US3677369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive oil crank case drain valve
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-04
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Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1991-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A drain valve for automotive crank cases. The drain valve is substituted for the usual crank case drain plug and is in the form of a threaded plug having a manually operable valve permitting drainage of the crank case oil without removal of the plug. A spherical valve body is seated in a hemispherical valve seat provided in the plug and by means of radial arms extending from the valve body and which are journaled between the plug and a cap, rotation provides for registry of a diametrical opening in the valve body with a plug opening to drain the oil. Operation of the valve arms can be effected either manually, by a screw driver, wrench or the like, or by remote control by linkage connecting the operating arm to a remote control handle on the dashboard of an automobile. A simple cap held in by struckover flanges holds the valve body in the plug and permits ready assemblage.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard F Schramm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:21
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M11/00; F01M11/04; F01M11/0408; F16; F16L; F16L55/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A drain plug for an automotive crankcase comprising a plug threadedly receivable in a threaded opening in the bottom of the crankcase, said plug being provided with a ball valve, said ball valve being comprised of a spherical valve body having a valve passage rotatable into registry with a valve opening in the plug communicating on one side of the valve body with the interior of the crankcase and on an opposed side of the valve body with the exterior of the plug, said valve body being pressed into a socket opening provided in the plug against a sealing O-ring, said socket opening being provided with a shoulder against which the O-ring is seated, said plug being provided with a cap fitting over the ball valve body into the plug socket, said cap having a mating hemispherical socket acting as a journal for the valve body, and said cap being further provided with a pair of opposed radially extending arms having hemicylindrical grooves acting as a journal for the arms of the valve body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A drain plug for an automotive crankcase comprising a plug threadedly receivable in a threaded opening in the bottom of the crankcase, said plug being provided with a ball valve, said ball valve being comprised of a spherical valve body having a valve passage rotatable into registry with a valve opening in the plug communicating on one side of the valve body with the interior of the crankcase and on an opposed side of the valve body with the exterior of the plug, said valve body being pressed into a socket opening provided in the plug against a sealing O-ring, said socket opening being provided with a shoulder against which the O-ring is seated, said plug being provided with a cap fitting over the ball valve body into the plug socket, said cap having a mating hemispherical socket acting as a journal for the valve body, and said cap being further provided with a pair of opposed radially extending arms having hemicylindrical grooves acting as a journal for the arms of the valve body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
195 words
A drain plug for an automotive crankcase comprising a plug threadedly receivable in a threaded opening in the bottom of the crankcase, said plug being provided with a ball valve, said ball valve being comprised of a spherical valve body having a valve passage rotatable into registry with a valve opening in the plug communicating on one side of the valve body with the interior of the crankcase and on an opposed side of the valve body with the exterior of the plug, said valve body being pressed into a socket opening provided in the plug against a sealing O-ring, said socket opening being provided with a shoulder against which the O-ring is seated, said valve body being provided with a pair of opposed radially extending cylindrical arms journalled in cylindrical openings in the plug and means on one of said arms receiving a tool to open and close the valve and detent means provided on one of the cylindrical arms to maintain the valve body in the closed position against minor dislodgement forces, said detent means being adapted to be overridden by manual force applied to operate the valve body to an open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
195 words
A drain plug for an automotive crankcase comprising a plug threadedly receivable in a threaded opening in the bottom of the crankcase, said plug being provided with a ball valve, said ball valve being comprised of a spherical valve body having a valve passage rotatable into registry with a valve opening in the plug communicating on one side of the valve body with the interior of the crankcase and on an opposed side of the valve body with the exterior of the plug, said valve body being pressed into a socket opening provided in the plug against a sealing O-ring, said socket opening being provided with a shoulder against which the O-ring is seated, said valve body being provided with a pair of opposed radially extending cylindrical arms journalled in cylindrical openings in the plug and means on one of said arms receiving a tool to open and close the valve and detent means provided on one of the cylindrical arms to maintain the valve body in the closed position against minor dislodgement forces, said detent means being adapted to be overridden by manual force applied to operate the valve body to an open position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |