ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF FLUID OPERATIONS FOR MACHINES

• US 20140309794A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPM Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: RPM Industries LLC
• Inventors: Apostolides, John K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,939,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/04 Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0215 Electrical pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/123 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0466 Filling or draining during running
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 3/00 Lubrication specially adapted for engines with crankcase compression of fuel-air mixture or for other engines in which lubricant is contained in fuel, combustion air, or fuel-air mixture separating lubricant from air or fuel-air mixture before entry into cylinder F01M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 19/00 Testing; Calibrating; Fault detection or monitoring; Simulation or modelling of fluid-pressure systems or apparatus not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/09 by monitoring pressure in fluid ducts, e.g. in lubrication or cooling parts
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

Various embodiments of fluid monitoring systems are provided for use in connection with the fluid systems of machines such as engine-powered machines. The fluid monitoring systems may be configured for collecting and processing data associated with fluid refill operations, fluid evacuation operations, fluid purge operations, and other types of fluid operations in connection with different fluid components.

Claims

1. A fluid monitoring system for collecting data associated with a fluid operation performed on a machine, the system comprising:

a control module;

an electrical circuit configured for establishing an electrical connection with a fluid component and at least a portion of a fluid system of a machine; and

,

wherein the electrical circuit is further configured for transmitting power to the control module for activating the control module from a dormant state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit is further configured for communicating a signal to the activated control module in association with a fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communicated signal represents a time or date associated with the fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine is in a dormant state.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid refill operation.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid evacuation operation.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid purge operation.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a prelubrication operation.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid circulation or recycling process.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid component includes a pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pump includes at least one of a supplemental pump, a main engine pump, a prelubrication pump, or a fluid reservoir pump.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid component includes a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid component includes a valve assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid system of the machine includes an evacuation bracket operatively associated with the fluid component.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying positive pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying negative pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

17. A method for collecting data associated with a fluid operation performed on a machine, the method comprising:

establishing an electrical connection with a fluid component and at least a portion of a fluid system of a machine; and

,

transmitting power to the control module for activating the control module from a dormant state.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating a signal to the activated control module in association with a fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating the signal in response to a time or date associated with the fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the machine is in a dormant state.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid refill operation.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid evacuation operation.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid purge operation.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid operation includes a prelubrication operation.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid circulation or recycling process.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid component includes a pump.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the pump includes at least one of a supplemental pump, a main engine pump, a prelubrication pump, or a fluid reservoir pump.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid component includes a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid component includes a valve assembly.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid system of the machine includes an evacuation bracket operatively associated with the fluid component.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying positive pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying negative pressure to the fluid system of the machine.