Patent Application
20220333514
This application claims priority to German Application No. DE 10 2021 203 830.1 filed on Apr. 19, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a docking station for a fluid cell. Apart from this, the invention relates to an assembly for an internal combustion engine having such a docking station and to a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle or a riding lawn mower having such an assembly.
Filter systems for fluid cells, in particular oil filter systems for oil change cells of internal combustion engines have been known for some time. Typically, such a filter system is of modular design and includes a fluid cell, in which the filter device for filtering the fluid concerned—typically a filter element with a suitable filter medium—is arranged. Apart from this, conventional fluid cells contain an oil reservoir, in which oil for the internal combustion engine can be stored. The fluid cell with the filter device and with the oil reservoir can be mounted to a counterpart arranged on an internal combustion engine, also known to the relevant person skilled in the art by the term “docking station”.
Here it often proves to be problematic that prior to mounting the fluid cell to the docking station, no oil must leak out from the oil reservoir or the filter device of the fluid cell into the external environment of the fluid cell. The same applies after the removal of the fluid cell from the docking station. Conversely it is absolutely necessary that with the fluid cell mounted to the docking station a fluid connection of both the filter device and also the oil reservoir with the docking station and thus—via the same—with the internal combustion engine is ensured.
The installation space, which is typically available only to a limited extent for such a fluid cell in a motor vehicle, proves to be additionally problematic. When searching for a solution to the problem explained above concerning oil leaking out of the fluid cell into the environment that has to be prevented, it must therefore also be taken into account that such a solution should preferably have no negative effect on the additionally required installation space.
The present invention therefore deals with the problem of stating a docking station for a fluid cell, with which the disadvantages known from the prior art can be overcome.
According to the invention, this problem is solved through the subject of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.
The present invention is based on the general idea of stating a docking station for a fluid cell, in which all connections or installations required for a quick and safe exchange of the fluid cell are integrated. Here, the docking station for a fluid cell according to the invention has first connections for the fluid exchange with the fluid cell, at least a second connection for the fluid exchange with a first fluid reservoir, a pump for conveying the fluid, a control device for controlling the pump and/or at least one valve device on the first and/or second connection as well as an electrical connection for the power supply of the control device and/or of the pump. With the docking station according to the invention it is thus comparatively easily possible to exchange the fluid cell in that for example by way of the control device a suitable programme or a suitable routine is selected, by way of which the fluid cell is emptied and the fluid present therein pumped out into the first fluid reservoir, for example an oil pan. Following this, the fluid cell can be removed from a recess of the docking station without there being the risk that any fluid still present in the fluid cell undesirably leaks into the environment. The mounting of the fluid cell can also take place analogously so that the same, after an exchange, is inserted into the recess on the docking station, upon which, by way of a corresponding command input via the control device, a pumping of fluid out of the first fluid reservoir into the fluid cell takes place. By way of the control device it is also possible for example to open or close valve devices coupled to the said control device, so that for example upon an exchange of the fluid cell and following an emptying of the same, a valve device arranged on the first connections can be closed, as a result of which, even when the pump is actuated, an undesirable leakage of fluid can be reliably prevented. At the same time, an undesirable entry for example of dirt via the first connections into the docking station can also be prevented by such a closed valve device.
In an advantageous further development of the docking station according to the invention, the fluid cell comprises a filter element for filtering the fluid and is formed for example as a filter cartridge. Another term for such a filter cartridge is for example a spin-on filter. In this case, an emptying of the fluid cell comprising the filter element can take place by suitably actuating the control device so that the fluid cell for a filter exchange can subsequently be simply disassembled, for example unscrewed from the docking station. Thus, the docking station according to the invention thus makes possible a simple, quick exchange of the fluid cell or of the filter element reducing the risk of an undesirable leakage of fluid.
In an advantageous further development of the solution according to the invention, the docking station comprises at least one third connection for the fluid exchange with a further component, for example an oil filter on an internal combustion engine. In this case, the fluid cell itself can comprise a filter element and/or a second fluid reservoir, wherein via the at least one third connection a fluid supply of the further component, for example of the oil filter arranged on the internal combustion engine, is made possible. By way of the control device, the valve devices or the pump in the docking station can be activated so that for example an emptying of the component arranged on the internal combustion engine, for example an oil filter arranged there, takes place so that the same can likewise be easily exchanged.
Practically, the fluid cell comprises a second fluid reservoir. By way of such a second fluid reservoir it is possible for example to collect the fluid during the exchange of the fluid cell in the second fluid reservoir of the same, as a result of which a removal of the fluid cell including the fluid arranged therein, for example oil, is made possible. Here, the pump can at least partly pump the oil or the fluid out of the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan, into the fluid cell and subsequently close the valve devices so that the fluid cell can be removed easily and without dripping. Here it can also be provided that the valve device of the fluid cell is not actuated by the control device but for example by way of a suitable mechanism during the unscrewing or removing of the fluid cell from the docking station. Here, the second fluid reservoir in the fluid cell offers the major advantage that a draining of the fluid via for example a drain screw in the first fluid reservoir and accompanied by this a collecting of the fluid required in the past are omitted. With the docking station according to the invention and the fluid cell according to the invention a fluid exchange can thus be implemented comparatively easily.
Practically, the fluid is oil and the first fluid reservoir an oil pan. Particularly in the case of riding lawn mowers with comparatively small oil volumes a scheduled exchange of the oil is not without problem since the same usually takes place in the private area and therefore often without the safety precautions required for this purpose. In particular in the case of such vehicles, such as for example such a riding lawn mower, the docking station according to the invention can demonstrate its great advantages since for exchanging the oil merely the control device has to be suitably actuated upon which the pump pumps oil out of the oil pan into the fluid cell and upon which the same can be subsequently removed and exchanged. A separate oil drain for example via an oil drain screw on the oil pan is thus superfluous, as a result of which the risk of an oil contamination can be clearly reduced.
In an advantageous further development of the docking station according to the invention, the control device comprises at least two buttons/keys for activating a respective routine/programme. A user can thus be provided with a comparatively simple work routine by way of an input device, which purely theoretically can also comprise a touchpad, since for example for an oil change, in a corresponding manual or a display of the control device, it is merely stated that for example a key A has to be pressed. When the user presses this key A conveying of fluid by the pump out of the oil pan into the second fluid reservoir of the fluid cell takes place, in which for example a filter element is additionally arranged, so that following the conclusion of the pumping operation the fluid cell including used-up filter element and oil collected in the second fluid reservoir can be removed and appropriately disposed of. Alternatively it is also conceivable that the user presses a key B, upon which for example a conveying of fluid by the pump out of the fluid cell into the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan, takes place, so that after the conclusion of the pumping operation, the fluid cell including used-up filter element but without oil can be removed and appropriately disposed of.
Practically, a first routine or a first programme is a filling of the fluid cell with fluid out of the first fluid reservoir. Following the unscrewing or placing of a new fluid cell onto the docking station, the first routine or the first programme can be activated via a corresponding key or a corresponding button, upon which the pump pumps fluid, for example oil, out of the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan, into the fluid cell thereby filling the same. The first routine occurs for example in particular when the fluid cell merely comprises a filter element and merely this filter element has to be exchanged as scheduled. In this case, the oil or generally the fluid remains in the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan. By way of the second routine, an emptying of the fluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the first fluid reservoir can be realised, so that by pressing a corresponding key or pressing a corresponding button on the control device, the emptying of the fluid cell can take place. Following this, the same can be removed, for example unscrewed from the docking station.
Obviously, further routines or programmes are also conceivable, in particular in the case that an exchange of the further component on the internal combustion engine and thus for example an emptying of the same via the third connection and the pump is to take place.
Further, the present invention is based on the general idea of stating an assembly for an internal combustion engine having such a docking station and a fluid cell that can be connected or is connected to the same in a fluid-transferring manner. Such an assembly can be arranged for example in an oil circuit for the internal combustion engine, as a result of which both a total oil exchange as well as also merely a fluid cell exchange become comparatively easily possible, in particular even for an inexperienced user.
Further, the present invention is based on the general idea of equipping a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle, a stationary engine, a boat drive or a riding lawn mower with such an assembly. Particularly riding lawn mowers are often used in the private area, in which the usual tools such as for example oil collection pan, funnel etc. are not available and because of this there is often a risk of a contamination of the environment when exchanging the fluid cell or when exchanging the fluid. In the case of a riding lawn mower having such an assembly according to the invention, a comparatively simple yet non-dripping exchange of the fluid cell or exchange of the oil can nevertheless be carried out by an inexperienced user.
Further important features and advantages of the invention are obtained from the subclaims, from the drawing and from the associated FIGURE description by way of the drawing.
It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and still to be explained in the following cannot only be used in the respective combination stated, but also in other combinations or by themselves without leaving the scope of the present invention.
A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description.
The FIGURE shows a docking station according to the invention with a fluid cell, combined as assembly according to the invention.
According to the FIGURE, a docking station 1 according to the invention for a fluid cell 2 comprises first connections (not shown) for the fluid exchange with the fluid cell 2, at least one second connection 3 for the fluid exchange with a first fluid reservoir 4, for example an oil pan, and a pump 5 for conveying fluid. Likewise provided is a control device 6 for controlling the pump 5 and/or for controlling valve devices on the at least one first connection and/or second connection 3. In addition to this, the docking station 1 according to the invention has an electrical connection 7 for connection with an energy source, for example a car battery, and for the power supply of the control device 6 and/or of the pump 5.
With the docking station 1 according to the invention it is possible even for inexperienced users, in particular in the private area, to easily exchange the fluid cell 2 and in particular also without the risk of an undesirable leakage of fluid, wherein in the fluid cell 2 for example a filter element for filtering the fluid can be provided, and/or a second fluid reservoir, in which fluid, for example oil, can be collected and together with the fluid cell 2 removed from the docking station 1 and appropriately disposed of.
The fluid can be for example oil, wherein in this case the first fluid reservoir 4 is an oil pan.
The control device 6 has at least two buttons/keys 8, by way of which the control device 6 can be operated and by way of which individual routines or programmes can be activated. A first routine can be a filling of the fluid cell 2 with fluid out of the first fluid reservoir 4, while a second routine can represent an emptying of the fluid cell 2 and conveying of the fluid by means of the pump 5 into the first fluid reservoir 4.
If for example the fluid present in the fluid cell 2 or in the first fluid reservoir 4 is to be removed, the pump 5 can be activated via the control device 6 upon which the same, through suitably positioning the valve devices not described in more detail, brings about a conveying of fluid present in the first fluid reservoir 4 into the second fluid reservoir of the fluid cell 2. Following this, the fluid cell 2 including the fluid collected therein in the second fluid reservoir of the same can be removed without having to fear contaminating the environment in the process. When the fluid cell 2 is formed merely as filter element for example, a routine/programme can be activated via a corresponding associated key 8 or a corresponding associated button 8, with which the fluid cell 2 is emptied and the fluid contained therein pumped into the first fluid reservoir 4. Once this has taken place, the fluid cell 2 can likewise be easily removed from the docking station 1.
In addition to this, the docking station 1 can also comprise a third connection 9, via which the docking station 1 is fluidically connected with a further component 10, for example with a filter device on an internal combustion engine that is not shown. By way of the control device 6 a corresponding emptying or filling of the further component 10 by means of fluid from for example the second fluid reservoir of the fluid cell 2 and/or the first fluid reservoir 4 is also possible.
However, with the docking station 1 according to the invention or the assembly 11 according to the invention, an easy changing of the fluid cell 2 and/or an easy changing of the fluid even from the further component 10 or the first fluid reservoir 4 is possible even for a layperson.
All components, i.e. the pump 5, the control device 6 as well as the connections 3, 7 and 9 are accommodated in the docking station 1 in an installation space-optimised manner, as a result of which these and, accompanied by this, the entire assembly 11 has a significantly reduced installation space requirement, which is a major advantage in particular in the case of motor vehicles 12, stationary engines, boat drives and/or riding lawn mowers 13.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021203830.1 | Apr 2021 | DE | national |
