Claims
- 1-50 (canceled)
- 51. An apparatus for servicing an automobile fluid containing subsystem having a fluid reservoir with a subsystem pump and an inlet port and an outlet port, said apparatus comprising:
a manifold block including a network of interconnecting channels defining a first manifold port being adaptable to couple with said inlet port, a second manifold port being adaptable to couple with said outlet port, a fresh fluid manifold port, a used fluid manifold port, and a fluid transfer circuit therebetween; a first valve removably secured to said manifold block and having a valve inlet port in communication with said second manifold port and a valve outlet port in communication with said first manifold port and said used fluid manifold port, said first valve being selectively operable to place said second manifold port in communication with either said first manifold port or said used fluid manifold port; a fresh fluid source coupled to said fresh fluid manifold port; a common pump interposed between said fluid manifold ports and said first manifold port for pumping a fluid from either of said fluid manifold ports to said first manifold port; a second valve removably secured to said manifold block and having a valve outlet port in communication with said common pump and a valve inlet port in communication with said used fluid manifold port and said fresh fluid manifold port, said second valve being selectively operable to place said used fluid manifold port or said fresh fluid manifold port in communication with said first manifold port; and whereby, upon coupling said first manifold port to said inlet port and said second manifold port to said outlet port, said subsystem pump may be activated and said common pump may be selectively operated to direct at least one fluid through said fluid transfer circuit as determined by the selective operation of at least one of said valves.
- 52. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said common pump is disposed in said fluid transfer circuit between said second valve outlet port and said first manifold port.
- 53. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said block includes orthogonally adjacent outer surfaces and said channels are formed at right angles to one another.
- 54. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said first valve includes a single inlet in communication with said second manifold port, a first outlet in communication with said used fluid manifold port, and a second outlet in communication with said first manifold port.
- 55. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said second valve includes a single outlet in communication with said common pump, a first inlet in communication with said used fluid manifold port, and a second inlet in communication with said fresh fluid manifold port.
- 56. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said ports face outwardly from the outer surface of said manifold block.
- 57. An apparatus as set forth in claim 55 wherein:
said manifold block further includes a suction port in communication with said outlet of said second valve and a pressure port in communication with said first manifold port; said pump includes a vacuum side inlet and a pressure side outlet and a first conduit coupled to said vacuum side inlet and said suction port and a second a conduit coupled to said pressure side outlet and said pressure port.
- 58. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
each said port includes a connector constructed to releasably couple to an end of a conduit.
- 59. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said manifold block includes a first filter port in said fluid transfer circuit between said second manifold port and said first valve and removably receiving a first filter operable to filter fluid entering said second manifold port.
- 60. An apparatus as set forth in claim 59 wherein:
said manifold block includes a second filter port in said fluid transfer circuit between said common pump and said first manifold port and removably receiving a second filter operable to filter fluid exiting said pump.
- 61. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 further including:
a flow correction valve secured to said manifold and in communication with said first and second manifold ports, said flow correction valve being manually operable to select one of said manifold ports to receive an incoming fluid and select the other of said manifold ports to receive an outgoing fluid.
- 62. An apparatus as set forth in claim 61 further including:
a pressure switch responsive to a fluid pressure in said fluid transfer circuit leading to said first manifold port and operable to, upon coupling said first manifold port to said inlet port and coupling said second manifold port to said outlet port and activating said subsystem pump, generate a signal indicating an improper coupling of said first and second manifold ports.
- 63. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said block is approximately 54 cubic inches.
- 64. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said fluid transfer circuit in said manifold block is formed by boring three horizontal channels on one side of said block, four intersecting horizontal channels in another surface of said block, four intersecting vertical channels in a top surface of said block, and two intersecting vertical channels in a bottom surface of said block.
- 65. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 further including:
a controller in electrical communication with said pump, said first valve, and said second valve, said controller being operable to selectively actuate said first and second valves from a first position to a second position, and activate and deactivate said pump for controlling a fluid flow rate of a fluid entering and exiting said manifold block.
- 66. An apparatus as set forth in claim 65 further including:
a used fluid receptacle coupled to said used fluid manifold port; a first fluid level sensor in said used fluid receptacle in electrical communication with said controller and operable to generate a used fluid level signal; a second fluid level sensor in said fresh fluid source in electrical communication with said controller an operable to generate a fresh fluid level signal; and said controller being responsive to said fluid level signals from said sensors while actuating said first and second valves and said pump.
- 67. An apparatus as set forth in claim 51 wherein:
said first and second valves are two-position, three-way valves.
- 68. An apparatus as set forth in claim 65 wherein:
said controller is programmed to alternate actuating said pump and at least one of said valves.
- 69. An apparatus for servicing an automobile fluid containing subsystem having a fluid reservoir with a subsystem pump and an inlet port and an outlet port, said apparatus comprising:
a manifold block body defining an internal fluid transfer circuit with a supply path between a fresh fluid manifold port and a first manifold port, a drain path between a second manifold port and a used fluid manifold port, a bypass path between said first and second manifold ports, and a dump path between said used fluid manifold port and said first manifold port, said block body further including a suction port, a pressure port, a first valve aperture, and a second valve aperture; a tandem valving element including a first valve received in said first valve aperture and interrupting said drain and bypass paths, and a second valve received in said second valve aperture and interrupting said supply and dump paths, said first valve being selectively operable to place said second manifold port in communication with either said first manifold port or said used fluid manifold port, and said second valve being selectively operable to place said used fluid manifold port or said fresh fluid manifold port in communication with said suction port; a fresh fluid source coupled to said fresh fluid manifold port; a used fluid collection receptacle coupled to said used fluid manifold port; a common pump interposed between said suction port and said pressure port and cooperating with said second valve to direct a fluid from either of said fluid manifold ports to said first manifold port; whereby, upon coupling said first manifold port to said inlet port and said second manifold port to said outlet port, said subsystem pump may be activated and said common pump may be selectively operated to direct at least one fluid through said fluid transfer circuit as determined by the selective operation of said tandem valving element.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of provisional application No. 60/350,157, entitled Remotely Operated Vehicle Fluid Exchange System, filed on Oct. 29, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60350157 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10280260 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10828136 |
Apr 2004 |
US |