GB1580824A

GB1580824A - Apparatus for renewing oil in engine sumps

Info

Publication number: GB1580824A
Application number: GB12474/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Koppens Automatic Fabrieken BV
Current assignee: GEA Food Solutions Bakel BV
Priority date: 1977-04-15
Filing date: 1978-03-30
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: LU79316A1; IT7884919A0; BE864367A; NL7704124A; DK92878A; SE7802194L; DE2804733A1; FR2387354A1; IT1203220B; JPS53143839A

Description

(54) APPARATUS FOR RENEWING OIL IN ENGINE SUMPS (71) We, KOPPENS AUTOMATIC FABRIEKEN B.V. a Dutch Company of Industrieweg 5, Bladel, The Netherlands, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a device for removing used oil and supplying fresh oil to an engine or the like comprising a hollow probe hereinafter called a pipe to be inserted into the engine sump, through which oil can be sucked out of the engine sump by producing a subatmospheric pressure with the aid of a vacuum source.

Devices are known for sucking oil out of an engine sump which comprise, in general, a manually operated pump by means of which a vacuum can be created for sucking oil out of the sump but the introduction of fresh oil into the sump has usually to be performed by pouring oil in from a can, a box or the like through the filling opening provided to this end.

The invention has for its main object to provide a device of the kind set forth by means of which the whole process of renewing oil can be carried out in a simple and effective manner.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for renewing oil in an engine sump, comprising a pipe for insertion into the sump, an exhaust pump for creating a source of vacuum, means for supplying fresh oil, a first conduit communicaring with the source of vacuum, a second conduit communicating with the means for supplying fresh oil, valve means for selectively connecting the pipe with the first or second conduit so as to remove used oil from the sump through said pipe and first conduit and/or supply fresh oil to the sump through the second conduit and the pipe, a vacuum chamber, disposed between the pipe and the exhaust pump, for receiving oil sucked out of the sump, and switch means associated with the vacuum chamber for switching off the exhaust pump when the pressure in the vacuum chamber reaches a predetermined value.

Preferably, when the switch means switches off the exhaust pump, a supply pump is energised automatically in order to supply fresh oil to the sump directly subsequent to the removal of spent oil from the sump.

When such a device is employed, renewal of the oil can be carried out rapidly and effectively, whilst sucking out the used oil and 'feeding fresh oil can take place through the same pipe.

Such a device is particularly suitable for fully automatic performlance of oil renewal so that such a device is also excellently suitable for a sodled "self-service The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompany ing drawing showing schematically a device embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the device com prises a preferably exchangeable pipe 2 con nected to a handle 1.

The exchangeability of the pipe 2 permits the pipe to be adapted to the type of engine, in which the oil has to be renewed. The handle 1 is fastened to a hose 3, which may be wound on a reel or the like. The end of the hose 3 remote from the handle 1 communicates with a first conduit 4 and a second conduit 5. The end of the first conduit 4 remote from the hose 3 communicates with a vacuum chamber 5' and hose 3 includes a filter 6, an electrically operable valve 7 and a sight glass 8. The vacuum chamber 5' communicates through a conduit 9 with a vacuum pump 10 preferably driven by an electric motor. The top of the vacuum champs ber is furthermore provided with an electrically operable valve 11 for a purpose to be described hereinafter and with a vacuum switch 12.

The bottom of the vacuum chamber com municates, with a used oil container 14, through a spring-loaded valve 13 which opens against the action of a spring at a predetermined pressure.

The drawing shows that the second conduit 5, connecting the hose 3 with a fresh oil reservoir 15, includes, viewed from the hose 3, in order of succession an electrically operable valve 16, a sight glass 17, a volume meter 18, a heating device 19, a pump 20 and a non-return valve 21 arranged in the fresh oil reservoir 15. By means of the pump 20 used oil can be sucked through the non-return valve 21 from the reservoir 15 and can be pumped towards the hose 3. When a given pressure in the downstream parr of the second conduit 5 is exceeded, oil can flow towards the upstream side of the pump through a shunt conduit 22 including a valve 23 opening at a predetermined defined pressure. The top of the heating device 19 is provided with a conduit 24 establishing a connection between the heating device 019 and the top of the reservoir 15.The conduit includes a springloaded valve 25.

The device depicted above operates as follows.

In order to renew the contents of an engine sump a suitable pipe 2 fastened to the handle 4 is inserted into the engine sump (not shown) preferably through rhe opening provided for the oil gauge. By means of the pump 10 an appropriate vacuum. is created in the vacuum chamber 5' and simultaneously with the starting of the exhaust pump 10 the valve 7 is opened so that owing to the subatmospheric pressure prevailing in the chamber 5' oil will flow from; the engine sump towards the vacuum chamber 5' through the filter 6, the valve 7 and the sight glass 8. When the sump is empty, air is sucked in through the pipe so that the pressure in the chamber 5' increases. When the pressure in the chamber 5' reaches a given value, the switch 12 will switch off the pump 10.

In order to prevent the switch 12 from immediately switching off the pump 10 at the start of the system, at which instant a given pressure is still prevailing in the cham.- ber 5', a retarding member (not shown) is arranged between the switch 12 and the pump 10 so that disengagement of the pump at the initial operation of the system is avoided.

When the pump is arrested by means of the switch 12 the valve 7 is closed and the electrically operated valve 11 is opened so that the vacuum in the chamber 5' disappears.

As stated above, the valve 13 opens when it is subjected to a predetermined pressure so that when a given quantity of oil has passed into the chamber oil will flow out through the valve 13 into the used oil container 14.

When the quantity of oil still present in the chamber 5' is such that the valve 13 can close by means of the spring against the force exerted by the oil still present the flow of oil into the oil container 14 stops, however, the valve 13 avoids excessive accumulation of oil in the chamber 5'.

After the pump 10 is switched off, the pump 20 is automNatically started so that the latter sucks fresh oil from the reservoir 15 through the non-return valve 21 and pumps the fresh oil towards the heating device 19, in which heating members (not shown) heat the fresh oil so that the viscosity of the oil decreases and hence also the flow resistance of the oil. The major portion of the fresh oil will flow on through the volume meter 18, the sight glass 17, the electrically operated valve 16, which is opened simultaneously with the starting of the pump 20, the hose 3 and the pipe 2 into the sump.

A small portion of the oil and any air in the top part d the heating device 19 are conducted away through a branch conduit 24 connecting the top of the heating device 19 to the reservoir 15.

The quantity of oil to be supplied to the engine sump is determined in advance and when the required adjusted quantity of oil has passed through the volume meter, the latter will switch off the electric motor driving the pump 20 and will simultaneously close the valve 16 so that the supply of oil is arrested. The pressure built up in the portion of the conduit 5 between the pump 20 and the valve 16 will drop, since the pressurized oil located between the pump and the valve 16 can escape through the conduit 24 and the valve 25 into the reservoir 15.

The drawing further more shows that the conduit 5 communicates, between the valve 16 and the hose 3 with a conduit 26 including an electrically operable nonreturn valve 27.

The conduit 26 communicates with a source of compressed air and after the valve 16 is closed, the valve 27 will open automatically to admit compressed air into the hose 3 so that the hose 3 and the pipe 2 are cleaned by the air passing through the non-return valve, leakage of oil subsequent to the removal of the pipe 2 from the engine sump thus being avoided.

It is advantageous to make the handle 1 from transparent material so that the handle may serve as a sight glass for checking the flow of the oil.

It will be obvious that the whole process of removal of used oil and the introduction of fresh oil can be performed fully automatically, once the desired quantity of oil has been adjusted for a correct operation of the volume meter and the exhaust pump is put into operation.

It is furthermore possible in a simple manner, if oil has only to be replenished, to adjust the desired quantity of supplementary oil and to actuate subsequently the device so that only the pump 20 is operated for the supply of oil without the pump 10 becoming operative for withdrawing oil.

We have therefore provided a simple apparatus by means d which used oil may be removed from an engine sump or by means d which fresh oil may be supplied to an engine sump or by means of which used oil may be removed from the sump and a supply of fresh oil may be provided.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for renewing oil in an engine sump, comprising a pipe for 'insertion into the sumlp, an exhaust pump for creating a source of vacuum, means for supplying fresh oil, a first conduit communicating with the source of vacuum, a second conduit communicating with the means for supplying fresh oil, valve means for selectively connecting the pipe with the first or second conduit so as to remove used oil from the sump through said pipe and first conduit and/or supply fresh oil to the sump through the second conduit and the pipe, a vacuum chamber, disposed between the pipe and the exhaust pump, for receiving oil sucked out of the sump, and switch means associated with the vacuum chamber for switching off the exhaust pump when the pressure in the vacuum chamber reaches a predetermined value.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein, when the switch means switches off the exhaust pump, a supply pump is energised automatically in order to supply fresh oil to the sump directly subsequent to the removal of spent oil from the sump.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the second conduit includes a heating device for heating the oil.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the top of the heating device communicates' with a conduit connected with a supply vessel Of fresh oil and that the conduit includes a valve which opens at a predetermined pressure.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pipe is provided with a transparent handle.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the second conduit includes a volume meter for measuring the quantity of fresh oil supplied and, viewed in the direction of flow of the oil, the volume meter is arranged after the heating device.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vacuum chamber communicates with a vessel receiving the used oil through a valve establishing an open communication between the vacuum chamber and the vessel when a given pressure exerted on the valve is exceeded.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the pipe com miunicates with an air duct by means of which the pipe can be blown clean.

9. An apparatus for renewing oil in an engine sump substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. d which fresh oil may be supplied to an engine sump or by means of which used oil may be removed from the sump and a supply of fresh oil may be provided. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Apparatus for renewing oil in an engine sump, comprising a pipe for 'insertion into the sumlp, an exhaust pump for creating a source of vacuum, means for supplying fresh oil, a first conduit communicating with the source of vacuum, a second conduit communicating with the means for supplying fresh oil, valve means for selectively connecting the pipe with the first or second conduit so as to remove used oil from the sump through said pipe and first conduit and/or supply fresh oil to the sump through the second conduit and the pipe, a vacuum chamber, disposed between the pipe and the exhaust pump, for receiving oil sucked out of the sump, and switch means associated with the vacuum chamber for switching off the exhaust pump when the pressure in the vacuum chamber reaches a predetermined value.