System and method for dynamic lubrication adjustment for a lubrication analysis system

• US 7,134,323 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Discenzo, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/041,317
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 73/530.1, 73/530.4, 73/530.5, 73/540.1, 73/540.2, 73/614.1, 73/614.2, 702/33, 702/34, 702/81, 702/82, 702/130, 702/136, 702/183, 702/184, 184/6.4
• US Class Current: 73/53.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A system and methodology is provided for dynamically adjusting fluids that operate as a lubricant in a machine. The system includes a control module having a processor and one or more sensors providing data to the processor in situ with the machine, wherein the processor employs the data to monitor the fluid. One or more inputs are provided to receive a plurality of additives that are associated with the fluid, wherein actuators are employed by the processor to dispense the additives to the fluid. The processor dispenses the fluid based upon one or more parameters of the fluid.

Claims

1. A system that analyzes health of a lubricant in a machine, comprising:

a component that senses, in situ, a characteristic of the lubricant;

an analyzer that compares the sensed characteristic of the lubricant with a pre-defined characteristic of the lubricant, wherein the result of the comparison is utilized to determine lubricant health; and

the analyzer further compares the determined lubricant health with known acceptable parameters and a projected lubricant aging in order to establish a recommended maintenance action and determine when this maintenance must be performed.

2. The system of claim 1, the component is a pH sensor that determines an ionic condition of the sensed lubricant.

3. The system of claim 1, the component is a chemical sensor that determines presence of a chemical contaminant of the lubricant.

4. The system of claim 1, the component is a conductivity sensor to determine presence of at least one of a metal contaminant and a water contaminant of the lubricant.

5. The system of claim 1, the component is a sensor that measures temperature for determining lubricant viscosity.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic component that dynamically controls a qualitative and/or quantitative aspects of the lubricant based at least in part on the health of the lubricant to reduce at least one of lubricant degradation, depletion and oxidation.

7. The system of claim 1, the lubricant is one of a hydraulic fluid, an oil, and a grease.

8. The system of claim 1, the component further converts the sensed characteristic into a form readable by the analyzer.

9. A system for maintaining the health of a lubricant of a machine, comprising:

means for sensing a real-time lubricant property;

means for determining health of the lubricant from the sensed lubricant property;

means for comparing the determined lubricant health with known acceptable parameters and a projected lubricant aging;

means for establishing a recommended maintenance action; and

means for determining when the maintenance must be performed based on the lubricant health data.