Petroleum viscosity measurement and communication system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the viscosity of a lubricating oil comprising:
- a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor for sensing a first oil viscosity parameter, the sensor comprising;
a cantilever having a pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure exerted by the lubricating oil as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion, the cantilever further having a first resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion and having a second resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion;
a first lead in electrical communication with the first resistive portion; and
,a second lead in electrical communication with the second resistive portion;
an electrical circuit amplification element in electrical communication with at least one of the first lead and the second lead for creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion for sensing the first oil viscosity parameter;
a processor in communication with the electrical circuit amplification element and having a memory associated therewith for receiving and storing the output signal and for determining quality of the lubricating oil by comparing the output signal with a stored resistance value; and
,a user interface device in communication with the processor for receiving and communicating a lubricating oil quality signal through the interface device in response to the processor determining quality of the lubricating oil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure presents an apparatus and method for measuring viscosity of a lubricating oil. The apparatus has a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor for sensing a first oil viscosity parameter. The sensor has a cantilever having a pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure exerted by the lubricating oil as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion. The cantilever also has first and second resistive portions in electrical communication with a first lead and a second lead, respectively, which are in electrical communication with an electrical circuit amplification element, for creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions of the cantilever as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion. The output signal can be used for determining oil viscosity. A processor and memory compare the output signal value with a stored resistance value to provide information relating to the quality of the lubricating oil.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the viscosity of a lubricating oil comprising:
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a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor for sensing a first oil viscosity parameter, the sensor comprising; a cantilever having a pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure exerted by the lubricating oil as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion, the cantilever further having a first resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion and having a second resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion; a first lead in electrical communication with the first resistive portion; and
,a second lead in electrical communication with the second resistive portion; an electrical circuit amplification element in electrical communication with at least one of the first lead and the second lead for creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion for sensing the first oil viscosity parameter; a processor in communication with the electrical circuit amplification element and having a memory associated therewith for receiving and storing the output signal and for determining quality of the lubricating oil by comparing the output signal with a stored resistance value; and
,a user interface device in communication with the processor for receiving and communicating a lubricating oil quality signal through the interface device in response to the processor determining quality of the lubricating oil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of measuring the viscosity of a lubricating oil comprising:
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sensing a first oil viscosity parameter at a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor, comprising the steps of; receiving pressure exerted by the lubricating oil on the cantilever having a pressure receiving portion, as the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion, the cantilever further having a first resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion and having a second resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion; and
,creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions and the lubricating oil comes into contact with the pressure receiving portion for sensing the first oil viscosity parameter; amplifying the output signal at an electrical circuit amplification element; receiving and storing the output signal at a processor in communication with the electrical circuit amplification element; determining quality of the lubricating oil by comparing the output signal with a stored resistance value; and
,receiving and communicating a lubricating oil quality signal at an interface device in response to the processor determining quality of the lubricating oil. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for measuring a property of a lubricating oil comprising:
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a piezo-resistive cantilever sensor for sensing a first parameter, the sensor comprising; a cantilever having a pressure receiving portion for receiving pressure caused by a reaction of the cantilever to the property of the lubricating oil, the cantilever further having a first resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion and having a second resistive portion in electrical communication with the pressure receiving portion; a first lead in electrical communication with the first resistive portion; and
,a second lead in electrical communication with the second resistive portion; an electrical circuit amplification element in electrical communication with at least one of the first lead and the second lead for creating an output signal indicative of a change in the resistive characteristics of the first and second resistive portions as the pressure receiving portion receives pressure by a reaction of the cantilever to the property of the lubricating oil, for sensing the first parameter; a processor in communication with the electrical circuit amplification element and having a memory associated therewith for receiving and storing the output signal and for determining quality of the lubricating oil by comparing the output signal with a stored resistance value; and
,a user interface device for in communication with the processor for receiving and communicating a lubricating oil quality signal through the interface device in response to the processor determining quality of the lubricating oil. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification