Brake system pressure bleed device

• US 4,497,176 A
• Filed: 05/13/1983
• Issued: 02/05/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Auto OOO (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Schumacher, Roger A., Rubin, Frank D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garrett, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moritz, Scott L.
• Application Number:
  US06/494,508
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 60/584, 60/585, 60/586, 60/592, 188/352, 92/79, 92/87, 137/883, 137/886
• US Class Current: 60/584
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/222 by filling or bleeding of hydraulic systems

Abstract

A stationary pressure bleed stem and a movable pressure bleed stem are mounted on a base plate to adjust for varied spacing between the master cylinder ports at the reservoir bottom. The fixture is clamped over the master cylinder reservoir. The stems may be interchangeable with other similar stems of various dimensions to accommodate for variations in dimensions of different master cylinders. The device simplifies and expedites pressure bleeding of master cylinders having different configurations.

Claims

1. A pressure bleed device for bleeding vehicle brake circuits having a master cylinder connected thereto, said device being quickly adapted to various master cylinder configurations having compensation ports accessible for connection of the device to the master cylinder for pressure bleeding the master cylinder and the vehicle brake circuits, which circuits form fluid flow paths, said device comprising:

an elongated base plate having a slide mounting portion and a head end, passage means in said head end including a connector passage, a first port adapted to be selectively connected to a source of brake fluid under pressure, a second port and a third port, all of said ports being in fluid communication with said connector passage, one of said second and third ports having a balance valve for controlling fluid flow therethrough from said connector passage to compensate for differences in fluid flow path restrictions;

a slide head slidably received on said slide mounting portion to be moved toward and away from said third port, said slide head having a fluid passage therethrough;

conduit means flexibly connecting said second port to said slide head fluid passage to provide continuous fluid communication therebetween and permit sliding movements of said slide head on said base plate;

a first tubular brake fluid filler stem having one end removably secured to said base plate to receive brake fluid from said third port;

a second tubular brake fluid filler stem having one end removably secured to said slide head to receive brake fluid from said slide head fluid passage;

said filler stems being adapted to have their other ends operatively sealingly mate with master cylinder ports and to transmit pressurized brake fluid to the master cylinder through the master cylinder compensation ports to pressure bleed the master cylinder and the brake circuits connected thereto;

and means on said base plate for quickly securing said device to the master cylinder in pressure bleed relation and for quickly detaching said device therefrom;

said slide head and said second brake fluid filler stem being slidable before securing action takes place so as to provide for variations in port spacing of various master cylinders to be bled sequentially by use of said device, at least one of said filler stems being interchangeable with filler stems of different lengths so as to provide for variations in relative dimensions of various master cylinders.

2. A pressure bleed fixture for bleeding vehicle brake circuits having a master cylinder connected thereto, said fixture being quickly adapted to various master cylinder configurations having compensation ports accessible for connection of the fixture to the master cylinder for pressure bleeding the master cylinder and the vehicle brake circuits, said fixture comprising:

an elongated base plate having a slide mounting portion and a head end, passage means in said head end including a connector passage, a first port adapted to be selectively connected to a source of brake fluid under pressure to receive pressurized brake fluid therefrom, a second port and a third port, all of said ports being in fluid communication with said connector passage, one of said second and third ports having a balance valve for controlling fluid flow therethrough from said connector passage to compensate for differences in fluid flow path restrictions;

a slide head slidably received on said slide mounting portion to be moved toward and away from said third port, said slide head having a fluid passage therethrough;

conduit means flexibly connecting said second port to said slide head fluid passage to provide continuous fluid communication therebetween and permit sliding movements of said slide head on said base plate;

a first tubular brake fluid filler stem having one end removably secured to said base plate to receive brake fluid from said third port;

a second tubular brake fluid filler stem having one end removably secured to said slide head to receive brake fluid from said slide head fluid passage;

said filler stems being parallel to each other and being adapted to have their other ends operatively sealingly mate with master cylinder ports to transmit pressurized brake fluid to the master cylinder through the master compensation ports to pressure bleed the master cylinder and the brake circuits;

and means on said base plate for quickly securing said fixture to the master cylinder in pressure bleed relation and for quickly detaching said fixture therefrom;

said slide head and said second brake fluid filler stem being slidable before securing action takes place so as to provide for variations in compensation port spacing of various master cylinders to be bled sequentially by use of said fixture and being locked in position on said slide mounting portion while said fixture is secured to the master cylinder by the securing action of said securing means, at least one of said filler stems being interchangeable with filler stems of different lengths so as to provide for variations in relative dimensions of various master cylinders.