Multi chamber coolant tank

Abstract

A coolant tank for receiving a fluid from the cooling system of an internal combustion engine includes a pressurized tank having a pressurized reservoir configured to contain the fluid and an overflow tank integrated with the pressurized tank. The pressurized reservoir includes an inlet port configured to receive the fluid from the cooling system, an outlet port configured to direct the fluid from the pressurized reservoir to the cooling system, a fill neck in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir, and a pressure cap removably coupled to the fill neck. The overflow tank includes an overflow reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and configured to receive overflow fluid from the pressurized reservoir when the liquid of the cooling system expands. At least a portion of the fill neck is positioned within the overflow reservoir.

1 . A coolant tank for receiving a fluid from the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a pressurized tank including
 a pressurized reservoir configured to contain the fluid, 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct fluid from the from the cooling system and into the pressurized reservoir, 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct the fluid from the pressurized reservoir to the cooling system, 
 a fill neck in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir, and 
 a pressure cap removably coupled to the fill neck; and 
   an overflow tank integrated with the pressurized tank, the overflow tank including
 an overflow reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and configured to receive overflow fluid from the pressurized reservoir when the liquid of the cooling system expands, and 
   wherein at least a portion of the fill neck is positioned within the overflow reservoir.   
   
   
       2 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure cap includes:
 a pressure limiting valve configured to release the fluid to the overflow reservoir when the pressurized reservoir reaches a first predetermined pressure; and   a check valve configured to allow the fluid to flow from the overflow reservoir to the pressurized reservoir when the pressure in the pressurized reservoir drops below a second predetermined value.   
   
   
       3 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , further comprising an overflow port in fluid communication with the overflow reservoir and configured to vent the fluid to the atmosphere. 
   
   
       4 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a duct in fluid communication between the pressure cap and the overflow reservoir, the duct having at least a portion of a wall in common with the fill neck. 
   
   
       5 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the pressure cap relative to the pressure reservoir defines an upward direction, and wherein the overflow reservoir is positioned substantially above the pressurized reservoir. 
   
   
       6 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , wherein the fill neck extends vertically from the pressurized reservoir into the overflow reservoir. 
   
   
       7 . The coolant tank of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet port is positioned near the top of the fill neck. 
   
   
       8 . A coolant tank for receiving a fluid from the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a pressurized tank including
 a pressurized reservoir configured to contain the fluid, 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct fluid from the from the cooling system and into the pressurized reservoir, 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct the fluid from the pressurized reservoir to the cooling system, 
 a fill neck in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir, and 
 a pressure cap removably coupled to the fill neck; and 
   an overflow tank integrated with the pressurized tank, the overflow tank including
 an overflow reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure and configured to receive overflow fluid from the pressurized chamber when the liquid of the cooling system expands, and 
 a fill cap removably coupled to the overflow reservoir, wherein the position of the fill cap relative to the overflow reservoir and the position of the pressure cap relative to the pressure reservoir define an upward direction, 
   wherein at least a portion of the overflow reservoir is positioned above the pressurized reservoir.   
   
   
       9 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the fill neck is substantially surrounded by the overflow reservoir. 
   
   
       10 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure cap includes:
 a pressure limiting valve configured to release the fluid to the overflow reservoir when the pressurized reservoir reaches a first predetermined pressure; and   a check valve configured to allow the fluid to flow from the overflow reservoir to the pressurized reservoir when the pressure in the pressurized reservoir drops below a second predetermined value.   
   
   
       11 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , further comprising an overflow port in fluid communication with the overflow reservoir and configured to vent the fluid to the atmosphere. 
   
   
       12 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , further comprising a duct in fluid communication between the pressure cap and the overflow reservoir, the duct having at least a portion of a wall in common with the fill neck. 
   
   
       13 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , wherein the entire overflow reservoir is positioned above the pressurized reservoir. 
   
   
       14 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , wherein the fill neck extends vertically from the pressurized reservoir into the overflow reservoir. 
   
   
       15 . The coolant tank of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet port is positioned near the top of the fill neck. 
   
   
       16 . A coolant tank for receiving a fluid from the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an overflow tank, the overflow tank including
 an overflow reservoir maintained at atmospheric pressure, and 
 an overflow duct in fluid communication with the overflow reservoir; and 
   a pressurized tank integrated with the overflow tank, the pressurized tank including
 a pressurized reservoir configured to contain the fluid; 
 an inlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct fluid from the cooling system and into the pressurized reservoir, 
 an outlet port in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir and configured to direct the fluid from the pressurized reservoir to the cooling system, 
 a fill neck in fluid communication with the pressurized reservoir, wherein the overflow duct is integrated with the fill neck, and 
 a pressure cap removably coupled to the fill neck, wherein the pressure cap includes
 a pressure limiting valve configured to allow the fluid to flow from the pressurized reservoir, through the fill neck, and through the overflow duct to the overflow reservoir when the pressurized reservoir reaches a first predetermined pressure, and 
 a check valve configured to allow the fluid to flow from the overflow reservoir, through the overflow duct, and through the fill neck to the pressurized reservoir when the pressure in the pressurized reservoir drops below a second predetermined pressure. 
 
   
   
   
       17 . The coolant tank of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the fill neck is substantially surrounded by the overflow reservoir. 
   
   
       18 . The coolant tank of  claim 16 , further comprising an overflow port in fluid communication with the overflow reservoir and configured to vent the fluid to the atmosphere. 
   
   
       19 . The coolant tank of  claim 16 , wherein the position of the pressure cap relative to the pressure reservoir defines an upward direction, and wherein the overflow reservoir is positioned substantially above the pressurized reservoir. 
   
   
       20 . The coolant tank of  claim 16 , wherein the inlet port is positioned near the top of the fill neck.