System and method for automatically adjusting oil level of engine sump

Abstract

The invention discloses an automatic adjusting device and method for the oil level of an engine oil pan, and belongs to the technical field of engine lubricating systems. The device comprises a coaxial duplex gear pump driven by an engine cam shaft, a balance oil tank, an overflow pipe and an intelligent control valve group, and automatic and stable control over the oil level of an oil pan is achieved through the flow difference design of an oil well pump and an oil filling pump in cooperation with liquid level limitation of the overflow pipe. The device operates synchronously with an engine in a mechanical linkage mode, external energy is not needed, coordination of all oil ways is achieved through hydraulic signals, and a pressure monitoring unit is arranged to feed back the system state. The device solves the problems of low efficiency, poor reliability and the like of traditional manual adjustment, has the advantages of being compact in structure, convenient to install, low in maintenance cost and the like, and is particularly suitable for occasions such as marine engines needing long-term stable operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of engine lubrication systems, and in particular to an automatic oil level adjustment system and method for an engine oil pan. Background Art

[0002] The engine's lubricating oil system must continuously supply oil to moving parts (such as bearings) to lubricate and cool critical components and ensure proper operation. The oil pan, the source of oil storage and circulation, has a direct impact on lubrication effectiveness. Traditional methods rely on regular manual oil level checks and refills, which present the following issues:

[0003] Low efficiency: Manual operation cannot respond to oil level changes in real time, which may result in insufficient or excessive oil supply;

[0004] Poor reliability: Abnormal oil level (such as too high or too low) may cause poor lubrication, engine overheating or even mechanical damage;

[0005] High maintenance cost: Frequent inspections and oil replenishment increase manpower and time costs.

[0006] In the existing technology, some automatic adjustment devices use electronic sensors and independent pump groups, but they have complex structures and rely on external power, resulting in a high failure rate. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to overcome the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides an engine oil pan oil level automatic adjustment system and adjustment method

[0008] The technical solutions of the present invention are as follows:

[0009] An automatic oil level adjustment system for an engine oil pan is characterized by comprising:

[0010] The oil level regulating module includes a coaxial double gear pump driven by the engine camshaft, and the gear pump includes an oil extraction pump and a refueling pump with different flow rates;

[0011] The oil circuit control module includes the main oil circuit, bypass oil circuit and matching check valve group connected between the oil pan and the balance oil tank;

[0012] The oil level monitoring module includes a pressure monitoring unit provided at the outlet of the oil pump and an overflow pipe in the oil pan;

[0013] Among them, the flow rate of the oil extraction pump is greater than the flow rate of the refueling pump, forming a flow difference adjustment mechanism; the oil level adjustment module is synchronized with the engine operating status through mechanical linkage; the oil circuit control module realizes coordinated control between each oil circuit through hydraulic signals; the oil level monitoring module feedbacks the system operating status through pressure signals.

[0014] Furthermore, the oil circuit control module includes:

[0015] The first check valve is installed at the outlet of the refueling pump and prevents the backflow of lubricating oil through the hydraulic signal;

[0016] A second check valve, provided at the outlet of the oil well pump, is provided with a throttling orifice plate and generates a monitorable pressure signal;

[0017] Bypass the oil circuit to connect the refueling pump outlet with the oil pump inlet, and ensure the continuous operation of the oil pump through the hydraulic balance signal.

[0018] Furthermore, the oil level monitoring module includes:

[0019] Overflow pipe, which limits the maximum oil level of the oil pan through the liquid level signal;

[0020] The pressure sensor receives the pressure signal from the oil pump outlet and provides feedback on the system's operating status.

[0021] Furthermore, the oil level monitoring module includes:

[0022] Overflow pipe, which limits the maximum oil level of the oil pan through the liquid level signal;

[0023] The pressure sensor receives the pressure signal from the oil pump outlet and provides feedback on the system's operating status.

[0024] Furthermore, the balance oil tank is provided with a discharge valve, which realizes pipeline exhaust during the first refueling through an air pressure signal.

[0025] On the other hand, the present invention also provides an engine oil level automatic adjustment method, which is characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0026] S1: Start the oil level adjustment module through the engine speed signal;

[0027] S2: The refueling pump delivers a fixed amount of lubricating oil to the oil pan according to the speed signal;

[0028] S3: The oil pump sucks out excess lubricating oil according to the speed signal and hydraulic signal;

[0029] S4: The overflow pipe limits the maximum oil level through the liquid level signal;

[0030] S5: The pressure sensor feeds back the system status through the pressure signal;

[0031] S6: Dynamically adjust the oil pump working state according to the feedback signal.

[0032] Furthermore, in step S3, when the oil level exceeds the height of the overflow pipe, an overflow signal is generated to trigger the oil pump to increase its working intensity.

[0033] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0034] 1) Through the flow difference between the oil extraction pump and the refueling pump, combined with the physical limit of the overflow pipe, the oil level in the oil pan can be accurately controlled without manual intervention, completely replacing the traditional manual oil filling method.

[0035] 2) It is directly driven by the engine camshaft, without the need for an additional power source. The overall structure is simple and easy to integrate into the existing lubricating oil system. It is suitable for various types of engines (such as marine and industrial engines).

[0036] 3) The mechanical adjustment method avoids the risk of electronic sensor failure. The check valve and bypass oil circuit design ensure stable system operation and reduce engine failures caused by abnormal oil level. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The technical solution of the present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments, but this should not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] An automatic engine sump oil level adjustment system, centered around an 800-rpm camshaft-driven twin pump assembly, integrates a refueling pump (6 L / min) and an oil extraction pump (8.5 L / min) on a single shaft, leveraging the flow rate differential between the two to create a natural overflow prevention mechanism. Lubricating oil enters the oil sump from the equalizer tank through a check valve. When the oil level exceeds the overflow pipe, the oil extraction pump returns excess oil to the tank through a pressure-maintaining valve, ensuring the oil level remains within a set range. Key components include a check valve in the refueling pump bypass line to maintain oil filling in the oil extraction pump suction line; a check valve with a restrictive orifice at the oil extraction pump outlet to provide a pressure monitoring point; and a check valve at the refueling pump outlet to prevent oil backflow during shutdown. The system utilizes a closed-loop control architecture to achieve automatic "monitoring-refueling-extraction" adjustments. During initial installation, a drain valve is used to vent the pipeline. During operation, the pump speed is dynamically adjusted based on engine load fluctuations to maintain flow balance.

[0039] Example 1: Oil level control system for marine diesel engines

[0040] Mechanical installation phase:

[0041] Install the oil level regulating pump on the end of the engine camshaft 1 through the flange, ensuring the axial positioning accuracy is ≤0.1mm

[0042] The balance oil tank is fixed to the engine compartment wall through a bracket, and the installation height is lower than the lowest oil level of the oil pan.

[0043] The overflow pipe is made of φ20mm stainless steel pipe, and the height of the pipe opening is set according to the engine model (usually 150-200mm from the bottom of the oil pan)

[0044] Oil circuit connection stage:

[0045] The oil pump inlet is connected to the oil pumping port at the bottom of the oil pan through a φ15mm high-pressure oil pipe

[0046] The refueling pump outlet is divided into two routes through the check valve:

[0047] Main line: connected to the oil filling port on the upper part of the oil pan

[0048] Bypass: connected to the oil well pump inlet through φ8mm copper pipe

[0049] The oil pump outlet pipeline is equipped with a check valve with a φ3mm throttle hole

[0050] System debugging phase:

[0051] When filling oil for the first time, open the drain valve until the oil flows out continuously.

[0052] Start the engine and run it at idle speed (600rpm), and observe: the refueling pump outlet pressure should be stable at 0.15-0.2MPa; the oil pump outlet pressure should be maintained at 0.05-0.1MPa; gradually increase the speed to the rated operating condition (800rpm), and confirm: the oil level in the oil pan is stable at the lower edge of the overflow pipe within ±5mm, and the pressure fluctuation amplitude is ≤10%.

[0053] This device has been successfully applied to a certain type of marine engine, replacing manual inspection and refueling operations, achieving an oil level control accuracy of ±3mm, shortening the system response time to less than 2 seconds, and reducing the fault downtime rate by 87.5%. It has the characteristics of advanced technology, easy installation, and high reliability, and has demonstrated significant military and civilian promotion value in the field of marine power.

Claims

1. An automatic oil level adjustment system for an engine oil pan, characterized in that: include: The oil level regulating module includes a coaxial double gear pump driven by the engine camshaft, and the gear pump includes an oil extraction pump and a refueling pump with different flow rates; The oil circuit control module includes the main oil circuit, bypass oil circuit and matching check valve group connected between the oil pan and the balance oil tank; The oil level monitoring module includes a pressure monitoring unit provided at the outlet of the oil pump and an overflow pipe in the oil pan; The flow rate of the oil pump is greater than that of the refueling pump, forming a flow difference adjustment mechanism; the oil level adjustment module is synchronized with the engine operating state through mechanical linkage; The oil circuit control module realizes coordinated control among the oil circuits through hydraulic signals; the oil level monitoring module feeds back the system operation status through pressure signals.

2. The engine oil pan oil level automatic adjustment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil circuit control module includes: The first check valve is installed at the outlet of the refueling pump and prevents the backflow of lubricating oil through the hydraulic signal; A second check valve, provided at the outlet of the oil well pump, is provided with a throttling orifice plate and generates a monitorable pressure signal; Bypass the oil circuit to connect the refueling pump outlet with the oil pump inlet, and ensure the continuous operation of the oil pump through the hydraulic balance signal.

3. The engine oil pan oil level automatic adjustment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil level monitoring module includes: Overflow pipe, which limits the maximum oil level of the oil pan through the liquid level signal; The pressure sensor receives the pressure signal from the oil pump outlet and provides feedback on the system's operating status.

4. The engine oil pan oil level automatic adjustment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil level monitoring module includes: Overflow pipe, which limits the maximum oil level of the oil pan through the liquid level signal; The pressure sensor receives the pressure signal from the oil pump outlet and provides feedback on the system's operating status.

5. The engine oil pan oil level automatic adjustment system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The balance oil tank is provided with a discharge valve, which realizes pipeline exhaust during the first refueling through an air pressure signal.

6. A method for automatically adjusting the engine oil level, characterized in that The following steps are involved: S1: Start the oil level adjustment module through the engine speed signal; S2: The refueling pump delivers a fixed amount of lubricating oil to the oil pan according to the speed signal; S3: The oil pump sucks out excess lubricating oil according to the speed signal and hydraulic signal; S4: The overflow pipe limits the maximum oil level through the liquid level signal; S5: The pressure sensor feeds back the system status through the pressure signal; S6: Dynamically adjust the oil pump working state according to the feedback signal.

7. The method for automatically adjusting the engine oil level according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step S3, when the oil level exceeds the height of the overflow pipe, an overflow signal is generated to trigger the oil pump to increase its working intensity.