Head gasket leak detector
OwnerBuford L. Kellyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The radiator filler cap of a conventional internal combustion engine is replaced by an upwardly open tubular device having an adapter at its lower end to fit the radiator filler opening and seal off the radiator vent opening associated therewith. Liquid is added to the device to cause an indicator to float therein, and combustion gases escaping through the faulty head gasket will cause the indicator to vibrate when the engine is rotated. Each engine cylinder is vented in turn, by a tool acting on the valve operating mechanism to permit the observer to note when the vibrating indicator becomes stationary, indicating that the cylinder with the faulty head gasket has been isolated.
Claims11
A head gasket leak detector for isolating that cylinder, in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the liquid cooled type, having a blown head gasket, said detector comprising at least one adapter having one end adapted to fit snugly in the filler opening of a liquid filled radiator associated with the engine having a suspected head gasket leak, said adapter replacing the conventional radiator cap and sealing off the radiator vent opening, said adapter having an opposite end with a diameter of predetermined size, a hollow tubular housing snugly received on said opposite adapter end for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid in communication with the liquid in said radiator, an elongated indicator member having a float at its lower end and having an upper indicator end above said housing, and means inside said tubular housing for slidably receiving said indicator member and permitting limited axial vertical floating movement thereof in response to gases escaping upwardly out of the radiator and through the liquid in said housing, and manually operable means for engaging the valve operating mechanism for each cylinder of the engine to permit venting each compression chamber in turn, thereby to provide a visual indication of which chamber is causing the escapement of compressed gases into the cooling system.
A method for isolating that cylinder, in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the liquid cooled type, having a blown head gasket, said method comprising:
- a. removing the filler cap on the radiator filler opening,
- b. removing the engine valve covering,
- c. inserting an adaptor in said filler opening, said adapter having a reservoir defining structure associated therewith and an indicator device movably mounted therein,
- d. filling said reservoir with liquid to a level such that the indicator floats freely therein,
- e. operating the engine to compress gases in the various cylinders, thereby forcing gas to escape through the blown head gasket into the engine cooling system and cause movement of the indicator.
A head gasket leak detector for an engine cooling system, comprising at least one adapter having one end adapted to fit snugly in the filler opening of a liquid filled radiator associated with the engine having a suspected leak, said adapter replacing the conventional radiator cap and sealing off the radiator vent opening, said adapter having an opposite end with a diameter of predetermined size, a hollow tubular housing snugly received on said opposite adapter end for receiving a predetermined quantity of liquid in communication with the liquid in said radiator, an elongated indicator member having a float at its lower end and having an upper indicator end above said housing, and means inside said tubular housing for slidably receiving said indicator member and permitting limited axial vertical floating movement thereof in response to gases escaping upwardly out of the radiator and through the liquid in said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.