System for identifying the lubricating oil in a machine

Abstract

A lubricating oil identification system including a lubricating oil composition containing a passive marker which passive marker is capable of detection in situ by a detector present in a machine is provided. A detector is provided for detecting in situ a passive marker in the oil composition when the oil composition is in the machine. Lubricating oil compositions and machines suitable for use in this identification system and methods of operating the machines are also disclosed.

1 . A lubricating oil composition comprising one or more passive markers capable of detection in situ by a detector present in a machine which is on or running.  
   
   
       2 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 1  wherein the passive markers are microparticles.  
   
   
       3 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 1 , wherein the passive markers are molecular species.  
   
   
       4 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 2  wherein the passive markers are selected from the group consisting of Radio Frequency Identification chips, biomagnetic tags and magnetic tags.  
   
   
       5 . A method of making a lubricating oil composition comprising providing a lubricating oil and incorporating one or more passive markers into said lubricating oil which passive markers are suitable for detection in situ by a detector present in a machine which is one or running.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the passive markers are selected from the group consisting of Radio Frequency Identification chips, magnetic tags, biomagnetic tags and odourant molecules.  
   
   
       7 . A machine comprising a detector capable of detecting a passive marker in the lubricating oil composition while the machine is on or running when the lubricating oil composition contains one or more passive markers capable of detection in situ by said detector.  
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein the machine further comprises an electronic control unit.  
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein the machine further comprises at least one sensor that indicates the state of the lubricating oil in the machine.  
   
   
       10 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of μ-readers, magnetic readers, electronic noses, and electronic tongues.  
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 7  wherein the machine further comprises a pH sensor that is capable of providing a reading that can be correlated to the Total Acid Number of the lubricating oil.  
   
   
       12 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 3  wherein the passive markers are odorant molecules.  
   
   
       13 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 1  wherein the passive markers are of a size such that they will pass through an oil filter in the machine.  
   
   
       14 . The lubricating oil composition of  claim 1  wherein the passive markers are of a size such that they will not pass through an oil filter in the machine.  
   
   
       15 . A method of operating a machine comprising (a) providing a lubricating oil into the machine comprising (i) a detector and (ii) an electronic control unit or machine management chip, (b) detecting whether or not a passive marker is present in said lubricating oil thereby providing data about the lubricating oil, and (c) passing a signal from the detector to the electronic control unit or machine management chip.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the signal is processed at the electronic control unit or machine management chip.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the data is processed to determine when an oil change is required or to set values which can be used to determine when an oil change is required.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the machine further comprises a pH sensor.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein further reading the pH of the lubricating oil thereby providing data about the state of the oil.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the data are processed thereby providing information about the state of the oil to a user or a machine management system.