US3972234A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid level indicator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-30
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Granted: 1976-08-03
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Expires: 1994-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A liquid level indicator as applied to an internal combustion engine, having a crankcase forming an oil reservoir therein, has conduit means extending downwardly generally into the reservoir with a lower open end of said conduit means being positioned at an elevation corresponding to a preselected minimum level of such oil within the reservoir. A cylinder chamber, connected to the other end of the conduit means, contains a manually depressable plunger-like piston which is resiliently urged in a first direction. When the piston plunger is fully depressed in a second direction (opposite to the first direction) the air within the cylinder chamber is displaced through the conduit means. Upon subsequent release of piston plunger, an associated spring urges the piston plunger in the first direction creating a reduced atmospheric pressure within the cylinder chamber. If the level of the oil in the reservoir is above the open end of the conduit means, oil will flow upwardly into the conduit means, until an equilibrium is attained when its pressure head equals the difference between ambient atmospheric pressure and the reduced atmospheric pressure. When such equilibrium is attained, the further movement, in the first direction, of said piston plunger is stopped with the result that such stopping occurs prior to the piston plunger fully returning to its original position. If the level of the oil is below the open end of the conduit means, the piston plunger, when released, will fully return to its original position. The difference between which of such positions the piston plunger returns to, when released, is employed as an indication of whether the level of oil is sufficient.
Inventors
- 👤 Boris M. Osojnak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus for gauging the level of a liquid within a related reservoir, comprising conduit means, said conduit means comprising first and second ends, said first end being adapted for insertion within said liquid to a first selected relatively low elevation, movable wall means generally closing said second end, and resilient means normally operatively engaging said movable wall means and urging said movable wall means in a direction generally away from said first end and toward a first normal position, said movable wall means being adapted for movement generally towards said first end and to a second position against the said urging of said resilient means whenever said level of said liquid is to be gauged, and said resilient means being effective to move said movable wall means from said second position to a third position generally between said first and second positions whenever said level of said liquid is elevationally above said first selected relatively low elevation, a portion of said liquid within said reservoir being drawn upwardly through said first end and into said conduit means a distance above said selected relatively low elevation in order to maintain said movable wall means in said third position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus for gauging the level of a liquid within a related reservoir, comprising conduit means, said conduit means comprising first and second ends, said first end being adapted for insertion within said liquid to a first selected relatively low elevation, movable wall means generally closing said second end, and resilient means normally operatively engaging said movable wall means and urging said movable wall means in a direction generally away from said first end and toward a first normal position, said movable wall means being adapted for movement generally towards said first end and to a second position against the said urging of said resilient means whenever said level of said liquid is to be gauged, and said resilient means being effective to move said movable wall means from said second position to a third position generally between said first and second positions whenever said level of said liquid is elevationally above said first selected relatively low elevation, a portion of said liquid within said reservoir being drawn upwardly through said first end and into said conduit means a distance above said selected relatively low elevation in order to maintain said movable wall means in said third position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising venting means for at times venting ambient pressure to said conduit means generally between said movable wall means and said first end and to thereby permit said portion of said liquid in said conduit means above said selected relatively low elevation to flow downwardly to said selected relatively low elevation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said venting means comprises normally closed valving means separate from said movable wall means and separately manually actuatable to an open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said venting means comprises second and third conduit means communicating with each other and with said first mentioned conduit means, passage means for completing communication between said second conduit means and a source of ambient pressure, valve means carried within said second conduit means adapted to at times cooperate with a valve seat to thereby prevent said communication between said second conduit means and said source, and resilient means carried within said second conduit means for normally urging said valve means into seated relationship with said valve seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable wall means comprises piston means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said piston means comprises a piston head portion, annular sealing means carried by said piston head portion and movable therewith, and a stem portion carried by said piston head portion for actuating said piston head from said first normal position to said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said annular sealing means comprises a generally cup-shaped seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises tube means insertable in said liquid, housing means in communication with said tube means, wherein said housing means comprises a chamber formed therein with said communication being established with said chamber, wherein said movable wall means is situated within said chamber, and wherein said resilient means comprises spring means carried within said chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises tube means insertable in said liquid, housing means in communication with said tube means, wherein said housing means comprises a chamber formed therein with said communication being established with said chamber, wherein said movable wall means comprises piston means situated in said chamber, wherein said resilient means comprises spring means carried within said chamber, and further comprising an output member carried by said piston means as to extend beyond said housing means, said output member serving as an indicium of the axial position of said piston means relative to said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising venting means formed in said housing means as to at times communicate ambient pressure to said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said liquid comprises oil, wherein said reservoir comprises the crankcase of an associated engine, and wherein said housing means is situated generally in the passenger compartment of an associated vehicle employing said associated engine as to be remotely situated with respect to said reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises tube means insertable in said liquid, housing means in communication with said tube means, wherein said housing means comprises a generally cylindrical chamber formed therein with said communication being established with said chamber, wherein said movable wall means comprises piston means situated within said chamber, said piston means comprising a piston head portion, a stem portion carried by said piston head portion axially extending therefrom and through a first axial end wall of said chamber, an annular cup-like seal situated generally about said stem and operatively against said piston head portion, seal retainer means situated generally about said stem portion and retaining said seal generally between said retainer means and said piston head portion, said cup-like seal comprising an annular axially extending wall for engaging the cylindrical wall of said cylindrical chamber, and wherein said resilient means comprises spring means carried within said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cup-like seal is comprised of fibrous material and impregnated with a lubricant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said cup-like seal is comprised of fibrous material, wherein said stem portion has a second chamber formed therein for the carrying of a lubricant therein, and further comprising passage means formed in said stem portion and communicating with said second chamber and in registry with said cup-like seal, said passage means in registry with said cup-like seal being effective to transmit said lubricant as is carried within said second chamber to said cup-like seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first axial end wall is provided with generally axially directed cam means effective for engaging said annular axially extending wall of said cup-like seal whenever said piston means is in said first normal position as to thereby urge said annular axially extending wall radially outwardly against said cylindrical wall of said cylindrical chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
Liquid level gauging apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the diametral dimension of said cylindrical chamber progressively increases in magnitude from one effective axial end of said cylindrical chamber to an other effective axial end of said cylindrical chamber as to result in the diametral dimension of said cylindrical chamber at said first axial end wall being comparatively the larger, and wherein said annular axially extending wall of said cup-like seal is effective for maintaining sealing engagement with said cylindrical chamber throughout the travel therein of said piston means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |