Brake bleeding tool
OwnerCharles S. Mixoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake bleeding tool allows one person to bleed the hydraulic lines leading to a vehicle wheel cylinder. A check valve allows hydraulic fluid and air to pass out of the wheel cylinder when the brake pedal is depressed and prevents back flow when the brake pedal is released. In one embodiment, a hose connects the check valve to the wheel cylinder and, in another embodiment, a rigid connector connects the check valve to the wheel cylinder. The hose or the rigid connector includes a permanent air trap preventing air bubbles from moving by gravity back into the wheel cylinder when brake fluid flow stops. The air trap is transparent so the air bubbles can be seen. The air trap is such that pumping hydraulic fluid through it purges air in the air trap.
Claims14
A method of bleeding brake fluid from a hydraulic line leading from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder having a brake fluid bleed fitting using a tool comprising a tool fitting for connection to the brake fluid bleed fitting on the wheel cylinder, a check valve allowing flow of brake fluid away from the tool fitting and preventing reverse flow, means connecting the tool fitting and the check valve for transmitting brake fluid from the tool fitting to the check valve and a permanent air trap preventing air bubbles from moving by gravity into the wheel cylinder upon cessation of brake fluid movement from the wheel cylinder toward the check valve, the air trap having a transparent section for visually determining the presence of air collected in the air trap, the steps conducted by a single person comprising
- attaching the tool fitting to the brake bleed fitting and manipulating the brake bleed fitting to allow brake fluid to enter the tool, then
- repeatedly depressing a brake pedal and initially delivering brake fluid and air through the tool, then
- stopping movement of the brake pedal and collecting air in the air trap as air bubbles in the connecting means move by gravity toward the wheel cylinder, then
- visually determining the absence of air in the air trap, and then
- manipulating the brake bleed fitting to prevent brake fluid from leaving the wheel cylinder,
- whereby one person can bleed air from the brake line and visually determine if all of the air is out of the brake line.
A tool for bleeding brake fluid from a hydraulic line leading from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder having a brake fluid bleed fitting providing a generally frustoconical connector, comprising
- a tool fitting including a bodily flexible tubular end for slipping over the generally frustoconical end of the brake fluid bleed fitting;
- a hose connected to the tool fitting for transmitting brake fluid away from the tool fitting;
- and
- a check valve comprising a housing having an input end connected to the hose, an output end and a movable diaphragm acting as a check valve allowing brake fluid flow from the tool fitting toward the check valve and preventing brake fluid flow from the check valve toward the tool fitting, the movable diaphragm requiring less than 1 psi pressure differential to move to an open position allowing fluid flow from the tool fitting toward the check valve so the tubular end of the tool fitting does not pull off the frustoconical connector in response to pressure generated before the check valve opens and the master cylinder is delivering brake fluid toward the wheel cylinder.
A tool for bleeding brake fluid from a hydraulic line leading from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder having a brake fluid bleed fitting, comprising
- a tool fitting for connection to the brake fluid bleed fitting on the wheel cylinder;
- a check valve allowing flow of brake fluid away from the tool fitting and preventing reverse flow;
- means connecting the tool fitting and the check valve for transmitting brake fluid from the tool fitting to the check valve;
- and
- a permanent air trap preventing air bubbles from moving by gravity into the wheel cylinder upon cessation of brake fluid movement from the wheel cylinder toward the check valve, the air trap having a transparent section for visually determining the presence of air collected in the air trap whereby one person can bleed air from the brake line and visually determine if all of the air is out of the brake line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.