Internal-combustion engines – Cooling – System drained and/or heat-storing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-20
2003-06-03
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Cooling
System drained and/or heat-storing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06571753
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an engine coolant draining system of a marine engine and, more particularly, to the use of a unidirectional air valve as a passive air vent to allow air to flow into a coolant conduit when a liquid coolant is being drained from the cooling system of the engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different systems are known to those skilled in the art for draining or flushing marine engine cooling systems. In addition, various types of unidirectional valves are known to those skilled: in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,064, which issued to Logan et al on Oct. 24, 2000, discloses an engine drain system. An engine cooling system is provided with a manifold that is located below the lowest point of the cooling system of the engine. The manifold is connected to the cooling system of the engine, a water pump, a circulation pump, the exhaust manifolds of the engine, and a drain conduit through all of the water can be drained from the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,965, which issued to Biggs et al on Feb. 5, 2002, discloses a pneumatically actuated marine engine water drain system. A drain system for a marine vessel is provided which includes one or more pressure actuated valves associated with the coolant water drain system. The boat operator is provided with a pressure controller that allows pressure to be introduced into the system for the purpose of actuating the drain valves and, as a result, opening various drain conduits to allow cooling water to drain from the engine cooling system into the bilge or overboard.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,867, which issued to Shields et al on Apr. 18, 2000, discloses a drain system for a marine vessel. The drain system is provided for a marine vessel in which three types of drain operations can be performed at one common location near the transom of the marine vessel. A multiple conduit structure is provided with a plurality of fluid passages extending at least partially through its structure. A first fluid passage allows the bilge of the boat to be drained. A second fluid passage allows multiple locations on the engine to be drained through a common port. A second sealing plug is provided to close the second passageway that prevents fluid communication between the various fluid conduits used to drain the cooling water of the engine. A third fluid passage is provided through the multiple conduit structure to allow lubricating oil to be drained from the engine. A single hole through the transom of a boat is all that is required to allow the multiple conduit structure to be attached to the boat and extend through the transom for the purpose of draining the bilge, the engine cooling water, and the engine lubricating fluid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,211, which issued to Woodnorth et al on Aug. 31, 1999, describes a container system including an air evacuation valve. The container system includes a one-piece, one-way valve. The container system can be evacuated by pressing the lid, thereby forcing air out of the one-way valve. The one-way valve does not allow air to enter the container system. The one-way valve includes an interface or release which allows air to enter the container system when the interface is pressed. The one-way valve is preferably an umbrella-shaped valve made of silicone or plastic.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,609, which issued to Schmidt on Apr. 13, 1999, describes an air pumping system for an automotive seat. An inflatable lumbar support system for a vehicle seat includes an inflatable air cell, or cells, coupled by an air line to a motorized diaphragm pump. The outlet valve of the pump is in the form of an umbrella valve which serves not only to seal the pump on the intake strokes, but is of such character to provide the sole seal between the air cell and pump, thereby eliminating the need to have a separate external check valve between the pump and air cell to assure that the air cell does not leak once pressurized.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,554, which issued to Kuhnel et al on Oct. 27, 1998, describes pressure relief means for a thin wall air intake pipe for an internal combustion engine. The valve is installed in an opening provided in a thin wall of an air intake pipe, which supplies combustion air from a flow control device to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, to relieve excess pressure in the pipe. The valve includes a socket connected to a segment of the air intake pipe, and an elastomer, umbrella valve member is supported in the socket to normally cover the opening in the pipe and to undergo deformation when the pressure in the pipe reaches a predetermined value to uncover the opening and to connect the interior of the pipe to the ambient atmosphere.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,430, which issued to Gruber on Oct. 6, 1998, describes a fuel tank vent valve for heaters. A jerrycan holds liquid fuel. A cap for the jerrycan includes an air vent valve assembly having an umbrella-shaped check valve. The check valve is sensitive to a pressure differential between an interior of the jerrycan and the atmosphere. As fuel is dispensed from the jerrycan, a volume of an air chamber within the jerrycan increases, thereby decreasing the pressure in the jerrycan and creating a vacuum. The vacuum causes the rate at which fuel is dispensed from the jerrycan to decrease. The check valve dislodges when the pressure within the jerrycan becomes less than the pressure of the atmosphere and additional air is introduced into the jerrycan. The air fills the expanded volume of the air chamber, thereby increasing the pressure, eliminating the vacuum and causing the rate at which fuel is dispensed to increase.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,033, which issued to Adahan on Dec. 22, 1992, describes a one-way umbrella valve and portable fluid pumping device including same. The portable fluid pumping device includes a valve assembly having a pair of one-way umbrella valves controlling the flow of air to produce a positive pressure at one port and a negative pressure at another port. Each umbrella valve includes a valve stem having a neck received within the mounting opening, and an umbrella skirt integrally joined to the neck to overlie the valve opening. The umbrella skirt is relatively thin for its complete extent, and the juncture between the umbrella skirt and neck of the valve stem is of frusto-conical configuration increasing in diameter from the neck to the umbrella skirt.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,784, which issued to Farrand et al on Apr. 30, 1985, describes a check valve assembly. The assembly is disclosed having a valve chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port. An elastomeric umbrella valve is contained in the chamber between the ports and is attached by an integral stem in a preloaded condition to normally close the inlet port and be deflectable in response to differential fluid pressure acting in one direction to open same to permit forward fluid flow there through past the valve and through the chamber to the outlet port. An inwardly projecting retention arrangement formed in the chamber retains the valve in operational relationship with the inlet port in the event the valve becomes unattached so that any backward flow from the outlet port still forces closure of the valve on same. A bypass channel arrangement also formed in the chamber maintains forward fluid flow past the valve to the outlet port in the event the valve becomes unattached.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.
It would be significantly beneficial if a draining system for a marine engine could be provided with a device that inhibits the creation of a vacuum within the cooling system when coolant is drained from the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An engine coolant draining system, made in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises an internal combustion engine and a coolant conduit disposed at least partially in thermal communication with heat producing portions of the internal combustion engine.
Brunswick Corporation
Kamen Noah P.
Lanyi William D.
LandOfFree
Passive air vent for a marine engine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Passive air vent for a marine engine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Passive air vent for a marine engine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3148600