Oil level display device of engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587533-B2
Application number	US-201414337946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

An oil level display device is fitted such that a float guide accommodating a float is attached to an oil filler neck and is plugged with a float cap. To check the amount of oil, the float cap is removed and the position of the float is checked. If a sufficient amount of oil is stored, an upward force derived from oil buoyancy is larger than a downward force of the own weight of the float, from among the forces that act on the float. The float thus protrudes beyond a large-diameter portion upon removal of the float cap from the float guide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An oil level display device of an engine, comprising:
a float that moves up and down in accordance with an oil level of oil stored in an oil pan of the engine;
a float guide having a housing unit for housing the float, the float guide being removably attachable to a filler neck of the engine that allows for replenishing oil into the oil pan, the housing unit constituting a motion guide for the up-and-down motion of the float, the float guide being held in a fixed position when attached to the filler neck to thereby support the up-and-down motion of the float; and
a float cap that is attachable to the float guide to plug an upper opening of the housing unit, wherein
a leading end of the housing unit is provided with an opening through which dropping of the float is prevented while permitting introduction of oil into the oil pan, and
the float guide has an engaging member for releasably engaging with the filler neck.

2. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein a position of a top end of the float, when the float guide is attached to the filler neck and the float cap is removed from the float guide, is indicative whether replenishment of oil is necessary.

3. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 2 , wherein the float guide has, at a top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that constitutes a grip for attaching and detaching the float guide to and from the filler neck.

4. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 3 , wherein the float cap has a grip that protrudes beyond a top of the float guide.

5. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 3 , wherein the float guide is dimensioned as to be interchangeable with a conventional oil filler cap that plugs the filler neck.

6. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 3 , wherein the float is in the form of one or multiple spherical shapes.

7. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 3 , wherein
the float guide has, at a top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that has a larger diameter than a diameter of the housing unit, and
a protruding state of the top end of the float relative to the large-diameter portion, when the float cap is removed from the large-diameter portion, is indicative whether replenishment of oil is necessary.

8. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 2 , wherein the float cap has a grip that protrudes beyond a top of the float guide.

9. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 2 , wherein the float guide is dimensioned as to be interchangeable with a conventional oil filler cap that plugs the filler neck.

10. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 2 , wherein the float is in the form of one or multiple spherical shapes.

11. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 2 , wherein
the float guide has, at a top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that has a larger diameter than a diameter of the housing unit, and
a protruding state of the top end of the float relative to the large-diameter portion, when the float cap is removed from the large-diameter portion, is indicative whether replenishment of oil is necessary.

12. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein the float guide has, at a top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that constitutes a grip for attaching and detaching the float guide to and from the filler neck.

13. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 12 , wherein the float cap has a grip that protrudes beyond a top of the float guide.

14. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 12 , wherein the float guide is dimensioned as to be interchangeable with a conventional oil filler cap that plugs the filler neck.

15. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 12 , wherein the float is in the form of one or multiple spherical shapes.

16. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 12 , wherein
the float guide has, at the top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that has a larger diameter than a diameter of the housing unit, and
a protruding state of a top end of the float relative to the large-diameter portion, when the float cap is removed from the large-diameter portion, is indicative whether replenishment of oil is necessary.

17. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein the float cap has a grip that protrudes beyond a top of the float guide.

18. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein the float guide is dimensioned as to be interchangeable with a conventional oil filler cap that plugs the filler neck.

19. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein the float is in the form of one or multiple spherical shapes.

20. The oil level display device of an engine according to claim 1 , wherein
the float guide has, at a top of the housing unit, a large-diameter portion that has a larger diameter than a diameter of the housing unit, and
a protruding state of a top end of the float relative to the large-diameter portion, when the float cap is removed from the large-diameter portion, is indicative whether replenishment of oil is necessary.

Assignees

• Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Noguchi Masanori

Classifications

• G01F23/66

  using mechanically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• F16N19/003

  Indicating oil level (measuring liquid level in general G01F) · CPC title

• F01M11/12 Primary

  concerning lubricant level · CPC title

• G01F23/64

  of the free float type {without mechanical transmission elements} · CPC title