JP2006097584A - Gas engine device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas engine device capable of avoiding occurrence of unstable operation condition at a time of change over to different gas fuel and of easily switching operation/non-operation of a heating device corresponding to a device of characteristics of gas fuel. <P>SOLUTION: A fuel supply device Fa for an engine generator 1 which is the gas engine device is provided with a fuel change over cock 12 to change over gas fuel supplied to the gas engine 30 between first gas fuel stored in a cassette cylinder 61 under a liquefied condition and second gas fuel stored in an external cylinder 71 provided at an outer part of the engine generator 1. The fuel change over cock 12 can be operated to a first position for supplying first gas fuel, a second position for supplying second gas fuel and a stop position for stopping supply of gas fuel and change over between the first position and the second position is always done through the stop position. Heaters 81a, 81b, 82 heating the cassette cylinder 61 can operate only when the fuel change over cock 12 is set to the first position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas engine apparatus using different types of gas fuel.

When engine working machines such as engine generators are used for leisure or emergency use such as during disasters or power outages, handling of fuel is easy as an engine for driving working machines such as generators. A gas engine using gas fuel stored in a cassette cylinder as fuel is often used. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent No. 2671015

  Since the amount of fuel stored in the cassette cylinder is small (that is, the fuel capacity is small), it is necessary to replace the cassette cylinder when operating the gas engine for a long time, which is troublesome. Therefore, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, in addition to the cassette cylinder, the amount of fuel stored is larger than that of the cassette cylinder (that is, the fuel capacity is large). For example, a large fuel container such as a domestic propane gas cylinder Can be used. However, the gas fuel stored in the large fuel container is usually a gas fuel having properties different from those of the gas fuel stored in the cassette cylinder such as heat quantity, pressure and boiling point. For this reason, when switching and using a plurality of types of gas fuels, it becomes a problem how to stably supply gas fuels having different properties to the gas engine by a simple operation. For example, propane in household propane gas cylinders is relatively easy to handle as a gas fuel, but butane, which is a low-pressure liquefied gas used in cassette cylinders, has a relatively high boiling point, so the engine is running. In addition, there is a problem that the temperature of the gas container is excessively lowered by the heat of vaporization of liquefied butane vaporized in the cassette cylinder, resulting in insufficient vaporization and smooth fuel supply. Further, when switching between different gas fuels, the operating state of the gas engine tends to become unstable due to the difference in the properties of the gas fuel.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the invention according to claims 1 to 3 can avoid the occurrence of an unstable operation state at the time of switching between different gas fuels with a simple operation. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gas engine device in which switching of operation / non-operation of the heating device according to the difference in properties of the gas fuel is simple. Further, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to suppress the continuation of operation in an unstable operation state at the time of fuel switching and to simplify the operation / stop operation of the gas engine.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply device comprising: a first fuel container that is a first fuel source in which a first gas fuel is stored in a liquefied state; and a heating device that heats the first fuel container; A gas engine device comprising a gas engine that uses gas fuel supplied from a supply device, wherein the first fuel container is detachably supported by the gas engine device, and the fuel supply device is supplied to the gas engine. Fuel switching means for switching between the first gas fuel and a second gas fuel stored in a second fuel source provided outside the gas engine device, the fuel switching means comprising: A first position for supplying one gas fuel to the gas engine; a second position for supplying the second gas fuel to the gas engine; and stopping the supply of the gas fuel to the gas engine. The stop position is operable, the switching between the first position and the second position is always performed through the stop position, and the heating device operates only when the fuel switching means occupies the first position. It is a gas engine device that is possible.

  According to this, since the first gas fuel and the second gas fuel are selectively switched by the fuel switching means and supplied to the gas engine, one of the first and second gas fuels cannot be used. Sometimes, the other fuel gas can be easily supplied to the gas engine. In addition, since the supply of gas fuel to the gas engine is always stopped when switching between the first gas fuel and the second gas fuel, the gas engine is reliably operated with the gas fuel after switching for each different type of fuel. it can. Furthermore, the first fuel container heated by the heating device in order to stably supply the first gas fuel stored in the first fuel container having a low temperature due to the heat of vaporization when the first gas fuel in the liquefied state is vaporized Is in a state that can be heated by the heating device only when the first gas fuel is supplied to the gas engine according to the operating position of the fuel switching means, so that the second gas fuel is supplied to the gas engine. When heating of the first fuel container is unnecessary, such as when the gas fuel is not supplied to the gas engine, the operation of the heating device is reliably stopped.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gas engine device according to the first aspect, the heating device heats the first fuel container when a temperature of the first fuel container is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature. .

  According to this, for example, when the boiling point of the first gas fuel is relatively high, the temperature drop of the first fuel container due to the vaporization of the first gas fuel in the first fuel container when being supplied to the gas engine, In the low temperature state of the first fuel container due to a decrease in the outside air temperature, the first fuel container is heated by the heating device, so that it is possible to prevent insufficient supply of the first gas fuel due to an excessive decrease in the temperature of the first fuel container. Is done.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gas engine device according to the first or second aspect, when the fuel switching means occupies the stop position, the operation of the ignition device of the gas engine is stopped.

  According to this, when the gas fuel is switched to a different type of gas fuel, the gas engine can be stopped without fail, so that the gas engine is operated in an unstable rotational state when the gas fuel is switched. Is avoided. Further, the fuel switching means also serves as an engine operation switch that controls operation and stop of the gas engine.

  According to invention of Claim 1, the following effect is show | played. That is, by operating only the fuel switching means, it is possible to reliably operate the gas engine with the gas fuel after switching for each different type of fuel, thus avoiding the occurrence of unstable driving conditions at the time of fuel switching at low cost. Can do. Further, since the heating device is activated and deactivated in accordance with the operation position of the fuel switching means, the switching operation between the activation and deactivation of the heating device is simplified.

  According to invention of Claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of the cited claim, there exists the following effect. That is, since the temperature of the first fuel container does not decrease excessively, the first gas fuel can be stably supplied to the gas engine even in an emergency.

  According to invention of Claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of the cited claim, there exist the following effects. That is, since the gas engine is always stopped at the time of fuel switching by the operation of the fuel switching means, it is possible to suppress the continuation of operation in an unstable operation state at the time of fuel switching with a simple structure, and the fuel switching means can operate the engine. Since it also functions as a switch, the operation of the gas engine can be simplified.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 1, an engine generator 1 that is a portable engine working machine as a gas engine apparatus to which the present invention is applied can be appropriately connected to an external fuel system Fb provided outside the engine generator 1. is there.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 together, the engine generator 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-like case C and a pair of carrying cases that are provided in the case C and are gripped when carrying the engine generator 1. Grip parts 16 and 17, an engine 30 composed of a gas engine as a combustion engine, a fuel supply device Fa for supplying gas fuel to the engine 30, a generator 40 as a working machine driven by the engine 30, and a generator And a power control unit 41 that controls the power generated by 40, and an electronic control unit 89 (hereinafter referred to as ECU 89) as a control device that controls the engine 30 and the fuel supply device Fa. The engine 30, the fuel supply device Fa, the generator 40, the power control unit 41, and the ECU 89 are surrounded by the case C and accommodated in the internal space 9 formed by the case C. Accordingly, the case C constitutes a soundproof type case C that suppresses the operation noise of the engine 30 from leaking to the outside.

  2 to 5, the case C includes a lower cover 3 and an upper cover 4 that face each other in the vertical direction, a front cover 5 and a rear cover 6 that serve as a pair of side covers that face each other in the front and rear direction, The left cover 7 and the right cover 8 are provided as a pair of side covers that face each other in the direction or the horizontal direction, and these covers 3 to 8 are all made of synthetic resin.

  The bottom surface, top surface, front surface, rear surface, left surface, and right surface of the case C when the case C is viewed from below, above, front, back, left, and right are the same as those in the case C configured by the above-described covers 3-8. The outer surfaces of the case lower part C3, the case upper part C4, the case front part C5, the case rear part C6, the case left part C7, and the case right part C8. Therefore, the lower cover 3, the upper cover 4, the front cover 5, the rear cover 6, the left cover 7 and the right cover 8 are mainly a case lower part C 3, a case upper part C 4, a case front part C 5, a case rear part C 6, and a case left part. The part C7 and the case right part C8 are configured.

The front cover 5 and the rear cover 6 are respectively connected to reinforcing panels 10 and 11 as a pair of metal reinforcing members disposed on the inner side and connected to the lower cover 3. The left cover 7 is coupled to the reinforcing panels 10 and 11, and the openable / closable right cover 8 is pivotally supported by the lower cover 3 at the lower end portion 8b and is moved upward by a locking means (not shown) at the upper end portion 8a. The cover 4 can be locked. Each of the reinforcing panels 10 and 11 has a hole (see FIG. 3) through which a part (for example, the recesses 23 and 24) penetrates the front cover 5 or the rear cover 6 located inside the reinforcing panels 10 and 11. Is formed.
Here, the inner side and the outer side mean the inner space 9 and the case C, respectively.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the front cover 5 constituting the operation panel portion 5 e is provided with a fuel switching cock 12, an output outlet 13 for supplying an electric current to an electrical external load, and outside the engine generator 1. An external fuel connector 14 to which the external cylinder 71 (see FIG. 1) to be arranged is connected, indicator lamps 15a, 15b, 15c and the like are provided.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the upper space 5 a included in the upper portion of the front cover 5 is connected to the inner space 9 of the case C by using the outside air as cooling air during operation of the engine 30 in cooperation with the first grip 16. One inlet 18 is provided for introduction into the system. On the other hand, the cooling air after cooling the power control unit 41, the generator 40 and the engine 30 is externally applied to the rear cover 6 which faces the front cover 5 in the front-rear direction across the engine generator 1 and the power control unit 41. A discharge port 20 for discharging and an exhaust port 21 for discharging the exhaust gas of the engine 30 to the outside are formed.

  When the engine generator 1 is lifted and carried, the first and second gripping portions 16 and 17 that are gripped by the hand of the carrier are respectively placed on the upper portions C5a and C6a of the case front portion C5 and the case rear portion C6. Provided at the upper end included.

  The first and second gripping portions 16 and 17, both of which are made of the same synthetic resin, are abutted against the upper cover 4 via a seal member 22 (see FIG. 3), and the front and rear direction of the case upper portion C 4. And upper and lower portions 16a and 17a constituting both ends of the lower and lower hanging portions 16b and 17b extending downward from the upper portions 16a and 17a so as to face the front cover 5 and the rear cover 6, respectively. When the engine generator 1 is lifted, the hanging parts 16b and 17b extend downward so as to be grasped by hand from the outer parts 16b1 and 17b1 to the inner parts 16b3 and 17b3 via the lowermost ends 16b2 and 17b2.

  The first gripping portion 16 provided so as to reach both end portions C5c and C5d in the lateral direction of the case front portion C5 is joined and integrated with the front cover 5 at both end portions in the lateral direction. And the 2nd holding | grip part 17 provided so that it may reach both ends C6c and C6d in the horizontal direction of case rear part C6 is couple | bonded and integrated with the rear cover 6 by the welding etc. in the both ends in horizontal direction.

The first grip 16 forms an inlet 18 in cooperation with the recess 23 formed in the upper end 5 a of the front cover 5. The concave portion 23 located closer to the internal space 9 than the first gripping portion 16 and entering the internal space 9 has an inclined portion 23a that inclines toward the internal space 9 in the front-rear direction as it goes upward from the operation panel portion 5e, And a back portion 23b extending upward in parallel with the vertical direction from the inclined portion 23a.
In this embodiment, a part of the reinforcing panel 10 is disposed in the introduction port 18, and the cooling air guide 10 a is configured so that the cooling air flows smoothly and is introduced into the internal space 9.
The introduction port 18 constitutes a first gripping space 28 used for gripping the first gripping part 16 by hand when carrying the engine generator 1.

On the other hand, the second gripping portion 17 cooperates with the concave portion 24 formed in the upper end portion 6a of the rear cover 6 to carry the engine generator 1 together with the first gripping space 28 when the engine generator 1 is carried. A second gripping space 29 used to grip 17 is formed. The concave portion 24 that is located closer to the internal space 9 than the second gripping portion 17 and enters the internal space 9 has an inclined portion 24a that is inclined toward the internal space 9 in the front-rear direction as it goes upward from the discharge port 20. And a back portion 24b extending upward in parallel with the vertical direction from the portion 24a.
A part of the reinforcing panel 11 extends to a position where it comes into contact with the upper cover 4, and constitutes a closing portion 11 b that substantially closes the portion of the second gripping space 29 near the inner space 9 in the front-rear direction. ing. Therefore, substantially no outside air is introduced into the internal space 9 as the cooling air through the second gripping space 29.

  The first gripping portion 16 and the second gripping portion 17 are arranged so as to have a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction in the case C as a symmetry plane, the concave portion 23 and the concave portion 24, and the first gripping space 28 and the second gripping portion. The gripping space 29 is arranged so as to be substantially plane-symmetric with respect to the symmetry plane.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the engine 30 is a single-cylinder, OHC type, 4-stroke air-cooled engine, and is coupled to a cylinder 31 into which a piston 35 is reciprocally fitted and a lower end portion of the cylinder 31. An engine main body 30a including a crankcase 32, a cylinder head 33 integrally formed with the cylinder 31 and forming a combustion chamber between the piston 35 and a head cover 34 coupled to the upper end of the cylinder head 33. The engine body 30a is fixed to the lower cover 3. The cylinder 31 and the crankcase 32 rotatably support a crankshaft 36 disposed so as to have a rotation center line parallel to the front-rear direction, and the crankshaft 36 is rotationally driven by a piston 35.

2 and 4, the intake device 37 provided in the engine 30 is supplied from an air cleaner 37a provided with an intake port 37a1 for taking in a part of the cooling air introduced into the internal space 9 from the introduction port 18. A carburetor 37b as an air-fuel mixture forming device that forms an air-fuel mixture of air and gas fuel supplied from the fuel supply device Fa or the external fuel system Fb, and an intake pipe 37c that is connected to the cylinder head 33 and guides intake air to the combustion chamber With. A throttle valve 37b1 provided in the carburetor 37b is driven by a step motor 37d controlled by the ECU 89 to control the output of the engine 30 so that the crankshaft 36 rotates at a preset rotational speed.
The exhaust device 38 provided in the engine 30 includes an exhaust pipe 38a connected to the cylinder head 33 and into which exhaust gas from the combustion chamber flows, and a muffler 38b connected to the exhaust pipe 38a.

  Then, the air-fuel mixture flowing into the combustion chamber through the intake valve 39a opened and closed by the valve operating device provided in the cylinder head 33 is ignited and burned by the spark plug 42 held in the holder 44 (see FIG. 3), The piston 35 is driven by the generated combustion pressure, and the crankshaft 36 is rotationally driven. The combustion gas passes through an exhaust valve 39b that is opened and closed by a valve gear as exhaust gas, and then flows into the muffler 38b through the exhaust pipe 38a. After the exhaust noise is reduced by the muffler 38b, the combustion gas is formed in the rear cover 6. The air is discharged into the outside air through the tail pipe 38c facing the exhaust port 21.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a generator 40 that is rotationally driven by the engine 30 has a magnet, a rotor 40 a that is fixed to a shaft end portion of a crankshaft 36 as an output shaft of the engine 30, and a coil. And a stator that is disposed radially inward of the rotor 40a and is fixed to the crankcase 32. The ignition device including the ignition plug 42 includes an ignition coil 44 (see FIG. 6) that is supplied to the primary side after the electric power generated by the generator 40 is charged in the capacitor, and at a specific rotational position of the crankshaft 36. A high voltage generated in the ignition coil 44 in response to the generated ignition signal is applied to the spark plug 42.

  The cooling fan 45 driven to rotate by the crankshaft 36 is coupled to the rotor 40a and rotates integrally with the rotor 40a, and sucks the outside air as cooling air through the inlet 18 during operation of the engine 30 into the case C. To do. Further, the engine 30 is started by the operation of the recoil starter 46 as a starting means. The recoil starter 46 is connected to the cooling fan 45, and rotates the crankshaft 36 by pulling the rope 46a with a knob connected to the rope 46a.

  2 to 4, the engine main body 30a and the exhaust pipe 38a are connected to the engine main body 30a and the exhaust pipe 38a in order to improve the soundproofing effect of the operating noise and the cooling effect by the cooling air. It is covered by a shroud 47 that forms an air passage. The shroud 47 made of synthetic resin is fixed to the engine body 30 a and is fixed to the upper cover 4 in a bracket 47 a integrally formed with the shroud 47. The cooling fan 45 is covered with a synthetic resin fan cover 48 coupled to the front end portion of the shroud 47, and the recoil starter 46 is covered with a starter cover 49 coupled to the front end portion of the fan cover 48. The cooling fan 45 sucks the air in the internal space 9 from the inlet 50 formed in the starter cover 49 and the inlet 51 formed between the starter cover 49 and the fan cover 48, and the cooling air is shroud 47. Send in.

  A power control unit 41 that is disposed in front of the cooling fan 45 and the recoil starter 46 and controls the power generated by the generator 40 includes an inverter 41a (see FIG. 6) that controls the voltage and frequency, and an electric power including the inverter 41a. And heat radiation fins 41b as heat sinks for radiating heat generated by the components.

  In the internal space 9 of the case C, the power control unit 41, the recoil starter 46, the cooling fan 45, the generator 40, The engine body 30a and the muffler 38b are arranged in series on the rotation center line of the crankshaft 36 in this order.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a fuel system F that supplies gas fuel as fuel to the engine 30 is a fuel supply device that is disposed in the case C or the internal space 9 of the case C and is an internal fuel system provided in the engine generator 1. It is comprised from Fa and the external fuel system | strain Fb arrange | positioned outside the case C.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the fuel supply device Fa includes one or more first fuel sources (or main body side fuel sources) arranged in a housing portion 60 as a fuel container installation portion provided in the case C. In this embodiment, the pressure of gas fuel flowing out from two cassette cylinders 61 and an external cylinder 71 described later is reduced, and the amount of fuel corresponding to the load of the engine 30 is reduced to a carburetor. A fuel pressure regulator 62 for adjusting the pressure of the gas fuel so as to be supplied to 18b, a heating device 80 for heating the cassette cylinder 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62, and a fuel switching means provided in the operation panel unit 5e. A fuel switching cock 12, a fuel pipe group including a connector 14 and interconnecting the cassette cylinder 61, the fuel pressure regulator 62, the carburetor 18 b and the like in the internal space 9 of the case C; Provided from the grid F with the fuel cutoff valve 63 to stop the supply of fuel gas to the engine 30.

  A gas fuel having a relatively high boiling point, such as butane, is stored in the cassette cylinder 61 in a liquefied state. And the cassette cylinder 61 is detachably supported by the accommodating part 60 by inserting the fuel supply part of the cassette cylinder 61 into the connector 64 (refer FIG. 2) provided in the accommodating part 60. FIG.

  The external fuel system Fb is an external cylinder 71 that is a second fuel container as a second fuel source (or external fuel source) provided outside the engine generator 1, and a pipe that connects the external cylinder 71 and the connector 14. A5 and a decompressor 72 are provided. A second gas fuel having a boiling point lower than that of the first gas fuel, for example, propane, is stored in a liquefied state in the external cylinder 71 having a larger fuel capacity than the cassette cylinder 61 (that is, a larger amount of fuel is stored). The external cylinder 71 is, for example, a household propane gas cylinder.

  The accommodating portion 60 is constituted by a chamber wall 66 that forms an accommodating chamber 65 that accommodates both cassette cylinders 61. The chamber wall 66 includes a first side wall 66a made of a good heat conductor, for example, a metal such as aluminum, a second side wall 66b made of a part of the right cover 8, and a bottom wall 66c. Open to the internal space 9.

  The first and second side walls 66a and 66b are used as vibration isolating members made of an elastic material in order to prevent or suppress vibration caused by the operation of the engine 30 to be transmitted to the cassette cylinder 61 and the cassette cylinder 61 to vibrate. A holder 67 is provided so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the cassette cylinder 61.

  The housing 60 is provided with a mounting sensor 68 that detects the presence or absence of the cassette cylinder 61 or the mounting state. The mounting sensor 68 attached to the mounting member 69 provided outside the storage chamber 65 and passing through the first side wall 66a and positioned in the storage chamber 65 is constituted by, for example, a microswitch having a contact piece 68a. When 68a contacts the cassette cylinder 61, it is detected that the cassette cylinder 61 is properly mounted.

  The fuel pressure regulator 62 to which the first gas fuel from the cassette cylinder 61 is supplied in a liquefied state and the second gas fuel from the external cylinder 71 is supplied in a gas state is the same as that of both cassette cylinders 61 and the housing 60. The first side wall 66a, the power control unit 41, and the inflow ports 50, 51 are disposed so as to overlap in the front-rear direction and directly above the power control unit 41 and the inflow ports 50, 51. Moreover, the fuel pressure regulator 62 is adjacent to the power control unit 41 so that heat exchange with the power control unit 41 is possible by heat transfer via the cooling air in the internal space 9. Arranged. (In FIG. 4, the fuel pressure regulator 62 is indicated by a two-dot chain line for convenience.) The fuel pressure regulator 62 has a function as a vaporizer that vaporizes the first gas fuel that flows in the liquefied state. Have.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the fuel supply device Fa, both cassette cylinders 61, a pipe A <b> 1 that connects both cassette cylinders 61 and the fuel switching cock 12, and a pipe A <b> 2 that connects the fuel switching cock 12 and the fuel pressure regulator 62. The first gas fuel is supplied from the cassette cylinder 61 to the engine 30 by the fuel pressure regulator 62, the pipe A3 connecting the fuel pressure regulator 62 and the carburetor 18b, and the fuel cutoff valve 63 provided in the pipe A3. A fuel system is configured, a pipe A4 connecting the connector 14 and the fuel switching cock 12, a pipe A2 connecting the fuel switching cock 12 and the fuel pressure regulator 62, a fuel pressure regulator 62, and a fuel pressure regulator 62. And the fuel cutoff valve 63 constitute a second fuel system that supplies the second gas fuel from the external cylinder 71 to the engine 30.
Therefore, the pipes A1 to A4 in the case C constitute a fuel pipe group. The fuel pressure regulator 62, the pipe A3, and the fuel cutoff valve 63 are a common fuel system that is common to the first and second fuel systems.

  The fuel cutoff valve 63 as the fuel cutoff means is constituted by, for example, a normally open electromagnetic valve that opens when no drive current is supplied, and is controlled to be opened and closed by the ECU 89 according to the pressure of the first gas fuel. More specifically, in order to detect the pressure from the cassette cylinder 61, a fuel pressure sensor 73 for detecting the pressure of the first gas fuel from the cassette cylinder 61 to the fuel pressure regulator 62 is provided. 62 is provided. When the fuel pressure sensor 73 detects a pressure exceeding the upper limit pressure P1, the ECU 89 closes the fuel cutoff valve 63 and shuts off the common fuel system. This upper limit pressure P1 avoids the operation of the engine 30 when the pressure of the first fuel gas in the cassette cylinder 61 becomes excessive when the cassette cylinder 61 is in an overheated state, etc. It is preset from the viewpoint of being used.

  The fuel switching cock 12 for switching the gas fuel supplied to the engine 30 between the first gas fuel supplied through the first fuel system and the second gas fuel supplied through the second fuel system is provided in the first fuel system. Are connected to the engine 30 to supply the first gas fuel to the engine 30 (in FIG. 5, the position of the “cassette” is indicated by a one-dot chain line), the second fuel system and the engine 30. And a second position for supplying the second gas fuel to the engine 30 (in FIG. 5, the “external” position, indicated by a two-dot chain line), a first fuel system, and a second fuel system The first position is operable to a stop position where the gas fuel supply to the engine 30 is stopped by shutting off the engine 30 (in FIG. 5, the position is “OFF” and indicated by a solid line). And switching between the second position always goes through the stop position. Done.

  Referring also to FIG. 6, the fuel switching cock 12 switches the fuel between the first gas fuel and the second gas fuel, and controls the operation and stop of the engine 30 and the ignition device. It also serves as a control switch for controlling the operation and non-operation of the heating device 80. Therefore, the fuel switching cock 12 opens and closes the kill switch 74 that controls the operation / non-operation of the ignition device and opens / closes the main switch 75 that controls the operation / non-operation of the heating device 80 according to the operation position.

  The heating device 80 includes electric heaters 81a and 81b as heating sources provided in the accommodating portion 60 for each cassette cylinder 61, an electric heater 82 as a heating source provided in the fuel pressure regulator 62, and the temperature of each cassette cylinder 61. And temperature sensors 83a, 83b, 84 for detecting the temperature of the fuel pressure regulator 62, temperature sensors 85a, 85b, 86 for detecting the temperatures of the electric heaters 81a, 81b, 82, and temperature sensors 83a, 83b, 84, respectively. The relays 87a, 87b, 88 for opening and closing the heater circuits of the electric heaters 81a, 81b, 82 according to a command from the ECU 89 according to the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors 85a, 85b, 86, and the operating states of the electric heaters 81a, 81b Display lamps 15a and 15b (see also FIG. 5).

  The electric heaters 81a, 81b, and 82 heat the two cassette cylinders 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62, respectively, to promote the vaporization of the liquefied first gas fuel. This prevents the temperatures of the cassette cylinder 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62 from excessively decreasing due to the vaporization of the first gas fuel and the like, thereby preventing the pressure of the first gas fuel from excessively decreasing. One gas fuel is stably supplied to the engine 30.

Referring also to FIG. 7, when the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the first position or the second position, the first gas fuel or the second gas fuel can be supplied to the engine 30 and the kill switch. Since 74 is opened, the ignition device is in an operable state and the engine 30 is operable. (That is, the fuel switching cock 12 is turned on as an engine operation switch.) When the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the stop position, the supply of the first gas fuel or the second gas fuel to the engine 30 is stopped. Moreover, since the kill switch 74 is closed, the ignition device is deactivated and the engine 30 is stopped. (That is, the fuel switching cock 12 is turned off as an engine operation switch.)
On the other hand, in the heating device 80, only when the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the first position, the main switch 75 is closed and becomes operable, and the electric heaters 81a and 81b for heating the cassette cylinder 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62 are provided. 82, the heating control based on the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62 is performed. When the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the second position and the stop position, since the first gas fuel is not supplied to the engine 30, the main switch 75 is opened, the heating device 80 is inactivated, and the cassette Heating of the cylinder 61 and the fuel pressure regulator 62 is stopped.

  The control of the heating device 80 and the control of the fuel cutoff valve 63 in the engine generator 1 by the ECU 89 having a microcomputer will be described based on FIG. 8 with reference to FIGS. This control routine is performed when the operating voltage controlled by the power control unit 41 is supplied to the ECU 89 after the engine 30 is started by the operation of the recoil starter 46 and the generator 40 starts generating power. This is performed only when the switching cock 12 is in the first position.

  In step S1, it is determined whether or not the pressure of the first gas fuel detected by the fuel pressure sensor 73 is equal to or lower than the upper limit pressure P1. When the pressure exceeds the upper limit pressure P1, the process proceeds to step S2 and the fuel cutoff valve 63 is closed. In order to ensure safety, the fuel supply is stopped and the control routine is terminated. At this time, the engine 30 is stopped along with the stop of fuel supply. If it is determined in step S1 that the pressure of the first gas fuel is equal to or lower than the upper limit pressure P1, the process proceeds to step S3 to open the fuel cutoff valve 63 (the valve open state is maintained), and the first. Supply of gas fuel to the engine 30 is continued.

  In step S4 following step S3, the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 by the temperature sensors 83a and 83b is equal to or higher than a lower limit temperature T1 (for example, 10 ° C.) that is the lowest temperature at which the first gas fuel can be stably supplied to the engine 30. If it is determined whether or not there is the lower limit temperature T1 or higher, heating by the electric heaters 81a and 81b is not necessary, so the process proceeds to step S5 and the relays 87a and 87b of the heater circuit of the electric heaters 81a and 81b are opened. Then, the process proceeds to step S9. Here, when the heater circuit is turned off, the operation of the electric heaters 81a and 81b is stopped, and the heating device 80 is deactivated.

  If it is determined in step S4 that the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 is lower than the lower limit temperature T1, the process proceeds to step S6, and the temperatures of the electric heaters 81a and 81b detected by the temperature sensors 85a and 85b are set to the upper limit temperature T2 ( For example, it is determined whether or not the temperature is equal to or higher than 70 ° C., and when the temperature is equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature T2, the process proceeds to step S5 to stop the operation of the electric heaters 81a and 81b. The upper limit temperature T2 is set in advance in order to avoid that the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 rises rapidly and becomes overheated.

  If it is determined in step S6 that the temperature of the electric heaters 81a and 81b is lower than the upper limit temperature T2, the process proceeds to step S7, and the cassette cylinder 61 is set appropriately based on the detection signal from the mounting sensor 68 (see FIG. 1). It is determined whether or not it is attached. If it is determined in step S6 that it is properly mounted, the process proceeds to step S8, and after the relays 87a and 87b of the heater circuit are closed, the process proceeds to step S9. Thereby, the heater circuits of the electric heaters 81a and 81b are turned on, the electric heaters 81a and 81b are operated, the heating device 80 is operated, and the cassette cylinder 61 is heated by the electric heaters 81a and 81b. If it is determined in step S7 that the cassette cylinder 61 is not properly mounted, the process proceeds to step S5, and the electric heaters 81a and 81b are deactivated for safety.

  In step S9, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the fuel pressure regulator 62 is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature T1. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the lower limit temperature T1, heating is unnecessary, and the electric heater 82 is inactivated. Proceed to step S10. If it is determined in step S9 that the temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature T1, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is determined whether or not the temperature of the electric heater 82 is equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature T2. In order to avoid overheating, the process proceeds to step S10 and the electric heater 82 is deactivated. If it is determined in step S11 that the temperature is lower than the upper limit temperature T2, the process proceeds to step S12, the electric heater 82 is operated, the fuel pressure regulator 62 is heated, and then the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not the pressure of the first gas fuel detected by the fuel pressure sensor 73 is not more than the upper limit pressure P1, and if it is determined that it is not more than the upper limit pressure P1, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the fuel switching cock 12 is at the stop position. If the fuel switching cock 12 is at the stop position, the control routine ends. At this time, since the fuel switching cock 12 is OFF, the fuel supply to the engine 30 is cut off, and the engine 30 is quickly stopped by the operation of the kill switch 74. If it is determined in step S13 that the pressure of the first gas fuel has exceeded the upper limit pressure P1, the process proceeds to step S2 where the fuel cutoff valve 63 is closed, the control routine is terminated as described above, and the engine 30 is Stop. If it is determined in step S14 that the fuel switching cock 12 is not at the stop position, the process proceeds to step S3 so that the operation of the engine 30 is continued. Thereafter, the processing of step S3 to step S12 is repeated.
Thus, the fuel cutoff valve 63 constitutes an engine stop means for stopping the engine 30 in accordance with the pressure of the first gas fuel detected by the fuel pressure sensor 73.

Next, operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
When the fuel switching cock 12 is operated from the stop position to the first position and the first gas fuel can be supplied to the engine 30, the recoil starter 46 is operated, the engine 30 is started, and then self-running is started. . Then, the electric power generated by the generator 40 driven by the engine 30 is controlled by the power control unit 41 and supplied to the electrical equipment connected to the outlet 13. At the same time, the cooling fan 45 driven by the engine 30 sucks the air in the internal space 9 through the inlets 50 and 51. Due to the suction action of the cooling fan 45, outside air is introduced into the internal space 9 as cooling air through the inlet 18.

  Cooling air from the inlet 18 flows into the internal space 9 from the uppermost part of the internal space 9, and a part thereof flows downward after exchanging heat with the first side wall 66 a and the fuel pressure regulator 62 by heat transfer. Then, after the heat radiation fins 41b of the power control unit 41 are cooled and further exchanged heat with the first side wall 66a and the fuel pressure regulator 62, they are sucked into the cooling fan 45 through the inflow ports 50 and 51. Thereafter, the cooling air is sent into the shroud 47 by the cooling fan 45, and after the engine body 30a and the exhaust pipe 38a are cooled by the shroud 47, the muffler 38b is cooled and discharged from the outlet 20 to the outside.

  When it becomes necessary to switch to the second gas fuel in the external cylinder 71 because the remaining amount of the first gas fuel in the cassette cylinder 61 becomes small due to the operation of the engine 30, the fuel switching cock 12 is temporarily moved to the stop position. When operated, the engine 30 is stopped. At this time, the engine 30 can be quickly stopped by the operation of the kill switch 74. Next, the fuel switching cock 12 is operated to the second position. As a result, the second gas fuel can be supplied to the engine 30, and the engine 30 is started by operating the recoil starter 46.

  The fuel supply device Fa provides the gas fuel supplied to the engine 30 outside the engine generator 1 and the first gas fuel stored in a liquefied state in a cassette cylinder 61 detachably supported by the engine generator 1. A fuel switching cock 12 for switching between the second gas fuel stored in the external cylinder 71, the fuel switching cock 12 having a first position for supplying the first gas fuel to the engine 30, and a second gas fuel for the engine. The second position for supplying to the engine 30 and the stop position for stopping the supply of gas fuel to the engine 30 can be operated, and the switching between the first position and the second position is always performed through the stop position. 80 is operable only when the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the first position. As a result, the first gas fuel and the second gas fuel are selectively switched by the fuel switching cock 12 and supplied to the engine 30, so when one of the first and second gas fuels cannot be used. The other fuel gas can be easily supplied to the engine 30. Further, since the supply of gas fuel to the engine 30 is always stopped when switching between the first gas fuel and the second gas fuel, the engine 30 is reliably operated by the gas fuel after switching for each different type of fuel. it can. Further, heating is performed by the electric heaters 81a and 81b of the heating device 80 in order to stably supply the first gas fuel stored in the cassette cylinder 61 that is lowered in temperature by the heat of vaporization when the first gas fuel in the liquefied state is vaporized. The cassette cylinder 61 is heated by the heating device 80 only when the first gas fuel is supplied to the engine 30 because the main switch 75 of the heating device 80 is opened and closed according to the operating position of the fuel switching cock 12. When the second gas fuel is supplied to the engine 30 or when the gas fuel is not supplied to the engine 30, such as when heating of the cassette cylinder 61 is unnecessary, the heating device 80 Operation is reliably stopped. As a result, by operating only the fuel switching cock 12, the engine 30 can be reliably operated with the gas fuel after switching for each different type of fuel, thus avoiding the occurrence of unstable operating conditions at low cost. can do. Further, since the heating device 80 is activated and deactivated according to the operation position of the fuel switching cock 12, the switching operation between the activation and deactivation of the heating device 80 is simplified.

  The cassette cylinder 61 is detachably supported by the engine generator 1, and the external cylinder 71 is disposed outside the engine generator 1 and has a larger fuel capacity than the cassette cylinder 61. The engine 30 can be operated immediately by the first gas fuel of the cassette cylinder 61 that is supported and integrated, and when the engine 30 is operated for a long time, the outside has a larger fuel capacity than the cassette cylinder 61. The engine 30 can be operated by the second gas fuel in the cylinder 71. As a result, it is possible to selectively use the engine 30 with the first gas fuel for emergency operation and with the second gas fuel for long-time operation.

  The heating device 80 promotes vaporization by heating the cassette cylinder 61 when the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 for storing the first gas fuel having a high boiling point such as butane is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature T1. Since the cassette cylinder 61 is heated by the electric heaters 81a and 81b of the heating device 80 in the low temperature state of the cassette cylinder 61 due to the temperature decrease of the cassette cylinder 61 due to the vaporization of the first gas fuel due to the continuation and the outside air temperature decrease, Insufficient supply of the first gas fuel due to excessive reduction in the temperature of the cylinder 61 is prevented. As a result, since the temperature of the cassette cylinder 61 does not decrease excessively, the first gas fuel can be stably supplied to the engine 30.

  When the fuel switching cock 12 occupies the stop position, the operation of the spark plug 42 of the engine 30 is stopped so that the gas fuel is switched between different types of gas fuel between the first and second gas fuels. Since the engine 30 can be stopped, it is avoided that the engine 30 is operated in an unstable rotational state when switching the gas fuel, so that the unstable operation at the time of fuel switching is achieved with a simple structure. The continuation of operation in the state can be suppressed. Further, since the fuel switching cock 12 also serves as an engine operation switch for controlling the operation and stop of the engine 30, the operation / stop operation of the engine 30 is simplified.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is changed will be described with respect to the changed configuration.
The second gas fuel may be a gas fuel other than propane, for example, city gas, and the second fuel source may be a pipe to which the second gas fuel is supplied. The work machine may be other than a generator, such as a pump.

1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of an engine generator to which the present invention is applied, showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a perspective view of the engine generator of FIG. 3 is a left side view when the left cover is removed in the engine generator of FIG. 2, and the front cover, the rear cover, and the upper cover are cross-sectional views taken along the line III-III in FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the engine generator of FIG. 2 when an upper cover is removed. It is a front view of the engine generator of FIG. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a fuel switching cock and a heating device of the engine generator of FIG. 2. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the operation position of the fuel switching cock of the engine generator of FIG. 2, a fuel supply apparatus, and an ignition device. 3 is a flowchart of a control routine for a heating device and a fuel cutoff valve of the engine generator of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Engine generator, 3 ... Lower cover, 4 ... Upper cover, 5 ... Front cover, 6 ... Rear cover, 7 ... Left cover, 8 ... Right cover, 9 ... Internal space, 12 ... Fuel switching cock, 16, 17 ... gripping part, 18 ... introduction port, 20 ... discharge port, 23, 24 ... recess, 28, 29 ... space for gripping, 30 ... engine, 40 ... generator, 41 ... power control unit, 42 ... spark plug, 44 ... Ignition coil, 45 ... Cooling fan, 46 ... Recoil starter, 47 ... Shroud, 48 ... Fan cover, 49 ... Starter cover, 50, 51 ... Inlet, 60 ... Housing, 61 ... Cassette cylinder, 62 ... Fuel pressure regulator , 63 ... Fuel shutoff valve, 65 ... Storage chamber, 66 ... Chamber wall, 68 ... Mounting sensor, 71 ... External cylinder, 73 ... Fuel pressure sensor, 74 ... Kill switch, 75 ... Main switch, 80 ... Heating device, 89 ... ECU,
C: Case, Fa: Fuel supply device.

Claims (3)

A fuel supply device comprising: a first fuel container that is a first fuel source in which the first gas fuel is stored in a liquefied state; and a heating device that heats the first fuel container; and a gas fuel supplied from the fuel supply device In a gas engine device comprising a gas engine using
The first fuel container is detachably supported by the gas engine device, and the fuel supply device is configured to provide gas fuel supplied to the gas engine outside the first gas fuel and the gas engine device. Fuel switching means for switching between the second gas fuels stored in the two fuel sources, the fuel switching means including a first position for supplying the first gas fuel to the gas engine, and the second gas fuel. The second position for supplying to the gas engine and the stop position for stopping the supply of gas fuel to the gas engine are operable, and switching between the first position and the second position is always performed at the stop position. The gas engine device is characterized in that the heating device is operable only when the fuel switching means occupies the first position.   The gas engine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating device heats the first fuel container when a temperature of the first fuel container is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature. The gas engine device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the fuel switching means occupies the stop position, the operation of the ignition device of the gas engine is stopped.

Images