JP2004204818A - Engine start safety system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an engine start safety system for enhancing safety while securing working efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: A lid opening/closing detection means 5 for detecting the open/close state of an engine lid 4 for opening/closing an engine room 3, and an engine start permission means 7 for outputting a signal for permitting the start of an engine from the side of a driver seat 6 are provided in the engine room. Alarm means 9, 16 for alarming the start of an engine are provided at the side of the driver seat and in the engine room. When the lid opening/closing detection means 5 detects the open state of the engine lid 4, and no start permission signal arrives from the engine start permission means 7, the start of an engine is prohibited even if an engine start operation is performed at the side of the driver seat, and the alarm means 9, 16 are operated by a control means 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine start safety system, and more particularly to a system that can start an engine from the engine room side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some vehicles such as trucks and buses are equipped with an engine start safety system that can start and stop the engine even from within an engine room. This engine start safety system includes a lid open / close detection unit that detects an open / closed state of a lid that opens and closes an engine room, and a unit that prohibits the start of the engine. The start prohibition switch is operated when the lid is open. In this case, the start of the engine is prohibited, and when the start prohibition switch is off, the engine is started from the driver's seat side.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional engine start safety system, when working in the engine room, if the operator has forgotten to operate the start prohibition switch, or if it is not sufficiently confirmed from the driver's seat that the worker is working, The engine can be started from the driver's seat side while working. If the engine lid is open, it may be possible to control to completely prohibit the engine from starting.However, this requires opening and closing the engine lid every time maintenance is performed, which makes the work complicated. Become.
An object of the present invention is to provide an engine start safety system capable of enhancing safety while ensuring workability.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a lid opening / closing detecting means for detecting an opening / closing state of an engine lid for opening / closing an engine room, and a signal provided in the engine room for permitting an engine start on a driver seat side. An engine start permitting means for outputting, an alarm means provided on the driver's seat side and in the engine room for warning the engine start, and a lid open / close detecting means for detecting that the engine lid is opened, and starting from the engine start permitting means. Control means for prohibiting engine start even when an engine start operation is performed in the driver's seat when there is no permission signal, and for activating warning means. Therefore, the engine cannot be started unless the engine start permission means in the engine room is operated.
The engine start permitting means is an automatic reset type switch, and the control means sets the engine start to a prohibition state if the engine start operation is not performed within a predetermined time after the switch is operated. Even if the worker tries to work carelessly with the permission, the engine will not start. The alarm means includes at least one of a sound generation means and a pilot lamp. When the control means receives a start permission signal from the engine start permission means, at least one of the sound generation means and the pilot lamp is operated. It is possible to visually and audibly know the situation of the operator regarding the engine start and the safety regarding the engine start.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bus as an example of a vehicle equipped with an engine start safety system. The bus 1 has an engine room 3 in which an engine 2 is housed at the rear of the vehicle. An engine lid 4 for opening and closing the opening is attached to an opening of the engine room 3 by a hinge (not shown) so as to be openable and closable.
[0006]
In the engine room 3, as shown in FIG. 2, an open / close detection sensor 5 as a lid open / close detection means for detecting the open / close state of the engine lid 4 and a signal for permitting the engine to start on the driver's seat 6 side are output. A switch 7 is provided as an engine start permitting means, a start prohibiting switch 8 operated when prohibiting the start of the engine 2, a start button 14 for starting the engine 2, and a warning means 9 for alarming the engine start.
[0007]
The switch 7 is an automatic reset type switch, and is configured to output a start permission signal once this switch is operated by an operator. The start prohibition switch 8 prohibits the start of the engine, and is an on / off switch for disconnecting an engine start circuit (not shown). The warning means 9 is composed of a sound generation means 11 and a pilot lamp 12. The voice generating means 11 includes a speaker and a voice generating unit, and emits a voice message or a buzzer sound having pre-registered contents. The start button 14 functions as an ignition switch on the engine room 3 side.
[0008]
On the driver's seat 6 side, an ignition switch 15, an alarm means 16, a control means 10, and an operator confirmation switch 19 are provided as engine start operating means for starting an engine by operating an engine start circuit (not shown). . The alarm means 16 is composed of a sound generating means 17 and a pilot lamp 18. The voice generating means 17 is composed of a speaker and a voice generating unit, and emits a voice message or a buzzer sound having pre-registered contents. The worker confirmation switch 19 is a switch for detecting whether or not the driver or worker in the driver's seat 6 has confirmed the presence of the worker in the engine room 3 or not, and when the switch is operated. , A confirmation signal is output.
[0009]
The control means 10 has a computer as its main part, and includes an open / close detection sensor 5, a switch 7, a start prohibition switch 8, alarm means 9, 16, a start button 14, an ignition switch 15, and an operator confirmation switch 19, A crank angle sensor 21 for detecting whether the engine 2 has started and a timer 22 for measuring time are connected to each other. The control means 10 detects that the engine lid 4 has been opened by the lid opening / closing sensor 5, and when there is no start permission signal from the engine start permission switch 7, the engine start operation on the driver's seat 6 side, that is, the ignition switch 15 Even if it is turned on, it has a function of prohibiting engine start and activating warning means 9 and 16. In the control means 10, a predetermined time for judging a state in which the engine start permission switch 7 is operated and the start permission is issued and a predetermined engine speed serving as a reference for the success of the engine start are stored in advance as data. I have. In the present embodiment, the predetermined time is a time from when the ignition switch 15 is operated, and is 5 seconds. In the present embodiment, the predetermined engine speed is set to 600 rpm.
[0010]
One form of control in the engine start safety system having such a configuration will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. In FIGS. 3 and 4, (1) and (2) indicate connection parts in the flowcharts described in both drawings.
In step S1 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the start operation has been performed in the driver's seat 6 based on whether or not the ignition switch 15 has been operated. If the ignition switch 15 is not operated, it is determined that there is no start operation, the process proceeds to step S5, the engine can be started only by operating the start button 14 in the engine room 3, and this control ends.
[0011]
If the ignition switch 15 has been operated in step S1, it is determined that a start operation has been performed, and the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether or not the engine lid 4 is open based on a signal from the lid open / close detection sensor 5. . If the lid opening / closing detection sensor 5 is on, the process proceeds to step S3, and if not, the process proceeds to step S6 to make the engine start permitted, and proceeds to step S7 to enable only the engine start from the driver's seat 6. This control ends.
[0012]
In step S3, it is determined whether the start prohibition switch 8 is operated based on the presence or absence of a signal from this switch. If the start prohibition switch 8 has been operated by the operator and a prohibition signal has been output, the start of the engine 2 is prohibited, the process returns to step S1, and this control is continued. If the start prohibition switch 8 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S8 as a worker forgetting to operate or as a failure of the start prohibition switch 8.
[0013]
In step S8, it is determined whether or not the operator confirmation switch 14 on the driver's seat 6 side is on. If it is ON, even if the start prohibition switch 8 is not operated in the engine room 3 side, the engine start is stopped assuming that the worker in the engine room 3 side is confirmed in the driver's seat 6 side, Returning to step S1, this control is continued.
[0014]
If the worker confirmation switch 14 has not been turned on in step S8, it is determined that the worker confirmation has not been made on the driver's seat 6 side, the process proceeds to step S10 shown in FIG. 4, and the permission to start the engine is suspended. That is, when double mistakes such as an operation error by the operator in the engine room 3 and a failure state of the switches and a check error of the driver and the operator in the driver's seat 6 are continuously occurring, The start of the engine 2 is put on hold.
[0015]
After the suspension state, the process proceeds to step S11 to execute a work warning process. In this processing, for example, a buzzer sound is generated by the voice generating means 17 for the driver's seat 6 side, a voice message saying “I am working in the engine room. Please wait until permission is given”, a pilot lamp 18 Is controlled to light or blink. For the engine room 3 side, the sound generating means 11 generates a different buzzer sound from the sound generating means 17 or "The engine start operation is being performed in the driver's seat. To permit, operate the permission switch. Please do ", and control so that the pilot lamp 12 is turned on or blinks.
[0016]
After the work warning process, the process proceeds to step S12, where it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 15 is turned off. If it is in the ON state, it is determined that the starting operation on the driver's seat 6 side has been canceled, and the process returns to step S1 to continue this control. If it has not been turned off, it is determined that the start operation on the driver's seat 6 side has not been canceled, and the process proceeds to step S13, where it is determined whether or not the engine start permission switch 7 has been turned on. If it is on, the process proceeds to step S14 to output an engine start permission signal and proceeds to step S15. If it is not on, the process returns to step S11 to perform a work warning process.
[0017]
In step S15, an engine start warning process can be performed. In this process, for example, a buzzer is sounded by the sound generation means 17 to the driver's seat 6 side, a voice message saying "start permission has been issued from the engine room. The lamp 18 is controlled so as to light or blink. For the engine room 3 side, the sound generating means 11 makes a different buzzer sound from the sound generating means 17 or a voice message saying "Start the engine in the driver's seat. Be careful." The pilot lamp 12 is controlled so as to light or blink.
[0018]
After the engine start warning process, the process proceeds to step S16, and it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 15 is turned on within a predetermined time from the count of the timer 22, the predetermined time information, and the on information of the ignition switch 15. If it is turned on within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S17 to determine whether or not the engine has been successfully started based on the rotation information from the crank angle sensor 21. If the rotation information has reached the predetermined number of rotations, it is determined that the engine has been successfully started, the process proceeds to step S18, an engine start warning process is performed, and this control ends. In this processing, the buzzer sound and the voice message from the voice generating means 11 and 17 on the engine room 3 side and the driver's seat 6 side are turned off, and the pilot lamps 12 and 18 are turned off.
[0019]
If the switch has not been turned on within the predetermined time in step S16, the process proceeds to step S19, in which the engine start is prohibited, and the process returns to step S11 to perform a work warning process. This is a consideration assuming that if the engine is not started even though the engine start permission has been issued, the operator in the engine room will misunderstand that it is malfunctioning and perform engine adjustment and inspection work. . If the engine start is not successful in step S17, the process returns to step S11 in order to try the engine start again, because there are various reasons, for example, an ignition mistake.
[0020]
In this way, even if a double mistake occurs between the engine room and the driver's seat, the engine does not start unless the engine start permission switch 7 is operated in the engine room, so that careless engine start is prevented. It is possible to ensure the safety of workers working in the engine room. Since this system functions when the engine lid 4 is open, there is no need to perform the operation of closing the engine lid 4 each time, and high workability can be secured.
[0021]
If the start operation is not performed within a predetermined time after the engine start is permitted, the engine start is prohibited, so the engine does not start even if the operator in the engine room misunderstands the malfunction and performs the engine adjustment and inspection work. , Higher security can be ensured. When there is a start permission signal from the engine start permission switch 7, each sound generating means and each pilot lamp are operated, so that the operator's situation regarding the engine start and the safety regarding the engine start can be known visually and audibly, and Safety in both the seat and the engine room can be further enhanced.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the predetermined time is set to 6 seconds and the engine speed is set to 600 rpm, but it is not limited to these values. In particular, the predetermined time is an important factor for ensuring the safety of the worker, and may be shorter than the current value. Further, the vehicle type to which the present system is applied is not limited to the rear engine bus, but may be a vehicle having an engine mounted on the front side of the vehicle body. This is because, when the hood serving as the engine lid is opened, it is difficult to see the operator from the driver's seat, and thus the same problem as in the case of the rear engine is required.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the engine is not started unless the engine start permitting means is operated on the engine room side, so that careless engine start can be prevented, and the safety of a worker working on the engine room side can be ensured. . Since this system functions when the engine lid is open, there is no need to perform the operation of closing the engine lid each time, and high workability can be secured.
According to the present invention, after the operation of the engine start permitting means, if the engine start operation is not performed within a predetermined time set in advance, the start of the engine is prohibited. Even if a worker tries to work carelessly, the engine does not start, so that higher safety can be ensured.
According to the present invention, when there is a start permission signal from the engine start permission switch 7 by the control means, at least one of the sound generation means and the pilot lamp is activated, so that the situation of the operator regarding the engine start and the engine start can be visually and audibly detected. The safety on the driver's seat and the engine room side can be further enhanced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle to which an engine start safety system according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an engine start safety system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one form of control performed in the engine start safety system.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart leading to FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 3 engine room 4 engine lid 5 lid open / close detecting means 6 driver's seat 7 engine start permitting means 9, 16 alarm means 10 control means 11, 17 sound generating means 12, 18, pilot lamp

Claims (3)

Lid opening / closing detecting means for detecting an opening / closing state of an engine lid for opening / closing an engine room;
Engine start permitting means provided in the engine room and outputting a signal for permitting engine start from the driver's seat side;
Alarm means provided in the driver's seat side and in the engine room, for alarming engine start,
The lid opening / closing detecting means detects that the engine lid has been opened, and when there is no start permission signal from the engine start permitting means, prohibits engine start even if an engine start operation is performed on the driver side. And a control means for operating the warning means. The engine start safety system according to claim 1,
The engine start permitting means is an automatic reset type switch,
An engine start safety system, wherein the control means disables the start of the engine if the engine is not operated within a predetermined time after the switch is operated. The engine start safety system according to claim 1 or 2,
The alarm means is constituted by at least one of a sound generation means and a pilot lamp,
An engine start safety system, wherein the control means activates at least one of the sound generation means and the pilot lamp when a start permission signal is received from the engine start permission means.

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