AN OPTICAL DETECTOR SYSTEM Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical detector system which, during operation of the engine in diesel engines, detects that the combustion gas or engine oil has mixed into the coolant due to the fact that the engine block or head was cracked or the head gasket failed to perform its function.

Background of the Invention

Internal combustion engines are machines where the pressure produced from combustion of the fuel in a restricted area called combustion chamber within the engine moves the piston. Heat is produced in the combustion engine as a result of the said combustion. A coolant is circulated within the engine block in order to cool this heat. When in the engine block, this coolant absorbs the heat in the engine block and goes to the radiator. Then it is cooled in the radiator and sent back to the engine block. Some cracks occur in the engine block and/or cylinder head due to engine overload, long time use or the quality of the block/head material. These cracks cause the burned gas produced in the combustion chamber to mix into the coolant within the engine block/head. When the gas in the combustion chamber mixes into the coolant, heat of this coolant rises more than normal and causes the engine to get overheated. When the engine is overheated, the coolant in the engine reaches a temperature much higher than the boiling point and causes the engine to become almost unusable.

The South African patent document no. ZA8500226, an application in the state of the art, discloses a system which reveals mixture of the exhaust gas to the engine coolant. In this invention, a transparent tube is fi lled with a liquid responsive to combustion gases. The said tube is integrated to the vehicle cooling system. When the combustion gases mixing with the engine coolant react with the liquid in the transparent tube, its color changes and it can be notices by means of the transparent tube.

The Great Britain patent document no. GB1438913, an application in the state of the art, discloses a system which detects combustion gases mixing into the engine coolant. If the engine coolant, which is passed through a fluid that is responsive to combustion gases by using a nozzle, contains combustion gas, the specified chemical changes color and the color change is noticed within the transparent structure.

Summary of the Invention The objective of the present invention is to provide an optical detector system which determines the color change in the coolant and detects the combustion gas or engine oil mixed into the coolant.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an optical detector system which detects color change and warns the user, and which prevents possible engine damage.

Detailed Description of the Invention The optical detector system developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figure, in which:

Figure I is the schematic view of the optical detector system. The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows: 1. Optical detector system

2. Gap

3. Light emitter

4. Control rod

5. Control unit

6. Connection element

A. Engine block/head

H. Reflection surface

U. Emitted light

G. Reflected light

R. Channel

The optical detector system (1), which, during operation of the engine in diesel engines, detects that the combustion gas or engine oil has mixed into the coolant due to the fact that the engine block or head was cracked or the head gasket failed to perform its function, basically comprises

at least one gap (2) which is located in the engine block/head (A),

- at least one light emitter (3) which is placed within the gap (2) and which sends out light into the channel (R),

- at least one control rod (4) which enables to detect the reflected light (G) produced when the emitted light (U) from the light emitter (3) hits the reflection surface (H) and returns,

at least one control unit (5) which enables to process and analyze the data received from the control rod (4),

- at least one connection element (6) which enables the data transfer between the control rod (4) and the control unit (5).

In one embodiment of the invention; if the gas, which is combusted in the combustion chamber and is heated, leaks into the channel (R) in which the coolant circulates, nominal mixture of the coolant within the channel (R) changes. An optical detector system (1 ) is disposed to the coolant return pipe at the engine block/head (A), in which the channel (R) used for cooling the engine is located, the cylinder head water jacket or the engine block water jacket in order to solve the difference resulting due to the said change and to inform the driver of this difference. There is a light emitter (3) and a control rod (4) in the optical detector system (1). The light emitter (3) sends the emitted light (U) that it has produced therein towards the reflection surface (H). The emitted light (U) that hits the reflection surface (H) returns as the reflected light (G). The reflected light (G) moves within the channel (R) and comes to the control rod (4). The time in which the reflected light (G) returns within the coolant in the channel (R) is kept by the control unit (5) as a reference information in the initial engine start. Since this reference information is recorded in the control unit (5), any color or density change in the coolant that moves within the channel (R) changes the time in which the reflected light (G) returns from the reflection surface (H). Operation of the optical detector system (1) is as follows. In the case that any crack or etc. occurs on the engine block/head (A), color or density change occurs in the coolant, which circulates within the channel (R). Prior to this change, the information about the time in which the emitted light (U) and the reflected light

(G) move between the light emitter (3) and the control rod (4) is recorded in the control unit (5) as a reference information. When color or density change is observed in the channel (R) due to burned gases, the emitted light (U) produced in the light emitter (3) will reach the reflection surface (H) later than normal, and furthermore, the reflected light (G) which is reflected from the reflection surface

(H) and which moves towards the control rod (4) will also reach the control rod (4) later than normal. When the reflected light (G) comes to the control unit (5) late, this data is transmitted to the control unit (5) by means of the connection element (6). The control unit (5) evaluates the reference data and this new data and determines the difference between these two data. After determining this difference, the control unit (5) warns the user and thus a possible engine damage or overheat can be prevented.