Can adaptor for fuel system cleaning solvent and method of using same

An apparatus (1) is used for cleaning the fuel injection system of a motor vehicle. The apparatus (1) includes an adaptor body (3) which fits onto a container (2). The adaptor body (3) has an inlet port (6) and an outlet port (7) which connect the interior of the container (2) to the fuel system of the motor vehicle. The outlet port (7) has an extension pipe (16) which has an opening adjacent the bottom of the container (2) while the inlet port (6) opens adjacent the top of the container (2). The apparatus (1) is used to direct cleaning solvent (26) to the fuel system of the motor vehicle.

The present invention relates to fuel injection service units, and in 
particular, to a unit which is used to clean the fuel system of a motor 
vehicle. 
BACKGROUND ART 
When servicing fuel injected motor vehicles, to obtain a result that 
enables the user to clean the fuel system and fuel injectors of carbon 
deposits, and other impurities, such as water, expensive apparatus has 
been required. Complicated systems with a number of pumps where a solvent 
is mixed with the fuel prior to insertion into the fuel system ensure that 
the servicing and cleaning procedure is relatively difficult and 
expensive. 
Another method of cleaning the fuel system of a fuel injected motor vehicle 
would to physically remove the fuel injectors and fuel system from the 
motor vehicle and clean the individual parts. This requires the costly and 
time-consuming dismantling of the fuel pump and injectors and is therefore 
not a cost effective proposition. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple method and 
apparatus for servicing and cleaning fuel injection fuel systems which 
substantially overcomes or ameliorates the above mentioned disadvantages. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an 
apparatus comprising a body connectable to the top of a container, said 
body having an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the inside 
of said container, the inlet port having an opening into said container 
adjacent the top of said container while the outlet port is connected to a 
pipe which extends into said container and has an opening adjacent the 
bottom of said container, said apparatus being connectable into a fuel 
line of a motor vehicle, said inlet port being connectable on the fuel 
tank side and said outlet port being connectable on the engine side, 
wherein a cleaning fluid in said container is forced through said fuel 
system by the operation of the vehicle fuel pump to clean the system.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 includes a container 2 which is 
screw fitted to an adaptor body 3. The adaptor body 3 has a female thread 
4 which is compatible with a reciprocal male thread 5 on the container 2. 
The adaptor body 3 therefore fits on the top of the container 2. The 
adaptor body 3 is a solid piece of metal and has an inlet port 6 and an 
outlet port 7 drilled and tapped therein. The inlet port 6 comprises a 
horizontal portion 8 and a vertical portion 9. The horizontal portion 8 is 
the portion which is tapped and has a screwed connector 10 which fits 
thereto. The connector 10 has a quick snap-on bayonet fitting 11 on the 
outside of the adaptor body 3. The vertical portion 9 of the inlet port 6 
communicates with the interior of the container 2 when the adaptor body 3 
is screwed thereon. The inlet port 6 has its opening adjacent the top of 
the container 2. 
The outlet port 7 has a horizontal portion 12 which is tapped and has a 
screwed connector 13 onto which a similar bayonet fitting 14 is attached 
on the outside of the adaptor body 3. The outlet port 7 has one vertical 
portion 15 which connects to an extension pipe 16 which has an opening 
adjacent the bottom of the container 2. This means that the contents of 
the container 2 adjacent its bottom is what exits from the container 2 via 
the outlet port 7 during use. 
The outlet port 7 has a second vertical portion 17 which is tapped and into 
which a pressure gauge 18 is screwed. The pressure gauge 18 is used to 
indicate the pressure in the outlet port 7. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 is connected into the fuel line 
21, 24 of a motor vehicle (not illustrated). The apparatus 1 further 
includes a pressure regulator 19 which is snapped onto the bayonet fitting 
11 of the inlet port 6. The pressure regulator 19 has a bayonet fitting 20 
to which the fuel pressure line 21 from the fuel tank and fuel pump (not 
illustrated) is connected. The pressure regulator 19 is also connected via 
a flow restrictor valve 22 to a temporary return line 23 which returns 
fuel to the fuel tank (not illustrated). Connected to the outlet port 7 of 
the adaptor body 3 is the fuel line 24 of the motor vehicle via a visible 
in line flow rate meter 25 which is used to monitor the rate of flow and 
is able to detect colour changes in the flow of liquid in the fuel line 
24. The fuel line 24 is connected to the engine (not illustrated). 
In use the apparatus 1 is temporarily connected by a motor mechanic into 
the fuel pressure supply line of a fuel injected motor vehicle in the 
engine bay, directly before the motor vehicle fuel filter or directly 
after the motor vehicle fuel filter but always before the fuel injector 
rail by means of the bayonet fittings 20 and 14. The temporary return line 
23 is fitted prior to the connection of the container 2 and is temporarily 
returned to the motor vehicle's fuel tank. 
The container 2 which contains a cleaning solvent 26 is screwed tightly to 
the adaptor body 3 and the apparatus 1 is ready for use. Firstly, the 
return line (not illustrated) of the motor vehicle is cleaned by 
restricting the temporary return line 23 of the apparatus 1 and by 
operating the vehicle fuel pump (not illustrated) either by a jumper lead 
or by switching the vehicle ignition on and off without starting the 
engine. The solvent 26 will be forced out of the container into the fuel 
line 24 and through the motor vehicle's own pressure regulator back to the 
tank achieving the cleansing of the motor vehicle's return line to the 
injector rail, the injector rail itself, the motor vehicle's pressure 
regulator and the motor vehicle's return line. As the engine is not 
operating the solvent 26 is not forced into the fuel injectors of the 
motor vehicle. 
By observing the visible flow rate meter 25, it is noticed that the liquid 
within the fuel line 24 changes when the solvent 26 in the container 2 has 
been used as the solvent 26 is a different colour to that of fuel 27. The 
colour change occurs as the fuel 27 is pumped via the vehicle fuel pump 
through the pressure line 21, the pressure regulator 19 into the inlet 
port 6. The fuel enters the container 2 at the top, and as the fuel has a 
density less than the solvent the fuel remains on top of the solvent 
within the container 2. As more fuel is pumped into the container 2 by the 
motor vehicle's fuel pump, the solvent 26 within the container 2 is forced 
through the extension pipe 16 and out of the container 2 via the outlet 
port 7 and through the fuel line 24 via the visible flow rate meter 25. 
Because the solvent 26 is coloured differently from the fuel 27, the 
complete removal of the solvent from the container 2 is easily observed. 
When the solvent 26 has been completely pumped out of the container 2, this 
means that the solvent 26 has been forced into the motor vehicle fuel tank 
carrying any dissolved impurities with it back to the fuel tank. Any solid 
materials will be trapped in the motor vehicle fuel filter. This procedure 
ensures that no solid material will be forced into the fuel injectors of 
the motor vehicle. 
Once this procedure has been completed, the temporary return line 23 is 
opened and the motor vehicle's own pressure regulator (not illustrated) 
stops the return flow from the apparatus 1 to the fuel tank of the motor 
vehicle. 
The container 2, which now contains only fuel, is unscrewed and second 
container 2 having a second type of solvent 26 is substituted. Then a 
further procedure is commenced. The motor mechanic starts the engine of 
the motor vehicle, and fuel pressure is applied from the motor vehicle's 
own fuel pump to the apparatus 1. The pressure within the fuel system can 
be adjusted as required by the flow restrictor valve 22 of the temporary 
return line 23. The fuel pressure is able to be monitored by the pressure 
gauge 18 at the same time as the solvent 26 flowing in the visible flow 
rate meter 25 is observed. The mechanic is able to ensure by using the 
correct pressure that the solvent 26 will flow through the fuel injectors 
of the motor vehicle rather than pass through the motor vehicle's pressure 
regulator. The solvent 26 is used to clean the fuel injectors together 
with the vehicles fuel lines. Once the solvent 26 within the container 2 
has been used, the mechanic can stop the motor vehicle's engine and remove 
the apparatus as the cleaning operation is completed. 
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. In 
this embodiment, the apparatus 30 includes the container 2, and adaptor 
body 3 as previously described. The adaptor body 3 includes the inlet port 
6 and outlet port 7 as previously described. However, a pressure gauge 32 
is connected to the horizontal portion 12 of the outlet port 7 while a 
visible through flow meter 33 is screw connected into the vertical portion 
17 of the outlet port 7. The inlet port is connected as previously 
described in the first embodiment with the fuel line 21 and pressure 
regulator 19 connected thereto. 
The apparatus 2 is able to be used in a similar manner to the previously 
described embodiment, and can also be used to check other operations of 
the fuel injection system. 
The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and 
modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto 
without departing from the scope of the present invention.