Generator predictive engine oil life algorithm

• US 9,869,665 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Chapman, III, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US14/284,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 702 23, 702 50, 702 52, 73 5301, 73 5305, 73 6145, 7311455, 701 2951, 701 295, 701 291
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/14 for indicating the necessity to change the oil
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A system including one or more generators predicts engine oil life. Generator data is received or generated by a controller. The generator data describes the operation of the generator including a load placed on the generator. Engine data may also be received or generated by the controller describing an engine coupled to the generator. The controller calculates an estimated oil life based at least on the generator data and/or the engine data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a generator, the method comprising:

receiving generator data for operation of the generator;

receiving engine data for operation of an engine coupled to the generator;

determining a generator command for the operation of the generator, the generator command based on the generator data or the engine data;

calculating an estimated oil life from the generator command; and

providing an oil life message in response to the calculated estimated oil life for an indication of accurate oil life.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an oil life message based on the estimated oil life.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generator command includes a start command to initiate the operation of the generator or an adjustment command to adjust the operation of the generator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a generator status message for an operating state of the generator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine data includes engine speed or oil temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a reset signal for the estimated oil life; and

resetting the estimated oil life to a default value based on the reset signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a field current for the generator according to the generator command.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the generator command includes an output level for the generator.

9. An apparatus for operating a generator comprising:

a memory configured to store generator data for operation of the generator and engine data for operation of an engine coupled to the generator; and

a processor configured to determine a generator command to initiate or adjust the operation of the generator, the processor further configured to calculate an estimated oil life based on the generator command and provide an oil life message in response to the calculated estimated oil life for an indication of accurate oil life.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to perform a comparison of the estimated oil life to a threshold value and generate a warning message based on the comparison.

11. A method of operating a generator, the method comprising:

receiving engine speed data associated with the generator;

accessing a lookup table according to a type of the generator using the engine speed data to retrieve an oil reduction value;

receiving generator load data for the generator;

calculating an estimated oil life based on the generator load data and the oil reduction value; and

providing an oil life message in response to the calculated estimated oil life for an indication of accurate oil life.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generator load data includes a time component and an output level component.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

multiplying the time component, the output level component and the oil reduction value to calculate a scaled oil reduction value; and

subtracting the scaled oil reduction value from a default value to calculate the estimated oil life.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the estimated oil life to a maximum value; and

setting the estimated oil life to the maximum value when the estimated oil life exceeds the maximum value.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the estimated oil life to a warning threshold value; and

generating a warning message with the estimated oil life exceeds the warning threshold value.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an oil type input; and

modifying the oil reduction value based on the oil type input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the oil type input is received from a scanner.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the lookup table includes different oil reduction values for different models of generators.