GB2333278A

GB2333278A - Oil container

Info

Publication number: GB2333278A
Application number: GB9901179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Anthony Bristow; Thomas Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-20
Filing date: 1999-01-20
Publication date: 1999-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-20
Also published as: GB9801171D0; GB2333278B; GB9901179D0

Abstract

An engine oil container has two separate compartments 2, 3, oil for an engine is carried in a first compartment 2 and the second compartment 3 can be used to collect oil drained from a sump of an engine. In use the container is placed below the sump of an engine and the oil drained into the second compartment 3 through an inlet 6, which is then closed and the fresh oil from the first compartment 2 poured into the engine. The old oil can then be easily transported for disposal. The compartments 2, 3 are preferably separated by a diagonal, generally S-shaped wall 7 and handles 9 and outlets 4, 5 are provided, the outlets preferably being colour coded.

Description

Oil Container The present invention relates to an oil container for use in changing the oil in a vehicle.

When the oil in a vehicle is to be changed, the existing oil in the vehicle is drained out of the vehicle sump into a receptacle for disposal, the receptacle is usually a tray or shallow vessel which has to fit below the sump of the vehicle. Disposing of the drained out oil can present problems as, for legal and environmental reasons it cannot be poured down a drain or into the sewer system and it is unwieldy and difficult to transport the oil in the receptacle into which it is drained, or to transfer it to another vessel.

In garages there is usually a special container for the drained oil, which container stores the oil until disposal in the appropriate manner. However for a private motorist wishing to carry out their own oil change, such a facility is not available.

It is known to have oil containers which have a dished side so that oil can be drained into the dished side, but this does not help with the disposal problem.

I have now devised an oil container which can contain oil to be put in a vehicle and which can also be used to collect the oil drained out of a vehicle.

According to the invention there is provided a container comprising a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall so that liquid cannot pass from the first compartment into the second compartment, the first compartment having an outlet through which liquid contained in that compartment can be poured and the second compartment having an outlet through which liquid contained in the second compartment can be poured, the container being adapted so that it can be placed beneath the sump of a vehicle, there being an inlet in the second compartment such that, when the container is placed below the sump of a vehicle, the inlet can be placed below a drain plug in the sump and oil drained from the sump into the second compartment of the container Preferably the two compartments of the container are of a volume such that the first compartment can hold sufficient new oil required for an oil change, e.g. for cars this can be of the order of five litres, likewise the second compartment has a volume sufficient to contain the oil drained from a vehicle and the wall preferably divides the container into two compartments of substantially equal volumes.

Preferably the container is of a conventional shape so that it can stand on a relatively small base and has a relatively large flat side in which the inlet in the second compartment is positioned and it has a thickness such that it can be laid on its side with the inlet upwards and can be slid below a vehicle sump. When the volume of each compartment is of the order of five litres these requirements will determine the range of dimensions which are suitable or preferred.

In use, the container is supplied with the first compartment containing the new oil, the outlet in the second compartment is opened and the container is then placed below the sump of the vehicle and the oil drained into the second compartment of the container. The inlet is then closed, e.g. by a screw cap and the vehicle sump outlet closed. The outlet in the first container is opened e.g. by unscrewing a cap, and the oil poured into the engine. Thus the oil in the engine has been changed and the drained oil is stored in the second compartment of the container for disposal.

For stability and balance during carriage as well as storage it is preferable that each compartment of the container has its centre of gravity as low and as central as possible when containing oil and therefore preferably the wall dividing the first and second compartments is a diagonal running from top to bottom of the container when the container is on its base and preferably the wall is an "S". This configuration helps to indicate by weight distribution which compartment contains oil and facilitates pouring of oil from that compartment.

Preferably there are handles on the container which facilitate its carrying and its handing in the various orientations in which it is used or carried. Preferably these handles are positioned so that when one or both compartments contain liquid the handles are above the centre of gravity of the compartment or compartments which contains the liquid so as to provide for good balance and ergonomics The inlet into which the oil is to be drained is of a size sufficient to allow easy collection of the oil, normally a circular hole of at least two inches is preferred and more preferably of at least three inches.

The container can be formed of metal or of an oil impervious plastics material of the type conventionally used for carrying oil. The container can be formed in one piece or it can be formed from two compartments joined together e.g. by gluing, welding etc. for ease of manufacture.

The container will be of substantially the same weight as a conventional oil container holding the same volume of oil and, when the sump oil is drained into it the container will be substantially heavier, but when the oil is added to the engine it will be back to about its starting weight and so can easily be stored and transported to an appropriate place for disposal of the oil.

Preferably the outlets in the first and second containers are colour coded or otherwise distinguished to reduce the risk of used oil inadvertently being returned to the engine.

It is a feature of the invention that it provides a way of changing the oil in a vehicle which enables the easy removal of the used oil for disposal. nvention is illustrated in the .,ecomF lying drawings in which: Figs. l and 2 are a plan view of a container in different orientations Fig. 3 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the invention Fig. 4 illustrates how it can be used Referring to figs.l and 2 an oil container (l) comprises two compartments (2) and (3) divided by wall (7). Compartment (2) has an oil outlet (4) and compartment (3) has a waste oil outlet (5) and an inlet (6) into which sump oil can be drained. There are handles (9) and (11) for ease of handling the container in its different orientations. In fig. l the compartment (2) is full of oil so the container has a centre of gravity at (8).

Lifting by the uppermost handle (9) in the direction of the arrow means that the direction of lift is substantially in line with, or nearly in line with, the centre of gravity of the container so the container will be substantially stable and easy to carry.

In fig. 2 the compartment (3) is full of waste oil so that when the container is on its side, as shown, it can be lifted by handle (11) in the direction of the arrow, this means that the direction of lift is substantially in line with, or nearly in line with, the centre of gravity of the container so the container will also be substantially stable and easy to carry.

Referring to fig. 4, in use the container is supplied with compartment (2) containing the oil required for the oil change and the container is placed under the sump with the inlet (6) undone and the oil drained from the vehicle sump as shown at (10). The cover to the outlet (6) is replaced and the oil in compartment (2) is poured into the engine as shown at (11). The container, which now only contains the waste oil can be transported to an oil disposal facility and the waste oil poured away through outlet (5) as shown at (12).

Compartment (2) can then be refilled if required, ready for re-use as shown at (13). Thus the invention provides a convenient easy and environmentally friendly method of changing a vehicle's oil.

Claims

Claims l. A container comprising a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall so that liquid cannot pass from the first compartment into the second compartment, the first compartment having an outlet through which liquid contained in that compartment can be poured and the second compartment having an outlet through which liquid contained in the second compartment can be poured, the container being adapted so that it can be placed beneath the sump of a vehicle, there being an inlet in the second compartment such that, when the container is placed below the sump of a vehicle, the inlet can be placed below a drain plug in the sump and oil drained from the sump into the second compartment of the container.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the two compartments of the container are of a volume such that the first compartment can hold sufficient new oil required for an oil change, and the second compartment has a volume sufficient to contain the oil drained from a vehicle and the wall divides the container into two compartments of substantially equal volumes.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which can stand on a relatively small base and has a relatively large flat side in which the inlet in the second compartment is positioned and it has a thickness such that it can be laid on its side with the inlet upwards and can be slid below a vehicle sump.
4. A container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the wall dividing the first and second compartments is a diagonal running from top to bottom of the container when the container is on its base.
5. A container as claimed in claim 4 in which the wall is an "S" shape.
6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which there are handles on the container which facilitate its carrying and its handing in the various orientations in which it is used or carried.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6 in which the handles are positioned so that, when one or both compartments contain liquid, the handles are above the centre of gravity of the compartment or compartments which contains the liquid so as to provide for good balance and ergonomics.
8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the inlet into which the oil is to be drained is a substantially circular hole of at least two inches diameter.
9. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which the inlet into which the oil is to be drained is a substantially circular hole of at least two inches diameter.
10. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the outlets in the first and second containers are colour coded or otherwise distinguished to reduce the risk of used oil inadvertently being returned to the engine.
11. A container as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.