Abstract:
An adapter connects different sized conduits to a radiator, where each conduit has an open end configured differently than the open ends of the other conduits. The adapter includes a body member having a cavity therein, with a connection member having one end extending from the body member to be attached to a coupling member and another end in communication with the cavity. A passageway extends between these ends. Tubular inserts are individually and independently coupled to one sized conduit. Each insert has a first end sized to fit snug within the cavity and a second opposed end sized to fit within an open end of one of the conduits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Servicing of automotive vehicles typically requires periodic replacement of the coolant for the radiator of the vehicle&#39;s engine. Fluid transfer machines such as, for example, illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,689; 4,888,980; 5,573,045; 5,615,716; 6,135,136; 6,152,193; 6,161,566; and 6,213,175, are sometimes used to transfer the used coolant to a storage vessel while replacing this used coolant with new coolant. An adapter is sometimes used to provide the necessary connection between coupling members on the ends of hoses from the fluid transfer machine and the radiator. Ideally this adapter, or a set of adapters, is sized to accommodate the different sized inlets and outlets of the radiators typically employed in vehicles made by the major manufacturers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention has several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled, “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits, which include, but are not limited to, convenience of use and applications to a variety of different engines with varying sized radiator conduits, and improved safety.  
           [0003]    The first feature of the adapter of this invention is that it has the ability to be connected to different sized outlet or inlet conduits of a radiator for an automotive vehicle. Different makes of automobile vehicles employ radiator conduits having an open ends configured differently. The adapter of this invention is designed to be connected with a number of such differently sized radiator conduits or to the point of connection where the radiator conduit is attached to the radiator.  
           [0004]    The second feature is that the adapter of this invention includes a body member having a cavity therein. The body member is made of an insulating material. Consequently, the heat from the radiator does no t excessively heat the body member to avoid possible burning of a technician who is using the adapter. The cavity has a cylindrical shaped sidewall of a predetermined diameter and predetermined height, and a substantially flat bottom. An “O” ring seated in the sidewall assist in making a fluid tight connection when a conduit is placed in the cavity.  
           [0005]    The third feature is a connection member having a first end extending from the body member to be attached to a coupling member and a second end in communication with the cavity. This connection member has a passageway extending from the first end to the second end. The first end is normally closed but opens upon the connection member being attached to the coupling member to allow fluid to flow through the passageway into the cavity.  
           [0006]    The fourth feature is that a plurality of tubular insert members are used, but only one is selected based upon the size of the radiator conduit for the vehicle being serviced. The inserts are individually and independently coupled to an end of a radiator conduit that is detached from the point of connection to the radiator or to a end of a replacement conduit that connects an adapter to the point of connection to the radiator. Each insert member has a first end sized to fit snug within the cavity and a second opposed end sized to fit within an open end of one of the conduits, either the detached radiator conduit or the replacement conduit. The size of these first ends of each insert member is substantially identical and the size of the second ends of each insert member is substantially different and configured to fit within only one open end of one of the conduits. Preferably, the first end of each insert member has a substantially cylindrical shaped sidewall with a predetermined diameter and height substantially equal to the predetermined diameter and predetermined height of the cylindrical shaped sidewall of the cavity. Preferably, the first end of each insert member terminates in a substantially flat bottom that abuts the bottom of the cavity upon insertion of the insert member into the cavity. Typically, each tubular insert member has an inside diameter, and this inside diameters of each insert member are of equal diameter. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the first end of each insert member has an annular groove therein with a recess in the groove and the body member has a manually moveable locking pin extending there through with a terminal tip that rides in the groove and fits into the recess upon alignment therewith to lock the insert member to the body member.  
           [0007]    This invention also includes a kit used to connect a coolant fluid transfer machine to an automotive engine. The kit includes at least one set of conduits and at least one set of adapters. Each conduit has a different inside diameter, and each conduit each have an open end configured differently than the open ends of the other conduits. Each adapter is constructed as discussed above.  
           [0008]    This invention also includes a method of transferring coolant between a fluid transfer machine having a hose terminating in a coupling member and an automotive engine having a pair of radiator conduits, each having an inside diameter, typically both the same. One radiator conduit is connected to an inlet of a radiator for the automotive engine and the other radiator conduit connected to an outlet of said radiator. The method comprises  
           [0009]    (a) disconnecting one of the radiator conduits,  
           [0010]    (b) substituting for the disconnected radiator conduit a replacement conduit, said replacement conduit having a length that is less than inches, an inside diameter that is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the disconnected radiator conduit, and opposed open ends, with one of the open ends being attached to the radiator inlet or outlet depending on which radiator conduit has been disconnected,  
           [0011]    (c) providing an adapter including  
           [0012]    a body member having a cavity therein,  
           [0013]    a connection member having a first end extending from the body member that is adapted to be attached to the coupling member of the hose and a second end in communication with the cavity,  
           [0014]    said connection member having a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, with said first end being normally closed but opening upon the connection member being attached to said coupling member to allow fluid to flow through the passageway and cavity, and  
           [0015]    a plurality of tubular insert members, one of said insert members being individually and independently adapted to be coupled to one sized replacement conduit, each insert member having a first end sized to fit snug within the cavity and a second opposed end sized to fit only within an open end of one of a plurality of different sized replacement conduits,  
           [0016]    (d) selecting the tubular insert that has a second end that fits within the replacement conduit substituted for the disconnected radiator conduit and inserting said second end of this selected insert into the open end of the replacement conduit, and placing the first end of the selected tubular insert into the cavity, and  
           [0017]    (e) connecting the coupling member to the first end of the connection member.  
           [0018]    This invention also includes a method of transferring coolant between a fluid transfer machine and a radiator for the automotive engine. The fluid transfer machine has a first hose terminating in a first coupling member and a second hose terminating in a second coupling member and the automotive engine has a pair of radiator conduits extending between the radiator for the automotive engine and the automotive engine. Each radiator conduit has an inside diameter, typically both the same. One radiator conduit has a first end connected to the radiator at a first connection point and a second end connected to the engine and another radiator conduit has a first end connected to the radiator at a second connection point and a second end connected to the engine. The method comprises  
           [0019]    (a) disconnecting the first end of one of the radiator conduits from the radiator but leaving the second end of said disconnected radiator conduit connected to the engine,  
           [0020]    (b) attaching a replacement conduit to the radiator at the point of connection of the disconnected radiator conduit, said replacement conduit having a length that is less than inches, an inside diameter that is substantially the same as the disconnected radiator conduit, and an open end with an inside diameter substantially the same as the disconnected radiator conduit,  
           [0021]    (c) providing first and second adapters, each adapter including  
           [0022]    a body member having a cavity therein,  
           [0023]    a connection member having a first end extending from the body member that is adapted to be attached to a coupling member of one hose of the fluid transfer machine and a second end in communication with the cavity,  
           [0024]    said connection member having a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, with said first end being normally closed but opening upon the connection member being attached to said coupling member to allow fluid to flow through the passageway and cavity, and  
           [0025]    a plurality of tubular insert members, one of said insert members being individually and independently adapted to be coupled to one sized replacement conduit, each insert member having a first end sized to fit snug within the cavity and a second opposed end sized to fit only within an open end of one of a plurality of different sized replacement conduits,  
           [0026]    (d) connecting the first adapter to the open end of the replacement conduit, including  
           [0027]    selecting the tubular insert that has a second end that fits within the replacement conduit attached to the connection point,  
           [0028]    inserting said second end of said selected insert into the open end of the replacement conduit,  
           [0029]    placing the first end of the selected tubular insert into the cavity of said first adapter, and  
           [0030]    connecting the first coupling member to the first end of the connection member of the first adapter, and  
           [0031]    (e) connecting the second adapter to the open end of the radiator conduit still connected to the engine, including  
           [0032]    selecting the tubular insert that has a second end that fits within the open end of the radiator conduit still connected to the engine,  
           [0033]    inserting said second end of said selected insert into the open end of the radiator conduit still connected to the engine,  
           [0034]    placing the first end of the selected tubular insert into the cavity of said second adapter, and  
           [0035]    connecting the second coupling member to the second end of the connection member of the second adapter.  
           [0036]    This invention also includes a method of replacing coolant in a radiator that flows through a radiator conduit to an automotive engine. The radiator conduit has first and second opposed ends. The method comprises  
           [0037]    (a) detaching one end of the radiator conduit connected to the radiator and leaving the other end of said the radiator conduit connected to the engine,  
           [0038]    (b) attaching one end of a replacement conduit to the radiator to replace the radiator conduit and attaching another end of the replacement conduit to a fluid transfer machine via a first adapter having a removable insert with a predetermined size substantially the same as the disconnected radiator conduit to enable the one end of the replacement conduit to be connected to the radiator, said fluid transfer machine being in communication with a source of new coolant and having a first outlet for used coolant from the radiator and a second outlet for new coolant to be fed to the engine,  
           [0039]    (c) connecting the second outlet of the fluid transfer machine to the engine via a second adapter having a removable insert with a predetermined size substantially the same as the disconnected radiator conduit to enable the second adapter to be connected to the engine. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0040]    The preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. This embodiment depicts the novel and non-obvious adapter of this invention, methods of using this adapter, and an adapter kit as shown in the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (FIGS.), with like numerals indicating like parts:  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter of this invention showing the three different sized inserts, only one of which to be inserted into the body of the adapter.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 2A is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  2 A- 2 A of FIG. 2B, showing the end to be inserted into the body of the adapter.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the small sized insert taken along line  2 B- 2 B of FIG. 2A.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 2C is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  2 C- 2 C of FIG. 2B, showing the end to be inserted into a conduit.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 3A is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  3 A- 3 A of FIG. 3B, showing the end to be inserted into the body of the adapter.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the small sized insert taken along line  3 B- 3 B of FIG. 3A.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 3C is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  3 C- 3 C of FIG. 3B, showing the end to be inserted into a conduit.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4A is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  4 A- 4 A of FIG. 4B, showing the end to be inserted into the body of the adapter.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the small sized insert taken along line  4 B- 4 B of FIG. 4A.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 4C is an end view of the small sized insert taken along line  4 C- 4 C of FIG. 4B, showing the end to be inserted into a conduit.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the front of the body of the adapter, taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 6A, with sections broken away, showing the cavity into which an insert is placed.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 6A is a side elevational view of the body of the adapter taken along line  6 A- 6 A of FIG. 5.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 6B is a rear elevational view of the body of the adapter taken along line  6 B- 6 B of FIG. 6A.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 7A is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which an automotive engine is connected to a radiator for the engine.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 7B is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which a fluid transfer machine (FTM) is connected to the automotive engine and radiator for the engine using a pair of adapters of this invention.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 8 is a plan view of kit containing a pair of adapters of this invention and replacement conduits for connection to the fluid transfer machine (FTM) as depicted in FIG. 7B. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0057]    As shown in FIG. 1, the adapter  10  of this invention includes a cylindrical body  12  having a closed rear end  14  (FIG. 6B) and, in its front end  16 , a cylindrical cavity  18  with a flat, annular bottom  20  and cylindrical sidewall  22  extending upward from this bottom. The annular bottom  22  encircles a well  23 . The cavity  18  is co-axial with the longitudinal axis X (FIG. 6A) of the body  12  and its has a circular shaped open mouth  16   a  with the longitudinal axis inserting its center C at a right angle. There is an “O” ring  26  seated in an annular indentation  28  in the sidewall  22  about mid-way between the open mouth  16   a  and the bottom  20 .  
         [0058]    Extending outward radially from the body  12  is a spring  9   a  loaded locking pin  9  having a tip  9   b  extending into the cavity near its open mouth  16   a , and male component  30   a  of a conventional quick connect-disconnect coupling member  30  (FIG. 6A). As shown in phantom in FIG. 6A, the female component  30   b  of the quick connect-disconnect coupling member  30  locks onto the male component  30   a  when adapters  10   a  and  10   b  of this invention are connected to a fluid transfer machine  62  as shown in FIG. 7B. There is a female component  30   b  attached to each hose  62   a  and  62   b  extending from the fluid transfer machine  62 . The hose  62   a  is connected to an inlet  62   c  for used coolant from the radiator  46  and the hose  62   b  is connected to an outlet  62   d  for new coolant fluid from a source of such fluid that is fed into the fluid transfer machine  62  through an inlet  62   f . Used coolant from the radiator  46  exits the fluid transfer machine  62  through an outlet  62   e . The exterior end  32  of the male component  30   a  is inserted into the female component  30   b  of each quick connect-disconnect coupling member  30  during transfer of coolant fluid and then detached upon completion of the transfer of fluid. This exterior end  32  is normally closed, but is opened upon connection of the male and female components  30   a  and  30   b  of the quick connect-disconnect coupling member  30 . The interior end  33  (FIG. 6A) of the male component  30  of the quick connect-disconnect coupling member  30  is open, and it terminates at a tunnel  35  within the body  12  that is in communication with the well  23  inside the body  12 . There is a passageway  34  (shown in dotted lines) extending lengthwise through this male component  30  from the exterior end  32  to the interior end  33  to allow coolant fluid to flow through the passageway  34  when the normally closed end is opened. The fluid exits the interior end  33  and flows through the tunnel  25  and well  23  and out the mouth  16   a  of the cavity  16 .  
         [0059]    A plurality of inserts  48 ,  50  and  52  (FIGS. 2A through 4C) are used with the body  12  to construct an adapter of this invention that is correctly sized for the vehicle being serviced. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, a vehicle&#39;s engine  100  has an outlet conduit  36  and an inlet conduit  38  attached to a radiator  46 . Typically, the conduit  36  and conduit  38  are held in position by clamps (not shown). Upon connection to the fluid transfer machine  62 , only one conduit, either outlet conduit  36  or inlet conduit  38 , is disconnected from the radiator  46  at its point of connection, respectively, the outlet  36   a  or inlet  38   a . As illustrated in FIG. 7B, one adapter  10   b  is connected between the fluid transfer machine  62  and the conduit  36  that has been detached from the radiator  46 . This conduit  36  remains attached to the engine  100 . Another adapter  10   a  is connected between the fluid transfer machine  62  and the radiator  46 . A correctly sized replacement conduit and pair of inserts are selected from a kit  70  (FIG. 8) holding the necessary number of components to construct the pair of adapters  10   a  and  10   b  based on the dimensions of the inside diameters of the detached inlet or outlet conduit for the particular vehicle being serviced.  
         [0060]    There are two set of inserts: set A and set B, with three inserts per set: a small sized insert  48 , a medium sized insert  50 , and a large sized insert  52 . Only one insert is used with an adapter body  12 . The insert ( 48 ,  50 , or  52 ) selected depends on the size of the inlet  36   b  or outlet  36   a  to which an adapter is connected or the size of the engine conduit  36  or  38  into which the adapter is connected. Each of these inserts  48 ,  50 , and  52  is substantially identical, except for an end,  53   a ,  53   b , and  53   c , respectively, that is to be attached to a replacement conduit.  
         [0061]    As shown in FIG. 8, the kit  70  contains two adapter bodies  10   a  and  10   b , two sets A and  5 B of three small, medium, and large sized inserts,  48 ,  50 , and  52 , and three different sized replacement conduits  80 ,  81 , and  82 , respectively having small, medium, and large sized inside diameters that are, respectively, equal to the outside diameters of the three different sized radiator inlets  38   a  or outlets  36   a . For any particular type of automotive vehicle, the radiator inlet and outlet have the same outside and inside diameters, but different vehicles will have different sized inlets and outlets as discussed above.  
         [0062]    Each insert  48 ,  50  and  52  has a tubular construction with an end  55  that is identical for all these inserts. There is an opening O extending between the ends  53  and  55  with a uniform diameter through its length. The diameter of this opening O is the same for all the inserts  48 ,  50 , and  52 . The end  55  has a cylindrical configuration with a diameter equal to the diameter of the mouth  16   a  of the cavity  16  and a depth d equal to the depth of the cavity and a flat bottom  55   a . A partition ledge  76  separates the end  53  and end  55 , and next to this ledge is an annular groove  78  that has spaced apart radial recesses  79  therein that accept the tip  9   b  of the locking pin  9 . At each end  53  is a raised lip  71  that assists in holding this end in the open end of a conduit into which it is inserted.  
         [0063]    As depicted in FIG. 7B, a replacement conduit  80  from the set of three conduits  80 - 82  in the kit  70  is selected for use with a correctly sized insert selected from a set of three inserts  48 ,  50 , and  52  in the kit  70 . A pair of identical inserts are selected, one used in constructing each adapter  10   a  and  10   b . In this case, the replacement conduit  80  that is sized to fit onto the outlet  36   a  is selected. This replacement conduit  80  has an inside diameter that is equal to the inside diameter of the conduit  36 . An insert, in this cased, the insert  48 , that fits within the selected conduit  80  is used. The adapters are then connected as shown in FIG. 7B so that new coolant fluid flows through the fluid transfer machine  62 , hose  62   b , the adapter  10   b , and the conduit  36  into the engine  100 , and old coolant fluid from the engine  100  flows through the conduit  38 , radiator  46 , replacement conduit  80 , the adapter  10   a , the hose  62   a , and through the fluid transfer machine to storage or disposal.  
       SCOPE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0064]    The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention: