Williams link i, a system and method for using a spill-proof fluid transport galley, pipe, or tube to exchange mechanical fluids

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for reducing the threat of environmental pollution in both the private and industrial arenas by safely exchanging oils and other liquid lubricants, fuels, and anti-freeze from internal combustion engines, differentials, transmissions, gear boxes, filters, and/or any other reservoirs found in, but not limited to, automotive, excavating, industrial, and farming equipment and machines. The system and method of the present invention rely on the use of either a fluid transport gallery (FTG) that is cast into the reservoirs contained within the operational structure of a device powered by an internal combustion engine, electric motor, or any other power source, or a pipe or tube installed in these devices at the time of assembly, or retrofitted to them.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of transportation vehicles and machinery and specifically to the leak-proof removal of fluids from the various reservoirs found within the vehicles and machinery, via either a pre-cast fluid transport galley (FTG), or an externally or internally mounted pipe or tube that will allows fluids to be drawn from the bottom of the reservoirs into an environmentally safe containment system.

From current-day drivers' manuals contained in new passenger vehicles (i.e., GM Owner's Manual for a 2003 Trailblazer) to service manuals for mobile, industrial equipment and machinery (i.e., Service Manual for a 1999-2004 CAT D250E or D300E Articulated Truck), it is apparent to even a casual observer that no spill-proof system or method exists for removing oils and other fluids without the risk of spillage either onto the ground or onto the undercarriages of these transportation vehicles and machinery. Years of experience and observation in the vehicle and industrial equipment service industry have allowed one of the present invention's inventors first-hand observations of fluids being removed from the current-day systems and spilling to the ground, and polluting the soil and waterways.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system and method to improve the extraction of fluids from an engine block and/or related component through an environmentally safe fluid transport galley, tube, or pipe. The invention relates generally to the extraction of all fluid lubricants, fuels, coolants, and hydraulic fluids, whether they be petroleum based or synthetic, and any other fluids necessary to lubricate, operate, or cool differentials, transmissions, gear boxes, internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders, and fluid reservoirs, as well as the filters that support these components. The invention relates more particularly to a system and method that allows for these fluids to be extracted in an environmentally safe method through either a pre-cast-at-point-of-manufacture fluid transport galley—or a tube or pipe that is attached internally or externally—that extends to the very bottom of the related reservoirs in an engine block and/or related component, that operates, drives, powers, or aids in the movement of vehicles and machinery, and enables a suction driven extraction device to remove the fluid through the galley, tube or pipe, without leakage or spillage on the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a vehicle engine, such as those found in automotive, industrial, and agricultural vehicles and machines, with placement of the present invention's fluid transport galley (FTG), pipe, or tube system that has been either cast or placed in an engine block at the time of manufacturing or retrofitted in or externally on the block.

FIG. 2 represents a hydraulic tank, such as those found on large, diesel-fueled machines, automotive, industrial, and agricultural vehicles and machines, and the placement of the present invention's FTG system, including a hose for linking to a fluid exchange machine.

FIG. 3 represents an automatic, power shift, or hydrostatic transmission and the placement of the present invention's FTG system and supporting devices.

FIG. 4 represents a differential, such as those found in many automotive, agricultural, and heavy equipment vehicles and machines, and the placement of the present invention's FTG system cast into the housing at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube inserted into or retrofitted to the piece to facilitate fluids flowing into and out of the housing without spillage, and the system's supporting devices.

FIG. 5 represents an engine cooling system and radiator, such as those found in automotive, industrial, and agricultural vehicles and machines, and the placement of the present invention's FTG system cast into the cooling system and radiator at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube inserted into or retrofitted to the piece, and the system's supporting devices.

FIG. 6 represents a manual transmission, such as those found in automotive, industrial, and agricultural vehicles and machines, and the present invention's FTG system cast into the housing at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube inserted into or retrofitted to the piece to facilitate fluids flowing into and out of the transmission without spillage, and the system's supporting devices.

FIG. 7 represents a gear box housing, such as those found in automotive, industrial, and agricultural vehicles and machines and the present invention's FTG system cast into the housing at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube inserted into or retrofitted to the piece to facilitate fluids flowing into and out of the housing without spillage, and the system's supporting devices.

FIG. 8 represents a steel line that is used in large industrial and agricultural equipment hydraulic systems as part of the fluid transport system, and a quick-coupling device for connecting to a fluid removal machine.

FIG. 9 represents a fuel or oil filter with a universal quick-connect coupling device connected to the bottom of the filter at the time of manufacturing.

FIG. 10 represents a filter housing used in equipment and other operating mechanisms, and the present invention's fluid transport pipe or tube inserted into the filter housing at the time of manufacturing, and its supporting devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for improving the current system for removing lubricants and other fluids from internal operating parts in vehicles, machines, and other operating components, which include passenger vehicles, industrial equipment and machines, boats, ships, airplanes, tractors, and the like. The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the figures.

In an embodiment, it is possible for oils and other lubricants, as well as other liquids, to be removed from holding containers—such as reservoirs, oil pans, and the like—without polluting and otherwise contaminating spillage occurring at the various stages of the processes.

Removing old and adding fresh lubricants and other fluids, such as hydraulic, engine, and gear oils, fuels, and antifreeze, to reservoirs, filters, and other components in mobile and stationery equipment, pose a threat to the environment in two specific ways. First, these fluids are hazardous materials that pollute the environment when allowed to spill onto the ground and into gutters, and work their way into the water tables during the process of exchanging them. Second, because of the current method used by most of those skilled in the art of removing and adding these petroleum or synthetic-based fluids and lubricants—namely through a drain plug that depends on gravity to drain the fluids—spillage is a common-place occurrence in the private, industrial, and agricultural sectors. That is, when a person drains an oil pan/reservoir, removes an oil filter, oil pan, line, or hose containing these fluids and lubricants, there is not a good way for even certified-mechanics to do so without allowing at least some of the liquid to spill onto the ground, or onto the undercarriages of the vehicles, machines, or equipment where it will later drip onto the ground and pollute.

The current-day drain plug is typically placed underneath or on the side of the engine, differential, transmission, gear boxes, hydraulic cylinders, and other reservoirs. Once the technician locates and opens the drain plug, the gravitational pull begins emptying the fluids into a receiving receptacle placed, ideally, under the machine part to catch the fluid, such as a pan or a jug. Despite best efforts to keep the fluids from spilling onto the ground, that is invariably the outcome, because of a receptacle that is often too small to hold all of the draining fluids, the wind blowing the fluid away from the receptacle, or one that is improperly placed, missing the drain plug flow entirely. Both situations lead to overflow and spillage of the contaminants.

In-depth research of the referenced patents demonstrates that methods exist that help minimize the drawbacks of changing these fluids; however, to date, most have proven totally ineffective, because of inherent limitations. The present invention eliminates the deficiencies of these predecessors.

The present invention is now described in more detail in terms of the above premises. This is for convenience only and is not intended to limit the application of the present invention. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the following invention in alternative embodiments. The terms “oil,” “lubricants,” “fuels,” “coolants,” fluids,” and “liquids,” and the plural form of these terms may be used interchangeably throughout herein to refer to those who would access, use, and/or benefit from the elements that the present invention provides for exchanging oil and other lubricants and fluids.

While drawings are included to show the use of the present invention in a variety of components, for simplicity's sake, only the engine block (FIG. 1) is used for demonstration and explanation purposes in this description.

An oil transport galley, pipe, or tube (1.2) system that is either cast into or mounted in the engine block (1.6) and works in conjunction with an extension galley, pipe, or tube (1.7) located in the oil pan (1.1) at the time of manufacturing to enable a removal of fluid from the bottom of (1.7) up through (1.2, 1.4, 1.3 and 1.5) for the purpose of safely depositing the used fluid into an environmentally sound waste container. For engine blocks and/or oil pans already manufactured, either (1.2) or (1.7) can also be an external tube or pipe mounted at a later date. The oil pan can also be manufactured to accept an external tube or pipe, which would allow (1.2) or (1.7) to be incorporated at a later date. A coupling (1.4) connects to the top of (1.2) to allow an extension hose (1.3) to be placed in an easily accessible area for the technician's access for service. A universal quick-coupling (1.5) connects to a fluid extraction machine for the safe removal of the used fluid. There can be an O ring inserted between (1.7) and (1.2) to ensure sealing for suction purposes.

The method of this invention relies on changing the current process for manufacturing transmissions, differentials, gear boxes, internal combustion engines, hydraulic cylinders, filters, and the other reservoirs contained within or supporting the operational structure of a device powered by an internal combustion engine, electric motor, or any other power source. The primary manufacturing change required to achieve an environmentally safe method for removing the fluids needed for the operation of these mechanical parts is either a galley, pipe, or tube cast into the blocks, housings, or tanks at the time of manufacturing, and serving as a flow line or conduit for the fluids. If a pipe or tube is used in place of the pre-cast galley, either of these devices can be mounted or installed after the point of manufacturing.

Claims

1. A spill-proof system and method for safely exchanging lubricants and other fluids in automotive, industrial, and agricultural engines, transmissions, gear boxes, differentials, hydraulic tanks, coolant tanks, fuel tanks, filters, and any other reservoirs that contain coolants, fuels, and/or lubricants, through the use of either a pre-cast, internally encased, fluid transport galley (FTG) cast into a reservoir at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube that is either inserted into at the point of manufacturing, or retrofitted to the mechanical components powered by or found in internal combustion engines.

2. A system and method for using an internally encased fluid transport galley (FTG) cast into a reservoir at the time of manufacturing, or a pipe or tube that has either been inserted into the mechanical components identified in claim 1 at the point of manufacturing, or retrofitted to the mechanical components identified in claim 1, protecting the environment from harmful, common-place spills of lubricants and other fluids that are necessary for the efficient operation of mechanical components referenced in claim 1 that are found in automobiles, industrial, agricultural, and/or other equipment powered by internal combustion engines.

3. An internally encased fluid transport galley (FTG) system—cast into any of the mechanical reservoirs identified in claim 1 at the point of manufacturing—or the insertion of, or retrofitting of, a fluid transport pipe or tube, for the purpose of conducting spill-proof, environmentally safe removal and replacement of fluids used in the reservoirs.