Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling coolant (e.g., water-based liquid) level of an engine, the apparatus comprising: a metering system, for metering coolant level in the cooling system of the engine; an auxiliary reservoir of the coolant; and a conveying mechanism, for conveying coolant from the reservoir to the cooling system upon indicating, from the coolant level, absence of coolant in the cooling system. The conveying mechanism may be activated manually as well as automatically. The gauge may be deployed at the dashboard of the vehicle in which the apparatus is installed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of fuel engines, especially of motorcars. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the engine fluid level in an engine. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Fluids such as oil and water are an essential component for proper operation of a vehicle fuel engine, such as internal combustion engine. The oil is used as a lubricant for the parts in friction, and the water is used as a coolant for the heated parts of the engine. 
         [0003]    However, presently vehicles do not present the level of each of these fluids in the engine, but rather engine temperature, which is affected by the level of these fluids. As a result, the driver thereof receives no warning until after engine damage has already taken place, which may result in total engine loss. 
         [0004]    The common denominator of water and oil is that absence of either may result in engine damage, in contrast to fuel, the absence of which only stops the car but does not result in engine damage. 
         [0005]    The term “engine fluid” refers herein to a fluid required for proper operation of an engine, its absence resulting in possible damage to the engine. Oil and water are engine fluids, while fuel is not an engine fluid, since its absence does not result in damage to the engine. 
         [0006]    As mentioned above, presently vehicles do not indicate absence of engine fluids, but rather the result thereof, i.e., over-heating of the engine. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, presently vehicles do not provide means for preventing the damage that can be caused due to absence of engine fluids. 
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for controlling the engine fluid level in an engine. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine fluid system, which is capable of preventing the damage thereof. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an engine fluid system, in which a user may activate filling of engine fluid in the fluid system of the engine thereof from the driver&#39;s compartment. 
         [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods, which are meant to be merely illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other advantages or improvements. 
         [0013]    A control system is a mechanism for inspecting an activity, and adjusting the activity accordingly. 
         [0014]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling coolant (e.g., water-based liquid) level of a cooling system ( 10   w ) of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
       a metering mechanism ( 26   w ,  34   w ,  30   w ), for metering the coolant level in the cooling system ( 10   w ), for indicating absence of coolant in the cooling system ( 10   w ):
           an auxiliary coolant reservoir ( 24   w ) to the cooling system ( 10   w ); and   a conveying mechanism ( 32   w ,  28   w ), for conveying coolant from the auxiliary coolant reservoir ( 24   w ) to the cooling system upon indicating by the metering mechanism absence of coolant in the cooling system ( 10   w ).   
               
 
         [0018]    The conveying mechanism may be activated manually as well as automatically. 
         [0019]    The apparatus may further comprise a gauge for indicating the coolant level of fluid in the cooling system. 
         [0020]    The gauge may be deployed at the dashboard of the vehicle in which the apparatus is installed. 
         [0021]    The conveying mechanism may comprise a pump ( 32   w ), and a pipe ( 28   w ) connecting the auxiliary reservoir ( 24   w ) with the cooling system ( 10   w ). 
         [0022]    In one embodiment of the invention, the metering mechanism is based on measuring the level of a float deployed in the cooling system. 
         [0023]    The metering mechanism may be based on measuring the level of a float deployed in the water container connected to the radiator thereof. 
         [0024]    The conveying mechanism may further comprise a valve, for rejecting coolant passage from the cooling system to the auxiliary reservoir. 
         [0025]    The indication of absence of coolant level in the cooling system may be carried out observing that metered coolant level in the cooling system to less than a threshold. 
         [0026]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a dashboard of a vehicle in which is installed a system for controlling the engine fluid level, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates cooling system  10   w  of a vehicle&#39;s engine, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates oil system  10   o  of a vehicle&#39;s engine, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. Reference numerals may be repeated among the figures in order to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail, for the sake of brevity. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a dashboard of a vehicle in which is installed a system for controlling the engine fluid level, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0034]    Numeral  30   x  denotes a gauge which indicates the fluid level in the fluid system of the vehicle&#39;s engine. The suffix “w” refers to water, and “o” refers to oil. Thus, numeral  30   w  refers to the cooling system, and numeral  30   o  to the oil system. 
         [0035]    When the water level falls below a certain limit, the vehicle driver may add water to the cooling system of the vehicle&#39;s engine by pressing button  38   w.    
         [0036]    When the oil level falls below a certain limit, the driver may add oil to the oil system of the vehicle&#39;s engine by pressing button  38   o.    
         [0037]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates cooling system  10   w  of a vehicle&#39;s engine, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0038]    Cooling system  10   w  includes the radiator  50   w , and may also include a water container  22   w , which in this case is connected to radiator  50   w . The transparent walls of container  22   w  are used as a gauge, since a user may view the level of the water within container. 
         [0039]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary water reservoir  24   w  is added to the cooling system  10   w . The auxiliary reservoir  24   w  is used for storing water which can be pumped into container  22   w  upon demand by turning on button  38   w , deployed on the dashboard. Button  38   w  turns on a conveying mechanism, which according to this example includes a pump  32   w  deployed on pipe  28   w , which connects container  22   w  to auxiliary reservoir  24   w.    
         [0040]    The metering mechanism of the cooling system comprises a float  26   w , which rotates potentiometer  34   w  correspondingly to the fluid level in container  22   w  or in radiator  50   w , resulting in correspondingly changing the pointer of gauge  30   w.    
         [0041]      FIG. 2  also illustrates a circuitry  40   w  for connecting the potentiometer to gauge  30   w , and circuitry for operating pump  32   w . For the sake of brevity, since these circuits being obvious to a person skilled in the art, they are not detailed. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates oil system  10   o  of a vehicle&#39;s engine, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         [0043]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, an auxiliary oil reservoir  24   o  is added to the oil system. The auxiliary reservoir  24   o  is used for storing oil which can be pumped into oil pan  22   o  upon demand by turning on button  38   o , deployed on the dashboard. According to this example, pump  32   o  is deployed on pipe  28   o , which connects oil pan  22   o  to auxiliary reservoir  24   o.    
         [0044]    The metering mechanism of the oil system comprises a float  26   o , which rotates potentiometer  34   o  correspondingly to the fluid level of oil pan  22   o , resulting in correspondingly changing the pointer of gauge  30   o.    
         [0045]    Also illustrated in  FIG. 3  is the structure of pump  32   o . The pump comprises two integrated cogwheels, which move substance from one side to the other. This mechanism is well known in the art, and for the sake of brevity is not detailed herein. 
         [0046]    Also illustrated is a valve  44   o , which prevents fluid passage from the oil pan to auxiliary reservoir  24   o . In this illustration, the valve comprises a ball used as the lid of pipe  28   o , and a spring which pushes the lid towards the opening of pipe  28   o . This is also a well known valve mechanism. 
         [0047]    The illustrations herein are detailed, in order to be comprehensive to one skilled in the art. Nevertheless, for the sake of brevity, not all the details known from the prior art are marked by numerals. 
         [0048]    It should be noted that activation of engine fluid passage from the auxiliary reservoir into the fluid system thereof may be manual, as well as automatic. For example, a user may activate fluid passage upon observing low level of the fluid via gauge. 
         [0049]    Additionally or alternatively, the pump thereof may be activated automatically, upon detecting that the fluid level falls below a specific level. 
         [0050]    In both cases, upon detecting that the level of the fluid has fallen below a specific level, the user may be alerted. 
         [0051]    Since according to the present invention a deficit of one engine fluid (e.g., oil) in a fluid system is indicated independently from the deficit of another engine fluid (e.g., water), the user can be alerted before engine damage is effected. Moreover, upon detecting the deficit, the user may take emergency steps, such as adding engine fluid from the auxiliary reservoir, before reaching a mechanic. 
         [0052]    In the figures and description herein, the following numerals have been mentioned:
   the suffix “x” should be interpreted as “w” (denote relation to the cooling system) or “o” (denote relation to the oil system), depending to the case;
       numeral  10   x  denotes a vehicle fluid system;   numeral  22   x  denotes an existing fluid container of the vehicle fluid system;   numeral  24   x  denotes an auxiliary fluid system reservoir;   numeral  26   x  denotes a float deployed in fluid container  22   x;      numeral  28   x  denotes a pipe for passing fluid from the auxiliary reservoir  24   x  to container  22   x;      numeral  30   x  denotes a gauge indicating the fluid level in fluid system  10   x;      numeral  32   x  denotes a pump for transferring fluid from auxiliary reservoir  24   x  to container  22   x;      numeral  34   x  denotes a potentiometer;   numeral  36   x  denotes a bar connecting float  26   x  to potentiometer  34   x;      numeral  38   x  denotes a switch (button) for activating fluid pumping from auxiliary reservoir  24   x , into container  22   x;      numeral  40   x  denotes a circuitry relating to operating switch  38   x;      numeral  42   x  denotes a circuitry for operating gauge  30   x;      numeral  44   x  denotes a valve for rejecting fluid passage from the auxiliary reservoir  24   x  to container  22   x ; and   numeral  50   x  denotes a radiator.   
       
 
         [0068]    While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, the invention can be embodied in other forms, ways, modifications, substitutions, changes, equivalents, and so forth. The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.