Water Neck For LS Engines

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for a water neck for use with a water pump to circulate a coolant from a radiator to an LS engine. The water neck comprises a conduit which includes an interior opening to convey the coolant by way of a water hose to the radiator. The conduit includes a cylindrical section having a smooth exterior surface and a circumferential edge that are configured to receive the water hose. A base is configured to be coupled with the water pump, such that the coolant is conveyed from the water pump through the water neck. A supportive section interconnects the conduit and the base, and orients the conduit relative to the base so as to direct the conduit and the water hose away from the LS engine and a belted pulley assembly of the LS engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water neck for use with a water pump for circulating a coolant between a radiator and an LS engine, comprising:
 a base configured to be coupled with the water pump;   a conduit comprising an interior opening and configured to be coupled with a water hose extending from the radiator; and   a supportive section interconnecting the conduit and the base.   
     
     
         2 . The water neck of  claim 1 , wherein the water neck is comprised of a rigid material that is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during circulating the coolant between the radiator and the LS engine. 
     
     
         3 . The water neck of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises an elongate, cylindrical section having a smooth exterior surface and a circumferential edge that are configured to establish a fluid-tight coupling with the water hose. 
     
     
         4 . The water neck of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical section comprises an outer diameter such that the conduit may be slidably inserted into an interior of the water hose. 
     
     
         5 . The water neck of  claim 4 , wherein the water hose is configured to be fastened onto the cylindrical section by way of any of a wide variety of suitable mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The water neck of  claim 3 , wherein the circumferential edge comprises at least one structure configured cooperate with the water hose and a mechanical fastener so as to maintain the fluid-tight coupling during circulating the coolant. 
     
     
         7 . The water neck of  claim 3 , wherein the interior opening extends through the conduit, the supportive section, and the base such that coolant received into the base from the water pump is conveyed through the water neck to the water hose. 
     
     
         8 . The water neck of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a smooth surface that is configured to establish a fluid-tight seal with a smooth surface of the water pump. 
     
     
         9 . The water neck of  claim 8 , wherein the smooth surface comprises a size and a shape that respectively match a size and a shape of the smooth surface of the water pump. 
     
     
         10 . The water neck of  claim 8 , wherein the smooth surface of the base comprises a countersink disposed around the interior opening so as to provide clearance for a thermostat valve. 
     
     
         11 . The water neck of  claim 8 , wherein the base comprises a first hole and a second hole disposed on opposite sides of the supportive section and respectively aligned with a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole of the water pump, the first and second holes being configured to receive bolts configured to threadably engage with the first and second threaded holes. 
     
     
         12 . The water neck of  claim 1 , wherein the supportive section is configured to orient a longitudinal axis of the conduit relative to the base so as to direct the conduit and the water hose away from the LS engine and a belted pulley assembly of the LS engine. 
     
     
         13 . The water neck of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially normal to a plane defined by a coupling of the base with the water pump. 
     
     
         14 . The water neck of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented at a polar angle with respect to a line which is normal to a plane defined by a coupling of the base with the water pump, and wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented at an azimuthal angle relative to a straight line extending from a first hole to a second hole of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The water neck of  claim 14 , wherein the polar angle ranges between substantially 0 degrees and substantially 90 degrees, and wherein the azimuthal angle ranges between substantially 0 degrees and substantially 180 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A method for a water neck for use with a water pump for circulating a coolant between a radiator and an LS engine, comprising:
 configuring a base to be coupled with the water pump;   providing a conduit to be coupled with a water hose extending from the radiator; and   connecting the conduit to the base by way of a supportive section.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein connecting further comprises configuring the supportive section to orient a longitudinal axis of the conduit relative to the base so as to direct the conduit and the water hose away from the LS engine and a belted pulley assembly of the LS engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein configuring the base further comprises forming a smooth surface having a size and a shape suitable for establishing a fluid-tight coupling with a smooth surface of the water pump. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the conduit further comprises forming an elongate, cylindrical section having a smooth exterior surface and a circumferential edge that are suitable for establishing a fluid-tight coupling with the water hose.