Deterioration diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing deterioration in a mechanical apparatus, and deterioration diagnosis method for diagnosing deterioration in a mechanical apparatus

A deterioration diagnosis method performed by a computer for diagnosing a deterioration of a lubricant during operation of a mechanical apparatus comprising a gear, the computer comprising a storage, the deterioration diagnosis method comprising:

• storing, by the computer in the storage, a trend of change during operation of the mechanical apparatus in a consumption rate of an additive contained in the lubricant used for the gear;
• reading, by the computer, from the storage, the trend of change;
• and
• determining, by the computer, a period to be taken for the consumption rate of the additive to reach a predetermined value, based on the trend of change in the consumption rate of the additive.

A deterioration diagnosis method for a mechanical apparatus comprising a gear, comprising:

• measuring a consumption rate of an additive contained in lubricant used for the gear during operation of the mechanical apparatus, by performing, during the operation of the mechanical apparatus, a series of measurements of an amount of the additive precipitated from the lubricant relative to a control amount of the additive in the lubricant;
• deriving a trend of change in the consumption rate of the additive, based on the measured consumption rate of the additive;
• and
• determining a period to be taken for the consumption rate of the additive to reach a predetermined value, based on the trend of change in the consumption rate of the additive.