Fluid sampling valve
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     To achieve the most efficient utilization of the oils used in internal combustion engines and drive systems, hydrostatic transmissions and pressurized hydraulic circuits, it is known to monitor and analyze the condition of the oil wherein its&#39; lubricative qualities, acidic content, the presence of foreign matter and colloidal suspensions, moisture content, and other characteristics can be determined by analysis, and by closely monitoring the condition of the oil replacement is made only when necessary, rather than on a duration or engine use basis, as is normal 
     It has been found that many oils used in engines and transmissions are changed at a much greater frequency than is necessary, and in some extra heavy duty applications, oils should be replaced at a more frequent interval than normal. By the monitoring and analyzing of oils while in use large oil users, such as the armed forces, truck fleet operators, and automobile fleet operators, can experience substantial savings in both oil consumption and engine and transmission wear. 
     In the past, the monitoring and analyzing of engine and transmission oils has been troublesome due to the lack of a convenient method for obtaining oil samples. By the use of syringes, oil may be removed through dipstick tubes, and the like, but special types of syringes are required and this apparatus is only usable on internal combustion engines, and may not be readily used with transmissions or other lubricated components not utilizing dipsticks and the like. 
     Further, as it is absolutely necessary that oil samples remmoved for analyzing and monitoring purposes must truly reflect the conditions of the oil in use, contamination of the samples during procurement of the samples must be prevented and prior oil sampling apparatus and systems have not been consistently successful in assuring sample integrity. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an oil sampling valve for use with internal combustion engines, transmissions, hydraulic circuits, and the like, wherein oil samples may be readily obtained without the use of special tools, equipment or skills. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an oil sampling valve for use with internal combustion engines and the like wherein one hand operation is achieved as the control of the valve is by means of the sample collecting receptacle. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an oil sampling valve which may be readily incorporated into the oil circuits of an internal combustion engine or the like, and wherein the components thereof may be protected against damage and contamination when not is use. 
     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an oil sampling valve for internal combustion engines and the like wherein the valve includes a proboscis for piercing the sterile membrane of a collection receptacle, and wherein one hand operation produces positioning of the sampling receptacle, piercing of the receptacle membrane, and operation of the oil flow valve element. 
     The oil sampling valve in accord with the invention includes a body which is incorporated into the oil circuit of the engine, transmission, or other system whose oil is to be monitored and analyzed. The valve includes a body having a passage defined therein wherein the passage forms a part of the oil circuit. 
     An orifice defined in the body communicates with the body passage and a movable valve element controls oil flow through the orifice. The valve element is movable between open and closed conditions, and the valve is actuated by a disk which is selectively engaged by the opening of the sampling container or receptacle. By placing the receptacle against the valve element operator and displacing the valve element by overcoming a spring biasing the valve element toward the closed position the valve is opened permitting oil flow through the orifice into the receptacle. 
     The oil collection receptacle often includes a membrane closing the receptacle opening, and the valve element includes a sharpened proboscis which readily penetrates the membrane as the receptacle is moved toward engagement with the valve element actuator. Thus, merely by holding the collecting receptacle, the operator in the act of positioning the receptacle causes the proboscis to pierce the receptacle membrane and the receptacle controls the flow of the oil sample thereinto. 
     Removal of the sampling receptacle from the valve element actuator permits the valve element to be shifted to the closed position by its spring, and the proboscis and valve element are protected against contamination when not in use by means of a removable cover threaded to the valve body. 
     The sampling valve constructed in accord with the invention is of a relatively simple configuration and form, readily manufacturable, and the construction is such as to be relatively trouble free in operation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical installation of sampling valve in accord with the invention as used with an internal combustion engine, the engine being shown in dotted lines, 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational, sectional, detail view of a sampling valve in accord with the invention, 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational, sectional view of the apparatus as taken along Section III--III of FIG. 2, and 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational, sectional view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the sampling receptacle in position and the valve element in the open condition. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, an internal combustion engine is schematically represented in dotted lines at 10. The engine oil filter is shown at 12, and the oil filter includes a pressurized conduit 14 associated therewith. The conduit 14 is connected to the engine fitting 16 communicating with the internal engine components wherein all of the engine lubricating oil passes through the conduit 14 during engine operation. The oil sampling valve 18 is mounted within the conduit 14 by a pair of fittings 20 and 22, wherein the engine lubricating oil is circulated through the valve 18. 
     Of course, it is to be appreciated that the oil sampling valve 18 may be located within any pressurized fluid circuit for the purpose of readily obtaining a sample of the circuit oil, and the sampling valve of the invention may be readily employed with transmissions, hydraulic circuits, or the like. 
     The sampling valve 18 includes a body 24 having a passage 26 defined therethrough. The passage includes a threaded inlet port 28, and a threaded outlet port 30, the conduit fitting 20 being threaded into port 28, while the conduit fitting 22 mates with the threads of port 30. 
     The body 24 includes a threaded circular opening 32 which receives the threaded central hub 34 of the skirt 36. The skirt is sealed to the body by O-ring 38 and is externally threaded at 40. 
     The skirt hub 34 is provided with a coaxial orifice 42 which communicates with the passage 26, and the orifice receives the valve element 44 therein. The valve 44 includes shouldered portions for receiving O-ring 46 therebetween, and the ring 46 seals the valve element with respect to the orifice when the valve is in the closed condition shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The valve element 44 includes a downwardly extending circular proboscis 48 which terminates at its lower end in the oblique surface 50 defining a sharp tip 52. Internally, the proboscis 48 includes a passage 54 intersecting surface 50, and a radial passage 56 defined in the valve intersects the passage 54 and the exterior of the valve element, as readily appreciated in FIG. 3. The passage 56 is located &#34;below&#34; the O-ring 46, and will be sealed with respect to the passage 26 when the valve element is in the closed position. 
     A valve actuator disk 58 surrounds the proboscis 48 and is attached thereto and axially affixed thereon by means of the proboscis shoulder 60, and a snap ring 62 received within a groove defined on the proboscis. A spring steel wave washer 64 is interposed between the actuator disk 58 and the skirt radial portion imposing a downward biasing force on the disk which tends to translate the valve element 44 to the closed condition of FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The skirt 36 defines a chamber 66 in which the actuator disk 58, proboscis 48, and spring washer 64 are located, and this chamber is enclosed when the sampling valve is not in use, by means of a cover or cap 68 attached to the body 24 by the chain lanyard 70. The cover 68 is internally threaded at 72 for threaded engagement with the skirt threads 40 and as noted in FIGS. 1-3, the cap or cover 68 when attached to the skirt threads encloses the valve proboscis and protects the chamber 66, and associated components, against contamination. 
     Installation of the sampling valve 18 within an oil conduit 14 is readily achieved by a mechanic of normal skills in that the conduit is severed, flanged and conventional fittings 20 and 22 placed thereon. Upon the fittings being threaded into the body ports the integrity of the oil circuit is retained, and oil flow through the conduit 14 and sampling valve 18 is unrestricted. Under normal conditions the sampling valve components will be as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spring wave washer 64 maintaining the valve element 44 in the closed condition, and the cover 68 is fully threaded upon the skirt threads 40 to enclose the chamber 66. 
     When it is desired to collect an oil sample, the engine will normally be running wherein a pressure is maintained within the conduit 14, and the cover 68 is removed by unthreading from the skirt 36. The collection receptacle 74, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, may merely consist of a bottle or similar container having an upper opening defined by edge 76. Usually, the sampling container will have been thoroughly cleaned, or sterilized, and the state of cleanliness maintained by sealing a membrane 78 across the receptacle opening upon the edge 76. 
     After the cover 68 has been removed, the operator merely holds the receptacle in one hand, moves the receptacle 74 upwardly toward the valve element actuating disk 58, and as the receptacle approaches the disk the proboscis 48 will engage and penetrate the membrane. Further movement of the receptacle toward the valve body causes the receptacle edge to engage the valve element actuator disk 58, and further pressure exerted upon the disk by the receptacle displaces the valve element 44 upwardly toward passage 26 to the open condition as shown in FIG. 4. The upward displacement of the valve element places the passage in communication with the passage 54 permitting oil within the passage 26 to flow through the lower end of the proboscis into the receptacle 74. 
     The receptacle is maintained against the disk 58, compressing the spring washer 64, to hold the valve 44 open until the desired amount of oil is accumulated within the receptacle. Thereupon, the operator merely lowers the receptacle away from the disk 58, and the positive force exerted by the spring washer, and the pressure within passage 26, returns the valve element 44 to its closed condition without spillage. The cover 68 is then screwed upon threads 40, and a cap, not shown, is placed upon the receptacle and the receptacle may be taken to the laboratory for analysis. 
     From the above, it will be appreciated that the oil sampling valve of the invention requires no tools during operation. The entire sample collecting procedure can be accomplished by the use of only one hand, and the valve element automatically closes when the receptacle is removed. The use of the proboscis eliminates the need for a membrane piercing tool which might contaminate the fluid, and the proboscis directs the fluid to the bottom of the sampling container reducing the likelihood of spillage or injury to the operator from contact with hot oil. 
     The protective cap or cover 68 serves as a secondary seal in the event the valve element 44 should leak or fail, and the use of the cover prevents the chamber 66 from being contaminated with the dust and dirt usually surrounding internal combustion engines. 
     It will be appreciated that the aforedescribed oil sampling valve structure meets the objects and advantages sought, and it is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concepts may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.