Method for determining a remaining life of engine oil
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorDavid R. Schricker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining a remaining life of engine oil in an engine is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring a plurality of engine parameters, determining an estimate of the characteristics of the engine oil as a function of the engine parameters, and trending the estimate and responsively determining the remaining life of the engine oil.
Claims30
A method for determining the remaining life of engine oil in an engine, comprising:
- measuring a plurality of engine parameters;
- determining an estimate of a characteristic of the engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters;
- and,
- trending said estimate and responsively determining the remaining life of the engine oil.
A method for determining the remaining life of engine oil in an engine, comprising:
- measuring a plurality of engine parameters;
- determining an estimate of a first characteristic of the engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters;
- calculating a first estimate of the remaining life of the engine oil in response to trending said estimate of said first characteristic;
- determining an estimate of a second characteristic of the engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters;
- calculating a second estimate of the remaining life of the engine oil in response to trending said estimate of said second characteristic;
- and,
- comparing said first and second estimate of the remaining life and responsively determining the remaining life of the engine oil.
A method for determining the remaining life of engine oil in an engine, comprising:
- measuring a plurality of engine parameters;
- determining soot estimate as a function of said plurality of engine parameters, said soot estimate being indicative of an amount of soot present in said engine oil;
- calculating a first estimate of the remaining life of the engine oil in response to trending of said soot estimate;
- determining an oxidation estimate of the engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters, said oxidation estimate being indicative of an amount of oxidation of said engine oil;
- calculating a second estimate of the remaining life of the engine oil in response to trending said oxidation estimate;
- determining a change in viscosity estimate of the engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters, said viscosity estimate being indicative of a viscosity of said engine oil;
- calculating a third estimate of the remaining life of the engine in response to trending said change in viscosity estimate;
- determining a total base number estimate of said engine oil as a function of said plurality of engine parameters, said total base estimate being indicative of a measure of acid neutralizing capacity of said engine oil;
- calculating a fourth estimate of the remaining life of the engine in response to trending said estimate of said total base number estimate;
- and,
- comparing said first, second, third, and fourth estimate of the remaining life and responsively determining the remaining life of the engine oil.
A method for determining the remaining life of engine oil in an engine, comprising:
- measuring a plurality of parameters of the engine;
- determining a soot estimate as a function of said plurality of parameters, said soot estimate being indicative of an amount of soot present in said oil;
- determining a dispersant estimate, said dispersant estimate being indicative of an amount of dispersant remaining in the engine oil;
- calculating a soot value as a function of said estimate of soot and said estimate of dispersant;
- and
- calculating the remaining life of the engine oil in response to trending said soot value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.