Oil level indicator for a screw-type compressor

• US 9,260,989 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme FüR Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Kck, Engelbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US13/641,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20130068563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 184/7.4, 184/108, 732/90.R, 732/93
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/12 concerning lubricant level
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/03 Oil level
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2922 with light-conducting sensing elements, e.g. prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means

Abstract

A device for monitoring and/or indicating an oil level in an oil sump of a screw-type compressor, the oil level fluctuating in different operating states of the screw-type compressor. A device for monitoring and indicating the oil level in a screw-type compressor, the reliability thereof being improved over the prior art and erroneous measurements being excluded. The device is an optical unit which has no mechanically moving parts that can become damaged during the often rough use of the device.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring and/or displaying an oil level in a screw-type compressor integrated into a vehicle, the device comprising:

an optical unit that monitors an oil level of an oil sump of the screw-type compressor; and

an evaluation device, connected to an engine controller of the vehicle, that evaluates signals from the optical unit indicating the oil level of the screw-type compressor, signals related to an operating state of the screw-type compressor and receives signals relating to an operating state of the vehicle from the engine controller into which the screw-type compressor is integrated, the operating state of the vehicle being one of accelerating and braking,

wherein the oil level fluctuates in the oil sump of the screw-type compressor during different operating states of the screw-type compressor and different operating states of the vehicle, and

wherein the evaluation device evaluates the operating state of the vehicle together with the operating state of the screw-type compressor when determining the oil level in the screw-type compressor dependent on the operating states.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical unit is a sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical unit is a switch without mechanically acting parts.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the optical unit.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the evaluation device is combined with the optical unit to form a structural unit or is arranged separately from the optical unit.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical unit is mounted in a mounting device for connection to the screw-type compressor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the mounting device connects to a protective hose for protecting signal lines.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the evaluation device is integrated into the mounting device.