FR3100565A1 - Automotive fluid recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

Title: Device for recovering an automobile liquid The invention relates to a device for recovering a liquid from a motor vehicle, comprising a tank (1) provided with a bottom (13) and a side wall (11) of which an upper edge delimits an opening, the bottom and the side wall (11) defining an internal volume for receiving the liquid from the opening, characterized in that it comprises at least one duct (16) extending between a mouth inlet (161) and a hydraulic connection mouth (162), the inlet mouth (161) opening into the interior volume. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Automotive liquid recovery device

The invention relates to the recovery of waste liquids from a motor vehicle.

The invention relates to the field of the maintenance of motor vehicles and more particularly the maintenance of vehicle fluids such as engine fluids (engine oil), coolant fluid, windscreen washer fluid, fuel fluid, brake fluid, power steering, gearbox oil, transmission oil, etc.

It finds its application in vehicle maintenance centers such as car garages.

Motor vehicles require regular maintenance to operate reliably and efficiently. The maintenance is carried out in specialized car garages. One of the regular maintenance points concerns the various fluids of the vehicle and in particular the engine. For example, the engine oil should be changed periodically. Likewise, it is necessary to change the brake fluid which transmits the force exerted on the brake pedal to the braking device via hoses and pipes or even the engine coolant.

All these fluids must therefore be extracted from the vehicle, then transported to a central storage and then a recycling center. Extraction, transport and storage must be done in an efficient and clean manner.

To this end, a current technique consists of draining by gravity: a tank, for example in the form of a carboy, mounted on casters given its weight, is surmounted by a funnel to receive, from the top of the tank, a liquid to drain. In this context, the part of the vehicle, for example the engine block, in which the liquid to be drained is located above this assembly, and the liquid flows by gravity. When the operation is finished, the tank is brought to a next vehicle, its storage capacity allowing several vehicles to be emptied.

This solution is relatively impractical: the flow can be long and the tanks are heavy and unwieldy, especially when it comes to evacuating liquids placed in relatively inaccessible places of the vehicle. It is usually necessary to use lifting bridges or other equivalent devices in this context.

A more recent solution consists of connecting the part of the vehicle to be emptied to a suction network. This network typically comprises a remote control unit and a hydraulic circuit in which at least one pump produces a vacuum at the level of a conduit inlet that can be connected to the part of the vehicle concerned. The used liquid is then evacuated from the vehicle by vacuum.

This technique avoids the movement of tanks in the workshop. It can also be faster. However, it is not always possible to use it, because the vehicle's equipment does not always allow it. In particular, some engine blocks are not designed for connection to such an extraction system.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved solution for the evacuation of liquids from motor vehicles, in particular when gravity emptying is necessary.

The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a review of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that other benefits may be incorporated.

SUMMARY

To achieve this objective, according to one embodiment, a motor vehicle liquid recovery device is provided, comprising a container provided with a bottom and a side wall, an upper edge of which delimits an opening, the bottom and the side wall defining an interior volume for receiving the liquid from the opening, characterized in that it comprises at least one duct extending between an inlet mouth and a hydraulic connection mouth, the inlet mouth emerging in the interior volume.

Thus, the liquid is recovered from a vehicle by gravity, but without the need for an underlying tank for its temporary storage. While current techniques present a prejudice tending to think that emptying by gravity necessarily implies reception in a tank placed under the vehicle, the present invention proposes a device compatible with a suction network, whereas the solutions by gravity and by aspiration are currently considered incompatible alternatives.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle liquid recovery system, comprising a device and a hydraulic suction circuit, the hydraulic suction circuit comprising at least one suction pipe provided with a connection end , the connecting end and the connecting mouth being connectable.

Another aspect relates to a method of recovering a liquid from a motor vehicle, comprising the use of a device as described above, a connection of the connection mouth of the conduit of the device to a connection end of a circuit of aspiration, a flow of the liquid in the internal volume of the device, and an aspiration of the liquid by the aspiration circuit.

The aims, objects, as well as the characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge better from the detailed description of an embodiment of the latter which is illustrated by the following accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a general representation of the context of application of the invention, with a device in one embodiment.

FIG. 2 represents an example of assembly of the device.

Figures 3 and 4 respectively show in vertical longitudinal section and in top view a device mounting variant.

Figure 5 and Figure 6 show, in views equivalent to those of the two previous figures, another variant.

The drawings are given by way of examples and do not limit the invention. They constitute schematic representations of principle intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not necessarily scaled to practical applications.

• le dispositif comprend une crépine 15 séparant une première zone et une deuxième zone du volume intérieur, la deuxième zone étant située en dessous de la première zone, et dans lequel l’embouchure d’admission 161 est située dans la deuxième zone ;
• le fond 13 comprend une première portion et une deuxième portion, la deuxième portion formant un renfoncement en profondeur relativement à la première portion, et dans lequel la crépine 15 est disposée au niveau du renfoncement ;
• la paroi latérale 11 comporte, sur sa face exposée vers le volume intérieur, une surface inclinée 12 ;
• le conduit 16 s’étend sur la paroi latérale 11 de sorte que l’embouchure de raccordement 162 soit située au niveau de l’ouverture ;
• le conduit 16 s’étend sur la paroi latérale 11, dans une zone de la paroi latérale ne comprenant pas la surface inclinée 12.
• Il est compris au moins un deuxième conduit, dont l’embouchure de raccordement présente une section de dimension différente de la section de l’embouchure de raccordement 162 du conduit 16.
• Le dispositif comporte un chariot 7 dont une extrémité comporte un élément d’emmanchement, le bac 1 comportant une portion complémentaire configurée pour coopérer par emmanchement avec l’élément d’emmanchement ;
• le bac 1 comporte une pluralité de roulettes 5 autorisant son déplacement sur une surface ;
• le bac 1 comporte une pluralité de liens 6 de suspension du bac ;
• le volume intérieur est inférieur à 20 litres.
• Système de récupération de liquide de véhicule automobile, comprenant un dispositif comme décrit précédemment et un circuit d’aspiration 2 hydraulique, le circuit d’aspiration 2 hydraulique comprenant au moins un tuyau d’aspiration dotée d’une extrémité de raccordement, l’extrémité de raccordement et l’embouchure de raccordement 162 étant raccordables.
• Procédé de récupération d’un liquide de véhicule automobile, comprenant l’utilisation d’un dispositif tel que décrit précédemment, un raccordement de l’embouchure de raccordement 162 du conduit 16 du dispositif à une extrémité de raccordement d’un circuit d’aspiration 2, un écoulement du liquide dans le volume intérieur du dispositif, et une aspiration du liquide par le circuit d’aspiration 2.

Before starting a detailed review of embodiments of the invention, optional characteristics are set out below which may possibly be used in combination or alternatively:

• the device comprises a strainer 15 separating a first zone and a second zone from the interior volume, the second zone being located below the first zone, and in which the inlet mouth 161 is located in the second zone;
• the bottom 13 comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion forming a recess in depth relative to the first portion, and in which the strainer 15 is arranged at the level of the recess;
• the side wall 11 comprises, on its face exposed towards the interior volume, an inclined surface 12;
• the conduit 16 extends over the side wall 11 so that the connection mouth 162 is located at the level of the opening;
• the duct 16 extends over the side wall 11, in an area of the side wall that does not include the inclined surface 12.
• It includes at least a second conduit, the connection mouth of which has a section of a dimension different from the section of the connection mouth 162 of the conduit 16.
• The device comprises a carriage 7, one end of which comprises a fitting element, the tray 1 comprising a complementary portion configured to cooperate by fitting with the fitting element;
• tray 1 has a plurality of rollers 5 allowing it to move over a surface;
• tray 1 comprises a plurality of links 6 for suspending the tray;
• the interior volume is less than 20 liters.
• Motor vehicle liquid recovery system, comprising a device as described above and a hydraulic suction circuit 2, the hydraulic suction circuit 2 comprising at least one suction pipe provided with a connection end, the end connection and the connection mouth 162 being connectable.
• Method for recovering a liquid from a motor vehicle, comprising the use of a device as described previously, a connection of the connection mouth 162 of the pipe 16 of the device to a connection end of a suction circuit 2, a flow of the liquid in the internal volume of the device, and a suction of the liquid by the suction circuit 2.

The embodiments linked to the rollers, to the trolleys and to the suspension links, as introduced previously, are not incompatible, in the sense that the tray can be equipped with the means useful for these three variants of positioning of the tray.

It is specified that in the context of the present invention, motor vehicle means any type of vehicle provided with a heat and/or electric motor to move, for example a car, a truck, a bus, a scooter, a motorcycle or even construction machinery such as tractors, backhoes, etc.…

Figure 5 gives a general representation of an implementation context of the invention. There is an automotive component, here in the form of an engine block 4 whose oil is intended to be drained. The device of the invention is placed below the part of the motor vehicle from which the liquid must be extracted; in this case, the device is located under the engine block, directly above the opening of the oil drain hole.

The device is generally in the form of a container 1 having a bottom 13 and a side wall 11. This set of walls defines an interior volume impermeable to the liquids to be sampled; this or these liquids are brought into this volume by a flow by gravity, from the upper opening of the tank 1. This opening is delimited by the upper edge of the side wall 11.

In the illustrated embodiments, the side wall 11 comprises on a zone having an inclined surface 12 giving a flared shape to the interior volume in a portion of the latter. According to an advantageous possibility, this inclined surface is placed in line with the flow zone of the liquid, so that the latter meets an inclined surface by limiting turbulence, the risk of splashing and promoting movement of the liquid towards a another area of the tank, described below, at which the liquid can be sucked.

Indeed, the device comprises at least one conduit 16 making it possible to generate a vacuum effect in the interior volume so that, when a liquid is present at this level, it is sucked into a suction circuit 2. The latter comprises at least least one pipe whose distal end is connected to a connection mouth 162 of conduit 16, as shown in Figure 1.

To facilitate the connection, the mouth 162 is advantageously located at the level of the upper edge of the side wall 11. This makes this mouth easily accessible; moreover, there is no risk of unexpected spillage of liquids given the placement of this mouth at the upper end of the interior volume of tank 1.

At its other end, the pipe is connected to a storage enclosure 3, for example in the form of one or more tanks. The means of creating a depression are not shown; it will advantageously be one or more pumps placed in the circuit; the circuit can also include valves making it possible to direct the liquid to be evacuated into the appropriate portion of the circuit, and in particular into the tank.

The other end of the duct 16 is an inlet mouth 161 opening into the interior volume of the tank. Advantageously, this mouth is located in a lower zone of the tank, at least in the lower 20% (or even 10%) of the overall height of the latter. In the case shown, the conduit 16 has a vertical direction, or at least a non-zero vertically component. Preferably, the inlet mouth 161 of the duct 16 is located in a portion of the interior volume opposite the inclined surface 12. It is understood that the liquid flowing from the vehicle has a natural tendency, after impact on the surface 12, to move towards the mouth 161.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom 13 includes a recessed portion, located lower relative to the rest of the bottom. In the case of the figures, this recess is formed by a portion 132 of the bottom 13 located at a level of height lower than another portion 131 of the bottom 13. Advantageously, these two portions are flat and connected to each other by a step, possibly inclined .

Thanks to the portion 132, a liquid recovery zone limiting shrinkage is obtained. It is advantageous to have the inlet mouth 161 in this zone.

Furthermore, so as to evacuate the liquid without the risk of causing dirt or undesirable solid elements, for example a nut, a joint or a screw, the device also has a strainer 15 delimiting the upper surface of the recess. Thus, the mouth 161 is located in a protected lower zone of the tank, after a filtration element.

Figures 4 and 6 give a representation in top view of the device. There we find the strainer 15, the duct 16, the side wall 11. It will be noted that in the present case, the upper edge of the side wall has an oblong shape. It will also be noted that the strainer 15 surmounts a reinforcement having a circular section.

Preferably, the device comprises means for its placement relative to the automotive component whose maintenance is to be carried out. To this end, the tray advantageously comprises means for fixing to an external element.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a fitting portion 14 projects below the bottom 13 to cooperate with a corresponding element of a carriage 7, an example of which is shown in Figure 2. The latter comprises, for example, a plurality of rollers and a vertical mast, advantageously adjustable in height, for example by jack.

The fitting is of the male/female type.

Figures 3 and 4 show another solution according to which the tray is equipped with rollers 5. In the example, the latter are three in number and are arranged in a balanced manner at the level of the bottom 13. The rollers can be attached to the outer face of the side wall 11 via fixing wings 61.

Figures 5 and 6 show a variant with links 6 allowing the tray to be suspended from an external element, in particular at different places on the motor vehicle. The links 6 are preferably chains. It can be three chains distributed in a balanced way to maintain tray 1 in a horizontal position in suspension. The links 6 can be attached to the outer surface of the side wall 11 by means of fixing wings 61.

In use, the device of the invention is brought below the outlet mouth of the liquid concerned. This mouth can then be opened and the liquid flows by gravity into the interior volume of tank 1, through its upper opening.

In one embodiment, the operator waits until the flow is complete. Then, it proceeds to the suction of the liquid recovered in the tank 1. In another embodiment, the suction occurs at least in part during the flow phase.

To implement the suction, the operator connects the suction circuit 2 to the connection mouth 162. This connection can in particular be made by fitting a male part onto a female part or by screwing.

Thanks to the invention, the interior volume of tank 1 does not need to be very large, since the recovered liquid can be sucked up vehicle by vehicle. It is therefore a space-saving device that is easy to handle in a workshop.

The whole of tray 1 is advantageously made of a metallic material (or plastic, etc.), so as to resist potential thermal and chemical attacks. The conduit 16 can for example be attached by welding to the inner face of the side wall 11.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described and extends to all the embodiments covered by the claims.
List of references
1 tray
12 Side wall
13 Background
131 First Serving
132 Second Portion
14 Fitting portion
15 Strainer
16 Suction pipe
161 Intake Mouthpiece
162 Connection mouthpiece
2 Suction circuit
3 Storage enclosure
4 Engine block
5 casters
6 Link
61 Fixing wing
7 Trolley

Claims (13)

Device for recovering liquid from a motor vehicle, comprising a container (1) provided with a bottom (13) and a side wall (11), an upper edge of which delimits an opening, the bottom and the side wall (11 ) defining an interior volume for receiving liquid from the opening, characterized in that it comprises at least one duct (16) extending between an inlet mouth (161) and a hydraulic connection mouth (162) , the inlet mouth (161) opening into the interior volume. Device according to the preceding claim, comprising a strainer (15) separating a first zone and a second zone from the interior volume, the second zone being located below the first zone, and in which the inlet mouth (161) is located in the second area. Device according to the preceding claim, in which the bottom (13) comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion forming a recess in depth relative to the first portion, and in which the strainer (15) is arranged at the level of the recess . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the side wall (11) comprises, on its face exposed towards the interior volume, an inclined surface (12). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the conduit (16) extends over the side wall (11) so that the connection mouth (162) is located at the level of the opening. Device according to the two preceding claims in combination, in which the conduit (16) extends over the side wall (11), in an area of the side wall not comprising the inclined surface (12). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a second conduit, the connection mouthpiece of which has a cross-section of a dimension different from the cross-section of the connection mouth (162) of the conduit (16). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a carriage (7) one end of which comprises a fitting element, the tray (1) comprising a complementary portion configured to cooperate by fitting with the fitting element. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tray (1) comprises a plurality of rollers (5) allowing it to be moved over a surface. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tray (1) comprises a plurality of links (6) for suspending the tray. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the internal volume is less than 20 litres. Motor vehicle liquid recovery system, comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims and a hydraulic suction circuit (2), the hydraulic suction circuit (2) comprising at least one suction pipe provided with a connecting end, the connecting end and the connecting mouth (162) being connectable. A method of recovering fluid from a motor vehicle, comprising the use of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, connecting the connection mouth (162) of the pipe (16) of the device to a connection end of a suction circuit (2), a flow of the liquid in the internal volume of the device, and a suction of the liquid by the suction circuit (2).