JP2003106206A - Engine speed informative device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine speed informative device which can inform an engine speed by utilizing an existing informative instrument comprised of a LED, a lamp, a buzzer and the like to inform the occurrence of warning without new construction of a tachometer or a measuring instrument. SOLUTION: The invention is characterized by that it has an engine speed detection sensor 16 to detect the engine speed of an engine E; a determination means 8A to determine whether the detected engine speed of the engine E is stayed within the specified engine speed range for the specified time or not; and an informative means 8B to inform the engine speed of the engine E when it is determined that the engine speed of the engine E is stayed within the specified engine speed range for the specified time by an existing informative instrument C comprised of a LED 4, the lamp, the buzzer and the like to inform the occurrence of warning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a general-purpose engine speed notification device mounted on an outboard motor, a watercraft, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that the selection of a screw propeller has been an important factor in the past in order to sufficiently bring out the performance of an outboard motor. That is, whether or not the screw propeller is selected not only causes the engine performance not to be extracted but also causes serious damage, and has a great influence on the running performance of the ship equipped with the outboard motor.
Therefore, the preferred recommended engine speed at full sail is specified for each outboard motor model.

However, since the user's usage conditions (size, shape, weight of the hull, number of passengers, loaded weight) are not uniform, the engine speed at full throttle is measured for each usage condition, The size of the screw propeller must be selected so that the measured engine speed is within the recommended engine speed range.

More specifically, when the measured engine speed is lower than the recommended engine speed and the load is heavy, a smaller pitch is selected. On the contrary, the measured engine speed is the recommended engine speed. When the load is higher than that, select the one with larger pitch.

[0005]

Some outboard motors are not equipped with a tachometer for measuring the engine speed. To measure the engine speed in such type of outboard motor, it is necessary to install a new tachometer or another measuring instrument, which increases the cost and maintainability in the market. However, there is a drawback in that

Therefore, the present invention provides an LE for notifying the occurrence of a warning without newly installing a tachometer or a measuring instrument.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine speed notification device that can notify the engine speed by using an existing alarm device including a D, a lamp and a buzzer.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is as follows. The present invention provides a rotation speed detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of an engine, a determination means for determining whether or not the detected rotation speed of the engine remains within a predetermined rotation speed range for a predetermined time, and the rotation speed of the engine. When it is determined that the engine speed remains within a predetermined engine speed range for a predetermined time, a notification means for notifying the engine speed by an existing alarm device including an LED, a lamp, a buzzer, etc. for notifying the occurrence of a warning. It is characterized by having.

In the above structure, the determining means determines whether or not the engine speed detected by the engine speed detection sensor remains within a predetermined engine speed range for a predetermined time, and the engine speed is the predetermined engine speed. When it is determined that the engine stays within a certain range for a predetermined time, the engine speed is changed to
Since an existing alarm device including an LED, a lamp, a buzzer, and the like for notifying the occurrence of a warning is used for notification, it is possible to notify the engine speed without newly installing a tachometer or a measuring device.

When it is determined that the engine speed remains within the predetermined engine speed range for a predetermined time, the engine speed is notified, so a switch for detecting the engine speed is provided. It is not necessary to newly provide the like.

In the above, it is preferable that the structure is such that light emission or sound generation is performed in a predetermined pattern according to the engine speed. In this case, the number of revolutions of the engine can be easily determined only by looking at the pattern.

If the notifying means is configured to notify the maximum engine speed, it is not necessary to additionally perform an operation for notifying the maximum engine speed, and therefore the screw propeller can be quickly selected.

It is also possible to give a notification of the engine speed every time the engine speed reaches a predetermined engine speed range.

Further, the engine speed can be lowered or stopped by a structure in which the notification of the engine speed is continuously performed for a required time or the notification is repeated at a predetermined time interval. In the state, the engine speed can be confirmed.

A detection start switch for starting the detection of the engine speed and a storage means for storing the engine speed when the detection start switch is turned on are provided, and the notification means is the detection means. The number of rotations when the start switch is turned on may be notified by an annunciator. In this case, it is not necessary to perform an operation for keeping the engine speed constant, and the engine speed can be notified even when the engine speed is being accelerated or decelerated.

When the detected engine speed remains within the recommended engine speed range when the throttle is fully opened, the notification means may notify the engine speed by an alarm. In this case, even if there is no knowledge about the recommended engine speed or the screw propeller, it is possible to easily determine whether to select the screw propeller.

It is also possible to provide a changeover switch for changing over the notification contents by the alarm device, and a mode switching means for switching over each notification mode such as the engine speed and warning according to the operation of the changeover switch. In this case, a plurality of information can be selectively displayed by one alarm device, and therefore it is not necessary to provide an alarm device corresponding to each different alarm content.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of an outboard motor that employs a rotation speed notification device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of an engine cover including upper and lower covers.

The outboard motor A has a drive shaft housing 2 at a lower portion of an engine cover 1 which covers a water-cooled four-cycle engine (hereinafter simply referred to as an engine) E (not shown).
And the gear case 3 are connected in order.

The engine cover 1 is composed of an upper cover 1a and a lower cover 1b and is divided into upper and lower halves.
They are substantially elliptical in plan view long in the traveling direction α of the ship.

In the central portion of the front side surface of the lower cover 1b,
An LED (Light Emitting Diode) 4 is provided, which notifies warning occurrences such as overrev, oil pressure drop, overheat, and battery voltage drop. In addition, in the present embodiment, the number of revolutions of the engine E is notified. It is designed to be shared by people.

The engine E has an engine holder 5 in the engine cover 1 with a crankshaft (not shown) being upright.
Mounted on the drive shaft housing 2 at the lower end of the crank shaft, and the length of the drive shaft that reaches the inside of the gear case 3 (not shown).
Are connected integrally with each other.

In the gear case 3, a propeller shaft (not shown) is axially supported in the front-rear (horizontal) direction, and a screw propeller 6 is rotatably integrated with the rear end of the propeller shaft. The screw propeller 6 can be replaced with another type having a different pitch or diamond, if necessary.

A clamp bracket 7 for fixing the outboard motor A to the stern (not shown) of the ship is pivotally supported on the upper part of the drive shaft housing 2 via a not shown swivel shaft so as to be rotatable left and right. ing.

Therefore, the outboard motor A rotates left and right around the swivel shaft as an axis according to the steering operation of a handle (not shown) attached to the upper portion of the drive shaft housing 2, thereby steering the ship. It is like this.

Next, the control system of the engine E will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. This control system employs an electronically controlled fuel injection system and has the following configuration.

B is a control unit, which is a CPU (central processing unit) 8 including a microcomputer, RAM, and ROM, an input circuit 9, an output circuit 10, an ignition device 11, a power supply device 12, a communication interface 13, and a memory 14. It is configured to include.

The memory 14 is an EE in which the program contents can be erased and rewritten and data can be held even when the power is off.
PROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM)
Etc., and the programs and data to be executed by the CPU 8 are stored therein.

The input circuit 9 includes a camshaft signal detector 1
5, a crank angle signal detector 16 which is a rotation speed detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the engine E, a throttle opening detector 17 for detecting an opening / closing angle of a throttle, and an intake pressure detection for detecting an intake pressure in a surge tank A device 18, an atmospheric pressure detector 19, an intake air temperature detector 20, a cooling water temperature detector 21, which also serves as an engine temperature detector, a shift / neutral switch 22, a stop switch 23, and a setting switch 24 are connected.

The output circuit 10 includes an injector 25 for injecting an optimal fuel injection amount corresponding to the intake air amount by duty control, an air amount adjusting actuator 26 such as a step motor or a solenoid valve, an alarm C such as the LED 4, and the like. The fuel pump 27 and the ignition coil 28 are connected.

As the alarm C, a buzzer, a lamp, a speaker or the like can be adopted in addition to the LED 4 described above.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, the LED 4 provided in advance in the outboard motor to display the above-mentioned warning occurrence.
Is used to display the number of revolutions of the engine E. Therefore, in order to display the number of revolutions of the engine E,
There is no need to add new measuring instruments or tachometers.

The CPU 8 calculates the intake air amount based on each data, calculates the optimum fuel injection amount after various corrections to the intake air amount, and outputs the calculation result to the injector 25 via the output circuit 10. In addition to the output function, it has the following functions.

A function (determination means 8A) of determining whether or not the rotation speed of the engine E detected by the crank angle signal detector 16 which is a rotation speed detection sensor remains within a predetermined rotation speed range for a predetermined time.

When it is determined that the rotation speed of the engine E remains within a predetermined rotation speed range for a predetermined time,
A function of notifying the number of revolutions of the engine E by the alarm C (informing means 8B). In the present embodiment, the LED 4 is shown as the alarm C.

A function of storing the number of revolutions related to the notification in the memory 14 (storage unit 8C). In the present embodiment, the maximum rotation speed among the rotation speeds of the engine E related to the notification is stored in the memory 14.

That is, the rotation speed of the engine E is from several hundreds.
Since it is in the range of several thousand rpm, the numerical value of the thousands and the numerical value of the hundreds are associated with the pulses having different widths for each rotational speed. Specifically, the pulse width corresponding to the thousands digit is set to about three times the pulse width corresponding to the hundreds digit.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when the engine E has a rotational speed of 5300 rpm, for example, when the output circuit 10 outputs a value "5", which is a tens digit,
The LED 4 is lit for a relatively long time 5 times, and then, after a slight interval, the numerical value "3" corresponding to the hundreds digit is output, and the LED 4 is lit for a short time 3 times. From this notification mode, it can be seen that the rotation speed of the engine E is 5300 rpm.

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the thousands digit and the hundred digit are associated with pulses having almost the same width.
It is also possible to display them with a large display interval between the thousands and hundreds.

A communication device 29 for communicating with an information device (not shown) such as a personal computer is connected to the communication interface 13, and the number of revolutions of the engine E being detected and stored in the memory 14 are already stored. The number of revolutions of the engine E is transmitted to an information device such as a personal computer. As a result, the number of revolutions of the engine E can be displayed on a monitor provided in an information device such as a personal computer, and the information device side such as a personal computer can also analyze them.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and the timing chart shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, step 1, step 2, ... Are denoted as S1, S2. Step 1: The initial value of the maximum rotation speed Nmax of the engine E is set to 500 rpm, for example.

Step 2: The crank angle signal detector 16 detects and reads the number of revolutions of the engine E. The read engine speed N of the engine E is set to A rpm.

Step 3: The variable T, which serves as a criterion for determining whether or not the rotation speed of the engine E is fixed, is cleared to "0".

Step 4: Whether the detected rotational speed is included in the rotational speed range (A-a) to (A + a) centered on the detected rotational speed Arpm of the engine E and adjusted by a predetermined arpm. Determine.

Step 5: Add 1 to the variable T. Step 6: It is determined whether or not the variable Т has reached a predetermined value B (for example, 7), and if it has reached the specified value, proceed to step 7, and if it has not reached the specified value, return to step 2.

Step 7: The detected rotation speed of the engine E is notified and the rotation speed is stored in the memory 14.

Step 8: The maximum rotational speed Nmax of the engine E up to now is compared with the detected rotational speed of the engine E. If the detected rotational speed is larger than the maximum rotational speed Nmax, the routine proceeds to step 9, where it is detected. If the rotation speed of the engine E has not reached the maximum rotation speed Nmax, the process returns to step 2.

Step 9: Maximum engine speed Nma of engine E
After updating x and storing it in the memory 14, the process returns to step 2.

The above steps 1 to 9 will be specifically described as follows. <Section (A)> As shown in FIG. 7, in this section (A), the rotation speed of the engine E is in the middle of acceleration, but the rotation speed detected in the first detection is in the range of A <A + a.
However, at the time of detecting the rotational speed for the second time, the rotational speed of the engine E has exceeded the range between A <A + a, and in this case, the measured rotational speed of the engine E is not displayed. When the rotation speed of the engine E is detected between the section (b) and the section (b) described later, the detected rotation speed is Aa <N <, as in the case of the section (b). A
Since + a is not satisfied, the number of revolutions of the engine E is not notified even in this case.

<Section (B)> In this section (B), the rotation speed of the engine E remains within the rotation speed range of A-a <N <A + a for a predetermined time (until Т = B). Therefore, the detected rotational speed is stored in the memory 14 and is compared with the maximum rotational speed so far. If the rotational speed is higher than that, it is displayed on the LED 4 and the rotational speed is lower than the maximum rotational speed. For example, the number of rotations for detection is LE
The process returns to step 2 without being displayed on D4.

As described above, the rotational speed displayed on the LED 4 is relatively low when the engine E has a rotational speed of 5300 rpm and the output circuit 10 outputs a value of tens of thousands "5". It is lit up five times for a long time, and then, lit up slightly three times in response to the numerical value "3" corresponding to the hundreds digit being output after a short interval. The display of the predetermined display pattern may be performed only once,
For example, the display pattern may be repeatedly displayed at a predetermined time interval (for example, every several tens of seconds) until the maximum rotation speed changes.

The rotation speed of the engine E is also detected between the section (B) and the section (C) to be described later. As in the case of the section (B), the detected rotation speed is A-a.
<N <A + a is satisfied. However, the rotation speed of the engine E detected between the sections (B) and (C) is the section (B).
LED in order not to exceed the engine E speed in
Not displayed in 4.

<Case of Section (C)> In this section (C), there is a temporary increase in rotation such as cavitation and jump, but in the present embodiment, the detection is canceled. It has become.

After that, the rotational speed of the engine E is Aa <
It stays in the rotation speed range of N <A + a for a predetermined time (until Т = B). Therefore, the detected rotation speed is stored in the memory 14
Is stored in and is compared with the maximum rotational speed so far. In this section, since the rotation speed is higher than the rotation speed detected in the section (b),
The rotation speed related to the detection is displayed on the LED 4.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but the following modifications can be made. In the above-mentioned series of steps, the example in which the maximum rotation speed from the engine start is stored has been described. Etc.), engine-related information such as throttle opening, boost, etc. may be stored at the same time together with those maximum speeds. That is, by simultaneously storing the engine speed-related information such as the throttle opening and the boost as well as the maximum rotation speed, it becomes possible to know the maximum rotation speed even at an outboard motor shop, for example. It becomes easier to judge whether or not to select. Furthermore, since the load state when the maximum rotation speed is generated can be known, it becomes easy to accurately perform the true / false determination of the stored maximum rotation speed. Further, immediately before the engine is started or when the main switch is turned on, the previous maximum rotation speed may be notified. The configuration may be such that an informing switch for informing the maximum rotation speed stored in the memory is provided.

When the detected engine speed remains within the recommended engine speed range when the throttle is fully open, the notifying means may notify the engine speed by an alarm. That is, in the case of the outboard motor, as described above, the range of the recommended engine speed at the time of full open running is defined for each model of the outboard motor. The recommended engine speed is input to the control unit in advance, and the LED is turned on if the engine speed at full sail is within the recommended engine speed range.

The notification means may be configured to perform the notification continuously for a required time or to repeat the notification at a predetermined time interval.

As shown in FIG. 3, a detection start switch 30 for starting the detection of the number of revolutions of the engine is provided, and the storage means 8C is stored in the engine when the detection start switch 30 is turned on. The rotation speed is stored in the memory 14, and the notification means 8B
The number of rotations may be notified by the notification device C.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, the mode changeover switch 31 which is a changeover switch for changing over the notification contents by the alarm device, and the mode changeover switch 3 thereof.
A mode switching means 8D for switching each notification mode such as the engine speed and warning according to the operation 1 may be provided.

[0058]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 8, it is judged by the judging means whether or not the engine speed detected by the engine speed detection sensor remains within a predetermined speed range for a predetermined time, When it is determined that the engine speed remains within a predetermined speed range for a predetermined time, the engine speed is set to L for notifying the occurrence of a warning.
Since an existing alarm device consisting of an ED, a lamp, a buzzer, etc. is used for notification, the LE for notifying the occurrence of a warning without newly installing a tachometer or measuring device.
An existing alarm including D, a lamp, a buzzer and the like can be used to notify the engine speed, and it is not necessary to provide a switch or the like for detecting the engine speed.

Since it suffices to keep the engine speed substantially constant, the operation for notifying the engine speed is extremely simple and easy to remember, and has excellent operability.

In addition to the common effects obtained by the inventions described in claims 1 to 8, according to the invention described in each claim, the following effects can be obtained. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the light emission and sound generation are performed in a predetermined pattern according to the engine speed, it is possible to easily determine the engine speed simply by looking at the pattern. You can

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the maximum revolution speed of the engine is informed by the informing means, it is not necessary to additionally perform an operation for informing the maximum revolution speed, and therefore, the screw propeller. The selection of can be made quickly.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the notification is continuously performed for a required time or the notification is repeated at a predetermined time interval, it is safe to reduce or stop the engine speed. In this state, the engine speed can be confirmed when the engine speed is kept constant.

According to the invention described in claim 6, a detection start switch for starting the detection of the engine speed,
A storage means for storing the number of rotations of the engine when the detection start switch is turned on is provided, and the notification means notifies the number of rotations when the detection start switch is turned on by an alarm. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform an operation to keep the engine speed constant, and also when accelerating or decelerating the rotation,
The number of rotations can be reported.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the detected engine speed remains within the recommended engine speed range when the throttle is fully opened, the notifying means notifies the engine speed by an alarm. Therefore, even if there is no knowledge about the recommended engine speed or the screw propeller, it is possible to easily determine whether to select the screw propeller.

According to the invention described in claim 8, there is provided a changeover switch for switching the content of the notification by the alarm device,
Each notification mode such as the engine speed and warning is switched according to the operation of the changeover switch, so that multiple information can be selectively displayed by one notification device, and different notification contents can be displayed. It is not necessary to provide an alarm device corresponding to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an outboard motor that employs an engine speed notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view showing an engine cover including upper and lower covers.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the engine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions of a CPU.

5A and 5B are waveform diagrams showing pulses output to a notification device, in which FIG. 5A shows an example of a pulse and FIG. 5B shows another example of the pulse.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of storing a maximum rotation speed in a memory and displaying it on an alarm.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 LED 8A discrimination means 8B notification means 8C storage means 8D mode switching means 14 memory 16 RPM sensor 30 Detection start switch 31 Changeover switch C alarm

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A rotation speed detection sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the engine, a judgment means for judging whether or not the detected rotation speed of the engine remains in a predetermined rotation speed range for a predetermined time, and When it is determined that the rotation speed remains within the predetermined rotation speed range for a predetermined time, the LE for notifying the occurrence of a warning of the rotation speed of the engine.
An engine revolution number notifying device, comprising: an informing unit for informing an existing informing device including a D, a lamp, a buzzer, and the like. 2. The engine speed notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means emits or emits light in a predetermined pattern according to the engine speed. 3. The engine speed notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means reports the maximum engine speed. 4. The engine speed notification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification means notifies the engine speed every time the engine speed reaches a predetermined engine speed range. . 5. The engine speed notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification means performs the notification continuously for a required time or repeats the notification at predetermined time intervals. 6. A detection start switch for starting detection of the engine speed, and a storage means for storing the engine speed when the detection start switch is turned on are provided, and the notification means includes: 5. The number of revolutions is informed by an annunciator.
Alternatively, the engine speed notification device according to item 5. 7. The informing means informs the number of revolutions by an annunciator when the detected number of revolutions of the engine remains within the recommended number of revolutions of the engine when the throttle is fully opened for a predetermined time. 2. The engine speed notification device according to 2. 8. A switching switch for switching the content of notification by an alarm, and a mode switching means for switching each notification mode such as engine speed and warning in accordance with the operation of the switch. An engine speed notification device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7.