Apparatus and Method

• US 20170089236A1
• 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: Andersen, Jens, Goodier, Steven Paul, Hellman, Hanna, Leeson, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 10,167,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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.

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 1, further comprising the data store.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, any preceding claim, 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 the fluid of the 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 fluid container;

obtaining a second characteristic based on the identity; and

controlling the extraction of the fluid from the removable fluid container for recycling based on comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 wherein controlling extraction comprises determining whether to extract the fluid.

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 11 further comprising controlling an extractor to extract fluid from the removable fluid container based on comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic.

15. 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.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a signal to control extraction of the fluid into a fluid reservoir.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a network message identifying the container and its contents;

a control signal for controlling an extractor;

an audible alert; and

a visible signal.

18. A 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 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.

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

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second characteristic comprises second data indicating the usage history of the container.

21. 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 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.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 comprising a communication interface configured to communicate with a vehicle in which the container has been used to obtain the first characteristic.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with an engine control unit of the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the communication interface is operable to communicate via a CANBUS protocol.

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

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the network message comprises the identity.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising the fluid provider.

28. (canceled)