Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle fluid delivery system comprising (a) a housing defining a first cavity, wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side and the second side being separated by a continuous side wall extending around their peripheries, and wherein the housing is adapted to be removable from a vehicle, (b) a fluid reservoir positioned in the first cavity of the housing, (c) a fluid port coupling disposed on the first side of the housing and providing fluid access to the fluid reservoir, and (d) a fluid barrier external to and contiguous with the side wall.

Abstract: An agricultural machine, comprising is disclosed, wherein the machine comprises a body frame; a cutting system mounted on the body frame; a drive system mounted on the body frame; a power unit, mounted on the body frame, adapted to provide power to the drive system and/or the cutting system; and a fluid distribution system adapted to provide fluid to the power unit. The fluid distribution system further comprises a dock and a replaceable fluid container adapted to contain fluid to be supplied to the power unit the dock being adapted to retain the replaceable fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid distribution system so as to supply fluid from the replaceable fluid container via the fluid distribution system to the power unit. A method of facilitating an oil change in an agricultural machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system of maintaining a predetermined working quantity of fluid in a reduced volume sump of a motor or vehicle. The method includes recurrently determining a quantity of fluid in the sump and comparing the determined quantity of fluid to the predetermined working fluid quantity. In response to identifying a deviation between the determined quantity of fluid and the predetermined working fluid quantity, the method includes sending a control signal to a fluid pumping system to transfer fluid between the sump and a fluid container.

Abstract: An agricultural machine, comprising is disclosed, wherein the machine comprises a body frame; a cutting system mounted on the body frame; a drive system mounted on the body frame; a power unit, mounted on the body frame, adapted to provide power to the drive system and/or the cutting system; and a fluid distribution system adapted to provide fluid to the power unit. The fluid distribution system further comprises a dock and a replaceable fluid container adapted to contain fluid to be supplied to the power unit the dock being adapted to retain the replaceable fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid distribution system so as to supply fluid from the replaceable fluid container via the fluid distribution system to the power unit. A method of facilitating an oil change in an agricultural machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for an engine or a vehicle, comprising: a fluid reservoir, at least one fluid port adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system; and an actuator, configured to be operated between a first condition and a second condition, wherein the actuator is configured, in the first condition, to enable the fluid container to be inserted into and/or held in a dock, in a seated but undocked condition, and inhibit docking of the fluid container to the dock; and wherein the actuator is further configured, when operated from the first condition to the second condition with the fluid container being in the seated but undocked condition, to enable the fluid container to dock in an engaged condition with the dock, associated docks and associated methods of supplying a fluid to a vehicle or an engine and of decoupling a fluid container from a fluid circulation system of a vehicle or an engine.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for an engine or a vehicle, comprising: a fluid reservoir, at least one fluid port adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system; and an actuator, configured to be operated between a first condition and a second condition, wherein the actuator is configured, in the first condition, to enable the fluid container to be inserted into and/or held in a dock, in a seated but undocked condition, and inhibit docking of the fluid container to the dock; and wherein the actuator is further configured, when operated from the first condition to the second condition with the fluid container being in the seated but undocked condition, to enable the fluid container to dock in an engaged condition with the dock, associated docks and associated methods of supplying a fluid to a vehicle or an engine and of decoupling a fluid container from a fluid circulation system of a vehicle or an engine.

Abstract: A power unit replaceable fluid container, the power unit being in fluid connection with a fluid distribution system, is disclosed. The container comprises a generally cuboid housing adapted to contain a fluid, the housing having a continuous outer wall, a base portion closing one end of the outer wall and a lid portion situated opposite the base portion and closing a second end of the outer wall to form a container. An indent is provided in the base portion and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet situated within the indent. The indent in the base portion is sized to receive and accommodate a removable manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to control fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system. The fluid circulation system is coupled to a fluid container that includes a fluid supply port configured to couple to a fluid supply line of the fluid circulation system, a fluid return port configured to couple to a fluid return line of the fluid circulation system, and a breather port. The apparatus is configured to cause fluid to flow into the fluid container from the fluid circulation system while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system, so as to collect the fluid in the replaceable fluid container, and to cause a gas to flow from the replaceable fluid container through the breather port while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system.

Abstract: A method is described of supplying liquid to a liquid delivery system in a vehicle. A a replaceable liquid container including a reservoir containing liquid is releasably coupled in the vehicle to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and a liquid delivery system of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The method includes the steps of: (i) prior to establishing liquid communication between the reservoir and the liquid delivery system of a selected vehicle, communicating with a data carrier carried by the container and determining data associated with at least one of the container and its contents; and (ii) using the data in an analysis of suitability of the container and/or content of the container for the selected vehicle and generating a suitability output, and (iii) establishing liquid communication between the reservoir and liquid delivery system of the selected vehicle in dependence on the suitability output.

Abstract: A method is described of supplying liquid to a liquid delivery system in a vehicle. A a replaceable liquid container including a reservoir containing liquid is releasably coupled in the vehicle to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and a liquid delivery system of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The method includes the steps of: (i) prior to establishing liquid communication between the reservoir and the liquid delivery system of a selected vehicle, communicating with a data carrier carried by the container and determining data associated with at least one of the container and its contents; and (ii) using the data in an analysis of suitability of the container and/or content of the container for the selected vehicle and generating a suitability output, and (iii) establishing liquid communication between the reservoir and liquid delivery system of the selected vehicle in dependence on the suitability output.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to control fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system. The fluid circulation system is coupled to a fluid container that includes a fluid supply port configured to couple to a fluid supply line of the fluid circulation system, a fluid return port configured to couple to a fluid return line of the fluid circulation system, and a breather port. The apparatus is configured to cause fluid to flow into the fluid container from the fluid circulation system while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system, so as to collect the fluid in the replaceable fluid container, and to cause a gas to flow from the replaceable fluid container through the breather port while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a replaceable fluid container for an engine comprising: a first reservoir for holding a fluid; a second reservoir for holding a composition to be added to the fluid; a fluid coupling adapted to provide fluidic communication between the first reservoir and a fluid circulation system of the engine; and a dose controller to provide a dose of the composition into the fluid for circulation in a fluid circulation system of the engine.

Abstract: A method is described of controlling at least one operation in at least part of a lifecycle of a replaceable container which is arranged to be removably seated in a dock in a vehicle and which at least before seating in the dock contains an ancillary fluid for use by the vehicle. A controller communicates with a data carrier carried by the container, determines, on the basis of the communication with the data carrier, data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle, and controls carrying out of at least one action in relation to at least one of the container and its contents on the basis of the data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system associated with an engine, the fluid circulation system being coupled to a replaceable fluid container comprising a fluid supply port configured to couple to a fluid supply line of the fluid circulation system, and a fluid return port configured to couple to a fluid return line of the fluid circulation system, and a breather port configured to couple to a breather output of the fluid circulation system, the method comprising causing the fluid to flow into the replaceable fluid container from the fluid circulation system while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system, so as to collect the fluid in the replaceable fluid container, and related apparatus configured to control fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system associated with an engine, and causing a gas to flow from the replaceable fluid container through the breather port while inhibiting outflow of the fluid from

Abstract: In some embodiments, there is provided a method of controlling a pressure gradient between a combustion chamber and a crankcase of an engine, the method having: receiving, at a control device, a signal indicating that a lubricant container is coupled to a lubricant circulation system associated with the engine, in response to the received signal, providing data to cause operation of a suction control device for facilitating control of the pressure gradient.

Abstract: A method is described of controlling at least one operation in at least part of a lifecycle of a replaceable container which is arranged to be removably seated in a dock in a vehicle and which at least before seating in the dock contains an ancillary fluid for use by the vehicle. A controller communicates with a data carrier carried by the container, determines, on the basis of the communication with the data carrier, data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle, and controls carrying out of at least one action in relation to at least one of the container and its contents on the basis of the data associated with at least one of the container, its contents and the vehicle.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for an engine or a vehicle, comprising: a fluid reservoir, at least one fluid port adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system; and an actuator, configured to be operated between a first condition and a second condition, wherein the actuator is configured, in the first condition, to enable the fluid container to be inserted into and/or held in a dock, in a seated but undocked condition, and inhibit docking of the fluid container to the dock; and wherein the actuator is further configured, when operated from the first condition to the second condition with the fluid container being in the seated but undocked condition, to enable the fluid container to dock in an engaged condition with the dock, associated docks and associated methods of supplying a fluid to a vehicle or an engine and of decoupling a fluid container from a fluid circulation system of a vehicle or an engine.

Abstract: A method for controlling fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system associated with an engine, the fluid circulation system being coupled to a replaceable fluid container comprising a fluid supply port configured to couple to a fluid supply line of the fluid circulation system, and a fluid return port configured to couple to a fluid return line of the fluid circulation system, and a breather port configured to couple to a breather output of the fluid circulation system, the method comprising causing the fluid to flow into the replaceable fluid container from the fluid circulation system whilst inhibiting outflow of the fluid from the replaceable fluid container into the fluid circulation system, so as to collect the fluid in the replaceable fluid container, and related apparatus configured to control fluid distribution in a fluid circulation system associated with an engine, and causing a gas to flow from the replaceable fluid container through the breather port whilst inhibiting outflow of the fluid fr

Abstract: Replaceable fluid containers for engines, such as those comprising at least one fluid port adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system of the engine when the replaceable container is coupled to a dock, a data provider configured to provide analog data characteristic of at least one of the fluid and the container, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog data from the data provider into digitized data, and an interface configured to provide the digitized data unprocessed to an interface of the dock for supply to a processor configured to process the unprocessed digitized data to provide an indication of a property of at least one of the fluid and the container, related replaceable fluid containers for engines and associated methods of determining a property of a fluid in a replaceable fluid container for an engine.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for an engine or a vehicle, comprising: a fluid reservoir, at least one fluid port adapted to couple with a fluid circulation system; and an actuator, configured to be operated between a first condition and a second condition, wherein the actuator is configured, in the first condition, to enable the fluid container to be inserted into and/or held in a dock, in a seated but undocked condition, and inhibit docking of the fluid container to the dock; and wherein the actuator is further configured, when operated from the first condition to the second condition with the fluid container being in the seated but undocked condition, to enable the fluid container to dock in an engaged condition with the dock, associated docks and associated methods of supplying a fluid to a vehicle or an engine and of decoupling a fluid container from a fluid circulation system of a vehicle or an engine.