Patent Publication Number: US-9835078-B2

Title: Burn prevention cover coupled to pressurized coolant reservoir tank and pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0034941, filed Mar. 13, 2015, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly for storing coolant used to cool an engine of a vehicle, and, particularly, to a burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same, capable of preventing coolant from leaking during injection of the coolant and of preventing hot steam from coming into contact with an operator&#39;s hand when a pressure cap is opened. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In an engine mounted to a vehicle, coolant is used to cool heat generated by driving of the engine. 
     The coolant is provided to be circulated through the engine and a radiator, and a coolant reservoir tank  110  is installed in an engine room of the vehicle for replenishing the coolant. 
     The coolant reservoir tank  110  has an injection port  111  formed at an upper end thereof in order to inject coolant into the coolant reservoir tank  110 , and a pressure cap  120  is fastened to the injection port  111 . 
     The pressure cap  120  serves to open and close the injection port  111  of the coolant reservoir tank  110  and to discharge hot steam in the coolant reservoir tank  110  to the outside when the internal pressure of the coolant reservoir tank  110  reaches a predetermined pressure, for example, a pressure of 1.1 bars. Moreover, the pressure cap  120  should have a structure of preventing hot steam in the coolant reservoir tank  110  from spouting to an operator&#39;s hand when the operator opens the pressure cap  120 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pressure cap  120  is screwed to the coolant reservoir tank  110 . The pressure cap  120  includes a valve  121  installed therein to move up and down, and first and second springs  122  and  123  for elastically supporting the valve  121 . First and second seals  124  and  125  are provided between the coolant reservoir tank  110  and the pressure cap  120 . In addition, a discharge hole  112  is formed at one side of the injection port  111  so as to communicate with a lower end of the coolant reservoir tank  110 , and a discharge passage  113  is formed in a vertical direction of the coolant reservoir tank  110  so as to communicate with the lower end of the coolant reservoir tank  110  through the discharge hole  112 . Consequently, the hot steam may be discharged from the coolant reservoir tank  110  through the discharge hole  112  and the discharge passage  113  to the outside. 
     When the internal pressure of the coolant reservoir tank  110  increases, the valve  121  moves up in a compression direction of the first and second springs  122  and  123  and the first seal  124  is opened while the second seal  125  is maintained in a closed state. Consequently, the hot steam is discharged from the coolant reservoir tank  110  through the discharge hole  112  formed at one side of the coolant reservoir tank  110  and flows to the discharge passage  113 , thereby allowing the internal pressure of the coolant reservoir tank  110  to be relieved. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when the operator rotates the pressure cap  120 , the hot steam is discharged through the discharge hole  112  in the initial phase of rotation of the pressure cap  120  and is then discharged via the discharge passage  113  to the outside. When the pressure cap  120  is rotated once by the operator, the pressurized hot steam is discharged through the discharge hole  112  while only the first seal  124  is opened, thereby enabling the operator to be prevented from having a burn due to spout of the hot steam to the operator&#39;s hand. 
     Moreover, when the operator fully rotates the pressure cap  120 , the hot steam is discharged through the discharge hole  112  and the injection port  111  while the first seal  124  is also opened, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Since the internal pressure of the coolant reservoir tank  110  in  FIG. 2  is almost relieved in the state of  FIG. 3 , only a portion of the hot steam is discharged through the injection port  111  to the outside. 
     Meanwhile, when the pressure cap  120  is further rotated in the state of  FIG. 3 , the pressure cap  120  is fully decoupled from the coolant reservoir tank  110 . When the coolant in the coolant reservoir tank  110  is insufficient, coolant is injected into the coolant reservoir tank  110  through the injection port  111  after the pressure cap  120  is decoupled from the coolant reservoir tank  110 . 
     However, since the discharge passage  113  penetrates the center of the coolant reservoir tank  110  and is vertically formed in the coolant reservoir tank  110  according to the related art, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a portion of the coolant injected into the coolant reservoir tank  110  may leak through the discharge passage  113 . A coolant leak during injection of the coolant may lead to a misunderstanding that the coolant reservoir tank  110  is damaged. 
     To resolve these problems, the injection port  111  should have a large size or be spaced apart from the discharge hole. However, such an increase in size causes an increase in cost. 
     The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same, capable of preventing new coolant from leaking to the outside during injection of the coolant and of preventing a misunderstanding about damage of a coolant reservoir tank due to leaking coolant by allowing the coolant to flow along a surface of the coolant reservoir tank even though the coolant leaks. 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same, capable of preventing hot steam in a coolant reservoir tank from spouting to an operator&#39;s hand when a pressure cap is opened. 
     Additionally, various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same, capable of allowing a pressure cap to be maintained at a certain position when the pressure cap is locked. 
     According to various aspects of the present invention, a cover fitted to one side of a coolant reservoir tank filled with coolant therein may be a burn prevention cover coupled to the coolant reservoir tank with a gap between a bottom surface of the burn prevention cover and a surface of the tank such that steam or coolant discharged through a discharge hole formed on a side surface of an injection port of the tank flows along the surface of the tank when the burn prevention cover is coupled to the tank. 
     The burn prevention cover may include a coupling hole into which a coupling protrusion formed on the coolant reservoir tank is inserted. 
     The burn prevention cover may include coupling slots formed on the bottom surface thereof such that the coupling slots are coupled to guides protruding from the surface of the tank in a vertical direction of the tank, the guides being spaced apart from each other on the surface of the tank. 
     According to various aspects of the present invention, a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly may include a tank having an injection port formed at an upper portion thereof, storing coolant for cooling an engine of a vehicle therein, and having a discharge hole formed to penetrate a side surface of the injection port such that steam or coolant is discharged to an outside through the discharge hole, a pressure cap fastened to the injection port such that the discharge hole is opened when the pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined pressure or the pressure cap begins to be rotated, and a burn prevention cover fitted to an outer surface of the tank with a gap between a bottom surface of the burn prevention cover and a surface of the tank such that the steam or coolant discharged through the discharge hole flows downward of the tank along the surface of the tank. 
     The tank may include a discharge hole cover formed at a portion thereof in which the discharge hole is formed so as to surround the discharge hole, the discharge hole cover protruding from the injection port. 
     The tank may include a coupling protrusion formed on the surface thereof for fitting the burn prevention cover, and the burn prevention cover may include a coupling hole into which the coupling protrusion is inserted. 
     The coupling protrusion may include a plurality of coupling protrusions formed at positions spaced apart from each other, and the coupling hole may include coupling holes formed in a same number as that of the coupling protrusions. 
     The coupling protrusion may be formed in a direction perpendicular to a vertical direction of the tank. 
     The tank may include guides protruding from the surface thereof so as to be directed downward of the tank along the surface of the tank, and the burn prevention cover may include coupling slots formed at the bottom surface thereof to be fitted to the guides. 
     The guides may be spaced apart from each other, and the coupling slots may be formed at both ends on the bottom surface of the burn prevention cover. 
     The discharge hole cover may have an upper surface and a side surface which are perpendicular to each other, and the pressure cap may include a locking protrusion formed at one side on a circumference thereof so as to grip both ends of the discharge hole cover when the pressure cap is fastened to the injection port. 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar terms as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuel derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example, both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a pressure cap is partially rotated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pressure cap is fully rotated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which coolant leaks during injection of the coolant in the pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the related art. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a pressure cap is rotated one and a half times in the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pressure cap is rotated twice in the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a positive pressure acts on the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a negative pressure acts on the exemplary pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     A burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a burn prevention cover  30  according to various embodiments of the present invention is fitted and coupled to one side of a coolant reservoir tank  10  filled with coolant therein. The burn prevention cover  30  is coupled to the tank  10  with a gap between a bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30  and a surface of the tank  10  such that steam or coolant discharged through a discharge hole  12  formed on a side surface of an injection port  11  of the tank  10  flows along the surface of the tank  10  when the burn prevention cover  30  is coupled to the tank  10 . In addition, a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention includes a tank  10 , which has an injection port  11  formed at an upper portion thereof, stores coolant for cooling an engine of a vehicle therein, and has a discharge hole  12  formed to penetrate a side surface of the injection port  11  such that steam or coolant is discharged to the outside through the discharge hole  12 , a pressure cap  20  fastened to the injection port  11  such that the discharge hole  12  is opened when the pressure in the tank  10  reaches a predetermined pressure or the pressure cap  20  begins to be rotated, and a burn prevention cover  30  fitted to an outer surface of the tank  10  with a gap between a bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30  and a surface of the tank  10  such that the steam or coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  flows downward of the tank  10  along the surface of the tank  10 . 
     The tank  10  has a space for storing coolant therein. The tank  10  has the injection port  11  formed at an upper end thereof such that coolant may be injected into the tank  10  from the outside. The tank  10  has an outlet and an inlet formed at one side thereof for circulation of coolant so that the coolant is discharged from the tank  10  through the outlet and the coolant is introduced into the tank  10  through the inlet. 
     The injection port  11  has the discharge hole  12  penetrating the side surface thereof. The discharge hole  12  is a hole through which hot steam or coolant is discharged to the outside. The discharge hole  12  is formed to penetrate the side surface of the injection port  12 , and thus the steam or coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  flows along the surface of the tank  10 . Since the discharge hole  12  is formed to penetrate the side surface of the injection port  12 , it may be possible to prevent a leakage of coolant when the coolant is injected through the injection port  11 . 
     The tank  10  has a discharge hole cover  13  formed at a portion thereof in which the discharge hole  12  is formed so as to surround the discharge hole  12 . The discharge hole cover  13  has an upper surface and a side surface which are perpendicular to each other. The upper surface and the side surface of the discharge hole cover  13  surround the discharge hole  12 , and thus the hot steam or coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  is primarily prevented from spouting upward. 
     The tank  10  has a coupling protrusion  14 . The coupling protrusion  14  is one of coupling means for fitting the burn prevention cover  30  to the tank  10  when the burn prevention cover  30  is fastened to the tank  10 . The coupling protrusion  14  is preferably provided in plural numbers in a vertical direction of the tank  10  on the surface of the tank  10 . Moreover, each coupling protrusion  14  is formed in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the tank  10 . 
     The tank  10  has guides  15  protruding from the surface thereof. The guides  15  are spaced apart from each other and protrude from the surface of the tank  10  so as to be directed downward of the tank  10  from a portion of the tank  10  in which the discharge hole cover  13  is formed. The guides  15  are preferably spaced apart from each other. Since the guides  15  protrude from the surface of the tank  15 , the coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  may flow downward of the tank  10  along the guides  15 . 
     The pressure cap  20  is fastened to the injection port  11 . The pressure cap  20  closes the injection port  11  to prevent a leakage of coolant, and is decoupled from the injection port  11  during injection of the coolant. 
     The pressure cap  20  serves to open and close the injection port  11  and prevent the internal pressure of the tank  10  from excessively increasing. That is, when the pressure of coolant or steam generated by evaporation of the coolant increases by driving of the engine and the internal pressure of the tank reaches a predetermined pressure, the pressure cap  20  is opened to prevent the internal pressure of the tank  10  from increasing. In addition, even when the internal pressure of the tank  10  is lower than the atmospheric pressure, the pressure cap  20  allows air to be introduced from the outside such that the tank  10  is maintained under a proper pressure. 
     Moreover, the pressure cap  20  has a function for first discharging the hot steam or coolant to the outside in such a manner that the operator opens the pressure cap  20  when the coolant has a high temperature. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the pressure cap  20  includes a valve  21  provided therein to move up and down, and first and second springs  22  and  23  for vertically moving the valve  21  within the tank  10 . First and second seals  24  and  25  are installed for sealing between the pressure cap  20  and the injection port  11 . The first seal  24  of the first and second seals  24  and  25  is first released when the pressure cap  20  is opened. 
     Since the pressure cap  20  has an inner structure similar to that of a pressure cap of a typical pressurized coolant reservoir tank, detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     The pressure cap  20  has a locking protrusion  26  for maintaining a state in which the pressure cap  20  is fastened to the injection port of the tank  10 . The locking protrusion  26  protrudes downward from a lower end of one side on a circumference of the pressure cap  20 . The locking protrusion  26  grips the discharge hole cover  13  when the pressure cap  20  is fully fastened to the injection port  11 , thereby preventing release of the pressure cap  20 . 
     The burn prevention cover  30  is fitted to the side surface of the tank  10 , and thus the coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  flows between the bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30  and the surface of the tank  10 . The burn prevention cover  30  prevents the coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  from spouting upward, thereby preventing the operator from having a burn by the hot steam or coolant when the operator opens the pressure cap  20 . 
     The burn prevention cover  30  has an upper end formed to close a front surface of the discharge hole cover  13  and has a bent shape along the surface of the tank  10 . 
     The burn prevention cover  30  has coupling holes  31  into which the coupling protrusions  14  formed on the surface of the tank  10  are inserted. The coupling holes  31  are formed at the burn prevention cover  30  so as to correspond to positions at which the coupling protrusions  14  are formed on the surface of the tank  10 . In addition, the coupling holes  31  are preferably formed in the same number as that of the coupling protrusions  14 . 
     The burn prevention cover  30  has coupling slots  32  formed on the bottom surface thereof for accommodating the guides  15 . A distance between the coupling slots  32  is equal to a distance between the guides  15  on the bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30 . 
     When the burn prevention cover  30  is assembled to the tank  10 , the coupling protrusions  14  are inserted into the coupling holes  31  so that the burn prevention cover  30  may be maintained in a state of being assembled to the tank  10 . In addition, since the coupling slots  32  of the burn prevention cover  30  are fitted to the guides  15 , the coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  flows downward along the surface of the tank  10  between the guides formed on the tank  10 . 
     Effects of the pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly according to various embodiments of the present having the above-mentioned configurations will be described. 
     Since the pressure cap  20  is normally fastened to the injection port  11  to the maximum degree, steam or coolant in the tank  10  is not discharged through the discharge hole  12  of the injection port  11 . As such, in a state in which a certain amount of coolant is filled in the tank  10 , the coolant cools the engine heated by driving while being circulated through the engine. 
     In addition, the locking protrusion  26  of the pressure cap  20  grips the discharge hole cover  13 , the opening of the pressure cap  20  is suppressed. 
     Meanwhile, when the pressure cap  20  is opened or the internal pressure of the tank  10  excessively increases in a state in which the coolant is heated by the driving of the engine, the hot steam or coolant is discharged through the discharge hole  12 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an initial state in which the pressure cap  20  is rotated by the operator. When the pressure cap  20  is rotated one and a half times, the pressure cap  20  begins to be decoupled from the injection port  11 . In this case, the first seal  24  is first released, and thus an inner portion of the tank  10  and the discharge hole  12  are in an opened state. 
     Since the inner portion of the tank  10  communicates with an outer portion thereof through the discharge hole  12 , the hot steam or coolant is discharged from the tank  10  through the discharge hole  12  to the outside. 
     In this case, the hot steam or coolant spouts by pressure at the time of discharge, thereby causing the operator&#39;s hand opening the pressure cap  20  to have a burn. However, such a burn may be prevented by the burn prevention cover  30 . That is, the hot steam or coolant discharged through the discharge hole  12  is primarily prevented from spouting upward by the discharge hole cover  13 . In addition, since the discharged hot steam or coolant flows along the bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30 , the hot steam or coolant is prevented from spouting toward the operator&#39;s hand. 
     The discharged coolant flows along the bottom surface of the burn prevention cover  30  and the surface of the tank  10  to be discharged to the outside. 
     When the pressure cap  20  is further rotated, the steam and coolant are also discharged through the injection port  11  while the second seal  25  is opened together with the first seal  24  (see  FIG. 9 ). In this state, since the hot steam and coolant are discharged in the initial phase of rotation of the pressure cap  20 , there is not a lot of hot steam and coolant discharged through the second seal  25 . 
     When the pressure cap  20  is further rotated in the state of  FIG. 9 , the pressure cap  20  is fully decoupled from the injection port  11  and the injection port  11  is exposed. In the exposed state of the injection port  11 , coolant may be injected into the tank  10  from the outside. 
     Meanwhile,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an operation state when the internal pressure of the tank  10  is higher or lower than the atmospheric pressure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when the internal pressure of the tank  10  is high, the valve  21  moves up by action of the first and second springs  22  and  23  and the inner portion of the tank  10  communicates with the outer portion thereof in a state in which the sealing is maintained by the first and second seals  24  and  25 . When the inner portion of the tank  10  communicates with the outer portion thereof, the steam and coolant are discharged from the inner portion of the tank  10 , which is in a high-pressure state, to the outside. Consequently, the internal pressure of the tank  10  decreases and the tank  10  is maintained under a proper pressure. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a state in which the internal pressure of the tank  10  is low. In this state, the valve  21  moves up by the first and second springs  22  and  23  and the inner portion of the tank  10  communicates with the outer portion thereof in a state in which the sealing is maintained by the first and second seals  24  and  25 . Consequently, air is introduced into the tank  10  from the outside and thus the internal pressure of the tank  10  is not lowered than a predetermined value. 
     In accordance with a burn prevention cover coupled to a pressurized coolant reservoir tank and a pressurized coolant reservoir tank assembly having the same according to various embodiments of the present invention, when an operator rotates a pressure cap, steam and coolant are discharged from a tank through communication between inner and outer portions of the tank in the initial phase of rotation of the pressure cap and the discharged steam and coolant flow between a bottom surface of the burn prevention cover and a surface of the tank. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operator from having a burn due to spout of the hot steam and coolant. 
     In addition, since a discharge hole is formed on a side surface of an injection port of the tank, it is possible to prevent the coolant from leaking along a discharge passage vertically formed in the tank during injection of the coolant. Moreover, it is possible to prevent a misunderstanding about damage of the tank since the coolant leaks along the discharge passage. 
     Furthermore, since the injection port of the tank need not have a large size for prevention of a burn and a coolant leak, an existing coolant injection gun and pressure cap can be used as they are. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper” or “lower”, “inner” or “outer” and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.