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US 10,442,405 B2Granted
Processing captured vehicle fluid
AssigneeBrimtech, LLC
InventorJames K Weigle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present application is directed to a system and method for processing fluid captured from a vehicle surface and routing the fluid to one or more fluid reservoirs of the vehicle. The system includes one or more reservoirs for storing captured fluid and one or more reservoirs for storing chemical based fluids such as antifreeze fluids. The system is operationally configured to convey chemical based fluid to the captured fluid reservoir(s) according to one or more preset ambient temperatures of the system prior to routing fluid to one or more fluid reservoirs of the vehicle.
Claims17
A system for processing fluid captured from a vehicle surface comprising:
- a fluid reservoir assembly for (1) capturing, storing and conveying fluid captured from the vehicle surface and (2) measuring the ambient temperature of the system, the fluid reservoir assembly having a first inlet for receiving fluid captured from a vehicle surface and a second inlet for receiving one or more chemical based fluids therein;
- a chemical reservoir assembly in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir assembly for storing one or more chemical based fluids and conveying a measurable volume of the one or more chemical based fluids to the fluid reservoir assembly via the second inlet to provide a fluid mixture therein according to one or more ambient temperatures of the system and the fluid volume of the fluid reservoir assembly;
- one or more post-treatment reservoir assemblies in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir assembly for receiving, storing and discharging fluid received from the fluid reservoir assembly;
- and
- control circuitry in electrical communication with a power source of the vehicle and with the fluid reservoir assembly, the chemical reservoir assembly and the one or more post-treatment reservoir assemblies, the control circuitry being operationally configured to safeguard the system against non-requested operation and provide one or more fluid mixtures according to the volume of fluid in each of the reservoirs and the ambient temperature of the system.
2 more elements
A system for processing fluid captured from a vehicle surface comprising:
- a fluid reservoir assembly operationally configured to capture and store captured fluid, the fluid reservoir assembly including (1) a fluid storage compartment including a first fluid inlet and a fluid valve at the first fluid inlet operationally configured to control the flow of fluid into the fluid storage compartment and prevent fluid flow out of the fluid storage compartment, (2) a fluid circulation member operationally configured to convey fluid out from the fluid storage compartment, (3) a fluid volume sensor system in electrical communication with the fluid circulation member and operationally configured to identify the fluid volume in the fluid storage compartment, (4) a temperature sensor for measuring the ambient temperature of the system, (5) a fluid outlet for conveying fluid out of the fluid reservoir assembly and (6) a second fluid inlet for receiving one or more chemical based fluids into the fluid storage compartment;
- a chemical reservoir assembly operationally configured to store one or more chemical based fluids and convey the same to the fluid storage compartment via the second fluid inlet, the chemical reservoir assembly having one or more fluid volume sensors operationally configured to identify the volume of the one or more chemical based fluids;
- a post-treatment reservoir assembly in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir assembly for receiving, storing and discharging fluid received from the fluid reservoir assembly, the post-treatment reservoir assembly having one or more fluid volume sensors operationally configured to identify the fluid volume within the post-treatment reservoir assembly;
- and
- control circuitry in electrical communication with the fluid reservoir assembly, chemical reservoir assembly and the post-treatment reservoir assembly, the control circuitry being operationally configured to safeguard the system against non-requested operation of the fluid reservoir assembly, chemical reservoir assembly according to the fluid volume of each of the reservoirs and the ambient temperature of the system;
- the system being powered by a power source originating from the vehicle.
3 more elements
A method of providing an antifreeze fluid mixture for vehicular use, comprising:
- providing an electrically powered system including (1) one or more downstream fluid reservoir assemblies providing fluid for vehicular use, (2) a first upstream fluid reservoir assembly for capturing and storing vehicular produced condensate, the first upstream fluid reservoir being in fluid communication with the one or more downstream fluid reservoir assemblies, (3) a second upstream fluid reservoir assembly in fluid communication with the first upstream fluid reservoir assembly for storing one or more antifreeze fluids, (4) an electrical system operationally configured to control fluid flow between the reservoirs of the assemblies according to the volume of fluid in each of the reservoirs and the ambient temperature of the system;
- capturing air conditioner condensate into the first upstream fluid reservoir via a first inlet of the first upstream fluid reservoir;
- upon the electrical system realizing one or more preset ambient trigger temperatures, when the second upstream fluid reservoir assembly has a requisite volume of one or more antifreeze fluids stored therein, the electrical system (1) directing the second upstream fluid reservoir assembly to convey a volume of one or more antifreeze fluids to the first upstream fluid reservoir assembly via a second inlet of the first upstream fluid reservoir to provide an antifreeze fluid mixture including condensate and (2) directing the one or more downstream fluid reservoir assemblies to discharge a volume of fluid;
- and
- conveying the antifreeze fluid mixture to the one or more downstream fluid reservoir assemblies.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.