Lubricant management method for a vehicle
US7756717B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01M2011/14
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system (10) for ensuring the quality of lubricating oil in an engine of a locomotive without the need for specialized diagnostic and fluid handling systems on the locomotive. A test portion (28) of lubricating oil is removed from the engine and is analyzed at an oil analysis center (26) to determine an oil quality parameter (32). The oil quality parameter is used as an input to a calculator (34) to determine a quantity of oil (36) that must be replaced by fresh oil during a current maintenance outage in order to ensure that the engine oil quality will remain acceptable throughout a forthcoming operating period. In this manner, a complete change-out of the lubricating oil may be delayed or avoided. The oil replacement decision and quantity is communicated to a service center (18) via a communications link such as the Internet (40) prior to the arrival of the locomotive at the service center. The used oil may be removed from the engine using a portable transfer device and mixed with fuel in a fuel storage tank for subsequent refueling of other locomotives.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.