FR2976837A3 - IMPROVED TOOL FOR MANEUVERING A DRAIN CAP OF A THERMAL MOTOR. - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool (10) includes a body (12) with a handle (18); a tip (14) connected to the body and provided with a working end for cooperating by direct or indirect coupling with the plug (1); a receptacle (28) disposed between the working end and the handle; the body and the working end being arranged relative to one another in at least one unscrewing position. A hinge (16) provided with an indexing device connects the body and the endpiece, the indexing device reversibly blocking the joint in at least one of a first unlocking position in which the body acts as a lever arm and said unscrewing position.

Description

The present invention relates to a tool for operating a drain plug of a heat engine, the tool being of the type comprising an elongated body having a free end forming a handle; a tip connected to the body and provided with a working end, in particular a male square, the working end being adapted to cooperate by direct or indirect coupling with said plug; a receptacle for receiving the used oil from the engine, said receptacle being disposed between the working end and the handle; the body and the working end being arranged relative to one another according to at least one unscrewing position in which the tool is adapted so that the user unscrews the cap when the latter has been previously unlocked . In the field of car maintenance, it is common to drain engine oil vehicles to maintain. For this, the vehicle is installed on a lift, and the operator works under the engine to maneuver the drain plug under satisfactory conditions and collect the oil flowing from the engine into a suitable container. It is known from patent FR-A1-2498107 to use a receptacle key for emptying the motors. The key comprises a tube-shaped body connected to an articulated square adapted to cooperate with the drain plug. A receptacle is fitted to the tube and receives the used oil jet from the engine. The tube is pierced laterally with an orifice for introducing a complementary arm shaped steel rod to unlock the plug. The portion of the tube under the receptacle serves as a handle to allow the user to unscrew the cap. The key with receptacle equipped with the arm allows the unblocking and unscrewing of the cap without the risk of splashing used oil on the hand. However, the implementation of this key requires a complementary arm. The patent FR-A1-2677633 discloses a draining device for heat engines comprising a funnel on which is fitted a neck connecting a discharge tube of the used oil. This assembly is completed with a disassembly tool of the drain plug having a metal rod fixed to the neck and surmounted by a male drive square for receiving a socket among a plurality of sockets allowing access to plugs of different kinds. The discharge tube comprises two diametrically opposed holes for receiving a disassembly pin acting as a lever for unscrewing the plug. A gimbal can be interposed between the bush and the square. However, the device is bulky and its implementation requires a disassembly pin.

Patent FR-A1-2584967 discloses a hand tool for disassembling a drain plug of an oil sump. A funnel-shaped sheath has a skirt pierced with a central orifice. A handle extends perpendicularly or slightly oblique to the axis of the funnel and fits into the skirt. A key in the form of a cylindrical bar passes through the interlocking. The bar carries an interchangeable polygonal head adapted to engage the cap to be unscrewed. In contrast, it has a knurled head for turning the key manually. The handle is secured to the key to unlock the cap and then disengaged to unscrew the cap. The handle is hollow and the interlock allows to evacuate the used oil from the funnel to the end of the handle through which the oil flows to a collecting container. The tooling is, as before, bulky and its implementation is complicated. According to one aspect, the invention aims to improve the design of the tool maneuver a drain plug by simplifying the implementation of the release and unscrewing.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a tool of the aforementioned type, a hinge provided with an indexing device connects the body and the endpiece, the indexing device reversibly blocking the joint in, at least , one of a first unlocking position in which the body of the tool acts as a lever arm to allow the user to unlock the cap and said unscrewing position.

Thus, the invention ensures an efficient release and unscrewing without the risk of losing a complementary accessory, the tool being simple to perform. According to other features: the body and the tip extend respectively along a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis and, in the unlocking position, the first and second axes are arranged substantially perpendicularly, and in the position of unscrewing, the first and second axes are arranged substantially parallel, in particular substantially aligned; the indexing device reversibly blocks the articulation in a second unlocking position of the stopper in which the body of the tool acts as a lever arm to enable the user to unlock the stopper, the second position being oriented substantially opposite to the first unlocking position; the body comprises a clevis receiving a pivot axis and covering an attachment part of the pivotally movable endpiece relative to said body, the clevis axis receiving a key cooperating with a guide groove made in the clevis and a plurality of indexing grooves made in the attachment portion; - The indexing device comprises an activation button for deliberately releasing the lock, and in that a first biasing means tends to position the indexing device in the rest position corresponding to the locking of the joint; - The tip comprises an elongate shaft, such that in at least the first unlocking position, the body is disposed at a sufficient distance substantially parallel to the motor; According to another aspect, the purpose of the invention is to avoid the inadvertent fall of the tool of the aforementioned type. This problem is solved by the fact that, in a tool for operating a drain plug of the type mentioned above, the receptacle comprises a generally circular rim provided with at least one flat, preferably three flats disposed at regular intervals angularly. Thus, the tool is kept stable on an even inclined laying plan. More particularly, it is expected that - the receptacle is disposed on the end of the tip relative to said hinge; the receptacle is connected to the tip removably; a locking device, in particular a bayonet device, immobilizes the receptacle relative to the tip; In another aspect, the invention aims to improve the versatility of the emptying tool. This problem is solved by the fact that, in a tool for operating a drain plug of the type indicated above, the working end is coupled indirectly to the plug via a bushing and in that the nozzle receives externally an ejection sleeve of the sleeve connected to the working end of the tip. Thus, the tool allows a quick change of the sockets.

According to other features, the ejection sleeve comprises a sleeve surrounding the tip and slidably mounted relative thereto, said sleeve being movable between a rest position in which it is flush with the sleeve or in which it is axially recessed relative to said sleeve, and an ejection position in which the axial displacement of said sleeve relative to the endpiece towards the working end of the latter leads the sleeve into contact with the sleeve and uncouples the sleeve. ci of said working end; - A second biasing means, in particular a compression spring, acts on the sleeve and tends to arrange the sleeve in its rest position. The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively perspective views of the implementation of a tool according to the invention according to the respective positions of unlocking and unscrewing, FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a front view and an exploded front view of the tool according to the invention, Figures 5 and 6 are views in partial longitudinal section according to the respective positions of unblocking and unscrewing of Figures 1 and 2 showing the operation of the indexing device of the articulation of the tool according to the invention, 10 the figure 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view oriented at 90 ° with respect to the views of FIGS. 5 and 6 showing the articulation of the tool and the operation of the indexing device according to the invention, as well as the operation of the device for ejection of a socket coupled to the tool according to the invention; FIG. 8 is a view from above of the tool according to arrow VIII of FIG. 3; FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view; along the lines IX-IX of FIG. 8. The terms "lower", "upper", "right" and "left" used in the description which follows will be understood according to the orientation of FIGS. 1 to 7. Figures 1 and 2 show a base of a thermal motor vehicle mounted on a bridge. Draining the engine block of the vehicle is effected by discharging the used oil through a hole usually closed by a threaded drain plug 1 located in the lowest part of the housing 3 of the engine block. The cap 1 has a housing 5 (Figures 5 and 6) for its manceuvre. Figure 1 shows an operating tool 10 according to the invention in the unlocking position of the plug 1. It comprises an elongated body 12 extending along a longitudinal axis X-X and an elongated end 14 extending along a longitudinal axis Z-Z. A hinge 16, preferably pivoted, connects the body 12 and the tip 14. The free end of the body 12 comprises an actuating handle 18 for the grip by the user. The end piece 14 is provided with a working end 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4) provided with a holding element 21 (FIG. 5), in particular a male training square equipped with a retention ball loaded by a compression spring, adapted to cooperate by firm coupling with a bushing 22. The bushing comprises a driving part or base 22a (FIG. 5) which engages in complementary shape with the working end 20 and a driven part or projection 24 (FIGS. 3 to 6) which engages in complementary form in the housing 5 of the stopper 1.

The projection 24 comprises a magnetic device 25 (Figure 7) adapted to retain the plug 1, itself metal. In this configuration, the working end 20 is coupled indirectly to the plug 1.

In a variant not shown, the working end 20 is coupled directly with plug 1 by complement of form. However, this variant reduces the versatility of the tool. A sleeve 26, connected to the tip 14 and whose function will be explained later, slides relative to the longitudinal axis of the tip 14.

A concave receptacle 28, intended to receive the used oil, is disposed between the working end 20 and the handle 18, on the side of the endpiece 14 with respect to the articulation 16. The receptacle is connected to the endpiece 14. Preferably, it can be reversibly secured to the sleeve 26. In the unblocking position, the axis ZZ of the nozzle 14 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis XX of the body 12, FIGS. and 3 represent the tool 10 in the unscrewing position of the plug 1. In this position, the axis ZZ of the tip 14 is disposed substantially parallel to the axis XX of the body 12, and in particular the axes XX and ZZ are substantially aligned. In Figure 4, a yoke 30 extends the body 12 away from the handle 18. The yoke comprises a first 30a and a second leg 30b disposed respectively to the right and to the left (Figures 5 and 6). A bore 31 (FIG. 5) passes through the yoke 30 and extends along an axis Y-Y perpendicular to the axes X-X and Z-Z. A first bore 32 defines the bore 31 on the outer face of the right leg 30a of the yoke (Figure 5). A second bore 33, of greater diameter than that of the bore 32, defines the bore 31 on the outer face of the left leg 30b of the yoke (Figure 5) and extends coaxially with the bore 31. L 14 endpiece has axially, from the square 20, a cylindrical central shaft 34 of circular cross section delimited by a shoulder 36, itself extended 30 of an attachment portion 38 opposite the square 20. This attachment portion comprises a bore 40 (FIGS. 5 and 7), of the same diameter as that of the bore 31, and into which at least two, preferably three, identical indexing grooves 42a, 42b and 42c (FIG. 7) open in rectangular cross-section. In particular, the end grooves 42a and 42c are respectively angularly offset at an angle α of about 83 ° and at an angle ρ of about 75 ° (Fig. 7) with respect to the central groove 42b.

The right leg 30a (Figure 6) of the yoke 30 further comprises a slide groove 44 (Figure 6) of cross section identical to that of the grooves 42a to 42c. The attachment portion 38 is adapted to be received between the legs 30a and 30b of the yoke play close. The hinge 16 is a pivot joint.

A cylindrical axis 50 with circular cross-section cooperates, with the clearance, with the bores 31 and 40. The bore 33 receives, with the game, an actuating button 52 also cylindrical circular cross section that extends the axis 50. A shoulder 53 delimits the knob 52 and the axis 50. Preferably, the axis 50 and the knob 52 come together with material, for example machined steel. A compression spring 54 is supported on the one hand on the shoulder 53 and on the other hand in the bottom of the bore 33 (Figures 5 and 6). The axis 50 comprises an axial notch 55 which receives a key 56 (Figure 6). The free end of the axis 50 opposite the button 52 is equipped with an elastic ring 58 (Figure 6) adapted to abut against the bottom of the bore 32 (Figure 5).

The key 56 slides in the groove 44. It is also able to reversibly engage one of the indexing grooves 42a to 42c, while remaining engaged in the groove 44. The indexing grooves 42a to 42c, the slot groove 44, the notch 55 and the key 56 of the shaft 50 is an angular indexing device of the hinge 16 of the tip 14 relative to the body 12. The tool 10 comprises two positions deblocking. A first position is defined when the key 56 engages the extreme groove 42a (FIG. 7), while being engaged in the groove 44. A second position is defined when the key 56 engages the other extreme groove 42c (FIG. by being engaged in the groove 44. These two unlocking positions correspond to a configuration of the tool in which the endpiece 14 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the body 12, the angle being equal to 75 ° or 83 ° . Depending on the unlocking position chosen, the handle 18 is disposed at a sufficient distance substantially parallel to the housing 3 of the engine, given the complementary angle respectively equal to 15 ° or 7 °. This prevents the user's hand from touching the motor housing. The tool 10 comprises a single unscrewing position which corresponds to the arrangement in which the key 56 engages the central groove 42b, while being engaged in the groove 44. This unscrewing position corresponds to a configuration of the tool in wherein the body 12 and the tip 14 are disposed substantially parallel, preferably in alignment.

In the state of rest of the axis 50 (FIG. 5), the spring 54 tends to push the button 52 out of the bore 33 and the elastic ring 58 is in axial abutment against the bottom of the bore 32 The key 56 is normally engaged in one of the indexing grooves 42a to 42c, while being engaged in the guide groove 44.

When the user wishes to adjust the angular position of the tip 14 relative to the body 12, he presses the button 52 along the arrow F1 shown in Figure 6. The axis 50 moves to the right against the spring 54 which compresses. The key 56 is disengaged from the indexing grooves 42a to 42c while remaining in engagement with the guide groove 44.

The user changes the angular orientation between the tip 14 and the body 12 in a rotational movement represented by the curved arrow R of FIG. 6 until the key 56 is aligned with the indexing groove of the position sought. In this alignment configuration, the operator releases the pushing force on the button 52. The spring 54 has a tendency to relax by automatically urging the axis 50 towards its state of rest in which the key 56 is normally engaged in the corresponding indexing groove, while being engaged in the guide groove 44. The body 12 and the tip 14 are angularly locked relative to each other in the desired unlocking or unscrewing position. The sleeve 26 comprises, in Figure 4, a cylindrical sleeve 60 of circular outer cross section extending along the axis Z-Z, extended by a lower radial flange 62 disposed at the lower free end 26a of the sleeve. Two pins 64 project radially relative to the outer surface of the running portion of the sleeve 60, diametrically opposite and close to the flange 62. The sleeve 26 is advantageously molded from a piece of rigid plastic material. The sleeve 26 comprises a through axial bore 66 (Figure 5) whose diameter corresponds to the clearance close to that of the central shaft 34. The sleeve 26 is slidably disposed relative to the shaft 34 of the tip. It is in bottom abutment against the shoulder 36 of the tip.

From the upper free end 26b (Figure 4) of the sleeve, the sleeve 60 also comprises an axial bore 68 (Figure 5) coaxial with the bore 66. The sleeve also comprises a transverse bore 70 (Figure 5) near this same upper end of the sheath. The bore 68 of the sleeve 26 is adapted to receive a ring 72 and a compression spring 74. These are mounted around the barrel 34 inside the bore 68. The lower end of the spring 74 is supported in the bottom of the bore 68, while the ring 72 caps the upper end of the spring so as to compress slightly. The ring 72 has a transverse bore 76 (FIG. 6) passing right through and adapted to receive a pin 78. The barrel 34 is further provided with a transverse bore 80 (FIGS. 4 and 6) disposed nearby. of the square 20 and adapted to also receive the pin 78. When mounting the tool, once the transverse bores 70, 76 and 80 aligned, the pin 78 is inserted through the sleeve 26 into the barrel 34 and into the ring 72. The length of the pin is such that it secures the tip 14 and the ring 72 and that the sleeve 26 is movable axially in relation to the barrel 34 of the tip 14 against the spring 10 74. When the sleeve 26 is in the rest position, shown in Figures 5 and 6, it is in axial abutment against the shoulder 36 and its upper free end 26b is flush or is axially recessed relative to the base 22a of the socket 22 coupled to the square 20 (Figures 5 and 6). The sleeve 26, the ring 72 and the spring 74 constitute a means for ejecting the bushing 22 connected to the working end 20. When the tool comprises a bushing 22 for an indirect coupling of the working end 20 with the capl and that the user wishes to change said sleeve, it acts on the flange 62 along the arrow F2 shown in Figure 7. The operator moves the sleeve 26 towards the working end 20 against the spring 74 which compresses itself. This force biases the bushing 22 towards the uncoupling of the working end 20 while the retaining force of the holding element 21 blocks the bushing 22 relative to said square. When the force exerted by the sleeve 26 on the sleeve 22 is such that the retaining force is overcome, the sleeve 26 reaches an axial position in which the sleeve 22 is completely uncoupled and expelled from the square 20 along the arrow d shown in Figure 7. The user then releases the force on the sleeve 26, which allows the relaxation of the spring 74 and return to the rest position of said sleeve. Thus, the user can easily replace the socket among a plurality of sockets adaptable to the working end 20. Figures 5 and 6 show the receptacle 28 in the form of a concave cup of small capacity, but sufficient to collect oil seeps during unscrewing and to protect the operator's hand. It is advantageously molded from a piece of semi-rigid plastic material.

The receptacle 28 is mounted on the sheath 26 by sliding from the upper end 26b thereof. It comprises an inner skirt 90, an outer rim 92 and a bottom 94 (FIG. 6). The receptacle is oriented such that the bottom 94 is disposed on the side of the hinge 16 so as to receive the used oil from the engine.

The skirt 90 is adapted to cooperate with the sleeve 60 by shape adjustment. The inner wall 96 (Figure 5) of the skirt comprises a double groove 98a and 98b (Figures 4, 8 and 9) bayonet-shaped (Figure 9) to receive each of the two pins 64. Thus, the receptacle 28 is connected removably to the sheath 26 and can be locked to said sheath. In this locked state, the receptacle 28 is stationary and rests on the flange 62. For clarity of the drawing, Figure 8 shows only the receptacle 28 along the arrow VIII of Figure 3. The outer flange 92 is generally circular. It comprises at least one flat, preferably three flats 100a to 100c arranged at regular angular intervals and separated in pairs by a flare 102a to 102c. When the tool 10 is equipped with the receptacle 28 and placed on a laying plane, at least one of the flats 100a to 100c holds it by gravity in a stable position on the plane, thus reducing the risk of falling of the tool. In the embodiment described above, the tip comprises a working end in the form of a square male coupled to a socket. In a variant not shown, the working end comprises a female cavity coupled to the sleeve by a complementary shape. In another variant not shown, the body and the handle are either offset parallel to each other or oriented slightly obliquely relative to each other, so as to form a crank for unscrew the cap faster with one hand. In another variant not shown, the receptacle is adapted to contain a larger volume of used oil and include a device for discharging this oil to a recovery container.

Thanks to the invention, the user works efficiently and quickly to maneuver the drain plug. It performs its tasks properly and safely in relation to any splashing of oil. Finally, he can quickly change the socket of his tool to work on different types of vehicle. In addition, the tool is simple, compact, and cost-effective manufacturing.

Claims (13)

REVENDICATIONS1. A tool (10) for holding a plug (1) for draining a heat engine, the tool being of the type including an elongated body (12) having a free end forming a handle (18); a tip (14) connected to the body and provided with a working end (20), in particular a male square, the working end being adapted to cooperate by direct or indirect coupling with said plug; a receptacle (28) for receiving used oil from the engine, said receptacle being disposed between the working end (20) and the handle (18); the body (12) and the working end (20) being arranged relative to one another in at least one unscrewing position in which the tool (10) is adapted for the user to unscrew the plug (1) when the latter has been previously unlocked, characterized in that a hinge (16) provided with an indexing device (42a, 42b, 42c, 44, 55, 56) connects the body (12) and the tip (14), said indexing device reversibly locking the hinge (16) in at least one of a first unlocking position in which the body (12) of the tool (10) ) acts as a lever arm to allow the user to unlock the plug (1) and said unscrewing position. 2. Tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (12) and the tip (14) extend respectively along a first longitudinal axis (XX) and a second longitudinal axis (YY), and in that, in the unlocking position, the first (XX) and second (YY) axes are arranged substantially perpendicularly, and, in the unscrewing position, the first (XX) and second (YY) axes are arranged substantially parallel, in particular substantially aligned . 3. Tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the indexing device (42a, 42b, 42c, 44, 55, 56) reversibly locks the hinge (16) in a second unlocking position of the plug (1) wherein the body (12) of the tool (10) acts as a lever arm to allow the user to unlock the plug (1), the second position being oriented substantially opposite to the first unlocking position. 4. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (12) comprises a yoke (30) receiving a pivot axis (50) and capping an attachment portion (38) of the tip (14) pivotally movable relative to said body, the axis (50) of the yoke (30) receiving a key (56) cooperating with a guide groove (44) formed in the yoke and a plurality of grooves indexing (42a, 42b, 42c) performed in the attachment portion (38). 5. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the indexing device (42a, 42b, 42c, 44, 55, 56) comprises an activation button (52) intended to voluntarily release the blocking, and in that a first biasing means (54) tends to position said indexing device in the rest position corresponding to the blocking of the articulation (16). 6. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tip (14) comprises a shaft (34) of elongated shape, such that in at least the first unlocking position, the body (12) is arranged at a distance from the motor, substantially parallel to said motor. 7. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receptacle (28) comprises a rim (92) of generally circular shape provided with at least one flat (100a; 100b; 100c), preferably three flats arranged at regular intervals angularly. 8. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the receptacle (28) is disposed on the side of the tip (14) relative to said hinge. 9. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receptacle (28) is connected to the tip (14) removably. 15 10. Tool according to claim 9, characterized in that a locking device (98a, 98b), in particular a bayonet device, immobilizes the receptacle (28) relative to the tip (14). 11. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the working end (20) is coupled indirectly to the plug (1) via a bushing (22) and in that the tip (14) externally receives an ejection sleeve (26) of the sleeve (22) connected to the working end (20) of said tip. 12. Tool according to claim 11, characterized in that the ejection sleeve (26) comprises a sleeve (60) surrounding the tip (14) and slidably mounted relative thereto, said sleeve being movable between a position in which it is flush with the sleeve (22) or in which it is axially recessed relative to said socket, and an ejection position in which the axial displacement of said sleeve relative to the nozzle towards the the working end (20) of the latter leads the sheath (26) in contact with the sleeve (22) and uncouples it from said working end. 13. Tool according to claim 12, characterized in that a second biasing means (74), in particular a compression spring, acts on the sleeve (60) and tends to arrange the sleeve (26) in its position of rest.