# US 9,061,224 B2 · System for monitoring and indicating filter life

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- Number: US 9,061,224 B2
- Document ID: US9061224B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/157,007
- Filed: 2011-06-09
- Published: 2011-12-15
- Granted: 2015-06-23
- Earliest claimed: 2010-06-09
- Assignees: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
- Applicants: Barry M. Verdegan; Chad M. Thomas; Peter K. Herman
- Inventors: Barry M. Verdegan; Chad M. Thomas; Peter K. Herman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9061224B2

## CPC

- B01D 35/143: Filter condition indicators
- B01D 27/101: {Filter condition indicators}
- B01D 37/046: {by pressure measuring}
- F01N 11/002: {the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus}
- F02M 37/24: characterised by water separating means
- F02M 37/40: with means for detection of clogging
- G01M 3/025: {Details with respect to the testing of engines or engine parts}
- G01N 15/0826: {and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change}
- F01N 2550/04: Filtering activity of particulate filters
- F01N 2900/0402: using adaptive learning
- F01N 2900/0412: using pre-calibrated maps, tables or charts
- F01N 2900/0416: using the state of a sensor, e.g. of an exhaust gas sensor
- F02D 41/22: Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions {(in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809)}
- F02D 2041/1433: {using a model or simulation of the system}
- Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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)
- F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and algorithms for monitoring and indicating filter life of an internal combustion engine, hydraulic systems, and other machines are useful. The systems, methods, and algorithms may be used to provide an indication alert to a user that the filter is approaching an end-of-useful-life condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining and indicating remaining useful life of a filter for filtering fluid in a given machine application, comprising:
utilizing, by an electronic control module (“ECM”), an algorithm for calculating remaining useful filter life of the filter,
providing, at the ECM, initial constants for the algorithm based on at least one of laboratory performance and historical performance,
adjusting, by the ECM, the constants during filter usage based on at least one of actual performance of the filter and behavior of the machine, and
providing, by the ECM via a user indicator, an indication alert to a user that the filter is approaching an end-of-useful-life condition based at least in part on a total volume of fluid filtered by the filter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method optimizes cost-efficiency and value to a customer by maximizing filter service intervals and minimizing available but unused filtration capacity prior to end-of-filter-life.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method maintains fuel economy by reducing or limiting total work required to pump fluid through the filter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm is utilized to calculate remaining useful filter life based on ΔP.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm is utilized to calculate remaining useful filter life based on filter efficiency.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the algorithm is utilized to calculate remaining useful filter life based on particle concentration downstream of the filter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine is an internal combustion engine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine is a hydraulic machine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the engine has the ECM, and wherein the constants are adjusted during operation based on data obtained or processed by the ECM including historical behavior data.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9 comprising using ECM data to calculate the volume of fluid flow through the filter, using the algorithm to indicate remaining useful filter service life, and determining whether filter service is required.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the constants are adjusted during operation based on data obtained by a control module that is separate from the machine including historical behavior data, which data optionally is transmitted to a remote computer or controller that utilizes the algorithm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising manually adjusting the filter constants.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the filter constants are adjusted manually during operation.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the filter constants are adjusted manually at a service center.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising automatically adjusting the constants during operation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising adaptively varying and adjusting the constants during operation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, comprising adjusting the algorithm according to at least one of contaminant concentration, contaminant type, duty cycle, and filter type.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising observing performance of the filter during operation, and adjusting the constants during operation based on observed filter performance.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising observing performance of the filter during operation, and adaptively updating the algorithm either manually or automatically based on observed filter performance.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the indication alert provided to the user is based at least in part on operating conditions to which the filter has been exposed.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the filter is a fuel water separator.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising adjusting the constants during operation according to a number of start-up and shut-down events of the machine.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising using the algorithm as an adaptive tool for scheduling filter changes so that a filter is not changed too soon, thereby increasing cost of operation, nor too late, thereby resulting possible damage to the machine.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising using the algorithm as an adaptive tool which can be adjusted by service personnel or automatically adjusted based on field experience to more accurately estimate remaining useful life of the filter.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 comprising determining the volume of fluid filtered by the filter, and using the algorithm to calculate remaining useful life of the filter based on fluid volume filtered.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method according to claim 25 comprising performing the determining step by calculating the volume of fluid filtered by the filter by tracking flow rate and time.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the algorithm has a formula selected from:
ΔP=A+Bexp(CM), ΔP=A+B*MC, and ΔP=A+B*exp(−M/C)
wherein:
ΔP is pressure drop;
M is cumulative contaminant loading;
A is a constant that is approximately equal to the initial ΔP when M=0;
B is a constant that determines the point where the ΔP transitions to an exponential rate of increase; and
C is a constant that reflects the exponential plugging slope.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the algorithm has a formula:
ΔP=A+Bexp(DV)
wherein:
A is a constant that is approximately equal to the initial ΔP when M=0;
M is cumulative contaminant loading;
B is a constant that determines the point where the ΔP transitions to an exponential rate of increase;
D=Ccave;
C is a constant that reflects the exponential plugging slope; and
cave=average upstream contaminant concentration in the volume of fluid filtered.