IP Library Granted Patent US 12,352,258
Granted Patent B2
US 12,352,258 · App. 18/354,307 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Controlling fluid operations for machine systems

Inventor: John K. Apostolides (Wexford, PA)
Assignee: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
F04B49/00F04B53/18F04B53/20F16N2260/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,352,258
App. No.
18/354,307
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for controlling a fluid operation of a machine. The system includes a main pump of the machine, a supplemental pump of the machine, a fluid maintenance circuit comprising a processing circuit, and control system. The fluid maintenance system includes at least one memory device and at least one processor configured to access the memory device. The control system comprises a processing circuit, is electrically couplable to the main pump, the supplemental pump and the fluid maintenance circuit, and is configured to control the post-lubrication operation of the machine based on at least one of the following (1) a fluid operation service schedule and (2) data associated with the machine.

Claims (30)

1. A system for controlling a fluid operation of a machine, the system comprising:

a main pump of the machine;

a supplemental pump of the machine in fluid communication with the main pump of the machine;

a fluid maintenance circuit comprising a processing circuit; and

a control system electrically couplable to the main pump, the supplemental pump and the fluid maintenance circuit, wherein the control system comprises a processing circuit and is configured to control the fluid operation of the machine based on at least one a service schedule associated with the machine or data associated with the machine.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid maintenance circuit further comprises a memory circuit electrically couplable to the processing circuit of the fluid maintenance circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises a pump control circuit electrically couplable to at least one of the main pump or the supplemental pump.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a sensing device electrically couplable to the pump control circuit.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid reservoir pump electrically couplable to the control system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the machine comprises a temperature of a component of the machine.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the machine comprises an indication of a powered down condition of the machine.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to control at least one of a pre-lubrication operation, a purge operation, an evacuation operation, or a refill operation, or combinations thereof, based on the data associated with the machine.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the data associated with the machine comprises historical machine data.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the data associated with the machine comprises trending machine data.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the data associated with the machine comprises at least one of fluid pressure data, engine speed data, fluid temperature data, fluid contaminant level data, and fuel injection timing data, or combinations thereof.

12. A system, comprising:

a main pump of a machine;

a supplemental pump of the machine in fluid communication with the main pump of the machine;

a fluid maintenance circuit comprising a processing circuit; and

a control system electrically couplable to the main pump, the supplemental pump and the fluid maintenance circuit, wherein the control system comprises a control module and is configured for activating the supplemental pump to perform a post-lubrication operation of the machine based on at least one of a fluid operation service schedule, or data associated with the machine.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control system further comprises a pump control circuit electrically couplable to the control module and the supplemental pump.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a sensing device electrically couplable to the pump control circuit.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control module is configured to utilize one or more power systems of the machine to activate the supplemental pump.

16. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a data storage device electrically couplable to the control module.

17. A system, comprising:

a main pump of a machine;

a supplemental pump of the machine in fluid communication with the main pump of the machine; and

means for activating the supplemental pump to perform a post-lubrication operation of the machine based on at least one a fluid operation service schedule, or data associated with the machine.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the means for activating the supplemental pump comprises at least one of a control module or a pump control circuit electrically couplable to the supplemental pump.

19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a sensing device electrically couplable to the pump control circuit.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2026
From: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 074543/0491 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2024
From: APOSTOLIDES, JOHN K.
To: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066311/0581 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17208037 · Mar 22, 2021
Continuation 16259719 · Jan 28, 2019
Continuation 14206402 · Mar 12, 2014
Provisional Application 61852260 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20230358224A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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