Inverted Oil Level Sensor with Rotating Ball Valve Column
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oil level sensors in engines require the oil tank to be drained when removing the sensor, which wastes time and oil, and necessitate a larger air gap at the top, increasing the tank's size and weight.
Innovation Solution
An inverted oil level sensor assembly with a ball valve column that allows oil to flow into the sensor for measurement without draining the tank, featuring a rotatable ball valve column that aligns with holes to enable measurement and misaligns to prevent oil flow during removal, minimizing the air gap and reducing tank size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the oil level sensor is inserted from the top of the oil tank, then the sensor is accessible from the top by maintenance personnel, but a large air gap is required between the oil and the top of the oil tank, increasing the tank size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sensor insertion approach by inserting the oil level sensor from the bottom of the oil tank instead of the top. This inversion eliminates the need for a large air gap at the top of the tank, thereby reducing the overall tank volume while maintaining sensor accessibility for maintenance personnel through bottom access ports.
2Volume of stationary object
If the oil level sensor is inserted from the bottom of the oil tank, then the tank size is reduced, but the removal of the sensor requires that the oil tank be drained before opening a port on the bottom to remove the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the oil tank system into two separate access ports: a top port for oil filling and a bottom port for sensor removal. This segmentation allows the sensor to be removed through the bottom port without draining the entire oil tank, as the top port remains closed and retains the oil in the tank, thereby reducing maintenance time and oil loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a valve mechanism as an intermediary component in the bottom port that can isolate the sensor chamber from the main oil tank. This valve allows the sensor to be removed through the bottom port while preventing oil from draining out, enabling maintenance without complete tank drainage.
3Volume of stationary object
If the oil level sensor is inserted from the bottom of the oil tank, then the tank size is reduced, but oil may leak when removing the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by closing the top port before removing the sensor through the bottom port. This preliminary closure of the top port prevents oil from draining or leaking when the bottom port is opened for sensor removal, eliminating the harmful effect of oil leakage while maintaining the compact tank design.
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
This design allows for accurate oil level measurement without draining the tank, reduces maintenance time and oil loss, and minimizes the tank's size and weight by eliminating the need for a large top air gap, while providing safeguards to prevent unintended draining.
Implementation Method 1
a ball valve column within the tube and adjacent to the oil level sensor. The ball valve column has a plurality of valve elements that correspond with the series of holes along the tube and is rotatable between an open position that allows oil to flow through at least one of the series of holes and at least one of the plurality of valve elements to access the oil level sensor and a closed position that prevents oil from flowing through the series of holes and the plurality of valve elements
Data Source
AI summary
An oil level sensor assembly for an oil tank includes a cell with a first set of holes along the cell, an oil level sensor within the cell that is configured to be inserted into and removed from a bottom of the cell, and a ball valve column within the cell and adjacent to the oil level sensor. The ball valve column is rotatable, has ball valves that correspond with the first set of holes along the cell, and is configured such that the ball valve column is rotatable to an open position aligning the ball valves with the first set of holes to allow oil to access the oil level sensor and rotatable to a closed position misaligning the ball valves with the first set of holes to prevent oil from accessing the oil level sensor.