Auto-loading fluid exchanger and method of use

• US 6,446,682 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James P Viken
• Original Assignee: James P Viken
• Inventors: Viken, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/846,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/192, 141/65, 141/59, 184/1.5, 417/521
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0408 Exchange, draining or filling of transmission lubricant

Abstract

This invention provides a fluid system for exchanging used hydraulic fluid with fresh hydraulic fluid in an accessed hydraulic circuit. One particular application provides an exchange apparatus for exchanging fluids of the type found in motor vehicle hydraulic circuits. The exchange apparatus may utilize pressurized spent fluid flow as a fluid power medium to activate the auto-replenishing fluid exchanger system to replace the spent fluid with fresh fluid at equalized flow rates. Alternatively, the exchange apparatus may utilize pressurize fresh fluid as a fluid power medium to activate the exchange system. Additional power may be supplied by an external boost pump to supplement the flow of fluid.

Claims

1. A method of exchanging fresh fluid from a fresh fluid reservoir for used fluid from an accessed hydraulic fluid circuit having an outlet port and an inlet port, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a pump assembly having a pump body and a movable pump member disposed relative the pump body, said pump assembly defining at least a first and a second used fluid chamber each having a port for communicating with the used fluid and at least a first and a second fresh fluid chamber each having a port for communicating with the fresh fluid;

providing a fluid control device in communication with the fresh fluid and the used fluid and the pump assembly, said fluid control device having at least a first control position and a second control position;

for a first predetermined period of time, providing the fluid control device in the first control position, wherein the first used fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the second used fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the used fluid receptacle, and the first fresh fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid reservoir, and the second fresh fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic fluid circuit, thereby providing a flow of used fluid from the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit into the first used fluid chamber, a flow of used fluid from the second used fluid chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid reservoir into the first fresh fluid chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the second fresh fluid chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit;

after said first predetermined period of time, providing the fluid control device in the second control position for a second predetermined period of time, wherein the second used fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the first used fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the used fluid receptacle, and the second fresh fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid reservoir, and the first fresh fluid chamber is fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic fluid circuit, thereby providing a flow of used fluid from the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit into the second used fluid chamber, a flow of used fluid from the first used fluid chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid reservoir into the second fresh fluid chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the first fresh fluid chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit;

after said second predetermined period of time, establishing a cycle by returning the fluid control device to the first control position for said first predetermined period of time; and

repeating the cycle to achieve the fluid exchange.

2. A fluid exchange assembly for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid reservoir, said assembly comprising:

a pump, having at least four variable volume fluid chambers;

a first working fluid chamber, a second working fluid chamber, a first pumping fluid chamber and a second pumping fluid chamber, each fluid chamber having at least one fluid port;

a boost pump device coupled to at least one of the fluid chambers for providing a pressurization of fluid associated with said at least one fluid chamber; and

a fluid control device, operatively coupled to the pump, said fluid control device having a first control position and a second control position.

3. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 wherein the pump includes a pair of interconnected pistons.

4. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 3 wherein the pistons are connected with a rod.

5. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 wherein the pump includes a dual diaphragm pump.

6. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 wherein the fluid chambers of the pump are biased in response to a fluid pressure transferred from the fluid circuit.

7. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 wherein the fluid control device comprises at least one fluid valve.

8. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one fluid valve is electrically operated.

9. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 wherein the fluid control device comprises an electronic controller which receives input signals and generates output signals to control at least one valve.

10. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

a flow aligning valve system in fluid communication with at least a fresh fluid conduit, said valve system aligning a flow of fresh fluid in the fluid exchange assembly relative to a flow of circulated fluid within the accessed hydraulic circuit.

11. A fluid exchange assembly of claim 2 further comprising:

a bypass conduit in selective fluid communication with a pair of conduits, said bypass conduit selectively communicating a flow between the pair of conduits to reintroduce a fluid into the accessed hydraulic fluid circuit.

12. A device for exchanging fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source for used fluid from an accessed fluid circuit, said fluid circuit being accessed to define an inlet port and an outlet port, said device comprising:

a plurality of fluid conduits including a fresh fluid conduit and a used fluid conduit;

a pump having at least four variable volume fluid chambers, including a first and second used fluid chamber and a first and second fresh fluid chamber;

a fluid control device in communication with the plurality of fluid conduits and the pump, said fluid control device selectively directing used fluid from the fluid circuit into either the first or second used fluid chamber of the pump.

13. A device of claim 12 wherein the fluid control device selectively directs fresh fluid through the fresh fluid from either the first or second fresh fluid chamber of the pump.

14. A device of claim 12 wherein the pump includes a pair of interconnected pistons.

15. A device of claim 14 wherein the pistons are connected with a rod.

16. A device of claim 12 wherein the pump includes a dual diaphragm pump.

17. A device of claim 12 wherein the fluid chambers of the pump are biased in response to a fluid pressure transferred from the fluid circuit.

18. A device of claim 12 wherein the fluid chambers of the pump are biased in response to a fluid pressure transferred from an auxiliary boost pump.

19. A device of claim 12 wherein the fluid control device comprises at least one fluid valve.

20. A device of claim 19 wherein the at least one fluid valve is electrically operated.

21. A device of claim 12 wherein the fluid control comprises an electronic controller which receives input signals and generates output signals to control at least one valve.

22. A device of claim 12 further comprising:

a flow aligning valve system in fluid communication with at least the fresh fluid conduit, said valve system aligning a flow of fresh fluid in the device relative to a flow of circulated fluid within the accessed hydraulic circuit.

23. A device of claim 12 further comprising:

a bypass conduit in selective fluid communication with a pair of conduits, said bypass conduit selectively communicating a flow between the pair of conduits to reintroduce a fluid into the accessed hydraulic fluid circuit.

24. A fluid exchange system for use in exchanging a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission and a fluid cooling circuit operatively connected to conduct a circulated fluid therein, said fresh fluid being contained in and dispensed from a source external to said vehicle, said used fluid initially being contained within said vehicle and discharged into a receptacle external to said vehicle, said fluid exchange system comprising;

a first fluid line intercoupled to the fluid exchange system, the source, and the fluid cooling circuit to conduct fresh fluid from the source into the fluid cooling circuit;

a second fluid line intercoupled to the fluid exchange system and the fluid cooling circuit to conduct used fluid from the cooling circuit;

a pump operatively coupled to the first fluid line and the second fluid line, said pump having a plurality of variable volume chambers, including at least one used fluid chamber and one fresh fluid chamber, said plurality of variable volume chambers being biased by a fluid pressure generated by the automatic transmission; and

one or more valves in fluid communication with the pump for selectively directing fresh and used fluid between the plurality of variable volume chambers.

25. A fluid exchange system of claim 24 wherein the pump is a dual piston pump defining a pair of used fluid chambers and a pair of fresh fluid chambers.

26. A fluid exchange system of claim 24 wherein the pump is a dual diaphragm pump defining a pair of used fluid chambers and a pair of fresh fluid chambers.

27. A fluid exchange system of claim 24 further comprising:

a flow aligning valve system in fluid communication with at least the first fluid line, said valve system aligning a flow of fresh fluid in the fluid exchange system relative to a flow of fluid circulated within the fluid cooling circuit.

28. A fluid exchange system of claim 24 further comprising:

a bypass conduit in selective fluid communication with a pair of conduits, said bypass conduit selectively communicating a flow between the pair of conduits to reintroduce a fluid into the fluid cooling circuit.

29. A fluid exchange system of claim 24 further comprising:

one or more valves in fluid communication with the pump for selectively directing used fluid between the plurality of variable volume chambers.