LUBRICANT DETERIORATION SENSOR

• US 20160252448A1
• Filed: 10/24/2014
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
• Inventors: IDA, Yasuhito
• Granted Patent: US 9,939,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/25 Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8507 Probe photometers, i.e. with optical measuring part dipped into fluid sample
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/127 Calibration; base line adjustment; drift compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A lubricant deterioration sensor that can determine a deterioration degree of lubricant without using an external device is provided. The lubricant deterioration sensor includes an oil entering gap in which lubricant to be detected enters, a LED (21) that emits detection light to the oil entering gap, a color sensor (22) that obtains a detection value representing color information of the detection light traveled through the lubricant, a calibration unit that calibrates a measurement range of the detection value in accordance with the lubricant, a determination unit that determines a deterioration degree of the lubricant based on the detection value, and a housing in which the oil entering gap, the LED (21), the color element (22), the calibration unit, and the determination unit are disposed.

Claims

1. A lubricant deterioration sensor, comprising:

an examination section in which lubricant to be detected enters;

a light emitting element emitting detection light to the examination section;

a light receiving element obtaining a detection value that represents color information of the detection light traveled through the lubricant;

a calibration unit calibrating a measurement range of the detection value in accordance with the lubricant to be detected;

a determination unit determining a deterioration degree of the lubricant based on the detection value; and

a housing in which the examination section, the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the calibration unit, and the determination unit are disposed.

2. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein

the light receiving element is a first light receiving element,

the lubricant deterioration sensor further includes a second light receiving element that detects detection light emitted from the light emitting element and obtains a detection result, and

the calibration unit calibrates an intensity of light emitted from the light emitting element in accordance with the detection result.

3. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein

the light receiving element is a first light receiving element,

the lubricant deterioration sensor further includes a second light receiving element that detects detection light emitted from the light emitting element and obtains a detection result, and

the calibration unit calibrate the detection result in accordance with the detection result.

4. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein

the determination unit obtains a plurality of the detection values and a mode of the detection values is used for determination.

5. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein the determination unit obtains a plurality of the detection values and a minimum value among the detection values is used for determination.

6. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein

the determination unit determines a deterioration degree of the lubricant based on a calculated value using at least one of a brightness or a maximum color-component difference calculated from the detection value.

7. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 6, wherein

the calibration unit obtains an initial value by calibrating the calculated value, and the determination unit performs determination of a deterioration degree of the lubricant when there is a prescribed amount of change in the calculated value from the initial value.

8. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 1, wherein

the determination unit determines damage of a machine that uses the lubricant based on the detection value.

9. A lubricant deterioration sensor, comprising:

a determination unit determining a deterioration degree of lubricant based on an intensity of light traveled through the lubricant to be detected.

10. The lubricant deterioration sensor of claim 9, wherein

a calibration unit calibrating a measurement range of the intensity of the light in accordance with the lubricant to be detected.