Apparatus and Method

• US 20150292371A1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Barnes, Andrew Philip, Brett, Peter Stuart, Goodier, Steven Paul, O'Malley, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/18 Heating or cooling the filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/10 Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/03 Mounting or connecting of lubricant purifying means relative to the machine or engine; Details of lubricant purifying means filters B01D
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/04 Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/045 Removing lubricant by suction
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1071 comprising oil tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0083 Dry sumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0483 with a lubricant cartridge for facilitating the change
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/005 by evaporating or purifying for heating or cooling of filters B01D35/18, e.g. comprising a vaporising unit B01D35/185

Abstract

A fluid reservoir system for a vehicle engine, which engine comprises a fluid circulation system, the reservoir system comprising a container for fluid, in which the container comprises at least one fluid inlet port, at least one fluid outlet port and at least one vent port and in which, each of said ports comprises a self-sealing coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the vehicle engine to thereby connect said container in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system of the engine and in which the reservoir system comprises at least one latch which is adapted to retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and in which the system comprises at least one actuator which is connected to one or more of said latches and is adapted to operate said one or more latches and said container is elongate; said inlet, outlet and vent ports are located at a common first end of said container; and said at least one actuator is operable at a second end of said container, distal from said ports. Also provided is a method of supplying fluid to a vehicle engine using said fluid reservoir system.

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir system for a vehicle engine, which engine comprises a fluid circulation system, the reservoir system comprising a container for fluid, in which the container comprises at least one fluid inlet port, at least one fluid outlet port and at least one vent port and in which, each of said ports comprises a self-sealing coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the vehicle engine to thereby connect said container in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system of the engine and in which the reservoir system comprises at least one latch which is adapted to retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and in which the system comprises at least one actuator which is connected to one or more of said latches and is adapted to operate said one or more latches and said container is elongate;

said inlet, outlet and vent ports are located at a common first end of said container; and

said at least one actuator is operable at a second end of said container, distal from said ports.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said latch is separate from said self-sealing couplings;

is biased to a locking position to thereby retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which one or more of said self-sealing couplings comprises at least one of said latches which is biased to a locking position to thereby retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 which further comprises at least one further latch which is separate from said self-sealing couplings;

is biased to a locking position to thereby retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said at least one actuator comprises an elongate actuator member which comprises first and second ends and extends between said first and second ends of said container;

and one or more of said latches comprises a collar which is operably connected to said first end of said elongate actuator member by a transverse actuator member.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5 in which said system comprises a single elongate actuator member extending between said first and second ends of said container;

all of said latches comprise a collar; and

all of said collars are operably connected to said first end of said elongate actuator member by a transverse actuator member.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5 in which said actuator comprises a lever for operating said actuator, where the system comprises a handle for carrying the system and the lever is pivotably or slideably mounted on the handle.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said actuator comprises at least one electromagnetic member adapted to operate at least one of said latches.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said container comprises a filter for filtering fluid.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said ports comprises a non-return valve.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which said fluid outlet ports comprise a non-return valve.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said container contains engine lubricating oil composition.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 in which said engine lubricating oil composition is a lubricating oil composition for an internal combustion engine.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 in which the engine lubricating oil composition is a lubricating oil composition for an electric engine.

17. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which said container contains a heat exchange fluid for an electric engine.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1 when said container is in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system of a vehicle engine.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 in which said corresponding ports on said vehicle engine are self-sealing ports.

20. A method of supplying fluid to a vehicle engine comprising a fluid circulation system, which method comprises connecting to said fluid circulation system, a fluid reservoir system as claimed in claim 14.

8. (canceled)

21. A fluid reservoir system for an apparatus, which apparatus comprises a fluid system, the reservoir system comprising a container for fluid, in which the container comprises at least one fluid port, and in which, said port comprises a self-sealing coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the apparatus to thereby connect said container in fluidic communication with the fluid system of the apparatus and in which the reservoir system comprises at least one latch which is adapted to retain said container in fluidic communication with said apparatus fluid system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said apparatus fluid system and in which the system comprises at least one actuator which is connected to one or more of said latches and is adapted to operate said one or more latches and said container is elongate;

said port is located at a first end of said container; and

said at least one actuator is operable at a second end of said container distal from said port.