QUICK OIL CHANGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A system to change the oil from above the hood includes a reversible motor connected to the oil system, preferably the sump drain. The pump is further connected to a container. The pump initially draws the oil from the oil sump and directs it into an empty container. A full container of oil is then connected to the pump, which is then reversed, pumping the oil new oil into the engine's oil sump. Alternately, the system can be directed to and from the existing oil filter connection.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, the oil from an automobile is changed by removing the plug from the oil sump, which is underneath the automobile. For a do-it-yourselfer, this requires one to go underneath the car, remove the plug from the oil sump and drain the oil. If the filter is also located underneath the engine, this must be removed. This is difficult and often results in spilled oil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a rapid, simple system to change the oil and optionally the oil filter without going underneath the vehicle. The system includes a base plate or housing and a bottle adapter temporarily coupling a motor oil container with a pump contained in the housing or separately mounted in the vehicle and out to the vehicle equipment's fluid system for the purpose of adding or removing fluid. The housing can also contain additional ports for connecting an oil filter utilizing a special adapter which directs the inlet and outlet from the oil filter connection to an oil filter connection which is part of the housing.

The objects and advantages of presidential further appreciate light of following detailed description and drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a top view of a cap for an oil reservoir; and

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view, taken at lines 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, oil change system 10 includes a housing or manifold 12 (shown with end plate 13 separated). The oil change system 10 includes a reversible pump 14 and an oil filter mount 16 inside housing 12. Top surface 18 of housing 12 includes a bracket 20 adapted to hold an oil container 22.

The housing 12 further includes a pumping chamber 24 (shown in dashed lines) adapted to receive the pump rotors 26 when plate 13 is fixed to the housing 12 as shown by arrow 15. Opposite the pump rotors on plate 13 is a reversible motor 28 adapted to rotate the rotors 26.

The housing 12 further includes first and second fluid channels 32 and 34 which lead from opposite sides of the pump chamber 24 to the exterior of the housing 12. A first line 36 attaches to the first fluid connector 60 and leads to a cap 30 having an internal conduit 39 leading to dip tube 40 (see FIG. 3). The cap 30 fixes to the oil container 22 with the tube 40 leading to the bottom of the container. The cap 30 further includes a vent hole 64.

A second line 42 attaches to the pump 14 at one end and at a second opposite end (not shown) attaches to the oil sump of the motor vehicle (not shown) or any other location in the oil system such as the OEM oil filter connection. The line 42 is connected to a solenoid valve 44 which in turn is attached to the second fluid passage 34 by fitting 46. The oil change system 10 is operated by an automobile battery 48 which is electrically connected to a toggle switch 50 which is connected to the pump motor 28 via electric lines 52. Additional electric lines 53 lead from the toggle switch 50 to the solenoid valve 44.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 further includes an oil filter mount 16 which provides an opening adapted to receive an oil filter (not shown). The oil filter mount 16 can be closed with a plug 56. The oil filter fits within the mount 16 and attaches to an oil filter fitment 57 which includes an inlet and an outlet 58 and 59. Inlet 58 and outlet 59 are connected to the vehicle oil system.

In operation, the existing dirty oil is first removed from the automobile by drawing the oil, using pump 14 operating in a first direction which draws the oil from the oil sump via line 42. As the pump is operating, the solenoid valve 44 opens automatically. This will direct the oil through the pump 14 and through line 36 into an oil container 22 which is, at this time, empty. Once the desired amount of fluid has been removed from the vehicle engine, the pump 14 is turned off, which also closes valve 44. The container 22 is then removed and a second container 22 containing clean oil is put in its place. The first line 36 is connected to fitting 60 and the pump motor is again activated but in the opposite direction, pulling fluid from the first line 36 through the first fluid passage 32 into pump chamber 24 and subsequently through line 42 and back into the oil sump. Again, as the pump is operating, valve 44 will be open. Once the desired amount of oil is pumped back into the automobile, the motor is deactivated and valve 44 is shut. At this time, the empty oil container would be removed. Thus whenever the pump is operating, valve 44 is open. When pump 14 is not operating, valve 44 is closed.

Bracket 20, as shown, can fold upon itself and lie flat on the top surface 18 of the housing 12. An oil filter would be positioned within the oil filter opening 54 and oil would be forced by the vehicle oil pump into the inlet 59 and oil filter (not shown) and subsequently out outlet 58 back to the vehicle's oil supply.

Many variations of the bracket 20 can be envisioned. For example, if one wishes to remove the empty oil container after use, the bracket 20 would fold down. If one wishes to leave the empty container in place after use, the bracket can include a clamp which holds the container in place under all operating conditions. The bracket can be a complete box to shield the container or can be an actual trough in the base plate.

The cap 30 can be constructed in any of several different configurations. As shown cap 30 has a dip tube and attaches to a conventional liquid container. A special oil container having a built-in dip tube molded within the bottle can also be used.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which like numbers are used for like components. In this embodiment, the toggle switch 50 is operatively connected to a flow meter 66 which in turn acts to turn motor 14 on and off in response to the amount of fluid passing through the meter 66. This can be used to ensure that the desired amount of oil is pumped back into the automobile.

Thus, the present invention provides a system which draws used oil directly from the oil sump of a motor vehicle and pumps it to an easily accessible reservoir. This reduces the time for oil changes and reduces the chance of oil spills. Further, it is relatively inexpensive and can be integrated by the OEM or retrofitted into existing vehicles using low-cost existing HDPE lubricant packaging as a reservoir, versus a thermoplastic or metal materials.

This has been a description of the present invention along with the preferred method of practicing the present invention, however, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims wherein we claim:

Claims

1. A rapid system to change oil from above the hood of a vehicle, the system comprising: a reversible pump having a first fluid line attached to an exterior oil reservoir separated from a vehicle oil system and a second fluid line attached to said vehicle oil system, allowing used oil to be removed from the vehicle oil system and directed into an empty oil reservoir and subsequently allowing new oil to be directed from a second motor oil container holding clean oil through said pump into said oil system.

2. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said system includes a housing holding said pump.

3. The system claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a mounting adapted to receive an oil filter, wherein said mounting is adapted to connect an oil filter to an oil pump in said engine.

4. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said second fluid line includes a valve which opens only when said pump is operating.

5. The system claimed in claim 4 further comprising a fluid meter connected to said second line, said fluid meter adapted to stop said pump when a predetermined amount of oil has flown through said second line.