Adaptive Vehicle Lubrication Using Sensor-Based Delivery Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual programming of lubrication schedules in automatic lubrication systems often fails to align with actual vehicle operational use, leading to under-lubrication or over-lubrication, resulting in increased component wear, energy use, and operating costs.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle lubrication system equipped with sensors to monitor operational characteristics, which transmit data to a controller that dynamically adjusts the lubricant delivery frequency to match actual usage, ensuring precise lubrication delivery to various components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual programming of lubrication schedules is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the lubrication frequency does not align with actual operational use
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system automatically monitors its own operational conditions through sensors that detect vehicle usage patterns, environmental conditions, and component wear indicators. The controller uses this self-collected data to dynamically adjust lubrication schedules without requiring manual intervention, enabling the system to serve itself and adapt to actual operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor operational characteristics and feed this information back to the controller. The controller processes this feedback data and adjusts the lubrication frequency accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures lubrication schedules remain aligned with actual vehicle usage patterns.
2Device complexity
If manually-programmed lubrication schedules are used, then programming complexity is low, but lubrication accuracy matches expected use rather than actual use
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical programming with electronic sensors and digital control. Sensors automatically detect operational parameters and transmit data to an electronic controller that calculates and adjusts lubrication schedules, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated electronic systems to achieve higher precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication schedule transitions from a static, pre-programmed timetable to a dynamic schedule that continuously adapts based on real-time sensor data. The controller dynamically adjusts lubrication frequency and timing according to actual vehicle usage patterns, environmental conditions, and component-specific needs, enabling the system to respond flexibly to changing operational requirements.
3Device complexity
If fixed lubrication frequency is used, then system complexity is low, but component wear increases due to under-lubrication or over-lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different lubrication strategies to different components based on their specific operational conditions and wear characteristics. Sensors monitor local conditions at each lubrication point, and the controller adjusts lubrication delivery individually for each component, ensuring that each receives appropriate lubrication based on its unique requirements rather than applying a uniform schedule to all components.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle lubrication system includes a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and configured to sense operational characteristics of the vehicle, a pump disposed on the vehicle and configured to deliver lubricant to a plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle, and a controller device operatively coupled to the pump. The controller device is configured to receive sensor data corresponding to the operational characteristics of the vehicle sensed by the plurality of sensors, and determine, based on the received sensor data, a lubricant delivery frequency at which lubrication is to be delivered to the plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle. The controller device is further configured to provide control commands to cause the pump to deliver the lubricant to the plurality of lubricated regions according to the determined lubricant delivery frequency.