Apparatus and method for lubricant condition control and monitoring

• US 7,140,468 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trico MFG. Corp.
• Original Assignee: Trico MFG. Corp.
• Inventors: Rake, Brad, Moertl, Mark, Cravillion, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): FENSTERMACHER, DAVID MORGAN
• Application Number:
  US10/649,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.1, 184/6.4, 184/7.4, 184/37, 184/108, 184/27.1, 184/103.1, 184/103.2, 184/64, 184/6.14, 184/6.24, 184/6.23, 384/462, 384/448, 73/10
• US Class Current: 184/6.23
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/02 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/04 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/38 Piezo; x-tal
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 27/00 Proportioning devices liquid meters G01F
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/02 for influencing the supply of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/005 by evaporating or purifying for heating or cooling of filters B01D35/18, e.g. comprising a vaporising unit B01D35/185

Abstract

A plurality of sensors are utilized to record operating conditions of the machine, element, environment, and lubricant. The apparatus is controlled either manually or with the aid of a controller unit such as a microprocessor. A stand-alone humidity sensor mechanism is disclosed, in which signal process circuitry is electrically coupled to a humidity sensor, designed to be attached to the mechanism to be monitored so that it is juxtaposed in the atmosphere above the lubricant material that is being monitored.

Claims

1. A humidity sensing mechanism for use with a device desired to be lubricated, said humidity sensing mechanism comprising:

a housing carrying a lubricant and a device desired to be lubricated by said lubricant;

a humidity sensor coupled with headspace of said housing, said humidity sensor being removably coupled to said housing;

said humidity sensor measuring a percentage of saturation of water within said lubricant by measuring said air within said housing;

a first indicating mechanism;

a second indicating mechanism;

said humidity sensor communicative with said first and second indicating mechanisms;

said humidity sensor controlling said first indicating mechanism to illuminate when said humidity sensor detects saturated relative humidity levels below a predetermined unsafe level of saturated relative humidity;

said humidity sensor controlling said second indicating mechanism to illuminate when said humidity sensor detects saturated relative humidity levels above said a predetermined unsafe level of saturated relative humidity.