Coolant transfer machine for automotive vehicle & method

A machine for transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having a radiator in communication with the engine via a detachable member and an opening closed by a radiator cap, said machine including

• a housing having a control panel and a base that supports a new fluid container that holds new coolant and a used fluid container that holds used coolant from the engine, said containers capable of being removed from the base and replaced,
• a first fluid transfer system that removes at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine and replaces said removed used coolant with new coolant from the new fluid container and collects the removed used coolant in the used fluid container,
• said first fluid transfer system including a first adapter that is first manually inserted into the opening in the radiator upon removal of the radiator cap and then manually connected to the used fluid container to establish communication between the radiator and the used fluid container to transfer said substantial portion of the used coolant from the engine to the used fluid container via the radiator, and thereafter said first adapter is manually connected to the new fluid container to establish communication between the radiator and the new fluid container to transfer new coolant to the engine via the radiator, and
• a second fluid transfer system that simultaneously displaces at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collects the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container,
• said second fluid transfer system including a pair of adapters that, upon manually detaching the detachable member, are attached to provide access to the radiator and the engine, one adapter establishing communication with the new fluid container to transfer new coolant to the engine via the radiator and the other adapter establishing communication with the used fluid container to collect used coolant being displaced by the new coolant from the new fluid container, and
• a manually operable switch in the control panel having a first position that enables operation of the first fluid transfer system and a second position that enables operation of the second fluid transfer system.

A machine for transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having an engine cooling system with a radiator over flow member, said engine cooling system being in communication with the engine via a detachable member, said machine including

• a housing having a control panel and a base that supports a new fluid container that holds new coolant and a used fluid container holds used coolant from the engine, said containers capable of being removed from the base and replaced,
• a first fluid transfer system for removing at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine and replacing said removed used coolant with new coolant from the new fluid container and collecting in the used fluid container the removed used coolant,
• said first fluid transfer system including a connector that is connected to the radiator over flow member, said connector first being placed in communication with the used fluid container to transfer said substantial portion of the used coolant from the engine to the used fluid container, and thereafter said connector being placed in communication with the new fluid container to transfer new coolant to the engine, and
• a second fluid transfer system for displacing at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collecting the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container,
• said second fluid transfer system including a pair of adapters that are attached upon manually detaching the detachable member to provide access to the radiator and the engine, one adapter being place in communication with the new fluid container to transfer new coolant to the engine via the radiator and the other adapter establishing communication between the engine and the used fluid container to collect used coolant being displaced by the new coolant from the new fluid container, and
• a manually operable switch in the control panel having a first position that enables operation of the first fluid transfer system and a second position that enables operation of the second fluid transfer system.

A machine for transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having a radiator in communication with the engine, said machine including

• a first fluid transfer system that only operates when the engine is not operational, said first fluid transfer system sequentially first removes at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine and collects in a used fluid container the used coolant as said used coolant is being removed and then replaces said removed used coolant with new coolant from a new fluid container,
• a second fluid transfer system that that only operates when the engine is operational, said second fluid transfer system simultaneously displaces at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collects the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container as said used coolant is being removed, and
• a manually operable switch having a first position that enables operation of the first fluid transfer system and a second position that enables operation of the second fluid transfer system;
• said first and second fluid transfer systems having the following common components:
• a housing for said fluid transfer systems having a control panel and a base that supports the new fluid container and the used fluid container holds, said containers capable of being removed from the base and replaced,
• a drain hose having one end in communication with the used fluid container and another end having a quick connect-disconnect connector,
• a supply hose having one end in communication with the new fluid container and another end having a quick connect-disconnect connector, and
• a pump along the supply hose that is enabled when the second fluid transfer system is to transfer new fluid from the new fluid container to the engine and that is disabled when the first fluid transfer system is to transfer new fluid from the new fluid container to the engine.

A machine for transferring coolant to and from a radiator of an automotive engine that may be operational or may not be operational, said machine including

• a new fluid container of new coolant and a used fluid container adapted to hold used coolant from the engine,
• a first fluid transfer system that is operable while the engine is not operational, said first fluid transfer system having
• a first pump that is manually placed in communication with the used fluid container and the radiator to pump at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine through the radiator and into the used fluid container to create a reduced pressure in the engine,
• said communication between the used fluid container and radiator being discontinued upon removal of the substantial portion of used coolant, with the new fluid container and the radiator being manually placed in communication with the reduced pressure in the engine to suck new fluid into the radiator to replace said removed used coolant with new coolant, and
• a second fluid transfer system that is operable while the engine is operational, said second fluid transfer system having
• a drain hose member that is manually connected between the engine and the used container, and
• a supply hose member, including a second pump, that is manually connected between the radiator and the new fluid container, said hose members being connected prior to the engine being operational,
• so that while the engine is operational, new fluid from the new fluid container is pumped by said second pump to displace at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine, said displaced used coolant flowing through the drain hose and being collected in the used fluid container.

A machine for transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having a radiator in communication with the engine, said machine including

• a first fluid transfer system that only operates when the engine is not operational, said first fluid transfer system sequentially first removes at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine and collects in a used fluid container the used coolant as said used coolant is being removed and then replaces said removed used coolant with new coolant from a new fluid container, said first fluid transfer system including a first pump that pumps said substantial portion of used coolant from the engine to create a reduced pressure in the engine that sucks the new fluid into the radiator to replace said removed used coolant with new coolant,
• a second fluid transfer system that only operates when the engine is operational, said second fluid transfer system simultaneously displaces at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collects the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container, said second fluid transfer system including a second pump that pumps new coolant from the new fluid container into the engine, and
• a manually operable switch having a first position that enables operation of the first fluid transfer system and a second position that enables operation of the second fluid transfer system.

A method of transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having an engine cooling system including a radiator, said method comprising

• (a) providing a new fluid container holding new coolant and a used fluid container for holding used coolant from the engine,
• (b) providing a first fluid transfer system that sequentially first removes at least a substantial portion of used coolant from the engine and collects in the used fluid container the used coolant as said used coolant is being removed and then replaces said removed used coolant with new coolant from the new fluid container, said engine being non-operational when coolant is being transferred,
• (c) providing a second fluid transfer system that simultaneously displaces at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collects the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container, said engine being operational when coolant is being transferred, and
• (d) selecting one of said fluid transfer systems to transfer coolant based on the type of service to be provided.

A system for transferring coolant to and from an automotive engine having an engine cooling system including a radiator, said method comprising

• (a) a new fluid container holding new coolant and a used fluid container for holding used coolant from the engine,
• (b) a first fluid transfer system including means for sequentially first removing a portion of used coolant from the engine and collecting in the used fluid container the used coolant as said used coolant is being removed and then replacing said removed used coolant with new coolant from the new fluid container, said engine being non-operational when coolant is being transferred,
• (c) a second fluid transfer system including means for simultaneously displacing at least a substantial portion of used coolant in the engine with new coolant from the new fluid container and collecting the displaced used coolant in the used fluid container, said engine being operational when coolant is being transferred, and
• (d) means for selecting one of said fluid transfer systems to transfer coolant based on the type of service to be provided.