Claims
- 1-23 (canceled)
- 24: A method for exchanging fluid with a vehicle having a steering wheel and a power steering fluid reservoir with an upper fluid level using a fluid servicing apparatus including a cabinet housing a used fluid receptacle coupled to a drain conduit including a drain pump and a first extension terminating in a free end and a fresh fluid source coupled to a supply conduit including a supply pump and a second extension terminating in a free end comprising:
providing a remote pump actuator device coupled to said drain and supply pumps and including at least one switch selectively operable to actuate either of said pumps; placing said free ends of said first and second extensions in said power steering fluid reservoir below said upper fluid level; alternately actuating said drain and supply pump with said switch to repeatedly drain and fill said power steering fluid reservoir while holding said remote actuating device; rotating said steering wheel of said vehicle to a full extent in a first direction and then to a full extent in the opposite direction while holding said remote actuating device; observing a fluid color in said power steering reservoir; and repeating said alternately actuating and rotating steps until a fluid color observed in said observing step is sufficient to indicate a complete power steering fluid exchange.
- 25. The method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising:
providing a drain valve in said drain conduit; providing a supply valve in said supply conduit; opening said drain and supply valves prior to actuating said pumps; and closing said drain and supply valves after exchanging said power steering fluid.
- 26 (canceled)
- 27: A method for exchanging fluid with an automobile having a steering wheel and a power steering fluid reservoir having an upper fluid level, the method comprising:
providing a fluid servicing apparatus including a cabinet housing a used fluid receptacle coupled to a drain conduit including drain pump and a first extension terminating in a free end and a fresh fluid source coupled to a supply conduit including a supply pump and a second extension terminating in a free end; providing a remote pump actuator coupled to said drain and supply pumps and including at least one switch selectively operable to actuate either of said pumps; placing said free ends of said first and second extensions in said power steering fluid reservoir below said upper fluid level; alternately actuating said drain and supply pump with said switch to repeatedly drain and fill said power steering fluid reservoir while holding said remote actuating device; observing a fluid color in said power steering reservoir; and repeating said alternately actuating step until a fluid color observed in said observing step is sufficient to indicate a complete power steering fluid exchange.
- 28: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
rotating said steering wheel of said automobile to a full extent in a first direction at least once and then to a full extent in the opposite direction at least once while holding said remote actuating device.
- 29: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a control board on said cabinet and operably coupled to said pumps; and coupling said remote pump actuator to said control board to electrically couple said switch to said pumps.
- 30: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a drain valve in said first extension selectively operable to open and close said drain conduit; and opening said drain valve prior to actuating said drain pump.
- 31: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a supply valve in said second extension selectively operable to open and close said supply conduit; and opening said supply valve prior to actuating said supply pump.
- 32: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a drain valve in said first extension selectively operable to open and close said drain conduit; providing a supply valve in said second extension selectively operable to open and close said drain conduit: opening said drain and supply valves prior to actuating said drain and supply pumps.
- 33: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a drain filter in fluid communication with said drain conduit upstream of said drain pump.
- 34: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a supply filter in fluid communication with said supply conduit upstream of said supply pump.
- 35: The method for exchanging fluid set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
magnetically coupling a removable pendant clamp to a docking region of said cabinet; removably securing said remote pump actuator to said removable pendant clamp when not in use; and removably securing at least a portion of said drain and supply conduits in said removable pendant clamp when said remote pump actuator is in use.
- 36: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing first and second extensions that are transparent.
- 37: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a control board with a docking region on said cabinet and including a removable pendant clamp having a holder for removably restraining a portion of both conduits when said remote pump actuator is being held.
- 38: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a first opening in said used fluid receptacle couplable to an end of said drain conduit opposing said free end and a second opening in said used fluid receptacle couplable to an alternative drain source.
- 39: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 27 further comprising:
providing a control board on said cabinet including a mode switch operatively coupled to said pumps and selectively operable between a first mode for activating said remote pump actuator and a second mode for de-activating said remote pump actuator; and selecting said first mode prior to operating said pump switch on said remote pump actuator.
- 40: A method for exchanging fluid with an automobile power steering fluid reservoir having an upper fluid level, the method comprising:
providing a used fluid receptacle and a fresh fluid source in a portable wheeled cabinet; coupling a first end of a drain conduit to said used fluid receptacle, said drain conduit including a drain pump and a first extension terminating in a free opposing end; coupling a first end of a supply conduit to said fresh fluid source, said supply conduit including a supply pump and a second extension terminating in a free opposing end; providing a remote pump actuating means coupled to said drain and supply pumps and including selection means for operably actuating either of said pumps; placing said free ends of said first and second extensions in said power steering fluid reservoir below said upper fluid level; alternately actuating said drain and supply pump with said selection means to repeatedly drain and fill said power steering fluid reservoir in increments while holding said remote pump actuating means; and repeating said alternately actuating step to complete power steering fluid exchange.
- 41: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 40 further comprising:
providing a first flow control means in said drain conduit for opening and closing said drain conduit; and opening said drain conduit with said first flow control means prior to actuating said drain pump.
- 42: The method for exchanging fluid as set forth in claim 40 further comprising:
providing a second flow control means in said supply conduit for opening and closing said supply conduit; and opening said supply conduit with said second flow control means prior to actuating said supply pump.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of provisional application number 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 |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10280855 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10824820 |
Apr 2004 |
US |