Abstract:
The present invention provides several embodiments of an oil change apparatus that basically have a valve/fitting connected to the conventionally available oil sump, a drain bracket installed on a low portion of equipment or vehicle periphery, and a flow line that fluidly connects the valve/fitting and the drain bracket. The oil change apparatus enables vehicle users to quickly and easily drain oil at a safe and convenient location. The present invention also provides several reusable and disposable means to properly collect waste oil.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates an apparatus for changing motor oil in an automobile or motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil change apparatus that enables vehicle users to safely and conveniently drain the oil from an engine oil sump at the periphery of the vehicle, and to eliminate any chance for spillage. 
         [0006]    2. General Background of the Invention 
         [0007]    Many individuals prefer to change the oil themselves for a number of reasons. Motor oil can be purchased more cheaply at retail outlets when compared to the cost quoted by automobile dealers and/or quick oil change franchises. Vehicle users can save a round trip to service facilities and the waiting time to have the oil changed. Doing this task at home, users experience the often messy oil collection, the hard work in crawling position and the possible accident of being crushed under a vehicle. The present invention enables users to change the oil cleaner, faster and easier than professional services to smartly save money, labor and time. 
         [0008]    Several systems have been patented that are directed to an apparatus for changing oil. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,978 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,379 disclose an oil change system that employs a flow line connected to the oil sump and a valve placed at the periphery of the vehicle sill; this apparatus suffers because the flow line is always filled with oil, hoses on automobiles can crack over time causing leakage, a bad leakage leads to an engine overheat; in addition, a swinging padlock is not a sophisticated image for mechanic design and general look of the vehicle. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,451 discloses an oil change system with a valve attached to the oil sump and a detachable hose; this apparatus offers an extremely difficult task because the distance between the ground and the vehicle door sill might be as low as five inches, not enough to easily take a look at where the sump outlet is; furthermore, users have to lie down on one side of the body and struggle to work on coupling and detaching the hose, this poor condition of work could accidentally cause a big mess. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    This invention presents an oil change apparatus that provides a mechanic valve and/or an electronic valve which is screwed to the conventionally available sump outlet of the vehicle. A drain bracket with a built-in spigot is mounted to the underneath of the vehicle chassis at a peripheral seam or at a location that is easily and safely accessible to the user. A flow line fluidly connects the valve outlet to the drain bracket. 
         [0010]    The mechanic valve has a spring-loaded valve plug which normally stays at the closed position. One end of a flexible metal cable is attached to the valve plug and the other end to the drain bracket. A manual cable actuator holds the valve in open position only to drain the oil when necessary; an alternative means to the metal cable and the manual cable actuator is the electromagnetic actuator. Compared to other inventions, the flow line in this invention always remains empty except when draining, thereby the vehicle does not have the risk of overheat because of a damaged flow line. 
         [0011]    The electronic valve has a main valve member which rotates to the open position when draining and then rotates in the same direction to the normally closed position; this movement is electronically triggered by a push button. This is a highly convenience advantage over other inventions; there is no need of expensive electric pump to make the oil change slower and more complicated. Furthermore, different vehicles have different sump outlet thread and orientation, a provided adapter offers means to solve this problem. The present invention offers more advantage over others by providing methods to collect all the used oil into a reusable container or two kinds of disposable vessel. 
         [0012]    While certain novel features of this invention shown and described below are pointed out in the annexed claims, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details specified, since a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the devices illustrated and in their operation may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
           [0014]    For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be read in conjunction with the following detailed descriptions and drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a panoramic bottom view of the oil change apparatus without a valve; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the first location choice for the drain bracket; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the second location choice for the drain bracket; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the fitting; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the drain bracket with single vise bolt; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the hollow spigot-plug; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a panoramic perspective view of the drainage in operation; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  are respectively side views of the straight, angle and square adapters; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a panoramic bottom view of the oil change apparatus using the mechanic valve; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12A  is a sectional view of the mechanic valve shown in normally closed position, horizontally cut along the center line of the valve; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12B  is a vertical side view of the mechanic valve cap; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the mechanic valve shown in open position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the drain bracket with double vise bolt, and the manual cable actuator in the ready position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  shows the manual cable actuator in the draining position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a panoramic bottom view of the oil change apparatus using the electronic valve; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view of the electronic valve with the main valve member in open position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is the combination of a side view of the assembled electronic valve in open position and a pictorial diagram of the electronic valve; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19A  is a schematic diagram of the control board of the electronic valve; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19B  is a schematic diagram of the circuit board of the electromagnetic actuator; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 20 and 21  are sectional bottom views of the electronic valve, cut along the line A-B of  FIG. 18 , respectively shown in the normally closed and open positions; 
           [0035]      FIG. 22  is the combination of a sectional view of the mechanic valve shown in normally closed position, a partially cutaway side view of the electromagnetic actuator and its pictorial diagram; 
           [0036]      FIG. 23A  is a cross section view of a fastening section if the hose or cable is somewhat parallel to an existing part of the vehicle; 
           [0037]      FIG. 23B  is a perspective view of a fastening section if the hose or cable crosses an existing part of the vehicle; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 24A and 24B  are respectively perspective views of a reusable oil collection kit and a disposable container; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 25A and 25B  are respectively perspective views of an oil collection means and a full disposable liner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Detailed descriptions of one or more preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in any appropriate system, structure or manner. 
         [0041]    The bottom views of  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  16  show the panorama of three similar oil change apparatuses: a non-valve, a mechanic valve and an electronic valve. The oil change apparatus is provided for changing oil of all kinds of engine with internal combustion, the non-valve is the cheapest and more suitable for landscaping and farming equipment, the mechanic or electronic valve apparatus is for motor vehicle  70  such as an automobile. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows the bottom view of an automobile which has a plurality of wheels  15  and a chassis  14 . The chassis seam  19  is typically a metal strip under the door(s) sill  20 ; it is the lower end portion of the chassis  14  horizontally extending between the front wheel well  30  and the rear one. 
         [0043]    The non-valve oil change apparatus comprises three parts:—a fitting  18  taking place of the conventionally available outlet plug  253  of the oil sump  10 ,
       a drain bracket  13  mounted to chassis seam  19 ,   and a hose  12  connects the fitting  18  to the drain bracket  13 .       
 
         [0046]      FIG. 2  shows the lower driver&#39;s side of a vehicle where the drain bracket  13  can be mounted anywhere along the chassis seam  19 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows another location to mount the drain bracket  13 ; it is the lower end of the front wheel well.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show the easiest places for mounting the drain bracket  13 , a little farther in the vehicle underneath, along the side and in the rear area of the vehicle, there are more places to install the drain bracket. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , at the sump outlet  40  of the automobile, taking place of the conventionally available plug, the fitting  18  is a straight metal tube, one end is externally threaded to fit the existing sump outlet  40 , the other end fits the inner diameter of the hose  12 . This fitting  18  is intended to be used without a valve  80 , an adapter  90  takes its place if using a valve. A clamp  41  tightens the hose  12  to the fitting outlet. The other end of the hose  12  is tightened to the inlet of the drain bracket  13  shown in  FIG. 5 . The drain bracket  13  consists of two metal plates, the outer plate  53  and the inner plate  54  where the spigot  21  is molded to. On top of the metal plates, the grip ridges  55  are intended to strengthen the vise. The vise-bolt  51  mounts the two plates  53  and  54  to the chassis seam  19 , the multi-layer shim  52  should have the same thickness as the chassis ridge  19  to parallel-balance the vise. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  illustrates a hollow spigot-plug  60  which can take place of the spigot-plug  50  to maximize the distance between the spigot  21  and the road surface. The hexagon wrench  61  is used to loosen and/or tighten the plug  60 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  shows the user  71  who safely and easily drains the oil into a collection container  247  without any messy spillage; it&#39;s not a good option to work hardly and unsafely in a small space under a jacked or ramp-elevated vehicle just to drain the oil. 
         [0051]    Turning to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 , conventionally available sump outlets have various kinds of thread and angle so one of the three adapters is used to horizontally orient the oil change apparatus; adapters  90  are metal tubes, one end is externally threaded to fit the sump outlet  40  and the other end is internally and universally threaded to fit the valve  80  (mechanic or electronic). Consequently, the distance between the apparatus and the road surface is maximized, and different vehicles can use the same universal valve. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows the panorama of the oil change apparatus using the mechanic valve  111 . In  FIGS. 11-15 , a metal cable  112 , composed of the inner cable  130  and the outer cable  131  (like the conventionally available bike brake cable), is provided for opening and closing the valve  111 ; one end of the inner cable  130  is connected to the drain bracket  13  and the other end is attached to the valve plug  135  biased towards the valve seat  136  by the spring  122 . 
         [0053]    In the normally closed position of  FIG. 12A , the valve plug  135  engages the valve seat  136  thereby no oil can exit from the adapter  90 . The hose  12 , fastened by clamp  41 , fluidly connects the valve outlet to the drain bracket  13 . 
         [0054]      FIGS. 14 and 15  show the manual cable actuator  143  respectively in ready and draining positions. The manual cable actuator  143  is a detachable tool composed of: 
         [0000]    1) A flat bar with a V-shaped prying tip  140  on one end and a handle  142  on the other end.
 
2) A movable stick with a V-shaped metal jam plate  141  on one end and a little hinge on the other end which is welded to the flat bar.
 
         [0055]    After the prying tip is used to pull the cable tip-lock  150 , the jam plate  141  is snapped in to keep the valve plug  135  in open position ( FIG. 13 ). 
         [0056]    The single-bolt drain bracket ( FIG. 5 ) and the double-bolt bracket ( FIG. 14 ) are interchangeable for three embodiments of oil change apparatus. 
         [0057]    In the open position of  FIG. 13  for draining with the manual cable actuator  143  in place ( FIG. 15 ), the pulled inner cable  130  compresses the spring  122  towards the valve cap  132   a , and this action pulls the valve plug  135  away from the valve seat  136  to open the valve  111 . The oil flow direction  11  is from the oil sump  10 , through the adapter  90  and the open valve towards the spigot  21  via the hose  12 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 16  shows the oil drain apparatus using an electronic valve  160 . One end of the electric cable  161 , composed of three to four wires (the chassis can be used as a ground wire), is connected to the electronic valve  160 . The other end is connected to the control board  162  which can be installed somewhere in the vehicle, neither necessarily close to hot engine parts nor exposed to rain water or street water. 
         [0059]    In  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the valve body  188  has an externally threaded inlet to be connected to the adapter  90 ; it also has a tubular outlet  179  with grip rings  144  intended to strengthen the hose attachment. The main valve member  173  is built with: 
         [0000]    1) The upper part: a cylindrical section  175  which rotates stably in the cylindrical cavity  178 .
 
2) The lower part: a concave section  176  which normally closes the valve and opens it when draining
 
3) The top center part: a valve stem  174  to be connected to the shaft of the electronic motor  170  together with the ring switch  172 .
 
         [0060]    Two fasteners  125  are provided to assemble the valve cap  132   b  and the gasket  124   c  with two internally threaded fasteners  200  while securing the main valve member  173  inside the cylindrical cavity  178 . Two mounting slots  171  are used to mount the motor  170  to the motor mounting bars  177 . 
         [0061]    In  FIG. 18 , the LED  184 , the beeper  185 , the push button  183  and the fuse  181  can be placed apart from the control board  162  (dual circuit) at suitable location and with proper wiring (see diagrams), the electronic regulator  182  should be on the control board. 
         [0062]    The power from the conventionally available vehicle battery  180  supplies a nominal 12 volt direct current; the details of electronic experiment performed accordingly to the schematic diagram of  FIG. 19A  are hereafter:
       time width: t=1.1×R 1 ×C 1 =1.1×0.233MΩ×3.3 μF=0.77 second,   t is the time that the motor takes to rotate 180°;   experimented values (R 1  and R 2  are two potentiometers):
 
R 1 =0.233 MΩ R 2 =390 kΩ R 3 =220 kΩ R 4 =82Ω
       
 
       C 1 =3.3 μF C 2 =10 μF 
       [0066]    the value of R 4  and optional R 5  depends respectively on the kind of motor and beeper. 
         [0067]    The control circuit on the left of  FIG. 19A  is programmed by the resistor R 1  and the capacitor C 1  to energize the motor  170  to start and stop rotating at pre-determined positions, this circuit is based on the accurate timing of the left timer  190  and its electronic network to power the motor; the start is triggered by pressing the push button  183  and the stop automatically occurs when the RC timing is out. The alert circuit on the right of  FIG. 19A  is a self-triggered circuit which is performed by the right timer  190 , the resistors R 2  &amp; R 3 , and the capacitor C 2 . 
         [0068]    When the main valve member  173  reaches and stays at the open position ( FIG. 21 ), the ring switch  172  closes the alert circuit to turn on the blinking LED  184  and the intermittent beeper  185 . When the main valve member  173  leaves the open position to reach and stay at the normally closed position ( FIG. 20 ), the ring switch disconnects the alert circuit. There is no manual control for the alert circuit, it&#39;s totally automatic. 
         [0069]    The control circuit rotates the concave section  176  a half round (180°) by the first button push which changes the position from normally closed to open, the second button push rotates the concave section  176 , in the same direction, which moves exactly the other half round to the normally closed position. The concave section always spins in the counter-clockwise direction, it moves twice to form a closed circle (360°) for one-time draining, it does not spin in one direction and then spin in the opposite direction to get back to the normally closed position. 
         [0070]    The bottom view of  FIG. 20  describes the concave section  176  blocking the communication of adapter  90  and hose  12 ; after being energized to open the valve, the concave section  176  on  FIG. 21  allows the waste oil to flow from oil sump  10  to hose  12  via adapter  90 . 
         [0071]    Turning to  FIG. 22 , instead of the manual cable actuator, the mechanic valve  111  can be operated by the electromagnetic actuator which comprises a relay  192  and an actuating lever  223 . The relay is an electric coil  222  reeled around an iron core  224 . When the on/off switch  220  is closed, the vehicle battery energizes the relay, creates a magnetic field to pull the actuating lever  223 , consequently the valve opens for draining; simultaneously, the alert circuit  221  (timing circuit related to the schematic diagram of  FIG. 19B ) turns on the blinking LED  184  and the intermittent beeper  185 . Both of the alert circuit and the relay should be turned off by the switch  220  as soon as the oil is all drained out, the spring always urges the valve to normally closed position. 
         [0072]    In  FIGS. 23A and 23B , the hose or cable  232  must be secured to existing parts  231   a  or  231   b  of the vehicle underneath by clamp  41 . Sandwiched between the hose and the vehicle part, the insulation  233   a  or  233   b  is meant to prevent possibly burnt hose. The anti-kink tube  230  protects the hose or cable  232  from being choked or damaged when clamped. 
         [0073]    In  FIG. 24A , the reusable container  247  has an opening  244  with cap  241   a , an air inlet and outlet  245  with cap  241   b , and a handle  246 . The waste oil flows from the spigot  21 , through a threaded coupler  240 , a flexible and transparent tube  242  (held inside the opening  244  by the holding clip  243 ) and into the reusable container  247 . Discharged oil from the spigot is highly visible through the transparent tube and at the peripheral location of the vehicle so users can close the valve as soon as the waste oil is all drained out. The oil is collected in a proper workmanlike manner, ready to be brought to a recycling facility. 
         [0074]    In  FIG. 24B , with the same threaded coupler  240 , flexible tube  242  and holding clip  243  as shown in  FIG. 24A , the carrying strings  251  are portable means for users. The disposable container  248  can be made by cheap material such as paraffin wax paperboard. 
         [0075]      FIG. 25A  demonstrates the waste oil gushing out from the sump outlet  40 , the oil jet gradually changes its course; this fact always causes a mess. A widely opened cardboard box  250 , lined with a liner  252  such as a garbage bag, offers a better solution than any conventionally available containers in stores. 
         [0076]      FIG. 25B  shows the liner  252  filled with used oil, the top portion of the liner can be tightly self-knotted, cheap carrying strings  251  made the combination of liner and box easily movable to be disposed at an oil collection facility. This method can be performed whether or not the vehicle is equipped with the oil drain apparatus. 
         [0077]    The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0078]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Part number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                  10 
                 sump/oil sump 
               
               
                  11 
                 oil flow direction 
               
               
                  12 
                 flow line/hose 
               
               
                  13 
                 drain bracket 
               
               
                  14 
                 chassis 
               
               
                  15 
                 wheel/tire 
               
               
                  16 
                 front of vehicle 
               
               
                  17 
                 rear of vehicle 
               
               
                  18 
                 fitting 
               
               
                  19 
                 chassis seam 
               
               
                  20 
                 sill/door sill 
               
               
                  21 
                 spigot/built-in spigot 
               
               
                  30 
                 wheel well 
               
               
                  40 
                 sump outlet 
               
               
                  41 
                 clamp (having various styles and tightening 
               
               
                   
                 diameters) 
               
               
                  42 
                 anti-leak washer 
               
               
                  50 
                 spigot plug 
               
               
                  51 
                 vise bolt 
               
               
                  52 
                 multi-layer shim 
               
               
                  53 
                 outer plate 
               
               
                  54 
                 inner plate 
               
               
                  55 
                 grip ridge 
               
               
                  60 
                 hollow hexagon spigot-plug 
               
               
                  61 
                 wrench (hexagon tip style) 
               
               
                  70 
                 vehicle 
               
               
                  71 
                 user 
               
               
                  80 
                 valve (mechanic or electronic) 
               
               
                  90 
                 adapter 
               
               
                 100 
                 threaded connection 
               
               
                 111 
                 mechanic valve/spring-loaded mechanic valve 
               
               
                 112 
                 flexible metal cable 
               
               
                 120 
                 opening for fastener 
               
               
                 121 
                 opening for inner cable 130 
               
               
                 122 
                 spring 
               
               
                 123 
                 tubular tip 
               
               
                 124a, 124b and 124c 
                 gasket/rubber O ring 
               
               
                 125 
                 fastener 
               
               
                 130 
                 inner cable 
               
               
                 131 
                 outer cable 
               
               
                 132a and 132b 
                 valve cap 
               
               
                 133 
                 gasket holder/washer 
               
               
                 134 
                 cable tip 
               
               
                 135 
                 valve plug 
               
               
                 136 
                 valve seat 
               
               
                 140 
                 prying tip 
               
               
                 141 
                 jam plate 
               
               
                 142 
                 handle 
               
               
                 143 
                 manual cable actuator 
               
               
                 144 
                 grip ring 
               
               
                 150 
                 cable tip lock 
               
               
                 160 
                 electronic valve 
               
               
                 161 
                 electric cable 
               
               
                 162 
                 electronic control board (dual timing circuit) 
               
               
                 170 
                 motor (DCM-702 motor) 
               
               
                 171 
                 mounting slot 
               
               
                 172 
                 ring switch 
               
               
                 173 
                 main valve member 
               
               
                 174 
                 valve stem 
               
               
                 175 
                 cylindrical section 
               
               
                 176 
                 concave section 
               
               
                 177 
                 motor mounting bar 
               
               
                 178 
                 cylindrical cavity 
               
               
                 179 
                 outlet/valve outlet 
               
               
                 180 
                 vehicle battery (conventionally available) 
               
               
                 181 
                 fuse 
               
               
                 182 
                 electronic regulator 
               
               
                 183 
                 push button/trigger 
               
               
                 184 
                 LED (light emitting diode)/blinking LED 
               
               
                 185 
                 beeper/intermittent beeper 
               
               
                 186 
                 wire/print circuit line 
               
               
                 187 
                 wire holder 
               
               
                 188 
                 valve body 
               
               
                 190 
                 LM 555 timer 
               
               
                 191 
                 2N3904 transistor 
               
               
                 192 
                 relay 
               
               
                 200 
                 internally threaded fastener 
               
               
                 220 
                 on/off switch 
               
               
                 221 
                 alert circuit of FIG. 19B 
               
               
                 222 
                 electric coil 
               
               
                 223 
                 actuating lever 
               
               
                 224 
                 iron core 
               
               
                 230 
                 anti-kink tube 
               
               
                 231a and 231b 
                 existing part of vehicle 
               
               
                 232 
                 hose or cable 
               
               
                 233a and 233b 
                 insulation 
               
               
                 240 
                 threaded coupler 
               
               
                 241a and 241b 
                 cap 
               
               
                 242 
                 flexible and transparent tube 
               
               
                 243 
                 plastic holding clip 
               
               
                 244 
                 container opening 
               
               
                 245 
                 air inlet and outlet (optional) 
               
               
                 246 
                 handle/container handle 
               
               
                 247 
                 container/reusable container 
               
               
                 248 
                 disposable container 
               
               
                 250 
                 receptacle/cardboard box 
               
               
                 251 
                 carrying string 
               
               
                 252 
                 liner/plastic bag 
               
               
                 253 
                 conventionally available outlet plug 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0079]    All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All used materials are biocompatible. 
         [0080]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims.