Caterpillar Inc.

Tom K Shim

Daniel Gregory Wear

Richard A Carpenter

Kyle B Walton

Data relating to an amount of contaminant in a fluid is obtained from a contaminant detection device. Aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output from the contaminate detection device are received at an external data processing system separate and independent from the contaminate detection device. The aeration detection raw voltage data output and particle detection raw voltage data output are analyzed and cleaned to determine real time information on the amount of air bubbles and solid contaminate particles in the fluid, and then supplied to an onboard monitoring and controlling module of a machine for controlling one or more operations onboard the machine based on the determined amount of solid contaminate particles.

System and method for processing data from a particle monitoring sensor

A method for calibrating a contaminant detection device includes fluidly connecting the contaminant detection device in series to a test reservoir and a light-obscuration-type particle counter, pumping low-end, intermediate, and high-end test dust dilutions through the contaminant detection device and the particle counter until a particle count measured by the particle counter for each of the successive test dust dilutions stabilizes, and setting a low-end gain, an intermediate gain, and a high-end gain for the contaminant detection device based on the stabilized particle counts for each of the test dust dilutions using a first-sized test dust grade. A bubble counting gain of an aeration threshold for the device may be set according to a second test dust grade greater in size than the first-sized test dust grade, and associated with a voltage signal produced by the contaminate detection device indicative of the presence of an air bubble contained within the fluid during use of the fluid in heavy machinery.

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Edwards, IL, United States of America

Tom K Shim