Apparatus for exchange of automotive fluids

A fail-safe automotive fluid service machine for exchanging old power steering fluid from a vehicle power steering system having a power steering pump and a reservoir, and replacing this old power steering fluid with new power steering fluid, said machine comprising:

• a first conduit for conducting power steering fluid from a conduit of said power steering system, a three-way valve in a first position communicating power steering fluid received via said first conduit from said power steering system to a second conduit, which second conduit returns power steering fluid to said power steering system, said three-way valve in a second position thereof communicating power steering fluid from said power steering system to waste;
• a yieldably-biased back-driveable actuator which when actuated moves said three-way valve from said first to said second position thereof and which when deactivated returns said three-way valve to said first position by self-bias;
• a cabinet, said cabinet having a unitary chambered base portion with a lower wall, side walls, and a top wall all integral with one another and cooperatively defining a reservoir cavity within said base portion, said reservoir cavity holding a supply of new power steering fluid;
• said top wall upwardly defining a machinery deck;
• a sensor for indicating when said reservoir cavity holds an adequate supply of new power steering fluid;
• a pump secured to said machinery deck and having a suction tube communicating with a lower extent of said reservoir cavity to withdraw liquid therefrom;
• said pump supplying said new power steering fluid pressurized via said second conduit to said power steering system;
• a control system interconnecting said sensor and said actuator to allow actuation of said actuator to place said three-way valve in said second position only while said sensor indicates an adequate supply of new power steering fluid, said control system deactivating said actuator in the event of an inadequate supply of new power steering fluid to allow said three-way valve to be returned to said first position by said self-bias of said actuator;
• and
• a cap portion of said cabinet covering said machinery deck and providing environmental protection to said pump.

An automotive fluid service machine, said machine comprising:

• a cabinet, said cabinet having a unitary chambered base portion with a lower wall, side walls, and a top wall all integral with one another and cooperatively defining a reservoir cavity within said base portion, said top wall upwardly defining a machinery deck;
• a pump secured to said machinery deck and having a suction tube communicating with a lower extent of said reservoir cavity to withdraw liquid therefrom;
• a cap portion of said cabinet covering said machinery deck and providing environmental protection to said pump;
• wherein said base portion further includes means for attaching ground-engaging wheels at said lower wall, thereby to allow said machine to be rolled about an automotive service area;
• and
• wherein said means for attaching wheels at said lower wall includes said lower wall defining a pair of downwardly opening closed sockets, said pair of sockets each defining a corresponding protrusion inwardly of said reservoir cavity, one of a pair of caster assemblies received in each of said pair of sockets, said caster assemblies each carrying a respective ground-engaging wheel for said machine.

An automotive fluid service machine, said machine comprising:

• a cabinet, said cabinet having a unitary chambered base portion with a lower wall, side walls, and a top wall all integral with one another and cooperatively defining a reservoir cavity within said base portion, said top wall upwardly defining a machinery deck;
• a pump secured to said machinery deck and having a suction tube communicating with a lower extent of said reservoir cavity to withdraw liquid therefrom;
• a cap portion of said cabinet covering said machinery deck and providing environmental protection to said pump;
• and
• wherein said cap portion outwardly defines a basin having a downwardly extending spigot opening from a bottom of said basin and extending downwardly through an opening defined by said upper wall to provide fluid flow from said basin into said reservoir cavity.