Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
  • F16H57/0408—Exchange, draining or filling of transmission lubricant
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
  • F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
  • F01M11/04—Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
  • F01M11/0458—Lubricant filling and draining

Definitions

• This invention relates to an apparatus for changing transmission fluid, and, optionally, flushing the transmission components and exchanging the fluid with fresh fluid.
• ATF automatic transmission fluid
• Automatic transmissions require transmission fluid because such fluid is employed in part as a driving means within the transmission and is additionally employed to lubricate the internal components within such transmissions. Over time such fluid becomes less viscous and thus less efficient in lubricating such components. It is, therefore, desirable to periodically perform an exchange of fluid to maintain the viscosity of such fluid within the transmission and to maintain the cleanliness of the transmission and thereby increase the useful life of the transmission. A complete exchange of fluid is preferred so that the used fluid as well as undesirable foreign matter contained therein is completely removed and is replaced with new, more viscous fluid.
• the process usually involves removing the transmission pan from the transmission and allowing the fluid to drain therefrom.
• the pan typically holds from 1 to 5 quarts of a total 7 to 15 quart capacity of the transmission.
• emptying the pan and then adding that amount of new fluid only serves to dilute the used fluid with some 15 - 50% of new fluid.
• new transmission fluid is added through the dipstick tube to bring the transmission to the proper fluid level.
• this process has a significant disadvantage. Specifically, the fluid that is present at a given time in the oil pan . is only a small portion of the fluid actually in the transmission.
• this invention relates to methods and apparatus in which a cleansing composition is automatically introduced into the transmission to cleanse the entire transmission system and then the fluid is automatically flushed from the transmission as it is being refilled.
• Prior art flushing and filling apparatus have some disadvantageous features associated with them.
• flushing and filling automatic transmissions with fluid or oil according to many prior art methods is a relatively time-consuming, cumbersome and inefficient process.
• the conventional method is to replace the fluid housed in the pan of the transmission. It is difficult to remove all of the fluid and to also clean the interior of the system.
• Another prior method involved disconnecting a transmission fluid cooler line and allowing one end of such cooler line carrying used fluid to drain freely, while the other end of the line was connected to a pressurized tank which injected unused fluid into the cooler line connected to the transmission.
• One major disadvantage associated with this method is that, in many instances, the rate at which fluid exits the transmission cannot be matched by the rate at which unused fluid is injected into the transmission because the transmission, due to internal resistances, cannot accept fluid at the same rate as the rate at which used fluid is flowed by the transmission pump into an unrestricted cooler line. As such, there is a risk that the fluid seals, rear bearings and other internal components of the transmission could suffer damage due to the progressively diminishing level of fluid in the transmission during such a process. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that the flow resistance varies with the different models of transmissions.
• the present invention provides an automatic transmission fluid cleaner, removal and replacement device that includes a drain tube that releasably and selectively connects to an additive reservoir and a variable drain reservoir and includes a fill tube releasably connected to a disconnected cooler line that normally conducts used transmission fluid to the radiator of the vehicle, and to a port on the radiator to which the cooler line is normally connected.
• the drain tube is selectively connected to an additive reservoir and the disconnected cooler line is connected to the additive reservoir such that as the fluid in the transmission is circulated as connected the additive reservoir will be in the line of flow and will inject a cleaning additive into the transmission system and then collectively connected at their other ends to a drain and fill cylindrical tank which has chambers therein which are separated by a rotating wand about it's longitudinal axis to cause used fluid to be collected and new fluid to be injected into the transmission system.
• the transmission fluid pump is employed to flow used fluid through the disconnected cooler line and into the drain reservoir while the supply pump simultaneously injects unused fluid through the supply tube and into the cooler port of the radiator.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of the invention showing a transmission fluid reservoir and fluid changing operation and having means for the introduction of additive into the system to change or flush and clean the transmission system, means for collection of the used fluid is a reservoir as fresh fluid replaces the used fluid in the transmission, and means for refilling the reservoir with fresh fluid while collecting the used fluid, with the later means shown in phantom view.
• FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing a by-pass line 41 for the fluid to circulate through the transmission and radiator while connected to flush transmission apparatus and means for automatically causing the transmission to be flushed and exchanged.
• FIG. 3 is a view of the radiator of a vehicle showing the connection from the radiator to the transmission and to the present invention as it connects to the radiator.
• FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means for exchanging the fluid with the top removed.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the means for exchanging the fluid shown in FIG. 6.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of the means for exchanging the fluid shown in FIG. 4.
• FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the means for exchanging the fluid shown in FIGS. 4 - 7.
• FIG. 8 is a an elevation pictorial view of the cabinet housing for the present invention as it would be seen when the apparatus is connected to a vehicle (not shown) .
• FIG. 9 is a an elevation pictorial view of the cabinet of the present invention as it will appear when not connected to a vehicle.
• FIG. 1 a schematic block diagram of the system is presented.
• a vehicle transmission 20 and a transmission fluid cooler (radiator) 22 are shown.
• a first fluid line 24 (output fluid line) is connected from the output side of the transmission to the apparatus for cleaning and flushing the transmission fluid shown generally as 26.
• the radiator 22 When line 24 is not connected to the apparatus for cleaning and flushing the transmission, the radiator 22 is connected to the transmission 20 as shown by phantom line 24a. This is the normal circuitry of the vehicle. This is the normal connection between the transmission 20 and the radiator 22. Thus, it is intended that one wishing to flush and transfer the fluid from the transmission would interrupt the flow circuit for the radiator 22 and the transmission 20, at the transmission's radiator 22 and cause the present invention 26 to be inserted into the flow circuit of the transmission and its radiator.
• Each transmission has therein a pump 28 which has sufficient power to cause the transmission fluid of the transmission 20 to flow from the transmission to radiator 22 and to return to the transmission 20. This causes the transmission fluid to be cooled during normal operation of the transmission. Fluid from radiator 22 flows to transmission 20 through line 30.
• One of the two lines 24a and 30, which are the transmissions normal lines of circulation, are disconnected from radiator 22.
• line 24 is the discharge line from the transmission. This means that the transmission fluid flows from the transmission through line 24, the flow and pressures associated with this discharge being determined by the parameters of the internal pump 28 of the transmission.
• a first adapter hose 24 and a second adapter hose 34 are a part of the apparatus of the present invention and have quick connectors 32 at a mating end.
• Connectors 32 are connected to the discharge port 29 of the transmission and to the input port 27 of the radiator 22 to cause the fluid to flow from the transmission through the present invention and to radiator 22.
• a two-position switch 36 to selectively connect line 38 to line 40 or line 38 to line 42.
• line 38 is connected to line 40 and the input to additive reservoir 44 which is configured so that an additive may be introduced from reservoir 44 into the transmission and radiator system.
• the output of reservoir 44 is connected to said second adapter hose.
• the additive is any one of many commercially available products which may be added to the transmission fluid to cause the fluid to clean the transmission or to cause the fluid to coat or otherwise "treat" the interior of the transmission 20 and radiator 22 with additive.
• the internal operating pressure of pump 28 of transmission 20 forces the transmission fluid through lines 24, 38 and 40, through the additive reservoir 44 and then through lines 46, 48 and 34 to return to transmission 20 through radiator 22. This causes all of the fluid in the transmission to be exchanged and treated with the additive.
• the additive is introduced into all parts of the transmission and radiator and completely flushes the entire system using the old transmission fluid which now has an additive added thereto.
• the fluid which now contains the additive is permitted to circulate thorough the system for at least 5 minutes to permit the complete reaction between the additive and the interior of the transmission 20 and radiator 22.
• the operator may view the fluid that is passing through flexible line 24 through viewing window 31 which is a transparent portion inserted into line 24 which may comprise a plastic or glass portion which is contiguous with the line 24.
• a similar viewing window 33 in inserted into line 34.
• Switch 36 is then changed from its first position (the one where line 40 and additive 44 and line 46 is in the circuit) to its second position which connects line 38 to line 42.
• the viewing windows permit the user of the present apparatus to see the color of the transmission fluid which is indicative of the additive's reaction with the transmission fluid during the first stage of the method for flushing and the second stage of transferring and exchanging the fluid from the transmission.
• the viewing windows also permit the user to see the color of the fluid which is being removed from the transmission and the fluid which is being introduced into the transmission. The operator thus knows when the cycle has reached its quiescent point.
• Transmission fluid exchange means 50 provides a means for causing fresh transmission fluid to be introduced into the transmission while the used transmission fluid is being removed from the transmission circuit, that is, the transmission 20 and the radiator 22.
• the transmission fluid exchange means 50 comprises a reservoir which has a first compartment or chamber 52 and a second compartment or chamber 54, each of which are variable in volume, dependent upon the location of wand 56 relative to bulkhead 59.
• the particular structure of this means will be explained further hereinafter. For the purpose of understanding the invention as set forth in FIG. 1, it can be appreciated that as wand 56 moves in a counterclockwise direction, compartment 54 will increase in volume while compartment 52 will decrease in volume.
• wand 56 will be forced by the pressure of the transmission fluid in line 42 to rotate counterclockwise due to the pressure generated by pump 28 in transmission 20.
• the transmission fluid that is contained in compartment 52 is forced through lines 58, 48 and 34 into radiator 22 and then through line 30 to transmission 20.
• Wand 56 rotates about a central axis 60 which has a means 62 (FIG. 5) associated therewith which indicates the rotational position of wand 56 to thus indicate the amount of fluid that has been transferred from chamber 52 into the transmission circuit.
• wand 56 and central axis 60 have a sensor 62 associated therewith which indicates the physical position of wand 56 with respect to compartment 54 and compartment 52. Sensor 62 thus indicates the amount of fluid which is contained in compartment 52 and consequently the amount of fluid which has been removed from compartment 52 and thus has entered into the transmission 20 and radiator 22.
• Different transmissions contain different amounts of fluid ranging from 7 to 15 quarts.
• the operator of this invention can cause fresh transmission fluid to be introduced into chamber 52 in a predetermined amount before the present apparatus is connected to the vehicle or after the apparatus is connected to the vehicle.
• the present apparatus is connected to the vehicle while the engine is turned off. If the fluid is introduced into chamber 52 after the present apparatus has been connected to the vehicle, the engine is turned off during this portion of the cycle for flushing and transferring the fluid from the transmission circuit. Actually, there need not even be an engine in the system at this time since the present invention may be filed and be ready for use in flushing and transferring transmission fluid.
• Frled means that chamber 52 is filled with the new transmission fluid and chamber 54 is empty, the fluid from chamber 54 having been expelled from chamber 54 through line 42 and 24b (shown in phantom in FIG.l) into an external reservoir 70 through line 24b.
• Line 24 is disconnected from transmission 20 and caused to be connected to waste reservoir 70 as shown by phantom line 24b.
• Replenishing line 64 is connected by the operator or connected permanently to a reservoir of fresh transmission fluid 66 for the introduction of transmission fluid from the reservoir into chamber 52.
• the first way may be that the new transmission fluid to be introduced into the present invention may be under pressure in reservoir 66 so that when one connects line 64 to the reservoir that the fluid in reservoir 66 will be forced into chamber 52, through lines 64, 72, 48, and 58, without the need of pump 68. If that is the case, then the fluid may flow through line 64, and through line 72, flow valve 74 and line 48 and line 58, into chamber 52.
• line 34 is not connected to radiator 22.
• connector 32 line 34
• the connector is automatically closed. This type of connector is readily available on the market. As the quick disconnect coupling is engaged, it is open to fluid flow and closed to fluid flow when it is not connected to a fitting.
• the second means for filling new fluid reservoir 50 would be for the operator to connect line 64 to reservoir 66 and then to cause pump 68 to pump the transmission fluid from reservoir 66 into chamber 52 by way of lines 64 and 58.
• the pressure of the fluid causes wand 56 to move or rotate in a clockwise direction to thus expel the spent fluid, the used fluid, from chamber 54 through lines 42 and 24 (24b shown in phantom) into waste reservoir 70.
• the operator Preparatory to removing the fluid from chamber 54 and filling chamber 52 in either of the above mentioned fashions, the operator must remove line 24 from the transmission by way of quick disconnect coupler 32 and cause line 24 to be disposed so that the used transmission fluid will be emptied into waste reservoir 70. This is shown in phantom lines 24b in FIG. 1.
• a flow valve 74 located in line 72 to thus enable the fluid from reservoir 66 which is under pressure to flow through line 72 and lines 48 and 58 into chamber 52 to fill chamber 52.
• a pressure regulated flow valve 76 joined to line 58 and a pressure regulated flow valve 78 connected to line 42 such that line pressure in line 58 or line 42 in excess of a predetermined limit, for example, 75 psi, will cause the release of such pressure and the oil reposed in line 58 or 42 may be vented through lines 81, 83 and 85 to safety reservoir 80 which may ultimately be drained or emptied through valve 82.
• FIG. 9 A perspective view of the transmission flush and transfer apparatus is shown in pictorial form in FIG. 9.
• Fill line 64 is shown in the stored position, that is, it is not connected to a source of fresh transmission oil for introducing the fluid into chamber 52.
• Line 24 which serves to cause the old transmission fluid to circulate to the flush apparatus 26 while line 34 is used to cause the transmission fluid to be connected to radiator 22 and then through line 30 back to the transmission 20 to complete the cycle, as shown in FIG. 1.
• lines 24, 34 and 64 are all retracted within the housing of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 shows a radiator with the present invention connected thereto. When the present apparatus is not connected to the radiator, line 24a is connected to the radiator at 27. When line 24a is disconnected from radiator 22, it is connected to line 34 of the present invention.
• the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is with the present invention connected to the radiator and transmission as further shown in FIG. 1.
• reservoir 50 is shown in detail.
• Reservoir 50 is shown in FIG. 4 in partial cross-section with the top 86 (FIG. 5) removed.
• Bulkhead 59 is fixedly disposed within reservoir 50 between axis 60 and the outside 88 of said reservoir.
• Bulkhead 59 is secured to the outside wall 88 of reservoir 50 by bolts 90 (FIG. 5) into female receptacles 92 shown in FIG. 4.
• Bulkhead gasket 94 surrounds the entire periphery of bulkhead 59 and forms a secure seal between the outside wall 88 of reservoir 50, top 86 of reservoir 50 (FIG. 5), the axis 60 and bottom 96.
• Bottom 96 and top 86 have an elevated surface which conforms to the diameter of reservoir 50.
• Bottom 96 has an elevated bottom surface 98 which matingly engages or inserts inside wall 88 of reservoir 50 as can best be seen in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 8 which is an exploded view of reservoir 50.
• Top 86 has an elevated surface 99 which is disposed downwardly to matingly insert inside wall 88 of cylinder 50 referred to as the reservoir 50.
• wand 56 is permanently joined to axis 60.
• Axis 60 has a reduced diameter 102 at both ends which matingly engages into recesses 104 which are located in top 86 and bottom 96.
• Wand gasket 100 as shown in FIG.
• stopper 110 engages with outlet 112 (FIG. 4) which is connected to line 42 to stop further fluid from leaving the chamber.
• outlet 112 FIG. 4
• the fluid pressure pushes stopper 110 upwardly to permit fluid flow from transmission 20 into chamber 54.
• the apparatus is in the transfer mode which introduces new transmission fluid from chamber 52 into the transmission circuit as old fluid is removed from transmission 20 into chamber 54 through lines 24, 38 and 42.
• switch 36 is set to the transfer mode.
• Reservoir 50 thus permits fluid to be introduced into the transmission circuit and removed therefrom in exact proportions, that is, the amount of fluid removed is exactly equal to the amount of fluid being introduced into the transmission circuit.
• stopper 114 engages with outlet 118 to stop further fluid from leaving reservoir 52.
• Fresh transmission fluid flows through line 58 and presses fluid stopper 114 upwardly to permit new fluid to enter chamber 52.
• bulkhead 59 has a recessed notch in said first chamber and in said second chamber which is located above fluid outlet 118 and fluid outlet 112. This permits stopper 110 and stopper 114 to engage said fluid outlets 112 and 118, respectively, and wand 56 rotates from one extreme position to the opposite extreme position, thus permitting the fluid in said chambers 52 and 54 to be substantially empty of fluid. Stopper 110 and stopper 114 are fixedly disposed near the bottom of wand 56 and positioned such that the stopper will cover opening 112 and 118, respectively.
• the entire reservoir 50 is assembled by fixedly positioning bulkhead 59 to outer wall 88 of reservoir 50 by bolts 90.
• Axis 60 and thus wand 56 which constitute an unitary member is positioned in the recess 104 of bottom 96 and top 86 is positioned to receive the reduced portion 102 of axis 60 thereinto so that bulkhead 59 and wand 56 are fixedly positioned inside reservoir 50.
• cylindrical rods 108 are positioned to secure top 86 to bottom 96 by bolts 116 which pass through top 86 and bottom 96 to threadably connect with the ends of rods 108.
• switch means 36a comprises a programmable switching means, which is readily available on the open market.
• a special purpose computer controlled switching means is programmable so that the operator may predetermine the amount of time that line 38 is connected to line 41 before line 38 is then connected to line 40 before line 38 is then connected to line 42 before line 38 is then again connected to line 41 to complete the cycle.
• the various times in which each phase is to be active may be predetermined based upon the particular vehicle being serviced, the amount of additive and the time the additive is to be circulated through transmission 20 and radiator 22 and then the amount of time that the old fluid will be permitted to be forcibly removed from the transmission circuit into chamber 54 and new fluid introduced into the transmission circuit from chamber 52.
• transmission circuit refers to the normal fluid circulation path from transmission 20 through radiator 22 and back to transmission 20. While different embodiments available to one skilled in the art may be utilized to accomplishing the selective switching process, a three (3) position switch 36a readily available on the open market is adapted to automatically cause the flush and transfer cycles to be implemented and then to return to a position where the fluid from the transmission is circulated from transmission 20 to radiator 22 when the transmission circuitry is connected to the present apparatus.
• switch 36a When switch 36a is in a first position, it causes line 38 to be connected to line 41 and to line 48 and line 34 for a return to radiator 22.
• the flush cycle refers to the circuit where the additive 44 is being introduced into the transmission fluid.
• one may have the engine running before the flush cycle and the transfer cycle are activated and after the flush and transfer cycled are completed and while the present apparatus is connected into the transmission circuitry.
• one would interrupt the line 24a (FIG. 2) which normally connects radiator 20 to transmission 22 and cause line 24 to be connected to transmission 20 and line 34 to be connected to radiator 22.
• the transmission fluid may flow from the transmission to the radiator as if the line 24a had not been interrupted. Should programmable switching means 36a malfunction so that no fluid is permitted to flow from transmission 20 to radiator 22 and through the present apparatus while the engine is running, then the increase in pressure will be relieved through line 39 by pressure sensitive valve 84.
• the process or method of the present invention will automatically and predictably proceed through the process to completion.
• the engine of the vehicle would then be turned off and line 24 disconnected and line 32 disconnected with line 24a being connected so that the vehicle's transmission 20 will be directly connected to radiator 22 as it was before one undertook to flush the transmission.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Details Of Gearings (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (10)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-17 EP EP99913919A patent/EP1192079A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-03-17 CA CA002361836A patent/CA2361836A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-03-17 WO PCT/US1999/005801 patent/WO2000055042A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-03-17 CN CN99816437.2A patent/CN1125748C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-03-17 AU AU31885/99A patent/AU3188599A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-03-17 JP JP2000605482A patent/JP2002539399A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (10)

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