EP2463487A1

EP2463487A1 - Oil plug and oil plug receiver

Info

Publication number: EP2463487A1
Application number: EP10194431A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Arvidsson; Roger BODÉN
Original assignee: Volvo Car Corp
Current assignee: Volvo Car Corp
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2010-12-10
Publication date: 2012-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-10
Also published as: EP2463487B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oil plug (1), an oil plug receiver (2) and to an assembly (100) thereof comprising the oil plug (1) and the oil plug receiver (2) whereby a radial sealing may be provided there between. The oil plug (1) comprises a first engagement means (3) adapted for engaging with complementary second engagement means (4) on the oil plug receiver (2) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in said oil plug receiver (2). The second engagement means (4) is arranged on an inner wall (16) of the oil plug receiver (2) and is adapted to hold the oil plug (1) in an axially locked or engaged position by the first engagement means (3) engaging the complementary second engagement means (4). The oil plug receiver (2) comprises a contact surface (17a) for receiving a spring element (13a). The spring element (13a) pushes against the oil plug (1) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in an engaged position in the oil plug receiver (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an oil plug in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. The present invention also relates to an oil plug receiver in accordance with the preamble of claim 8. Further, the present invention relates to an assembly thereof comprising the oil plug and the oil plug receiver in accordance with the preamble of claim 12.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Leaking oil pans may often be derived from e.g. a leaking oil plug or a leaking connection area in the oil pan holding or connecting an oil plug receiver. Oil plugs may also be referred to as oil drain plugs. A leaking oil plug may be derived from worn out sealing members or threads of the oil plug. Over time sealing members may dry and crack resulting in leakage whereby they need to be replaced. After a period of time, when the oil plug has been opened and closed repeatedly, engaging threads may be worn out due to plastic deformation. The threads seal against each other by engaging against each other. The plastic deformation of the threads may thus be caused by the fact that the threads are turned against each other harder and harder over time. The more worn out the threads are with respect to each other, the more turning force will need to be applied against the oil plug for having the threads seal against each other. The over time increased force when turning the oil plug into a locking and sealing position will hence affect the strength of the connection of the oil plug receiver in the connection area. The connection may be e.g. a weld or glue member securing the oil plug receiver to the oil pan. The increased turning force against the oil plug will impair the strength of the connection in the connection area as the connection will be affected by the turning force. Over time the fatigue may results in cracks in the connection area leading to leakage therein.
In order to overcome the above problem, US 5680954 , discloses a solution of an oil plug comprising an internal wall for being applied against a sleeve-like part of an oil plug receiver. The oil plug receiver in US 5680954 is encapsulated by the oil plug.
Although US 5680954 may enable an improved sealing effect it has some disadvantages. The oil plug in accordance with US 5680954 has a first sealing member on an internal side of an oil plug. The internal side is arranged to face into an oil pan. A second sealing member is arranged outside an oil plug receiver and between the oil plug and an outer surface around the inlet. And, thirdly a radial sealing member is arranged on the oil plug in a direct vicinity to threads of the oil plug. The sealing effect is primarily dependent on whether or not the first sealing member can achieve enough sealing effect being dependent on pressure from a top part of the oil plug receiver bearing against the internal face of the oil plug. The pressure is dependent on how well the threads of the oil plug and oil plug receiver may engage with each other. Hence, over time, also in US 5680954 , the threads may be worn out resulting in that the oil plug will have to be turned using more and more force for achieving a sealing closure between the oil plug and the oil plug receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.
Another object of the invention is to obtain an oil plug and an oil plug receiver which may cooperate such that the oil plug radially seals against the oil plug receiver when being locked in a "snap out" position in the oil plug receiver.
This object is achieved by an oil plug according to claim 1 and with an oil plug receiver according to claim 8. The object is further achieved according to an assembly comprising an oil plug and an oil plug receiver according to claim 12.
As such, the present invention relates to an oil plug in accordance with claim 1. Hence, an oil plug for being held and locked in an oil plug receiver for radial sealing between the oil plug and the oil plug receiver, which oil plug comprises a first engagement means adapted for engaging with complementary second engagement means on the oil plug receiver when the oil plug is arranged in said oil plug receiver.
In accordance with the invention with respect to the oil plug, the first engagement means may be arranged on an engagement surface of the oil plug and comprises a first guiding part and a second guiding part, which first guiding part transits to the second guiding part via a transition part, and which second guiding part extends from the transition part to an end part of the second guiding part, which end part, seen along a centre axis of the oil plug, is arranged between the transition part and a guiding inlet to the first guiding part. According to the present invention, the first guiding part may be arranged from the guiding inlet at a bottom part of the oil plug forming a thread having an inclination in a direction away from the bottom part. When turning the oil plug towards a locking position, the inclination has the effect of moving the oil plug in an ingoing direction into the oil plug receiver as the turning movements cooperates with the guiding effect of the engaging means.
According to the present invention, the second guiding part may have an extension being substantially parallel to the centre axis. When the second engagement means is guided into the second guided part, it may be signalled to a user that the oil plug now enters into a locking position as continuous turning of the oil plug is prevented. The user releases the pressure against the oil plug whereby the oil plug is moved a distance in an outgoing non turning axial direction into a locking position. In this locking position, a sign disclosing "LOCKED" may be displayed on the oil plug. When being in the locked position, the oil plug is in a "popped out" or "snapped out" position providing the sign or letters to be visible.
According to the present invention, the extension of the second guiding part from the transition part to the end part may be shorter than the extension of the first guiding part from the guiding inlet to the transition part.
According to the present invention, the oil plug may be arranged with a spring element. When the oil plug is in a locked position in the oil plug receiver, the spring element is arranged to push the oil plug in an outgoing direction. The oil plug is, in the outgoing direction, guided and maintained holding the second engagement part within the second guiding part.
According to the present invention, the spring element may be arranged at a bottom part of the oil plug opposite of an operating device of the oil plug. An effect of this is that the oil plug and the spring element thus can be supplied as one unit. This may be advantageous e.g. when the oil plug is being sold as a spare part. For avoiding loosing one part when the oil plug is removed from the oil pan, it may be an advantage if the oil plug and the spring element can be kept together as one part or unit.
According to the present invention, the spring element may be arranged against an inner side of an operating device of the oil plug facing in a direction towards the bottom part. This is an alternative embodiment in accordance with the invention having at least one spring element arranged outside the oil pan.
A second aspect of the invention relates to an oil plug receiver in accordance with claim 8. Hence, an oil plug receiver for holding and locking an oil plug for radial sealing between the oil plug receiver and the oil plug, which oil plug receiver comprises a second engagement means being adapted for engaging with complementary first engagement means on the oil plug when the oil plug is arranged in said oil plug receiver.
In accordance with the invention with respect to the oil plug receiver, the second engagement means may be arranged on an inner wall of the oil plug receiver for holding the oil plug in an axially locked position by the first engagement means engaging the complementary second engagement means when the oil plug is arranged in the oil plug receiver, which oil plug receiver comprises a contact surface for receiving a spring element for pushing against the oil plug when the oil plug is arranged in an engaged position in the oil plug receiver.
According to the invention, the contact surface may be arranged opposite a receiving inlet of the oil plug receiver. The bottom part of the oil plug may face the contact surface of the oil plug receiver when the oil plug is arranged in the oil plug receiver. The contact surface may be arranged within the oil pan at a direct vicinity to an edge portion of the inner wall of the oil plug receiver. A gap is provided between a bottom part of an oil plug when arranged in the oil plug receiver and the contact surface. The spring element, adapted to push against the oil plug, may be arranged in the gap.
According to the invention, the contact surface is arranged in a plane which is perpendicular to the centre axis of the oil plug and in which plane a receiving inlet of the oil plug receiver is arranged. Such a contact surface may be located in a direct vicinity to the receiving inlet. An effect of this is that the spring element, or spring elements, may be arranged outside the oil pan.
According to the invention, the spring element may be attached to the contact surface.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to an assembly comprising an oil plug according to the first aspect and an oil plug receiver according to the second aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be explained in greater detail by means of nonlimiting examples and with references and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1: illustrates an oil plug comprising a first engagement means arranged on an engagement surface of the oil plug according of the present invention;
Fig. 2: illustrates the oil plug in Fig 1 being turned disclosing a guiding inlet of the first engagement mean;
Fig. 3: illustrates an assembly comprising the oil plug according to Fig. 1 and 2 arranged in an unlocked position in an oil plug receiver within a partly disclosed oil pan;
Fig. 4: illustrates an alternative assembly of an oil plug in an unlocked position with respect to the oil plug having spring elements arranged outside a partly disclosed oil pan;
Fig. 5: illustrates the assembly in Fig. 3 where the oil plug is arranged in a locked position within the oil plug receiver.

It should be noted that the appended drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the dimensions of some features of the present invention may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 discloses an oil plug 1 for being held and locked in an oil plug receiver 2. The oil plug receiver 2 is displayed in Fig. 3 ― 5. The oil plug 1 may be arranged for radial sealing between the oil plug 1 and the oil plug receiver 2. The oil plug 1 comprises a first engagement means 3 adapted for engaging with complementary second engagement means 4 on the oil plug receiver 2 when being arranged in the oil plug receiver 2, see Fig. 3-5.
In accordance with Fig. 1, the first engagement means 3 is arranged on an engagement surface 5 of the oil plug 1. The first engagement means 3 comprises a first guiding part 6 and a second guiding part 7. The first guiding part 6 transits to the second guiding part 7 via a transition part 8. The second guiding part 7 extends from the transition part 8 to an end part 9 of the second guiding part 7. The end part 9, seen along a centre axis 10 of the oil plug 1, is arranged between the transition part 8 and a guiding inlet 11 to the first guiding part 6. The transition part 8 is a part or location arranged between the first and the second guiding part 6, 7. The transition part 8 may be seen as a deviation part where the extension of the first guiding part 6 changes direction to the extension of the second guiding part 7.
Fig. 2 discloses the oil plug 1 comprising the first guiding part 6. The first guiding part 6 is arranged from the guiding inlet 11 at a bottom part 12 of the oil plug 1 and continues over the engagement surface 5 towards the transition part 8, see Fig. 1. The first guiding part 6 forms a thread in the engagement surface 5 extending from the guiding inlet 11 and around the oil plug 1. The thread may be a groove in the engagement surface 5. The guiding part 6 inclines from the guiding inlet 11 and around the oil plug 1 in a direction away from the bottom part 12.
The oil plug 1 in accordance with Fig. 1 discloses that the second guiding part 7 has an extension being substantially parallel to the centre axis 10.
In Fig. 1 it is disclosed that the extension of the second guiding part 7, from the transition part 8 to the end part 9, is shorter than the extension of the first guiding part 6 from the guiding inlet 11 to the transition part 8. The second guiding part 7 is shorter because it does not extend around the oil plug 1 as the first guiding part 6.
Fig. 1 and 2 discloses a sealing element 20 which may be arranged on the oil plug 1. The sealing element 20 may e.g. be a gasket or other rubber or plastic member adapted to seal against an adjacent surface. This adjacent surface may for instance be represented by an inner wall 16 of the oil plug receiver 2. The sealing member 20 may be arranged in a groove extending around the oil plug 1 on the engagement surface 5. Seen along the centre axis 10 from the bottom part 12 of the oil plug 1, the sealing member 20 may be arranged after the first engagement means 3. The sealing member 20 has an outer periphery which may extend outside a periphery of the engagement surface 5. Hence, if the sealing member 20 would be arranged around the oil plug before the first engagement means 3, between the first engagement means 3 and the bottom part 12, the sealing member would then block the guiding inlet 11 from insertion of the second engagement means 4 when positioning the oil plug 1 in the oil plug receiver 2. Therefore, in order to obtain a functioning oil plug 1, the sealing member 20 in accordance with the invention will be placed after the first engagement means 3 on the oil plug 1.
The oil plug 1 may be arranged with a spring element 13a, 13b. The spring element 13a, 13b may be a resilient member capable of being compressed and thus after compression able to return to its original form.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, see Fig. 1 - 3 and 5, the spring element 13a may be arranged at a bottom part 12 of the oil plug 1. The spring element 13a in the present embodiment may thus be arranged opposite of an operating device 14 of the oil plug 1.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, see Fig. 4, the spring element 13b may be arranged against an inner side 15 of the operating device 14. The inner side 15 is arranged facing in a direction towards the bottom part 12. In this alternative embodiment, the spring element 13b may be arranged exterior of the oil pan. Preferably, at least two spring elements 13b may be used against the inner side 15. The spring elements 13b may, with respect to each other, be arranged against the inner side 15 symmetrically around the centre axis 10. The spring elements 13b being symmetrically arranged has the effect that the oil plug 1 then may have a centralized position and location along the centre axis 14 when arranged in the oil plug receiver 2. This has the effect that the oil plug 1 will be prevented from being tilted or angled within the oil plug receiver 2.
The operating device 14 may comprise a knob, handle or other elements enabling turning and/or twisting of the oil plug 1. The operating device 14 may further comprise an internal shaped operating device. Such an internal operating device may comprise e.g. a receiver for a screw driver or alike enabling turning and/or twisting of the oil plug 1.
Fig. 3 ― 5 discloses the oil plug receiver 2 for holding and locking the oil plug 1 for radial sealing between the oil plug receiver 2 and the oil plug 1. The oil plug receiver 2 comprises the second engagement means 4 being adapted for engaging with the complementary first engagement means 3 on the oil plug 1 when the oil plug 1 is arranged in said oil plug receiver 2.
The second engagement means 4 is arranged on an inner wall 16 of the oil plug receiver 2 for holding the oil plug 1 in an axially locked or engaged position. The first engagement means 3 engages with the complementary second engagement means 4 when the oil plug 1 is arranged in the oil plug receiver 2. The oil plug receiver 2 comprises a contact surface 17a, 17b for receiving a spring element 13a, 13b for pushing against the oil plug 1 when the oil plug 1 is arranged in an engaged position in the oil plug receiver 2.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the contact surface 17a may be arranged opposite a receiving inlet 18 of the oil plug receiver 2.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, the contact surface 17b may be arranged in a direct vicinity to the receiving inlet 18 of the oil plug receiver 2. The contact surface 17b is arranged in a plane 19 which may have a perpendicular extension to the centre axis 14 of the oil plug 1. The receiving inlet 18 of the oil plug receiver 2 may be arranged in the plane 19.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the spring element 13a, 13b may be attached against the contact surface 17a, 17b.
The oil plug 1 and the oil plug receiver 2 together form an assembly 100 comprising the oil plug 1 and the oil plug receiver 2. The assembly 100 may be adapted for providing a radial sealing between the oil plug 1 and the oil plug receiver 2.
The oil plug 1 may be arranged in the oil plug receiver 2 such that the second engagement means 4 of the oil plug receiver 2 can be received into the guiding inlet 11, see Fig. 2. The oil plug 1 may be slightly pressed in an ingoing direction into the oil plug receiver 2 and simultaneously turned. When turning the oil plug 1 with respect to the oil plug receiver 2, the second engagement means 4 is guided within the first engagement means 3 on the oil plug 1. The first engagement means 3 may function as a thread engaging with the second engagement means 4. The first engagement means 3 inclines on the engagement surface 5 and at least partly around the oil plug 1. The second engagement means 4 engages with the first engagement means 3 upon turning the oil plug 1. The inclination results in that the oil plug 1 moves in an ingoing direction into the oil plug receiver 2. The turning of the oil plug 3 continues until the second engagement means 4 reach to the transition part 8 in the first engagement means 3. The transition part 8 is a location along the extension of the first engagement means 3 where the first guiding part 6 transits into the second guiding part 7. During the ingoing movement of the oil plug 1, the second engagement means 4 is guided within the first guiding part 6 of the first engagement means 3. The spring element 13a, 13b between the oil plug 1 and the contact surface 17a, 17b decompresses when the oil plug 1 is turned and moved into the oil plug receiver 2. The first guiding part 6 extends from the guiding inlet 11 to the transition part 8. Hence, when the second engagement means 4 has been guided within the first guiding part 6 and reached the transition part 8, the continuous turning of the oil plug 1 is stopped.
The second guiding part 7 starts at the transition part 8 and extends to an end part 9 of the second guiding part and the first engagement means 3. The second guiding part 7 extends on the engagement surface 5 from the transition part 8 towards the end part 9 in a direction being substantially parallel to the centre axis 10.
The spring element 13a, 13b is compressed when the second engagement means 4 reach the transition part 8. At this position, the force from the compressed spring element 13a, 13b affects the oil plug 1 to move in an outgoing direction with respect to the oil plug receiver 2. Without turning the oil plug 1, the engagement between the second guiding part 7 and the second engagement means 4 steers or guides the oil plug 1 in the outgoing directed movements to the locked position. The outgoing movement of the oil plug 1 continues until the end part 9 connects with the second engagement means 4 and thus is prevented from any further movements in the outgoing direction. The oil plug 1 is in this position in a locked position within the oil plug receiver 2, see Fig. 5.
To release the oil plug 1 from the locked position, the oil plug 1 has to be pushed in an ingoing direction into the oil plug receiver 2. The pushing movement of the oil plug 1 decompresses the spring element 13a, 13b. The oil plug 1 is moved in the ingoing direction until the second engagement means 4 reach the transition part 8. At this point of the transition part 8, the axial directed ingoing movement of the oil plug 1 is stopped. The releasing of the oil plug 1 continues at this point by turning the oil plug 1 in a reversed direction whereby the oil plug 1 is moved in an outgoing direction. The reversed direction is configured by that the second engagement means 4 is guided along and within the first guiding part 6 from the transition part 8 and towards the guiding inlet 11.
While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

An oil plug (1) for being held and locked in an oil plug receiver (2) for radial sealing between the oil plug (1) and the oil plug receiver (2), which oil plug (1) comprises a first engagement means (3) adapted for engaging with complementary second engagement means (4) on the oil plug receiver (2) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in said oil plug receiver (2),
characterised in that,
the first engagement means (3) is arranged on an engagement surface (5) of the oil plug (1) and comprises a first guiding part (6) and a second guiding part (7), which first guiding part (6) transits to the second guiding part (7) via a transition part (8), and which second guiding part (7) extends from the transition part (8) to an end part (9) of the second guiding part (7), which end part (9), seen along a centre axis (10) of the oil plug (1), is arranged between the transition part (8) and a guiding inlet (11) to the first guiding part (6).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the first guiding part (6) is arranged from the guiding inlet (11) at a bottom part (12) of the oil plug (1) forming a thread having an inclination in a direction away from the bottom part (12).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the second guiding part (7) has an extension being substantially parallel to the centre axis (10).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with any of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the extension of the second guiding part (7) from the transition part (8) to the end part (9) is shorter than the extension of the first guiding part (6) from the guiding inlet (11) to the transition part (8).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with any of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the oil plug (1) is arranged with a spring element (13a, 13b).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the spring element (13a) is arranged at a bottom part (12) of the oil plug (1) opposite of an operating device (14) of the oil plug (1).
An oil plug (1) in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that at the spring element (13b) is arranged against an inner side (15) of an operating device (14) of the oil plug (1) facing in a direction towards the bottom part (12).
An oil plug receiver (2) for holding and locking an oil plug (1) for radial sealing between the oil plug receiver (2) and the oil plug (1), which oil plug receiver (2) comprises a second engagement means (4) being adapted for engaging with complementary first engagement means (3) on the oil plug (1) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in said oil plug receiver (2),
characterised in that,
the second engagement means (4) is arranged on an inner wall (16) of the oil plug receiver (2) for holding the oil plug (1) in an axially locked position by the first engagement means (3) engaging the complementary second engagement means (4) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in the oil plug receiver (2), which oil plug receiver (2) comprises a contact surface (17a, 17b) for receiving a spring element (13a, 13b) for pushing against the oil plug (1) when the oil plug (1) is arranged in an engaged position in the oil plug receiver (2).
An oil plug receiver (2) in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the contact surface (17a) is arranged opposite a receiving inlet (18) of the oil plug receiver (2).
An oil plug receiver (2) in accordance with claim 8, characterised in that the contact surface (17b) is arranged in a plane (19) which is perpendicular to the centre axis (10) of the oil plug (1) and in which plane (19) a receiving inlet (18) of the oil plug receiver (2) is arranged.
An oil plug receiver (2) in accordance with any of claims 8 ― 10, characterised in that the spring element (13a, 13b) is attached to the contact surface (17a, 17b).
An assembly (100) comprising an oil plug (1) and an oil plug receiver (2) for radial sealing between the oil plug (1) and the oil plug receiver (2),
characterised in that,
the oil plug (1) is an oil plug in accordance with at least one of the claims 1 - 7 and that the oil plug receiver (2) is an oil plug receiver in accordance with at least one of the claims 8 ― 11.