IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0241734
(2002-09-10)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
22 |
초록
▼
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 ut
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.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fluid exchange device for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source, said device comprising:a pump having at least four variable volume fluid chambers including a first working fluid chamber, a second working fluid chamber, a first pumpin
1. A fluid exchange device for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source, said device comprising:a pump having at least four variable volume fluid chambers including a first working fluid chamber, a second working fluid chamber, a first pumping fluid chamber and a second pumping fluid chamber; a control valve, operatively coupled to the pump, said control valve having a first valve position and a second valve position; a first conduit for receiving used fluid from the accessed hydraulic circuit; a second conduit for introducing fresh fluid into the accessed hydraulic circuit; a third conduit operatively coupling the first conduit to the first working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and operatively coupling the first conduit to the second working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position; a fourth conduit operatively coupling the second working fluid chamber to a used fluid receptacle when the control valve is in the first valve position, and operatively coupling the first working fluid chamber to the used fluid receptacle when the control valve is in the second valve position; a fifth conduit operatively coupling the second conduit to the first pumping chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and operatively coupling the second conduit to the second pumping fluid chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position; and a sixth conduit operatively coupling the second pumping fluid chamber to a fresh fluid source when the control valve is in the first valve position, and operatively coupling the first pumping fluid chamber to the fresh fluid source when the control valve is in the second valve position. 2. The fluid exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the movable pump member is selected from among the group consisting of a diaphragm member and a piston member.3. The fluid exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second working chamber and the first and second pumping chambers longitudinally aligned.4. The fluid exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve includes one or more elements selected from among the group consisting of a directional control valve, a spool valve, and an electromagnetic valve.5. The fluid exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve comprises either a valve element within the pump, a valve element external to the pump, or both.6. A method of exchanging fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source for used from an accessed hydraulic fluid circuit having an outlet port and an inlet port, said method comprising the steps of:providing a pump having at least a first and a second, working chamber each having a port for communicating with the used fluid, and at least a first and a second pumping chamber each having a port for communicating with the fresh fluid; providing a control valve in communication with the pump, said control valve having at least a first valve position and a second valve position; for a first predetermined period of time, providing the control valve in the first valve position, wherein the first working chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the second working chamber is fluidly coupled to a used fluid receptacle, and the second pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid source, and the first pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic fluid circit, thereby providing a flow of used fluid from the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit into the first working chamber, a flow of used fluid from the second working chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid source into the second pumping chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the first pumping chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit; after said first predeterminedd period of time, providing the control valve in the second valve position for a second predetermined period of time, wherein the second working chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the first working chamber is fluidly coupled to the used fluid receptacle, and the first pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid source, and the second pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to inlet port of the accessed hydraulic fluid circuit, thereby providing a flow of used fluid from the outlet prot of the accessed hydraulic circuit into the second working chamber, a flow of used fluid from the first working chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid source into the first pumping chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the second pumping chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit; after said second predetermined period of time, establishing a cycle by returning the control valve to the first valve position for said first predetermined period of time; and repeating the cycle to achieve the fluid exchange. 7. The method of exchanging fluid according to claim 6, wherein the pump is selected from among a group consisting of a dual diaphragm pump and a dual piston pump.8. A fluid exchange device for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source, 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, a control valve operatively coupled to the pump, said control valve having a first valve position and a second valve position; a first conduit for receiving used fluid from the accessed hydrualic circuit, said first conduit being coupled to the first working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and said first conduit being coupled to the second working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position; and a second conduit for conducting fresh fluid to the accessed hydraulic circuit, said second conduit being coupled to the second pumping fluid chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and said second conduit being coupled to the first pumping fluid chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position. 9. The fluid exchange device according to claim 8 wherein the control valve includes a plurality of valves including a pilot valve which is engaged by a pump member and an external valve having a valve body an interior valve.10. The fluid exchange device according to claim 8, said device further comprising:a used fluid receptacle; and a third conduit for receiving used fluid from the pump and conducting used fluid to the used fluid receptacle, said thrid conduit being coupled to the second working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and said third conduit being coupled to the first working fluid chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position. 11. A fluid exchange device according to claim 8, said device further comprising:a forth conduit for receiving fresh fluid from the fresh fluid source and conducting fresh fluid to the pum, said forth condit being coupled to the second pumping fluid chamber when the control valve is in the first valve position, and said forth conduit being coupled to the frist pumping chamber when the control valve is in the second valve position. 12. A fluid exchange device according to calim 8, wherein the control valve includes at least one mechanical valve including a spool valve and a valve body.13. A fluid exchange device according to calim 8, wherein the pump structure is selected from among a group consisting of dual diaphragm pump, a dual piston pump, and a reciprocating element pump.14. A fluid exchange device according to claim 8, wherein the control valve includes a plurality of directional control valves.15. A fluid exchange assembly according to claim 14, wherein the control valve includes a pair of directional control valves coupled to each of the first and second pumping fluid chambers.16. A reciprocating fluid exchange apparatus for exchanging fresh fluid with used fluid from an accessed transmission circuit, said exchange apparatus, composing:a pump having a first working fluid chamber, and a second working fluid chamber, and a first pumping fluid chamber, and a second pumping fluid chamber; a first conduit for receiving used fluid from the accessed transmission circuit; a second conduit for supplying fresh fluid to the accessed transmission circuit; and a control valve operatively coupled to the first conduit and the second conduit for directing used fluid from the accessed transmission circuit alternately into the first working fluid chamber and then the second working fluid chamber casuing a movement of the reciprocating element to direct fresh fluid disposed in a selected one of the first and second pumping fluid chambers into the second conduit to be introduced into the accessed transmission circuit. 17. The reciprocating fluid exchange apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control valve incudes a plurality of directional control valves.18. The reciprocating fluid exchange apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control valve includes a pilot valve and an external valve.19. The reciprocating fluid exchange apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the pilot valve is actuated by a reciprocating element of the pump.20. A method of exchanging fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source 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 having at least a first and second working chamber each having a port for communicating with the used fluid, and at least a first and second pumping chamber each having a port for communicating with the fresh fluid; wherein during a first operating condition the first working chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the second working chamber is fluidly coupled to a used fluid receptacle, and the second pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid source, and the first pumping 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 working chamber, a flow of used fluid from the second working chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid source into the second pumping chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the first pumping chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit; and wherein during a second operating condition the second working chamber is fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit, and the first working chamber is fluidly coupled to the used fluid receptacle, and the first pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to the fresh fluid source, and the second pumping chamber is fluidly coupled to 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 working chamber, a flow of used fluid from the first working chamber into the used fluid receptacle, a flow of fresh fluid from the fresh fluid source into the first pumping chamber, and a flow of fresh fluid from the second pumping chamber into the inlet port of the accessed hydraulic circuit. 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of providing a control valve for changing the pump from the first operating condition to the second operating condition.22. The method of claim 21 wherein the control valve includes at least one movable element which is engaged by a movable portion of the pump.23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing a pump includes the step of providing a pump having a reciprocating element in the form of a diaghragm or a piston.24. A fluid exchange device for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source, sand device comprising:a pump having at least four variable valume fluid chambers: a first working fluid chamber, a second working fluid chamber, a first pumping fluid chamber and a second pumping fluid chamber, said pump operating in a first operating condition or a second operating condition; a first conduit for receiving used fluid from the accessed hydraulic circuit, said first conduit being in fluid communication with the first working fluid chamber when the pump is in the first operating condition, and said first conduit being in flid communication with the second working fluid chamber when the pump is in the second operation condition; and a second conduit for conducting fresh fluid to the accessed hydraulic circuit, said second conduit being in fluid communication with the second pumping fluid chamber when the pump is in the first operating condition, and said second conduit being in fluid communication with the first pumping fluid chamber when the pump is in the second operating condition. 25. A fluid exchange device for replacing used fluid from an accessed hydraulic circuit with fresh fluid from a fresh fluid source, said device 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, said first and second working chambers receiving used fluid from the accessed hydraulic circuit; a first conduit for conducting used fluid from the accessed hydraulic circuit, said first conduit being in fluid communication with either the first working fluid chamber or the second working fluid chamber; and a second conduit for conducting fresh fluid to the accessed hydraulic circuit, said second conduit being in fluid communication with either the first pumping fluid chamber or the second pumping fluid chamber. 26. The fluid exchange device of claim 25, further comprising a fresh fluid source wherein said source is in fluid communication with the first or second fluid pumping chambers.27. The fluid exchange device of claim 25, further comprising a used fluid receiver wherein said receiver is in fluid communication with either the first or second fluid working chamber.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.