Claims
- 1. A method for maintaining the quality of lubricant in the engine of a mobile vehicle, the method comprising:
planning operation of a mobile vehicle for a number of operating periods separated by a respective number of maintenance periods; removing a test portion of lubricant from an engine of the mobile vehicle during a first of the maintenance periods; determining at least one quality parameter associated with the test portion of lubricant; using the at least one quality parameter to determine a replacement quantity of lubricant that must be removed from the engine and replaced with fresh lubricant in order to maintain a desired engine lubricant quality parameter in the engine until a second of the maintenance periods; and removing the replacement quantity of lubricant from the engine and replacing it with fresh lubricant.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating during the second of the maintenance period the steps of removing a test portion of lubricant, determining at least one quality parameter, using the at least one quality parameter to determine a replacement quantity of lubricant, and removing the replacement quantity of lubricant.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
removing the test portion of lubricant from the engine at a first maintenance location; delivering the test portion of lubricant to an analysis location remote from the first maintenance location; and communicating the replacement quantity to one of the first maintenance location and a second maintenance location for performing the steps of removing the replacement quantity of lubricant and replacing it with fresh lubricant.
- 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising using a global information network during the step of communicating.
- 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
determining the at least one quality parameter at the analysis location; communicating the at least one quality parameter from the analysis location to a diagnostic location; determining the replacement quantity of lubricant at the diagnostic location; and communicating the replacement quantity from the diagnostic location to one of the first maintenance location and the second maintenance location.
- 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using a global information network during the steps of communicating the at least one quality parameter and communicating the replacement quantity.
- 7. The method of claim 3, further comprising transferring the replacement quantity of lubricant from the engine to a fuel tank of a mobile vehicle.
- 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
transferring the replacement quantity of lubricant from the engine to a storage apparatus to create a mixture of fuel and replaced lubricant; and transferring at least a portion of the mixture of fuel and replaced lubricant to the fuel tank.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding fresh lubricant to the engine in an amount equal to a greater of the replacement quantity and a quantity necessary to fill the engine to a desired level.
- 10. A system for maintaining the quality of lubricant in an engine of a mobile vehicle during a period of operation between successive service outages, the system comprising:
a lubricant analysis device for determining at least one quality parameter associated with a test portion of lubricant removed from an engine of a mobile vehicle; and a calculator responsive to the at least one quality parameter for determining a replacement quantity of lubricant to be removed from the engine and replaced with fresh lubricant sufficient to maintain a desired engine lubricant quality parameter in the engine during a next period of operation of the engine until a next service outage.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the lubricant analysis device and the calculator are connected to an information network for communicating the at least one quality parameter and the replacement quantity of lubricant.
- 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a service location where the mobile vehicle will have the replacement quantity of lubricant removed and replaced with fresh lubricant, the service location connected to the information network for receiving the replacement quantity of lubricant.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the information network comprises the Internet.
- 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the lubricant analysis device comprises a hand-held permittivity sensor.
- 15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a tank for receiving the replacement quantity of lubricant and for receiving fuel to create a mixture used to fuel an engine.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit of the Feb. 5, 2002, filing date of U.S. provisional application No. 60/354,658.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60354658 |
Feb 2002 |
US |