JP5040880B2 - In-oil diluted fuel separator for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil-in-oil diluted fuel separation device for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to an oil dilution in an internal combustion engine capable of efficiently separating fuel contained in lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine while suppressing deterioration of the oil. The present invention relates to a fuel separator.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an oil-in-oil diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine is known that evaporates and separates fuel contained in oil by heating the lubricating oil in order to suppress dilution due to fuel contamination of the lubricating oil (for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 discloses that an oil heater is provided in the middle of an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine, and the lubricating oil flowing in the oil circuit is heated by this heater to vaporize and separate the fuel.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a heater is provided at the bottom of the oil pan, and the lubricating oil in the oil pan is heated by this heater to vaporize and separate the fuel.

JP 2004-190513 A JP 2004-340056 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, a relatively large amount of lubricating oil that passes through an oil passage that communicates between an oil pan and a portion to be lubricated of an engine or a bypass passage provided in the oil passage is non-selectively heated by a heater. In the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, since all the oil in the oil pan is heated and separated, the energy loss is large, and the oil is thermally deteriorated due to unnecessary heating. There is a problem such as.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a diluted fuel separation apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can efficiently separate the fuel contained in the lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine while suppressing deterioration of the oil. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention is as follows.
1. An oil reservoir for storing lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine;
Separating means for separating a fuel component contained in the lubricating oil;
An oil passage having an oil pump that communicates between the oil reservoir and the separation means, and that feeds lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the separation means;
An oil return passage that connects the separation means and the oil storage section, and returns the lubricating oil discharged from the separation means to the oil storage section;
An oil guide that is provided in the main body of the internal combustion engine and that guides the lubricating oil that has lubricated the piston of the lubricated portion of the internal combustion engine to the oil storage portion on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed. And
A dilution sensor that is provided in the oil reservoir on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed, and that detects the degree of dilution by the fuel component of the lubricating oil ,
The oil pump, the dilution sensor detection results to the basis is driven and controlled in-oil dilution fuel separator device for an internal combustion engine characterized by Rukoto.
2. One end of the oil passage is disposed on the first side wall side of the oil storage part, and one end of the oil return path is disposed on the second side wall side facing the first side wall of the oil storage part. 1 above. The oil-diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine as described.
3. 1. A partition that further partitions the oil reservoir into a first chamber on one end of the oil passage and a second chamber on one end of the oil return passage. Or 2. The in-oil diluted fuel separator.
4). 2. The oil storage volume of the first chamber is smaller than the oil storage volume of the second chamber. The oil-diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine as described.
5. The oil pump is driven and controlled based on the temperature of the lubricating oil. ~ 4 . The oil-diluted fuel separator according to any one of the above.
6 . The oil pump is driven and controlled based on the operating state of the internal combustion engine. ~ 5 . The oil-diluted fuel separator according to any one of the above.

According to the oil-in-diluted fuel separation device for an internal combustion engine of the present invention, the lubricating oil that has lubricated the piston that is the lubricated portion of the internal combustion engine is transferred to the oil reservoir on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed by the oil guide. It is guided and pumped to the separating means through an oil passage having an oil pump. As described above, the lubricating oil mixed with a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated in a part of the oil reservoir, and the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of the fuel is selectively sent to the separating means to separate the fuel component. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently separate the fuel as compared with the conventional case in which the lubricating oil is non-selectively heated to vaporize and separate the fuel regardless of whether the fuel contains a large amount or not.
The oil pump further includes a dilution sensor that is provided in the oil reservoir on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed and detects the degree of dilution by the fuel component of the lubricating oil, and the oil pump detects the detection result of the dilution sensor. Therefore, the dilution sensor detects the amount of the fuel component mixed in the lubricating oil. If it is detected that the mixed amount exceeds the predetermined amount, the oil pump is operated to separate the fuel component. If it is detected that the amount is low, the oil pump is stopped. As described above, since the operation is performed only when the fuel concentration is high, wasteful consumption of energy can be suppressed.

  In addition, one end of the oil passage is disposed on the first side wall side of the oil storage portion, and one end of the oil return passage is disposed on the second side wall side facing the first side wall of the oil storage portion. If it is installed, the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated on one side of the oil reservoir and sent to the separating means through the oil passage, and the fuel component is separated by the separating means. Since the later lubricating oil is returned to the oil reservoir on the side wall side away from the side where the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated through the oil return passage, before and after separation of these fuels The mixing of the lubricating oil can be suppressed, and the fuel can be separated more efficiently.

Further, when the oil storage portion further includes a partition portion that partitions the first chamber on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed and the second chamber on the side where one end of the oil return passage is disposed, In a state where the lubricating oil in which a relatively large amount of fuel is mixed before the components are separated and the lubricating oil in which a relatively small amount of fuel is mixed after the fuel components are separated by the separating means are separated by a partitioning portion. Since it can be stored in the oil storage part, the separation efficiency is further improved.
In addition, when the oil storage volume of the first chamber is smaller than the oil storage volume of the second chamber, the storage amount of the lubricating oil stored in the first chamber and targeted for separation of the fuel component by the separating means is set. While the amount can be made relatively small, the amount of lubricating oil stored in the second chamber that can be supplied to the lubricated portion can be made relatively large. As a result, it is not necessary to secure a larger amount of lubricating oil than necessary while realizing efficient fuel separation.

  In addition, when the oil pump is driven and controlled based on the temperature of the lubricating oil, the oil pump is operated by operating the oil pump when the temperature of the lubricating oil is relatively low and the fuel mixed in the lubricating oil is difficult to vaporize. In addition, even if the temperature of the lubricating oil is relatively high and fuel is mixed, the oil pump is stopped when the mixed fuel is easily vaporized to waste energy consumption. Can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, when the oil pump is driven and controlled based on the operating state of the internal combustion engine, by knowing the operating state of the engine, an operating state in which fuel contamination is relatively likely to occur (for example, pilot injection, post In the case of sub-injection such as injection), the fuel can be actively separated by driving the oil pump, and the operation state in which mixing of fuel is relatively difficult to occur ( In the case of normal operation, etc., the oil pump can be stopped to suppress wasteful consumption of energy.

  The oil-diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine according to the present embodiment includes an oil reservoir, a separator, an oil passage, an oil return passage, and an oil guide described below. Examples of the internal combustion engine include a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, a biofuel engine, and the like. Therefore, examples of the fuel separated by the dilute fuel separator in this oil include, for example, gasoline, diesel fuel, Biofuel etc. are mentioned.

As long as the “oil storage portion” stores lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine, the structure, shape, material, and the like are not particularly limited.
As said oil storage part, the oil pan etc. which are provided in the lower part of the main body of an internal combustion engine can be mentioned, for example.

As long as the “separating means” separates the fuel component contained in the lubricating oil, its structure, separation form, etc. are not particularly limited. For example, the separation means can be provided inside the internal combustion engine, such as a space in the oil reservoir, a crank chamber, or the like, or can be provided outside the internal combustion engine.
As the separation mode, for example, (1) a mode using the difference in boiling point between the lubricating oil and fuel (vaporization separation by heating, etc.), and (2) a mode using the difference in specific gravity between the lubricating oil and fuel (centrifugal) Separation, etc.), (3) forms utilizing the difference in molecular weight between the lubricating oil and fuel (separation using a separation membrane, etc.). Moreover, you may make it combine 2 or more types in these (1)-(3) forms.

  Examples of the separating means of the form (1) include a heater that heats the lubricating oil flowing inside the fuel and vaporizes the fuel to separate it. Examples of the separation means of the form (2) include a centrifugal separator that collects and separates fuel components to the axial center side by turning the lubricating oil introduced into the cylindrical separator main body. Can do. Examples of the separation means of the above (3) form include a separator having a separation membrane part that permeates and separates fuel contained in the lubricating oil flowing through the inside. In particular, in the form (3), it is preferable to use a cross flow filtration method in which a part of the flow passes through the filter medium. This is because solid components such as metal powder in the lubricating oil can be prevented from accumulating and clogging on the surface of the separation membrane, and a decrease in separation ability can be suppressed.

As long as the “oil passage” has an oil pump that communicates the oil reservoir and the separating means and pumps the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the separating means, its structure, installation form, etc. are not particularly limited. . Examples of the oil passage include one or a combination of two or more of piping, a passage formed in the body of the internal combustion engine, a space, and the like. Further, one end of the oil passage on the oil storage part side is arranged so as to be able to suck the lubricating oil stored in the oil storage part, and this arrangement is connected to the wall surface of the oil storage part. The form etc. which were arrange | positioned in the space in an oil storage part can be mentioned. Furthermore, the oil passage can be provided partly or entirely inside or outside the main body of the internal combustion engine.
Examples of the oil pump include a trochoid type, an internal gear type, an external gear type, and an inner gear type. The oil pump can be operated by, for example, a driving force of an internal combustion engine, or can be operated by a drive source different from the internal combustion engine.

  As long as the “oil return passage” connects the separation means and the oil storage section, and the lubricating oil discharged from the separation means is returned to the oil storage section, its structure, installation form, etc. are not particularly limited. Examples of the oil return passage include one or a combination of two or more of piping, a passage formed in the main body of the internal combustion engine, a space, and the like. Further, examples of the arrangement form of one end of the oil return path on the oil storage part side include a form connected to the wall surface of the oil storage part, a form provided in a space in the oil storage part, and the like. Further, the oil return passage may be provided in part or in whole inside or outside the main body of the internal combustion engine.

The “oil guide portion” is provided in the main body of the internal combustion engine, and the lubricating oil that lubricates the piston of the lubricated portion of the internal combustion engine is disposed on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed. As long as it guides to the oil reservoir, its structure, shape, material, etc. are not particularly limited.
Along with the oil guide part, in the main body of the internal combustion engine, (a) lubricating oil formed in the cylinder block of the engine and returned to the oil storage part through a communication path connecting the crank chamber and the head cover. There is another oil guide for guiding the oil to the oil reservoir on the side away from the position where one end of the oil passage is disposed, or (b) the engine is returned to the oil reservoir through the chain case or the belt case. There may be provided another oil guide part for guiding the lubricating oil to be supplied to the oil storage part on the side separated from the position where one end of the oil passage is provided. As a result, the lubricating oil in which almost no fuel is mixed by the other oil guide portions can be guided to the oil storage portion at a position away from the oil suction port of the oil passage, and the fuel separation efficiency can be further improved. From the viewpoint of further improving the separation efficiency, a combination of the above forms (a) and (b) is preferable.

  Here, for example, one end of the oil passage is disposed on the first side wall side of the oil storage portion, and one end of the oil return passage is a second side wall facing the first side wall of the oil storage portion. Can be arranged on the side. Thereby, the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of the fuel component guided by the oil guide portion can be efficiently introduced into the separating means, and the lubricating oil having a relatively small amount of fuel component immediately after being discharged from the separating means can be introduced into the oil passage. This is because it can be returned to the oil reservoir on the side separated from the suction port.

  Examples of the “lubricated part of the internal combustion engine” include a crankshaft, a connecting rod, a piston, a camshaft, and a drive system. Of these, relatively large amount of fuel leaking from the gaps in the cylinder inner wall surface of the piston is mixed in the lubricating oil that circulates around the piston such as the crankshaft, the connecting rod, and the piston and is returned to the oil reservoir. . On the other hand, almost no fuel is mixed in the lubricating oil that circulates around the head such as the camshaft and the drive system and is returned to the oil reservoir. Further, the lubricating oil circulating around the piston is usually returned to the oil reservoir through a gap between the piston and the cylinder. On the other hand, the lubricating oil that circulates around the head is usually returned to the oil reservoir through a communication path that is formed in the cylinder block and cylinder head of the engine and connects the crank chamber and the space in the head cover. Or returned to the oil reservoir through the case or belt case.

In the oil-diluted fuel separation device of the present embodiment, the oil reservoir is placed in the first chamber on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed and the second chamber on the side where one end of the oil return passage is disposed. The partition part which partitions off can further be provided.
The “partition section” has a structure as long as the oil storage section is partitioned into a first chamber on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed and a second chamber on the side where one end of the oil return passage is disposed. The shape, material, partition form, etc. are not particularly limited. The oil strainer in the lubrication passage for supplying the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the lubricated part of the internal combustion engine is usually disposed on the second chamber side. As a result, the lubricating oil guided by the oil guide portion and having a relatively large amount of fuel component, that is, the lubricating oil having a relatively high necessity for separating the fuel can be introduced into the first chamber and immediately after being discharged from the separating means. This is because the lubricating oil having a relatively small fuel component, that is, the lubricating oil having a relatively low necessity for separating the fuel, can be returned to the oil reservoir on the second chamber side partitioned from the first chamber.
Examples of the partitioning form of the first chamber and the second chamber by the partitioning part include a form in which the partitioning part rises from the bottom wall of the oil storage part and partitions the first chamber and the second chamber in the horizontal direction. be able to.

  Here, in the other oil guide portions (a) and (b) described above, for example, (a ′) in the oil storage portion through a communication path formed in the cylinder block of the engine and connecting the crank chamber and the inside of the head cover. The lubricating oil returned to the second chamber can be guided to the second chamber, or (b ′) the lubricating oil returned to the oil reservoir through the chain case or the belt case of the engine can be guided to the second chamber. Thereby, the lubricating oil in which the fuel is hardly mixed by the other oil guide portion can be guided and introduced into the second chamber, and the separation efficiency of the fuel in the lubricating oil can be further improved. From the viewpoint of further improving the separation efficiency, a combination of the above forms (a ′) and (b ′) is preferable.

  Further, for example, (a '') the second chamber is formed in a cylinder block of the engine and is disposed immediately below a communication path that connects the crank chamber and the inside of the head cover, or (b '') the second chamber. The chamber can be arranged directly under the chain case or belt case of the engine. As a result, the lubricating oil that is hardly mixed with fuel can be dropped and introduced into the second chamber, and the separation efficiency of the fuel in the lubricating oil can be further improved. From the viewpoint of further improving the separation efficiency, a combination of the above (a ″) and (b ″) forms is preferable.

  Here, for example, the oil storage volume of the first chamber can be smaller than the oil storage volume of the second chamber. The ratio (C1 / C2) between the oil storage volume C1 of the first chamber and the oil storage volume C2 of the second chamber is preferably 0.2 to 0.5 (particularly 0.25 to 0.3). This is because fuel in a relatively small amount of lubricating oil can be more efficiently separated in the first chamber, and a large amount of lubricating oil can be secured in the second chamber.

Here, the oil-diluted fuel separator of the internal combustion engine can perform drive control of the oil pump, for example, in the forms (1) to (3) described below.
(1) A dilution sensor that is provided in the oil reservoir on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed and that detects the degree of dilution by the fuel component of the lubricating oil is further provided, and based on the detection result of the dilution sensor. A mode in which the oil pump is driven and controlled.
(2) A mode in which the oil pump is driven and controlled based on the temperature of the lubricating oil.
(3) A mode in which the oil pump is driven and controlled based on the operating state of the internal combustion engine.
The above forms (1) to (3) may be applied singly or in combination of two or more forms.
In the case of the form (1), the form for detecting the dilution degree of the lubricating oil by the dilution sensor is not particularly limited. As a detection form of a dilution sensor, the form which detects the viscosity of a lubricating oil, specific gravity, the transmittance | permeability of light etc. is mentioned, for example.

  In the case of (2), for example, the oil pump can be operated only when the lubricating oil is at a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature. That is, for example, when the oil temperature is less than 80 ° C., the oil pump is operated, and when the oil temperature reaches 80 ° C., the operation of the oil pump can be stopped. Moreover, the temperature sensor which detects the temperature of lubricating oil may utilize the oil temperature sensor previously provided in the engine, for example, and may be newly provided.

In the case of the mode (3), “based on the operating state” means, for example, in a cylinder injection internal combustion engine, in addition to the main injection that injects fuel into the cylinder in the vicinity of the compression top dead center, This is a case where sub-injection (for example, pilot injection, post-injection, etc.) for injecting fuel into the cylinders before and after is performed. When performing this sub-injection, the injected fuel tends to adhere to the inner wall surface of the cylinder, and the attached fuel tends to be mixed into the lubricating oil. Therefore, in the case of the mode (3), it is possible to monitor whether or not the operation state is such that the fuel is relatively easily mixed, and the oil pump can be operated based on this. For example, information from an ECU that controls the engine can be referred to as to whether or not the fuel is in an operation state in which mixing of fuel is relatively likely to occur.
For example, an ECU that controls the engine may be used as the control means that performs the control in the above-described forms (1) to (3), or a new control unit may be provided.

  According to the mode (1), it is possible to perform accurate fuel separation by monitoring the dilution of the lubricating oil. According to the embodiments (2) and (3), it is possible to separate the fuel components based on whether or not the conditions are such that the fuel is likely to be mixed into the lubricating oil. That is, active fuel separation can be performed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, as an “internal combustion engine” according to the present invention, an in-cylinder injection engine that performs sub-injection before and after the main injection is illustrated.

(1) Engine Configuration As shown in FIG. 1, the engine 1 according to this embodiment includes a cylinder block 1a in which a cylinder 2 is formed, and a cylinder head 1b fixed to the upper portion of the cylinder block 1a. Yes. A piston 3 is supported in the cylinder 2 of the cylinder block 1a so as to be able to reciprocate. In addition, a crankcase 1c configured to rotatably support the crankshaft 4 is fixed to the lower portion of the cylinder block 1a. The crankshaft 4 is connected to the piston 3 via a connecting rod 5. A combustion chamber 6 surrounded by the top surface of the piston 3, the wall surface of the cylinder head 1b, and the wall surface of the cylinder 2 is formed above the piston 3.

  The cylinder head 1b has an intake port 8a having one end connected to the intake pipe 7a and the other end connected to the combustion chamber 6, and one end connected to the exhaust pipe 7b and the other end connected to the combustion chamber 6. The exhaust port 8b is formed. The cylinder head 1b is provided with an intake valve 9a for opening and closing the intake port 8a and an exhaust valve 9b for opening and closing the exhaust port 8b, and camshafts 10a and 10b for driving the intake valve 9a and the exhaust valve 9b, respectively. It is supported rotatably. Further, a cylinder head cover 1d that covers the valve mechanism is attached to the upper portion of the cylinder head 1b. One end side of the intake pipe 7 a is connected to the air cleaner box 11. In the middle of the intake pipe 7a, a throttle valve 12 for adjusting the amount of intake air flowing through the intake pipe 7a is provided.

The space 13 in the cylinder head cover 1d is connected through the PCV valve 15a to the other end of the first return path 15 whose one end is connected to the downstream side of the throttle valve 12 of the intake pipe 7a. Further, the space 13 in the cylinder head cover 1d is connected to the other end side of the second return path 16 whose one end side is connected to the upstream side of the throttle valve 12 of the intake pipe 7a.
The cylinder block 1a and the cylinder head 1b of the engine 1 are provided with a communication path 17 that connects the crank chamber 14 and the space 13 in the cylinder head cover 1d.

  An oil pan 21 (illustrated as an “oil storage portion” according to the present invention) for storing lubricating oil is attached to the lower portion of the crankcase 1c. The oil pan 21 and the lubricated part of the engine 1 are in communication with each other via a lubrication passage 18. The lubrication passage 18 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the oil pan 21 and is configured to lubricate the engine 1 with the oil strainer 18a that sucks the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan 21 and the lubricating oil sucked from the oil strainer 18a. And a lubrication pump 18b for pumping to the part.

(2) Configuration of the oil-in-diluted fuel separator As shown in FIG. 1, the oil-in-diluted fuel separator 20 according to this embodiment includes an oil pan 21 that stores lubricating oil. One end of an oil passage 23 is connected to the first side wall of the oil pan 21. The other end of the oil passage 23 is connected to a separating means 24 that separates fuel components contained in the lubricating oil. The oil passage 23 is provided with an oil pump 22 that pumps the lubricating oil in the oil pan 21 to the separating means 24 in the middle thereof. That is, the oil passage 23 connects the oil pan 21 and the separating means 24, and the lubricating oil stored on the first region 21 a side, which is the first side wall side of the oil pan 21, is driven by the oil pump 22. , A passage introduced into the separating means 24.

The separation means 24 is a separator using a separation membrane, and is a cross-flow filtration type separator in which lubricating oil is introduced therein and fuel components contained in the lubricating oil are separated through the separation membrane.
The separating means 24 and the oil pan 21 are connected by an oil return passage 25. One end of the oil return passage is connected to a second side wall facing the first side wall of the oil pan 21. That is, the lubricating oil discharged from the separating means 24 is returned to the second region 21 b side that is the second side wall side of the oil pan 21 on the side away from the first region 21 a.

  The lubricating oil returned to the oil pan 21 through the gap between the piston 3 and the cylinder 2 is guided to the first region 21 a side of the oil pan 21 at the upper portion of the oil pan 21 and at the lower portion of the crankcase 1 c. A plate-like baffle plate 26 (illustrated as “oil guide part” according to the present invention) is provided.

  Further, a dilution sensor 27 is provided on the first region 21a side of the oil pan 21, and detects the dilution of the lubricating oil stored in the first region 21a side with fuel. The detection result of the dilution sensor 27 is sent to the ECU 28. The ECU 28 performs drive control of the oil pump 22 based on the detection result.

(3) Operation of the oil-in-diluted fuel separation device Next, the operation of the oil-in-diluted fuel separation device 20 having the above configuration will be described.
In the present embodiment, the cylinder injection engine 1 that performs the sub-injection before and after the main injection is employed, so that the fuel adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder is mixed with the lubricating oil and the gap between the piston 3 and the cylinder 2 The fuel dilution rate in the lubricating oil that passes through and returns to the oil pan 21 increases.

  During engine operation, lubricating oil that circulates around the piston such as the crankshaft 4, the connecting rod 5, and the piston 3 serving as a lubricated portion of the engine 1 passes through the gap between the piston 3 and the cylinder 2 and enters the baffle plate 26. It is guided and returned to the first area 21 a side of the oil pan 21. On the other hand, the lubricating oil that circulates around the heads of the camshafts 10a and 10b and the drive system as the lubricated parts of the engine 1 is returned to the second region 21b side of the oil pan 21 through the communication path 17, or 1 is returned to the second region 21b side of the oil pan 21 through a chain case or belt case (not shown). That is, the circulating oil with a relatively low dilution by the fuel component is returned to the second region 21b side of the oil pan 21, and the lubricating oil that may contain a large amount of fuel component is concentrated on the first region 21a side of the oil pan 21. Is done.

  The diluted lubricating oil, which is guided to the first region 21 a side by the baffle plate 26 and stored, is measured by the dilution sensor 27. If the ECU 28 determines that the dilution is higher than a predetermined value based on the detection result of the dilution sensor 27, the ECU 28 drives the oil pump 22. As a result, the lubricating oil stored on the first region 21 a side is sent to the separating means by the oil passage 23. A part of the fuel component contained in the lubricating oil sent to the separating means 24 is separated and returned to the second region 21 b side of the oil pan 21 by the oil return passage 25. The separated fuel passes through a fuel passage (not shown) and is sent to the intake pipe 7a where it is burned or sent to a storage section for storing the separated fuel.

  On the other hand, the lubrication oil that has lubricated the lubricated part but does not fall on the baffle plate 26, that is, the lubricated part such as the camshafts 10a, 10b on the upper part of the engine 1, is lubricated to connect the communication path 17 from the cylinder head cover 1d. Lubricating oil or the like that is returned to the oil pan 21 via the oil is introduced to the second region 21b side. The lubricating oil introduced into the second region 21b in this way and having a relatively low dilution is sucked into the oil strainer 18a together with the lubricating oil that has reached the second region 21b side through the oil return passage 25. Then, it is pumped by the lubrication pump 18 b and sent again to each lubricated part of the engine 1 through the lubrication passage 18.

(4) Effects of the Embodiment As described above, in the present embodiment, the lubricating oil that has lubricated the piston 3 that is the lubricated portion of the engine 1 is provided with one end of the oil passage 23 of the oil pan 21 by the baffle plate 26. It is guided to the first region 21a side and stored. Then, the lubricating oil stored on the first region 21a side of the oil pan 21 is introduced into the separation means 24 through the oil passage 23 having the oil pump 22 and is separated from the fuel. In this way, the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated on the first region 21a side by the baffle plate 26, and the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of the fuel is selectively sent to the separating means 24, so that the fuel component Therefore, the fuel can be efficiently separated as compared with the conventional case where non-selective separation is performed regardless of whether or not the fuel is contained in a large amount.

  In addition, one end of the oil passage 23 is disposed on the first region 21 a side that is the first side wall side of the oil pan 21, and one end of the oil return passage 25 is opposed to the first side wall of the oil pan 21. Since the oil is disposed on the side of the second region 21b, which is the side wall, the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated on the first region 21a side of the oil pan 21, and is separated through the oil passage 23. The lubricating oil after the fuel component is separated by the separating means 24 is sent to the second region away from the side where the lubricating oil containing a relatively large amount of fuel is concentrated via the oil return passage 25. Since it returns to the 21b side, mixing of the lubricating oil before and after the fuel separation can be suppressed, and the fuel can be separated more efficiently.

  Further, the oil pan 21 on the first region 21 a side where one end of the oil passage 23 is disposed is provided with a dilution sensor 27 for detecting the dilution due to the fuel component of the lubricating oil. Since the drive control is performed based on the detection result, the amount of the fuel component mixed in the lubricating oil is detected by the dilution sensor 27. If it is detected that the mixed amount exceeds the predetermined amount, the oil pump 22 is turned off. By operating, the fuel component is separated, and if it is detected that the amount is small, the oil pump 22 stops. As described above, since the operation is performed only when the fuel concentration is high, wasteful consumption of energy can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a communication path 17 is formed in the cylinder block 1a and the cylinder head 1b of the engine 1 to connect the crank chamber 14 and the space 13 in the cylinder head cover 1d, and the lubricating oil is hardly mixed with fuel. Is dropped to the second region 21b side and introduced, so that mixing with the lubricating oil having a high fuel mixing rate on the first region 21a side can be suppressed, and the lubricating oil sent to the separating means 24 is The fuel concentration can be increased, and the separation efficiency can be further improved.

  In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in the above embodiment, the lubricating oil that has lubricated the piston 3 that is the lubricated portion of the engine 1 is guided by the baffle plate 26 to the first region 21a side where one end of the oil passage 23 of the oil pan 21 is disposed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the oil pan 21 is connected to the first chamber 31 on the side where one end of the oil passage 23 is disposed, and the oil. You may make it further provide the partition part 30 partitioned off into the 2nd chamber 32 of the side by which the end of the return channel | path 25 was arrange | positioned. As a result, the partition portion 30 partitions the lubricating oil in which a relatively large amount of fuel before the fuel component is separated and the lubricating oil in which the fuel component is relatively less mixed after being separated by the separating means. Therefore, the fuel component separation efficiency can be further improved.

  Further, when the partition portion 30 described above is provided, the oil storage volume of the first chamber 31 may be smaller than the oil storage volume of the second chamber 32. In this case, the amount of lubricating oil stored in the first chamber 31 from which the fuel component is to be separated by the separating means can be made relatively small, and the amount of the lubricating oil stored in the second chamber 32 can be reduced. The amount of lubricating oil that can be supplied to the lubricating portion can be relatively large. As a result, it is not necessary to secure a larger amount of lubricating oil than necessary while realizing efficient fuel separation. In this case, the oil storage volume of the first chamber 31 is preferably about 30 percent at the maximum with respect to the total amount of lubricating oil stored.

Further, in the above embodiment, the dilution sensor 27 is provided, has been to control the driving of the oil pump 22 to perform only the fuel separation when high dilution due to fuel is not limited to this, for example, detection of the dilution sensor In addition to the drive control of the oil pump based on the result, one or both of the drive control of the oil pump based on the temperature of the lubricating oil and the drive control of the oil pump based on the operation state of the internal combustion engine may be combined. As an example of oil pump drive control based on the temperature of the lubricating oil, as shown in FIG. 3, a temperature sensor 33 for measuring the temperature of the lubricating oil is provided. and the like that controls the driving of the oil pump 22 only when it is cooler than the predetermined temperature. In addition, examples of the drive control of the oil pump based on the operating state of the internal combustion engine, as shown in FIG. 4, the ECU 28, like that controls the driving of the oil pump 22 based on the operating state of the engine 1.

  In the above embodiment, one end of the oil passage 23 is connected to the first side wall of the oil pan 21, one end of the oil return passage 25 is connected to the second side wall, and the oil pump 22 and the separating means 24 are connected to the engine 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least a part or all of the oil passage 23, the oil return passage 25, the oil pump 22, and the separation means 24 are provided in the crank chamber 14 or the oil pan. You may make it provide in the space in 21. FIG. In this case, one end of the oil passage 23 for sucking the lubricating oil may be disposed in the oil pan 21 similarly to the oil strainer 18a, for example.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a separator using a separation membrane is used as the separation means 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a separation means for heating the lubricating oil to vaporize the fuel component may be used. Separation means by centrifugation may be used.

  It is widely used as a technique for separating diluted fuel contained in lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine. In particular, it is suitably used as an in-oil diluted fuel separator for a direct injection internal combustion engine that performs sub-injection before and after main injection.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the in-oil dilution fuel separation apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dilution fuel separation apparatus in oil of another form. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dilution fuel-in-oil separation apparatus of other form. It is explanatory drawing which shows the dilution fuel-in-oil separation apparatus of other form.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Engine, 1a; Cylinder block, 1b; Cylinder head, 1c; Crankcase, 1d; Cylinder head cover, 2; Cylinder, 3; Piston, 4; Crankshaft, 5: Connecting rod, 6: Combustion chamber, 7a; Exhaust pipe, 8a; Intake port, 8b; Exhaust port, 9b; Intake valve, 9b; Exhaust valve, 10a, 10b; Camshaft, 11; Air cleaner box, 12: Throttle valve, 13; Space, 14; Crank chamber, 15; first return passage, 15a; PCV valve, 16; second return passage, 17; communication passage, 18; lubrication passage, 18a; oil strainer, 18b; lubrication pump, 20; , 21; oil pan, 21a; first region, 21b; second region, 22; oil pump, 23; oil passage, 24; 25; oil return passage 26; baffle plate, 27; dilution sensor, 30; partition part 31; the first chamber, 32: second chamber, 33; temperature sensor.

Claims (6)

An oil reservoir for storing lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine;
Separating means for separating a fuel component contained in the lubricating oil;
An oil passage having an oil pump that communicates between the oil reservoir and the separation means, and that feeds lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the separation means;
An oil return passage that connects the separation means and the oil storage section, and returns the lubricating oil discharged from the separation means to the oil storage section;
An oil guide that is provided in the main body of the internal combustion engine and that guides the lubricating oil that has lubricated the piston of the lubricated portion of the internal combustion engine to the oil storage portion on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed. And
A dilution sensor that is provided in the oil reservoir on the side where one end of the oil passage is disposed, and that detects the degree of dilution by the fuel component of the lubricating oil ,
The oil pump, the dilution sensor detection results to the basis is driven and controlled in-oil dilution fuel separator device for an internal combustion engine characterized by Rukoto.   One end of the oil passage is disposed on the first side wall side of the oil storage part, and one end of the oil return path is disposed on the second side wall side facing the first side wall of the oil storage part. The oil-diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1.   The partition part which partitions the said oil storage part into the 1st chamber of the side by which the one end of the said oil channel | path was arrange | positioned, and the 2nd chamber of the side by which the one end of the said oil return channel | path was arrange | positioned is further provided. In-oil diluted fuel separator.   The oil-diluted fuel separator for an internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein the oil storage volume of the first chamber is smaller than the oil storage volume of the second chamber. The oil-diluted fuel separator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the oil pump is driven and controlled based on a temperature of the lubricating oil. The oil-diluted fuel separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the oil pump is driven and controlled based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine.

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