Vented oil change cap

Abstract

Systems and methods for removing oil from an oil reservoir utilizing a removable vented oil cap are described. In an aspect, a cap includes, but is not limited to, a cap body including a body portion having a hollow plug positioned around the body portion, the cap body having a bottom surface; a neck extending from the cap body, the cap body and the neck defining an oil channel extending from and through the bottom surface through the cap body and the neck to provide a continuous pathway; and a vent tube coupled with the cap body and extending beyond the bottom surface of the cap body in a direction opposite the neck, the vent tube defining an interior passage, wherein the cap body further defines a vent channel offset and separate from the oil channel, the vent channel aligning with the interior passage to provide gas exchange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable vented oil cap configured to interface with an opening in an oil reservoir of an engine to facilitate exchange of oil therethrough, the removeable vented cap comprising: 
 a cap body including a body portion having a hollow plug positioned around the body portion, the cap body having a bottom surface configured to be introduced through the opening on the oil reservoir with the hollow plug adjacent the opening;   a neck extending from the cap body, the cap body and the neck defining an oil channel extending from and through the bottom surface through the cap body and the neck to provide a continuous pathway for oil to flow from the oil reservoir through the oil channel to exit the removable vented oil cap; and   a vent tube coupled with the cap body and extending beyond the bottom surface of the cap body in a direction opposite the neck, the vent tube defining an interior passage through which gas exchange occurs,    wherein the cap body further defines a vent channel offset and separate from the oil channel, the vent channel aligning with the interior passage of the vent tube to provide gas exchange through the vent tube and through the cap body to prevent vacuum formation during passage of oil through the oil channel.   
     
     
         2 . The removable vented oil cap of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow plug includes a tapered outer wall. 
     
     
         3 . The removable vented oil cap of  claim 2 , wherein the tapered outer wall tapers inwardly along a direction from the neck to the vent tube. 
     
     
         4 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap body further includes a first flange and a second flange, wherein the body portion is positioned between the first flange and the second flange, and wherein the bottom surface is at least partially defined by the first flange. 
     
     
         5 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 4 , wherein the first flange and the body portion define the vent channel. 
     
     
         6 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the vent tube is inserted into the vent channel defined by the first flange. 
     
     
         7 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 4 , wherein the first flange and the hollow plug portion define the vent channel. 
     
     
         8 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the vent tube is inserted into the vent channel defined by the first flange. 
     
     
         9 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 4 , further comprising a third flange, wherein the neck is positioned between the third flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         10 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap body is formed from a screw and a nut, the screw having a head and a threaded shank with the nut configured to receive the threaded shank, wherein the head, the threaded shank, and the nut forming the oil channel. 
     
     
         11 . The removeable vented oil cap of  claim 10 , wherein the head of the screw defines a vent tube aperture to receive a portion of the vent tube. 
     
     
         12 . The removable vented oil cap of  claim 11 , wherein the threaded shank includes a smoothed portion on a longitudinal portion of the threaded shank, the smoothed portion configured to align with the vent tube aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The removable vented oil cap of  claim 10 , wherein the hollow plug is formed from a pliable material configured to be compressed between the nut and the head of the screw during rotation of the threaded shank relative to the nut. 
     
     
         14 . A system for removing oil from an oil reservoir of an engine, comprising: 
 a removable vented oil cap configured to interface with an opening in the oil reservoir, the removeable vented oil cap including   a cap body including a body portion having a hollow plug positioned around the body portion, the cap body having a bottom surface configured to be introduced through the opening on the oil reservoir with the hollow plug adjacent the opening,   a neck extending from the cap body, the cap body and the neck defining an oil channel extending from and through the bottom surface through the cap body and the neck to provide a continuous pathway for oil to flow from the oil reservoir through the oil channel to exit the removable vented oil cap, and   a vent tube coupled with the cap body and extending beyond the bottom surface of the cap body in a direction opposite the neck, the vent tube defining an interior passage through which gas exchange occurs,    wherein the cap body further defines a vent channel offset and separate from the oil channel, the vent channel aligning with the interior passage of the vent tube to provide gas exchange through the vent tube and through the cap body to prevent vacuum formation during passage of oil through the oil channel; and   a container configured to be secured to the neck of the removeable vented cap to collect oil following passage of oil from the oil channel.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the hollow plug includes a tapered outer wall. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tapered outer wall tapers inwardly along a direction from the neck to the vent tube. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cap body further includes a first flange and a second flange, wherein the body portion is positioned between the first flange and the second flange, and wherein the bottom surface is at least partially defined by the first flange. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first flange and the body portion define the vent channel. 
     
     
         19 . A method of removing oil from an oil reservoir of an engine, comprising: 
 inserting a portion of a removable vented oil cap into an opening of the oil reservoir, the removeable vented oil cap including   a cap body including a body portion having a hollow plug positioned around the body portion, the cap body having a bottom surface configured to be introduced through the opening on the oil reservoir with the hollow plug adjacent the opening,   a neck extending from the cap body, the cap body and the neck defining an oil channel extending from and through the bottom surface through the cap body and the neck to provide a continuous pathway for oil to flow from the oil reservoir through the oil channel to exit the removable vented oil cap, and   a vent tube coupled with the cap body and extending beyond the bottom surface of the cap body in a direction opposite the neck, the vent tube defining an interior passage through which gas exchange occurs,    wherein the cap body further defines a vent channel offset and separate from the oil channel, the vent channel aligning with the interior passage of the vent tube to provide gas exchange through the vent tube and through the cap body to prevent vacuum formation during passage of oil through the oil channel;   securing a container to the neck of the removeable vented oil cap; and   tilting the engine to introduce oil from the oil reservoir into the oil channel and then into the container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising exchanging gases through the vent channel between the container and an external environment during introduction of the oil from the oil reservoir into the oil channel.