JPH0733037Y2 - Lubricating oil deterioration warning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a deterioration warning device for lubricating oil of vehicle parts such as a transmission or an engine. More specifically, it relates to a device for detecting and alarming deterioration of lubricating oil due to oxidation.

[Prior Art] The temperature of lubricating oil of a vehicle transmission or an engine rises due to friction between tooth flanks of gears, agitation resistance, combustion of fuel in a cylinder, and the like. Due to this rise in oil temperature, the lubricating oil composed of hydrocarbons undergoes a free radical reaction with oxygen in the air or combustion products, producing organic acids such as carboxylic acids and peroxides, and oxidizing them at the same time. This produces oil-insoluble sludges.

This phenomenon is repeated as the use time of the lubricating oil becomes long, and the lubricating oil has a high oxidation index and deteriorates, corroding metal parts such as gears and cylinders. Therefore, the lubricating oil is regularly changed based on the travel distance of the normal vehicle.

However, even with the same mileage, the degree of deterioration of the lubricating oil greatly depends on the conditions of use, so it continues to be used or deteriorates even though it has deteriorated with the conventional replacement method. There was a problem that the lubricating oil was changed even though it was not there.

In order to eliminate this point, a sample chamber for introducing this lubricating oil from the lubrication circuit of the engine lubricating oil is provided, and the photosensitizer measures the amount of oxidation chemiluminescence of the lubricating oil introduced into this sample chamber. There has been proposed a vehicle engine oil deterioration detection device configured to display a deterioration indicator on the basis of the measurement signal (Shokai 62-37697). This device uses the chemiluminescence method (CL method), which measures the amount of chemiluminescence due to the oxidation of lubricating oil, to detect and display the deterioration state due to the oxidation of lubricating oil.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the above device, a sample chamber must be provided separately,
There is a problem that the mounting space is required and the number of parts is large and it is difficult to easily detect the deterioration of the lubricating oil.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant deterioration warning device capable of accurately notifying the deterioration condition of the lubricant oil or the condition immediately before the deterioration with a small number of parts and a mounting space.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the lubricating oil deterioration alarm device of the present invention is filled with a conductive wire and a lubricating oil that are melted and cut when immersed in an acid solution and left for a predetermined time. A wire rod holder that has a pair of lead wires that are attached by penetrating through the case and that holds the wire rod in a state of being immersed in the lubricating oil, and that is internally connected to both ends of the wire rod; It is provided with an alarm means for issuing a warning of deterioration of the lubricating oil when the wire is electrically connected and melted, or a warning warning means for issuing a warning of deterioration of the lubricating oil.

In the present specification, "deterioration of lubricating oil" means loss of normal lubricating function of lubricating oil.

[Operation] When the lubricating oil is in an oxidized state, the wire material begins to melt, and after a predetermined time elapses, the wire material melts and an alarm is issued.

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a drain plug 12 penetrates the case 11 and is screwed to the central bottom portion of the case 11 of the transmission 10 of the vehicle. Lubricating oil 13 is enclosed in the case 11, and a pair of lead wires 16 is provided at the center of the drain plug 12.
An insulating member 14 is provided so as to penetrate therethrough.

The pair of lead wires 16 facing the case 11 are electrically connected to both ends of a conductive wire material 17 which is melted and cut when immersed in an acid solution and left for a predetermined time. This wire 17 is an iron wire in this example, and is immersed in the lubricating oil 13. An alarm circuit 18 that issues a deterioration alarm of the lubricating oil 13 due to melting of the wire 17 is electrically connected to the terminals 16a and 16b of the pair of lead wires 16 protruding outside the case 11.

The alarm circuit 18 includes a key switch 19, a relay switch 21, and an alarm lamp 22. The key switch 19 has a movable piece a, a neutral contact b, an accessory contact c, and an engine operating contact d, and the relay switch 21 has a coil portion f and a switch portion g.
Have and. A power source 23 is connected to the movable piece a, and a terminal 16a is connected to the contact point d. A switch part g is connected to the contact point c together with the contact point d, and the switch part g is grounded via the lamp 22. The terminal 16b is grounded via the coil portion f (Fig. 1). 15 is a filler plug (Fig. 2).

The operation of the lubricating oil deterioration warning device thus configured will be described.

When the movable piece a of the key switch 19 is switched to the accessory contact c, the relay switch 21 is inoperative and the switch part g is closed, so that the alarm lamp 22 is turned on. At this time, if the lamp 22 is not turned on, the disconnection of the lamp 22 can be detected.

When the movable piece a of the switch 19 is switched to the engine operating contact d, an electric current flows through the wire rod 17 to the coil portion f,
21 is operated to open the switch part g. As a result, the lamp 22
Turns off. When the transmission 10 is used for a long period of time, the lubricating oil 13 deteriorates and the state of high oxidation index continues, and when the wire 17 is melted by the acidic lubricating oil 13, no current flows in the coil part f. Therefore, the switch 21 is deactivated, the switch part g is closed, and the lamp 22 is turned on. This allows the passenger to easily know that the lubricating oil 13 has reached the limit of use.

Remove the drain plug 12 to remove the old used lubricating oil from the case 11, insert the drain plug with the new wire 17 attached, and fill the new lubricating oil from the filler plug 15 to the case 11.
Fill inside. This prevents corrosion of metal parts inside the transmission 10.

In the example, the deterioration warning of the lubricating oil was issued when the wire rod was melted.However, by changing the material of the wire material to a material that is easily melted by an acidic liquid, or by making the wire diameter smaller,
The present invention can also be used as a warning alarm device for notifying that the lubricating oil will soon deteriorate when the wire is melted.

Further, in the embodiment, the lubricating oil for the transmission of the vehicle is mentioned, but this is an example, and the lubricating oil for the engine or the differential device may be used. The lubricating oil is not limited to the vehicle and may be lubricating oil for other industrial machines.

Further, although the iron wire is mentioned as the wire material, the wire material is not limited to this, and may be aluminum, zinc, nickel, copper, or an alloy thereof which is soluble in an acidic liquid and has conductivity.

Further, although the drain plug is used as the wire rod holder, a filler plug attached to the lubricating oil inlet may be used.

Also, with the wire rod not melted, the alarm lamp was lit when switching to the key switch accessory contact, and turned off when switching to the engine operating contact.
The alarm lamp may be turned on before switching to the engine operating contact before the engine is started, and may be turned off after switching to the starter motor starting contact and after starting the engine.

Further, the alarm device is not limited to the alarm lamp, and an alarm buzzer or a lamp and a buzzer may be used together.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when the lubricating oil oxidizes and the wire melts, the alarm means gives an alarm, so that the occupant can accurately know the deterioration state of the lubricating oil or the state immediately before the deterioration. If you change the lubricating oil appropriately after receiving this alarm,
Corrosion and damage of metal parts can be prevented.

In particular, since the alarm device of the present invention is composed of a small number of parts, the mounting space is small, and the alarm device can be installed easily and economically.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2 showing a deterioration warning device for lubricating oil according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the transmission showing the mounting position of the wire rod holder. 11: Case, 12: Drain plug (wire rod holder), 13: Lubricating oil, 16: Lead wire, 17: Conductive wire rod, 18: Alarm circuit (alarm means).

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A conductive wire rod that melts when immersed in an acid solution and left for a predetermined time, and a conductive wire rod that penetrates through a case in which lubricating oil is sealed and holds the wire rod immersed in the lubricating oil. And a wire rod holder having a pair of lead wires electrically connected to both ends of the wire rod, and an alarm unit that is electrically connected to the lead wire and gives a warning of deterioration of the lubricating oil when the wire rod is melted. Lubricating oil deterioration warning device. 2. A conductive wire rod that melts when immersed in an acid solution and left for a predetermined time, and a conductive wire rod that penetrates through a case in which lubricating oil is sealed and holds the wire rod in a state where it is immersed in the lubricating oil. A wire rod holder having a pair of lead wires electrically connected to both ends of the wire rod, and a notice of deterioration of the lubricating oil when the wire rod is electrically connected to the pair of lead wires of the wire rod holder and melted Lubricating oil deterioration warning device with advance warning and warning means.