US2003051696A1PendingUtilityA1

System and method for predicting soot content in diesel engines

34
Priority: Sep 19, 2001Filed: Sep 19, 2001Published: Mar 20, 2003
Est. expirySep 19, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Axel Berndorfer
F01M 2011/1466F01M 11/10
34
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A method for predicting soot content in diesel engines includes generating a look-up table of the rates of soot introduction into the engine oil based on one or more engine operating conditions. A control module monitors the engine operating condition and determines the soot content in the oil based thereon. When the soot content exceeds a predetermined critical soot content value, the control module sends a signal to an output device to indicate that the engine oil must be changed to avoid damage to the engine.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for predicting soot content in engine oil, comprising the acts of: 
 monitoring at least one engine operating condition; and    determining soot introduction rates at least partially based thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the act of: 
 determining soot content at least partially based on the soot introduction rates.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the acts of: 
 generating at least one look-up table of soot introduction rates based on the engine operating condition; and    accessing the look-up table using the engine operating condition as an entering argument; and    determining soot introduction rates based thereon.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the act of: 
 indicating that engine oil must be changed when the soot content exceeds a critical soot content value.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the look-up table is generated for at least one class of engine.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the engine operating condition is at least one of: engine operating temperature, engine operating load, engine operating speed, elapsed engine operating time, mileage, fuel consumption rate, fuel composition, and exhaust gas recirculation rate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the act of: 
 adjusting the soot content at least partially based on fresh oil being added to the engine oil.    
     
     
         8 . A method for predicting soot content in an engine lubricating system, comprising the acts of: 
 generating at least one look-up table of soot introduction rates based on an engine operating condition;    monitoring the engine operating condition;    accessing the look-up table using the engine operating condition as an entering argument; and    determining soot introduction rates at least partially based thereon.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the act of: 
 determining soot content at least partially based on the soot introduction rates.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the act of: 
 indicating that engine oil must be changed when the soot content exceeds a critical soot content value.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the look-up table is generated for at least one class of engine.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the engine operating condition is at least one of: engine operating temperature, engine operating load, engine operating speed, elapsed engine operating time, mileage, fuel consumption rate, fuel composition, and exhaust gas recirculation rate.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the act of: 
 adjusting a soot content value in response to fresh oil being added to the system.    
     
     
         14 . A system for predicting soot content in engine oil, comprising: 
 at least one engine;    at least one oil pan providing oil to the engine; and    at least one control module monitoring at least one engine operating condition, the control module including a program for predicting the soot content in the engine oil based at least one engine operating condition.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control module further comprises: 
 at least one look-up table stored therein, the look-up table including soot introduction rates based on the engine operating condition;    logic means for accessing the look-up table using the engine operating condition as an entering argument; and    logic means for determining a soot content introduction rates based thereon.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control module further comprises: 
 logic means for determining soot content at least partially based on the soot introduction rates.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an output device, the control module further comprises: 
 logic means for sending a signal to the output device when the soot content value exceeds a predetermined critical soot content value.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the look-up table is generated for at least one class of engine.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the engine operating condition is at least one of: engine operating temperature, engine operating load, engine operating speed, elapsed engine operating time, mileage, fuel consumption rate, fuel composition, and exhaust gas recirculation rate.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control module further comprises: 
 logic means for adjusting the soot content at least partially based on fresh oil being added to the engine oil.    
     
     
         21 . A system for predicting soot content in engine oil, comprising: 
 at least one engine;    at least one oil pan providing oil to the engine; and    at least one oil sensor monitoring at least one engine operating condition, the oil sensor including a program for predicting the soot content in the engine oil based on at least one engine operating condition.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the oil sensor further comprises: 
 at least one look-up table stored therein, the look-up table including soot introduction rates based on the engine operating condition;    logic means for accessing the look-up table using the engine operating condition as an entering argument; and    logic means for determining soot content introduction rates based thereon.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the oil sensor further comprises: 
 logic means for determining soot content at least partially based on the soot introduction rates.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising an output device, the oil sensor further comprises: 
 logic means for sending a signal to the output device when the soot content value exceeds a predetermined critical soot content value.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the look-up table is generated for at least one class of engine.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the engine operating condition is at least one of: engine operating temperature, engine operating load, engine operating speed, elapsed engine operating time, mileage, fuel consumption rate, fuel composition, and exhaust gas recirculation rate.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the oil sensor further comprises: 
 logic means for adjusting the soot content at least partially based on fresh oil being added to the engine oil.

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