CA2227512A1 - Pressure-vacuum machine for exchanging and flushing vehicle fluids for transmissions, power steering, brakes, and differentials, either alone or in combination - Google Patents

Abstract

This machine is unique in that it uses compressed air in conjunction with a vacuum generator to drain, flush, and fill the transmission, power steering, brake system and differential in vehicles. The machine can be assembled to perform any one or a combination of these four functions.
The machine is mounted on four casters on an approximately 24 inch square base to move easily from one service bay to another in a typical service shop.
Technical features include:
- No moving parts. Power comes from a shop compressor connected with air hose and quick connect fitting. Air pressure creates the vacuum which drains the fluids from the vehicle. Air pressure forces the clean fluids from the machine into the vehicle and the contaminated fluids into the drain tank.
- One man operation, fully portable. The machine can be rolled to any location on the shop floor and operated by one person.
- Dedicated lines and cylinders. Each function (transmission, power steering, etc.) has a completely independent system to eliminate the possibility of cross contamination.
- Waste is handled in an environmentally safe manner. The waste tank is emptied through a simple air pressure operation which provides speed and cleanliness - All fluids are visible. Clean fluids, contaminated fluids and waste fluids can be seen immediately in the clear lines and clear storage cylinders throughout the process.
- Self contained and multi-function. The various tasks can be done more quickly and more efficiently with one unit than several. Also, a single pressure-vacuum unit can be used for all four functions, reducing the duplication of components.
- No electricity. Because the machine is powered by a remote air compressor, no electrical hook-up is required. Eliminating electricity on the shop floor is a safety advantage as well as a simplification.
- Reduced cycle time. The design of the machine is such that the time required for tasks that are normally done manually is greatly reduced.
- Reduced fluid consumption. Because of the combination of the above features, the fluid required in any of the four functions is minimized.
Thus, greater efficiency and economy are achieved.

Description

Specification This invention relates to a machine for exchanging and flushing vehicle fluids using air pressure and a vacuum. It is common to remove a pan or drain plug and allow gravity to drain thc: fluids but this machine uses readily available compressed air to create pressure and vacuum as required to flush the contaminated fluid out and inject the clean fluid in its place.There is a variety of vehicle service equipment available for moving or transferring fluids using expensive and service prone electric motors. This machine provides a more thorough cleaning while at the same time is a more efficient, cleaner and self contained operation without the use of electricity.
The idea is. to provide vehicle service centres with a simple, self contained unit which greatly improves on current methods of flushing and exchanging vehicle fluids for transmissions, power steering, brakes and differentials. Previously, manual methods did a poor,job because some contaminated fluid was invariably left in the vehicle or a great quawtity of clean fluid was wasted in an effort to dense the system and, in many cases, part of the system remained contaminated. This machine is able to cleanse the entire system by using the air pressure and vacuum.
The following drawings illustrate the embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 is an elevation showing the general layout. Figure 2 is an elevation of a typical tank illustrating the safety features and connections.
The machi ne is connected with a quick connect fitting 1 to receive compressed air from a shop air compressor. The compressed air travels through an air line to a tee fitting 2 where it is directed to a pressure gauge and vacuum generator 3. By opening valve 9 , compressed air is forced through the venturi in the vacuum generator creating a constant vacuum at S through the one way valve 10 to the main vacuum pressure gallery 9. ~~Vhen the waste tank I S is selected by opening valve 14, a vacuum is created in the waste tank through the tank distributer to the shut-off valve 17. A
plastic tube from a quick connect 18 is directed to the filler tube of the transmission sump (or power steering, brakes, or differential ). When shut-off valve 17 is opened, the contaminal:ed fluid is suctioned into the waste tank. A pressure gauge G is installed at every useful location on the machine By closing valve 14 and opening valve 11 suction in the clean fluid cylinder 23 is used to fill the clean fluid cylinder with new fluid. By closing valve 4 pressure is directed through a fixed regulator 6 and one way valve 7 to an operator controlled regulator 8.
By use of the controlled regulator, the operator can control the rate of flow from the selected cylinder to the vehicle or from the waste tank to waste storage.

In the case of an automatic transmission, the service is completed by removing the transmission oil pan and filter and attaching an adapter to the suction side of the transmission pump and connecting this adapter to the dripless quick connect I8 on the machine. ~~alves Il and 17 are now opened to bring new fluid from the transmission fluid tank 2 3 to the transmission pump in the vehicle. By starting the engine, the old transmission fluid from the torque converter, valve body, cooler, and cooler lines is quickly flushed into the waste tank 19 and replaced with new fluid.
To complete the transmission fluid change, the oil pan is cleaned, the filter and gasket are replaced and the fluid level is topped up using the machine. Valve 11 is now closed and valve u4 to the waste tank is opened. This pressurizes the waste tank 19 and it can now be emptied into the shop waste storage facility. The procedure is the same for power steering 12, brakes 13 and differential 19, using the steering fluid tank 22, the brake fluid tank 21, and the differential fluid tank 20, respectively.
Figure 2 shows safety features common to each of the four liquid storage tanks to insure cross contamination does not occur. A rubber ball IS shuts off flow to the waste tank 19 when it is full and a long plastic pipe 16 feeds to a shut off valve 17 and dripless quick connect 18.

Claims (4)

1 A pressure-vacuum machine using compressed air in conjunction with a vacuum generator to drain, flush and fill the transmission, power steering, brake system and differential in vehicles.

2 The machine, as defined in claim 1, has no moving parts, but relies on compressed air from a remote source to execute the functions in claim 1.

3 The machine, as defined in claim 1, has completely independent systems to eliminate the possibilty of cross contamination.

4 The machine, as defined in claim 1, has transparent lines and storage cylinders to provide superior operator control.
The machine, as defined in claim 1, is completely self contained and muli-functional.
It provides both the removal of the contaminated fluid and the injection of the clean fuild in one unit. It can be built with just one function, for example, transmission fluid unit, or with any combination of the four functions.
6 The machine, as defined in claim 1, has no electrical requirements, providing an increased level of safety on the shop floor and an increased efficiency in use.
7 The machine, as a result of the combination of features in claims 1 through 6, has a signicantly reduced cycle time to any method known to date.
8 The machine, as a result of the combination of features in claims 1 through 6, has a significantly reduced fluid consumption by minimizing the waste in both the cleaning operation and the exchanging of new fluid for old fluid operation.