Fluid Method and System

Abstract

A method of filling and/or draining a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a container port, wherein the replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine when the container port is positioned on and coupled to a port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine, the method comprising positioning the container port on a filling and/or draining element of a filling and/or draining system of a replaceable fluid container management facility, so coupling the container port to the filling and/or draining element, to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with the filling and/or draining system; and filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through the port, and related filling and/or draining system for a replaceable fluid container management facility.

1 . A method of filling and/or draining a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a container port, wherein the replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine when the container port is positioned on and coupled to a port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine, the method comprising
 positioning the container port on a filling and/or draining element of a filling and/or draining system of a replaceable fluid container management facility, so coupling the container port to the filling and/or draining element, to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with the filling and/or draining system; and   filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through the port.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container port is located on the replaceable fluid container such that the fluid reservoir is positioned above the container port when the replaceable fluid container is docked with the dock or coupled with the filling and/or draining element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises an aperture through which to fill or drain the removable fluid container, wherein the aperture is spaced from the container port, the method comprising filling and/or draining the removable fluid container through the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the replaceable fluid container has a plurality of walls including a first wall which is uppermost when the replaceable fluid container is docked with the dock, a second wall which is lowermost when the replaceable fluid container is docked with the dock and a sidewall, wherein the aperture extends through the sidewall of the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the replaceable fluid container has a plurality of walls including a first wall which is uppermost when the replaceable fluid container is docked with the dock, a second wall which is lowermost when the replaceable fluid container is docked with the dock and a sidewall, wherein the aperture extends through the first wall of the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container port forms a self-sealing coupling with the cooperating filling and/or draining element. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising filling and/or draining a portion of the volume of the fluid reservoir at a first rate and subsequently filling and/or draining at least some of the remaining volume of the fluid reservoir at a second rate, wherein the second rate is slower than the first rate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising sensing an amount of fluid in the fluid reservoir and selecting or modifying at least one of a rate and a time period of filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir in response to the sensed amount. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein sensing the amount of fluid comprises sensing the level of the fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein sensing the amount of fluid comprises sensing the weight of the fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a plurality of container ports configured to couple with the cooperating dock associated with the vehicle or engine to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine when the removable fluid container is docked with the dock, wherein the plurality of container ports include a fluid outlet port having a first function of supplying fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid circulation system and a fluid inlet port having a first function of receiving fluid into the fluid reservoir from the fluid circulation system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising modifying the function of at least one of the plurality of container ports so that the modified port has a second function different than the first function, to assist filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of container ports includes a breather port arranged to allow air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container to regulate the internal pressure of the replaceable fluid container during filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein modifying the function of at least one of the container ports comprises blocking the breather port during filing and/or draining of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein modifying the function of at least one of the container ports comprises filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through one of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port whilst allowing air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container through the other of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein modifying the function of at last one of the container ports comprises filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein coupling the replaceable fluid container to the filling and/or draining system comprises providing a filling and/or draining interface plate between the replaceable fluid container and the filling and/or draining system of a replaceable fluid container management facility such that the interface plate couples at least one of the plurality of container ports of the replaceable fluid container to at least one of a plurality of said filling and/or draining elements of the filling and/or draining system so as to modify the function of at least one of the container ports. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the port or at least one of the plurality of container ports comprises a filter, the method comprising wetting the filter with the fluid prior to commencing the filling and/or draining operation to increase the ease of fluid passage through the filter during the filling and/or draining operation. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A filling and/or draining system for a replaceable fluid container management facility, comprising:
 a filling and/or draining element adapted to couple to a container port of a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine when the replaceable fluid container is positioned on the filling and/or draining element, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a container port, wherein replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine with the container port positioned on and coupled to a port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine,   wherein the filling and/or draining element is configured to couple to the container port to allow filling and/or draining of the replaceable fluid container by the filling and/or draining system.   
     
     
         21 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 20 , wherein the filling and/or draining element is configured to couple to the container port such that the fluid reservoir is positioned above the filling and/or draining element with the container port lowermost, wherein the filling and/or draining system is configured to fill the fluid reservoir against the action of gravity. 
     
     
         22 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 20 , wherein the filling and/or draining element is configured to form a self-sealing coupling with the container port. 
     
     
         23 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 20 , wherein the filling and/or draining system is configured to fill and/or drain a portion of the volume of the fluid reservoir at a first rate and subsequently to fill and/or drain at least some of the remaining volume of the fluid reservoir at a second rate, wherein the second rate is slower than the first rate. 
     
     
         24 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 20 , comprising a controller configured to control filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         25 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 24 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir in response to receiving an indication that the replaceable fluid container has been coupled to the filling and/or draining element. 
     
     
         26 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 25 , comprising a coupling sensor for providing the indication that the replaceable fluid container has been coupled to the filling and/or draining element. 
     
     
         27 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 24 , wherein the controller is arranged to receive an indication of an amount of fluid in the fluid reservoir and to select or modify at least one of a rate and a time period of filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir in response to the indication. 
     
     
         28 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 27 , comprising a fluid sensor for providing the indication of the amount of fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 28 , wherein the fluid sensor is at least one of a fluid level sensor and a weight sensor. 
     
     
         30 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the indication of the amount of fluid from a sensor in the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         31 . The filling and/or draining system of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid sensor is at least one of a fluid level sensor and a weight sensor. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)