Magnetic drain plug assembly

Claim 2

A magnetic drain plug assembly comprising: a valve having a large diameter solid head portion thereon adapted to be located interiorly of an oil sump including seal means thereon and two dependent leg portions, each of said leg portions having an outer surface with threads formed thereon adapted to be threadably received within an internally threaded oil sump housing bore, a plug having a magnet on one end thereof and an externally threaded flange in surrounding spaced relationship therewith, said flange having locator grooves formed therein, seal means on said plug below said externally threaded flange, said valve and said plug being coupled by insertion of the legs on said valve within said locator groovEs when said valve is threadably located within the housing bore so as to locate the seal means thereon in sealing engagement with the housing to prevent oil drainage from the sump, said coupled plug and valve being threadable inwardly of a bore to position said magnet within the sump and to locate the seal means on said plug in sealing engagement with the housing to prevent drainage from the sump when the seal means on said valve is located in spaced relationship to the housing to maintain free communication between the sump and the magnet on said plug.

Claim 3

A combination valve and plug for controlling access through an internally threaded housing bore comprising: a plug having an externally threaded flange thereon, means forming an annular seal on said plug in surrounding relationship to said externally threaded flange for sealed engagement with the housing when the plug is threaded into the housing bore, a valve having a solid head located within the housing and including seal means thereon engageable with the housing to prevent oil drainage through the bore, a pair of dependent legs on said valve each having an outer surface with threads thereon for threadably connecting said valve within a housing bore to locate the valve in a closed position, said closed valve having said legs thereon located externally of the bore for coupled connection to said flange with said plug serving as a tool for screwing said valve from said bore into an open position with said seal means thereon out of engagement with said housing while threadably locating said plug within said bore to locate the annular seal thereon in sealed engagement with the housing to seal the bore when the valve is in its open position.

Claim 4

A combination valve and plug for controlling access through an internally threaded housing bore comprising: a plug having an externally threaded flange thereon, means forming an annular seal on said plug in surrounding relationship to said externally threaded flange for sealed engagement with the housing when the plug is threaded into the housing bore, a valve having a solid head located within the housing and including seal means thereon engageable with the housing to prevent oil drainage through the bore, a pair of dependent legs on said valve each having an outer surface with threads thereon for threadably connecting said valve within a housing bore to locate the valve in a closed position, said closed valve having said legs thereon located externally of the bore for coupled connection to said flange with said plug serving as a tool for screwing said valve from said bore into an open position with said seal means thereon out of engagement with said housing while threadably locating said plug within said bore to locate the annular seal thereon in sealed engagement with the housing to seal the bore when the valve is in its open position.

Claim 5

A combination valve and magnetic plug assembly for a threaded bore to a lubricant sump comprising: a plug having a magnet on one end thereof, a flange on said plug located circumferentially around said magnet, said flange including a pair of diametrically located grooves therein and further including an external thread therearound, a seal shoulder formed on said plug and including an annular seal member supported thereon, a valve for closing the bore when the plug is removed therefrom including a pair of spaced apart legs and a solid head portion including a seal shoulder thereon, an annular seal supported on said shoulder, each of said legs having an outer surface with an external thread coincident with the external thread on said plug flange, each of said legs further including a tip thereon for guiding said legs into said grooves to couple said plug and valve to one another, said plug serving as a tool to thread the valve into the bore so as to locate said seal thereon in a closed position for sealing said bore, said plug being removable from said legs when said valve is in its closed position for inspection of the magnet on the plug without drainage of oil from the sump, said plug being coupled to said valve by location of said legs within said grooves to cause threadable movement of the valve into an open position with its seal out of engagement with the bore and movement of the plug and seal thereon into a closed position to seal the bore with said legs defining a flow path for oil from the sump across the magnet on said plug when it is in its closed position.

Claim 6

A combination valve and magnetic plug assembly for a threaded bore to a lubricant sump comprising: a plug having a magnet on one end thereof, a flange on said plug located circumferentially around said magnet, said flange including a pair of diametrically located grooves therein and further including an external thread therearound, a seal shoulder formed on said plug and including an annular seal member supported thereon, a valve for closing the bore when the plug is removed therefrom including a pair of spaced apart legs and a solid head portion including a seal shoulder thereon, an annular seal supported on said shoulder, each of said legs having an outer surface with an external thread coincident with the external thread on said plug flange, each of said legs further including a tip thereon for guiding said legs into said grooves to couple said plug and valve to one another, said plug serving as a tool to thread the valve into the bore so as to locate said seal thereon in a closed position for sealing said bore, said plug being removable from said legs when said valve is in its closed position for inspection of the magnet on the plug without drainage of oil from the sump, said plug being coupled to said valve by location of said legs within said grooves to cause threadable movement of the valve into an open position with its seal out of engagement with the bore and movement of the plug and seal thereon into a closed position to seal the bore with said legs defining a flow path for oil from the sump across the magnet on said plug when it is in its closed position.