JP2003214989A - Engine oil level control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep oil level and in-system oil quantity within a reference by successively detecting the level fluctuation of oil level in an engine oil pan in the environmental test of an internal combustion engine. <P>SOLUTION: An engine oil level detector 20 interlocked to an engine oil temperature adjusting device W and an engine oil fed tank 5 comprises two or more level cylinder units 21 containing level float switches 22 in level cylinder boxes 23, respectively, which are continuously provided and fixed thereto. An oil communicating pipe 27 is introduced from an engine oil pan 1 to the lower part of the level cylinder boxes 23 and independently branched and connected to the level cylinder units 21, and a pressure equalizing pipe 29 is introduced from the opening part of an engine oil cap 14 to the upper part of the level cylinder box 23, and independently branched and connected to the upper surfaces of the level cylinder units 21. The level control ranges of the respective level float switches 22 are set, and a control output related to at least supply and/or extraction of engine oil is performed in the test. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an environmental test device for an internal combustion engine equipped with at least an engine oil temperature control device,
For details, connect the engine oil temperature controller, the engine oil supply tank, and the engine oil level detector to sequentially detect the level fluctuation of the oil level in the engine oil pan during the test to determine the oil level. And an engine oil level control system for maintaining the amount of oil in the system within a standard. The system is a device system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a stationary environmental test apparatus for verifying the function of a test engine by setting the environmental conditions of an internal combustion engine for an automobile (hereinafter referred to as the engine) and the environmental temperature according to the present invention. Are known. The environmental temperature may be referred to as the temperature (room temperature) of the environmental test room (equipment system), but as will be described later, the temperature controlled by the temperature control device (engine system) is referred to in the present invention. To do.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main constitution of this environmental test device is that an engine cooling water temperature adjusting device, an engine intake air temperature adjusting device and an engine oil temperature adjusting device are provided for a test engine and a load dynamometer (dynamo). Are deployed.

The general temperature control range related to the application of the present invention in connection with these existing temperature control devices is that the engine cooling water temperature control device is -10 ° C to 120 ° C (engine outlet temperature) and the engine intake air temperature control is The device is -10 ° C to 80 ° C, and the engine oil temperature controller is -10 ° C to 140 ° C (engine main gallery temperature).

For example, assuming that the environmental temperature during running of the actual vehicle is 90 ° C., the temperature control by the engine cooling water temperature control device and the engine oil temperature control device are set to 90 ° C. respectively, and the temperature control by the engine intake air temperature control device is set at 25 ° C. It is set as ° C.

In the environmental test relating to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the amount of oil in the system (specifically, the oil level in the engine oil pan) during the test in which the temperature control operation is performed. Requested.

That is, when the oil level becomes low, the required amount of oil cannot be pumped up by the oil pump on the engine side, and the sliding portion of the engine may seize. This causes a problem that the test conditions (for example, the starting time when testing the startability of the engine) vary.

On the other hand, when the oil level becomes high and the oil level rises too much, the engine oil excessively enters the engine cylinder where the combustion gas is introduced, burns as unburned oil, and is entrained in the combustion exhaust gas. Enter the exhaust system,
There, the oil burns and pollutes,
It may cause engine or exhaust system failure. Also,
There is a problem in that the test conditions vary due to the rise of the oil level head and a change in the capacity of the engine-side oil pump.

Conventionally, the oil level in the engine oil pan is the only open end in the system, and the level fluctuation of the oil level is large during temperature control operation (during testing). When the set temperature (supply temperature) of 1 was changed, the problem that the test conditions varied as described above tended to occur.

In order to avoid such influence on the test conditions, an upper and lower limit (standard scale) of the liquid level is provided in the engine oil pan, and if it deviates from this, there is no reliability in data acquisition (unusable). It has been done.

By the way, although the problem of lubricating oil is generally widespread, some proposals have been made for an automatic replenishing device including liquid level control of engine oil.

For example, the engine main body is machined next to the engine oil pan to install a level gauge (communication pipe), the oil level is detected by a sensor to supply oil, and a level adjustment in the form of a Y plug on the engine oil pan. There is one that is equipped with a maintenance jig and is linked to the oil level detector in a separate supply tank.
See Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-247902 “Automatic lubricating oil replenishing device for engine” and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-118519 “Engine oil automatic replenishing device”. However, the effect of the prior art is not recognized regarding the content of the present invention.

[0013]

As described above, in the environmental test, it is required to adjust the amount of oil in the system to be constant during the temperature control operation test. More specifically, it is to maintain the oil level in the engine oil pan within the upper and lower limits of the test conditions.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves the above problems and provides an engine oil temperature control device, an engine oil supply tank, and an engine oil liquid level detection device in an internal combustion engine environmental testing device. And
It is intended to provide an engine oil level control system for sequentially detecting level fluctuations of an oil level in an engine oil pan during a test and maintaining the oil level and the amount of oil in the system within a reference level. .

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the problems, according to the present invention, an engine oil temperature control device, an engine oil supply tank, and an engine oil level detecting device are interconnected, and an oil in an engine oil pan is tested during a test. An engine oil level control system for sequentially detecting level fluctuations of a liquid level to maintain the oil level and the amount of oil in the system within a reference, wherein the engine oil temperature control device comprises: It has an engine oil temperature control circulation path that starts from the oil outlet of the pan and returns to the oil inlet of the engine oil pan via the circulation pump, the heater, and the heat exchanger. Engine oil drainage route for extracting engine oil from the temperature control circulation route of the oil temperature controller and introducing piping, and engine oil stored in the tank A tank oil replenishment path for pumping to the engine oil pan is arranged.The engine oil level detection device connects and fixes a plurality of liquid level cylinder units with built-in liquid level float switches in series. It is equipped with a liquid level cylinder box that is held so that it can be adjusted, and is introduced from the engine oil pan to the lower part of the liquid level cylinder box through an oil communication pipe, and branched separately to the bottom surface of the liquid level cylinder unit. In the engine oil pan before the start of the test, connect the engine oil cap from the opening of the engine oil cap to the upper part of the liquid level cylinder box through the pressure equalizing pipe, and branch each to the upper surface of the liquid level cylinder unit. With the oil level of the above as the reference level, set the level control range of each level float switch, and at least the engine It is characterized in that to perform the control output according to Le replenishment and / or withdrawal.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, the engine oil drainage path is provided from the wake of the heater of the engine oil temperature control circulation path through the first opening / closing valve and the first flow rate adjusting valve. Drain the engine oil,
Piping is introduced into the air chamber of the engine oil supply tank.

The tank oil replenishing path is introduced from the bottom of the engine oil replenishing tank by pumping the engine oil stored in the tank to the engine oil pan through the strainer, the second opening / closing valve and the second flow rate adjusting valve. is doing.

Further, there is a local tank circulation path in which the wake of the feed pump of the tank oil supply path is branched and introduced into the air chamber of the oil tank through a bypass valve. (2) The on-off valve is closed and the bypass valve is opened, and the tank circulation operation is locally performed in parallel with the temperature control operation to prepare for oil supply.

In the engine oil level detecting device, a back plate held vertically movable by position adjusting means is provided in the level cylinder box, and three or four level cylinder units are fixed in series. , Each liquid level float switch is set to a different liquid level control range, an upper limit or a lower limit of engine oil is alarmed / stopped at the time of a test, and a control output for replenishment and / or draining is performed. Here, a control output for instructing opening and closing of the first and second opening / closing valves is performed by an ON-OFF signal of the liquid level float switch.

Further, the position adjusting means is composed of a screw element, in which a sleeve nut is provided on the back surface of the back plate and a feed screw axially supported in the vertical vertical direction of the liquid level cylinder box is screwed. The liquid level cylinder unit and the back plate are integrally moved up and down based on forward and reverse rotations of the feed screw.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an engine oil level control system (hereinafter, embodiment system) showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of a liquid level detection device, which is a component of the embodiment system.

As shown, embodiment system (X)
Connects the engine oil temperature controller (W), the engine oil replenishment tank (5) and the engine oil level detector (20) to the oil level in the engine oil pan (1) before starting the test. Is set as the reference liquid level, the liquid level control range of each liquid level float switch (22) is set, and at the time of the test, at least the control output for instructing valve opening / closing related to replenishment and / or draining of engine oil is performed. The level fluctuation of the oil level in the engine oil pan (1) is sequentially detected, and control is performed so that the oil level and the amount of oil in the system are maintained within the standard.

The engine oil temperature control device (W) is emitted from the oil outlet (11) of the engine oil pan (1), passes through the circulation pump (2), the heater (3), and the heat exchanger (4). Engine oil pan (1) oil inlet (1
It has an engine oil temperature control circulation path (hereinafter indicated by the symbol W) that returns to 2).

The engine oil supply tank (5) is provided with a first opening / closing valve (81) and a first flow rate adjusting valve (91) from the wake of the heater (3) in the engine oil temperature control circulation path (W).
The engine oil drainage route (6) for draining the engine oil through the pipe and introducing it into the air chamber (51) of the engine oil supply tank (5) and the bottom of the engine oil supply tank (5) Oil drain port 5
2) Starting from 2), pump (71) feed, strainer,
A tank oil supply path (7) for introducing a pipe into the engine oil pan (1) through the second opening / closing valve (82) and the second flow rate adjusting valve (92) is arranged.

The engine oil liquid level detection device (20) accommodates a plurality of liquid level cylinder units (21), each having a built-in liquid level float switch (22), connected in series and fixed, and held so that its height can be adjusted. Has a liquid level cylinder box (23)
It is introduced from the engine oil pan (1) to the lower part of the liquid level cylinder box (23) through the oil communication pipe (27), and branched and connected to the bottom of the liquid level cylinder unit (21) separately, and the engine oil cap It is introduced to the upper part of the liquid level cylinder box (23) through a pressure equalizing pipe (29) connected to the opening of (14), and the liquid level cylinder unit (2
It has a branch connection on the top of 1). [Fig. 2]

Further, the wake of the feed pump (71) in the tank oil supply path (7) is branched off, and the bypass valve (10) is provided.
It has a local tank circulation path (72) introduced by piping into the air chamber (51) of the oil tank (5) through the first and second opening / closing valves (81; 82) at the time of the test and bypasses it. The valve (10) is opened and the tank circulation operation is performed locally in parallel with the temperature control operation to prepare for oil supply.

As for details of the liquid level detecting device (20), as shown in FIG. 2, the oil communication pipe (27) is connected from the lower part of the engine oil pan (tapping 13) to the lower part of the liquid level cylinder box (23). Together with the liquid level cylinder box (23)
Each is connected to the bottom of each liquid level cylinder unit (21) via a communication branch pipe (28) branched from the oil communication pipe (27) inside, and a pressure equalizing pipe (29) is connected to the engine oil cap (14). The pipe is introduced into the upper part of the liquid level cylinder box (23) by being connected to the opening of the liquid level cylinder box (23), and is separately branched and connected to the upper surface of each liquid level cylinder unit (21).
A flexible mechanism is provided at the connection between the oil communication pipe (27) [including the communication support pipe 28] and the pressure equalizing pipe (29).

In the liquid level cylinder box (23),
A back plate (24) held vertically movable by position adjusting means (24, 25, 26 to be described later) is provided, and three liquid level cylinder units (21) are continuously connected and fixed to each liquid level float switch. (22) is set to a different liquid level control range, and an alarm or stop output is issued for the upper or lower limit of the engine oil liquid level during the test, and a control output for replenishment and / or draining is performed. The liquid level cylinder unit (21) preferably has a four-series configuration in order to issue an alarm / stop output for the upper and lower limits of the oil level.

Here, the position adjusting means is a screw element (described later).
25), a sleeve nut (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the back plate (24), and the feed screw (2) is axially supported in the vertical direction of the liquid level cylinder box (23).
5) screwed together, and the feed screw (25)
The liquid level cylinder unit (21) and the back plate (24) are integrally moved up and down on the basis of the forward and reverse rotations.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of a liquid level float switch (known example).

As shown in the drawing, the liquid level float switch (22) is such that the float moves up and down and the magnetic force of a magnet mounted in the float turns on and off the reed switch enclosed in the stem. . As the liquid level float switch (22) itself, a known (or commercially available) switch can be used. Here, the contact of the switch is built in the stem and is not in contact with oil (explosion-proof structure). ON-OFF
The (contact spacing) can be set at a predetermined level by adjusting the upper and lower stoppers. In Example system (X), the intervals were 2.5 mm.

An ON-OFF signal of the liquid level float switch (22) related to oil supply is controlled and output to the second opening / closing valve (82), and an ON-OFF signal related to oil draining is output to the first opening / closing valve (81). Control output to. The open / close valve (8) is a solenoid valve [SV].

The ON-OFF signal of the liquid level float switch (22) relating to the upper limit or the lower limit control is an alarm / stop output.

[0036]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has the above-mentioned structure. According to the present invention, since the oil level in the engine oil pan can be maintained within the standard during the test, the continuation of the test is not hindered. Time loss is also eliminated.

Specifically, the upper limit control of the oil level can avoid engine failure, and the lower limit control can eliminate (prevent) engine stop.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an example system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a liquid level detection device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a liquid level float switch (known example).

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a main configuration of a known environment test device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 engine oil pan 11 Outlet 12 Inlet 13 tapping 14 Engine oil cap 2 circulation pump 3 heater 4 heat exchanger 5 Oil supply tank 51 air chamber 52 Oil drain port 6 Engine oil drainage route 7 Tank oil supply route 71 Feed pump 72 Tank circulation path 8 open / close valve 81 1st open / close valve 82 Second opening / closing valve 9 Flow control valve 91 1st flow control valve 92 Second flow rate adjusting valve 10 Bypass valve 20 Liquid level detector 21 Liquid level cylinder unit 22 Liquid level float switch 23 Liquid level cylinder box 24 backboard 25 Screw element (position adjustment means) 26 Position adjustment handle (position adjustment means) 27 Oil communication pipe 28 communication branch pipe 29 Pressure equalizing pipe W temperature control circulation route [engine oil temperature control device] X Example system

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Keiji Katae             3-4-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Machine Industry Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 2F013 AA05 BC01 CB01                 2G087 AA26 BB03 CC30 DD06 EE11

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An environmental testing device for an internal combustion engine, comprising at least an engine oil temperature control device, wherein an engine oil temperature control device, an engine oil replenishment tank, and an engine oil liquid level detection device are interconnected, and an engine oil pan at the time of testing. An engine oil level control system for sequentially detecting level fluctuations of the oil level in the engine and maintaining the oil level and the amount of oil in the system within a reference, wherein the engine oil temperature control device is , An engine oil temperature control circulation path that returns from the oil outlet of the engine oil pan to the oil inlet of the engine oil pan via the circulation pump, heater, and heat exchanger. However, there is an engine oil drainage route that drains engine oil from the engine oil temperature control device A tank oil replenishment path for pumping the stored engine oil to the engine oil pan is provided.The engine oil liquid level detection device connects multiple liquid level cylinder units with built-in liquid level float switches in series. It is equipped with a liquid level cylinder box that is fixed and held so that its height can be adjusted.
It is introduced from the engine oil pan to the lower part of the liquid level cylinder box through the oil communication pipe, and branched and connected to the bottom of the liquid level cylinder unit separately, and the liquid level cylinder is opened from the opening of the engine oil cap through the pressure equalizing pipe. It is introduced into the upper part of the box and is branched and connected to the upper surface of the liquid level cylinder unit separately, and the oil level in the engine oil pan before the start of the test is used as the reference level, and An engine oil level control system characterized in that a surface control range is set so that at least a control output relating to replenishment and / or draining of engine oil is performed during a test. 2. The engine oil drainage path drains engine oil from the wake of the heater of the engine oil temperature control circulation path via the first opening / closing valve and the first flow rate adjusting valve, and pipes it to the air chamber of the engine oil supply tank. The tank oil replenishment path is generated by pumping the engine oil stored in the tank from the bottom of the engine oil replenishment tank and pumping the engine oil through the strainer, the second opening / closing valve, and the second flow rate adjusting valve. The engine oil level control system according to claim 1, which is introduced into a pipe, and provides a control output for instructing opening and closing of the first and second opening / closing valves. 3. A local tank circulation path is provided by branching a wake of a feed pump of a tank oil supply path and introducing a pipe into an air chamber of an oil tank through a bypass valve. 2. The tank opening / closing valve is closed, the bypass valve is opened, and the tank circulation operation is locally performed in parallel with the temperature control operation to prepare for oil supply.
Or the engine oil level control system according to item 2. 4. An engine oil liquid level detecting device is provided with a back plate movably held up and down by a position adjusting means in a liquid level cylinder box, and three or four liquid level cylinder units are connected in series. It is fixed, and each liquid level float switch is set to a different liquid level control range, warning and stop output of the upper or lower limit of engine oil during test, and control output related to replenishment and / or draining are performed. The engine oil level control system according to claim 1. 5. The position adjusting means is composed of a screw element, wherein a sleeve nut is provided on the back surface of the back plate, and a feed screw axially supported in the vertical direction of the liquid level cylinder box is screwed. The engine oil level control system according to claim 4, wherein the liquid level cylinder unit and the back plate are integrally moved up and down based on forward and reverse rotations of the feed screw.