Abstract:
Aspects of the invention include a universal oil change system and an oil filter relocation system. The oil change system changes the location at which oil is drained from a vehicle engine, such as from the bottom of the engine block to a more convenient and accessible location on the engine compartment. The system includes a drain tube for routing oil from an oil pan and, optionally a pump, which may be operable from the cigarette lighter of the automobile for extracting the used engine oil. Furthermore, an oil filter relocation system which facilitates relocation of an oil filter, such as from an inaccessible point on the engine to an accessible area in the engine compartment is provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the field of automotive maintenance. More specifically the invention relates to a universal quick oil change kit and a filter relocation system.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     In automobile engines, mechanical components such as pistons move and rub against other mechanical components, sometimes at very high speeds. This rubbing, without lubrication to reduce friction, may generate very high heat and severe component wear, resulting in eventual engine failure.  
         [0003]     Engine oil is generally used as a lubricant to facilitate engine operation by reducing friction and consequently wear and heat. However, even with the lubrication provided by the engine oil, friction is never reduced to zero thus heat will still be generated and wear will still occur. Therefore, excessive heat may still occur after prolonged operation at high speeds due to rubbing of mechanical components and engine components wear whenever the engine is in operation.  
         [0004]     Although, this excessive heat is usually dissipated by other means, engine oil, like most other liquids, will break down at a certain temperature. Moreover, dirt due to shavings from the rubbing of mechanical components during cycling of the engine, for instance, or water from condensation, may accumulate over time in the engine oil thus reducing its effectiveness. Thus, periodic replacement of engine oil is necessary to keep the engine healthy, i.e., prevent excessive wear and tear.  
         [0005]     There are two basic categories of engine oil used today: synthetic and non-synthetic types. Synthetic engine oils represent recent technological advances to the engine oil market. Synthetic oils seem to provide better lubricating characteristics than that of the non-synthetic genre thus requiring less frequent replacement than the non-synthetic type oils. In fact, the life span of most synthetic type oil may last as long as five times that of the non-synthetic genre, and may be five times as expensive.  
         [0006]     Traditionally, the non-synthetic engine oil is a byproduct of petroleum processing. These oils seem to break down in characteristics after about three to five thousand miles thus requiring more frequent engine oil replacement.  
         [0007]     Thus, the frequency of oil change may depend largely on the type of engine oil used in lubricating an automobile engine. However, regardless of the type of oil used, the oil in an automobile engine may need to be changed usually based on recommendations of the automobile manufacturer.  
         [0008]     Each automobile has a means by which an operator may remove and replace the engine oil when necessary. For instance, each automobile engine has a drainage plug, usually at the lowest point of the engine block, which may be removed to extract used oil. Then new oil may be poured into the engine through an oil filler access opening, which is usually on or near the top of the engine block. Of course, new oil is only added after the drain plug has been replaced.  
         [0009]     Some operators perform their own automobile engine oil change to save money. Sometimes it is because of convenience. Sometimes it is for fun. But for whatever reason, the operator is generally required to jack-up the automobile, crawl underneath the engine, remove the drain plug with a proper wrench, and drain the used engine oil into a drain pan. In addition, the operator may want to replace the oil filter at each oil change.  
         [0010]     Recently, with the proliferation of quick oil change stations and their relatively inexpensive rates, most operators have forgone the do-it-yourself mode and opted for the convenience of the quick oil change stations. Moreover, the quick oil change stations have freed the operator from worries about the potential hazard to clothing and body inherent in crawling under a potentially leaky engine.  
         [0011]     In addition, because of lack of space around the engine block, some manufacturers locate the oil filter in such places that it may require special instruments to remove and replace the oil filter thus another reason for the convenience of the quick change stations.  
         [0012]     However, even with the relatively inexpensive rates of the quick change stations, the price for an oil change may still be approximately four times the price of the oil and filter combined. Thus, a quick change system for do-it-yourselfers that eliminates the hazards inherent with the location of the oil drain plug, and sometimes the oil filter, is desirable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention is directed to a universal quick oil change system. The oil drain plug of an automobile engine is usually located at the lowest point of the engine block, which is usually at the bottom of the oil pan. Thus, the inconvenience of crawling under the engine to remove used engine oil and the proliferation of relatively cheap quick oil change stations have resulted in most do-it-yourselfer&#39;s foregoing the hassle of changing their own engine oil.  
         [0014]     The present invention provides the incentive and means for any consumer to quickly and cheaply change their own engine oil. An embodiment of the present invention provides a system for relocating the drain plug from the bottom of the engine block to any convenient location in the engine compartment as the consumer desires. A pump, which may be electric, may be provided to quickly and cleanly extract the used oil at oil change time eliminating the necessity of going to one of those quick oil change stations. Thus, with the present invention, oil change will be mostly the cost of buying the replacement oil and filter.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment, an oil filter relocation system is also provided. The oil filter relocation system may be installed in those automobiles with a not-so-easy to reach oil filter location. Even if the vehicle has an easy-to-reach oil filter location, spillage is involved and this problem is addressed by the kit. The kit has a quick disconnect and re-connect of the oil filter adapter bracket that allows the oil filter to be held at such an angle as to drain it completely before removal, eliminating spillage.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the components of the drain plug relocation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration of banjo bolt  170  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration of the process of coupling drain tube  110  to the drain hole  260  of engine block  240 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 2C  is an illustration of the result of coupling banjo bolt  170  with drain tube  110 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of installation of drain tube mount bracket  130 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of mounting drain tube  110  on the mounting bracket.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of engine oil change procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the components of a quick change oil filter relocation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of selection of filter sleeve for an automobile installation.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8A  is an illustration of installation of the lower filter sleeve into the lower filter adapter.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8B  is an illustration of installation of the upper filter sleeve into the upper filter adapter.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of installation of the lower filter adapter.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of installation of the filter relocation tubes.  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is an illustration of installation of the upper filter adapter and filter.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are illustrations of one embodiment of mounting the upper filter adapter in the engine compartment.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  are illustrations of another embodiment of mounting the upper filter adapter in the engine compartment.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 14A, 14B , and  14 C are illustrations of another embodiment of mounting the upper filter adapter in the engine compartment.  
         [0033]      FIG. 15  is an illustration of the prior art locations of the oil drain plug and oil filter in an automobile.  
         [0034]      FIG. 16  is an illustration of the configuration of the oil drain and filter systems after installation of an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]     The invention discloses a universal quick oil change system for an automobile. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.  
         [0036]     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a system for relocating the drain plug of an engine from the bottom of the engine block to a convenient location in the engine compartment. In another embodiment, a system for relocating the oil filter to a more convenient location in the engine compartment is also provided.  
         [0037]     The invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the Figures.  FIG. 1  is an illustration of the components of the drain plug relocation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, the drain plug relocation system comprises an oil drain tube  110 ; oil drain cap  120 ; oil drain tube mount bracket  130 ; pump  140 ; hose and/or tubing  150 ; washer  160 ; banjo bolt  170 ; self tapping screw  180 ; and drain plug adapter  190 .  
         [0038]     Oil drain tube  110  comprises banjo head  102  at one end, a sleeve  106  and adapter  104  at the other end. The remainder of the oil drain tube may be made of appropriate material. The hose and/or tubing material could be flexible metallic or reinforced rubber, nylon, etc., since it may need to be routed through available space from the bottom of the engine to the top. For instance, the type of material generally used for the gas line of a gas dryer may be used for the body of oil drain tube  110 .  
         [0039]     Banjo bolt  170  is further illustrated in  FIG. 2A . As illustrated, banjo bolt  170  comprises a head  214 , which may be a hex head, a square head, or other type head suitable for securing the bolt to a threaded surface. Head  214  is attached to one side of shoulder  212 , which is essentially a flat plate. Attached on the other side of shoulder  212  is elbow section  208 . Elbow section  208  is configured to fit snugly into banjo section  102  (see  FIG. 2C ) of drain tube  110 . Thus, elbow section  208  is configured with the same shape as the inside of banjo section  102  of the drain tube. For instance, in the illustration of  FIG. 1 , section  102  of drain tube  110  is circular thus elbow section  108  is a round, thick, flat plate of approximately the same diameter as inside of banjo section  102 .  
         [0040]     On the other side of elbow section  208  is a bolt section comprising threaded section  204  and optionally non-threaded section  210 . The non-threaded section  210  of the bolt may be located between the threaded section  204  and the elbow section  208 . And along the length of the threaded section  204  is a tunnel  202  for directing fluid from the free end of the bolt section through one or more channels  206  located close to the fixed end of the bolt, i.e., near where the bolt section and elbow  208  are joined.  
         [0041]     As Banjo bolt  170  is configured in an embodiment of the present invention, a chamber  220  is created when Banjo bolt  170  is coupled to banjo head  102 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 2C . As illustrated, fluid passes through tunnel  202  into tunnel  206  and then into chamber  220 . Tunnels  202  and  206  form a “T” with tunnel  206  being the top of the “T”. Chamber  220  provides access for fluid to pass from the engine block to drain tube  110 . Section  240  is a cutout section of the automobile engine block.  
         [0042]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration of the process of coupling drain tube  110  to the drain hole  260  of engine block  240 . As illustrated, the banjo head  102  of drain tube  110  is placed between two washers,  160 ( 1 ) and  160 ( 2 ), and banjo bolt  170  may be threaded through the washers and banjo opening of banjo head  102  to couple with drain hole  260  of the engine block. The initial threading of banjo bolt  170  may be accomplished by hand. Thereafter, an appropriate wrench may be used to tighten banjo bolt  170  to specifications provided by the engine manufacturer for the drain plug.  
         [0043]     In one or more embodiments, it may be necessary to use adapter  190  before installation of drain tube  110 . Adapter  190  may be necessary if the drain hole  260  is two large for the diameter of the banjo bolt section  204 , for example. In such a case, adapter  190  may be threaded into drain hole  260  using a washer  160 . Thereafter, the inside hole of the adapter  190  becomes the new drain hole for installation of banjo bolt  170 , as discussed above.  
         [0044]     Subsequently, drain tube bracket  130  may be installed at a convenient location in the engine compartment or other convenient location on the automobile. For instance, drain tube mount bracket  130  may be installed inside the engine compartment in a location where there is easy access for draining the used engine oil.  FIG. 3  is an illustration of installation of drain tube mount bracket  130 .  
         [0045]     As illustrated, drain tube bracket  130  may be mounted to the fender-well or firewall using a plurality of self tapping screws  180 . After mounting the bracket, the other end  104  of drain tube  110  may be passed from the drain plug location to the new drain tube bracket  130  location. Subsequently, drain tube  110  may be clipped on to bracket  130  via sleeve  106 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Finally, oil drain cap  120  may be installed in place at end  104  of drain tube  110  to act as the new drain plug/cover.  
         [0046]     With this relocation of the oil drain plug, engine oil change may be accomplished with the procedure illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, one end of a first piece of tubing  150 ( 1 ), which could be made of nylon or other appropriate material, may be inserted into or over section  104  of drain tube  110 , and the second end of the first piece of tubing  150 ( 1 ) inserted into or over section  501  of pump  140 .  
         [0047]     In addition, one end of a second piece of tubing  150 ( 2 ), which could be made of nylon or other appropriate material, may be inserted into or over section  502  of pump  140  and the second end of the second piece of tubing  150 ( 2 ) placed over drain pan  510 . The pump may subsequently be plugged into a power outlet, e.g. a cigarette outlet, and then switched on. When the pump is switched on, used oil flows from the engine block  240 , through banjo bolt  170 , through drain tube  110 , through tubing  150 ( 1 ), and finally through tubing  150 ( 2 ) to drain pan  510 .  
         [0048]     After the oil stops flowing into drain pan  510 , the pump  140  may be stopped, disconnected, and stowed. The used oil may subsequently be appropriately disposed. Thus, changing engine oil will no longer require crawling under the engine with its incident hazards. The operator simply plugs in the pump at the relocated drain plug (i.e., at  104 ), plugs the pump power connector into a cigarette lighter socket, attaches the nylon tubing to the oil drain tube, turns the pump on, and the oil is removed by the pump action. Additionally, a storage connector may be included for the nylon tubing so that both ends plug into each other, eliminating any residual spillage when stowed away after use.  
         [0049]     As described, this aspect of the invention has particular utility in changing the location at which oil may be drained from an engine. While the invention has particular utility with respect to engines of automobiles, the invention has utility with respect to engines used in other applications, such as trucks, busses, motorcycles, trains, planes and other vehicles, as well as in non-vehicle type applications, such as engines used to power fixed or movable equipment. The invention may also be utilized to change the location at which other types of fluid may be removed from an engine or associated components, such as hydraulic transmission fluid or the like.  
         [0050]     Various alternate embodiments of the invention are contemplated. In one embodiment, the system need not include a pump, and may include only a single oil drain tube  110 . The second end of that tube  110  may selectively accept a cap for closing the tube  110 . For example, in the case of an automobile, oil is stored in an oil sump or pan which is supported by the vehicle above ground level. A user of the system may simply move the second end of the drain tube  110  to a position below the oil pan, whereby gravity will induce a flow of oil through the tube, thus removing the oil from the pan.  
         [0051]     The oil drain tube  110  may also be connected to the engine oil drain in other manners. In one embodiment, the first end of the tube  110  may included a threaded fitting which allows the oil drain tube  110  to be directly threaded into engagement with the drain hole  260 .  
         [0052]     The pump  140  may be other than electrically powered. For example, the pump may be a mechanically driven pump, such as a foot compression pump or a hand crank pump.  
         [0053]     The drain tube  110  may also be mounted to the vehicle in other ways than with use of the bracket  130  illustrated. For example, a simple clamp may be attached to portion of the engine, that clamp configured to selectively engage the drain tube. The clamp might be, for example, a spring-clip which may be opened to accept the tube, and then be closed to engage the tube.  
         [0054]     In one or more embodiments, the oil filter may also be relocated for ease of servicing. The components of one embodiment of a quick change oil filter relocation system are illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0055]     As illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, the filter relocation system comprises a lower filter adapter  610 ; two filter relocation tubes  620 ; an upper filter adapter  630 ; “L” bracket  640  and/or removable bracket  650 ; and several mounting screws (e.g.  670 ,  672 , and  674 ) and sleeves (e.g.  660  and  662 ).  FIGS. 7 through 14  illustrate the process of relocating the oil filter to a more convenient location in the engine compartment.  
         [0056]     As one aspect of the invention, the lower filter adapter  610  is configured to attach to an engine or associated structure at the location of the oil filter. Most commonly, oil filter are configured to thread onto a mount or sleeve which extends from the engine. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the initial step involves determining the configuration of this filter sleeve  660 . This may be done with an original oil filter which is removed from the engine block or a replacement filter. In one embodiment, a plurality of sleeves  660  of differing types (such as by differing in diameter and/or thread spacing). Through a process of elimination using the sleeves  660 , the configuration of the actual sleeve on the engine may be determined.  
         [0057]     For each embodiment of filter sleeve  660 , there is a corresponding adapter sleeve  662 . Thus, once the filter sleeve is selected, a corresponding adapter sleeve is also automatically selected. The adapter sleeve  660  is then coupled with (i.e. screwed into) lower filter adapter  610 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8A . In addition, filter sleeve  660  is coupled with upper filter adapter  630 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8B .  
         [0058]     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , lower filter adapter  610  (with o-ring  672 ) may be coupled into the original filter location  910 . Original filter location  910  is the slot wherefrom the original oil filter was removed. In some instances, coupling of lower filter adapter  610  to filter location  910  may require adapter ring  680 . In such cases, the adapter ring  680  is installed before the lower filter adapter  610  is installed in place of the original filter.  
         [0059]     After installation of the lower filter adapter  610  into the original filter location  910 , filter relocation tubes  620  are installed as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Each of filter relocation tubes  620  may be configured to thread in a different direction or with a different color to assure proper routing of the tubes. After coupling to adapter  610 , relocation tubes are routed through the engine compartment to a location, e.g. near the hood, where the oil filter will now be mounted for quick access. When the oil filter needs to be removed next time the oil is changed, the kit has a quick disconnect and re-connect of the oil filter adapter bracket that allows the oil filter to be held at such an angle as to drain it completely before removal, eliminating spillage.  
         [0060]     Subsequently, upper filter adapter  630  may be coupled with the free end of relocation tubes  620  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Oil filter  710  may then be coupled into place with the upper filter adapter  630  which may then be mounted at an appropriate location in the engine compartment.  
         [0061]      FIGS. 12, 13 , and  14  are illustrations of a few mounting options for the upper filter adapter  630  at the new filter location. In  FIG. 12A , the short arm of the “T” bracket is mounted at the new location (e.g. fender-well or firewall) using self tapping screws  670 . Subsequently, the upper filter adapter  630  and filter  710  assembly is coupled to the long arm of the “T” bracket using a plurality of pan head screws (e.g. short pan head screws  672 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 12B .  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 13A , the long arm of the “T” bracket is mounted at the new location (e.g. fender-well or firewall) using self tapping screws  670 . Subsequently, the upper filter adapter  630  and filter  710  assembly is coupled to the short arm of the “T” bracket using a plurality of pan head screws (e.g. short pan head screws  672 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 13B .  
         [0063]     In  FIG. 14A , removable bracket base  652  is mounted at the new location. For instance, the removable bracket base  652  may be mounted at the new location by direct installation on the fender-well or firewall), or mounted on an “T” bracket which may have be mounted as illustrated in  FIG. 12A .  
         [0064]     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 14B , removable bracket  650  may be coupled to the upper filter adapter  630  using a plurality of pan-head screws (e.g. long pan-head screws  674 ).  FIG. 14C  is an illustration of the mating of removable bracket  650  and its base  652 .  
         [0065]     Finally, after installation of the quick oil change system and the filter relocation system of an embodiment of the present invention, the drain plug and oil filter locations of the prior art, illustrated in  FIG. 15 , are reconfigured as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . As illustrated, the drain plug location is moved from location  260  to the top of the engine compartment wherein it is covered by the cap  120 . In addition, the oil filter  710  is moved from its original inaccessible location (illustrated in  FIG. 15 ) to the top of the engine (illustrated in  FIG. 16 ).  
         [0066]     Once again, this aspect of the invention may be applied to various engines, including engines used to power other types of vehicles other than automobiles.  
         [0067]     While two relocation tubes  620  are illustrated, it will be appreciated that a single tube defining two passages may be utilized.  
         [0068]     Further, once again, the relocated oil filter  710  may be relocated to a variety of locations, and may be supported or mounted in a variety of ways other than the embodiment described above.  
         [0069]     The relocation tubes  620  may be coupled to the lower filter adapter  610  in a variety of fashions other than that described. For example, the tubes  620  could be connected with quick-disconnect connectors, permitting quick replacement of the tubes  620 .  
         [0070]     Thus, a universal quick oil change system has been described. Particular embodiments described herein are illustrative only and should not limit the present invention thereby. The invention is defined by the claims and their full scope of equivalents.