Abstract:
An apparatus for retrofitting a vehicle for removing spent oil from an oil pan reservoir installed in an access aperture located in a floor bottom of the oil pan reservoir. The device includes a low profile quick connect nipple having a first end threadably sealing into the access aperture and a second end releasably engagable with a mating fitting positioned on an externally located fluid delivery device and further having a fluid tight closure when the second end is disengaged from the fluid delivery device. The apparatus has a center throughbore having a movable member therein. The movable member includes a stem and a circular flared portion. A retainer clip is securely attached to an upper end of the stem. A ring configuration has a center through aperture for receiving the stem and radial connections extending to the periphery of the throughbore. The ring configuration centers the stem and defines a stop for the movable member when the retainer clip contacts the ring configuration.

Description:
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. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the invention including a quick connect nipple and coupler in the disengaged position; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the quick connect nipple taken along lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the quick connect nipple located in an oil pan reservoir/sump and coupler in the engaged position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention will be described within the environment of an oil pan reservoir of a vehicle, although the quick connect nipple of the present invention may be used in other fluid containment environments. An engine generally includes an oil pan reservoir  10  with a drain opening  12  at the bottommost region of the oil pan reservoir or sump  10 . The present invention is a quick connect nipple  14  and coupler  16  that accesses the drain plug aperture  12  in order to draw the spent oil from the oil pan of the engine; and particularly a quick connect nipple  14  having a narrow profile which prevents possible destruction of any part of the quick connect apparatus extending from the drain opening  12 . The present invention facilitates the oil change process performed on an internal combustion engine by including a low profile modification to include a fluid egress nipple fitting  14  releasably and sealingly positioned in the drain opening  12  of an associated oil pan or sump as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The fluid egress nipple  14  of the present invention generally has a hollow internal fluid conveying conduit or throughbore  18  defined therein and includes means for sealingly connecting the egress nipple  14  to the drain opening  12  of the associated oil pan  10  for permitting controlled fluid egress. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fluid egress nipple includes a first threaded region  20  receivable within a mating region in the drain opening  12  of the associated oil pan  10  and a second end  22  opposed to the first end  20  which is sealingly connectible with a mating fitting located on an external fluid egress hose  24 . The nipple  14  may also include an intermediately disposed outwardly facing geometric surface  26  defined thereon for facilitating insertion of the nipple  14  into the associated oil pan drain opening  12 . 
     The fluid egress nipple  14  also includes means for effecting sealing closure of the fluid egress nipple  14  when uncoupled from the mating fitting located on the external fluid egress hose  24 . The quick connect nipple  14  further includes means for effecting positive sealing closure of the fluid egress nipple by employing a positive sealing element therein. The positive sealing element will be discussed hereinafter. 
     The throughbore  18  is defined by the inner peripheral surface  28  of the quick connect nipple  14 . The throughbore  18  may have an essentially cylindrical configuration and may include a reduced radius  30  at the second end as shown in FIG. 1. A radial groove  32  is formed circumferentially in the inner peripheral surface  28  for receiving a first O-ring  34 . A movable member  36  is inserted in the throughbore  18 . The movable member  36  includes an elongated stem portion  38  which flares out at an end to an essentially circular portion  40  with the general diameter of the reduced radius  30  of throughbore  18 . The flared circular end  40  of the movable member  36  has a vertical section  42  with a notch  44  therein. The notch  44  is configured for tightly holding the first O-ring  34  therein. Therefore, when the movable member  36  is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, the first O-ring  34  is tightly sealingly disposed between the groove  32  and notched portion  44  of the movable member  36 . In the closed position, the movable member  36  blocks the fluid flow passageway of the throughbore  18 . The flared circular portion  40  of the movable member  36  further includes an essentially boxed-shaped underside surface  46  having a flat horizontal surface  48  on the upper side adjacent to the stem portion  38 . 
     A radial connector ring  50  is positioned in the throughbore  18 , at the first threaded region  20 . The radial connector ring  50  is seen more clearly in FIG.  2 . The radial connector ring  50  includes a ring portion  52  enclosing the stem  38  of the movable member  36 . The ring portion  52  is therefore centrally located in the throughbore  18  of the quick connect nipple  14 . Radially extending from the ring portion  52  are three connection wings  54  that are securely attached to the peripheral wall  28  of the throughbore  18  at one end. The connection wings  54  are integrally connected to the ring portion  52  at the other end. Although three wings  54  are shown in FIG. 2, the number of wing connectors  54  may vary. The radial connection ring  50  maintains the stem  38  of the movable member  36  in a central location of the throughbore  18  but do not block the fluid passageway in the throughbore  18 . The wing connectors  54  are connected to the inner peripheral surface  28  to maintain the radial connector ring  50  in place. Directly above the radial connector ring  50 , a retainer clip  56  is securely enclosed around the stem  38  of the movable member  36 . The ring portion  52  of radial connector ring  50  defines a stop for the retainer clip  56  on stem  38  to prevent the movable member  36  from moving in a direction toward the second end  22  beyond the point where the retainer clip  56  contacts the ring portion  52  of the radial connector ring  50 . Therefore, the movable member  36  can reciprocally move within the throughbore  18  between portions where retainer clip  56  contacts the radial connector ring  50  and where the flared circular portion  40  contacts the radial connector ring  50 . Other stop means or otherwise movement limiting means may be used to prevent the movable member  36  from moving too far in the direction toward second end  22 . These stop or movement limiting means can include an O-ring around the stem  38  or a protuberance formed on the stem  38  of the movable member  36 , a non-linear or bent portion on the stem  38  of the movable member  36 , or a staked portion on the stem  38  in contact with a shelf (not shown) in the throughbore  18  of the nipple, the connector ring  50 , or other stationary member in the throughbore  18 . 
     A spring  58  is disposed in the throughbore  18  encircling the stem portion  38  of the movable member  36  between the ring portion  52  of the radial connector ring  50  and the horizontal upper surface  60  of the flared circular portion  40  of the movable member  36 . The spring  58  is biased so that the movable member  36  is positioned as shown in FIG. 1 to close the fluid flow in the throughbore  18  and to provide the positive sealing element. 
     The outer surface  62  of the quick connect nipple  14  adjacent the second end  22  includes other features pertinent to the invention. A radial groove  64  is disposed in the outer surface  62  of the quick connect nipple  14  directly below the outwardly facing geometric surface  26 . Groove  64  engages a ring holder  66  for a dust cap (not shown) onto the quick connect nipple  14 . The ring holder  66  can be stretched over the quick connect nipple  14  and kept in place by friction. The ring holder  66  allows a dust cap to remain in place during routine vehicular operation and provide ready access to the quick connect nipple  14  during oil change operations. The dust cap is configured to permit sufficiently secure contact between the dust cap and the nipple  14  so that accidental disengagement of the dust cap during normal engine operation is prevented. Below the location of the ring holder  66  is a radial groove  68  in the quick connect nipple  14  for engaging a ball latch  70  from the external coupler  16  which will be discussed further. Another annular groove  72  is located along the upper horizontal surface of the outwardly facing geometric surface  26  for receiving a second O-ring  74 . O-ring  74  prevents fluid leaks around the exterior of the quick connect nipple  14 . A sealing washer may be used as an alternate seal. 
     The quick connect nipple  14  may further include a ring shaped or cylindrical magnet  59  having a center passage securely attached in a recess  75  formed in the upper surface of the first threaded region  20  of the nipple  14 . Metallic particles that are produced by the movement of the internal combustion engine are flushed to the oil sump by the action of the oil through the oil distribution passages. To prevent these particles from flowing back into the lubrication system a cylindrical magnet  59  is positioned in the flow path of the oil during the oil changing process. It is preferred to securely attached the magnet  59  adjacent the first threaded region  20  of the nipple fitting  14  so that easy access to the metallic particles is available for cleaning when the fluid egress nipple  14  is removed from the drain opening  12 . It is also preferable to have the maximum available surface area of the magnet  59  exposed to the oil in the oil sump  14  in order to expose the magnet  59  to a greater number of metallic particles. Therefore, the cylindrical magnet  59  is positioned at the entrance to the nipple  14  so that an upper surface of magnet  59  is exposed to the fluid in the sump and so that the oil flows through the center passage of the cylindrical magnet  59  before entering throughbore  18 . Although a single cylindrical magnet  59  secured within the recess  75  is preferred, a plurality of small magnets may be secured in circular fashion to the upper surface of nipple  14  to achieve similar results. 
     A mating coupler  16  is also provided which can be connected to the conduit  24  feeding to a pump or a fluid reservoir and which couples to the quick connect nipple  14  to provide fluid transfer. The mating coupler  16  includes an inner tubular member  76  providing the passageway  19  for fluid flow therethrough. Apertures  78  are provided through the wall of the tubular member  76  such that when the coupler  16  is connected to the quick connect nipple, fluid can pass between the quick connect nipple  14  and coupler  16 . An outer stationary tube  80  surrounds the inner tubular member  76  and having a portion  82  of the outer stationary tube  80  that is spaced away from the inner tubular member  76  for reasons discussed further. The outer stationary tube  80  has an inwardly facing shelf  84  disposed between the outer stationary tube  80  and the inner tubular member  76 . An O-ring sealing member  86  is located just below shelf  84 . At the connection end  88  of the coupler  16  and disposed between the outer tube  80  and inner tubular member  76  is a movable inner sleeve  90  having an upper portion  92  that blocks the passageway apertures  78  of the coupler  16 . Another O-ring  94  disposed between a top portion  96  of the movable inner sleeve  90  and a top portion  98  of the inner tubular member  76  seals the passageway from fluid flow. The inner movable sleeve  90  has a downwardly facing horizontal wall  100  and vertical wall  102  meeting at a 90° angle corner. Disposed between this L-shaped corner and the shelf  84  of the outer stationary tube  80  is a spring  104  biasing the movable inner sleeve  90  in a position such that the passageway  78  of the inner tubular member  76  is sealed closed. An outer movable sleeve  108  encloses the outer tube  80 , movable inner sleeve  90  and the inner tubular member  76  therein. 
     Another circular spring  106  is disposed between the outer movable sleeve  108  and the outer stationary tube  80 . The second spring  106  is contained in place by another retainer clip  109  positioned on the outer surface of outer stationary tube  80 . The second spring  106  of the coupler  16  is biased so that the outer movable sleeve  108  has its leading edge  110   a  adjacent to the leading edge  110   b  of the outer stationary tube  80 . This position occurs when the coupler is connected to the quick connect nipple  14  as seen in FIG.  3 . Rollers or balls  70  are positioned in radially dispersed opening  114  of the inner movable sleeve  90  when the coupler  16  is disengaged from the quick connect nipple  14 . The balls  70  in opening  114  maintain the spring  106  in slight tension. Another retainer clip  116  is located on the outer surface of the outer stationary tube  80  at the connection end of the coupler  16 . This retainer clip  116  prevents the outer sleeve  108  from inadvertently disengaging from the coupler  16 . 
     To provide added protection to the female coupler  16 , a protective bumper ring  117  may envelope at least a portion of the outer movable sleeve  108 . The bumper ring  117  is preferably disposed around the coupler  16  adjacent to the leading edge  110   a  of the outer movable sleeve  108  to protect the coupler  16  if a user inadvertently drops the coupler  16  onto a hard surface. 
     Exposed edge  96  of movable inner sleeve  90  contacts exposed edge  91  of movable member  36  of nipple  14  and pushes movable member  36  into the throughbore  18  against spring  58  of the nipple  14  until leading flat surfce  119  of movable inner sleeve  90  comes to a stop against end  22  of the quick connect nipple  14 . The O-ring  34  of the nipple maintains a seal against surface  92  of the movable inner sleeve. With the inner sleeve  90  of the coupler  16  secured against the nipple  14 , the remaining coupler assembly moves around inner sleeve  90  against spring  104  until the connection end  90  of the inner tubular member  76  of the coupler contacts the lower horizontal surface of movable member  36  in the nipple  14 . 
     Further movement of the coupler assembly against spring  104  of the coupler  16  and spring  58  of the nipple  14  forces movable member  36  further into the throughbore  18  of the nipple  14 , thereby exposing the apertures  78  of the inner tubular member  76  and creating a fluid passage between the nipple  14  and coupler  16 . At the same time the balls  70  of the coupler are forced into groove  68  of the nipple by spring  106  and the outer movable sleeve  108  moves over the balls  70  until it is stopped by retainer clip  116 . This final move firmly engages the coupler  16  to the nipple  14  until manually released. 
     The coupler  16  is manually released from nipple  14  by the user sliding the outer movable sleeve  108  away from the nipple  14  so that balls or rollers  70  can again be received into opening  114 . Movable inner sleeve  90  can then return to the location as seen in FIG. 1 so that the coupler  16  can be disengaged from the nipple  14 . 
     The moveable member  36  of the quick connect nipple  14  returns to its position as shown in FIG. 1, such that the circular portion  40  of the movable member  36  is sealed against O-ring  34  to prevent spillage from the oil pan  10 . In addition to providing a seal, the O-ring  34  also functions to restrict the movement of the member  36 . As a backup safety, the movable member  36  is restricted in its movement by retainer clip  56  on the stem  38  of the movable member. The retainer clip  56  cannot move past the radial connector ring  50  located in the throughbore  18  of the quick connect nipple  14 . When the quick connect nipple  14  is disengaged from the coupler  16 , the exposed portion of nipple  14  from oil pan  10  is signified by H in FIG.  1 . The low profile configuration of the quick connect nipple  14  of the current invention provides an exposed portion H having a length less than 1 inch and preferably approximately 0.750 inch. Therefore, the risk of damage to the nipple  14  is greatly reduced when the vehicle travels over rough surfaces. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.