Engine Friction Control to Inhibit Oil Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to rapidly inhibit oil dilution in engines, leading to performance reduction due to fuel mixing with engine oil, which is not effectively addressed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
An oil dilution inhibiting apparatus that estimates engine friction and operates the engine at a higher speed when friction decreases below a threshold, using a control unit to adjust gear shift ratios and promote fuel volatilization, thereby inhibiting oil dilution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the engine operates at normal speed, then fuel economy is maintained, but oil dilution occurs due to fuel mixing with engine oil
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary detection of oil dilution by monitoring engine friction characteristics before significant oil dilution occurs. When friction decreases below a threshold indicating early-stage dilution, the system proactively increases engine speed to prevent further degradation of engine oil performance, rather than waiting for severe dilution to manifest
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engine operating parameter (speed) dynamically based on detected friction characteristics. When oil dilution is detected through friction monitoring, the engine speed is increased to a higher operation region where fuel volatility is greater, promoting fuel evaporation from the oil and preventing performance degradation
2Reliability
If the engine operates at higher speed to inhibit oil dilution, then engine oil performance is maintained, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements periodic monitoring of engine friction characteristics to detect oil dilution conditions. Rather than continuously operating at high speed, the system periodically assesses friction levels and only increases engine speed when dilution is detected, thereby maintaining oil performance while minimizing unnecessary fuel consumption during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from friction monitoring to dynamically adjust engine speed. The control unit continuously monitors engine friction as feedback on oil condition, and only increases speed when the feedback indicates dilution (friction decrease below threshold). This closed-loop control ensures high speed operation occurs only when necessary for oil protection
3Stability of the object's composition
If existing control methods are used to suppress air fuel ratio variation, then air fuel ratio stability is improved, but oil dilution inhibition is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces engine friction as an intermediary parameter to detect oil dilution conditions. Rather than directly measuring oil composition or fuel ratio, the friction characteristic serves as an indirect indicator of oil dilution status, enabling the control unit to identify when dilution occurs and take corrective action by adjusting engine speed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Rapidly inhibits oil dilution by increasing engine speed and promoting fuel volatilization, preventing engine oil performance reduction and maintaining optimal engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
A friction of the engine is estimated
Implementation Method 2
the fuel mixed into the engine oil may be volatilized
Data Source
AI summary
An oil dilution inhibiting apparatus is configured to inhibit oil dilution caused by mixture of fuel into engine oil. The oil dilution inhibiting apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit is configured to estimate friction of an engine and determine that the oil dilution occurs when the friction of the engine is decreased to a value lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value to perform control so that the engine is operated at a higher speed.