Closure cap for an automotive radiator

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure cap ( 10 ) for a stationary reservoir neck, especially of an automotive radiator. Said cap has a cap outer part ( 16 ) and a cap inner part ( 15 ), and the cap outer part ( 16 ) comprises a closure element ( 17 ) for the reservoir neck and a grip element ( 18 ) that permits it to be rotated relative thereto. A torsional stop ( 19 ) is provided between the grip element and the closure element ( 17 ) of the cap inner part ( 16 ). The cap inner part ( 15 ) comprises a fluid connection between the reservoir interior and the reservoir exterior and a valve arrangement ( 11 ) for releasing and locking said fluid connection. The torsional stop ( 19 ) that can be/is engaged under the action of a spring can be disengaged by a thermally or pressure-controlled drive ( 14 ), thereby making it possible to adapt the temperature or the pressure prevailing in the reservoir interior to that of the torsional stop of the closure cap in a simple manner and without inadmissibly high heat losses.

1 . A closure cap ( 10 ,  110 ) for a fixed neck of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, having an outer cap element ( 16 ,  116 ) and an inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ), wherein the outer cap element ( 16 ,  116 ) has a closure element ( 17 ,  117 ) for the container neck and a grip element ( 18 ,  118 ), which can be rotated in relation to the latter, between which grasping element and the closure element ( 17 ,  117 ) of the outer cap element ( 16 ,  116 ) a twist-prevention device ( 19 ,  119 ) acts, wherein the inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ) has a flow connection between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container and a valve arrangement ( 11 ,  111 ) for releasing or blocking the flow connection, which valve arrangement ( 11 ,  111 ) has an axially movable overpressure valve body ( 12 ,  112 ), which is pressed under prestress toward the interior of the container against a seal at the inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ) in such a way that, when a threshold value of the interior container pressure is exceeded, it can be lifted off the seal, and an underpressure valve body ( 13 ,  113 ), characterized in that the twist-preventing element ( 19 ,  119 ), which can be engaged or is engaged, is disengaged by means of a thermally or pressure-controlled drive mechanism ( 14 ,  114 ) in the form of a capsule ( 150 ) made of an expandable material, or of a diaphragm ( 50 ), that the drive mechanism ( 14 ,  114 ) is arranged in the outer cap element ( 16 ,  116 ) and is provided with a linearly extending transmitting element ( 54 ,  154 ), which penetrates the overpressure valve body ( 12 ,  112 ) in the cap axis ( 55 ,  155 ) and extends into the area of the inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ) which is connected with the neck of the container, and that the underpressure valve body ( 13 ,  113 ) is arranged eccentrically in respect to the cap axis ( 55 ,  155 ).  
   
   
       2 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the pressure- or temperature-transmitting element ( 54 ,  154 ) is embodied as a hollow or solid rod, along whose exterior circumference the pre-stressed overpressure valve body ( 12 ,  112 ) is guided.  
   
   
       3 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the pressure- or temperature-transmitting element ( 54 ,  154 ) terminates in a lower chamber ( 47 ,  147 ) of the inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ), which communicates with the container interior via an opening ( 48 ,  148 ).  
   
   
       4 . The closure cap in accordance with at least one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the pressure-transmitting element ( 54 ) has a through-bore ( 56 ), whose outlet end, which faces away from the container, is covered by a diaphragm ( 50 ).  
   
   
       5 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized in that the diaphragm ( 50 ) rests with its center area ( 51 ) on the outlet side of the through-bore ( 56 ) and its circumference is clamped in a pressure-proof manner.  
   
   
       6 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 5 , characterized in that the diaphragm ( 50 ) is clamped in the circumferential area of a flange ( 57 ) at the end of the pressure-transmitting element ( 54 ).  
   
   
       7 . The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner cap element ( 15 ,  115 ) has an intermediate bottom ( 21 ,  121 ) with an opening at the center, on whose top the flange ( 57 ) provided with the diaphragm ( 50 ), or the capsule ( 150 ) provided with the expanding material rests, and from whose underside the valve arrangement ( 11 ,  111 ) is suspended.  
   
   
       8 . The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the twist-preventing element ( 19 ,  119 ) is constituted by an approximately U-shaped blocking plate ( 27 ,  127 ), whose molded center area rests on the pressure-controlled or thermally-controlled drive mechanism ( 14 ,  114 ).  
   
   
       9 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 8 , characterized in that the blocking plate ( 27 ,  127 ) is connected with the grip element ( 18 ,  118 ) in a manner fixed against relative rotation, but axially movable, and that the outer ends ( 29 ,  129 ) of the blocking plate ( 27 ,  127 ) dip into recesses of the closure element ( 17 ,  117 ).  
   
   
       10 . The closure cap in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular seal for the overpressure valve body ( 12 ,  112 ) is provided on an intermediate bottom ( 21 ,  121 ), having an opening in the center, of a housing ( 36 ,  136 ) of the valve arrangement ( 11 ,  111 ), and that the underpressure valve ( 13 ,  113 ) is arranged on a location of the underside of the annular intermediate bottom ( 21 ,  121 ).  
   
   
       11 . The closure cap in accordance with  claim 10 , characterized in that the underpressure valve body ( 13 ,  113 ) is arranged in a bell-shaped chamber ( 60 ,  160 ) which is open toward the container and is connected through an opening ( 61 ,  161 ) in the intermediate bottom ( 38 ,  138 ) with the space of the overpressure valve chamber.