Filter turning mechanism

摘要

A filter turning mechanism is attached to an engine in proximity to a filter (such as an oil filter), and may be used to install or remove a filter by turning the filter. The filter turning mechanism contacts a filter, and rotates the filter when the filter turning mechanism is rotated with a tool. One implementation of the filter turning mechanism includes an inner drive gear and a filter drive mechanism. The inner drive gear normally spins freely within the filter drive mechanism, but when pushed into the filter drive mechanism with a suitable tool such as a ratchet extension, the inner drive gear engages the filter drive mechanism, thereby causing rotation of the inner drive gear to rotate the filter drive mechanism as well, which in turn rotates the filter.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a filter flange having a threaded hole configured to mount to a filter location by screwing the threaded hole on a first side of the filter flange onto a threaded post at the filter location, wherein the filter flange comprises a threaded post on a second side of the filter flange opposite the first side for receiving a filter; a filter drive mechanism rotatably coupled to the filter flange in proximity to the filter location such that when a filter is installed on the threaded post on the filter flange, the filter is turned by a head portion of the filter drive mechanism contacting an external portion of the filter to rotate the filter when the filter drive mechanism is rotated with a tool, the filter drive mechanism comprising:
an inner drive gear disposed within the filter drive mechanism, the filter drive mechanism defining a spin chamber where the inner drive gear may spin without engaging an outer portion of the filter drive mechanism that includes the head portion, the filter drive mechanism further defining an engage chamber where the inner drive gear engages the outer portion of the filter drive mechanism, wherein the apparatus further comprises a spring within the filter drive mechanism that provides a bias force that pushes the inner drive gear in the spin chamber, wherein the bias force of the spring is overcome by a tool passing through an opening in the filter drive mechanism to engage the inner drive gear and pushing the inner drive gear against the bias force of the spring until the drive gear at least partially enters the engage chamber to engage the outer portion of the filter drive mechanism such that turning the inner drive gear with the tool results in turning the head portion of the filter drive mechanism.