JP2000130240A - Automobile provided with oil deterioration diagnostic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly detect a deteriorated condition of lubricating oil or electrolyte of secondary battery without being influenced by a measuring temperature, an initial color, and the like with light deterioration diagnostic device by setting to a specified value or less the fuel consumption rate of an automobile in which an engine or the engine and rotary electric motor are mounted. SOLUTION: In the case where a deteriorated degree of oil is measured, reference optical intensity of each light source wave length is measured using a light emitting diode of l1=950 nm and a semiconductor laser of λ2=1310 nm as a light source. Namely, a light source 5 is emitted, transmitted light intensity in the λ1 and λ2 are detected through a transmission type probe 3 inserted in an engine oil 2 and a photodetection part 6, and light transmitted loss are calculated by a control and calculating unit 7. When light transmitted loss difference between the λ1 and λ2 exceeds a prescribed value, a life is judged, an alarm light 9 is lightened. A vehicle is traveled in a condition in which a fuel consumption (= fuel consumption of deteriorated oil/fuel consumption in new oil × 100) is not more than 11%.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile provided with a device for diagnosing deterioration of electrolyte of an engine oil or a secondary battery so as to control a fuel consumption rate within a range in which environmentally and economically efficient traveling is possible. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Deterioration of lubricating oil in an automobile engine is
Oxidation of the oil proceeds by increasing the insolubles in pentane. As the oil deteriorates, corrosion and wear of the piston rings and cams occur, and the lubrication performance of the oil deteriorates, resulting in an increase in the fuel consumption rate and, consequently, engine trouble.
Therefore, changing the engine oil is inevitable. In general, the deterioration of the engine oil progresses as the traveling distance increases, and as the driving condition, a vehicle that starts and stops more frequently in city area driving than a high-speed long-distance operation is more likely to progress.

[0003] As for the type of vehicle, large vehicles and special vehicles are more likely to deteriorate than passenger vehicles, and the deterioration is more remarkable on paved roads on roads with gravel roads and hills.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to examine the state of deterioration of the oil. As the limit characteristics of use, viscosity change, total alkali value, total acid value, pentane, toluene insoluble matter, moisture, flash point, etc. are specified, but measuring these characteristics requires a specific measuring device. Not easy to do. Therefore, in general, at present, the engine oil is periodically replaced with new engine oil when the traveling distance exceeds a predetermined traveling distance.

In recent years, fuel consumption and resource saving have been demanded in response to environmental problems. It is necessary to change the engine oil appropriately and use it effectively. As those methods, a capacitance sensor for measuring a change in dielectric constant, a pyroelectric sensor for measuring absorbance at a wavelength of 1630 cm-1,
An oil deterioration sensor such as a method for measuring a change in viscosity has been proposed. However, there are problems such as poor correlation with oil deterioration, high processing accuracy of the sensor, and instability against temperature changes.

Further, by comparing the value of the light absorption loss with respect to the intensity of the emitted light to the object to be monitored with a reference,
A system for calculating the degree of deterioration (JP-A-7-140074), and the degree of deterioration of the lubricating oil by measuring the absorbance or the amount of transmitted light at each wavelength of the lubricating oil using two wavelengths, a short wavelength and a long wavelength. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
-62207). However, there is no description regarding the correlation between engine oil deterioration of a vehicle and its travel control.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of detecting oil deterioration of a lubricating oil of an engine or an electrolyte of a secondary battery by a photo-deterioration diagnosis apparatus, grasping an appropriate oil change timing, and changing the oil. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile equipped with a control system for preventing the occurrence of engine trouble and the like in addition to the fire extinguishing cost and resource saving.

[0008]

The present inventors have studied the relationship between the degree of deterioration of engine oil and the light transmission loss spectral characteristics per unit length in the near-infrared region. It has been found that an increase in light transmission loss correlates with the values of sludge amount (insoluble component amount), kinematic viscosity, total acid value, and fuel consumption.

That is, the gist of the present invention is as follows.

(1) An engine operating by burning at least one kind of fuel among gasoline, light oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and methanol, or an automobile equipped with the engine and a rotary electric motor operated by a secondary battery Wherein the fuel consumption rate (calculated by the following formula) is 110% or less.

Fuel consumption rate (%) = fuel consumption of degraded oil / fuel consumption of new oil × 100 (where the fuel consumption is calculated as follows.

Fuel consumption (g / ps · h) = (fuel consumption × speed) / (distance of measurement section × output) (2) An engine operating by burning fuel, or the engine and a secondary battery And a rotary electric motor operated by a motor, wherein at least one of the lubricating oil of the engine or the electrolyte of the secondary battery is supplied to the lubricating oil using a monochromatic light source having a wavelength of 600 to 1600 nm. Alternatively, a device for diagnosing the degree of deterioration of the electrolyte is provided, and the fuel consumption rate is 110% based on the result of the diagnosis.
An automobile, comprising: a system for controlling a vehicle so as to be able to travel.

(3) An apparatus for diagnosing deterioration uses at least two types of monochromatic light sources having different wavelengths, and uses the lubricating oil of the engine or the secondary oil based on a difference in light absorption loss between the monochromatic light sources having different wavelengths. The vehicle according to item (2), further comprising a control / calculation unit that diagnoses the degree of deterioration of the electrolyte of the battery.

(4) An engine that operates by burning fuel, or an automobile equipped with the engine and a rotary electric motor that operates by a secondary battery, wherein the wavelength is 600 to 1
A device for diagnosing the degree of deterioration of the lubricating oil using a monochromatic light source of 600 nm, and a tank for storing an auxiliary oil for supplying new oil to the engine based on the result of the deterioration diagnosis. And a car.

(5) The degree of deterioration of the engine oil is 1.0 dB as a difference in light transmission loss between wavelengths of 950 to 1310 nm.
The vehicle according to item (4), further comprising a system for injecting new engine oil from a tank in which auxiliary oil is automatically stored in the engine in a state where the engine oil has been diagnosed as not less than / mm and replacing the oil.

(6) An engine which operates by burning fuel, or an automobile equipped with the engine and a rotary electric motor which operates by a secondary battery, wherein a tank storing auxiliary oil is connected to the engine. When it is diagnosed and displayed that the fuel consumption rate of the engine has exceeded 110% during driving, the new engine oil is automatically supplied to the engine from the tank storing the auxiliary oil, and the fuel consumption is reduced. An automobile having a system for automatically controlling the rate to 110% or less.

(7) An automobile equipped with an engine operating by burning fuel or a rotary electric motor operated by the engine and a secondary battery, wherein the fuel consumption rate of the engine of the automobile exceeds 110%. Diagnosis is reached
An automobile, comprising: a system for controlling the vehicle to run by a rotary electric motor operated by the secondary battery at the time of the display.

That is, according to the present invention, the irradiation light from the monochromatic light source is guided into the engine oil or the electrolyte of the secondary battery using the irradiation light guide, and the emission light from the irradiation light guide is After passing through the oil having the transmission distance α, the light enters the light receiving light guide installed opposite to the light guide, and is guided to the light receiving unit, and the light transmission loss per unit length (α, dB / mm) in the control / calculation unit.
And the light transmission loss difference (Δα, dB / mm) between the two wavelengths, and further compares the relationship (master curve) between the degree of deterioration of the oil and the light transmission loss and the light transmission loss difference stored in advance. In a vehicle equipped with an oil deterioration diagnosis device and display characterized by determining the degree of deterioration by calculating, since the oil can be appropriately replaced,
The vehicle can run at a fuel consumption rate of 110% or less of the effective rotation speed.

The monochromatic light source has a wavelength of 635.
A semiconductor laser (LD) or light emitting diode (LED) having a peak wavelength of not less than 1 nm and not more than 1550 nm is suitable because it is easily available, has a long life, and has stable performance. Especially 63
5,650,670,700,785,800,820,830,850,870,940,950,130
LDs and LEDs of 0,1310,1550 nm, etc. are suitable. In the case of a light source having a wavelength other than the above range, the photodetector in the light receiving unit may be overranged while the degree of oil deterioration is relatively small, and photometry may not be possible.

The automobile of the present invention includes gasoline, light oil, LP
A vehicle equipped with an engine that operates by burning fuel such as G or methanol, or a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle equipped with a rotary motor driven by the engine and a secondary battery.

The secondary battery of the present invention includes a lithium secondary battery, a nickel hydride secondary battery, a phosphoric acid molten salt type fuel cell, a carbonated molten salt type fuel cell, a sodium sulfur battery and the like.

In addition, the present invention also includes an automobile operating by a system using a known primary battery such as a solar battery, a wind battery, and a manganese battery together with a known storage battery including the secondary battery.

Further, the vehicle type of the present invention includes:
There are light, ordinary passenger cars, large cars, special cars, etc.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to ships, motorcycles, and the like equipped with engines that operate by burning fuel such as gasoline, light oil, LPG, and methanol.

In the present invention, the fuel consumption rate is calculated based on the definition described above.

In the present invention, the reason why the fuel consumption rate is specified to be 110% or less is as follows. That is, when the engine oil deteriorates, the lubricating performance decreases, and the fuel consumption increases. From the viewpoint of fuel saving, it is preferable to improve engine efficiency and reduce fuel consumption as much as possible. In a study on an actual running vehicle, the change in viscosity as an indicator of engine oil deterioration could be used up to 30%, and the fuel consumption rate at that time was 110% with respect to the new oil. Therefore, the fuel consumption rate is 110 for oil within the proper use range.
% Or less. If the fuel consumption rate is 110% or more, the deterioration of the oil tends to cause abrasion, burning and the like inside the engine, which causes engine trouble. Further, the content of carbon dioxide in the waste gas increases, which has a bad effect on the environment.

In general, the degree of oil deterioration and the light transmission loss spectrum per unit length in the near infrared region are represented by changes as shown in FIG. Since these light transmission loss spectra are not affected by the measurement temperature, the same value can be obtained in both the measurement at the start of inspection before operation and the measurement during operation. Here, looking at the light transmission loss difference between the two wavelengths, the slope between AA 'at the beginning and the BB' at the deterioration (middle)
In the case of the deterioration (large), the inclination between C and C ′ is shown, and the inclination increases as the deterioration proceeds. Furthermore, focusing on the light transmission loss of the base value,
Since the magnitudes of the peaks near A ′, B ′, and C ′ (harmonic absorption peaks of C—H bonds) do not change,
Light scattering loss (so-called Mie scattering) due to the influence of sludge and the like increases in the order of A ', B', and C ',
The insoluble component amount can be detected.

Further, FIG. 2 shows the light transmission loss spectra of the actual engine oil and the initial product (new oil) 14 having different usage conditions. The four types of initial oils shown here are affected by the additives. Although they have different colors, the light transmission loss spectrum shows exactly the same value in the region of 700 nm or more. In other words, it can be said that the diagnosis can be performed by using the near-infrared light without being affected by different kinds of oil.

As an example, FIG. 3 shows 1310 nm of engine oil of various actual vehicles having different running distances, vehicle types, and usage conditions.
In the same manner, FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the light transmission loss difference between 950 nm and 1310 nm and the total acid value. It can be seen that each parameter has a good correlation with the light transmission loss and the light transmission loss difference.

Since the change of the light transmission loss and the difference of the light transmission loss due to the deterioration has a correlation with a parameter which is a measure of the degree of deterioration of the oil, the oil is measured only by measuring the light transmission loss and the difference of the light transmission loss. Can be diagnosed as having reduced physical properties. Further, as described in JP-A-3-226651, the degree of deterioration is generally represented by a conversion time θ.
By expressing by the conversion time θ, even if the materials have various deterioration histories, if the θ is equal, it means that the degree of deterioration is the same. The conversion time θ is defined by equation (1).

(Equation 1) θ = t × exp (−ΔE / RT) (1) where ΔE is the apparent activation energy (J /
mol), R is a gas constant (J / K / mol), T is the absolute temperature of degradation (K), and t is the degradation time (h). ΔE of oil deterioration can be easily calculated from an Arrhenius plot. Further, assuming that the conversion time at the oil life point obtained in advance is θ ₀ , the difference Δθ from the conversion time θ obtained from the actual measurement becomes the conversion time corresponding to the remaining life, and serves as a scale for determining the degree of deterioration. That is, the remaining life Δθ (h) is represented by the equation (2).

(Equation 2) Δθ (= θ ₀ −θ) (2) If the average operating temperature condition of the oil after the time t is determined from the equation (2), the remaining life time Δt (= t ₀ −t) ) Can also be requested.

Next, a control method of the present invention when the automobile runs will be described.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the control / arithmetic system for an automobile according to the present invention. The oil auxiliary tank 15 and the discharge auxiliary tank 16 are connected to the engine 1 (oil storage container) by pipes each having an automatic valve. When the oil deteriorates during actual running and the oil reaches the use limit, a warning light is turned on by a command from the computer of the control / calculation unit 7, and the oil in the engine is automatically discharged to the discharge auxiliary tank. Further, new oil is supplied into the engine from the supply auxiliary tank. When the amount of oil in the engine becomes smaller than the specified amount, the light transmission loss becomes smaller than the normal value, and the oil from the supply tank is replenished to the specified amount in accordance with an instruction from the computer of the control / operation unit 7. You.

[0035]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0036]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 5 shows an application form of an oil deterioration diagnosis device mounted on a passenger car having a displacement of 1300 cc. Oil is 10W-30SD
Was used. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a calculation for determining the degree of deterioration. In FIG. 5, a control / calculation unit 7 is composed of a microprocessor having a built-in memory for storing measurement data and a read-only memory, and performs switching from the light source wavelength, measurement of received light intensity, and calculation. In this embodiment, a description will be given of an apparatus using two wavelengths. Oil degradation degree measurement
As a light source, a light emitting diode with λ1 = 950 nm (LE
D) and a semiconductor laser (LD) with λ2 = 1310 nm were used. First, the reference light intensity (I
_{0, λ} ). The incident light 11 from λ 1 passes through the optical fiber cable 4 and is guided to the transmission probe 3. The transmission probe 3 has an internal structure as shown in FIG. 7, and the incident light 10 is transmitted through the light guide 12 formed in the transmission probe 3 and reaches the slit 13. Slit 1
3 is set to 1.0 mm in the optical path length in the present embodiment, but is variable from 0.5 to 2.0 mm. After passing through the oil 2 filled in the slit, the transmitted light 11 re-enters the opposing light guide 12 and is guided to the light receiving unit 6. The transmitted light intensity (I _λ1 ) at _λ1 is detected by the light receiving unit 6, and is calculated and stored as the light transmission loss by the control / calculation unit 7. Similarly, the incident light 10 from λ2
The transmitted light intensity (I _λ2 ) with respect to
Is calculated and stored as the light transmission loss of λ2.

When the light transmission loss difference between the wavelengths of 950 nm and 1310 nm reaches 3.0 dB / mm, the life is displayed on a warning light installed in the vehicle. The fuel consumption rate at that time was measured according to JIS D-1012. The result is shown in FIG. The fuel consumption rate when the warning light was turned on due to oil deterioration increased to 110% of the initial fuel consumption rate.
At this point, change the oil and measure the fuel consumption rate.
It recovered to 0%, the initial fuel consumption rate.

The control / arithmetic unit 7 calculates the degree of oil deterioration as a conversion time from a relationship diagram (master curve) between oil deterioration and light transmission loss difference stored in advance as shown in FIG. Displays the service life up to the oil usage limit.

The fuel consumption can be reduced to 110% or less by changing the oil immediately before the oil usage limit.

[0040]

Embodiment 2 A fuel consumption rate was measured in the same manner as in Embodiment 1 except that a passenger car having an exhaust of 3000 cc was equipped with an oil deterioration diagnosis device and the oil used was 7.5 w-30 SG. When the warning light was turned on due to oil deterioration, the fuel consumption rate increased to 108% of the initial fuel consumption rate. However, at this point, when the oil was changed and the fuel consumption rate was measured, the fuel consumption rate had recovered to the initial fuel consumption rate of 100%. Further, the remaining life until the warning light is turned on can be displayed based on FIG.

[0041]

[Example 3] Example 1 except that an oil deterioration diagnosis device is mounted on a passenger car with an exhaust of 3000 cc and the oil used is 10W-30CE.
The fuel consumption rate was measured in the same manner as described above. In this embodiment, a description will be given of an apparatus using one wavelength. The degree of deterioration of the oil was measured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a semiconductor laser (LD) having λ1 = 1310 nm was used as a light source.
The degree of oil deterioration is calculated as a conversion time from a relationship diagram (master curve) between oil deterioration and light transmission loss stored in advance as shown in FIG. 9, and the light transmission loss difference is 7.0 dB / mm.
Is displayed on the warning light installed inside the vehicle as the life span.

The fuel consumption rate when the warning light was turned on due to oil deterioration increased to 110% of the initial fuel consumption rate. However, at this point, when the oil was changed and the fuel consumption rate was measured, the fuel consumption rate had recovered to the initial fuel consumption rate of 100%.

Further, the degree of deterioration of the oil before the service limit is calculated as a conversion time from a relationship diagram (master curve) between the deterioration of the oil and the difference in light transmission loss stored in advance as shown in FIG. Controls the life time up to the usage limit of
The calculation is performed by the calculation unit 7 and displayed. The fuel consumption can be reduced to 110% or less by replacing the oil immediately before the oil usage limit.

[0044]

Fourth Embodiment In the first to third embodiments, the warning light is turned on due to the oil usage limit, and the deteriorated oil in the engine 1 is discharged to the discharge 7 auxiliary tank 16 according to an instruction from the control / calculation unit 7. Further, after the oil is discharged, new oil is supplied from the refueling auxiliary tank 15 into the engine 1. When the fuel consumption rate at this time was measured, the fuel consumption rate was restored to the initial fuel consumption rate of 100%.

[0045]

Fifth Embodiment In the first embodiment, before the warning light is turned on, the life running time until the usage limit of the oil is reached is checked. The light transmission measured based on the master curve shown in FIG. The conversion time was calculated from the loss value, and the running life time was displayed on the instrument panel as 20 hours. The fuel consumption rate at this point was measured to be 109%.
Drain the deteriorated oil inside. In addition, after draining the oil,
New oil is supplied from the refueling auxiliary tank 15 into the engine 1. When the fuel consumption rate at this time was measured, the fuel consumption rate was restored to the initial fuel consumption rate of 100%.

[0046]

Sixth Embodiment In the first to third embodiments, when the oil level in the engine 1 drops below a prescribed value, air enters the slit portion 13 of the transmission probe 3 and the light transmission loss value drops sharply from the normal value. did. The controller / arithmetic unit 7 senses the abnormal value, issues an instruction to supply oil into the engine 1 to the refueling auxiliary tank 15, and supplies oil until the specified value is reached.

[0047]

According to the present invention, the degree of deterioration of the engine oil can be diagnosed without being affected by the measured temperature, the initial color, etc., and the oil change can be made appropriate. Resources and engine troubles can be prevented.

In addition, the present invention achieves economical and efficient driving of the automobile.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a change in a light transmission loss spectrum with deterioration.

FIG. 2 shows light transmission loss spectra of an actual engine oil and a new oil in various use situations.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between light transmission loss and kinematic viscosity of actual engine oils in various use situations.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the light transmission loss and the total acid value of actual engine oils in different use situations.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an application form to an automobile.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a diagnosis for determining the degree of deterioration.

FIG. 7 is an internal structural diagram of the optical sensor in the transmission probe.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a diagnostic master curve using a light transmission loss difference as a parameter.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a diagnostic master curve using light transmission loss as a parameter.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an effective rotation speed and a fuel consumption rate.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the control / arithmetic system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Engine, 2 ... Oil, 3 ... Transmissive probe, 4 ...
Optical fiber cable, 5 ... light source, 6 ... light receiver, 7 ...
Control / arithmetic unit, 8: meter panel, 9: warning light, 10
... Incident light, 11 transmitted light, 12 light guide, 13 slit, 14 initial product, 15 supply auxiliary tank, 16 discharge auxiliary tank,

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yuzo Ito 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture F-term in Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd. 2G059 AA05 BB15 BB20 CC20 EE01 FF06 GG01 GG02 GG03 HH01 HH06 JJ17 KK01 MM01 MM10 PP02 PP04 3G015 AB00 EA15 EA18 EA32 EA33 FB07 FB08 FC10 FC11 FE02 3G084 AA00 AA01 BA31 BA33 DA02 DA19 EB08 FA00

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An engine operating by burning at least one kind of fuel among gasoline, light oil, liquefied petroleum gas, and methanol, or an automobile equipped with the engine and a rotary electric motor operated by a secondary battery. An automobile having a fuel consumption rate (calculated by the following formula) of 110% or less. Fuel consumption rate (%) = fuel consumption of deteriorated oil / fuel consumption of new oil × 100 (where the fuel consumption is calculated as follows: fuel consumption (g / ps · h) = (fuel Consumption x speed) / (measurement section distance x output) 2. An automobile equipped with an engine that operates by burning fuel, or a rotary electric motor that operates by using the engine and a secondary battery, wherein the engine includes a lubricating oil for the engine or an electrolyte for the secondary battery. A device for diagnosing the degree of deterioration of the lubricating oil or the electrolyte using at least one of a monochromatic light source having a wavelength of 600 to 1600 nm is provided, and the fuel consumption rate is 110% based on the result of the diagnosis. An automobile, comprising: a system for controlling a vehicle so as to be able to travel. 3. An apparatus for diagnosing deterioration using at least two types of monochromatic light sources having different wavelengths, based on a difference in light absorption between the monochromatic light sources having different wavelengths. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a control / arithmetic unit for diagnosing the degree of deterioration of the electrolyte of the secondary battery. 4. An automobile equipped with an engine that operates by burning fuel, or a rotary electric motor that operates by using the engine and a secondary battery, wherein the wavelength is 600 to 1600.
a device for diagnosing the degree of deterioration of the lubricating oil using a monochromatic light source of nm, and a tank for storing auxiliary oil for supplying new oil to the engine based on the result of the deterioration diagnosis. And a car. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the degree of deterioration of the engine oil is 95%.
1.0 dB / mm in light transmission loss difference between 0 and 1310 nm
5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a system for injecting new engine oil from a tank storing auxiliary oil into the engine and automatically changing the oil when the diagnosis is made.
The car described. 6. An automobile equipped with an engine that operates by burning fuel or a rotary electric motor that operates with a secondary battery, wherein a tank storing auxiliary oil is connected to the engine. When it is diagnosed and displayed that the fuel consumption rate of the engine has exceeded 110% during running, the new engine oil is automatically supplied to the engine from the tank storing the auxiliary oil,
An automobile having a system for automatically controlling a fuel consumption rate to 110% or less. 7. An engine which operates by burning fuel, or
An automobile equipped with the engine and a rotary electric motor operated by a secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery is diagnosed and displayed when the fuel consumption rate of the engine of the automobile has reached a level exceeding 110%. An automobile having a system for controlling a vehicle to run by a rotary electric motor operated by a motor.