[0001] The present disclosure relates to a Diesel Particulate Filter
(DPF) monitoring system and method for a fleet of vehicles. Background of the invention
[0002] A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is designed to remove diesel
particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Collected particulates (ash) are removed from the filter, continuously or periodically, through thermal regeneration. DPFs by design comes with a threshold limit of maximum ash it can accumulate to maintain its performance efficiency over which it is mandatory to service/clean it or this will result in reducing engine performance.
[0003] DPF ash cleaning is a complex procedure which will involve
removing the EGT assembly from vehicle, cleaning DPF, test the cleaned DPF for performance and then re-assemble the DPF on the vehicle. The common issue faced during DPF servicing is the vehicle down time. The majority of the time is taken in cleaning the DPF rather than its removal and assembly. Different vehicles having differing tendencies of ash accumulation based on their design and the condition in which they are operated. There is a need for an intelligent DPF monitoring system for these vehicles to reduce vehicle down time.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] An embodiment of the invention is described with
reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[0005] Figure 1 depicts a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring
system (100) for a fleet of vehicles (104).
[0006] Figure 2 illustrates method (200) steps to monitor Diesel
Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle in fleet of vehicles (104).
Detailed description of the drawings
[0007] Figure 1 depicts a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring
system for a fleet of vehicles (104). The DPF monitoring system for a fleet of vehicles (104) comprises a plurality of sensors (101), an Electronic Control Unit (ECU (102)) in each vehicle (1041) and at least a Central processor (103). Further at least one sensor (1012) amongst the plurality of sensors (101) is configured to measure a differential pressure value across the DPF in each vehicle (1041). An important non-limiting feature of the invention is the ECU (102) of each vehicle. This ECU (102) is configured to perform the following tasks. It receives data from the plurality of sensors (101). It groups the DPF of the vehicle (1012) in a category based on the received data. It sends the grouped data to the central processor (103). The category refers to the various degrees of filter clogging.

[0008] Another important non-limiting feature of the system is the
central processor (103) which is in communication with ECU (102) of each vehicle. The central processor (103) has a display unit which is configured to display the grouped data for each vehicle (1041) of the fleet of vehicles (104). The central processor (103) is further configured to send alerts to each to the vehicle's ECU (102) based on the displayed data. The central processor (103) is further configured to suggest a swapping operation to be performed between DPF of vehicles in two different categories.
[0009] The plurality of sensors (101) in the system, in addition to
the differential pressure sensor include but is not limited to an oil quality sensor and the like. These sensors measure one or more real time parameter that affects the clogging of the DPF. For example the quality of oil used in the lubrication of fuel injection components is relevant because this oil leaks into the fuel. When fuel in combusted the oil particles in the fuel are not burnt properly and form soot, which leads to the clogging of the fuel filter. Another important non-limiting parameter affecting filter clogging is the oil consumption rate. Oil consumption rate is usually constant for a vehicle however shows some deviation after prolonged use. These and many such parameters are taken into consideration in the analysis by the ECU (102).

[0010] The ECU (102) analyses the data received from the plurality
of sensors (101) to group the DPF of the vehicles in the category based on the various degrees of filter clogging. For example in an embodiment of the present system described above, there can be 3 categories. A first category of DPF with a higher tendency of filter clogging (for example where more than 60% of the DPF is clogged.) A second category with an average tendency of filter clogging (example where DPF clogging is between 30-60%). A third category with a low tendency of filter clogging (example where DPF clogging is less than 30%). Similarly in other embodiments of the present system there can be different number of categories with different threshold of DPF clogging for categorization.
[0011] The central processor (103) can be inside any electronic
device or be a cloud computing device from the group of a mobile phone unit, a computer, a tablet and the like. For example in an embodiment of the present invention the central processor (103) can be a mobile phone application. The central processor (103) receives data from every ECU (102) of the fleet of vehicles (104). Hence the central processor (103) is in communication with the vehicle ECU (102)'s. The means of communication can be one of the many modes of wired/ wireless communication known to person skilled in the art. This can include but it not limited to infra-red wireless communication, satellite communication, internet based communication etc.

[0012] Figure 2 illustrates method steps to monitor Diesel
Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle (1041) in fleet of vehicles (104). Each vehicle (1041) in the fleet of vehicles (104) comprises a plurality of sensors (101) and at least an Electronic Control unit (ECU (102)).
> Amongst the plurality of sensors (101) configured to measure a
differential pressure value across the DPF. The ECU (102)'s of the
vehicles are in communication with a central server. In step 201, the ECU
(102) in each of the vehicles receives data from the plurality of sensors
(101). This data corresponds to values of parameters that affect clogging
) of the DPF, for example the data received from oil quality sensor and the like. This and the many more sensor's data is sent to the ECU (102) for analysis.
[0013] In step 202, the ECU (102) groups the DPF of the vehicle in
> a category based on the received data. The category refers to the various
degrees of DPF clogging. The ECU (102) analyses the data received from
the plurality of sensors (101) and determines the degree of DPF clogging.
In an embodiment of the method, the grouping can be done in 3 categories.
A first category of DPF with a higher tendency of filter clogging (for
) example where more than 60% of the DPF is clogged.) A second category with an average tendency of filter clogging (example where DPF clogging is between 30-60%). A third category with a low tendency of filter clogging (example where DPF clogging is less than 30%). Similarly in other embodiments of the present system there can be different number of

categories with different threshold of DPF clogging for categorization. The ECU (102) based on the degree of DPF clogging groups the DPF of the vehicles in either of these categories.
[0014] In step 203, this grouped data is sent by the ECU (102) of
each vehicles to the central processor (103). The sending of this data is achieved through one of the many modes of wired/ wireless communication known to person skilled in the art. This can include but it not limited to infra-red wireless communication, satellite communication, internet based communication etc. In step 204, the central processor (103) displays the grouped data. The data can be displayed through one of the many conventional methods known in the art. In an embodiment of the present invention, the grouped data is displayed a graph depicting bands as the categories. This is illustrated from figure 3. Figure 3 is a graph for differential pressure of a vehicle's DPF plotted with respect to the operation time of the vehicle. Vehicles for whom this graph falls in area C3 are deemed to be in a first category of DPF with a higher tendency of filter clogging. Similarly vehicles for whom this graph falls in C2 and CI fall in the second and third category with an average and lower tendency of DPF clogging respectively. The displaying of grouped data helps a user visualize the DPF clogging tendency of each vehicles in the fleet of vehicles (104).

[0015] In further steps the data displayed is used for further
operations by the user. In step 205, the central processor (103) sends alerts to each to the vehicle's ECU (102) based on the displayed data. Vehicles having a high degree of filter clogging are sent warnings or alerts to change or clean their DPF. Further in step 206, the central processor (103) suggests a swapping operation to be performed between DPF of vehicles in two different categories. This means that DPF of a vehicles having a higher degree of vehicle clogging i.e. it lies in C2 area of the figure 3 can be interchanged with DPF of a vehicles having low degree of filter clogging i.e. it lies in C3 area of figure 3. Such operation will optimize the vehicle down-time for the whole fleet of vehicles (104).
[0016] This idea to develop a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
monitoring system and method is aimed enhancing the management of vehicles in a fleet by providing the fleet owner with data from each vehicle (1041) to enable to make quick decisions in terms of managing the fleet. For example the swapping operation suggested in step 206, will increase DPF cleaning interval of entire vehicle fleet and thereby reduce vehicle down time at service stations for DPF cleaning/servicing.
[0017] It must be understood that the embodiments explained in the
above detailed description are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Any modification to a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring system (100) and method for a fleet of vehicles (104) are

envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of this invention is limited only by the claims.

1) A Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring system (100) for a
fleet of vehicles (104), the system comprising a plurality of sensors (101)
in each vehicle (1041), at least one sensor (1012) amongst the plurality of
sensors (101) configured to measure a differential pressure value across
the DPF, characterized in that system:
an ECU (102) in each of the vehicles, the ECU (102) configured to:
receive data from the plurality of sensors (101);
group the DPF of each vehicle (1041) in a category based on
the received data;
send the grouped data to a central processor (103); and at
least the central processor (103) in communication with ECU (102) of each vehicle (1041), the central processor (103) having a display unit configured to display the grouped data for each vehicle (1041) of the fleet of vehicles (104).
2) The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring system (100) for a fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 1, where the category refers to the various degrees of filter clogging.
3) The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring system (100) for a fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 1, where the central processor

(103) is further configured to sends alerts to each to the vehicle's ECU
(102) based on the displayed data.
4) The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) monitoring system (100) for a
fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 1, where the central processor
(103) is further configured to suggest a swapping operation to be
performed between DPF of vehicles in two different categories.
5) A method to monitor Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle
(1041) in fleet of vehicles (104) by means of a central processor (103), an
ECU (102) of each vehicle, a plurality of sensors (101) in each vehicle, at
least one sensor (1012) amongst the plurality of sensors (101) configured
to measure a differential pressure value across the DPF, the method
comprising, receiving data from the plurality of sensors (101) by the ECU
(102), characterized in that method :
grouping (202) the DPF of each vehicle (1041) in a category based
on the received data by the ECU (102);
sending (203) the grouped data to a central processor (103) by the
ECU (102).
displaying (204) the grouped data for each vehicle (1041)of the
fleet of vehicles (104) in a display unit of the central processor
(103).

6) The method to monitor Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle (1041) in fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 5, where the category refers to the various degrees of filter clogging.
7) The method to monitor Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle (1041)in fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 5, where the method further comprises sending alerts (205) by the central processor (103) to each to the vehicle's ECU (102) based on the displayed data.
8) The method to monitor Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) of each vehicle (1041)in fleet of vehicles (104) as claimed in claim 5, where the method further comprises suggesting (206) a swapping operation by the central processor (103) to be performed between DPF of vehicles in two different categories.