GB2295015A - Vehicle oil level and lubrication system - Google Patents

Abstract

The level of sump oil (22) in an engine (1) prior to starting the engine is sensed by a transducer (24) which is inserted through a conventional dip-stick aperture. Output from the transducer (24) is fed to a microprocessor (186) which causes one of a series of warning lights in a dashboard mounted warning device (34) to illuminate to indicate the level of sump oil (22). Closure of a dashboard mounted switch (38) causes an air pump (12) to pressurise an oil reservoir (4) and cause oil (6) to be delivered from the reservoir (4) to the engine (1). The oil may alternatively pass through an oil delivery pump. A vehicle fire extinguishing system (Figs 4 and 5) is also described in which one or more remotely actuable extinguishant dispensers are connected to at least one desired location by tubular delivery means. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLE SYSTEMS The present invention relates to systems designed to facilitate firstly replenishment of oil in an engine sump and secondly the extinguishing of any fires which occur in a vehicle.

When an engine is new it tends to use very little oil. As its age increases however the scraping of oil from the cylinder walls becomes less efficient and various seals intended to prevent oil leakage become less effective. For this reason it is desirable to regularly check the level of oil in the sump of an old engine and replenish it with extra oil when necessary. There is often a tendency for this task to be overlooked and the result is that the engine is sometimes run with inadequate lubrication which greatly increases wear on the engine components.

Furthermore some vehicle owners find the task awkward and dirty and are thus discouraged from performing the task as regularly as they should. The object of the invention is to provide an engine sump oil top up system which avoids the necessity of regularly checking the sump oil level and which also obviates the necessity of manually pouring oil from a can into the engine.

Thus according to the invention there is provided an engine sump oil top up system comprising a sensing system for sensing when oil in an engine sump is below a predetermined level, a reserve reservoir, delivery means connectable between the engine and the reservoir and actuation means operable to cause the delivery means to supply the engine with oil from the reservoir.

The system may be adapted to automatically actuate the actuation means in response to a signal from the sensing means. In such systems means are also provided to halt the delivery once the oil level in the sump has reached the predetermined level. Alternatively the sensing means may be connected to a warning means so that a vehicle operator will be alerted to the fact that the level of oil in the sump is below the predetermined level. The operator will then be able to actuate the actuation means to cause the delivery means to replenish the engine with oil from the reservoir. With both of these arrangements the operator need neither regularly check the level of oil in the sump nor manually replenish the engine with oil directly from an oil container.

In order to make the system as simple as possible and avoid the need for any pumps or other means to transfer the oil from the reservoir to the engine the delivery means preferably includes a valve which is openable so as to allow oil to flow by gravity from the reservoir to the engine. This form of delivery means is however only applicable to vehicles such as vans in which it is possible to mount the reservoir above the level of the engine.

As it may be inconvenient to locate the reservoir above the level of the engine the delivery means preferably includes a pump so that oil may be pumped upwards from the reservoir into the engine. The pump may be an air pump adapted to pressurise an air space above oil in the reservoir or may alternatively be an oil pump adapted to draw oil from the bottom of the reservoir.

Where oil is pumped from the reservoir to the engine by means of elevating the air pressure within the reservoir the system preferably further comprises a device for connecting an air pressure line to the reservoir which includes a pressure relief valve for relieving excess pressure in the reservoir.

So as to facilitate installation of the system the delivery means preferably includes a delivery pipe connected to a conventional oil filler cap.

Preferably the warning means includes an indicator which is connected so as to indicate the level of oil in the vehicle sump and conveniently comprises a column of lights the selective illumination of which serves to indicate the level of oil in the sump. A suitable form of transducer for sensing the oil level comprises a tubular dip-stick containing a float connected to a position sensor. Such a transducer may be designed to fit into the engine in the place of the conventional dip-stick and can therefore be easily fitted into an engine which was not initially designed to have such a transducer.

If a fire breaks out in a vehicle and is not quickly extinguished there is a great danger that the fire will spread quickly and possibly ignite highly flammable materials such as petrol thus creating a very hazardous situation for occupants of the vehicle. As a driver of a vehicle may become aware of the presence of a fire while driving along it may be some seconds before the driver is able to stop safely so as to be able to operate a conventional hand held fire extinguisher. For this reason it would be desirable for a driver to be able to initiate the extinguishing process while bringing the vehicle to a halt.

Thus according to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle fire extinguishing system comprising an extinguishant dispenser connected by a tubular delivery means to at least one desired location in the vehicle and actuation means actuable remotely from the dispenser for causing extinguishant to be dispensed from the dispenser via the delivery means to the at least one desired location.

Conveniently the actuation means is electromechanical and actuable from the vehicle dash board area.

The actuation means preferably includes an electro-magnetic device situated at the dispenser.

The system may include a plurality of dispensers connected to different desired locations. The actuation means preferably enables selective actuation of the dispensers. For situations in which there is insufficient time to select which dispenser to actuate the actuation means preferably also enables simultaneous actuation of all of the dispensers.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an oil top up system according to a first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a second oil top up system according to a first aspect of the invention.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a third oil top up system according to a first aspect of the invention.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a fire extinguishing system according to a second aspect of the invention.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a second fire extinguishing system according to a second aspect of the invention.

Figure 6 is a partially diagramatic view of an oil level transducer in vertical cross section connected to a dash board level indicator.

Figure 7 is a horizontal cross section on the line AA of the transducer shown in figure 6.

Figure 1 shows an oil top up system according to the invention connected to an engine 1. The system can be divided into three parts; an oil level transducer 24, a reservoir and delivery arrangement 5 and the information and control panel 3.

The engine 1 has an oil sump 22 in which an oil level transducer 24 is installed which is connected to the live terminal L of a battery 26 by a wire 28 and to a dash board level indicator 34 by wire 44. The operation of the transducer 24 and the level indicator will now be described with reference to figures 6 and 7 which show these components in detail. The transducer comprises a hollow dip-stick 166 which accommodates a vertically displaceable float 164 which is connected to a rod 168 of insulating material extending up the centre of the dip-stick. The upper end of the rod is encased in a transducer head of insulating material and supports a contact slider 170 of conducting material which has two projections which project into and can slide up and down in grooves 174 and 178 in a bore in the head 172. The groove 174 accommodates a live contact strip 176 which is connected to the battery by wire 28. The other groove 178 accommodates a plurality of discrete contact terminals 180 each one of which is connected to a connector 183 by a wire 182. The connector 183 is connected by multi core wire 44 and micro-processor 186 (the function of which will be described below) to a second connector 190 associated with the dash-board indicator 34. The dash board indicator includes a plurality of red and green bulbs (designated R and G) each one of which is connected to the connector 190 by a wire 192. The connections are such that when the engine is not running the uppermost green bulb 160 is connected to the uppermost terminal and so on down to the lowermost red bulb which is connected to the lowermost terminal 180.With the oil 165 at the level shown in figure 6 the contact slider 170 supplies current from the live terminal strip 176 to the red bulb 163 via wire 182, connectors 183 and 190, wire 44, micro-processor 186 and wire 192. The illumination of the red light 163 would alert the driver of the vehicle to the fact that the oil in the sump was in need of replenishment.

The function of the micro-processor 186 is to isolate the indicator 34 from the transducer 24 when the engine is started and to continue to supply current to the bulb which corresponds to the oil level immediately prior to starting the engine. The reason why such a processor is necessary is that when the engine is running a significant volume of oil is circulating round the engine and the oil level is accordingly temporarily depressed.

The reservoir 4 which may conveniently be a standard can of the type in which oil is sold,is mounted in any convenient location near the engine. A cap 10 is provided which is designed to fit the standard threaded outlet 8 provided on oil cans. The cap includes an inlet 15 connected to a pressure line 14 from an air pump 12, a pressure relief valve 16 and an outlet 19 which connects an oil delivery line 18 to a reservoir down tube 21 at the bottom of which a float cut off valve is provided for shutting off the down tube 21 when the reservoir becomes empty. The delivery line 18 is connected to a spigot 20 provided on the side of an otherwise conventional oil filler cap 2.

The live terminal L of the battery 26 is connected to the air pump 12 via a switch 38 mounted on the panel 36 and a wire 42. The switch 38 is conveniently of the push on/push off type. Closing of the switch 38 causes the air pump 12 to pump air into an air space 7 above the oil 6 in the reservoir 4. When the pressure has risen sufficiently oil 6 is forced up the down tube 21, through the delivery line 18 and into the engine via the spigot 20 on the oil filler cap. The oil will then percolate down through the engine into the sump 22. When the oil level in the sump reaches the desired level the float 164 of the transducer 24 will be raised to a level at which one of the green lights 160 will become illuminated.It may be advantageous to close the switch 38 for a few seconds only then wait to see whether sufficient oil has been delivered to the engine, as it may take a little time for the oil to percolate down into the sump.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second oil top up system according to the invention in which connections to the engine and the information and control panel are identical to the embodiment shown in figure 1 and like parts are labelled with like numerals.

A cap 60 which is designed to fit the standard threaded outlet provided on oil cans is provided with an air inlet 66 and an outlet 62 which connects an oil suction pipe 61 to an oil pump 64. Electricity is supplied to the pump 64 by a wire 42 connected to the switch 38. An oil delivery pipe 18 connects the outlet of the pump to the oil filler cap 2. In this embodiment oil is drawn by the oil pump 64 through the oil suction pipe 61 and delivered to the engine via the oil delivery pipe 18.

Figure 3 shows a third oil supply system according to the invention in which connections to the engine and the information and control panel are identical to the embodiments described above and like parts are labelled with like numeral. In this system the oil supply line 18 is connected to the base of the reservoir via an on/off valve 74 which is connected via a wire 42 to the switch 38 on the control panel. When electricity is supplied to the valve 74 it is opened so as to allow oil to flow from the reservoir to the engine under the action of gravity. The reservoir is provided with a cap 70 with an air inlet device 72.

The use of the systems described above will alert a vehicle user to the fact that the vehicle's engine is in need of additional sump oil and provides a quick easy means by which oil in the engine can be topped up. The system will also serve to indicate to the user that the oil level has fallen to such a level that replenishment will be required shortly thus giving the user the opportunity to ensure that the reservoir 4 contains sufficient oil before it is actually needed.

Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic representation of a fire extinguishing system according to a second aspect of the invention. A fire extinguisher generally designated as 102 is connected to a battery 100 via a wire 104 and a dash board mounted switch 106. An outlet pipe 113 from the extinguisher is connected to a manifold 108 which leads to four spray nozzles 112 which are designed to spray material delivered under pressure through the manifold 108over a wide area.

The extinguisher 102 includes a casing 101 provided at its upper end with an actuating device 113 containing a solenoid 107 which is connected to the wire 104. The actuating device includes a frangible container 116 filled with a first fluid 105 which causes a second fluid 103 accommodated within the casing 101 to foam when mixed with it. A vertically movable hammer member 109 located in the solenoid 107 is retained in the position shown in figure 4 by a thin retaining wall 114. When the switch 106 is closed current is supplied to the solenoid 107 and the hammer member 109 is forced downwardly through the wall 114 and the side of the frangible container 116. This allows the first fluid 105 to mix with the second fluid 103 and foaming of the mixture occurs.The resulting foam is forced past a one way pressure sensitive valve 111 into the outlet pipe 110 and then into the manifold 108 and hence to the spray nozzles 112. The foam is then squirted through the nozzles to extinguish any fire that may be in the vicinity of the nozzles.

Figure 5 shows an alternative fire extinguishing system in which three dispensers are provided. The actuation means is arranged so that the dispensers can be actuated individually or simultaneously. The interior construction of each dispenser 134, 136 and 138 is identical to that described above with reference to figure 4. The three dispensers 134, 136, and 138 are connected to nozzles 146, 148 and 150 respectively by supply pipes 140, 142 and 144 respectively.

The actuation system for the dispensers include a dash board mounted panel 121 including four switch Three of these switches 120, 122 and 124 are each r to an actuation mechanism on an individual dispen manual closing of the each switch will cause itF extinguisher to dispense foam through the relevant supply pipe and nozzle in the manner described above. The fourth switch 127 is a master switch and is connected to a solenoid device associated with each of the other three switches. Switch 124 for example is provided with a solenoid device 125 which causes switch 124 to close when current is passed through the solenoid. By closing the master switch 127 current will be supplied to all of the solenoid devices and as a result the three switches 120, 122 and 124 will be closed. This will supply current to the actuation device on each dispenser and all of the dispensers will be actuated simultaneously.

Claims (25)

CLAIMS:

1. An engine sump oil top up system comprising a sensing system for sensing when an upper surface of oil in an engine sump is below a predetermined level, a reserve reservoir, delivery means connectable between the engine and the reservoir and actuation means operable to cause the delivery means to supply the engine with oil from the reservoir.

2. The system of claim 1 including warning means for warning a driver of a vehicle in which the system is installed that the upper surface of the oil in the engine sump is below the predetermined level.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the warning means has a number of different states each indicating a particular level of the upper surface of oil in the engine sump.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the warning means comprises selectively illuminatable lights.

5. The system of any preceding claim including a transducer for sensing the upper surface of oil in the engine sump.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the transducer is incorporated in apparatus adapted to be installed in an engine in place of its conventional oil dip-stick.

7. The system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the transducer comprises a tubular body containing a float connected to a position sensor.

8. The system of any preceding claim wherein the actuation means includes user actuation means for allowing a user to selectively cause the delivery means to deliver oil to the engine.

9. The system of any preceding claim wherein the actuation means automatically actuates the delivery means in response to a signal from the sensing means indicating that oil in the engine sump is below the predetermined level.

10. The system of any preceding claim wherein the delivery means includes a valve which is openable so as to allow oil to flow by gravity from the reservoir to the engine.

11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein delivery of oil to the engine is effected by pumping.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the delivery means includes a pump for pumping oil to the engine.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the delivery means includes a pump for pressurising the reservoir to force oil out of the reservoir to the engine.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the reservoir includes pressure relief means.

15. The system of any preceding claim wherein the delivery means includes a delivery pipe connected to the engine in the region of a conventional oil filler cap.

16. The system of any preceding claim including means for detecting whether an engine to which the system is connected is running.

17. The system of claims 2 and 16 wherein the warning means provides an oil level dependent output after the engine is started which is determined by the sump oil level prior to starting the engine.

18. A vehicle fire extinguishing system comprising an extinguishant dispenser connected by a tubular delivery means to at least one desired location in the vehicle and actuation means actuable remotely from the dispenser for causing extinguishant to be dispensed from the dispenser via the delivery means to the at least one desired location.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the actuation means is electromechanical.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the actuation means includes an electromechanical device situated at the dispenser.

21. The system of claim 18, 19 or 20 installed in a vehicle.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the actuation means is actuable from a dashboard area of the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 21 including a plurality of extinguishant dispensers connected to different desired locations.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the actuation means enables selective actuation of the dispensers.

25. The system of claim 23 or 24 wherein the actuation means enables simultaneous actuation of all of the dispensers.