JPH06336296A - Oil changer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an oil changer which accurately precisely indicates the quantity in volume of the used oil sucked up from the oil pan of an engine. CONSTITUTION:There are provided an air-bleeding unit 5 and a flowmeter 6 in an oil channel connecting a pump 3 and a waste oil tank 7, a controller 10 which calculates the volume of sucked oil from measurement data of the flowmeter 6, and a means of indication 16 which shows result of the calculation according to the output of the controller 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oil changer, and more particularly to an oil changer adapted to display the amount of oil sucked from an oil pan of an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When replacing oil in an automobile, use an oil changer that inserts a nozzle into an oil pan of an engine and collects used oil in a waste oil tank with a pump, and further adjusts the suction amount. The amount of new engine oil is topped up.

Although there is an oil changer provided with an alarm for notifying the completion of draining of oil from the engine (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-289491), for example, the amount of oil drained from the engine is stored in a transparent cylindrical glass. The configuration that is measured by reading the scale provided on the cylindrical glass is mainly used.

There is also provided an oil changer in which an oil amount (volume) is calculated and displayed based on the weight of sucked oil and the specific gravity of the oil.

[0005]

However, in the oil changer configured to read the amount of oil in the cylindrical glass on the scale, it becomes difficult to read the scale when the cylindrical glass becomes dirty, so it is necessary to clean the cylindrical glass frequently. , Maintenance is very troublesome.

Further, in an oil changer having a structure in which the oil volume is calculated based on the weight of the sucked oil, impurities are precipitated in a container provided for measuring the weight, or the specific gravity of the oil is not always guaranteed. May not be accurately displayed because is not constant.

Further, instead of the above-mentioned method of measuring the weight of oil, it is also possible to adopt a configuration of a method of measuring the flow rate using a conventionally known flow meter, but in that case, it is sucked from the nozzle. Air was mixed with the oil (especially, the oil sucked just before the end of the collection), and the measurement error became large, so it was not put to practical use.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an oil changer capable of accurately displaying the suctioned used oil volume.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the oil changer of the present invention has a suction nozzle inserted into an oil pan of an engine, and a pump collects used oil in a waste oil tank. The following measures are adopted in the oil changer.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the air vent unit 5 and the flow meter 6 are interposed in the oil passage connecting the pump 3 and the waste oil tank 7, and the controller 10 is also provided.
And the display means 16 for calculating the sucked oil volume from the measurement data of the flow meter 6 and displaying the calculation result based on the output of the control unit 10.

In the above structure, a detection means 50 for detecting the amount of oil in the air bleeding unit 5 and outputting it to the control portion 10 is provided, and an electromagnetic switch controlled by the control portion 10 to open and close based on the output of the detection means 50. It is desirable to provide the valve SV1 between the air bleeding unit 5 and the flow meter 6.

Specifically, the detecting means 50 is composed of a float switch FS1 which is turned on at an oil level higher than a predetermined height, and a solenoid valve is provided with a predetermined delay time t ₁ from the turning on of the float switch FS1. While the SV1 is opened, the control unit 10 performs opening / closing control such that the solenoid valve SV1 is closed after a predetermined delay time t ₂ from the turning off of the float switch FS1, or as shown in FIG. The detecting means 50 is composed of two float switches FS1 and FS2 provided at different height positions to be turned on when the oil level is equal to or higher than a predetermined height.
The opening / closing control is performed so that the solenoid valve SV1 is opened with both FS2 turned on, while the solenoid valve SV1 is closed with the fact that both the float switches FS1 and FS2 are turned off. A configuration can be adopted.

The delay time t ₂ may be set based on the viscosity parameter A derived from the oil volume Q passing through the flow meter 6 and the valve opening time tc ₃ of the solenoid valve SV1.

Further, it is also preferable to add a structure for activating the alarm means 60 when the detection means 50 does not detect the oil of a predetermined amount or more within the waiting time tc _{2 after} the start of the pump 3.

[0015]

According to the above construction, the oil sucked from the nozzle 1 is temporarily stored in the air bleeding unit 5, and only the oil in the lower layer of the oil in the air bleeding unit 5 in which no bubbles are present is measured by the flow meter 6 as a net amount. Measured and displayed 1
6 will be displayed.

Further, the detecting means 50 and the solenoid valve SV1
In the configuration provided with, the amount of oil stored in the air vent unit 5 becomes a certain amount or more, and the mixed air is sufficiently separated before the oil is supplied to the flow meter 6.

A conventionally known float switch FS1 can be used as the detecting means 50. In this case, the solenoid valve SV1 is set to open after a certain delay time t ₁ from the turning on of the float switch FS1. The height of the oil level in the air bleeding unit 5 can be made larger than the height of the oil level at which the float switch FS1 is switched ON / OFF.
N state (open state of solenoid valve SV1) is stable, and solenoid valve S
The chattering of V1 can be prevented.

Further, the chattering prevention function of the solenoid valve SV1 is enhanced by setting the solenoid valve SV1 to be closed after a certain delay time t ₂ from the timing when the float switch FS1 is turned off.

Two float switches FS1 and FS
The delay time t may also be obtained by providing the two different height positions and opening the solenoid valve SV1 only when both are ON.
As well as providing a _1, exhibit the effect of preventing chattering of the solenoid valves SV1, also a configuration in which both opens the solenoid valve SV1 only when OFF, the same effect as the case of providing the delay time t ₂ Play.

When the delay time t ₂ is set on the basis of the viscosity parameter A derived from the already measured oil volume Q and the valve opening time tc ₃ of the solenoid valve SV1, after the float switch FS1 is turned off, A substantially constant amount of oil will flow out of the air vent unit 5, and the solenoid valve SV1 will be closed before the oil mixed with air passes through the flowmeter 6.

Further, the waiting time tc from the turning on of the pump 3
_{When the} air bleeding unit 5 is not filled with a predetermined amount or more of oil within the range of _2, the abnormal condition such as the nozzle 1 not being correctly inserted into the oil pan is considered to be generated, and the alarm means 60 is activated to that effect. Notify the operator.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An oil changer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 1, this oil changer includes, for example, a suction nozzle 1, a hose 2, a pump 3, a discharge pipe 4, an air vent unit 5, a flow meter 6, whose tip is inserted into an oil pan of an engine. Cylindrical glass 17,
The waste oil tank 7, the control unit 10, and the display unit 16 are provided.

As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the air vent unit 5 has a tubular body 8 made of, for example, a steel pipe, an upper lid 81 for closing the upper end thereof, and a lower lid 82 for closing the lower end of the tubular body 8. Then, the end of the discharge pipe 4 led out from the pump 3 is connected.

The connection point between the discharge pipe 4 and the air bleeding unit 5 is not particularly limited, but the suctioned oil flowing into the air bleeding unit 5 can be easily separated from the air contained therein, and the oil suction can be completed. In order to prevent the air sucked back and forth from mixing with the oil stored in the air vent unit 5, it is preferable to set it on the upper side surface of the air vent unit 5.

For example, it is possible to connect the discharge pipe 4 to the upper lid 81, but in this embodiment, in order to simplify the structure of the upper lid 81, the discharge pipe 4 is connected to the upper portion of the cylinder 8. The oil sucked from the discharge pipe 4 to the air vent unit 5 collects in the lower part of the tubular body 8, and the air contained in the oil and flowing into the air vent unit 5 is separated from the oil in the tubular body 8 and separated from the oil in the tubular body 8. Run to the top.

A solenoid valve SV1 and a flow meter 6 are interposed in the measuring pipe 11 led out from the lower lid 82, and the solenoid valve SV1
The oil flowing out of the air vent unit 5 by the opening of the valve is collected in the waste oil tank 7 through the cylindrical glass 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the middle of the discharge pipe 4,
The drain pipe 12 led out from the bottom of the waste oil tank 7 is connected, and the solenoid valve SV2 interposed in the drain pipe 12 is controlled to open and close according to the output of a float switch FS3 provided in the waste oil tank 7 to be described later. The valve is opened only when the oil is discharged from the tank 7 to the outside of the machine.

The air vent pipe 13 led out from the upper lid 9 is communicated with the upper part of the waste oil tank 7, and the air vent pipe 1
3, a solenoid valve SV3 is interposed. The air vent unit 5 has a float switch FS as a detection means 50 for detecting the amount of oil in the air vent unit 5.
1 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 10 includes a main control circuit CPU composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and a programmable controller (which may be a ROM storing a control program) 15 for controlling the operation of the main control circuit CPU. By operating the reset switch PB3, the control program shown in each flow chart of FIGS. 4 and 5 is started.

In this control program, as shown in FIG. 4, after the start, the number P of the pulse counter PC is set to 0 (S
1), the suction switch PB1 (see FIG. 3) is turned on (S
2) Each timer TC1 to TC3 is set to 0, and each solenoid valve SV1 to SV3 is closed, that is, turned off (S3), the electromagnetic contactor MC1 (see FIG. 3) is turned on, and the pump 3 is started. (S4).

When these initial settings are completed, it is judged whether or not the float switch FS1 is ON (S5).
Until the suction of oil is started and a predetermined amount of oil is sucked into the air vent unit 5, the float switch FS1
Is OFF, only the solenoid valve SV3 is opened (S6) to facilitate oil suction to the air vent unit 5 and to start the second timer TC2 (S6).
7), the waiting time tc ₂ set in the second timer TC2
During (for example, 60 seconds in this embodiment), it is repeatedly determined whether the float switch FS1 is turned on (S8, S9).

When the float switch FS1 is not turned on within the waiting time tc ₂ (= 60 seconds), the electromagnetic contactor MC1 is turned off to stop the pump 3 and the alarm means 60. The buzzer BZ starts to sound, and notifies the operator that something unusual has occurred, for example, the nozzle 1 is not inserted in the proper position (S10). The ringing of the buzzer BZ is stopped by operating the stop switch PB4 (S11).

Note that the buzzer BZ may be continuously sounded, but in this embodiment, for example, 0.3 seconds after sounding, 0.3 seconds after sounding so that it can be distinguished from the buzzer notification operation in other cases described later. It makes a flicker sound that causes a pause.

When the float switch FS1 is turned on within the set time of the second timer TC2, the delay time t ₁
After the solenoid valve SV3 is closed (for example, 1 second in this embodiment) (S12), the solenoid valve SV1 is opened (S13) as shown in FIG.

The delay time t ₁ is set by setting the oil level stored in the air bleeding unit 5 higher than the oil level at which the float switch FS1 is switched from OFF to ON. The solenoid valve SV1 is turned off (solenoid valve SV3) even if the oil level is lowered to some extent, such as a small amount of air mixed in the oil and the volume of the gas phase above the air bleeding unit 5 is increased to push down the oil level. Is ON)
Float switch FS1 is turned on so that it does not switch to
This is to stabilize the state.

As a result, the oil flows out from the air vent unit 5 into the measuring pipe 11, and the measurement of the oil volume is started. The flow meter 6 is configured to output a pulse when the oil passes, and the pulse counter PC starts counting the pulse, and at the same time, starts the third timer TC3 (S14). Based on the total number P of pulses output from the flow meter 6, for example, an operation of 6.3 (constant based on the structure of the flow meter 6) × P / 1000 is performed in the main control circuit CPU, and the flow rate Q (unit is liter). ) Is digitally displayed on the display means 16 (S15).

The display means 16 may be constructed so as to display the sucked oil volume, for example, a CRT,
A known display device such as a liquid crystal display panel, an 8-segment liquid crystal display device, or an EL panel may be used.

Further repeating, the float switch FS1
It is determined whether or not is ON (S16), and the flow rate Q is continuously displayed while it is ON (S15). Eventually,
Immediately before all the oil in the engine oil pan is sucked, the air is sucked from the suction nozzle 1 in a mixed state of the oil, the oil level in the air vent unit 5 is lowered, and the float switch FS1 is turned off. Become. In response to this, the first timer TC1 is started (S17). Next, the flow rate Q currently measured is set to the third timer TC.
Value divided by the time tc ₃ measured in ₃ (= Q / tc ₃ × 6
0 (proportional constant) is calculated as the oil viscosity parameter A (S18).

[0040] Depending on the possible values of the viscosity parameter A, for example, 5 seconds as the delay time t _2, 3 seconds, one of 1.5 seconds is selected and set (S19), the delay time t ₂
After the passage of, the solenoid valve SV1 is closed and the solenoid valve SV3 is opened (S20), and then it is determined again whether the float switch FS1 is ON (S21).

The delay time t ₂ is set on the basis of the viscosity parameter A in order to make the oil volume flowing from the air vent unit 5 to the flow meter 6 to an appropriate value after the float switch FS1 is turned off. is there. That is,
For example, when the solenoid valve SV1 is closed (the solenoid valve SV3 is opened) immediately after the float switch FS1 is turned off, the oil level in the air bleeding unit 5 is not sufficiently lowered, and the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3 due to a slight fluctuation of the oil level. If the delay time t ₂ is unnecessarily lengthened, the oil containing a large amount of air or even the air may pass through the flow meter 6 and the required measurement accuracy may not be obtained. is there.

Although the delay time t ₂ is set so that it can take three times, it can be continuously set based on the viscosity parameter A. Here, the oil level drops below a certain level and the float switch FS1 turns off.
If it is, it is determined whether or not the state continues for 10 seconds or more after the start of the first timer TC1 (S2).
2).

After the start of the first timer TC1, 1
When the float switch FS1 is turned on again within 0 seconds, not all of the oil in the oil pan is sucked, but the oil level of the oil surface caused by the temporary increase in the vapor phase volume of the upper part of the air vent unit 5 is detected. are considered to be reduced, the electromagnetic valve SV1 is opened again after about one second corresponding to the delay time t _1, the solenoid valve SV3 is closed (S2
3), after resetting the first timer TC1 to 0 again (S2
4), Measurement of Oil Volume and Display of Result The procedure up to the step of determining the state of the float switch FS1 (S
15 to S22) are repeated.

As a result, for example, before and after the suction of the entire amount of oil in the oil pan is completed, the oil surface becomes unstable due to the mixing of air and the float switch FS1 is repeatedly turned on / off, and the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3 are turned on. It is possible to prevent repeated ON / OFF (chattering), prevent unnecessary wear of the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3, and extend the life of the device.

The float switch FS1 has the first timer TC.
If it is continuously OFF for 10 seconds or more after the start of 1, it is considered that the oil suction is completed, and the electromagnetic contactor M
C1 is turned off, pump 3 is stopped, and the above-mentioned alarm means 6
The buzzer BZ common to 0 is sounded (S25), and the sounding of the buzzer BZ is stopped by turning on the stop switch PB4 (S26).

Note that the buzzer sound in this case is set to continuously ring to distinguish it from the oil suction abnormality alarm to notify the operator, and the last numerical value displayed on the display means 16 is the reset switch PB3. It is displayed continuously until is turned on.

Although the steps relating to the oil suction work are completed as described above, in this embodiment, the oil can be further discharged from the waste oil tank 7 by the procedure shown in the flow chart of FIG. That is, the waste oil tank 7 is provided with the float switch FS3 as described above, and the oil surface height position at which the float switch FS3 is turned ON is slightly smaller than that of the waste oil tank 7 which is full for the reason described later. It is set.

The control unit 10 monitors the oil level in the waste oil tank 7 by the float switch FS3 (S27), and when the float switch FS3 is turned on, it is held by itself (S28), and then the oil is removed. It is determined whether or not suction is being performed (S29).

When the suction is not being performed, the float switch F
5 seconds after S3 is turned on, the buzzer BZ rings for a predetermined time (the ringing sound at this time sounds for 2 seconds and repeats resting for 1 second) (S31), and after 9 seconds, the buzzer BZ stops ringing and holds itself. It is canceled (S32).

On the other hand, during suction, even if the float switch FS3 is turned on, there is some margin until the waste oil tank 7 is full. Therefore, the ringing of the buzzer BZ can be suspended and suction can be continued. , 5 seconds after the stop switch PB4 is turned on to stop the pump 3 (S30), the buzzer BZ is sounded for a predetermined time after 5 seconds (S3).
1) The sound of the buzzer BZ is stopped and the self-holding is released (S32).

The procedure of full monitoring and alarm is repeated, for example, about every 30 seconds until oil is discharged from the waste oil tank 7. Further, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 7, when the oil in the waste oil tank 7 is discharged to the outside of the machine, the discharge switch PB2 is turned on (S33) to close the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3. And the solenoid valve SV2 is opened (S3
4), the electromagnetic contactor MC2 is turned on, the pump 3 is reversely started (S35), and the hose 2 discharges. In this case, the suction nozzle 1 is removed from the hose 2 as needed.

After that, when the stop switch PB4 is turned on (S36), the electromagnetic contactor MC2 is turned off, the pump 3 is stopped, and the electromagnetic valve SV2 is closed (S37).

In this embodiment, the oil sucked by the air bleeding unit 5 by the pump 3 is separated by the air bleeding unit 5 and then measured by the flow meter 6, and the measurement result is calculated, and the display means 16 is provided. Is displayed in. Therefore, it is not necessary to clean the cylindrical glass for metering, maintenance is facilitated, and the amount of exchanged oil can be easily recognized.

An oil changer according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 8 is provided with two air vent units 5 which are in communication with each other, and float switches FS1 and FS2 provided in each air vent unit 5 are turned on. The height of the oil surface that is switched between ON and OFF is different.

In place of the delay time t ₁ set in the above embodiment, the control unit 10 of this embodiment starts the pump 3 to raise the oil level in both air bleeding units 5, and both float switches FS1, When the FS2 is turned on, the solenoid valve SV1 is opened and the solenoid valve SV3 is closed, and the measurement of the oil volume is started to secure a large amount of oil stored in the air vent unit 5. It is possible to prevent the open / closed states of the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3 from reversing even if some air stays above the air vent unit 5.

Further, even if the higher float switch FS2 is switched from ON to OFF due to the outflow of oil from both air vent units 5, the control section 10 does not immediately assume that the suction of oil is completed, and further The solenoid valve SV1 is closed and the solenoid valve SV3 is opened with reference to the time when the lower float switch FS1 is switched OFF, and the pump 3 is assumed to have completed suction from the outside, for example, from the engine oil pan. It is controlled to stop.

In this way, both the float switches FS1 and FS2 are turned on to control the opening / closing of the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3.
Alternatively, since the solenoid valves SV1 and SV3 are switched with reference to the time of switching to OFF, it is possible to prevent the end of oil suction from being erroneously detected due to a change in the oil level in the air bleeding unit 5 during suction, and the electromagnetic valve is unnecessarily electromagnetic. Valve SV1,
It is possible to prevent the SV3 from being opened / closed and the buzzer BZ from erroneously reporting the end of oil suction.

Since the other construction, operation and effect of this embodiment are the same as those of the above-mentioned one embodiment, their explanation will be omitted to avoid duplication. In the other embodiment of the present invention, two air vent units 5 are provided, but two float switches FS1 and FS2 may be provided in one air vent unit 5.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the air vent unit and the flow meter are interposed in the oil passage connecting the pump and the waste oil tank, and the air vent unit separates the air mixed in the oil. Since the volume of oil sucked from the flowmeter is calculated from the measurement result of the flowmeter and the calculation result is displayed by the display means, cleaning of the cylindrical glass for metering is unnecessary. In addition to easy maintenance, it is possible to easily and accurately recognize the oil volume to be changed.

In the present invention, in particular, the detection means for detecting the oil amount of the air bleeding unit is provided, and the solenoid valve interposed between the air bleeding unit and the flow meter is controlled to open / close based on the output of the detection means. It is possible to reliably remove the mixed air in the air vent unit, and a more accurate oil volume is measured by the flow meter.

The detecting means is a conventionally known float switch, and the solenoid valve is opened and closed after a predetermined delay time from the ON / OFF switching timing of the float switch. OF
It is possible to stabilize the F state (open / closed state of the solenoid valve), eliminate early wear due to chattering of the solenoid valve, and extend the life of the device.

Further, in the present invention, an electromagnetic valve is interposed between the air vent unit and the flow meter, two float switches are provided in the air vent unit at different heights, and both float switches are turned on. The same effect can be obtained by a configuration in which the solenoid valve is controlled to open and close based on the time when both of the float switches are turned off and the time when both float switches are turned off.

Further, if the delay time from the turning off of the float switch to the closing of the solenoid valve is set by a parameter according to the oil viscosity, it is possible to prevent air from being mixed into the oil passing through the flowmeter, It enables accurate measurement of oil volume.

Further, by using the air bleeding unit and the detection means, when the oil is not sucked into the air bleeding unit for a predetermined waiting time or longer after the start of the pump, the alarm means is activated to ensure a more reliable oil suction work. There is an effect that can be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an air bleeding unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control electric circuit diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of a control program for collecting waste oil according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a continuation part of the control program at the time of waste oil recovery according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a control program when the waste oil tank is full according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a control program at the time of oil discharge outside the machine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Suction Nozzle 3 Pump 7 Waste Oil Tank 5 Air Venting Unit 6 Flow Meter 10 Controller 16 Display Means 50 Detecting Means 60 Alarm Means SV1 Solenoid Valve FS1 Float Switch FS2 Float Switch t ₁ Delay Time t ₂ Delay Time tc ₂ Standby Time Q Oil Volume tc ₃ Valve opening time A Viscosity parameter

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A suction nozzle (1) for an engine oil pan.
Insert the used oil into the waste tank with the pump (3).
In the oil changer to be collected in (7), the air vent unit (5) and the flow meter (6) are interposed in the oil passage connecting the pump (3) and the waste oil tank (7), and
A control unit (10) is provided with display means (16) for calculating the sucked oil volume from the measurement data of the flow meter (6) and displaying the calculation result based on the output of the control unit (10). An oil changer characterized by. 2. A detection means (50) for detecting the amount of oil in the air vent unit (5) and outputting it to the control portion (10) is provided, and the control portion (50) is based on the output of the detection means (50). Ten)
The oil changer according to claim 1, wherein a solenoid valve (SV1) whose opening and closing is controlled by the valve is provided between the air vent unit (5) and the flow meter (6). 3. The detecting means (50) is composed of a float switch (FS1) which is turned on when the oil level is higher than a predetermined height, and a predetermined delay time (t ₁ ) from turning on the float switch (FS1). The solenoid valve (SV1) is opened at a time, while the solenoid valve (SV1) is closed after a predetermined delay time (t ₂ ) from turning off the float switch (FS1). 3.) The oil changer according to claim 2, wherein the opening and closing control is performed by). 4. The delay time (t ₂ ) is the opening time (tc ₃ ) of the oil volume (Q) that has passed through the flow meter (6) and the solenoid valve (SV1).
The oil changer according to claim 3, wherein the oil changer is set based on the viscosity parameter (A) derived from the above. 5. The detecting means (50) are provided at different height positions to be turned on when the oil level is equal to or higher than a predetermined height.
It consists of the base float switch (FS1), (FS2) .The solenoid valve (SV1) is opened while both float switches (FS1) and (FS2) are ON, while the float switch (FS1) ),
Since both of (FS2) are turned off, the solenoid valve (SV
The oil changer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit (10) controls opening and closing so as to close (1). 6. A waiting time (t) from the start of the pump (3).
The oil changer according to claim 2, wherein the alarm means (60) is activated when the detection means (50) does not detect more than a predetermined amount of oil within c ₂ ).