Total fluid exchange system for automatic transmissions

Abstract

A system for providing total fluid exchange for an automatic transmission which interconnects with the transmission's opened cooling circuit to deliver new, fresh fluid to the transmission while simultaneously extracting the spent, used fluid. The system provides a means of quick and random interconnection to an opened cooling circuit and means of identifying and aligning direction of flow in such cooling circuit. The system can accurately calibrate and regulate the rate that fresh fluid will flow into the transmission to be the same as that at which the used fluid is extracted, both of which are regulated to flow at the same rate that fluid normally circulates at in the cooling circuit when it is closed under similar operating conditions. Quick coupling devices are used for ease and speed of interconnection of the system into operative position, for quick removal of the system and for reconnection of the opened cooling circuit for ease of repeat, periodic servicing by the system as a regular maintenance procedure.

Description

FEDERAL SPONSORSHIPThis invention is not made under any Federally sponsored research or under any other independently sponsored research and development program.FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to vehicular transmission fluid replacement apparatus and more specifically to a system for total fluid exchange in an automatic transmission with a sealed or inaccessible torque convertor which insures that all of the used, spent transmission fluid will be removed and replaced with fresh fluid.OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTIONThe type of operational error in the applicant's first invention where a fluid exchanger can be interconnected in a misaligned fashion cannot occur with the new invention, which was invented to provide a solution to this potentially serious problem. The new apparatus may be randomly interconnected to a cooling circuit without having to identify the direction of flow before making interconnection. This makes the invention especially convenient...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The type of operational error in the applicant's first invention where a fluid exchanger can be interconnected in a misaligned fashion cannot occur with the new invention, which was invented to provide a solution to this potentially serious problem. The new apparatus may be randomly interconnected to a cooling circuit without having to identify the direction of flow before making interconnection. This makes the invention especially convenient to use because it can be quickly connected with no concern for flow direction through the cooling circuit. After it is interconnected the engine can be immediately started to cause the transmission to operate. The invention then immediately indicates the direction of flow and allows the transmission to continue operating, thereby giving the operator an opportunity to calibrate the invention after it has been interconnected while the engine is running, which could not be done with the first invention.

If it is indicated that the invention's internal circuits do not align with the direction of flow in the cooling circuit, this is immediately corrected by a quick reversal of the invention's internal circuits thereby resulting in the correct alignment with the particular direction of fluid flow through the cooling circuit to absolute certainty thus insuring proper transfer of fluid during the exchange process once the invention is activated. After the fluid exchange process has been completed in total, the invention can be inactivated, allowing the transmission to keep operating and circulating its fluid through the cooling circuit that is closed within the invention.

The invention is much easier to calibrate and permits calibration after the invention is interconnected but before the fluid transfer begins. It provides much improved control over flows during operation, preventing any possible starvation conditions which can occur without precision monitoring and control, conditions which can seriously damage the transmission's internal pumping system, bearings and seals. The manner in which obstruction of flow in the cooling circuit or lack of fluid in the transmission pan causes starvation conditions is well known by those skilled in the art.

An important key feature then, of this invention, unobvious to the art which makes it very convenient and worry free to operate, is the capability of the invention to allow the engine to be started immediately after it has been randomly interconnected to the cooling circuit of the transmission, allowing the transmission to operate, thereby pumping fluid in either direction through a closed bypass within the apparatus and back into the transmission just as if the cooling circuit hadn't been opened.

Another important feature of the invention which makes it convenient to use is its capability to be shifted from the inactive-bypass mode with the transmission operating to its activated fluid exchange mode which allows the fluids to be transferred until they have been totally exchanged. When the instrumentation indicates that all the used, dirty fluid has been replaced with clean, fresh fluid, the operator can easily and quickly shift the invention back into the inactive-bypass mode, which again allows the transmission to keep operating and circulating fluid through its cooling circuit.

One of the basic objects of this invention is to provide a total fluid exchange without any disruption of normal flow patterns within the transmission, thus preventing any starvation conditions which can quickly damage the transmission. With the unit as provided herein, such a condition is just about impossible.

Problems solved by technology

With the unit as provided herein, such a condition is just about impossible.

Determining the direction of flow in a cooling circuit before interconnecting the system can be quite difficult to ascertain for certain.