Timing light adapter

• US 5,814,723 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ted W. Berardinelli
• Original Assignee: Ted W. Berardinelli
• Inventors: Berardinelli, Ted W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Application Number:
  US08/788,581
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/117.2, 73/117.3, 73/118.1, 73/865.9, 324/402, 324/399
• US Class Current: 73/114.65
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 7/073 Optical pick-up devices

Abstract

A timing light adapter includes first and second light transmissive channels. The first light transmissive channel injects light into an engine case and illuminates a timing mark therein. The second light transmissive channel carries light reflected from the timing mark out of the engine case. The timing light adapter thereby isolates a body of oil within the engine case while allowing visibility of the timing mark without light energy interference from a timing light source.

Claims

1. A timing light adapter for reflecting light energy off a timing mark of an internal combustion motor, said timing light adapter comprising:

a first light transmissive body having a proximal end and a distal end, said light transmissive body defining a first light transmissive channel carrying light energy between said proximal and distal ends thereof; and

a second light transmissive body having a proximal end and a distal end, said second light transmissive body defining a second light transmissive channel carrying light energy between said proximal and distal ends thereof, said first and second light transmissive bodies being coupled together while maintaining said first and second light transmissive channels substantially independent of light energy interference therebetween whereby, upon positioning said proximal end of said first light transmissive body adjacent said timing mark and upon positioning said proximal end of said second light transmissive body adjacent said timing mark, light energy injected into said distal end of one of said first and second light transmissive channels travels therealong, emerges at said proximal end of said one of said first and second light transmissive channels, strikes said timing mark, reflects off said timing mark, enters said proximal end of the other one of said first and second light transmissive channels and travels therealong, and emerges from said distal end of said other one of said first and second light transmissive channels, said first and second light transmissive bodies as coupled together providing a plug for insertion into an engine case of said motor to seal said case against escape of oil within said case while said motor operates.

2. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said first light transmissive body is a plug adapted for threadably engaging a engine case of said motor and said second light transmissive body is an elongate body passing through said first light transmissive body.

3. An adapter according to claim 2 wherein said second light transmissive body is adapted to receive at its distal end a source of light energy.

4. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein said one of said first and second light transmissive bodies includes an attachment device for coupling to a conventional hand-held timing light.

5. An adapter according to claim 4 wherein said attachment device comprises a suction cup adapted for mechanically coupling to a convex lens portion of a conventional hand-held timing light.

6. A timing light adapter for use in conjunction with an internal combustion motor including a timing mark, said timing light adapter comprising:

a first light transmissive body providing a first light transmissive channel, said first light transmissive body being adapted for mounting to the internal combustion motor adjacent the timing mark, said first light transmissive body having a proximal portion adjacent said timing mark when said first light transmissive body mounts to the motor said first light transmissive body threadably attaching to a timing plug aperture of said internal combustion motor to seal said motor against escape of oil therein; and

a second light transmissive body providing a second light transmissive channel, said second light transmissive body being coupled to said first light transmissive body whereby said first and second light transmissive channels are substantially independent without substantial light energy interference therebetween, said second light transmissive body having a proximal portion adjacent said timing mark when said first light transmissive body is mounted to the motor,

one of said first and second light transmissive bodies being adapted to receive light energy at a distal portion thereof and deliver by way of its associated light transmissive channel said light energy to its associated proximal end whereby said light energy reflects from said timing mark, enters the associated proximal end of the other one of said first and second light transmissive bodies and emerges from a distal end of the other one of said first and second light transmissive bodies.

7. An adapter according to claim 6 wherein said one of said first and second light transmissive bodies includes an attachment device for coupling to a conventional hand-held timing light.

8. An adapter according to claim 7 wherein said attachment device comprises a suction cup adapted for mechanically coupling to a convex lens portion of a conventional hand-held timing light while allowing introduction of light energy output from said hand-held timing light via said convex lens into said one of said first and second light transmissive bodies.

9. In combination,

an internal combustion motor including a case containing a body of oil, a timing mark indicating a position for a piston of said motor, an aperture in said case adjacent said timing mark, and a timing plug engagable within said aperture to seal said body of oil within said case;

and

a timing light adapter including first and second light transmissive channels, said first and second light transmissive channels being substantially independent of light energy interference therebetween, said adapter being engagable within said timing plug aperture to seal said body of oil within said case whereby light energy injected into said first light transmissive channel travels along said first light transmissive channel, emerges from said first light transmissive channel, strikes said timing mark, reflects from said timing mark enters said second light transmissive channel, travels along said second light transmissive channel, and emerges from said light transmissive channel to provide indication of said piston position at the time of said light energy reflecting from said timing mark.

10. A combination according to claim 9 further comprising a hand-held timing light providing said light energy into said timing light adapter.

11. A combination according to claim 9 wherein said light adapter comprises a light transmissive plug threadably engaging said timing plug aperture, a fiber optic cable passing through a bore in said plub, and a suction cup at a distal end of said cable.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein said suction cup is adapted to mechanically couple to a convex lens portion of a hand-held timing light providing said light energy into said timing light adapter.

13. A combination according to claim 9 wherein said plug is a monolithic platic light transmissive material.

14. A combination according to claim 9 wherein said cable is monotlithic plastic light transmissive material.