Vehicle maintenance sensing device and method therefor

• US 6,978,675 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher S. Eagan
• Original Assignee: Christopher S. Eagan
• Inventors: Eagan, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Rose M.
• Application Number:
  US10/770,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 735/87, 735/84, 735/92, 736/60, 736/61
• US Class Current: 73/587
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/12 by monitoring vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/00 Vibration-testing of structures; Shock-testing of structures G01M9/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine has a flexible wand member having a channeling running the length of the flexible wand member. A housing is coupled to a first end of the flexible wand member. A handle section is coupled to a second end of the flexible wand member. The handle section has an internal cavity section. Sensing circuitry is positioned in the maintenance device and is used for performing acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine comprising:

a flexible wand member having a channeling running the length of the flexible wand member;

a housing coupled to a first end of the flexible wand member;

a handle section coupled to a second end of the flexible wand member, the handle section having an internal cavity section; and

sensing circuitry for performing acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine of the vehicle wherein the sensing circuitry comprises;

a power supply for powering the sensing circuitry;

a first microphone exposed to the environment coupled to the power supply;

a second microphone sealed from the environment coupled to the power supply; and

a switching device coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone to activate and deactivate the first microphone and the second microphone.

2. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the flexible wand member is rigid enough to hold shape when bent.

3. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the handle section has ridges for forming a hand grip.

4. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises a light coupled to the power supply to illuminate an area that is being diagnosed.

5. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the light is an LED.

6. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the light is an ultraviolet light.

7. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first microphone, the second microphone, and the light are positioned in the housing.

8. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 4 wherein the first microphone and the light are positioned in the housing and the second microphone and the power supply are located in the handle section.

9. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises indicator lights coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone to show when the first microphone and the second microphone are activated.

10. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises an amplifier coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone.

11. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises an output jack for hearing signals from the first microphone and the second microphone.

12. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 11 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises an attenuator coupled to the output jack for increasing and decreasing the signals from the first microphone and the second microphone.

13. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine comprising:

a flexible wand member having a channeling running the length of the flexible wand member wherein the flexible wand member is rigid enough to hold shape when bent;

a housing coupled to a first end of the flexible wand member;

a handle section coupled to a second end of the flexible wand member, the handle section having an internal cavity section; and

sensing circuitry for performing acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine of the vehicle wherein the sensing circuitry comprises;

a power supply for powering the sensing circuitry;

a first microphone exposed to the environment coupled to the power supply;

a second microphone sealed from the environment coupled to the power supply;

a light coupled to the power supply to illuminate an area that is being diagnosed;

an amplifier coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone;

an output jack for hearing signals from the first microphone and the second microphone; and

a switching device coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone to activate and deactivate the first microphone and the second microphone.

14. A vehicle maintenance device for acoustical and vibration sensing of an engine in accordance with claim 13 wherein the sensing circuitry further comprises:

indicator lights coupled to the first microphone and the second microphone to show when the first microphone and the second microphone are activated; and

an attenuator coupled to the output jack for increasing and decreasing the signals from the first microphone and the second microphone.