JPH11264311A - Automatically replenishing device for engine oil - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent excessive replenishment of engine oil in supplying the engine oil from a replenishing tank for replenishing the oil consumed by the operation of an engine. SOLUTION: In supplying engine oil from a replenishing tank 16 to a sub-tank 14 of this device, an air layer on an upper side of the replenishing tank 16 is communicated with an air layer on the upper side of the sub-tank 14 by means of an air tube 26. When an engine oil level in the sub-tank 14 closes an end 26a of the air tube 26, therefore, air is not supplied for compensating the volume which is previously occupied the engine oil that is discharged from the replenishing tank 16. Engine oil replenishment is thus automatically stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic engine oil replenishing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic replenishing device of this kind, an engine oil is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-267516. This publication discloses an oil pan which is an oil reservoir for an engine, a supply tank for storing oil for adding oil to the oil pan, a sensor for detecting a liquid level in the oil pan, and a tank for supplying oil from the supply tank to the oil pan. And an electromagnetic valve permitting oil supply. In this device, when the sensor detects that the oil level in the oil pan has dropped, the solenoid valve is opened, the oil stored in the supply tank is supplied into the oil pan, and the oil in the oil pan becomes insufficient. Supplement. When the oil level in the oil pan rises to a predetermined level, the oil level is detected by a sensor, the solenoid valve is closed, and the flow of oil flowing from the supply tank to the oil pan is stopped.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the flow of oil by the solenoid valve is stopped when foreign matter or the like is contained in the oil flowing from the supply tank to the oil pan. May not be possible. That is, for example, when the electromagnetic valve is closed, a foreign substance is caught between the valve of the electromagnetic valve and the valve seat, a gap is formed around the foreign substance, the flow of oil cannot be stopped, and It can happen that all the oil flows into the oil pan. If more oil than necessary flows into the oil pan,
Poor engine combustion or oil leakage to the outside of the engine.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem with respect to foreign matter, a method of improving reliability by providing a plurality of solenoid valves in series, or providing a strainer or the like upstream of the solenoid valve (supply tank side) to remove foreign matter There is also a method of preventing flowing into the solenoid valve. However, at present, there is still a problem in cost or reliability in dealing with these methods.

Therefore, the present invention provides a reliable supply of engine oil from a replenishment tank to an engine oil storage section such as an oil pan, and in particular, prevents excessive engine oil from flowing from the replenishment tank into the engine oil storage section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic replenishing device for engine oil.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The technical measures taken in the present invention to solve the above technical problems include a storage portion for storing engine oil, and a spare engine oil located above the storage portion and having reserved inside. A replenishment tank with strength that does not change in volume due to fluctuations in the amount of engine oil stored in the reservoir, a communication pipe with one end attached to the lower part of the replenishment tank and the other end attached to the storage part, and a flow of the communication pipe And a gas-tightness maintaining mechanism that seals an air layer above the level of the engine oil above the replenishment tank.

[0007] According to the above technical means, the air layer above the replenishment tank is sealed by the airtight holding mechanism at an appropriate timing such as when the amount of engine oil in the storage section becomes a desired amount. By sealing the air layer of the supply tank, the reduced amount of engine oil that has flowed from the supply tank to the storage section in the supply tank cannot be filled with air or the like. Therefore, if the engine oil in the replenishment tank contains foreign matter,
Even if foreign matter is caught between the valve section of the flow control valve and the valve seat, the flow of engine oil from the supply tank to the storage section can be stopped by sealing the air layer above the supply tank.

More preferably, the flow control valve and the airtight holding mechanism are constituted by a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is connected to the storage pipe. The configuration is such that the engine oil is located at a predetermined level of the engine oil in the section.

With this configuration, the other end of the bypass pipe can detect the liquid level of the engine oil in the reservoir and operate as a flow control valve for supplying the engine oil to the reservoir. That is, when the engine oil in the reservoir is consumed and the level of the engine oil drops, the other end of the bypass pipe separates from the level of the engine oil in the reservoir. Therefore, the air in the storage section is supplied to the supply tank via the bypass pipe, and the engine oil in the supply tank can be supplied to the storage tank. On the other hand, when the liquid level of the engine oil in the reservoir rises and the other end of the bypass pipe is closed by the engine oil,
It can automatically keep the inside of the supply tank and the bypass pipe airtight.

[0010] More preferably, the airtight maintenance mechanism is constituted by a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the supply tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is provided with engine oil in the storage section. Is located at a predetermined amount of liquid level.

As described above, even when the bypass pipe has the function of the flow control valve and the function of the airtight holding mechanism, it is not necessary to add engine oil to the supply tank.
It is difficult to keep the inside of the supply tank airtight at all times. Therefore, the reliability of the flow control valve can be improved by arranging the flow control valve in the communication pipe and using the role of the bypass pipe, which is an airtight maintenance mechanism, only as a backup function of the flow control valve.

[0012] More preferably, the airtight holding mechanism is a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is provided with engine oil in the storage section. Is located at a predetermined amount of liquid level.

[0013] With this configuration, the liquid level of the engine oil in the reservoir rises, and the other end of the bypass pipe is closed by the engine oil, so that the inside of the supply tank and the bypass pipe can be automatically kept airtight.

[0014] More preferably, the airtight maintenance mechanism includes a sensor for sensing the level of the engine oil in the storage section, and further, when the level of the engine oil in the storage section is lower than a predetermined level, The valve is opened to communicate with the atmosphere, and a valve is provided for closing the communication between the air layer in the replenishment tank and the atmosphere when the engine oil in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level.

[0015] With this configuration, the airtightness maintaining mechanism detects the level of the engine oil level in the storage section, and the valve that opens and closes based on the detection result controls the flow of the engine oil from the supply tank to the storage section. Can stop.

More preferably, the airtight holding mechanism is a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is connected to the engine oil in the storage section. Is located at a predetermined amount of liquid level.

With this configuration, the liquid level of the engine oil in the reservoir rises and the other end of the bypass pipe is closed by the engine oil, so that the inside of the supply tank and the bypass pipe can be automatically kept airtight.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing an automatic replenishing device for engine oil according to the present invention.

The engine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an engine for driving a GHP (gas heat pump). FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The sub-tank 14 is arranged beside the oil pan 12. A supply tank 16 is arranged above the engine 10. Each capacity of the oil pan 12, the sub tank 14, and the supply tank 16 is 12L.
(Liter), 9L and 40L.

The oil pan 12 and the sub-tank 14 are communicated with each other by an air pressure balance pipe 18 and an engine oil balance pipe 20 arranged vertically. Specifically, one end of the oil balance pipe 20 is attached to an oil joint 22 attached to the bottom of the oil pan 12, and the other end of the oil balance pipe 20 is attached to the bottom of the sub rank 14. The engine oil inside the oil pan 12 and the sub tank 14 communicates via an oil balance pipe 20. Also, above the oil balance pipe 20,
The oil pan 12 is located above the level of the engine oil stored in the oil pan 12 and the sub tank 14.
A pressure balance pipe 18 that communicates with the sub tank 14 is disposed. With the above configuration, the oil pan 12 and the sub-tank 14 are connected by the air pressure balance pipe 18 and the engine oil balance pipe 20 to form an integral storage section for storing engine oil. Accordingly, the liquid level of the sub tank 14 is displaced upward and downward in conjunction with the liquid level of the engine oil in the oil pan 12.

On the other hand, an oil pipe 24 and an air pipe 26 communicate between the sub tank 14 and the supply tank 16. The replenishment tank 16 is formed of a reinforced plastic having a strength such that the volume of the replenishment tank does not change in response to a pressure change caused by a change in the amount of engine oil stored therein.

The replenishing tank 16 and the oil pipe 24 are formed with a stepped portion 16b raised to the bottom 16a of the replenishing tank.
Are connected. Due to the step formed between the bottom 16a and the step 16b of the replenishing tank, even if foreign matter such as impurities is present in the engine oil stored in the replenishing tank 16, the foreign matter does not flow to the sub tank 14. It can be kept in the supply tank 16. That is,
In general, the specific gravity of the impurities is often higher than the specific gravity of the engine oil, so that the specific gravity of the engine oil can be retained at the bottom 16a of the replenishing tank 16 and only the supernatant of the engine oil without impurities can be supplied to the sub tank 14 from the step 16b.

The upper end of the air pipe 26 is connected to the upper part of the supply tank 16. This connection portion is connected to the supply tank 16 with an air layer above the level of the spare engine oil stored in the supply tank 16. The lower end of the air pipe 26 is disposed so as to penetrate into the sub-tank 14, and the tip 26 a of the air pipe 26 has a desired level of the engine oil level in the sub-tank 14, for example, the air pressure balance pipe 18 and the sub-tank 14. At the height of the connection with the

Next, the operation of the automatic engine oil replenishing device described above will be described.

When the engine 10 operates, the engine oil is consumed and the level of the engine oil in the oil pan 12 (and the sub-tank 14 linked to the oil pan 12) drops. As the level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14 decreases, the level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14 also decreases. Then, when the liquid level of the engine oil moves away from the lower end 26 a of the air pipe 26, the atmosphere in the sub tank 14 is supplied into the supply tank 16 via the air pipe 26. Then, the liquid level of the engine oil in the sub-tank 14 rises, and the liquid level of the engine oil rises to the lower end 2 of the air pipe 26.
When 6a is closed, the supply of the engine oil to the sub-tank 14 is stopped without the air in the sub-tank 14 being supplied into the supply tank 16. As described above, the amount of engine oil (liquid level of engine oil) in the sub-tank 14 always indicates that the liquid level of engine oil is lower than the lower end 2 of the air pipe 26.
6a can be adjusted and maintained.

When adding engine oil to the supply tank 16, a manual valve (not shown) for preventing the engine oil in the supply tank 16 from flowing into the sub-tank 14 is preferably provided in the oil pipe 24. .

In order to maintain the liquid level of the engine oil in the sub-tank 14 at a desired position, the positions of the ends of the oil pipe 24 and the air pipe 26 in the sub-tank 14 may be the same.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
An embodiment will be described. Of the constituent members of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the same members as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the oil pipe 24
Is provided with a flow control valve 28 such as a solenoid valve. Further, the lower end of the air pipe 26 is disposed so as to penetrate into the sub-tank 14, and the tip thereof is located at a position in the sub-tank 14 where the liquid level of the engine oil is at the highest allowable level, for example, the air-pressure balance pipe 18 and the sub-tank 14. At the height of the connection with the

Further, as shown in FIG.
Inside, a float switch 30 is arranged. A resin container 32, which is a component of the float switch 30, floats on the liquid level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14, and detects the level of the liquid level of the engine oil. The detection result of the float switch 30 is transmitted to the control device 34, and the control device 34
Controls opening and closing of the flow control valve 28. For example, when the liquid level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14 becomes lower than the level L1 shown in FIG. 2, the flow control valve 28 is opened to supply the engine oil in the supply tank 16 to the sub tank 14 via the oil pipe 24. I do. When the liquid level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14 reaches the level L2 shown in FIG. 2, the flow control valve 28 is closed and the supply of the engine oil from the supply tank 16 to the sub tank 14 is stopped. The spare engine oil stored in the supply tank 16 is supplied by removing the cap 36 shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the automatic engine oil replenishing apparatus described above will be described.

When the engine 10 operates, the engine oil is consumed and the level of the engine oil in the oil pan 12 (and the sub-tank 14 linked to the oil pan 12) drops. As the level of the engine oil in the sub-tank 14 decreases, the container 32 floating in the sub-tank 14
Decrease. When the container 32 falls below the level L1 shown in FIG. 2, the float switch 30 is turned on, and the flow control valve 28 is opened under the control of the control device 34. With the opening of the flow control valve 28, the spare engine oil stored in the auxiliary tank 16 is supplied to the sub tank 14 via the oil pipe 24. On the other hand, the engine oil supplied to the sub-tank 14 via the oil pipe 24 causes the liquid level in the sub-tank 14 to rise. As the liquid level of the engine oil rises, the container 32 also rises, and when the container 32 reaches the level L2 shown in FIG. 2, the float switch 30 is turned off, and the flow control valve 2 is controlled by the control device 34.
8 is closed. As described above, as long as spare engine oil is charged into the supply tank 16 and any of the functions of the flow control valve 28, the float switch 30, and the control device 34 operate normally, the amount of engine oil in the sub-tank 14 Can be maintained between the level of L1 and the level of L2.

However, if the foreign matter is contained between the valve and the valve seat when the flow control valve 28 is closed because the engine oil in the supply tank 16 contains foreign matter or the like, Control valve 28, float switch 3
It is also necessary to take measures when the flow control valve 28 cannot stop the flow of the engine oil flowing through the oil pipe 24, for example, when the control device 34 or the like does not operate normally. In the present embodiment, an air pipe 26 arranged substantially in parallel with oil pipe 24 forms an air layer above the engine oil level in sub tank 14 and an air layer above the liquid level in supply tank 16. Connecting between the two. The replenishing tank 16 is sealed by a cap 36 shown in FIG. With this configuration, the volume of the spare engine oil in the supply tank 16 flowing to the sub-tank 14 via the oil pipe 24 is supplemented by air supplied to the supply tank 16 via the air pipe 26. The air in the sub tank 14 communicates with the atmosphere via an air passage 38 communicating with the intake side of the engine 10. Therefore, even if the supply of engine oil from the supply tank 16 to the sub-tank 14 cannot be stopped for some reason, the engine oil level rises and reaches the end 26a of the air pipe 26 on the sub-tank 14 side. For example, the supply of engine oil from the supply tank 16 to the sub tank 14 can be stopped. That is,
Air for replenishing the space in which the engine oil in the supply tank 16 has been discharged into the sub-tank 14 is no longer supplied via the air pipe 26, and the air in the supply tank 16 becomes negative pressure. Therefore, some trouble occurs and the sub tank 14
Even if the engine oil supplied into the air tank cannot be stopped at the level indicated by L2, the sub tank 1
It can be stopped at the position of the end 26a on the fourth side.

The stop position in the sub tank 14 is
By adjusting the position of the end 26a of the air tube 26, it can be adjusted at any position.

Further, since the flow control valve 28 is provided in the oil pipe 24, it is not necessary to always keep the inside of the supply tank 16 airtight, and maintenance such as addition of engine oil to the supply tank 16 can be easily performed. Can be.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention corresponding to FIG. 1. The same members as in FIG.
The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the supply tank 1 is used instead of the air pipe 26.
An air pipe 40 extends from above the liquid level of the spare engine oil in the upper part of 6. An electromagnetic valve 42 is arranged in the air pipe 40. The solenoid valve 42 is opened and closed by a float switch and a control device (not shown) in accordance with the level of the engine oil in the sub tank 14. That is, when the float switch detects that the level of the engine oil level has reached the limit, the control device closes the solenoid valve 42 and stops the supply of air to the supply tank 16.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the sub-tank 14 is disposed at the lower portion of the engine 10 without increasing the volume of the oil pan 12 for the purpose of securing a necessary amount of engine oil. I have. Therefore, without providing the sub-tank 14, the supply tank 16
It is also possible to supply spare engine oil to the oil pan 12 directly from the oil pipe 24 via the oil pipe 24.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to an engine for GHP, the present invention can be applied to all kinds of internal combustion engines.

[0039]

According to the present invention, the air layer above the replenishment tank can be sealed by the airtight holding mechanism at an appropriate timing such as when the amount of engine oil in the storage section becomes a desired amount. , In the replenishment tank,
The reduced amount of engine oil that has flowed from the replenishment tank to the storage unit cannot be filled with the atmosphere or the like. Therefore, even if the engine oil in the replenishment tank contains foreign matter or the like, and a problem such as a foreign matter being caught between the valve portion of the flow control valve and the valve seat occurs, the replenishment tank is not damaged. By closing the upper air layer, the flow of the engine oil from the supply tank to the storage section can be stopped.

The flow control valve and the airtight holding mechanism are constituted by a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the supply tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe in the storage section. With the configuration in which the engine oil is located at a predetermined level, the other end of the bypass pipe is
It is possible to detect the liquid level of the engine oil in the storage section and operate it as a flow control valve for supplying the engine oil to the storage section, thereby reducing the number of parts.

The airtightness holding mechanism is constituted by a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage part, and the other end of the bypass pipe is provided with the engine oil in the storage part. Because it is located at the fixed liquid level, there is no need to always keep the inside of the replenishment tank airtight, such as when adding engine oil to the replenishment tank. By using only the valve as a backup function, the reliability of the flow control valve can be improved.

Further, the airtight holding mechanism is a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is provided with the engine oil in the storage section. Because the engine oil level in the reservoir rises and the engine oil closes the other end of the bypass pipe, it is automatically located inside the replenishment tank and the bypass pipe. Can be kept airtight.

Further, the airtight maintenance mechanism has a sensor for detecting the level of the engine oil in the storage section, and further, when the level of the engine oil in the storage section is lower than a predetermined level, the air layer in the replenishment tank is released to the atmosphere. Open to communicate with
By providing a valve that shuts off the communication between the air layer in the replenishment tank and the atmosphere when the engine oil in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level, the air-tightness maintenance mechanism allows the level of the engine oil level in the reservoir to be higher. The flow of engine oil from the replenishment tank to the reservoir can be stopped by a valve that opens and closes based on the detection result.

The airtightness holding mechanism is a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe is provided with a place for the engine oil in the storage section. Because the engine oil level in the reservoir rises and the engine oil closes the other end of the bypass pipe, it is automatically located inside the replenishment tank and the bypass pipe. Can be kept airtight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an automatic engine oil supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall view of an automatic engine oil supply device according to the present invention. (Second embodiment)

FIG. 3 is an overall view of an automatic engine oil supply device according to the present invention. (Third embodiment)

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 engine 12 oil pan (reservoir) 14 sub-tank (reservoir) 16 replenishment tank 18 pressure balance pipe 24 oil pipe (communication pipe) 26 air pipe (bypass pipe) 28 flow control valve 42 solenoid valve

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A storage portion for storing engine oil, and a replenisher which is located above the storage portion, stores spare engine oil therein, and has a strength which does not change in volume due to a change in the amount of engine oil stored inside. A tank, a communication pipe having one end attached to a lower part of the supply tank and the other end attached to the storage part, a flow control valve for controlling a flow of the communication pipe, and a liquid level of engine oil at an upper part of the supply tank. An automatic engine oil replenishing device comprising an airtight maintenance mechanism that seals the upper air layer. 2. The flow control valve and the airtight holding mechanism,
One end is attached to the upper part of the replenishment tank, and the other end is constituted by a bypass pipe opened and fixed in the storage part,
The other end of the bypass pipe is located at a predetermined liquid level of engine oil in the storage section.
Automatic replenishing device for engine oil according to the above. 3. The airtightness holding mechanism includes a bypass pipe having one end attached to the upper portion of the replenishing tank and the other end opened and fixed in the storage section, and the other end of the bypass pipe in the storage section. 2. The automatic engine oil replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the engine oil is located at a predetermined level of the engine oil. 4. The airtightness holding mechanism includes a sensor for sensing a liquid level of engine oil in the storage section, and further includes a sensor in the supply tank when the liquid level of engine oil in the storage section is lower than a predetermined level. 2. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a valve that opens the air layer so as to communicate with the atmosphere, and closes the communication between the air layer in the replenishment tank and the atmosphere when the engine oil in the reservoir reaches a predetermined level. Automatic replenishing device for engine oil as described in the above. 5. An oil pan mounted below an engine, a sub-tank disposed adjacent to the oil pan, a pressure balance pipe communicating between the oil pan and the sub-tank, and an engine. 5. The automatic replenishing device for engine oil according to claim 1, further comprising an oil balance pipe.