Abstract:
An engine cleaning system has a cleaning solution container having a filter element therein and is adapted to establish a predetermined quantity of solution for a particular engine. Solution is pumped from the solution container to the engine interior by the engine oil pump, and a solution drain line connects the engine interior and the solution container. Oil and cleaning solution are pumped by the engine oil pump continuously during the cleaning process. The solution container has a removable closure for filter replacement and a drain valve for solution and oil.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Engine cleaning systems and engine flushing procedures have long been known, and provide benefits including extended engine life, emissions reduction, and fewer repairs. The prior art procedures generally begin with draining used oil from an engine via apparatus attached to an engine drain plug opening or oil filter port, and pumping cleaning solution via an oil filter port to flush internal engine components. Solution and oil are drained via the engine drain plug opening. The processes have generally been performed with the engine not running, and employ a remote pump to move the cleaning solution through an engine. The cleaning solution has typically been re-used many times with its effectiveness being reduced with each re-use, so that after many cleanings with the same re-used solution, later-cleaned engines are relatively dirty. 
     The invention overcomes shortcomings and problems of the prior art. With the engine running during cleaning, all internal surfaces which are wetted with oil during engine operation are cleaned, including such components as valve covers. All surfaces, pressurized and non-pressurized are cleaned, whereas with prior methods only pressurized surfaces are cleaned. A cleaning solution container with a filter element therein provides a predetermined quantity of cleaning solution for a particular engine. Solution is pumped from a solution container to the engine interior, and a drain line connects the engine interior with the solution container. Cleaning solution and oil are pumped by the engine oil pump continuously during the cleaning process. The solution container is easily opened for replacement of filter elements, and has drainage means for used oil and solution. The solution container, valves, the fluid lines, and controls for operating the system, are preferably provided on an operating console. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating console utilized with the present invention; 
     FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of an adapter assembly for an engine oil opening, utilized with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of an engine oil cleaning system according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial view of an adapter utilized with the invention mounted in an oil intake opening of the engine; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a modified form of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning solution container assembly utilized with the invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cleaning solution container of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as comprising a reservoir  3  for cleaning solution, a line for cleaning solution drawn by an engine oil pump  26  through a one-way valve  29  by a flow line  30 , and thence to a filter container or bowl  11 . According to the invention, an engine is cleaned in a dynamic mode with the engine running. Cleaning solution mixed with the used motor oil in the engine is circulated through the engine, thus to reach and clean all surfaces contacted by the engine lubricating system in the operation of the engine. 
     Preparatory to the cleaning operation, an engine oil filter of the engine to be cleaned is removed and an adapter  24  is threadedly mounted in the threaded oil filter opening. 
     Some engines utilize a canister-type adapter to be fitted into an oil filter housing. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, adapter  24  or  49  has two passages, one for inflow of cleaning solution to an engine interior, and the other for the outflow of the cleaning solution. Canister-type oil filter adapters are provided in a variety of openings and thread sizes. Adapters may be provided in a variety of thread sizes, and are typically color-coded to indicate respective openings and thread sizes of various automobile manufacturers. 
     In contrast with many prior art cleaning systems, wherein used or dirty engine oil is removed prior to cleaning operations, according to the invention, the used engine oil is preferably not drained prior to a cleaning operation. 
     The engine oil pump is utilized to pump oil and cleaning solution mixture throughout the engine, thus eliminating any need for a remote-mounted separate pump, as required in many prior systems. 
     With the engine running, engine oil passes via the filter bowl or container and concentrated cleaning solution, typically a detergent, mixes with the oil, typically at a ratio of 10 parts of used oil to 1 part cleaning solution. The oil and cleaning solution mixture is forced into the engine via line  33 , approximately 32 oz. of solution having been pumped from the reservoir  3  to the filter container or bowl to substantially fill the bowl. A one-way check valve  32  prevents back-flow during filling of the bowl. 
     With the engine running, engine oil and cleaning solution are circulated throughout the engine about three or four times per minute for an average engine. Rotating and moving engine components effect a churning action to dissolve sludge, tar and varnish adhering to interior components. Heavier contaminants such as wear-metals particles and gasket particles are flushed into the engine oil pan, picked up by the engine oil pump and deposited in the engine oil filter. A typical cleaning cycle is about ten minutes, although heavily sludged engines and diesel engines may require longer cleaning times. A timer device  8  signals the completion of the cleaning period which is typically about ten minutes. 
     Diagnostic indications are provided regarding engine oil pump condition and any clogging condition of the engine oil pick-up screen. The flow meter  6  indicates the volume of solution pumped by the engine oil pump, and indicates diagnostically the relative cleanliness or clogging condition of oil pump  26  and engine oil pick-up screen. Pressure gauge  7  indicates the pressure produced by the engine, and provides diagnostic indication of any engine oil filter clogging. This gauge also indicates the oil pressure prior to and after an engine cleaning operation to indicate the effectiveness of the cleaning operation. 
     The solution container or bowl  11  and its associate components comprise important features of the present invention. During an engine cleaning operation, a filter screen (not shown) in a solution bowl intake passage from line  31  from the engine, removes any chips or fragments from the liquid oil and cleaning solution. The solution container may be provided with a scale or graduations to facilitate the transfer of a precise amount of cleaning solution to the filter bowl, in accordance with the oil pan capacity of a particular engine being cleaned. 
     A valve or petcock  12  mounted at the lower portion of the container is operable for the draining of the container of used, dirty oil and solution. A “siphon breaker” or air valve  10  is manually operable to admit air to the container to prevent a partial vacuum from interfering with draining of the container. This valve is preferably held open until the level of the container is about one-third below the top of the container. After draining the container bowl, the cap is removed from threaded engagement with the container, a used, dirty filter element  52  is removed and a new filter element is positioned in the container with minimum spillage because the container has already been drained. 
     Filter bowls are available in different sizes for engines of different sizes. Typically such containers or bowls are of similar diameters, but differ in length. A 5′ bowl can typically be used with an engine oil capacity of about 4-5 quarts, and a 10′ bowl for small diesel engines with oil capacity of about 10 quarts, and a 20′ bowl for large diesel engines with bowl capacities over 20 quarts. 
     The filter containers or bowls are generally of the same diameter, and are provided in different lengths to accommodate various filter elements. Respective suppliers of cleaning solutions prescribe filter cartridges or elements of particular lengths for use with their respective solutions. An appropriate spacer  54  is utilized for a particular filter cartridge element to reconcile the cartridge or filter dimension with a container length, as shown. 
     Following a cleaning operation, and the draining of the engine oil and solution, air flushing is preferably utilized to remove any residual oil and solution from the engine. The air flush purges dirty oil and solution from the engine to exit via the drain plug. In some cases it may be desirable to leave a small amount of cleaning solution in the engine for the reason that it contains a seal-rejuvenator and oil conditioner. One end of an air line  42  is connected with an inlet port of a solenoid valve  41  (FIG. 2) and the other end is connected with a pressure regulator  43 . Air flushing is initiated by pressing a button  5 , typically at a console, to pump air via a nozzle  2 , pressure regulator  43 , air lines  42  and  40 , a one-way check valve  39  and line  1  to pressurize the engine to remove left-over residual solution and oil. 
     A control console (FIG. 1) is preferably utilized for efficiency and convenience in the operation of the cleaning system. Mounted in or on the console are a number of controls and components earlier described. These include an on-off switch to control the filling of the cleaning solution container  11  which is mounted on the console for ease of viewing, particularly during filling of the container. The components associated with the solution input line  1  of the engine and components associated with the exit line  31  from the engine to the solution container are disposed in the console. Flow meter  6 , on the console, indicates flow of cleaning solution and oil, and provides the diagnostic indication, earlier mentioned, to indicate any clogging of the pump pick-up screen  27 . An oil pressure gauge  7  on the console indicates the oil pressure and provides diagnostic indication of clogging of the filter screen, as well as indicating the oil pressure difference before and after a cleaning process. The timer  8  provides a signal that the time set for engine cleaning has expired. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein an oil tank  48  is connected by a line  46  with a three-way valve  50 , and a line  51  extends between the three-way valve  50  and the pump  25 . Line  28  is connected with the three-way valve  50 , instead of to pump  25  as in the earlier-described embodiment. 
     During the cleaning process, three-way control valve  50  is opened to pass solution from the tank  3  through three-way valve  50  into pump  25 , and thence through cleaning operation. 
     Upon completion of the cleaning operation, engine drain plug (not shown) is installed and the three-way valve is set to allow flow from oil tank  48  into valve  50  via line  46 , and thence into line  51  and pump  25  to the solution container or bowl  11 . Motor oil then follows the path earlier described for cleaning solution into the engine via line  1  and adapter  24 . After the desired quantity of motor oil has been pumped into the engine, the apparatus is disconnected from the engine. The amount of oil pumped into the engine may be indicated by calibration marks on tank  48  or by an electronic flow meter in line  46 . Also, an automatic shut-off device may be installed to shut off pump  25  once the desired quantity of oil has been pumped to the engine. 
     The oil in the engine is replenished in an efficient and economical manner. Typically in the prior art, several oil containers or cans must be opened and poured into the engine via the engine oil-fill opening, which is time-consuming, and expensive, involving purchasing oil in one-quart containers, whereas with the invention, oil may be purchased in bulk and simply pumped into the engine. 
     It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.