Industrial timer unit and control unit

• US 20040174254A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Angelito D. Natividad, Angelito D. Siwa
• Original Assignee: Angelito D. Natividad, Angelito D. Siwa
• Inventors: Natividad, Angelito D., Siwa, Angelito D.
• Application Number:
  US10/790,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20040174254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• 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 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An industrial timer unit for monitoring a service interval of an internal combustion engine including a timer measuring an accumulated time the engine has operated; a timer control module receiving the accumulated time from the timer, and selectively zeroing the accumulated time; an oil service indicator for alerting in response to a signal from the timer control module.

Claims

1. An industrial timer unit for monitoring a service interval of an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a timer measuring an accumulated time the engine has operated;

a timer control module receiving the accumulated time from said timer, and selectively zeroing said accumulated time;

an oil service indicator for alerting in response to a signal from said timer control module.

2. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, wherein said timer control unit stores a predefined service interval.

3. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, wherein said predefined service interval is user selectable.

4. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, wherein said zeroing of the timer control unit is user selectable.

5. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises at least one of a visual and an audible alert.

6. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing said accumulated time.

7. The industrial timer unit according to claim 6, further comprising a battery for said memory.

8. The industrial timer unit according to claim 1, further comprising a battery service indicator operatively connected to said battery, said battery service indicator alerting a user when said battery requires servicing.

9. The industrial timer unit according to claim 2, wherein said oil service indicator provides a visual indication of the percentage of time remaining in said service interval.

10. The industrial timer unit according to claim 9, wherein said percentage is calculated as the quotient of the accumulated time and the service interval.

11. An industrial timer unit for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a main body including;

a timer measuring an accumulated time the engine has operated; and

a timer control module receiving the accumulated time from said timer, and selectively zeroing said accumulated time; and

a remote body including an oil service indicator for alerting in response to a signal from said timer control module.

12. The industrial timer unit according to claim 11, wherein said remote body is adapted to be positioned within a passenger compartment of an automobile within the visual sightline of driver.

13. The industrial timer unit according to claim 11, wherein said main body is adapted to be mounted within the engine compartment of an automobile.

14. The industrial timer unit according to claim 11, wherein said main body is adapted to be positioned within a passenger compartment of an automobile outside of the visual sightline of driver.

15. The industrial timer unit according to claim 11, wherein said main body includes a transmitter, said remote body includes a receiver, and said control unit transmits wireless signals to said remote body.

16. A system for monitoring a service interval for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an industrial timer unit mounted to a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, said industrial timer unit including;

a timer measuring an accumulated time the engine has operated;

a timer control module receiving the accumulated time from said timer, and selectively zeroing said accumulated time; and

an oil service indicator for alerting in response to a signal from said timer control module; and

a base unit communicating with said industrial timer unit, said base unit receiving said accumulated time from said industrial timer, and storing said accumulated time in a database.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said industrial timer unit comprises an identifier uniquely identifying said industrial timer unit, said identifier being included in transmissions between said base unit and said industrial timer unit.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said industrial timer unit comprises a transceiver and said base unit comprises a transceiver, and said base unit communicates with said industrial timer unit using wireless transmissions.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said timer control module zeroes said accumulated time in response to a signal from said base unit.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of industrial timer units communicate with said base unit.