IP Library Granted Patent US 9,939,820
Granted Patent B2
US 9,939,820 · App. 14/210,492 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Electronic control of fluid operations for machines

Inventor: John K. Apostolides (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
G05D7/0617F01M3/00F01M11/04F15B19/00G01M15/09F01M2011/0466
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,939,820
App. No.
14/210,492
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments of fluid monitoring systems are provided for use in connection with the fluid systems of machines such as engine-powered machines. The fluid monitoring systems may be configured for collecting and processing data associated with fluid refill operations, fluid evacuation operations, fluid purge operations, and other types of fluid operations in connection with different fluid components.

Claims (42)

1. A fluid monitoring system for collecting data associated with a fluid operation performed on a machine, the system comprising:

a control module comprising a processor;

a fluid component;

a battery; and

an electrical circuit configured for:

electrically coupling the battery to the control module via the fluid component; and

transmitting power from the battery to the control module for activating the control module when the machine is powered down.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is further configured for communicating a signal to the activated control module in association with a fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the communicated signal represents a time or date associated with the fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine is in a dormant state.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid refill operation.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid evacuation operation.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid purge operation.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid operation includes a prelubrication operation.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid circulation or recycling process.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component includes a pump.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the pump includes at least one of a supplemental pump, a main engine pump, a prelubrication pump, or a fluid reservoir pump.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component includes a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component includes a valve assembly.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid system of the machine includes an evacuation bracket operatively associated with the fluid component.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying positive pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying negative pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

17. A method for collecting data associated with a fluid operation performed on a machine, the method comprising:

utilizing a fluid component to electrically couple a battery with a control module of a fluid system of a machine;

transmitting power from the battery to the control module for activating the control module when the machine is powered down and the battery is coupled with the control module via the fluid component;

performing the fluid operation; and

communicating data associated with the fluid operation to the control module.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising communicating a signal to the activated control module in association with a fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating the signal in response to a time or date associated with the fluid operation performed on the fluid system of the machine.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the machine is in a dormant state.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid refill operation.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid evacuation operation.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid purge operation.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid operation includes a prelubrication operation.

25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fluid operation includes a fluid circulation or recycling process.

26. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid component includes a pump.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the pump includes at least one of a supplemental pump, a main engine pump, a prelubrication pump, or a fluid reservoir pump.

28. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid component includes a pump that is off-board with respect to the machine.

29. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid component includes a valve assembly.

30. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid system of the machine includes an evacuation bracket operatively associated with the fluid component.

31. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying positive pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

32. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluid component includes a component structured for supplying negative pressure to the fluid system of the machine.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074543/0491 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2017
From: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: SOMERSET TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041679/0548 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2014
From: APOSTOLIDES, JOHN K.
To: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 033528/0326 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61852384 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20140309794A1 · Oct 16, 2014