# US 12,000,821 B2 · Fluid monitoring

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- Number: US 12,000,821 B2
- Document ID: US12000821B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/344,464
- Filed: 2021-06-10
- Published: 2021-12-16
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-10
- Assignees: Bd. of Supervisors of La. St. Univ. & A&MCollege
- Applicants: Michael M. Khonsari; Lijesh Koottaparambil
- Inventors: Michael M. Khonsari; Lijesh Koottaparambil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000821B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/2888: {Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration (lubricating properties G01N33/30)}
- F16N 29/00: Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
- G01N 33/30: for lubricating properties
- F16N 2200/00: Condition of lubricant
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- F16N: LUBRICATING

## Abstract

Methods of evaluating mixing are disclosed relating to the preparation and mixing of materials. Materials prepared may transition from heterogeneous mixtures to homogenous mixtures while the current of a motor is monitored. Quantities relating to the rate of change of power or the rate of change of entropy may be calculated in evaluating the sufficiency of mixing. Methods of evaluating lubricant degradation are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of evaluating mixing comprising:
a. combining a first material with a second material thereby creating a first mixture wherein the first mixture is initially a non-homogenous mixture;
b. operating a motor to work the first mixture with a first implement;
c. measuring a first current to the motor;
d. recording a first current data set representing values of the first current over time;
e. calculating a rate variable using the first current dataset wherein the rate variable has a first dimensional form selected from:
mass
*
l
⁢
e
⁢
ngth
2
t
⁢
i
⁢
m
⁢
e
4
⁢
and
⁢
m
⁢
a
⁢
s
⁢
s
*
l
⁢
e
⁢
n
⁢
g
⁢
t
⁢
h
2
T
⁢
e
⁢
m
⁢
p
⁢
e
⁢
r
⁢
a
⁢
t
⁢
u
⁢
r
⁢
e
*
t
⁢
i
⁢
m
⁢
e
4
;
and
f. turning off the motor after the rate variable reaches a first threshold value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
a. calculating a cumulative variable using the first current dataset wherein the cumulative variable corresponds with a cumulative working of the first mixture with the first implement and wherein the cumulative variable has a second dimensional form selected from:
m
⁢
a
⁢
s
⁢
s
*
l
⁢
e
⁢
n
⁢
g
⁢
t
⁢
h
2
t
⁢
i
⁢
m
⁢
e
2
⁢
and
⁢
m
⁢
a
⁢
s
⁢
s
*
l
⁢
e
⁢
n
⁢
g
⁢
t
⁢
h
2
T
⁢
e
⁢
m
⁢
p
⁢
e
⁢
r
⁢
a
⁢
t
⁢
u
⁢
r
⁢
e
*
t
⁢
i
⁢
m
⁢
e
2
;
b. wherein the turning off the motor occurs after the cumulative variable reaches a second threshold value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the calculating the rate variable occurs according to the formula
P
˙
=
dP
d
⁢
t
=
V
⁢
d
[
(
I
⁡
(
t
)
-
I
o
)
⁢
cos
⁢
ϕ
⁡
(
t
)
]
d
⁢
t
wherein V is voltage, I(t) is time dependent current, I0 is the current without grease, and ϕ(t) is a time dependent phase angle between the voltage and current.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the calculating the rate variable occurs according to the formula
S
.
=
dS
dt
=
V
⁢
d
⁡
[
(
I
⁡
(
t
)
-
I
0
)
⁢
cos
⁢
⁢
ϕ
⁡
(
t
)
T
⁡
(
t
)
]
dt
wherein V is voltage, I(t) is time dependent current, I0 is the current without grease, ϕ(t) is a time dependent phase angle between the voltage and current, and T(t) is time dependent temperature.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of evaluating which portion of the first current is attributable to working the first mixture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first mixture is a homogenous mixture having a National Lubricating Grease Institute consistency grade of at least 000 and at most 6 when the rate variable reaches the first threshold value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is a lubricant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is an oil.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is a grease.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first mixture is circulated with a gear pump.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein a temperature sensing instrument measures a temperature of the first mixture and a second data set representing the temperature of the first mixture is recorded.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the first implement is a scraper.

### Claim 13

A method of evaluating lubricant degradation comprising:
a. filling a lubrication fill space of a mechanical device with a first volume of a first grease wherein the first grease has a first grease grade;
b. wherein the first grease grade matches a lower threshold for the operation of the mechanical device indicative of a reduced level of protection for the mechanical device;
c. running a motor thereby working the first volume of the first grease;
d. measuring a first current to the motor associated with the first volume of the first grease;
e. filling the lubrication fill space of the mechanical device with a second volume of a second grease wherein the second grease has a second grease grade that is higher than the first grease grade;
f. running the motor thereby working the second volume of the second grease;
g. collecting a series of current measurements to the motor indicating a change in current over time while the motor works the second volume of the second grease;
h. curve fitting a comparison variable that is based on the series of current measurements to a first equation of the form:
X=AtB+C
wherein X is the comparison variable, wherein A is a first coefficient determined by the curve fitting, wherein B is a second coefficient determined by the curve fitting, wherein C is a third coefficient determined by the curve fitting, and wherein t is time;
i. finding a value of the comparison variable associated with the first current; and
j. evaluating a threshold time by solving the first equation using the value of the comparison variable associated with the first current, the first coefficient, the second coefficient, and the third coefficient.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising changing the second volume of the second grease based on the threshold time.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the comparison variable is a measure of electrical current.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the comparison variable is a measure of power.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the comparison variable is a measure of power and is calculated as
P(t)=V(I(t)−I0)cos ϕ(t)
wherein V is voltage, I(t) is time dependent current, I0 is current without grease, and ϕ(t) is a time dependent phase angle between the voltage and current.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the comparison variable is a measure of entropy.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the comparison variable is a measure of entropy and is calculated as:
S
⁡
(
t
)
=
V
⁢
(
I
⁡
(
t
)
-
I
0
)
T
⁡
(
t
)
⁢
cos
⁢
ϕ
⁡
(
t
)
wherein V is voltage, I(t) is time dependent current, I0 is current without grease, T(t) is time dependent temperature, and ϕ(t) is a time dependent phase angle between the voltage and current.