July 9, 1963
H. w. EVANS ETAL
3,096,818
INTEGRAL EBULLIENT COOLER
Original'Filed July 15, 1959
34-1
I
1
'l
2
E
FIG 3
FIG.4
INVENTORSI
LOYD W. DISLER
HARRY W. EVANS
BY ,aZ/A/W
ATTORNEY
3,096,818
Patented July 9, 1963
2
ponents must necessarily be connected with a network of
pipe. The ebullient cooling system utilizing the basic
3,11%,818
INTEGRAL EBULLENT COOLER
Harry W. Evans, 4409 S. Lewis, and Loyd W. Disier,
6703 E. 27th, both of Tulsa, Okla.
Original application Study 13, 1959, Ser. No. 826,553, now
Patent No. 3,030,077, dated Apr. 17, 1962. Divided
and this application Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 49,733
5 Claims. (Cl. 165—111)
components enumerated works completely satisfactorily
fOr stationary engines where size and space requirements
are not a limitation. The ebullient cooling system utiliz
ing these individual components, however, does not readily
adapt itself for mobile applications because of the unwield
iness of the various components and the piping required.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an
' This invention relates to ‘an integral ebullient cooler. l0 ebullient cooling system of an integral arrangement where
More particularly, the invention relates to a device adapt
able for use with an engine providing a means of ebullient
cooling for the engine, and wherein the elements making
by the major components of the system are integrated
into a unitary cooling device.
Another object of this invention is to provide an integral
ebullient cooling system including means of maintaining
up the cooling system are integrally united in a novel
means particularly adapting the device for use with engines 15 engine lubricating oil at a uniform temperature.
Another object of this invention is to provide an integral
applied to mobile equipment.
This is a divisional application of co-pending applica
tion Serial Number 826,553, ?led July 13, 1959, entitled:
Integral Ebullient Cooler, now Patent No. 3,030,077,
granted April 17, 1962.
Ebullient cooling as a means of maintaining internal
combustion engines at even and proper operating tem—
ebullient cooling system wherein the steam condenser,
steam and water separator, condensate reserve, and acces
sory piping components are ‘arranged in a compact unitary
cooling system particularly adaptable for mobile internal
combustion engines.
Another object of this invention is to provide an integral
ebullient cooling system which will be more economical
to manufacture, assemble and maintain.
recognition as a superior cooling means. For many years
These and other objects and a better understanding of
the standard cooling systems for internal combustion en 25
the invention may be had by referring to the following
gines, especially for engines used in mobile operations
description and claims taken in conjunction with the at
and particularly in automobiles and trucks, has consisted
tached drawings in which:
primarily of a radiator and a water pump. In this well
FIGURE 1 is a front view of the integral ebullient
known system water is continuously circulated through
the engine cooling jacket and a radiator. The radiator 30 cooler.
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the integral ebullient cooler
is subjected to moving air whereby the coolant at all times
‘as
mounted in relation to an internal combustion engine.
is maintained in a liquid state.
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
An improvement to this standard cooling system is a
3-—3 of FIGURE 2.
pressurized system wherein the coolant is maintained
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the
under a pressure. The primary advantage of this system 35
line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.
<
is that the liquid coolant, usually water, will not boil away
Referring now to the drawings and ?rst to FIGURES
and require replacing as rapidly as occurs when the coolant
1 and 2 the external con?guration of the integral ebullient
is open to atmospheric pressure. In the pressurized cool
cooler
of this invention is shown‘. The integral ebullient
ing system, nevertheless, the coolant at all times remains
cooler,
indicated generally by the number 10, is a unitary
4.0
in the liquid state, which means that the operating tem
mechanism composed of three basic structures, which,
perature of the engine effectively remains below the boil
though described according to their basic functions, are
ing temperature of the coolant.
united
in a unique manner under the scope of this in
It has been determined that engines operate for greater
vention to achieve a new product. The ?rst basic ele
lengths of service when the operating temperature is above
that at which water boils. The main reason for the im 45 ment is a water separator vessel 17, which is desirably of
an elongated con?guration. The second basic element
proved engine life appears to be that the lubricating oil,
is a steam condenser section 14 and the third basic ele
when maintained at a temperature above the boiling point
ment is a condensate storage tank 16. Condensate stor
of water, does not become diluted with water through
age tank 16 is also desirably of an‘ elongated con?gura
processes of condensation. Since the presence of water
tion.
is the primary basis for the formation of acids in lubricat
Steam condenser 14 is a series of vertical ?nned tubes
ing oil, the maintenance of the engine temperature above
18 which communicate between the interior of water sep
the boiling point of water means that no acids will be
arator 12 and condensate storage tank 16. The integral
formed in the lubricating oil to attack the engine com
ebullient cooler 10 is positioned with respect to internal
ponents. For these and other reasons, increased interest
combustion engine 20‘ so that a fan 24 driven either di
has been demonstrated in the adaptation of the ebullient
rectly by crank shaft 26 or by a fan belt 28 is disposed to
cooling system to mobile internal combustion engines.
move air past the ?nned tubes 18.
. There is, however, a deterrent to the ready adaptation
An: engine steam pipe 301 connects from the water jacket
of the ebullient cooling system to automobile and truck
outlet of engine 20 to the upper portion of water separa
engines and to other engines requiring mobility, and that
is that the present arrangement of ebullient cooling sys 60 tor 12. An engine condensate pipe 32 carries condensate
water from water separator 12 to the inlet of the water
tems typically consists of three elements. The ?rst is the
jacket system of engine 20.
steam condenser where steam, ‘generated in the engine as
A condensate recirculation pipe 34 extends from the
it engages the engine jacket water system, is returned to
lower portion of condensate storage tank 16 to the upper
water or condensate. The second component required is
a steam and water separator which separates the con 65 portion of water separator 12. Interposed in the conden
sate recirculation pipe 34 is a centrifugal pump 36, driven
densate from the steam, returning the condensate to the
by fan belt 28‘. The function of pump 36 is to recirculate
engine and routing the steam to the steam condenser. The
condensate from the condensate storage tank 16 to water
third component typically found in an ebullient cooling
separator 12.
system is a condensate storage container where condensate
An over?ow pipe 38 connects the water separator 12,
is stored providing a reserve for the system so that small 70
at a point approximately at its middle elevation, with the
losses from evaporation and leakage will not impair the
peratures has, within the last few years, gained increased
ef?cient operation of the cooling system.
These com
upper portion of condensate storage tank 16. The func
3,096,818
3
4‘.
tion of condensate recirculation pipe 34, centrifugal
gine' 20 through steam p‘ip'e‘30 and into water separator
pump 36 ‘and over?ow pipe 38 will be described in greater
12. Steam passes through condensate extractor 54 where
any droplets of condensate will be trapped and fall di
rectly into condensate storage area 5213. Steam passing
detail subsequently.
To provide a supplemental function in addition to the
function of maintaining engine 20 at or below a prede
termined maximum operating temperature, the integral
ebullient cooler 10 includes provision for maintaining
through condensate extractor 54 enters steam area 56
‘and ?ows down through the ?nned tubes 18 of steam
condenser portion 14. As the steam moves downward
the temperature of the engine lubricating oil within a
range of temperatures wherein the lubrication oil will
through ?nned tubes 18, a portion of the heat of the
steam is absorbed by air moved by fan 24 past the ?nned
have an extended service period.
A lube oil heat ex 10 tubes 18 condensing the steam into water. The con
densed water falls through the ?nned tubes 18 into con
storage tank 16 and includes a heat exchange tube 42.
densate storage tank 16.
changer 40‘ is positioned in association with condensate
Oil ?ows from engine 20 through oil pipe 44A, through
Condensate is moved by centrifugal pump 36 through
heatexchanger tube 42, and back to engine 10 through
condensate recirculation pipe 34 from the lower portion
oil pipe 4413. Heat exchanger tube 42 brings the lube oil 15 of condensate storage tank 16 to the distribution trough
into a temperature contact with the condensate in con
46 in the upper portion of water separator 12.
densate storage tank 16 so that the temperature of the
lube oil is substantially equalized with that of the con
densate.
Positioned in water separator 12 is a distribution 20
over?owing the distribution trough 46 ?ows down through
condensate distributor 48 which provides additional op
port-unity for steam entering the upper portion of water
trough 46. Recirculation condensate ?owing into water
separator 12 from condensate recirculation pipe 34, as
circulated ‘by centrifugal pump 36, ?ows onto distribu
tion trough 46, which extends substantially the length of
water separator 12, so that the recirculation water over
Water
separator 12 to engage the returned condensate and be
directly condensed into water. The recirculated water
passes through condensate distributer 48 and into con
densate storage area 52A. Water ?ows to trough 56
from condensate storage area 52A and into condensate
25 storage area 523. Water from condensate storage area
?ows ‘the distribution trough 46 along its full length.
523 ?ows through engine condensate pipe 32 into engine
This serves to achieve a better distribution of the recir
culated water in water separator 12. Positioned below
the distribution trough 46 is a condensate distributor 48
20 as a liquid where it is transformed in the engine
water jacket system back into steam and the cycle is re
peated as the steam flows through the engine steam
composed of a ?ne mesh of material, such as steel wool. 30 pipe 39.
Water ?owing over {distribution trough 46 engages con
In order to make certain that suf?cient water is always
densate distributer 48 and the ?ne mesh breaks the over
present in condensate storage ‘area 52B to provide all of
?ow water into larger surface areas so that increased
the water required for engine 20, centrifugal pump 36 is
opportunity is provided for steam entering the water sep
designed to recirculate more condensate through conden
arator 12 through engine steam pipe 31) to engage the
sate recirculation pipe 34 than is required. To prevent
recirculated condensate. This causes a portion of the
the over?ow of water from condensate storage areas 52A
steam from engine steam pipe 30 to condense directly
and 52B down into ?nned tubes 18, an over?ow pipe 38
into condensate.
is provided. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the over?ow
Water separator 12 is divided into three separate but
occurs when the condensate storage areas 52A and 52B
interconnected areas (this is ‘best shown in FIGURE 4).
are substantially full. This prevents clogging of ?nned
Two‘ separator plates 50, extending the length of Water
tubes 18 with excess amounts of condensate :and leaves
separator 12 are vertically positioned on each side of the
area of ?nned tubes 18 ~of steam condenser portion 14.
of steam.
them substantially open at all times to receive the passage
Separator plates 50 have a height of approximately one
Lube oil heat exchanger 40 functions to maintain the
half of the over iall‘height of water separator 12. This 45 lubricating oil of engine 20 at a desired temperature
provides condensate storage ‘areas 52A and 5213. Con
whether the engine is operating under extremely cold or
densate extractor elements 54, which extend the length
extremely hot conditions. If the ambient temperature in
of Wat-er separator 12, are supported vertically between
which the engine is operating is cold, then the lubricating
oil of the engine would tend to remain below the desired
the top of water ‘separator 12 and the top of separator
plates 50'. Condensate extractors 54 are formed of ma 50 operating temperature which, as previously described,
should be above the boiling point of water. When
terial similar to condensate distributer 48, that is, of a
the ambient temperature is cold, lubricating oil ?owing
?ne mesh such as steel wool, so that steam ?owing through
through heat exchanger tubes 42 is exposed to the tem
the condensate extractors 54 will be stripped of droplets
perature of the condensate contained in the condensate
of condensate which the steam may carry.
The third area of water separator v12 is steam area 56
storage tank 16 and is heated. If, on the other hand, en
gine 20 is operating in an extremely high ambient tem
which includes substantially all of the space directly
perature so that the temperature of the lubricating oil
above steam condenser portion 14. Steam entering the
water sepanator 12 from-steam pipe 30 ?ows through con
has a tendency to rise above the desired maximum levels,
then the flow of lubricating oil through the lube oil heat
densate extractors 54-, into steam area 56 and vfrom there
down‘ through ?nned tubes 18 into condensate storage 60 exchanger 40 will function to cool the oil since the tem
perature of water in condensate storage tank 16 will al
tank 16. Steam, in passing down through the ?nned
ways be below boiling point. It can be seen therefore‘
tubes '18, undergoes a reduction in temperature and is
that the oil heat exchanger 40 incorporated in conjunc
tion with the integral ebullient cooling system of this
permit water to ?ow from condensate storage area 52A 65 invention provides means whereby the temperature of
the lubricating oil of engine 20 may be maintained with
tocondensate storage area 52B of water separator 12,
in the optimum operating range regardless of the am
a trough 58 is provided connecting the two condensate
bient temperature.
storage areas so that over?ow from storage area 52A will
The advantages of the integral ebullient cooler of this
?ow intostorage area 52B.
transformed thereby into condensate by the effect of air
moved through the steam condenser 14 by fan 24. To
Operation
70 invention are many.
Included in these advantages are
The "function'of the integral ebullient cooler of this
?rst, the several different components making up the
ebullient cooling system currently used in industry are
invention may be ‘described as follows: Heat from the
combustion of fuel in engine 20 transforms water in the
united in a unique manner wherein the function of the
components have been inter-related. Second, the integral
engine cooling jacket into steam which ?ows out of en 75 ebullient cooling system of this invention provides a com
3,096,818
6
pact arrangement ideally adapting ebullient cooling for
a vapor condenser communicating at the upper end
use with internal combustion engines applied to mobile
with said vapor area of said liquid separator and at
the lower end with said condensate storage tank;
a condensate recirculation pipe communicating at the
lower end with the lower portion of said condensate
storage tank and at the upper end with the said vapor
storage area of said liquid separator;
equipment. Third, the integral ebullient cooling system
provides a means of cooling internal combustion engines
which can ‘be manufactured substantially as economically
as present water cooling systems and which has innumer
able advantages in extending the service life and per
fornnance of the engines. And fourth, the provision of
a lubricating oil heat exchanger 40 in conjunction with
the integral ebullient cooling system provides an eco 10
nomical means of maintaining the lubricating oil of the
engine within desired temperature ranges.
This invention has been particularly described wherein
the coolant or liquid utilized to perform the cooling func
a pump means in said condensate recirculation pipe
for conveying liquid from said condensate storage
tank to said liquid separator; and,
a conduit means communicating at one end with said
liquid storage area of said liquid separator and at
the other end with said engine whereby liquid is
conducted to said engine.
2. An integral ebullient cooler according to claim 1
tion, has been termed water. It is obvious that any 15
including an over?ow pipe communicating at one end
other ‘coolant liquid which is transformed into a vapor by
with the upper portion of said liquid storage area of said
the acceptance of heat within the engine would function
liquid separator and at the other end with said condensate
in the same manner as water described in‘ this invention
storage tank whereby excess liquid in said liquid storage
and the application of this invention- to such other liquid
20 area is returned to said condensate storage tank.
coolants is included in this disclosure.
3. An integral ebullient cooler according to claim 1
The integral ebullient cooler of this invention has been
including a condensate extractor positioned in said liquid
described as it is particularly adaptable to automobiles
and trucks. It is just as applicable to stationary engines
where simplicity, economy and compactness of the cool
ing system is desired.
separator whereby said vapor ?owing into said liquid
separator passes through said condensate extractor and
25 into said vapor area and extracted condensate droplets
fall into said condensate storage area.
Although this invention has been described with a cer
4. An integral ebullient cooler according to claim 1
tain degree of particularity it manifests that many
including a distribution trough positioned substantially
changes may be made in the details of construction and
horizontally and transversely within said upper liquid
the arrangement of components without departing from
30 separator to receive condensate ?owing into said upper
the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
liquid separator from said condensate recirculation pipe.
We claim:
5. An integral ebullient cooler according to claim 1
1. In combination with an internal combustion engine
including a condensate distributor supported within said
having a cooling system wherein a coolant enters said
liquid separator substantially contiguous to and below
engine substantially as a liquid and leaves said engine
substantially as a vapor, an integral ebullient cooler, said 35 said distribution trough whereby condensate over?owing
said trough drains through said condensate distributor
cooler having,
to provide greater contact of condensate and vapor within
an enclosed upper liquid separator, said liquid separator
said liquid separator.
having a condensate storage area in the lower por
tion thereof and a vapor storage area in the upper
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
portion thereof;
a conduit means communicating said engine with said
upper vapor area of said liquid separator for con
ducting vapors from said engine to said separator;
a lower condensate storage tank;
45
2,008,164
Wolf ________________ __ July 16, 1935
2,614,816
Hull _________________ __ Oct. 21, 1952