

In all embodiments, the cover portion and O-ring sealing means are independent of the actual locking means for maintaining the immersion heater within the frost plug aperture.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely differing embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An immersion heater adapted to be installed within a frost plug aperture of an engine block, comprising in combination a substantially cylindrical body portion, having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said frost plug aperture whereby said body portion is insertable within said frost plug aperture, an immersion heater element secured to and extending from one side of said body portion, electrical connecting pins secured to said immersion heater element and extending through said body portion to the other side thereof and being connectable to a source of electrical energy, endwise movable means mounted transversely in said body portion "adjacent said one side thereof, selectively engageable with the inner surface of the block surrounding said frost plug aperture, said endwise movable means comprising at least two pins mounted for endwise radial movement in transverse drillings situated diametrically across said body portion adjacent said one side thereof, a centrally located screw threaded drilling extending axially from the other side of said body portion and intercepting said transverse drilling, a resilient plug between the inner adjacent ends of said pins at the base of said centrally located screw threaded drilling, a screw threaded bolt engaging said screw threaded drilling from said other side of said body portion, the inner end of said bolt engaging said resilient plug' whereby pressure from said bolt on said plug expands same into said transverse drillings thereby moving said pins outwardly therefrom, resilient sealing means carried by said body portion enga'geable with the wall of saidfrost plug aperture, a cover plate detachably connected to said body portion, means extending from said cover plate engageable with the outer surface of said engine block surrounding said frost plug aperture, an adjustable clamp means for connecting said cover plate to said body portion to clamp said body portion into sealing engagement with said frost plug aperture.

- 2. The device according to claim 1 which includes a seating formed around the wall of said body portion and intermediate the ends thereof, said resilient sealing means comprising a resilient sealing ring on said seating, said cover plate having an inner end insertable in said frost plug aperture, the inner end of said cover plate engaging said resilient sealing ring, said means on said 3. The device according to claim 2 in which said screw threaded bolt passes through an aperture in said cover plate, said clamp means comprising a nut engaging said .screw threaded bolt externally of said cover plate, to

tighten said cover plate to said bodyportion and to compress said resilient sealing means.

'4.'The device according to claim 1 in which said pins :are reduced in diameter at the outer ends thereof thereby forming retaining shoulders, the ends of said transverse drillings being reduced in diameter thereby limiting the 7 References Cited by the Examiner outward endwise movement of said pins. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. The device according to claim 2 1n whlch sa1d pins are reduced in diameter at the outer ends thereof thereby 2,783,352 2/ 5 7 McKay 219-336 forming retaining shoulders, the ends of said transverse 5 2905301 9/59 Bleckmann 219-526 drillings being reduced in diameter thereby limiting the 2987283 6/61 Bleckmann 248 56 outward endwise movement of said pins. FOREIGN PATENTS 6. The device according to claim 3 in which said pins 475,630 11/37 Great Britain.

are reduced in diameter at the outer ends thereof thereby 1,231,508, 4 /60 Rama forming retaining shoulders, the ends of said transverse 10 drillings being reduced in diameter thereby limiting the RICHARD WOOD Pnmary Examiner outward endwise movement of said pins. MAX L. LEVY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN IMMERSION HEATER ADAPTED TO BE INSTALLED WITHIN A FROST PLUG APERTURE OF AN ENGINE BLOCK, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE WHEREBY SAID BODY PORTION IS INSERTABLE WITHIN SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, AN IMMERSION HEATER ELEMENT SECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION, ELECTRICAL CONNECTING PINS SECURED TO SAID IMMERSION HEATER ELEMENT AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY PORTION TO THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF AND BEING CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, ENDWISE MOVABLE MEANS MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BLOCK SURROUNDING SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, SAID ENDWISE MOVABLE MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO PINS MOUNTED FOR ENDWISE RADIAL MOVEMENT IN TRANSVERSE DRILLING SITUATED DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, A CENTRALLY LOCATED SCREW THREADED DRILLING EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION AND INTERCEPTING SAID TRANSVERSE DRILLING, A RESILINET PLUG BETWEEN THE INNER ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID PINS AT THE BASE OF CENTRALLY LOCATED SCREW THREADED DRILLING, A SCREW THREADED

Images