Cartridge and system for replenishing fluid in an apparatus

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.

Claims

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

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first part of the housing and the second part of the housing cooperate to enclose the fluid reservoir.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the second part of the housing comprises one of a turret, a cuff, and a cap carried by the first part of the housing.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second part of the housing comprises a recess and a bar across the recess to provide a handle for rotating the second part of the housing and removing the cartridge from the fluid system.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a deployable lug arranged to be deployed from the cartridge to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system in response to rotation of the second part of the housing.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first part of the housing has an asymmetric configuration configured to control orientation of the cartridge with respect to the fluid system when, in use, the port is in fluidic communication with the fluid circulation system.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the asymmetric configuration comprises a key configured to engage with a feature of a holder for the cartridge.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second part of the housing is configured to provide a bayonet fitting which is operable to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system by rotating the second part of the housing with respect to the first part of the housing.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the housing is arranged to be received by a holder on an engine, and the second part of the housing is configured to rotate to engage with the holder to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system and to hold the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication with the fluid system.

10. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second part of the housing is configured to rotate through less than 360 degrees with respect to the first part of the housing to secure the cartridge with respect to the fluid system to hold the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system by rotating the second part of the housing.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the port comprises a releasable self-sealing port.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 in which the fluid reservoir contains vehicle fluid and the vehicle fluid comprises engine lubricating oil composition, heat exchange fluid for an electric engine, de-icer, water, screen-wash or detergent.

13. A holder for coupling a fluid cartridge to a vehicle, the holder comprising: a connector for providing fluidic communication between a fluid port of the cartridge and a fluid system of the vehicle; and being adapted to receive a cartridge in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the second part of the housing is rotated with respect to the first part of the housing, the cartridge is secured with respect to the fluid system and holds the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system of the vehicle, and wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

14. The holder of claim 13 wherein the connector comprises: a fluid return coupling configured to couple a fluid return line of a fluid system of a vehicle to an inlet port of the cartridge; a fluid supply coupling configured to couple a fluid supply line of the fluid system to an outlet port of the cartridge; and a vent coupling configured to couple a pressure control line of the fluid system to a vent port of the cartridge for controlling pressure in the fluid reservoir of the cartridge.

15. A fluid reservoir system comprising a cartridge for replenishing a fluid in an apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a housing comprising a first part and a second part; a fluid reservoir configured to hold the fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is in the housing; and a port arranged on the first part of the housing to couple the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a fluid system of the apparatus; 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 apparatus, and wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

16. The fluid reservoir system of claim 15 further comprising a holder for coupling the cartridge to the apparatus, the holder comprising: a connector for providing fluidic communication between a fluid port of the cartridge and the fluid system of the apparatus; and being adapted to receive the cartridge, wherein when the second part of the housing is rotated with respect to the first part of the housing, the cartridge is secured with respect to the fluid system and holds the fluid reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system of the apparatus, and wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

17. The fluid reservoir system of claim 15 further comprising a holder adapted to cooperate with the second part of the housing to secure the port in fluidic communication with the fluid system of the apparatus.

18. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the port is arranged on the first part of the housing at the first end, and wherein at least a portion of the second part of the housing is arranged at the second end.

19. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the port comprises a valve.

20. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the first part of the housing comprises a first face, wherein the second part of the housing comprises a second face opposite the first face, wherein the port is arranged on the first part of the housing at the first face, and wherein the handle is arranged at the second face.

21. The cartridge of claim 5 further comprising an actuator between the second part of the housing and the deployable lug, wherein the actuator deploys the deployable lug in response to rotation of the second part of the housing.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an engine and a cartridge for replenishing a vehicle engine fluid of the engine;

(3) FIG. 2 represents in schematic elevation view a cartridge suitable for replenishing a vehicle engine fluid of an engine;

(4) FIG. 3 represents another schematic elevation view of the cartridge of FIG. 2;

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 represent in schematic form the cartridge of FIGS. 2 and 3 in two stages of assembly with a sleeve associated with an engine; and

(6) FIG. 6 represents in schematic form another example of a cartridge.

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 common features are identified by common reference numerals.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a cartridge 102, a holder 113 and an engine 103.

(9) The holder 113 is arranged to receive the cartridge 102 to secure the cartridge with respect to a fluid system 104 of the engine 103. The engine's fluid system 104 comprises a fluid line 126.

(10) The holder 113 comprises a recess 110 configured to engage with a complementary lug 109 of the cartridge 102. The holder 113 further comprises a key feature 131 and a connector 128 for coupling a cartridge 102 received by the holder 113 to the fluid line 126.

(11) The cartridge 102 comprises a reservoir 136 for holding a fluid, and further comprises a housing 130 which encloses the reservoir 136. A first part 101 of the housing 130 comprises a port 124 and a key 121. The second part 115 of the housing 130 comprises the lug 109, a recess 122 and a bar 120 across the recess 122. The port 124 is operable to provide a fluid coupling between the reservoir 136 and the fluid line 126 via the connector 128.

(12) The housing 130 of the cartridge 102 is receivable within the holder 113. The second part 115 of the housing 130 is arranged for rotation with respect to the first part 101 of the housing 130 to couple the cartridge to the holder 113 via engagement of the lug 109 of the second part 115 of the housing 130 with the complementary recess 110 of the holder 113.

(13) The key 121 of the first part 101 of the housing 130 is configured to be coupleable to the key feature 131 of the holder 113 only when the cartridge 102 is in a selected orientation with respect to the fluid system 104.

(14) The port 124 of the first part 101 of the housing 130 is arranged to be coupleable with the connector 128 of the holder 113 when, in use, the lug 109 of the second part of the housing 130 is engaged with the recess 110 of the holder 113, and the respective key features 121, 131 of the cartridge and housing are engaged. This helps to ensure that the cartridge (and hence the cartridge port) is secured and correctly oriented with respect to the fluid system when the cartridge is replaced.

(15) Thus when, in use, the lug 109 of the second part 115 of the housing 130 is engaged with the recess 110 of the holder 113, the port 124 is secured to the connector 128 to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir 136 and the fluid system 104 via the fluid line 126.

(16) In operation, to install the cartridge 102 (e.g. to replace or replenish the engine fluid) the cartridge is inserted into the holder 113 and oriented so that the key 121 of the cartridge engages with the key feature 131 of the holder to align the port 124 of the cartridge with the connector 128 of the fluid system.

(17) Once the housing 130 is aligned in the holder 113, the second part 115 of the housing 130 is rotated relative to the first part 101 of the housing 130 to rotate the lug 109 into engagement with the recess 110 of the holder 113 to secure the housing 102 with respect to the fluid system 103. In this way, securing the housing 130 to the holder 113 restrains the port 124 in fluidic communication with the connector 128 to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir 136 and the fluid system 104.

(18) Because the second part 115 of the housing 130 is arranged to rotate relative to the first part 101 of the housing 101, the port 124 is not forced to rotate by coupling the cartridge 102 to the fluid system 104. This allows the cartridge 102 to be simply and securely coupled to the fluid system 104 via a secure twist lock, while mitigating or reducing the likelihood of twisting the fluid line 126 whilst coupling or decoupling the cartridge 102.

(19) To remove the cartridge 102, the second part 115 of the housing 130 is rotated to move the lug 109 out of engagement with the recess 110 to disengage the housing 130 from the holder 113. Once disengaged from the holder 113 and decoupled from the fluid system 104, the cartridge 102 may be removed from the holder 113 using the handle 120.

(20) As will be appreciated by the skilled addressee in the context of the present disclosure, the cartridge 102 may be a removable refill for an engine lubricating oil composition, or any other engine fluid such as a heat exchange fluid, de-icer, water, screen-wash, or detergent.

(21) The engine lubricating oil may have heat exchange properties.

(22) The housing 130 may be a substantially cylindrical shell arranged to contain the reservoir 136. However, the housing may be any shape. The housing is described as carrying a key 121, however the key 121 may be provided by the shape of the housingfor example the housing and/or the holder may have an asymmetric configuration selected so that the cartridge can only be coupled to the fluid system when the cartridge 102 is in a selected orientation.

(23) The port 124 may comprise a self-sealing coupling. This has an advantage that when the fluid cartridge has been disconnected from the engine, the risk of fluid exiting the reservoir is reduced or prevented. The self-sealing coupling has the characteristic that when the reservoir 136 is being connected to the fluid line 126, a seal is made between the port 124 and the connector 128 before valves of the port 124 or the connector 128 open to allow engine oil to flow there between. On disconnection, the valve or valves close to seal off each of the port 124 and the connector 128 before the seal between the port 124 and the connector 128 is broken.

(24) The connector 128 may comprise a self-sealing coupling. This has an advantage that when the fluid cartridge has been disconnected from the engine, the risk of ingress of contaminants into the engine and in particular the engine fluid system, may be mitigated. The self-sealing coupling has the characteristic that when the reservoir 136 is being connected to the fluid line 126, a seal is made between the port 124 and the connector 128 before valves of the port 124 or the connector 128 open to allow engine oil to flow there between. On disconnection, the valve or valves close to seal off each of the port 124 and the connector 128 before the seal between the port 124 and the connector 128 is broken.

(25) The connector 128 and/or the port 124 and/or the fluid line 126 may comprise a non-return valve (not shown).

(26) The second part 115 of the housing 130 is shown in FIG. 1 as a cuff carried by the first part 101 of the housing 130 however, the second part 115 of the housing may be arranged partially or completely within the first part 101 of the housing 130.

(27) The cartridge is described as comprising a handle provided by a recess 122 and a bar 120, and this has the advantage of enabling the cartridge to be conveniently manipulated with one hand, however, other types of handle may be used. The handle, whether provided by a bar or otherwise can be adapted to permit carrying of the cartridge.

(28) The first part 101 of the housing has been described as carrying a lug 109 to engage with a corresponding recess 110. However, the housing 130 may comprise recesses for engaging with lugs of the holder. Any combination of complementary features may be used to engage the cartridge 102 with the holder 113.

(29) The connector 128 may comprise a return coupling configured to couple a fluid return line of the fluid line 126 to an inlet port of the port 124 of the first part 101 of the housing, a supply coupling configured to couple a fluid supply line of the fluid line 126 to an outlet port of the port 124 of the first part 101 of the housing, a vent coupling of the fluid line configured to couple to a vent line of the fluid line 126 to a vent port of the port 124 of the first part of the housing 130 for controlling pressure in the reservoir 136. In such examples, the fluid line 126 comprises a fluid supply line for supplying fluid from the reservoir 136 to the engine components, a fluid return line for returning circulated fluid to the reservoir 136 and a vent line for controlling pressure in the reservoir 136.

(30) FIGS. 2 and 3 show in schematic form one example of a cartridge 1 such as that described with reference to FIG. 1 which provides a fluid reservoir system 2 for a vehicle engine indicated by reference numeral 3 in FIGS. 4 and 5. The engine comprises a fluid system indicated by reference numeral 4 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(31) A fluid reservoir system 2 comprises a cartridge 1 which comprises a housing 22 which comprises a first part 16 and a second part 15. The second part 15 of the housing is configured to rotate with respect to the first part 16 of the housing about a common axis 14 to secure the cartridge 1 with respect to the fluid system 4 of a vehicle engine 3, to hold the reservoir (not shown) in fluidic communication via the ports 6, 7, 8, with the fluid system 4 of the engine 3 wherein the second part of the housing 15 is configured such that rotating the second part 15 of the housing does not rotate the ports 6,7,8.

(32) The cartridge 1 comprises a fluid inlet port 6, a fluid outlet port 7 and a vent port 8, said ports being self-sealing ports and being adapted in use to connect to corresponding ports not shown on the fluid system 4 of an engine 3.

(33) The fluid (not shown) in the reservoir 1 may be an engine lubricating oil composition or an engine heat exchange fluid. Suitably, the fluid is an engine lubricating oil composition. The cartridge may comprise a filter not shown. The cartridge 1 is elongate and comprises a first end 16 and a second end 17.

(34) The fluid reservoir system 2 comprises a holder which is a sleeve 13 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in part cut-away view) adapted to receive the cartridge 1. Which sleeve has a longitudinal axis 11 which in use, when the sleeve 13 has received the cartridge 1, is common with the axis 14 and which sleeve comprises two recesses 10 which are slots in the sleeve 13.

(35) The second part 15 of the cartridge 1 comprises two lugs 9 engageable with two corresponding recesses which are slots 10 in a holder which is the sleeve 13 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). Each lug 9 and corresponding recess 10 being co-operable with each other by rotation in a first direction relative to each other about a rotational axis which is common to all of said lugs and corresponding recesses and corresponds to the axis 14 of the housing 22 and to axis 11 of the sleeve 13, whereby in use, said lugs 9 and recesses 10 are engageable to secure the cartridge 1 with respect to the fluid system 4 to hold the reservoir (not shown) in fluidic communication, via ports 6,7,8 with the fluid system 4 of the engine 3. Rotation of the second part 15 in a second direction opposite to the first direction disengages the lugs and recesses, thereby disengaging said cartridge 1 and reservoir (not shown) from said engine fluid system 4.

(36) The reservoir system 2 comprises a housing 22 having a second part provided by a turret 15, at least a portion of which is rotatable about the rotational axis 14 to engage or disengage the lugs 9 and their corresponding recesses 10. The turret 15 further comprises a handle 20 which is adapted to permit carrying of the cartridge 1 and rotation of the turret 15 about the longitudinal axis 14 of the cartridge 1.

(37) The self-sealing ports 6, 7, 8 of the cartridge 1 are located at one end 16 of the elongate cartridge and the turret 15 is located at the opposite end 17 of the elongate cartridge 1. The cartridge comprises several keys 21 engageable with corresponding features not shown on the sleeve so as to ensure that each port on the cartridge is engaged with the appropriate port of the engine fluid system.

(38) The turret 15 comprises two lugs 9 which extend radially from said turret and the sleeve 13 comprises two corresponding recesses 10 which are slots.

(39) Each slot 10 comprises a first portion 18 which is generally parallel to the rotational axis 14 and a second portion 19 which is generally at right angles to said first portion 18 whereby in use with each lug 9 engaged with the first portion 18 of its corresponding recess, said first portion 18 permits axial movement of the cartridge 1 along said axis 14 which is the longitudinal axis of said cartridge, and with each lug 9 engaged with the second portion 19 of its corresponding recess, said second portion 19 permits relative rotation of said lugs 9 and their corresponding recesses 10 to secure the cartridge 1 with respect to the fluid system 4 to hold the reservoir (not shown) in fluidic communication, via the ports 6, 7, 8 with the fluid system 4 of the engine 3, wherein rotating the second part 15 does not rotate the port 2 6, 7 8.

(40) FIGS. 4 and 5 show in schematic form engaging the cartridge 1 with the sleeve 13. Using the handle 20 an operator may lift the cartridge 1 and position it in the sleeve 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the sleeve 13 receives the cartridge 1 and each lug 9 engages a first portion 18 of a recess which is a slot 10 in the sleeve 13. The first portion permits axial movement of the cartridge along the common axes 11, 14 in the direction A shown in FIG. 4 and using the handle 20 the cartridge may be moved in the direction A until the ports 6, 7, 8 engage with corresponding ports on the engine fluid system.

(41) When the ports 6, 7, 8 engage with corresponding ports on the engine fluid system, each lug engages a second portion 19 of the corresponding recess which is a slot 10 which is generally at right angles to said first portion 18. As shown in FIG. 5, the second portion 19 permits relative rotation of each lug 9 with respect to its corresponding recesses which is a slot 10 in the direction B which is about the common axis of rotation 11. Thus, rotation of the turret 15 by the operator using the handle 20 causes each lug to rotate about the common axis of rotation relative to its corresponding recess/slot. Since the rotation of the turret 15 is independent of the ports 6 7 8, the lugs may be rotated relative to the recesses/slots without rotating the ports 6 7 8.

(42) The recesses/slots may comprise a third detent portion to retain the lugs in engagement with the slots.

(43) The cartridge may be removed from the engine fluid system by reversing the steps described hereinbefore. After the disconnected cartridge has been removed from the engine and vehicle, another cartridge which may contain fresh, refreshed or unused fluid may be reconnected to the engine fluid system.

(44) The fluid reservoir system provides a convenient way of supplying a fluid for a vehicle engine system from a reservoir which may be engaged and disengaged in simple operations, for example using a handle on a rotatable turret on the cartridge which is engageable with a holder, for example a sleeve on the engine.

(45) FIG. 6 shows another example of a cartridge 202 having a housing comprising a first part 201 and a second part. In FIG. 6 the second part of the housing is provided by a rotatable cap 215 seated in a recess of the first part 201 of the housing.

(46) The cap 215 comprises a handle provided by a bar 220 arranged across a recess 222. The cap 215 is coupled to a deployable lug 209 via an actuator 238 which is configured to deploy the deployable lug 209 from the cartridge 202 in response to the cap 215 being rotated through a selected angle with respect to the first part 201 of the housing. The actuator 238 is also operable to retract the deployed lug 209 into the cartridge 202 in response to a rotation of the cap 215.

(47) The cartridge 202 also comprises a key 221 on the first part 201 of the housing and configured to be coupleable to a key feature (such as key of the holder shown in FIG. 1) only when the cartridge 202 is in a selected orientation with respect to the fluid system.

(48) In FIG. 6, the first part 201 of the housing contains the actuator 238 and the deployable lug 209. A slot 249 of the first part 201 of the housing is arranged to allow the deployable lug 209 to be deployed by extending from the housing through the slot 249.

(49) The actuator 238 is arranged such that rotation of the cap 215, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, causes the deployable lug to be extended through the slot 249, and a reverse rotation back causes the deployable lug 209 to be retracted through the slot 249 into the first part 201.

(50) The first part 201 of the housing of the cartridge 202 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a substantially rectangular housing. It will be appreciated by the skilled reader in the context of the present disclosure that a complementary holder can be provided in a similar manner to that described in relation to FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, although the recess of the holder is adapted to cooperate with the deployable lug 209 of FIG. 6 rather than the bayonet type lug 109 of FIG. 1 and the lugs 9 of FIGS. 2 to 5.

(51) The port of the first part 201 of the housing is arranged to couple the cartridge 202 in fluidic communication with the fluid system of an engine, as in FIG. 1, when the deployable lug 209 is engaged with a corresponding recess 210 of a holder. The cartridge 202 is operable to be disengaged from the holder by counter rotation of the cap 215 to retract the lug.

(52) In operation, to install the cartridge 202 of FIG. 6 (e.g. to replace or replenish the engine fluid) the cartridge is inserted into a holder (such as the holder of FIG. 1) and oriented so that the key 221 of the cartridge engages with a key feature of the holder to align the port of the cartridge with the connector of the fluid system.

(53) Once the housing is aligned in the holder, the cap 215 is rotated relative to cause the actuator 238 to deploy the lug 209 into engagement with a recess of a holder (not shown in FIG. 6) to secure the cartridge 202 with respect to a fluid system. In this way, the port of the cartridge 202 is secured in fluidic coupling with a connector of the fluid system to provide secure fluidic communication between the reservoir of the housing and the fluid system.

(54) Because the cap 215 is arranged to rotate relative to the first part 201 of the housing, the port is not forced to rotate by coupling the cartridge 202 to the fluid system. This allows the cartridge 202 to be simply and securely coupled to the engine fluid system via a secure twist lock, while mitigating or reducing the likelihood of twisting the fluid lines of the fluid system whilst coupling or decoupling the cartridge 202 from the engine fluid system.

(55) To remove the cartridge 202, the cap 215 is rotated to cause the actuator 238 to retract the lug 209 to disengage the cartridge 202 from the holder. Once disengaged from the holder, and decoupled from the fluid system, the cartridge 202 may be removed from the holder using the bar 220.

(56) The actuator 238 may be provided by a mechanical means, such as an arm coupled between the cap 215 and the lug 209. Other mechanical actuators may also be used such as arrangements of cogs, and/or worm drives. In some examples the actuator 238 may be an electromechanical actuator. The actuator may be configured to deploy the lug in response to rotation of the cap 215 in a first direction, and to retract the lug 209 in response to rotation in a second direction. The actuator 238 may be configured so that rotation through a first selected angle causes the lug 209 to be deployed, and further rotation through a second selected angle causes the lug to be retracted. The selected angle may be less than 360, in some examples less than 180.

(57) The ports of the cartridges described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 may comprise a fluid inlet port, a fluid outlet port, and a vent port to couple the first part of the housing, or housing 1, to a fluid return line, a fluid supply line and a fluid vent line of the fluid system respectively. The vent line may be arranged to provide control of the pressure in the reservoir of the cartridge.

(58) In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock feature of the housing comprises a protrusion 109 and the corresponding lock feature 110 of the holder 113 comprises a recess 110 configured to engage with the protrusion 109. It will be appreciated that an engageable protrusion and recess can be provided by a bayonet coupling. FIGS. 4 and 5 show one bayonet coupling comprising a lug 9 of the housing 2 and a recess 10 of a sleeve arranged to provide a locking system 5 between the housing and the sleeve 13.

(59) In the example of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the second part of the housing 115, 215 is arranged to be rotated with respect to the first part 101, 201 of the housing with a handle provided by a recess 122, 222 and a bar 120, 220 across the recess 122, 222. It will be appreciated that any suitable handle arrangement could be provided for rotating the second part and, preferably, for removing the cartridge 102, 202 from the holder 13. FIGS. 4 to 6 show examples of a handle arranged on an upper surface of a fluid reservoir system 2 for rotating the turret 15 with respect to the housing 1 to secure the reservoir system 2 with respect to a fluid circulation system 4 via engagement of the bayonet locking system 5.

(60) While the embodiment of FIG. 1 describes a fluid system 4 of an engine 3, it will be appreciated that the cartridge 2 of FIG. 1 could be coupled to any vehicle fluid system 4 via an appropriate fluid line 26 of the fluid system 4. Examples of engine, fluid systems 4 include a non-sustainable fluid system 4 with draws fluid from the cartridge 2 to supply a vehicle component and, in so doing, depletes the fluid in the cartridge 2, and a self-sustaining fluid circulation system which draws fluid from the cartridge 2 to supply a vehicle component and, having done so, returns the fluid to the cartridge 2. An example of a non-sustaining fluid system is a windscreen washer fluid system which draws washer fluid from a cartridge supported in the engine 3. An example of a self-sustaining fluid system is a fluid circulation system 4, which circulates an engine lubricating oil composition or an engine heat exchange fluid from a fluid reservoir system 2, and an example of such a system is described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(61) The fluid system may be part of an engine. The engine may be part of a vehicle.

(62) It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modification of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

(63) While aspects of the invention have been described in relation to vehicle engines and examples of the invention described the use of engine lubricating oil compositions, it is envisaged that features of the invention could find other applications.

(64) For example, a cartridge according to an aspect of the invention could be used in relation to a wide range of apparatus or equipment. For example, the cartridge could find application in relation to various static and movable machines, for example industrial machines such as a lathe, or manufacture and assembly equipment, to an engine, or to a vehicle.

(65) Examples of a cartridge of an aspect of the invention could thus be used to supply lubricant composition to a region of the apparatus or equipment, for example to a region including one or more moving parts, for example a gearbox. In an example of an aspect of the invention there is provided a cartridge for a wind turbine, for example to provide lubricating composition to one or more parts of the wind turbine apparatus.

(66) The cartridge may supply a lubricant composition to the apparatus, or may supply fluid other than lubricant to the apparatus. For example, the fluid may comprise a fuel composition, for example gasoline or diesel The reservoir of an aspect of the invention may be for supply the fluid for example to the fuel supply system of the apparatus. For example, the reservoir may supply fuel to a vehicle, or tool, for example to a car, motorcycle or lawn mower.

(67) In another example, the cartridge is used to supply a fluid, for example lubricant and/or fuel, to a hand tool, for example a hedge trimmer or leaf blower.

(68) The fluid may comprise for example an aqueous or other solvent-based composition, for example a cleaning composition. The fluid may for example comprise windscreen wash fluid. A cartridge of an example of an aspect of the invention may be for supplying fluid to the windscreen washer fluid delivery system for example of a vehicle.

(69) Thus in some examples of aspects of the invention the fluid system may comprise a fluid circulation system; in others, the fluid system comprises a one-way fluid delivery system.

(70) Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

(71) According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge for replenishing a fluid in an apparatus, the cartridge comprising: 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 apparatus;
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 apparatus, and wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.

(72) Also provided by an aspect of the invention is a holder for coupling a fluid cartridge to an apparatus, the holder comprising:

(73) a connector for providing fluidic communication between a fluid port of the cartridge and a fluid system of the apparatus;

(74) and being adapted to receive a cartridge as described herein,

(75) wherein when the second part of the housing is rotated with respect to the first part of the housing, the cartridge is secured with respect to the fluid system and holds the reservoir in fluidic communication, via the port, with the fluid system of the apparatus, and wherein the second part of the housing is configured such that rotating the second part of the housing does not rotate the port.