DOCKING STATION

Abstract

A docking station for a fluid cell is disclosed. The docking station includes at least one first connection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell and at least one second connection for fluid exchange with a fluid reservoir. A pump is provided for conveying a fluid. A control device is provided for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one first connection and the at least one second connection. An electrical connection is provided for a power supply of at least one of the control device and the pump.

Claims

1. A docking station for a fluid cell, comprising: at least one first connection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell, least one second connection for fluid exchange with a first fluid reservoir, a pump for conveying a fluid, a control device for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one first connection and the at least one second connection, and an electrical connection for a power supply of at least one of the control device and the pump.

2. The docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a filter element for filtering the fluid, the filter element being configured as a filter cartridge.

3. The docking station according to claim 1, further comprising a second fluid reservoir.

4. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein: the fluid is oil, and the fluid reservoir is an oil pan.

5. The docking station according to claim 1, wherein the control device includes at least two buttons/keys for activating a respective routine.

6. The docking station according to claim 5, wherein at least one of: a first routine associated with a first of the at least two buttons/keys is a filling of the fluid cell with fluid out of the fluid reservoir, and a second routine associated with a second of the at least two buttons/keys is an emptying of the fluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the fluid reservoir.

7. The docking station according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third connection for fluid exchange with a further component.

8. The docking station according to claim 7, wherein the further component is a filter device of an internal combustion engine.

9. An assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a docking station; a fluid cell connected with the docking station in a fluid-transferring manner; the docking station including: at least one first connection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell; at least one second connection for fluid exchange with a fluid reservoir; a pump for conveying a fluid; a control device for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one first connection and the at least one second connection; and an electrical connection for a power supply of at least one of the control device and the pump.

10. A vehicle, comprising: an assembly including a docking station and a fluid cell connected with the docking station in a fluid-transferring manner; the docking station including: at least one first connection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell; at least one second connection for fluid exchange with a fluid reservoir; a pump for conveying a fluid; a control device for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one first connection and the at least one second connection; and an electrical connection for a power supply of at least one of the control device and the pump.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the fluid cell includes a filter element for filtering the fluid, and wherein the filter element is a filter cartridge.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the fluid cell includes a second fluid reservoir.

13. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the control device includes at least two buttons/keys for activating a first routine and a second routine, respectively; and wherein the first routine is a filling of the fluid cell with fluid out of the fluid reservoir, and the second routine is an emptying of the fluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the fluid reservoir.

14. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fluid cell includes a filter element for filtering the fluid, and wherein the filter element is a filter cartridge.

15. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fluid cell includes a second fluid reservoir.

16. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fluid is oil, and the fluid reservoir is an oil pan.

17. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the control device includes at least two buttons/keys for activating a respective routine.

18. The assembly according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: a first routine associated with a first of the at least two buttons/keys is a filling of the fluid cell with fluid out of the fluid reservoir; and a second routine associated with a second of the at least two buttons/keys is an emptying of the fluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the fluid reservoir.

19. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the docking station further includes at least one third connection for fluid exchange with a further component.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the further component is a filter device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The FIGURE shows a docking station according to the invention with a fluid cell, combined as assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] The fluid can be for example oil, wherein in this case the first fluid reservoir 4 is an oil pan.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] FIG. 1, further, shows an assembly 11 having such a docking station 1 and a fluid cell 2 connected with the same in a fluid-transferring manner, wherein such an assembly 11 can be installed for example in a motor vehicle 12, a stationary engine, a boat drive or a riding lawn mower 13. In particular riding lawn mowers 13 are often operated in the private area, in which an oil change often takes place only with inadequate tools or collection devices and, accompanied by this, always with a contamination risk that should not be underestimated.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.