the history of thermostats

Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those cooling systems
look like?
while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took

On 4/12/2014 12:42 PM, I hate front wheel drive, most torque
must go to the rear wrote:
> Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those
> cooling systems look like?
> while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took

From the Model T manual:
http://www.mtfca.com/books/1926Inst.htm

How is the Engine cooled? Answer No. 35

The heat generated by the constant explosions in the engine
would soon overheat and ruin the engine, were it not cooled
by some artificial means. The Ford engine is cooled by the
circulation of water in jackets around the cylinders. The
heat is extracted from the water by its passing through the
thin metal tubing of the radiator---to which are attached
scientifically worked out fins, which assist in the rapid
radiation of the heat. The fan, just back of the radiator,
sucks the air around the tubing---around which the air is
also driven by the forward movement of the car. The fan belt
should be inspected occasionally and tightened when
necessary---not too tight, however---by means of the
eccentric adjustment in the fan bracket. Take up the slack
till the fan atarts to bind when turned by hand.
How does the Water circulate? Answer No. 36

The cooling apparatus of the Ford car is known as the
Thermo-siphon system. It acts on the principle that hot
water seeks a higher level than cold water--consequently
when the water reaches a certain heat, approximately 180
degrees Fahrenheit, circulation commences and the water
flows from the lower radiator outlet pipe up through the
water jackets, into the upper radiator water tank, and down
through the tubes to the lower tank, to repeat the process.

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Aftermarket/reproduction water pumps for Ford Model T are available. My 1914 Ford Model T car has one.

On 4/12/14, 21:02, AMuzi wrote:
> On 4/12/2014 12:42 PM, I hate front wheel drive, most torque must go to
> the rear wrote:
>> Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those
>> cooling systems look like?
>> while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took
>
> From the Model T manual:
> http://www.mtfca.com/books/1926Inst.htm
>
> How is the Engine cooled? Answer No. 35
>
> The heat generated by the constant explosions in the engine would soon
> overheat and ruin the engine, were it not cooled by some artificial
> means. The Ford engine is cooled by the circulation of water in jackets
> around the cylinders. The heat is extracted from the water by its
> passing through the thin metal tubing of the radiator---to which are
> attached scientifically worked out fins, which assist in the rapid
> radiation of the heat. The fan, just back of the radiator, sucks the air
> around the tubing---around which the air is also driven by the forward
> movement of the car. The fan belt should be inspected occasionally and
> tightened when necessary---not too tight, however---by means of the
> eccentric adjustment in the fan bracket. Take up the slack till the fan
> atarts to bind when turned by hand.

Thank you Andrew.

> How does the Water circulate? Answer No. 36
>
> The cooling apparatus of the Ford car is known as the Thermo-siphon
> system. It acts on the principle that hot water seeks a higher level
> than cold water--consequently when the water reaches a certain heat,
> approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, circulation commences and the
> water flows from the lower radiator outlet pipe up through the water
> jackets, into the upper radiator water tank, and down through the tubes
> to the lower tank, to repeat the process.
>
so, no antifreeze back then? How did they prevent water freezing
and ruining engine, radiator, etc back then?

I hate front wheel drive, most torque must go to the rear wrote:
> On 4/12/14, 21:02, AMuzi wrote:
>> On 4/12/2014 12:42 PM, I hate front wheel drive, most torque must go to
>> the rear wrote:
>>> Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those
>>> cooling systems look like?
>>> while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took
>>
>> From the Model T manual:
>> http://www.mtfca.com/books/1926Inst.htm
>>
>> How is the Engine cooled? Answer No. 35
>>
>> The heat generated by the constant explosions in the engine would soon
>> overheat and ruin the engine, were it not cooled by some artificial
>> means. The Ford engine is cooled by the circulation of water in jackets
>> around the cylinders. The heat is extracted from the water by its
>> passing through the thin metal tubing of the radiator---to which are
>> attached scientifically worked out fins, which assist in the rapid
>> radiation of the heat. The fan, just back of the radiator, sucks the air
>> around the tubing---around which the air is also driven by the forward
>> movement of the car. The fan belt should be inspected occasionally and
>> tightened when necessary---not too tight, however---by means of the
>> eccentric adjustment in the fan bracket. Take up the slack till the fan
>> atarts to bind when turned by hand.
>
> Thank you Andrew.
>
>> How does the Water circulate? Answer No. 36
>>
>> The cooling apparatus of the Ford car is known as the Thermo-siphon
>> system. It acts on the principle that hot water seeks a higher level
>> than cold water--consequently when the water reaches a certain heat,
>> approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, circulation commences and the
>> water flows from the lower radiator outlet pipe up through the water
>> jackets, into the upper radiator water tank, and down through the tubes
>> to the lower tank, to repeat the process.
>>
> so, no antifreeze back then? How did they prevent water freezing
> and ruining engine, radiator, etc back then?

Alcohol.

"I hate front wheel drive, most torque must go to the rear"
> wrote in :


> so, no antifreeze back then? How did they prevent water freezing
> and ruining engine, radiator, etc back then?



You drained the water each time you left the car to sit in freezing
weather. It was a big pain in the butt to do, and if you forgot, you'd
wreck your engine and rad. That's why antifreezes were invented.

It was common way-back-when to "lay up" the car until spring, partially
because it wasn't practical to drain-and-fill all the time in freezing
weather, especially when you may not have had running-water readily
available.

I'm not sure if alcohol antifreezes were actually the first ones.
"Prestone" was glycol-based and was expensive.
"Zerone" was alcohol-based and was cheaper.

Zerone had a bad tendency to evaporate over time, so you had to keep buying
more, which kind of defeated the idea of it being cheaper than Prestone.

--
Tegger

I hate front wheel drive, most torque must go to the rear wrote:
> Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those cooling systems
> look like?
> while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took

How far back would you like? Early engines used hopper cooling or air.
Hopper cooled engines worked like a tea kettle, the water would get hot
and evaporate off, you kept adding water to make up the difference.

Then came screen and tube cooling Basically a small water pump would
circulate the hot water through tubes or up to a tube that had holes
that allowed the hot water to run over screens. The increased surface
area gave better cooling.

This led to the "modern" cooling systems. These were similar to those in
use today. Most used thermo siphon cooling. The water circulated simply
from the heat of the engine. (hot water rises just like hot air)In these
there is no thermostat.

Then came the pressurized system used today. These use a water pump and
thermostat to cool the engine. This was needed because as the power
output of the engines increased they needed better cooling. The
thermostat also allows for automatic control of warm ups and operating
temps.

Antifreeze was developed for two reasons. One to keep coolant from
freezing. Two was to improve cooling. Early anti-freeze was alcohol
mixed with water. Very similar to coolant used today.
The pressure cap came about as a way to increase engine operating temps
to improve performance and emissions.

--
Steve W.

Tegger > wrote:
>I'm not sure if alcohol antifreezes were actually the first ones.
>"Prestone" was glycol-based and was expensive.
>"Zerone" was alcohol-based and was cheaper.
>
>Zerone had a bad tendency to evaporate over time, so you had to keep buying
>more, which kind of defeated the idea of it being cheaper than Prestone.

I believe in that era, alcohol-based industrial products were very, very
popular, especially if they could be mixed with a little oil of juniper
and poured into a martini glass.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

I found a service manual of some kind online about Model T's. In it
there was an explanation of the cooling system and they stated that it
was intended for the water to boil, if necessary, because the boiling
removed a lot of heat as it turned the liquid to vapor. So they told
you to be sure and take water with you and keep the system topped off
as needed. This was when there was no such thing as a summer
"coolant" other than water so no one really cared how much "coolant"
the car used as long as you has a supply to add more.


On Sat, 12 Apr 2014 13:02:20 -0500, AMuzi > wrote:

>On 4/12/2014 12:42 PM, I hate front wheel drive, most torque
>must go to the rear wrote:
>> Prior thermostats in the cooling systems how did those
>> cooling systems look like?
>> while I'm at it I'm curious what path antifreeze took
>
> From the Model T manual:
>http://www.mtfca.com/books/1926Inst.htm
>
>How is the Engine cooled? Answer No. 35
>
>The heat generated by the constant explosions in the engine
>would soon overheat and ruin the engine, were it not cooled
>by some artificial means. The Ford engine is cooled by the
>circulation of water in jackets around the cylinders. The
>heat is extracted from the water by its passing through the
>thin metal tubing of the radiator---to which are attached
>scientifically worked out fins, which assist in the rapid
>radiation of the heat. The fan, just back of the radiator,
>sucks the air around the tubing---around which the air is
>also driven by the forward movement of the car. The fan belt
>should be inspected occasionally and tightened when
>necessary---not too tight, however---by means of the
>eccentric adjustment in the fan bracket. Take up the slack
>till the fan atarts to bind when turned by hand.
>How does the Water circulate? Answer No. 36
>
>The cooling apparatus of the Ford car is known as the
>Thermo-siphon system. It acts on the principle that hot
>water seeks a higher level than cold water--consequently
>when the water reaches a certain heat, approximately 180
>degrees Fahrenheit, circulation commences and the water
>flows from the lower radiator outlet pipe up through the
>water jackets, into the upper radiator water tank, and down
>through the tubes to the lower tank, to repeat the process.