Abstract
A hands-free, self-venting device for adding oil to the crankcase of a diesel engine mounted in a semi-truck comprises a funnel having a self-venting passage open at both ends, primarily conical in shape and increasingly diminishing in shape wherein a diameter of the inlet is greater that a diameter of a throat, which is greater than a diameter of the outlet. With an upper body section to receive oil, a middle transition throat which allows oil to be poured freely and also allows air to be vented from the crankcase of a diesel engine simultaneously, without obstruction. The oil flow is redirected to a lower section that mounts easily with just a firm push of the lower body section into the oil fill tube of a diesel engine, sealing tightly enough to create a seal that will prevent leakage.
Claims
1. An oil filler funnel, comprising: a conical upper body section having an inlet pour opening; a conical lower body section having an outlet drain opening; a middle transition throat in fluid communication with the inlet pour opening and the outlet drain opening to define a self-venting fluid passage extending from the inlet pour opening through the middle transition throat to the outlet drain opening; and wherein a configuration of the self-venting fluid passage includes (i) a diameter of the inlet pour opening being greater than a diameter of the middle transition throat, (ii) a diameter of the middle transition throat being greater than a diameter of the outlet drain opening and (iii) a transition angle between a longitudinal axis of the lower body section relative to an axis of symmetry of the upper body section being slanted for facilitating a flow of air into the outlet drain opening through the middle transition throat and the inlet pour opening to an atmosphere as motor oil is poured into the inlet pour opening through middle transition throat and the outlet drain opening into a diesel engine.
2. The oil filler funnel of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the inlet pour opening to the diameter of the middle transition throat is greater than 1.40.
3. The oil filler funnel of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the diameter of the middle transition throat to the diameter of the outlet drain opening is greater than 1.40.
4. The oil filler funnel of claim 1, wherein the transition angle between the longitudinal axis of lower body section relative to the axis of symmetry of the upper body section is slanted at an angle greater than 50°.
5. The oil filler funnel of claim 1, wherein the conical lower body section is operable to be friction fitted within an oil fill tube of the diesel engine as the motor oil is poured into the inlet pour opening through the middle transition throat and the outlet drain opening into the diesel engine.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an oil filler funnel in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a top view of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 showing a middle transition throat of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 snugly fitted into an oil fill tube of a diesel engine, showing the sturdy mount where a tight seal is created by friction with the drain opening.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top view of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 showing exemplary measurements of the middle transition throat and of the outlet drain opening of the lower body section.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of the present disclosure showing of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 showing exemplary measurements of the upper body section and the lower body section.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the oil filler funnel of FIG. 1 being exemplarily utilized to self-vent as oil is poured into a diesel engine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] To facilitate an understanding of various aspects of the present disclosure, the following description of FIGS. 1-6 teaches various embodiments of an oil filler funnel of the present disclosure. From this description, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate how to apply the various aspects of the present disclosure for making and using additional embodiments of oil filler funnels of the present disclosure.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an oil filler funnel 10 in one embodiment of the present disclosure shows oil filler funnel 10 having a self-venting fluid passage open at both ends, conical in shape and increasingly diminishing in size from the proximal inlet end of oil filler funnel 10 to the distal drain end of oil filler funnel 10. The self-venting fluid passage is defined by an upper body section 14 having an inlet pour opening 12 for receiving oil and a middle transition throat 16 connecting upper body section 14 to a lower body section 108 to redirect the oil to an outlet drain opening 20 for draining oil. In practice, a seal plane 22 along lower body section 18 proximal to the outlet drain opening 20 will create a tight seal between the oil filler funnel 10 and the oil fill tube via friction.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, a top view of an oil filler funnel 10 showing inlet pour opening 12 for receiving oil and the middle transition throat 16 for redirecting oil flow through the outlet drain opening 20 of lower body section 18 for draining oil.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of oil filler funnel 10 snugly fitted into an oil fill tube 32 of a diesel engine 30 shows the lower body section 18 friction fitted within oil fill tube 32 whereby a tight seal is created with friction between the oil filler funnel 10 and the oil fill tube 32 along seal plane 22 of lower body section 18.
[0027] Friction is created by firmly pushing the lower body section 18 of oil filler funnel 10 into the oil fill tube 32 of diesel engine 30 until a tight seal is created which prevents leaking. Also creating a sturdy mounting point of the lower body section 18 and the opening of the oil fill tube 32 of a diesel engine 30 which adds stability to the present disclosure allowing the mechanic the use of both hands.
[0028] Referring back to FIG. 1, in practice, the dimensions of oil filler funnel 10 are designed to meet the dimensions and angle of an oil fill tube of the various diesel engine configurations. Also in practice, (1) a ratio of a diameter of the inlet pour opening 12 to a diameter of the middle transition throat 16 is greater than 1.00 (preferably 1.40-1.60), (2) a ratio of a diameter of the middle transition throat 16 to a diameter of the outlet drain opening 20 is greater than 1.00 (preferably 1.40-1.60) and (3) a slanting transition angle 24 between a longitudinal axis of lower body section 18 relative to an axis of symmetry the upper body section 14 is greater than 50° (preferably 55°-65°.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, a top view oil filler funnel 10 shows (1) an exemplary diameter of the inlet pour opening 12 of upper body section 14 for receiving oil to be 95 mm, (2) an exemplary diameter of the middle transition throat 16 for redirecting oil flow to be 50 mm, (3) an exemplary minimum length of a top halve of lower body section 18 to be 70 mm, and (4) an exemplary diameter of the outlet drain opening 20 to be 35 mm.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, a side view oil filler funnel 10 shows (1) an exemplary diameter of the inlet pour opening 12 of upper body section 14 for receiving oil to be 95 mm, (2) an exemplary minimum length of a front halve of upper body section 14 to be 110 mm, (3) an exemplary maximum length of a back halve of upper body section 14 to be 130 mm, (4) an exemplary maximum length of a back halve of lower body section 18 to be 90 mm, (5) a transition angle 24 (FIG. 1) between a longitudinal axis of lower body section 18 relative to an axis of symmetry the upper body section 14 is 60° and (6) a material thickness of upper body section 14 and lower body section 18 being 1.5 mm.
[0031] In practice, oil filler funnel 10 may be manufactured utilizing any technique as known to one skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, injection molding with a durable yet inexpensive polypropylene thermoplastic is utilized to create oil filler funnel 10, such as, for example, with the measurements of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 6, one skilled in the art will appreciate how the dimensions of oil filler funnel facilitate a self-venting of displaced air within diesel engine 30 into outlet drain opening 20 through middle transition throat 16 and inlet pour opening 12 to atmosphere as motor oil 40 is poured into inlet pour opening 12 through middle transition throat 16 and outlet drain opening 20 into diesel engine 30 without the use of mechanic hands.
[0033] Having described preferred and exemplary embodiments of novel and inventive oil filler funnel (which embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons having ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings provided herein, including the FIGS. 1-6. It is therefore to be understood that changes can be made in/to the preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure which are within the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
