Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a system for indicating the oil level in
the oil pan of an internal combustion engine and adding a predetermined quan-
tity o oil thereto when necessary.
It is well-known that if the oil level in the oil pan of an internal
combustion engine drops below a prescribed level irreparable harm will be done
to the internal components of the engine. Accordingly, modern automobiles are
equipped with an oil pressure gauge to indicate a lack of adequate pressurized
oil circulation within the engine. However, by the time the oil pressure
gauge, generally nothing more than a light bulb, indicates that the oil pres-
10 sure has dropped, there i3 little or nothing that can be done about it. Theautomobile must be stopped immediately and an additional source of oil must be
sought. All too often the operator of the vehicle attempts to continue
travelling with inadequate oil pressure thus injuring his vehicle. Inasmuch
~s modern automobiles are equipped with such pressure sensors, it is incumbent
upon the vehicle operator to maintain a supply of oil or have his oil checked
through the use of a dip stick at regular intervals. However, most modern
drivers are not prone to take such measures and therefore some device which
can aid in the avoidance of engine damage due to lack of oil is necessary.
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Several systems for maintaining the proper level of oil within an
engine have been proposed. U.S. patent No. 2,564,231, issued August 14, 1951,
to Pitney, shows a liquid level maintainer which includes an airtight auxiliary
oil reservoir disposed above the engine and a tube extending from the reservoir
to a predetermined height in the engine oil pan. When the oil in the oil pan
falls below the tube, air enters the reservoir and oil from the auxiliary
reservoir is allowed to enter the oil pan. U.S. patent No. 2,615,4~2, -~
issued October 28, 1952, to Berry, shows an oil maintaining apparatus wherein
a float is disposed in the engine crankcase for indicating the level of oil
therein. The feeding of oil from a reservoir to the crankcase is produced by
vacuum of suction from the intake manifo~d. U.S. patent No. 3,282,380, issued
November 1, 1966, to Burrell et al shows an automatic oil changer wherein a
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reversible pump is connected in a line which extends from the drain opening of
an engine crankcase to a container located above the engine. The pump i8 ,
operated in a first direction for removing oil from the engine and depositing
it in the container. The container can be filled with fresh oil and the pump
operated in a second direction for refilling the engine. U.S. patent No.
3,447,636, issued June 3, 1969, to Bonfilio, shows an automatic oil exchanging
system having a first container for receiving the used oil from the engine
crankcase and a second container for storing a fresh oil supply to be dispensed
to the crankcase. The system automatically removes engine oil to the first
container and, when this is accomplished, replaces it with a fresh oil from
the second container. U.S. patent No. 4,091,895, issued May 30, 1978, to
Lang, shows an oil level sensing and replenishing apparatus comprising a
standpipe type sensing apparatus which allows venting of an auxiliary oil ~ ;
reservoir to provide gravity induced fluid flow from the reservoir to the
crankcase when the level of the crankcase is below a predetermined minimum.
The present invention includes an auxiliary oil reservoir mounted ;
above the engine and connected thereto through a valved line. The valve is
operated through a manual actuation device mounted within the passenger com-
partment of the vehicle. A level sensing device is mounted within the auxiliary
reservoir and connected to a plurality of lights mounted within the passenger
compartment for indicating the oil level within the auxiliary reservoir. A
sensor is connected to the engine oil pan and signals the vehicle operator
when the oil level therein falls below a predetermined minimum. In one form,
the sensor includes a small pump connected in a line with a tube which extends
down the dip stick receiving aperture of the engine and ends at a predetermined
height within the oil pan. The pump maintains an oil flow through this
tube and through a further line connected to one of the engine valve covers
for returning the oil to the oil pan. A pressure sensor is connected in this
oil flow path. The pressure sensor illuminates a signalling light when it
senses a low pressure thus indicating that the level of oil in the oil pan has
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fallen below the bottom of the tube disposed in the dip stick receiving
aperature. A second sensor embodiment is comprised of a housing having a
float actuated switch therein. The housing is connected to the oil pan
through a tube which must be attached through the bottom or side of the oil
pan.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide an
oil level indicating and refilling device which is relatively easy to attach
to the engine of a presently existing automobile.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an oil level
indicating and refilling device which can be operated from the passenger
compartment of a vehicle utilizing the device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an oil level
indicating and refilling device which is simple, efficient to maintain, yet
provides an accurate means of monitoring the oil level in the engine oil pan ;
and replenishing same when necessary.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an internal combustion engine
incorporating the device of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the control and indicator
light panel of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the auxiliary reservoir
showing the float mechanism therein.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the control valve operating
handle.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the control valve of the -~
present invention.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing a second senscr which
can be used with the present invention.
Figure 7 is an end elevational view showing the sensor o-f Figo 6.
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the wiring circuit of the present
invention.
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Now with reference to the drawings, the oil level indicating and
refilling device of the present invention, generally referred to by the
numeral 10, will be set forth in detail. With particular reference to Fig. 1,
it can be seen that the oil level indicating and refilling device is connected
to a standard internal combustion engine 12 having oil pan 14 and valve covers
16 and 18. The device 10 includes auxiliary oil reservoir 20 and a sensor 22.
Keservoir 20 and sensor 22 are appropriately connected to control an indicator
panel 24 which is mounted in the dash of the vehicle in a manner so as to be
facing the vehicle operator.
It will be noted that the reservoir 20 is mounted above the top of
engine 12 and is connected through tube 26 to the valve cover 18. Tube 26
includes valve 28 which is operated through a pull cable 30. With reference to
Figs. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that also connected to valve 28 is a set of
contacts 32 which illuminate a valve warning light 34 through lead 33
when the valve is in the open position. Contac~s 32 are vertically spaced
from each other and are adapted to be bridged by conductive member 36 which is
mounted on actuation arm 38 of valve 28. Each contact 32 comprises a curved
conductive wire which is positioned so as to remain in contact with conductive
member 36 for the entire extent of travel of arm 38 when the valve is open.
Further, it will be seen that an actuation knob 52 is mounted on panel 24.
Knob 52 is pulled away from the panel to actuate valve 28 through cable 30 and
arm 38. It will be noted that a lock member 54 is also mounted on the panel
24. Lock member 54 can be biased upwardly and has a tip portion 56 which sits
within cooperating slot 58 of the knob to lock the valve 28 in the closed
position and avoid any inadvertent actuation of the valve.
Contained within the reservoir 20 is a float 40 shown in Fig. 2
which carries a movable contact 42. The reservoir 20 can contain up to two
quarts of reserve oil 44 therein. Stationary contacts 46, 48 and 50 are
attached to one wall of reservoir 20 for indicating the level therein.
Contact 50, of course, provides a signal when two quarts of oil are in the
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reservoir while contact 48 indicates the presence of one quart of oil and
contact 46 indicates that the reservoir is empty of oil. Contacts 46, 48 and
50 cause the energization of, respectively, light 53, buzzer 55 and light 57
which are located on panel 24~ Float 40 rides on vertical shaft 41 with the
float position on the shaft being determined by the oil height. As seen in
Figs. 3, 5 and 8, buzzer 55 and light 57 are energized only when contacts 59
or 61 are bridged, respectively. Contacts 59 are bridged by conductive strip
36 when the valve is fully open. Accordingly, when valve 28 is opened to
allow reserve oil to enter the engine oil pan~ buzzer 55 will sound when one
quart of oil has entered the oil pan to alert the operator to close the valve.
Light 57 is energized through contact 50 in cooperation with contacts 61 when
valve 28 is fully closed, allowing conductive member 36 to bridge contacts 61.
The sensor 22 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a pump 60 which is connected
in line 62. Line 62 extends at one end into the aperture 64 in which the
dip stick is normally placed. The line extends downwardly into the oil pan 14
and terminates slightly below the desired level of oil within pan 14. The
opposite side of line 62 extends through pressure gauge 65 and into valve
cover 16. Accordingly, when pump 60 is operating, oil is drawn up through the
end of tube 62 which is disposed in the oil pan and forced through pressure
gauge 66 and into valve cover 16 where it can drain back down into the oil
pan. If an adequate oil supply is maintained in the oil pan 14, sufficient
oil will be pumped through the sensor system to keep the pressure switch 66
activated. When the oil level drops below the end of tube 62, the pressure
sensor completes a circuit to oil pan light 68 on panel 24 shown in Fig. 2.
The pressure switch 66 can also operate a buzzer, if desired. Obviously, once
light 68 has lit to indicate a lack of oil in pan 14, all the vehicle operator
has to do is release knob 52 and pull it away from the control panel 24 there-
by opening valve 28 and allowing oil to flow in the engine from the auxiliary
reservoir 20. As soon as a full quart of oil has been deposited in the oil
pan, the buzzer 55 will be energized to indicate that valve 28 should be closed.
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A second embodiment of an oil pan sensor i9 shown in Figs. 6 and 1
and labeled 70. Sensor 70 includes a housing 72 which is mounted alongside
of oil pan 14 in any convenient manner and includes a hollow tube 74 which `~
communicates the interior of the housing 72 with the interior of oil pan 14.
The sensor includes a float member 76 which is mounted within the housing and
rides on vertical rod member 78. Float member 76 has a conductive surface
contained on the bottom thereof. Surface 80 bridges stationary contacts 82 to
complete the circuit to a warning light when the level of oil 44 in oil pan
14 falls below a prescribed minimum. The light to be illuminated by the
engagement of surface 80 with contacts 82 is, of course, light 68 on panel 24
as shown in Fig. 2. ~aturally, any necessary venting of housing 72 will be
accomplished through the top thereof.
Fig. 8 clearly sets forth the wiring diagram of the present invention.
It will be seen with reference to that figure that the car battery 90 has
its positive terminal connected to movable contact 4~ which is disposed within
auxiliary oil reservoir 20. That contact rides between contacts 46, 48 and 50
which are each respectively connected to warning light 53, buzzer 55 and
warning light 57 with buzzer 55 and warning light 57 also connected through
contacts 59 and 61, respectively. Furthermore, contacts 32 which are connected
to the valve 28 operate warning light 34. Finally, contacts 92 are connected
to warning light 68, which is the oil pan warning light, and also to a horn 94 ~
which gives an audible indication of low oil level in the oil pan 14. Contacts ~-
92 would be, in the first embodiment, the contacts of pressure switch 66 or,
in the second sensor embodiment, the surface 80 and contacts 82. In either
embodiment, the result achieved is the same.
