EP0082145A1 - Dispositif universel de maintien du niveau d'un fluide - Google Patents

Dispositif universel de maintien du niveau d'un fluide

Info

Publication number
EP0082145A1
EP0082145A1 EP19810902103 EP81902103A EP0082145A1 EP 0082145 A1 EP0082145 A1 EP 0082145A1 EP 19810902103 EP19810902103 EP 19810902103 EP 81902103 A EP81902103 A EP 81902103A EP 0082145 A1 EP0082145 A1 EP 0082145A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fluid
aperture
reservoir
outer container
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19810902103
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
James N. Lough
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0082145A1 publication Critical patent/EP0082145A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
    • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
    • F16H57/0447—Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T11/00—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator without power assistance or drive or where such assistance or drive is irrelevant
    • B60T11/10—Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator without power assistance or drive or where such assistance or drive is irrelevant transmitting by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
    • B60T11/26—Reservoirs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60T—VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL; ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
    • B60T17/00—Component parts, details, or accessories of power brake systems not covered by groups B60T8/00, B60T13/00 or B60T15/00, or presenting other characteristic features
    • B60T17/18—Safety devices; Monitoring
    • B60T17/22—Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
    • B60T17/221—Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems
    • B60T17/222—Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems by filling or bleeding of hydraulic systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16N—LUBRICATING
    • F16N19/00—Lubricant containers for use in lubricators or lubrication systems
    • F16N19/006—Maintaining oil level

Definitions

  • the invention pertains to automatic fluid level maintainers and especially to fluid level maintainers that sense the level of a fluid to determine if it is below a critical level, and, if it is so determined, causes an automatic replenishment of the fluid supply until the critical level is restored.
  • the invention is particularly adaptable for use in automotive vehicle crankcases, transmissions, hydraulic brake systems, and other machinery that requires a fixed minimum amount of liquid during operation.
  • the elevation of the lower extremity of the vertical passageway determines the minimum level that the fluid will maintain, since any diminution of this level by flow of fluid out of the lower reservoir through the horizontal passageway results immediately in a breaking of the oil seal at the base of the vertical passageway, allowing air to rise through the vertical passageway, which in turn displaces a sufficient volume of fluid downward, raising the fluid level in the lower reservoir again to the base of the vertical passageway to seal it.
  • This type of maintainer is used to maintain the level of oil in a crankcase of an engine at a fixed minimum level while the engine is not running.
  • This type of device makes use of the splash circulation and lubrication system of the engine to provide a seal of the atmospheric passage to the lower reservoir while the engine is in operation, thus preventing oil from escaping from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir, even though the average level of the oil in the lower reservoir may be below the lower extremity of the vertical passageway.
  • Another version of this type provides a second vertical passageway from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir.
  • the upper extremity of this second passageway enters the sealed upper reservoir at its uppermost point.
  • the lower extremities of both first and second vertical passageways are at the same elevation, said elevation setting the minimum level of the fluid.
  • the second vertical passageway thus provides an additional passage between reservoirs such that when the fluid level drops below the level set by the lower extremities of the vertical passageways, air immediately enters the upper reservoir more easily through the second vertical passageway, forcing fluid through the first vertical passageway of sufficient volume to again seal off both vertical passageways.
  • Other versions of this type provide specialized mechanical designs. One of these versions provides a plunger in the upper reservoir to force liquid from upper reservoir through the lower reservoir and out through the horizontal passageway.
  • An elongated piece of porous material with one end immersed in the oil carries the oil by capillary action to its other end which is adjacent to a lubricating entry point for the pump.
  • a vacuum causes air to blow oil off the porous material into the lubrication area.
  • the rate of oil usage is determined by the rate of capillary action.
  • the im ⁇ mersed end of the porous material remains immersed in a constant level of oil maintained by means herein generally described for this type of system.
  • the Swearinger patent describes an apparatus with an upper and lower chamber providing plunger means for allowing observation of lubricating oil in a bearing housing, ascertaining the level of oil in the bearing housing, and maintaining a desired fluid level in the bearing.
  • the Pitney patents describe various types of splash circulation type liquid level maintainers, adapted particularly to maintaining the level of oil in a crankcase at a constant level.
  • Duerr discloses a specialized pump lubricating means that supplies a constant rate of lubricating oil to the pump,
  • OMFI independent of the degree of vacuum developed by the pump, said oil traveling by capillary action on an elongated piece of porous material with one end immersed in a constant level oil reservoir.
  • Gits describes a combined fluid indicator and oil reservoir having a hinged means whereby the lubricator may be replenished with oil with a minimum amount of time and labor.
  • the Universal Fluid Level Maintainer is adaptable for automatically maintaining a fixed minimum amount of fluid in automotive vehicle crankcases, transmissions, hydraulic brake systems and other machinery requiring a minimum reservoir of fluid during operation. Because of its simple construction, it is not limited to any one of the above applications, but may be applied to any or all of them.
  • the system is designed to cooperate with an air-tight upper reservoir ⁇ or supply tank) and a lubrication housing, oil pan, or other type of lower reservoir exposed to atmospheric pressure. Both upper or lower reservoirs are remote to and are not to be considered part of the invention.
  • the Universal Fluid Level Maintainer consists of the following parts: a vertically-oriented hollow cylinder called the body, of optional length and cross- section, and having three apertures, one at its upper end, one at its lower end, and one on the vertical wall near the upper end, this latter aperture being called the vent; a vertically-oriented hollow cylinder called the probe, of diameter small enough to be inserted into the upper aperture of the body, having both ends open, and of length such that when its lower end is inserted into the body to a distance below the vent and above the lower aperture of the body, its upper end will extend above the upper aperture of the body; an air-tight sealing and anchoring means at the upper end of the body for maintaining the probe stationary within the body such that its lower end is at a desired dis ⁇ tance from the lower end of the body but below the vent; an upper fluid feeder conduit having air-tight walls used to connect the lower exit port of an upper fluid reservoir to the upper end of the probe; a lower fluid feeder conduit having air-tight walls used to connect the lower entry port of a
  • the lower end of the probe is adjusted to be at the desired fluid operating level.
  • the level of fluid in the lower reservoir i.e., engine or transmis- • sion oil pan or brake fluid reservoir
  • air bubbles flow up through the probe and into the vacuum space above the fluid level in the upper reservoir.
  • This causes an equal amount of fluid in the upper reservoir to flow downward through the upper conduit, the probe, the body, and through the lower fluid feeder conduit to the lower reservoir.
  • the flow ceases. This action is repeated any time the probe tip is exposed to atmospheric pressure, thus causing the fluid in the body and lower reservoir to remain at a constant and equal level.
  • the vent exposes the body to atmospheric
  • OM ⁇ pressure to allow maintenance of equal levels of fluid in the lower reservoir and the body. If the pressure in the lower fluid reservoir is other than atmospheric pressure, suitable conduit and air-tight connecting means may be used to connect the vent directly to an entry port in the lower fluid reservoir above the oper ⁇ ating fluid level.
  • FIGURE 1 is a system operational drawing illus- trating the invention maintaining a constant fluid level in a lower reservoir utilizing fluid supplied
  • FIGURE 2 is a detailed plane view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is a top view of the body of the invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a partial lower side view of the body of the invention.
  • FIGURE 5 is a plane view of the probe of the invention.
  • the Universal Fluid Level Maintainer 10 is described in terms of the best mode (preferred embodi ⁇ ment) of the invention and is depicted in FIGURES 1 through 5.
  • the Universal Fluid Level Maintainer 10 is best described by referring to FIGURE 1.
  • the invention comprises a body 20; a probe 30; an upper threaded bushing 40; a lower threaded bushing 50; a vent 60; a mounting bracket 70; a flexible hose 80; a first air- tight hose 81; and a second air-tight hose 82.
  • the body 10 is constructed using 1 inch (25.4 mm) square tubing that is completely sealed by end sections 21 and 22 at top and base of the body, respectively.
  • the square cross-section is not requisite for the functioning of the invention, but provides a more adaptable form factor for mounting the body in available space.
  • Three circular openings are provided in the body: (a) a 3/8 inch (95.3 mm) diameter hole 23 is provided on the top of the body, (b) a 1/8 inch (31.8 mm) diameter hole 24 is provided on a side near the body base, and (c) a 1/4 inch (63.5 mm) diameter hole 25 is provided on one side, approximately 1 inch (25.4 mm) down from the body top.
  • FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate top views of bushings 40 and 50 as mounted on top and side, respectively of body 20.
  • Vent 60 is a circular tube of approximately 1-1/4 inch (31.75 mm) length and diameter slightly larger than hole 25.
  • Vent 60 is lipped or provided with an enlarged outer diameter 61 at one end to accom ⁇ modate attachment of a flexible hose 80, as illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the other end of vent 60 is cut at an approximate 45 degree angle for attachment at that angle to a side wall of body 20 over hole 25.
  • An air-tight seal is provided at the attachment of vent 60 to body 20.
  • FIGURE 5 illustrates a plane view of probe 30. It is constructed by permanently attaching a male- threaded hollow adapter 31 to one end of a circular tube 32.
  • the outer diameter of tube 32 is such that it fits snugly into the inner walls of adapter 31.
  • An air-tight seal is provided at the attachment of adapter 31 and tube 32.
  • the male threads of adapter 31 that are adjacent to tube 32 mate with the female threads of upper bushing 40.
  • the length of tube 32 is chosen such that when the probe 30 is inserted into hole 23 and screwed into upper bushing 40, the lower tip of tube 32 is approximately half the distance between vent 60 and lower bushing 50.
  • a sealing compound may be used on the.threads of bushing 40 to provide an air ⁇ tight seal when probe 30 is secured in body 20.
  • the invention 10 is mounted with mounting bracket 70 to an appropriate reinforcement in a vertical position such that the lower tip of the probe 30 is at the desired level 95 of the fluid in lower reservoir 100.
  • Air-tight hose 81 is attached to the exposed threaded end of probe 30 and to the drain port fitting 91 of upper reservoir 90. Fitting 91 is also normally equipped with a valve 92. This will allow replenishment of fluid in upper reservoir 90 through sealed cap 93 while the invention 10 is connected.
  • Air-tight hose 82 connects lower threaded bushing 50 of body 20 to the lower fluid reservoir 100.
  • Hose 80 may be used to connect vent 60 to air chamber 97 if air pressure in chamber 97 which is exerted on fluid in lower reservoir 100 is different from atmospheric pressure available at 96.
  • Lower reservoir 100 may be an engine or transmis ⁇ sion oil pan, a brake fluid reservoir, or other supply of fluids that is required to be maintained at a con ⁇ stant level during operation. Whenever the level of fluid in the lower reservoir 100 drops below the level 95 of the tip of the probe 30 within the body 20, air bubbles will flow up through the probe 20 and into the vacuum space above the fluid level in the upper reser ⁇ voir 90. This causes an equal amount of fluid in the upper reservoir 90 to flow downward through hose 81, probe 30, body 20, and through the lower hose 82 into lower reservoir 100. When sufficient fluid has caused the level in the body 20 to cover the lower tip of probe 30, flow from upper reservoir 90 will cease.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Valves And Accessory Devices For Braking Systems (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif de maintien automatique du niveau d'un fluide détecte le niveau d'un fluide pour déterminer s'il est en dessous d'un niveau critique et, s'il en est ainsi, il assure automatiquement le remplissage avec du fluide jusqu'à ce que le niveau critique du fluide soit rétabli. Le dispositif de maintien automatique du niveau d'un fluide (10) comprend un corps (20), une sonde (30), une bague supérieure filetée (40), une bague inférieure filetée (50), un évent (60), une console de montage (70), un tuyau flexible (80), un premier tube étanche à l'air (81), et un second tube étanche à l'air (82). Le dispositif de maintien du niveau du fluide (10) coopère avec un réservoir supérieur étanche à l'air (90) (ou réservoir d'alimentation) et une enceinte de lubrification, un carter d'huile, ou autre type de réservoir inférieur de fluide (100). L'extrémité inférieure de la sonde (30) est ajustée pour se trouver à un niveau de fonctionnement désiré (90). Lorsque le niveau du fluide dans le réservoir inférieur (100) tombe en dessous de la pointe de la sonde (30) dans le corps (20), le fluide provenant du réservoir supérieur (90) s'écoule vers le bas en descendant au travers du corps (20) dans le réservoir inférieur (100). Lorsqu'une quantité suffisante de fluide fait remonter le niveau dans le corps (20) pour recouvrir la pointe inférieure de la sonde (30), l'écoulement cesse.
EP19810902103 1981-06-29 1981-06-29 Dispositif universel de maintien du niveau d'un fluide Withdrawn EP0082145A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1981/000890 WO1983000207A1 (fr) 1981-06-29 1981-06-29 Dispositif universel de maintien du niveau d'un fluide

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0082145A1 true EP0082145A1 (fr) 1983-06-29

Family

ID=22161308

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19810902103 Withdrawn EP0082145A1 (fr) 1981-06-29 1981-06-29 Dispositif universel de maintien du niveau d'un fluide

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0082145A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1983000207A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4769217A (en) * 1985-04-29 1988-09-06 Servomex Company Apparatus for measuring content of organic carbon
FR2844240B1 (fr) * 2002-09-11 2004-11-26 Bosch Gmbh Robert Reservoir comportant des moyens de mise a niveau ameliores, procede de mise a niveau dudit reservoir et systeme de freinage comportant un tel reservoir
FI124157B (fi) * 2013-01-10 2014-04-15 John Deere Forestry Oy Huuhtelujärjestelmän pumppuyksikkö
DE102013000849A1 (de) * 2013-01-21 2014-07-24 Sew-Eurodrive Gmbh & Co Kg Antrieb
US9334769B2 (en) 2013-01-25 2016-05-10 Cummins Power Generation Ip, Inc. Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crankcase oil sump overfill protection
DE102021206576B4 (de) * 2021-06-25 2023-02-23 Zf Active Safety Gmbh Bremsflüssigkeitsbehälter mit Einfülladapter

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1175869A (en) * 1915-04-05 1916-03-14 Hanna Veline Automatic oil-feeder.
GB258759A (en) * 1925-12-18 1926-09-30 William Glass Appliance to maintain a constant level of liquid in a tank or vessel
US1972962A (en) * 1933-05-08 1934-09-11 Weber Max Constant level apparatus
US2564230A (en) * 1948-03-05 1951-08-14 Earl H Pitney Liquid level maintainer
US2564231A (en) * 1949-06-06 1951-08-14 Earl H Pitney Liquid level maintainer
US2946405A (en) * 1958-10-24 1960-07-26 Zachrisson Karl Torbjorn Apparatus for controlling the oil level in the crankcase of a motor vehicle
US3093267A (en) * 1960-05-16 1963-06-11 Lowery Charley Dual chemical dispenser
US3458011A (en) * 1967-12-22 1969-07-29 Gen Electric Lubrication - supply system utilizing blow-by gases to maintain a generally constant oil level
GB2054856A (en) * 1979-07-13 1981-02-18 Chan Sui Ling Tony Liquid Level Control

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8300207A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1983000207A1 (fr) 1983-01-20

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