Dip Stick With Resilient Wiper Block
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for checking oil levels in vehicles are messy, inconvenient, and often expensive, as they require manual wiping of the dip stick with cloths or towels, leading to waste and disposal issues, and existing electronic systems are unreliable or costly.
Innovation Solution
A dip stick assembly with wipers attached to the housing that are resiliently biased to engage with the dip stick for automatic cleaning, featuring a moveable block to control the wiping mechanism, allowing for easy cleaning and accurate oil level measurement without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual wiping with cloth or paper towel is used, then the dip stick can be cleaned, but it creates waste and disposal inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The dip stick assembly includes self-contained wipers that automatically clean the dip stick surface when the dip stick is removed from the housing. The wipers are resiliently biased to engage with the dip stick and can be manually activated by pressing a button or releasing a latch mechanism, eliminating the need for external cloths or paper towels.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper assembly serves multiple functions: it cleans the dip stick surface, stores the removed oil back in the reservoir, and can be manually activated or automatically engaged depending on the embodiment. This multi-functional design replaces the need for separate cleaning materials.
2Ease of operation
If electronic oil level measurement systems are used, then the process is simplified, but they are expensive and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic measurement systems with an improved mechanical dip stick system that includes integrated wipers. The mechanical system maintains reliability through proper engineering of the wiper engagement and dip stick markings, while avoiding the cost and reliability issues of electronic sensors.
3Extent of automation
If wipers are always engaged with the dip stick, then automatic cleaning occurs, but the dip stick cannot be removed for reading
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper assembly is designed to be dynamically controllable, transitioning between engaged and disengaged states. A button or latch mechanism allows the user to manually disengage the wipers before removing the dip stick for reading, and re-engage them afterward for automatic cleaning. This dynamic control resolves the conflict between automatic cleaning and dip stick removability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The automatic wiping mechanism simplifies the process of cleaning the dip stick, reduces waste, and provides an accurate oil level reading without the need for additional cleaning materials, while being cost-effective and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
The wipers may be resiliently biased into the engaged position so that the dip stick is automatically wiped when removed from the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A dip stick assembly has a dip stick and a housing that receives the dip stick. A wiper is selectively engageable with the dip stick. The wiper has an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the wiper is in contact with the dip stick. In the disengaged position, the wiper is out of contact with the dip stick. The wiper is resiliently biased into the engaged position with dip stick. A block maintains the wiper in the disengaged position when in a blocking position and permits the wiper to be in the engaged position when in the unblocking position.