Automotive engine oil monitoring system
US4677847A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF01M2011/1473
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for monitoring and indicating engine oil deterioration during the period of the oil's useful life in an internal combustion engine. The system and method permits a determination of the rate of deterioration of the engine oil as a function of oil temperature or RPM of the engine and provides a continous output signal representing the remaining useful life of the oil which is provided to the driver when desired. The present invention therefore, estimates the time when the oil will reach an undesirable deterioration level during the course of operation of the engine rather than indicating, as many prior art systems, only when the oil reaches an undesirable level requiring an oil change.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.