US1884819A - Apparatus for cleaning lubricant cases of engines - Google Patents

Description

' oct' 259 W. L. OSBVRNE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES O ENGENES'4 F'i'led March 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l w @n f I e m Q R :D O

*j G CQ w I w f I m N N JY?! Get. 25, w. L. @SBQRNE 1,8849819 Y APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES OF ENGINES Filed March 30, 1928 3 Shets-Sheet E Oct. 25,' 1932. W, L, QSBORNE Lf884l9 APPARATUS FOR CLANING LUBRICANT GASES 0F ENGINES Filed March 30, 1928 l Sl'f.ecats-Sheetv 54 f' m Way@ Patented Oct. 25, 1932 l `UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE WILTJJIAM L. OSBORNE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNR T0 DSBGRNE PROCESS, y

INC., 0F LOS ANGELES, UALIFORNIA, A CORPORATIUN 0F GALFORNI .APPARATUS FOR GLEANING LUBRICANT CASES @E ENGINES Application led March tn, 1928. Serial Mo, tl,

This invention relates to improvements in a portable device for cleaning lubricant cases ot engines, and is more particularly adapted to the cleaning ot transmission and diderenl g, tial housings of motor vehicles, such as automobiles, motor trucks, and the like. llovvever, the invention is also adapted tor use in cleaning lubricant cases ol engines generally, as tor example, motors ot trolley cars, Diesel in engines, boats, airplane origines and the lilre,

The objects and advantages ot the invention vvill hereinailter more clearly appear 'trein the tollovving description, but broadly i speaking, the purpose is to provide a portable .it device to eltectively and easily' cleanthe case containing the ylubricant together with the mechanism enclosed in such case /To this end the invention is carried out, tiret, by preterably draining ed the dirty oil or used lubri cant and then torcibly circulating a tlushing or cleaning oil through the case and around the mechanism contained therein The device is not only relatively compact l and le to manutacture, being devoid ot any meer anism orv parts liable to get out ot order, but is especially characterized by the tacility vvith which it can be brought into l communication vvith, or detached trom, the 4 cranlr case or other part oil an automobile' or au other element to be speedily cleaned As a feature ot the present invention the device comprises generally a storage recep tacle, a pump, connections to and trom the pump and the storage receptacle, and ltering means interposed in one oit the connections trom the pump for tiltering the llushing or cleaning oil betore it is returned to the lubricant containing case,n i

.ds another feature of the present invention the tiltering means preferably comprises separate filters, one designed to filter flushing oil trom a crank case and the other particularly designed to filter the cleaning oil used inthe cleaning of transmission and diderential housings.

.ln'the use of a device of the character described herein in the cleaning of crank cases, transmission and diHerential housings and the like it developed that the greases used in transmission and differential work, especially dll Where greases are used vvhose bases are still bottoms, produces an asphalt-like residue very similar to tar, vvhich has no lubricating properties, will not flovv and is very sticlkyo ln usinga single lilter to filter the dushing f oil from the crank case and the cleaning oil trom the diderential or transmission housing it vvas tound that this sticky tar-lilre substance vvould adhere to the hlter bag and spread so4 as to clog that portion ot the bag and stop the ltration ot the oil therethrough. ln addition, `when particles ot this sticlry tar-like substance got into the cranlr case, it tended to stop up the oil groovesu Theretore, it vvas necessary to-design a separate f lilter tor Jtiltering oil used in cleaning transmission and differential housings which led to the designing ot the filter ot the present 'llo make the cleaning device universal in its use, ll have mounted tvvo separate independently operated filters thereon, one tor lilter-f ing dushing oil used in cleaning cranlr cases and the other `lor littering oil used in clean ing transmission and did'erential housings.,

'llo eliminate the necessity tor using and manipulating a number ol control valves in the use ot the device, l have devised improve ments, which torni the basis ot the present invention, comprising a single valve control to selectively direct liquid trom the pump through either ot the two lilters or to storage, the proper manipulation to position the valve tor any given condition depending upon Whether it is desired to pass used lubricating or used cleaning oil to storage or pass Hushing or cleaning oil to either iilter.

Among-the advantages ot the single valve control are that it makes the device fool proof, permitting unskilled Workmen to operate the device without any chance of mislocating valve ports; single instead ot multiple control, resulting in economy and saving in cost, assembly, time, repair, replacement and labor in operation; convenience and compactness., K

The single valve preferably takes the form of a liquid distributing valve rather than a stop valve..

' In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partly in vertical sccvice of the present invention in the cleaning of a crank case or the differential and transmission housing of an engine.

g1g. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, an

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of the `present invention. f f

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, and

Fig. 5 is an end view, of the single control distributing valve.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional 7 -7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 6. j Fig. 9 yis a cross-sectional view of the valve per se, taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the valve per se, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring more in detail to thevdrawings, 1 designates as a whole an enlarged drum storage tank which may be for instance 15 to 25'1nches in diameter and 25 to 40 inches in height, more or less, and of a capacity of, say to 35 gallons more or less, as may be deview taken on line sired. This drum may be provided with base wheels 2 and a support 3. Mounted exteriorly of the drum 1 is a bracket 4 on which may be mounted a pump 5, the latter having inlet 6 and discharge 7. A handle 8 may be provided to manually operate the pump, or the pump lmay have connection with any means for permitting mechanical operation. The pump inlet 6 may be arranged to have detachable engagement with a flexible conduit 9, the latter being connected to a suitable drip-pan 10 in the mannerv shown. The pump outlet 7 may be suitably connected to a four-way distributing valve 11, the latter communicating respectively with branch plpes 12, 13 and 14, whereby upon selective manipulation of the valve 11 any of the branches 12, 13 or 14:. may be connected with the discharge of the pump.

The branch f2 may communicate with a filter 15 which is especially adapted to filter from flushing media the heavy tar-like substances removed from transmission and differential housings and the like. The pipe 13 may communicate with the drum 1 whereby liquids such as used lubricants or used flushing or cleaning oil pumped by the pump 5 may be directed to the storage drum 1. The pipe 14 may communicate with a filter 16 which may be especially adapted to filter from flushing m-edia the foreign material removed from the crank case of the engine. Since the substances filtered out of the liquid by the filter 15 are derived from grease and heavy oils said filter will hereinafter, for the sake of convenience, be referred to as grease filter 15 and since the substances removedV by the filter 16 are derived from motor oils the said filter 16 will be hereinafter referre to as oil filter 16.

A crankcase is designated diagrammatically at 17 and is normally provided with a filling opening 18 and anoutlet or drain 19, the latter being normall closed by means of a plug (not shown). flexible hose 20 is adapted to have detachable engagement at one end with the discharge 21 of the oil filter 1V6'wliile the other end is adapted to have removable engagement with the filling opening 18.

A transmission case is illustrated diagrammatically at 22 and is normally provided with a filling opening 23 normally closed by means of a plug 24 and an outlet or drain 25 normally closed by means of a plug 26. A flexible hose 27 may have one end detachably connected to the discharge 28 of the grease-filter 15 while the other end is adapted to be detachably connected to the filler opening 23.

In the operation of the device in the cleaning of a crank case, the drip-pan 10 is placed under the drain opening 19 and the plug (not shown) removed from the said opening permitting the used oil to drain therefrom into the drip pan. The pump handle 8 is then oscillated to cause the pump 5 to draw the used oil from the pan 10 through the hose 9 and inlet 6, discharging it through the outlet 7, the distributing valve 11 at this stage being so manipulated as to cause the oil to be d1- rected into the pipe 13 and thence into the drum 1 wherein it is stored.

After the used lubricating oil has been drained from the crank case 17 and stored in the drum 1, a suitable quantity of flushing liquid, say 1 to 2 gallons, more or less, maybe put into the drip pan 10. TheV valve 11is now manipulated to connect the pump discharge 7 with the pipe 14 leading to oil filter 16. The hose 20 is connected to the filler opening 18 and the pump handle 8 is oscillated, causing the flushing oil to be drawn from the drip pan 10, passed through the oil filter 16, and discharged into the crank case 17, the flushing oil discharging through the drain 19 into the drip pan 10 from which it is drawn by the pump 5 and again recycled through the oil filter 16 and crank case 17.

By continuing the operation of repeatedly filtering the fiushing oil and repeatedly returning it to the crank case, the flushing oil will continueto be circulated, cleaning not only the crank case by reason of the agitation thereof, but removing all of the entrained dirt and foreign substances which later are then deposited in the oil filter 16. When the crank case has been sufhciently cleaned, the valve 11 may be so regulated as to connect the pump discharge 7 with the pipe 13 connected. with the drum 1. The handle 8 of the pump 5 is then oscillated to i transmissions, differentials and the like, the

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.i be put kin the drip pan I and the operation may be as follows: The drip pan 10 is placed under the drain 25 and the plugs 24 and 26 removed. The hose or conduit 27 is then engaged with the lling opening 23 in a manner similar to the engagement of the hose with the crank case 17. In the event the oil or grease within the transmission 22 is too thick or viscous to readily flow out of the drain a quantity of light distillate such as gasoline, kerosene or the like may Pump 5 manipulated to cause the distillate to be circulated through the grease tilter 15 and conduit 27 into the transmission case 22 and back into the drip pan 10, thus the heavy oil or grease will be diluted or cut, whereby it will readily tlow through the opening 25.

`When the bulk ot the grease in the transmission case 22 has been removed, the valve 11 is adjusted to connect the pump outlet 7 with the Vpipe 13 whereby the pump 5 will cause the mixture of grease and distillate to dow 'through the pipe 13 into the drum 1 wherein it isstored. l/Vhen all the above mixture has been stored in the drum 1. the valve 11 is manipulated to cause the pump discharge 7 to be connected to the grease lter 15.

A fresh supply ot flushing medium, such as gasoline or the like, is put into the drip pan'10 and the pump 5 caused to circulate i the same through the grease tilter 15 and hose 27, being discharged into the transmission case 22. The dushing media discharges trom the transmission case 22 through the drain 25 into the drip pan 10 Jfrom which it is drawn b v the pump 5 and again recycled "throughithe lter 15 and transmission 22.

By continuing the operation of repeatedly liltering the flushing medium and repeatedly returning it to the transmission case 22 the :tlushing medium will continue to be circulated, cleaning not only the transmission case by reason ot the agitation thereof. but removing all of the entrained dirt and foreign substances which are then deposited in the grease lilter 15. lWhen the transmission case 22 has been sufliciently cleaned the valve 11 may be manipulated to connect the pump outlet 7 with the pipe 13 which is connected with the drum 1. The pump 5 is then operated to cause the used flushing medium to be passed into the d'rum 1'for storage.

Other varied forms of operation may be readily performed, as will be apparent to those conversant with the art by manipulating the valve 11. Thus, for instance, a fresh supply of liushing medium may be used to clean the transmission case 22 after the above described operation, the valve 11 llosing adjusted, if desired, to cause the flushi i ing medium to be circulated through the oil filter 16.

A suitable nozzle may be attached to either of the conduits 20 or 27 whereby the used oil or iiushing media may be sprayed upon the various parts of Ythe chassis, such as springs, et cetera. K i

Describing now in detail the four-way distributing valve 11 as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10: A suitable metallic casing 30 ma be provided having an inlet 31 and outlets 32, 33 and 34. A. tapered hollow core 35v having openingsv 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 adapted to have a ground tit with the casing 39 may be provided. A D washer 41, a spring washer 42, and a nut 43 adapted to have, threaded engagement with a portion 44 ot the core may be employed to maintainthe core 35 in the casing 30. 'llhe core 35 may be provided with a boss adapted to engage the handle 11 (Figs. 1 and 2) wherebythe core 35 may be readily rotatedV within the casing 30. yl`he openings 36, 37 and 38 in the core 35 may be separated from the openings 39 and 40 by means ot a wall 46. llhe casing 43() may be provided with openings 47 48 and 49 communicatingy respectively with outlets 33 and 34 and inlet 31. A port 50 may communicate with the inlet 31 and the portion 'of the j core 35 having the openings 39 and 40 and a similar port 51 may communicate with the outlet 32 and the same portion of thev core 35.

rl`he openings 36, 37 38, 39 and 40 may be so arranged that when the openings 39 and 40 register with the ports 50 and 51, none ot the openings 36, 37 and 38 are in registration with the inlet 31, thus the liquid will how jfrom the inlet 31 through the port 50, the openings 39 and 40, the port 51, and the outlet 32. lit' it is desirable to connect the inlet 31 to they outlet 33 the core 35 may be rotated until the opening 36 registers with the opening 49, the opening 38 registering with the opening 47 and the opening 40 registering with the port 50, the opening 37 not registering with any of the openings 47, 48 or 49, and the opening 39 not registering with either of the ports 50 or 51. Thus, the liquid will flow from the inlet 31 to the outlet 33. llt it is desirable to connect the inlet 31 to the outlet 34 the core 35 may be rotated until the opening 36 registers with the opening 48 and the opening 37 registers with opening 49, the opening 38 not registering with any of the openings and the openings 39 and 40 not registering with either of the ports 50 or 51. Thus, the liquid will flow only from the inlet 31 to the outlet 34.

It will be apparent that, when the outlets 32, 33 and 34 are connected to the pipes 12, 13 and 14, and the inlet 31 is connected to the pump discharge 7, the liquid discharged by the pump 5 may be passed through the desired branch. l

For the convenience of the operator, and' in order to insure correct manipulation and adjustment of the valve in the hands of unskilled Workmen, it may be desirable to label the different outlets as illustrated in Fig. 5.

5 The end of the flexible hose 20 may, if desired7 have a more or less permanent engagement With the outlet 21 of the iilter 16, in which case a second iiexible hose 27 can be provided having more or less permanent engagement with the outlet 28 of filter 15. Or, a single flexible hose may be utilized for both iilters, in which event the hose will be provided with means for engaging the outlets 221 and 28 of the filters 16 and 15 in a detachable clamp-like engagement.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised a meritorious improvement to p be applied to portable flushing or cleaning devices.

I claim as my invention Aportable cleaning accessory for lubricant containers of engines comprising in combination, a storage receptacle, a pump having inlet and outlet mounted thereon, separate independently operable filters also mounted on said storage receptacle, branches communicating respectively between the pump outlet and each .of said `filters and With the storage 30 receptacle, and a single valve disposed in said pump outlet for regulating the passage of liquid from the pump to a selected lter or to the storage receptacle.

In testimony whereof I ailx my signature.

WILLIAM L. OSBORNE.

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