Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-05-15
Leung, Philip H. (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C123S14250R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232577
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heating engines and more specifically to an apparatus and method for heating cold cylinders, batteries, and oil sumps.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
At low temperatures it is often difficult to start internal combustion engines, due to reduced vaporization of fuel, thickened engine oil, reduced battery power, and frost formation on spark plugs. Further, starting an engine in cold weather can cause excessive wear and damage to its internal parts, because of poor oil flow. Wear and damage may also be caused by differing rates of expansion of mating parts made from dissimilar metals. For example, the aluminum pistons expand at a faster rate during startup than the steel cylinders do, which may cause the piston to scuff the cylinder wall.
A common method of preheating aircraft and other engines is to force heated air into an engine compartment. This method is inconvenient because it requires time consuming set-up. The equipment is also not small and light enough to be carried in the aircraft or vehicle. Using a combustion type heater as opposed to an electric heater may be unsafe due to the open flame which heats the forced air.
There are several patents directed at preheating engines. U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,707 to Tanis discloses a method of preheating air cooled aircraft engines by insertion of electric heating devices into blind holes in a cylinder head, normally provided for the reception of thermocouples. The drawback to this design is that the heating element and a thermocouple cannot be simultaneously inserted into the same blind hole. This invention cannot be installed in engines which have no thermocouple holes in the cylinder heads. U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,673 to Tanis discloses an aircraft intake pipe bolt heater. A drawback to both Tanis patents is that both designs directly heat the cylinder head, not the cylinder.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for an apparatus and method for heating cold engines which does not require extensive set-up, does not require extensive disassembly, does not require storage, but provides direct heating of the cylinder, battery, and oil sump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for heating cold engines which does not require extensive set-up, does not require extensive disassembly, does not require storage, but provides direct heating of the cylinder, battery, and oil sump.
According to the present invention, an apparatus for heating a cold engine includes a cylinder band heater, a battery heater, an oil sump heater, and a wiring harness. The cylinder band heater includes a heating element, a tightening device, and a cylinder electrical connector. The heating element includes a heating device and insulating layers. The heating device is preferably, a nichrome wire, or a resistive foil element. The nichrome wire is preferably wrapped around a carrier element such as a fiberglass cord. The heating device is sandwiched between first and second insulating layers. The insulating layers are preferably fabricated from silicone fiberglass cloth.
The tightening device is preferably a hose clamp, but could be any other type of tightening device which may be securely fastened around a cylinder. The heating element is attached to either the inside or outside of the tightening device with some type of adhesive. Preferably, the heating element is attached to the inside thereof for better heat transfer to the cylinder. The cylinder electrical connector includes a two pin connector, a first wire, and a second wire. The first wire is electrically connected to one pin of the two pin connector. The second wire is electrically connected to a second pin in the two pin connector. Each wire is electrically connected to each end of the heating device. All electrical connections are insulated. A thermostat may also be included in the wiring harness to monitor the temperature inside the engine compartment.
A battery heater includes a battery heater element, and a battery electrical connector. The heating element includes a heating device and insulating layers. The heating device is preferably, a nichrome wire or resistive foil element. The resistive foil element is formed by etching thereof from a copper pad, similar to etching runs on a circuit board. The heating device is sandwiched between first and second insulating layers. The insulating layers are preferably fabricated from silicone fiberglass cloth. The electrical connector includes a two pin connector, a first wire, and a second wire. The first wire is electrically connected to one pin of the two pin connector. The second wire is electrically connected to a second pin in the two pin connector. Each wire is electrically connected to each end of the heating device. All electrical connections are insulated. A thermostat is preferably included between the battery electrical connector and the heating element to keep the temperature relatively constant. The construction of oil sump heater is similar to the battery heater except that the oil sump heater has a higher wattage rating and the thermostat has a higher temperature range. The oil sump heater is attached to a bottom of an oil sump.
A second embodiment of a cylinder band heater utilizes a pair of extension tabs attached to each end of a flexible heating element. A third embodiment of a cylinder band heater utilizes a resilient clamp with a flexible heating element preferably attached to an inside thereof. A fourth embodiment of a cylinder band heater utilizes a tubular type heater which is formed into a circular shape with a pair of turned-up ends. The turned-up ends are pulled against each other with a screw, spring, or any other suitable clamping device. A fifth embodiment of a cylinder band heater utilizes a commercially available band heater. A sixth embodiment of a cylinder band heater utilizes a locking tie (similar to a nylon locking or bundling tie) with a heating element attached thereto.
The wiring harness includes at least one wiring harness connector and a power cord. Each wiring harness connector has two pins. Each pin has a wire attached thereto. The length of the wires connected to each wiring harness connector is dependent upon the position of heating element in the engine compartment. The first wires are connected in parallel and the second wires are connected in parallel.
The apparatus for heating cold engines is installed in the following manner. At least one cylinder band heater is attached to a cylinder. Preferably, the cylinder band heater is attached to the non-heat sink area of the cylinder. The cylinder electrical connector is plugged into the mating wiring harness connector. If a battery heater is used, the battery heater is placed near the battery to heat thereof. The battery electrical connector is plugged into the mating wiring harness connector. If an oil sump heater is used, it is attached to an oil sump with any suitable adhesive. The plug of the wiring harness is plugged into an extension cord and the extension cord plugged into a power source.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which has a heating element for warming a cylinder in cold weather.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which has a heating element for warming a battery in cold weather.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which has a heating element for warming an oil sump in cold weather.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which does not require extensive set-up.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which does not require extensive disassembly.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a cold engine which does not
Ersler Donald J.
Leung Philip H.
Robinson Daniel
LandOfFree
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