Apparatus and method for removing and replacing vehicle system fluid

• US 6,830,083 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Environmental Brake Services Corporation
• Original Assignee: Environmental Brake Services Corporation
• Inventors: Hollub, Peter C., Lentini, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/626,332
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 141/65, 141/59, 141/94, 141/98, 184/1.5, 222/154, 700/231, 700/244
• US Class Current: 141/65
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/222 by filling or bleeding of hydraulic systems

Abstract

A hydraulic flushing system includes an indicia reader adapted to read indicia on a hydraulic fluid container and a data processor coupled to the indicia reader to determine if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system. The hydraulic flushing system may include a pump to pump hydraulic fluid from the container. The data processor may prevent operation of the pump if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system or if the indicia does not indicate a proper grade of hydraulic fluid for a type of vehicle being serviced.

Claims

1. A hydraulic flushing system comprising:

an indicia reader adapted to read indicia on a hydraulic fluid container; and

a data processor coupled to the indicia reader to determine if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system.

2. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 1 further comprising a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container, wherein the data processor is further coupled to the pump and prevents operation of the pump if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system.

3. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 1 wherein the data processor requires reading an indicia that has not been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

4. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 1 further comprising an input device that indicates a type of vehicle being serviced, wherein the data processor flasher determines if the indicia indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

5. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 4 further comprising a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container, wherein the data processor is further coupled to the pump and prevents operation of the pump if the indicia does not indicate the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

6. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 4 wherein the data processor requires input of the type of vehicle being serviced and reading an indicia that indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

7. A method of hydraulic flushing comprising:

reading indicia on a hydraulic fluid container; and

determining if the indicia has been utilized before in a hydraulic flushing system.

8. The method of hydraulic flushing of claim 7 further comprising preventing operation of a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system.

9. The method of hydraulic flushing of claim 7 further comprising requiring an indicia that has not been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system to be read prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

10. The method of hydraulic flushing of claim 7 fixer comprising:

receiving an input that indicates a type of vehicle being serviced; and

determining if the indicia indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

11. The method of hydraulic flushing of claim 10 further comprising preventing operation of a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container if the indicia does not indicate the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

12. The method of hydraulic flushing of claim 10 further comprising:

requiring input of the type of vehicle being serviced; and

requiring an indicia that indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced to be read prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

13. A hydraulic flushing system comprising:

means for reading indicia on a hydraulic fluid container; and

means for determining if the indicia has been utilized before in a hydraulic flushing system.

14. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 13 further comprising means for preventing operation of a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container if the indicia has been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system.

15. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 13 further comprising means for requiring an indicia that has not been utilized before in the hydraulic flushing system to be read prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

16. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving an input that indicates a type of vehicle being serviced; and

means for determining if the indicia indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

18. The hydraulic flushing system of claim 16 further comprising:

means for requiring input of the type of vehicle being serviced; and

means for requiring an indicia that indicates the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced to be read prior to initiating a hydraulic flushing operation.

17. The hydraulic flushing system of clam 16 further comprising means for preventing operation of a pump adapted to pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid container if the indicia does not indicate the proper grade of hydraulic fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.