| CPC F01M 11/0408 (2013.01) [F01M 2011/0425 (2013.01)] | 22 Claims |
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1. An oil evacuation system for draining oil from an oil pan having a drain hole, the system comprising:
an oil drain plug having a distal threaded plug shaft, an intermediate plug head, and a proximal plug boss, the plug shaft configured to threadably engage the oil pan drain hole, the plug head having a distally-facing surface, the oil drain plug further having an axial plug bore therealong, the plug bore having formed therein an expanded relatively larger diameter throat opposite the plug head bounded proximally by a relatively smaller diameter through-hole and distally by the relatively smaller diameter plug bore, the expanded relatively larger diameter throat not extending distally beyond the distally-facing surface of the plug head and tapering to the relatively smaller diameter plug bore opposite the plug shaft, the oil drain plug further having a plunger positioned within the throat and configured to selectively seal the plug bore under the biasing effect of a spring extending distally from the plunger, whereby the expanded throat in cooperation with the stabilizing and biasing spring allows relative movement of the plunger within the plug bore and specifically the throat to selectively open and close the plug bore;
a safety cap configured for selective engagement with the plug boss for selectively proximally covering the oil drain plug; and
an oil drain tool configured for selective operable installation on the oil drain plug upon removal of the safety cap when the oil drain plug is installed in the drain hole and oil is to be drained from the oil pan, the oil drain tool comprising a body having a distal connector configured to engage the plug boss, the oil drain tool further having an axial tool bore therealong, the tool bore having a distal cavity defining the connector, the oil drain tool further having an actuator slidably installed and selectively sealingly positioned within the tool bore and configured for selective engagement with the plunger;
wherein an uncapped stand-off of the oil drain plug from a distal surface of the plug head to a proximal surface of the plug boss is less than nine millimeters (9 mm) and with the safety cap installed on the plug boss a capped stand-off from the distal surface of the plug head to the proximal surface of the safety cap is less than ten millimeters (10 mm), whereby the oil drain plug has a relatively low profile when installed in the drain hole of the oil pan for shear resistance and safety in the event of an impact to the oil drain plug; and
wherein during use when the oil drain plug is installed in the drain hole and oil is to be drained from the oil pan, upon removal of the safety cap from the oil drain plug and installation of the oil drain tool on the plug boss of the oil drain plug, actuation of the actuator of the oil drain tool causes the actuator to unseat within the tool bore and open the oil drain tool and further causes the actuator to engage and unseat the plunger of the oil drain plug within the plug bore and open the oil drain plug and thereby allow oil to flow through the oil drain plug around the plunger and through the oil drain tool around the actuator, whereby in reverse upon retraction of the actuator, the oil drain plug closes as by the plunger re-seating in the throat under the biasing effect of the spring before the actuator re-seats within the tool bore and the oil drain tool again closes to ensure that no residual oil remains in the distal cavity as the oil drain tool is disconnected from the oil drain plug.
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