초록 ▼

An internal combustion engine in a working device comprises an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil. An oil measurement device is used to recognize the existence of oil in the oil reservoir and to produce a corresponding signal that is evaluated in an evaluation device to produce an oil level

An internal combustion engine in a working device comprises an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil. An oil measurement device is used to recognize the existence of oil in the oil reservoir and to produce a corresponding signal that is evaluated in an evaluation device to produce an oil level reading. The oil level reading is preferred to be produced only during the starting of the internal combustion engine or within a specific time period after starting the internal combustion engine. When the internal combustion engine has reached its operating RPM, no further oil level monitoring is performed.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A working device with an internal combustion engine and a vibration exciter, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises: a starting device to start the internal combustion engine; an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil; an oil measurement device to recogniz

The invention claimed is: 1. A working device with an internal combustion engine and a vibration exciter, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises: a starting device to start the internal combustion engine; an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil; an oil measurement device to recognize that oil is present in the oil reservoir and to produce a corresponding signal; and an evaluation unit to produce a first oil level reading based on the signal from the oil measurement device; wherein the first oil level reading is producible within a specified time period after the internal combustion engine is started; the time period is determined such that it ends before the vibration exciter is caused to operate by the internal combustion engine; and wherein during a single operating period, if the first oil level reading indicates a sufficiently high oil level, the first oil level reading remains even after the end of the specified time period after start, despite a subsequent oil level reading indicating an insufficiently high oil level. 2. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the specified time period is short relative to an operating time of the internal combustion engine. 3. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the beginning point at which the vibration exciter is caused to operate constitutes the end of the specified time period. 4. A working device according to claim 2, wherein a coupling is provided to couple the internal combustion engine to the vibration exciter and that the oil level reading is produced by the evaluation unit after the start of the internal combustion engine until the coupling couples the internal combustion engine to the vibration exciter. 5. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil level reading can be produced up to the beginning of a work phase in which the working device performs its work for which it is intended. 6. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil level reading can be produced within a pre-determined period of time after reaching a predetermined minimum RPM of the internal combustion engine. 7. A working device according to claim 6, wherein the oil level reading can be produced immediately after reaching the predetermined minimum RPM of the internal combustion engine. 8. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil level reading can be produced as long as the actual crankshaft RPM is less than a prescribed working RPM. 9. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil level reading can be produced once. 10. A working device according to claim 1, wherein a stopping device to interrupt the operation of the internal combustion engine is provided; the evaluation unit is coupled to the stopping device; and when a specific oil level reading exists, the operation of the internal combustion engine can be interrupted by the stopping device. 11. A working device according to claim 10, wherein the operation of the internal combustion engine can be interrupted by the stopping device after the expiration of a predetermined time period after the specific oil level reading is present. 12. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is coupled to an RPM regulating unit, and wherein, when a specific oil level reading is present, the RPM of the internal combustion engine can be adjusted by the RPM regulating unit to an RPM value that is below an operating RPM. 13. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is coupled to a display unit and wherein, when a specific oil level reading is present, a visual and/or acoustic display reading can be output via the display unit. 14. A working device according to claim 13, wherein the display reading can be output via the display device over a specific time period, even if the oil level reading is no longer present. 15. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the specific oil level reading corresponds to a reading indicating that too little oil exists in the oil reservoir. 16. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil level reading exists in the form of a signal. 17. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a power supply unit to produce and/or store electrical energy; a supply voltage can be provided by the power supply unit after the internal combustion engine is started, said voltage provided for the oil measurement device and the evaluation device; the oil level reading can be produced by the evaluation unit for a short period of time immediately after the starting process of the internal combustion engine begins. 18. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a power supply unit to store electrical energy; a supply voltage can be provided by the power supply unit before the internal combustion engine is started, said voltage provided for the oil measurement device and the evaluation device; the oil level reading can be produced by the evaluation unit for a short period of time immediately before the starting process of the internal combustion engine begins; the oil level reading can be stored. 19. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit is integrated into the oil measurement unit. 20. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the oil measurement unit includes an oil sensor. 21. A working device according to claim 20, wherein the oil sensor operates according to a capacitive, optical, thermal and/or mechanical principle. 22. A working device according to claim 20, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises an engine housing and that the oil sensor can be screwed into a threaded socket in the engine housing. 23. A method of monitoring an oil level in an internal combustion engine to operate a vibration exciter in a working device, wherein the internal combustion engine includes: a starting device to start the internal combustion engine; an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil, wherein the oil is distributed from the oil reservoir to the crankcase without an oil pump; an oil measurement device to recognize that oil is present in the oil reservoir and to produce a corresponding signal; and an evaluation unit to produce oil level readings based on the signal from the oil measurement device; that method comprising the steps of starting the internal combustion engine using the starting device; operating the oil measurement device immediately after the starting procedure of the internal combustion engine is begun up to the point at which the vibration exciter is activated to recognize the presence of oil in the oil reservoir and to produce the corresponding signal; and evaluating the signal to produce an oil level reading. 24. A method of monitoring an oil level in an internal combustion engine to operate a vibration exciter in a working device, wherein the internal combustion engine includes: a starting device to start the internal combustion engine; an oil reservoir near a crankcase to hold oil, wherein the oil is distributed from the oil reservoir to the crankcase without an oil pump; an oil measurement device to recognize that oil is present in the oil reservoir and to produce a corresponding signal; and an evaluation unit to produce oil level readings based on the signal from the oil measurement device; that method comprising the steps of starting the internal combustion engine using the starting device; operating the oil measurement device immediately after the starting procedure of the internal combustion engine is begun to recognize the presence of oil in the oil reservoir and to produce the corresponding signal; evaluating the signal to produce an oil level reading, wherein the oil level reading is only produced after a predetermined minimum RPM of the internal combustion engine is reached. 25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the oil level reading is produced only once for each start process. 26. A method according to claim 23, wherein a specific oil level reading corresponds to an indication that too little oil exists in the oil reservoir and wherein, that based on the specific oil level reading, at least one of the following actions is initiated: immediate interruption of the operation of the internal combustion engine; interruption of operation of the internal combustion engine after a prescribed time period has passed after establishing the specific oil level reading; limiting of the RPM of the internal combustion engine to an RPM value that is below an operating RPM; activation of an acoustic and/or visual display. 27. A ground compaction machine for compacting soil, comprising: a vibration exciter that can be driven to compact soil; and an internal combustion engine that drives the vibration exciter, the internal combustion engine including a crankcase, an oil reservoir near the crankcase, an oil measurement device that generates signals indicative of an oil level in the oil reservoir, and a microprocessor-based evaluation circuit that receives signals from the oil measurement device and that evaluates the signals during an engine starting process, the evaluation circuit interrupting operation of the engine if a low oil level condition is detected during the engine starting process and otherwise permitting the engine to run, even if a low oil level condition is detected during post-starting engine operation. 28. The ground compaction machine according to claim 27, wherein, if a low oil level condition is detected during the engine starting process, the evaluation circuit interrupts operation of the engine prior to termination of the engine starting process such that the engine does not run. 29. The ground compaction machine according to 27 wherein, if a low oil level condition is detected during the engine starting process, the evaluation circuit permits the engine to run for a specified period of time and thereafter interrupts operation of the engine. 30. A method of operating a ground compaction machine, the machine including a vibration exciter that can be driven to compact soil and an internal combustion engine that drives the vibration exciter, the method comprising: turning a crankshaft of the engine to initiate an engine starting process; during the engine starting process, detecting an oil level in an oil reservoir of the engine; and using a microprocessor based evaluation circuit, interrupting operation of the engine if a low oil level condition is detected during the engine starting process and otherwise permitting the engine to run and drive the vibration exciter, even if a low oil level condition is detected during post-starting engine operation. 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the interrupting step is performed prior to termination of the engine starting process such that the engine does not run. 32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the interrupting step is performed a specified time period after the end of the engine starting process. 33. A working device according to claim 1, wherein the specified time period extends between (i) a first time at which an ignition of the internal combustion engine generates energy, and (ii) a second time at which the vibration exciter is energized. 34. A working device according to claim 1, wherein oil level readings are producible during an entire operational RPM range of the internal combustion engine and cease when the vibration exciter is energized. 35. A working device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the oil measurement device and the evaluation unit is powered by an ignition of the internal combustion engine.