Apparatus and method for changing oil in an internal combustion engine at a location adjacent to an engine oil filter unit

• US 5,452,695 A
• Filed: 10/27/1993
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K.J. Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: K.J. Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Bedi, Ram D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US08/144,185
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196 R, 123/196 A, 123/196 S, 184/1.5
• US Class Current: 123/196.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/03 Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means filters B01D
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/045 Removing lubricant by suction
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1014 comprising supply of additives
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2033/005 Flushing

Abstract

A method and device for changing oil and measuring oil consumption in an internal combustion engine having an internal oil lubrication distribution passage system with an oil filter and oil reservoir which includes the steps of connecting an external, separable apparatus to the internal oil lubrication distribution system at a first point upstream of the oil filter and at a second point in fluid communication with the oil reservoir; removing spent oil from the oil reservoir and measuring the amount removed; introducing a measured amount of fresh oil appropriate for the internal combustion engine into the oil reservoir; and calculating the difference between the amount of fresh oil introduced to and the spent oil removed from the oil reservoir. The device for facilitating oil introduction includes a bracket having an outer housing having an oil filter mounting face, an engine wall-engaging face and an intermediate outer wall portion disposed therebetween. The bracket has suitable oil passages within it for conveying oil to and from the oil filter unit and has a quick connect nipple in fluid communication with the oil passage. The device also includes an external pump device in fluid communication with the oil passage through a mating quick connect member located on the pump device.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the introduction of oil into an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having at least one internal lube oil distribution passage located within the engine through which oil, filtered by an oil filter unit is maintained in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, passes and an oil pan, the device comprising:

a bracket having an outer housing, said outer housing having an oil filter communicating face, an engine communicating face noncontiguous to said oil filter communicating face and an intermediate outer wall portion disposed therebetween, said bracket further having first and second oil passages extending from said oil filter communicating face to said engine communicating face, said first oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in the oil filter communicating face to an oil outlet port located in said engine communicating face, said second oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in said engine communicating face to an oil outlet port located in said oil filter communicating face;

means for maintaining the oil filter unit in fluid communication with said oil filter communicating face of said bracket;

means for communicating the bracket to said internal combustion engine; and

at least one quick connect coupling member in fluid communication with at least one of said first and second oil passages.

2. The device as in claim 1 further comprising:

an external pump device in releasable fluid communication with said bracket having at least one said quick connect coupling member adapted to releasably and sealing mate with one of said quick connect couplings to establish fluid communication between at least one of said first and second passages of said bracket and said external pump device, said external pump delivering oil and purge air into said internal combustion engine through said bracket.

3. A device for facilitating the introduction of oil into an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having an engine block having an outer engine block wall, at least one internal lube oil distribution passage located within the engine block through which oil, filtered by an oil filter unit is maintained in fluid contact with the internal combustion engine, passes and an oil pan, the device comprising:

a bracket having an outer housing, said outer housing having an oil filter mounting face, an engine block wall-engaging face nonparallel to said oil filter mounting face and an intermediate outer wall portion disposed therebetween, said bracket further having first and second oil passages extending from said oil filter mounting face to said engine block-wall engaging face, said first oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in the oil filter mounting face to an oil outlet port located in said engine block wall-engaging face, said second oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in said engine block wall-engaging face to an oil outlet port located in said oil filter mounting face;

means for maintaining the oil filter unit in fluid-tight engagement with said oil filter mounting face of said oil filter mounting bracket, wherein said means for maintaining said oil filter unit in engagement with said oil filter mounting face comprises an exteriorly threaded nipple mounted in said oil inlet aperture in said oil filter mounting face and extending perpendicularly outward relative to said oil filter mounting face;

means for attaching the oil filter mounting bracket to said outer wall of said internal combustion engine, said bracket mounting means located on said bracket housing adjacent to said engine block wall-engaging face of said bracket;

at least one quick connect coupling nipple positioned in said intermediate outer wall of said housing, said quick connect coupling nipple in fluid communication with at least one of said first and second oil passages; and

an external pump device in releasable fluid communication with said bracket having at least one said quick connect coupling member adapted to releasably and sealing mate with said quick connect coupling nipple located on said bracket housing to establish fluid communication between at least one passage of said bracket and said external pump device, said external pump delivering oil and purge air into said internal combustion engine through said bracket.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said oil filter mounting bracket attachment means comprises:

a flange extending perpendicularly outward from said housing adjacent to said engine block wall-engaging face, said flange having a plurality of through slots extending therethrough; and

a plurality of bolt assemblies extending through associated through slots for fixedly attaching said oil filter mounting bracket to said engine block.

5. The device as in claim 3, wherein said oil filter mounting bracket attachment means comprises a plurality of externally threaded screws for fixedly attaching said oil filter mounting bracket to said engine block.

6. The device as in claim 3, wherein said oil delivery means comprises an oil change pump device externally positioned relative to the internal combustion engine releasably attachable to said quick connect coupling nipple for establishing fluid communication between said external oil change pump and one of said first and second passage of said bracket.

7. A device for facilitating the introduction of oil and purge air into an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having an engine block having an outer engine block wall, at least one internal lube oil distribution passage located within the engine block through which oil, filtered by an oil filter unit maintained in fluid contact with the internal combustion engine, passes and an oil pan, the device comprising:

a bracket having an outer housing, said outer housing having an oil filter mounting face, an engine block wall-engaging face nonparallel to said oil filter mounting face and an intermediate outer wall portion disposed therebetween, said bracket further having first and second oil passages extending from said oil filter mounting face to said engine block-wall engaging face, said first oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in the oil filter mounting face to an oil outlet port located in said engine block wall-engaging face, said second oil passage extending through said housing from an oil inlet aperture located in said engine block wall-engaging face to an oil outlet port located in said oil filter mounting face;

means for maintaining the oil filter unit in fluid-tight engagement with said oil filter mounting face of said oil filter mounting bracket;

means for attaching the oil filter unit mounting bracket to said outer wall of said internal combustion engine, said bracket mounting means located on said bracket housing adjacent to said engine block wall-engaging face of said bracket; and

at least one quick connect coupling nipple positioned in said intermediate outer wall of said housing, said quick connect coupling nipple in fluid communication with said second oil conveying conduit.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein said outer housing consists of a first cylindrical, hollow orifice having an open end which defines said oil filter mounting face and a closed end, said closed end having at least one aperture wherein said at least one quick connect coupling is positioned.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein said outer housing further comprises a second cylindrical, hollow orifice recess fixedly disposed within said first hollow orifice having a diameter in size smaller than said first cylindrical, hollow orifice.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said second hollow orifice has an externally threaded nipple for engaging said oil filter unit disposed therein.

11. The device as in claim 9, wherein said outer housing further comprises at least two legs perpendicular to said engine block wall-engaging face and fixedly connected to said first cylindrical, hollow orifice for supporting said first cylindrical, hollow orifice.

12. The device as in claim 9, wherein said outer housing further comprises at least one leg perpendicular to said engine block wall-engaging face for supporting said second cylindrical, hollow orifice.

13. The device as in claim 7, wherein said oil filter mounting bracket attachment means comprises a plurality of nut and bolt assemblies for fixedly attaching said oil filter mounting bracket to said engine block.

14. The device as in claim 7, wherein said oil filter mounting bracket attachment means comprises a plurality of externally threaded screws for fixedly attaching said oil filter mounting bracket to said engine block.

15. The device as in claim 7, wherein said oil filter engagement means comprises an exteriorly threaded nipple which extends outwardly beyond said oil filter mounting face.

16. The device as in claim 7 wherein said engine block wall-engaging face is essentially perpendicular to said oil filter mounting face.

17. An engine lubrication system comprising an oil conduit means defining a first side for delivering oil to engine parts, the conduit means comprising:

an oil filter unit having an inlet communicating with a pump outlet, the pump outlet being for discharging oil into a passage communicating with engine parts to be lubricated and the filter unit through which the oil passes; and

a fill fitting in fluid communication with said first side for use during an oil change process through said passage for directing replacement oil into said first side for supplying new oil to the oil filter unit, said fitting comprising a fitting body and a fill passage extending through the body.