Engine cooling system flushing apparatus and method

Abstract

An internal combustion engine cooling system that includes a liquid coolant radiator, engine coolant passages and a liquid coolant passing heater 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 and heater in a reverse direction,

(iii) the radiator in a forward direction,

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

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to flushing of internal combustion engine liquid cooling systems; more particularly, it concerns an air pressure assisted flushing of such systems wherein air bubbles entrained in flushing liquid act to efficiently scavenge or scrub scale and rust from coolant passages.

Studies show that over-heating is a major cause of vehicle breakdowns on highways. Engine cooling systems must operate efficiently at all times to avoid costly repairs that result from excessive temperature. In this regard, cooling systems contaminated by rust, scale build-up and sludge cannot provide adequate heat transfer and cooling system efficiency; in addition, thermostats fail to open, hoses deteriorate, impellers bind or break-off, and engine blocks can become distorted or crack. Accordingly, there is a need for efficient engine cooling system flushing methods and apparatus; however, those with which we are familiar lack the unusually advantageous combinations of structure, modes of operation and results as are now afforded by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the present invention to provide flushing procedure and apparatus characterized as overcoming the problems discussed above and the disadvantages of prior flushing techniques. Basically, the invention employs the combined forces of controlled pressurized water and air turbulence to effect efficient flushing and cleaning of internal combustion engine liquid cooling systems including both the horizontal and vertical flow types. Universal hookup adaptors are provided for this purpose. The fundamental method employs steps that include:

(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 the cooling system drain cycle, which may be used as needed in certain vehicles to allow forReferring again to FIG. 4, evacuation of the cooling system may be achieved by turning water-in valve 36 (primary valve) to "OFF" position (thereby providing no fresh water flow to the cooling system), and by turning the air selector valve 46 to "DRAIN" position. Under these conditions, air flows from valve 46 to line 62, to line 19b and to the heater. Concurrently, there is no flow from valve 46 to line 43a, or from valve 36 to line 55.

Claims

1. For combination with an internal combustion engine cooling system that includes a liquid coolant heat radiator and a liquid coolant pump, 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 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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 19 including a console carrying

said first means, ports and control means. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 2 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 first, second and third ports

are located along the lower portion of said console. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 19 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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

The apparatus of claim 1 19 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

connected with said system. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 12 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

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.

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.