Abstract:
A personal watercraft comprises an engine which is mounted in a body of the watercraft and is equipped with an open-loop water cooling system; a coolant passage in which water for cooling the engine flows; a water flow generator configured to operate in association with the engine to generate a water flow in the coolant passage; and a valve unit configured to restrict a flow of the water in the coolant passage.
Abstract:
An automatic heat exchanger flushing and maintenance system includes a heat exchanger having coolant circulation passages and raw water circulation passages disposed in thermal contact with the coolant circulation passages, an engine disposed in fluid communication with the coolant circulation passages, a raw water inlet conduit disposed in fluid communication with the raw water circulation passages of the heat exchanger, a flush fluid supply disposed in fluid communication with the raw water circulation passages of the heat exchanger, at least one flush fluid valve disposed between the flush fluid supply and the raw water circulation passages of the heat exchanger and a valve controller disposed in communication with the at least one flush fluid valve and operable to open and close the at least one flush fluid valve.
Abstract:
A coolant sensor doubles as a bleed valve for purging trapped air from a cooling system. The sensor slides into a port placing a sensor element in contact with the coolant. The sensor includes a pair of encircling o-rings for sealing the system from atmosphere in one position and permitting bleeding in a second position. The bleed channel is in the sensor port between the o-rings. The sensor is moved so the innermost o-ring clears the narrow opening into the cooling system. The outermost o-ring maintains a seal to keep the coolant from leaking out of the sensor port. The sensor is held in either position by a horseshoe clip or by a bayonet arrangement, the horseshoe clip arrangement including multiple apertures for each position, the bayonet having a position to provide for safe bleeding of air from the cooling system without completely removing the sensor from its retention port.
Abstract:
A method of replacing fluid in an automotive system requires interconnecting a radiator fill port of the radiator with a first external tank through a closed control valve, disconnecting an upper hose from an upper radiator port and reconnecting the upper hose to a second external tank containing a replacement fluid. The system is sealed so that fluids are constrained for movement only within and between the engine, radiator and external tanks through the various hoses. When a pressure differential is applied within the system, fluid is forced from the automotive system into the first external tank, while automatically refilling the automotive system with the replacement fluid from the second external tank.
Abstract:
An engine cooling system liquid insertion and removal system has an adapter disposed in a vehicle radiator service opening via which old coolant is removed from the engine system by partial vacuum applied to an old coolant container via a conduit. New coolant is introduced via the adapter by atmospheric pressure from a portable container. Conduits interconnect the engine cooling system, the old and new coolant containers, and a source of partial vacuum applied to conduits.
Abstract:
A coolant additive composition comprising a sustained release component and an additive component, the additive component is effective to provide at least one benefit to a coolant when released into the coolant, the sustained release component includes a polymeric material and is effective to reduce the rate of release of the additive component into the coolant relative to an identical composition without the sustained release component.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for removing fluid from a fluid system. The method or apparatus can include a pressure-reducing source to facilitate fluid removal. The system can be an engine cooling system or other fluid system.
Abstract:
A self-piercing radiator drain valve which is implemented in a radiator requiring the coolant therein to be drained, particularly a radiator having no integrated drain valve. A radiator foot has a blind bore. A self-piercing valve body including a piercing tip and a resilient seal is threadingly driven into the blind bore to cause the piercing tip to penetrate the bore end wall and enter into a coolant reservoir tank, thereby providing a valve orifice for draining the tank. The seal provides coolant tight sealing with respect to the valve orifice for the remaining life of the radiator. At any time in the future, coolant draining and refilling can again be performed by unthreading and then rethreading the self-piercing valve with respect to the blind bore, as recounted.
Abstract:
The coolant changer machine is a device for transferring radiator coolant fluids, including new, used, and detergent fluids, between storage tanks and an internal combustion engine cooling system. When a vacuum is applied at the radiator cap, fluid is returned to the storage tank, and if the cooling system is hot enough, the fluid will boil can be removed. When air pressure is applied to the top of the storage tank, fluid will flow out of the tank, through the control system and into the engine cooling system. The control system allows for filling the radiator at the cap opening or through the thermostat. The control also allows for circulation through the engine cooling system when the engine thermostat is open to allow complete mixing of flush detergent at elevated temperatures to thereby improve flush performance.
Abstract:
A method of repairing a coolant system associated with an engine for a vehicle, including disconnecting a gooseneck connected to the engine and removing from the engine its thermostat; disconnecting a bottom radiator hose connected to the engine and flushing the engine with water; reconnecting the bottom radiator hose and reconnecting the gooseneck; refilling the engine's radiator with an antifreeze solution; opening a drain valve on the radiator and allowing a predetermined amount of coolant to drain out of the engine corresponding to a volume of a treatment composition to be added, starting the engine when the engine is cold, and turning on the engine's heater; adding the composition to the radiator of the engine while the engine is cold and idling; running the engine until the composition causes leakage and/or vapor in the engine's exhaust stream is substantially stopped; and stopping the engine and allowing the engine to cool.