US1704244A - Device for indicating temperature conditions - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1929. A. w. FRANKLIN 1,704,244

DEVICE FOR INDICATING TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS Filed Aug. 1928 avwembcz Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES ALBERT W. FRANKLIN, OF NEW YORK, N.

DEVICE FOR INDICATING TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS Application med August a, 1928. sci-m ms. 298,228.

This invention relates in general to a device for indicating temperature conditions which is particularly adaptable for use on automobile radiators.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device for indicating temperature conditions of the above nature which is exceedingly simple in construction and which is rigidly constructed for dependable operation.

A still further object of this lnventlon is to provide a device for indicating temperature conditions in automobile radiators which is entirely embodied within the rad1 'ator cap without projecting above or below the limiting planes which define the top and bottom of the radiator cap.

A still further object of this inventlon 1s to provide a device of this nature which has an indicator operated by a bi-metal element. A still further object of this invent on contemplates a device of this nature which being exceedingly simple in construction, 1s adapted to read manufacturein large quantities at a very ow cost. 7

These and other objects as will appear from the following disclosure are sought by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts all as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device with the enclosing plate partially broken away to show the interior thereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional VlGW' taken onthe line 4- -4 of 2.

Devices employed heretofore in this art for indicating temperature conditions in automobile radiators have been termed motolneters. In devices of this nature now available, it has been the practice to support the structure on the radiator cap with portions thereof projecting above and below the upper and lower surfaces of the cap.

The portion projecting below the cap extended into the radiator so as to be subjected to the temperature conditions therein, while the portion extending above the cap gave a visible indication of these temperature conditions. Such a device is not only installed from adecorative view point but is also in the nature of its construction subject to injury and breakage. At the same time, such devices are relatively expensive to make.

The device of this invention is of such a simple nature as to make it cheap to m'anufacture. tion neat in appearance and tends to improve the'app'earance of cars to which it is a plied. The most important feature of t e invention is the fact that all the operative elements thereof are enclosed within the radiator cap so that there are no projections above and-below the cap. These parts are sealed within the capso that no moisture may get at them and as a result there is no tendency for the device to get out of order, because of corrosion and the like. In the device the essential parts consist of an indicator controlled by a bi-metal element which hasthe two functions of holding the indicator innon-indicating position under normal temperature conditions and moving the indicator into indicating osition .upon the development. of abnormal temperature conditions.

Reference is now made tothe drawings in which the device is shown comprising a relatively flat cup shape radiator cap 1, provided with an arcuate opening 2. Thls opening is covered with any suitable transparent material 3 through which the indicator device may be used. A ortion of the cap 1 is internally threaded be secured to the radiator in the usual andv well known manner.

A plate 5 is-used to provide a closed chamber 6 in cooperation with the cup shape portion of the cap and is held in place by means of screws. The operative parts of the device are held within the chamber thus formed which chamber is completely closed by reaas at 4 so that it may It is also by reason of its construcson of the air tight connection between the cap and the plate." Secured to the plate 5 so as to be within chamber 6 is a short post 7 on which is mounted a bi-metal element 8. As is well known, the bi-metal element mere- 1y consistsof two metals of different temperature coefficient-s rigidly secured together so that they distort when heated due to the unequal expansion of the different metals. The bi-metal element 8 is provided with three U-shape portions 15, 16 and 17 for the purpose of magnifying the effect of the distortion of the bi-metal element, and to to: duce a spring action as will be described later pivotal y mounted on the plate 10 which is secured to plate 5, is an arm 11 having an arcuate portion extending at an angle thereto as shown at 12. These parts are arranged so that as arm 11 swings in a counter clockwise direction, Fig. 3, the indicator portion 12 moves in front of window 2 an amount depending upon the temperatureconditions eing registered. The surface of the indicator 12 which appears through the opening 2 may be painted in the arm 11 is against pin 13 the indicator h 12 is wholly exposed through the opening and indicates abnormal or dangerous temperature conditions.

It is of course apparent that the device ma be callibrated so that dangerous conditions are indicated before the indicator 12 is wholly exposed as for instance when it is only one-half exposed. Besides havin the function of controlling the movement 0 arm 11 and indicator 12 under var ing temperature conditions, the bi-metal e ement 11 also operates to hold the arm 11 against stop pin 14 under low temperature conditions or nonindicating position.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparent that this device is exceedin ly novel and embodies valuable and practica le principles of operation and construction.

I am well aware that many changes in the details of construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily occur to those skilled in this art and I do not therefore desire tobe particularly limited to the features of construction as set forth for purposes of illustration but rather to the principles of construction and, operation as set forth in the appended claims.

I wish to point out that although this device has been disclosed as applied to an automobile radiator, it is of course'apparent that it is applicable to any mechanism subjected to temperature changes in which it is desired to have an indication thereof.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is: a

1. In a radiator cap ofthe type described the combination comprising a cup shaped member, a detachable wall therefor to provide a closed chamber,-said cup shape member having an opening therein which is closed by a transparent element, an indi-- cator within said chamber and means within the chamber and connected to the indicator element for moving it under changes in temperature sons to render it more or less visible through. said opening dependent upon temperature conditions.

2. In a radiator cap-of the type described, a fiat container having an opening therein covered by a transparent element, a mov able indicator element within the container, heat influenced means connected to said movable indicator element for rendering it more or less visible through said opening dependingu n the temperature conditions to which t e heat influenced element is subjected, said indicator element and said heat influenced means lying wholly within said flat container. I i

3. In a'radiator cap of the type described, the combination comprising a flat container having an opening therein, said container aving means for securing it to a radiator, an indicator arm mo'vably supported'within the container and a bi-lnetal member within the container and operatively connected to said arm to move it into and out of alignment with said'opening under varying temperature conditions, to saidindicator element and bi-metal member lying wholly i within saidfiat container.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination comprising a flat radiator cap having an opening therein closed by a transparent wall, a removable plate for forming a closed chamber with said cap, an arm pivotally supported on said plate within said chamber so as to be adapted for movement into and, out of alignment with said opening and a bi-metal element within said cap and operatively connected to said arm for changing its position with respect to said opening depending upon the temperature conditions withinv the radiator to which the cap is to be applied, said himetal element also acting to resiliently hold -sa1d arm out of alignment with said opening under ordinary temperature conditions, all of the operating parts lying entirely between the cap and plate.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination with a fiat radiator cap having an opening therein and a plate detachably secured within said cap to form a closed chamber,of means within the chamber for giving a visible indication through said opening of the temperature conditions within the radiator to which a cap is to be applied, the vertical extent of the complete de- .-vice being' defined by the top yof the radiator cap and the lower edgetherejof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 2nd day of August, A. D.

ALBERT W. FRANKLIN.

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