Bi-Directional Pump Mechanism for Balanced Flow Fluid Exchanger
A fluid pump assembly having a rotatable vane received with a pump housing with the vane holder rotatably carrying a plurality of vanes with each vane being biased into contact with a perimeter wall of the pump housing. A fluid exchange device utilizes the fluid pump assembly to exchange fluids in a system, such as a hydraulic system or cardiopulmonary system. The fluid exchange device may include a boost pump, a flow alignment device and a bypass valve.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/857,281, filed Nov. 7, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to pump assemblies and more particularly to a fluid pump assembly utilized in a fluid exchange device in communication with a hydraulic or other fluid system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTThe market for fluid exchanging equipment for vehicular hydraulic fluid systems, such as power steering and automatic transmissions has undergone relatively rapid recent expansion. Many such devices have been developed for such use. One unresolved problem has been the inherent need for an inexpensive fluid exchange system which is simple and automatic to operate and which supports desirable features of some known, more complex and expensive exchange units, such as the automatic fluid flow alignment mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,064 to Viken and U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,633 to Viken, each patent being incorporated by reference herein.
A related but unresolved problem has been the inherent need for a fluid exchange system which is inexpensive to manufacture while being simple to operate, having an automatic fluid flow alignment structure and automatic bypass at the end of the fluid exchange procedure which will allow for the easy fluid exchange of automatic transmissions in certain automobiles which are characterized as having low flow in their fluid cooling circuit, such as certain Ford Explorers, Ford pick-up type truck, and other Ford vehicles, and some Geo Metros and small foreign designed vehicles, and certain Toyotas.
There still remains a need for a fully automatic, simple, inexpensive to manufacture fluid exchanger which has automatic flow alignment capabilities and which can be powered by a torque motor or fluid pump external to the fluid exchanger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to systems and methods for exchanging fluids of a hydraulic system, preferably while maintaining a desired fluid flow rate during an exchange procedure. Examples of hydraulic systems include power steering systems, automatic transmissions, or hydraulic circulating systems and the like of vehicles, machinery, aircraft and equipment. Other hydraulic systems include cardiopulmonary systems of animals, particularly mammals.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid exchange system includes a dual chambered vane pump having extendable vanes and two ports per chamber. Additional features of an embodiment of the invention include a bypass device and means for improved exchange capacity for low flow type hydraulic systems.
Embodiments of the present invention can be constructed and arranged for the fluid pressure of the accessed hydraulic system to determine and maintain fluid alignment through the exchanger even while utilizing an accessory motor to boost the pressure of the fresh fluid being delivered to the hydraulic system to a pressure greater than a pressure of the used fluid being accessed in the hydraulic system.
One embodiment of the present invention includes a vane pump arrangement having a working chamber and a pumping chamber wherein fluid received within the working chamber causes rotation of a vane rotor thereby forcing fluid out of the pumping chamber.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Vane 7 is a blade, and in this instance is constructed of an acrylic type plastic compound, but can be constructed of many other materials such as various other types of plastics or hard rubber compounds, or various types of metals such as aluminum, brass or steel, or other metals. In this instance vane holder 5 is also constructed of an acrylic type plastic compound, but which can be constructed of many other materials such as various other types of plastics or hard rubber compounds, or various types of metals such as aluminum, brass or steel, or other metals. Vane holder 5 in this embodiment holds a total of twelve vanes, with the additional eleven vanes (not specifically numbered) constructed to be the same as vane 7.
Vane holder 5 is provided with 2 springs per vane 7 that are held in cavities provided (shown in
The clearances provided between vane slots 6 and vanes 7 are adequate to allow vanes 7 to freely move into and out of slots 6 without allowing undue wobbling or fluid leakage through the inside of the vane slots and not too tight to cause undue resistance to movement. The force provided by spring 17 is great enough to provide adequate sealing between vanes 7 and the wall surface of the elliptical bore 8 of pump block 3 but not too great to cause undue resistance to movement. In one embodiment, vane 7 is inserted in slot 6 that is molded into vane holder 5, such as via a precision plastic molding process
Top cover 9 has two ports provided, port 23 and port 25. Bottom cover 11 has two ports provided, port 19 and port 21. Each of the ports of the top cover 9 and bottom cover 11 has a conduit attached to it by conventional attachment and sealing methods, in this case a hose barb and push lock and rubber type hydraulic hose is used. These four conduits are not numbered in
Pump block 3 has four internal ports provided to it, which are in this instance molded, but can be machined. These consist of block ports 20, 22, 24 and 26. Pump block 3 is also provided with a plurality of female threads 49, 51. Threaded fasteners engaging threads 49, 51 are used to secure side cover 35 to the side of pump block 3. In addition the clearances provided between the vanes and the side covers such side cover 35 are tight enough to provide suitable sealing to left chamber 2 and right chamber 4 with causing too much resistance to movement.
A flexible type rubber such as a nitrile type compound or flexible type plastic such as nylon can be molded to form an impeller to be used in place of the vane holder 5 with its vanes and springs. Using such flexible rubber or plastic type impellers will provide less longevity, but because it is less expensive to manufacture it allows the fluid exchanger device 10 to be manufactured and at a lower price. During the rotation of a flexible rubber or plastic type impeller, its vanes will deflect to a decreased extension off of the walls of elliptical bore 8 as its diameter is reduced, and will extend to meet the wall of the elliptical bore 8 as its diameter is increased and thereby will provide progressively increased or decreased fluid volumes between those rubber vanes to provide the pumping actions required of fluid pump assembly 1 which are threefold fold (referring to
In one embodiment, vane 7 is inserted in slot 6 that is molded into vane holder 5, such as via a precision plastic molding process.
As shown in
Reservoir assembly 81 has filler neck 85 to which fresh fluid can be added as indicated by dipstick 87. Reservoir assembly 81 has port 89 through which used fluid 107 which has been circulated through the power steering system and has been returned to its source to be held in reservoir assembly 81. During normal operation of the power steering system, fluid return hose 91 is connected and held in place to be fluid tight at port 89 by use of hose clamp 101, which in this instance is a screw clamp, although there are a number of other types which are also typically used such as circumferential spring clamps. Reservoir assembly 81 has suction hose 105 connected to it at a supply port 106 through which used fluid 107 is supplied to the power steering pump (not shown) which in turn pressurizes it to deliver power to the steering mechanism (not shown), after which used fluid 107 is returned back to the fluid reservoir assembly 81 through fluid return hose 91.
Used fluid conduit assembly 33 is connected to fluid pump assembly 1 at port 19 and to bypass valve assembly 75 at port 94. Fresh fluid conduit assembly 31 is connected to fluid pump assembly 1 at port 21 and to bypass valve assembly 75 at port 96. Bypass valve assembly 75 is connected and secured to be fluid tight to a fresh fluid reservoir assembly by use of conventional means, which in this case is the use of several bolts and a rubber type gasket, with said bolts passing through the top side of reservoir body 73 of the fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 and into female threads provided to bypass valve assembly 75 at its top side (not shown) and with said rubber type gasket sandwiched in between the lower wall of fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 and bypass valve assembly 75.
Bypass valve assembly 75 has valve slide 77 that is attached to float 79 by fastener 80, with valve slide 77 adapted to slide inside valve body 76 in response to changes in the volume of fresh fluid 63 contained in fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55. Float 79 has a lower surface serving as a sealing surface when float 79 drops to its lowest level as the supply of fresh fluid 63 is depleted. This lower sealing surface blocks and seals supply port 64 when float 79 drops to its lowest level as the supply of fresh fluid 63 is depleted and makes contact with supply port 64. Valve body 76 has bore 74 and bottom plug 78 which is fluid tight.
During an exchange procedure, as the fluid level of fresh fluid 63 rises with a increase in volume and falls with a decrease in volume, so too the float 79 responds accordingly and moves valve slide 77 with it. Valve slide 77 has internal port 88 which is placed in alignment to connect used fluid conduit assembly 33 with fresh fluid conduit assembly 31 when float 79 drops to a level associated with depletion of the fresh fluid 63 held in fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55.
Supply port 64 of fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 has suction hose 72 connected to it. Suction hose 72 is connected at its other end to fluid pump assembly 1 at a port 25. Waste conduit 29 is connected at one end to fluid pump assembly 1 at port 23 and open at its other end to discharge used fluid 65 into waste receptacle 53 which can be easily emptied in an environmentally safe and operator convenient manner.
The embodiment of
When hydraulic systems do not provide for reliable, quick and easy identification of an outflow port and an inlet port for connecting the fluid exchanger to, automatic fluid flow alignment between the fluid exchanger and the hydraulic circuit being accessed is essential and is readily provided in the fluid exchange devices 10 of
The power steering system is rendered operative upon starting the vehicle. While the fluid exchange is occurring the operator may choose to rotate the steering wheel from one side to the other to exchange any power steering fluid which could otherwise remain in the steering mechanism. Operation of the vehicle's power steering system causes used fluid 65 from the power steering system that is normally returned back into reservoir assembly 81 to be discharged instead into male adapter 93 and then into used fluid conduit assembly 33. Used fluid 65 then passes through used conduit fluid assembly 33 into port 19 and then into block port 20 (see
As vane holder 5 and its vanes rotate in chamber 2 the vanes maintain contact with the surface of elliptical bore 8 and move outward under spring pressure as they approach the largest diameter of elliptical bore 8 and are pushed deeper into their respective slots while compressing the springs such as spring 17 as they are compressed inward by the decreasing diameter of elliptical bore 8. This causes a progressive expansion of fluid volumes within each pair of vanes followed up to a maximum, followed by a progressive retraction of such volumes down to a minimum, and then again with a progressive expansion of fluid volumes within each pair of vanes followed up to a maximum in a continuing cycle as vane holder 5 and its vanes rotate in the elliptical bore 8. Therefore as vane holder 5 and its vanes 7 rotate clockwise, used fluid 65 passes to the upper side of chamber 2 and is forced into block port 24, through port 23 and into waste conduit 29 to be deposited in waste receptacle 53. And at the same time fresh fluid 63 is delivered from fresh fluid reservoir 55 through supply port 64, into and through suction hose 72, then into and through port 25. Fresh fluid 63 then flows into and through block port 26, into and through the upper side of chamber 4 of elliptical bore 8, into and through the lower side of chamber 4, and into and through block port 22. Fresh fluid 63 then flows into and through fresh fluid conduit assembly 31, into and through female adapter 99, and then into and through port 89 of reservoir assembly 81 to mix with and dilute used fluid 107.
Thus the used fluid pressure provided by the accessed hydraulic circuit, in this instance a power steering system, causes vane holder 5 and vanes 7 to rotate and pump fresh fluid from fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 into reservoir assembly 81. The arrows shown in
As fresh fluid 63 is pumped out of fresh fluid reservoir 55, its fluid level drops until float 79 moves valve slide 77 downward to align its internal port 88 between used fluid conduit assembly 31 and fresh fluid conduit assembly 33, establishing a fluid bypass between these conduit assemblies. At the same approximate time float 79 drops to block supply port 64 when the rubber lower surface of float 79 makes contact with and seals supply port 64. The fluid exchange device 10 is now operating in a bypass mode where used fluid 107 is circulated from fluid return hose 91, into and through male adapter 93, into and through used fluid conduit assembly 33, into and through bypass valve assembly 75 via internal port 88 of valve slide 77, and then into and through fresh fluid conduit assembly 31, then into and through female adapter 99, and then into port 89 to be deposited in reservoir assembly 81, without fluid pump assembly 1 being operative. Bypass valve assembly 75 can be fitted with a magnetic switch in its valve body 76 with a corresponding magnet fitted into its valve slide 77, arranged to become aligned when valve slide 77 reaches its lowermost bypass position upon the depletion of fresh fluid 63. This magnetic switch can be connected in series to a battery and a blinking LED and a buzzer, which will be activated by the magnetic switch to alert the operator when the bypass mode of operation has been attained. At this point the operator can stop the vehicle's engine, rendering the power steering system inoperative.
The operator then disconnects the female quick connectors 97 and 103 from their corresponding male quick connects 98 and 104 respectively. The operator then disconnects female adapter from port 89, disconnects male adapter 93 from fluid return hose 91, and reattaches fluid return hose 91 to port 89 to be rendered fluid tight using hose clamp 101. The operator may then start the engine to render the power steering system operative. Cap 83 of reservoir assembly 81 may be removed to provide access to dipstick 87 in order to determine the fluid level of reservoir assembly 81. The fluid exchange procedure ends after any additional new fluid is added to reservoir assembly 81.
The fluid exchange device 10 of
The fluid exchange device 10 of
The fluid exchange device 10 of
The fluid exchange device 10 of
Conduit assembly 231 is connected at one of its other end to port 19 of fluid pump assembly 1, and at its other end to bypass valve assembly 75 at port 96. Conduit assembly 233 is connected at one of its other end to port 19 of fluid pump assembly 1, and at its other end to bypass valve assembly 75 at port 94.
The fluid exchange device 10 of
After the fluid exchange device 10 has been connected to the opened hydraulic circuit and fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 has been filled with the proper volume and type of fluid required for the hydraulic circuit being serviced, the hydraulic circuit is energized, for example by turning the vehicle on. This causes used fluid 65 to be pumped into either conduit assembly 231 or conduit assembly 233. If used fluid 65 is pumped into conduit assembly 233, it passes through it and into port 19 of fluid pump assembly 1, and then through the left chamber 2 of fluid pump assembly 1 to exit through port 23 to pass through left upper conduit 125. The fluid is blocked at check valve 117 and proceeds to pass into and through left port 100 of priority valve assembly 109 where it moves valve slide 111 to its right most position, allowing used fluid 65 to pass through middle port 108 to enter and pass through waste conduit 121 to be discharged into waste receptacle 53.
As fluid 65 passes through fluid pump assembly 1 it causes vane holder 5 and vanes 7 to move clockwise whereby causing fresh fluid 63 to be drawn from fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 through supply port 64 to flow into supply conduit 119 where it is blocked at check valve 117 by the pressure provided by the accessed hydraulic circuit. Fluid 65 flows through check valve 115 to pass through right upper conduit 127 to flow into port 25 of fluid pump assembly 1. Fluid 63 then passes through chamber 4 of fluid pump assembly 1, then flowing out of port 21 into and through conduit assembly 231 and delivered to the return side of the accessed hydraulic circuit.
Fluid exchange of fresh fluid 63 within fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 for used fluid 65 of the accessed hydraulic circuit can continue until the volume of fresh fluid 63 becomes depleted enough to cause float 79 to drop and create a fluid bypass condition by establishing a connection between conduit assembly 233 and conduit assembly 231. At the same approximate time a bottom of surface of float 79 come to rest upon supply port 64 thereby blocking it and sealing it. This stops fluid pump assembly 1 from pumping and the fluid exchange device 10 operates in bypass mode. The operator can then render the accessed hydraulic circuit inoperative, disconnect conduit assemblies 231 and 233, disconnect the adapters, and reconnect the hydraulic circuit. The operator may then check the fluid level of the reservoir of the hydraulic circuit and add fluid as necessary. The fluid exchange is then complete.
If conduits 231 and 233 were connected to the accessed hydraulic circuit in opposite fashion (
Pump motor 129 in this case is bi-directional 12-volt DC electrical motor and has a pair of leads 131. Pump motor 129 is coupled to vane holder 5 of fluid pump assembly 1 with a magnetic coupler that is suitably sealed to prevent fluid leakage out of fluid pump assembly 1. Other kinds of couplers can be used such as metal or rubber or even a fluid type coupler. A pneumatic motor can be substituted for electric pump motor 129.
The fluid exchange device 10 of
The magnetic coupler (not shown) allows vane holder 5 to slip and rotate faster than pump motor 129 if the fluid pressure of the fluid circuit having its fluid exchanged significantly exceeds the rotational ability of pump motor 129. Pump motor 129 is 12 volt DC that allows it to be easily controlled, for example, by a MOSFET-type controller circuit that is mounted on an integrated circuit board assembly 149. Integrated circuit board 149 is connected electrically by wire 150 to power supply assembly 151 which is connected to electrical wire 153, which has a hot, a neutral and a ground, which is connected to an electrical supply plug 155 and which is in turn connected to a 120 VAC current supply (not shown). Integrated circuit board 149 contains a microprocessor and MOSFET-type circuitry (not shown but well understood by those skilled in the art) that allows it to process sensor signals and selectively operate and vary the speed of pump motor 129. There is an on-off switch (not shown) connected to the integrated circuit board assembly 149 that energizes the integrated circuit board assembly 149 when turned to its on position. The integrated circuit board assembly 149 also contains a buzzer that when activated alerts the operator that the fluid exchange procedure is completed.
Fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 contains an a supply of fresh fluid 63 and has cover assembly 67 held in place by retainer clips 70 and 71. Cover assembly 67 has cap 69 having vent 51. Fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 has float switch 141 with a pair of leads 143 and which is mounted and fluidly sealed through the lower sidewall. Fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 has supply port 64 that is connected to supply conduit 119. Supply conduit 119 is connected at its other ends to check valve 115 and 117. Port 23 of fluid pump assembly 1 is connected to a left upper conduit 125 and port 25 of fluid pump assembly 1 is connected to a right upper conduit 127. Conduit 125 is connected at its two other ends to check valve 117 and port 100 of priority valve assembly 109. Conduit 127 is connected at its two other ends to check valve 115 and port 102 of priority valve assembly 109. Waste fluid conduit 121 is connected to middle port 108 of priority valve assembly 109 and one end and its other end is arranged and positioned to be able to discharge used fluid 65 into waste receptacle 53.
Port 19 of fluid pump assembly 1 is connected to conduit assembly 233 providing fluid communication to flow switch 137 with a pair of leads 139, check valve 205, and pressure transducer 169 with a pair of leads 171. Conduit assembly 233 is connected at another end to female connector 97 and at another end to valve 145 with a pair of leads 147. Valve 145 is a two position, two-way solenoid operated on/off valve that is configured to be normally open when its solenoid is not energized and creates a bypass connection when energized.
Port 21 of fluid pump assembly 1 is connected to conduit assembly 231 providing fluid communication to flow switch 133 with a pair of leads 135, check valve 206, and pressure transducer 165 with a pair of leads 167. Conduit assembly 231 is connected at another end to female connector 103 and at another end to valve 145.
Integrated circuit board assembly 149 has a female multi-wire socket 157 and a female multi-wire socket 161 to which a male multi-wire plug 159 and a male multi-wire plug 163 connect, one to each respectively. Female multi-wire socket 157 and counterpart male multi-wire plug 159 both are configured for 10 sensor related wires which include pair of leads 139 of flow switch 137, pair of leads 135 of flow switch 133, pair of leads 171 of transducer 169, pair of leads 167 of transducer 165, and pair of leads 143 of float switch 141. Female multi-wire socket 161 and counterpart male multi-wire plug 163 are both configured for four wires related to selectively delivering current which include the pair of leads 147 of valve 145 and the pair of leads 131 of pump 129.
After the fluid exchange device 10 of
Once the engine is started, fluid circulates through fluid exchange device 10 of
Float switch 141, which is a normally closed switch, is kept raised and activated as long as there is at least a minimum volume of fresh fluid 63 in fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55. If the level of fresh fluid 63 drops below a set minimum, float switch 141 opens and stops sending a signal to the integrated circuit board assembly which immediately turns off pump 129 and de-activates the solenoid of valve 145, placing the fluid exchanger in bypass mode of operation. If one of the normally open flow switches, flow switch 133 or 137 become closed by fluid flowing through either of them, that flow switch provides a signal to integrated circuit board assembly 149. Once integrated circuit board assembly 149 received signals from these sensors, it turns on pump motor 129 to spin in the correct direction based on which of the conduit assemblies 231 or 233 are receiving the pressurized fluid from the accessed hydraulic circuit and it energizes the solenoid of valve 145 to remove the bypass connection.
The signal provided by flow switch 133 provides a signal only when there is fluid flow through it, in this case the flow of used fluid 65. Because pressure transducer 167 indicates a higher pressure than pressure transducer 169 and because flow switch 133 was activated, integrated circuit board assembly 149 energizes pump motor 129 to rotate vane holder 5 in a counter-clockwise direction. This result in fresh fluid 63 being pumped from fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 through supply port 64, through supply conduit 119 to pass through check valve 117 while being blocked at check valve 115.
Fresh fluid 63 is pumped through the lower portion of left upper conduit 125, into fluid pump assembly 1 through port 23 and out of fluid pump assembly 1 through port 19, to enter conduit assembly 233 to pass through pressure transducer 169 and check valve 205 and then through female quick connect 97 to be deposited in the return side of the accessed hydraulic circuit.
As vane holder 5 of fluid pump assembly 1 rotates counterclockwise in response to the direction of the flow of used fluid 65 in the accessed hydraulic circuit, the used fluid 65 flowing through conduit assembly 231 flows through port 21 of fluid pump assembly 1 and is pumped through chamber 4 to pass out of fluid pump assembly 1 through port 25. Used fluid 65 then flows into upper right conduit 127, is blocked at check valve 115 and flows into priority valve assembly 109 through port 102, flowing through priority valve assembly 109 and out of middle port 108 through waste fluid conduit 121 and into waste receptacle 53.
The microprocessor contained on the integrated circuit board assembly 149 contains software instructions which keep increasing the rotation speed of pump motor 129 until the approximate difference between the one passing fresh fluid exceeds the one passing used fluid, in this instance that is by a factor of approximately 1.3 to 2.5 (but can be lesser or greater depending on the application but can be programmed to vary by the type of hydraulic circuit having its fluid exchanged). The speed of pump motor 129 is increased until that ratio is reached or until the pump reaches its maximum operating speed. If at any time the flow switch which is passing used fluid stops indicating flow, then the unit automatically reverts back to bypass mode and the current is removed from pump motor 129 which turns it off.
A 50-micron screen (not shown) can be added to the supply port 64 or as a separate easily cleanable unit to the top end of supply conduit assembly 177 or to the top cover assembly 167 of fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55. Of course the specific size of the orifices the screen provides should be matched to the recommendations of the component parts the fresh fluid 63 will be flowing through and any specifications for the hydraulic circuit being serviced. A conduit assembly 192 is connected at one end to boost pump 179, at another end to a checkvalve 178, and at another end to a valve 181. Valve 181 has a set of leads 182 and is a two position, three-way electric solenoid operated valve which has a first or default position when its solenoid coil is un-energized and a second position when its solenoid coil is energized. The first or default position provides a fluid connection between conduit assembly 192 and conduit assembly 174, and the second energized position provides a fluid connection between conduit assembly 192 and conduit assembly 173.
Conduit assembly 173 is connected at one of its other two ends to valve 185 that has a pair of leads 186. Valve 185 is a two position, three-way electric solenoid operated valve which has a first or default position when its solenoid is un-energized. The first or default position provides a connection between conduit assembly 174 and waste fluid conduit 121. The second or energized position provides a connection between used fluid conduit 121 and a conduit assembly 173. Used fluid conduit 121 is arranged and positioned to deliver used fluid 65 into waste receptacle 53. Conduit assembly 173 is connected the one of its two other ends to port 25 of fluid pump assembly 1. Conduit assembly 174 is connected at its other end to port 23 of fluid pump assembly 1.
Conduit assembly 333 and conduit assembly 331 are comprised of flexible hydraulic hose. Conduit assembly 333 is connected to female quick connector 97 and conduit assembly 331 is connected to female quick connector 103. Conduit assembly 333 is connected at one of its other ends to port 19 of pump-mechanism 19 and at its other end to a bypass valve 175 that has a pair of leads 176. Bypass valve 175 is a two-position, two-way, normally-open solenoid operated valve. Conduit assembly 331 is connected at one of its ends to port 21 of fluid pump assembly 1, and has flow switch assembly 187 installed in-line.
The pair of leads 176 of bypass valve 175 are connected into and part of a male electrical plug 206 which is in turn connected into a female electrical plug 207 of integrated circuit board assembly 188. Both male electrical plug 306 and female electrical plug 307 are configured to receive wires connected to each of the electrical leads of valve 181, valve 185, bypass valve 175, and boost pump 179, and to in turn connect them to the various relay components installed on the integrated circuit board assembly 188 to provide current when certain sensor inputs are provided electrically to a male electrical plug 190 which connects to a female electrical plug 189 which is in turn connected to integrated circuit board assembly 188.
Flow switch assembly 187, installed in conduit assembly 331, has a set of four leads 207 which are connected into male electrical plug 190 along with the pair of leads 143 of float switch 144. Flow switch assembly 187 is a bi-directional, bi-indicating flow switch shown schematically in detail in
Referring to
Arrows of
Valve body 196 is fitted with two magnetic switches, a magnetic switch 208 and a magnetic switch 209 which together have a set of four leads 297. Valve slide 194 is fitted with a powerful permanent magnet, a magnet 195, which will trigger either of the magnetic switches 208 or 209 when it is placed in aligned proximity to either one of them. The set of four leads 207 is connected to male electrical switch 190 along with the set of pair of leads 144 of float switch 144.
Integrated circuit board assembly 188 is powered by an 120 volt, AC supply (not shown) via supply cord 153 connected at one end to integrated circuit board assembly 188. Electrical supply cord 153 is comprised of a hot wire, a neutral and a ground wire. Electrical supply cord 153 is connected at its other end to an electrical supply plug 155, which in turn is connected by the fluid exchanger operator to a 120 VAC electrical outlet.
Because left magnetic switch 209 of flow switch assembly 187 can be triggered by magnet 195, a relay circuit on the integrated circuit board assembly 188 closes thereby providing current to bypass valve 175, causing it to close. This results in used fluid 65 to be blocked at bypass valve 175 and to flow into port 21 of fluid pump assembly 1 where it then flows through chamber 4 of fluid pump assembly 1, and delivered through port 25 into conduit assembly 173.
When used fluid 65 flows through flow switch assembly 187, flow switch assembly 187 simultaneously triggers another relay circuit on integrated circuit board assembly 188 which energizes the solenoid of valve 185 to conduct fluid from conduit assembly 173 to waste fluid conduit 121. When energized, flow switch assembly 187 also triggers another relay on integrated simultaneously circuit board assembly 188 to energize the solenoid of valve 181 to conduct fluid from conduit assembly 192 to conduit assembly 173 when flow switch indicates during bypass that used fluid 65 is flowing in the opposite direction through conduit assembly 333. In its non-energized default position valve 185 connects conduit assembly 192 to conduit assembly 174.
During bypass mode, when the accessed hydraulic circuit is operative and pumps used fluid 65 through flow switch assembly 187, a logic circuit of a microprocessor on integrated circuit board assembly 188 (not shown but understood by those skilled in the art) receives a flow direction signal from flow switch assembly 187.
Before the microprocessor will process any signal from a start button to initiate a fluid exchange procedure, float switch 144 and one of the magnetic switches of flow switch assembly 207 must provide proper signals. If switch 144 and a magnetic switch are properly positioned, pressing the start button (not shown) will trigger a logic circuit in the microprocessor. The microprocessor and relays then activate either valve 181 or valve 185, depending on the direction of fluid flow in bypass between conduit assemblies 231 and 233, and also energize the solenoid of bypass valve 175 to close it.
When the start button was is engaged, three events occur. First, the microprocessor activates the solenoid of bypass valve 175 to close it. Second, the microprocessor activates valve 185 to pass used fluid 63 from conduit assembly 173 to waste fluid conduit 121. Third, the microprocessor activates boost pump 181 to pump fresh fluid 63 from supply port 64 of fresh fluid reservoir assembly 55 through supply conduit assembly 177 and into conduit assembly 192.
Check valve 178 will allow fluid to bypass boost pump 179 when it is off or fails to operate, and also blocks fluid from flowing in a bypass back through the valve which would prevent any fresh fluid to be pumped out of supply port 64.
The fresh fluid 63 then flows from conduit assembly 192 through valve 181 and into conduit assembly 174, but not through valve 185 because it is blocked due to valve 185 being energized. Fresh fluid 63 then flows into port 23 of fluid pump assembly 1, through chamber 2 and out of port 19 to flow into and through conduit assembly 333, to flow through female quick connector 97 to be delivered into the return side of the accessed hydraulic circuit.
The exchange of fresh fluid continues until the level of fresh fluid 63 is diminished to open float switch 144, resulting in float switch 144 providing an off signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor then removes electrical current from all valves and the pump, thereby causing the fluid exchange device 10 to return to its bypass mode of operation wherein fluid provided by the accessed hydraulic circuit passes between conduit assemblies 231 and 233 through bypass valve 176 and is blocked at both valve 186 and 181.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
Claims
1. A fluid pump assembly comprising:
- a pump housing;
- a plurality of fluid conduits coupled to the pump housing and directing fluid into or out of the pump assembly;
- a rotatable vane holder held within the pump housing, with a working chamber defined at one side of the vane holder and a pumping chamber defined on another side of the vane holder; and
- a plurality of vanes slidably coupled to the vane holder, said vanes being biased outwardly from a vane holder center to engage a perimeter of the working chamber, and wherein a fluid introduced into the working chamber from one of the plurality of fluid conduits causes the vane holder and plurality of vanes to rotate and provide an expulsion of fluid out of the pumping chamber.
2. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the vane holder includes a pair of generally planar surfaces matched to interior surfaces of the pump housing to seal the pumping chamber from the working chamber.
3. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vanes are biased under a spring force or fluid pressure exerted on an interior surface of the vanes.
4. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of fluid conduits is in fluid communication with a hydraulic system of an automobile and receives used fluid during an exchange procedure.
5. The fluid pump assembly of claim 4 wherein another one of the plurality of fluid conduits is in fluid communication with the hydraulic system and delivers fresh fluid during the exchange procedure.
6. The fluid pump assembly of claim 5 wherein during the exchange procedure, a rate of used fluid flow through said conduit is approximately equal to a rate of fresh fluid flow through said another conduit.
7. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein some of said vanes are biased outwardly from a vane holder center to engage a perimeter of the pumping chamber.
8. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the vane holder is generally cylindrical and wherein the vane holder is fitted into the housing so that portions of the vane holder sufficiently cooperate with portions of the pump housing to substantially seal fluid from flowing from the working chamber into the pumping chamber.
9. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vanes extend outwardly in radial fashion from a vane holder center.
10. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the pump housing defines a generally elliptical cavity for receiving the vane holder.
11. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the working chamber and pumping chamber contain substantially equal volumes of fluid so that during an exchange procedure a used fluid rate is substantially matched to a fresh fluid rate.
12. The fluid pump assembly of claim 1 wherein the vane holder is coupled to a electric motor, said electric motor providing a rotating force during an exchange procedure tending to increase rotation of the vane holder and facilitate a faster fluid exchange.
13. A fluid pump assembly comprising:
- a rotating vane holder held within a pump housing, said vane holder carrying a plurality of vanes which are outwardly biased to engage interior wall surfaces of the pump housing, said plurality of vanes sliding in and out of the vane holder as said vane holder rotates; and
- a working chamber defined on one side of the vane holder, wherein a fluid introduced into the working chamber from a fluid conduit coupled to the pump housing causes rotation of the vane holder and expulsion of the fluid out of the fluid pump assembly.
14. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 further comprising:
- a fresh fluid conduit in fluid communication with the pump housing and receiving a fresh fluid expelled out of a pumping chamber.
15. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the vane holder includes surfaces matched to cooperate with interior surfaces of the pump housing to seal fluid flow from the working chamber into a pumping chamber.
16. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the plurality of vanes are biased under a spring force or fluid pressure exerted on an interior surface of the vanes.
17. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein one of the plurality of fluid conduits is in fluid communication with a hydraulic system of an automobile and receives used fluid during an exchange procedure.
18. The fluid pump assembly of claim 17 wherein another one of the plurality of fluid conduits is in fluid communication with the hydraulic system to deliver fresh fluid to the hydraulic system during the exchange procedure.
19. The fluid pump assembly of claim 18 wherein during the exchange procedure, a rate of used fluid flow through said conduit is approximately equal to a rate of fresh fluid flow through said another conduit.
20. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein some of said vanes are biased outwardly from a vane holder center to engage a perimeter of the pumping chamber.
21. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the vane holder is generally cylindrical and wherein the vane holder is fitted into the housing so that portions of the vane holder sufficiently cooperate with portions of the pump housing to substantially seal fluid from flowing from the working chamber into the pumping chamber.
22. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the plurality of vanes extend outwardly in radial fashion generally from a vane holder center.
23. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the pump housing defines a generally elliptical cavity for receiving the vane holder.
24. The fluid pump assembly of claim 13 wherein the working chamber and pumping chamber contain substantially equal volumes of fluid so that during an exchange procedure a used fluid rate is substantially matched to a fresh fluid rate.
25. A fluid pump assembly comprising:
- a rotating vane holder held within a pump housing, said vane holder carrying a plurality of vanes which are outwardly biased to engage interior wall surfaces of the pump housing, said plurality of vanes sliding in and out of the vane holder as said vane holder rotates;
- a used fluid conduit positioned at one end to a hydraulic system, and during an exchange procedure said used fluid conduit delivers a used fluid from the hydraulic system into the pump housing;
- a fresh fluid conduit positioned at one end to the hydraulic system, and during the exchange procedure said fresh fluid conduit delivers a fresh fluid from the pump housing into the hydraulic system; and
- a working chamber defined on one side of the vane holder, wherein used fluid from the used fluid conduit engages some of the plurality of vanes causing rotation of the vane holder and expulsion of a fresh fluid out of the fluid pump assembly and into said fresh fluid conduit.
26. The fluid pump assembly of claim 25 wherein a pumping chamber and said working chamber are generally equal in volume.
27. The fluid pump assembly of claim 26 wherein the hydraulic system is an automatic transmission or powered steering system of a vehicle.
28. The fluid pump assembly of claim 27 wherein the used fluid conduit receives used transmission fluid pressurized by an automatic transmission pump on the vehicle during a transmission fluid exchange procedure.
29. The fluid pump assembly of claim 27 wherein the used fluid conduit receives used power steering fluid pressurized by a power steering pump on the vehicle during a power steering fluid exchange procedure.
30. The fluid pump assembly of claim 25 wherein said plurality of vanes are biased under a spring force or a fluid force tending to bias said vanes outwardly.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 7, 2007
Publication Date: May 29, 2008
Inventor: James P. Viken (Eden Prairie, MN)
Application Number: 11/936,702
International Classification: F04C 2/00 (20060101);