Transmission oil monitor system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring the condition of oil in a transmission, comprising:
- first means connected to the transmission for sensing an actual number of revolutions of the transmission during transmission operation;
second means connected to the transmission for sensing the temperature of the oil during said operation;
third means connected to said first and second means generating an effective number of transmission revolutions during said operation, said effective number comprising said actual number weighted as a function of said temperature, said effective number being derived from said actual number as a linear function of said temperature of said oil, said function establishing a penalty factor multiplier which increases with increasing temperature, said effective number being said actual number multiplied by said penalty factor; and
fourth means connected to said third means for totalling said effective number of revolutions over a course of transmission operations and producing an indicia that servicing of the oil is required when said total of said effective number of revolutions exceeds a particular level.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus as presented for monitoring the condition of oil in a transmission to present a service indicia prior to the time that the oil life has been spent. A thermosensor and a tachometer are associated with the transmission to present respective output signals correlated with operating temperature and transmission revolutions. The revolutions of the transmission are weighted as a function of the deviation of the temperature from a temperature standard. The resulting effective revolutions are then applied to a down counter which is initially loaded to the number of allowable effective revolutions when the transmission oil is changed or the transmission serviced. When the down counter has counted out, a message is displayed indicating the need for service.
17 Citations
3 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring the condition of oil in a transmission, comprising:
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first means connected to the transmission for sensing an actual number of revolutions of the transmission during transmission operation; second means connected to the transmission for sensing the temperature of the oil during said operation; third means connected to said first and second means generating an effective number of transmission revolutions during said operation, said effective number comprising said actual number weighted as a function of said temperature, said effective number being derived from said actual number as a linear function of said temperature of said oil, said function establishing a penalty factor multiplier which increases with increasing temperature, said effective number being said actual number multiplied by said penalty factor; and fourth means connected to said third means for totalling said effective number of revolutions over a course of transmission operations and producing an indicia that servicing of the oil is required when said total of said effective number of revolutions exceeds a particular level.
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2. A method for monitoring the condition of oil in a transmission, comprising:
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counting an actual number of transmission revolutions during transmission operation; measuring temperature of the oil during said operation; determining an adjustment factor as a function of a deviation of said temperature from a reference temperature; determining an effective count of transmission revolutions during said transmission operation by adjusting said actual number as a function of said adjustment factor, said effective count being derived from said actual number as a linear function of said temperature of said oil, said function establishing said adjustment factor, said adjustment factor increasing with increasing temperature, said effective count being said actual number multiplied by said adjustment factor; totaling said effective count of transmission revolutions during successive periods of said transmission operation; and generating a signal indicating a need for oil service when said total effective count exceeds a particular level.
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3. Apparatus for monitoring the condition of oil in a transmission, comprising:
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a first sensor connected to the transmission and providing a first output corresponding to an actual number of transmission revolutions; a second sensor connected to the transmission and providing a second output corresponding to the temperature of the oil; means connected to said first and second sensors and receiving said first and second outputs therefrom for generating a third output corresponding to an effective number of transmission revolutions, said effective number comprising said actual number weighted by said temperature, said effective number being derived from said actual number as a linear function of said temperature of said oil, said function establishing a penalty factor, multiplier which increases with increasing temperature, said effective number being said actual number multiplied by said penalty factor; a counter connected to said means and receiving said third output, said counter totalling said effective numbers of revolutions during operation of said transmission; and display means connected to said counter for providing an indicia of said total of said effective number of revolutions and for producing an indicia of a need for oil service when said total exceeds a particular threshold.
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Specification