Crankcase drain method and apparatus
OwnerKerry A. Reinkeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Marine engines often do not provide access to the crankcase drain plug. A conduit is screwed into the crankcase oil filter port to replace the standard oil filter to execute an oil change. The conduit is shaped like an oil filter and has a large orifice exit port on the bottom which receives a garden hose. The engine is cold cranked to push the oil out the crankcase oil filter port. Then the conduit is replaced with a new oil filter. An alternate embodiment incorporates the orifice and valve into the bottom of a standard oil filter.
Claims16
A crankcase funnel for providing a drainage of oil from a crankcase through an oil filter port, said funnel comprising:
- a cylindrical, hollow conduit having a threaded inlet port on a top surface;
- said inlet port being surrounded by a gasket, thereby providing a leak-proof seal against an oil filter outlet port of an engine;
- said top surface having a circular periphery sized to fit into the engine oil filter outlet port;
- said hollow conduit having a hollow central core and an elongate body with a lower outer periphery having indents for grabbing and turning;
- said hollow conduit having a closed bottom surface with an outlet port sized at about ⅞″ I.D. or greater to enable a rapid flow of oil therethrough when the engine is cold cranked;
- and
- a removable closure for the outlet port and/or a shut-off valve therefor.
A crankcase funnel comprising:
- a hollow conduit means functioning to thread into an engine's oil filter port and allow a discharge of engine oil therethrough;
- said hollow conduit means further comprising a round top surface having a female threaded hold surrounded by a gasket to engage the engine's oil filter port;
- said hollow conduit means further comprising a cylindrical body means to allow oil to flow therethrough, with a finger grip pattern means functioning to provide a grip for a user to twist;
- said hollow conduit means further comprising a round bottom surface having an oil outlet port means at least about ⅞″ I.D. to allow a rapid oil discharge when the engine is cold cranked;
- and
- said oil outlet port means having a closure means functioning to controllably open and close the oil outlet port means.
A replaceable oil filter cartridge comprising:
- a cylindrical conduit body having an internal oil filter apparatus;
- said cylindrical conduit body having a round bottom surface with an oil outlet port at least about ⅞″ I.D. wide;
- and
- said oil outlet port having a closure means functioning to controllably open and close the oil outlet port.
A method to drain oil from an engine crankcase, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing an oil filter from an engine's oil filter outlet;
- installing by means of threading a funnel into the engine's oil filter outlet;
- using as the funnel a metal, hollow conduit shaped like the oil filter and having an exit hole being at least about ⅞″ in inside diameter;
- cold cranking the engine to force the oil out the funnel;
- and
- installing a new oil filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.