Patent Application
20150167534
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/738,721, filed Dec. 18, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to recycling systems and, more particularly, to a recycling system that either recycles fluids from and back into marine engines or reclaims the fluids for later reuse.
Currently, when winterizing marine engines, users typically run antifreeze through the engine's cooling system and then discard the antifreeze. Such waste is costly and bad for the environment.
As can be seen, there is a need for a system that recycles and reclaims fluids.
In one aspect of the present invention, a recycling system comprises: a collection container having a bottom circumscribed by at least one sidewall; a pump within an area circumscribed by the at least one sidewall; and a redelivery system comprising at least a fluid transmitter having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the pump and the second end is connectable to an apparatus, wherein the redelivery system is configured to receive and transmit a fluid from the pump and into the apparatus through the fluid transmitter, and wherein the fluid is directed from the apparatus back into the collection container.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of recycling fluid comprises: providing a recycling system comprising: a collection container having a bottom circumscribed by at least one sidewall; a pump within an area circumscribed by the at least one sidewall; and a redelivery system comprising at least a fluid transmitter having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the pump and the second end is connectable to an apparatus, wherein the redelivery system is configured to receive and transmit a fluid from the pump and into the apparatus through the fluid transmitter, and wherein the fluid is directed from the apparatus back into the collection container; placing an apparatus within the area circumscribed by the at least one sidewall; connecting the redelivery system to the apparatus; powering the pump; and transmitting the fluid to the collection container.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a recycling system. The recycling system may include a collection container having a pump interconnected to an apparatus by a redelivery system. A user may place the apparatus on or above a bottom of the collection container. The user may then connect the redelivery system to the apparatus. The user may then transmit an apparatus fluid to the collection container so that the pump may pump the apparatus fluid through the redelivery system and into the apparatus.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus may include a cooling system interconnecting a plurality of exhaust ports and a plurality of the intake vents. The plurality of intake vents may be connected to the redelivery system. The apparatus fluid may be pumped through the plurality of intake vents and into the cooling system and directed out the plurality of exhaust ports and into the collection container.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus fluid may have been originally provided in an original container. The user may connect the redelivery system to the original container so that the expelled apparatus fluid may be pumped into the original container. The user may then reuse the apparatus fluid for different apparatuses or purposes.
Referring to
The power supply 10 may include at least one power cord 12 each having a power clip 14. The power clip 14 may be adapted to electrically connect to the power source 10, such as but not limited to, the power source of the apparatus 50, a battery, an external power source, a combination thereof, and the like. In certain embodiments, the power supply 10 may include non-electrical power, such as power generated directly by a user.
The collection container 30 may have a bottom 32 circumscribed by at least one vertical sidewall 34 forming a space with sufficient volume to hold the apparatus fluid 60. The bottom 32 may have a surface area sufficient to accommodate the apparatus 50 within the at least one vertical sidewall 34. The bottom 32 may be the shape of a circle, oval, square, rectangle, trapezoid and the like.
In certain embodiments, the pump 20 may be connected to the bottom 32. The pump 20 may include a pump coupling 24 and a pump intake 26. The pump coupling 24 may be configured to connect to the redelivery system 40. The pump 20 may be configured to pump the apparatus fluid 60 from the collection container 30 into and through the redelivery system 40.
The redelivery system 40 may interconnect the pump 20 and the apparatus 50. The redelivery system 40 may include a pump hose 42 connected to an apparatus adapter 48. In certain embodiments, the pump hose 42 may be configured to receive the apparatus fluid 60 and may include a pump end 44 and an adapter end 46. The adapter end 46 and the pump end 44 may be threaded to facilitate a threaded connection. The pump end 44 may be connected to the pump 20. In certain embodiments, the pump end 44 may be connected to the pump coupling 24. The adapter end 46 may be connected to the apparatus adapter 48. The apparatus adapter 48 may be connected to the apparatus 50. The apparatus adapter 48 may include motor flusher, motor ear muffs, and other elements configured for transmitting the apparatus fluid 60 from the pump hose 42 and the pump 20 into the apparatus 50.
The apparatus 50 may include a propulsion system, such as a marine engine, an outboard motor, an inboard/outboard motor and the like. The apparatus 50 may include a cooling system 52 configured for receiving and transmitting the apparatus fluid 60. The cooling system 52 may include a fluid tank. The apparatus 50 may expel the apparatus fluid 60 from the cooling system 52. In certain embodiments, the fluid elements 52 may be connected to the apparatus adapter 48.
In certain embodiments, the propulsion system may include a plurality of intake vents, a plurality of exhaust ports, and an impeller connected to the cooling system 52. The impeller may draw the apparatus fluid 60 through the plurality of intake vents, transmit the apparatus fluid 60 into and through the cooling system 52, and then expel the apparatus fluid 60 out of the plurality of exhaust ports. In certain embodiments, the apparatus adapter 48 may be connected to a portion of the intake vents.
The apparatus fluid 60 may be fluids having various viscosities, such as antifreeze, oil, water and the like.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The recycling system 100 disclosed above may be provided. A user may place the apparatus 50 on or above the bottom 32 of the collection container 30. The user may then connect the redelivery system 40 to the apparatus 50, the impeller 52, and/or the intake vents. The user may then transmit the apparatus fluid 60 to the collection container 30 so that the pump 20 may pump the apparatus fluid through the redelivery system 40 and into the apparatus 50. In certain embodiments, the apparatus fluid 60 may be drawn into the impeller 52 and expelled out the plurality of exhaust ports by the impeller and gravity. The expelled apparatus fluid 60 may be received by the collection container 30. The pump 20 may pump the expelled apparatus fluid 60 into and through the redelivery system 40 and into the apparatus 50, the impeller 52, and/or the plurality of intake vents.
In certain embodiments, the apparatus fluid 60 may have been originally provided in an original container. The user may connect the adapter end 46 to the original container so that the expelled apparatus fluid 60 may be pumped into the original container. The user may then reuse the apparatus fluid 60 for different apparatuses or purposes.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
