JP3012176B2 - Method and apparatus for replacing automotive coolant - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for changing a coolant for cooling an engine filled in a radiator of a motor vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coolant for cooling an engine filled in a radiator of a motor vehicle becomes dirty or deteriorated when used for a long period of time.
Conventionally, in order to replace this type of coolant, the drain cock provided at the bottom of the radiator and the liquid supply port provided at the top of the radiator are opened, and after draining the old coolant from the drain cock, A method has been adopted in which the drain cock is closed and new coolant is filled from the liquid supply port.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, the coolant filled in the cooling holes, the cooling chambers and the like in the engine block cannot be replaced. That is, the radiator and the engine block are connected by upper and lower circulation hoses, and the coolant circulates through these hoses, so that the cooling holes and the cooling chambers of the engine block are always filled with the coolant. It is in a state where
The lower hose is equipped with a thermo valve that opens at about 70 to 80 ° C and is normally closed. Therefore, even if the radiator drain cock is opened as described above, the drain cock in the engine block The coolant could not be drained.

In addition, the amount of coolant in the engine block is about 25% of the total amount of coolant in the radiator, and is about three times as much as about 75%. Otherwise, the effect of adding new coolant into the radiator would be diminished. In addition, in the cooling holes and cooling chambers of the engine block, air is likely to accumulate due to the filling of the coolant due to its structure, which has caused an abnormal noise during operation. Such air could not be extracted.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to surely exchange not only the coolant in the radiator but also the coolant in the engine block with a new liquid, and to perform air bleeding at the same time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for changing coolant.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, a coolant replacement method according to the present invention comprises connecting an old liquid recovery hose to a drain cock at the bottom of a radiator, opening a liquid supply port at an upper part of the radiator, A step of collecting the old coolant by suction through the old liquid collecting hose; a step of closing the drain cock and fluid-tightly connecting the new liquid press-in hose and the return hose to the liquid supply port; A step of alternately repeating a plurality of times a step of press-fitting a coolant from the liquid supply port with a required pressure and a step of sucking coolant and air from the liquid supply port through the return hose; Removing the hose and closing the liquid supply port.

Further, the replacement device of the present invention is an old liquid collecting hose for collecting an old coolant, which is freely connectable to a drain cock at the bottom of the radiator; a new coolant, which is freely connectable to a liquid supply port above the radiator, is press-fitted. New liquid press-fitting hose for connecting to the liquid supply port above the radiator, a return hose for sucking coolant and air; for connecting the new liquid press-fitting hose and return hose to the liquid supply port at the same time Adapter; a recovery pump that recovers old coolant by suction through the old liquid recovery hose;
A supply pump for press-fitting new coolant and sucking coolant and air through the new liquid press-fit hose and return hose; a motor for driving the recovery pump and supply pump; a supply for the new liquid press-fit hose and return hose A switching valve for switching the connection with the supply pump; and a control device for controlling the switching valve so that the new liquid injection hose and the return hose are alternately connected to the supply pump.

The exchange device of the present invention has a drainage checker in the middle of a pipe for collecting old coolant, and a drainage checker for visually observing the circulation state of the collected coolant. Has a pressure feed checker that can visually check the distribution status of the coolant, and
It is desirable to have a return checker in the middle of the pipeline for sucking the coolant and air, which can visually check the flow of the sucked coolant and air. Further, the adapter connects a hook for engaging and disengaging the base portion with the rim of the supply port, the new liquid press-fitting hose, and the return hose to a cap-shaped base portion covering the liquid supply port of the radiator. It is desirable to provide two connection ports for the above and a seal member that is in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface of the liquid supply port.

According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the recovery pump, the supply pump, the switching valve, the motor, and the control device are housed in a cabinet movable by casters, and the cabinet is mounted on the cabinet. Outside, a connection port for detachably connecting the new liquid press-in hose, the return hose, and the old liquid collection hose is provided, and the drain checker, the pressure feed checker, and the return checker are provided to be visible from the outside, Inside the cabinet, a drain tank for storing the collected old coolant and a new tank filled with new coolant are stored.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a coolant exchange device 1 which includes an old liquid recovery hose 2 for collecting old coolant, which is freely connectable to a drain cock 51 at the bottom of a radiator 50 (see FIG. 6). A new liquid press-fit hose 3 for press-fitting new coolant, and a return hose 4 for sucking coolant and air, which are freely connectable to a liquid supply port 52 (see FIG. 7) on the upper part of the radiator 50; The new liquid press-in hose 3 and the return hose 4 are connected to the liquid supply port 52 by an adapter 5 at the same time.

The old liquid recovery hose 2 is connected to a primary side of a recovery pump 10 through a recovery pipe 7a via a filter 8 for filtering the recovered coolant and a drainage checker 9 for visually checking the recovery status of the coolant. A secondary side of the recovery pump 10 is connected to a drainage tank 11 by a recovery pipe 7b.
Is led to. In addition, the new liquid press-fitting hose 3 is provided with a press-feeding checker 14 for visually checking the flow of the coolant to be pumped through the press-fitting pipe 13a, and the flow of the coolant 3.
The first side of the supply pump 16 is connected to the secondary side of the supply pump 16 via a first switching valve 15 which can be switched in the direction. It is led to the tank 18.

Further, the return hose 4 is provided with a return checker 21 for visually checking the flow of the coolant and the air sucked by the return pipe 20a, and a third switching valve for switching the flow of the coolant and the air in three directions. 22 is connected to the primary side of the supply pump 16.

The first switching valve 15 and the third switching valve 22
Are the first ports 15a and 22a and the second port 1 respectively.
5b and 22b correspond to the press-fitting pipe 13a and the return pipe 20.
a and the remaining third ports 15c and 22c
Are both guided to the new liquid tank 18 by the return pipe 20b.

The first to third switching valves 15, 17, 22
Are automatically switched at a set time interval by the control device 24 having a timer function. That is, when the new coolant is press-fitted into the radiator 50 through the new fluid press-fit hose 3, the first port 15a of the first switching valve 15
Communicates with the second port 15b, the third port 15c is shut off, the second switching valve 17 becomes conductive, and the ports 22a, 22b, 22c of the third switching valve 22 are further connected.
Is shut off and the return hose 4 is disconnected from the supply pump 16. When the coolant and the air are sucked from the radiator 50 through the return hose 4, the first port 15a and the third port 1 of the first switching valve 15 are used.
5c, the second port 15b is shut off, the second switching valve 17 is shut off, and the third switching valve 22 communicates with the first port 22a and the second port 22b. The return hose 4 is controlled so as to communicate with the supply pump 16.

The recovery pump 10 and the supply pump 16 are connected to a single electric motor 25, and are always rotated during the operation of the exchange device 1. By connecting the motor 25 to the motor 25 or by connecting to an individual motor, the motor 25 can be rotated only when necessary.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adapter 5 has a cap-shaped base portion 30 covering a liquid supply port 52 of a radiator 50 and a flange portion at an edge of the supply port. , Two connection ports 32, 33 for connecting the new liquid press-fit hose 3 and the return hose 4, and a seal that abuts the inner surface of the liquid supply port 52 in a fluid-tight manner. This is a configuration including a member 34. The adapter 5 has a size corresponding to the type of the vehicle, and is selectively used.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the recovery pump 10, the supply pump 16, and the switching valves 15, 17, 2
The motor 2 and the motor 25 are housed in a cabinet 37 movable by casters 36, and the new liquid press-in hose 3, the return hose 4, and the old liquid recovery hose 2 are detachably mounted on the outer surface of the cabinet 37. Connection ports 2a, 3a, and 4a for connection are provided. The drainage checker 9 is provided on the front of the cabinet 37.
And the pressure feed checker 14 and the return checker 21 are provided so as to be visible from the outside, and the control device 24, the power switch 40 and the power lamp 4 in the power supply device of FIG.
1, an operation lamp 42, a pressure feeding lamp 43, a return lamp 44, a pressure feeding switch 45, and the like are provided.
Further, the lower half of the cabinet 37 is openable and closable by a door 46, in which the drainage tank 11 and the new liquid tank 18 are accommodated. Reference numeral 47 in FIG.
Is a strainer attached to the side surface of the cabinet 37, in which adapters 5 of various sizes are put.

Next, a method for replacing the coolant using the coolant replacement device 1 having the above configuration will be described.
First, before replacing the coolant, the new liquid tank 18
Fill the required amount of coolant adjusted to the specified concentration. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the old liquid recovery hose 2 is connected to the drain cock 51 at the bottom of the radiator 50, the drain cock 51 is opened, and the cap of the liquid supply port 52 at the top of the radiator 50 is removed.

When the power switch 40 is turned on, the motor 25 is started to operate the recovery pump 10 and the supply pump 16, and the old pump collects old coolant from the radiator 50 through the old liquid recovery hose 2. It is sucked and collected in the drainage tank 11. At this time, the operation lamp 42 is turned on, and the switching valves 15, 17, 2
2 remains closed. The collected old coolant can be visually observed through the drainage checker 9. When it is confirmed that only the air is sucked by the drainage checker 9, the drain cock 51 is closed and the old liquid recovery hose 2 is removed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, an adapter 5 suitable for the type of the vehicle is selected, and a liquid supply port 52 above the radiator 50 is selected.
And the new liquid press-fit hose 3 and the return hose 4 are connected to the adapter 5. Then, after setting the timer of the control device 24 to 2 to 3 minutes, when the pressure feed switch 45 is turned on, the press-in process of the new coolant and the suction process of the coolant and the air are alternately performed at the above time intervals. Will be

That is, first, the first port 15a and the second port 15b of the first switching valve 15
c is shut off, the second switching valve 17 is turned on, and new coolant in the new liquid tank 18 is supplied by the supply pump 16 through the new liquid press-in hose 3 to the radiator 5.
It is press-fitted with a required pressure to zero. The coolant to be pumped can be visually observed by the pump checker 14. At this time, the pressure feeding lamp 43 is turned on.

When the set time elapses, the first port 15a and the third port 15c of the first switching valve 15 communicate with each other, the second port 15b is cut off, and the second port 15b is cut off.
The switching valve 17 is shut off, the pressure feeding lamp 43 is also turned off, and at the same time, the first port 22a and the second port 22b of the third switching valve 22 communicate with each other. As a result, the new liquid injection hose 3 is disconnected from the supply pump 16, the return hose 4 is connected, and the coolant and air are sucked from the radiator 50 through the return hose 4. The sucked coolant and air are collected from the third port 15c of the first switching valve 15 to the new liquid tank 18 through the return pipe 20b, and the state of the collection can be visually observed by the return checker 21. At this time, the return lamp 44 is on. In the figure, reference numeral 55 denotes a thermostat.

The inside of the radiator 50, the engine block 53, and the hose 54 connecting them are brought into a vacuum state by the suction action of the coolant and the air. It is possible to reliably fill up to.

When the press-fitting step and the suctioning step are repeated a plurality of times, the radiator 50, the engine block 53, and the hose 54 are filled with fresh coolant, and no air is present. This can be confirmed from the fact that air is no longer sucked in the return checker 21 during the suction step. Therefore, at the time when the press-fitting step is being performed, the pressure feed switch 45 is turned off, and after a few seconds, the new liquid press-fitting hose 3 and the return hose 4 are detached from the adapter 5, and the adapter 5 is detached from the liquid supply port 52. The replacement operation is completed by closing the liquid supply port 52 with the cap.

If the amount of the coolant is small, the necessary amount is replenished from the new liquid injection hose 3. Also, the old coolant in the radiator auxiliary tank can be sucked and collected by the old liquid collecting hose 2, and the new coolant can be filled with the new liquid press-fitting hose 3.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the old coolant inside the radiator and the engine block is almost completely replaced with the new coolant by performing the replacement work while repeatedly inserting and sucking the coolant. In addition, since the air bleeding can be performed at the same time, the disadvantage that the air stays in the engine block to generate an abnormal sound can be surely solved.
Also, simply connect the old liquid collection hose, new liquid press-fitting hose, and return hose to the drain cock and liquid supply port of the radiator, and collect the old coolant and fill with new coolant from the press-fitting process and the suction process. Since the work can be performed automatically, the replacement work can be performed very easily and quickly with easy handling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a coolant replacement device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the coolant changing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the adapter.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the adapter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a power supply device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of collecting old coolant.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which new coolant is filled.

[Description of sign]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coolant exchange apparatus 2 Old liquid collection hose 2a, 3a, 4a, 32, 33 Connection 3 New liquid press-in hose 4 Return hose 5 Adapter 9 Drainage checker 10 Collection pump 11 Drainage tank 14 Pressure checker 15 First switching valve 16 Supply pump 17 Second switching valve 18 New liquid tank 21 Return checker 22 Third switching valve 24 Controller 25 Motor 30 Base unit 31 Hook 34 Seal member 36 Caster 37 Cabinet 50 Radiator 51 Drain cock 52 Liquid supply port

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An old liquid collecting hose is connected to a drain cock at a bottom of a radiator to open a liquid supply port at an upper part of the radiator.
A step of collecting the old coolant by suction through the old liquid collecting hose; a step of closing the drain cock and fluid-tightly connecting the new liquid press-in hose and the return hose to the liquid supply port; A step of alternately repeating a plurality of times a step of press-fitting the coolant from the liquid supply port with a required pressure and a step of sucking the coolant and the air from the liquid supply port through the return hose;
Removing the new liquid press-fitting hose and the return hose and closing the liquid supply port. 2. An old liquid collecting hose for collecting old coolant, which is connectable to a drain cock at the bottom of the radiator;
New liquid press-fit hose for press-fitting new coolant, freely connectable to liquid supply port above radiator; Return hose for sucking coolant and air, freely connectable to liquid supply port above radiator; New liquid press-fit An adapter for simultaneously connecting a hose and a return hose to the supply port;
A pump for collecting the old coolant by suction through the old liquid collecting hose; a pump for supplying the new coolant and sucking the coolant and air through the new liquid press-in hose and the return hose; A motor for driving a pump for use; a switching valve for switching the connection between the new liquid press-in hose and the return hose and the supply pump; a switch valve for connecting the new liquid press-in hose and the return hose to the supply pump alternately. A control device for controlling the vehicle coolant. 3. In the middle of a pipe for collecting old coolant,
It has a drainage checker that can visually check the distribution of the collected coolant, and has a pressure checker that can visually check the distribution of the coolant to be pumped in the middle of the pipeline that pressurizes the new coolant. 3. The vehicle coolant exchange device according to claim 2, further comprising a return checker in the middle of the pipeline for sucking the air, the return checker being capable of visually observing the flow of the sucked coolant and air. 4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter includes a cap-shaped base portion covering the liquid supply port of the radiator, a hook for engaging and disengaging the base portion with an edge of the supply port, the new liquid press-fit hose and the return hose. The automotive coolant replacement device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising two connection ports for connecting the liquid supply port and a seal member that is in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface of the liquid supply port. . 5. The collecting pump, the supplying pump, the switching valve, the motor, and the control device are housed in a cabinet movable by casters, and the new liquid press-in hose and the return are provided outside the cabinet. A connection port for detachably connecting the hose and the old liquid recovery hose is provided, and the drainage checker, the pressure feed checker, and the return checker are provided to be visible from the outside,
5. The cabinet according to claim 2, wherein a drain tank for storing collected old coolant and a new tank filled with new coolant are housed in the cabinet. Replacement device for automotive coolant.