Engine lubricating oil detection system

Abstract

The present invention discloses an engine lubricating oil detection system, comprising a controller and a detection sensor; the detection sensor comprising a vacuum tube and an inner cavity; the vacuum tube communicating with the inner cavity; the inner cavity comprising, from bottom to top, a first valve plate, a first cavity, a second valve plate, a lubricating oil rising channel, a third valve plate, and a second cavity; the controller controlling the first valve plate to open before testing the lubricating oil to be tested, thereby allowing the lubricating oil to be tested to enter the first cavity; and controlling the second and third valve plates to open during testing, thereby allowing the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity to rise through the lubricating oil rising channel into the second cavity; calculating a rising speed of the lubricating oil to be tested; and determining a first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the rising speed. The present invention can detect the degradation condition of engine lubricating oil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lubricating oil quality monitoring, and in particular to a detection system for engine lubricating oil. Background Art

[0002] During the use of the car, it is necessary to regularly check the deterioration of the car engine lubricant. When the lubricant is detected to be deteriorating, it is necessary to replace the lubricant in time to avoid serious faults such as engine cylinder scuffing and tile burning due to lubricant deterioration, which may cause the engine to be scrapped and affect the normal use of the car.

[0003] However, existing automotive engines lack methods or equipment for detecting lubricant degradation. Consequently, engine lubricant replacement is performed by vehicle maintenance personnel only during scheduled maintenance cycles. However, these engine lubricant maintenance intervals are often estimated (typically six months or 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first). To ensure long-term, reliable engine operation, these estimated intervals often fall short of the lubricant's service life, resulting in significant lubricant waste. Furthermore, in some rare cases, if the engine is operated in an extremely harsh environment, the lubricant's service life may expire prematurely, potentially leading to serious failures such as burnt bearings and cylinder scuffing, resulting in engine failure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides an engine lubricating oil detection system, which can detect the deterioration of the engine lubricating oil.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present invention provides an engine lubricating oil detection system, comprising: a controller and a detection sensor;

[0006] The detection sensor comprises: a vacuum tube and an inner cavity;

[0007] The vacuum tube is in communication with the inner cavity;

[0008] The inner cavity comprises, from bottom to top, a first valve plate, a first cavity, a second valve plate, a lubricating oil rising channel, a third valve plate and a second cavity;

[0009] The controller is configured to control the first valve plate to open before testing the lubricating oil to be tested so as to allow the lubricating oil to be tested to enter the first cavity, and to control the first valve plate to close when the lubricating oil to be tested fills the first cavity;

[0010] When testing the lubricating oil to be tested, controlling the vacuum tube to be connected to an external intake manifold;

[0011] After the connection, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to open, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity rises into the second cavity through the lubricating oil rising channel, and when the lubricating oil to be tested has completely risen into the second cavity, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to close;

[0012] detecting a rising time of the lubricating oil to be tested rising from the first cavity to the second cavity, and calculating a rising speed of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the rising time;

[0013] The temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested is acquired, and a first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained according to the rising speed, the temperature, and the vacuum degree of the intake manifold.

[0014] As a preferred solution, obtaining the first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested according to the rising speed, the temperature, and the vacuum degree of the intake manifold includes:

[0015] Obtaining a baseline rising speed of the lubricating oil under normal conditions at the temperature and the vacuum degree;

[0016] The rising speed is compared with the reference rising speed to obtain a first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested.

[0017] As a preferred solution, the detection sensor further comprises: at least one outer cavity;

[0018] The second cavity is connected to the outer cavity through a hole;

[0019] The outer cavity includes, from top to bottom: a fourth valve plate, a fifth valve plate, a lubricating oil descending channel, a test paper, and a sixth valve plate;

[0020] The controller is further configured to control the vacuum tube to be disconnected from the intake manifold when all the lubricating oil to be detected rises into the second cavity;

[0021] After disconnection, the hole in the fourth valve plate is controlled to be aligned with the hole in the fifth valve plate, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the second cavity passes through the hole in the fourth valve plate, the hole in the fifth valve plate, and the lubricating oil descending channel in sequence and drips into the test paper;

[0022] detecting the falling time of the lubricating oil to be tested dripping from the first cavity to the test paper, and calculating the falling speed of the lubricating oil to be tested according to the falling time;

[0023] A second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained according to the descending speed and the temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested.

[0024] As a preferred solution, obtaining the second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the descending speed and the temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested includes:

[0025] Obtaining a baseline decreasing speed of the lubricating oil under normal conditions at the temperature and the vacuum degree;

[0026] The descending speed is compared with the reference descending speed to obtain a second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be detected.

[0027] As a preferred embodiment, the controller is also used to detect the pH value of the test paper and the degree of diffusion of the lubricating oil to be tested on the test paper when the lubricating oil to be tested drops into the test paper, and then obtain a third degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the pH value and the degree of diffusion.

[0028] As a preferred solution, the controller is also used to determine that the lubricating oil to be detected has deteriorated when it is determined that the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition are all degradation conditions based on the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be detected are deteriorated.

[0029] As a preferred embodiment, the controller is also used to control the first valve plate and the sixth valve plate to open after the detection is completed, so that the lubricating oil to be detected in the outer cavity and the lubricating oil to be detected remaining in the first cavity are dripped into an external oil pan.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0031] The present invention provides an engine lubricating oil detection system, the detection system comprising: a controller and a detection sensor; the detection sensor comprising: a vacuum tube and an inner cavity; the vacuum tube is connected to the inner cavity; the inner cavity comprises, from bottom to top, a first valve plate, a first cavity, a second valve plate, a lubricating oil rising channel, a third valve plate and a second cavity; the controller is used to control the first valve plate to open before the lubricating oil to be detected is detected, so that the lubricating oil to be detected enters the first cavity, and to control the first valve plate to close when the lubricating oil to be detected fills the first cavity; when the lubricating oil to be detected is detected, the vacuum tube is controlled to open when the lubricating oil to be detected is detected. The tube is connected to an external intake manifold; after the connection, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to open, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity rises into the second cavity through the lubricating oil rising channel, and when the lubricating oil to be tested has completely risen into the second cavity, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to close; the rising time of the lubricating oil to be tested from the first cavity to the second cavity is detected, and the rising speed of the lubricating oil to be tested is calculated according to the rising time; the temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained, and the first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained according to the rising speed, the temperature and the vacuum degree of the intake manifold.

[0032] The present invention can detect the deterioration of engine lubricating oil and replace the engine lubricating oil according to the deterioration condition, thereby avoiding a large amount of lubricating oil waste and preventing serious faults such as engine cylinder scuffing and tile burning due to lubricating oil deterioration, which may lead to engine scrapping and affect the normal use of the car. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an engine lubricating oil detection system provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the detection system;

[0035] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outer cavity of the detection system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] Please refer to Figure 1, is a structural diagram of an engine lubricating oil detection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a controller and a detection sensor;

[0039] The detection sensor comprises: a vacuum tube and an inner cavity;

[0040] The vacuum tube is in communication with the inner cavity;

[0041] The inner cavity comprises, from bottom to top, a first valve plate, a first cavity, a second valve plate, a lubricating oil rising channel, a third valve plate and a second cavity;

[0042] The controller is configured to control the first valve plate to open before testing the lubricating oil to be tested so as to allow the lubricating oil to be tested to enter the first cavity, and to control the first valve plate to close when the lubricating oil to be tested fills the first cavity;

[0043] When testing the lubricating oil to be tested, controlling the vacuum tube to be connected to an external intake manifold;

[0044] After the connection, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to open, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity rises into the second cavity through the lubricating oil rising channel, and when the lubricating oil to be tested has completely risen into the second cavity, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to close;

[0045] detecting a rising time of the lubricating oil to be tested rising from the first cavity to the second cavity, and calculating a rising speed of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the rising time;

[0046] The temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested is acquired, and a first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained according to the rising speed, the temperature, and the vacuum degree of the intake manifold.

[0047] Preferably, the first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained based on the rising speed, the temperature and the vacuum degree of the intake manifold, including: obtaining a baseline rising speed of the lubricating oil under normal conditions at the temperature and the vacuum degree; comparing the rising speed with the baseline rising speed to obtain the first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 2 , is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the detection system. The controller of the engine lubricating oil detection system is the engine ECU. Before the lubricating oil to be detected is detected, the entire vehicle is stationary and the engine is running stably at idle speed. At this time, the engine ECU controls the first valve plate at the bottom of the detection sensor to open, allowing the lubricating oil to be detected to enter the first cavity at the bottom of the detection sensor. When the lubricating oil to be detected fills the first cavity, the engine ECU controls the first valve plate to close.

[0049] It should be noted that a number of inductive sensors are also provided in each cavity inside the detection sensor to monitor the movement trajectory of the lubricating oil to be detected. For example, the first cavity at the bottom of the sensor is provided with an inductive sensor. When the inductive sensor detects that all the lubricating oil to be detected has left the first cavity, it sends a corresponding instruction to the engine ECU, so that the engine ECU controls the first valve plate to close after receiving the instruction. However, the inductive sensor is not in Figure 1 Draw it in.

[0050] When testing the lubricating oil to be tested, the engine ECU first controls the vacuum tube of the detection sensor to connect with an external intake manifold; wherein, a valve plate is also provided between the vacuum tube and the external intake manifold, and the engine ECU can connect or disconnect the vacuum tube and the external intake manifold by controlling the opening and closing of the valve plate.

[0051] After connection, the engine ECU continues to control the second valve plate and the third valve plate to open. At this time, the vacuum P1 of the intake manifold will suck the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity at the bottom of the detection sensor into the second cavity at the upper part. The lubricating oil to be tested rises from the first cavity through the lubricating oil rising channel to the second cavity. When the lubricating oil to be tested rises completely into the second cavity, the engine ECU controls the second valve plate and the third valve plate to close.

[0052] When the inductive sensor in the second cavity detects the first drop of lubricating oil rising into the second cavity, it sends a corresponding command to the engine ECU. Upon receiving the command, the engine ECU records the vacuum level P1 at that moment, the time t1 the lubricating oil rose, and the temperature T1 of the lubricating oil being tested. The length of the lubricating oil rising channel is L1. The operating speed v1 of the lubricating oil being tested at this vacuum level P1 and temperature is calculated by dividing L1 by t1. This speed v1 is then compared to the baseline rising speed v of normal lubricating oil at this vacuum level P1 and temperature T1, as determined through testing. If v1 is greater than the maximum value of the baseline rising speed v, the lubricating oil being tested has deteriorated and needs to be replaced.

[0053] The reference rising speed v is obtained by the following method:

[0054] (1) Test the running speed v of normal lubricating oil in a constant temperature box at temperature T1 as the vacuum degree P increases, and obtain the speed curve of the lubricating oil Pv at this temperature;

[0055] (2) Test the Pv velocity curve of the lubricating oil in the constant temperature box at T2 as the vacuum degree P increases;

[0056] (3) Test the Pv curve at different temperatures in the same way and input the test results into the engine ECU;

[0057] (4) According to the vacuum degree P1, temperature T1 and the Pv curve, the reference rising speed v of normal lubricating oil at the vacuum degree P1 and temperature T1 is obtained.

[0058] Preferably, the detection sensor also includes: at least one outer cavity; the second cavity is connected to the outer cavity through a hole; the outer cavity includes, from top to bottom: a fourth valve plate, a fifth valve plate, a lubricating oil descending channel, a test paper and a sixth valve plate; the controller is also used to control the disconnection of the vacuum tube and the intake manifold when the lubricating oil to be detected rises completely into the second cavity; after disconnection, the hole in the fourth valve plate is controlled to be aligned with the hole in the fifth valve plate, so that the lubricating oil to be detected in the second cavity passes through the hole in the fourth valve plate, the hole in the fifth valve plate and the lubricating oil descending channel in sequence and drips into the test paper; the descending time of the lubricating oil to be detected dripping from the first cavity to the test paper is detected, and the descending speed of the lubricating oil to be detected is calculated according to the descending time; the second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be detected is obtained according to the descending speed and the temperature of the lubricating oil to be detected.

[0059] Preferably, the second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained based on the descent rate and the temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested, including: obtaining a baseline descent rate of the lubricating oil under normal conditions at the temperature and the vacuum degree; comparing the descent rate with the baseline descent rate to obtain the second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested.

[0060] Please refer to Figure 3 , a schematic diagram of the structure of the external cavity of the detection system. After the lubricant to be tested is drawn into the second cavity, the engine ECU continues to control the vacuum tube to disconnect from the intake manifold. It then aligns the holes in the fourth valve plate with the holes in the fifth valve plate, allowing the lubricant to be tested in the second cavity to drip onto the test paper through the holes in the fourth and fifth valve plates, and the lubricant drop channel. The time t2 from the time the lubricant to be tested drips from the holes in the fourth and fifth valve plates to the time the test paper reacts is recorded. The length of the lubricant drop channel is L2. The drop velocity v2 of the lubricant to be tested is calculated by dividing L2 by t2. v2 is compared with the baseline drop velocity determined by a test for normal lubricant. If v2 is greater than the maximum baseline drop velocity of normal lubricant tested, it indicates that the lubricant has deteriorated and needs to be replaced.

[0061] Preferably, the controller is also used to detect the pH value of the test paper and the degree of diffusion of the lubricating oil to be tested on the test paper when the lubricating oil to be tested drops into the test paper, and then obtain the third degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the pH value and the degree of diffusion.

[0062] When the lubricant to be tested is dropped onto the test strip, the strip can detect the pH value of the lubricant to be tested, as well as the degree of spread of the lubricant on the strip. Normal lubricant will spread evenly and uniformly on the strip, while deteriorated lubricant will appear as circles of layers spreading outward from the center of the strip, with the inner circle appearing darker and the outer circle becoming increasingly lighter. Therefore, the degree of deterioration of the lubricant to be tested can be determined based on the pH value of the test strip and the degree of spread.

[0063] Preferably, the controller is further configured to determine, based on a first degradation condition, a second degradation condition and a third degradation condition of the lubricant to be detected, that the lubricant to be detected has deteriorated when it is determined that the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition are all degradation.

[0064] After obtaining the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition, the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition can be combined to more accurately judge whether the lubricant to be tested has deteriorated. When it is determined that the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition and the third degradation condition are all deteriorated, it is determined that the lubricant to be tested has deteriorated.

[0065] Preferably, the controller is also used to control the first valve plate and the sixth valve plate to open after the detection is completed, so that the lubricating oil to be detected in the outer cavity and the lubricating oil to be detected remaining in the first cavity are dripped into an external oil pan.

[0066] After the test is complete, the engine ECU controls the opening of the first and sixth valve plates, releasing the lubricant into the external oil pan. The engine lubricant is tested for degradation every 500 kilometers (this interval can be adjusted based on actual conditions), and the lubricant is replaced based on maintenance. During these oil replacements, the test strip in the sensor is also replaced, prompting the next test cycle.

[0067] As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides an engine lubricating oil detection system, through which the deterioration of the engine lubricating oil can be detected, and the engine lubricating oil can be replaced according to its deterioration condition, thereby avoiding a large amount of lubricating oil waste, and avoiding serious faults such as engine scuffing and tile burning due to lubricating oil deterioration, which may lead to engine scrapping and affect the normal use of the car.

[0068] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In particular, it should be noted that any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention for those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A detection system for engine lubricating oil, characterized in that: include: Controller and detection sensor; The detection sensor comprises: a vacuum tube and an inner cavity; The vacuum tube is in communication with the inner cavity; The inner cavity comprises, from bottom to top, a first valve plate, a first cavity, a second valve plate, a lubricating oil rising channel, a third valve plate and a second cavity; The controller is configured to control the first valve plate to open before testing the lubricating oil to be tested so as to allow the lubricating oil to be tested to enter the first cavity, and to control the first valve plate to close when the lubricating oil to be tested fills the first cavity; When testing the lubricating oil to be tested, controlling the vacuum tube to be connected to an external intake manifold; After the connection, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to open, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the first cavity rises into the second cavity through the lubricating oil rising channel, and when the lubricating oil to be tested has completely risen into the second cavity, the second valve plate and the third valve plate are controlled to close; detecting a rising time of the lubricating oil to be tested rising from the first cavity to the second cavity, and calculating a rising speed of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the rising time; The temperature of the lubricating oil to be tested is obtained, and a reference rising speed of the lubricating oil at the temperature and vacuum degree under normal conditions is obtained; the rising speed is compared with the reference rising speed to obtain a first degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested.

2. The engine lubricating oil detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The detection sensor further includes: at least one outer cavity; The second cavity is connected to the outer cavity through a hole; The outer cavity includes, from top to bottom: a fourth valve plate, a fifth valve plate, a lubricating oil descending channel, a test paper, and a sixth valve plate; The controller is further configured to control the vacuum tube to be disconnected from the intake manifold when all the lubricating oil to be detected rises into the second cavity; After disconnection, the hole in the fourth valve plate is controlled to be aligned with the hole in the fifth valve plate, so that the lubricating oil to be tested in the second cavity passes through the hole in the fourth valve plate, the hole in the fifth valve plate, and the lubricating oil descending channel in sequence and drips into the test paper; detecting the falling time of the lubricating oil to be tested dripping from the first cavity to the test paper, and calculating the falling speed of the lubricating oil to be tested according to the falling time; Obtain a reference descent rate of the lubricating oil at the temperature and the vacuum degree under normal conditions; compare the descent rate with the reference descent rate to obtain a second degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested.

3. The engine lubricating oil detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller is also used to detect the pH value of the test paper and the degree of diffusion of the lubricating oil to be tested on the test paper when the lubricating oil to be tested drops into the test paper, and then obtain a third degradation condition of the lubricating oil to be tested based on the pH value and the degree of diffusion.

4. The engine lubricating oil detection system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to determine, based on the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition, and the third degradation condition of the lubricant to be detected, that the lubricant to be detected has deteriorated when it is determined that the first degradation condition, the second degradation condition, and the third degradation condition are all degradation.

5. The engine lubricating oil detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to control the first valve plate and the sixth valve plate to open after the detection is completed, so that the lubricating oil to be detected in the outer cavity and the lubricating oil to be detected remaining in the first cavity are dripped into an external oil pan.

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