Coolant loss and coolant pump malfunction detection system for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

In a cooling system of an internal combustion engine having radiator means, a radiator inlet hose to the radiator means, a coolant outlet passage from the radiator means, and an electrically conductive grounded liquid coolant circulating between the engine and the radiator means, the improvement which comprises: a. an electrically conductive probe means for immersion into the circulating liquid coolant located in the radiator inlet hose and at a point above the coolant level in the radiator means, and b. an electrical detection circuit attached to the probe means comprising in combination, a source of electrical energy, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and circuit means connected to said probe means, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and source of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means said breaking of electrical contact effectuating lighting of said light indicating means through the closing of said relay means said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means and ground, wherein the electrical detection circuit attached to the probe means comprises in combination, a source of electrical energy, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and circuit means connecting said probe means, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and source of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means, said breaking of electrical contacting effectuating the operation of the sound-producing means and light indicating means connected in parallel through the closing of said relay means, said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, sound-producing means, light indicating means, and ground with said transformer being interposed in the circuit between the sound-producing means and light indicating means, a circuit between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means, sound-producing means, and probe means being prevented by the diode means interposed between the probe means and the contact point of the relay.

Claim 3

In a cooling system of an internal combustion engine having a radiator, an expansion tank in communication with said radiator, a radiator inlet hose to the radiator, a coolant outlet passage from the radiator, a coolant inlet passage to the expansion tank, and an electrically conductive grounded liquid coolant circulating between the engine and the radiator and improvement which comprises: a. an electrically conductive probe means for immersion into the circulating liquid coolant located in the coolant inlet passage to the expansion tank at a point above the coolant level in the expansion tank; and b. an electrical detection circuit attached to the probe means comprising in combination, a source of electrical energy, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and circuit means connected to said probe means, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and souRce of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means said breaking of electrical contact effectuating lighting of said light indicating means through the closing of said relay means said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means and ground, wherein the electrical detection circuit comprises in combination, electrically conductive probe means for immersion into an electrically grounded liquid, a source of electrical energy, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and circuit means connecting said probe means, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and source of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means, said breaking of electrical contact effectuating the operation of the sound-producing means and light indicating means connected in parallel through the closing of said relay means, said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, sound-producing means, light indicating means, and ground with said transformer being interposed in the circuit between the sound-producing means and light indicating means, a circuit between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means, sound-producing means, and probe means being prevented by the diode means interposed between the probe means and the contact point of the relay.

Claim 4

In a cooling system of an internal combustion engine having a radiator, an expansion tank in communication with said radiator, a radiator inlet hose to the radiator, a coolant outlet passage from the radiator, a coolant inlet passage to the expansion tank, and an electrically conductive grounded liquid coolant circulating between the engine and the radiator and improvement which comprises: a. an electrically conductive probe means for immersion into the circulating liquid coolant located in the coolant inlet passage to the expansion tank at a point above the coolant level in the expansion tank; and b. an electrical detection circuit attached to the probe means comprising in combination, a source of electrical energy, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and circuit means connected to said probe means, switch means, light indicating means, relay means, and souRce of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means said breaking of electrical contact effectuating lighting of said light indicating means through the closing of said relay means said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means and ground, wherein the electrical detection circuit comprises in combination, electrically conductive probe means for immersion into an electrically grounded liquid, a source of electrical energy, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and circuit means connecting said probe means, switch means, sound-producing means, relay means, diode means, transformer means, light indicating means, and source of electrical energy, said circuit means being responsive to the breaking of electrical contact of said probe means with said liquid as a result of said liquid being out of contact with said probe means, said breaking of electrical contact effectuating the operation of the sound-producing means and light indicating means connected in parallel through the closing of said relay means, said closing of the relay means causing a circuit to be established between the source of electrical energy, sound-producing means, light indicating means, and ground with said transformer being interposed in the circuit between the sound-producing means and light indicating means, a circuit between the source of electrical energy, light indicating means, sound-producing means, and probe means being prevented by the diode means interposed between the probe means and the contact point of the relay.