Lubrication system level control
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsSusan J. Gaugush, Ted J. Loeffelholz, James Frances Blubaugh, Douglas D. Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine lubrication system that includes an assembly for sensing the level of lubricant in the reservoir, the reservoir including a follower that travels axially within the reservoir and substantially conforms to an inner cross-sectional dimension thereof, a magnet being attached to the follower for actuation of a plurality of magnetically actuated switches. The system may include a first and second level sensor, which may be independently connected to one or more power sources, where the first level sensor may be associated with an operator station, and the second level sensor may be associated with a remote indicator.
Claims15
A machine lubrication system, comprising:
- a lubricant reservoir, the reservoir defining a cavity with a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the axis;
- a follower disposed within the reservoir, the follower substantially conforming to the cross-sectional dimension and configured for movement along the axis within the reservoir cavity;
- a first level sensor comprising a plurality of magnetically actuated switches and resistors that are parts of a sensor circuit disposed within the cavity aligned parallel to the axis;
- and
- a magnet connected to the follower, wherein the magnet is positioned to actuate at least one of the switches as the follower moves along the axis within the reservoir cavity, and each of the switches corresponding to a different electrical resistance in the sensor circuit;
- and
- a second level sensor comprising at least one magnetically actuated switch, wherein the first and second level sensors are independently connected to one or more power sources.
A machine, comprising:
- a lubricant system comprising a reservoir, the reservoir defining a cavity with a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the axis;
- a follower disposed within the reservoir, the follower substantially conforming to the cross-sectional dimension and configured for movement along the axis within the reservoir cavity;
- a first level sensor comprising a plurality of magnetically actuated switches and resistors that are parts of a sensor circuit disposed within the cavity aligned parallel to the axis, the first level sensor configured to communicate a first level signal to at least one of a first indicator associated with an operator station or a second indicator located on the machine remote from the operator station;
- a magnet connected to the follower, wherein the magnet is positioned to activate at least one of the switches as the follower moves along the axis within the reservoir cavity, and each of the switches corresponding to a different electrical resistance in the sensor circuit;
- a second level sensor associated with the reservoir;
- and
- wherein the first level sensor is configured to provide the first level signal to the first indicator, and the second level sensor is configured to provide a second level signal to the second indicator.
A machine comprising:
- a lubrication system comprising a reservoir;
- a first level sensor associated with the reservoir, the first level sensor configured to provide a first level signal to a first indicator associated with a machine operator station;
- a second level sensor associated with the reservoir, the second level sensor configured to provide a second level signal to a second indicator located on the machine remote from the operator station;
- wherein the first and second level sensors are independently connected to one or more electrical power sources.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.