US4235264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for facilitating removal of transmission pans
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-12-26
•
Granted: 1980-11-25
•
Expires: 1998-12-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for facilitating the removal of a transmission pan of the type having fasteners securing the pan to its housing are characterized by continuously mechanically retaining the pan in sealed engagement independently of the pan fasteners whereby the pan fasteners may be easily removed without spillage of fluid from the transmission, and then allowing the pan to be retracted into a fluid catch basin located beneath the transmission and substantially surrounding the pan and a portion of the housing whereby spillage and leakage of the fluid without the catch basin is prevented.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth R. Rau
- 👤 John K. Rau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:37
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B27/00; B25B27/0035; B60; B60S; B60S5/00; F; F16; F16N; F16N31/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for facilitating with no or minimal spillage of fluid the removal of a transmission pan from a transmission housing of the type having at least one fastener securing the pan to the housing, comprising: pan retention means in one position operable for retaining such pan in sealed engagement with such housing independently of such fastener and in another position for permitting disengagement of such pan from such housing, and catch basin means operatively associated with said pan retention means for receiving such fluid as said pan retention means moves from said one position to said another position, said catch basin means being movable while said pan retention means is in said one position from a remote position permitting access to the fastener for removal of the same to an operative position surrounding such pan, and said pan retention means including a pan engagement member and actuating means for moving said pan engagement member between said one and another position when said catch basin means is in said operative position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for facilitating with no or minimal spillage of fluid the removal of a transmission pan from a transmission housing of the type having at least one fastener securing the pan to the housing, comprising: pan retention means in one position operable for retaining such pan in sealed engagement with such housing independently of such fastener and in another position for permitting disengagement of such pan from such housing, and catch basin means operatively associated with said pan retention means for receiving such fluid as said pan retention means moves from said one position to said another position, said catch basin means being movable while said pan retention means is in said one position from a remote position permitting access to the fastener for removal of the same to an operative position surrounding such pan, and said pan retention means including a pan engagement member and actuating means for moving said pan engagement member between said one and another position when said catch basin means is in said operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator means is operated from a location externally of said catch basin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises means for locking said pan engagement member in said one position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for locking comprises a ratchet and pawl.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 3 comprising biasing means for urging said pan engagement member when in said one position against the pan with sufficient force to ensure sealing engagement between the pan and housing after the fastener is removed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 5 comprising a base, and wherein said actuating means comprises a first vertically movable member mounted on said base and means to move said vertically movable member, and said biasing means comprises spring means interconnecting said pan engagement member and vertically movable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first vertically movable member comprises a flange plate having at least one opening therein, said pan engagement member has a guide rod depending therefrom through said opening, and said spring means comprises a spring intermediate said flange plate and pan engagement member for resiliently urging said pan engagement member away from said flange plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 6 comprising a second vertically movable member mounted on said base, said spring means interconnecting said first and second vertically movable members, and a ball and socket assembly interconnecting said second vertically movable member and pan engagement member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a base and said actuating means comprises a foot pedal mounted for vertical movement on said base and cable means interconnecting said foot pedal and pan engagement member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a reservoir and means interconnecting said reservoir and said catch basin means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for facilitating the removal of a transmission pan from its housing comprising: a support member, a fluid catch basin, a pan engagement member, means for mounting said catch basin and said pan engagement member on said support member for relative selective vertical movement, and actuator means for moving said pan engagement member vertically on said support member and for holding said pan engagement member in an elevated position whereby said pan engagement member can be moved into engagement with the transmission pan and can hold same in place against the housing during unfastening of the pan from the housing, and then lowered to permit removal of the pan from the housing, said fluid catch basin being located beneath said pan engagement member and of a size to receive fluid from the housing as the pan is removed therefrom.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for facilitating the removal of a transmission pan from its housing comprising: a support member, a fluid catch basin, a pan engagement member, means for mounting said catch basin and said pan engagement member on said support member for relative selective vertical movement, and actuator means for moving said pan engagement member vertically on said support member and for holding said pan engagement member in an elevated position whereby said pan engagement member can be moved into engagement with the transmission pan and can hold same in place against the housing during unfastening of the pan from the housing, and then lowered to permit removal of the pan from the housing, said fluid catch basin being located beneath said pan engagement member and of a size to receive fluid from the housing as the pan is removed therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for mounting includes inner, intermediate and outer telescoping tubular elements, said outer tubular element mounted on said support member, said intermediate tubular element supporting said catch basin and said inner tubular element supporting said pan engagement member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 12 comprising a tank mounted on said support member and means for fluidically interconnecting said catch basin and said tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for fluidically interconnecting is said inner tubular element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 14 comprising additional means for fluidically interconnecting said catch basin and said tank, said last mentioned means comprising a valve connected to said catch basin and a flexible hose connected to said valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said outer tubular element is mounted on the top of said tank and extends vertically upwardly therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said tank has a side wall with an opening therein, and said actuating means comprises a foot pedal mounted for vertical movement on said side wall and a reeved cable connected at one end to said foot pedal and at its other end to the lower end of said inner tubular element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 12 comprising means for locking said intermediate tubular element against movement relative to said outer tubular element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11 comprising a flexible skirt extending upwardly from the top of said fluid catch basin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said flexible skirt has a lower downwardly opening U-shape portion for receiving the top of said fluid catch basin in the bight thereof with a snug fit to hold said flexible skirt in place on said fluid catch basin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fluid catch basin is movable from a lowered position to a raised position for surrounding the transmission pan.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said actuator means includes means for lowering said pan engagement member when said basin is in said raised position.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing with minimal spillage of fluid a transmission pan from a transmission housing of the type having at least one fastener securing the pan to the housing, comprising the steps of: retaining the pan in sealed engagement with the transmission housing independently of the fastener, wherein said step of retaining comprises bringing a pan engagement member into contact by means of an actuation asembly with sufficient force to retain the pan in sealed engagement with the housing and locking the same, unfastening the pan from the housing by removing the fastener while continuously maintaining the pan in sealed engagement with the transmission housing, locating a catch basin beneath the transmission pan, and retracting the pan towards the basin causing the fluid to empty into the basin.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of removing with minimal spillage of fluid a transmission pan from a transmission housing of the type having at least one fastener securing the pan to the housing, comprising the steps of: retaining the pan in sealed engagement with the transmission housing independently of the fastener, wherein said step of retaining comprises bringing a pan engagement member into contact by means of an actuation asembly with sufficient force to retain the pan in sealed engagement with the housing and locking the same, unfastening the pan from the housing by removing the fastener while continuously maintaining the pan in sealed engagement with the transmission housing, locating a catch basin beneath the transmission pan, and retracting the pan towards the basin causing the fluid to empty into the basin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said step of locating comprises elevating the catch basin so that it surrounds the pan when the pan is retained by the pan engagement member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of retracting comprises lowering the pan engagement member into the basin when the basin surrounds the pan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-05-26 | 1984-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-25 | 1988-05-26 | 1988-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-25 | 1992-05-26 | 1992-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |