Claims:1. A device for testing hydraulic fluid, comprising:
a tank (11) that facilitates the holding of a hydraulic fluid to be tested;
a plurality of probes (12) that is disposed in the tank (11), said plurality of probes (12) facilitating the generating of electrical pulses;
an at least a light source (14) that facilitates the generating of light energy;
an at least a light-dependent resistor (15) that facilitates the capturing of the light energy coming out from the hydraulic fluid to be tested;
the controller (13) that: facilitates the monitoring and controlling of the operations of the testing device (10); facilitates the finding of the quality of the hydraulic fluid to be tested; and is communicatively associated with: the plurality of probes (12); the at least one light source (14); the at least one light-dependent resistor (15); a display (16); and a power source (17);
the display (16) that facilitates the presenting of the test results to a user; and
the power source (17) that facilitates the supplying of power to the testing device (10).
2. The device for testing hydraulic fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light source (14) is a laser diode, and the light energy generated by the at least one light source (14) is laser light.
3. The device for testing hydraulic fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display (16) is a touch-enabled display that facilitates the interacting of the user with the testing device (10).
4. The device for testing hydraulic fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source (17) is an at least a rechargeable battery.
5. The device for testing hydraulic fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tank (11) is made of clear acrylic fiber.
6. The device for testing hydraulic fluid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the test result displayed is good or poor. , Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A DEVICE FOR TESTING HYDRAULIC FLUID
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is generally related to a testing device. Particularly, the present disclosure is related to a handheld device for testing the fluid used in hydraulic systems, such as hydraulic brakes and/or hydraulic clutches of automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hydraulic systems function and perform tasks by using a fluid that is pressurized i.e., the pressurized fluid is responsible for the functioning of hydraulic systems. Nowadays, most automotive vehicles have hydraulic-based brake and/or clutch systems.
In hydraulic brake and/or clutch systems, the hydraulic fluid is used to transmit power from one point to another, during the application of the brakes and/or clutches. The efficiency of such hydraulic brake and/or clutch systems depends on the quality of the hydraulic fluid used in the systems.
Generally, two types of hydraulic fluids, namely DOT 3 and DOT 4, are used in hydraulic brake and/or clutch systems. The wet and dry boiling point of DOT 3 and DOT 4 hydraulic fluid are 140 degrees Centigrade and 155 degrees Centigrade, and 205 degrees Centigrade and 230 degrees Centigrade, respectively.
The hydraulic fluid used in hydraulic brake and/or clutch systems is hygroscopic in nature, which means it absorbs moisture from the surrounding air. The minimum requirement of wet boiling point for DOT 3 and DOT 4-type hydraulic fluid is 145 degrees Centigrade and 155 degrees Centigrade, respectively. The wet boiling point is reached at a water content level of 3.5%. Once this point has been reached, the brake fluid must be changed.
Water in the brake fluid or a low boiling point is undesirable as the brakes get hot during use; some of the heat is transferred to the brake caliper, and, thus, into the hydraulic fluid. During rigorous braking, temperatures can become so high that the brake fluid boils, introducing bubbles of gas into the hydraulics. The bubbles of gas increase the overall compressibility of the brake fluid, leading to a spongey pedal/lever, and, in extreme cases, can lead to complete brake failure.
There are few testing devices, such as conductivity meter and boiling point device available in the industry to test the quality of hydraulic fluid. However, none of the devices are handy, cost-effective, and accurate in detecting the quality of the hydraulic fluid.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for a device for testing hydraulic fluid, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device for testing hydraulic fluid is disclosed. Said testing device comprises: a tank; a plurality of probes; an at least a light source; an at least a light-dependent resistor; a controller; a display; and a power source.
The tank facilitates the holding of a hydraulic fluid to be tested. The tank is made of clear acrylic fiber.
The plurality of probes is disposed in the tank, said plurality of probes facilitating the generating of electrical pulses. The at least a light source facilitates the generating of light energy. The at least a light-dependent resistor facilitates the capturing of the light energy coming out from the hydraulic fluid to be tested.
The controller facilitates: the monitoring and controlling of the operations of the testing device, and the finding of the quality of the hydraulic fluid to be tested. Said controller is communicatively associated with: the plurality of probes the at least one light source; the at least one light-dependent resistor; a display; and a power source.
The display facilitates the presenting of the test results to a user. The test result displayed is good or poor. The power source facilitates the supplying of power to the testing device. The power source is an at least a rechargeable battery.
The method of working of the testing device is also disclosed. The disclosed testing device is: simple; cost-effective; and user-friendly for performing hydraulic fluid testing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a device for testing hydraulic fluid, in accordance with the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, the use of the words "comprise", “have”, “contain”, and “include”, and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", “having”, “contains”, “containing”, “includes”, and “including” may imply the inclusion of an element or elements not specifically recited. The disclosed embodiments may be embodied in various other forms as well.
Throughout this specification, the phrases “at least a”, “at least an”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “device” is to be construed as a set of technical components that are communicatively or operably associated with each other, and function together as part of a mechanism to achieve a desired technical result.
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “communication”, “couple”, and their variations (such as communicatively) are to be construed as being inclusive of: one-way communication (or coupling); and two-way communication (or coupling), as the case may be.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase/word “hydraulic fluid” or “fluid” is to be construed as the fluid that is used in hydraulic systems, such as hydraulic brakes and/or hydraulic clutches of automotive vehicles.
Throughout this specification, the user of the word “handheld” and its variations are to be construed as “a device that is compact and portable enough to be held and used in one or both hands”.
A device for testing hydraulic fluid (10) is disclosed (hereinafter ‘testing device’). As illustrated in Figure 1, an embodiment of said testing device comprises: a tank (11); a plurality of probes (12); an at least a light source (14); an at least a light-dependent resistor (15); a controller (13); a display (16); and a power source (17).
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tank (11) facilitates the holding of a hydraulic fluid to be tested. The plurality of probes (12) is disposed in the tank (11), and is associated with the controller (13). Said plurality of probes (12) facilitates the generating of electrical pulses.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the tank (11) is made of clear acrylic fiber. Alternatively, the tank (11) may be made of any other similar material.
The controller (13) facilitates the monitoring and controlling of the operations of the testing device (10). The controller (13) is communicatively associated with: the plurality of probes (12); the at least one light source (14); the at least one light-dependent resistor (15); the display (16); and the power source (17).
The at least one light source (14) facilitates the generating of light energy. The at least one light-dependent resistor (15) facilitates the capturing of the light energy coming out from the hydraulic fluid to be tested.
The display (16) facilitates the presenting of the test results to a user, while the power source (17) facilitates the supplying of power to the testing device (10).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one light source (14) is a laser diode. The light energy generated by the at least one light source (14) is laser light.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the display (16) is a touch-enabled display, and facilitates the interacting of the user with the testing device (10).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the power source (17) is an at least a rechargeable battery.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller (13) is a microcontroller.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller (13) is a Single-Board-Computer.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller (13) is a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).
The working of the testing device (10) shall now be explained.
A required amount of the hydraulic fluid to be tested from a reservoir of a hydraulic brake and/or hydraulic clutch system is collected using a suction tube. Preferably, 8 ml of the hydraulic fluid is collected for testing. The collected hydraulic fluid to be tested is poured into the tank (11).
The electrical pulses generated by the plurality of probes (12) are made to pass through the hydraulic fluid to be tested, and the drop in voltage caused by the resistance of the hydraulic fluid to be tested is transmitted to the controller (13).
Subsequently, the light energy generated by the at least one light source (14) is made to pass through the hydraulic fluid to be tested. The light energy that comes out after passing through the hydraulic fluid to be tested is collected by the at least one light-dependent resistor (15), with the variation in resistance being transmitted to the controller (13).
Based on the values received from the plurality of probes (12) and the at least one light-dependent resistor (15), the controller (13) calculates the conductance and the refractive index of the hydraulic fluid to be tested, thereby finding a result that depicts the quality of the hydraulic fluid to be tested. The test results (e.g. good or poor) are presented to the user through the display (16).
In yet another embodiment of the present embodiment, the conductance shall be calculated by finding average of ten consecutive values received from the plurality of probes (12).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the quality of the hydraulic fluid is determined as good, if the conductance is between 940 and 948, and the refractive index is 3. Similarly, the quality of the hydraulic fluid is determined as poor, if the conductivity is between 550 and 570, and the refractive index is between 0 and 1.
The disclosed device for testing hydraulic fluid is: simple; cost-effective; and user-friendly for performing hydraulic fluid testing.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations and improvements without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure may be made by a person skilled in the art. Such modifications, additions, alterations and improvements should be construed as being within the scope of this disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 – Device for Testing Hydraulic Fluid
11 – Tank
12 – Plurality of Probes
13 – Controller
14 – At Least a Light Source
15 – At Least a Light-Dependent Resistor
16 – Display
17 – Power Source