Fluid System

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.

1 . A method, comprising:
 aligning a groove of a container with a guide of a dock of a fluid circulation system;   moving the container relative to the guide via the groove such that a fluid port of the container comes into fluid communication with a coupling of the dock; and   based on moving the container relative to the guide via the groove, causing a valve of the fluid port to open.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the container relative to the guide seals the fluid port with the coupling such that a fluid pressure opens the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the groove along the guide until the guide reaches a detent in the groove, wherein the fluid port is in fluid communication with the coupling when the guide reaches the detent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the groove comprises a detent, wherein the fluid port is in fluid communication with the coupling when the guide reaches the detent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid circulation system is part of a vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid circulation system is coupled to an engine of a vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the container relative to the guide via the groove comprises rotating at least one of the container or a handle coupled to the dock. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a protrusion that movably couples to the groove. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising guiding the protrusion along the groove as the container is moved towards an engaged position, wherein the fluid port is in fluid communication with the coupling when the container is in the engaged position. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a dock of a fluid circulation system, wherein the dock comprises a guide; and   a container that comprises a groove that corresponds to the guide such that movement of the container relative to the guide via the groove causes the container to go from a first position to a second position;   wherein when the container is in the first position the container is not in fluid communication with the fluid circulation system, but when the container is the second position the container is in fluid communication with the fluid circulation system.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first position is a seated position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second position is an engaged position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the guide comprises a protrusion that movably couples to the groove. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the groove comprises a detent, and wherein the container is in the second position when the protrusion reaches the detent. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the container further comprises a fluid port, and wherein the fluid port and the groove are located on a bottom end of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the movement of the container relative to the guide is rotational movement. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a fluid port of a container onto a coupling of a dock of a fluid circulation system such that the fluid port is in a first position relative the coupling, wherein when the container is in the first position the container is not in fluid communication with the fluid circulation system; and   moving the fluid port further onto the coupling such that the fluid port is in a second position, wherein when in the second position the fluid port and the coupling are in fluid communication.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the container further comprises a groove configured to mate with a protrusion of the dock such that when the fluid port is moved to the second position, the protrusion moves along the groove. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein when in the second position, the fluid port and the coupling are sealed such that a fluid pressure opens a valve within the fluid port. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the fluid port further onto the coupling to the second position comprises rotating at least one of the container or a handle of the dock such that the container reaches the second position.