Abstract:
A quick and efficient method to flush out engines, and appropriate machinery and tools for carrying out this operation. The machinery/tools are (a) a flange; and (b) a self-sealing quick connect-disconnect male-female coupling that connects to and through the center of the flange, terminates at a specified distance on the interior of a surface ending with threads or barbs or a quick disconnect, and is attached to a y-shaped connector, to provide a liquid to a cooling system for the engine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/270,302 filed Oct. 11, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/455,230 filed Oct. 15, 2010. These applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to liquid distribution. More particularly, the invention relates to providing an inlet for a liquid from an exterior location for conveyance to an interior location. 
         [0003]    Cooling is a critical phase of engine operation. Cooling water passes through the cylinder heads and block, drawing off heat generated by fuel combustion and engine friction. Proper operation of the cooling system is critical to maintaining satisfactory engine operation and performance. Engines at sea, however, use salt water to do this, which is very corrosive to the out-drive and engine parts. Therefore it is imperative to flush a cooling system after each use. Hence, the need for a fast efficient way to flush out the boat or ship without the need to lift the engine cover, deal with shut-off valves, and/or have need for current flush-out equipment placed on the out-drive—which must be watched mindfully during operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In general, the present invention in a first aspect provides an easy-flow valve comprising (a) a tubular body having first and second ends; (b) a quick connect-disconnect first coupling at the first end of the tubular body; (c) a plurality of barbs or threads on surface of the second end of the tubular body, forming a quick connect-disconnect second coupling at the second end of the tubular body; (d) a flange near the first end of the tubular body, for mounting the valve against a flat surface, the flange being connected to the first coupling and to the tubular body near the first end of the tubular body, the flange circumscribing the first coupling and the tubular body; and (e) a lock nut near and circumscribing the second end of the tubular body, for locking and unlocking the easy-flow valve. 
         [0005]    In a second aspect the invention provides an easy-flow flushing system for flushing out an engine and out-drive. The system comprises (a) an easy-flow valve comprising a tubular body having first and second ends; a quick connect-disconnect first coupling at the first end of the tubular body, for incoming water; a plurality of barbs or threads on surface of the second end of the tubular body, forming a quick connect-disconnect second coupling at the second end of the tubular body; a flange near the first end of the tubular body, for mounting the valve against a flat surface, the flange being connected to the male coupler of the first coupling and to the tubular body near the first end of the tubular body, the flange circumscribing male coupler of the first coupling and the tubular body; and a lock nut near and circumscribing the second end of the tubular body, for locking and unlocking the easy-flow valve; (b) a first conduit for conveying a portion of water out of the system, flushing out the out-drive, from the easy-flow valve through a y-shaped connector to a second conduit; (c) a first segment of the second conduit, for conveying a portion of the water out of the system; (d) a second segment of the second conduit, for conveying a portion of the water to and through an impeller; and (e) a third conduit, for conveying water to a circulation pump of the engine, for circulation through the engine. 
         [0006]    In a third aspect, the invention provides a sealing cap for an easy-flow valve. The sealing cap comprises (a) an open first end; (b) a closed second end; (c) an outer surface and an inner surface; (d) a washer disposed at the second end of the sealing cap within the inner surface of the sealing cap; (e) an  0 -ring disposed within the inner surface n ear the second end of the sealing cap; (f) a first groove in which the  0 -ring is seated; (g) a plurality of ball bearings seated in concave openings near the first end of the sealing cap; (h) an outer sleeve surrounding the ball bearings, which float freely in the sleeve; (i) a cylindrical member having an outer surface on which the sleeve slides; (j) a spring surrounding the cylindrical member, for urging the sleeve to a closed or locked configuration; (k) a snap ring disposed in front of and retaining the sleeve; and (l) a second groove, in which the snap ring is seated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an easy-flow valve, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with a hose attached thereto. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a system for flushing out an engine on a boat, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of a y-shaped connector equipped with barbs. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a sealing cap for the easy-flow valve shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the sealing cap shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    More specifically, reference is made to  FIG. 1 , in which is shown uneasy-flow valve, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the numeral  2 . 
         [0013]    The easy-flow valve  2  comprises a tubular body  4  having first and second ends  4   a  and  4   b ; a quick connect-disconnect first coupling  6  at the first end  4   a  of the tubular body  4 ; a plurality of barbs or threads  8  on the outer surface  4   c  of the second end  4   b  of the tubular body  4 ; a flange  10  near the first end  4   a  of the tubular body  4 ; and a lock nut  12  circumscribing the tubular body  4 . 
         [0014]    The barbs or threads  8  on the outer surface  4   c  of the tubular body  4  form a quick connect-disconnect second coupling  14  at the second end  4   b  of the tubular body  4 . The flange  10  is for mounting the valve  2  against a flat surface (not shown). Although the flange  10  enables mounting on a flat surface, weld-on or thread-on mounts would not require a flange. The flange  10  is connected to a male coupler  6   a  of the first coupling  6  and to the tubular body  4  near the first end  4   a  of the tubular body  4 , and circumscribes the back end  6   c  of a male coupler  6   a  of the first coupling  6  and the tubular body  4 . The lock nut  12  utilizes a plurality of threads  3  to lock and unlock the easy-flow valve  2 . 
         [0015]    The first coupling  6  has a male coupler  6   a  and a female coupler  6   b , and is thereby self-sealing. The male coupler  6   a  includes a circumscribing groove  1  for locking into place the female coupler  6   b . The self-sealing capability of the first coupling  6  prevents air from entering a work piece such as a boat engine (not shown) when the valve  2  is being used to service the work piece. During such operation, the first coupling  6  may beneficially be connected to a garden hose  16  for conveying water (not shown) to the easy-flow valve  2 . The hose  16  is attached to the threaded end  6   c  of the female coupler  6   b , and the unthreaded end  6   d  of the female coupler  6   b  is connected to the male coupler  6   a  of the easy-flow valve  2 . 
         [0016]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , in which is shown a system, made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, for flushing out an engine for a boat or ship (not shown). 
         [0017]    The system comprises the easy-flow valve  2  shown in detail in  FIG. 1 , a heavy-duty service hose  15 , a plurality of fasteners  18  attached to the hose  15 , a y-shaped connector  20 , a first connecting member  22 , an impeller  24 , and a second connecting member  26 . The hose  15  conveys incoming water from the easy-flow valve  2  through the y-shaped connector  20  to the first connecting member  22 . With the engine off, water flows from and through the first connecting member  22 , and out through the out-drive  23  of the system. With the engine running, a portion of the water flows out of the system through a first segment  22   a  of the first connecting member  22 , and a portion flows through a second segment  22   b  of the first connecting member  22  to and through the impeller  24  and through a second connecting member  26  to a circulation pump  28 . Water from the circulation pump  28  is then circulated through the engine on board. the boat or ship (not shown). It is important to circulate water through the system with the engine off and on, in order to flush the entire system. 
         [0018]    The detailed construction of the y-shaped connector  20  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The y-shaped connector  20  comprises a first segment  20   a  and a second segment  20   b . The first and second segments  20   a ,  20   b  define a geometric “y.” Each segment  20   a  and  20   b  is provided with a plurality of barbs  20   c  to facilitate connection to the fasteners  18  on the second connecting member  22  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0019]    In  FIGS. 4 and 5  is shown a sealing cap, generally designated by the numeral  30 , for the easy-flow valve  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]    The sealing cap  30  pertains to quick connect/disconnect couplings for a standard garden hose. More specifically, the sealing cap  30  caps off the male coupler  6   a  of the easy-flow valve  2 . The cap  30  should remain on the male coupler  6   a  at all times except during the flushing process. While the system is being flushed, the female coupler  6   b  is connected to the garden hose  16 .  FIG. 1 , and mated with the male coupler  6   a . During this time the male coupler  6   a  does not need to be capped, because the male coupler  6   a  is being used as a sealed passageway for water. After being flushed, the engine is turned off, and the cap  30  is replaced on the male coupler  6   a  using the same procedure as in connecting the female coupler  6   b . Usually, the female coupler  6   b  is connected to a garden hose for spraying down about. However, in the case of the present invention, the male coupler  6   a  of the easy flow valve  2  is used as an inlet to a closed environment, and it is critical that said environment be completely sealed. The cap  30  is an external means of sealing the easy-flow valve  2  shown in  FIG. 1  and the system shown in  FIG. 2  for flushing out an engine on a boat or ship. If the male coupler  6   a  is provided with an internal spring disk valve, such a valve restrains water and air from entering by spring pressure, forcing an element back to its seat, and thereby forming an air/water-tight seal. This seal will not open from the suction created by the circulation pump  28 , but can be overcome by standard water pressure used to flush out the engine. The cap  30 , however, not only seals securely the male coupler  6   a  of the easy-flow valve  2 , but also provides protection from wear and abrasion. Moreover, the cap  30  provides a uniquely efficient and quick way to seal and protect the male coupler  6   a  of the easy-flow valve  2  without the possibility of the connection becoming loosened, Preferably, a connecting chain (not shown) is attached from the sealing cap  30  to the flange  10 , in order to prevent accidental loss of the cap  30 . 
         [0021]    More specifically, the sealing cap  30  comprises an outer surface  30   a  and an inner surface  30   h . The outer surface  30   a  is provided with a plurality of protuberances  30   c  at a first end  30   d , and a plurality of smaller protuberances  30   e  at a second end  30   f . The protuberances  30   c  and  30   e  provide a grooved, rough surface for non-slip gripping of the sealing cap  30 . The first end  30   d  of the cap  30  is open, and the second end  30   f  is closed. A washer  30   g  is disposed at the second end  30   f  within the inner surface  30   h  of the cap  30 . An O-ring  30   h  is disposed within the inner surface  30   b  near the second end  30   f  of the sealing cap  30 , and is seated in a groove  30   p . The washer  30   g  forms a sealed passageway when the male coupler  6   a  seats against the washer  30   g . The male coupler  6   a  fits tightly in and through the O-ring  30   h  to form a second seal, 
         [0022]    Near the first end  30   d  of the cap  30  are three evenly-spaced ball bearings  30   i . The ball bearings  30   i  are seated in concave openings  30   r  that are smaller than the ball bearings  30   i , so that the ball bearings  30   i  do not and cannot fall through the openings  30   r . The ball bearings  30   i  float freely against an outer surrounding sleeve  30   j . The inside surface  30   k  of the sleeve  30   j  is tapered at its front end  50   j , and slides on the outer surface  50   m  of a cylindrical member  30   l . A spring  30  surrounding the cylindrical member  30   l  rests against a thicker portion  30   x  of the outside surface  50  on of the cylindrical member  30   l , and urges the tapered sleeve  30   j  to a closed or locked configuration. In this position the inside surface  30   k  of the tapered sleeve  30   j  is thickest, causing a downward pressure against the ball bearings  30   i , pushing them into a groove surrounding the male coupler  6   a . There is now a seal at the washer  30   g  and the O-ring  30   h , and the ball bearings  30   i  are pressed hard, seating them firmly in the openings  30   r . The spring  30  in keeps the sleeve  30   j  in a locked configuration. If the sleeve  30   j  is pulled backward, the ball bearings  30   i  are disengaged, releasing the male coupler  6   a . A snap ring  30   o  fits in front of and retains the sleeve  30   j , and is seated in a groove  30   q.    
         [0023]    The cap  30  ensures operation of the water-suctioning process created by the circulation pump  28  ( FIG. 2 ) without sucking in air, which would cause the engine to overheat. The cap  30  provides a fail-safe mechanism that prevents air, water, and other potential contaminants from being sucked into a boat&#39;s cooling system via the male coupler  6   a . For a marine application involving boats, brass or stainless-steel coupling should be used. When the cap  30  and the male coupler  6   a  are mated, the first end of the male coupler  6   a  presses against the washer  30   g  at the second end  30   f  of the cap  30 , and seats into the O-ring  30   h . This operation completely seals off the male coupler  6   a  from air and water. 
         [0024]    The present invention enables change from flushing out the engine, attaching a nozzle (not shown), and spraying the boat down without turning off the water supply. 
         [0025]    While certain specific embodiments and details have been described to illustrate the principles of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed invention.