Apparatus and method for predicting replacement timing of engine lubricating oil
First Claim
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1. An engine lubricating oil replacement time predicting apparatus for predicting a replacement timing of a lubricating oil for an engine in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an engine rotary speed sensor to detect an engine rotary speed;
an engine load sensor to detect an engine load;
an initial value storage portion to store changes in a lubricating oil total acid value per unit time corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load, wherein the changes in the lubricating oil total acid value are without regard to the vehicle;
an operating load frequency calculator, coupled to the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor, to calculate an engine load frequency for a set period after receiving signals from the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor in regard to the vehicle;
a total acid value calculator, coupled to the initial value storage portion and the operating load frequency calculator, to calculate an output equal to a change in a total lubricating oil acid value for a set period based on data stored in the initial value storage portion and based on the engine load frequency calculated by the operating load frequency calculator; and
a display, coupled to the total acid value calculator, to display a time when a total lubricating oil acid value, based on the output of the total acid value calculator, will exceed a predetermined threshold value.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for predicting a lubricating oil replacement time for an engine by precisely predicting a total acid value and/or an amount of soot in a lubricating oil and by displaying an accurate time which will elapse before a required lubricating oil replacement. Accurate prediction of lubricating oil replacement prevents engine seizing and other damage and avoids wasteful replacement of otherwise useful lubricating oil.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An engine lubricating oil replacement time predicting apparatus for predicting a replacement timing of a lubricating oil for an engine in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an engine rotary speed sensor to detect an engine rotary speed; an engine load sensor to detect an engine load; an initial value storage portion to store changes in a lubricating oil total acid value per unit time corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load, wherein the changes in the lubricating oil total acid value are without regard to the vehicle; an operating load frequency calculator, coupled to the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor, to calculate an engine load frequency for a set period after receiving signals from the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor in regard to the vehicle; a total acid value calculator, coupled to the initial value storage portion and the operating load frequency calculator, to calculate an output equal to a change in a total lubricating oil acid value for a set period based on data stored in the initial value storage portion and based on the engine load frequency calculated by the operating load frequency calculator; and a display, coupled to the total acid value calculator, to display a time when a total lubricating oil acid value, based on the output of the total acid value calculator, will exceed a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An engine lubricating oil replacement time predicting apparatus for predicting a replacement timing of a lubricating oil for an engine in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an engine rotary speed sensor to detect an engine rotary speed; an engine load sensor to detect an engine load; at least one initial value storage portion to store changes in a lubricating oil soot content per unit time corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load, wherein the changes in the lubricating oil soot content are without regard to the vehicle; an operating load frequency calculator, coupled to the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor, to calculate an engine load frequency in regard to the vehicle for a set period after receiving signals from the engine rotary speed sensor and the engine load sensor; a total soot content calculator, coupled to the at least one initial value storage portion and the operating load frequency calculator, to calculate a first output equal to a change in a total lubricating oil soot content for a set period based on data stored in the at least one initial value storage portion and based on the engine load frequency calculated by the operating load frequency calculator; and a display, coupled to the total soot content calculator, to display a time when a total lubricating oil soot content, based on the first output of the total soot content calculator, will exceed a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for predicting a replacement time of an engine lubricating oil corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load for an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing changes in a total lubricating oil acid value per unit time corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load without regard to the vehicle; calculating and storing an engine load frequency for a set period based on said engine rotary speed and on said engine load and in regard to the vehicle; calculating a total lubricating oil acid value change for a set period based on the stored changes in a total lubricating oil acid value per unit time and the stored engine load frequency; and displaying a time indication representative of a total lubricating oil acid value with respect to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the total lubricating oil acid value equals a sum of total lubricating oil acid value changes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for predicting a replacement time of an engine lubricating oil corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load for an engine in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing changes of a lubricating oil soot content per unit time corresponding to an engine rotary speed and an engine load without regard to the vehicle; calculating and storing an engine load frequency in regard to the vehicle for a set period based on an engine rotary speed and an engine load; calculating a first lubricating oil soot content change for a set period based on the stored changes of a lubricating oil soot content per unit time and the stored engine load frequency; and displaying a time indication representative of a total lubricating oil soot content change with respect to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the total lubricating oil soot content equals a sum of first lubricating oil soot content changes. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification