Apparatus and method for changing coolant in vehicle cooling system
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
- conduit means adapted to convey liquid to and from the radiator, a first end of said conduit means adapted to extend into the radiator through the radiator cap opening and a second end of said conduit means adapted to lead to a disposal means for receiving liquid removed from the radiator, said second end of said conduit means being located at a level at or below the level to which it is desired to drain the radiator;
connecting means adapted to connect the apparatus to a source of water from which water is conveyed to said conduit means intermediate said first and second ends; and
control means adapted to selectively direct water into said conduit means to prime said conduit means for siphoning and then discontinue flow of water into said conduit means to permit siphoning of the contents of the radiator to the disposal means.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for changing the antifreeze in a vehicle requires only a garden hose and opening of the radiator cap. Water from the hose is utilized to prime a conduit for siphoning used coolant from a side tank radiator and for refilling the radiator. By operating the vehicle with fresh water in the radiator, coolant remaining in the system is mixed with the water, and repeated drainings decrease the remaining used antifreeze by about one-half each time. After removal of the desired amount of antifreeze, new antifreeze may be placed in the radiator.
50 Citations
42 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
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conduit means adapted to convey liquid to and from the radiator, a first end of said conduit means adapted to extend into the radiator through the radiator cap opening and a second end of said conduit means adapted to lead to a disposal means for receiving liquid removed from the radiator, said second end of said conduit means being located at a level at or below the level to which it is desired to drain the radiator; connecting means adapted to connect the apparatus to a source of water from which water is conveyed to said conduit means intermediate said first and second ends; and control means adapted to selectively direct water into said conduit means to prime said conduit means for siphoning and then discontinue flow of water into said conduit means to permit siphoning of the contents of the radiator to the disposal means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
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a body member; a hose connector for attaching a garden hose to said body member to provide a source of water; a first section of tubing connected to said body member and adapted to be inserted into the radiator through the radiator cap opening; a second section of tubing connected to said body and adapted to extend to a disposal means; a passageway formed inside said body member to form a continuous conduit with said first and second sections of tubing; a manually actuatable disk mounted for rotation in said body member, said disk intersecting said passageway and adapted to block water flow through said hose connector, said disk having an off position, a drain position, and a refill position; a first opening formed in said disk to selectively complete said passageway through said disk when said disk is in the drain position; and a second opening formed in said disk and adapted to selectively provide a path for water from said hose connector to the radiator side of said passageway, rotation of said disk from the off position to the drain position would momentarily provide the path for water to said passageway to prime said conduit for siphoning, said passageway being completed through said first opening as said disk approaches the drain position, and the path for the water to said passageway would be provided when said disk is in the refill position, at which position said disk would prevent water flow to said second section of tubing.
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19. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
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conduit means adapted to be inserted into the radiator through the radiator cap opening after removal of the radiator cap, unsealed insertion of said conduit means into the radiator being the only interface of the apparatus with the cooling system of the vehicle; extraction means for withdrawing cooling liquid from the radiator through said conduit means; injection means for causing fresh water to be transmitted to the radiator through said conduit means; and control means for selectively activating said extraction means and said injection means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
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a section of tubing adapted to be inserted into the radiator after removal of the radiator cap, unsealed insertion of said section of tubing into the radiator being the only interface of the apparatus with the cooling system of the vehicle; a hose connector adapted for attachment to a source of water under pressure; and control means associated with said section of tubing and said hose connector and adapted to selectively cause the contents the radiator to be drained from the radiator through said section of tubing and fresh water from said hose connector to be injected into the radiator through said section of tubing. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising;
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a body member; first connecting means on said body member, said first connecting means adapted to secure a first section of tubing to said body member, the first section of tubing being adapted to extend into the radiator through the radiator cap opening; second connecting means on said body member, said second connecting means adapted to secure a second section of tubing to said body member, the second section of tubing being adapted to lead to a disposal means with the end of the second section of tubing at said disposal means being located at a level at or below the level to which it is desired to drain the radiator; a passageway formed in said body member between said first connecting means and said second connecting means; third connecting means on said body member, said third connecting means adapted to attach said body member to a source of water under pressure; and manually actuatable control means to selectively open said passageway between said first connecting means and said second connecting means and to selectively open a path for water from said third connecting means to said passageway adjacent said first connecting means. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Apparatus for use in changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising:
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a section of tubing adapted to be inserted into the radiator after removal of the radiator cap, unsealed insertion of said section of tubing into the radiator being the only interface of the apparatus with the cooling system of the vehicle; means to prime said section of tubing for siphoning; and injection means to introduce fresh water into said section of tubing for transmittal to the radiator, after the contents of the radiator have been siphoned out, to refill the radiator. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method for changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting a first end of conduit means into the vehicle radiator through the radiator cap opening without forming a sealed connection, said unsealed insertion of said conduit means being the only required contact of an operator with the vehicle cooling system; (b) extending a second end of said conduit means to a disposal means, said second end being located at or below the level of said first end; (c) connecting a source of water to said conduit means intermediate said first and second ends; (d) causing water from said source to flow into said conduit means to prime said conduit means for siphoning liquid from the radiator; and (e) discontinuing the flow of water into said conduit means so that the contents of the radiator are siphoned to said disposal means. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for changing coolant in the cooling system of a vehicle having a side tank radiator, with a radiator cap to close a radiator cap opening, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a section of tubing into the radiator through the radiator cap opening without creating a sealed connection between said section of tubing and the radiator at said opening, said unsealed insertion of tubing being the only required contact of an operator with the cooling system of the vehicle; extracting the contents of the radiator through said section of tubing; and injecting fresh water into the radiator through said section of tubing to refill the radiator said step of injecting fresh water to refill the radiator comprises injecting the fresh water at a rate which refills the radiator as quickly as possible without causing it to be filled too quickly to permit migration of the water to other parts of the cooling system, in order to prevent it from erroneously appearing that the cooling system has been completely replenished. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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Specification