Low engine oil sensing switch

Patent · Tue Apr 29 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5543817

Lenk, M; Podiak, R S

A pneumatic switch is described responsive to the vacuum in a closed crankcase of a reciprocating piston engine, the crankcase containing a volume of lubricating oil, the engine having a check valve connected for venting positive gas pressure from the crankcase to maintain an average vacuum in the crankcase, such vacuum varying as a function of the quantity of oil in the crankcase. The switch indicates when there is less than a predetermined quantity of oil in the crankcase, the switch comprising a housing defining a cylinder with a closed end and a vented end, a piston positioned to slide axially in the cylinder between the closed and vented ends, a spring urging the piston towards the vented end, means for applying vacuum from the engine crankcase to a chamber formed between the piston and the closed housing end to maintain an average vacuum in such chamber whereby the axial position of the piston in the cylinder is determined by the size of the piston, the spring and the vacuum in the chamber, and electric switch means responsive to the position of the piston in the cylinder for indicating when the vacuum in the chamber corresponds to an engine crankcase vacuum when less than the predetermined quantity of oil is in the crankcase.

• Assignee: Champion Spark Plug Co., Toledo, OH
• Patent Number(s): US 4584977
• OSTI ID: 5543817
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CYLINDERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLOWMETERS
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LUBRICANTS
LUBRICATING OILS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METERING
METERS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PISTONS
PNEUMATIC CONTROLLERS
POSITIONING
PRESSURE CONTROL
SWITCHES
VACUUM SYSTEMS
VALVES