US1373859A - Temperature-indicator for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

H. H. BOYCE.

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPucATxoN FILED MAR.29, 191s.

1,373,859, Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 sHEETs-sHEETl.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29. 1916.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. NII...

1N VEA/TOR A TTORNE Y HARRISON H. BOYCE, 0F FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK.

TEMPERATURE-INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

rammed apr. s, rear.

Application led March 29, 1916. Serial No. 87,423.

ture-Indicators for Automobiles, of whichY the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to means for indicating the thermal condition of automobile engines Vand 'the like, and. particularly to means for indi-eating the temperatures within the radiators of water cooled internal combustion engines.. As is well known, a great majority of automobiles are equipped with internal combustion engines which include a water cooling system and a radiator, the latter being usually placed at the front end of the car. Such radiators are commonly provided with filler spouts, which project upwardlyfrom the top of the radiator, the upper end of the spout being closed by a suitable removable cap. The present inventlon provldes means for inserting a temperature indicating instrument. into the radiator, adjacent to the filler spout, either inside or outside thereof, so located with relation thereto as to .be protected insome degree at least by the spout. The location of the instrument adjacent to the spout also provides a construction which is attractive in appearance, and the unsightly effect which would be produced if the instrument were located in a part of the radiator remote from the spout is avoided. The nature and more specific objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed descrlption of certain preferred embodiments of the invention. s

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 shows the upper part of an automobile radiator in diagrammatic section, the filler spout being shown in elevation, viewed from the direction of the drivers seat, the construction illustra-ting one form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view o f the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view on line 3-6 of Fig.. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.,1, illustrating a modified form of my invention. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view-taken on line V--V of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through a part of a fillerspout,

illustrating another modification of my invention. Fig. 7 is atop plan view of the bulb, while ller spout, shown in Fig. 6, with they ca removed. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are figures simi-V J lar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, illusrating another modified form of the invenion.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 1 designates the radiator, which has any opening 2 in the top thereof. Secured to the top of the radiator is the filler spout 3, which is closed at the top by a suitable cap 4. Numeral 5 designates the usual vent pipe which l projects up into the filler spout to carry oif excess of water or any steam which may be formed.

In accordance with the form of my invention illustrated in these figures, I mount inside of the filler spout, as close to the wall thereof 'as is practicable, a ,thermometer or temperature responsive device 6, a window 7 being formed in the side of the filler spout j toward the driversseat to permit the in- Strument to be observed from such position.

vThe thermometer may be .of any .suitableA construction and may be mounted in anyA desired manner.l Also Vthe window/v may bea mere open slot-as illustrated in these gures or may be glazed,`as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thethermometer is shownl as of the ordinary lass tube type, containing an eXpansible l1quid,and is mounted in a tube or casing 8, which is perforated at the lower end,

asf9,` to permit free access of heat to the the upper2 part is cut away atv one, side, as indicated at 10, to .permit the glass tube and liquid column to be seen. The glass tube is held in the metal casing in any Suitable manner, .as `by the bodies of cement 11 and 1 2, the latter also .serving to' make an air and steam-tight connection between?,

the glass tube and its casing. may be attached in position 1n any suitable way, 't being shown as provided with a screr.7 threaded portion 13, which is screwed through a lug 14, projecting inwardly from The casing the wall ofthe filler spout, the casing being further held in position .by means of a lock nut 15. In order toprevent any steam findingv its way into the radiator, from escaping from splashing out, the upper part of the thermometer and its casing are inclosed by through the window 7, and to prevent water ,A

in addition to forming a chamber tightly sealed from the radiator, also provides adequate protection to the thermometer from funnels inserted into the iiller spout when filling the radiator or from other injury. The thermometer may be of such length as to project into the air space in the. radiator above the normal water level therein, as set forth in my Patent No. 1,090,7 7 6, or, it may project into the water to such depth as may be desired. 1n either case it will be seen that it gives temperature readings visible from the drivers seat of the car. The Iiller spout 'adjacent to the window therein may be provided with suitable markings such as the arrows 18, by which the height of the column of liquid may be jud ed, and a designation such as the word team appearing on the plate 19, secured to the filler spout above the window therein, may be provided, if desired, to call attention to the fact that when the column of liquid reaches the top of the window, steam is forming, a condition which should require the operators attention.

It will be seen that in the construction illustrated, I have provided a means for mounting an instrument to indicate the thermal condition of the engine in the most convenient place for observation by the driver of the car, and yet in a place where the instrument is entirely out of the way, does not detract in any wayffrom the appearance of the car, and is adequately protected from possible injury. As the instrument preferably does not project beyond the normal outlines of the car, the appearance of the car is not changed in any particular. is there danger of breakage, such as would occur if the instrument had projecting parts. Moreover there is no projecting part which could in any way .interfere with the clear view of the road on the part of the driver.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a slightly modified form of 'the vconstruction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this form the opening in the filler spout is closed by a glass 20, which is heldagainst a shoulder 21 by an apertured plate 22. rThis plate may also be conveniently employed as scale plate, if such is desired, it being illustrated as provided with the graduations 23.

Figs. 6 and 7, illustrate another modification of my invention, in which means are provided Vfor the ready insertion and removal of the thermometer which facilitates assembly, and permits the thermometer to be quickly replaced in case of injury. Ac-

cording to this construction, a well 25 is formed inside of the liller lspout adjacent to one wall thereof, such wall being provided with the aperture`7 as already described. An annular shoulder 26 forms the bottom of the well. The thermometer comprises a casing 27, having a lower end 28 of reduced Neither :terasse diameter, which provides a supporting shoulder 29. The latter rests upon a packing 30 of rubber or the like, interposed between it and the flange 26, the casing being pressed down by a screw plug'31, screwing into the top of the well, and preferably carrying an insert 32 of rubber or the like. It will ybe seen that this device can be assembled by merely inserting the thermometer casing, with the packing 30 in position thereon, into the well and then screwing in the plug 31, which causes the casing to be vtightly held in position.

Another modified construction is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In this construction, 1 have shown the thermometer 6 mounted outside of theiller spout but in juxtaposition thereto. The casing 35 of the thremometer is preferably so shaped as to tit close to and virtually merge into the filler spout so as to be as inconspicuous as possible and not to detract from the appearance of the car. Thecasing may be secured in position in any suitable manner, it being illustratedy as having its lower end inserted in a hole 36 formed in the top of the radiator adjacent to the iller spout, and clamped in such hole by lock nuts 37, a suitable packing 88 being provided to prevent leakage. In this form of apparatus, as in that illustrated in' Figs. 1, 2.and 3, the instrument does not project above the top of the filler spout, and therefore does not interfere with the application and removal of the filler cap, nor does it change the appearance of the car, and it is .protected by the filler spout against blows which might injure it.

, While I have illustrated certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to such embodiments, but that the constructer having its thermally responsive part subj jected to temperatures within the radiator and having its indicator part extending above the top of the radiator but not above the top of the filler spout and being located in proximity to a wall of the filler spout, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the front of said indicator part is eX'-I posed to view, whereby the indicating part is readable and at the same time is protected by the filler spout.

v 2. lin apparatus of the character described, the combination with an automobile radiator having a filler spout, of a glass tube thermometer disposed vertically adjacent to a wall of the llerfspout, the upper end of the thermometer bein lower than the top of the filler spout an the bulb of the thermometer extending below the iller spout into the radiator, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the indicating part of the thermometer is exposed to 3.K In apparatus of the character described, the combination with an automobile radiator havinga filler spout, of a glass tube thermometer disposed vertically adjacent to the rear wall of the tller spout, the upper end of the thermometer being lower than the top of the iiller spout and the bulb of the thermometer extending below the filler spout into the radiator, said parts being so constructed vand arranged thatthe indicating l part of the thermometer is exposed to view.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with the filler spout of an automobile radiator, said filler spout having a windowtherein, of athermometer mounted linside of said filler spout close to the side wall thereof and adjacent to said window and visible therethrough, said window being formed in the rear Wall of the filler spout. Y

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with the filler spout.

of an automobile radiator, said filler spout being provided with a window, of a thermometer supported inside of said filler s out and adjacent to said window and rea able therethrough, and an inclosing shell contacting with the inner wall of said filler spout around said window and inclosing'said thermometer.

6. In apparatus of the character 'described, the combination `with an -automobile radiator having a ller spout, said filler spout having a window in oneside thereof,

-of means forming a chamber separated from the interior of the radiator, into which said windowopens, and a thermometer projecting from the radiator into said chamber and readable through said window. Y

thermometer maybe read.

8. ln apparatus of the character described, the combination with an automobile radiator havingva ller spout screw threaded at its upper end and having a cap screwing on said threaded portion' for closing the spout, of a thermometer mounted adjacent to a side wally of said filler spout, meansfor supporting 'said thermometer independently of said radiator cap, the temperaturerespon- Y sub ,l

sive element. of said thermometer bein jected to temperatures Within the ra iator, and the upper part of said thermometer be.

ing located 'out of thepath of said capvwhen being screwed into position so as not to int'erfere with the attachmentorremoval of said cap, the parts being so constructed and ar-y ranged that the indicating portion ofthe thermometer is exposed to view.V

HARRisoN H. Boron.

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