Oil condition checking system for marine propulsion unit

• US 5,076,397 A
• Filed: 08/30/1990
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamada, Hironori
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US07/575,283
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.1, 184/6.4, 184/108, 123/196 S, 340/450.3, 340/450, 340/619, 73/64, 356/70, 440/88, 440/87
• US Class Current: 184/108
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/002 for handling lubrication liquids in engines, e.g. outboard marine engines, F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/26 acting on engine ignition system
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for outboard marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2921 for discrete levels

Abstract

A lubricant condition sensing unit for the lower unit of a marine propulsion drive. Light is transmitted through the lubricant and the condition and level of the lubricant is sensed by comparing the light signal transmitted with a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A lubricant condition sensing unit for a marine outboard motor driven lower unit, said lower unit including intermeshing gears for driving a propulsion unit, said gears being lubricated by a lubricant contained within said lower unit comprising light emitting means for transmitting light through at least a portion of the lubricant, light receiving means for receiving the light transmitted through said lubricant from said light emitting means and pre-programmed detecting means for determining the light signal transmitted to said light receiving means for determining the condition of said lubricant.

2. A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lubricant is circulated in a predetermined path through the lower unit.

3. A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the light emitting means and light receiving means is positioned in the path of the lubricant being circulated.

4. A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the gears comprise a bevel gear forward, neutral, reverse transmission of said lower unit.

5. A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 4 further including means for reducing the driving speed of the gears in response to a sensed deterioration of the condition of the lubricant.