A centerfill assembly for a lubricant reservoir includes a hollow tube for receiving lubricant from the top of the reservoir and loading the lubricant into the reservoir near the bottom of the reservoir. Loading the lubricant near the bottom of the reservoir introduces lubricant near where the stirring paddles mix the lubricant and near where the lubricant is loaded to the lubricant pump. Adding the lubricant near where the pumps load and near the stirring paddles helps to eliminate air pockets in the lubricant. In addition, having the centerfill rod minimizes exterior plumbing and allows for the mounting of valves on the fill line.

An oil state detection device includes an index member, a lighting device that illuminates the index member, and a photographing device that photographs the index member through oil in a machine device.

A lubricant injector includes a housing and a metering section attached to the housing. The housing includes a body and a metering cylinder extending from the body. The metering section includes a diaphragm disposed within the metering cylinder. The diaphragm forms a static seal between the metering cylinder and a lubricant pathway that extends through the body, and the diaphragm defines a metering chamber for measuring a volume of lubricant to be applied during a lubrication cycle. A retaining member secures the diaphragm within the metering cylinder.

A lubricant injector includes a housing and a metering section attached to the housing. The housing includes a body and a metering cylinder extending from the body. The metering section includes a diaphragm disposed within the metering cylinder. The diaphragm forms a static seal between the metering cylinder and a lubricant pathway that extends through the body, and the diaphragm defines a metering chamber for measuring a volume of lubricant to be applied during a lubrication cycle. A retaining member secures the diaphragm within the metering cylinder.

An apparatus and method for determining lubrication contamination or deterioration in an engine or a lubricant system of an engine can include at least one sensor provided in the lubricant system. The sensor can sense an aroma of a lubricant or the air around the lubricant to measure a chemical composition or an aromatic. The sensed chemical composition or aromatic can be compared to a baseline or threshold to determine a particular contamination type or deterioration level of the lubricant.

An apparatus and method for determining lubrication contamination or deterioration in an engine or a lubricant system of an engine can include at least one sensor provided in the lubricant system. The sensor can sense an aroma of a lubricant or the air around the lubricant to measure a chemical composition or an aromatic. The sensed chemical composition or aromatic can be compared to a baseline or threshold to determine a particular contamination type or deterioration level of the lubricant.

In a hybrid vehicle, a hybrid type lubrication control valve which is a solenoid valve type turned on/off by electricity is used as a lubrication system component for circulating lubricating oil to a transmission and an engine clutch. A method for diagnosing sticking of a lubrication control valve of a hybrid vehicle includes measuring a drag torque acting on an input shaft of the transmission through an output shaft of the motor by measuring a first drag torque in an off-state of the independent type lubrication control valve and a second drag torque in an on-state thereof; and determining whether or not the independent type lubrication control valve is stuck, on the basis of a torque difference between the first drag torque and the second drag torque. The method can diagnose a stuck state of the hybrid type lubrication control valve using motor speed control, before starting the vehicle.

In a hybrid vehicle, a hybrid type lubrication control valve which is a solenoid valve type turned on/off by electricity is used as a lubrication system component for circulating lubricating oil to a transmission and an engine clutch. A method for diagnosing sticking of a lubrication control valve of a hybrid vehicle includes measuring a drag torque acting on an input shaft of the transmission through an output shaft of the motor by measuring a first drag torque in an off-state of the independent type lubrication control valve and a second drag torque in an on-state thereof; and determining whether or not the independent type lubrication control valve is stuck, on the basis of a torque difference between the first drag torque and the second drag torque. The method can diagnose a stuck state of the hybrid type lubrication control valve using motor speed control, before starting the vehicle.

A rotatable bearing assembly transfers a weight of a drill string to a mud motor output shaft extending therethrough. The bearing assembly includes an outer bearing housing, an upper radial bearing assembly providing an upper radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, a balance piston that fluidly seals an upper end of the outer bearing housing and balances a pressure within the outer bearing housing, a lower radial bearing/seal assembly configured to both fluidly seal a lower end of the outer bearing housing and provide a lower radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, and a thrust bearing assembly received within the sealed interior of the outer bearing housing such that the bearing assembly initially operates in a sealed, lubricated mode and then a mud lube mode in the event of one or more seal failures. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for estimating the remaining life for an engine. The method includes determining a correlation between a quantity of burned fuel and a level of wear of a piston ring for an engine. The level of wear of the piston ring is indicative of a remaining life of the engine. The method also includes determining a current quantity of burned fuel by the engine, and determining the remaining life of the engine based on the correlation and the current quantity of burned fuel by the engine.