US2838648A - Engine heating device - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1958 R. LADUE 2,838,648

ENGINE HEATING DEVICE Filed Dec'. 21, 1956 INVENTOR. Roazxr 1.4005

United States Patent ENGINE HEATING DEVICE Robert Ladue, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application December 21, 1956, Serial No. 629,822

2 Claims. (Cl. 219-38) This invention relates to an engine heater. More specifically this invention has to do with a heater to be attached to the crankcase of an engine.

It is particularly desirable to have an engine heater in connection with the use of winter motorized equipment, such as tractors and other machinery used for snow removal. This equipment is generally stored in an unheated enclosure or out of doors when not in use. Frigid temperatures congeal the oil in the crankcase and stiffen the grease in the engine bearings. It is difiicult to start a motor under such conditions and the congealed oil and stiffened grease place an unusual strain and unusual wear on various parts of the engine. Moreover there is a considerable warmup period required before enough heat is generated to heat the oil and grease for eflicient operation of the engine. An engine heater is desirable therefore which will warm up the oil in the crankcase and the grease in the engine bearings whereby there may be instant starting available and immediate eflicient operation of the engine. It is desirable to have such a heater which may be activated from a remote point prior to the desired time of usage of the affected equipment.

It is an object of applicants invention to provide an engine heater, and such a heater as is herein disclosed has been successfully used with Gravely equipment.

It is another object of this invention to provide an engine heater comprising a member adapted to overlie a portion of the crankcase of an engine and be secured thereto and have therein an electrical heating element.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an engine heater comprising a convex concavo member adapted to overlie a portion of a crankcase having means for being secured to said crankcase and having therein an electrical heating element with an electrical contact connected to said element and extending outwardly of said member.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an engine heater comprising a member substantially rectangular in plan and convex concavo in form adapted to fit over a portion of a crankcase having a pair of spaced apertured lugs extending outwardly therefrom to be secured to said crankcase and a recess in said member with an electrical heating element disposed in said recess, a cover plate over said element and an electrical contact connected to said element and extending outwardly of said member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing applicants device in operating position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of applicants device with a part thereof shown in dotted line;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of one end portion of applicants device; and

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, an embodiment of applicants engine heater is shown comprising a body member 10 having an inner side 11 and an outer side 12. Said member 10 may be variously formed but is here illustrated as being substantially rectangular in plan and convex concave in form. Said member 10 is here shown in operating position adapted to fit over a portion of a crankcase 14. Said member 10 may be made of various materials, but in the present embodiment it has been found desirable to make it of cast aluminum. A shallow groove 13 is formed transversely of said side 11 to make said side conform to said crankcase 14 and make allowance for a rib structure shown in said crankcase.

in the present embodiment said member 10 is secured to said crankcase 14 by spaced apertured lugs 15 extending outwardly at right angles from the upper end portion of said member 10 and overlying an edge portion of said crankcase. Screws 16 extend through said apertured lugs and are threaded into said crankcase.

A recess 21 is formed in said outer side 12. Said recess is of sufficient depth to receive therein an electrical heat ing element 22 and having a somewhat greater depth at one end to accommodate the electrical contacts 26 at one end of said heating element. Various forms of heating elements may be used. A commonly used type is here shown formed as a pair of joined corrugated plates of which only one is shown in section in Fig. 4 and having insulators 22a at either side thereof. Said heating element will be adapted to be activated by electrical current such as in common household use and may be connected to a source of such current by an ordinary appliance cord, such as an electric iron cord. A cover plate 24 overlies said heating element 22 and is secured to said member 1-3 by screws 25 adjacent the edge portion of said side 12. Said electrical contacts 26 extend through said plate 24 having hub portions 26a adjacent the outer side of said plate and will extend through said heating element to make contact. Said heating element 22 is shown secured to said contacts by lock nuts 28. Insulating washers 29 are used to insulate said contacts as illustrated. The outwardly extending portions of said contacts 26 will be connected to a source of electrical current by an appliance cord.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simply constructed engine heater adapted to be very easily secured to a crankcase and activated by the use of an ordinary appliance cord, such as an electric iron cord, and it may be attached to any available source of electrical current. Said engine heater is in commercial production and has proved to be very efficient in use under severe winter weatherconditions.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro portions of the parts, Without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for a small tractor constituting a heating device for ready starting having in combination with a motor of said tractor having a crankcase with a substantially cylindrical surface at its lower side, a plate member having a curved surface at one side fitting about said lower side, said plate having lugs at each side thereof at one end extending at right angles to said plate and engaging the side of said crankcase, said crankcase having bolts extending through said lugs into the side of said crankcase body for securing said plate to said crankcase, said plate having a chamber therein, an electrical heating element in said chamber, a pair of electrodes for said heating element projecting from the bottom of said plate, and a removable cover plate secured to said plate and forming a closure for said chamber, said bolts and electrodes being very accessible at one end of said motor and tractor.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said plate being substantially rectangular in plan, plate-like insulating members at each side of said heating element, said electrodes being secured to said cover plate and being removable with said cover plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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