Sequential Lighting Fluid Level Indicator for Earthmoving Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earth moving machines face downtime and component damage due to inadequate real-time monitoring of fluid levels in their tanks, leading to insufficient fluid supply for operations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sequentially arranged lighting units and indicia on a fluid tank, where the activation or deactivation of lighting units corresponds to real-time fluid levels, allowing operators to infer when levels have dropped below or exceeded threshold levels, facilitating timely replenishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fluid level monitoring methods are used, then the machine can operate, but the machine experiences downtime and component damage due to inadequate real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a visual feedback system using lighting units that provide real-time information about fluid levels to the operator. The lighting units change state (illuminate or remain dark) based on the detected fluid level, creating a continuous feedback loop that enables timely response before critical levels are reached, thereby preventing downtime and component damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by providing advance warning before the fluid level reaches critical thresholds. The lighting units illuminate or darken in advance of critical depletion, giving operators time to replenish fluid before machine downtime or component damage occurs, rather than reacting after the problem has manifested.
2Loss of information
If no visual indication system is provided, then the system remains simple, but operators cannot timely gauge fluid depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses lighting units that change their optical state (illumination/darkness) to convey fluid level information. This visual indication method provides clear, easily distinguishable information about fluid levels without requiring complex displays or interfaces, maintaining simplicity while effectively communicating critical information to operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The indication system is segmented into multiple discrete lighting units arranged in a sequence, where each unit or group of units represents a specific fluid level range. This segmentation allows the system to provide detailed fluid level information while keeping each individual indicator simple and the overall system manageable in complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for indicating a fluid level in a fluid tank of a machine includes a plurality of lighting units and at least one indicia. The lighting units are sequentially arranged with respect to each other and configured to be sequentially activated or sequentially deactivated to correspondingly indicate a real-time level of a fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia is disposed along the lighting units to correspondingly indicate at least one threshold level of the fluid in the fluid tank. The indicia allows inference of the real-time level to recede below the at least one threshold level if a sequential deactivation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a first direction. In addition, the indicia allows inference of the real-time level to exceed the at least one threshold level if a sequential activation of the lighting units moves past the indicia in a second direction.