JPS6343371Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an oil level gauge suitable for insertion into a bent guide tube.

In recent years, as engine control mechanisms have become more complex,
As various types of equipment are placed inside the engine compartment of automobiles, the space has become narrower, so the guide tube for inserting the gauge, which protrudes from the oil pan, is often bent to prevent interference with surrounding equipment. In order to insert the oil level gauge into such a bent guide tube, it is necessary to make the oil level gauge flexible, but even if the insertion rod part is made bendable, the gauge attached to the tip of the Not only does the piece rub strongly against the inner peripheral surface of the guide tube, requiring a large amount of force to insert and remove it, but the attached oil may be rubbed off, making the position of the oil level unclear, and excessive force may be applied to the mounting part of the gauge piece. The object of the present invention is to eliminate this drawback and provide an oil level gauge that can be smoothly inserted into and removed from a bent guide tube. It is.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a hollow insertion rod made of a flat steel wire tightly wound in a spiral shape and having moderate flexibility and elastic force, and a guide tube (not shown) at its rear end. A rubber plug 2, which is integrally formed with a seal part 3 that fits tightly into the guide tube and a stopper 4 that contacts the edge of the guide tube, and a handle 5 made of a curved round steel wire are fixed, and the insertion rod 1 is fixed. As shown enlarged in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first stepped portion 7 is formed by punching out an elastic steel plate and indicates the lower limit position of the oil level at the tip. A gauge piece 6 has a second stepped part 8 and a widened part 9 that indicate the upper limit position of the oil level, and a guide part 10 is formed behind the gauge piece 6. facing tsuba 1
2 is externally fitted onto the tip of the insertion rod 1 and fixed by caulking, the widened portion 9 is sandwiched between the end surface of the insertion rod 1 and the flange 12, and the cap 11 is fixed in the axial direction of the gauge piece 6. In addition to preventing the movement of
As shown by the chain line in the figure, the gauge piece 6 is freely supported to swing within a certain angle range in the plane direction around the widened portion 9 and to rotate around the axis.

When the oil level gauge of this embodiment is inserted into a bent guide tube, the insertion rod 1 is bent along the guide tube, and the gauge piece 6 is axially centered so that its swinging direction coincides with the bending direction of the guide tube. It enters while rotating around the body, and also rotates and swings when extracted. Therefore, the bending of the gauge piece 6 is suppressed to a minimum, and only the tip comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the guide tube, and the central part, which indicates the height of the oil level, is separated from the inner circumferential surface and the attached oil The gauge piece can be pulled out without being wiped off, the height of the oil level can be clearly displayed, and the sliding resistance with the guide tube is small, allowing for smooth insertion and removal.
Excessive force is not applied to the connecting part, and it does not break easily even if it is repeatedly put in and taken out.

4 to 7 show modified examples of the gauge piece 6. The gauge piece 6a in FIG. 4 has a cylindrical guide portion 10a, and the gauge piece 6b in FIG. 5 has the guide portion removed. The gauge piece 6c in FIG.
The gauge pieces 6d in the figure each have a round bar shape with the widened portion 9d shaped like a disk.

Furthermore, FIG. 8 shows a modification of the gauge piece 6b of the example shown in FIG. 5 in which roll caulking or round ring caulking is applied to the tip of the cap 11b to form a reduced diameter portion 12b so that the gauge piece 6b does not escape.

In the above, the insertion rod 1 can be a flexible solid or hollow rod made of metal or synthetic resin, and its cross-sectional shape can also be selected as appropriate.

As specifically explained in the above-mentioned embodiments, the oil level gauge of the present invention has a gauge piece immersed in oil attached to the tip of an elongated flexible insertion rod that is rotated around the axis. The main feature is that the gauge piece can be mounted freely to move and swing freely, and when inserted into a bent guide tube and removed, the gauge piece rotates and swings, and the bending is suppressed. ,
Adhering oil will not be rubbed off on the inner circumferential surface of the guide tube, the height of the oil level can be clearly displayed, there is little sliding resistance with the guide tube, and it can be inserted and removed smoothly. , no excessive bending force is applied to the connecting portion of the gauge piece to the insertion rod, resulting in excellent durability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged partially cutaway front view of the tip;
The drawings are a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 2, FIGS. 4 to 7 are partially cutaway perspective views of modified examples of the gauge piece, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a modified example of the connecting portion of the gauge piece. 1...Insert rod, 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d...
... Gauge piece, 9, 9c, 9d... Widening part, 11,
11b... Cap, 12... Tsuba, 12b... Reduction part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An oil level gauge characterized in that a gauge piece immersed in oil is attached to the tip of a flexible long and thin insertion rod so that it can freely rotate and swing around its axis.