Oil Level Measuring Device with Integrated Sensor and Dipstick
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil level measurement systems in vehicles are complex and costly to manufacture, with a risk of no correlation between manual and electronic measurements, and the electronic sensors on the dipstick are prone to damage and decreased sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A compact oil level-measuring device with an arm housing both an electronic oil level sensor and a dipstick, where the sensor and dipstick are protected and aligned to provide precise, correlated measurements, and are easily replaceable without replacing the oil pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the oil level sensor and dipstick are located in different locations in the oil reservoir, then the electronic monitoring can be implemented, but the manufacture complexity increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electronic oil level sensor and the dipstick into a single integrated assembly that fits within one oil reservoir. The sensor assembly includes a sensor body with an electronic sensor and a dipstick portion that can be manually removed, merging two separate measurement functions into one unified component structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor assembly serves multiple functions: it provides electronic monitoring of oil level through the electronic sensor, enables manual measurement through the removable dipstick portion, and can be installed in various oil reservoir configurations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate sensor and dipstick installations.
2Extent of automation
If the oil level sensor and dipstick are located in different locations in the oil reservoir, then electronic monitoring is enabled, but the correlation between manual and electronic measurements cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the electronic sensor and dipstick into a single assembly that occupies the same spatial location within the oil reservoir, the patent ensures that both measurement methods probe the same oil level. This unified positioning guarantees that manual and electronic measurements reference the same physical point, ensuring correlation between the two measurement systems.
3Ease of operation
If the temperature sensor and oil level sensor are mounted on the dipstick, then measurement functionality is achieved, but the sensors are prone to external damage and sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor assembly into distinct functional segments: an electronic sensor portion that remains protected within the reservoir, a dipstick portion that can be manually removed, and a connection mechanism. This segmentation allows the electronic sensor to be protected from damage while maintaining measurement functionality through the removable dipstick.
Solution Approach 2:
The dipstick acts as an intermediary element that connects the protected electronic sensor to the external environment. The electronic sensor remains shielded within the reservoir while the dipstick portion can be manually removed for reading, serving as a mediator that enables operation without exposing the vulnerable electronic components to external damage.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil level measuring device has a distal end and a proximal end. The oil level measuring device includes an arm comprising a first channel and a second channel, an electronic oil level sensor comprising a measuring mean configured to measure the level of the oil in an oil pan and a connecting port, the measuring mean being hosted into the first channel of the arm, a dipstick hosted into the second channel of the arm and configured to dip into the oil in the oil pan.