Fluid System

• US 20170089235A1
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Dawson, Christopher, Goodier, Steven Paul, Howard, Gary, Woodward, Adrian Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,697,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/02 Arrangements of lubricant conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/04 Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0483 with a lubricant cartridge for facilitating the change
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0068 Adaptations for other accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/003 Indicating oil level measuring liquid level in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 21/00 Conduits; Junctions in general F16L; Fittings for lubrication apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/02 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 37/00 Equipment for transferring lubricant from one container to another

Abstract

In one embodiment, there is provided a dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container having: a fluid reservoir; and at least one fluid port having a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine; the dock having: a fastening mechanism configured to cooperate with the container such that, as the container is inserted into the dock, the fastening mechanism acts first to seat the fluid container in the dock but in an undocked condition and then, as the container is inserted further into the dock, acts to bring the fluid container into an engaged condition in which the fluid container is docked with a docking interface of the dock.

Claims

1. A dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container comprising:

a fluid reservoir; and

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine;

the dock comprising;

a fastening mechanism configured to cooperate with the container such that, as the container is inserted into the dock, the fastening mechanism acts first to seat the fluid container in the dock but in an undocked condition and then, as the container is inserted further into the dock, acts to bring the fluid container into an engaged condition in which the fluid container is docked with a docking interface of the dock;

wherein the fastening mechanism comprises an actuator configured to cooperate with a complementary fastening mechanism of the fluid container, the actuator being configured to be operated between;

a first condition where the actuator is configured to abut with the complementary fastening mechanism of the fluid container to hold the fluid container such that the port of the container is in the undocked condition from the docking interface of the dock;

or

a second condition where the actuator is fastened to the complementary fastening mechanism of the fluid container.

3. The dock of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator comprises at least one lever; and

the complementary fastening mechanism comprises a lever engaging surface configured to cooperate with the lever.

4. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be movable with respect to the docking interface in order to guide the fluid container from the undocked condition into the engaged condition.

5. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be movable with respect to the docking interface in order to guide the fluid container from the engaged condition to the undocked condition.

6. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to guide the fluid container from the undocked condition to the engaged condition in a direction normal to the docking interface of the dock.

7. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to guide the fluid container from the engaged condition to the undocked condition in a direction normal to the docking interface of the dock.

8. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

a handle coupled to the lever and configured to be operated by a user to cause the actuator to be operated from the first condition to the second condition.

9. The dock of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

a handle coupled to the lever and configured to be operated by a user to cause the actuator to be operated from the second condition to the first condition.

10. The dock of claim 8, wherein the handle is further configured to cover at least partly a part of the fluid container when the container is in the engaged condition.

11. The dock of claim 1, wherein, in the first condition, the actuator is configured to abut with the complementary fastening mechanism located at a part of the fluid container arranged to be docked to the docking interface of the dock in the engaged condition.

12. The dock of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for accommodating the fluid container in the undocked condition and in the engaged condition.

13. The dock of claim 12, wherein the receiver comprises:

an asymmetric engaging mechanism configured to cooperate with a complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container, such that the fluid container may be accommodated in only one spatial orientation with respect to the dock.

14. The dock of claim 13, wherein the asymmetric engaging mechanism comprises:

a first number of patterns provided in one part of the receiver; and

a second, different, number of patterns provided in another part of the receiver.

15. The dock of claim 13, wherein the asymmetric engaging mechanism comprises:

at least one pattern with a first shape provided in one part of the receiver; and

at least one pattern with a second, different, shape provided in another part of the receiver.

16. The dock of claim 13, wherein the asymmetric engaging mechanism comprises:

at least one pattern with a first dimension provided in one part of the receiver; and

at least one pattern with a second, different, dimension provided in another part of the receiver.

17. The dock of claim 13, wherein the asymmetric engaging mechanism is tapered towards the docking interface of the dock, such that the asymmetric engaging mechanism is configured to:

provide clearance between the asymmetric engaging mechanism of the dock and the complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container for enabling a user to engage the complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container with the asymmetric engaging mechanism of the dock; and

to

guide the fluid container from the undocked condition into the engaged condition into the docking interface.

18. The dock of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the fluid container.

19. The dock of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface for data communication with a data provider of the fluid container.

20. The dock of claim 1, wherein, in the undocked condition, the fastening mechanism is configured to hold the fluid container such that in the undocked condition the container is spaced from the docking interface of the dock.

21. The dock of claim 1, further comprising:

a guiding mechanism configured to guide the fluid container toward a position seated within the dock to enable the fluid container to be docked to a docking interface of the dock in an engaged condition.

22. The dock of claim 1, wherein the reservoir holds a lubricant for a lubricant circulation system of the engine.

36. A replaceable fluid container configured to cooperate with a dock of claim 1, and comprising:

a fluid reservoir; and

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine.

37. The fluid container of claim 36, further comprising:

a data provider arranged for data communication with a control device when the container is engaged with the dock.

41. A method of supplying a fluid to a vehicle engine comprising a fluid circulation system, comprising:

connecting a replaceable fluid container configured to cooperate with a dock, wherein the container comprises;

a fluid reservoir; and

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to couple with the fluid circulation system associated with the engine; and

wherein the dock is a dock of claim 1.

2. (canceled)

23. A dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container comprising:

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the engine to connect the fluid container in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine; and

a data provider arranged for data communication with a control device when the container is engaged with the dock;

the dock comprising;

an actuator comprising at least two levers provided on opposing parts of the actuator and configured to cooperate with two corresponding lever engaging surfaces of the fluid container;

wherein the levers are configured to cause the container to cooperate with the dock in;

a undocked condition, where the levers are configured to hold the fluid container such that the fluid port of the container is in an undocked condition from a docking interface of the dock;

or

an engaged condition where the data provider is arranged for data communication with the control device, where the levers are configured to hold the fluid container in a docked condition with the docking interface of the dock; and

handle coupled to the levers and configured to be operated by a user to cause the levers to be operated from a first condition where the levers are configured to abut with the lever engaging surfaces located at a part of the fluid container arranged to be docked to the docking interface of the dock in the engaged condition of the fluid container;

or a second condition where the levers are fastened to the lever engaging surfaces of the fluid container.

24. The dock of claim 23, further comprising a receiver for accommodating the fluid container in the undocked condition and in the engaged condition, wherein the receiver comprises:

a first number of patterns provided in one part of the receiver; and

a second, different, number of patterns provided in another part of the receiver, and wherein

the patterns are configured to cooperate with complementary patterns of the fluid container, such that the fluid container may be accommodated in only one spatial orientation with respect to the dock.

25. A dock for a replaceable fluid container for an engine, the fluid container comprising:

a fluid reservoir; and

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system associated with the engine; and

the dock comprising;

a guiding mechanism configured to guide the fluid container toward a position seated within the dock to enable the fluid container to be docked to a docking interface of the dock in an engaged condition;

wherein the guiding mechanism comprises an actuator configured to cooperate with a complementary guiding mechanism of the fluid container, the actuator being configured to be operated between;

a first condition where the actuator is configured to abut with the complementary guiding mechanism of the fluid container to hold the fluid container such that the port of the container is in an undocked condition from a docking interface of the dock;

or

a second condition where the actuator is fastened to the complementary guiding mechanism of the fluid container.

26. The dock of claim 25, wherein the guiding mechanism is further configured to guide disengagement of the fluid container from the dock from the engaged condition to the undocked condition.

28. The dock of claim 25, configured to guide the fluid container from the undocked condition to the engaged condition in a direction normal to the docking interface of the dock.

29. The dock of claim 25, configured to guide the fluid container from the engaged condition to the undocked condition in a direction normal to the docking interface of the dock.

30. The dock of claim 25, further comprising:

a receiver for accommodating the fluid container in the undocked condition and in the engaged condition.

31. The dock of claim 30, wherein the receiver comprises:

an asymmetric engaging mechanism configured to cooperate with a complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container, such that the fluid container may be accommodated in only one spatial orientation with respect to the dock.

32. The dock of claim 31, wherein the asymmetric engaging mechanism is tapered towards the docking interface of the dock, such that the asymmetric engaging mechanism is configured to:

provide clearance between the asymmetric engaging mechanism of the dock and the complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container for enabling a user to engage the complementary asymmetric engaging mechanism of the fluid container with the asymmetric engaging mechanism of the dock; and

to

guide the fluid container from the undocked condition into the engaged condition into the docking interface.

33. The dock of claim 25, further comprising:

at least one fluid port comprising a coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the fluid container to connect the fluid container in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system associated with the engine.

34. The dock of claim 25, further comprising:

an interface for data communication with a data provider of the fluid container.

35. The dock of claim 25, wherein the reservoir holds a lubricant for a lubricant circulation system associated with the engine.

27. (canceled)

38-40. -40. (canceled)

42-43. -43. (canceled)