System and method for determining oil quality

• US 20030196479A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kasen, Jon E., McCluskey, Philip H., Lee, Michelle A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,675,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

The oil quality used in a machine, vehicle or system can be determined in response to determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply. Once the oil quality is determined, an oil quality warning light can be activated, indicating the need to change the oil.

Claims

1. A method for determining an oil quality comprising:

measuring a temperature in an oil supply;

measuring a pressure in said oil supply; and

determining said oil quality in response to said measuring temperature step and said measuring pressure step.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

determining a pressure drop in said oil supply.

3. The method of claim 1 further including:

measuring a second pressure in said oil supply;

comparing said pressure to said second pressure; and

determining a pressure drop in said oil supply.

4. The method of claim 3 further including:

measuring the time between measuring said pressure and measuring said second pressure.

5. The method of claim 1 further including:

determining an estimated pressure drop for said oil supply.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining an estimated pressure drop includes:

measuring a duration of an event drawing oil from said oil supply;

7. The method of claim 5 wherein determining an estimated pressure drop includes:

determining an oil grade for said oil supply.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining said oil grade includes:

inputting said oil grade.

9. The method of claim 5 further including:

determining a pressure drop in said oil supply;

comparing said pressure drop to said estimated pressure drop; and

determining said oil quality in response to said comparing step.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:

measuring a second pressure in said oil supply;

comparing said pressure to said second pressure; and

determining a pressure drop in said oil supply in response to said comparing step.

11. The method of claim 9 further including:

activating an oil quality warning light in response to said determining oil quality step.

12. A system for determining an oil quality comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a pressure sensor;

a electronic control module connected to said temperature sensor and said pressure sensor;

wherein said electronic control unit receives a temperature signal from said temperature sensor and a pressure signal from said pressure sensor and determines said oil quality in response to said temperature signal and said pressure signal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said temperature sensor is located in an oil supply rail.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said pressure sensor is located in an oil supply rail.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said temperature sensor is a oil temperature sensor.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic control module receives an oil grade signal and said electronic control module determines said oil quality in response to said temperature signal, said pressure signal and said oil grade signal.

17. The system of claim 12 further including:

an oil quality warning light, activated by said electronic control module in response to determining said oil quality.

18. A method of determining an oil quality of a oil supply comprising:

determining an oil grade of said oil supply;

measuring a temperature of said oil supply;

measuring a first pressure of said oil supply;

measuring a duration of an event drawing oil from said oil supply;

measuring a second pressure of said oil supply;

estimating a pressure drop of said oil supply;

determining an actual pressure drop of said oil supply in response to measuring said first pressure and measuring said second pressure;

comparing said actual pressure drop to said estimated pressure drop;

determining said oil quality in response to said comparing step.

19. The method of claim 18 including:

measuring said first pressure before said event.

20. The method of claim 18 including:

measuring said first pressure proximate in time to a start of said event.

21. The method of claim 18 including:

measuring said second pressure at an end of said event.

22. The method of claim 18 including:

measuring said second pressure proximate in time to an end of said event.

23. The method of claim 19 further including:

activating an oil quality warning light in response to determining said oil quality.

24. The method of claim 19 further including:

averaging said actual pressure drop over time;

comparing said averaged pressure drop to said estimated pressure drop;

determining said oil quality in response to said comparing said averaged pressure drop to said estimated pressure drop.

25. A method for determining a oil quality comprising:

determining a pressure drop in an oil supply;

determining a temperature in said oil supply; and

determining said oil quality in response to said determining steps.