Oil consumption monitoring system

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to "Oil consumption monitoring system" and more particularly to a system and method for monitoring oil consumption in internal combustion engine enabling a prognostic and diagnostic health management system of the engine.

Background of the invention

It is quite common for internal combustion engines that have rotating and/or reciprocating elements to use a variety of fluids. These fluids can serve to lubricate, transfer heat, or any number of other uses. Out of which Engine oil is one of the principal concerns as it plays a pivotal role in engine performance. Engine oil performs critical roles in an engine especially lubrication of rapidly moving parts as the engine is exposed to high temperature and adverse conditions during operation. Hence it is both mandatory as well as desirable to maintain optimal level of engine oil for maximized performance of the internal combustion engine.

The level of Engine oil is of utmost significance for the proper and satisfactory the operation of engine. For example, if the level is too low then friction and inadequate heat transfer can damage the machine. If the level is to high, then the heat transfer may not be accomplished fast enough thus exposing the machine to overheating. But over the time and usage Engine oil either get consumed or get contaminated, therefore need to be replenished or replaced time to time for optimal performance of internal combustion engine. Hence out of shear necessity it is a mandate to measure the oil consumption rate. Measurement of Oil consumption rate is a strenuous and arduous task, further it is time consuming and cumbersome. Methods presently available are drain and weigh method, Sulphur and radioactivity tracer mechanism. As aforementioned these methods are tiresome and prolonged further the abovementioned methods requires certain stipulated conditions such as, engine must be turned off and must stand still. Hence the hereinbefore-cited methods are unable to provide real time measurement and the readings may be inaccurate. For Example: Engine has a sump that collects, Engine oil. Engine oil circulates through the Engine and the sump while the engine is in operation. When a engine is not operating, fluid is drawn into the sump by the force of gravity. However, not all the fluid will drain into the sump. The engine components have recesses, grooves, and crevasses that retain oil. As a result, any reading of a Engine oil level as measured relative to the bottom of the sump while the engine is not operating does not include the fluid housed in the components and is thus not accurate.

Hence it is the primary object of the present invention to provide with an oil monitoring system that endow the operator with instantaneous information regarding the oil quantity and oil consumption rate with high degree of precision and exactness.

Further it is another object of the present invention to raise caution warning to the operator, whenever the oil level or oil consumption rate transgresses the acceptable limits.

Summary of invention

The present invention addresses to a method and system for accurate measurement of oil quantity and to accurately determine the oil consumption rate of an internal combustion engine.

The invention comprises of an oil level sensor and a microprocessor module, wherein the oil level sensor within the internal combustion engine provides the system with an oil level signal taken during plurality of readings which reflects the measured oil level in the engine at different instances and the microprocessor module analyses the input signals and store the analyzed data for further use. Once the microprocessor module analyzes the measured values, the results are communicated to the operator by the known means in a prescribed format. The invention also includes recording and storage of the analyzed data for further use such as: processor compares the measured sensor values retained in the storage for generating a warning if the result of the comparison is beyond the acceptable limits.

Examples of the most important features of the invention, thus been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof, that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended thereto. These and various other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

In connection of this document, the term "Oil level sensor" used in the detailed description encompasses and refers to an array of level sensors including pressure sensor, dipstick sensing devices etc, any other sensor known may be used to implement the present invention, unless and otherwise specifically restricted or described.

The particulars and configuration discussed in the following non-limiting description can be varied and is cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope thereof.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1 Illustrates a motorcycle in which the present invention is embodied

Figure 2 is a cross sectional schematic illustration of an exemplary arrangement of an engine, a microprocessor module and an oil sensor in accordance with present disclosure.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the constituent operational blocks of an embodiment of present invention

Figure 4 Is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention

Detail description of drawings

Features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following description and figures. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals will be used to identify the same or similar elements through out several views. It should be noted that the drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. It is to be understood that words describing directions such as "right", "left", "upper", "lower" or like terms, are used herein with reference to illustrated states in drawings or in actually usable state of vehicle control device.

Figure 1 illustrates a motorcycle 11 including a front wheel 21, a rear wheel 31, an engine 10, and a frame 51 interconnecting the front 21 and rear 31 wheels. The motorcycle also includes a steering assembly 61 coupled to the frame 51. The steering assembly 61 is pivotable about a steering axis and includes a handlebar 71 for imparting such pivotal motion to the steering assembly 61. The new fangled system has its close catenation with engine 10 wherein the present invention calculates the oil quantity and the oil consumption rate of an internal combustion engine. Use of the invention helps to detect oil quantity promptly, and also helps to detect high oil consumption rate and/or low oil quantity during and after an engine operation.

In addition, proper calculation of the oil quantity and oil consumption rate is useful for maintenance purposes, because it helps to accurately calculate the amount of time before routine oil service is necessary.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the vehicle shown in Figure 1 is a single example and the present invention is not limited to application to any one particular bike size, type, or manufacturer. It can also be appreciated that although the oil monitoring system presented herein is preferred for smaller displacement engines, such as those powering motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, scooters, and three wheeled vehicles, the system is adaptable to all other vehicles unless not restricted.

Figure 2 depicts an schematic cross sectional illustration of an preferred exemplary arrangement of the present invention in which engine 10 is equipped with an oil level sensor 30 (hereinafter referred as "Sensor"), wherein the said Sensor is connected to the microprocessor module 20 through know connected means for monitoring the oil quantity and calculating the oil consumption rate. The microprocessor module generally comprises of a microprocessor, storage memory, processing memory, programmable memory, Digital converter, input-output device and signal conditioning unit.

The Sensor 30 is mounted inside the crankcase as a preferred location in accord with the preferred embodiment but is also capable of being positioned on other advantageous locations. Sensor 30 senses the oil level readings at stipulated time as per the instructions and requirement of the microprocessor module 20. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the components of an embodiment of the invention in which Oil consumption monitor block is designated by numeral 310, wherein the block 310 receive the oil level signal from Sensor 30 to communicate the change in oil level to the said Oil level consumption block 310 herein, the said Sensor 30 and its appurtenance and appendages are denoted by the block 300 as oil level. Further the Oil consumption monitor block 310 analyses the inputs provided by oil level block 300 to generate apposite and fitting output. Output may include cautious caveat such as "low oil level quantity", such exemplary warning is depicted in block 320 for well-articulated manifestation of this feature of the present invention. Oil consumption monitoring block 300 calculates the oil consumption rate and oil quantity and display them as output as shown in block 330 and 340 respectively.

These signified displays are mere examples pertain to present invention and are mentioned only for understanding purpose, both present invention and the oil level indicator panel 410 (not shown in figure 3) are capable of displaying and analyzing other designated information also.

Figure 4 is cites the schematic arrangement of the present invention and being creased out for determining functional aspect of each constituent element of the invention. As hereinbefore mentioned in figure 2 the Sensor 30 is placed inside crankcase of engine 10 at a suitable position, where the said is bequeathed with the function of sensing the oil level inside the crank case precisely and accurately at designated moments and instants such as engine start, during operation, during full throttle, during close, during idling etc.

The instants mentioned hereinbefore are only suggestive in nature, decision pertaining to real time measurement vary from vehicle to vehicle and on person exercising the invention. The signals engendered by the Sensor 30 are corresponded to the Microprocessor module 20. Microprocessor 20 analyses the input signals and produces an appropriate output on the Oil level indicator panel 410 as stipulated and aforementioned in the portrayal of figure 3.

Figure 4 further demonstrates a symbolize crankcase as 430 with certain oil level "h" for appreciation of the present invention.

claim:

1. An oil consumption monitoring system for determining oil consumption rate and oil quantity for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

an oil level sensor; and a microprocessor module for monitoring an oil level and oil quantity through said oil level sensor for determining a rate of oil consumption based upon a plurality of readings of said oil level sensor corresponding to a measured oil level; a microprocessor module for retaining data for Oil consumption rate and Oil quantity calculations directed from measured oil level and to process the retained data for triggering plurality of indications or alarms prescribed for optimal functioning of internal combustion engine.

2. A method for calculating an oil consumption rate of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

gauge oil level for first time in the beginning of each operation phase of engine; at the end of the operation phase of the engine gauge the oil level for second time and determine the difference between the oil levels of first time and second time to denote the oil consumption during the operation phase; determine the rate of oil consumption during the operation phase by dividing the determined difference in oil levels by the engine running time between the first time and second time of the operation phase; record the determined rate of oil consumption during the operation phase; and repeating these steps for each subsequent engine operating cycle interval.

3. The oil consumption monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, further including a visible warning device, said control device adapted to activate said visible warning device in response to an indication prescribed by microprocessor module.

4. The oil consumption monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, further including an audible warning device, said control device adapted to activate said audible warning device in response to an indication prescribed by microprocessor module.

5. An oil consumption monitoring system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said control device disables the operation of an engine in the event of oil level or oil consumption rate is not operating within acceptable limits on the instructions from the microprocessor module.

6. The oil monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 is capable of generating warnings whenever threshold limits stored in microprocessor are violated, wherein said warning comprises communication over a communications network.

7. The oil monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 prefers to position the Oil level
sensor at baseline of the oil sump of engine.

8. A cooling apparatus for motorcycle substantially as herein described in claim 1 and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.