Automatic by-pass safety cooling system for fire pump engines

An automatic by-pass safety cooling system for a stationary internal combustion engine installation, said engine having a cooling jacket through which a coolant circulates and the coolant's heat is discharged in a water cooled heat exchanger, said system comprising:

• a) a metal by-pass block having a generally rectangular configuration, said block having a centrally located water supply channel longitudinally extending through said block;
• b) said channel having a water inlet at one end of said block and a water outlet at the other;
• c) at least one passageway formed in said block, each passageway being generally parallel to and in communication with said channel through valve means at each end thereof, each passageway having a valve with drive means associated therewith;
• one passageway being designated the automatic by-pass channel and the other designated the primary water cooling channel;
• d) a control panel located on one side of said block having a recording hour meter associated therewith;
• e) sensing means associated with said jacket for detecting the temperature of said coolant;
• f) switch means in communication with said sensing means and being responsive to pre-set temperature levels;
• g) a manually operated valve for controlling closing the primary cooling passageway and diverting water flow to the said channel;
• and
• h) an automatic solenoid valve solely responsive to the block control panel hour meter switch means at pre-set levels to open flow through said automatic by-pass channel whereby upon a signal from the engine jacket sensor the hour meter switch actuates said automotive solenoid valve to send cooling water through said primary cooling channel.