Automatic transmission cooler flushing device

• US 5,485,857 A
• Filed: 06/08/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas L. Amundsen
• Original Assignee: Thomas L. Amundsen
• Inventors: Amundsen, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/255,461
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 134/102.1, 134/169 A, 134/166 C, 134/168 C, 239/270, 239/526, 239/311, 239/339, 239/373, 239/378, 239/375
• US Class Current: 134/102.2
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/008 integrated in or attached to a discharge apparatus, e.g. a spray gun
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0805 comprising a pressurised or compressible container for liquid or other fluent material B05B9/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2209/022 making use of the reversal flow of the cleaning liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0326 Using pulsations
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/06 Cleaning in general B08B; Combating corrosion in general C23F
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2011/065 Flushing
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/04 Cleaning of, preventing corrosion or erosion in, or preventing unwanted deposits in, combustion engines cleaning of fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2033/005 Flushing

Abstract

This invention concerns a hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus comprising a high pressure liquid spray gun, and a hose connected to the liquid spray gun. The liquid spray gun comprises an air inlet plug fitting attachment, a handle, an air valve, a trigger, the trigger being loosely connected about a top end of the handle, the trigger being positioned in such a way that when the trigger is pulled while holding the handle the trigger then pushes an air valve button into the air valve opening an air passageway within the air valve, a lid structure, a canister for holding a cleaning solvent, the canister having an open end, the canister being covered by the lid structure at the open end in an air tight assembly, the lid structure having an angular high pressure air passageway and an angular high pressure liquid passageway, the angular high pressure air passageway having an entrance that is connected to an air outlet at a top end of the handle and an exit that is exposed to an inside of the canister, the angular high pressure liquid passageway having an entrance exposed to an inside of the canister and an exit that is exposed outside of the canister, a pressure tube, the pressure tube being hollow, the pressure tube being attached to the entrance of angular high pressure liquid passageway and extending downwardly to a bottom of the canister for transportation of the cleaning solvent in the canister, and a nozzle, the nozzle being attached to the exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway. One end of the hose is attached to the nozzle and the other end of the hose is attached to one opening of a transmission cooler and when the liquid spray gun is attached to an air pressure system, the cleaning solvent can be passed through the hose hydraulically in a stream from the liquid spray gun by air pressure from the air pressure system into and through the transmission cooler and out a second opening of the transmission cooler by pulling the trigger to clean and check the flow of the automobile transmission cooler, after the cleaning solvent has been forced out of the canister in a stream a further cleaning action can then be performed by forcing pressurized air through the canister and into the transmission cooler, the pressurized air that is passed through the canister mixes with a residue of the cleaning solvent remaining in the canister thereby providing an atomized cleaning action in addition to flushing the transmission cooler with the hydraulic stream cleaning solvent.

Claims

1. A hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus comprising a high pressure liquid spray gun, a hose connected to said liquid spray gun, said liquid spray gun comprising an air inlet plug fitting attachment, a handle, said handle having an open passageway through the length of the handle, said handle having an air inlet and an air outlet at opposite ends of the open passageway, said air inlet plug fitting attachment being connected to the air inlet of the handle, an air valve, said air valve being connected near the air outlet to the handle, said air valve having an air passageway that can be opened and closed, said air valve containing a compression spring that acts to keep the air passageway closed, an air valve button, said air valve button being connected at one end of the air valve so that when the air valve button is pressed the air passageway within the air valve is then opened and when the air valve button is released then said compression spring acts to close said air valve passageway within the air valve, a trigger, said trigger being loosely connected about a top end of the handle, said trigger being positioned in such a way that when the trigger is pulled while holding said handle, the trigger then pushes the air valve button into the air valve opening the air passageway within the air valve, a lid structure including a lower lid portion and an upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, a canister for holding a cleaning solvent, said canister having an open end, said canister being covered by the lid structure at said open end in an air tight assembly, said lid structure having an angular high pressure air passageway and an angular high pressure liquid passageway, said angular high pressure air passageway having an entrance in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion and an exit in the lower lid portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure air passageway being connected to the air outlet of the handle, said exit of the lid air inlet tube being exposed to an inside of the canister, said angular high pressure liquid passageway having an entrance in the lower lid portion and an exit in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed to an inside of the canister, said exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed outside of the canister, a pressure tube, said pressure tube being hollow, said pressure tube being attached to the entrance of angular high pressure liquid passageway and extending downwardly to a bottom of the canister for transportation of the cleaning solvent in the canister, and a nozzle, said nozzle being attached to the exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway, said hose being attached to the nozzle whereby when the liquid spray gun is attached to an air pressure system at the air inlet plug fitting attachment and the hose is attached to one opening of a transmission cooler, said cleaning solvent can be passed through the hose hydraulically in a stream from the liquid spray gun by air pressure from the air pressure system into and through the transmission cooler and out a second opening of the transmission cooler by pulling the trigger to clean and check the flow of the automobile transmission cooler said trigger also enabling a pulsating action of said cleaning solvent through the transmission cooler to provide additional cleaning action in removing stubborn debris after said cleaning solvent has been forced out of the canister in a stream a further cleaning action can, then be performed by forcing pressurized air through the canister and into the transmission cooler, the pressurized air that is passed through the canister mixes with a residue of the cleaning solvent remaining in the canister thereby providing an atomized cleaning action in addition to flushing the transmission cooler with the hydraulic stream of the cleaning solvent.

2. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said angular high pressure air passageway has an air pressure relief valve attached thereto thereby regulating that amount of air pressure that passes through the angular high pressure air passageway into the canister.

3. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 2 wherein said air pressure relief valve is set to maintain a pressure below 75 pounds per square inch.

4. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air inlet of the handle has an air pressure gauge and an air pressure regulator attached thereto thereby allowing the user to monitor and adjust the air pressure entering the hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus.

5. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air pressure entering the high pressure liquid spray gun is set at 35 pounds per square inch.

6. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower lid portion and said upper air and liquid transfer housing portion comprise a one piece molded structure.

7. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cleaning solvent is a fluid selected from the group consisting of automatic transmission fluid and mineral spirits.

8. The hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said canister can hold up to 1 quart of cleaning solvent.

9. In combination, a hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus, cleaning solvent and pressured air means, the hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus comprising a liquid spray gun, said liquid spray gun being connected to a hose, said liquid spray gun comprising an air inlet plug fitting attachment, a handle, said handle having an open passageway through the length of the handle, said handle having an air inlet and an air outlet at opposite ends of the open passageway, said air inlet plug fitting attachment being connected to the air inlet of the handle, an air valve, said air valve being connected near the air outlet to the handle, said air valve having an air passageway that can be opened and closed, said air valve containing a compression spring that acts to keep the air passageway closed, an air valve button, said air valve button being connected at one end of the air valve so that when the air valve button is pressed the air passageway within the air valve is then opened and when the air valve button is released then said compression spring acts to close said air valve passageway within the air valve, a trigger, said trigger being loosely connected about a top end of the handle, said trigger being positioned in such a way that when the trigger is pulled while holding said handle, the trigger then pushes the air valve button into the air valve opening the air passageway within the air valve, a lid structure including a lower lid portion and an upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, a canister for holding said cleaning solvent, said canister having an open end, said canister being covered by the lid structure at said open end in an air tight assembly, said lid structure having an angular high pressure air passageway and an angular high pressure liquid passageway, said angular high pressure air passageway having an entrance in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion and an exit in the lower lid portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure air passageway being connected to the air outlet of the handle, said exit of the lid air inlet tube being exposed to an inside of the canister, said angular high pressure liquid passageway having an entrance in the lower lid portion and an exit in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed to an inside of the canister, said exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed outside of the canister, a pressure tube, said pressure tube being hollow, said pressure tube being attached to the entrance of angular high pressure liquid passageway and extending downwardly to a bottom of the canister for transportation of the cleaning solvent in the canister, and a nozzle, said nozzle being attached to the exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway, said hose being attached to the nozzle whereby when the liquid spray gun is attached to the pressured air means at the air inlet plug fitting attachment and the hose is attached to one opening of a transmission cooler, said cleaning solvent can be passed through the hose hydraulically in a stream from the liquid spray gun by air pressure from the pressured air means into and through the transmission cooler and out a second opening of the transmission cooler by pulling the trigger to clean and check the flow of the automobile transmission cooler said trigger also enabling a pulsating action of said cleaning solvent through the transmission cooler to provide additional cleaning action in removing stubborn debris, after said cleaning solvent has been forced out of the canister in a stream a further cleaning action can then be performed by forcing pressurized air through the canister and into the transmission cooler, the pressurized air that is passed through the canister mixes with a residue of the cleaning solvent remaining in the canister thereby providing an atomized cleaning action in addition to flushing the transmission cooler with the hydraulic stream of the cleaning solvent.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said angular high pressure air passageway has an air pressure relief valve attached thereto thereby regulating that amount of air pressure that passes through the angular high pressure air passageway into the canister.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said air pressure relief valve is set to maintain a pressure below 75 pounds per square inch.

12. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air inlet of the handle has an air pressure gauge and an air pressure regulator attached thereto thereby allowing the user to monitor and adjust the air pressure entering the hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus.

13. The combination of claim 9 wherein said air pressure entering the high pressure liquid spray gun is set at 35 pounds per square inch.

14. The combination of claim 9 wherein said lower lid portion and said upper air and liquid transfer housing portion comprise a one piece molded structure.

15. The combination of claim 9 wherein said cleaning solvent is a fluid selected from the group consisting of automatic transmission fluid and mineral spirits.

16. The combination of claim 9 wherein said canister can hold up to 1 quart of cleaning solvent.

20. The system of claim 9 wherein said cleaning solvent is a fluid selected from the group consisting of automatic transmission fluid and mineral spirits.

17. In a system for flushing an automobile transmission cooler, the improvement of the system including a hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus for flushing an automobile transmission cooler, cleaning solvent and pressured air means, the hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus comprising a liquid spray gun, said liquid spray gun being connected to a hose, said liquid spray gun comprising an air inlet plug fitting attachment, a handle, said handle having an open passageway through the length of the handle, said handle having an air inlet and an air outlet at opposite ends of the open passageway, said air inlet plug fitting attachment being connected to the air inlet of the handle, an air valve, said air valve being connected near the air outlet to the handle, said air valve having an air passageway that can be opened and closed, said air valve containing a compression spring that acts to keep the air passageway closed, an air valve button, said air valve button being connected at one end of the air valve so that when the air valve button is pressed the air passageway within the air valve is then opened and when the air valve button is released then said compression spring acts to close said air valve passageway within the air valve, a trigger, said trigger being loosely connected about a top end of the handle, said trigger being positioned in such a way that when the trigger is pulled while holding said handle, the trigger then pushes the air valve button into the air valve opening the air passageway within the air valve, a lid structure including a lower lid portion and an upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, a canister for holding said cleaning solvent, said canister having an open end, said canister being covered by the lid structure at said open end in an air tight assembly, said lid structure having an angular high pressure air passageway and an angular high pressure liquid passageway, said angular high pressure air passageway having an entrance in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion and an exit in the lower lid portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure air passageway being connected to the air outlet of the handle, said exit of the lid air inlet tube being exposed to an inside of the canister, said angular high pressure liquid passageway having an entrance in the lower lid portion and an exit in the upper air and liquid transfer housing portion, said entrance of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed to an inside of the canister, said exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway being exposed outside of the canister, a pressure tube, said pressure tube being hollow, said pressure tube being attached to the entrance of angular high pressure liquid passageway and extending downwardly to a bottom of the canister for transportation of the cleaning solvent in the canister, and a nozzle, said nozzle being attached to the exit of the angular high pressure liquid passageway, said hose being attached to the nozzle whereby when the liquid spray gun is attached to the pressured air means at the air inlet plug fitting attachment and the hose is attached to one opening of a transmission cooler, said cleaning solvent can be passed through the hose hydraulically in a stream from the liquid spray gun by air pressure from the pressured air means into and through the transmission cooler and out a second opening of the transmission cooler by pulling the trigger to clean and check the flow of the automobile transmission cooler said trigger also enabling a pulsating action of said cleaning solvent through the transmission cooler to provide additional cleaning action in removing stubborn debris, after said cleaning solvent has been forced out of the canister in a stream a further cleaning action can then be performed by forcing pressurized air through the canister and into the transmission cooler, the pressurized air that is passed through the canister mixes with a residue of the cleaning solvent remaining in the canister thereby providing an atomized cleaning action in addition to flushing the transmission cooler with the hydraulic stream of the cleaning solvent.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said angular high pressure air passageway has an air pressure relief valve attached thereto thereby regulating that amount of air pressure that passes through the angular high pressure air passageway into the canister.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said air inlet of the handle has an air pressure gauge and an air pressure regulator attached thereto thereby allowing the user to monitor and adjust the air pressure entering the hand held portable transmission cooler flushing apparatus.