Lubrication – Automobile crank and gear case service
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-06-12
Fenstermacher, David (Department: 3682)
Lubrication
Automobile crank and gear case service
C184S106000, C141S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244384
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fluid exchangers for exchanging transmission fluid in an automatic transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has long been recognized that the transmission fluid in automatic transmissions should be exchanged periodically to remove impurities and provide new clean effective transmission fluid. Many efforts have been made to provide a satisfactory device to achieve this function in an efficient and convenient manner.
It has been recognized that benefit may be taken of the transmission pump itself to pump used fluid from the transmission to a used fluid tank while simultaneously pumping new fluid into the transmission upstream of the transmission pump. Typically, some automobile transmissions incorporate a bypass which protects the transmission from overpressurization. This bypass may be effective to relieve pressure in the event the pump pumping used fluid in should overpressurize the transmission. However, not all transmissions incorporate this internal bypass arrangement and there exists a risk of overpressurizing the transmission.
One effort to solve the fluid exchange problem led to the development of a fluid exchanger mounted on a small cart and having inlet and outlet control valves for controlling the rate at which fluid is pumped into the transmission. Such exchangers typically employ rather elaborate plumbing which may allow for pressure relief in the event a certain pressure is exceeded. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,160 to Parker and assigned to the assignee of the instant application. Such devices, while having enjoyed substantial commercial success, are relatively expensive to manufacture and are somewhat bulky to store and use.
Other efforts have led to the proposal of a small hand held exchanger including fluid pumps and valves for controlling flow to and from the automatic transmission. A device of this type is shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,357 and assigned to the owner of the assignee of the instant application. While providing significant benefits, such devices suffer the shortcoming that there is no provision to prevent overpressurization of the transmission.
Other efforts have been made to sense transmission pressures and equalize such pressures to avoid overpressurization. One such device incorporates a rather elaborate pre-exchange adapter purportedly used for sensing the pressure in the transmission. Efforts have then been made to balance the inlet and outlet pressures from such transmission across a diaphragm or piston. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,064 to Viken. While offering some benefits, such devices still suffer the shortcoming that use thereof is relatively time consuming and the systems involve the risk that diaphragm or piston, under high pressure, may result in damage and substantial spillage.
Thus, there exists a need for a transmission fluid exchanger which eliminates the expense of incorporating a fluid pump and which protects the transmission against overpressurization. Other benefits could be derived from providing for a single hook up which would allow for sensing of the transmission pressure by a single gauge which could also be used for sensing the pressure differential during the exchange procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form, the automatic transmission fluid exchanger of the present invention is characterized by a housing having a new fluid passage to be connected to the outlet of an on-demand meter gun suspended from a fluid dispenser reel. The exchanger includes a used fluid passage therein and connected by a return passage for return of used transmission fluid in the event a certain pressure is exceeded. A pressure sensing gauge may be provided for first sensing the operating pressure of the transmission and then sensing pressure differentials during operation of the system.
In another form, the automatic transmission fluid exchanger of the present invention includes a sensor passage connected between the new and used fluid passages and including a pair of spaced apart valve seats therein, a poppet being floatably received between such seats so that it can be pressurized from one seat to the other as the pressure differential builds up thereacross from one side to the other. A pressure gauge may be mounted on such housing in fluid communication with the valve chamber to sense pressure therein.
In the method of the present invention, the exchanger can be coupled with an on-demand automatic transmission fluid supply system including a conventional dispenser gun having a dispenser meter built in. The gun may be coupled with the exchanger and the gun valve handle strapped in position to hold the gun open so that the flow control valves in the exchanger can be utilized to control the inlet and outlet flow rates.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1655939 (1928-01-01), Copeland
patent: 1815221 (1931-07-01), Sweetland
patent: 1829173 (1931-10-01), Wertz
patent: 1884820 (1932-10-01), Osborne
patent: 1971555 (1934-08-01), Fox
patent: 2320048 (1943-05-01), Parson
patent: 2499705 (1950-03-01), Vokes
patent: 2499909 (1950-03-01), Fox
patent: 3216527 (1965-11-01), Lewis
patent: 3447636 (1969-06-01), Bonfilio
patent: 3513941 (1970-05-01), Becnel
patent: 3692212 (1972-09-01), Irie et al.
patent: 3720287 (1973-03-01), Martel
patent: 3797703 (1974-03-01), Yamawaki et al.
patent: 3867999 (1975-02-01), Cox
patent: 4095672 (1978-06-01), Senese
patent: 4095673 (1978-06-01), Takeuchi
patent: 4128140 (1978-12-01), Riches
patent: 4138042 (1979-02-01), Okada
patent: 4595122 (1986-06-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 4674456 (1987-06-01), Merritt
patent: 4719991 (1988-01-01), Diehn et al.
patent: 4745989 (1988-05-01), DiMatteo
patent: 4807674 (1989-02-01), Sweet
patent: 4869346 (1989-09-01), Nelson
patent: 4938315 (1990-07-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 4951784 (1990-08-01), Bedi
patent: 4998437 (1991-03-01), Magoolaghan
patent: 5056621 (1991-10-01), Trevino
patent: 5062398 (1991-11-01), Bedi et al.
patent: 5062500 (1991-11-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5090458 (1992-02-01), Creeron
patent: 5092429 (1992-03-01), Linares et al.
patent: 5148785 (1992-09-01), Sendak
patent: 5289837 (1994-03-01), Betancourt
patent: 5291968 (1994-03-01), Brown
patent: 5318080 (1994-06-01), Viken
patent: 5337708 (1994-08-01), Chen
patent: 5370160 (1994-12-01), Parker
patent: 5372219 (1994-12-01), Peralta
patent: 5390762 (1995-02-01), Nelson
patent: 5415247 (1995-05-01), Knorr
patent: 5427202 (1995-06-01), Behring et al.
patent: 5429159 (1995-07-01), Tees et al.
patent: 5447184 (1995-09-01), Betancourt
patent: 5472064 (1995-12-01), Viken
patent: 5522474 (1996-06-01), Burman
patent: 5535849 (1996-07-01), Few
patent: 5626170 (1997-05-01), Parker
patent: 5743357 (1998-04-01), Few
patent: 61-79099 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 63-222800 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 116499 (1992-01-01), None
Document relating to Tatsuno ATF Changer (no date).
Set of instructions purportedly utilized by employees of Grease Monkey of Denver, Colorado (no date).
Brochure from Engine Solution (no date).
Documents relating to Powerclean 2000 (no date).
Promotional literature for Automa Fluid Changer ATF AFC-6000M and a Japan Translation thereof, not dated.
Promotional literature and Chinese translation thereof, Automobile Buying Guide, Dec. 1993 and depicting oil changing equipment.
Promotional literature and Chinese translation thereof, Automobile Buying Guide, Oct. 1990 mentioning ATF oil changing machine.
Taiwan Automobile Repair Industries Association Journal and Chinese translation thereof, 1991, discussing oil changing devices.
Promotional literature for ORBIS ATF QU-46S and Japanese translation thereof, not dated.
Promotional literature for the ATF Circulation/Compression Two Directional Automatic Transmission Changer and Chinese translation thereof, WH-102, WH-202 devices.
Advertising from Car Purchasing Month, Jul. 1994, and translation thereof, relating to ATF oil changing.
Advertisement appearing in Dec. 1993 of Car Purchasing Monthly and translation thereof, Good Work and Goo
Fenstermacher David
Flo-Dynamics, Inc. LLC
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht LLP
LandOfFree
Transmission fluid exchanger does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Transmission fluid exchanger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Transmission fluid exchanger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2476339