System and method for determining oil change interval
US6253601A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01M2011/1493
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for indicating when the oil of an engine needs to be changed. The system includes measuring engine parameters such as engine temperature, fueling rate, engine speed, and engine load. At timed intervals, soot generation, viscosity increase, and total base number (TBN) depletion are estimated through a calculation for that time interval. The estimated values from the calculations are accumulated in separate loops. Once the accumulation of soot generation, oil viscosity increase, or TBN depletion reaches a predetermined magnitude for that respective oil property, then an indication or signal is provided to indicate to the engine operator that the oil needs changing. The system is supplemented with real time sensors such as an oil level sensor, a soot sensor, and a viscosity sensor which provide a back up for the calculation of estimates and also prevent catastrophic engine conditions from not being detected through electronic calculation of estimates. The system and method also can correct for the accumulation of oil consumption caused by evaporation of oil or leakage of oil. The algorithms used in the calculations can account for oil quality and fuel sulfur as wel…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.