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US 7,000,466 B2Granted
Oil flow sensing
AssigneeArk-Les Corporation
InventorsEric K. Larson, Robert F. Kellicker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical current is passed through a thermistor to raise its temperature above the temperature of oil flowing in pulses past the thermistor. A change is measured in the temperature of the thermistor occurring with respect to one or more of the pulses. A level of oil flow is determined corresponding to the measured change in temperature. A signal is issued based on the determined flow level.
Claims16
A method comprising for measuring oil flow in an engine, the method comprising:
- supplying oil in pulses to an engine;
- passing an electrical current through a thermistor to raise its temperature above the temperature of oil flowing in pulses past the thermistor,
- measuring a change in temperature of the thermistor occurring with respect to one or more of the pulses,
- determining a level of oil flow corresponding to the measured change in temperature, and
- issuing a signal based on the determined flow level.
2 more elements
A marine engine comprising
- moving parts arranged to be lubricated by oil delivered through a supply line from a supply of oil,
- a pump configured to pump oil from the supply to the moving parts in pulses controlled by a controller, and
- a sensor connected to receive pulses of the oil and to detect the oil flow state of the engine using a temperature sensitive electronic element and a circuit that analyzes an electrical parameter of the temperature sensitive element at times based on the pulses of the oil.
A method for measuring oil flow in an engine, the method comprising:
- passing an electrical current through a thermo-electric sensor to raise its temperature above the temperature of oil flowing in pulses in the engine past the sensor,
- measuring a change in temperature of the thermo-electric sensor occurring with respect to one or more of the pulses,
- determining a level of fluid flow corresponding to the measured change in temperature, and
- issuing a signal based on the determined flow level.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.