Provided is a life evaluating device that evaluates the life of a lubricant in a machine including a motor and a transmission mechanism that is lubricated by the lubricant and transmits power of the motor to a movable unit. The life evaluating device includes a motor-heat-value calculating unit that calculates a motor heat value on the basis of a current value of the motor, a frictional-heat-value calculating unit that calculates a frictional heat value in the transmission mechanism on the basis of rotating speed of the motor and a coefficient of friction of the transmission mechanism, a lubricant-temperature estimating unit that estimates temperature of the lubricant on the basis of the calculated frictional heat value and the calculated motor heat value, and a life estimating unit that estimates the life of the lubricant on the basis of the estimated temperature of the lubricant.

A method of manufacturing a thermo valve includes an overlaying step of overlaying a valve body onto a thermo actuator so as to cover a groove portion; and a caulking step of caulking an installing portion of the valve body onto the thermo actuator. The caulking step is performed by pressing, by use of a jig, the valve body and the thermo actuator toward an axis center in a radial direction. A pressing face of the jig has a short side portion and a long side portion longer than the short side portion. Pressing is performed with the long side portion being substantially in parallel to the axis center of the thermo actuator and the short side portion being substantially in parallel to the groove portion.

A fan housing includes a housing body for accommodating fan components and an outer casing which surrounds the housing body in circumferential direction. The housing body has at least two webs extending in a circumferential direction on the radial outer side. The outer casing has at least two ribs extending in the circumferential direction on the radial inner side. The ribs, in the assembled state, between the housing body and the outer casing, form a channel circulating in the circumferential direction for receiving and holding a heating band. The outer casing has at least one guiding rib directed in the radial direction toward a housing body as well as into the channel and extending in the circumferential direction.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling coolant flow through parallel branches of a coolant circuit including an AC condenser and a charge air cooler. Flow is apportioned responsive to an AC head pressure and a CAC temperature to reduce parasitic losses and improve fuel economy. The flow is apportioned via adjustments to a coolant pump output and a proportioning valve.

A lubrication detection method includes a first step is a lubricator provides an information to a processor, a second step is to detect temperature information within a predetermined time period and then to create a temperature curve and then to determine whether or not the recess in the temperature curve faces upward, and a third step of detecting a start point temperature value to form Value A, and averaging temperature values within time period in front of the lowest point to form Value B, and average temperature values after time period in back of the lowest point to form Value C, and determining whether or not Value B is smaller than Value A, and then determining whether or not Value B is smaller than Value C, and then generating an information of Normal indicative of normal lubrication.

A lubricating system includes a kidney loop. The kidney loop includes a reservoir and a kidney loop pump, the kidney loop pump in fluid connection with the reservoir. The kidney loop also includes a cooler, the cooler in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump and a heater, the heat in fluid connection with the kidney loop pump. Further, the kidney loop includes a kidney loop motor, the kidney loop motor in electrical connection with the kidney loop pump and a control system, the control system in electrical connection with the kidney loop motor.

A motor assembly includes a shaft, a bearing, at least one fluid channel, a temperature sensor, a lubricant supply pump, and a controller. The bearing defines a bearing interface against which the shaft rotates. The at least one fluid channel is fluidly coupled with the bearing interface. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the bearing. The lubricant supply pump is fluidly coupled with the at least one fluid channel to transport lubricant from a lubricant supply to the bearing interface via the at least one fluid channel. The controller receives the bearing temperature from the temperature sensor, determines a difference between the bearing temperature and a supply temperature of the lubricant, determines a lubricant flow rate based on the difference, and transmits a control signal to the lubricant supply pump to cause the lubricant supply pump to transport the lubricant to the bearing interface at the lubricant flow rate.

A lubrication system for lubricating at least one movable machine component includes a lubricant reservoir containing a lubricant and a fluid line fluidly coupled with the reservoir and having an outlet for dispensing the lubricant on or within the machine component. A valve selectively permits lubricant flow through the fluid line so as to dispense a quantity of lubricant through the fluid line outlet. A sensor senses a property of the machine component or the quantity of lubricant. A control is coupled with the sensor and with the valve, the control being configured to receive information from the sensor, to determine an estimated period of effectiveness of the quantity of lubricant using the sensor information, and to operate the valve based on the estimated lubricant effectiveness period so as to dispense another quantity of lubricant on or within the machine component.

A cooling system can include a hydraulic oil tank. The cooling system can further include a return valve connected to the hydraulic oil tank to supply flow to a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can include a hydraulic oil cooling (HOC) element and an axle oil cooling (AOC) element connected in series. The cooling system can include a flow control device to route oil away from the HOC and toward the AOC based on an oil condition or a system condition.

A quality diagnostics system for lubricant/coolant fluid includes a lubricant supported electric motor including a stator and a rotor defining a gap therebetween, with the lubricant/coolant fluid disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor while allowing the rotor to rotate relative to the stator. An inverter includes a plurality of power switches configured to supply an alternating current (AC) power to the motor for driving the rotor to rotate. A passageway conveys the lubricant/coolant fluid between the motor and the inverter. A lubricant quality sensor includes a set of sensor plates disposed along the passageway, an excitation source configured to apply an AC excitation voltage to a first sensor plate, and an electrical sensor configured to measure a response to the AC excitation voltage. A controller determines, based on a sensor signal from the electrical sensor, at least one of metal contamination and water contamination in the lubricant/coolant fluid.