JPS5949309A - Engine-oil monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the trouble due to shortage of oil by monitoring the amount of engine oil dispersed by a dipper in a unit time and informing that the amount of oil in a case reaches the allowable lower limit, when the amount of engine oil reduces below a set value. CONSTITUTION:A dipper 4 is installed onto a crankshaft 3, and stirs the engine oil A in a crankcase 2 according to the revolution of the shaft 3, through the driving of an engine 1, and the oil is dispersed into the case 2. When the amount of oil A is over the allowable lower limit a chamber B and one divided chamber 5c are filled with oil A, and a pressure switch K3 does not operate, since the variation of the gas pressure in the case 2 which is caused by the vertical movement of a piston does not directly act onto a diaphragm 5f. On the other hand, when the amount of oil A reduces below the allowable lower limit, and the chamber B and the other divided chamber 5c are short of oil A, the variation of gas pressure directly acts onto the diaphragm 5f, and the pressure switch K3 operates, and a monitor output is output, so the trouble due to shortage of oil can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an engine oil monitoring device that monitors the amount of engine oil stored in the crankcase of an engine. The purpose of this is to detect when the value has fallen below the specified value, thereby ensuring safe operation of the engine.

Engine oil is extremely important in reducing friction between the various parts that make up the engine and allowing them to operate smoothly.In small engines, engine oil is stored in the crankcase. Supply of engine oil to each member of the engine is achieved by stirring the oil with a dipper provided on the crankshaft and scattering it toward each member of the engine.

In this way, the engine oil stored in the crankcase is agitated by the dipper and sprayed and supplied to each member, but as a matter of course, if the amount of engine oil decreases, it will be sprayed and supplied to each member. The amount of engine oil will also decrease.

Therefore, if the engine oil in the crankcase decreases to below the allowable lower limit for the amount of engine oil set by the engine, the amount of engine oil scattered and supplied to each part of the engine will be completely insufficient. As a result, the movement of each part of the engine loses its smoothness, which not only drastically and rapidly reduces the operating efficiency of the engine, but also causes serious accidents such as "seizure" and impairs the engine's functionality. This results in the serious inconvenience of losing the

For this reason, it is extremely important to know the amount of engine oil stored in the crankcase, but unlike fuel, engine oil is not consumed in a short period of time. It is extremely troublesome and often a waste of work to inspect the amount at each time, so it is generally inspected at regular intervals regardless of the number of times it is used.

However, since the period until the next inspection is generally relatively long, it is not only easy to forget to inspect the engine oil, but also to check the usage status of the engine and the functional deterioration of each engine component. As a result, the amount of engine oil may decrease rapidly within a short period of time, and this has caused great anxiety in regularly inspecting the engine oil at long intervals.

For this reason, various devices for monitoring the amount of engine oil have been considered, but conventional engine oil monitoring devices of this type are not only unreliable, but also prone to malfunctions, and have complicated and expensive structures. It had the disadvantage of becoming a thing.

For example, as a conventional engine oil monitoring device, a dish-shaped 6" receiver is provided near the bottom of the engine oil reservoir in the crankcase, and a pressure switch is placed directly on this 6" receiver, or a pressure switch is placed directly on this 6" receiver. A conduit is led out of the crankcase from the 6th receiver, and a pressure switch is provided at the tip of the conduit led out of the crankcase, so that changes in the fluid container acting on the engine oil receiver 1 in the crankcase can be detected by changing the pressure. There is a device that uses a switch to notify you when the amount of engine oil has fallen below a set value, but this type activates when the engine is tilted, so it should not be transported. Not only can it not be used in engines, but it also risks eliminating pressure fluctuations in the crankcase due to the reciprocating movement of the piston, so it has to be said that its reliability during engine operation is almost zero. It was something I couldn't get.

The present invention was created in order to meet the above-mentioned conventional demands and to solve the problems.
In an engine that is spray-supplied to each component of the engine, the amount of engine oil spray-supplied to each component of the engine is proportional to the amount of engine oil in the crankcase at that time. The amount of engine oil splashed by the dipper per unit time is monitored, and when the amount of engine oil splashed falls below a set value, the amount of engine oil in the crankcase is set as the lower limit of tolerance. This is to notify you that the value has been reached.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The engine oil monitoring device according to the present invention includes a crankshaft 3
The spattered engine oil A (hereinafter referred to as spattered oil At) can enter from the upper end into a desired location on the inner surface of the crankcase 2, where the engine oil A stirred by the dipper 4 is spattered. Engine oil A (hereinafter referred to as
The amount of the engine oil A (referred to as outflow A3) per unit time is the amount of the engine oil A that is scattered and intruded when the amount of the engine oil A is equal to or less than the allowable lower limit value set for each engine l (hereinafter referred to as , simply referred to as intruding oil A2) per unit time, but is larger than the amount of intruding oil A2 per unit time in a state where the amount of the engine oil A is equal to or higher than a set allowable lower limit value. forming a chamber B configured to be small;
A detection body K for detecting the accumulation of engine oil A is provided in this chamber B.

That is, since the dipper 4 is attached to the crankshaft 3, the engine oil A stored in the crankcase 2 is transferred to the crankshaft 3 by driving the engine 1.
The engine oil A is stirred according to the rotation of the engine oil A, thereby scattering the engine oil A into the crankcase 2.

At this time, as is clear from Fig. 1, engine oil A
Since the amount of oil that sinks into the engine oil A of the dipper 4 differs depending on the amount of the oil, the amount of scattered oil A1 increases as the amount of engine oil A that is stored increases.

Therefore, if a chamber B is formed on the inner surface of the crankcase 2 where the scattered oil AI is scattered, the scattered oil AI will enter into this chamber B, but as a matter of course, the scattered oil AI The greater the amount of intrusion oil A2, the greater the amount of intrusion oil A2 that intrudes into chamber B per unit time.

In this way, since the amount of oil A2 that enters chamber B per unit time is approximately proportional to the amount of engine oil A stored in crankcase 2, the amount of engine oil A can be adjusted within a preset allowable amount. Set it to the lower limit value, know the amount of intruding oil A2 per unit time at this time, and set the amount of outflow oil A that is the same as the amount of intruding oil A2 per unit time when this engine oil A reaches the allowable lower limit value.
If the flow path area of the outflow hole B2 formed at the lower end of the chamber B is set so that the amount of 3 can be obtained per unit time,
If the amount of engine oil A is below the allowable lower limit, it will be impossible for engine oil A to accumulate in chamber B, and on the other hand, if the amount of engine oil A is above the allowable lower limit, it will enter chamber B. The amount of oil A2 is greater than the amount of spilled oil A.
3, engine oil A will accumulate in chamber B.

This state continues as long as the engine 1 is running.

The configuration of this chamber B is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above-mentioned functions, but the configuration is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above-mentioned functions. 2. It is preferable to individually determine the shape depending on the form of formation on the inner surface.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it is configured to use two thermistors Kl, [2 as the detection body X, and the nurse 5 forming the chamber B has its main body part connected to the crankcase 2
The assembly drilled in the side wall of the front wall plate 5 fits into the hole.
The installation is fixed to the crankcase 2 with & in contact with the inner surface of the crankcase 2, and an inlet Bl with a large opening area is opened in the upper part of this front wall plate 6a, and an inlet Bl with a small opening area is opened in the lower part. Exit B2 is open.

Further, the inside of the case body 5 is divided into two by a partition wall 5b with respect to the inlet port Bl, and an outflow port B2 is opened in one chamber B portion.

Thermistors Kl and K2 are arranged in the compartment B portion, respectively.

The monitoring operation by both thermistors Kl and K2 is performed as follows.

The chamber B portion where the thermistor 2 is located is always filled with engine oil A, so the thermistor 2 is always submerged in the engine oil A.

On the other hand, since the chamber B portion where the thermistor Kl is located is provided with the outlet B2, the engine oil A
If the amount of is more than the allowable lower limit, engine oil A is filled in this chamber B, and thermistor 1 can be submerged in engine oil A in the same way as thermistor 2, but engine oil A If the amount is below the allowable lower limit, engine oil A is not stored in this chamber B portion, so thermistor Kl cannot maintain contact with engine oil A.

Therefore, when the amount of engine oil A is above the allowable lower limit value, both thyristors Kl and 2 are in exactly the same state with respect to engine oil A, and the resistance values that appear are also exactly the same. However, if the amount of engine oil A is below the allowable lower limit, the first thyristor IN
The state of the second thyristor with respect to the engine oil A is completely different from the state of the second thyristor with respect to the engine oil A, and therefore the resistance values appearing in both thyristors ``NK2'' become completely different values.

Taking advantage of the fact that the two thyristors Kl and 2 have different resistance values, for example, a Wheatstone bridge circuit is configured with both thyristors KI and K2 and a suitable fixed resistor, and both thyristors Kl and 2 have different resistance values. Output that the values are different,
The output can be used to monitor the amount of engine oil.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 shows a case where a pressure switch 3 is used as the detection object X, and the case 5 has an open top surface as an inlet port Bl, and an outlet port B2 at the lower end of the front wall. , the rear wall 5e is assembled into the crankcase 2 as a part, a side chamber 50 is formed separately from the chamber B formed by the main body of the case 5, and the inside of this side chamber 5C is divided into two by a diaphragm 5f.
One of the divided side chambers 50 is connected to a pressure switch 3, and the other side is connected to the inside of the chamber B through a through hole 5d.

The monitoring operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is such that when the amount of engine oil is equal to or greater than the allowable lower limit, engine oil A is filled in the chamber B and the other of the two divided side chambers 50. Changes in the air pressure inside the crankcase 2 due to the up and down movement of the screws in the engine 1 do not directly act on the diaphragm 5f, so the pressure switch 3 does not operate, but the engine oil A When the amount of engine oil A becomes less than the allowable lower limit and engine oil A disappears in chamber B and the other of the two divided side chambers 5c, changes in the air pressure in the crankcase 2 due to the vertical movement of the piston of the engine 1 directly affect the diaphragm. This acts on the pressure switch 5f, which causes the pressure switch 3 to operate, and this switch operation makes it possible to output a monitoring output.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows a case where float switch 4 is used as the detection object X, and the main body of the case 5 has exactly the same structure as the embodiment shown in FIG. However, there is a through hole 5 in the center of this case 5 at the lower end.
A regulating tube 5g with a hole h is provided upright, and a float switch 4 is provided inside this regulating tube 5g.

The regulating cylinder 5g is for preventing malfunction of the float switch 4 due to the tilting of the engine 1.

The monitoring operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is exactly the same as that of a normal float switch, and when the amount of engine oil A in chamber B becomes extremely low, the switch operates and this is used as the monitoring output. do.

Figure 5 1! L, b, and a show an example in which 5 is used in an EEil type buzzer as a detection object. 5 is attached to a piezoelectric type buzzer by directly fixing it to a predetermined location on the inner surface of the crankcase 2 with a piece 51. A narrow gap is formed between the piezoelectric buzzer 6 and the inner surface of the crankcase 2, and this gap is defined as a chamber B.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 makes effective use of the fact that the piezoelectric buzzer 5 has a flat plate shape and that the engine oil A has a relatively large surface tension.

That is, the upper end of the gap between the piezoelectric buzzer 6 and the inner surface of the crank case 2 is the inlet port Bl, and the lower end is the outlet port B1.
2, the scattered oil At enters this entry port Bl.
The oil enters into the chamber B, which is the gap, as intruding oil A2 either directly or flowing down the inner surface of the crankcase 2 through the inlet port Bl.

This intruding oil A2 flows down inside the chamber B, but the flow resistance due to its surface tension and viscosity greatly limits its flow rate, so it stays in the chamber B for a relatively long time. That's what happens.

Therefore, if the amount of invading oil A2 per unit time is large, the chamber B will be filled with engine oil A, and conversely, if the amount of invading oil A2 per unit time is small, the chamber B will be filled with engine oil A. There will be no more fulfillment.

The means for forming chamber B in this piezoelectric buzzer by 5 is as follows:
As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.

In the case of the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the configuration is extremely simple, but since the amount of oil A3 flowing out per unit time must be regulated only by the surface vitality and viscosity of engine oil A, a piezoelectric buzzer is used. 5 and crankcase 2
Setting the value of the gap with the inner surface may become somewhat difficult.

On the other hand, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Since the IS can be inclined with respect to the inner surface of the crankcase 2 and the width of the outlet B2 can be narrowed without regard to other parts, it is possible to easily store the engine oil A in the chamber B. can.

The monitoring operation of this embodiment shown in FIG.
This is achieved by utilizing the fact that when the engine oil A comes into contact with the oscillation surface of the piezoelectric buzzer, the oscillation output of the piezoelectric buzzer 5 decreases.

In this way, the form of chamber B is individually set depending on the function and operating mode of the detecting object used, but the form of chamber B for each type of detecting object X is limited to what is shown in the diagram. For example, in the case of a thermistor, only one thermistor can be used to function as the detection object X, and in the case of five piezoelectric buzzers, the
It can also be used by being placed in the chamber B formed by the case 5 as shown in the figure.

,;:(7) In yaw 5, the present invention provides engine oil A.
Since the amount of engine oil A is monitored using the scattering action of dipper 4, engine 1
The amount of engine oil A can be continuously monitored while the engine is being driven, and therefore, all troubles in the engine 1 caused by a shortage of engine oil A can be prevented.

In addition, since monitoring is performed using the scattered engine oil A, the monitoring operation will not become impossible even if the engine 1 is tilted significantly, and stable and reliable monitoring operation can be obtained at all times while the engine 1 is running. can.

Furthermore, a chamber B is formed at a location on the inner surface of the crankcase 2 where the engine oil A is scattered, and a detection object K is placed in this chamber B.
Since it is only necessary to arrange the engine, its structure is extremely simple, it is easy to manufacture, and it can be easily attached to an already manufactured engine.

As is clear from the above description, since the present invention monitors the amount of engine oil while the engine is running, it is possible to prevent all problems that may occur in the engine due to a lack of engine oil, and also to improve the posture of the engine. It has many excellent effects, such as being able to obtain stable and reliable monitoring operations almost regardless of the situation, and being simple in structure and easy to implement.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention for an engine. Figures 2 to 5 show examples of forming the chamber for the detection body, and Figure 2 is an overall perspective view of the case forming the chamber when a thermistor is used as the detection body, and Figure 3 is an overall perspective view of the case forming the chamber when a thermistor is used as the detection body. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view when a pressure switch is used as the detecting object, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when a pressure switch is used as the detecting object, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when a piezoelectric buzzer is used as the detecting object. This shows a structural diagram of. Explanation of symbols 1...Engine, 2...Crankcase, 3...
Crankshaft, 4...Dipper 15...Case, A
o...Engine oil, B...Chamber, Bl...Inlet, B2...Outlet, K...Detection object, Kl, K2
...Thermistor, K3...Pressure switch, K4...
・Four-foot switch, x5...Piezoelectric buzzer. Inventor: Toru Oki Inventor: Hiroyoshi Komiya Applicant: Iida Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Representative: Ii 1) Ko Sawa::'jP3Anobuota/Nugu (b) (c)

Claims (1)

[Claims] The scattered oil can enter from the upper end of the inner surface of the crankcase where the engine oil stirred by the dipper provided on the crankshaft is scattered, and can also flow out from the lower end, and the amount of the spilled oil per unit time is The amount of intruding oil is greater than the amount of intruding oil per unit time when the amount of engine oil is below the set lower limit value, but smaller than the amount of intruding oil per unit time when the amount of engine oil is above the set lower limit value. 1. An engine oil monitoring device comprising a chamber configured to form a chamber, and a detector for detecting accumulation of engine oil provided in the chamber.