Patent US4597416A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4597416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive air conditioning system flushing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-09-19
•
Granted: 1986-07-01
•
Expires: 2004-09-19
Abstract
Abstract An automotive air conditioning flushing apparatus having a solvent tank separated from a catch basin by means of a pressure tank and multiple position sequencing valve. A handle of the valve rotates through positions which sequentially direct solvent into the pressure tank by gravity feed, then pressurize the solvent from a remote pressure source and cause pressurized fluid to be delivered into an automotive cooling system, then release pressure and dispose of excess cleaning solvent. Lastly, the handle may be rotated to an off position. System components are stacked one above the other on an upright wheeled frame so that the entire apparatus may be easily moved about in an automotive service facility.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank J. Scales
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 22:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P11/00; F01P11/06; B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00507; B60H1/00585; B60S; B60S3/00; F01P2011/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855; Y10T137/6914; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8359; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for pressurized flushing of fluid chambers comprising, a support frame having wheels contacting the ground, a solvent tank connected to the frame, the tank having an inlet and an outlet, with a hose extending downwardly from the outlet, a catch basin mounted on the frame in vertical alignment with said solvent tank, said catch basin having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a pressure tank mounted on the frame in vertical alignment below said solvent tank and above said catch basin, said pressure tank having an input and an output and having sufficient solvent storage capacity for a single flush of said fluid chamber, a pressure gauge mounted to said pressure tank, and a valve associated with the pressure tank, said valve having fluidic connections to said solvent tank outlet hose, to said pressure tank input, to an inlet of said catch basin, and to a means for supplying fluidic pressure, said valve having a rotating handle which, when turned, sequentially admits solvent from the solvent tank to said pressure tank in a first position, then pressurizes said solvent with said fluidic pressure supply means in a second position, then releases pressure by directing pressurized solvent to said catch basin in a third position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
207 words
An apparatus for pressurized flushing of fluid chambers comprising, a support frame having wheels contacting the ground, a solvent tank connected to the frame, the tank having an inlet and an outlet, with a hose extending downwardly from the outlet, a catch basin mounted on the frame in vertical alignment with said solvent tank, said catch basin having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a pressure tank mounted on the frame in vertical alignment below said solvent tank and above said catch basin, said pressure tank having an input and an output and having sufficient solvent storage capacity for a single flush of said fluid chamber, a pressure gauge mounted to said pressure tank, and a valve associated with the pressure tank, said valve having fluidic connections to said solvent tank outlet hose, to said pressure tank input, to an inlet of said catch basin, and to a means for supplying fluidic pressure, said valve having a rotating handle which, when turned, sequentially admits solvent from the solvent tank to said pressure tank in a first position, then pressurizes said solvent with said fluidic pressure supply means in a second position, then releases pressure by directing pressurized solvent to said catch basin in a third position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solvent tank, pressure tank, valve and catch basin are aligned in vertical orientation one above the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solvent tank and said catch basin are transparent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure supply means comprises a hose connected to a remote air pressure supply tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve is a four-position valve, the fourth position being a closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said solvent tank includes a graduated solvent volume measuring scale.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for pressurized flushing of automotive air conditioning systems comprising, an upright hand-truck having an upright frame, wheels connected to the frame for contacting the ground, a low-level support lip projecting from the frame and having a forward edge, the upright frame having a top at approximately chest height on an adult with a handle near the top of the frame, a solvent tank connected to the frame, the tank havng an inlet and an outlet, with a hose extending downwardly from the outlet, a catch basin mounted on the support lip aligned in vertical orientation below said solvent tank and having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a pressure tank mounted on the frame aligned in vertical orientation below said solvent tank and above said catch basin, said pressure tank having an input and an output and having sufficient solvent storing capacity for a single flush of said air conditioning system, a pressure gauge mounted to said pressure tank, and a valve associated with the pressure tank, said valve having fluidic connections to said solvent tank outlet hose, to said pressure tank input, to an inlet of said catch basin, and to a means for supplying fluidic pressure, said valve having a rotating handle which, when turned, sequentially admits solvent from the solvent tank to said pressure tank in a first position, then pressurizes said solvent with said fluidic pressure supply means in a second position, then releases pressure by directing pressurized solvent to said catch basin in a third position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
254 words
An apparatus for pressurized flushing of automotive air conditioning systems comprising, an upright hand-truck having an upright frame, wheels connected to the frame for contacting the ground, a low-level support lip projecting from the frame and having a forward edge, the upright frame having a top at approximately chest height on an adult with a handle near the top of the frame, a solvent tank connected to the frame, the tank havng an inlet and an outlet, with a hose extending downwardly from the outlet, a catch basin mounted on the support lip aligned in vertical orientation below said solvent tank and having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a pressure tank mounted on the frame aligned in vertical orientation below said solvent tank and above said catch basin, said pressure tank having an input and an output and having sufficient solvent storing capacity for a single flush of said air conditioning system, a pressure gauge mounted to said pressure tank, and a valve associated with the pressure tank, said valve having fluidic connections to said solvent tank outlet hose, to said pressure tank input, to an inlet of said catch basin, and to a means for supplying fluidic pressure, said valve having a rotating handle which, when turned, sequentially admits solvent from the solvent tank to said pressure tank in a first position, then pressurizes said solvent with said fluidic pressure supply means in a second position, then releases pressure by directing pressurized solvent to said catch basin in a third position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said solvent tank, pressure tank, valve and catch basin are aligned in vertical orientation in a manner limited in the extent of forward projection to the vicinity of the forward edge of said lip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said frame comprises a braced tubular member connected to said lip and a panel, said panel securing said sovlent tank and said pressure tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said solvent tank and said catch basin are transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said pressure supply means comprises a hose connected to a remote air pressure supply tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said catch basin and solvent tank are rectangular containers and said support lip is rectangular, the areawise dimensions of said support lip generally corresponding the the areawise dimensions of said catch basin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said valve is a four-position valve, the fourth position being a closed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said solvent tank includes a graduated solvent volume measuring scale.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1585025A
Cited
US2029232A
Cited
US2222516A
Cited
US2510701A
Cited
US2835261A
Cited
US3431145A
Cited
US3528854A
Cited
US4127160A
Cited
US4015613A
Cited
US4059123A
Cited
US4109703A
Cited
US4276914A
Cited
US4412551A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-12-30 | 1990-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-30 | 1993-12-30 | 1994-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-30 | 1997-12-30 | 1998-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |