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Method for determinating of an oil condition

  • US 7,266,472 B2
  • Filed: 12/16/2005
  • Issued: 09/04/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a condition of lubricating oil corresponding to an oil age or an oil damage value of the oil, the method comprising the steps of:

  • measuring a temperature of one or more of the oil and a part through which the oil flows and coordinating each measured temperature with a temperature range defined by at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit;

    measuring, as soon as the measured temperature exceeds or falls below a limit of the temperature range, a first period of time during which the measured temperature dwells in the temperature range which exceeds the upper limit or falls below the lower limit;

    integrating a flow of oil running during the time period over the first period;

    determining the oil age or the oil damage value representing at least one of the oil age and oil damage for a current temperature range from the first period time and the integral of the flow of oil; and

    providing an output representing the condition of the oil based upon the determined oil age or the oil damage value; and

    producing an oil change signal when the oil age or the oil damage valued exceeds a preset limit value is exceeded indicating that an oil change is required.

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