A gearbox includes a housing including a lubricant reservoir, at least one gear system arranged in the housing, at least one lubricant delivery passage operable to direct a flow of lubricant from a lubricant reservoir onto the at least one gear system, at least one lubricant return passage operable to guide the flow of lubricant to the lubricant reservoir, and a lubricant-out sensor fluidically connected to the at least one lubricant return passage. The lubricant-out sensor is operable to detect a non-pressure based parameter of the lubricant.

Methods and systems of estimating a size of a chip in engine fluid of an engine are provided. One method comprises detecting the chip at a magnetic chip detector immersed in the engine fluid, burning the chip by Joule heating using a single delivery of electric current through the chip via the first and second terminals of the magnetic chip detector, determining an amount of energy consumed to burn the chip, and estimating the size of the chip based on the amount of energy consumed to burn the chip.

A vehicle drive system includes a first prime mover, a transmission, a power take-off (PTO), a lubrication system for the transmission and the PTO, and a control system. The transmission is powered by the first prime mover. The transmission is configured to rotate a drive shaft of the vehicle. The PTO is connected to the transmission at a first interface. The PTO includes the first interface and a second interface. The control system is configured to control fluid flow through the lubrication system for at least one mode where the input section of the PTO is stationary and the output section rotates.

A vehicle drive system includes a first prime mover, a transmission, a power take-off (PTO), a lubrication system for the transmission and the PTO, and a control system. The transmission is powered by the first prime mover. The transmission is configured to rotate a drive shaft of the vehicle. The PTO is connected to the transmission at a first interface. The PTO includes the first interface and a second interface. The control system is configured to control fluid flow through the lubrication system for at least one mode where the input section of the PTO is stationary and the output section rotates.

A system for providing lubrication to a machine. The system comprises at least one ultrasound sensor positioned to detect sound emanating from at least one lubrication point of the machine, and at least one auto-lubrication device configured to provide lubrication to the at least one lubrication point. The at least one auto-lubrication device is controlled to provide lubrication to the at least one lubrication point based at least in part on sound detection data from the at least one ultrasound sensor.

A device for monitoring a lubrication of a tool may include: a housing including: a lubricator connector configured to connect the housing to a lubricator and including a lubricant inlet opening, a chamber configured to receive a lubricant from the lubricator through the lubricant inlet opening, a tool connector configured to connect the housing to a lubricant fitting of a tool and including a lubricator outlet opening through which the lubricant leaves the chamber; and a pressure transducer configured to measure a lubricant pressure in the chamber of the housing and generate an output pressure signal related thereto.

Provided is a diagnosis technique with high reliability when a state of lubricating oil of a rotary machine such as a wind power generator is diagnosed by a state monitoring sensor. A diagnosis system of lubricating oil includes a lubricating oil utilization device, a lubricating oil tank for storing lubricating oil to be supplied to the lubricating oil utilization device, and a sensor which measures characteristics of the lubricating oil. In this system, the state of the lubricating oil is diagnosed by using sensor data obtained after a time required for air bubbles in the lubricating oil generated at the time of use of the device disappear elapses since the lubricating oil utilization device is regularly or irregularly stopped.

Provided is a diagnosis technique with high reliability when a state of lubricating oil of a rotary machine such as a wind power generator is diagnosed by a state monitoring sensor. A diagnosis system of lubricating oil includes a lubricating oil utilization device, a lubricating oil tank for storing lubricating oil to be supplied to the lubricating oil utilization device, and a sensor which measures characteristics of the lubricating oil. In this system, the state of the lubricating oil is diagnosed by using sensor data obtained after a time required for air bubbles in the lubricating oil generated at the time of use of the device disappear elapses since the lubricating oil utilization device is regularly or irregularly stopped.

A transmission device includes a casing accommodating a transmission gear and having an oil sump for retaining oil. The oil in the oil sump flows from a lubrication pump through a lubrication passage and is injected to the transmission gear. A connection portion is provided in a part of the lubrication passage, which part is disposed outside the casing. A direction control valve is provided downstream of the lubrication pump and upstream of the connection portion in the lubrication passage with respect to a flow direction of the oil. The direction control valve is configured to open the lubrication passage when a hydraulic pressure in the lubrication passage exceeds a predetermined value and to close the lubrication passage when the hydraulic pressure is equal to or lower than the predetermined value.

Magnetic chip detectors and associated for detecting metallic chips in engine fluid of an engine are provided. A magnetic chip detector includes first and second magnetic chip capture zones. The first magnetic chip capture zone includes a first electrically conductive terminal spaced apart from a second electrically conductive terminal to define a first chip-receiving gap therebetween. The second magnetic chip capture zone includes a third electrically conductive terminal and either the second electrically conductive terminal or a fourth electrically conductive terminal to define a second chip-receiving gap therebetween. The magnetic chip detector includes an electric circuit including both the first chip-receiving gap and the second chip-receiving gap. The electric circuit provides an output indicative of a chip detection by one or both of the first magnetic chip capture zone and the second magnetic capture zone.