Apparatus and method for removing and replacing vehicle system fluid

• US 7,096,894 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• 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:
  US10/929,983
• Time in Patent Office: 623 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 fluid flushing system comprising:

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

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

2. The fluid flushing system of claim 1 further comprising a pump adapted to pump fluid from the 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 fluid flushing system.

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

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

5. The fluid flushing system of claim 4 further comprising a pump adapted to pump fluid from the 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 fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

6. The fluid 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 fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced prior to initiating a fluid flushing operation.

7. A method of fluid flushing comprising:

reading indicia on a fluid container; and

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

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

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

10. The method of fluid flushing of claim 7 further comprising:

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

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

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

12. The method of fluid 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 fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced to be read prior to initiating a fluid flushing operation.

13. A fluid flushing system comprising:

means for reading indicia on a fluid container; and

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

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

15. The fluid flushing system of claim 14 further comprising means for requiring an indicia that has not been utilized before in the fluid flushing system to be read prior to initiating a fluid flushing operation.

16. The fluid flushing system of claim 14 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 fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced.

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

18. The fluid 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 fluid for the type of vehicle being serviced to be read prior to initiating a fluid flushing operation.