Patent Publication Number: US-2023143924-A1

Title: Dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for internal combustion engine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2021-106522, filed on Jun. 28, 2021, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, there has been known a technique for separating fuel or a moisture-containing component in fuel (hereinafter referred to as “fuel component”) contained in lubricating oil used in an internal combustion engine from the lubricating oil (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1: JP 4983771 B). 
     In recent years, internal combustion engines have been improved in efficiency and have been used in hybrid systems, so that the oil temperature of the lubricating oil during operation has been lowered compared with that of conventional internal combustion engines. Therefore, in recent internal combustion engines, there is a problem of insufficient evaporation of the fuel component contained in the lubricating oil. That is, in recent internal combustion engines, there is a desire to further improving the suppression of dilution of lubricating oil by separating the fuel component. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention, which has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem, to provide a technique to suppress dilution of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. 
     SUMMARY 
     To solve the above problem, a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a container that is capable of holding lubricating oil containing a fuel component; a lubricating oil injection section that injects the lubricating oil into the container; an absorption section that is provided inside the container and capable of absorbing the lubricating oil; an internal pressure reduction section that reduces internal pressure of the container; a heating section that heats the lubricating oil to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil; a gas introduction section that introduces gas into the container; a fuel component discharge section that discharges the fuel component from the container; and a lubricating oil discharge section that discharges the lubricating oil of which the fuel component was separated, from the container. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the internal pressure reduction section is configured of: a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion provided in the lubricating oil injection section; a gas introduction section opening/closing portion disposed in the gas introduction section; a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the fuel component discharge section; a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion disposed in the lubricating oil discharge section; and a negative pressure generation section connected to the fuel component discharge section. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the negative pressure generation section is an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the heating section heats the lubricating oil by heating the absorption section. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the absorption section is a filter material capable of absorbing the lubricating oil. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the dilution suppression device has a function as an oil filter. 
     In the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to an aspect of the present invention, the dilution suppression device is attached to a headcover of an internal combustion engine. 
     According to the present invention, the dilution of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine is suppressed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view showing a container of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIGS.  3 (A) and  3 (B)  are schematic perspective views showing absorption sections of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIGS.  4 (A) and  4 (B)  are schematic views showing mesh members of an absorption section of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIGS.  5 (A)- 5 (D)  are schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a partial cross-sectional view showing a container and a heating section of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic perspective view of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine illustrated in  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic view showing a modified example of the dilution suppression device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic view showing a modified example of the dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view showing a container  11  of the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine. 
     For the sake of explanation, in the dilution suppression device  1  illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the longitudinal direction of the dilution suppression device  1  is defined as the top-bottom direction or the vertical direction, and the transverse direction of the dilution suppression device  1 , which is orthogonal to the top-bottom direction, is defined as the left-right direction or the horizontal direction. In the following description, when the terms “right,” “left,” “front,” “rear,” “upper,” and “lower” are used to refer to the positional relationship and the direction of each component, these terms are mere references of the positional relationship and the direction in the drawings which do not limit the positional relationship and the direction in the actual dilution suppression device  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine is attached to an internal combustion engine (hereinafter also referred to as “engine”). The dilution suppression device  1  includes a container  11  that is capable of holding lubricating oil O containing a fuel component of an engine, a lubricating oil injection section  12  that injects the lubricating oil O into the container  11 , an absorption section  13  that is provided inside the container  11  and capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O, an internal pressure reduction section  14  that reduces the internal pressure of the container, a heating section  15  that heats the lubricating oil O to separate the fuel component from the lubricating oil O, a gas introduction section  16  that introduces gas into the container  11 , a fuel component discharge section  17  that discharges the fuel component from the container  11 , and a lubricating oil discharge section  18  that discharges the lubricating oil O of which the fuel component was separated, from the container  11 . The dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the present embodiment will now be described in detail. 
     The container  11  is configured of a container upper portion  111  and a container lower portion  112 . The container upper portion  111  is formed in a cup shape, in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape having an open lower end. The fuel component discharge section  17  is disposed at the upper end of the container upper portion  111 . The container lower portion  112  is formed in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape having an open upper end and a closed lower end with a bottom face. The lubricating oil injection section  12  and the gas introduction section  16  are disposed on the side face of the container lower portion  112 . The lubricating oil discharge section  18  is disposed on the bottom face of the container lower portion  112 . The open ends of the container upper portion  111  and the container lower portion  112  are joined together to constitute the container  11  that is capable of holding the lubricating oil O in its internal space. A packing  113  is provided at the joint between the container upper portion  111  and the container lower portion  112  to seal the container  11 . Since the container upper portion  111  and the container lower portion  112  of the container  11  can be separated, the absorption section  13  disposed inside the container  11  can be detached. In the dilution suppression device  1 , the container  11  and the absorption section  13  have a structure equivalent to a replaceable cartridge type oil filter in which a filter body and a case are separated and only the filter body is replaced. That is, the container  11  corresponds to the case of the cartridge type oil filter, and the absorption section  13  corresponds to the oil filter body. 
     As described above, the lubricating oil injection section  12  is disposed on the side face of the container lower portion  112 . The lubricating oil injection section  12  is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container  11  with the outside. The lubricating oil injection section  12  is connected to a lubricating oil system, such as an oil pan of the internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil injection section  12  injects lubricating oil O flowing in from the outside of the container  11  into the container  11 . 
     The absorption section  13  is disposed inside the container  11 . The absorption section  13  is a member that is capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O. For the absorption section  13 , for example, a filter material capable of absorbing the lubricating oil can be used. As the filter materials constituting absorption sections  13  and  13 B, various materials having oil absorbability, such as paper, nonwoven fabric, and mesh may be used. Specifically, the function and structure of the absorption section  13  are equivalent to those of the engine oil filter. 
       FIG.  3    is schematic perspective views showing absorption sections  13 A and  13 B of the dilution suppression device  1 .  FIG.  3 (A)  illustrates a spiral-shaped absorption section  13 A.  FIG.  3 (B)  illustrates a pleated-shaped absorption section  13 B. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the absorption sections  13 A and  13 B may be respectively composed of spiral and pleated filter materials each configured in a substantially cylindrical outer shape. Since the absorption sections  13 A and  13 B are configured in a spiral shape or a pleated shape, the surface area of the filter material can be enlarged. 
       FIG.  4    is schematic views showing mesh members  131 A and  131 B, respectively, of the absorption section  13  of the dilution suppression device  1 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , when the mesh members  131 A and  131 B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section  13 , the diameters D 1  and D 2  and the inter-fiber distances L 1  and L 2  of the respective fibers  132 A and  132 B are uniform, so that the amount of the lubricating oil that can be collected inside and between the fibers  132 A and  132 B can be stabilized. That is, when the mesh members  131 A and  131 B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section  13 , the contact area with the air contained inside the container  11  can be kept constant. When the mesh members  131 A and  131 B are used as the filter materials of the absorption section  13 , the collection capacity of the lubricating oil of the absorption section  13  can be freely changed by changing any one of the diameters D 1  and D 2  or the inter-fiber distances L 1  and L 2  of the fibers  132 A and  132 B. 
     As described above, the gas introduction section  16  is disposed on the side face of the container lower portion  112 . The gas introduction section  16  is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container  11  with the outside. The gas introduction section  16  is a member for introducing a gas such as air into the container  11  from the outside of the dilution suppression device  1 . 
     As described above, the fuel component discharge section  17  is disposed on the upper end of the container upper portion  111 . The fuel component discharge section  17  is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container  11  with the outside. The fuel component discharge section  17  is connected to an intake manifold of the engine. The air containing the fuel component discharged from the fuel component discharge section  17  is discharged to an intake manifold  145 . 
     As described above, the lubricating oil discharge section  18  is disposed on the container lower portion  112 . The lubricating oil discharge section  18  is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container  11  with the outside. The lubricating oil discharge section  18  is connected to the lubricating oil system, such as the oil pan of the engine. The lubricating oil discharge section  18  discharges the lubricating oil O discharged from the inside of the container  11  to the lubricating oil system. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the internal pressure reduction section  14  is configured of a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141 , a gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142 , a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143 , a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144 , and the intake manifold  145  as an example of a negative pressure generation section of the engine. 
     The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  is disposed in the lubricating oil injection section  12 . The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the lubricating oil injection section  12 . The gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142  is disposed in the gas introduction section  16 . The lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve. 
     The gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142  is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the gas introduction section  16 . The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  is disposed in the fuel component discharge section  17 . The gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142  can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve, for example. 
     The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the fuel component discharge section  17 . The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  is disposed in the lubricating oil discharge section  18 . The fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a solenoid valve, for example. 
     The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  is a member that opens and closes a flow path of the lubricating oil discharge section  18 . The lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  can be configured by an opening/closing mechanism, such as a one-way valve or a solenoid valve, for example. 
     The intake manifold  145  is connected to the fuel component discharge section  17 . The intake manifold  145  is an example of a mechanism that can generate negative pressure in the engine. The negative pressure generation section of the dilution suppression device  1  is not limited to the intake manifold  145 . As another example of the negative pressure generation section, a vacuum pump used in a brake system of a vehicle equipped with a diesel engine can be used. 
     The heating section  15  heats the lubricating oil by heating the absorption section  13 . The heating section  15  can be configured by using a heating device, such as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, for example. The heating section  15  is disposed inside the container  11  so as to surround at least one of the outer circumferential side or the outer side of the absorption section  13 . In the dilution suppression device  1 , the heating section  15  is not limited to the PTC heater. 
       FIGS.  5  and  6    are schematic views for explaining the process of suppressing the dilution of lubricating oil by the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine. The operation of the dilution suppression device  1  will be explained with reference to  FIGS.  5  and  6   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5 (A) , when the dilution suppression device  1  executes the process for suppressing the dilution of the lubricating oil, the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  opens to inject the lubricating oil O from the lubricating oil injection section  12  into the container  11 . In the step of injecting the lubricating oil O into the container  11 , the gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142  is opened, and the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  and the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  are closed. As illustrated in  FIG.  5 (B) , as the lubricating oil O is injected from the lubricating oil injection section  12  into the container  11 , the oil level of the lubricating oil O inside the container  11  rises. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5 (C) , in the dilution suppression device  1 , when a predetermined volume of the lubricating oil O is injected into the container  11 , the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  and the gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142  close, and the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  opens. The fuel component discharge section  17  communicates with the intake manifold  145  as a result of the opening of the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143 . The fuel component discharge section  17  communicates with the intake manifold  145  to reduce the internal pressure of the container  11  by the negative pressure generated by the intake manifold  145 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5 (D) , in the dilution suppression device  1 , after the internal pressure of the container  11  is reduced, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  closes. After the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  is closed, the lubricating oil O is heated by the heating section  15  in the dilution suppression device  1 . As a result of heating the lubricating oil O, the fuel and the moisture-containing fuel component are separated in the form of gas, i.e., blow-by gas. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6 (E) , when the lubricating oil O and the fuel component are separated, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  opens to communicate the inside of the container  11  with the fuel component discharge section  17 , and the blow-by gas is discharged to the outside of the container  11 . The blow-by gas discharged from the container  11  is sent to the intake manifold  145  through a positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV) communicating with the fuel component discharge section  17 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6 (F) , when the engine stops after the blow-by gas has been discharged from the inside of the container  11 , in the dilution suppression device  1 , the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141  opens, and the lubricating oil O is injected into the container  11 . In the dilution suppression device  1 , the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  opens in conjunction with the opening of the lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141 , and the lubricating oil O of which the blow-by gas was separated, which is stored inside the container  11 , is discharged from the lubricating oil discharge section  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  6 (G) and  6 (H) , in the dilution suppression device  1 , the lubricating oil O of which the blow-by gas was separated, is discharged. Thereafter, the fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143  and the lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144  close, and process returns to the initial state illustrated in  FIG.  5 (A) . 
     As described above, in the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine of an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing the fuel component is stored inside the container  11 , and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section  15  while the internal pressure of the container  11  is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section  14 . Thus, according to the dilution suppression device  1 , the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device  1 , as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced. 
     In the dilution suppression device  1 , since the container  11  and the absorption section  13  have the function and structure of an existing oil filter, the dilution suppression device  1  can be readily attached to and detached from the engine. That is, the dilution suppression device  1  can be used in place of an existing oil filter. 
     Therefore, the dilution suppression device  1  can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. 
     The second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a dilution suppression device  1 B according to the present embodiment, the same components as those of the dilution suppression device  1  described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
       FIG.  7    is a cross-sectional view of a dilution suppression device  1 B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  8    is a partial cross-sectional view showing a container  11 B and a heating section  15 B of the dilution suppression device  1 B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the dilution suppression device  1 B is different from the dilution suppression device  1  described above mainly in the configuration of the container  11 B. Specifically, unlike the container  11  configured of the container upper portion  111  and the container lower portion  112 , the container  11 B has a container upper portion  111  formed in a cup shape and a container lower portion  112  formed in a plate-like shape. The container  11 B is configured to be integrally formed in a cylindrical shape or a substantially cylindrical shape, with a resin housing  114  provided at the lowest portion of the container  11 B. A fuel component discharge section  17 B is disposed on the upper end of the container  11 B. A gas introduction section  16 B is disposed on a side face of the container  11 B. A heating section  15 B is disposed on a lower side face of the container  11 B. A lubricating oil injection section  12 B and a lubricating oil discharge section  18 B are disposed on the bottom face of the container  11 B. The functions of the lubricating oil injection section  12 B, the internal pressure reduction section  14 B, the gas introduction section  16 B, the fuel component discharge section  17 B, and the lubricating oil discharge section  18 B are respectively the same as the lubricating oil injection section  12 , the internal pressure reduction section  14 , the gas introduction section  16 , the fuel component discharge section  17 , and the lubricating oil discharge section  18  of the dilution suppression device  1  described above. 
     The container  11 B and the absorption section  13 B have the same structure as that of a spin-on type oil filter in which the filter body and the case are integrally replaceable. That is, the container  11 B corresponds to the case of the spin-on type oil filter, and the absorption section  13 B corresponds to the oil filter body. The structures of the container  11 B and the absorption section  13 B are not limited to the modes of the dilution suppression device  1  described above, and may be as, for example, those of the dilution suppression device  1 B. 
     Similar to the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, in the dilution suppression device  1 B of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the second embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing a fuel component is stored inside the container  11 B, and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section  15 B while the internal pressure of the container  11 B is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section  14 B. Thus, according to the dilution suppression device  1 B, the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device  1 B, as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced. 
     In the dilution suppression device  1 B, since the container  11 B and the absorption section  13 B have the function and structure of an existing oil filter, the dilution suppression device  1 B can be readily attached to and detached from the engine. That is, the dilution suppression device  1 B can be used in place of an existing oil filter. 
     Therefore, the dilution suppression device  1 B can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. 
     The third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a dilution suppression device  1 C according to the present embodiment, the same components as those of the dilution suppression device  1  described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
       FIG.  9    is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dilution suppression device  1 C of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  10    is a schematic perspective view of the dilution suppression device  1 C. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , a headcover  20  is disposed above an engine  40 , which is an internal combustion engine, and covers the engine  40 . The headcover  20  includes a main cover  22  and a baffle plate  24 . 
     The baffle plate  24  is a plate-like member and is fixed to the main cover  22  so as to close the opening in the main cover  22 . The main cover  22  and the baffle plate  24  define an oil mist separator  30 . The oil mist separator  30  separates oil mist from blow-by gas generated from the engine  40 . 
     An opening  24   c  is formed in the baffle plate  24 . The engine  40  includes a camshaft (not illustrated). The number of camshafts is of course not limited. The opening  24   c  is formed above the camshaft. In this way, the blow-by gas containing the lubricating oil O scattered from the camshaft can be introduced to the oil mist separator  30  through the opening  24   c.    
     A mounting hole  22   d  is formed in the main cover  22 . A PCV valve  26  is inserted into the mounting hole  22   d  and fixed thereto. The PCV valve  26  circulates the blow-by gas generated from the engine  40  to an intake system. Since the configuration and function of the PCV valve  26  are well known, description thereof will be omitted. 
     The dilution suppression device  1 C is attached in the interior of the headcover  20  of the engine  40 . Specifically, the dilution suppression device  1 C is disposed in the interior of the baffle plate  24  inside the headcover  20 . That is, the dilution suppression device  1 C is disposed adjacent to the oil mist separator  30  in the interior of the headcover  20 . The dilution suppression device  1 C includes a cuboid or substantially cuboid container  11 C. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , in the dilution suppression device  1 C, the container  11 C is provided with a lubricating oil injection section  12 C that communicates the inside of the container  11 C with the outside, an absorption section  13 C, an internal pressure reduction section  14 C, a heating section  15 C, a gas introduction section  16 C, a fuel component discharge section  17 C, and a lubricating oil discharge section  18 C. The functions of the lubricating oil injection section  12 C, the absorption section  13 C, the internal pressure reduction section  14 C, the heating section  15 C, the gas introduction section  16 C, the fuel component discharge section  17 C, and the lubricating oil discharge section  18 C are respectively the same as the lubricating oil injection section  12 , the absorption section  13 , the internal pressure reduction section  14 , the heating section  15 , the gas introduction section  16 , the fuel component discharge section  17 , and the lubricating oil discharge section  18  of the dilution suppression device  1  described above. 
     The lubricating oil injection section  12 C is disposed on the side face of the container  11 C. The lubricating oil injection section  12 C is a conduit for communicating the inside of the container  11 C with the outside. The lubricating oil injection section  12 C is connected to an oil pan  60  of the engine  40 . The lubricating oil injection section  12 C injects lubricating oil O flowing in from the outside of the container  11 C into the container  11 C. 
     The absorption section  13 C is disposed inside the container  11 C. For the absorption section  13 C, a member that is capable of absorbing the lubricating oil O, for example, a filter material that capable of absorbing the lubricating oil, can be used in the same manner as the absorption section  13  described above. 
     The internal pressure reduction section  14 C is configured of a lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion  141 , a gas introduction section opening/closing portion  142 , a fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion  143 , a lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion  144 , and the intake manifold  145  as an example of a negative pressure generation section of the engine. 
     The heating section  15 C is disposed inside the container  11 C so as to surround at least one of the outer circumferential side and the outer side of the absorption section  13 C in the same manner as the heating section  15  described above. 
     The gas introduction section  16 C is a member for introducing a gas such as air into the container  11 C from the outside of the dilution suppression device  1 C in the same manner as the gas introduction section  16  described above. 
     The fuel component discharge section  17 C is connected to the intake manifold  145  of the engine  40  in the same manner as the fuel component discharge section  17  described above. The air containing the fuel component discharged from the fuel component discharge section  17 C is discharged to the intake manifold  145  through the oil mist separator  30 , the PCV valve  26 , and a valve V, such as a one-way valve or a solenoid valve. 
     The lubricating oil discharge section  18 C is connected to the oil pan  60  of the engine  40  in the same manner as the lubricating oil discharge section  18  described above. The lubricating oil discharge section  18 C discharges the lubricating oil O discharged from the inside of the container  11 C to the oil pan  60  through the oil mist separator  30  and a lubricating system, such as an oil pump P. 
     Similar to the dilution suppression device  1  of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the first embodiment, in the dilution suppression device  1 C of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine according to the third embodiment, the lubricating oil O containing the fuel component is stored inside the container  11 C, and the fuel component can be separated as blow-by gas by heating the lubricating oil O by the heating section  15 C while the internal pressure of the container  11 C is reduced by the internal pressure reduction section  14 C. Thus, according to the dilution suppression device  1 C, the deterioration and emulsification of the lubricating oil O can be suppressed, and the lubricating performance of the lubricating oil O can be maintained. Moreover, according to the dilution suppression device  1 C, as a result of suppressing the deterioration of the lubricating oil O, the oil replacement cost for a user of a vehicle equipped with an engine can be reduced. 
     Therefore, the dilution suppression device  1 C can suppress the dilution of the lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine. 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention includes all aspects included in the concepts and claims of the present invention. The respective configurations may be appropriately and selectively combined to solve at least a part of the above-described problems and achieve at least some of the effects. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc., of each configuration in the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified according to the specific use mode of the present invention. 
       FIG.  11    is a schematic view of a modified example of the dilution suppression device  1 B according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG.  11   , the dilution suppression device  1 B may be attached to an upper portion of the headcover  20  of the engine  40 , inside of which the dilution suppression device  1 C according to the third embodiment had been attached. The headcover  20  is provided with the baffle plate  24  and the oil mist separator  30 , as described above. In the dilution suppression device  1 B, the lubricating oil injection section  12 B and the lubricating oil discharge section  18 B are connected to the main cover  22 . The lubricating oil O is injected from the oil pan  60  of the engine  40  into the container  11 B through the main cover  22  and the lubricating oil injection section  12 B. The lubricating oil O discharged from the dilution suppression device  1 B returns to the oil pan  60  through the main cover  22 , the oil mist separator  30 , the baffle plate  24 , and the lubricating system of the engine  40 . 
       FIG.  12    is a schematic view of a modified example of the dilution suppression device  1 C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the dilution suppression device  1 C is not limited to one attached to the upper portion of the headcover  20  of the engine  40  as in the third embodiment described above. In  FIG.  12   , the dilution suppression device  1 C differs from the above-described dilution suppression device  1 C in that the dilution suppression device  1 C is disposed at a position that is not the upper portion of the headcover  20  of the engine  40 , and also differs in that the gas introduction section  16 C is connected to the downstream (discharge) side of the PCV valve  26 . That is, in the modified example illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the dilution suppression device  1 C is not disposed on the headcover  20  of the engine  40 . Thus, the dilution suppression device  1 C of the modified example can be readily mounted to an existing engine  40  without changing the structure of the existing engine  40 , by providing piping of the lubricating oil injection section  12 C and the gas introduction section  16 C between the engine  40  and the dilution suppression device  1 C, and by providing piping of the lubricating oil discharge section  18 C. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1 ,  1 B,  1 C dilution suppression device of lubricating oil for an internal combustion engine (dilution suppression device);  11 ,  11 B,  11 C container;  12 ,  12 B,  12 C lubricating oil injection section;  13 ,  13 B,  13 C absorption section;  14 ,  14 B,  14 C internal pressure reduction section;  15 ,  15 B,  15 C heating section;  16 ,  16 B,  16 C gas introduction section;  17 ,  17 B,  17 C fuel component discharge section;  18 ,  18 B,  18 C lubricating oil discharge section;  20  headcover;  22  main cover;  24  baffle plate;  24   c  opening;  26  PCV valve;  30  oil mist separator;  40  engine;  60  oil pan;  111  container upper portion;  112  container lower portion;  113  packing;  114  resin housing;  131 A,  131 B mesh member;  132 A,  132 B fiber;  141  lubricating-oil injection section opening/closing portion;  142  gas introduction section opening/closing portion;  143  fuel-component discharge section opening/closing portion;  144  lubricating-oil discharge section opening/closing portion;  145  intake manifold.