JPS6224733Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an improvement in an oil change timing notification device for an internal combustion engine.

Engine oil for automobile internal combustion engines deteriorates as the automobile is driven. When engine oil deteriorates, its lubrication performance decreases, causing abnormal wear on the internal combustion engine's sliding parts, so it is necessary to replace the engine oil. Conventionally, engine oil
They were replaced periodically based on the vehicle's mileage and number of driving days. However, although the degree of deterioration of engine oil varies depending on the driving conditions of the car, this is ignored, resulting in the waste of replacing engine oil that has not yet deteriorated.
There was a problem in which deteriorated engine oil was used as is. As a countermeasure to this problem, a device has been proposed that detects the deterioration of engine oil by some method, such as the amount of sludge in the engine oil or a decrease in viscosity, and notifies the driver that it is time to change the oil. However, in this case, it is conceivable that the driver may overlook this notification and continue driving the vehicle.

The purpose of this invention is to alert the driver in advance of the progress of engine oil deterioration by sequentially informing the driver of the progress of engine oil deterioration, and when the time for oil change arrives and a notification is sent to that effect, By minimizing the chance of overlooking the
To provide an oil change timing notification device for an internal combustion engine, which prevents damage to the engine due to the use of deteriorated engine oil.

According to the present invention, the purpose is to provide an indicator that sequentially informs the driver of the progress of deterioration of engine oil in an internal combustion engine and informs the driver of the time for oil replacement, an oil deterioration sensor attached to an oil pan, and an oil deterioration sensor that and a control circuit that operates the indicator in response to the sensor. death,
Each of the plurality of conductive wires has a different corrosion rate, and the control circuit controls the control circuit each time the electrical resistance of each of the plurality of conductive wires of the oil deterioration sensor exceeds a predetermined value or is disconnected. This is accomplished by an oil change timing notification device for an internal combustion engine that operates the indicator.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an oil deterioration sensor 1 is screwed onto an oil pan 2. The oil deterioration sensor 1 is provided with an inner chamber 4 in a resin case 3, and the interior of the inner chamber 4 is passed through a hole 5 to an oil pan 2.
The inside is filled with engine oil. Inside the inner chamber 4, electrodes 6 and 7 and electrodes 8 and 9 are installed, and between the electrodes 6 and 7 there is a very thin conductive metal made of a metal that is easily corroded by acidic substances, such as iron. line 10
are connected. The electrodes 8 and 9 are connected by a very thin conductive wire 11 made of a metal, such as zinc, which has a faster corrosion rate against acidic substances than iron. 30 is an indicator consisting of a blue lamp 12 that informs the driver that engine oil deterioration is progressing and a red lamp 13 that informs the driver that it is time to change the oil; 14 is an indicator of the oil deterioration sensor 1; Each of the conductive wires 10 and 11 is
This is a control circuit that operates the indicator 30 each time the electrical resistance exceeds a predetermined value or the wire is disconnected. The control circuit 14
NPN transistor 15 , a resistance wire 16 for protecting the first NPN transistor 15 and conductive wire 11 , and second NPN transistor 1
7 and a resistance wire 18 for protecting the second NPN transistor 17 and the conductive wire 10.
One end of the resistance wire 16 is connected to the base terminal 19 of the first NPN transistor 15, and the other end is connected to the battery 20. first
Collector terminal 21 of NPN transistor 15
is connected to one electrode of the blue lamp 12 of the indicator 30, and the other electrode of the blue lamp 12 is connected to the battery 20. One end of the resistance wire 18 is connected to the base terminal 22 of the second NPN transistor 17, and the other end is connected to the battery 20. The collector terminal 23 of the second NPN transistor 17 is connected to the indicator 3
0, and the other electrode of the red lamp 13 is connected to the battery 20. The emitter terminal 24 of the first NPN transistor 15 and the second NPN transistor 1
The emitter terminals 25 of No. 7 are all grounded. The electrode 6 of the oil deterioration sensor 1 is connected to the second
It is connected to the base terminal 22 of the NPN transistor 17 , and the electrode 9 is connected to the base terminal 19 of the first NPN transistor 15 .
Both electrodes 7 and 8 are grounded.

The operation of the above first embodiment will be explained. When the engine oil is not deteriorated, no acidic substances are generated in the engine oil, so the conductive wires 10 and 11 of the oil deterioration sensor 1 are not corroded, and the electrical resistance of both is very small. Therefore,
First NPN transistor 15 of control circuit 14
Since there is no potential difference between the base terminal 19 and the emitter terminal 24 of the second NPN transistor 17, and there is no potential difference between the base terminal 22 and the emitter terminal 25 of the second NPN transistor 17, the collector current of both transistors is does not flow, indicator 3
The blue lamp 12 and red lamp 13 of 0 are not lit. When engine oil deteriorates, acidic substances are produced in the engine oil. Of the conductive wire 10 and the conductive wire 11 of the oil deterioration sensor 1, as described above, the conductive wire 11 has a faster corrosion rate against acidic substances, so first, the electrical resistance of the conductive wire 11 increases above a predetermined value. , or disconnection. Then,
First NPN transistor 15 of control circuit 14
A potential difference occurs between the base terminal 19 and the emitter terminal 24 of the collector terminal 21 and the emitter terminal 2.
4 and close. In this way, the blue lamp 12 of the indicator 30 lights up, informing the driver that the engine oil is deteriorating, and calling the driver's attention. By the time engine oil deterioration progresses further and oil needs to be replaced, the concentration of acidic substances in the engine oil will be higher than before. Therefore, the electrical resistance of the conductive wire 10 of the oil deterioration sensor 1 increases to a predetermined value or more, or the wire breaks. Therefore, the second
A potential difference is generated between the base terminal 22 and the emitter terminal 25 of the NPN transistor 17, and the collector terminal 23 and the emitter terminal 25 are closed. In this way, the red lamp 13 of the indicator 30 lights up to notify the driver that it is time to change the oil.

FIG. 2 is an overall system diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, NPN type transistors 26 and 27 are used as the transistors of the control circuit 14. The other configurations and operations are completely the same as those in the first embodiment, so their explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is an overall system diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the conductive wires 10 and 11 are connected to separate oil deterioration sensors 2, respectively.
8,29. The other configurations and operations are completely the same as those in the first embodiment, so their explanations will be omitted.

As described above, according to the oil change timing notification device for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention, it is possible to call the driver's attention in advance by notifying the driver of the progress of engine oil deterioration. Therefore, when it is time to change the oil and a notification to that effect is sent, it is possible to prevent the notification from being missed as much as possible, and it is possible to prevent damage to the engine due to the use of deteriorated engine oil.

In addition, in the above-mentioned first, second, and third embodiments,
A semiconductor may be used as the material for the conductive wire of the oil deterioration sensor. Furthermore, the oil deterioration sensor shall be replaced with a new one at the time of oil change.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of the system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an overall diagram of the system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the entire system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram according to an example. 1, 28, 29...Oil deterioration sensor, 2...
Oil pan, 10, 11... Conductive wire, 14... Control circuit, 30... Indicator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An indicator that sequentially informs a driver of the progress of deterioration of engine oil in an internal combustion engine and informs the driver of the time for oil replacement; an oil deterioration sensor attached to an oil pan; and the indicator is activated in response to the oil deterioration sensor. The oil deterioration sensor has a plurality of conductive wires whose electrical resistance increases or breaks due to corrosion caused by acidic substances that occur as the engine oil deteriorates, and each of the plurality of conductive wires has a different conductive wire. The control circuit operates the indicator each time the electrical resistance of each of the plurality of conductive wires of the oil deterioration sensor exceeds a predetermined value or is disconnected. An oil change notification device for internal combustion engines.