Oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for vehicles

• US 20020029618A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukui, Kunihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/53.01
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/18 Indicating or safety devices concerning lubricant level F01M11/06, F01M11/12
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/14 for indicating the necessity to change the oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1486 by considering duration of operation
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance

Abstract

An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for vehicles capable of informing a user of an exchange timing of oil on the basis of the degree of degradation of oil as quickly as possible. An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus includes an odometer for integrating vehicle travel distances, an operation time integrator for integrating operation times of an engine mounted on the vehicle, an oil exchange informing device for informing a user of an exchange timing of oil, and a controlling device for starting, when either an integrated value of the travel distances or an integrated value of the operation times, based on signals from the odometer and the operation time integrator exceeds a preset value, the oil exchange informing device to inform the user of the exchange timing of oil.

Claims

1. An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

odometer means for integrating travel distances of the vehicle;

operation time integrator means for integrating operation times of an engine mounted on the vehicle;

oil exchange informing means for informing a user of exchange timing of oil; and

controlling means for starting, when either an integrated value of the travel distances or an integrated value of the operation times, based on signals from said odometer means and said operation time integrator means exceeds a preset value, said oil exchange informing means to inform the user of the exchange timing of oil.

2. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means stores a plurality of distinct preset integrated values relating to each of said integrated value of travel distance and operation time, and said controlling means receives, when said integrated value exceeds a smaller preset integrated value and the exchange of oil is carried out, an oil exchange signal to rewrite a first predetermined preset integrated value to a second predetermined preset integrated value successively.

3. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said oil exchange signal is generated by operating a reset switch mounted on the vehicle.

4. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said oil exchange informing means includes a light that is selectively illuminated for informing a user of the exchange timing of oil.

5. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means includes a microcomputer for storing a plurality of preset values for the travel distances and the operating time and for integrating the preset values for the travel distances and the operating time to provide an output for advising a user of the exchange timing of oil.

6. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a preset value for the travel distances is set based on a relationship between the travel distances and the degree of degradation of oil.

7. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a preset value for the engine operating time is set based on a relationship between the engine operating time and the degree of degradation of oil.

8. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein when the integrated value of the travel distance exceeds a corresponding value, a user is advised of the exchange time of oil.

9. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein when the integrated value of the operating time exceeds a corresponding value, a user is advised of the exchange time of oil.

10. An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an odometer for determining travel distances of a vehicle and for generating a travel distance signal;

an operational timer determining the time of operation of an engine of a vehicle and for generating a time of operation signal;

oil exchange indicator for informing a user of an exchange time for oil; and

a controller for comparing at least one of a travel distance and a time of operation based on signals from said odometer and said time of operation as compared to a preset value for the travel distance and the time of operation, and for providing a signal to the oil exchange indicator inform the user of the exchange timing of oil.

11. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said controller stores a plurality of distinct preset integrated values relating to each of said value of travel distance and operational time, and said controller receives, when said value exceeds a smaller preset integrated value and the exchange of oil is carried out, an oil exchange signal to rewrite a first predetermined preset value to a second predetermined preset value successively.

12. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said oil exchange signal is generated by operating a reset switch mounted on the vehicle.

13. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said oil exchange indicator includes a light that is selectively illuminated for informing a user of the exchange timing of oil.

14. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said controller includes a microcomputer for storing a plurality of preset values for the travel distances and the operational time and for integrating the preset values for the travel distances and the operational time to provide an output for advising a user of the exchange timing of oil.

15. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein a preset value for the travel distances is set based on a relationship between the travel distances and the degree of degradation of oil.

16. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein a preset value for the engine operating time is set based on a relationship between the engine operating time and the degree of degradation of oil.

17. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein when the integrated value of the travel distance exceeds a corresponding value, a user is advised of the exchange time of oil.

18. The oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 16, wherein when the integrated value of the operating time exceeds a corresponding value, a user is advised of the exchange time of oil.