Apparatus and method for lubricant condition control and monitoring from a remote location
First Claim
1. A method of reducing saturated relative humidity of a lubricant in an enclosed space also containing air comprising:
- providing a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the enclosed space;
measuring the humidity of the enclosed space;
communicating the measurement of the humidity to a remote location;
comparing the humidity measurement with a pre-selected humidity level;
introducing dry air into the enclosed space if the humidity level equals or exceeds the pre-selected humidity level, until the saturated humidity level is less than the pre-selected humidity level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air or oil dryer module is provided to remove or reduce moisture from a lubricant using a pressurized air supply to inject dry air into a lubricant sump. As the “dry air” or air with a minimized moisture content, gathers moisture from the lubricant a relative humidity sensor detects an increase in air moisture. At a pre-determined relative humidity level, a fresh supply of air is added into the lubricant sump, purging the higher relative humidity level air from the sump. A method of reducing moisture content of a lubricant contained in an enclosed space is also disclosed and is performed by agitating the lubricant, providing a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the enclosed space, measuring the humidity of the enclosed space and comparing the humidity measurement with a pre-selected humidity level, introducing dry air into the enclosed space if the humidity level equals or exceeds the pre-selected humidity level, until the saturated humidity level is less than the pre-selected humidity level.
49 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of reducing saturated relative humidity of a lubricant in an enclosed space also containing air comprising:
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providing a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the enclosed space;
measuring the humidity of the enclosed space;
communicating the measurement of the humidity to a remote location;
comparing the humidity measurement with a pre-selected humidity level;
introducing dry air into the enclosed space if the humidity level equals or exceeds the pre-selected humidity level, until the saturated humidity level is less than the pre-selected humidity level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for decreasing the saturated relative humidity of a lubricant contained in an enclosed volume comprising:
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a humidity sensor communicatively coupled with the enclosed volume and measuring saturated relative humidity of a lubricant contained in the enclosed volume;
an mechanism for decreasing the humidity of the air in the enclosed volume, thereby decreasing the saturated relative humidity of the lubricant;
a control mechanism at a remote location communicatively coupled with the humidity sensor and the mechanism for decreasing humidity;
wherein the mechanism for decreasing humidity is actuated when signaled by the control mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of controlling an apparatus for decreasing the saturated relative humidity of a lubricant in an enclosed volume comprising:
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providing a humidity sensor communicatively coupled with the enclosed volume;
an internet connection;
providing a communicative coupling between the humidity sensor and the internet connection;
providing a computer communicatively coupled with the humidity sensor via the internet connection;
transmitting a reading from the humidity sensor to the computer over the internet;
using the computer to compare a humidity reading from the humidity sensor to a pre-selected humidity level;
using the computer via the internet connection to control decreasing the humidity level of the enclosed volume, and the saturated relative humidity of the lubricant in the enclosed volume.
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Specification