Apparatus for identifying fluid of a removable fluid container and method of use

• US 10,167,755 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Andersen, Jens, Goodier, Steven Paul, Hellman, Hanna, Leeson, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Melton, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US15/312,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20170089236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/04 Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0095 Supplementary oil tank
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0483 with a lubricant cartridge for facilitating the change
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/00 Lubricant containers for use in lubricators or lubrication systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2200/12 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/18 Level
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/34 Transparency; Light; Photo sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/36 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/50 Sampling
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 37/00 Equipment for transferring lubricant from one container to another
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: an identity determiner configured to determine an identity of a removable fluid container; a characteristic determiner configured to obtain a first characteristic based on testing the fluid of the fluid container; a data obtainer configured to obtain a second characteristic based on the identity; and a processor configured to control a fluid provider to provide fluid from the removable fluid container based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an identity determiner configured to determine an identity of a removable fluid container removed from a vehicle in which it has been used to supply fluid to a fluid circulation system of the vehicle;

a characteristic determiner configured to obtain a first characteristic based on testing the fluid of the removable fluid container;

a data obtainer configured to obtain a second characteristic based on the identity, the second characteristic including an expected value or range of values;

a fluid provider configured to extract fluid from the removable fluid container;

and a processor configured to compare the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and to control the fluid provider to extract fluid from the removable fluid container based on whether the first characteristic corresponds to the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the data obtainer is configured to obtain the second characteristic from a data store based on the identity.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising the data store.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data obtainer is configured to communicate with the data store over a network to obtain the second characteristic.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second characteristic comprises an operational history of a vehicle during the time period the removable fluid container was installed in the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic determiner is configured to determine the first characteristic via an interface of the removable fluid container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic determiner is configured to remove at least a portion of the fluid of the removable fluid container and determine the first characteristic of the fluid of the removable fluid container.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second characteristic comprises the weight of the fluid in the removable fluid container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second characteristic comprises the viscosity of the fluid in the removable fluid container.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second characteristic comprises the opacity of the fluid in the removable fluid container.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

determining an identity of a removable fluid container for a vehicle engine;

testing a first characteristic of the fluid of the removable fluid container;

obtaining a second characteristic based on the identity, the second characteristic including an expected value or range of values;

comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic; and

controlling a fluid provider to extract the fluid from the removable fluid container for recycling based on whether the first characteristic corresponds to the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 wherein controlling extraction comprises determining whether to extract the fluid such that the fluid provider extracts the fluid if the first characteristic corresponds to the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic and rejects the fluid if the first characteristic differs from the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11 wherein controlling extraction comprises selecting a fluid reservoir into which the fluid is to be extracted.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising sending a signal to control extraction of the fluid into a fluid reservoir.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a network message identifying the removable fluid container and its contents;

a control signal for controlling the fluid provider;

an audible alert; and

a visible signal.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising transferring the fluid into a fluid reservoir selected based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an identity determiner configured to determine an identity of a removable fluid container;

a characteristic determiner configured to obtain a first characteristic based on data carried by the removable fluid container;

a data obtainer configured to obtain a second characteristic based on the identity, the second characteristic including an expected value or range of values;

a fluid provider configured to extract fluid from the removable fluid container;

and a processor configured to compare the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and to control the fluid provider to extract fluid from the removable fluid container based on whether the first characteristic corresponds to the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first characteristic comprises first data indicating the usage history of the removable fluid container.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second characteristic comprises second data indicating the usage history of the removable fluid container.

20. An apparatus comprising:

an identity determiner configured to determine an identity of a removable fluid container removed from a vehicle in which it has been used to supply fluid to a fluid circulation system of the vehicle;

a characteristic determiner configured to obtain a first characteristic based on data stored remotely from the removable fluid container;

a data obtainer configured to obtain a second characteristic based on the identity, the second characteristic including an expected value or range of values;

a fluid provider configured to extract fluid from the removable fluid container;

and a processor configured to compare the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and to control the fluid provider to extract fluid from the removable fluid container based on whether the first characteristic corresponds to the expected value or range of values of the second characteristic.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the characteristic determiner is configured to send a network message to a remote device to obtain the first characteristic.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the network message comprises the identity.

23. An apparatus of claim 20 comprising:

an identity determiner configured to determine an identity of a removable fluid container removed from a vehicle in which it has been used to supply fluid to a fluid circulation system of the vehicle;

a characteristic determiner configured to obtain a first characteristic based on data stored remotely from the removable fluid container;

a data obtainer configured to obtain a second characteristic based on the identity;

a processor configured to control a fluid provider to provide fluid from the removable fluid container based on the comparison of the first characteristic and the second characteristic;

and a communication interface configured to communicate with a vehicle in which the container has been used to obtain the first characteristic.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with an engine control unit of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the communication interface is operable to communicate via a CANBUS protocol.