Electronic filter detection feature for liquid filtration systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184415-B2
Application number	US-201415029442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2014
Priority date	Oct 16, 2013
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A filter monitor system (“FMS”) module is installed on the engine/vehicle and is connected to the filter systems, sensors and devices to monitor various performance parameters. The module also connects to the engine control module (“ECM”) and draws parameters from the ECM. The FMS module is capable of interfacing with various output devices such as a smartphone application, a display monitor, an OEM telematics system or a service technician's tool on a computer. The FMS module consists of hardware and software algorithms which constantly monitor filter systems and provide information to the end-user. FMS module provides necessary inputs and outputs for electronic sensors and devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filter monitoring system for an internal combustion engine, the filter monitoring system comprising:
a filter control module (“FCM”) having a first input that receives a filtration parameter from an engine filtration system for filtering a fluid in the internal combustion engine,
a second input that receives an engine parameter from an engine control module (“ECM”), the ECM controlling operations of the internal combustion engine, wherein the FCM is configured to calculate a service life for a component of the engine filtration system using the filtration parameter and the engine parameter when the filtration parameter is available, wherein the FCM is configured to apply a fixed service interval mode when the filtration parameter is not available, and wherein the FCM is configured to output a command signal via a first output based upon the filtration parameter and engine parameter.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the FCM is connected to the engine filtration system via a wired or wireless link.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the FCM is connected to the ECM via a wired or wireless link.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the FCM is connected to a user display via a wired or wireless link.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the user display comprises a portable communication device.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the filtration parameter comprises a genuine filter recognition signal.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the genuine filter recognition signal is at least one of an analog signal and a digital signal.

8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the FCM outputs the genuine filter recognition signal to the ECM.

9. The system according to claim 6 , wherein based upon the genuine filter recognition signal, the FCM outputs the command signal to a user display.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the filtration parameter comprises an input from a water-in-fuel sensor.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein, based upon the input from the water-in-fuel sensor, the FCM outputs a command signal to a solenoid valve.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the filtration parameter is provided by a pressure or differential pressure sensor associated with the engine filtration device.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein based upon an output of the pressure or differential pressure sensor and the engine parameter, the FCM calculates fluid flow-rate through the engine filtration device.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the engine filtration device comprises at least one of a lube filter, a fuel filter, a fuel-water separator, an air filter, a crankcase ventilation filter or separator, a hydraulic filter, and a coolant filter.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the engine parameter comprises an output from an oil quality sensor installed in the internal combustion engine.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the FCM is configured to assess the oil quality and wherein the first output comprises an oil drain interval.

17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein FCM is configured to assess the oil quality and control a release of a particular amount of additives from a chemical reservoir to improve condition of the oil.

18. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the engine parameter comprises an output from a fuel quality sensor or a fuel type sensor.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the FCM is configured to communicate the output from the fuel quality sensor or the fuel type sensor to the ECM.

20. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the engine parameter comprises a temperature, an indication of an amount of hours the internal combustion engine has operated, an indication of an amount of miles a vehicle powered by the internal combustion engine has driven, a fluid flow rate, or a duty cycle.

21. A method comprising operating the filter monitoring system according to claim 1 .

22. A filter monitoring system (“FMS”) for monitoring a plurality of separate filtration systems of an internal combustion engine, the FMS system comprising:
a first sensor associated with a first filtration system of the internal combustion engine,
a second sensor associated with a second filtration system of the internal combustion engine; and
a FMS module comprising:
a memory,
at least one communication interface providing data communication between the FMS module and an engine control module (“ECM”) of the internal combustion engine, the first sensor, and the second sensor,
an output coupled to a user output, and
a processor configured to receive input signals from the first sensor and the second sensor, to calculate a service life for a component of one separate filtration system of the plurality of separate filtration systems using one of the received input signals when at least one of the received input signals is available, to apply a fixed service interval mode when the received input signals are not available, and to provide service indicators for the first filtration system and the second filtration system via the user output.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein first filtration system is one of a fuel filtration system, a fuel-water separator, a lubricant filtration system, a hydraulic filtration system, a coolant filtration system, or an air filtration system.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the second filtration system is a different type of filtration system than the first filtration system.

25. The system of claim 22 , wherein the processor is configured to determine an optimal service time such that the first filtration system and the second filtration system can be serviced in the same time window.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is configured to send a service indication to the user output when the optimal service time is determined.

27. The system of claim 22 , wherein the user output is a smartphone.

28. The system of claim 22 , wherein the user output is a dashboard display.

29. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first filtration system is a fuel-water separator, and the first sensor is a water-in-fuel sensor.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to send an activation signal to a component of an automatic water drain of the first filtration system.

31. The system of claim 22 , wherein the first sensor is a pressure differential sensor.

32. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of separate filtration systems and at least one fluid system of an internal combustion engine, the monitoring system comprising:
a first sensor associated with a first filtration system of the internal combustion engine, wherein the first sensor is a fluid sensor,
a second sensor associated with a second filtration system of the internal combustion engine;
a third sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of a fluid associated with a fluid system of the internal combustion engine; and
a monitoring module comprising:
a memory,
at least one communication interface providing data communication between the FMS module and an engine control module (“ECM”) of the internal combustion engine, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor,
an output cou

Assignees

• Cummins Filtration Ip Inc

Inventors

• Shimpi Abhijit
• Okoro Joseph
• Lesmana Andry
• Vaidya Abhijeet
• Okoye Adaeze
• Carroll Iii John T
• Schneider Matthew L
• Verdegan Barry M
• Thomas Chad M

Classifications

• B01D37/025

  additives incorporated in the filter · CPC title

• B01D37/02

  Precoating the filter medium; Addition of filter aids to the liquid being filtered {(devices for feeding reagents C02F1/685 and sub-groups; filter aids)} · CPC title

• B01D35/143

  Filter condition indicators · CPC title

• B01D37/00

  Processes of filtration (processes specially adapted for filtering gases B01D46/00) · CPC title

• B01D35/005

  Filters specially adapted for use in internal-combustion engine lubrication or fuel systems · CPC title