Radiator cap

Abstract

To provide a radiator cap that operates stably.SOLUTION: A top cover unit 1 closes a radiator opening by including a cover body 11, a stem 12, and a plurality of positioning members 13. A washer 16 surrounds the stem 12. An intermediate sheet unit 2 includes a connect tube 21 and a connect sheet 22 that are connected to each other. An output valve unit 3 includes a valve sheet 31 connected to the connect sheet 22, and the valve sheet 31 includes a plurality of hook parts that engage with respective guide grooves of the connect sheet 22. A valve disc 33 is connected to the valve sheet 31, and a first spring 35 is connected to and provided between the valve sheet 31 and the connect sheet 22. An input valve unit 4 includes a pin rod 41 and a second spring 42 that connects the pin rod 41 to the valve disc 33 to close a valve hole 314.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap, and more particularly to a radiator cap suitable for attachment to the radiator opening of an automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of an existing radiator cap is that described in Patent Document 1. This radiator cap is adapted to be attached to the main radiator of an automobile. The main radiator has a radiator opening formed in its upper portion. This existing radiator cap includes an upper cover, a valve seat, a first spring, a pin rod, and a second spring. The upper cover is fixed to the radiator opening. The valve seat is disposed below the upper cover and closes the radiator opening. The first spring is connected between the upper cover and the valve seat. The pin rod extends through the valve seat. The second spring is connected between the valve seat and the pin rod.

[0003] During use, when the temperature in the main radiator rises, the liquid in the main radiator becomes pressurized, pushing and displacing the valve seat, and flows to the auxiliary radiator. At this time, the first spring generates a spring force. When the liquid is depressurized, the spring force of the first spring returns the valve seat. When negative pressure is created in the main radiator and the pin rod is pulled back, the liquid in the auxiliary radiator flows to the main radiator, and the second spring generates a spring force. As long as the pulling force on the pin rod is smaller than the spring force of the second spring, the spring force of the second spring returns the pin rod.

[0004] With this existing radiator cap, if the valve seat becomes unstable in closing the radiator opening, fluid leakage or spillage may occur, potentially adversely affecting the vehicle's driving safety. Furthermore, because the valve seat and upper cover are connected only by the first spring, the valve seat can move freely relative to the upper cover. Therefore, with existing radiator caps with this configuration, the valve seat can easily tilt during installation or operation, resulting in inaccurate and insufficient closure of the radiator opening. Furthermore, because the upper cover is made of metal, surface treatment of the upper cover is required, which can easily cause environmental pollution. Therefore, existing radiator caps have room for improvement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Taiwan Utility Model Registration No. 383697 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a radiator cap that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a radiator cap having a central axis and applicable to a radiator opening, the radiator cap includes a top cover unit, an intermediate seat unit located below the top cover unit and connected to the top cover unit, an output valve unit connected to a lower portion of the intermediate seat unit, and an input valve unit connected to the output valve unit so as to be movable relative to the output valve unit along the central axis, The top cover unit is a cover body adapted to rotatably cover the radiator opening; a stem extending downward from the cover body along the central axis; two positioning members that protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the cover body toward the central axis so as to be located on opposite sides of the central axis and that are suitable for being fixed to the radiator opening; a washer disposed within the cover body so as to surround the stem; The intermediate sheet unit is a connect tube attached to the stem and extending along the central axis; a connect sheet connected to a lower end of the connect tube, surrounding the central axis, and having a plurality of guide grooves formed at equal angular intervals around the central axis; The output valve unit has a valve seat connected to a lower part of the connect seat so as to be movable relative to the connect seat along the central axis, the valve seat and the connect seat together defining an internal space, and the valve seat is a plurality of hook portions movable along the guide grooves and engaging with the guide grooves; a valve hole formed in a lower portion of the valve seat so as to communicate with the internal space; a valve disc below and connected to the valve seat; a first spring disposed in the internal space to continuously apply a spring force to the valve seat that urges the valve seat away from the top cover unit; The input valve unit includes: a pin rod movably extending into the interior space through the valve hole; a second spring that is attached between the valve seat and the upper end of the pin rod and that continuously applies a spring force to the pin rod to cause the lower end of the pin rod to abut against the valve disc, thereby closing the valve hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The radiator cap of the present invention is configured so that each hook portion of the valve seat can movably engage with each guide groove formed in the connect seat of the intermediate seat unit, thereby stably supporting the relative movement of the valve seat with respect to the connect seat of the intermediate seat unit.Therefore, the radiator cap of the present invention ensures stable closure of the radiator opening of the automobile radiator, preventing fluid leakage and spillage and improving the driving safety of the automobile. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded top perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a radiator cap of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bottom surface showing the configuration of the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the state when the valve seat is pressed from above. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing the state when the pin rod is pulled out downward. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In order to more clearly describe the objectives, technical means, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the following will clearly and in detail describe the technical means in the embodiments of the present invention in combination with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be apparent that the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Generally, the components of the embodiments of the present invention depicted and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided below in the accompanying drawings does not constitute any limitation on the protection scope of the present invention, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present invention.

[0011] Before describing the present invention in detail, it should be noted that in the following description, elements that perform the same role or function are designated by the same numerals even if they do not have exactly the same configuration.

[0012] Furthermore, for the convenience of explanation in this specification, terms indicating the relative positional relationships of each component, such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," are used to explain the relative positions of each component with reference to examples in the drawings, and it should be noted that they are not absolute terms that limit the configuration of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an embodiment of the radiator cap of the present invention is a radiator cap suitable for attachment to a main radiator 9 of an automobile (not shown). A radiator opening 91 is formed in the upper part of the main radiator 9. The radiator opening 91 has a lower opening 911, an annular wall 912, an upper opening 913, and a branching portion 914. The lower opening 911 is annular. The annular wall 912 extends upward from the periphery of the lower opening 911. The upper opening 913 surrounds the upper part of the annular wall 912 and extends outward from the annular wall 912. The branching portion 914 extends from adjacent to the annular wall 912 and communicates with an auxiliary radiator (not shown). The upper opening 913 has two gaps (not shown) opposite each other.

[0014] The radiator cap of this embodiment of the present invention has a central axis 6. The radiator cap of this embodiment is attached to a radiator opening 91 and includes a top cover unit 1, an intermediate seat unit 2, an output valve unit 3, and an input valve unit 4.

[0015] The top cover unit 1 has a cover body 11, a stem 12, two positioning members 13, and a washer 16. The cover body 11 is suitable for rotatably shielding the upper opening portion 913 of the radiator opening 91. The stem 12 extends downward from the cover body 11 along the central axis 6. Each positioning member 13 is disposed on either side of the central axis 6, protrudes inward from the circumferential surface of the cover body 11 toward the central axis 6, and is configured to be suitable for fixing the radiator opening 91. The washer 16 is disposed within the cover body 11 so as to surround the stem 12.

[0016] In this embodiment, the cover body 11 of the top cover unit 1 has a shielding portion 111, a cover surrounding portion 112, a partition portion 113, and two through holes 114. The shielding portion 111 has a lower surface, and the stem 12 extends from this lower surface. The cover surrounding portion 112 extends downward from the outer circumferential surface of the shielding portion 111, and its lower end connects to each positioning member 13. The cover surrounding portion 112 of the cover body 11 has two widened portions 115, which protrude from the lower end of the cover surrounding portion 112 and curve toward the central axis 6 to connect to each positioning member 13. The widened portions 115 reinforce the structural strength of each positioning member 13, thereby preventing damage to each positioning member 13. The partition portion 113 extends downward from the lower surface of the shielding portion 111, surrounds the stem 12, and is surrounded by the cover surrounding portion 112. Each through hole 114 extends through the shielding portion 111 and is disposed above each positioning member 13. Each through hole 114 is designed to facilitate removal from the mold.

[0017] The stem 12 of the top cover unit 1 has a plurality of protrusions 116 and surrounding grooves 117. The protrusions 116 are formed at equal angular intervals from one another around the central axis 6. The surrounding grooves 117 surround the central axis 6 and are recessed into the outer circumferential surface of each protrusion 116.

[0018] The top cover unit 1 further has a plurality of lugs 14, which are formed to extend outward from the cover enclosing portion 112 and to be spaced at equal angular intervals from one another about the central axis 6. Each lug 14 is configured to facilitate manual operation of the radiator cap of the present invention. Specifically, two lugs 14 are arranged adjacent to each positioning member 13. The top cover unit 1 also has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 15 formed on each of the two lugs 14. Each reinforcing rib 15 is connected to one of the two lugs 14 and the cover enclosing portion 112, thereby reinforcing the overall structural strength.

[0019] The washer 16 is disposed between the cover surrounding portion 112 and the partition portion 113 in the horizontal direction, and is pressed by the shielding portion 111 so as to be interposed between the shielding portion 111 and the upper opening portion 913 of the radiator opening 91 in the vertical direction, thereby closing the radiator opening 91 and preventing leakage of liquid (not shown). The washer 16 has an annular protrusion 161 extending upward to surround the central axis 6. This annular protrusion 161 is configured to be elastic, thereby improving sealing by adapting to tolerances between the washer 16 and surrounding components. In this embodiment, the annular protrusion 161 has a triangular cross section, and the protruding tip abuts against the shielding portion 111 of the cover body 11. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the annular protrusion 161 is not limited to this. For example, the cross-sectional contour of the annular protrusion 161 may be arc-shaped.

[0020] The intermediate sheet unit 2 is located below the top cover unit 1 and is connected to the top cover unit 1, and includes a connecting tube 21, a connecting sheet 22, and a plurality of outer reinforcing members 23.

[0021] The connect tube 21 is attached to the stem 12 so as to extend along the central axis 6. The connect tube 21 has a flange portion 211 that surrounds the central axis 6 and is rotatably engaged with the surrounding groove 117.

[0022] The connect sheet 22 is connected to the lower end of the connect tube 21 so as to surround the central axis 6. The connect sheet 22 has an upper ring portion 221, a lower ring portion 222, a surrounding wall portion 223, and a plurality of guide grooves 224. The upper ring portion 221 extends outward from the lower end of the connect tube 21 around the central axis 6. The lower ring portion 222 is disposed below the upper ring portion 221 with a gap therebetween. The surrounding wall portion 223 is connected between the upper ring portion 221 and the lower ring portion 222 so as to surround the central axis 6. The guide grooves 224 are formed at equal angular intervals from one another around the central axis 6. Each guide groove 224 is recessed into the inner surface of the surrounding wall portion 223, extends upward through the upper ring portion 221, and also extends outward so as to penetrate the surrounding wall portion 223. A plurality of recessed portions are formed in the inner surface of the lower ring portion 222. Each recessed portion of the lower ring portion 222 communicates with each guide groove 224.

[0023] Each outer reinforcing member 23 is connected between the outer surface of the connecting tube 21 and the upper surface of the upper ring portion 221 of the connecting sheet 22 to reinforce the structural strength.

[0024] The output valve unit 3 is connected to the lower part of the intermediate seat unit 2. The output valve unit 3 has a valve seat 31, a plurality of inner reinforcing members 32, a valve disc 33, a fixing ring 34, and a first spring 35.

[0025] The valve seat 31 is connected to a lower part of the connect seat 22 so as to be movable along a central axis 6 relative to the connect seat 22. The valve seat 31 and the connect seat 22 together surround and define an internal space 5. In this embodiment, the valve seat 31 has a bottom wall portion 311, an insertion wall portion 312, and a plurality of hook portions 313. A valve hole 314 communicating with the internal space 5 is formed in the bottom wall portion 311 (the lower part of the valve seat 31). The insertion wall portion 312 extends upward from the bottom wall portion 311 so as to surround the central axis 6 and is inserted into the lower ring portion 222 of the connect seat 22. The hook portions 313 are formed to be spaced apart at equal angular intervals from one another, protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the insertion wall portion 312, and engage with the respective guide grooves 224 so as to be movable along the respective guide grooves 224.

[0026] Each inner reinforcing member 32 is connected between the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 311 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion wall portion 312 to reinforce the structural strength.

[0027] The valve disc 33 is disposed below the bottom wall portion 311 of the valve seat 31 to close the lower opening 911 of the radiator opening 91 and prevent liquid from passing through the lower opening 911 .

[0028] The fixing ring 34 fastens the valve seat 31 and the valve disc 33 together.

[0029] The first spring 35 is disposed in the internal space 5 and provides a spring force that urges the valve seat 31 away from the top cover unit 1. In this embodiment, the first spring 35 is connected between the connecting seat 22 and the valve seat 31.

[0030] The input valve unit 4 is connected to the output valve unit 3 so as to be movable along a central axis 6 relative to the output valve unit 3, and includes a pin rod 41 and a second spring 42.

[0031] The pin rod 41 is configured to be able to move into the internal space 5 via the valve hole 314, thereby controlling the flow rate of liquid passing through the valve hole 314. The pin rod 41 has a valve plate portion 411 and a plug portion 412. The valve plate portion 411 is the lower portion of the pin rod 41, and the circumferential surface of the valve plate portion 411 extends upward and curves outward around the central axis 6 to abut against the lower end of the valve disc 33. The plug portion 412 extends upward from the valve plate portion 411 via the valve hole 314 and enters the internal space 5.

[0032] The second spring 42 is mounted between the valve seat 31 and the upper end of the pin rod 41, and provides a spring force that causes the valve plate portion 411 to abut against the valve disc 33, thereby closing the valve hole 314.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cover body 11, stem 12, positioning members 13, lugs 14, and reinforcing ribs 15 of the top cover unit 1 are integrally made of plastic material. The outer reinforcing members 23, connecting seat 22, and connecting tube 21 of the intermediate seat unit 2 are integrally made of plastic material. The valve seat 31 and inner reinforcing members 32 of the output valve unit 3 are integrally made of plastic material. The pin rod 41 of the input valve unit 4 is integrally made of plastic material. This makes the manufacture and assembly of the radiator cap of the present invention convenient and easy. By integrally manufacturing each component from plastic material, the weight and manufacturing costs of the radiator cap are reduced. Furthermore, since no processing of metal surfaces is required, environmental pollution is reduced.

[0034] When the radiator cap of the present invention is attached to the radiator opening 91, the input valve unit 4, the output valve unit 3, and the intermediate seat unit 2 are inserted into the radiator opening 91 along the central axis 6. After each positioning member 13 of the top cover unit 1 passes through each gap (not shown) in the upper opening portion 913, the cover body 11 is rotated, thereby fixing each positioning member 13 to the upper opening portion 913. At this time, the washer 16 is pressed against the upper end of the upper opening portion 913, and the valve disc 33 is pressed against the upper end of the lower opening portion 911, so that the radiator opening 91 is tightly closed by the radiator cap.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, when the temperature of the main radiator 9 rises during use, the liquid in the main radiator presses the valve disc 33 upward toward the top cover unit 1 due to its pressure, and flows into the auxiliary radiator (not shown) via the branch portion 914. At this time, because each hook portion 313 is movably engaged with each guide groove 224, the valve seat 31, driven by the movement of the valve disc 33, moves stably toward the top cover unit 1, and the first spring 35 is compressed in response to the movement of the valve seat 31, generating a spring force. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, when the pressure of the liquid in the main radiator decreases, the spring force of the first spring 35 moves the valve seat 31 and valve disc 33 away from the top cover unit 1, returning them to their original positions.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5, when the pressure inside the main radiator 9 becomes negative, the pin rod 41 is sucked in by the negative pressure in the main radiator 9 and moves downward from the valve disc 33, causing the liquid in the auxiliary radiator (not shown) to flow into the main radiator 9 via the branch portion 914 and the valve hole 314. The second spring 42 is compressed in response to the movement of the pin rod 41, generating a spring force. Then, as shown in Fig. 3, when the pressures of the liquid in the auxiliary radiator and the main radiator 9 become equal, the spring force of the second spring 42 returns the pin rod 41 to a position where it abuts against the valve disc 33.

[0037] In summary, the configuration in which each hook portion 313 of the valve seat 31 is movably engaged with each guide groove 224 formed in the connecting seat 22 of the intermediate seat unit 2 stably supports the relative movement of the valve seat 31 with respect to the connecting seat 22 of the intermediate seat unit 2, thereby ensuring that the radiator cap of the present invention stably closes the radiator opening of the automobile radiator, preventing fluid leakage and spillage and improving the driving safety of the automobile.

[0038] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Top cover unit 11 Cover body 111 Shield part 112 Cover enclosure 113 Partition Part 114 Passing hole 115 Widened section 116 Protrusion 117 Siege Ditch 12 Stem 13 Positioning member 14 Ear gold 15 Reinforced rib 16 Washers 161 Annular protrusion 2 Middle seat unit 21 Connect Tube 211 Flange 22 Connect Seat 221 Upper ring part 222 Lower ring part 223 Enclosure Wall 224 Guide groove 23 External reinforcement member 3 Output valve unit 31 Valve seat 311 Bottom wall 312 Insertion wall 313 Hook part 314 Valve hole 32 Internal reinforcement member 33 Valve disc 34 Retaining ring 35 First Spring 4 Input valve unit 41 Pin rod 411 Valve plate part 412 Plug section 42 Second Spring 5. Interior space 6 Center axis 9 Main radiator 91 Radiator opening 911 Lower mouth part 912 Annular wall 913 Upper mouth part 914 Branch

Claims

1. A radiator cap having a central axis and applicable to a radiator opening, the radiator cap includes a top cover unit, an intermediate seat unit located below the top cover unit and connected to the top cover unit, an output valve unit connected to a lower portion of the intermediate seat unit, and an input valve unit connected to the output valve unit so as to be movable relative to the output valve unit along the central axis, The top cover unit is a cover body adapted to rotatably cover the radiator opening; a stem extending downward from the cover body along the central axis; two positioning members that protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the cover body toward the central axis so as to be located on opposite sides of the central axis, and that are suitable for being fixed to the radiator opening; a washer disposed within the cover body so as to surround the stem; The intermediate sheet unit is a connect tube attached to the stem and extending along the central axis; a connect sheet connected to a lower end of the connect tube, surrounding the central axis, and having a plurality of guide grooves formed at equal angular intervals around the central axis; The output valve unit has a valve seat connected to a lower part of the connect seat so as to be movable relative to the connect seat along the central axis, the valve seat and the connect seat together defining an internal space, and the valve seat has: a plurality of hook portions movable along the guide grooves and engaging with the guide grooves; a valve hole formed in a lower portion of the valve seat so as to communicate with the internal space; a valve disc below the valve seat and connected to the valve seat; a first spring disposed in the internal space to continuously apply a spring force to the valve seat that urges the valve seat away from the top cover unit; The input valve unit includes: a pin rod movably extending into the interior space through the valve hole; a second spring that is attached between the valve seat and the upper end of the pin rod and that continuously applies a spring force to the pin rod to cause the lower end of the pin rod to abut against the valve disc, thereby closing the valve hole.

2. the cover body, the stem, and the positioning members of the top cover unit are integrally made of a plastic material; the connecting sheet and the connecting tube of the intermediate sheet unit are integrally made of a plastic material, the valve seat of the output valve unit is integrally made of a plastic material; 2. The radiator cap of claim 1, wherein the pin rod of the input valve unit is integrally made of a plastic material.

3. The connect sheet includes: an upper ring portion extending outward from the connect tube; a lower ring portion disposed below the upper ring portion with a space therebetween; a surrounding wall portion connected between the upper ring portion and the lower ring portion so as to surround the central axis, Each of the guide grooves is recessed from the inner surface of the surrounding wall portion, extends upward via the upper ring portion, and extends outward via the surrounding wall portion, the valve seat of the output valve unit further includes a bottom wall portion in which the valve hole is formed, and an insertion wall portion that surrounds the central axis, extends upward from the bottom wall portion, and is inserted into the lower ring portion of the connect seat, The radiator cap according to claim 2 , wherein each of said hook portions protrudes outward from an outer circumferential surface of said insertion wall portion.

4. the intermediate sheet unit further includes a plurality of outer reinforcing members connected between an outer peripheral surface of the connect tube and an upper surface of the upper ring portion, 4. The radiator cap according to claim 3, wherein the output valve unit further comprises a plurality of inner reinforcing members connected between an upper surface of the bottom wall portion and an inner circumferential surface of the insertion wall portion.

5. The stem of the top cover unit is a plurality of protrusions formed at equal angular intervals around the central axis; a surrounding groove formed by recessing the outer circumferential surface of each of the protrusions so as to surround the central axis, 2. The radiator cap according to claim 1, wherein the connect tube of the intermediate sheet unit has a flange portion that surrounds the central axis and rotatably engages with the surrounding groove.

6. The cover body of the top cover unit has a shielding portion, a cover surrounding portion, a partition portion, and two passage holes, the stem extends from a lower surface of the shielding portion; the cover surrounding portion extends downward from the outer peripheral surface of the shielding portion and has a tip connected to the positioning member; The partition portion surrounds the stem and is surrounded by the cover surrounding portion, The radiator cap according to claim 1 , wherein two of the through holes pass through the shielding portion and are disposed above each of the positioning members.

7. 7. The radiator cap according to claim 6, wherein said top cover unit further comprises a plurality of lugs extending outward from said cover surrounding portion at equal angular intervals about said central axis.

8. Two of the plurality of lugs are disposed adjacent to the two positioning members, respectively; The radiator cap according to claim 7 , wherein the top cover unit further includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs disposed within each of the two lugs.

9. 9. The radiator cap according to claim 8, wherein the cover surrounding portion of the cover body has two widened portions that respectively protrude from a lower end of the cover surrounding portion and connect to the two positioning members.

10. the washer is disposed between the cover surrounding portion and the partition portion, and the washer has an annular protrusion that protrudes upward so as to surround the central axis; 7. The radiator cap according to claim 6, wherein the annular projection has a triangular cross section, and a protruding tip abuts against the shielding portion of the cover body.

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