IP Library Granted Patent US 12710001
Granted Patent B2
US 12710001 · App. 18/714,088 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Real-time system and method for determining remaining useful oil life in vehicles

Inventors: Anthony J. Huth (Cincinnati, OH); Ryan E. Denton (Franklin, IN); David A. Fields (Columbus, IN); John Y. Howland (Columbus, IN); Michael T. Hughes (Columbus, IN); Corey W. Trobaugh (Columbus, IN)
Assignee: Cummins Inc.
F01M11/10G01N33/30G07C5/006F01M2011/14G07C5/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12710001
App. No.
18/714,088
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computing system is disposed remote from a vehicle and communicably coupled to the vehicle over a network. The computing system includes: a communication interface structured to communicably couple to the network; one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive, via the communication interface and from a vehicle, vehicle operational data and vehicle metadata; determine a lubricant oxidation rate based on a statistical model; determine a lubricant drain interval based on the lubricant oxidation rate relative to a predefined lubricant oxidation limit; and, provide the lubricant drain interval to an output device. The lubricant may be a lubricant for the vehicle, such as oil.

Claims (53)

1 . A computing system comprising:

a communication interface structured to communicably couple to a network;

one or more processors;

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the communication interface and from a vehicle, vehicle operational data and vehicle metadata;

receive an operational data packet comprising at least one of the vehicle operational data, trend data, or the vehicle metadata;

determine a lubricant oxidation rate based on the operational data packet and a statistical model;

determine a lubricant drain interval based on the lubricant oxidation rate;

generate a lubricant drain interval reporting data packet;

provide the lubricant drain interval reporting data packet to an output device;

compare the lubricant drain interval to a predefined lubricant drain interval; and

in response to the comparison, derate an engine of the vehicle by transmitting an instruction over the network via the communication interface.

2 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant oxidation rate is based on less than four operational data values.

3 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant oxidation rate is based on a fuel economy, an idle time of an engine of the vehicle, and a power take-off time of the vehicle.

4 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the comparison, the one or more processors are further configured to cause an indicator on the vehicle to illuminate.

5 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the comparison, the one or more processors are further configured to generate and provide a map to the vehicle with a direction to a service location, wherein the map is displayed by the vehicle.

6 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the comparison, the one or more processors are further configured to trigger one or more fault codes for the vehicle.

7 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to parse the vehicle metadata from the vehicle operational data and associate the vehicle metadata with a record associated with the vehicle.

8 . The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is oil.

9 . A method of determining a lubricant drain interval, the method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system, vehicle operational data and vehicle metadata from a vehicle;

receiving, by the computing system, an operational data packet comprising at least one of the vehicle operational data, trend data, or the vehicle metadata

determining, by the computing system, a lubricant oxidation rate based on the operational data packet and a statistical model;

determining, by the computing system, a lubricant drain interval based on the lubricant oxidation rate;

generating, by the computing system, a lubricant drain interval reporting data packet;

providing, by the computing system, the lubricant drain interval reporting data packet to an output device;

comparing, by the computing system, the lubricant drain interval to a predefined lubricant drain interval; and

derating, by the computing system, an engine of the vehicle by transmitting an instruction over the network responsive to determining that the lubricant drain interval exceeds the predefined lubricant drain interval.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the lubricant oxidization rate is based on less than four operational data values.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

responsive to determining that the lubricant drain interval exceeds the predefined lubricant drain interval, causing, by the computing system, an indicator on the vehicle to illuminate.

12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

responsive to determining that the lubricant drain interval exceeds the predefined lubricant drain interval, generating, by the computing system, a map comprising a direction to a service location; and

providing, by the computing system, the map to the vehicle, wherein the map is displayable by the vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising responsive to determining that the lubricant drain interval exceeds the predefined lubricant drain interval, triggering, by the computing system, one or more fault codes for the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising modifying, by the computing system, the lubricant drain interval by a predetermined factor such that a modified lubricant drain interval is greater than the lubricant drain interval.

15 . A system, comprising:

a controller coupled to an engine and at least one sensor of a vehicle, the controller compromising:

one or more processors; and

at least one memory coupled to the one or more processors, the at least one memory storing instructions therein that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive vehicle operational data from the at least one sensor;

generate an operational data packet comprising at least one of the vehicle operational data, trend data, or metadata;

determine an oxidation rate based on the operational data packet and a statistical model;

determine a lubricant drain interval based on the oxidation rate;

generate a lubricant drain interval reporting data packet;

provide the lubricant drain interval reporting data packet to an output device;

compare the lubricant drain interval to a predefined lubricant drain interval; and

derate an engine of the vehicle responsive to determining that the lubricant drain interval exceeds the predefined lubricant drain interval.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to transmit the operational data packet to the output device prior to determining the oxidation rate.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the oxidation rate is further based on one or more engine parameters, the one or more engine parameters comprising at least one of a fuel economy, an idle time, or a power take off time of the engine; and

wherein the lubricant oxidation rate is based on less than four operational data values.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to receive at least one of (i) one or more data sets or (ii) one or more regression equations from the output device;

wherein determining the lubricant drain interval is further based on the at least one of (i) the one or more data sets or (ii) the one or more regression equations.