Dipstick adapter assembly
OwnerBrandon P. Metzgerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dipstick adapter assembly for use with an oil pan includes a front fixture, a clamping means coupled the front fixture, the clamping means being moveable through the hole to arrange the assembly between a free condition and an applied condition, in which the clamping means is inside the oil pan and the front fixture encircles a hole in the oil in direct contact against an outer surface of the oil pan and is sealed around the hole. The front fixture carries a gasket which is compressed against the outer surface, and first and second fasteners couple the clamping means to the front fixture and are adjusted through the hole from outside of the oil pan.
Claims17
An assembly comprising:
- an oil pan having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a hole through the oil pan between the inner and outer surface;
- a front fixture larger than the hole;
- clamping means coupled to the front fixture, the clamping means having a length which is larger than the hole and a width, transverse to the length, which is a smaller than the hole;
- and
- the clamping means is moveable through the hole to arrange the assembly between a free condition, in which the clamping means is outside the oil pan, and an applied condition, in which the clamping means is inside the oil pan;
- wherein in the applied condition of the assembly, the front fixture encircles the hole in direct contact against the outer surface of the oil pan and is sealed around the hole.
An assembly comprising:
- an oil pan having an inner surface, an opposed outer surface, and a hole through the oil pan between the inner and outer surfaces;
- a front fixture formed with a keyway;
- clamping means coupled to the front fixture;
- a free condition of the assembly in which the front fixture and backing plate are free from the oil pan;
- a ready condition of the assembly in which the front fixture is outside the oil pan and the backing plate is inside the oil pan;
- and
- an applied condition of the assembly in which the front fixture is applied against the outer surface of the oil pan, the backing plate is applied against the inner surface of the oil pan, the front fixture is sealed around the hole in the oil pan, and the keyway in the front fixture receives a keyway in the oil pan proximate to the hole to align the front fixture with respect to the oil pan;
- wherein the assembly is arranged from the free condition to the ready condition through the hole in the oil pan.
A method of replacing a dipstick adapter in a hole in a vehicle oil pan, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an assembly including a front fixture and a clamping means coupled to the front fixture;
- applying the assembly to the hole by passing the clamping means through the hole to inside of the oil pan while the clamping means remain coupled to the front fixture;
- sealing the hole with the assembly;
- and
- applying a dipstick to the assembly to extend from outside of the oil pan to inside of the oil pan;
- wherein each step is performed without removing the oil pan from the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.