Automatic fluid exchanger
First Claim
1. A method for exchanging a circulating fluid of a hydraulic system with a reservoir with a return port for receiving said fluid for pressure dissipation and a supply port for delivering said fluid after said pressure dissipation, a fluid pump providing negative pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid into an inlet port while simultaneously providing positive pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid through an outlet port, and a mechanism with a working port for receiving said fluid for actuation and a discharge port for discharging said fluid after said actuation, a supply conduit connecting said supply port to said inlet port, a working conduit connecting said outlet port to said working port, a return conduit connecting said discharge port to said return port, said method comprising steps of:
- providing a fresh fluid reservoirproviding a used fluid receiverproviding a fresh fluid exchange conduitproviding a used fluid exchange conduitproviding an adequate supply of fresh fluid to the fresh fluid reservoiremptying the used fluid receiver of used fluidturning off the engine of the vehicle to render the power steering pump inoperativeconnecting the fresh fluid exchange conduit to fluidly communicate with the supply conduitconnecting the used fluid exchange conduit to fluidly communicate with the return conduitstarting the engine of the vehicle to render the power steering pump operativeproviding a fluid control valve which is controlled by a float which when placed in its first position connects the fresh fluid exchange conduit to the fresh fluid reservoir and connects the used fluid exchange conduit to the used fluid receiver, and when placed in its second position connects the used fluid exchange conduit to the fresh fluid exchange conduit while disconnecting the fresh fluid reservoir from the fresh fluid exchange conduit and disconnecting the used fluid receiver from the used fluid exchange conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid exchanger for servicing the fluid circuits of vehicular power steering systems and other fluid circulating or hydraulic circuits. The fluid exchanger uses a float operated fluid control valve to harness fluid pressure provided by a pump of an accessed hydraulic circuit. The fluid control valve uses both negative and positive pressure of the circuit'"'"'s pump to control fluid flow patterns. The float and fluid control valve are matched to be either mechanical/hydraulic or electrical/hydraulic in design. If the exchanger is provided with a mechanically operated fluid control valve, a mechanical float is provided in the exchanger'"'"'s fresh fluid reservoir and is directly connected to the valve slide of the fluid control valve. If the exchanger is provided with an electric solenoid operated fluid control valve, a float operated electrical switch is provided in the exchanger'"'"'s fresh fluid reservoir and is wired to control the solenoid of the valve.
28 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for exchanging a circulating fluid of a hydraulic system with a reservoir with a return port for receiving said fluid for pressure dissipation and a supply port for delivering said fluid after said pressure dissipation, a fluid pump providing negative pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid into an inlet port while simultaneously providing positive pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid through an outlet port, and a mechanism with a working port for receiving said fluid for actuation and a discharge port for discharging said fluid after said actuation, a supply conduit connecting said supply port to said inlet port, a working conduit connecting said outlet port to said working port, a return conduit connecting said discharge port to said return port, said method comprising steps of:
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providing a fresh fluid reservoir providing a used fluid receiver providing a fresh fluid exchange conduit providing a used fluid exchange conduit providing an adequate supply of fresh fluid to the fresh fluid reservoir emptying the used fluid receiver of used fluid turning off the engine of the vehicle to render the power steering pump inoperative connecting the fresh fluid exchange conduit to fluidly communicate with the supply conduit connecting the used fluid exchange conduit to fluidly communicate with the return conduit starting the engine of the vehicle to render the power steering pump operative providing a fluid control valve which is controlled by a float which when placed in its first position connects the fresh fluid exchange conduit to the fresh fluid reservoir and connects the used fluid exchange conduit to the used fluid receiver, and when placed in its second position connects the used fluid exchange conduit to the fresh fluid exchange conduit while disconnecting the fresh fluid reservoir from the fresh fluid exchange conduit and disconnecting the used fluid receiver from the used fluid exchange conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13)
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10. In an apparatus for exchanging a circulating fluid of a hydraulic system with a reservoir with a return port for receiving said fluid for pressure dissipation and a supply port for delivering said fluid after said pressure dissipation, a fluid pump providing negative pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid into an inlet port while simultaneously providing positive pressure to said fluid to deliver said fluid through an outlet port, and a mechanism with a working port for receiving said fluid for actuation and a discharge port for discharging said fluid after said actuation, a supply conduit connecting said supply port to said inlet port, a working conduit connecting said outlet port to said working port, a return conduit connecting said discharge port to said return port, said apparatus comprising:
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a fresh fluid reservoir a used fluid receiver a fresh fluid exchange conduit a used fluid exchange conduit a fluid control valve which has a first position and a second position with the first position connecting the used fluid exchange conduit to the used fluid receiver and with the second position connecting the used fluid exchange conduit to the fresh fluid exchange conduit while disconnecting the fresh fluid reservoir from the fresh fluid exchange conduit and disconnecting the used fluid receiver from the used fluid exchange conduit a float which directs the fluid control valve from its first position to its second position and from its second position to its first position. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification