Combined radiator cap and pressure relief valve

July 2, 1935. a. l. swank 2,006,752

COMBINED RADIATOR CAP AND PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE Filed Nov. 8, 1933

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INVENTOR

Artkto’TS warz/c

ATTORNEYS

Patented July 2, 1935

2,006,752

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,006,752

COMBINED RADIATOR CAP AND PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

Arthur L. Swank, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 8, 1933, Serial No. 697,219

The invention relates to radiator caps of that type having associated therewith a pressure relief valve normally functioning to prevent discharge of water through the overflow pipe. It 5 is the object of the present invention to obtain an exceedingly simple and inexpensive construction having various advantageous features and to this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

«η¹?^-..^{1 a vertical} central section through the nil tube of a radiator showing my improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the man15 ner of relieving pressure before removal of the cs>p ΐ

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3__3 of Fig. 2.

In the present state of the art various constructions of combined radiator cap and pressure re20 lief valve have been devised which, however, are complex in construction and expensive to manufacture, in comparison with the ordinary plain cap. It is the primary purpose of my invention to avoid such complexity and increase in cost 25 while at the same time to obtain an exceedingly efficient device for normally holding the water m the radiator without danger of over pressure and for insuring complete relief of pressure prior to the detachment and removal of the cap. As 30 illustrated, A is the upper portion of a radiator of any suitable construction and B is the fill tube at the upper end thereof. This tube is formed with a cupped flange C terminating in a conical flange D which surrounds a central opening E 35 into the radiator. The overflow pipe F extends upward from the radiator through the flange C terminating a short distance below the upper end of the tube B. F' is a cap for the tube B having an internally threaded flange F² for en40 gaging a correspondingly threaded portion on the tube. G is a valve disk having a conical flange G' adapted to seat upon the flange D so as to shut off communication between the radiator header and the space within the tube B.

The valve G.is permanently attached to the cap F through the medium of a coil spring H which abuts against and is secured to cupped members I and 1' at its opposite ends, these being respectively riveted or otherwise secured to the 50 cap F' and valve disk G. The coil spring H is of such dimensions that when the threaded flange F² of the cap is first engaged with the threaded end of the tube B, the valve G will be separated from the seat D. However, in screwing the 55 flange F² downward upon the tube . the valve (Cl. 220—24) will first come in contact with the seat D and then in the further screwing down of the cap will be revolved on the seat while the spring H will be placed under compression. Thus when the cap is in normal position the tension of the 5 spring will be sufficient to prevent the unseating of the valve during normal operation of the car. If, however, excess pressure should develop within the radiator, this will overcome the spring tension, forcing the valve from its seat and per- 10 mitting escape of pressure through the overflow tube F.

One very important feature of my construction is that in removing the cap all pressure is relieved by the withdrawal of the valve from 15 its seat, this taking place before the cap becomes detached from the fill tube B. This is due to the proportion of the spring which as above stated holds the valve spaced from its seat when the cap is first engaged with the 20 threads of the tube and also before the cap can be disengaged from the tube. Another important advantage of my construction is that after the valve contacts with its seat it is revolved in relation thereto, thereby producing a grinding 25 action which insures effective sealing. This operation takes place every time the cap is screwed down and while it is being removed so that at all times the valve is maintained operative and any sediment or corrosion on either the valve or 30 its seat will be quickly removed.

For anchoring the spring to the cups I and Γ, a portion of the flange of each is cut at J and a tongue K is bent around and clinched with the end coil of the spring. These cups are secured by 35 rivets L. Thus the entire structure is one which can be easily manufactured and assembled and at a relatively low cost.