# US 7,610,927 B2 · Apparatus, system and method for monitoring fluid flows and/or filter conditions and/or distributing a single fluid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,927 B2 - Document ID: US7610927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/299,421 - Filed: 2005-12-12 - Published: 2007-06-14 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-12 - Inventors: Geoffrey W. Schmitz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610927B2 ## CPC - F15B 1/26: Supply reservoir or sump assemblies - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/8085: Hollow strainer, fluid inlet and outlet perpendicular to each other - Y10T 137/8122: Planar strainer normal to flow path - Y10T 137/8342: Liquid level responsive indicator, recorder or alarm - Y10T 137/86212: Plural compartments formed by baffles - Y10T 137/86372: Inlet internally extending - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus, a system and a method monitor fluid flows and/or filter conditions and/or distribute a single fluid. The apparatus and the system supply and/or maintain fluid requirements of one or more hydraulic systems with the single fluid from a reservoir. The filtered inlets transfer and/or add the single fluid to an interior of the reservoir. Each of the filtered inlets have a sensor to monitor, to detect and/or to determine fluid flows and/or fluid conditions of the single fluid in and/or filter conditions of one or more filtered inlets. Distribution of the single fluid to one or more hydraulic systems is prioritized by a single fluid in a first volume or in a second volume of an interior of the reservoir. A partition in the interior of the reservoir separates and/or forms the second volume and the first volume of the reservoir. The reservoir has one or more outlet ports for distributing and/or for supplying the single fluid to one or more hydraulic systems. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for distributing a single fluid to a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, the apparatus comprising: a container having a bottom and walls defining an interior; a partition having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end of the partition is attached to the bottom of the container forming a first volume and a second volume in the container wherein the second volume surrounds the first volume; a plurality of fluid inlets in communication with the container wherein a first fluid inlet is in communication with the first hydraulic system and further wherein the first fluid inlet is disposed within the first volume and wherein a second fluid inlet is in communication with the second hydraulic system and further wherein the second fluid inlet is disposed within the second volume and wherein the single fluid is added to the container via one of the plurality of fluid inlets; and an outlet port located within the interior of the container wherein the single fluid is distributed from the container to the hydraulic system via the outlet port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor connected at one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the sensor detects fluid flow of the single fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a valve connected to one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the single fluid is monitored via the valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a filter associated with one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the filter removes a contaminant from the single fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a gage installed in the wall of the container wherein the gage indicates a level of the single fluid in the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a level sensor connected to the interior of the container wherein the level sensor indicates a level of the single fluid in the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sleeve connected to one of the plurality of fluid inlets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second volume receives the single fluid from the first volume. ### Claim 9 A system for monitoring fluid flow of a single fluid to a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, the system comprising: a reservoir having a bottom and walls defining an interior; a partition having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end of the partition is attached to the bottom of the reservoir forming a first volume and a second volume in the reservoir wherein the second volume surrounds the first volume; a plurality of fluid inlets in communication with the reservoir where a first fluid inlet is in communication with the first hydraulic system and further wherein the first fluid inlet is disposed within the first volume and wherein a second fluid inlet is in communication with the second hydraulic system and further wherein the second fluid inlet is disposed within the second volume and wherein the single fluid is added to the reservoir via one of the plurality of fluid inlets; and a sensor connected to one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the sensor detects the fluid flow of the single fluid into the reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising: an outlet port within the interior of the reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising: a filter attached to one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the filter removes a contaminant from the single fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 further comprising: a valve connected to one of the plurality of fluid inlets wherein the single fluid is monitored via the valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the second volume receives the single fluid from the first volume. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the single fluid is distributed from the interior of the reservoir via the outlet port. ### Claim 15 A method for distributing a single fluid to a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a reservoir defining an interior; dividing the interior of the reservoir into a first volume and a second volume; inserting a plurality of fluid inlets into the reservoir wherein a first fluid inlet is inserted into the first volume of the reservoir, the single fluid receivable from the first hydraulic system by the first volume via the first fluid inlet and wherein a second fluid inlet is inserted into the second volume of the reservoir, the single fluid receivable from the second hydraulic system by the second volume via the second fluid inlet and wherein the single fluid is added to the reservoir via one of the plurality of fluid inlets; and providing a first outlet port within the first volume and a second outlet port within the second volume wherein the single fluid is distributed from the interior of the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: monitoring a level of the single fluid within the reservoir. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: detecting fluid flow of the single fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: removing a contaminant from the single fluid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: adding the single fluid to the second volume via the first volume. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of: transferring the single fluid in the interior of the reservoir to the first hydraulic system. ### Claim 21 An apparatus for distributing a single fluid to a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, the apparatus comprising: a container having a bottom and walls wherein the bottom and the walls define an interior; a partition having a top end and a bottom end wherein the bottom end of the partition is attached to the bottom of the container to form a first volume and a second volume in the container wherein the second volume surrounds the first volume and further wherein the first volume is in communication with the second volume to allow the single fluid to flow between the first volume and the second volume; a plurality of fluid inlets in communication with the container wherein a first fluid inlet is in communication with the first hydraulic system and further wherein the first fluid inlet is disposed within the first volume wherein the single fluid is added to the first volume from the first hydraulic system via the first fluid inlet and wherein a second fluid inlet is in communication with the second hydraulic system and further wherein the second fluid inlet is disposed within the second volume wherein the single fluid is added to the second volume from the second hydraulic system via the second fluid inlet; and a first outlet port within the first volume and a second outlet port within the second volume wherein the single fluid is distributed from the interior of the reservoir.