APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING FLUID IN A COOLING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A fluid flow control device configured to facilitate the addition and removal of fluid to and from a cooling system, the device comprising:
- a base member having an opening and plurality of ports capable of being in fluid communication with the opening, the plurality of ports including at least two user ports and two external ports; and
a rotatable member having at least one passageway extending therethrough, the rotatable member being configured to be received in the opening and being movable within the opening between a first position and a second position,wherein, when the rotatable member is in the first position, the at least two user ports are in fluid communication with one another via the at least one passageway of the rotatable member and the at least two user ports are not in fluid communication with the external ports, andwherein, when the rotatable member is in the second position, the at least two user ports and the at least two external ports are in fluid communication with one another via the at least one passageway of the rotatable member.
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Abstract
A flow control device is configured to facilitate the addition and removal of fluid to and from a cooling system using a rotatable valve member. The rotatable valve member is positioned within an opening in a base member. The rotatable member is movable within the opening between a first position and a second position. When the rotatable member is in the first position, at least two user ports are in fluid communication with one another via at least one passageway of the rotatable member. When the rotatable member is in the second position, two user ports and two external ports are in fluid communication with one another via the at least one passageway of the rotatable member.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A fluid flow control device configured to facilitate the addition and removal of fluid to and from a cooling system, the device comprising:
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a base member having an opening and plurality of ports capable of being in fluid communication with the opening, the plurality of ports including at least two user ports and two external ports; and a rotatable member having at least one passageway extending therethrough, the rotatable member being configured to be received in the opening and being movable within the opening between a first position and a second position, wherein, when the rotatable member is in the first position, the at least two user ports are in fluid communication with one another via the at least one passageway of the rotatable member and the at least two user ports are not in fluid communication with the external ports, and wherein, when the rotatable member is in the second position, the at least two user ports and the at least two external ports are in fluid communication with one another via the at least one passageway of the rotatable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fluid flow control system, comprising:
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a stator having a first set of at least two coupling members configured for attachment to tubing members of a fluid user system and a second set of at least two coupling members configured for attachment to tubing members of an external fluid system; and a rotor comprising at least two passageways and being moveable to define two different fluid flow configurations, wherein the first fluid flow configuration comprises a user circuit in which fluid can flow through the first set of coupling members and the second fluid flow configuration comprises a fill/flush circuit which allows fluid to flow through both the first and second set of coupling members. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for changing fluid in a cooling system, the method comprising:
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providing a base member having a plurality of ports, the plurality of ports including a first user port, a second user port, a first external port, and a second external port, with the first and second user ports being coupled to a cooling system; providing a rotatable member having a first passageway extending therethrough, the rotatable member being configured to be received in the base member opening such that the first and second user ports are in fluid communication with one another via the first passageway; coupling an external fluid connection device to the first and second external ports; rotating the rotatable member so that the first passageway of the rotatable member is aligned with the first user port and the first external port; and removing fluid from the cooling system through the first external port. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification