Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Government of the United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Commerce

Jerry C Wang

Leslie A Roettgen

Ray C Hatton

David M Stehouwer

Colin I Black

Donald P Carver

John P Graham

Matthew L Schneider

Stephen M Hsu

David E Koeberlein

Dean H Dringenburg

Shawn Douglas Whitacre

Eric S Keith

Paul D Cantrell

A system and method for indicating when the oil of an engine needs to be changed. The system includes measuring engine parameters such as engine temperature, fueling rate, engine speed, and engine load. At timed intervals, soot generation, viscosity increase, and total base number (TBN) depletion are estimated through a calculation for that time interval. The estimated values from the calculations are accumulated in separate loops. Once the accumulation of soot generation, oil viscosity increase, or TBN depletion reaches a predetermined magnitude for that respective oil property, then an indication or signal is provided to indicate to the engine operator that the oil needs changing. The system is supplemented with real time sensors such as an oil level sensor, a soot sensor, and a viscosity sensor which provide a back up for the calculation of estimates and also prevent catastrophic engine conditions from not being detected through electronic calculation of estimates. The system and method also can correct for the accumulation of oil consumption caused by evaporation of oil or leakage of oil. The algorithms used in the calculations can account for oil quality and fuel sulfur as well as the configuration of the engine, to allow the engine to be used in different geographic locations.

System and method for determining oil change interval

An improved method and system for automatically continuously replacing an engine's used lubricating oil with fresh lubricating oil throughout operation based on engine operating conditions is disclosed. The present system includes an injection control device for injecting small amounts of used lube oil into the engine's fuel system and an auxiliary flow control device for directing controlled quantities of fresh oil into the engine's lube oil system. An electronic controller is provided to vary the amount of used lube oil injected into the oil system based on the severity of engine operation. The process periodically determines an engine operating severity value, i.e. fuel consumption value, for an interval of engine operation and calculates a base line quantity of oil for injection based on the current fuel consumption of the engine during the current interval. The system also includes a diagnostic process for maintaining the engine's oil sump at a proper level while monitoring various components and parameters of the system and providing an indication of any abnormal condition. The system maintains the quality of the engine lube oil at a level necessary to provide optimal engine protection at all engine operating conditions while also maintaining the oil concentration in the engine's fuel at an acceptable level.

Electronically controlled continuous lubricating oil replacement system

An improved method and system for automatically continuously replacing an engine's used lubricating oil with fresh lubricating oil throughout operation based on engine operating conditions is disclosed. The present system includes an lube oil replacement pump system operable in a replacement mode for injecting small amounts of used lube oil into the engine's fuel system and directing controlled quantities of fresh oil into the engine's lube oil system to replace the removed oil. The process periodically determines an engine operating severity value, i.e. fuel consumption value, for an interval of engine operation and calculates a base line quantity of oil for injection based on the current fuel consumption of the engine during the current interval. The lube oil replacement pump may also be operated in a makeup mode for adding quantities of fresh oil to the engine lube oil sump to compensate for oil consumed by the engine. The system adjusts the quantity of used oil to be removed and injected based on the quantity of fresh oil supplied during the makeup mode to prevent overreplacement of the lube oil. The lube oil pump system may be in the form of a compact, unitized lube oil replacement pump assembly integrating the various components of the system. The system maintains the quality of the engine lube oil at a level necessary to provide optimal engine protection at all engine operating conditions while also maintaining the oil concentration in the engine's fuel at an acceptable level.

An improved system for automatically continuously replacing an engine's used lubricating oil with fresh lubricating oil throughout operation based on engine operating conditions is disclosed. The present system includes an intermittent injection control device for intermittently injecting small amounts of used lube oil into the engine's fuel system. An electronic controller is provided to vary the amount of used lube oil injected into the oil system based on the severity of engine operation. The system periodically determines an engine operating severity value, i.e. fuel consumption value, for an interval of engine operation and calculates a base line quantity of oil for injection based on the current fuel consumption of the engine during the current interval. The system may also include an auxiliary flow control device for directing controlled quantities of fresh oil into the engine's lube oil system for maintaining the engine's oil sump at a proper level. The system maintains the quality of the engine lube oil at a level necessary to provide optimal engine protection at all engine operating conditions while also maintaining the oil concentration in the engine's fuel at an acceptable level.

For the machining of ceramic materials, there are employed halogenated hydrocarbon compositions, e.g., CCl.sub.4, CCl.sub.3 CF.sub.3, CHCl.sub.2 CHCl.sub.2, and CCl.sub.2 .dbd.CClCCl.dbd.CCl.sub.2, to increase the removal rate of the ceramic material. The halogenated hydrocarbon composition is applied to the contact surface of the machine tool, e.g., a diamond-surfaced grinding wheel, and the ceramic and acts as a chemical assistant in machining the ceramic.

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Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Jerry C Wang