Fluid Method and System

Abstract

A method of filling and/or draining a replaceable fluid container for an engine or vehicle, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a plurality of container ports, wherein replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine with the plurality of container ports positioned on and coupled to at least one port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine, wherein each of the plurality of container ports has an operational function, wherein the operational function of at least one of the plurality container ports is that of being a fluid outlet port to allow the supply of fluid from the fluid reservoir, the method comprising modifying the operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports to assist filling and/or draining of the reservoir, a related filling and/or draining interface plate configured to interface between a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine and a filling and/or draining system of a replaceable fluid container management facility and a kit comprising such an interface plate and a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine.

1 . A method of filling and/or draining a replaceable fluid container for an engine or vehicle, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a plurality of container ports, wherein the replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine with the plurality of container ports positioned on and coupled to at least one port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine, wherein each of the plurality of container ports has an operational function, wherein the operational function of at least one of the plurality container ports is that of being a fluid outlet port to allow the supply of fluid from the fluid reservoir, the method comprising:
 modifying the operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports to assist filling and/or draining of the reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of container ports includes a fluid inlet port to allow the supply of fluid to the fluid reservoir, wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports comprises modifying the operational function of at least one of the fluid inlet port or the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports comprises blocking the fluid inlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising opening the fluid inlet port and maintaining it open during filling and/or draining of the fluid container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of container ports includes a breather port arranged to allow air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the container ports comprises blocking the breather port during filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the container ports comprises opening the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port and 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. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the container ports comprises filling the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port and/or draining the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising filling the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port simultaneously and/or draining the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port simultaneously. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the container ports comprises coupling a filling and/or draining interface plate between the replaceable fluid container and a 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 filling and/or draining elements of the filling and/or draining system. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A filling and/or draining interface plate configured to interface between a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine and a filling and/or draining system of a replaceable fluid container management facility, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a plurality of container ports, wherein the replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine with the plurality of container ports positioned on and coupled to at least one 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 interface plate has a first surface configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of container ports of the replaceable fluid container and a second surface configured to cooperate with at least one of a plurality of filling and/or draining elements of the filling and/or draining system, the interface plate having at least one channel between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one channel being configured to fluidically couple at least one of the plurality of container ports to at least one of the plurality of filling and/or draining elements so as to modify an operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports.   
     
     
         13 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one channel is configured to modify the operational function of at least one of a fluid outlet port and a fluid inlet port of the plurality of container ports of the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         14 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , wherein modifying the operational function of at least one of the plurality of container ports comprises blocking the fluid inlet port. 
     
     
         15 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , comprising opening the fluid inlet port and maintaining it open during filling and/or draining of the fluid container. 
     
     
         16 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of container ports includes a breather port arranged to allow air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container. 
     
     
         17 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 16 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to block or inhibit opening of the breather port during filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir to avoid contamination of the breather port with the fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 17 , wherein the interface plate is configured to inhibit opening of a valve of the breather port. 
     
     
         19 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to couple one of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to a filling and/or draining element via the at least one channel to allow filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through that port, and couple the other of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to air to allow air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container through that port. 
     
     
         20 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to open a valve of one of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port and to couple that port to a filling and/or draining element via the at least one channel to allow filling and/or draining the fluid reservoir through that port and to open a valve of the other of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to air to allow air to enter or exit the replaceable fluid container through that port. 
     
     
         21 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of any of  claim 13 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to couple the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to at least one filling and/or draining element via the at least one channel to allow filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         22 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 13 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to open a valve of each of the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port and to couple the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to at least one filling and/or draining element via the at least one channel to allow filling and/or draining of the fluid reservoir through both the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. 
     
     
         23 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 21 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate is configured to couple the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to a single filling and/or draining element via the at least one channel. 
     
     
         24 . The filling and/or draining interface plate of  claim 21 , wherein the filling and/or draining interface plate has a plurality of channels and is configured to couple the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port to different filling and/or draining elements via respective ones of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A kit comprising a filling and/or draining interface plate according to  claim 12  and a replaceable fluid container for a vehicle or engine, wherein the replaceable fluid container comprises a fluid reservoir and a plurality of container ports, wherein the replaceable fluid container is configured to be docked with a dock associated with the vehicle or engine with the plurality of container ports positioned on and coupled to at least one port of the dock to place the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid circulation system associated with the vehicle or engine.