US2712815A - Electrically actuated fluid heating attachment for automotive engines - Google Patents

Description

y 1955 M. BLESSING 2,712,815

ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED FLUID HEA TING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES Filed Feb. 12, 1952 /6'a, INVENTOR Z. M Blesszfiy ATTORNEY ilnited tates Eaten-t @flhce ELEUERECULLY AQTUA'EED FLUID HEATING ATTACEMENT FQR AUTQMUTEVE ENGINES This invention relates to heating devices for maintaining the liquid coolant and lubricating oil of motor vehicle engines at desired operating temperature, having particular reference to heaters which are actively employed when the associated vehicle is parked under exposed weather conditions. The invention, also. has reference to an improved heating attachment which is adapted to be inserted in the crank case of an engine and actuated by a source of electrical energy available extraneously of the vehicle proper, as the lighting circuit of a garage, outdoor parking lot, or other similar parking facilities in which motor vehicles are adapted to be positioned for extended periods of time under low temperature conditions.

The need for a conveniently usable heating appliance, adapted for maintaining the oil and liquid coolant of an internal combustion engine warm and instantly ready for use during periods of cold weather, has been recognized and various devices proposed to meet the need. Such prior proposals, apparently for reasons of impracticability in design, or in operational characteristics, have not met with general adoption. I deem it necessary in order to meet practical requirements that such heating devices shall possess: simplicity in construction, ease of installation, reliability and efiectiveness in operation, low cost, and the ability of the heater to maintain at immediately employable working temperatures the normally liquid coolant and lubricants of motor vehicles after such engines have for some time been idle and exposed to low climatic temperatures.

The general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an electrically actuated heating attachment for motor vehicle engines Which is so constructed as to meet the aboverecited requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical heater adapted for ready installation in or removal from lubricating oil sumps provided in crank cases of automotive engines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the character set forth in the form of a casing for stationary insertion within an engine crank case and immersion in a fluid lubricant contained therein, and wherein an electrically energized heating element is positioned axially and longitudinally within an internal chamber formed in the casing, the liquid coolant of the associated engine being circulated in the chamber and around said element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an engine-heating attachment in which Water-circulating pipe connections lead to and from a heating elementreceiving chamber of the heater casing, said connections extending to water jacket spaced provided in the cylinder block of the associated engine, whereby to enable the heating element to apply heat to the liquid coolant while the latter is confined for circulation in the Water jacket spaces of the cylinder block, and in a manner independent of the associated radiator of the engine.

Still, a further object of the invention is to provide 2,?i2,8 l 5 Patented July 12, 1955 a heater of this character which is adapted for application to internal combustion engines utilizing but a single bank or block of longitudinally aligned cylinders, or to be adaptable upon slight modification to engines of the so-called V-type in which a pair of angularly related cylinder blocks are present.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an internal combustion engine equipped with the electrical heating attachment comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the crank case of an engine on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Pi 1, and showing more particularly the internal construction of the heater attachment forming the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of an internal combustion casing member is normally immersed in a body of engine lubricating oil, indicated at 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the

external threads provided on the plug 9 of an electrical heating element 16.

such an electric current is supplied to the heating element from a conventional commercial circuit found in most garages or other unheated parking areas.

t2 With such a circuit, there is connected a conductor cord 13, carrying a conventional pronged plug 14 at one end thereof adapted to be fitted separately in prong-receiving and contact-containing openings present in the outer end 9 of the heating element.

When not in use the plug 14 is removed from electrical engagement with the heating element, as by withdrawing the plug 14 from the receiving openings formed therefor in the plug 9, thereby deenergizing the coil 12 of the heating element. It will be understood that the commercial electric circuit may be suitably connected with the circuit of the heating element in any desired manner, for example, as without lifting the hood or bonnet of an automotive vehicle in completing or breaking the circuit to the coil 12.

The shell 11 is of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its len th, and is disposed axially and longitudinally within a coolant-receiving chamber 15 provided in the casing member 5. Coolant from the engine with which the heating attachment is associated is conducted to the chamber 15 by way of a pipe line shown at 16 in Fig. l. The upper end of this pipe line enters the water jacket space of the block 1 by means of a valved fitting 1'7, the pipe line 16 extending from this fitting and entering the bottom of the chamber 15 at the outer end of the casing member through an elbow-shaped connection 18, the latter communicating at its lower end with the lower and outer part of the chamber 15.

The coolant circulates through the chamber 15, contacting the heated exterior walls of the shell 11. By doing so the temperature of the coolant, even in the coldest of weather, will be raised well above its freezing point. The heat or warmth imparted to the coolant may be used advantageously in warming the entire engine block, including the lubricating oil and the passages through which the oil and, also, vaporized fuels are passed to the engine cylinders. The fact that the casing member is immersed in the lubricating oil contained in the crank case is of advantage in enabling the heat developed through the operation of the resistance element 10 to be effectively transmitted to the lubricating oil. This operation maintains the oil sufiiciently warm and fluidic to flow readily through the restricted passages of an internal combustion engine when the latter is being initially started after a period of idleness.

It will be noted that the outer end of the shell 11 of the heating element 19 is accessible from the exterior of the engine. This enables the heating element when desired to be readily withdrawn from the casing member and repairs or substitution of parts made when and if necessary.

The heated coolant is discharged from the chamber 15 by way of an outlet connection 19 provided with a coupling nut 26 with which is connected the lower end of a coolant return pipe 21. The latter may be composed of metal, such as a copper alloy, or may be formed from a more flexible material, such as natural or synthetic rubber. The upper end of the return pipe 21 is coupled with a valved fitting 22 which enters the water jacket space of the cylinder block 1 on the same side and adjacent to the valve fitting 17 of the pipe line 16 employed in transmitting the coolant from the engine block to the heater casing. This arrangement confines the heated coolant for circulation in the engine block alone, independently of an associated radiator.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the casing member indicated at 5a has the headed end 7a thereof connected with coolant inlet pipes 16a and outlet pipes 21a. The pipes 16a and 21a are provided at one end of the casing member 5a in addition to the pipes 16 and 21 provided at the opposite end thereof. By this construction, the heating attachment is adapted to the needs of engines having cylinder blocks 1a arranged in angular or V'shaped order, as shown in Fig. 6.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides 4 a heating attachment for motor vehicle engines by which the above expressed aims and objects of the present invention. are achieved. The heating attachment is carried as a component part of the engine with which it is associated. It is merely necessary to connect or disconnect a current-conducting cable, such as that indicated by the cord 13, with the soclceted outer end of the heating element in controlling the operation of the attachrnent. The device occupies an out-of-the-way position in the sump portion of the crank case and does not interfere with moving parts of the engine located in the crank case. In installing the attachment, it is merely necessary to form the opening in one of the vertical side Walls of the crank case through which the casing member is introduced, and later secured in a permanent and effective manner as by the Welded seam indicated at 2-3,

the welc'ng operation serving to hold the casing member rigid. against displacement. Drilled openings are formed in the block 1 for the reception of the valve-carrying fittings with which the flexible coolant pipes leading to and from the engine block and heater casing are connected. If for any reason, it should be desired to arrest the How of the coolant to the heater casing, as in periods of warm weather, the valves in these fittings may be closed. it will be apparent that my improved attachment is thus characterized by simplicity in construction, ease of installation, low cost and ability to heat both the liquid coolant of an engine and the lubricating oil thereof, maintaining; both fluids at optimum temperatures for quick and easy starting during cold weather operation of motor vehicles.

It will be noted that the valve coolant fittings by being located at the side of the cylinder block it and toward the rear thereof, withdraw coolant from the engine block, heat the same in the heater casing, and return the coolant to the block at a position contiguous to that from which it was withdrawn prior to heating. This is done order that the heater casing will be called upon to heat the coolant positioned in the engine block, and not in the radiator associated with the engine. This feature contributes substantially to the effectiveness of the device and to its economy in current consumption.

While I have described and shown the sump i of the engine crank case as being disposed at the rear thereof, said sump may be positioned at any conventional location. The construction of the attachment is such that it operates normally to maintain a temperature of approximately 74 F. on the part of the lubricating oil affected thereby, and the coolant at an average temperature of 58 F., these temperatures being maintained with a heating element of 240 watt capacity. While automatic thermostats may be employed,.if desired, in obtaining these temperatures, I have found that it is not necessary if the attachment is properly designed to secure the same. Thus, when the proper size heating element is used, l have found that after certain operating temperatures are reached, the heat radiated from the engine is equal to the heat produced by the element and a desirable thermal equilibrium is obtained. Conductors may lead from the plug 9 to a socket fitting provided adjacent the exterior of motor vehicle hood or bonnet and into which socket a pronged plug, such as that shown at 14, may be inserted for current-supplying purposes. it is also within the scope of the invention to employ heating means other than electricity, as by circulating steam or other heating fluids through the shell 11.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for heating lubricating oil and liquid Coolants employed as operating fluids in an internal combustion engine, the latter having a cylinder block formed with a coolant-receiving jacket and a crank case having an oil sump, a cylindrical casing member positioned horizontally and transversely in the sump of said case at the rear end of the engine, said casing member having one end thereof extended laterally beyond a side of said case through which said member extends, separate coolant supplying and returning means joined with the exteriorly projecting end of said casitg member and uniting a coolant-receiving chamber provided internally of said casing with the jacket space of said cylinder block, and a. removable electrically energized resistance element positioned longitudinally and axially in said coolant chamber, said resistor element being removable bodily from the exteriorly projecting end of the casing member, and when actively positioned said element being disposed substantially entirely Within the confines of said crank case.

2. Apparatus for heating lubricating oil and liquid coolants employed as operating fluids in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block formed with a coolant-receiving jacket and a crank case having a rear- Wardly located oil sump, a cylindrical casing member extending through an opening formed in one side of said case, said member being positioned horizontally and transversely in the sump of said case with lubricating oil contained in the case in direct contact With the outer walls of said casing member, the latter having one end thereof extending laterally exteriorly of and beyond the side of the crank case through which said member extends, a heating element having a resistor coil arranged in a cylindrical shell, the latter being positioned longitudinally and axially in a coolant-receiving chamber formed in the casing member and substantially entirely within the confines of the crank case, said shell being supported entirely from the exteriorly projecting end of the casing member, and conduit means for supplying and returning engine coolant to said member uniting the exteriorly projecting end of the casing member with the jacket space of the cylinder block.

3. An electrical heating attachment for automobile engines comprising a straight cylindrical coolant-receiving casing member positioned mainly transversely and horizontally in an engine crank case at the rear of an engine, one end of said casing member only being supported by and projecting exteriorly of said crank case, spaced coolant-conveying teriorly projecting end of said casing member, said conduits extending upwardly from said casing member and terminating in adjoining but spaced relation with the coolant jacket space provided in an associated engine cylinder block, and electrically energized heat-generating means mounted within a coolant-receiving space formed internally of said casing member, said heat-generating means being disposed so that substantially its entire length is arranged within said crank case.

Apparatus for heating automotive vehicle engines e type having a cylinder block formed with a coolantrecei jacket and a crank case formed with an oil sump, said apparatus comprising: a straight cylindrical casing having closed ends, said casing being stationarily positioned in an opening formed in one of the side walls of said sump, said casing extending horizontally and transversely or" the sump at the rear of said engine and having one end thereof projecting exteriorly of the sump, coolant-entering and discharging conduits joined with the exteriorly projecting end only of said casing member, said conduits having their opposite ends arranged for communication with the coolant-receiving jacket of said cylinder block at positions above said casing, an electrically actuated heating element carried by and mounted wholly Within the confines of the crank case and said casing, said element including a cylindrical outer shell of conduits joined with the exblock of an engine and the other uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, an electrically energized heating coil arranged Within said shell, said shell extending axially and longitudinally of an internal coolant-receiving chamber formed in said casing and with which said conduits communicate, the end of said shell adjacent the exteriorly projecting end of said casing being formed with a plug-shaped body having removable engagement with the exterior end of said casing, the plug-shaped body of said element being formed with openings and contacts electrically joined with said coil and adapted to removably receive the prongs of a current-conducting plug member, and valve devices provided in the conduit uniting the water jacket space of said cylinder block with said coolant chamber of the heater casing.

Engine heating means as specified in claim 4, and wherein said coolant-conducting conduits are arranged at each end of said heater casing and united therewith in pairs, one pair of said conduits extending to one cylinder pair of conduits to a second cylinder block.

6. An electrically energized heating attachment for motor vehicle engines having an oil-receiving crank case and a cylinder block formed with a coolant-receiving jacket, a straight tubular casing member stationarily positioned in said case transversely thereof for immersion in lubricating oil contained within the case, said casing at its outer end extending through an opening formed in a sidewall of said crank case, means securing the projecting outer end of the casing to the crank case around the wall of said opening so that one end only of the casing projects exteriorly of the case, said casing having closed inner and outer ends, there being an opening formed axially of the casing in the outer of said ends, a heating element embodying a cylindrical shell arranged in the longitudinal axis of said casing and disposed mainly witl -n the confines or" the crank case, means for securing the shell of the heating element to the walls of the opening in the outer end of the casing to effect the support of said heating element and its removal from the casing through the opening in the outer end thereof, and separate coolant inlet and discharge conduits joined at their lower ends with the exteriorly projecting end of said casing, and With their upper ends joined with said cylinder block for communication with the coolant jacket contained therein, whereby to provide circulation of said coolant withdrawn from said block jacket through the interior of said casing and around the outer surfaces of the shell of said heating element.

7. An electrically energized heating attachment for motor vehicle engines as specified in claim 6, and wherein the construction is further characterized by providing the exteriorly projecting outer end of said heating element with socket means formed for the detachable reception of a pronged current-conducting plug joined with a source of current supply.

ssei'erences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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