JP2007064822A - Device and method for measuring air bubble fraction - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bubble fraction measuring instrument capable of accurately measuring the air bubble fraction in the liquid flowing through a flow channel, and air bubble fraction measuring method. <P>SOLUTION: The air bubble fraction measuring instrument 200 is constituted so as to measure the air bubble fraction in the oil flowing through an oil passage and equipped with the cylinder 211A of an injector 211 for receiving the liquid flowing from a bypass oil passage 220, the three-way valve 213 capable of connecting and cutting off the bypass oil passage 220 and the cylinder 211A and the thermocouple 214 for detecting the temperature of the oil in the cylinder 211A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bubble rate measuring device and a bubble rate measuring method, and more particularly to a bubble rate measuring device and a bubble rate measuring method for measuring a bubble rate in a liquid flowing in a flow path.

There is a demand to accurately measure the bubble rate in the liquid flowing in the flow path.
For example, if the bubble rate of oil flowing in the hydraulic lash adjuster oil passage increases / decreases excessively, abnormal behavior of the hydraulic lash adjuster may occur. Therefore, it is desirable to check whether the bubble rate is within an appropriate range by repeatedly measuring while changing parameters such as the engine speed.
JP-A-7-63748 JP-A-8-62206 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-301631

  From the viewpoint of accurate measurement of the bubble rate, it is desirable to measure the bubble rate by separating the liquid and the bubble. However, when directly measuring the bubble rate in the liquid flowing in the oil passage, it is difficult to separate the liquid and the bubble.

  Patent documents 1 to 3 disclose a method for evaluating the degree of foaming of engine oil or the like. “Bubbling degree” is a material characteristic value of engine oil or the like, and is different from “bubble ratio” in the liquid flowing in the flow path. Further, in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the liquid in the container is actively bubbled to generate bubbles in the liquid, and the present invention separates the liquid and the bubbles originally contained in the liquid in the container. The premise and configuration are completely different.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bubble rate measuring device and a bubble rate measuring method capable of accurately measuring the bubble rate in a liquid flowing in a flow path. It is to provide.

  A bubble ratio measuring apparatus according to the present invention is a bubble ratio measuring apparatus that measures a bubble ratio in a liquid flowing in a flow path, and a container that receives liquid flowing in from a flow path, a connection between the flow path and the container, and A valve capable of cutting and a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the container are provided.

  According to the above configuration, the container and the flow path can be disconnected by switching the valve after flowing the liquid into the container. As a result, the liquid and the bubbles can be separated in the container. Therefore, the bubble rate in the liquid can be accurately measured.

  The bubble ratio measuring apparatus preferably further includes a decompression unit that expands bubbles in the liquid flowing into the container by reducing the pressure in the container to be lower than the pressure in the flow path.

  Thereby, the bubble in the liquid which flowed into the container can be expanded, and the separation of the liquid and the bubble can be promoted.

  The bubble ratio measuring apparatus preferably further includes pressing means for applying pressure to the container to return the liquid and bubbles to the flow path.

  Thereby, repeated measurement can be performed without changing the amount of liquid in the flow path. Therefore, measurement with little variation due to a change in the liquid amount is possible.

  In the above bubble ratio measuring apparatus, preferably, the container is connected to the flow path via a bypass flow path provided in the flow path. The bubble ratio measuring apparatus further includes a pressure adjusting valve at the inlet and outlet of the bypass channel.

  According to the said structure, when switching a valve | bulb, it can suppress that the liquid in a flow path flows in into a container rapidly.

  The bubble ratio measuring method according to the present invention is a bubble ratio measuring method for measuring a bubble ratio in a liquid flowing in a flow path, the step of flowing a liquid into a container connected to the flow path, and a liquid in the container The ratio of bubbles in the liquid based on the step of separating the bubbles from the bubbles, the volume of the liquid flowing into the container, the volume of the liquid separated from the bubbles, and the temperature of the liquid measured before and after the separation of the bubbles Calculating.

  According to the above method, since the bubble rate is measured by separating the liquid and the bubbles in the container, the bubble rate in the liquid can be accurately measured.

  In the bubble ratio measuring method, the pressure in the container is preferably set lower than the pressure in the flow path.

  Thereby, the bubble in the liquid which flowed into the container can be expanded, and the separation of the liquid and the bubble can be promoted.

  The bubble ratio measuring method preferably further includes a step of returning the liquid and bubbles separated in the container to the flow path.

  Thereby, repeated measurement can be performed without changing the amount of liquid in the flow path. Therefore, measurement with little variation due to a change in the liquid amount is possible.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately measure the bubble rate in the liquid flowing in the flow path.

  Embodiments of a bubble rate measuring device and a bubble rate measuring method according to the present invention will be described below. Note that the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cylinder head to which a hydro lash adjuster to which a bubble ratio measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is attached.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the hydro lash adjuster 100 is fitted into an opening 10 </ b> A formed in the cylinder head 10. The inside of the hydro lash adjuster 100 is filled with 100 L of oil.

  The hydro lash adjuster 100 has a housing 110 and is in contact with the rocker arm 20. The rocker arm 20 uses the hydro lash adjuster 100 as a fulcrum and receives the force from the cam 30 to reciprocate the valve 50. That is, when the cam 30 rotates, the contact point between the hydro lash adjuster 100 and the rocker arm 20 becomes a fulcrum, and the valve 50 reciprocates. The valve 50 is urged away from the combustion chamber 70 by the valve spring 40, and even after being pushed down by the cam 30, the valve 50 returns to its original position by the action of the valve spring 40. The tip of the valve 50 is provided in the vicinity of the boundary between the exhaust port 60 (and the inlet port) and the combustion chamber 70.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the hydro lash adjuster in FIG. 1 in detail. With reference to FIG. 2, the hydro lash adjuster 100 includes a housing 110, a plunger 120, a rod-shaped member 130, a check ball 140, a partition plate 150, and a spring 160.

  The housing 110 defines a high pressure chamber 151 and a low pressure chamber 152, and has an opening 110 </ b> A continuous with the low pressure chamber 152. The plunger 120 is fitted into the opening 110 </ b> A and contacts the rocker arm 20.

  The casing 110 has a box shape, and a high-pressure chamber 151 and a low-pressure chamber 152 are provided in its internal space. In the example of FIG. 2, the internal space of the housing 110 is a rectangular region, but is not limited thereto, and the cross section may be round (round).

  A plunger 120 is fitted into the opening 110A of the housing 110 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The plunger 120 is slidable with the inner peripheral wall of the housing 110 constituting the opening 110A, and can move in a direction approaching the bottom portion 110B of the housing 110 and a direction away from the bottom portion 110B. Plunger 120 is fitted in the recess of the rocker arm, and the tip of plunger 120 is engaged with rocker arm 20.

  The plunger 120 is provided with a rod-shaped member 130 for pushing the check ball 140. One end of the rod-shaped member 130 contacts the plunger 120, and the other end contacts the check ball 140. Due to the presence of the rod-shaped member 130, the pressure in the direction of the arrow DR1 can be directly transmitted to the check ball 140.

  A partition plate 150 that partitions the high pressure chamber 151 and the low pressure chamber 152 is provided in the internal space of the housing 110. The partition plate 150 is provided with an opening 150A, and the low pressure chamber 152 and the high pressure chamber 151 communicate with each other through the opening 150A. The partition plate 150 receives a check ball 140 as a check valve. The check ball 140 seals the opening 150 </ b> A and suppresses the oil 100 </ b> L in the high pressure chamber 151 from flowing into the low pressure chamber 152.

  A force in the direction in which the oil 100L on the high pressure chamber 151 side flows to the low pressure chamber 152 side (the direction opposite to the arrow DR1 direction) is applied to the check ball 140 through the opening 150A. On the other hand, since the check ball 140 is held down by the rod-shaped member 130, the check ball 140 does not move to the plunger 120 side. Therefore, the oil 100L on the high pressure chamber 151 side is suppressed from flowing into the low pressure chamber 152 side.

  The partition plate 150 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a spring 160 is disposed in the high pressure chamber 151 so as to support it. The spring 160 is interposed between the partition plate 150 and the bottom 110B, and changes the volume in the high-pressure chamber 151. The spring 160 transmits the force received from the partition plate 150 to the bottom 110B.

  The hydro lash adjuster 100 adjusts the clearance between the swing arm rocker arm 20 of the overhead cam and the valve 50. The hydro lash adjuster 100 is introduced with oil 100L composed of engine oil. The hydro lash adjuster 100 changes its entire length and automatically adjusts the gap between the rocker arm 20 and the valve 50 (keep the gap at zero). The operation of the hydro lash adjuster 100 will be described as follows.

  When the engine rotates, oil 100L is introduced into the low-pressure chamber 152 from the opening 10A around the hydro lash adjuster 100 through a hole (not shown) provided in the housing 110. A part of the oil 100L lubricates a contact portion between the plunger 120 and the rocker arm 20. Further, when the hydraulic pressure in the high pressure chamber 151 decreases, the oil 100L is supplied into the high pressure chamber 151.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cylinder head shown for explaining the cam lift. 2 and 3, when the cam 30 tries to push down the rocker arm 20, the rocker arm 20 tries to push down the valve 50 and the plunger 120 at the same time. However, when the plunger 120 is pushed down, the high pressure chamber 151 sealed by the check ball 140 becomes high pressure, the plunger 120 is not lowered, and the rocker arm 20 moves using the contact point between the rocker arm 20 and the plunger 120 as a fulcrum and pushes down the valve 50. .

  When the cam 30 rotates and the rocker arm 20 is not pushed down, the spring 160 in the high pressure chamber 151 pushes up the plunger 120 as shown in FIG. As a result, the occurrence of a gap between the cam 30 and the rocker arm 20 is suppressed.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an oil passage that supplies oil to the hydro lash adjuster 100. Referring to FIG. 4, the cylinder head is provided with a plurality of hydro lash adjusters 100, and these hydro lash adjusters 100 are connected to each other by a lash adjuster oil passage 90. The lash adjuster oil passage 90 is connected to the main oil passage 80. The main oil passage 80 connects the oil pan 81, the oil pump 82, the oil filter 83, and the block 84, and becomes a main passage for engine oil. Oil in the main oil passage 80 is circulated by an oil pump 82. An electromagnetic valve (not shown) is provided at a boundary portion between the main oil passage 80 and the lash adjuster oil passage 90, and the main oil passage 80 and the lash adjuster oil passage 90 can be cut and connected. The main oil passage 80 also lubricates the variable valve timing mechanism inlet 85, the chain 86 and the variable valve timing mechanism outlet 87. Further, the cam bearing 31 is also lubricated by the main oil passage 80.

  By the way, the oil flowing in the main oil passage 80 and the lash adjuster oil passage 90 contains bubbles. The ratio of bubbles contained in the oil (bubble ratio) varies depending on various parameters (for example, oil viscosity, engine speed, oil type, oil pan volume, oil amount). Specifically, for example, since the crankshaft lifts up the oil stored in the oil pan 81, the oil becomes more easily bubbled as the engine speed increases. To be supplied. As a result, the bubble ratio of the oil flowing through the main oil passage 80 and the lash adjuster oil passage 90 increases.

  On the other hand, from the viewpoint of preventing abnormal operation of the hydro lash adjuster 100 and the oil pump 82 and appropriately lubricating the bearing using the oil, the optimum value and allowable value of the bubble ratio in the oil are determined. Specifically, for example, when the bubble ratio of the oil flowing through the lash adjuster oil passage 90 becomes excessively high, the hydro lash adjuster 100 sinks. Therefore, it is important to measure the bubble rate for each condition while changing the above parameters that affect the bubble rate.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the bubble rate of the oil flowing through the lash adjuster oil passage 90 is measured by the bubble rate measuring device 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the bubble ratio measuring apparatus 200 includes a measuring unit 210 and a bypass oil passage 220. The bypass oil passage 220 includes an inlet-side oil passage 221 that connects the lash adjuster oil passage 90 and the measurement unit 210, and an outlet-side oil passage that connects the measurement unit 210 and the crankcase located above the oil pan 81. 222. The inlet side oil passage 221 and the outlet side oil passage 222 are respectively provided with pressure adjusting two-way valves 221A and 222A.

  The bubble ratio in the oil flowing through the main oil passage 80 and the lash adjuster oil passage 90 can also be measured, for example, by providing a Coriolis meter in the oil passage. In this case, the bubble rate is calculated by measuring the density of the oil using a mass flow meter, pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and capacitance meter, and comparing the density with the initial oil density (density without bubbles). To do. However, from the viewpoint of accurate measurement of the bubble rate, it is preferable to measure the amount of bubbles after separating the oil and the bubbles in the oil, as will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the bubble ratio measuring apparatus 200 in more detail. Referring to FIG. 5, measurement unit 210 in bubble ratio measuring apparatus 200 includes syringe 211 including cylinder 211 </ b> A and piston 211 </ b> B, connection unit 212 connecting bypass oil passage 220 and syringe 211, and bypass oil passage 220. It includes a three-way valve 213 that connects and disconnects with the syringe 211, a thermocouple 214 that serves as a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the oil guided to the syringe 211, and a stopper 215. Further, a Bourdon tube 221B, which is a pressure gauge, is provided in the inlet side oil passage 221 of the bypass oil passage 220.

  Below, the procedure of the bubble rate measurement using the bubble rate measuring apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 5 is demonstrated.

Before starting the measurement, the three-way valve 213 is set in the direction of arrow A, and oil flows into the bypass oil passage 220 from the direction of arrow IN, and the oil flows out in the direction of arrow OUT. Here, the two-way valve 221A is adjusted so that the pressure measured by the Bourdon tube 221B is, for example, 0.75 kgf / cm ² . Then, the two-way valve 222A is adjusted to reduce the downstream pressure. Then, the three-way valve 213 is switched from the direction of the arrow A to the direction of the arrow B so that oil flows into the syringe 211. As described above, by adjusting the two-way valves 221A and 222A, when the three-way valve 213 is switched, the oil suddenly flows into the syringe 211 or the oil flows backward from the downstream side of the bypass oil passage 220. Can be suppressed.

By switching the three-way valve 213, oil flows into the cylinder 211A of the syringe 211 via the connection part 212. The syringe 211 is provided under atmospheric pressure, and the piston 211B naturally moves in the DR2 direction. Then, when a certain amount (V ₀ ) (for example, V ₀ = 200 cc) of oil flows into the cylinder 211A, the three-way valve 213 is switched again in the direction of arrow A. Thereby, the inflow of oil to the syringe 211 is stopped.

Immediately after stopping the inflow of oil into the syringe 211, the thermocouple 214 is moved in the direction of the arrow DR3. By inserting the thermocouple 214 into the syringe 211, the temperature (T ₀ ) of the oil in the syringe 211 is detected. Here, the insertion depth of the thermocouple 214 can be stabilized by providing the stopper 215.

Thereafter, the oil in the syringe 211 and the bubbles contained in the oil are separated by being left for a certain time (for example, 20 minutes). As described above, since the syringe 211 is provided under a pressure lower than that in the lash adjuster oil passage 90, the bubbles in the oil flowing into the syringe 211 expand, and the separation of the gas and liquid is promoted. Then, the amount (V ₁ ) and temperature (T ₁ ) of the oil after gas-liquid separation are measured.

Based on the respective values (V ₀ , T ₀ , V ₁ , T ₁ ) measured by the above-described procedure, the bubble ratio in the oil is calculated by the equation (1).
Bubble ratio = [V ₀ −V ₁ × {1 + β (T ₀ −T ₁ )}] / V ₀ × 100 (1)
β: linear expansion coefficient of oil Thereafter, the piston 211B is pressed to return the oil and bubbles in the syringe 211 to the bypass oil passage 220. Thereby, the measurement can be performed again without changing the oil amount. At this time, it is preferable that the syringe 211 is turned upside down from the state shown in FIG.

  In other words, the contents described above are as follows. That is, the bubble rate measuring device according to the present embodiment is a bubble rate measuring device that measures the bubble rate in oil (liquid) flowing through the lash adjuster oil passage 90 as a “flow channel”, and includes a lash adjuster oil. A cylinder 211A of a syringe 211 as a “container” for receiving liquid flowing in from the passage 90; a three-way valve 213 as a “valve” capable of connecting and disconnecting the lash adjuster oil passage 90 and the cylinder 211A; And a thermocouple 214 as “temperature detecting means” for detecting the temperature of the oil.

  According to the above configuration, the cylinder 211A and the lash adjuster oil passage 90 can be disconnected by switching the three-way valve 213 after flowing the oil into the cylinder 211A. As a result, it becomes possible to separate oil and bubbles in the cylinder 211A. Therefore, the bubble rate in the oil can be accurately measured.

  In the above bubble ratio measuring device, the piston 211B functions as a “pressure reducing means” that expands bubbles in the oil flowing into the cylinder 211A by reducing the pressure in the cylinder 211A to be lower than the pressure in the lash adjuster oil passage 90. It also functions as a “pressing means” that applies pressure to the cylinder 211A to return oil and bubbles to the lash adjuster oil passage 90.

  Separation of oil and bubbles can be promoted by expanding the bubbles in the oil that has flowed into the cylinder 211A. Further, by returning the oil and bubbles in the cylinder 211A to the lash adjuster oil passage 90, repeated measurement can be performed without changing the amount of oil in the oil passage. Therefore, measurement with less variation due to oil amount change is possible.

  In the bubble ratio measuring apparatus, the cylinder 211 </ b> A is connected to the lash adjuster oil passage 90 through a bypass oil passage 220 as a “bypass passage” provided in the lash adjuster oil passage 90. Two-way valves 221 </ b> A and 222 </ b> A as “pressure adjusting valves” are respectively provided in the inlet-side oil passage 221 as the “inlet portion” and the outlet-side oil passage 222 as the “outlet portion” of the bypass oil passage 220. Yes. Thereby, when the three-way valve 213 is switched, the liquid in the lash adjuster oil passage 90 can be prevented from suddenly flowing into the cylinder 211A. Moreover, according to the said structure, it is also possible to measure in the measurement chamber away from the engine by extending the bypass oil path 220 long.

The bubble ratio measuring method according to the present embodiment is a bubble ratio measuring method for measuring a bubble ratio in oil (liquid) flowing in the lash adjuster oil passage 90 as a “flow path”, and includes a lash adjuster oil. A step of flowing oil into a cylinder 211A connected to the passage 90, a step of separating oil and bubbles in the cylinder 211A, a volume (V ₀ ) of oil flowing into the cylinder 211A, and an oil separated from the bubbles And calculating the bubble rate in the oil based on the volume (V ₁ ) of the oil and the temperature (T ₀ , T ₁ ) of the oil measured before and after the bubble separation.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is sectional drawing of the cylinder head to which the hydro lash adjuster to which the bubble rate measuring apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is applied was attached. It is sectional drawing which shows the hydro lash adjuster in FIG. 1 in detail. It is sectional drawing of the cylinder head shown in order to demonstrate the time of a cam lift. It is the figure which showed the structure of the oil path which supplies oil to the hydro lash adjuster shown by FIGS. It is the figure which showed the structure of the bubble rate measuring apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 engine, 10 cylinder head, 10A opening, 20 rocker arm, 30 cam, 31 cam bearing, 40 valve spring, 50 valve, 60 exhaust port, 70 combustion chamber, 80 main oil passage, 81 oil pan, 82 oil pump, 83 Oil filter, 84 block, 85 Variable valve timing mechanism inlet, 86 chain, 87 Variable valve timing mechanism outlet, 90 Rush adjuster oil passage, 100 Hydro lash adjuster, 100L Oil, 110 housing, 110A opening, 110B bottom, 120 plunger, 130 bar-shaped member, 140 check ball, 150 partition plate, 150A opening, 151 high pressure chamber, 152 low pressure chamber, 160 spring, 200 bubble rate measuring device, 210 measuring section, 211 syringe, 2 11A cylinder, 211B piston, 212 connection part, 213 three-way valve, 214 thermocouple, 215 stopper, 220 bypass oil passage, 221 inlet side oil passage, 221A, 222A two-way valve, 221B Bourdon pipe, 222 outlet side oil passage.

Claims (7)

A bubble ratio measuring device for measuring a bubble ratio in a liquid flowing in a flow path,
A container for receiving the liquid flowing in from the flow path;
A valve capable of connecting and disconnecting the flow path and the container;
A bubble rate measuring device comprising temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the container.   The bubble rate measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a decompression unit that expands bubbles in the liquid flowing into the container by reducing the pressure in the container to be lower than the pressure in the channel.   The bubble rate measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing unit that applies pressure to the container to return the liquid and the bubbles to the flow path. The container is connected to the flow path via a bypass flow path provided in the flow path,
The bubble rate measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pressure adjusting valve at an inlet and an outlet of the bypass channel. A bubble ratio measurement method for measuring a bubble ratio in a liquid flowing in a flow path,
Flowing the liquid into a container connected to the flow path;
Separating the liquid and the bubbles in the container;
The bubble rate in the liquid is calculated based on the volume of the liquid flowing into the container, the volume of the liquid separated from the bubbles, and the temperature of the liquid measured before and after the separation of the bubbles. A method for measuring a bubble rate.   The bubble rate measuring method according to claim 5, wherein the pressure in the container is set lower than the pressure in the flow path.   The bubble rate measuring method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a step of returning the liquid and the bubbles separated in the container into the flow path.

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