Filter turning mechanism
AssigneeHB Spider LLC
InventorChristopher M. Huff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.
Claims15
An apparatus comprising:
- a filter drive mechanism rotatably coupled to a filter flange that is in a fixed position with respect to a filter location such that when a filter is in the filter location a head portion of the filter drive mechanism contacts an external portion of the filter to rotate the filter when the head portion of the filter drive mechanism is rotated with a tool.
A kit comprising:
- an adapter plate having a threaded portion that engages a threaded portion of a first filter location on an engine and a gasket that seals a connection between the adapter plate and the first filter location when the adapter plate is screwed into the first filter location, the adapter plate providing a second filter location that receives a filter by rotating the filter at the second filter location;
- an adapter flange having a connection mechanism that connects the adapter flange to the adapter plate, the adapter flange comprising a substantially cylindrical hole;
- and
- a filter drive mechanism rotatably mounted within the substantially cylindrical hole in the adapter flange such that when the filter is screwed in at the second filter location on the adapter plate a head portion of the filter drive mechanism contacts a contacting surface of the filter to rotate the filter when the filter drive mechanism is rotated with a tool.
A method for turning a filter comprising the steps of:
- installing a filter drive mechanism rotatably mounted within a hole in a filter flange that is in a fixed position in proximity to a filter location such that when a filter is in the filter location a head portion of the filter drive mechanism contacts an external portion of the filter to rotate the filter when the filter drive mechanism is rotated with a tool;
- and
- using a tool to pass through an opening in the filter drive mechanism to engage the filter drive mechanism and rotate the filter drive mechanism, the rotation of the filter drive mechanism turning the filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.