US1960235A - Cleaning apparatus for lubricant containers - Google Patents

Description

y 29, 1934- Jho. EISINGER CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LUBRICANT CONTAINERS Filed May 9, 1

Wlllnlll \m Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED sTA CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LUBRICANT CONTAINERS John 0. Eisinger, Whiting, Ind., assignor to Standard Oil Company, Whiting, IndL, a corporation of Indiana Application May 9,1928, Serial No. 276,422

9 Claims.

My invention relates, more particularly, though not exclusively, to the cleaning of the crank cases of internal combustion engines, more especially automobile engines.

.My object is to provide for the effective and expeditious cleaning of lubricant containers by an inexpensive-operation and one requiring relatively inexpensive equipment.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:-'-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevationof means embodyingniyinventionand suitable for thepracticing of my method in the cleaning of automobile crank cases, these means being shown as applied to the outlet of the sump portion, shown in section, of an automobile crank case to be cleaned, with the nozzle portion of these means, and through which agitating fluid is introduced into the sump, shown attached to the adapter portion of said means.

Figure 2"-is a view in side elevation-of the nozzle device shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of a removabel closure for the drain outlet of the adapter of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in sectional elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the inner section of theiadap'ter; and

Figure 6, a plan view of the adapter-section shown in Fig. 5.

In accordance with the preferred manner of practicing my method in connection with the cleaning of crank cases provided with sumps, as

for example as illustrated at 7 and containing the usual drain plug equipped outlets as represented at 8, I preferably first remove the drain plug closing the drain opening to permit the used oil to drain therefrom and thereupon apply to the drain outlet an-adapter such as that represented generally at 9 which is shown as screwed into place in the drain opening 8.

The adapter 9 is' formed of inner and outer sections 10 and 11, respectively, the section -11 containing anopening 12 extending entirely vertically therethrough and in which the section 10 is housed in a position in which this section ex- -tends at its opposite ends beyond the top and bottom of the section 11, the section 11 containing a lateral passage 13 opening at one end into the passage12 and at its opposite end through a boss 1& formed as a part of the section 11 and provided with diametrically opposed pins 15 for connection therewith of the nozzle hereinafter referred to.

The central adapter section 10 contains a peripheral groove or passage 16 communicating with check valve 27 confined between the valve proper the passage 13 and from which extend branch passages 17, shown as four in number equidistantly spaced about the periphery of the section 10 and extending longitudinally thereof. The upper end of the adapter section 10 is provided with radiating lugs 18 along the undersides of which the passages 17 are continued, as represented at 19. The grooves 17, with their substantially horizontal extensions 19, together with the 'opposing wall of the passage 12 and the top of the adapter section 11, present passages through which fluidunder pressure is introduced into the container, as hereinafter described. I

The inner adapter section 10 contains a centrally disposed passage 20 extending entirely therethrough, its upper end opening into the crank case and its lower end being provided with a removable closure 21 shown as having releas able connection with the member 10 through a bayonet slot joint connection comprising diametrically opposed pins 22 on that portion of the, adapter section 10 which extends below the section 11 and diametrically opposed bayonet slots 23 in the annularly flanged portion 24 of the 010- sure 21.

Continuing the description of the preferred manner of practicing my method, I apply to the boss portion .14 of the adapter, after having drained the used oil from the container, as above stated, the nozzle above referred to, and represented at 25, shown as provided on the discharge end of, a flexible tube 26 connected with any suitable source of compressed air, the nozzle being provided with an outwardly opening spring 28, shown as a ball, and an apertured disk29 screwed into the body of the nozzle, the disk being provided with a gasket 30 to seat against the'outer end of the boss 14 and make "a tight joint therewith when the nozzle is telescoped with this boss and secured thereto as by the bayonet joint'connection shown as comprising the pins 15 and diametrically opposed bayonet slots 31 in the outer recessed end of the nozzle.

I then fill the crankcase, to the normal oil level therein, with flushing oil of any suitable kind, such as that commonly used for the flush- 1 ing of crank cases and thereupon operate the engine at moderate speed for about one minute to circulate the oil in the crank case and-"the other parts of the lubricating-system supplied therefrom which washes out the oil lines and passages thereof.

Followingthis operation, the engine having stopped, I introduce compressed air from the supply thereof above referred to, through the pipe 26 and nozzle 25 into the passage 16 of the adapter from which the compressed air passes upwardly through the branch passages 1'7 and out through the extensions 19 thereof, in a sub stantially horizontal direction, into the crank case to agitate the flushing oil therein and loosen the particles of solid matter which have settled in the sump. After continuing the supplying of compressed air as above stated for about one minute, to loosen the solid matter as stated, the operator removes the closure 21, while continuing the supplying of the agitating air to the crank case, to permit the contents of the latter to drain therefrom while subjected to agitation by the air for preventing settling of solid material from the oil upon the bottom of the sump during the draining period.

'After' the crank case has been drained of the flushing oil, the adapter is removed, the stop plug replaced in the drain opening and a fresh charge of lubricating oil introduced into the crank casefor use in the operation of the engine.

While I have illustrated and described a particular means embodying my invention and suitable for the practicing of my method and have described a certainsuccession of steps in the practice thereof, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention thereto as the means shown may be variously modified and altered and means other than those shown and described'may be utilized in practicing the invention and the method practiced by varying the described procedure, and in this connection it may be stated that, by way of example of certain modifications of the method, the agitating fluid pressure may be introduced into the contents of the case through any other opening therein, as for example the filler opening of the crank case, and furthermore where the fluid pressure is introduced into the crank case through the drain opening therein, the retention of the flushing oil during the filling of the crank case and the operating of the engine to agitate the flushing oil may be effected by a manually operated valve in the adapter either with or without the valve in the nozzle.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lubricant container provided in its lower portion with openings adapted to remain open at the same time and forming an inlet for fluid under pressure and an outlet through which said container may be drained, said inlet opening into said container in a substantially horizontal direction and positioned adjacent the inner surface portion with a central drain opening and an inlet passage for fluid under pressure and surrounding said opening, said inlet passage having a 4. A lubricant container having a'drain open- 7 ing for its contents and an inlet opening for an agitating medium, said inlet opening having its discharge end directed away from the drain opening and substantially in line with the inner surface of the wall of the container.

5. An adapter for a lubricant container comprising inner and outer sections one within the other, the inner section having a substantially central drain opening therethrough, said inner section having laterally extended means resting on the outer section, said adapter having an inlet passage for an agitating fluid extending through the outer section, thence between the sections and thence outwardly through .the laterally extended means.

6. A crank case provided in its lower portion with a central drain opening and a plurality, of

inlet passages for fluid under pressure surroundingsaid opening, said inlet passages terminating in a plurality of laterally disposed nozzles adjacent the inner surface of the crank case.

7. A device for use in cleaning a lubricant container comprising an adapter arranged for detachable connection with the bottom of said container, said adapter having a central opening therethrough for draining lubricant from the container and being further provided with a plurality of fluid passages surrounding said opening which terminate in a plurality of laterally disposed openings adjacent the inner surface of the lubricant container when the adapter is in place thereupon.

8. A device for use in cleaning a lubricant container comprising an adapter arranged to vbe detachably connected with the bottom of said container, said adapter having a central opening therethrough for draining lubricant from the container and being further provided 'with a plurality of fluid passages surrounding said central opening which terminate in a plurality of laterally disposed openings adjacent the inner surface of the lubricant container when the adapter is in place thereupon, and means for passing air into said fluid passages.

9. A device for use in cleaning lubricant containers comprising an adapter arranged to be detachably connected with the bottom of said container, said adapter having a central opening therethrough for draining the lubricant from said container and being further provided with a plurality of fluid passages surrounding said central opening which terminate in a plurality of laterally disposed openings adjacent to the inner surface of the lubricant container when the adapter is in place thereupon, and a common supply chamber for the inlet passages.

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