Engine cooling system flushing apparatus and method

• US RE31,274 E
• Filed: 01/10/1980
• Issued: 06/14/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wynn Oil Company (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Arnot, Larry K., Appel, Douglas C., Babish, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS JR, ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/110,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 165/1, 165/95, 134/102, 134/103, 134/169 A, 134/169 R, 134/95, 134/98, 134/166 R, 134/22 C, 134/56 R, 123/41.14
• US Class Current: 165/95
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/06 Cleaning in general B08B; Combating corrosion in general C23F
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2011/065 Flushing
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/04 Cleaning of, preventing corrosion or erosion in, or preventing unwanted deposits in, combustion engines cleaning of fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28G 9/00 Cleaning by flushing or washing, e.g. with chemical solvents appliances using jets of fluid for removing debris F28G1/16, F28G3/16

Abstract

An internal combustion engine cooling system .Iadd.that includes a liquid coolant radiator, engine coolant passages and a liquid coolant passing heater .Iaddend.is flushed by:

(a) providing a controlled pressurized flow of flushing liquid and entrained gas bubbles,

(b) and passing said flow alternately through

(i) the radiator in a reverse direction,

(ii) the engine coolant passages .Iadd.and heater .Iaddend.in a reverse direction,

(iii) the radiator in a forward direction,

(iv) the engine coolant passages .Iadd.and heater .Iaddend.in a forward direction.

Claims

1. (iv) through the engine coolant passages in a forward direction..]. 2. The apparatus of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.19 .Iaddend.including a console carrying

2. said first means, ports and control means. 3. The apparatus of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein said .[.system includes a vehicle heater having a coolant passage connected with engine coolant passage, and a coolant pump connected with the radiator, said ports include a first port selectively connectible to the radiator, a second port selectively connectible with the heater coolant passage, and a third port selectively connectible with the coolant pump.]. .Iadd.first, second and third ports

3. are located along the lower portion of said console.Iaddend.. 4. The apparatus of claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.19 .Iaddend.including said engine cooling system, and including hoses connecting said first, second and third ports with the radiator, heater and pump, respectively. .[.5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control means includes a primary valve connected to receive said flow in the form of pressurized water and air bubbles, said valve having three outlets respectively connected with said first, second and third ports..]. .[.6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a drain port, and a said control means includes a secondary valve having three inlets respectively connected with said first, second and third ports, said

4. second valve having a discharge port connected with the drain port..]. 7. The apparatus of claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.19 .Iaddend.including a console

5. carrying said first means, ports and control means. 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first means includes a pressurized water inlet port, a pressurized air inlet port, and ducting connected between said air and

6. water inlet ports and an inlet port defined by said primary valve. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said ducting includes water supply ducting,

7. and a water pressure regulator connected in series therewith. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said ducting includes air supply ducting, and

8. an air pressure regulator connected in series therewith. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 including means to adjust the regulated pressures of said

9. regulators. 12. The apparatus of claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.14 .Iaddend.including an air selector valve via which the air inlet port is selectively connected with the supply liquid or the anti-freeze liquid

10. container inlet. 13. The apparatus of claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.14 .Iaddend.including a console carrying said first means, said ports and said control means, the anti-freeze container attached to said console.

11. The apparatus of claim .].1.]. .Iadd.19 .Iaddend.wherein said first means includes a pressurized water inlet port, and a pressurized air inlet port, and including an anti-freeze liquid container having an inlet selectively connected with said pressurized air inlet port, and an outlet

12. connected with said system. 15. The apparatus of claim .[.14.]. .Iadd.12 .Iaddend.wherein the air selector valve has an alternate position in which the air inlet port is connected directly via one of said ports with said coolant system. .[.16. In combination with a vehicle internal combustion engine cooling system that includes a liquid coolant heat radiator, and liquid coolant pump, flushing apparatus comprising

(a) first means to combine a pressurized stream of air and a pressurized stream of water to produce a pressurized water flow containing air bubbles, and

(b) second means connected between said first means and said system to controllably and selectively feed said flow to at least three different

13. points of said system..]. .[.17. The method of flushing an internal combustion engine liquid cooling system, the system including a liquid coolant heat radiator and the engine having cooling passages, said method including

(a) providing a controlled pressurized flow of flushing liquid and entrained gas bubbles,

(b) and passing said flow alternately through

(i) the radiator in a reverse direction, independently of the engine coolant passages,

(ii) the engine coolant passages in a reverse direction, independently of the radiator,

(iii) the radiator in a forward direction, independently of the engine coolant passages,

(iv) the engine coolant passages in a forward direction, independently of the radiator..]. .[.18. The method of claim 17 including also passing the flow forwardly and reversely through a coolant pump and a heater, both of which are connected to said system..]. .Iadd. 19. For combination with an internal combustion engine cooling system that includes a liquid coolant heat radiator and a liquid coolant pump connected with coolant passages of an engine, and a heater having a liquid coolant passage connected with the engine coolant passages, flushing apparatus comprising:

(a) first means to produce a pressurized flow of flushing liquid and entrained gas bubbles,

(b) a series of flow ports selectively connectible to different points in said system, utilizing appropriate adaptors, the series including a first port selectively connectible to the radiator, a second port selectively connectible to the heater, and a third port selectively connectible to the coolant pump, and

(c) control means operable to direct said flow from said first means and via said ports in four separate modes, identified as follows;

(i) through the radiator in a reverse direction,

(ii) through the engine coolant passages in a reverse direction,

(iii) through the radiator in a forward direction,

(iv) through the engine coolant passages in a forward direction,

flow also passing through the heater in some of said modes, and

(d) said control means including a primary valve connected to receive said flow in the form of pressurized liquid and air bubbles, said valve having three outlets respectively connected with said first, second and third ports, there being a drain port, and said control means also including a secondary valve having three inlets respectively connected with said first, second and third ports, said secondary valve having a discharge port connected with the drain port, operation of said primary and secondary valves characterized as controlling said flow in said four separate modes. .Iaddend.