Back to results
US 6,840,093 B2Granted
System and method for determining oil grade
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJon E. Kasen, Michelle A. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The grade of oil used in a machine or apparatus can be determined by determining a temperature and pressure within an oil supply and determining the oil grade in response to determining the temperature and pressure.
Claims18
A method for determining an oil grade comprising:
- determining a temperature in an oil supply;
- determining a first pressure in said oil supply;
- determining a second pressure in said oil supply;
- determining an actual pressure drop from said first and second determined pressures;
- determining a plurality of estimated pressure drops for each of a plurality of oil grades at said temperature;
- comparing said actual pressure drop to each of said plurality of estimated pressure drops;
- and
- determining said oil grade in response to said actual pressure drop matching one of said estimated pressure drop.
5 more elements
A system for determining an oil grade comprising:
- a temperature sensor;
- a pressure sensor;
- and
- an electronic control module connected to said temperature sensor and said pressure sensor;
- wherein said electronic control module receives a temperature signal from said temperature sensor and determines a plurality of estimated pressure drops for each of a plurality of oil grades at said temperature, and wherein said electronic control module further receives first and second pressure signals from said pressure sensor, determines an actual pressure drop from said first and second pressure signals, compares said actual pressure drop to each of said plurality of estimated pressure drops and determines said oil grade in response to said actual pressure drop matching one of said estimated pressure drops.
2 more elements
A method of determining an oil grade of an oil supply comprising:
- 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 for each of a variety of oil grades in response to said temperature and said duration;
- 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 each of said estimated pressure drops;
- and
- determining said oil grade in response to said comparing step.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.