Method and apparatus for determining a viscosity of an actuating fluid
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a viscosity range of an actuating fluid located within a fuel system of an engine, comprising the steps of:
- determining a flow of the actuating fluid;
determining a pressure drop of the actuating fluid across a consistent orifice located in the fuel system;
determining a temperature of the actuating fluid; and
determining a viscosity range of the actuating fluid in response to said flow, and said pressure drop, and said temperature.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the viscosity range and/or oil grade of an actuating fluid in a fuel system. The method includes the steps of determining a flow, pressure, and temperature of the actuating fluid, and responsively determining the viscosity range and/or oil grade of the actuating fluid.
32 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for determining a viscosity range of an actuating fluid located within a fuel system of an engine, comprising the steps of:
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determining a flow of the actuating fluid;
determining a pressure drop of the actuating fluid across a consistent orifice located in the fuel system;
determining a temperature of the actuating fluid; and
determining a viscosity range of the actuating fluid in response to said flow, and said pressure drop, and said temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
determining an oil grade of the actuating fluid in response to said flow, pressure drop, and temperature of the fluid; and
determining said viscosity range in response to said oil grade.
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4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the step of determining a viscosity of said fluid in response to said viscosity range.
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5. A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the step of determining said oil grade further comprises the steps of:
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comparing said temperature, said flow, and said pressure with a plurality of oil grade maps; and
determining said oil grade in response to said comparison.
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6. A method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the step of determining said flow further comprises the steps of:
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determining a pump engine speed;
determining a pump displacement; and
determining said flow in response to said pump engine speed and said pump displacement.
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7. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of determining said viscosity range further comprises the steps of:
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selecting a representative oil grade from a plurality of oil grades in response to said flow, pressure drop, and temperature of the fluid; and
determining said viscosity range in response to said characteristic oil grade.
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8. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the consistent orifice is a pressure control valve.
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9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the step of determining a pressure drop includes the step of determining said pressure drop of the actuating fluid across a consistent orifice of the fuel system during a cranking of the engine.
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10. A method for determining a grade representative of an actuating fluid located within a fuel system of a fuel system, comprising the steps of:
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determining a flow of the actuating fluid;
determining a pressure drop of the actuating fluid across a consistent orifice located in the fuel system;
determining a temperature of the actuating fluid; and
determining the grade of the actuating fluid in response to said flow, said temperature, and said pressure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
comparing said temperature, said flow, and said pressure with a plurality of oil grade maps; and
,determining the grade in response to said comparison.
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16. A method for determining a viscosity range of an actuating fluid located within a fuel system, comprising the steps of:
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determining a flow of the actuating fluid;
determining a temperature of the actuating fluid;
determining a pressure drop of the actuating fluid;
determining a representative oil grade of the actuating fluid in response to said flow and said pressure; and
determining a viscosity range of the actuating fluid in response to said oil grade and said temperature. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus for determining a viscosity range of an actuating fluid located within a fuel system of an engine, comprising:
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a means for determining a flow of the actuating fluid, and responsively producing a flow signal;
a pressure sensor adapted to sense a pressure of the actuating fluid across a consistent orifice located in the fuel system, and responsively produce a pressure signal;
a temperature sensor adapted to sense a pressure of the actuating fluid, and responsively produce a temperature signal; and
a controller adapted to receive said flow signal, said pressure signal, and said temperature signal, and responsively determine a viscosity range of said actuating fluid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
one of a look-up table and a mapping means containing at least one predetermined oil grade map as a function of said flow, said pressure, and said temperature, said oil grade being determined in response to said one a look-up table and a mapping means.
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Specification