US2508721A - Automobile water heater - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1950 R. LADUE 2,508,721

AUTOMOBILE WATER HEATER Filed 001'.. 18, 1946 Irnveni'or-z Rober-i: Londue.

Aitor-neg.

Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE WATER HEATER Robert Ladue, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,263

(Cl. 21S-38) 3 claims. l

This invention relates to a heating device and particularly to an electrical heating device adapted to be used to heat an internal combustion engine. Such engines are now commonly used in automobiles, and as is well known, trouble 1s often had in lstarting automobiles after they have stood in very cold weather. Such internal combustion engines comprise .a cylinder block having a water chamber therein. It is desirable to keep the water in said water chamber rather warm. Such cylinder blocks also commonly have bores formed therein extending to the vwater chamber in which is disposed a bushing having means which will yield in case the water Ishould freeze. Breakage of the block due to the expansion of the freezing water is thus prevented.

It is an object `of this invention to provide a simple and eiiicient heating means for the water in the water chamber, which means is effectively supported :and positioned by one of said bushings.

It is further an object of the invention to provide `a heating device for the water in the water chamber of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine comprising a bushing or plug inserted in a bore of said block, a member having a portion extending through a bore in said bushing into said water chamber, a spacing member carried by and secured to said portion adapted to engage said bushing to determine the distance said portion projects into the water chamber, means preferably being provided to secure said bushing to said portion, an electrical heating means in said portion, said member having a second portion disposed outwardly of said bushing, spaced contacts carried by said second portion to which said heating means is connected, a, conductor cord having a pair of conductors connected respectively vto said contacts and being adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

It is more specifically van object of the invention to provide such a device as set forth in the preceding paragraph, said first mentioned portion preferably being cylindrical, said spacing member being preferably in the form of a washer surrounding said cylindrical portion and said second portion being provided with la cover preferably of cylindrical form and having an opening through `which said cord projects.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine showing the device of the invention installed therein, said device being shown in plan;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows, some parts being shown in side elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, e, portion of a cylinder block I0 of an internal combustion engine is shown showing the side wall Illa, a pair of cylinders Ib and a portion of the water chamber Ic. The wall Illa is provided with a boss Id which is bored to receive a bushing or plug II. Bushing II is of cup-'shape form having its open side directed outwardly and normally such a bushing has a part adapted to yield under pressure. In accordance with the present invention said bushing II is bored so as to receive the portion I2a of a member `I2. A spacing member I3 is provided and while this might be variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as a washer surrounding portion I2a, which portion is preferably cylindrical, and said washer will be secured to portion |2a in any suitable manner, as by welding, soldering or brazing. Member I3 is provided to determine the distance portion I2a projects into the chamber Ic. It will thus be positioned at dierent points along portion I2a.. Bushing II is preferably secured to portion I2a and this can be done by soldering or welding, as indicated by the metal I4. Disposed within portion I2a is an electrical heating means I5' which will usually be in the form of a coil, as indicated in Fig. 2. Member I2 has an outer portion |211 and a pair of spaced contact members I6 are secured to portion I2b. The ends of heating coil I5 are connected respectively to contact |16. Members I6 are in the form of binding posts having nuts I'I threaded thereon and said posts have respectively connected thereto and between said nuts the conductors I8 contained in a conductor cord I9 which will be equipped at its other end with the usual plug so as to be plugged into an electrical socket forming a source for electric current. Portion I2b is provided with a cover 2B and while this might be variously formed, it is shown as cylindrical and tting over portion I2b and having its end spun over a collar or annular rib lic on member I2. The cover 20, which is made of rather thin metal, has a semi-spherical outer end having a central aperture therein in which is disposed a bushing 2l preferably made of nonconducting material. Cord I9 passes through bushing 2|. Cover 2U is preferably provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes lia to aiord circulation and drainage.

In operation bushing or plug I I will be removed and the same will be bored so that portion ita iits therein. Member i3 will now be placed on portion I2a and secured thereon at the desired point. Portion I2a will then 'be inserted through the bore in bushing II and said bushing will be secured to portion I2a by welding, soldering or brazing. The cord I9 will be connected, as shown, and cover 2li positioned on member I2. xfhe portion I2a is now passed through the bore in the Wall Ia and bushing II is driven into place into said bore. Portion I2a is now' disposed in the water chamber Ic and the distance it projects into said chamber is determined by the position of spacing member I3. The cord i9 will now be connected with an electrical socket having the usual 110 volt current. When the car is standing for some time, as overnight, in a cold place or in a cold garage, heat can thus be supplied to the water in the water chamber Ic by the heating element I5. The said water is thus kept at a fairly high temperature so that there is no danger of its freezing and it is preferably kept at a temperature which will render it easier to start the engine or motor.

From the above description it Iwill be seen that I have provided a very simple and yet highly el cient heating'means for an internal combustion engine and one which can lbe very easily and quickly installed. The device is small and compact and is carried by the motor without any objectionable features. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and efficientY and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar rangement and proportions of the parts, Without departing fromthe scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall of the water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, said bushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having a `portion, extending through said bore into said water chamber, means securing said portion to said bushing, a second member adapted to be disposed on and connected to said portion adjacent said means for engaging the outer side of said bushing to determine how iar said portion projects into said Water chamber, said cylindrical member having an enlarged portion extending outwardly some distance from said second member and bushing, the same having an annular rib projecting therefrom adjacent its outer end, an electrical heating means in said first mentioned portion having ends extending to the outer end of said enlarged portion, contacts at said outer end to which said ends are connected, a cord having electrical conductors connected to said contacts, and a cover having an inner end extending over said annular rib and fitting said enlarged iportion, said cord passing through said cover.

Z. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall oi:` the water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, said bushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having an inner portion extending through said bore into said water chamber and having a larger outer .portion extending outwardly some distance beyond the outer end of said bushing and having a projection on its periphery adjacent its outer end, an electrical heating means in said inner portion having its ends extending through the outer end oi said outer portion, a second member secured to said inner portion and engaging the outer side oi said bushing for determining the distance Which said inner ,portion extends into said water chamber, means securing said cylindrical member to said bushing adjacent said second member, an electrical heating means in said inner portion having ends extending to the outer side of said outer portion, contact members secured to said ends, a cord having conductors secured to said contacts and a substantially closed cover having an inner end extending over said projection and fitting on said outer portion, said cord extending centrally through the outer end of said cover.

3. The combination with a cylindrical bushing disposed in the wall of the Water jacket of an internal combustion engine cylinder block, said bushing having a bore therein of a cylindrical member having a portion extending through said bore into said water chamber, a second member connected to said portion and engaging said bushing to determine how far said cylindrical member projects into said water chamber, said cylindrical member having an enlarged outer portion projecting beyond said bushing, an electrical heating means in said cylindrical member having terminals extending to the outer side of said outer portion, contacts secured to said outer side connected to said terminals, a cord having electrical conductors secured to said contacts, a substantially closed cover iitting on said outer portion and enclosing said contacts, said cord passing through said cover and being adapted to have a connecting plug at itsouter end.

ROBERT LADUE.

REFERENCES CITEDv The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,242,711 Magee Oct. 9, 1917 1,400,354 Fraser Dec. 13, 1921 1,655,434 OMalley et al. Jan. 10, 1928 1,692,164 Fromm Nov. 20, 1928 1,916,237 Sloan July 4, 1933

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