JP2004176566A - Oil detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy for detecting oil degradation by a means for detecting the oil degradation, in an oil detecting device attached to a vessel storing oil supplied into an internal combustion engine and integrally provided with a degradation detecting means and a residue detecting means of oil in the vessel. <P>SOLUTION: The degradation detecting means has a degradation detecting part 12 placed longitudinally almost in the parallel direction with respect to an oil surface S of oil in the vessel, and detects the degradation of oil in the vessel in contact with the degradation detecting part 12. The residue detecting means has a residue detecting part 30 placed longitudinally almost in the vertical direction with respect to the oil surface S on the vessel, and detects the residue of oil in the vessel in contact with the residue detecting part 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an oil detection device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an oil detection device that is attached to a container that stores oil to be supplied to an internal combustion engine (hereinafter, referred to as an engine) and detects a degree of deterioration and a remaining amount of oil in the container.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional oil detecting device 100 integrally provided with a deterioration detecting means for detecting the degree of deterioration of oil in a container and a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of oil in the container. In the oil detection device 100, both the deterioration sensor 110 of the deterioration detector and the remaining amount sensor 120 of the remaining amount detector that come into contact with the oil in the container extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil level of the oil in the container. It is arranged so that it becomes. In addition, in FIG. 5, S has shown the oil level of the oil in a container.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order to improve the detection accuracy of the degree of deterioration of the oil by the deterioration detecting means in the oil detecting device 100, it is necessary to increase the contact area with the oil by extending the deterioration sensing unit 110 in its longitudinal direction. However, the container 102 such as an oil pan mounted on a vehicle is often formed in a flat shape due to the limitation of the height of the installation space. In this case, it is necessary to secure a sufficient length in the longitudinal direction of the deterioration sensing unit 110. Can not.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the detection accuracy of the degree of oil deterioration by the deterioration detecting means in an oil detecting device integrally provided with the deterioration detecting means and the remaining amount detecting means. Is to do.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the oil detecting device of the first aspect of the present invention, the deterioration detecting portion that comes into contact with the oil in the container in the deterioration detecting means is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the oil surface of the oil in the container. Thereby, the contact area with oil can be increased by extending the deterioration sensing portion in the longitudinal direction without depending on the shape of the container to be attached. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the deterioration detecting means for detecting the degree of deterioration of the oil brought into contact with the deterioration sensor can be improved. In addition, according to the oil detecting device of the first aspect, the remaining amount detecting portion that contacts the oil in the container in the remaining amount detecting device integrated with the deterioration detecting device has a longitudinal length in a direction intersecting the oil surface of the oil in the container. Has become. Therefore, the remaining amount of the oil brought into contact with the remaining amount sensing portion can be reliably detected by the remaining amount detecting means.
[0005]
According to the oil detecting device of the second aspect of the present invention, the remaining amount detecting portion is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil level of the oil in the container. Thereby, the remaining amount of oil can be detected with high accuracy based on the oil level of the oil in the container.
[0006]
A container such as an oil pan for storing oil to be supplied to a vehicle engine is generally mounted on the bottom of the vehicle. Since the conventional oil detection device 100 shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the bottom wall 103 of the container 102, when the container 102 is mounted on the bottom of the vehicle, an obstacle on the road surface collides with the bottom of the container 102. In addition, the oil detection device 100 is easily damaged at its mounting site. Such breakage of the oil detection device 100 may cause oil leakage to cause a decrease in lubricity inside the engine and damage the engine.
On the other hand, the oil detecting device according to the third aspect of the present invention is mounted on the side wall of the container mounted on the bottom of the vehicle, so that it is difficult for the oil detecting device to collide with an obstacle on the road surface and damage is prevented.
[0007]
According to the oil detecting device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the deterioration detecting unit is fixed to the side wall of the container, and the remaining amount detecting unit is disposed on the opposite side of the deterioration detecting unit from the side wall. Accordingly, it is possible to easily realize extending the deterioration sensing unit in the longitudinal direction while maintaining the relative positional relationship in the longitudinal direction of the remaining amount sensing unit with respect to the oil level corresponding to a certain remaining amount of oil. Therefore, the design change of the remaining amount sensor due to the design change of the deterioration sensor can be minimized.
[0008]
According to the oil detecting device described in claim 5 of the present invention, the remaining amount detecting means is fixed to the side wall of the container, penetrates the inner peripheral side of the deterioration sensing unit, and is provided at the end opposite to the side wall. There is a fixing unit to which the remaining amount sensing unit is fixed. The fixing portion may be formed in a size that can at least secure the supporting strength of the remaining amount sensing portion, and is easily reduced in size. By expanding the deterioration sensor toward the space obtained by downsizing the fixed part, the contact area between the deterioration sensor and the oil can be increased, so that more accurate detection of the degree of oil deterioration is possible. Become.
[0009]
According to the oil detecting device described in claim 6 of the present invention, the deterioration detecting means and the remaining amount detecting means determine the degree of deterioration of the oil in the container based on the physical quantity sensed by each of the deterioration detecting unit and the remaining amount detecting unit. Since the circuit portion for calculating the remaining amount is shared, the size of the device can be reduced. In addition, since the circuit is disposed outside the side wall of the container mounted on the bottom of the vehicle, malfunction or failure due to the heat of the oil in the container and damage due to obstacles on the road surface are prevented.
[0010]
According to the oil detecting device described in claim 7 of the present invention, the remaining amount detecting unit is detachable from other components of the device. Accordingly, the remaining amount sensing unit can be replaced with a unit having a length corresponding to the depth of the container, so that high versatility regardless of the shape of the container can be realized.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show an oil detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oil detection device 10 detects the degree of deterioration and remaining amount of oil (hereinafter, also referred to as oil in the pan) contained in the oil pan 2 serving as a container.
[0012]
The oil pan 2 to which the oil detection device 10 is applied is formed in a rectangular box shape. The oil pan 2 is mounted on the bottom of the vehicle, and the bottom wall 4 faces the road surface. The oil pan 2 contains lubricating oil to be supplied to the engine of the vehicle. In FIGS. 1 and 2, S indicates the oil level of the oil in the pan. In such an oil pan 2, an oil detecting device 10 is attached to one side wall 6 extending from the edge of the bottom wall 4 to the opposite side to the road surface.
The oil detection device 10 includes a deterioration sensing unit 12, a fixing unit 20, a remaining amount sensing unit 30, and a control unit 40.
[0013]
The deterioration sensor 12 has one end 13 fixed to the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2, and extends substantially parallel to the oil surface S toward the inside of the oil pan 2. As a result, the deterioration sensing portion 12 is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the oil surface S.
[0014]
The electrodes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d and the holder 15 of the deterioration sensing unit 12 are each formed in a cylindrical shape that is long in a direction substantially parallel to the oil surface S. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electrodes 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, and 14 d are held concentrically on the inner peripheral side of the holding body 15, and have a gap 16 having an annular cross section. Spaces 17 and 18 larger than the gap 16 are formed between the outermost electrode 14d and the holder 15 and between the innermost electrode 14a and the fixing portion 20, respectively. Further, each of the electrodes 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d is provided with a plurality of slits 19 penetrating in the radial direction, so that oil easily flows into the gap 16 between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d can contact the oil in the pan that has flowed into one of the gap 16 and the spaces 17 and 18. The innermost electrode 14a and the outermost electrode 14c out of the electrodes 14a constitute a reference electrode having a substantially constant potential regardless of the hydrogen ion exponent (pH) of the oil in the bread. Further, the outermost electrode 14d and the inner electrode 14b apart from the electrode 14d constitute a working electrode whose potential changes depending on the pH of the oil. Each of the electrodes 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d is electrically connected to a control circuit 44 of the control unit 40.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing unit 20 is formed integrally with the case 42 of the control unit 44 and has an elongated rod shape. The fixing part 20 has one end 21 fixed to the side wall part 6 of the oil pan 2 via a case 42 and is disposed so as to coaxially penetrate the inner peripheral side of the deterioration sensing part 12. A wiring 24 that electrically connects the remaining amount sensing unit 30 and the control unit 40 is passed through the fixing unit 20.
[0016]
The remaining amount sensing part 30 has one end 31 fixed to the end part 22 of the fixing part 20 opposite to the side wall part 6, and moves inside the oil pan 2 toward the oil surface S toward the opposite side to the bottom wall part 4. It extends almost vertically. Thus, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is disposed on the opposite side to the side wall 6 of the deterioration sensing unit 12 so as to form an L-shape with the fixing unit 20, and is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil surface S. I have. The remaining amount sensing unit 30 of the present embodiment is detachable from the fixed unit 20.
[0017]
The substrate 34 of the remaining amount sensing part 30 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape that is long in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil surface S. A heater pattern 36 is provided on the surface of the substrate 34 so as to extend from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction. The heater pattern 36 is electrically connected to the control circuit 44 of the control unit 40 via the wiring 24 in the fixed unit 20. In the remaining amount sensing unit 30, the cover 37 is formed in a cylindrical shape elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil surface S, and covers the entire outer peripheral side of the substrate 34 in cooperation with the end 22 of the fixing unit 20. The lower end of the cover 37 is provided with an oil hole 38 communicating between the inside and the outside. The heater pattern 36 on the substrate 34 can contact the oil in the pan flowing into the cover 37 from the oil hole 38. An air hole 39 communicating between the inside and outside of the cover 37 is provided at the upper end of the cover 37 so that the oil level of the oil flowing into the cover 37 substantially matches the oil level of the oil outside the cover 37. ing. Further, in this embodiment, the oil hole 38 functions as an orifice for restricting the flow of the oil. Even if the oil level of the oil outside the cover 37 momentarily fluctuates due to shaking of the vehicle or the like, the oil inside the cover 37 is changed. Oil level is less likely to fluctuate.
[0018]
The control unit 40 is fixed to the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2 and is disposed outside the side wall 6. The control unit 40 has a case 42, and a control circuit 44 as a circuit unit is housed and fixed in the case 42. Power is supplied to the control circuit 44 through a terminal 48 embedded in a connector 46 of the case 42.
[0019]
The control circuit 44 calculates the pH indicating the degree of deterioration of the oil in the bread, based on the potentials sensed by the electrodes 14a to 14d, which are deterioration sensors of the deterioration sensor 12. Specifically, the control circuit 44 includes a potentiometer (not shown) having a large input resistance, and measures a potential difference between the reference electrodes 14a and 14c and the working electrodes 14b and 14d (hereinafter, simply referred to as an inter-electrode potential difference). When the oil in the pan deteriorates, hydrogen ions increase in the oil and the potential difference between the electrodes increases. The correlation between the oil pH and the potential difference between the electrodes is measured in advance and stored in a memory (not shown) of the control circuit 44. The control circuit 44 calculates the correlation between the correlation and the potential difference between the electrodes measured by the potentiometer. Calculate the pH of the oil. As described above, the pH of the oil in the bread, that is, the degree of deterioration is detected.
[0020]
Further, the control circuit 44 calculates the remaining amount of oil in the pan based on the amount of heat radiation detected by the heater pattern 36 serving as the remaining amount sensor of the remaining amount sensing unit 30. Specifically, the control circuit 44 controls the current supplied to the heater pattern 36 so that the temperature of the heater pattern 36 becomes constant. When the remaining amount of oil in the pan decreases in this control state, the portion of the heater pattern 36 exposed to air increases. Since the amount of heat radiation from the heater pattern 36 to the oil is greater than the amount of heat radiation from the heater pattern 36 to the air, the less the remaining amount of oil, the more difficult it is for the heat to escape from the heater pattern 36. Therefore, the amount of current to be supplied to the heater pattern 36 to maintain the temperature of the heater pattern 36 becomes smaller as the remaining amount of oil decreases. The correlation between the remaining amount of oil and the amount of supply current to the heater pattern 36 is measured in advance and stored in the memory of the control circuit 44. The control circuit 44 determines the correlation and the amount of supply current to the heater pattern 36. Calculate the remaining amount of oil from As described above, the remaining amount of oil in the bread is detected.
[0021]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the deterioration detecting unit is configured by the deterioration detecting unit 12 and the control unit 40, and the remaining amount detecting unit is configured by the remaining amount detecting unit 30, the fixing unit 20, and the control unit 40. The deterioration detecting means and the remaining amount detecting means are put together so that they can be attached to the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2.
[0022]
In the oil detecting device 10 described above, the fixing portion 20 for fixing the remaining amount detecting portion 30 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the deterioration detecting portion 12, but unlike the conventional oil detecting device 100 shown in FIG. The quantity sensing unit 30 is not provided. The fixing unit 20 may be of a size that can secure the supporting strength of the remaining amount sensing unit 30 and the space for the wiring 24 to pass, and is opposite to the remaining amount sensing unit 30 that is increased in size due to the improvement in sensing sensitivity. In addition, miniaturization is possible. In the oil detection device 10, a plurality of electrodes 14a to 14d can be arranged by utilizing a space obtained by downsizing the fixing portion 20. Moreover, in the oil detection device 10, since the longitudinal direction of the deterioration sensing unit 12 is set to be substantially parallel to the oil surface S of the oil in the pan, the length of each of the electrodes 14a to 14d in the longitudinal direction is It can be set as long as possible according to the shape of. By providing the plurality of electrodes 14a to 14d in the deterioration sensing unit 12 and further extending the electrodes 14a to 14d in the longitudinal direction, the contact area between the electrodes 14a to 14d and the oil can be increased. Therefore, the sensitivity of the potential detection by each of the electrodes 14a to 14d can be increased, and the detection accuracy of the degree of oil deterioration can be improved.
[0023]
Further, in the oil detection device 10, since the longitudinal direction of the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is set to a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil level S of the oil in the pan, the remaining oil level is determined based on the height of the oil level S. Detection can be performed reliably and with high accuracy. Further, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is fixed to the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2 by a fixing unit 20 penetrating the inner peripheral side of the deterioration sensing unit 12, and is disposed on the opposite side of the side wall 6 of the deterioration sensing unit 12. ing. Accordingly, it is easy to extend the electrodes 14a to 14d in the longitudinal direction while maintaining the relative positional relationship in the longitudinal direction of the on-substrate heater pattern 36 with respect to the height of the oil surface S corresponding to a certain amount of remaining oil. . Therefore, it is possible to minimize the design change of the remaining amount sensing unit 30 accompanying the design change of the deterioration sensing unit 12. In addition, since the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is detachable from the fixed unit 20, by replacing the remaining amount sensing unit 30 with one having a length corresponding to the depth of the oil pan 2, the oil pan 2 of various shapes can be used. The device 10 can be applied to a computer.
[0024]
Furthermore, since the oil detecting device 10 is mounted on the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2 mounted on the bottom of the vehicle, the mounting portion is provided even if an obstacle on the road collides with the bottom wall 4 of the oil pan 2. The damage in the escape is avoided. Therefore, oil leakage due to damage to the device 10 is less likely to occur, and a decrease in lubricity inside the engine is prevented. Further, in the oil detection device 10, a control circuit 44 of the control unit 40 that calculates the degree of deterioration and the remaining amount of the oil in the pan is disposed outside the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2. Thus, it is possible to prevent the control circuit 44 from being damaged by obstacles on the road surface and to prevent the control circuit 44 from malfunctioning or breaking down due to the heat of the oil in the pan. This also makes it possible to secure a larger volume of the oil pan 2 than when the control circuit 44 is disposed outside the bottom wall 4 of the oil pan 2 or inside the oil pan 2.
[0025]
In the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is detachable from the fixed unit 20. However, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 may not be detachable from other components of the oil detection device 10. . In this case, the position of the oil detector 10 on the side wall 6 of the oil pan 2 as a container is changed in a direction perpendicular to the oil surface S in accordance with the depth of the oil pan 2 so that the oil pan 2 of various shapes can be formed. The device 10 can be applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the oil level S of the oil in the oil pan 2, but the longitudinal direction of the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is equal to the oil level S. The direction does not have to be vertical as long as it intersects with. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 is disposed on the side opposite to the side wall of the deterioration sensing unit 12 so as to form an L-shape with the fixing unit 20. On the other hand, the remaining amount sensing unit 30 may be arranged so as to form a T-shape or a cross with the fixing unit 20, and the remaining amount sensing unit 30 may intersect the deterioration sensing unit 12 according to the arrangement form. It may be.
[0026]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the deterioration detecting means including the deterioration sensing unit 12 and the control unit 40 is configured to detect the degree of oil deterioration by a potential difference measuring method using the electrodes 14a to 14d as deterioration sensors. ing. On the other hand, for example, a deterioration detecting means for detecting the degree of oil deterioration by a known method such as an absorbance measuring method, a light transmittance measuring method, or an impedance measuring method using an appropriate deterioration sensor may be employed. In the above-described embodiment using the potential difference measurement method, the reference electrode is formed by the innermost electrode 14a and the outermost electrode 14c except for one of the electrodes 14a, and the outermost electrode 14d and its electrode are formed. A working electrode was formed by the inner electrode 14b except for one from 14d. On the other hand, a reference electrode is constituted by the outermost electrode 14d and the inner electrode 14b, one of which is the electrode 14d, and the outer electrode 14a and the outer electrode which is one of the electrodes 14a. 14c may constitute a comparative electrode.
[0027]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount detecting means including the remaining amount sensing unit 30, the fixing unit 20, and the control unit 40 detects the remaining amount of oil using the heater pattern 36 as the remaining amount sensor. Make up. On the other hand, for example, a remaining amount detecting unit that allows oil to flow between two electrodes as a remaining amount sensor and detects the remaining amount of oil based on the capacitance between the two electrodes may be employed.
[0028]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 44 common to the deterioration detecting unit and the remaining amount detecting unit is adopted as the circuit unit to reduce the size of the oil detecting device 10. An individual circuit unit may be provided.
[0029]
In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the oil detector 10 is mounted on the oil pan 2 as a container mounted on the bottom of the vehicle. May be performed. Further, the location where the oil detection device is attached to the container may be a bottom wall or a top wall of the container other than the side wall of the container as in the above-described embodiment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in which an oil detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to an oil pan.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing an oil detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an oil detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of the oil detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a conventional oil detection device is attached to a container.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Oil pan (container)
6 Side wall part 10 Oil detection device 12 Deterioration sensing part (deterioration detection means)
14a, 14b, 14c, 14d Electrode 15 Holder 20 Fixed part (remaining amount detecting means)
24 Wiring 30 Remaining amount sensing unit (remaining amount detecting means)
34 substrate 36 heater pattern 37 cover 40 controller (deterioration detecting means, remaining amount detecting means)
42 case 44 control circuit (circuit part)
S oil level

Claims (7)

An oil detection device attached to a container containing oil to be supplied to the internal combustion engine, and integrally provided with deterioration detection means and remaining amount detection means for oil in the container,
The deterioration detection means has a deterioration sensor that is long in a direction substantially parallel to the oil level of the oil in the container, and detects the degree of deterioration of the oil in the container that contacts the deterioration sensor.
The remaining amount detection unit has a remaining amount sensing unit that is elongated in a direction intersecting the oil level of the oil in the container, and detects a remaining amount of the oil in the container that contacts the remaining amount sensing unit. An oil detection device characterized by the above-mentioned. The oil detector according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount sensor is elongated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an oil level of the oil in the container. The oil detection device according to claim 2, wherein the oil detection device is attached to a side wall of the container mounted on a bottom of a vehicle. The deterioration sensor is fixed to a side wall of the container,
4. The oil detection device according to claim 3, wherein the remaining amount sensing unit is disposed on a side of the deterioration sensing unit opposite to the side wall unit. 5. The remaining amount detecting means includes a fixing portion fixed to the side wall portion, penetrating the inner peripheral side of the deterioration sensing portion, and fixing the remaining amount sensing portion to an end opposite to the side wall portion. The oil detection device according to claim 4, wherein: The deterioration detection unit and the remaining amount detection unit commonly use a circuit unit that calculates the degree of deterioration and the remaining amount of the oil in the container based on a physical quantity sensed by each of the deterioration detection unit and the remaining amount detection unit. The oil detecting device according to claim 3, wherein the circuit portion is disposed outside the side wall portion. The oil detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remaining amount detection unit is detachable from another component of the oil detection device.

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