Oil proper amount informing apparatus for engine

• US 6,573,829 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ebara, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/902,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20020014957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 340/584, 340/438, 340/439, 340/449, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 340/457, 340/457.4, 340/501, 340/525, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/691.1, 340/691.5, 340/691.6, 340/461, 340/462, 340/459, 340/450, 340/815.4, 732/90.R, 732/92, 732/95, 732/91, 701/104, 701/1, 701/29, 123/142.5 R, 123/41.1, 123/41.33
• US Class Current: 340/449
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/18 Indicating or safety devices concerning lubricant level F01M11/06, F01M11/12
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1473 by considering temperature

Abstract

An oil proper amount informing apparatus for engines capable of simply checking whether or not a remaining amount or level of oil is proper even if the period of time of warming-up varies. An oil level gauge mounted to an oil reservoir unit, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of oil, and temperature indicating means for indicating the temperature on the basis of a detected signal of the temperature sensor are provided. The temperature indicating means indicates the temperature of oil in either of a plurality of divided regions H, M, and L, each of which has a predetermined width or range of temperature. The oil level gauge is provided with the indicating regions H, M, and L, each of which indicates an proper amount of oil at a position corresponding to the proper amount of oil in each of the temperature regions H, M, and L.

Claims

1. An oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine, comprising:

an oil gauge mounted on an oil reservoir unit;

a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of oil; and

temperature indicating means adapted to be mounted on an indicator panel of a vehicle for indicating the temperature on the basis of a detected signal of said temperature sensor means;

wherein said temperature indicating means indicates an oil temperature in a selected one of a plurality of divided regions, each of which has a predetermined range of temperature, and said oil level gauge is provided with a plurality of indicating regions for indicating a proper amount of oil which corresponds to each of said temperature regions of said temperature indicating means.

2. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 1, wherein a first predetermined range of temperature is above 50 degrees C.

3. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 2, wherein a first predetermined level of oil is determined for said first predetermined range of temperature.

4. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 1, wherein a second predetermined range of temperature is from 40 to 49 degrees C.

5. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 4, wherein a second predetermined level of oil is determined for said second predetermined range of temperature.

6. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 1, wherein a third predetermined range of temperature is below 40 degrees C.

7. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 6, wherein a third predetermined level of oil is determined for said third predetermined range of temperature.

8. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 1, and further including a warning lamp that is illuminated when the temperature of the oil exceeds a fourth predetermined temperature.

9. The oil proper amount informing apparatus for an engine according to claim 8, wherein said fourth predetermined temperature is 140 degrees C. or above.

11. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 1, wherein a first predetermined range of temperature is above 50 degrees C.

12. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 11, wherein a first predetermined level of oil is determined for said first predetermined range of temperature.

10. An apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine, comprising:

an oil level gauge mounted on an oil reservoir unit for determining a level of oil in the oil reservoir and for generating a signal based on the level of oil;

a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of oil and for generating a signal based on the temperature of oil; and

temperature indicator adapted to be mounted on an indicator panel of a vehicle for indicating the temperature based on the signal from the temperature sensor;

a controller for comparing the level of oil for each of a plurality of ranges of oil temperature;

wherein said temperature indicator indicates an oil temperature in a selected one of the plurality of predetermined ranges of temperature as an output of said controller for comparing the oil level with a plurality of indicating regions for indicating a proper level of oil which corresponds to each of said temperature regions of said temperature indicator.

13. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 10, wherein a second predetermined range of temperature is from 40 to 49 degrees C.

14. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 13, wherein a second predetermined level of oil is determined for said second predetermined range of temperature.

15. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 10, wherein a third predetermined range of temperature is below 40 degrees C.

16. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 15, wherein a third predetermined level of oil is determined for said third predetermined range of temperature.

17. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 10, and further including a warning lamp that is illuminated when the temperature of the oil exceeds a fourth predetermined temperature.

18. The apparatus for indicating an oil condition of an engine according to claim 17, wherein said fourth predetermined temperature is 140 degrees C. or above.