US5076397A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil condition checking system for marine propulsion unit
Assignee: Yamaha Marine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-08-30
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Granted: 1991-12-31
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Expires: 2010-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A lubricant condition sensing unit for the lower unit of a marine propulsion drive. Light is transmitted through the lubricant and the condition and level of the lubricant is sensed by comparing the light signal transmitted with a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Hironori Yamada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:50
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B61/00; F02B61/04; F02B61/045; B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; B63H20/001; B63H20/002; F01; F01M; F01M1/00; F01M1/18; F01M1/20; F01M1/22; F01M1/26; F16; F16N; F16N29/00; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/284; G01F23/292; G01F23/2921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit for a marine outboard motor driven lower unit, said lower unit including intermeshing gears for driving a propulsion unit, said gears being lubricated by a lubricant contained within said lower unit comprising light emitting means for transmitting light through at least a portion of the lubricant, light receiving means for receiving the light transmitted through said lubricant from said light emitting means and pre-programmed detecting means for determining the light signal transmitted to said light receiving means for determining the condition of said lubricant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit for a marine outboard motor driven lower unit, said lower unit including intermeshing gears for driving a propulsion unit, said gears being lubricated by a lubricant contained within said lower unit comprising light emitting means for transmitting light through at least a portion of the lubricant, light receiving means for receiving the light transmitted through said lubricant from said light emitting means and pre-programmed detecting means for determining the light signal transmitted to said light receiving means for determining the condition of said lubricant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lubricant is circulated in a predetermined path through the lower unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein the light emitting means and light receiving means is positioned in the path of the lubricant being circulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the gears comprise a bevel gear forward, neutral, reverse transmission of said lower unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A lubricant condition sensing unit as set forth in claim 4 further including means for reducing the driving speed of the gears in response to a sensed deterioration of the condition of the lubricant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5798842A
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US4570069A
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JPS59211707A
Cited
US4562801A
Cited
JPS60236048A
Cited
JPS61741A
Cited
US4649711A
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JPS63314303A
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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) | 1994-12-30 | 1995-07-01 | 1995-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-30 | 1999-07-01 | 1999-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-30 | 2003-07-01 | 2003-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |