The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 01, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Robert Henry LaFountain, Rochester, MI (US);
Automotive Products, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for testing and filling hydraulic assemblies such as a hydraulic clutch control assembly for a motor vehicle. A conduit is placed in communication with a pressure chamber of the assembly; air is sucked out of the pressure chamber through the conduit while a series of pressure readings are taken in the conduit indicative of the gradually declining pressure within the pressure chamber; the pressure readings are utilized to generate a vacuum signature; the vacuum signature is compared to a stored vacuum signature corresponding to an acceptable hydraulic assembly; the hydraulic assembly is accepted or rejected based on the match between the generated vacuum signature and the stored vacuum signature; assuming that the assembly is accepted, liquid is supplied through the conduit to gradually fill the pressure chamber of the assembly while taking a series of pressure readings indicative of the pressure in the chamber during the fill process; the fill pressure readings are utilized to generate a fill signature; the fill signature is compared to a stored fill signature corresponding to an acceptable assembly; and the assembly is rejected or accepted based on the correspondence between the generated fill signature and the stored fill signature.