Brake bleeding apparatus

Abstract

A brake bleeding apparatus comprises a supply receptacle for brake fluid for supply to a braking system, ducting for connecting the supply receptacle with the braking system and a vacuum source connected with the supply receptacle for de-gassing brake fluid stored in the supply receptacle.

1 . Brake bleeding apparatus comprising:
 a supply receptacle for brake fluid for supply to a braking system;   ducting for connecting said supply receptacle with said braking system; and   a vacuum source connected with said supply receptacle for de-gassing brake fluid stored in said supply receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a receiving receptacle and receiving ducting for connecting said receiving receptacle with said braking system to receive brake fluid from said braking system. 
     
     
         3 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said receiving ducting comprises a plurality of ducts for connection to respective brake units of a said braking system. 
     
     
         4 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said receiving receptacle is connected with said vacuum source. 
     
     
         5 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising a collector for collecting condensed brake fluid vapour, said collector being connected with said receiving receptacle such that, in use, said condensed brake fluid is drawn into said receiving receptacle under an influence of vacuum pressure in said receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said collector comprises first ducting having a curved collecting portion and second ducting having a first end connected with said receiving receptacle and a second end received in said curved collecting portion. 
     
     
         7 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said first ducting is selectively exposable to atmosphere at a position remote from portions thereof through which said second ducting extends. 
     
     
         8 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ducting is mounted on self-winding reel apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said self-winding reel apparatus comprises:
 a first reel having an axis of rotation; and   a second reel having an axis of rotation,   wherein said first reel axis of rotation being fixed and said second reel is mounted such that said axis of rotation thereof can be moved from a rest position towards said first reel as said ducting is drawn from said self-winding reel apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising a self-locking device for preventing rewinding of said ducting by said self-winding reel apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , comprising a resilient biasing device for biasing said second reel to said rest position, 
     
     
         12 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said biasing device comprises an elongate elastic member that is put in tension by movement of said second reel towards said first reel, 
     
     
         13 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said self-locking device comprises a biasing member that causes said self-locking device to exert a greater force on said ducting than said resilient biasing device, 
     
     
         14 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said self-locking device comprises an axially movable member having a through-hole through which said ducting extends, said movable member being movable against said biasing member to permit said ducting to slide through said through-hole to allow rewinding of said ducting. 
     
     
         15 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a pump for pumping said brake fluid from said supply receptacle through said supply ducting. 
     
     
         16 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said pump is operable to pump de-gassed brake fluid from said supply receptacle into said braking system while said vacuum source is connected to said receiving receptacle to draw used brake fluid from said braking system into said receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum source comprises a venturi vacuum pump. 
     
     
         18 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising ducting connectable to a pressurised air supply for conducting pressurised air to said pump for driving said pump. 
     
     
         19 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said ducting connectable to said pressurised air supply is selectively communicable with said receiving receptacle for providing a flow of said pressurised air into said receiving receptacle for driving brake fluid received from said braking system out of said receiving receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , arranged such that a vacuum drawn down by said vacuum source in said supply receptacle is held when a connecting flow path between said vacuum source and said supply receptacle is closed. 
     
     
         21 . Brake bleeding apparatus comprising;
 a first receptacle for replacement brake fluid;   a second receptacle for used brake fluid;   first ducting for connecting said first receptacle with an inlet of a braking system and   second ducting for connecting said second receptacle with at least one outlet of the braking system,   wherein at least one of said first and second ducting is supplied from a self-winding supply system comprising two reels mounted such that a distance between them reduces as said ducting is drawn from said supply system and a restoring device for restoring said distance to a distance corresponding to a fully rewound condition of said ducting,   
     
     
         22 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said reels are mounted such that their respective axes are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         23 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein at least one said reel is provided with at least one circumferentially grooved collar for receiving said ducting, said at least one collar being made of a material that has a lower coefficient of friction than the reel. 
     
     
         24 . Brake bleeding apparatus comprising:
 a supply receptacle for brake fluid to be supplied to a brake system;   a receiving receptacle for receiving brake fluid from said brake system;   a vacuum source communicable with said supply receptacle;   a pump communicable with said supply receptacle; and   means for retaining a vacuum in said supply receptacle,   wherein said brake bleeding apparatus is operable such that when said pump is operating to pump brake fluid from said supply receptacle to said brake system vacuum in said receiving receptacle draws brake fluid from said brake system.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  mounted on a wheeled carrier. 
     
     
         27 . A method of bleeding a braking system, said method comprising:
 connecting a supply receptacle containing brake fluid to an inlet of a braking system and a receiving receptacle for receiving brake fluid to an outlet of said braking system; and   applying a positive pressure to brake fluid in said supply receptacle to drive said brake fluid into said braking system and a lower pressure to said supply receptacle such that brake as brake fluid from said supply receptacle is driven into said braking system brake fluid from said braking system is drawn into said receiving receptacle.   
     
     
         28 . A method as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said lower pressure is a sub-atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 27 , comprising applying a positive pressure to said supply receptacle to drain brake fluid thereform, 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 27 , comprising storing brake fluid in said supply receptacle under vacuum. 
     
     
         31 . A method of operating a brake bleeding system that comprises a supply receptacle for brake fluid to be supplied to a braking system and a vacuum source for applying a vacuum to brake fluid in said supply receptacle, said method comprising:
 operating said vacuum source to apply a vacuum to brake fluid in said supply receptacle to degas said brake fluid; and   selectively isolating said supply receptacle for storing said degassed brake fluid in said supply receptacle under said vacuum.   
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , comprising isolating said supply receptacle by closing a valve between said vacuum source and supply receptacle. 
     
     
         33 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , comprising a valve operable to close said connecting flowpath. 
     
     
         34 . Brake bleeding apparatus as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said means for retaining a vacuum comprises a one-way valve.