Complete fluid exchange system for automatic transmissions

A method for exchanging a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission connected to a fluid cooling circuit, with the used fluid circulated through the circuit under power of an internal pump within the transmission, said used fluid initially being contained within said transmission and said fluid cooling circuit, at least a substantial portion of which is subsequently discharged into a receptacle, said fresh fluid initially being contained in a source container, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid exchange system having a first conduit for communicating fluid from the transmission, a second conduit for communicating fluid to the transmission, a bypass conduit, and a bypass valve assembly for selectively communicating fluid through the bypass conduit and between the first conduit to the second conduit;
• coupling the first the first and second conduits of the fluid exchange system into an accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• establishing a bypass condition by selectively actuating the bypass valve assembly so that used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is passed without restriction through the bypass conduit and into the second conduit whereby used fluid is reintroduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• establishing a fluid exchange condition by selectively actuating he bypass valve assembly so that the fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is received into the first conduit and fresh fluid is received into the second conduit and introduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• measuring a fluid parameter in the first and second conduits during the exchange condition;
• and
• adjusting a fluid flow rate of at least the first conduit during the exchange condition to approximately match a fluid flow rate of the bypass conduit measured during the bypass condition.

A method for exchanging a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission connected to a fluid cooling circuit, with the used fluid circulated through the circuit under power dais internal pump within the transmission, said used fluid initially being contained within said transmission and said fluid cooling circuit, at least a substantial portion of which is subsequently discharged into a receptacle, said fresh fluid initially being contained in a source container, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid exchange system having a first conduit for communicating fluid from the transmission, a second conduit for communicating fluid to the transmission, and a bypass conduit for selectively communicating fluid between the first conduit to the second conduit;
• coupling the first and second conduits of the fluid exchange system into an accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• establishing a bypass condition by selectively coupling said bypass conduit between the first and second conduits so that used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is received into the first conduit and is passed through the bypass conduit and into the second conduit whereby used fluid is reintroduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• measuring a fluid parameter in the bypass conduit during the bypass condition;
• establishing a fluid exchange condition by selectively uncoupling the bypass conduit between the first and second conduits so that used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is received into the first conduit and fresh fluid is received into the second conduit and introduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• adjusting an exchange fluid parameter of the first conduit and the second conduit during the exchange condition to approximately match the fluid parameter measured during the bypass condition.

An exchange procedure for changing a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission connected to a fluid cooling circuit, with the used fluid circulated through the fluid cooling circuit under power of an internal pump within the transmission, said used fluid initially being contained within said transmission and said fluid cooling circuit, at least a substantial portion of which is subsequently discharged into a receptacle, said fresh fluid initially being contained in a source container, said procedure comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid exchange system having a plurality of conduits, including a first conduit for communicating fluid from the transmission, a second conduit for communicating fluid to the transmission, and a bypass conduit;
• accessing the fluid cooling circuit of the transmission to provide a connection access to a pair of circuit ports;
• coupling the bypass conduit between the pair of circuit ports;
• flowing used fluid through the bypass conduit so that used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is recirculated back into the fluid cooling circuit;
• measuring an approximate fluid flow rate in the cooling circuit by measuring a fluid flow rate in the bypass conduit;
• pumping fresh fluid at a selective fluid flow rate into the fluid cooling circuit through the second conduit while receiving used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit through the first conduit;
• and
• equalizing the selective fluid flow rate to the approximate fluid flow rate in the cooling circuit as measured.

A fluid exchange system comprising:

• a first fluid line selectively intercoupled to the fluid exchange system and one of a pair of transmission cooling circuit ports to conduct fluid from a cooling circuit of a vehicle;
• a second fluid line selectively intercoupled to the fluid exchange system, a source of fresh fluid, and the other one of the pair of transmission cooling circuits ports to conduct fluid into the cooling circuit;
• a bypass fluid line in selective fluid communication with the pair of transmission cooling circuit ports;
• a bypass valve assembly in communication with the bypass fluid line, said fluid exchange system having a pair of operational conditions including:
• a first operational condition wherein used fluid is passed through the bypass fluid line and reintroduced into the cooling circuit, and a second operational condition wherein used fluid is received into the first fluid line and fresh fluid is received into the second fluid line and introduced into the cooling circuit;
• and
• at least one electrically operated valve for controlling fluid flow through the bypass fluid line.

A method for recirculating used fluid and exchanging a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission connected to a fluid cooling circuit, with the used fluid circulated through the cooling circuit under power of an internal pump within the transmission, said used fluid initially being contained within said transmission and said cooling circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid exchange system having a flexible first conduit for communicating used fluid from the transmission, a second flexible conduit for communicating fresh fluid to the transmission, and an unrestricted accessory conduit for recirculating fluid within the cooling circuit;
• interposing the accessory conduit into the cooling circuit so that the accessory conduit is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit and automatic transmission;
• operating the vehicle so that used fluid flows within the accessory conduit under pressure provided by the internal pump;
• measuring a fluid flow direction in the accessory conduit;
• disconnecting the fluid communication between the accessory conduit and the cooling circuit;
• providing the first and second conduits in fluid communication with the fluid cooling circuit and automatic transmission;
• and
• operating the vehicle so that used fluid from the automatic transmission is received into the first conduit and fresh fluid is received into the second conduit and introduced into the fluid cooling circuit.

A method for exchanging a used fluid with a fresh fluid in a vehicle having an automatic transmission connected to a fluid cooling circuit, with the used fluid circulated through the circuit under power of an internal pump within the transmission, said used fluid initially being contained within said transmission and said fluid cooling circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid exchange system having a first conduit for communicating fluid from the transmission, a second conduit for communicating fluid to the tree mission, and a bypass conduit having a bypass valve for selectively communicating fluid between the first conduit to the second conduit;
• coupling the first and second conduits of the fluid exchange system into as accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• operating the vehicle with the system being in a fluid exchange condition wherein used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is received into the first conduit and fresh fluid is received into the second conduit and introduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• establishing a bypass condition by manually actuating the bypass valve so that used fluid from the fluid cooling circuit is passed through the bypass conduit and into the second conduit whereby used fluid is reintroduced into the accessed fluid cooling circuit;
• and
• operating the vehicle with the system being in the bypass condition.

A fluid exchange system for performing a fluid exchange procedure on an automatic transmission of a vehicle having a pair of transmission cooling circuit ports, said fluid exchange system comprising:

• a first conduit for communicating fluid from the transmission;
• a second conduit for communicating fluid to the transmission;
• a bypass conduit between the pair of transmission cooling circuit ports;
• and
• a bypass valve, wherein a bypass mode of operation is established after manually actuating the bypass valve so that used fluid from the fluid circuit is passed through the bypass conduit and reintroduced into the accessed fluid circuit, and wherein an exchange mode of operation is subsequently established after the bypass valve is manually actuated and used fluid from the fluid circuit is received into the first conduit and fresh fluid is received into the second conduit and introduced into the accessed fluid circuit.