Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A powered drainage system for draining oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine through the crankcase drain opening, said drainage system comprising a motor-driven pump having an input and an output thereto, a drain plug receivable in the drain opening and having a drain passage therethrough, said drain passage having a first portion of relatively large cross-sectional area and a second portion of relatively small cross-sectional area and a sloping portion interconnecting said first and second portions to form a valve seat, said drain passage having an inlet port at said second portion communicating with the interior of the crankcase and an outlet port communicating with the exterior of the crankcase, said drain plug including an internally threaded outlet coupling portion disposed in surrounding relationship with said outlet port, a hydraulic conduit providing communication between the outlet port of said drain passage and the input of said pump, said conduit including an externally threaded coupling member receivable in and threadedly engageable with said internally threaded outlet coupling portion for providing a fluid-tight coupling between said conduit and said drain plug, valve mechanism carried by said drain plug and movable between a closed condition in engagement with said valve seat for closing said second portion of said drain passage to prevent the flow of oil through said drain passage and an open condition out of engagement with said valve seat for accommodating the flow of oil through said drain passage, and means yieldably biasing said valve mechanism into the closed condition thereof to prevent accidental escape of oil through said drain passage, operation of said pump effecting movement of said valve mechanism to the open condition thereof and consequent pumping of oil from the crankcase through said drain passage and said conduit to the output of said pump.
2. A powered drainage system for draining oil from the crankcase of internal combustion engine through the crankcase drain opening, said drainage system comprising a motor-driven pump having an input and an output thereto, a drain plug receivable in the drain opening and having a drain passage therethrough, said drain passage having a first portion of relatively large cross-sectional area and a second portion of relatively small cross-sectional area and a sloping portion interconnecting said first and second portions to form a valve seat, said drain passage having an inlet port at said second portion communicating with the interior of the crankcase and an outlet port communicating with the exterior of the crankcase, said drain plug including an annular shoulder disposed adjacent to said outlet port in surrounding relationship therewith, and an internally threaded outlet coupling portion disposed in surrounding relationship with said shoulder, a hydraulic conduit providing communication between the outlet port of said drain passage and the input of said pump, said conduit having an annular flange at one end thereof for engagement with the annular shoulder on said drain plug, an externally threaded coupling member receivable in and threadedly engageable with said internally threaded outlet coupling portion for providing a fluid-tight coupling between said conduit and said drain plug, valve mechanism carried by said drain plug and movable between a closed condition in engagement with said valve seat for closing said second portion of said drain passage to prevent the flow of oil through said drain passage and an open condition out of engagement with said valve seat for accommodating the flow of oil through said drain passage, and means yieldably biasing said valve mechanism into the closed condition thereof to prevent accidental escape of oil through said drain passage, operation of said pump effecting movement of said valve mechanism to the open condition thereof and consequent pumping of oil from the crankcase through said drain passage and said conduit to the output of said pump.
3. The powered drainage system set forth in claim 2, wherein said annular shoulder is provided with a generally conical outer surface, said annular flange on said conduit having a generally conical inner surface adapted to be disposed in engagement with conical outer surface on said shoulder in surrounding relationship therewith when said coupling member is tightly threadedly engaged with said drain plug for insuring a fluid-tight coupling between said conduit and said drain plug.
Description:
This invention relates to a fluid removal system, and in particular to a system for draining oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine.
It is a general object of this invention to provide a powered drainage system for removal of oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine without the necessity of removing the drain plug from the crankcase drain outlet. More particularly, where the internal combustion engine is in a vehicle, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for removing the oil from the engine crankcase without the necessity of elevating the vehicle or otherwise providing accessibility to the underside thereof by a service attendant.
It is another object of this invention to provide a modified drain plug for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, which plug is provided with a drain passage therethrough for permitting drainage of the oil from the crankcase and which is further provided with a check valve therein for preventing accidental escape of oil therethrough.
It is an important object of this invention to provide a drain plug for insertion in the drain opening of an associated fluid reservoir and adapted to be coupled by an associated fluid conduit to an associated pump for draining fluid from the reservoir, the drain plug comprising a main body having a drain passage therethrough provided at one end thereof with an inlet port and provided at the other end thereof with an outlet port, reservoir coupling means on the main body for coupling the main body to the associated reservoir with the inlet port communicating with the interior of the associated reservoir, conduit coupling means on the main body for coupling the main body to one end of the associated conduit with the outlet port communicating with the interior of the associated conduit, valve mechanism carried by the main body and movable between a closed condition for preventing the flow of fluid through the drain passage and an open condition for accommodating the flow of fluid through the drain passage, and means yieldably biasing the valve mechanism into the closed condition thereof to prevent accidental escape of fluid through the drain passage, the valve mechanism being movable to the open condition thereof in response to operation of the associated pump for pumping fluid from the associated reservoir through the drain passage and the associated conduit to the associated pump.
Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a powered drainage system for draining oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine through the crankcase drain opening, the drainage system comprising a drain plug of the type set forth, a motor driven pump having an input and an output therein, and a hydraulic conduit providing a communication between the outlet port of the drain passage and the input of the pump.
Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the parts of the powered drainage system, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the power drainage system constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention, illustrating a typical mounting position of the drainage system on an internal combustion engine; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in partial section of the modified drain plug of the present invention, illustrating the means by which the plug is coupled to the associated crankcase and drain conduit.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a drainage system, generally designated by the numeral 20, and constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The drainage system 20 is for use with an internal combustion engine 21 provided with the usual exhaust manifolds 23 and a crankcase 25 closed at the bottom end thereof by an oil pan 27. While for purposes of illustration there has been shown an internal combustion engine 21 having a V-type block, it will of course be understood that the present invention is usable with any type of internal combustion engine which is provided with a crankcase for lubricating oil. The bottom wall 28 of the crankcase oil pan 27 is provided with the standard internally threaded drain opening 29 therein to permit the draining of used oil from the crankcase 25.
Mounted adjacent to the upper end of the engine 21 is a motor-pump assembly 30, which preferably includes an electric motor mounted in driving engagement with a hydraulic pump. Preferably, the electric drive motor for the motor-pump assembly 30 is adapted to be energized by a standard 12 volt automotive storage battery, so that the electric motor may simply be coupled to the terminals of the automobile battery in series with a suitable control switch. The pump portion of the motor-pump assembly 30 is preferably a self-priming low pressure rotary impeller pump having flexible rubber impeller vanes mounted for rotation about a drive shaft. The pump of the motor-pump assembly 30 is provided with an input fitting 31 and a discharge fitting 33, the discharge fitting 33 being in turn coupled to a discharge conduit 35 which may be directed to any suitable container for the used oil.
Coupled to the input fitting 31 of the motor-pump assembly 30 is the output end 41 of a tubular vacuum conduit 40, the input end 42 of the conduit 40 being provided with an outwardly flared annular flange 43 thereon, for a purpose to be described more fully below. Secured to the input end 42 of the conduit 40 in surrounding relationship therewith is a coupler fitting, generally designated by the numeral 45, and provided with an annular flat head 47 and a cylindrical externally threaded shank 49 extending from the head 47 toward the adjacent end of the conduit 40. The coupler fitting 45 is preferably locked in position longitudinally of the conduit 40, while being freely rotatable about the axis thereof.
In the drainage system 20 of the present invention, the standard drain plug for the drain opening 29 in the crankcase oil pan 27 is replaced by a modified drain plug, generally designated by the numeral 50. The drain plug 50 is generally T-shaped and includes a main cylindrical body 51 and a cylindrical coupling neck 53 integral with the main body 51 and extending outwardly therefrom substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof intermediate the ends thereof. The coupling neck 53 is externally threaded and is shaped and dimensioned for threaded engagement with the internally threaded drain opening 29 in the crankcase oil pan 27 for thereby replacing the standard drain plug. One end of the main body 51 defines an outlet leg 55 for the drain plug 50. The outlet leg 55 has an internally threaded opening 57 extending axially thereinto and an annular shoulder 59 disposed adjacent to the inner end of the threaded opening 57, the shoulder 59 having a sloping annular outer surface 58 extending radially inwardly of the opening 57 toward the outer end thereof.
The drain plug 50 has formed therein a drain passage, generally designated by the numeral 60, which includes a generally cylindrical inlet chamber 61 of relatively large diameter extending outwardly through the coupling neck 63 coaxially therewith, and a generally cylindrical outlet chamber 63 of relatively small diameter extending outwardly through the outlet leg 55 coaxially therewith. The inlet chamber 61 has formed adjacent to the outer end thereof an annular valve seat 64 which slopes radially inwardly of the chamber 61 toward the upper end thereof. The valve seat 64 serves to connect the outer end of the inlet chamber 61 with relatively small-diameter inlet throat 67 which extends to the outer end of the coupling neck 53 and terminates thereat in a generally circular inlet port 65. The inner end of the inlet chamber 61 is disposed in the main body portion 51 of the drain plug 50 and communicates with the inner end of the outlet chamber 63. The outlet chamber 63 extends outwardly from the inlet chamber 61 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, and terminates at a circular outlet port 69 which is defined by the annular shoulder 59 in the outlet leg 55 of the drain plug 50, whereby the outlet port 69 communicates with the internally threaded opening 57.
Disposed within the inlet chamber 61 is a check valve ball 70 adapted for engagement with the valve seat 64 and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the inlet throat 67 but less than the diameter of the inlet chamber 61. The check valve ball 70 is yieldably urged into engagement with the valve seat 64 by means of a check valve spring 75 which is preferably a coil compression spring having a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of the inlet chamber 61 and disposed therein, with the upper end of the spring 75 in engagement with the ball 70 and with the lower end of the spring 75 in engagement with the bottom wall of the inlet chamber 61.
Referring to FIG. 2, the coupler fitting 45 on the input end 42 of the conduit 40 is constructed for threaded engagement with the outlet leg 55 of the drain plug 50, the annular flange 43 of the conduit 40 being adaptable for engagement with the outlet leg 55 of the drain plug 50, the annular flange 43 of the conduit 40 being adaptable for engagement with the sloping outer surface 58 of the shoulder 59, when the coupler fitting 45 is tightly screwed into the outlet leg 55 to insure a fluid-tight coupling between the conduit 40 and the drain plug 50. When the conduit 40 is thus coupled to the drain plug 50, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the outlet chamber 63 of the drain passage 60 is disposed substantially coaxially with the input end of the conduit 40, with the outlet port 69 communicating with the interior of the conduit 40.
In use, the standard drain plug is removed from the crankcase oil pan 27 of the internal combustion engine 21, and is replaced by the modified drain plug 50 of the present invention, by screwing the externally threaded coupling neck 53 into the outlet drain opening 29 of the crankcase oil pan 27, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the modified drain plug 50 is thus secured in position in the outlet drain opening 29, the inlet port 65 of the drain passage 60 is disposed in communication with the interior of the crankcase 25. Preferably, the drain plug 50 is mounted in the outlet drain opening 29 prior to coupling thereto of the conduit 40, so that the conduit 40 will not interfere with the screwing of the drain plug 50 into the outlet drain opening 29. After the drain plug 59 has been secured in place in the crankcase oil pan 25, the coupler fitting 45 of the conduit 40 is coupled to the outlet leg of the drain plug 50 in the manner described above. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the check valve ball 70 will normally be urged into a closed condition in engagement with the valve seat 64, securely blocking the inlet throat 67. Thus, in normal use of the internal combustion engine 21, oil will be prevented from accidentally draining from the crankcase 25 by means of the check valve ball 70, the spring 75 exerting sufficient force on the ball 70 to prevent displacement thereof downwardly into an open condition by the weight of the oil in the crankcase 25.
When it is desired to remove oil from the crankcase 25, the motor-pump assembly 30 is actuated, preferably by means of a suitable control switch (not shown). Upon actuation of the motor-pump assembly 30, the pumping action thereof will evacuate air from the conduit 40 and the drain passage 60, whereby the atmospheric pressure in the crankcase 25 will overcome the biasing force of the spring 75 and urge the check valve ball 70 downwardly to an open condition (not shown) for thereby unblocking the inlet throat 67 to accommodate drainage of oil from the crankcase 25 through the drain passage 60 and the conduit 40 to the motor-pump assembly 30. The oil thus pumped from the crankcase 25 is fed through a discharge conduit 35 into any suitable container for used oil. This draining operation will continue until all the oil has been removed from the crankcase 25, after which the motor-pump assembly 30 is turned off. After the pumping action ceases, the pressure within the conduit 40 and the drain passage 60 will return to atmospheric pressure, whereupon the check valve ball 70 will be urged back into the closed condition thereof by the spring 75. A fresh supply of oil may now be added to the crankcase 25 without fear of accidental drainage thereof through the modified drain plug 50.
While the motor-pump assembly 30 has been disclosed as mounted on the engine 21 adjacent to the upper end thereof, it will of course be recognized that it may be located in any other convenient position on the vehicle (if the engine is mounted in a vehicle) or otherwise adjacent to the engine 21. Because of the check valve mechanism of the present invention, it is not essential that the motor-pump assembly 30 be mounted in a position disposed above the upper level of the oil in the crankcase 25.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an improved drainage system of economical construction and characterized by simplicity of installation and operation for removing oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine.
More particularly, there has been provided a powered drainage system which includes check valve means to prevent inadvertent drainage of oil from the internal combustion engine when the powered drainage system is not in operation.
Finally, there has been provided a modified drain plug for replacing the standard drain plug in the crankcase drain outlet of an internal combustion engine, the modified drain plug having a drain passage therethrough to permit powered drainage of oil therethrough and further including suitable check valve means to prevent accidental drainage of oil therethrough.
While there has been described what at present is considered to be the prefered embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.