Apparatus for indicating oil temperature and oil level within an oil reservoir

• US 7,509,753 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: DeRuyter, Craig, Sonnentag, Jeffary R., Nicosia, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton; Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US10/882,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 337/13, 337/14, 337/16, 337/19, 337/21, 33722-730, 374/45, 374/54, 731/49, 73861-86103, 732/90.R, 732/91, 732/92, 733/04.R, 733/04.C
• US Class Current: 33/716
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/04 by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks

Abstract

A dipstick that measures and externally indicates the temperature and level of a fluid within a fluid reservoir. For example, in one embodiment the dipstick measures and externally indicates the oil temperature and oil level of oil within an oil reservoir of a motorcycle or other vehicle. The fluid temperature and level are indicated on an externally viewable portion of the dipstick, such as an exposed end or cap. The viewable portion indicates the fluid level when the fluid temperature is within guidelines recommended by the manufacturer or when the fluid temperature reaches a minimum threshold temperature.

Claims

1. A method of indicating the fluid temperature and fluid level within a fluid reservoir of a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing the temperature of the fluid within the reservoir with a first sensor;

providing a second sensor within the reservoir having a sender and a receiver;

transmitting sonic waves toward the surface of the fluid with the sender;

receiving reflected sonic waves with the receiver;

determining the level of the fluid by measuring the time between transmitting with the sender and receiving reflected waves with the receiver; and

displaying the fluid level and fluid temperature on an externally viewable indicator only when the fluid temperature is greater than a minimum threshold temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the fluid level includes displaying the fluid level and fluid temperature on an externally viewable indicator only when the fluid temperature is within a temperature range.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a float at the surface of the fluid, and reflecting sonic waves towards the receiver with the float.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising calibrating the second sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a projection on a dipstick at a known distance from the second sensor, wherein calibrating the second sensor includes transmitting sonic waves toward the projection, receiving with the receiver the sonic waves reflected by the projection, measuring the time between transmitting with the sender and receiving reflected waves from the projection with the receiver, and calibrating the second sensor based on the known distance and the time between transmitting with the sender and receiving reflected waves from the projection with the receiver.

6. A dipstick adapted for use with an engine and a fluid reservoir containing fluid, the dipstick comprising:

a cap securable to the fluid reservoir to enclose the fluid reservoir;

an indicator adapted to display the fluid temperature and fluid level external to the reservoir when the cap is secured to the fluid reservoir; and

a controller programmed such that the indicator provides a fluid level indication only when the fluid temperature is within a desired temperature range.