Lubrication – Lubricators – Nipple or fitting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-05-22
Fenstermacher, David (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Lubricators
Nipple or fitting
C184S001500, C184S106000, C123S1960CP, C285S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234274
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a nipple for a fluid access port for connection to a coupler.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a need to provide a low profile quick connect nipple to a fluid access port for a fluid reservoir when the surrounding area of the reservoir is space limited. This is particularly true for the oil pan of a vehicle and its associated drain plug. To remove the contaminated oil from a vehicle, the drain plug generally located in the lowermost region of the oil pan is removed. Spent oil containing suspended particles is permitted to flow under gravity out of the pan into a suitable receptacle. After the spent oil is removed, the plug is replaced and fresh oil is added to the engine usually through a separate opening in the engine valve cover. The oil change process is essentially the same whether performed at home, at service stations or at one of the various oil change centers which have opened in recent years. It is therefore desirable to provide an oil pan adapter device which would eliminate the need for repeated removal and insertion of the drain plug with each oil change operation and that is suitably configured to permit automatic sealing between oil change operations.
The current style of quick connect nipples usable for oil pans has a projection of several inches below the oil pan. The exposure makes the nipple vulnerable to damage as a result of being hit by road debris and/or low clearance between the oil pan and the road surface. The projection provides for significant leverage, which could aggravate the amount of damage to the nipple, including tearing the nipple from the oil pan.
In cases where the oil pan thread is small, a special adapter is used in conjunction with the quick connect nipple, which increases the projection of the nipple by as much as one-quarter inch. The adapter is necessary because the internal parts of the conventional quick connect are installed from the back requiring a minimum opening which is larger than some thread sizes. It is therefore desirable to provide a low profile nipple which allows adequate clearance between the nipple and the roadway. It is further desirable to provide a nipple design that is suitable for large thread sizes as well as the smallest thread size. It is also desirable to provide a nipple design where the internal parts of the nipple are installed from the front of the nipple to allow the thread size to be as small as necessary without the need for a special adapter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The device of the present invention addresses the aforementioned concerns. To accelerate the removal of spent oil conveniently, more completely, and easily from the crank case, a vacuum pump means is connected to the drain aperture to create vacuum within the spent oil container thereby drawing spent oil from the oil pan of the engine into the environmentally safe spent oil container external of the engine. A quick connect nipple is provided in the drain aperture that is adaptable for communication with the pump means including the vacuum means such that subsequent oil changes will merely require the hookup of the quick connect to a vacuum pump means engagable with a spent oil receptacle.
The device of the present invention includes a quick connect nipple releasably connected to the drain plug opening of the oil pan. The quick connect nipple is matingly and sealingly engagable with the drain plug opening and is matingly and sealingly engagable with a fitting or coupler located on a fuel egress conduit which is connected to the fluid storage receptacle through a suitable pump means. The quick connect nipple and coupler combination has a centrally located throughbore and means for effecting positive no spill closure of the nipple when the nipple is disengaged from the coupler.
Because of the internal configuration of a quick connect nipple, it is highly desirable that minute particles of iron and steel which become entrained in the lubricant be removed before such particles embed within the quick connect and prevent the ultimate seal of the quick connect. Therefore, a ring shaped or cylindrical shaped magnet having a center passage is secured at the inlet of the fitting member in the oil pan. As the spent oil is removed, the oil must pass through the center passage of the magnet, wherein the metallic particles are subject to the magnetic force and adhere to the magnet.
In addition, the quick connect nipple has a low profile configuration to provide adequate clearance from the ground when the nipple is disengaged from the coupler. The quick connect nipple is exposed less than an inch below the floor of the oil pan. Therefore, damage to the nipple is often avoided when the vehicle is traveling over rough or bumpy surfaces.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4745894 (1988-05-01), Laipply et al.
patent: 4951723 (1990-08-01), Hoeptner, III
patent: 5411114 (1995-05-01), Bedi et al.
patent: 5568946 (1996-10-01), Jackowski
patent: 5588502 (1996-12-01), Bedi et al.
patent: 5711549 (1998-01-01), Beans
Fenstermacher David
K. J. Manufacturing, Inc.
Young & Basile P.C.
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