Removable Oil Cap With Retention Bag for Spill-Free Oil Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for changing oil in small engine devices, such as using siphon pumps or removing entire oil caps, are inefficient and pose safety hazards due to oil leakage, which can lead to environmental degradation and health risks.
Innovation Solution
A removable oil cap kit comprising a cap with a sidewall and interior surface, a dipstick, and an oil retention bag, where the cap has protrusions for coupling with the engine and a channel for retaining the bag, allowing for secure oil collection without external containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If siphon pumps or removing entire oil caps are used for oil changes, then oil can be removed from the engine, but oil leakage and spillage occur causing safety hazards and environmental degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary oil retention bag that acts as a mediator between the oil reservoir and the external environment. The bag is positioned within the oil cap assembly to contain oil during removal and transfer, preventing direct contact between spilled oil and the surrounding environment. This intermediary structure captures and secures the oil, eliminating the harmful leakage and spillage effects while maintaining the oil removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the oil retention bag is placed inside the oil cap assembly, which itself is removed from the engine. The dipstick is inserted through the cap, and the entire assembly works together in a nested configuration. This nesting ensures that oil remains contained within the innermost layer (the bag) throughout the oil change process, preventing leakage while allowing efficient oil removal.
2Productivity
If traditional oil cap designs are used, then the oil reservoir is sealed, but oil changes require removing the entire cap which is inefficient and hazardous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the oil cap assembly into distinct functional components: a removable outer cap, an oil retention bag, and a dipstick. The outer cap can be removed independently to access the retention bag, allowing oil changes to be performed without removing the entire sealed assembly from the engine. This segmentation improves efficiency by enabling targeted access while the retention bag prevents hazardous spillage during the process.
3Reliability
If the oil cap is designed with coupling protrusions and retention channels, then secure attachment to the engine is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the attachment and retention functions in specific localized features rather than distributing complexity throughout the entire cap structure. The inner portion of the cap includes localized coupling protrusions that engage with corresponding features on the engine, while the outer portion has a localized retention channel for the bag lip. This localized approach achieves secure attachment without requiring complex overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil change cap and system are described. A removable oil cap kit includes a removable oil cap and an oil retention bag. The removable oil cap incudes a sidewall and an interior surface, the interior surface has an opening extending therethrough. The sidewall includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion of the sidewall includes a channel formed therein for retaining an oil retention bag. The inner portion of the sidewall includes one or more protrusions to couple the removable oil cap with the oil receptacle of a motor.