Other

Trico Mfg. Corp.

Esker Technologies, LLC

Trico Manufacturing Company

Trico Manufacturing Corporation

Brad Rake

Keith Lamon

Mark Moertl

Keith Cravillion

Brian S Olmstead

A main power line (+ and &#x2212; lines) is coupled to a power supply, for example a car battery, grounded to a vehicle chassis. Positive and negative main power lines are coupled to a power line gateway module, and spliced to carry power for a segment, until receiving, by splices, RF power line communications. The main power lines, now carrying power and RF power line communications are then coupled to remote modules. RF power line communication carries signal from the power line gateway module to a impedance matching network or a transformer are used to match impedances.

Power line signal coupler

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for conductive emissions communication without requiring dedicated communications wires. The systems and methods have the capability to send digital messages over the same wires that are used to power DC systems. Hardware filter circuits are combined with advanced algorithms in a communications control chip to permit the elimination of the dedicated wires, thereby needing zero additional wires to accomplish the task of digital control.

Systems and methods for direct current system digital carried message conveyance

The systems and methods of the present invention provide for conductive emissions communication without requiring dedicated communications wires. The systems and methods have the capability to send digital messages over the same wires that are used to power DC, systems. Hardware filter circuits are combined with advanced algorithms in a communications control chip to permit the elimination of the dedicated wires, thereby needing zero additional wires to accomplish the task of digital control.

A plurality of sensors are utilized to record operating conditions of the machine, element, environment, and lubricant. The apparatus is controlled either manually or with the aid of a controller unit such as a microprocessor. A stand-alone humidity sensor mechanism is disclosed, in which signal process circuitry is electrically coupled to a humidity sensor, designed to be attached to the mechanism to be monitored so that it is juxtaposed in the atmosphere above the lubricant material that is being monitored.

Apparatus and method for lubricant condition control and monitoring

A volumetric lubricant dispensing apparatus for delivering a precise volume of lubricant, such as oil, to a rotating machine element. The delivery mechanism includes a piston and cylinder assembly. A plurality of sensors are utilized to record operating conditions of the machine, element, environment, and lubricant. The apparatus is controlled either manually or with the aid of a controller unit such as a microprocessor. The output from each sensor is inputted into the microprocessor wherein an algorithm computes an responsive output. The responsive output is sent to the piston and cylinder assembly, which maintains an optimum lubricant condition within the reservoir wherein a rotating machine element located. Alternatively, for the purpose of qualitative control, the present invention may be described as a system intended for controlling lubricants, both mineral (natural) and synthetic based by measuring the condition characteristics of the lubricant. Some condition characteristics may include water or moisture content (the content could be any liquid, e.g., solvents like ketones are known to change condition characteristics like viscosity) and viscosity. Viscosity is related to temperature, therefore, temperature correlation to viscosity is helpful to provide relative indications for condition characteristics like lubricant flow.

An air or oil dryer module is provided to remove or reduce moisture from a lubricant using a pressurized air supply to inject dry air into a lubricant sump. As the 'dry air' or air with a minimized moisture content, gathers moisture from the lubricant a relative humidity sensor detects an increase in air moisture. At a pre-determined relative humidity level, a fresh supply of air is added into the lubricant sump, purging the higher relative humidity level air from the sump. A method of reducing moisture content of a lubricant contained in an enclosed space is also disclosed and is performed by agitating the lubricant, providing a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the enclosed space, measuring the humidity of the enclosed space and comparing the humidity measurement with a pre-selected humidity level, introducing dry air into the enclosed space if the humidity level equals or exceeds the pre-selected humidity level, until the saturated humidity level is less than the pre-selected humidity level.

Apparatus and method for lubricant condition control and monitoring from a remote location

An air or oil dryer module is provided to remove or reduce moisture from a lubricant using a pressurized air supply to inject dry air into a lubricant sump. As the &ldquo;dry air&rdquo; or air with a minimized moisture content, gathers moisture from the lubricant a relative humidity sensor detects an increase in air moisture. At a pre-determined relative humidity level, a fresh supply of air is added into the lubricant sump, purging the higher relative humidity level air from the sump. A method of reducing moisture content of a lubricant contained in an enclosed space is also disclosed and is performed by agitating the lubricant, providing a humidity sensor in fluid communication with the enclosed space, measuring the humidity of the enclosed space and comparing the humidity measurement with a pre-selected humidity level, introducing dry air into the enclosed space if the humidity level equals or exceeds the pre-selected humidity level, until the saturated humidity level is less than the pre-selected humidity level.

A volumetric lubricant dispensing apparatus for delivering a precise volume of lubricant, such as oil, to a rotating machine element. The delivery mechanism includes a piston and cylinder assembly. A plurality of sensors are utilized to record operating conditions of the machine, element, environment, and lubricant. The apparatus is controlled either manually or with the aid of a controller unit such as a microprocessor. The output from each sensor is inputted into the microprocessor wherein an algorithm computes an responsive output. The responsive output is sent to the piston and cylinder assembly which maintains an optimum lubricant condition within the reservoir wherein a rotating machine element located.

Growing community of inventors

Hubertus, WI, United States of America

Brad Rake