A central lubricating station for lubricating one or more machine part(s), having a container base adapted for holding at least two replaceable containers. Each replaceable container holds at least one type of lubricant; and one or more pump(s) is configured for pumping at least one type of lubricant interchangeably from the at least two replaceable containers to the one or more machine part(s); and a motor is configured for driving the one or more pumps.

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.

An oil supply unit has: a pump that has a pressure chamber portion that stores lubricating oil and a piezoelectric element that is deformable by application of a voltage, the pump ejecting lubricating oil in the pressure chamber portion; a tank that is connected to the pump and that stores lubricating oil to be supplied to the pump for replenishment; a sensor that detects a pressure in an oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank and in which lubricating oil is present, or the state of a bearing portion; a pressure adjustment portion that adjusts a pressure of lubricating oil in the oil region which extends from the pressure chamber portion to the tank; and a control portion that controls at least one of the pressure adjustment portion and the piezoelectric element on the basis of a detection result from the sensor.

A system includes a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.

A system includes a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.

Apparatuses are disclosed including an apparatus for machine fluid monitoring or sampling comprising a transparent sight glass attachable to a machine such that machine fluid is transferable to the sight glass. The sight glass is at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region. The sight glass has an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounds a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel. The closed second end is constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end.

Apparatuses are disclosed including an apparatus for machine fluid monitoring or sampling comprising a transparent sight glass attachable to a machine such that machine fluid is transferable to the sight glass. The sight glass is at least partially constructed of one or more materials that is transparent to light in a visible region. The sight glass has an open first end, a closed second end, an inside surface and an outside surface extending from the open first end to the closed second end and across the closed second end, the sight glass at least partially surrounds a cavity within the sight glass, the inside surface and the outside surface of the closed second end being parallel. The closed second end is constructed of the one or more materials that are transparent to light in the visible region to allow inspection of machine fluid through the closed second end.

A protection mechanism for a lubricant reservoir is mounted within a valve protection chamber disposed on an actuator. The protection mechanism includes a valve actuating plate and an elastic member biasing the valve actuating plate upwards. The actuator is pushed upwards by a rising level of lubricant as the lubricant reservoir is filled. When the reservoir is full, the actuator causes the valve actuating plate to contact a valve stem. The valve actuating plate pushes the valve stem up to shut off a flow of lubricant to the reservoir through the shut off valve. During an overfill event the actuator shifts upward due to the rising level of the lubricant in the reservoir. As the actuator shifts upward, the elastic member compresses such that valve actuating plate remains static relative to the lubricant reservoir as actuator rises.

A system includes a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.

A system includes a sensor configured to be disposed within a reservoir of a machine having moving parts that are lubricated by a liquid in the reservoir. The sensor is configured to obtain a measurement of the liquid that is representative of at least one of a quantity or quality of the liquid in the reservoir. The system also includes a device body operably coupled to the sensor. The device body has a processing unit that is operably coupled to the sensor and configured to generate first data signals representative of the measurement of the liquid. The device body also includes a transmitter that is configured to wirelessly communicate the first data signals to a remote reader.