Abstract:
An engine cover system provides temporary reusable covers for engine blocks to protect against entry of foreign material into the engine when the head and manifolds are removed during repair, rebuild or transport both with used and new engine blocks. Manifold and head cover portions may be separately installed or installed in combination with clip members to attach the head and manifold cover portions to one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to engines, and more particularly to covers for protecting from foreign materials, dust, dirt and liquids from falling into the engine interior while the engine is in a disassembled or partially assembled state. 
     Many engines, for example V8 engines, from different manufactures are susceptible to dirt and foreign debris entering the engine when they are in partially disassembled condition. This is a particularly important issue when either intake manifolds or heads, or a combination thereof, has been removed from engine, such as during re-build or repair or initial building of new engines from an engine block. 
     When engines are repaired in shops, many types of repairs require removal of the intake manifolds and/or heads. While the repairs are in process, the engines may typically be stored in the shops in disassembled states for periods of time, without either intake manifolds and/or heads installed. When an intake manifold is removed it exposes the internal portion of the engine, which can lead to undesirable foreign material entering the engine. 
     To address these issues, sometimes when the engine is left open in a shop environment, the mechanics will use rags to cover the open portions of the engine to attempt to keep debris from entering the engine, but this method is not entirely satisfactory, as the rags can easily fall out or become dislodged, and may not provide a sufficient degree of prevention of foreign material entry. 
     Machine shops rebuild engines and often return them to customers without the intake manifold and/or heads installed. The transport of the rebuilt engine in this state provides further opportunity for undesired entry of foreign material into the engine. 
     Engines purchased in new condition sometimes do not come with an intake manifold and are shipped in plastic bags. Once the bag is opened or if the bag is punctured or ripped during shipment, further opportunity for undesired foreign material to enter the engine arises. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, an apparatus for protecting an engine against dirt or foreign material entry when the head and/or intake manifolds are removed includes a cam valley cover, and first and second head covers. The covers are adapted for mounting to the engine and can be employed together or separately for use in different situations. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved engine cover system for protecting engines against entry of foreign material when the engines are new or being rebuilt or repaired. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved engine protection system for protection against entry of dirt to engines with heads or intake manifolds removed. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved system for protecting engines with reusable cover member for use during shipping, repair or rebuilding. 
     The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an engine block cover apparatus in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front end view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear end view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative engine block cover; 
         FIG. 9  is a left side view of the cover of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the cover of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the cover of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of components of cam valley cover wings, cam valley cover and clips; 
         FIG. 13  is a view of 2 cam valley cover wings on an engine block; 
         FIG. 14  is a view of a cam valley cover alone; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of a cover clip; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a cover clip; and 
         FIG. 17  is a view of an engine block with cam valley cover and a single cam valley wing cover installed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a one or more cover member adapted for placement over portions of the engine block when the engine is disassembled. 
     When an engine is bare without accessories and intake manifold but with heads it is called a “long block”. When an engine is bare of accessories, intake manifold and is also without heads it is called a “short block”. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an engine block cover apparatus in accordance with the invention, and  FIGS. 2-7 , the cover includes left and right cam valley cover wings  12 ,  14  and a cam valley cover  16 , adapted for placement on engine block  18  (illustrated in phantom). In the illustrated embodiment, cam valley cover wings  12  and  14  can be identical, but depending on the configuration of the particular engine block, the left and right cover wings can differ to fit the particular side of the engine block. 
     Cover wing  12  includes front and rear fastener holes  20 ,  22  positioned to correspond to the position of bolt holes on the engine block, suitably the engine cover bolt holes in the illustrated embodiment. Other cover configurations can employ different fastener hole placement and numbers to correspond to the particular engine block and its position and availability of bolt holes or other features to enable securing of the cover wing to the engine block. Cover wing  14  similarly includes front and rear fastener holes  24 ,  26  positioned to correspond to bolt or mounting holes in the engine block&#39;s right side. 
     Cam valley cover  16  includes plural mounting fastener receiving holes  28  therein, suitably positioned at respective corners thereof, with 2 such holes at each corner in the illustrated embodiment. The number and placement of holes  28  can be modified to conform to the particular bolt hole pattern of the specific engine block for which the covers are to be used. 
     Plural cover clips  30  may be provided to act as a fastening clip between the cam valley cover  16  and the cover wings  12 ,  14  to help secure the cam valley cover to the cover wings. Three such clips are shown in use in the illustrated embodiments. With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , side and perspective views of a cover clip  30 , the clips have an elongate configuration with 2 finger portions  32 ,  34 , having upturned end portions, held together by central portion  36 , the clips being biased to urge the finger portions towards one another. Portion  32  is more elongate than portion  34  in the illustrated embodiment. Clip receiving portions  38 ,  40  are formed in cover  12  on an external face thereof, relative to the face that contacts the engine (visible in  FIG. 3 ) and clip receiving portions  42 ,  44  are formed in cover  14  on an external face thereof, relative to the face that contacts the engine (visible in  FIG. 5 ) for receiving clip finger portion  34 , and a flat region on cover  16  receives the finger portion  32 , whereby engagement of the cover  16  with covers  12 ,  14  may be secured by attaching one or two clips  30  to the covers. 
     In use the cam valley cover  16  and cover wings  12 ,  14  are mounted to the engine block to provide a protective cover against entry to foreign material to the engine when the engine is in its ‘open’ condition without head or manifolds. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , with both cam valley wings and the cam valley cover being used, clips  30  may be employed to help secure the cover  16  to the cover wings  12 ,  14 . 
     In particular situations, not all of covers  12 ,  14  and  16  may be needed. For example, one or both heads may be installed and only the intake manifold is not installed. In such case, the cam valley cover  16  may be used alone (as illustrated in  FIG. 14 ), without the wing covers  12 ,  14 . In such case, the bolt holes  28  on the cam valley cover are used to secure the cover to the engine, by use of bolts through the holes  28  into corresponding bolt holes on the engine. 
     In the case of use of cover  16  and one of wing covers  12 ,  14  (as illustrated in  FIG. 17 ), one side of the cover  16  will be secured to the corresponding cover wing  12  or  14  (and to the engine via bolt holes  20 ) and the other side of cover  16  will be secured to the engine by use of mounting holes  28  and bolts into the engine. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the case of use of 2 cover wings, without the valley cover  16 . 
     In any configuration, holes  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  of the covers  12 ,  14  can receive a bolt therethrough to secure the cover to the engine. 
     The cover portions  12 ,  14 ,  16  are suitably manufactured of a plastic so as to be durable and reusable. Engine manufacturers or rebuilders can charge a deposit or core fee to encourage return of the covers when the end user is finished with the need for the cover for that particular engine, allowing re-use of the cover. Alternatively, the cover may be manufactured of a disposable or recyclable product when return of the cover is not expected. 
     The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7  employs wing covers of a particular shape, having a relatively straight front and rear edges  46 ,  46 ′,  46 ″,  46 ′″. In an alternate embodiment adapted for an engine having a different shape block, with reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , wing covers  12 ′,  14 ′ have front and rear edges  48 ,  48 ′,  48 ″,  48 ′″ that are indented slightly so that the overall length  50  of the wing covers  12 ′,  14 ′ is less than the length at a corresponding position of wing covers  12 ,  14 . This difference is to accommodate the different shape of a different engine block, and corresponding changes to other versions of the cover system may be made to fit a specific engine block configuration. 
     In accordance with the invention, a temporary shield is provided comprising a valley cover shield which covers the area when an intake manifold is removed from an engine, and a pair of deck cover shields for fitting on the engine when one or both heads are removed. The valley cover shield and deck shields may be used in combination or separately as needed for the particular application, whether the intake manifold is removed or whether one or both heads are removed. The covers provide barriers to entry of foreign material for protecting the engine from dirt and the like in the shop and during transit. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.