Method of filtering a fluid and remote filtering station

Abstract

Filtering of an operating fluid of a mechanical device is performed utilizing a pumping device of the mechanical device which routinely circulated the operating fluid within the mechanical device. A remote filtering station of the present invention has a first conduit to contain the operating fluid during transfer from the mechanical device, a filter and a second conduit to contain the operating fluid during transfer back to the mechanical device. In the most preferred embodiment a filter replacement adapter is attached in place of the mechanical device's filter during the filtering procedure. The mechanical device is operated during the filtering procedure where the pumping device of the mechanical device circulates the operating fluid through the mechanical device and through the filter of the remote filtering station. This provides for a cleansing of all of the conduits of the mechanical device which routinely has the operating fluid circulated therethrough.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A method of filtering an operating fluid contained in a mechanical device, the mechanical device having a pumping device to provide for movement of the operating fluid within the mechanical device and at least partially within a transfer conduit of the mechanical device, the method comprising: 
 a) providing a remote filtering station having: 
 1) a filter;  
 2) a first conduit for fluid transfer to the remote filtering station;  
 3) a second conduit for fluid transfer from the remote filtering station;  
   b) connecting the first conduit relative to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device for the fluid transfer of the operating fluid from the transfer conduit of the mechanical device to the first conduit;    c) connecting the second conduit relative to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device downstream of the connection of the first conduit to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device for the fluid transfer of the operating fluid from the second conduit to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device;    d) operating the pumping device of the mechanical device to move the operating fluid through the transfer conduit of the mechanical device and into the first conduit and through the filter of the remote filtering station and through the second conduit and into the transfer conduit of the mechanical device.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the operating fluid is a hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the mechanical device further comprises a hydraulic unit capable of being operated through a range of motion in response to movement of the hydraulic fluid through the transfer conduit of the mechanical device utilizing the pumping device of the mechanical device and wherein the method further comprises operating the hydraulic unit generally through the range of motion during at least a portion of the filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the mechanical device further comprises a filter bracket in communication with the transfer conduit of the mechanical device and wherein the mechanical device further comprises a filter connected to the filter bracket of the mechanical device and wherein the method further comprises: 
 a) removing the filter of the mechanical device from the filter bracket of the mechanical device;    b) connecting the first conduit relative to the filter bracket of the mechanical device and;    c) connecting the second conduit relative to the filter bracket of the mechanical device.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising providing a filter replacement adapter attached to the filter bracket of the mechanical device subsequent to removing the filter of the mechanical device and wherein the connecting of the first conduit occurs relative to the filter replacement adapter and wherein the connecting of the second conduit occurs relative to the filter replacement adapter.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said filter replacement adapter further comprises an outer portion and a tightening portion and wherein the outer portion of said filter replacement adapter remains generally axially stationary during attachment of the outer portion to the filter bracket of the mechanical device and wherein the tightening portion at least partially penetrates the outer portion during attachment to the filter bracket of the mechanical device and wherein at least a portion of the tightening portion is rotated during attachment of the filter replacement adapter to the filter bracket of the mechanical device.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said filter replacement adapter further comprises a quick connect/release fittings associated with the first conduit and a quick connect/release fittings associated with the second conduit.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said filter replacement adapter further comprises a length of conduit separating the filter replacement adapter from the quick connect/release fittings associated with the first conduit and a length of conduit separating the filter replacement adapter from the quick connect/release fittings associated with the second conduit.  
   
   
       29 . A method of filtering a hydraulic fluid contained in a mechanical device, the mechanical device having a pumping device, a filter bracket and a filter, the filter being connected to the filter bracket of the mechanical device, the pumping device of the mechanical device providing for movement of the hydraulic fluid within the mechanical device and at least partially within a transfer conduit of the mechanical device, the filter bracket of the mechanical device in communication with the transfer conduit of the mechanical device wherein the hydraulic fluid pumped by the pumping device of the mechanical device routinely passes through the filter bracket of the mechanical device through the filter of the mechanical device and back through the filter bracket of the mechanical device the method comprising: 
 a) providing a remote filtering station having: 
 1) a remote filter;  
 2) a filter replacement adapter;  
 3) a first conduit to provide for containment of the hydraulic fluid during at least a portion of a fluid transfer from the filter replacement adapter to the remote filter;  
 4) a second conduit to provide for containment of the hydraulic fluid during at least a portion of a fluid transfer from the remote filter to the filter replacement adapter;  
   b) removing the filter of the mechanical device from the filter bracket of the mechanical device of the mechanical device:    c) attaching the filter replacement adapter to the filter bracket of the mechanical device wherein the hydraulic fluid pumped by the pumping device of the mechanical device passes through the filter replacement adapter;    d) operating the pumping device of the mechanical device to move the hydraulic fluid through the transfer conduit of the mechanical device and through the filter replacement adapter and into the first conduit and through the remote filter and through the second conduit and into the filter replacement adapter and to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device wherein the hydraulic fluid is filtered by the remote filter.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising providing a pressure gauge to provide for monitoring of a fluid back pressure during the filtering of the hydraulic fluid during the operation of the pumping device of the mechanical device.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising providing means to draw a sample of the hydraulic fluid from a downstream side of the remote filter during the remote filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising providing a flow gauge to provide for monitoring of a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid during the remote filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the remote filtering station further comprises a second remote filter to provide for subsequent filtering of the hydraulic fluid following the filtering of the hydraulic fluid by the remote filter during the remote filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       34 . A remote filtering station to provide for a maintenance filtering of a hydraulic fluid of a mechanical device, the mechanical device having a hydraulic fluid pumping device to circulate the hydraulic fluid through a transfer conduit of the mechanical device under pressure during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device, the remote filtering station comprising: 
 a) a first conduit to provide for containing the hydraulic fluid during transit from the mechanical device during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device into the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid;    b) a second conduit to provide for containing the hydraulic fluid during transit to the mechanical device during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device from the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid;    c) a filter positioned between the first conduit and the second conduit wherein the hydraulic fluid moves through the filter of the remote filtering station during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid, the filter of the remote filtering station to provide for at least a portion of particulate matter contained in the hydraulic fluid to be trapped within the filter of the remote filtering station and therefore removed from the hydraulic fluid prior to movement to the second conduit;    d) means to divert the hydraulic fluid from the transfer conduit of the mechanical device during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device to the first conduit during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid;    e) means to return the hydraulic fluid to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device during operation of the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device from the second conduit during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid.    
   
   
       35 . The remote filtering station of  claim 34  wherein the means to divert the hydraulic fluid from the transfer conduit and the means to return the hydraulic fluid to the transfer conduit of the mechanical device further comprises a filter replacement adapter, the filter replacement adapter to replace a filter of the mechanical device during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       36 . The remote filtering station of  claim 35  wherein the filter replacement adapter further comprises an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion remaining generally axially stationary during installation on the mechanical device, the inner portion to penetrate the outer portion during installation on the mechanical device, at least a portion of the inner portion rotatable during installation on the mechanical device.  
   
   
       37 . The remote filtering station of  claim 36  wherein the inner portion of the filter replacement adapter further comprises a tightening shaft having internal threads to mate with a filter mounting shaft of the mechanical device, the filter mounting shaft of the mechanical device having external threads.  
   
   
       38 . The remote filtering station of  claim 35  wherein the outer portion of the filter replacement adapter has a first semi-permanent hose extending therefrom and a second-semi-permanent hose extending therefrom, the first semi-permanent hose to connect with the first conduit of the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid, the second semi-permanent hose to connect with the second conduit of the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       39 . The remote filtering station of  claim 38  wherein the first semi-permanent hose has a quick connect/release fitting for ready attachment and detachment from the first conduit of the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid, and wherein the second semi-permanent hose has a quick connect/release fitting for ready attachment and detachment from the second conduit of the remote filtering station during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid.  
   
   
       40 . The remote filtering station of  claim 35  wherein the mechanical device has a hydraulic unit powered by hydraulic fluid displaced through the transfer conduit of the mechanical device under pressure by the hydraulic fluid pumping device of the mechanical device and wherein the hydraulic unit is operated generally through a range of motions during the maintenance filtering of the hydraulic fluid of the mechanical device.