Lubricating oil monitoring and maintenance cap with oil level monitoring system

Abstract

A lubricating oil reservoir has an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end. The cap is formed with a sensor located in the lubricating oil reservoir. The sensor is for sensing the presence of lubricating oil that fills the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level for providing machine lubrication, and the non-presence of lubricating oil that does not fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and a signal apparatus is operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition, and for issuing a second different stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil for identifying a low oil level condition.

1 . Apparatus, comprising:
 a lubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end, and the cap has a lubricating oil engaging side that faces the lubricating oil reservoir and a sensor located in the lubricating oil reservoir;   the lubricating oil reservoir for holding a volume of lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil is to extend vertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in a direction toward the sensor and along and in direct contact with the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   the sensor for sensing the presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor not touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   a signal apparatus operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil, and for issuing a second stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil;   the first stimulus is for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition; and   the second stimulus is different from the first stimulus and is for identifying a low oil level condition.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing a first state of illumination being the first stimulus, and a second different state of illumination being the second stimulus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil reservoir is formed in a roller of a tracked vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus, comprising:
 a lubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end;   the cap has an outer side and an opposed lubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oil reservoir, a maintenance port that extends through the cap from the outer side to the lubricating oil engaging side, and a plug removably coupled to the maintenance port so as to close the maintenance port;   a sensor attached to the plug, the sensor being located in the lubricating oil reservoir;   the lubricating oil reservoir for holding a volume of lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil is to extend vertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in a direction toward the sensor and the plug and along and in direct contact with the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   the sensor for sensing the presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor not touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   a signal apparatus operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil, and for issuing a second stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil;   the first stimulus is for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition; and   the second stimulus is different from the first stimulus and is for identifying a low oil level condition.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing a first state of illumination being the first stimulus, and a second different state of illumination being the second stimulus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the lubricating oil reservoir is formed in a roller of a tracked vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus, comprising:
 a lubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end;   the cap has an outer side and an opposed lubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oil reservoir, a maintenance port that extends through the cap from the outer side to the lubricating oil engaging side, and a plug removably coupled to the maintenance port so as to close the maintenance port;   a portable sensor;   an engagement assembly removably coupling the sensor to the plug includes an element of an engagement pair carried by the plug, and a complemental element of the engagement pair carried by the sensor;   the sensor being located in the lubricating oil reservoir;   the lubricating oil reservoir for holding a volume of lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil is to extend vertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in a direction toward the sensor and the plug and along and in direct contact with the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   the sensor for sensing the presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor not touching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level;   a signal apparatus operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil, and for issuing a second stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil;   the first stimulus is for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition; and   the second stimulus is different from the first stimulus and is for identifying a low oil level condition.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing a first state of illumination being the first stimulus, and a second different state of illumination being the second stimulus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the lubricating oil reservoir is formed in a roller of a tracked vehicle.