CAN ADAPTOR FOR CLEANING SOLVENT

Abstract: 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.

Description: CAN ADAPTOR FOR CLEANING SOLVENT The present Invention relates to fuel Injection service units, ana in particular, to a unit nlch 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 carpon deposits, and other impurities, such as water, expensive apparatu nas been required. Complicated systems with a number of pumps wnere 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 moto vehicle would to physically remove the fuel injectors and fuel system from the motor vehicle and clean the individual parts. This reαuires th 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 metho 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 disclose 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 εaid 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 o 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 syste BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two embodiments of the present invention will now be Described wit reference to the drawings in which: —c- Fig. 1 is a scnematic diagram of the apparatus of a first e Dodiment, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of a second emDodiment. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As illustrated in Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 includes a container 2 wnich 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 oort 6 comprises a horizontal portion 8 and a vertical portion 9. The norizontal 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 oayonet 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 nas 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 on 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 Dayonet fitting 11 of the inlet port 6. The pressure regulator 19 has a oayonet fitting 20 to which the fuei pressure line 21 from the fuel tank and fuel pump (not Illustrated) 1s 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). Connecte 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 1s useα to monitor the rate of flow and is able to detect colour changes in the flo of liquid 1n the fuel line 24. The fuel line 24 Is connected to the engine (not Illustrated ) . In use the apparatus 1 1s temporarily connected by a motor mechani into the fuel pressure supply line of a fuel injected motor vehicle in the engine bay, directly before the motor vehicle fuel filter or directl 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 l 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' return line to the injector rail, the injector rail itself, the motor vehicle's pressure regulator and the motor vehicle's return line. As t 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 t 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 th of fuel 27. The colour change occurs as the fuel 27 1s pumped via the vehicle fuel pump through the pressure line 21, the pressure regulator 1 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. -A- When the solvent 26 has been completely pumped out of the contain 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 1n the motor vehicle fuel 5 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 10 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 ' 5 venicle's own fuel pump to the apparatus 1. The pressure within the fue system can be adjusted as required by the flow restrictor valve 22 of th 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 0 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 5 venicle'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 0 inlet port 6 and outlet port 7 as previously described. However, a pressure gauge 32 is connected to the horizontal portion 12 of the outle 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 a previously described in the first embodiment with the fuel line 21 and 5 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 tne art, can De made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims: CLAIMS '. 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 5 ooening into said container adjacent the top of said container while tne outlet port is connected to a pipe which extends into said container and πas an opening adjacent the bottom of said container, said abparatus oeing connectable into a fuel line of a motor vehicle, said inlet port Deing connectable on the fuel tank side and said outlet port being 10 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. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus -urtner includes a pressure regulating means connected to the inlet port '5 ana a return line means connected to said pressure regulating means tc allow pressure within the apparatus to be controlled. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the return line means includes a flow restrictor, and the return line means is able to be closed. 0 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pressure gauge means is connected to the outlet port to monitor the pressure of the liquid within said apparatus. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a visual flow indication means is connected to said outlet port to give a visual 5 indication of the fluid flowing within said apparatus. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said visual flow indication means provides a flow rate reading. 7. A method of cleaning a fuel injection system of a motor vehicle, said method including the steps of inserting the apparatus 0 according to any one of claims 1-6 into the fuel system of said motor vehicle, pumping a first solvent through the fuel system without operating the engine of the motor vehicle, the solvent returning to fuel tank of said motor vehicle via a pressure regulator in said fuel system. 8. A method according to claim 7 including the further steps of 5 pumping a second solvent into said fuel system using the apparatus while operating the engine of the motor vehicle.

Inventors: KARNAUCHOW BETTY, KARNAUCHOW LEONID, KARNAUCHOW, BETTY, KARNAUCHOW, LEONID
Applicants: KARNAUCHOW BETTY, KARNAUCHOW LEONID, KARNAUCHOW, BETTY, KARNAUCHOW, LEONID
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F02B77
IPC codes: F02M65