EP1229218A1 - Automatic device for regulation of oil level in a combustion engine - Google Patents

Automatic device for regulation of oil level in a combustion engine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1229218A1
EP1229218A1 EP02290232A EP02290232A EP1229218A1 EP 1229218 A1 EP1229218 A1 EP 1229218A1 EP 02290232 A EP02290232 A EP 02290232A EP 02290232 A EP02290232 A EP 02290232A EP 1229218 A1 EP1229218 A1 EP 1229218A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
oil
point
reserve
engine
evacuation
Prior art date
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Granted
Application number
EP02290232A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1229218B1 (en
Inventor
Gérard Desplanches
Gérard Robcis
Jacques Lombardin
Pierre Vaillard
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Renault SAS
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Renault SAS
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Publication of EP1229218A1 publication Critical patent/EP1229218A1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
    • F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
    • F01M11/06—Means for keeping lubricant level constant or for accommodating movement or position of machines or engines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
    • F01M11/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01M1/00 - F01M9/00
    • F01M11/04—Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
    • F01M11/0458—Lubricant filling and draining
    • F01M2011/0466—Filling or draining during running

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an automatic level control device. oil in a 4-stroke thermal engine.
  • Reducing the cost of maintaining vehicles and limiting their downtime for maintenance are desirable goals including implementation involves lengthening the drain intervals (beyond 50,000 km and if possible 100,000 km).
  • the problem getting the amount of oil needed to board the vehicle compensate for its consumption between two oil changes.
  • the place available in the oil pan is not sufficient, especially since this latter tends to be reduced in useful volume in order to increase the compactness of the engine.
  • the manual creation of multiple oil toppings is not realistic in an era when one seeks to provide the customers a "carefree" vehicle. There is therefore a need for a system automatically compensates for engine oil consumption without risk to the product and people and at an acceptable cost.
  • the invention aims to satisfy this need.
  • the oil discharge point is located approximately at the barycentric point of the positions of the level of regulation of the oil contained in the crankcase.
  • the barycentric point is the point of intersection of the planes occupied by the surface of the oil contained in the housing for different plates of the parked vehicle.
  • the oil regulation level is the oil level fixed by the point in the housing.
  • the means of transfer and evacuation oil include a double pump, i.e. a device for pumping combining two pumps mechanically mounted on a shaft of common training.
  • the control means can be constituted, at least in part of the electronic engine control unit usually mounted on most current motor vehicles.
  • the device of the invention introduced into the engine an amount of oil whose value is limited. Indeed, by construction, the level that the oil in the engine can reach cannot exceed the level of the discharge point provided in the housing. As soon as the oil level reaches this discharge point, the oil overflow is discharged and returned to the reserve. In the preferred case where the evacuation point is located at the barycentric point, the quantity of oil introduced will be insensitive to the attitude of the vehicle at the time of the operation.
  • the device of the invention therefore makes it possible to guard against the risk of overfilling with engine oil.
  • the frequency and duration of backup operations can be easily determined and programmed in the control means in function of normal engine oil consumption and making so that the energy consumed (proportional to the duration of the operation) by each operation is compatible with the available energy reserves on the stationary vehicle, that is to say, usually with the capacity of the drums.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention, while FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of this device.
  • Figure 1 shows the engine 1 of a vehicle (not shown) comprising, conventionally, an oil pan 2 at its lower part.
  • This crankcase houses an oil refill point 3 and an overflow discharge point 4 any oil.
  • point 4 of evacuation is located at the barycentric point of the planes (shown in phantom) occupied by the oil surface at the oil regulation level and for different plates of the vehicle (only three plates have been shown in the figure).
  • the backup point 3 is connected to the lower part of a reserve 5 of oil through a pipe 6 through a non-return valve 7 and the first pump 8 of a double pump 9.
  • the discharge point 4 is connected to the upper part of the reserve 5 by a pipe 10 to the through a check valve 11 and the second pump 12 of the double pump 9.
  • the two pumps 8 and 12 are mounted on a common shaft which is rotated by an electric gear motor 13. Both pumps, which therefore rotate in the same direction at an identical speed, have, by construction, different flow capacities, the flow capacity of the second pump 12 being greater than that of the first pump 8 and this regardless of the viscosity difference between the oil from the reserve 5 and the oil coming from the crankcase 2.
  • the pump 12 if it is not self-priming, must be located below the point evacuation 4 so as to guarantee its priming whatever the trim of the vehicle. This condition disappears if the pump 12 is self-priming.
  • the pipes 6 and 10 pass through the wall of the casing by sealed passages.
  • the two non-return valves 7 and 11 can be of the ball type and spring as shown. It should be noted that the role of the valve 7 is to prevent the oil contained in reserve 5 does not flow, under the effect of gravity, into the casing 2 through the pump 8 stopped when all or part of this oil is above the maximum level of the oil contained in the housing which is usually the case when, as illustrated, the reserve 5 is located at a level higher than said level maximum oil in the crankcase. To this end the setting of the valve spring 7 must be sufficient to withstand the pressure difference caused by the maximum possible difference in oil levels in reserve 5, one part, and in the casing 2, on the other hand. For its part, the valve 11 has for function of avoiding air intake by the engine in operation under the effect reduced pressure in the housing.
  • Reserve 5 can have any oil capacity sufficient to ensure topping up for a desired mileage.
  • a capacity of two or three liters is usually enough for a mileage of 40,000 to 60,000 kilometers in based on an average oil consumption of 0.05 liter / 1000 kilometers.
  • the reserve 5 is provided at its upper part with an air intake 15 preventing its internal volume from being depressed when oil therein is taken up by pump 8.
  • the device also includes a control unit 14 of the gear motor 13, which consists of the electronic control unit of the engine usually fitted on most current vehicles after proper programming of it.
  • the device of the invention is triggered when the engine, after a period of operation, has been stopped for a time t (for example from 15 to 20 minutes) sufficient to ensure the return of the oil contained in the engine at the bottom of the engine housing and provided that by elsewhere, the vehicle has traveled a certain mileage (e.g. included between 1000 and 2000 km) since it was put into service or the previous one add oil and the engine water temperature is higher than, for example, 70 ° C, to be sure that at least 95% of the oil either returned to the casing at the bottom of the engine.
  • a water temperature of 70 ° C usually corresponds to an oil temperature of 40 to 80 ° C. In variant, one could, of course, substitute the oil temperature, when available, at water temperature, as a parameter of trigger.
  • the unit of command 14 triggers the operation of the reduction motor 13 and, therefore, of the double pump 9, and this for a predetermined duration, by 1 minute example.
  • the double pump used had the following flow rates, depending on the temperature, for a 5W30 oil: Oil temperature Booster pump flow 8 (l / min) Drain pump flow 12 (l / min) -25 ° C 0.228 1.27 0 ° C 0.244 1.37 + 20 ° C 0.228 1.27 + 40 ° C 0,204 1.15 + 50 ° C 0.156 0.88 + 80 ° C 0.044 0.25
  • the flow rate of the booster pump 8 is sufficient to ensure in 1 minute, or even less, sufficient oil to compensate for normal oil consumption (0.05 liter / 1000 km) or even increased.
  • FIGS 2 to 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the device Figure 1.
  • the assembly constituted by the geared motor 13, the double pump 9 and valves 7 and 11 is replaced by a piston pump 20 and double chamber 21, 22, four ball valves 23-26 and a motor electric 27 driving a steering wheel 28 associated with a connecting rod 29 driving the rod 30 of the piston 20 of the pump in a reciprocating movement.
  • FIGS 2 to 5 illustrate various phases of the operation of this variant during an oil top-up operation.
  • the piston 20 is at the end of its travel, the volume of room 21 being at its minimum and room 22 being totally filled with oil previously aspirated from reserve 5 via valve 23.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the retraction phase of the piston.
  • the oil contained in chamber 22 is injected into the oil pan 2 of the engine, while simultaneously any overflow of incoming oil at point 4 of evacuation is sucked into the chamber 21 via the conduit 10 and the valve 25.
  • Figure 4 shows the piston in the fully retracted position.
  • the room 22 is reduced to its minimum volume and room 21 contains an amount of oil corresponding to the overflow reached in point 4 during the oil injection.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the advance phase of the piston. During this phase the oil contained in chamber 21 is discharged into reserve 5 via the valve 26, while the chamber 22 is filled with oil sucked from the reserve 5.
  • the pump 19 has the capacity to drain from the oil pan, via point 4 and the line 10, a maximum oil flow greater than the makeup oil flow injected into the casing 2 via the conduit 6, thus avoiding any risk of overfilling.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Lubrication Details And Ventilation Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Abstract

The oil evacuation point (4) is situated approximately at the barycentric point of the oil level positions contained in the oil reservoir (2). The oil transfer and evacuation system includes a double rotating pump (9) or a piston pump with twin chambers. The rotating pump is associated with valves (7,11). The oil level control unit forms at least a part of the vehicles electronic control system (14). Automatic regulation of oil in oil reservoir of a vehicles internal combustion engine which has an oil reserve (5) connected by a tube (6) to an oil feed point (3) in the oil reservoir. A second pipe (10) connects the oil reserve to a oil overfill evacuation point (4) in the oil reservoir. The system also includes means (8,12,14) which allows transfer of oil from the reserve towards the oil feed point and to simultaneously remove overfill oil from the evacuation point towards the reserve. A control unit for oil transfer and evacuation ensures its start after a predetermined time from engine shutdown and provided that (a) the temperature of the oil in the reservoir or the temperature of the engines cooling water is in a predetermined temperature range and (b) a minimum predetermined number of kilometers has been traveled by the vehicle since the last maintenance service or operation of the preceding oil replenishment point.

Description

L'invention concerne un dispositif automatique de régulation du niveau d'huile dans un moteur thermique à 4 temps.The invention relates to an automatic level control device. oil in a 4-stroke thermal engine.

La réduction du coût d'entretien des véhicules et la limitation de leur durée d'immobilisation pour entretien sont des objectifs souhaitables dont la réalisation passe par l'allongement des intervalles de vidange (au-delà des 50 000 km et si possible à 100 000 km). Dans cette perspective se pose le problème d'embarquer dans le véhicule la quantité d'huile nécessaire pour compenser sa consommation entre deux vidanges. En effet, la place disponible dans le carter d'huile n'est pas suffisante, d'autant plus que ce dernier tend à être réduit en volume utile dans le but d'augmenter la compacité du moteur. Par ailleurs la réalisation manuelle de multiples appoints d'huile n'est pas réaliste à une époque où l'on cherche à fournir à la clientèle un véhicule "sans souci". Il existe donc un besoin pour un système compensant automatiquement la consommation d'huile moteur et ce, sans risque pour le produit et les personnes et à un coût acceptable.Reducing the cost of maintaining vehicles and limiting their downtime for maintenance are desirable goals including implementation involves lengthening the drain intervals (beyond 50,000 km and if possible 100,000 km). In this perspective, the problem getting the amount of oil needed to board the vehicle compensate for its consumption between two oil changes. Indeed, the place available in the oil pan is not sufficient, especially since this latter tends to be reduced in useful volume in order to increase the compactness of the engine. In addition, the manual creation of multiple oil toppings is not realistic in an era when one seeks to provide the customers a "carefree" vehicle. There is therefore a need for a system automatically compensates for engine oil consumption without risk to the product and people and at an acceptable cost.

Divers systèmes automatiques d'appoint en huile ont déjà été proposés ; voir notamment JP-A-80 21225, JP-A-83 26519, JP-A-91 00711, FR-A--2 729 714, et FR-A-2 735 814. Tous ces systèmes, dont la plupart ont recours à une mesure du niveau d'huile dans le moteur, souffrent, toutefois, d'un manque de sécurité, rien n'étant prévu en cas de défaillance du système.Various automatic oil make-up systems have already been proposed; see in particular JP-A-80 21225, JP-A-83 26519, JP-A-91 00711, FR-A - 2,729,714, and FR-A-2,735,814. All of these systems, most of which have recourse to a measurement of the oil level in the engine, suffer, however, a lack of security, nothing being provided in case of failure of the system.

Il existe donc un besoin pour un système d'appoint en huile sûr, permettant en particulier d'éviter le risque de sur-remplissage, qui pourrait conduire, dans le cas d'un moteur diesel, à un emballement de ce dernier, voire à sa destruction.There is therefore a need for a safe oil make-up system, in particular to avoid the risk of overfilling, which could lead, in the case of a diesel engine, to runaway of the latter, or even its destruction.

L'invention vise à satisfaire ce besoin.The invention aims to satisfy this need.

Plus précisément, l'invention concerne un dispositif automatique d'appoint d'huile dans le carter d'huile du moteur à explosion d'un véhicule qui comprend une réserve d'huile reliée par une première tubulure à un point d'ajout d'huile dans ledit carter et par une deuxième tubulure à un point d'évacuation du trop-plein éventuel d'huile dans ledit carter, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, en outre :

  • des moyens permettant à la fois de transférer de l'huile à partir de ladite réserve vers ledit point d'ajout d'huile et, simultanément, d'évacuer tout trop-plein d'huile éventuel par ledit point d'évacuation en direction de ladite réserve, la capacité de débit d'huile évacuable par lesdits moyens étant supérieure au débit d'huile ajouté ; et des moyens de commande desdits moyens de transfert et d'évacuation assurant la mise en marche de ces derniers après une durée prédéterminée depuis l'arrêt du moteur et pourvu que (a) la température de l'huile dans le carter ou la température de l'eau de refroidissement du moteur se trouve dans une gamme de température prédéterminée et (b) un kilométrage minimum prédéterminé ait été parcouru par le véhicule depuis la mise en service du véhicule ou l'opération d'appoint d'huile précédente.
    • More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic device for adding oil to the oil pan of the combustion engine of a vehicle which comprises an oil reserve connected by a first tube to a point of addition of oil in said casing and by a second tube at a point of evacuation of any overflow of oil in said casing, characterized in that it further comprises:
  • means making it possible both to transfer oil from said reserve to said point of adding oil and, simultaneously, to evacuate any possible oil overflow through said point of evacuation towards said reserve, the oil flow capacity evacuatable by said means being greater than the added oil flow; and means for controlling said transfer and evacuation means ensuring that they are started after a predetermined period since the engine has stopped and provided that (a) the temperature of the oil in the crankcase or the temperature of the engine cooling water is within a predetermined temperature range and (b) a predetermined minimum mileage has been traveled by the vehicle since the vehicle was put into service or the previous oil topping up operation.

    • De préférence, le point d'évacuation d'huile est situé approximativement au point barycentrique des positions du niveau de régulation de l'huile contenue dans le carter. Le point barycentrique est le point d'intersection des plans occupés par la surface de l'huile contenue dans le carter pour différentes assiettes du véhicule en stationnement. Le niveau de régulation de l'huile est le niveau d'huile fixé par le point d'évacuation dans le carter.Preferably, the oil discharge point is located approximately at the barycentric point of the positions of the level of regulation of the oil contained in the crankcase. The barycentric point is the point of intersection of the planes occupied by the surface of the oil contained in the housing for different plates of the parked vehicle. The oil regulation level is the oil level fixed by the point in the housing.

    De préférence également, les moyens de transfert et d'évacuation d'huile comprennent une pompe double, c'est-à-dire un dispositif de pompage combinant deux pompes montées mécaniquement sur un arbre d'entraínement commun.Preferably also, the means of transfer and evacuation oil include a double pump, i.e. a device for pumping combining two pumps mechanically mounted on a shaft of common training.

    Les moyens de commande peuvent être constitués, au moins en partie, de l'unité de contrôle électronique du moteur ordinairement montée sur la plupart des véhicules automobiles actuels.The control means can be constituted, at least in part of the electronic engine control unit usually mounted on most current motor vehicles.

    A chaque opération d'appoint, le dispositif de l'invention introduit dans le moteur une quantité d'huile dont la valeur est limitée. En effet, par construction, le niveau que peut atteindre l'huile dans le moteur ne peut dépasser le niveau du point d'évacuation prévu dans le carter. Dès que le niveau d'huile atteint ce point d'évacuation, le trop-plein d'huile est évacué et renvoyé dans la réserve. Dans le cas préféré où le point d'évacuation est situé au point barycentrique, la quantité d'huile introduite sera insensible à l'assiette du véhicule au moment de l'opération.On each top-up operation, the device of the invention introduced into the engine an amount of oil whose value is limited. Indeed, by construction, the level that the oil in the engine can reach cannot exceed the level of the discharge point provided in the housing. As soon as the oil level reaches this discharge point, the oil overflow is discharged and returned to the reserve. In the preferred case where the evacuation point is located at the barycentric point, the quantity of oil introduced will be insensitive to the attitude of the vehicle at the time of the operation.

    Le dispositif de l'invention permet donc de se prémunir du risque de sur-remplissage en huile du moteur.The device of the invention therefore makes it possible to guard against the risk of overfilling with engine oil.

    La fréquence et la durée des opérations d'appoint peuvent être aisément déterminées et programmées dans les moyens de commande en fonction de la consommation normale d'huile du moteur et en faisant en sorte que l'énergie consommée (proportionnelle à la durée de l'opération) par chaque opération soit compatible avec les réserves d'énergie disponibles sur le véhicule à l'arrêt, c'est-à-dire, usuellement, avec la capacité de la batterie.The frequency and duration of backup operations can be easily determined and programmed in the control means in function of normal engine oil consumption and making so that the energy consumed (proportional to the duration of the operation) by each operation is compatible with the available energy reserves on the stationary vehicle, that is to say, usually with the capacity of the drums.

    Relativement à un dispositif d'appoint piloté à partir d'une mesure du niveau d'huile, le dispositif de l'invention permet :

    • la suppression du risque de sur-remplissage en huile du moteur soit par déclenchement intempestif du dispositif d'appoint à partir d'une information erronée de niveau d'huile, soit en cas de défaillance du système avec non-arrêt des moyens amenant l'huile d'appoint au moteur, risque touchant la sécurité du produit et des personnes (emballement de moteur diesel avec possibilité de perte de contrôle du véhicule),
    • une implantation facilitée dans le carter d'huile du moteur : la tubulure d'évacuation du trop-plein étant moins encombrante qu'une jauge de niveau d'huile,
    • une stratégie de pilotage simplifiée, ne nécessitant pas les verrous logiciels destinés à limiter les effets des défaillances de la chaíne de jaugeage de l'huile et ne nécessitant plus une validation spécifique, longue et coûteuse,
    • un développement simplifié grâce à la possibilité de fonctionner uniquement avec l'unité de contrôle électronique usuelle du moteur sans besoin d'informations issues d'autres unités de commande électronique du véhicule (par exemple habitacle, tableau de bord),
    • un entretien simplifié dans le réseau d'agents grâce à une moindre complexité du système.
    Relative to a booster device controlled from a measurement of the oil level, the device of the invention allows:
    • elimination of the risk of overfilling the engine with oil either by inadvertent triggering of the booster device from erroneous oil level information, or in the event of a system failure with non-stopping of the means bringing the engine oil, risk affecting product and personal safety (runaway diesel engine with possibility of loss of control of the vehicle),
    • easier installation in the engine oil sump: the overflow discharge pipe being less bulky than an oil level gauge,
    • a simplified management strategy, not requiring software locks intended to limit the effects of failures in the oil gauging chain and no longer requiring specific, long and costly validation,
    • simplified development thanks to the possibility of operating only with the usual electronic engine control unit without the need for information from other electronic vehicle control units (for example, passenger compartment, dashboard),
    • simplified maintenance in the agent network thanks to less system complexity.

    La description suivante faite en se référant au dessin annexé fera bien comprendre l'invention.The following description made with reference to the accompanying drawing will do well understand the invention.

    Sur le dessin, la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un dispositif selon l'invention, tandis que les figures 2 à 5 illustrent une variante de réalisation de ce dispositif.In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention, while FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of this device.

    La figure 1 montre le moteur 1 d'un véhicule (non représenté) comportant, de façon classique, un carter 2 d'huile à sa partie inférieure. Ce carter abrite un point 3 d'appoint d'huile et un point 4 d'évacuation d'un trop-plein d'huile éventuel. De préférence, comme illustré, le point 4 d'évacuation est situé au point barycentrique des plans (représentés en trait mixte) occupés par la surface de l'huile au niveau de régulation d'huile et pour des assiettes différentes du véhicule (trois assiettes seulement ont été représentées sur la figure).Figure 1 shows the engine 1 of a vehicle (not shown) comprising, conventionally, an oil pan 2 at its lower part. This crankcase houses an oil refill point 3 and an overflow discharge point 4 any oil. Preferably, as illustrated, point 4 of evacuation is located at the barycentric point of the planes (shown in phantom) occupied by the oil surface at the oil regulation level and for different plates of the vehicle (only three plates have been shown in the figure).

    Le point d'appoint 3 est relié à la partie inférieure d'une réserve 5 d'huile par une tubulure 6 au travers d'un clapet anti-retour 7 et de la première pompe 8 d'une pompe double 9. De son côté, le point d'évacuation 4 est relié à la partie supérieure de la réserve 5 par une tubulure 10 au travers d'un clapet anti-retour 11 et de la deuxième pompe 12 de la double pompe 9. Les deux pompes 8 et 12 sont montées sur un arbre commun qui est entraíné en rotation par un moto-réducteur électrique 13. Les deux pompes, qui tournent donc dans le même sens à un régime identique, ont, par construction, des capacités de débit différentes, la capacité de débit de la seconde pompe 12 étant supérieure à celle de la première pompe 8 et cela quel que soit l'écart de viscosité entre l'huile en provenance de la réserve 5 et l'huile en provenance du carter 2. La pompe 12, si elle n'est pas auto-amorçante, doit être située à un niveau inférieur à celui du point d'évacuation 4 de façon à garantir son amorçage quelle que soit l'assiette du véhicule. Cette condition disparaít si la pompe 12 est auto-amorçante. Les tubulures 6 et 10 traversent la paroi du carter par des passages étanches.The backup point 3 is connected to the lower part of a reserve 5 of oil through a pipe 6 through a non-return valve 7 and the first pump 8 of a double pump 9. For its part, the discharge point 4 is connected to the upper part of the reserve 5 by a pipe 10 to the through a check valve 11 and the second pump 12 of the double pump 9. The two pumps 8 and 12 are mounted on a common shaft which is rotated by an electric gear motor 13. Both pumps, which therefore rotate in the same direction at an identical speed, have, by construction, different flow capacities, the flow capacity of the second pump 12 being greater than that of the first pump 8 and this regardless of the viscosity difference between the oil from the reserve 5 and the oil coming from the crankcase 2. The pump 12, if it is not self-priming, must be located below the point evacuation 4 so as to guarantee its priming whatever the trim of the vehicle. This condition disappears if the pump 12 is self-priming. The pipes 6 and 10 pass through the wall of the casing by sealed passages.

    Les deux clapets anti-retour 7 et 11 peuvent être du type à bille et ressort comme illustré. Il est à noter que le clapet 7 a pour rôle d'éviter que l'huile contenue dans la réserve 5 ne s'écoule, sous l'effet de la gravité, dans le carter 2 au travers de la pompe 8 à l'arrêt lorsque tout ou partie de cette huile se trouve à un niveau supérieur au niveau maximum de l'huile contenue dans le carter ce qui est habituellement le cas lorsque, comme illustré, la réserve 5 est implantée à un niveau supérieur audit niveau maximum d'huile dans le carter. A cette fin le tarage du ressort du clapet 7 doit être suffisant pour résister à la différence de pression engendrée par la différence maximale possible des niveaux d'huile dans la réserve 5, d'une part, et dans le carter 2, d'autre part. De son côté, le clapet 11 a pour fonction d'éviter une prise d'air par le moteur en fonctionnement sous l'effet de la pression réduite régnant dans le carter.The two non-return valves 7 and 11 can be of the ball type and spring as shown. It should be noted that the role of the valve 7 is to prevent the oil contained in reserve 5 does not flow, under the effect of gravity, into the casing 2 through the pump 8 stopped when all or part of this oil is above the maximum level of the oil contained in the housing which is usually the case when, as illustrated, the reserve 5 is located at a level higher than said level maximum oil in the crankcase. To this end the setting of the valve spring 7 must be sufficient to withstand the pressure difference caused by the maximum possible difference in oil levels in reserve 5, one part, and in the casing 2, on the other hand. For its part, the valve 11 has for function of avoiding air intake by the engine in operation under the effect reduced pressure in the housing.

    La réserve 5 peut avoir toute capacité d'huile suffisante pour assurer l'appoint pendant un kilométrage désiré. Une capacité de deux ou trois litres suffit, usuellement, pour un kilométrage de 40.000 à 60.000 kilomètres en se basant sur une consommation moyenne d'huile de 0,05 litre/1000 kilomètres.Reserve 5 can have any oil capacity sufficient to ensure topping up for a desired mileage. A capacity of two or three liters is usually enough for a mileage of 40,000 to 60,000 kilometers in based on an average oil consumption of 0.05 liter / 1000 kilometers.

    La réserve 5 est pourvue à sa partie supérieure d'une prise d'air 15 évitant que son volume interne ne soit mis en dépression lorsque de l'huile y est prélevée par la pompe 8.The reserve 5 is provided at its upper part with an air intake 15 preventing its internal volume from being depressed when oil therein is taken up by pump 8.

    Le dispositif comprend aussi une unité de commande 14 du moto-réducteur électrique 13, qui est constituée de l'unité de contrôle électronique du moteur ordinairement montée sur la plupart des véhicules actuels après programmation convenable de celle-ci.The device also includes a control unit 14 of the gear motor 13, which consists of the electronic control unit of the engine usually fitted on most current vehicles after proper programming of it.

    Le dispositif de l'invention est déclenché lorsque le moteur, après une période de fonctionnement, est arrêté depuis un temps t (par exemple de l'ordre de 15 à 20 minutes) suffisant pour assurer le retour de l'huile contenue dans le moteur dans le bas du carter du moteur et pourvu que, par ailleurs, le véhicule ait parcouru un certain kilométrage (par exemple compris entre 1000 et 2000 km) depuis sa mise en service ou la précédente opération d'appoint d'huile et que la température d'eau du moteur soit supérieure à, par exemple, 70°C, afin d'être sûr qu'au moins 95% de l'huile soit retournée dans le carter au bas du moteur. A une température d'eau de 70°C correspond habituellement une température d'huile de 40 à 80°C. En variante, on pourrait, bien entendu, substituer la température d'huile, lorsqu'elle est disponible, à la température d'eau, comme paramètre de déclenchement.The device of the invention is triggered when the engine, after a period of operation, has been stopped for a time t (for example from 15 to 20 minutes) sufficient to ensure the return of the oil contained in the engine at the bottom of the engine housing and provided that by elsewhere, the vehicle has traveled a certain mileage (e.g. included between 1000 and 2000 km) since it was put into service or the previous one add oil and the engine water temperature is higher than, for example, 70 ° C, to be sure that at least 95% of the oil either returned to the casing at the bottom of the engine. At a water temperature of 70 ° C usually corresponds to an oil temperature of 40 to 80 ° C. In variant, one could, of course, substitute the oil temperature, when available, at water temperature, as a parameter of trigger.

    Lorsque les conditions de déclenchement sont satisfaites l'unité de commande 14 déclenche le fonctionnement du moteur réducteur 13 et, donc, de la pompe double 9, et cela pendant une durée prédéterminée, par exemple de 1 minute.When the triggering conditions are satisfied the unit of command 14 triggers the operation of the reduction motor 13 and, therefore, of the double pump 9, and this for a predetermined duration, by 1 minute example.

    On donne ci-après quelques exemples chiffrés dans le cas d'un moteur turbo-diesel Renault F9Q d'une cylindrée de 1,9 litre ayant un volume d'huile maximum fonctionnel à 20°C de 3,3 litres et un volume d'huile minimum fonctionnel à 20°C de 2,5 litres, et consommant en moyenne 0,05 litre d'huile par 1000 kilomètres.We give below some numerical examples in the case of a 1.9-liter Renault F9Q turbo-diesel engine with volume maximum functional oil at 20 ° C of 3.3 liters and one volume of oil operating minimum at 20 ° C of 2.5 liters, and consuming on average 0.05 liter of oil per 1000 kilometers.

    La double pompe utilisée présentait les débits suivants, en fonction de la température, pour une huile 5W30 : Température de l'huile Débit de la pompe d'appoint 8 (l/mn) Débit de la pompe d'évacuation 12 (l/mn) -25°C 0,228 1,27 0°C 0,244 1,37 +20°C 0,228 1,27 +40°C 0,204 1,15 +50°C 0,156 0,88 +80°C 0,044 0,25 The double pump used had the following flow rates, depending on the temperature, for a 5W30 oil: Oil temperature Booster pump flow 8 (l / min) Drain pump flow 12 (l / min) -25 ° C 0.228 1.27 0 ° C 0.244 1.37 + 20 ° C 0.228 1.27 + 40 ° C 0,204 1.15 + 50 ° C 0.156 0.88 + 80 ° C 0.044 0.25

    On notera que dans tous les cas la capacité de débit de la pompe d'évacuation excède la capacité de débit de la pompe d'appoint 8, ce qui est une garantie contre le sur-remplissage du moteur en huile, même en situation de défaillance avec une double pompe n'arrêtant pas de tourner.Note that in all cases the flow capacity of the pump discharge exceeds the capacity of the booster pump 8, which is a guarantee against overfilling the engine with oil, even in failure situation with a double pump that keeps turning.

    On notera aussi que le débit de la pompe d'appoint 8 est suffisant pour assurer en 1 minute, ou même moins, un appoint d'huile suffisant pour compenser une consommation d'huile normale (0,05 litre/1000 km) ou même accrue. It will also be noted that the flow rate of the booster pump 8 is sufficient to ensure in 1 minute, or even less, sufficient oil to compensate for normal oil consumption (0.05 liter / 1000 km) or even increased.

    Les figures 2 à 5 illustrent une variante de réalisation du dispositif de la figure 1.Figures 2 to 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the device Figure 1.

    Selon cette variante, l'ensemble constitué par le moto-réducteur 13, la pompe double 9 et les clapets 7 et 11 est remplacé par une pompe à piston 20 et à double chambre 21, 22, quatre clapets à bille 23-26 et un moteur électrique 27 entraínant un volant 28 associé à une bielle 29 entraínant la tige 30 du piston 20 de la pompe selon un mouvement de va-et-vient.According to this variant, the assembly constituted by the geared motor 13, the double pump 9 and valves 7 and 11 is replaced by a piston pump 20 and double chamber 21, 22, four ball valves 23-26 and a motor electric 27 driving a steering wheel 28 associated with a connecting rod 29 driving the rod 30 of the piston 20 of the pump in a reciprocating movement.

    Les figures 2 à 5 illustrent diverses phases du fonctionnement de cette variante lors d'une opération d'appoint d'huile.Figures 2 to 5 illustrate various phases of the operation of this variant during an oil top-up operation.

    Sur la figure 2, le piston 20 se trouve en bout de course, le volume de la chambre 21 étant à son minimum et la chambre 22 étant totalement remplie d'huile préalablement aspirée à partir de la réserve 5 via le clapet 23.In FIG. 2, the piston 20 is at the end of its travel, the volume of room 21 being at its minimum and room 22 being totally filled with oil previously aspirated from reserve 5 via valve 23.

    La figure 3 illustre la phase de rétraction du piston. Au cours de cette phase, l'huile contenue dans la chambre 22 est injectée dans le carter d'huile 2 du moteur, tandis que, simultanément, le trop plein éventuel d'huile arrivant au point 4 d'évacuation est aspiré dans la chambre 21 via le conduit 10 et le clapet 25.Figure 3 illustrates the retraction phase of the piston. During this phase, the oil contained in chamber 22 is injected into the oil pan 2 of the engine, while simultaneously any overflow of incoming oil at point 4 of evacuation is sucked into the chamber 21 via the conduit 10 and the valve 25.

    La figure 4 montre le piston en position de rétraction complète. La chambre 22 est réduite à son volume minimum et la chambre 21 contient une quantité d'huile correspondant au trop-plein parvenu au point 4 d'évacuation pendant l'injection de l'huile.Figure 4 shows the piston in the fully retracted position. The room 22 is reduced to its minimum volume and room 21 contains an amount of oil corresponding to the overflow reached in point 4 during the oil injection.

    La figure 5 illustre la phase d'avancée du piston. Au cours de cette phase l'huile contenue dans la chambre 21 est refoulée dans la réserve 5 via le clapet 26, tandis que la chambre 22 se remplit d'huile aspirée à partir de la réserve 5.FIG. 5 illustrates the advance phase of the piston. During this phase the oil contained in chamber 21 is discharged into reserve 5 via the valve 26, while the chamber 22 is filled with oil sucked from the reserve 5.

    Du fait que le volume maximal de la chambre 21 est supérieur à celui de la chambre 22 compte tenu du volume occupé par la tige 30 du piston, la pompe 19 a la capacité d'évacuer du carter d'huile, via le point 4 et le conduit 10, un débit maximum d'huile supérieur au débit d'huile d'appoint injectée dans le carter 2 via le conduit 6, évitant ainsi tout risque de sur-remplissage.Because the maximum volume of chamber 21 is greater than that of the chamber 22 taking into account the volume occupied by the rod 30 of the piston, the pump 19 has the capacity to drain from the oil pan, via point 4 and the line 10, a maximum oil flow greater than the makeup oil flow injected into the casing 2 via the conduit 6, thus avoiding any risk of overfilling.

    L'utilisation d'une pompe à piston présente, en outre, l'avantage de ne pas poser de problème d'amorçage, l'aspiration d'huile étant garantie quelle que soit la position de la pompe par rapport au niveau du point d'évacuation 4.The use of a piston pump also has the advantage of no priming problem, oil suction guaranteed regardless of the position of the pump in relation to the point level evacuation 4.

    Il va de soi que les modes de réalisation décrits ne sont que des exemples et que l'on pourrait les modifier, notamment par substitution d'équivalents techniques, sans sortir pour cela de la présente invention.It goes without saying that the embodiments described are only examples and that we could modify them, in particular by substitution technical equivalents, without departing from the present invention.

    Claims (6)

    Un dispositif automatique d'appoint d'huile dans le carter d'huile (2) du moteur à explosion d'un véhicule qui comprend une réserve (5) d'huile reliée par une première tubulure (6) à un point d'ajout (3) d'huile dans ledit carter et par une deuxième tubulure (10) à un point d'évacuation (4) du trop-plein éventuel d'huile dans ledit carter, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend, en outre : des moyens (8, 12, 14) permettant à la fois de transférer de l'huile à partir de ladite réserve vers ledit point d'ajout d'huile et, simultanément, d'évacuer tout trop-plein d'huile éventuel par ledit point d'évacuation en direction de ladite réserve, la capacité de débit d'huile évacuable par lesdits moyens étant supérieure au débit d'huile ajouté ; et des moyens de commande desdits moyens de transfert et d'évacuation assurant la mise en marche de ces derniers après une durée prédéterminée depuis l'arrêt du moteur et pourvu que (a) la température de l'huile dans le carter ou la température de l'eau de refroidissement du moteur se trouve dans une gamme de température prédéterminée et (b) un kilométrage minimum prédéterminé ait été parcouru par le véhicule depuis la mise en service du véhicule ou l'opération d'appoint d'huile précédente. An automatic device for adding oil to the oil pan (2) of the combustion engine of a vehicle which comprises a reserve (5) of oil connected by a first tube (6) to a point of addition (3) of oil in said casing and by a second tube (10) at a point of discharge (4) of the possible overflow of oil in said casing, characterized in that it further comprises: means (8, 12, 14) making it possible both to transfer oil from said reserve to said point of adding oil and, simultaneously, to evacuate any possible oil overflow by said discharge point in the direction of said reserve, the capacity of oil flow evacuatable by said means being greater than the added oil flow; and means for controlling said transfer and evacuation means ensuring that they are started after a predetermined period since the engine has stopped and provided that (a) the temperature of the oil in the crankcase or the temperature of the engine cooling water is within a predetermined temperature range and (b) a predetermined minimum mileage has been traveled by the vehicle since the vehicle was put into service or the previous oil topping up operation. Un dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le point d'évacuation (4) d'huile est situé approximativement au point barycentrique des positions du niveau de régulation de l'huile contenue dans le carter.A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the oil discharge point (4) is situated approximately at the barycentric point of the positions of the level of regulation of the oil contained in the crankcase. Un dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de transfert et d'évacuation d'huile comprennent une pompe rotative double (9).A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for transferring and discharging oil comprise a double rotary pump (9). Un dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de transfert et d'évacuation d'huile comprennent une pompe (19) à piston (20) et à double chambre (21, 22).A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the oil transfer and discharge means comprise a piston (20) and double-chamber (21, 22) pump (19). Un dispositif selon la revendication 3 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que la pompe est associée à des clapets (7, 11, 23-26). A device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pump is associated with valves (7, 11, 23-26). Un dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de commande sont constitués, au moins en partie, de l'unité de contrôle électronique (14) du moteur du véhicule.A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means consist, at least in part, of the electronic control unit (14) of the vehicle engine.
    EP20020290232 2001-02-05 2002-02-01 Automatic device for regulation of oil level in a combustion engine Expired - Lifetime EP1229218B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    FR0101502A FR2820458B1 (en) 2001-02-05 2001-02-05 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE OIL LEVEL IN A 4-STROKE ENGINE
    FR0101502 2001-02-05

    Publications (2)

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    EP1229218A1 true EP1229218A1 (en) 2002-08-07
    EP1229218B1 EP1229218B1 (en) 2009-06-17

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    FR (1) FR2820458B1 (en)

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    CN107345493A (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-11-14 上海汽车集团股份有限公司 Liquid level regulation apparatus and adjusting method, lubricating system and oil change system
    CN108590805A (en) * 2018-03-29 2018-09-28 华为技术有限公司 A kind of engine lubrication system and its repairing, assembly method, engine

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    FR2338378A1 (en) 1976-01-14 1977-08-12 Mtu Friedrichshafen Gmbh INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH LUBRICATING OIL
    EP0345041A2 (en) * 1988-05-31 1989-12-06 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Oil pan structure for internal combustion engine
    US5701862A (en) * 1994-05-26 1997-12-30 Nippon Oil Company Limited Method and apparatus for replenishing the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine
    EP0928883A1 (en) * 1998-01-12 1999-07-14 The Lubrizol Corporation System for maintaining the quality and level of lubricant in an engine
    FR2803873A1 (en) 2000-01-14 2001-07-20 Renault System for controlling oil level has an additional tank, which contains an oil volume equivalent to the difference of level between the optimal oil level and the plotted oil level in the engine casing

    Cited By (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    CN107345493A (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-11-14 上海汽车集团股份有限公司 Liquid level regulation apparatus and adjusting method, lubricating system and oil change system
    CN107345493B (en) * 2016-05-05 2020-07-28 上海汽车集团股份有限公司 Method for adjusting lubricating oil liquid level of engine lubricating system
    CN108590805A (en) * 2018-03-29 2018-09-28 华为技术有限公司 A kind of engine lubrication system and its repairing, assembly method, engine

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    EP1229218B1 (en) 2009-06-17
    FR2820458B1 (en) 2003-06-20
    FR2820458A1 (en) 2002-08-09
    DE60232614D1 (en) 2009-07-30

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