SINGLE POINT LUBE SERVICE PORT COMPONENT

Abstract

A single point lube service port component is provided and includes an elongate annular body, which is formed to define a hollow through which fluid is gravitationally drainable from a first to a second passage and first and second apertures, a seal biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which fluid communication between the first and second apertures is prevented and a chip collector body removably insertable into the hollow to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a single point lube service port component.

Often, an accessory for a starter of an engine or a similar device requires a wet sump, such as a tank integral to the unit. The wet sump may be filled with oil supplied from an accessory gearbox (AGB), which needs to be returned to the AGB. In returning the oil to the AGB, the oil needs to be screened by a screen that is accessible for servicing and metallic particles need to be removed. The wet sump needs to be filled during maintenance in a fill-to-spill operation and, additionally, a chip collector is usually separately located elsewhere in the system.

Currently, the screening, the removal of metallic particles from the fluid, the servicing of the screen and the fill-to-spill operation are enabled by multiple components and ports over a relatively large area. As such, the accessory may be complex, difficult to maintain and expensive to manufacture and operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a single point lube service port component is provided and includes an elongate annular body, which is formed to define a hollow through which fluid is gravitationally drainable from a first to a second passage and first and second apertures, a seal biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which fluid communication between the first and second apertures is prevented and a chip collector body removably insertable into the hollow to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

According to another aspect of the invention, a single point lube service port component is provided and includes an elongate annular body, which is formed with a substantially cylindrical shape to define an interior through which gravitational drainage of fluid is permitted, and which is formed to define first and second apertures, an annular seal, disposed within the elongate annular body, which is movable from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which fluid communication between the first and second apertures is prevented, an elastic element to bias the seal toward the seal position and a chip collector body removably insertable into the elongate annular body interior to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided and includes a tank body formed to store fluid and to define an elongate annular space, an inlet thereof and an outlet thereof, an elongate annular body, which is formed to define a hollow through which the fluid is gravitationally drainable from the tank body and first and second apertures, and which is removably insertable into the annular space such that the first and second apertures permit fluid communication between the inlet, the hollow and the outlet, a seal biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which the fluid communication between the inlet and the hollow is prevented and a chip collector body removably insertable into the hollow to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with embodiments;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a body of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seal of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5-7 are perspective illustrations of an operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus 1 is provided and includes a tank body 10, such as a starter tank body serving as an accessory requiring wet sump with oil supplied by an accessory gearbox (AGB) and returned to the AGB. The tank body 10 is formed to store fluid in an interior 11 thereof and to define an elongate annular space 20 therein with an inlet 22 and an outlet 21. With this construction, the stored fluid can either drain under the force of gravity through the elongate annular space 20 or, when the fluid level is above that of the outlet 21, flow from the inlet 22 to the outlet 21. The apparatus 1 further includes a single point lube service component 25, which creates a stand pipe for fill-to-spill operations, screens a flow of the fluid and acts as a drain plug.

The single point lube service component 25 includes an elongate annular body 30, which is formed to define a substantially hollow interior 31, through which the fluid is gravitationally drainable from the tank body 10, and first and second apertures 32 and 33. The elongate annular body 30 is removably insertable into the elongate annular space 20 such that the first and second apertures 32 and 33 permit fluid communication between the inlet 22, the substantially hollow interior 31 and the outlet 21.

The single point lube service component 25 further includes a seal 40, such as a sealing poppet, and a chip collector body 50. The seal 40 is biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which the fluid communication between the inlet 22 and the substantially hollow interior 31 is prevented. The chip collector body 50 is removably insertable into the substantially hollow interior 31 to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal 40 into the non-seal position.

The removable insertion of the elongate annular body 30 into the elongate annular space 20 and the chip collector body 50 into the elongate annular body 30 may be achieved in various manners. For example, the elongate annular body 30 may be provided with threading that is engageable with complementary threading of the tank body 10 or may be bolted into position. As another example, the chip collector body 50 may be fractional-turn insertable into the substantially hollow interior 31.

The single point lube service component 25 further includes a cap 60, which may be pressed and staked into position within the substantially hollow interior 31. Beyond staking, the cap 60 could also be held in with a retaining ring, threaded in place, chemically bonded and/or secured by other methods. In particular, the cap 60 may be positioned at an upper end of the substantially hollow interior 31. In any case, the cap 60 may be substantially annular and may be formed to define an aperture 61 through which fluid may flow from the tank body 10 to the substantially hollow interior 31.

In embodiments, an elastic element 70, such as a spring, may be coupled to the seal 40 and anchored on the cap 60 to bias the seal 40 toward the seal position, although it is understood that this is merely exemplary and that the elastic element 70 may be anchored in a number of other configurations. A stopper 35 may also be provided to impede movement of the seal 40 from the seal position in a direction of the bias. The stopper 35 may be coupled to or integrally formed with the elongate annular body 30.

A screen 80 is positioned along a pathway along which fluid communication between the inlet 22, the substantially hollow interior 31 and the outlet 21 occurs. In particular, the screen 80 may be disposed proximate to or just inside the second aperture 33. Positioning the screen 80 in the elongate annular space 20 also allows the screen 80 to have a larger flow area. This results in increased debris capacity and, consequently, reduces a likelihood the screen 80 will become clogged.

The seal 40 may include an annular body 41, a baffle 43, which is actuatable by the chip collector body 50 to urge the seal 40 into the non-seal position and an arm 42 to couple the baffle 43 to the seal annular body 41. In some embodiments, where the seal 40 is disposed at an interior of the elongate annular body 30, an outer surface of the seal annular body 41 contacts with and slides against an interior surface of the elongate annular body 30. In this way, when the seal 40 is disposed in the seal position, the seal 40 closes off the inlet 22 and the first aperture 32.

The chip collector body 50 may include a plug section 51, which is configured to plug into the substantially hollow interior 31 to prevent the fluid drainage, and an elongate member 52. The elongate member 52 extends from the plug section 51 and through a portion of the substantially hollow interior 31 to abut and thereby engage with the baffle 43 of the seal 40. Thus, as the chip collector body 50 is removably inserted into the substantially hollow interior 31, the elongate member 52 gradually pushes the seal 40 upwardly and eventually permits fluid communication between the inlet 22 and the substantially hollow interior 31.

Here, it is understood that the baffle 43 of the seal 40 may also be engaged with other devices, such as drainage tools, that are used to push the seal 40 upwardly without the chip collector body 50 being in use. In these cases, drainage is permitted through the inlet 22 and a lower section of the substantially hollow interior 31.

In some embodiments, the chip collector body 50 may include permanent magnetic material, such as ferromagnetic material. In particular, the elongate member 52 may be a permanent magnet. In this way, as fluid moves from the inlet 22, through the substantially hollow interior 31 and to the outlet 21, metallic particles present therein will be attracted to the chip collector body 50 and thereby removed from the fluid. Moreover, when the magnetic material of the chip collector body 50 is paired with the screen 80, multiple types of particulate matter may be removed from the fluid.

Sealant 90, such as o-rings or other similar types of seals, may also be disposed at various locations. For example, sealant 90 may be interposed between the tank body 10 and the elongate annular body 30, between the elongate annular body 30 and the seal 40 and between the elongate annular body 30 and the chip collector body 50.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, an operation of the apparatus 1 is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 5, the single point lube service component 25 may be removed from the elongate annular space 20 of the tank body 10 such that the screen 80 may be cleaned and the chip collector body 50 may be inspected. In this condition, fluid within the interior 11 of the tank body 10 will be permitted to flow or drain outwardly through a lower end of the elongate annular space 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the single point lube service component 25 is removably inserted into the elongate annular space 20 without the chip collector body 50. As such, the seal 40 is permitted to occupy the seal position and the tank body 10 may be filled-to-spill with the fluid. Once the fill-to-spill is complete or at least once an appropriate fluid level is reached, the chip collector body 50 is removably inserted into the elongate annular body 30, as shown in FIG. 7, such that the seal 40 is forced to move to the non-seal position and the fluid communication between the inlet 22, the first aperture 32, the substantially hollow interior 31, the second aperture 33 and the outlet 21 is permitted.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A single point lube service port component, comprising:

an elongate annular body, which is formed to define a hollow through which fluid is gravitationally drainable from a first to a second passage and first and second apertures;

a seal biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which fluid communication between the first and second apertures is prevented; and

a chip collector body removably insertable into the hollow to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

2. The single point lube service port component according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cap; and

an elastic element, which is coupled to the seal and anchored on the cap, to bias the seal toward the seal position.

3. The single point lube service port component according to claim 2, wherein the elastic element comprises a spring.

4. The single point lube service port component according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper to impede movement of the seal from the seal position in a direction of the bias.

5. The single point lube service port component according to claim 1, further comprising a screen disposed proximate to the second aperture.

6. The single point lube service port component according to claim 1, wherein the seal comprises:

an annular body;

a baffle, which is actuatable by the chip collector body to urge the seal into the non-seal position; and

an arm to couple the baffle to the seal annular body.

7. The single point lube service port component according to claim 1, wherein the chip collector body comprises:

a plug section to prevent the fluid drainage; and

an elongate member extending from the plug section to engage the seal.

8. The single point lube service port component according to claim 1, wherein the chip collector body comprises permanent magnetic material.

9. A single point lube service port component, comprising:

an elongate annular body, which is formed with a substantially cylindrical shape to define an interior through which gravitational drainage of fluid is permitted, and which is formed to define first and second apertures;

an annular seal, disposed within the elongate annular body, which is movable from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which fluid communication between the first and second apertures is prevented;

an elastic element to bias the seal toward the seal position; and

a chip collector body removably insertable into the elongate annular body interior to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

10. The single point lube service port component according to claim 9, further comprising a screen disposed proximate to the second aperture.

11. The single point lube service port component according to claim 9, wherein the chip collector body comprises permanent magnetic material.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a tank body formed to store fluid and to define an elongate annular space, an inlet thereof and an outlet thereof;

an elongate annular body, which is formed to define a hollow through which the fluid is gravitationally drainable from the tank body and first and second apertures, and which is removably insertable into the annular space such that the first and second apertures permit fluid communication between the inlet, the hollow and the outlet;

a seal biased to move from a non-seal position toward a seal position at which the fluid communication between the inlet and the hollow is prevented; and

a chip collector body removably insertable into the hollow to prevent the gravitational fluid drainage and to urge the seal into the non-seal position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a cap, which is press-fittable into an upper end of the hollow; and

an elastic element, which is coupled to the seal and anchored on the cap, to bias the seal toward the seal position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the cap is annular and formed to define an aperture through which the stored fluid is passable to the hollow.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the elastic element comprises a spring.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a stopper to impede movement of the seal from the seal position in a direction of the bias.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a screen disposed proximate to the second aperture.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the seal comprises:

an annular body, an outer surface of which contacts an inner surface of the elongate annular body;

a baffle, which is actuatable by the chip collector body to urge the seal into the non-seal position; and

an arm to couple the baffle to the seal annular body.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chip collector body comprises:

a plug section to prevent the fluid drainage; and

an elongate member extending from the plug section to engage the seal.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chip collector body comprises permanent magnetic material.