Remotely operated oil drain valve for motor vehicles

Claim 1

An apparatus for remotely effecting the drainage of oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine comprising a valve, said valve having a housing with a threaded portion suitable for connection to the oil drain of a crankcase bottom, said valve housing having a first passageway therein for communicating with said crankcase, a second passageway therein perpendicular to said first passageway, a piston located in said second passageway, said piston being urged into a position closing said first passageway by a spring means, a long flexible cable having one end connected to one end of said piston, the second end of said cable extending through an inflexible conduit attached to one side of an L-shaped housing located at a position remote from said valve, said second end of said cable being connected to a knob member located on the other side of said housing, and a U-shaped latch member pivotable about a point located on one upright arm of the latch, said latch being fastened at said pivot point to one leg of said L-shaped housing by suitable fastening means whereby said latch can be rotated about said pivot point, an L-shaped catch extending from the base of said U-shaped latch, the outer reach of said catch being adapted to at least partially cover and hold said knob when in one position, but adapted to permit outward movement of the knob when said catch is pivoted along with the latch member about its pivot point, said catch holding said knob in an open position when the knob is moved outwardly to a position just past the outer reach of said catcH by abutting against the back end of the knob when said catch is rotated back to its initial position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for remotely effecting the drainage of oil from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine comprising a valve, said valve having a housing with a threaded portion suitable for connection to the oil drain of a crankcase bottom, said valve housing having a first passageway therein for communicating with said crankcase, a second passageway therein perpendicular to said first passageway, a piston located in said second passageway, said piston being urged into a position closing said first passageway by a spring means, a long flexible cable having one end connected to one end of said piston, the second end of said cable extending through an inflexible conduit attached to one side of an L-shaped housing located at a position remote from said valve, said second end of said cable being connected to a knob member located on the other side of said housing, and a U-shaped latch member pivotable about a point located on one upright arm of the latch, said latch being fastened at said pivot point to one leg of said L-shaped housing by suitable fastening means whereby said latch can be rotated about said pivot point, an L-shaped catch extending from the base of said U-shaped latch, the outer reach of said catch being adapted to at least partially cover and hold said knob when in one position, but adapted to permit outward movement of the knob when said catch is pivoted along with the latch member about its pivot point, said catch holding said knob in an open position when the knob is moved outwardly to a position just past the outer reach of said catcH by abutting against the back end of the knob when said catch is rotated back to its initial position.