Locking radiator cap
OwnerJohn Giordanoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermally locking radiator cap for fitting on the filler neck flange of an automotive radiator, which prevents the radiator cap from becoming detached from the filler neck flange when the radiator is hot. The cap uses a bi-metallic strip captured on the top surface of the radiator cap and having an end which goes through the opening of the radiator cap and engages the filler neck flange to lock the cap in place. Colors are placed on the bi-metallic strip adjacent to a window at the top of the radiator cap so that when the bi-metallic strip moves as a result of expansion, the colors change to indicate that the cap is either locked or free.
Claims6
A thermally locking radiator cap for coupling to the filler neck flange of a conventional radiator wherein the filler neck flange is formed with diametrically opposite, radially-open opening notches for receiving the inwardly bent radial fingers of a radiator cap comprising;
- thermally responsive stop means disposed on a surface of the radiator cap and in thermal communication with the cap, said stop means having one end secured to said cap and its opposite end disposed along the peripheral edge of the cap;
- an opening formed along the outer periphery of said radiator cap for receiving said thermally responsive stop means so that when radiator heats up, said stop means will expand and pass through the opening formed in the periphery of the radiator cap and pass into a corresponding opening notch of the filler neck flange thereby preventing any rotational movement of the cap with respect to the filler neck;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.