Oil Dipstick Cover for Accurate Fill Level Measurement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In high-power density internal combustion engines, the geometrically complex path of the oil dipstick to the oil pan can lead to falsification of engine oil fill level measurements due to contact with moving parts and chaotic oil turbulence, affecting measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

An oil measurement apparatus with a guide tube and a dipstick cover element that protects the measurement region from contact with the guide tube's inner wall, ensuring accurate readings by covering the measurement region during withdrawal and exposing it during insertion, utilizing a dipstick stop element and guide stop element for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the oil dipstick is led through a geometrically complex path in the internal combustion engine to reach the oil pan, then the measurement apparatus can be installed in engines with limited space, but the measurement result can be falsified due to contact with the guide tube's inner wall

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidfill level measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A dipstick cover element is introduced as an intermediary component between the measurement region and the guide tube. This cover element prevents direct contact between the measurement region and the guide tube's inner wall, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of contact while allowing the dipstick to pass through the geometrically complex path required for compact engine installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dipstick cover element functions as a protective shell that surrounds the measurement region. This flexible or rigid thin-walled structure allows the measurement region to be shielded from contact with the guide tube while maintaining the compact geometric path through the engine, resolving the contradiction between space constraints and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If the oil dipstick follows a path with numerous bends to reach the oil pan, then the apparatus can adapt to compact engine layouts, but contact with moving parts can occur causing measurement falsification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine layout adaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dipstick cover element serves as a protective intermediary that allows the dipstick to navigate through the complex, bent path required for adaptability to various engine layouts, while simultaneously preventing contact with moving parts that would compromise measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dipstick cover element provides beforehand protection by surrounding the measurement region before it can come into contact with harmful factors such as moving parts or the guide tube's inner wall during insertion and withdrawal through the complex path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If the measurement region is exposed during withdrawal for reading, then the fill level can be read, but contact with the guide tube's inner wall can occur causing measurement falsification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereading accessibilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dipstick cover element dynamically changes its position relative to the measurement region during insertion and withdrawal. During withdrawal, the cover element is positioned to allow reading of the fill level while preventing contact with the guide tube. During insertion, it positions to protect the measurement region, thus resolving the contradiction between reading accessibility and measurement precision through dynamic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dipstick assembly is segmented into distinct functional regions: the measurement region, the dipstick cover element, and the handle. This segmentation allows the cover element to independently perform its protective function while enabling the measurement region to be accessible for reading, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11536172B2Oil measurement apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

An oil measurement apparatus for an oil-lubricated internal combustion engine has an oil dipstick and a guide for guiding the oil dipstick in an oil pan of the internal combustion engine. A fill level of motor oil in the oil pan can be recorded by the oil measurement apparatus. The oil dipstick has an operating element in a first end region for inserting and removing the oil dipstick in the guide and, in a second end region, has a measurement region for recording the fill level. The fill level can be recorded by the oil dipstick in a first state of the oil measurement apparatus and, in a second state of the oil measurement apparatus, the measurement region is completely drawn into the guide. The oil dipstick has a dipstick stop element between the operating element and the measurement region, and has a dipstick cover, which is movable between the measurement region and the dipstick stop element and is designed to at least temporarily cover the measurement region. In the second state of the oil measurement apparatus, the measurement region is covered by the dipstick cover at least in sections.