JP2010185303A - Lubricating oil degradation suppressing device for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add and supply an addition agent to lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine at the optimum timing without requiring the use of a sensor and electronic control. <P>SOLUTION: This lubricating oil degradation suppressing device 1 for the internal combustion engine, in order to suppress degradation of lubricating oil OL, includes: an addition agent storage tank 54 arranged to communicate with the oil passage 52 of the internal combustion engine 10 and storing the addition agent D to the lubricating oil; and a plug member 58 arranged to separate the addition agent D in the addition agent storage tank from the oil passage 52 and including material which can be consumed by the lubricating oil in the oil passage 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine configured to suppress deterioration of lubricating oil.

  In an internal combustion engine for automobiles or the like, in order to reduce friction and wear of internal bearings and sliding parts, lubricating oil (oil) is supplied to these bearings and sliding parts to lubricate and cool them. . For example, in an internal combustion engine, oil stored in an oil pan (oil tank) is sucked up via an oil strainer, pumped by an oil pump, and supplied to an internal bearing portion and a sliding portion.

  Thus, an additive is added to the oil circulated in the internal combustion engine so as to continuously maintain the performance of the oil at a certain level. For example, the additive is a dispersant having a function of dispersing sludge in oil and a detergent having a function of cleaning the inside of the engine. Such additives are often mixed in the oil from the beginning, and can be appropriately added to the oil so as to suppress deterioration of the oil.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a lubricating oil supply device for an internal combustion engine that mixes an additive with oil. The apparatus of Patent Document 1 includes an oil pump that pumps oil stored in an oil pan to a site requiring lubrication, a storage unit that includes an additive that improves the performance of the lubricating oil, and operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. Or mixing means for mixing the additive into the oil of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the operation history. The storage means is a tank that can communicate with the cylinder head cover, and the mixing means is an electromagnetic valve provided in a communication path that connects the tank and the inside of the engine.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-195612

  In the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an additive can be added to oil by opening a solenoid valve. However, in order to appropriately determine the addition timing, the operating status and operating history of the internal combustion engine are monitored. It is necessary to provide a sensor for accumulating data and accumulating data cumulatively.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to add and supply an additive to a lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine at an optimal timing without using a sensor and electronic control. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, a lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is a lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine configured to suppress deterioration of the lubricating oil, wherein the oil passage of the internal combustion engine is An additive storage tank that is provided so as to be able to communicate with the lubricant, and that contains the additive in the additive storage tank so as to be separated from the oil passage and is consumed by the lubricating oil in the oil passage And a plug member containing a possible substance.

  However, the consumption of the substance due to contact with the lubricating oil may provide communication between the inside of the additive storage tank and the oil passage.

  A plurality of additive storage tanks may be provided. And the same kind of additive is stored in each of the plurality of additive storage tanks, and the thickness of the plug member for each of the plurality of additive storage tanks may be different from each other. Each of the plurality of additive storage tanks may store a different type of additive from the additive stored in a different tank.

1 is a schematic view of an internal combustion engine to which a lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the internal combustion engine that exaggerates the lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for the internal combustion engine of FIG. 1. It is a conceptual graph for demonstrating the change of the function of the additive in oil regarding 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of the internal combustion engine which exaggeratedly represented the lubricating oil deterioration suppression apparatus of the internal combustion engine of 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual graph for demonstrating the change of the function of the additive in oil regarding 2nd Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of the internal combustion engine which exaggeratedly represented the lubricating oil deterioration suppression apparatus of the internal combustion engine of 3rd Embodiment. It is a conceptual graph for demonstrating the change of the function of the additive in oil regarding 3rd Embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an engine body 12 of an internal combustion engine 10 to which a lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device (hereinafter referred to as a suppressing device) 1 for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the internal combustion engine 10 that exaggerates the suppression device 1 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the insides of the cylinder block 16, the crankcase 18, and the oil pan 20 that are sequentially positioned below the cylinder head 14 are shown in a simplified manner.

  The internal combustion engine 10 is an in-line four-cylinder engine. The engine body 12 includes a cylinder block 16 that defines a cylinder 24 in which a piston 22 reciprocates, a crankcase 18 that is provided below the cylinder block 16, and an oil that is attached to the lower side of the crankcase 18. The pan 20 is configured to include a cylinder head 14 attached to the upper side of the cylinder block 16 and defining a combustion chamber together with the cylinder block 16 and the piston 22, and a cylinder head cover 26 attached to the upper side of the cylinder head 14. A crankshaft 28 is rotatably provided on the crankcase 18. In FIG. 1, the piston 22 does not contact the cylinder 24 but correctly contacts the cylinder 24 so as to be slidable.

  In the internal combustion engine 10, as is known, a mixture of intake air from an intake system (not shown) and fuel injected from a fuel injection valve (not shown) is burned in a combustion chamber, and the piston 22 is reciprocated. Then, the crankshaft 28 is rotated. The exhaust gas generated by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber is discharged through an exhaust system (not shown).

  And in order to reduce the friction and wear of such a bearing part and sliding part of the internal combustion engine 10, the internal combustion engine 10 is provided with those lubrication devices (not shown). The lubrication apparatus is configured to supply oil to the bearing portions and the sliding portion. The lubricating device for the internal combustion engine 10 includes an oil strainer, an oil pump, and an oil filter. Although not shown, an oil strainer is disposed in the oil OL stored in the oil pan 20, and an oil pump is connected to the oil strainer. Then, relatively large foreign matter is removed from the oil stored in the oil pan 20 by the oil strainer, and the oil from which the oil has been removed is sucked up by the oil pump and pumped from the oil pump to the oil filter. Then, after relatively small foreign matter is removed by the oil filter, the oil is distributed to the bearings and sliding parts inside the internal combustion engine 10 to lubricate and cool them. The oil after lubrication flows down the oil return passage P in the internal combustion engine 10 and flows down by natural fall or the like.

  In the internal combustion engine 10, in particular, when the piston 22 moves downward in FIG. 1, that is, when the piston 22 moves downward, gas flows into the crankcase 18 from the gap between the piston ring 22 a of the piston 22 and the cylinder 24 of the cylinder block 16. Leaks (see arrows A1 to A4 in FIG. 1). Such gas is called blow-by gas, and contains an oil component (see arrow B1 in FIG. 1) and fuel (see arrow B2 in FIG. 1), and contains a large amount of hydrocarbons and moisture. For this reason, if there is too much blow-by gas, it will cause early deterioration of oil and rust inside the engine. Moreover, since hydrocarbons are contained, it is not environmentally preferable to release the blow-by gas to the atmosphere as it is. Therefore, blow-by gas is generally forcibly returned to the intake system using intake negative pressure.

  On the other hand, the blow-by gas (see arrows C5 and C6 in FIG. 1) that moves upward from the crankcase 18 side toward the head cover 26 side in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the piston 22, particularly the upward movement of the piston 22, Oil mist generated by stirring and evaporation of oil in the oil pan 20 is included.

  As is apparent from the above description, the blow-by gas is not only HC (hydrocarbon) as a fuel component, NOx and SOx contained in the already burned gas, air and moisture, but also agitation of oil in the crankcase 18 and the oil pan 20. Including oil mist as a gas generated by evaporation.

  For example, the blow-by gas in the crankcase 18 is returned to the intake system through the head cover 26, which is then introduced into the combustion chamber. An acidic substance can be formed by such a blow-by gas, for example, by a reaction between NOx and SOx contained in the blow-by gas and water inside the engine. As the water, for example, there is water (condensed water) generated by condensation or the like in the head cover 26 due to a cooling action caused by the outer surface of the head cover 26 being exposed to the outside air or receiving cooling air. These acidic substances promote sludge formation. Therefore, a dispersant having an acid neutralizing action is added as an additive so as to suppress the production of such acidic substances in the oil or to disperse sludge in the oil.

  Dispersants generally have three actions: sludge and carbon dispersion, solubility and acid neutralization. As the dispersant, a kind of polymer (polymer compound) containing an alkyl group such as succinimide, succinic acid ester, or polypolar polymer may be used, but other substances (including known substances) may be used. May be used. However, such a dispersant is consumed by acid neutralization or the like as the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10 becomes longer or as the time after being mixed into the oil becomes longer. . Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the additive at an appropriate time.

  Therefore, here, the additive replenishing device 50 is provided in the internal combustion engine 10. The additive replenishing device 50 is included in the suppression device 1, and is provided with an additive storage tank (tank) 54 provided so as to be able to communicate with the oil passage 52 of the internal combustion engine 10, and a communication path connecting the tank 54 and the oil passage 52. 56 is provided with a plug member 58 provided at 56. In the tank 54, an additive for replenishment, here, the dispersant D is accommodated. The plug member 58 includes a substance that can be consumed by the oil in the oil passage 52 (hereinafter referred to as a plug substance). Here, the plug member 58 has a mesh member (not shown) having the plug material in the gap so that the plug material is held in the plug member 58. That is, the mesh member functions as a plug material holding member. The plug member 58 is provided so as to separate the dispersant D in the tank 54 from the oil passage 52 at least initially in the presence of the plug substance. Since the plug substance is a substance that can be consumed by the oil in the oil passage 52, it is consumed by contacting the oil in the oil passage 52. As a result, the dispersant D can move to the oil passage 52. Become.

  The dispersant is represented as being melted in FIGS. 1 and 2, but has a melting point of 100 ° C. to 200 ° C., for example. Succinimide has a melting point of about 125 ° C.

On the other hand, the plug material of the plug member 58 is a material that does not melt by the heat when the internal combustion engine 10 is operated. The plug material is provided to isolate the dispersant D in the tank 54 from the oil when there is sufficient dispersant in the oil. Then, when the function of the additive in the oil is not sufficiently exerted, that is, when the additive has to be replenished into the oil, the plug substance is used so that the plug member 58 is properly opened. Determined. Since the dispersant as an additive is added to the oil here for the purpose of acid neutralization or the like, the consumption of the dispersant in the oil means that the acid concentration of the oil is increased. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the plug substance is a substance consumed based on an increase in the acid concentration of the oil. The plug substance is preferably made of a solid alkaline substance, and calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) is mainly used here as the alkaline substance.

  However, the thickness of the plug substance is determined in advance by experiments so that the dispersant D in the tank 54 can be added to the oil at an appropriate time. Note that the mesh member, which is a holding member for holding the plug substance, may be omitted, and in this case, the plug member 58 may be composed only of the plug substance.

  Based on the conceptual graph of FIG. 3, the change of the function of the dispersing agent in oil is demonstrated. At the beginning of adding the dispersant to the oil (at time t1), the oil containing the dispersant has a sufficient function as a dispersant, but the function decreases as the operation time of the internal combustion engine 10 becomes longer. . However, as described above, the suppression device 1 includes the additive replenishing device 50 having the above-described configuration, so that the oil is consumed by the oil, particularly the acidic substance therein, due to the consumption of the dispersant in the oil. The plug material of member 58 is consumed. Since the thickness (including shape and amount) of the plug substance is determined so as to appropriately control the replenishment timing of the dispersant D to the oil, as a result, the plug member 58 is appropriately timed (at time t2). The dispersant D in the tank 54 is supplied to the oil passage 52 and replenished in the oil (see the arrow in FIG. 3). Therefore, it is possible to recover the function of the dispersant such as the acid neutralization function in the oil.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the additive to the oil is a dispersant and the plug substance is an alkaline substance, but various other combinations of the additive and the plug substance are allowed. As these additives and plug substances, various known substances can be used, and various combinations thereof can be allowed. For example, combinations of additives and plug materials include combinations of defoamers and alkaline substances such as calcium carbonate, combinations of detergents and polyurethane, combinations of antiwear agents and polyurethane, friction modifiers and low melting points. There are combinations with brazing materials. Moreover, in the said 1st Embodiment, although the additive supplement apparatus 50 was provided in the head cover 26, you may provide in another location. The additive replenishing device 50 can be provided in the oil pan 20 when the additive is an antifoaming agent or a friction modifier, for example. This is because, for example, the deterioration of these additives is related to the oil temperature. Preferably, the additive such as a dispersant has a relationship that the corresponding plug material is not consumed, that is, a relationship that does not react with the plug material. By doing so, the plug member can be opened at a more appropriate time, and the additive can be more appropriately replenished into the oil.

  Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the first embodiment, respectively. In the following description, the same or similar components as those described above are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

  The lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device 1A of the internal combustion engine 10A of the second embodiment includes two additive replenishing devices 50a and 50b so that the dispersant D can be supplied into the oil a plurality of times, here twice. The additive replenishing device 50a is configured to be able to supply the additive, here the dispersant D, into the oil prior to the additive replenishing device 50b. Specifically, the thickness of the plug member 58a of the additive replenishing device 50a is made thinner than the thickness of the plug member 58b of the additive replenishing device 50b. For example, the plug member 58a has a thickness twice that of the plug member 58b. Therefore, the plug member 58a is opened earlier than the plug member 58b. However, like the plug member 58 of the first embodiment, the thickness of the plug member 58a may be determined according to the amount of the dispersant initially added to the oil, and the thickness of the plug member 58b is It may be determined according to the amount of the dispersant D in the tank 54a of the additive replenishing device 50a. This is because the dispersant D is added and replenished into the oil at an appropriate time. In addition, it is good for the installation location of the additive replenishment apparatus 50a, 50b to be determined so that the contact degree with oil may become substantially the same location.

  Based on the conceptual graph of FIG. 5, the change of the function of the dispersing agent in oil in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. At the beginning of adding the dispersant to the oil (at time t11), the oil containing the dispersant has a sufficient function as a dispersant, but the function decreases as the operation time of the internal combustion engine 10 becomes longer. . Along with this, the plug substance of the plug member 58a of the additive replenishing device 50a is consumed. As a result, the plug member 58a is opened at an appropriate time (time t12), and the dispersant D in the tank 54a is supplied to the oil passage 52 and replenished in the oil (see arrow α1 in FIG. 5). ). This makes it possible to restore the function of the dispersant in the oil. Furthermore, as time passes, the function of the oil dispersant again decreases. In contrast, the plug material of the plug member 58b of the additive replenishing device 50b continues to be consumed, and the plug member 58b is opened at an appropriate time (time t13). As a result, the dispersant D in the tank 54b is supplied to the oil passage 52 and replenished in the oil (see arrow α2 in FIG. 5). This makes it possible to restore the function of the dispersant in the oil again.

  In addition, although 1 A of lubricating oil deterioration suppression apparatuses of 2nd Embodiment were equipped with two additive replenishment apparatuses, three or more additive replenishment apparatuses may be provided with two or more. By doing so, it becomes possible to add and replenish the additive to the oil three or more times. However, in this case, the thickness of the plug material of the plug member for each of the plurality of tanks may be different from each other, and the thickness of each may be determined based on the addition timing of the additive.

  In the second embodiment, the same change as that described with respect to the first embodiment is allowed. That is, also in the second embodiment, different combinations of additives and plug materials, different installation locations of additive replenishing devices, and the like are allowed.

  Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3 in the first embodiment and FIGS. 4 and 5 in the second embodiment, respectively. In the following description, the same or similar components as those described above are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

  The lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device 1B of the internal combustion engine 10B of the third embodiment includes two additive replenishing devices 50c and 50d so that different additives can be supplied into the oil. The additive replenishing device 50c is provided to replenish the cleaning agent C. Here, the cleaning agent C is accommodated in the tank 54c, and polyurethane is used as a plug substance. On the other hand, the additive replenishing device 50d is provided so as to replenish the dispersant D, and calcium carbonate is used as a plug substance as in the first and second embodiments.

  The thickness of the plug material of the plug member 58c is determined according to the amount of the detergent initially added to the oil, and the thickness of the plug material of the plug member 58d is the amount of the dispersant initially added to the oil. It is decided according to. In addition, although the installation location of the additive replenishing devices 50c and 50d is determined in FIG. 6 so that the degree of contact with the oil is substantially the same, it may be determined where the degree of contact with the oil is different. Good.

  Based on the conceptual graph of FIG. 7, the change of the function of the detergent in an oil and the dispersing agent in 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated. At the beginning of adding these additives to the oil (at time t21), the oil has a sufficient function as a detergent and a function as a sufficient dispersant, but as the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10 increases. Their function is reduced. Along with this, the plug substances of the plug members 58c and 58d of the additive replenishing devices 50c and 50d are consumed. Here, first, the plug material of the plug member 58c is consumed, the plug member 58c is opened at an appropriate time (at time t22), and the cleaning agent C in the tank 54c is supplied to the oil passage 52, and is contained in the oil. (See arrow β1, dotted line in FIG. 5). This makes it possible to restore the function of the detergent in the oil. On the other hand, as the time elapses, the function of the oil dispersant similarly decreases, but the plug member 58d of the additive replenishing device 50d is opened at an appropriate time (time t23) correspondingly. become. As a result, the dispersant D in the tank 54d is supplied to the oil passage 52 and replenished in the oil (see arrow β2 in FIG. 5, solid line). This makes it possible to restore the function of the dispersant in the oil.

  In addition, although the lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device 1B of the third embodiment includes two additive replenishing devices, three or more additive replenishing devices may be provided. By doing so, it is possible to add and replenish three or more types of additives to the oil.

  In the third embodiment, changes similar to those described with respect to the first embodiment are allowed. That is, also in the third embodiment, different combinations of additives and plug substances, different installation locations of additive replenishing devices, and the like are allowed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on three embodiment, its modification, etc., each aspect of such said embodiment concerning this invention is partly or entirely as long as no contradiction arises. Can be combined.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on various embodiment etc., this invention is not limited to these. The present invention includes all modifications, applications, and equivalents included in the spirit of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited, and can be applied to any other technique belonging to the scope of the idea of the present invention.

1, 1A, 1B Lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device 10, 10A, 10B Internal combustion engine 12 Engine body 14 Cylinder head 16 Cylinder block 18 Crank case 20 Oil pan 22 Piston 24 Cylinder 26 Head covers 50, 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d Additive replenishing device 52 Oil passages 54, 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d Additive storage tanks 56, 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d Communication passages 58, 58a, 58b, 58c, 58d Plug members

Claims (5)

An apparatus for suppressing deterioration of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine configured to suppress deterioration of lubricating oil,
An additive storage tank that is provided so as to be able to communicate with the oil passage of the internal combustion engine and stores an additive to the lubricating oil;
An additive in the additive storage tank is provided so as to be separated from the oil passage, and includes a plug member containing a substance that can be consumed by the lubricating oil in the oil passage. apparatus.   The apparatus for suppressing deterioration of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein consumption of the substance due to contact with lubricating oil brings about communication between the inside of the additive storage tank and the oil passage.   3. The lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of said additive storage tanks are provided. Each of the plurality of additive storage tanks contains the same type of additive,
The lubricating oil deterioration suppressing device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the thickness of the plug member for each of the plurality of additive containing tanks is different from each other.   4. The suppression of deterioration of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of additive storage tanks contains a different type of additive from the additive stored in a different tank. apparatus.

Images