DE19528933A1 - Crankcase oil level regulating system for internal combustion engine - has equalising container arranged for neutralising oblique positions of crankcase, in relation to refilling accuracy and crankcase and filling level probe - Google Patents

Abstract

The system includes at least one filling-level probe (2), which is arranged in an equalising container (8), itself positioned to neutralise any oblique alignment of the crankcase (1), affecting the refilling accuracy of the level in the crankcase, resulting with the failure to reach. An oil storage tank (3) arranged above the crankcase, feeds oil by gravity or with pump across a connection (5), to the crankcase. The equalising container has several annular walls placed one in the other, forming at least one annular chamber (28a-28d). Each chamber communicates with an adjoining chamber through a calibrated opening. The equalising container can be arranged in a corner of the crankcase. The regulating system generates an electrical pulse across the regulator, which starts a refilling pump and opens a magnetic valve.

Description

The invention relates to a device for controlling the Oil level in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, which if the oil level falls below a minimum by at least a level probe a temporary refill initiates.

Such a device is for example from DE 17 51 313 known.

The decisive disadvantage of all well-known Devices are that they are complex and above all that they have moving parts that are among the difficult conditions in the crankcase itself moving motor vehicle repeatedly to cause malfunctions give.

The registration is therefore based on the task of a Device for regulating the oil level in the crankcase To create internal combustion engine that is simple in its construction and has no moving parts.

This object is achieved by the specified in claim 1 Device solved.

Preferred embodiments of the method are in the Sub-claims reproduced.

The refill device according to the invention fills used items Lubricating oil in the easiest way fully automatically.

Refilling can be done with the engine running. Vehicle position as well as driving conditions such as acceleration, deceleration,  Changes of direction remain without influence because the level probe is arranged within an expansion tank. Parallel a refill in the cab or on Dashboard are provided.

If the oil level falls below an assumed level Zero line (minimum level) is entered in various ways electrical impulse exerted by a controller that the Starting a refill pump or opening one Solenoid valve causes. The termination of the pumping process or the solenoid valve closes automatically after one preset time period, which can be chosen arbitrarily. The latter is the measure of the desired filling adjustable beyond the zero line.

The device that when the oil level falls below the Any pulse generated for the controller can be selected as required. For example, B. current-carrying spirals at If the zero line is undershot, change its conductance or Setup using reed contacts.

The invention is based on a Exemplary embodiment explained.

Fig. 1 shows a simplified diagram of a refill control according to the invention, wherein the crankcase 1 and the oil reservoir 6 are shown in section.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the used in Fig. 1 in the crankcase (1) the expansion tank (8),

Fig. 3 shows a preferred arrangement of the compensation tank ( 8 ) in the crankcase ( 1 ).

An expansion tank 8 is arranged within the crankcase 1 . In this, starting from an imaginary center, one or more, e.g. B. circular-shaped annular spaces 28 a- 28 d are arranged, which are closed, each connected by a calibrated flow opening.

The through openings are evenly offset from each other so that the sum of their central angles is 360 °. The outlet opening 29 d of the outermost annular space 28 is connected to the oil content of the crankcase.

In the center of the expansion tank 8 , the innermost annular space 28 a, a level probe 2 of any construction is arranged. A flat, current-flowing spiral has proven its worth. The strength of the current flow changes depending on the oil coverage of the coil.

For example, the oil level of level h of the spiral If the temperature drops below this, the current flow changes an impulse that initiates the refilling process is then softer after a set time has ended.

The timing is usually set up so that the oil level nearby after completing the filling process the maximum permissible oil level.

In the event of inclinations of the oil pan 1 and thus also the expansion tank 8 , the innermost chamber of the same cannot be emptied, because with each inclination the lower edge of one of the flow openings 29 a- 29 d is higher than the oil level in the innermost chamber in any direction .

The lower edge of the passage openings 29 a- 29 advantageously slot-shaped d must be slightly deeper than the bottom plane of the spiral. It is understandable that a discharge from the innermost chamber of the equalizing container 8 is only possible in a horizontal position. In this simple way it is prevented that short or long-term inclinations cause overfilling.

If at least 3 annular chambers are arranged in the expansion tank 8 , this can be installed at any location within the crankcase 1 .

If it is installed in a corner of the crankcase, it is enough two ring chambers because a drain from the innermost chamber an inclination in only two directions is possible.

Ultimately, it is still possible to attach the expansion tank above the central axis and at one end of the crankcase ( Fig. 3). Here, the expansion tank 8 can be equipped with only one chamber, the outlet opening of the expansion tank 8 being arranged opposite one another on the central axis of the crankcase and the closest crankcase end. Since the outlet opening is arranged on the central axis, a lateral tilting around the central axis does not cause the expansion tank to empty. Tilting to the side in which the expansion tank 8 is located leads to an overfilling of the expansion tank and thus secures against further undesired refilling. Tilting the crankcase to the opposite side cannot result in the expansion tank not emptying, since in this case its outlet opening lies above the liquid level in the expansion tank.

It is structurally advantageous to have the feed line 5 open directly into the expansion tank. With regard to the function, there is also the advantage that when a display associated with the filling process is arranged in the driver's cab, the display goes out immediately after the start of the filling process.

Furthermore, it must be noted that from containers 3 , which are below the oil level of the crankcase, no lifting can occur when the vehicle is strongly inclined, which could cause the crankcase to be overfilled. This can easily be achieved by atmospheric connection of the feed line at its highest point.

The main reason for the introduction of automatic refill devices is the necessity caused by the competition to extend the maintenance intervals to the highest possible level. This means that the total amount of oil that is consumed in the period between two maintenance operations must be carried. It should also be noted that the oil in the crankcase also meets all requirements in terms of quality up to the time of maintenance. The latter can mean that the oil in the oil reservoir 3 must be used in order to meet this quality requirement. The oil reservoir 3 is therefore preferably connected to the crankcase 1 via an additional oil return line. Thus, by means of gravity or by means of an additional return pump, an appropriate oil flow can be continuously or intermittently returned from the crankcase 1 to the reservoir 3 . The resulting oil circulation approximates the oil quality of the two containers in order to extend the oil change cycle in this way.

When using a return pump, its running times advantageous with the duration of the refill processes coupled.

Claims (9)

1. Device for regulating the oil level in the crankcase ( 1 ) of an internal combustion engine, which initiates a time-limited refilling process when the oil level falls below a minimum (h) by at least one level probe ( 2 ), characterized in that for neutralizing any inclined positions of the crankcase ( 1 ) with respect to the refilling accuracy in the crankcase ( 1 ) a compensating tank ( 8 ) is arranged, the level probe (s) ( 2 ) being arranged in this compensating tank ( 8 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the expansion tank ( 8 ) has a plurality of nested, at least one annular chamber ( 28 a- 28 d) forming ring walls, each annular chamber ( 28 a- 28 d) with the space adjacent to it a calibrated opening ( 29 a- 29 d) is connected. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the calibrated openings ( 29 a- 29 d) of the annular spaces ( 28 a- 28 d) are arranged so that they form approximately the same angle to an imaginary center, the addition of Angle is 360 °. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion tank ( 8 ) is arranged in a corner of the crankcase ( 1 ). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the expansion tank ( 8 ) is arranged on the central axis of the crankcase ( 1 ) and outside the geometric center of the oil level. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed line ( 5 ) from the reservoir ( 3 ) to the crankcase ( 1 ) opens directly into the expansion tank ( 8 ). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed line ( 5 ) is in communication with the atmosphere at a highest point. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oil reservoir ( 3 ) is above the crankcase level and a solenoid valve is arranged to control the oil flow in the supply line. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an oil return line via the gravity or a pump continuously or temporarily oil from the crankcase ( 1 ) in the oil reservoir ( 3 ) is recyclable, so that in connection with the automatic refill Oil circuit between crankcase ( 1 ) and oil reservoir ( 3 ) can be maintained.