Processing captured vehicle fluid

A system for processing water captured from a vehicle air conditioner drip pan comprising:

• a first reservoir defined by a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment therein, the second compartment being operationally configured to receive water from the drip pan, the first compartment being operationally configured to store water from the drip pan;
• a pump located within the second compartment of the first reservoir, the pump being in fluid communication with the first compartment and operationally configured to convey water out from the first compartment through the second compartment of the reservoir;
• one or more treatment members in fluid communication with the pump, the one or more treatment members being operationally configured to treat the captured water;
• a second reservoir in fluid communication with the one or more treatment members, the second reservoir being operationally configured to receive treated water from the one or more treatment members;
• and
• a fluid volume sensor system including a fluid volume sensor in the first reservoir and a fluid volume sensor in the second reservoir, the fluid volume sensor system being in electrical communication with the pump via control circuitry and operationally configured to identify the water volume within the first and second reservoirs, the control circuitry including a timer relay operationally configured to delay activation of the pump with regard to the water volume identified in the second reservoir and to determine the duration of operation of the pump once the pump is activated;
• wherein pump activation is determined by the water volume within the first and second reservoirs and according to operation of the timer relay with regard to the water volume identified in the second reservoir;
• and
• wherein the treated water has a chemical constituency different than the chemical constituency of the captured water.

A method for processing fluid captured from a vehicle surface to maintain a windshield wiper fluid reservoir, the method comprising:

• providing a system comprising (1) a first reservoir operationally configured to receive fluid from the vehicle surface and to discharge fluid received therein;
• (2) a fluid circulation means in fluid communication with the first reservoir and operationally configured to convey fluid out from the first reservoir;
• (3) one or more treatment members in fluid communication with the first reservoir, the one or more treatment members being operationally configured to treat the captured fluid to provide a fluid product, the one or more treatment members being in fluid communication with an outlet of the system;
• (4) a first fluid volume sensor system in the first reservoir and a second fluid volume sensor system in the windshield wiper fluid reservoir, the first fluid volume sensor system being operationally configured to identify the fluid volume within the first reservoir and the second fluid volume sensor system being operationally configured to identify the fluid volume within the windshield wiper fluid reservoir;
• and (5) control circuitry in electrical communication with the first and second fluid volume sensor systems and with the fluid circulation means, the control circuitry including a timer relay operationally configured to (a) delay activation of the fluid circulation means with regard to the fluid volume identified in the windshield wiper fluid reservoir and (b) determine the operation time of the fluid circulation means once the fluid circulation means is activated;
• wherein operation of the fluid circulation means may be determined according to the fluid volume within the reservoirs and according to operation of the timer relay in relation to the windshield wiper fluid reservoir;
• and wherein the system is powered by a power source originating from the vehicle;
• capturing fluid from a vehicle surface and storing the fluid within the first reservoir;
• conveying the fluid from the first reservoir to one or more treatment members;
• treating the fluid within the one or more treatment members;
• and
• conveying the treated fluid to the windshield wiper fluid reservoir.