Power plants – Pressure fluid source and motor – Pulsator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-07
2001-04-10
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Power plants
Pressure fluid source and motor
Pulsator
C060S592000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hydraulic control apparatus in general and more specifically to a hydraulic control apparatus comprising a hydraulic master cylinder and a hydraulic slave cylinder for operating a mechanism remotely located from the master cylinder such for example as the clutch of a motor vehicle.
It is known to prefill with hydraulic fluid a motor vehicle clutch control apparatus comprising a master cylinder, a reservoir of hydraulic fluid, and a slave cylinder for operating the throw-out bearing of a mechanical diaphragm spring clutch, as disclosed in British patent number 1,539,879 and in corresponding U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,407,125 and 4,599,860 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,503,678, 4,516,507, 4,585,106, 4,585,107, 4,585,108 and 4,585,109, all assigned to the assignee of the present invention, also disclose diverse forms of prefilled hydraulic control apparatus for motor vehicle clutches.
Prefilling with hydraulic fluid and pretesting hydraulic apparatus for operating motor vehicle mechanisms such as mechanical clutches present the many advantages for the motor vehicle manufacturer of receiving a fully assembled mechanism comprising all of the components filled with hydraulic fluid and pretested for proper operation ready to install on a motor vehicle on the assembly line without requiring that the components be installed, separately connected by way of a rigid or flexible conduits, and filled after installation with hydraulic fluid while being purged of any atmospheric air contained in the apparatus.
To simplify the installation of a hydraulic control apparatus in a motor vehicle, and particularly in situations where the apparatus employs a concentric slave cylinder as the clutch actuating device, it is known to provide the control apparatus with a one way quick connect coupling or connector either at some point along the flexible conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder or at the end of the conduit connected to the master cylinder or at the end of the conduit connected to the slave cylinder. The one-way quick connect coupling is arranged such that after the hydraulic control apparatus has been assembled, prefilled with hydraulic fluid, and pretested, the connection between the master cylinder and slave cylinder may be broken without loss of fluid, or negligible loss of fluid. The apparatus may thus be shipped to the motor vehicle manufacturer completely filled with hydraulic fluid but in two separate modules such that the concentric slave cylinder may be made a part of the clutch bell housing, or of the transmission casing. This allows the slave cylinder clutch bell housing assembly, or the slave cylinder transmission casing assembly, to be installed in the motor vehicle at whatever station on the assembly line that the clutch or transmission is installed and the master cylinder may be installed in the motor vehicle also at whatever appropriate station and the two cylinders connected together without any loss or negligible loss of fluid and without introduction of air into the apparatus. Whereas module systems of this type have proven to be generally satisfactory, there is still a need to provide a bleed system in the apparatus to facilitate initial filling of the apparatus and/or to facilitate field maintenance and, specifically, field maintenance where it is necessary to bleed the system and refill the system. Whereas the prior art control apparatus have typically included a bleed system in the apparatus, for example in association with the slave cylinder, the prior art bleed systems have complicated the structure of the apparatus and have added to the cost of the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the provision of improved hydraulic control apparatus for a motor vehicle clutch.
More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of a hydraulic clutch control apparatus of the modular type incorporating a simplified and improved arrangement for bleeding and filling the system.
The hydraulic control system of the invention is of the type including a master cylinder having an outlet, a slave cylinder having an inlet; a bleed system to facilitate bleeding and filling of the control system; and a conduit assembly interconnecting the outlet of the master cylinder and the inlet of the slave cylinder and including a quick connect coupling including a male coupler member and a female coupler member. Each of the coupler members defines a hydraulic fluid passage and each includes a valve mechanism positioned in the respective fluid passage, means normally maintaining the respective valve mechanism in a closed position closing the respective passage, and means operative in response to coupling of the male and female members to move the valve mechanism to an open position allowing passage of hydraulic fluid through the conduit assembly from the master cylinder outlet to the slave cylinder inlet.
According to the invention, the bleed system includes means defining a bleed passage in one of the quick connect coupler members communicating at one end thereof with the hydraulic fluid passage in the coupler member and at its other end with atmosphere. This arrangement incorporates the bleed system into one of the coupler members of the quick connect coupler to simplify and reduce the cost of the hydraulic control system while yet retaining an effective bleed system for the system.
According to a further feature of the invention, the fluid passage in each coupler member extends through the respective coupler member from the passage inlet to a passage outlet; the conduit assembly includes conduit means extending from the outlet of the master cylinder to the inlet of the fluid passage in the first coupler member and further conduit means extending from the outlet of the fluid passage in the second coupler member to the input of the slave cylinder; the valve mechanism in the first coupler member is positioned in the respective fluid passage adjacent the passage outlet; the valve mechanism in the second coupling member is positioned in the respective fluid passage adjacent the passage inlet; and the bleed passage opens in the respective fluid passage at a location between the inlet and outlet of the fluid passage. This specific inter-relationship between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid passage and the bleed passage contributes importantly to the efficient operation of the bleed system.
According to a further feature of the invention, the means defining the bleed passage includes a threaded bleed bore in the coupler member and a bleed screw threadably positioned in the threaded bore and moveable in an unscrewing manner from a closed position closing the bleed passage to an open position opening the bleed passage. This specific bleed system construction facilitates the ready and efficient operation of the bleed system to facilitate bleeding and refilling of the system.
In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the bleed system is provided in the female coupler member, although the invention envisions that the bleed system could also be provided in the male coupler member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4240466 (1980-12-01), Herzan et al.
patent: 4454632 (1984-06-01), Nix et al.
patent: 4585106 (1986-04-01), Shirley
patent: 4609087 (1986-09-01), Shirley
patent: 4687084 (1987-08-01), Leigh-Monstevens et al.
patent: 4869292 (1989-09-01), Sulwer
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patent: 4936345 (1990-06-01), Nix
patent: 4949827 (1990-08-01), Leigh-Monstevens et al.
patent: 5083433 (1992-01-01), Leigh-Monstevens
patent: 5289850 (1994-03-01), Sarson et al.
patent: 5293902 (1994-03-01), Lapierie
patent: 5853071 (1998-12-01), Robinson
patent: 4418553 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 19626016 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 2 280 491 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 2 293 423 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 2 329 945 (1999-04-01), None
Two photocopies showing prior art female connector with integral bleed, manufactured by FTE Gmbh, Germany.
Loring Scott Lee
Nix Richard A.
Peterson David C.
Automotive Products (USA) Inc.
Lazo Thomas E.
Look Edward K.
Young & Basile P.C.
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