Patent Publication Number: US-7591289-B1

Title: Cooling system bleeder system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to air bleeding systems and more particularly pertains to a new air bleeding system for permitting air to be bled from a cooling system of a vehicle to reduce spillage of coolant during the bleeding process. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of air bleeding systems is known in the prior art. The prior art commonly teaches the use of a container that is coupled to an upper return pipe of a radiator to allow coolant to be supplied to the coolant system. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features that allow for coolant to be added to a coolant system through a fill aperture of a radiator to minimize spilling of the coolant fluid when the coolant system is being bled. Additionally, the system may include a detecting system incorporated to detecting combustion gasses in the cooling system to alert a person to a possible leak in the cooling system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container being configured to receive coolant to be supplied to the coolant system. The container includes an upper open end to permit the coolant to be poured into the container. The container includes a lower open end permitting the coolant to drain from the container. A valve is coupled to the container adjacent to and over the lower open end. The valve is selectively actuated to an open position to permit the coolant in the container to drain from the container and selectively actuated to a closed position to discontinue draining of the coolant from the container. A cap is couplable to the container adjacent the upper open end to selectively close the upper open end of the container. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooling system bleeder system according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded front view of the present invention showing a plurality of adapters. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention shown in use. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new air bleeding system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the cooling system bleeder system  10  generally comprises a container  12  being configured to receive coolant to be supplied to a coolant system. The container  12  includes an upper open end  14  to permit coolant to be poured into the container  12 . The container  12  includes a lower open end  16  permitting the coolant to drain from the container  12 . The container  12  is comprised of a transparent material to permit viewing of the coolant in the container  12 . A valve  18  is coupled to the container  12  adjacent to and over the lower open end  16 . The valve  18  is selectively actuated to an open position to permit the coolant in the container  12  to drain from the container  12 . The valve  18  is selectively actuated to a closed position to discontinue draining of the coolant from the container  12 . 
   At least one adapter  20  is couplable to the valve  18  opposite the container  12 . The at least one adapter  20  engages a radiator  1  of a vehicle  2  to create an airtight seal with the radiator  1 . The at least one adapter  20  permits the coolant passing through the valve  18  to enter the radiator  1 . The at least one adapter  20  includes a bypass pipe  22  being integrally coupled to and in fluid communication with the at least one adapter  20 . A vent hose  24  is coupled to and outwardly extends from the container  12  adjacent to the upper open end  14 . The vent hose  24  is couplable to the at least one adapter  20  to permit fluid communication with the at least one adapter  20 . The vent hose  24  receives air passing into the at least one adapter  20  and directs the air into the container  12 . The vent hose  24  slidably receives the bypass pipe  22  to couple the vent hose  24  to the at least one adapter  20 . 
   A cap  26  is couplable to the container  12  adjacent the upper open end  14  to selectively close the upper open end  14  of the container  12 . A detecting system  28  is coupled to the cap  26 . The detecting system  28  outwardly extends from the cap  26  to permit viewing of the detecting system  28  when coolant is being drained into the radiator  1  and the cap  26  is coupled to the container  12 . The detecting system  28  is in fluid communication with the upper open end  14  of the container  12 . The detecting system  28  includes a reactive material  30  being reactive to gasses, such as hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide, produced during combustion to indicate the presence of combustion gasses in the coolant system of the vehicle  2 . The detecting system  28  is viewable to alert a person to the presence of combustion gasses in the coolant system when the coolant system is being bled. 
   In use, the at least one adapter  20  is coupled to the radiator  1  of the vehicle  2  and secured to the valve  18  with the container  12  attached to the valve  18 . The vent hose  24  is then connected to the bypass pipe  22 . The container  12  is then filled with coolant through the upper open end  14  of the container  12 . The cap  26  is coupled to the upper open end  14  of the container  12 . The valve  18  is actuated to the open position to allow the coolant to pass through the valve  18  and into the coolant system. As air is purged from the coolant system it passes through the at least one adapter  20 , into the vent hose  24  and into the container  12 . The detecting system  28  comes into contact with the air from the coolant system and the reactive material  30  alerts the person if combustion gasses are present, which may indicate a leak in the coolant system of the vehicle  2 . 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.