Oil level detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016187178-A1
Application number	US-201414585580-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An oil level detector configured to detect a level of oil in a case includes: a guide tube inserted to the case; and an oil level gauge inserted to the guide tube to detect the level of the oil in the case. The guide tube includes a main body having a distal end portion and an insert portion inserted to the case, and a branch portion provided between the distal end portion and the insert portion and branching from the main body, and the branch portion is inserted to the case at a position higher than the insert portion.

First claim

1 . An oil level detector configured to detect a level of oil in a case, the oil level detector comprising:
a guide tube inserted to the case; and an oil level gauge inserted to the guide tube to detect the level of the oil in the case; wherein the guide tube includes a main body having a distal end portion and an insert portion inserted to the case, and a branch portion provided between the distal end portion and the insert portion and branching from the main body, and the branch portion is inserted to the case at a position higher than the insert portion.

2 . The oil level detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the branch portion is inserted to the case at a position higher than a maximum oil level of the case.

3 . The oil level detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the branch portion has an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the main body, and the branch portion is attached, by welding, to an outer surface of the main body.

4 . The oil level detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the main body includes a first slant portion slanted downward from the distal end portion and a second slant portion extending from the first slant portion and slanted downward at a slant angle larger than that of the first slant portion, and the branch portion branches from a lower side of the main body.

5 . The oil level detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the branch portion is lowered as extending from a position branching from the main body toward a position inserted to the case, and the branch portion has a bent portion having a bending angle of 90 degrees or less.

6 . An oil level detector configured to detect a level of oil in a case, the oil level detector comprising:
a guide tube inserted to the case; and an oil level gauge inserted to the guide tube to detect the level of the oil in the case; wherein the oil level gauge includes: a saber portion inserted to the g uide tube; a gauge portion coupled to a distal end of the saber portion and at least partially introduced to an oil level; a seal portion coupled to a proximal end of the saber portion and sealing the guide tube and the oil level gauge; and a stopper member fixing the seal portion to the guide tube to locate the gauge portion at an oil detection position.

7 . The oil level detector according to claim 6 , wherein
the seal portion is shiftable between a seal position and a detection position, the seal portion located at the seal position is engaged with the stopper member and seals the guide tube and the oil level gauge, and the seal portion located at the detection position is in contact with the stopper member and locates the gauge portion at the oil detection position.

8 . The oil level detector according to claim 7 , wherein
the seal portion has a center axis, and the seal portion is turned about the center axis to be shiftable between the seal position and the detection position.

9 . The oil level detector according to claim 6 , wherein
the seal portion has a cutout to be engaged with the stopper member.

10 . The oil level detector according to claim 9 , wherein
the seal portion has a shaft portion inserted to the guide tube to form sealing with the oil level gauge, and a head portion positioning the guide tube and the oil level gauge, and the cutout is provided at the head portion.

11 . The oil level detector according to claim 6 , wherein
the guide tube is inserted to a side surface of the case.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Itoo Seiji
• Tanaka Shinichi
• Hamada Ayumi

Classifications

• F01M11/12

  concerning lubricant level · CPC title

• G01F23/04 Primary

  by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks · CPC title