FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an engine oil heating device. Particularly this invention relates to a timer-based engine oil heating device capable to act at subzero conditions, for example, at - 400C. The engine oil heating device is useful for all kinds of engines, for example, rail engines and other vehicle engines. The device is also useful for heating hydraulic oil in hydraulically operated machines that are working at subzero conditions.
STATE OF THE ART IN THE FIELD
The engine lubrication oil is one the key factor to keep an engine to work efficiently and also a smooth startup of an engine. The special lubrication oils have been made by the oil companies having usually a freezing point of - 24ºC, but these oils do not work at very low temperatures, that is, subzero conditions. The lubrication oils turn into semi-solid states when the temperature of the environment is lower than – 240C and therefore causes hindrance during the startup of the engine and also damages the engine aggregates.
Therefore, fire is put under the engine oil sump, by burning wood and/or diesel so as to heat engine oil to keep it into a liquid state and thus to facilitate engine startup in the beginning.
There are disadvantages associated with the conventional process and devices used for keeping the lubricating oil/engine oil into the liquid state. One of the disadvantages is that burning wood and / or diesel generate pollution.
Another disadvantage associated with the conventional process and devices is that it is a time-consuming and tedious job to arrange the material needed to generate fire.
Another disadvantage associated with the conventional process and devices is that the smoke generated due to the burning of wood/diesel is harmful to the health of the workers and the environment as well.
Yet another disadvantage associated with the conventional process and devices is that the conventional process is not efficient and takes lots of time in heating engine oil.
Still another disadvantage associated with the conventional process and devices is that the conventional process is a costly process.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which obviates the disadvantages associated with conventional floor panels.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which is easy to install and operate.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which does not generate any kind of pollution which is harmful to the worker as well as to the environment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device adapted to prevent damage to the engine aggregates.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which is very efficient and effective due to the use of electric energy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which is economical as it saves lots of wood and fuel.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device adapted with a process that can achieve fine control over the engine oil temperature rise.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device adapted to prevent fire accidents.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil heating device which is easy to monitor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided an engine oil heating device comprising a heater 1 adapted to be accommodated in the sump of the engine such that to heat engine oil, battery 2 provided with a vehicle being used to energige the heater 1 for heating purposes, an indicator 3 provided with a dashboard of the vehicle such that to indicate heating of the engine oil, a timer-based control logic 7 being provided to activate a relay switch 8 such that to switch on and switch off supply of power to the heater 1 , a temperature switch 10 being provided to prohibit heating the engine oil after attaining set temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An engine oil heating device, according to a preferred embodiment, is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;
Fig. 1(a), illustrates a plan view of the heating device.
Fig. 1(b), illustrates the electrical power supply from the battery.
Fig. 1(c), illustrates dashboard components with indicator, triggering switch, interlocking switch and temperature gauge.
Fig. 1(d), illustrates the timer.
Fig. 1(e), illustrates the relay switch.
Fig. 1(f), illustrates engine oil sump with heater elements and temperature switch.
Fig. 2, illustrates a circuit diagram of the time delay control logic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An engine oil heating device is herein described with numerous specific details so as to provide a complete understanding of the invention. However, these specific details are exemplary details and should not be treated as the limitation to the scope of the invention. Throughout this specification the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises or comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusions of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusions of any other element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps.
Referring to the drawings, figures 1(a,b,c,d,e,f), plan view of an engine oil heating device is shown. An engine oil heating device comprises a heater 1, for example, immersion heater, adapted to be accommodated in the sump of the engine. Power supply battery 2, for example, batteries of 24-volt DC provided with the vehicle, are used to energize the heating device/heater 1. An indicator 3 is provided on the dashboard of the vehicle to indicate that the heating of the engine oil is on. An interlocking system having an interlocking / mode switch 4 is provided with the device such that to avoid the accidental starting of the engine of the vehicle during the heating of engine oil. The interlocking / mode switch 4 is used to change the operation mode from heating to starting mode. A timer based Control logic 5 is provided to activate a relay switch 6 needed to facilitate automatic switch on and switch off action. An OFF-delay timer 7 and triggering switch 8 for timer based control logic 5 is provided to switch off heating after a fixed time interval, for example, 8 to 14 minutes, such that to control oil temperature rise and thereby eliminating the possibility of fire accidents. An oil temperature gauge 9 is provided for continuous monitoring of heating mode and temperature rise of the engine oil. A temperature switch 10 is provided to cut off power supply automatically to the timer based logic 5 and also to the the heater 1 when the temperature of the engine oil is reached to a desired level.
In one embodiment, the timer-based control logic is operated by using DC supply received from the power pack, for example, a battery pack already available with the vehicle. The batteries are charged by the alternator provided with the vehicle engine as soon as the vehicle starts operating.
Reference is now made to figure – 2, wherein Circuit Diagram of the timer based Control logic 5 is shown. The control logic 5 according to the present invention has a relay switch 8 adapted to be connected to the heater 1 such that to switch ON and switch OFF the supply to the heater 1 through a timer based logic 5 . The timer based logic 5 provides supply to the heater 1 continuously for a set time (For example 10 Mins) upon receiving a triggering signal from the momentary switch 8. If the ambient temperature is very low (For example - 40 oC) then Engine oil should be heated to the required temperature (For example 5 oC). For heating the engine oil, the interlocking switch 4 is put in Heating mode, then the triggering switch 8 (Momentary switch) is ON and in such a situation the electric energy is supplied to the heater for heating purposes through the relay switch 8. The relay switch 8 activations are controlled by the timer based control logic 5 . The timer starts counting time and after 10 minutes the supply gets disconnected to the heater 1 and indicator 3 gets OFF which shows no heating of the oil. Again, the timer starts counting time after giving trigger signal and the supply is connected to the heater 1 and heating of the oil starts and indicator 3 is ON. At any point in time, the heating of oil can be stopped by changing the interlocking switch 4 from heating mode to starting mode. When the temperature of the oil reaches greater than 50C the supply to the heating device / heater 1 is disconnected automatically by means of the oil temperature switch 10. The temperature switch 10 doesn't allow heating the engine oil further by using the heating device / heater 1 after attaining the set temperature, thus it prevents unnecessary heating of oil and saves battery energy. When the temperature of the switch becomes less than 50C the supply is triggered / switched on to the heating device / heater 1 and heating of the oil starts again and the indicator is ON. When the oil gets heated and the temperature is more than 50C then the engine can be started by changing the interlocking/mode switch 4 to the start mode. Then the equipment can be used for its intended operation.
It has been observed that the device of the present invention has the following advantages,
I. A considerable amount of time is saved, as the materials such as wood, diesel, fire, etc., required for heating the oil need not be arranged now.
II. Engine aggregates are saved from being damaged.
III. The invented device is highly efficient as the electrical energy is used for heating the engine oil.
IV. The use of the device is economical as the cost of the fuel needed to heat the engine oil is eliminated.
V. The use of the device prevents fire accidents.
VI. The temperature rise is controlled in a satisfactory manner.
VII. Easy monitoring and fine control over the temperature rise.
VIII. Accidental starting of the engine during heating of engine oil is prevented by providing interlocking means with the heating mode.

Certain features of the invention have been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the exemplary embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to the persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.

WE CLAIM:
1. An engine oil heating device comprising a heater 1 adapted to be accommodated in the sump of the engine such that to heat engine oil, battery 2 provided with a vehicle being used to energige the heater 1 for heating purposes, an indicator 3 provided with a dashboard of the vehicle such that to indicate heating of the engine oil , a timer-based control logic 7 being provided to activate a relay switch 8 such that to switch on and switch off supply of power to the heater 1 , a temperature switch 10 being provided to prohibit heating the engine oil after attaining set temperature.
2. The engine oil heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater comprises an immersion rod adapted to be accommodated in the sump of the engine.
3. The engine oil heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein battery comprises vehicle batteries of 24 - volt DC for use to energize the heater.
4. The engine oil heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein timer based control logic 5 is provided to count preset time.
5. The engine oil heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relay switch 8 is controlled by the timer based conltorl logic 5 .