Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for determining and extending a change interval for an operating fluid of a unit

US5592395A · kind A · utility

15Cited by

8References

10Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Mercedes-Benz Group AG · DE

Inventors

Fritz Braun · Munich, DE
Ursula Felger · Schorndorf, DE
Otto Jung · Stuttgart, DE
Jakob Wojtacki · Wissen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Mar 1, 1994
Grant date	Jan 7, 1997
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Mar 1, 2014

Classification

Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
CPC primaryF16N2260/18
WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining and extending a change interval for an operating fluid of a unit, particularly for an engine of a motor vehicle, uses at least one directly or indirectly recorded operating variable which represents the qualitative condition of the operating fluid. An evaluation of the at least operating variable and a continuous calculation of the change interval therefrom is performed by a computing and control unit. The calculated change interval is related to a specified unit service interval and, if the change interval expires before the service interval, a regeneration signal for the removal of a certain quantity of the spent operating fluid and the replacement of the quantity with a fresh operating fluid is produced as a function of the difference therebetween.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.