Chassis Lubrication Scheduling via Environmental Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining optimal chassis lubrication intervals for heavy vehicles is challenging due to the difficulty in assessing environmental conditions, which can change quickly, leading to either excessively short or long intervals that are not economically justifiable.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines chassis lubrication dates based on real-time environmental conditions, such as air humidity, air pressure, and road quality, using sensors like air suspension system air consumption, air filter blockage rate, and windscreen wiper usage, allowing for dynamic adjustment of lubrication intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If chassis lubrication is performed at fixed intervals according to service schedule, then service planning is simple, but lubrication may be performed too frequently or too infrequently based on actual environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed-interval lubrication schedule into a dynamic system that automatically adjusts service intervals based on real-time environmental conditions. The control unit continuously monitors parameters such as air humidity, air pressure, and road quality, and dynamically recalculates the optimal lubrication date, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring environmental conditions (air humidity, air pressure, road quality via air suspension air consumption) and using this information to adjust the lubrication schedule. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that lubrication is performed at the optimal time based on actual conditions rather than fixed intervals, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
2Loss of energy
If chassis lubrication interval is extended to reduce costs, then operational costs decrease, but vehicle service life may be shortened due to insufficient lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from environmental sensors to determine the actual lubrication needs of the chassis. By monitoring air humidity, air pressure, and road quality, the control unit calculates the optimal lubrication interval that prevents both over-lubrication (reducing costs) and under-lubrication (protecting service life), thus resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and service life maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of lubrication interval from a fixed value to a variable that adapts to environmental conditions. By adjusting the lubrication timing based on monitored parameters (humidity, pressure, road quality), the system optimizes the balance between operational costs and vehicle service life, performing lubrication only when necessary.
3Reliability
If chassis lubrication is performed frequently to ensure adequate lubrication, then vehicle service life is extended, but unnecessary costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism monitors environmental conditions and determines when lubrication is actually needed. By using sensor data (air humidity, air pressure, road quality) to trigger lubrication events, the system avoids unnecessary lubrication operations while ensuring adequate protection, thus extending service life without incurring unnecessary costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle to self-determine its lubrication needs based on environmental monitoring. The control unit automatically calculates the optimal lubrication date without requiring manual intervention or conservative fixed schedules, allowing the vehicle to optimize its own maintenance schedule based on actual operating conditions, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs while protecting service life.
4Device complexity
If fixed service intervals are used for all service operations, then service scheduling is simplified, but environmental factors affecting lubrication needs are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics into the service scheduling system by making the lubrication interval adaptive rather than fixed. The control unit continuously monitors environmental conditions and adjusts the lubrication schedule accordingly, allowing the system to respond to environmental factors while maintaining automated scheduling, thus balancing complexity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages the service schedule, monitors environmental conditions (air humidity, air pressure, road quality), calculates optimal lubrication dates, and provides recommendations. This multi-functional approach integrates environmental responsiveness into the existing service scheduling framework without requiring entirely separate systems, thereby managing complexity while enhancing adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system for determining for a vehicle a chassis lubrication date based at least partly on the vehicle's environmental conditions. The method comprises determining, when said vehicle is in motion, a representation of prevailing environmental conditions. The method further comprises determining a chassis lubrication date based at least partly on said representation of the vehicle's prevailing environmental conditions.