Common drainage system and apparatus for engine oil sump and for oil filter of engine

Abstract

A drainage system and apparatus for use with the lubricating system of an engine which provides a common drain for the engine crankcase sump and for the engine lubricating oil by-pass filter in a manner which insures against mixing of the contaminants in the filter with the engine oil in the sump. The drainage system is particularly useful in connection with the engine lubrication system of vehicles such as road construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, tractors, or the like. The common drainage manifold used in the aforementioned drainage system is preferably mounted on the crankcase guard or "bellypan" usually provided with such vehicles and at a location where the engine crankcase sump and the lubricating oil by-pass filter may be drained simultaneously with ease and simplicity, and with all oil and sludge draining to the outside of the vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a drainage system and apparatus for use with the lubricating system of an engine which provides a common drain for the engine crankcase sump and for the engine lubricating oil by-pass filter in a manner which insures against mixing of the contaminants in the filter with the engine oil in the sump.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art arrangements for draining the by-pass filter and for draining the crankcase sump of an internal combustion engine, particularly of engines used on road construction machinery, agricultural vehicles, tractors and the like, the common practice has been to provide separate drainage systems for the filter and for the crankcase sump. The crankcase sump was drained by first removing an access plate provided on the crankcase guard which is usually provided on vehicles of the type just mentioned to prevent rocks or the like from hitting and damaging the crankcase. After removing the access plate, the drain plug in the crankcase sump was removed. To perform this operation, the serviceman had to be under the machine to drain the crankcase and was frequently splashed with oil during the crankcase draining operation.

In the prior art practice of draining the lubricating oil filter, if the sludge from the filter was allowed to drain directly from the drain cock of the filter, it would collect in the lower guards of the machine and would create a fire hazard. Therefore, a loose hose was provided for connection to the drain cock of the filter whereby to drain the sludge away from the machine. It was necessary in the prior art for this hose which was used in draining the oil filter to be carried in the vehicle tool box when not in use because if the hose was left installed on the drain cock, the possibility existed that the serviceman would forget to close the filter drain cock. In this event, the oil would not leak out when the crankcase was first filled, but when the engine was first started, all the oil in the crankcase would pump out through the hose connection of the filter, unknown to the operator, until severe damage had been done to the engine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a drainage system for use with the lubrication system of an internal combustion engine or the like which permits draining the crankcase sump and the lubricating oil by-pass filter simultaneously through a common drain rather than using separate drainage systems for these members as in the prior art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a common drainage arrangement for the crankcase sump and for the lubricating oil by-pass filter of the lubrication system of an internal combustion engine or the like in which drainage of the crankcase sump and the by-pass filter may be effected by removal of a single plug member in a manifold which is common to the drainage systems of both the crankcase sump and of the by-pass filter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a common drainage arrangement for use with the crankcase sump and the filter of the lubrication system of an internal combustion engine or the like which substantially insures that the filter drain will be closed before running the engine.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a common drain for an engine crankcase sump and for the engine lubricating oil by-pass filter which insures against mixing of the contaminants in the filter with the engine oil in the sump.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a common drain for an engine crankcase sump and for the engine lubricating oil by-pass filter of a vehicle such as a road construction vehicle, agricultural vehicle, tractor, or the like, in which the common drain is mounted in an easily accessible location on the engine crankcase guard, and at a location in which all oil and sludge drain to the outside of the vehicle.

In achievement of these objectives, there is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention a drainage system and apparatus for use with the lubricating system of an engine which provides a common drain for the engine crankcase sump and for the engine lubricating oil by-pass filter in a manner which insures against mixing of the contaminants in the filter with the engine oil in the sump. The drainage system is particularly useful in connection with the engine lubrication system of vehicles such as road construction vehicles, agricultural vehicles, tractors, or the like. The common drainage manifold used in the aforementioned drainage system is preferably mounted on the crankcase guard or "bellypan" usually provided with such vehicles and at a location where the engine crankcase sump and the lubricating oil by-pass filter may be drained simultaneously with ease and simplicity, and with all oil and sludge draining to the outside of the vehicle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the lubricating system of an engine incorporating the common drainage system and apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in transverse section showing the drainage manifold of the invention and of the connections of the filter and of the crankcase sump to the drainage manifold; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along section line III-III of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an internal combustion engine 10 of any suitable type having a crankcase 12. Crankcase 12 provides a sump for lubricating oil L used to lubricate the engine. The engine 10 is suitably mounted on the chassis of a vehicle which may be, for example, a road construction vehicle, agricultural vehicle, tractor, or the like. The vehicle on which engine 10 is mounted is provided with a crankcase guard or bellypan generally indicated at 14 which lies beneath in spaced relation to and in shielding and protecting relation to crankcase 12 for the purpose of preventing rocks or the like from hitting and damaging the crankcase 12. Crankcase guard 14 includes a substantially horizontal guard portion 16 from the opposite ends of which extend upwardly inclined guard portions 18. The upper ends of guard portions 18 are suitably secured to oppositely disposed portions 20 of the main frame of the vehicle chassis.

The details of the lubrication circuit are not important to the present invention. The lubrication circuit may include a pump P having an inlet or suction line 17 which draws lubricating oil from crankcase sump 12 into the pump, the pump then discharging the oil through an output line 19 which leads to the various distribution points on the engine 10 for lubricating the engine. At least part of the oil flow which has passed through the various engine lubrication points is returned by inlet line 21 to the inlet of the filter 52.

The filter 52 is of the well known by-pass type and is provided with a filter element or cartridge (not shown) within the filter casing 53. The oil being filtered normally passes through the filter cartridge. In the event that the filter cartridge becomes clogged, a spring-loaded by-pass which is part of the filter opens and permits the oil passing through filter 52 to by-pass the filter element or cartridge, the oil still passing through the filter casing from the inlet to the outlet thereof. The oil exits from filter 52 by way of exit line 23 and returns to crankcase sump 12. Sludge and other impurities not adhering to the removable filter element within the casing of filter 52 gravitate to the lower end of the casing 53 where they may be drawn off by the drain line 50 connected to the common drain manifold 22 to be hereinafter described.

The common drain manifold of the invention is generally indicated at 22 and is suitably mounted by bolts 24 to a plate member 26 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of one of the upwardly inclined portions 18 of crankcase guard 16. Plate 26 overlies an opening 28 in the inclined portion 18 of crankcase guard 16; and plate itself is provided with an opening 30 to permit access to the removable drainage plug generally indicated at 32 of the drain manifold 22, to be described hereinafter in more detail.

The drain manifold generally indicated at 22 comprises two sections designated at 22A and 22B. Manifold section 22A is bolted by bolts 24 to plate 26 as previously described. Manifold section 22B comprises a known type of commercially available hose or tube fitting, such as an S.A.E. four bolt split flange fitting or the like, comprising a tubular inlet fitting or collar 44, a pair of split flange members 45A and 45B, and four cap screws 47. The collar 44 is provided with a countersunk opening 38A into which a end of conduit 46 extends and to which it is welded or brazed, as at 38. The collar 44 is further provided on its lower face with a groove 39 for accommodating an O-ring 33 to provide a fluid tight joint between sections 22A and 22B. If preferred, another type of suitable gasket could be employed. The collar 44 is provided with an external shoulder 44A engagable by an internal recess 44B in the split flange members. The split flange members 45A and 45B are provided with holes 47A for accommodating the cap screws 47 which extend therethrough and make threaded engagement with threaded holes 47B provided in section 22A. The cap screws 47 releasably secure the split flange members to section 22A and force the collar 44 towards section 22A, thereby causing the O-ring 33 to form a fluid tight seal. Drain manifold 22 is provided with a common drain passage 34 which opens at one end at a countersunk opening 36A in end face 36 of the manifold which overlies opening 30 in plate 26. The opposite end of drain passage 34 communicates with conduit 46. A bore or passage 40 extends laterally inwardly from outer face 42 of manifold section 22A and into fluid communication with common drainage passage 34 intermediate the length of drainage passage 34. The longitudinal axis of lateral bore 40 lies perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of common drainage passage 34.

Inlet fitting 44 is connected by a conduit 46 to a drain outlet fitting 48 at the lower end of crankcase sump 12. Thus, the lubricating oil L in the crankcase sump 12 is placed in fluid communication with the drain passage 34 of manifold 22 by means of conduit 46 and drain fittings 44 and 48 on the manifold and on the crankcase, respectively.

Similarly, the outlet end of lateral bore 40 contiguous the face 42 of manifold section 22A is internally threaded as indicated at 41 to receive a threaded fitting 49 connected to a conduit 50, with the opposite end of the conduit 50 being connected by a suitable drain fitting to the lower end of the lubricating oil by-pass filter generally indicated at 52. Thus, the interior of the filter 52 and the sludge and sediment therein is placed in fluid communication with manifold 22 and with common drain passage 34 of manifold 22 by means of conduit 50 and by the fittings which respectively connect the opposite ends of conduit 50 to manifold 22 and to filter 52.

The drain plug generally indicated at 32 is a substantially solid, or at least unapertured member, received in drain passage 34 of drain manifold 22. Drain passage 34 is provided contiguous the opening thereof near the face 36 of manifold section 22A with an internal thread indicated at 37, and plug member 32 is provided with an external thread 54 thereon which threadedly engages the internally threaded portion 37 of drain passage 34, whereby to secure plug 32 securely in closing or "plugging" position within the drain passage 34 as seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The outer end of drain plug 32 is provided with a hexagonal head 56 to facilitate engagement of a suitable tool with plug 32 when the plug is being either inserted or removed. The end of the drain plug 32 immediately inwardly of the hex head 56 is provided with a sealing washer 58 thereon which is adapted to seat in a tapered recess 60 provided where drain passage 34 merges with countersunk surface 36A at the outer end 36 of manifold 22. When plug 32 is in plugging position as shown in FIG. 2, oil from the sump of crankcase 12 is prevented by the presence of the plub from flowing to the discharge outlet of the manifold at surface 36A, and sludge from filter 52 is also prevented by the presence of the plug from flowing to the discharge outlet of the manifold.

The innermost end 62 of drain plug 32 relative to the view of FIG. 2 lies in manifold section 22A just a short distance outwardly of the interface between manifold sections 22A and 22B. In accordance with an important feature of the construction, plug member 32 is provided contiguous the end 62 thereof with a countersunk annular groove 64 which receives a flexible sealing element in the form of an O-ring 66. O-ring 66 bears against the contiguous inner surface of common drain passage 34 to provide an effective seal preventing passage of fluids in either direction past the O-ring. When drain plug 32 is fully seated in its plugged position as seen in FIG. 2, the O-ring is located at a position along common drain passage 34 which is intermediate the fluid connections of the filter 52 and of the crankcase sump 12 to the common drainage passage 34. This prevents the possibility of contaminants from filter 52 from feeding into crankcase sump 12 through manifold 22. The O-ring 66 by providing a seal between drain plug 32 and the internal surface of common drain passage 34 prevents passage of contaminants from filter drain line 50 to sump drain line 46 when drain plug 32 is in the plugged position as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In using the lubrication drain system hereinbefore described, and with engine 10 turned off, drain plug 32 is removed from its threaded engagement with the end of the common drain passage 34 of manifold 22. This permits the fluid sludge in filter casing 53 to drain through drain line 50 to manifold 22 and thence outwardly through the unplugged end of the common drain passage 34. Similarly, the removal of plug 32 from manifold 22 also permits the oil in the sump of crankcase 12 to drain through the drain line 46 to common drain passage 34 of manifold 22 and thence outwardly through the open unplugged end of common drain passage 34. Since the drain opening of manifold 22 overlies opening 30 in plate 26 and opening 28 in the upwardly inclined crankcase guard portion 18, the sludge from filter 52 and the oil from the sump of crankcase 12 which are being drained are free to flow outwardly simultaneously through openings 28 and 30 into a suitable receptacle which may be placed in the discharge flow path from the open unplugged end of manifold 22.

After all drainage from filter 52 and from the sump of crankcase 12 has stopped, plug 32 is replaced in plugging relation to common drain passage 34 of manifold 22 as shown in the view of FIG. 2. The filter casing 53 is opened and the old filter element or cartridge is removed and replaced by a new filter element or cartridge. The filter casing or can 53 is then closed. New oil is then placed in the sump of crankcase 12 through a suitable inlet opening provided for this purpose. Engine 10 is then started and run for a few minutes to allow filter 52 to fill. The oil level in the sump of crankcase 12 is then checked and sufficient oil is added to bring the level of the oil in the sump of crankcase 12 to a specified mark.

From the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it has been shown how the objects of the invention have been obtained in a preferred manner. However, modifications and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.

It is apparent that removal of the four bolts 24 enables the entire engine 10 (with drain lines 46 and 50 and manifold 22 attached) to be removed from the vehicle without the necessity for draining the oil from the crank case 12 or filter 53. It should also be noted that engines are usually supplied by the manufacturer with oil in the crank case. Therefore, if drainage apparatus in accordance with the invention is installed on the engine during manufacture, it is unnecessary to drain oil prior to installation of the engine in the vehicle, since installation would merely involve installing or connecting the four screws 24.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, an engine, a lubricating circuit for said engine including means for supplying a lubricating fluid to said engine, said engine including a crankcase providing a sump for lubricating fluid, a filter connected in a fluid flow path of said lubricating circuit for filtering impurities from lubricating fluid flowing in said circuit, a first drain line distinct from said lubricating circuit and connected to said sump for draining said sump, a second drain line distinct from said lubricating circuit and connected to said filter for draining a fluid sludge or the like which has collected in said filter, a common drain manifold for said sump and for said filter, said common drain manifold including a drain outlet, said first and said second drain lines being connected in fluid communication with said common drain manifold, a drain plug received in said manifold in plugging relation to said drain outlet whereby to prevent drainage from said sump and from said filter through said drain outlet, said plug being movable out of plugging relation to said drain outlet to permit drainage from said sump and from said filter through said drain outlet, and sealing means between said plug and a surface of said manifold for fluidly isolating said first and said second drain lines from each other when said plug is in plugging relation to said drain outlet, whereby to prevent contamination of lubricating fluid in said sump by sludge from said filter.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said drain plug is detachably removable from said manifold.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said plug and said surface of said manifold define cooperating members and said sealing means is carried by one of said members.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said plug is provided with an annular countersunk recess, and an O-ring is received in said recess, said O-ring sealing against said surface of said manifold to fluidly isolate said first and said second drain lines from each other when said plug is in plugging relation to said drain outlet.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said engine is mounted on the chassis of a vehicle and comprising a crankcase guard mounted on said chassis in underlying relation to said engine to protect and shield said crankcase against rocks and the like along the path of travel of said vehicle, said manifold being mounted on said crankcase guard and so positioned as to permit access to said drain plug and to permit drainage from said drain outlet of said manifold when said drain plug is not in plugging relation to said drain outlet.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said engine is mounted on the chassis of a vehicle and comprising a crankcase guard mounted on said chassis in underlying relation to said engine to protect and shield said crankcase against rocks and the like along the path of travel of said vehicle, a fluid outlet opening in said crankcase guard, said manifold being mounted on an inner surface of said crankcase guard in overlying relation to said fluid outlet opening and so positioned as to permit access to said drain plug and to permit drainage through said fluid outlet opening from said drain outlet of said manifold when said drain plug is not in plugging relation to said drain outlet.

7. In combination, an engine, a lubricating circuit for said engine including means for supplying a lubricating fluid to said engine, said engine including a crankcase providing a sump for lubricating fluid, a filter connected in a fluid flow path of said lubricating circuit for filtering impurities from lubricating fluid flowing in said circuit, a first drain line distinct from said lubricating circuit and connected to said sump for draining said sump, a second drain line distinct from said lubricating circuit and connected to said filter for draining a fluid sludge or the like which has collected in said filter, a common drain manifold for said sump and for said filter, said common drain manifold including a drain passage having a drain outlet, said first and said second drain lines being connected in fluid communication with said drain passage, a plug received in said drain passage in plugging relation to said drain outlet whereby to prevent drainage from said sump and from said filter through said drain outlet, said plug being movable out of plugging relation to said drain outlet to permit drainage from said sump and from said filter through said drain outlet, and means establishing sealing engagement between said plug and the bounding surface of said drain passage contiguous said plug for fluidly isolating said first and said second drain lines from each other when said plug is in plugging position in said drain passage, whereby to prevent contamination of lubricating fluid in said sump by sludge from said filter.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said drain plug is detachably removable from said manifold.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said means is a sealing element carried by one of said members.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 in which said plug is provided with an annular countersunk recess, and said sealing element is an O-ring is received in said recess, said O-ring sealing against said surface of said drain passage to fluidly isolate said first and said second drain lines from each other when said plug is in plugging position in said drain passage.

11. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said engine is mounted on the chassis of a vehicle and comprising a crankcase guard mounted on said chassis in underlying relation to said engine to protect and shield said crankcase against rocks and the like along the path of travel of said vehicle, said manifold being mounted on said crankcase guard and so positioned as to permit access to said drain plug and to permit drainage from said drain outlet of said manifold when said drain plug is not in plugging relation to said drain outlet.

12. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said engine is mounted on the chassis of a vehicle and comprising a crankcase guard mounted on said chassis in underlying relation to said engine to protect and shield said crankcase against rocks and the like along the path of travel of said vehicle, a fluid outlet opening in said crankcase guard, said manifold being mounted on an inner surface of said crankcase guard in overlying relation to said fluid outlet opening and so positioned as to permit access to said drain plug and to permit drainage through said fluid outlet opening from said drain outlet of said manifold when said drain plug is not in plugging relation to said drain outlet.