Method and apparatus for determining excessive engine oil usage
First Claim
1. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been excessively used at low temperatures, comprising the steps of:
- accumulating the time the engine has been in operation since the last oil change;
sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation;
accumulating the time the engine has been in operation at temperatures below a predetermined temperature since the last oil change;
periodically comparing the accumulated temperature operation time with the accumulated engine operation time; and
notifying an engine operator whenever the engine is sensed to have been in operation below said predetermined temperature for a period of time that is above a predetermined percentage of said engine operation time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An engine oil condition sensor which measures oil temperature and the time the engine has been in operation since the last oil change. The sensor determines when the amount of "cold" engine operation exceeds a predetermined portion of the total engine operation in order to warn the operator to change engine operation patterns by providing more operation time at warmer temperatures. The sensor also accumulates the actual time the oil has been in the engine and the time the engine has been operated at elevated "hot" temperatures. Whenever any accumulation exceeds predetermined threshold levels, appropriate warnings are given to the operator.
58 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been excessively used at low temperatures, comprising the steps of:
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accumulating the time the engine has been in operation since the last oil change; sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; accumulating the time the engine has been in operation at temperatures below a predetermined temperature since the last oil change; periodically comparing the accumulated temperature operation time with the accumulated engine operation time; and notifying an engine operator whenever the engine is sensed to have been in operation below said predetermined temperature for a period of time that is above a predetermined percentage of said engine operation time.
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2. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been excessively used at low temperatures, comprising the steps of:
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accumulating the actual time the most recently changed oil has remained in the engine; accumulating the time the engine has been operated since the last oil change; sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; accumulating the time the engine has been sensed as having been in operation since the last oil change at temperatures that are below a predetermined temperature; comparing the engine operation time accumulation below the predetermined temperature with the engine operation time accumulation; notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and notifying said engine operator whenever the comparing step indicates that the engine has been operated below the predetermined temperature for at least a predetermined percentage of its operation time accumulation since the last oil change.
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3. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that it requires replacement, comprising the steps of:
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providing a means for accumulating the actual time the oil remains in the engine; providing a means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation; providing a means for sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; providing a means connected to said sensing means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation at a temperature that is outside a predetermined range of temperatures; providing a means for notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time accumulation exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been in operation outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time.
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4. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that the oil requires changing, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first resettable means for accumulating the time the oil remains in the engine between oil changes; providing a second resettable means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation between oil changes; providing a means for sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; providing a third resettable means connected to said sensing means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation between oil changes at temperatures that are outside a predetermined range of temperatures; providing a means for notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time accumulation exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been operated outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that it requires replacement, comprising:
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means for accumulating the actual time the oil remains in the engine between oil changes; means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation between oil changes; means for sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; means connected to said sensing means for accumulating the time the engine is in operation at a temperature that is outside a predetermined range of temperatures; means for notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine run time exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been operated outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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8. An apparatus for determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that the oil requires changing, comprising:
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first resettable means for accumulating the actual time the oil has remained in the engine since the last oil change; second resettable means for accumulating the time the engine has been operated since the last oil change; means for sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; third resettable means connected to said sensing means for accumulating the time the engine has been operated since the last oil change at temperatures that are outside a predetermined range of temperatures; means for notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time accumulation exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been operated outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that it requires replacement, comprising the steps of:
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accumulating the actual time the oil remains in the engine between oil replacements; accumulating the time the engine is in operation between oil replacements; sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; accumulating the time the engine is in operation at a temperature that is outside a predetermined range of temperatures; notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time accumulation exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been operated outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time.
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12. A method of determining when the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine has been used to a point that it requires replacement, comprising the steps of:
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accumulating the actual time the most recently changed oil has remained in the engine; accumulating the time the engine has been operated since the last oil change; sensing the temperature of the oil when said engine is in operation; accumulating the time the engine has been sensed as having been in operation since the last oil change at temperatures that are outside a predetermined range of temperatures; notifying an engine operator whenever the actual time the oil remains in the engine exceeds a first predetermined period of time, whenever the engine operation time exceeds a second predetermined period of time that is less than first predetermined period of time, and whenever the engine is sensed to have been operated outside said predetermined range of temperatures for a third accumulated period of time that is less than said first and second predetermined periods of time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification