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.

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.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for a vehicle, the container comprising: a housing comprising a fluid reservoir; an outlet port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid system of the vehicle for supplying fluid from the reservoir to the vehicle; an inlet port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir for receiving fluid from the engine to the reservoir; and a vent port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir for allowing gas to be passed into and out from the reservoir, wherein the inlet, outlet and vent ports are arranged on a common end of the housing and are arranged such that the distance between the vent port and the nearest of the inlet port and outlet port is greater than the distance between the inlet port and the outlet port.

Abstract: A cartridge for replenishing a vehicle fluid, a fluid reservoir system comprising same and a holder, a holder, a vehicle engine comprising the fluid reservoir system and a vehicle comprising said engine in which, the cartridge comprises: a housing comprising a first part and a second part; a fluid reservoir in the housing; a port arranged on the first part of the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid system of the vehicle; wherein the second part of the housing is configured to rotate with respect to the first part of the housing to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system to hold the reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system of the vehicle, wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for a vehicle, for example a vehicle engine, the container comprising: a housing comprising a fluid reservoir; at least one fluid port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid system of the vehicle; a vent port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with the vehicle for allowing gas to be passed into and out from the reservoir; a vent tube connected at a first end, to said vent port and arranged within the reservoir to pass through fluid contained in the reservoir when the container is connected with the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with the fluid system of the vehicle, with a second end of the vent tube in a headspace above the fluid in the reservoir, to allow gas communication between the vent port and the headspace, in which the vent tube comprises a vent valve at the second end of the vent tube adapted to close to prevent ingress of fluid and gas from the reservoir into the vent tube wh

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for a vehicle, the container comprising: a housing comprising a fluid reservoir; an outlet port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid system of the vehicle for supplying fluid from the reservoir to the vehicle; an inlet port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir for receiving fluid from the engine to the reservoir; and a vent port arranged on the housing to couple the reservoir for allowing gas to be passed into and out from the reservoir, wherein the inlet, outlet and vent ports are arranged on a common end of the housing and are arranged such that the distance between the vent port and the nearest of the inlet port and outlet port is greater than the distance between the inlet port and the outlet port.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir system for a vehicle engine, which engine comprises a fluid circulation system, the reservoir system comprising a container for fluid, in which the container comprises at least one fluid inlet port, at least one fluid outlet port and at least one vent port and in which, each of said ports comprises a self-sealing coupling adapted to connect to a corresponding coupling on the vehicle engine to thereby connect said container in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system of the engine and in which the reservoir system comprises at least one latch which is adapted to retain said container in fluidic communication with said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and is remotely operable to disconnect said container from said vehicle engine fluid circulation system and in which the system comprises at least one actuator which is connected to one or more of said latches and is adapted to operate said one or more latches and said container is elongate; said inlet, outlet and vent ports

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 pallet comprising: a plurality of container seats wherein each seat is adapted to carry a fluid container; a data obtainer arranged to obtain container data from a data provider carried by a fluid container to be carried; a processor coupled to the data obtainer and configured to provide a signal based on the container data.

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: 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: 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 replaceable fluid container arranged to be removably seated in a dock to supply fluid associated with an engine, the replaceable fluid container comprising a plurality of fluid reservoirs, wherein each reservoir comprises a fluid port arranged to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and a corresponding fluid circulation system associated with the engine when the replaceable fluid container is seated in the dock.

Abstract: This invention relates to an oil reservoir system for an engine comprising: an oil container which includes an oil reservoir, which is in fluidic communication with an oil circulation system of an engine, a ventilated headspace and an oil filter located at the interior of said oil container. The invention also relates to a method for deaeration of an oil of an oil reservoir which is in fluidic communication with an oil circulation system of an engine. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising the oil reservoir system.

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.

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.

Abstract: A cartridge for replenishing a vehicle fluid, a fluid reservoir system comprising same and a holder, a holder, a vehicle engine comprising the fluid reservoir system and a vehicle comprising said engine in which, the cartridge comprises: a housing comprising a first part and a second part; a fluid reservoir in the housing; a port arranged on the first part of the housing to couple the reservoir in fluidic communication with a fluid system of the vehicle; wherein the second part of the housing is configured to rotate with respect to the first part of the housing to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system to hold the reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system of the vehicle, wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid container for an engine comprising: a reservoir for holding a fluid; a fluid coupling adapted to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and a fluid circulation system of an engine; and a data provider arranged such that positioning the container to permit fluidic communication between the reservoir and the fluid circulation system of the engine arranges the data provider for data communication with an engine control device of the engine. There is also provided a method of facilitating control of an engine and an engine control system, apparatus and a vehicle.