JP2010065425A - Fuel monitoring device of construction machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage of a maintenance part and maintain high-efficient engine performance by stopping an engine in using fuel other than specified one. <P>SOLUTION: This fuel monitoring device 20 of a construction machine includes an exhaust gas analyzer 21 provided in an exhaust system of the engine 10. The device includes: a measuring means 24 for measuring the concentration of a poisoning material such as sulfur dioxide contained in exhaust gas by the exhaust gas analyzer 21; a fuel discriminating means 26 for determining the use of fuel other than the specified fuel when the measured value exceeds a preset threshold; and a warning means 27 for giving a warning when another fuel other the specified fuel is used. Thus, during the use of fuel other than the specified fuel, this fact is instantaneously acquired to suitable control the operation for changing the operation of the engine 10 or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel monitoring device for a construction machine, and more particularly to a fuel monitoring device for a construction machine that can determine whether or not the fuel used is a designated fuel.

Conventionally, this type of construction machine is equipped with a diesel engine to reduce fuel costs, and generally uses light oil as the fuel. However, hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) contained in the exhaust gas of the engine are used. Alternatively, an exhaust gas post-treatment device is installed in an exhaust system such as an exhaust pipe or a muffler in order to purify harmful substances such as oxygen nitride (NO _x ). The exhaust gas aftertreatment device incorporates a precious metal (metal oxidation catalyst) such as platinum, a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), or the like in order to adsorb and remove harmful substances.

However, in the use of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device, the activation of the noble metal, which is an active species, may be reduced, and one of the factors is poisoning due to substances contained in the exhaust gas. This is because the poisoning substances such as sulfur dioxide (SO ₂ ) adsorb on the surface of the noble metal, thereby impeding the adsorption performance of hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, oxygen nitride, etc., or related to the catalytic action of the noble metal. This is due to a change in the electronic properties to reduce the catalytic activity. Therefore, in order to recover the activation of the noble metal, it is necessary to prevent the adsorption of sulfur dioxide to the noble metal, which is a cause of poisoning (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2007-224786 A

  In recent years, in construction machinery, only the use of light oil is allowed as a fuel from the viewpoint of complying with the third exhaust gas regulation, but in reality, heavy oil or the like may be used. That is, although the fuel which can be used in the diesel engine of construction machinery is light oil, it may be illegally used by mixing other fuels such as heavy oil and biodiesel fuel instead of light oil. The reason for illegally using heavy oil or the like is that heavy oil or the like is cheaper than light oil and a great cost reduction effect can be obtained.

  However, in the above prior art, it is not possible to determine whether the fuel actually used is light oil. In particular, when a construction machine rental company lends a hydraulic excavator or the like to a user, it is difficult to accurately grasp the type of fuel used by the user, and heavy oil or biodiesel fuel may be used illegally.

  If fuel such as heavy oil containing impurities exceeding the allowable value is used as diesel engine fuel, scheduled high-efficiency engine performance cannot be achieved, and engine maintenance parts, particularly fuel injection system parts There is a risk of serious damage.

  For example, in addition to accelerating the clogging of fuel filters and corrosion of exhaust system components, engine oil may deteriorate and the oil filter may be damaged. In this case, it may be difficult to determine the cause of engine failure. Increases nature. The maintenance parts include consumables such as engine oil and cooling water in addition to EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) related parts.

  Therefore, technical issues to be solved in order to prevent damage to maintenance parts while maintaining high engine performance by monitoring the use of fuel other than designated fuels such as heavy oil and performing engine shutdown etc. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 is a fuel monitoring apparatus for a construction machine comprising an exhaust gas analyzer in an engine exhaust system, the exhaust gas analyzer. Measurement means for measuring the concentration of poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide contained in exhaust gas, and fuel identification that determines that fuel other than the specified fuel is used when the measured value exceeds a preset threshold value There is provided a fuel monitoring device for a construction machine, comprising: means; and warning means for issuing a warning signal when fuel other than designated fuel is used.

  According to this configuration, when the engine fuel is other than the designated fuel (light oil), the concentration of poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide analyzed by the exhaust gas analyzer increases. Therefore, if the measured value exceeds a preset threshold value, it is determined that heavy fuel oil or the like is illegally used by the fuel identifying means based on the measured value. Further, at the same time when the unauthorized use of heavy oil or the like is determined by the fuel identifying means, a signal to warn the unauthorized use is issued by the alarm means, so that the unauthorized use of the fuel can be notified in real time. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel monitoring apparatus for a construction machine according to the first aspect, which displays an indication of unauthorized use of fuel on a display means such as a machine monitor based on the alarm signal.

  According to this configuration, when the fuel is illegally used, the fact that the fuel is illegally used is displayed on the display means such as a machine monitor based on the alarm signal. Therefore, it is possible to immediately grasp that the fuel used is other than the designated fuel, and to take emergency measures such as stopping the engine quickly.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the construction machine fuel monitoring device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the change of the remote operation by wireless communication is controlled based on the alarm signal.

  According to this configuration, at the time of unauthorized use other than the designated fuel, the remote operation of the engine or the like is changed based on the alarm signal based on the wireless communication such as GPS. Therefore, it is possible to take measures such as stopping the engine or locking the machine operation even during remote operation of the engine or the like.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the construction machine fuel monitoring apparatus according to the first, second or third aspect, wherein the engine speed is reduced based on the alarm signal.

  According to this configuration, at the time of unauthorized use other than the designated fuel, the engine speed is reduced based on the alarm signal, so that the engine speed is controlled to be equal to or less than an allowable value.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fuel monitoring device for a construction machine according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, wherein the load of the hydraulic pump connected to the engine is reduced to a specified value or less based on the alarm signal. .

  According to this configuration, when a fuel other than the designated fuel is used, the load (torque) of the hydraulic pump is reduced to a specified value or less based on the alarm signal, so that the torque of the hydraulic pump is controlled to be less than an allowable value (designated torque). The

  A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the fuel monitoring device for a construction machine according to the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the engine is stopped immediately after receiving the warning signal or after a lapse of a specified time based on the warning signal. To do.

  According to this configuration, when the fuel other than the designated fuel is used, the engine operation is stopped immediately after receiving the alarm signal or after the lapse of the specified time, so that unauthorized use other than the designated fuel is prevented.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a fuel other than the designated fuel is used, this can be automatically detected and measures such as stopping the engine can be taken, while maintaining high-efficiency engine performance. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to maintenance parts. In addition, since unauthorized use other than the designated fuel can be identified, there is an advantage that the cause investigation at the time of engine failure is facilitated.

  In the invention according to claim 2, when the fuel used is other than the designated fuel, it is possible to immediately grasp this and take measures such as stopping the engine, so that in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, The damage prevention effect of maintenance parts can be further enhanced.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, when the fuel used is other than the designated fuel, the remote operation of the engine or the like can be changed via GPS or the like. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the invention of the first or second aspect, Even when the operation is performed, it is possible to take measures such as stopping the engine.

  In the invention described in claim 4, when the fuel used is other than the designated fuel, the engine speed decreases to a specified value or less. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1, 2, or 3, damage to the maintenance parts is prevented. This can be prevented more reliably.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a fuel other than the designated fuel is used, the load torque of the hydraulic pump decreases. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the hydraulic pump It is possible to prevent damage to maintenance parts even during use.

  Since the invention described in claim 6 can prevent the use of fuel other than the designated fuel, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, damage to maintenance parts due to improper use of heavy oil or the like is immediately caused. And it can prevent reliably.

  The present invention monitors the use of fuel other than the specified fuel such as heavy oil and stops the engine when the fuel other than the specified fuel is used, thereby preventing damage to maintenance parts while maintaining high engine performance. In order to achieve the objective, a fuel monitoring device for a construction machine equipped with an exhaust gas analyzer in the engine exhaust system, the concentration of poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide contained in the exhaust gas is measured by the exhaust gas analyzer. Measuring means for determining whether fuel other than the designated fuel is used when the measured value exceeds a preset threshold value, and an alarm signal when fuel other than the designated fuel is used. This is realized by providing alarm means for emitting

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is applied to a hydraulic excavator equipped with a remote control system, but can also be applied to a construction machine not equipped with a remote control system.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a hydraulic excavator 1 as a construction machine according to the present invention. The excavator 1 is connected to a remote control room (not shown) via radio communication such as GPS so as to be able to perform radio communication, remote operation of the engine, emergency notification, data display / monitoring, etc. (work management) ) Can be controlled.

  An upper swing body 4 is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body 2 via a swing mechanism 3, a cab 5 is provided on one front side of the upper swing body 4, and the upper swing body 4 A boom 6 is provided at the front center so as to be able to move up and down. Further, an arm 7 is pivotally attached to the tip of the boom 6 so as to be rotatable up and down, and a bucket 8 is attached to the tip of the arm 7 so as to be rotatable up and down.

  An engine 10 shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on the rear part of the upper swing body 4, and the engine 10 is a diesel engine provided with a fuel injection device in this embodiment. In FIG. 2, a fuel tank 11 is connected to the engine 10, and a hydraulic pump 12 is connected to the output shaft of the engine 10. Various sensors such as a fuel injection pressure sensor and an engine speed sensor (not shown) are attached to the engine 10.

  Further, an intake pipe 13 and an exhaust pipe 14 are connected to the engine 10, and an air cleaner 15 is mounted on the upstream side of the intake pipe 13. A turbocharger 16 is interposed between the downstream side of the intake pipe 13 and the upstream side of the exhaust pipe 14.

  Further, a muffler 17 is provided on the downstream side of the exhaust pipe 14, and an exhaust gas aftertreatment device 18 is mounted in the muffler 17. The exhaust gas after-treatment device 18 adsorbs and removes harmful substances such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide or oxygen nitride contained in the exhaust gas and purifies them, and uses a metal oxidation catalyst (such as platinum) as an adsorbing means. Precious metal) and DPF are installed.

  Here, when a fuel other than light oil (designated fuel) is used as the fuel for the engine 10, if the exhaust gas contains poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide, the surface of the noble metal that is an oxidation catalyst is poisoned. Since the substance adheres, the oxidation catalyst activity is deteriorated and the harmful substance reducing effect is lowered.

  Therefore, the present invention is equipped with a fuel monitoring device 20 for identifying and monitoring whether or not the fuel used is light oil at all times or regularly. The fuel monitoring device 20 includes an exhaust gas analyzer 21 provided in the middle of the exhaust pipe 14 connecting the turbocharger 16 and the muffler 17, and a machine controller 22 electrically connected to the exhaust gas analyzer 21. When fuel other than light oil, for example, heavy oil, is used by the fuel monitoring device 20, the use of the heavy oil can be immediately prevented or prevented.

  FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the fuel monitoring device 20 including the exhaust gas analyzer 21 and the machine controller 22. As shown in the figure, the exhaust gas analyzer 21 includes an analyzing unit 23 that analyzes poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide contained in the exhaust gas, and a measurement that measures the concentration of sulfur dioxide analyzed by the analyzing unit 23. Means 24.

  The measurement values obtained by the measurement means 24 are sequentially transmitted to the machine controller 22 via the signal line 19. The machine controller 22 controls the operation of the engine 10 and the like, and incorporates a microcomputer that functions as a control calculation unit.

  Further, the machine controller 22 inputs a measurement value by the measurement means 24 and compares the measurement value with a preset threshold value. When the measurement value exceeds the threshold value in the comparison means 25, the machine controller 22 Fuel identifying means 26 for identifying that fuel other than light oil is used; alarm means 27 for issuing an alarm signal when the fuel identifying means 26 identifies that fuel other than light oil is used; and the alarm When a warning signal is issued by the means 27, there is provided display means (monitor) 28 for displaying that fuel other than light oil is being used.

  Furthermore, the machine controller 22 is provided with a control means 29 that issues a command signal to change the setting of the operation of the engine 10 based on the alarm signal. The command signal issued by the control means 29 includes an engine speed reduction command signal, an engine stop command signal, a pump load reduction command signal, a remote operation change of the engine, a notification command signal, and the like.

  Therefore, when the measured value of sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gas by the measuring means 19 exceeds the threshold value, that is, when fuel other than light oil is used, the control means 29 issues a command signal. The engine 10 is configured to be able to change the rotation speed and the like.

  The machine controller 22 is provided with an antenna (not shown) for wireless communication. In the illustrated example, the alarm means 27 is installed in the machine controller 22, but may be installed in the exhaust gas analyzer 21 instead of the machine controller 22.

  Next, the procedure of the fuel monitoring process according to the present invention will be described. It should be noted that all processing operations from the analysis of the target substance in the exhaust gas to the engine control are automatically executed according to a program incorporated in the machine controller 22 in advance.

  In the present invention, harmful substances such as hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas of the engine 10 are adsorbed and removed by active noble metals incorporated in the exhaust gas aftertreatment device 18. 20 is installed, it is possible to identify or monitor whether or not the fuel used in the fuel tank 11 is light oil at all times or regularly.

  Therefore, when the fuel used is light oil, the operation of the engine 10 is not changed. However, when a fuel other than light oil is used, the exhaust gas contains a large amount of sulfur dioxide (poisonous substances), and therefore fuel monitoring. By using the device 20 to identify the type of fuel and change the operation of the engine 10, unauthorized use of the fuel is immediately prevented or prevented.

  If heavy oil containing a large amount of sulfur dioxide is used as the fuel for the engine 10, now, the sulfur dioxide contained in the exhaust gas is analyzed by the exhaust gas analyzer 21, and the sulfur dioxide content concentration is measured. The measured value by the measuring means 24 is transmitted to the comparing means 25 of the machine controller 22, the measured value is compared with the threshold value, and the result is transmitted to the fuel identifying means 26.

  Thus, when the measured value exceeds the threshold value, the fuel identifying means 26 determines that heavy oil is used illegally as fuel, and at the same time, an alarm signal is issued by the warning means 27 and the heavy oil is Is displayed on the display means 28.

  The alarm signal is transmitted to the control means 29, and based on this, the control means 29 transmits an engine speed reduction command signal, an engine stop command signal, a pump load reduction command signal, a remote operation change of the engine, etc. and a report command signal. Thus, the operation of each drive unit is controlled.

  Accordingly, the engine speed is controlled so as to be equal to or less than a predetermined value by the engine speed reduction command signal, and the engine 10 is operated immediately after the alarm signal is generated or after a predetermined time has elapsed by the engine stop command signal. Is controlled to stop.

  Further, the load (torque) of the hydraulic pump 12 is controlled to be a predetermined value or less by the pump load reduction command signal. In addition, it is controlled to change the remote operation of the engine or the like via the GPS etc. and to give a warning notification by the remote operation change of the engine or the notification command signal. Emergency measures such as impossibility are automatically executed.

  In particular, the identification / monitoring of whether or not fuel other than light oil is illegally used is constantly or regularly monitored by the fuel monitoring device 20, so even if heavy oil or the like is illegally used on the way, The unauthorized use can be reliably detected and grasped.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when fuel other than light oil such as heavy oil is used, the measured value by the exhaust gas analyzer 21 exceeds the threshold value, so that unauthorized use other than the designated fuel can be easily determined.

Thus, the alarm means 27 issues an alarm signal, and the display means 28 can automatically display the alarm state, so that it can be immediately grasped that the fuel used is other than the designated fuel. Further, the operation control (including remote operation control) of the engine 10 or the like is changed based on the alarm signal, for example, the engine speed reduction control or operation stop control, and the load reduction control of the hydraulic pump 12 are instantaneously performed. be able to. In addition, since unauthorized use other than the designated fuel can be identified, it has the advantage that it becomes easy to investigate the cause when the engine 10 breaks down. Furthermore, since use other than diesel oil can be instantly stopped, while maintaining high efficiency engine performance Damage to maintenance parts of the engine 10 can be prevented. For example, deterioration of engine oil, blockage of an oil filter or fuel filter, and corrosion of exhaust system parts can be prevented in advance.

  In the above embodiment, the display means is built in the machine controller, but can be separately installed outside the machine controller.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.

1 is an overall side view of a hydraulic excavator including a fuel monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the fuel monitoring apparatus which concerns on this invention. The block diagram explaining the structural example of the fuel monitoring apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Excavator (construction machine)
4 Upper revolving structure 10 Engine 13 Intake pipe 14 Exhaust pipe 15 Air cleaner 16 Turbocharger 17 Muffler 18 Exhaust gas aftertreatment device 20 Fuel monitoring device 21 Exhaust gas analysis device 22 Machine controller 23 Analysis means 24 Measurement means 25 Comparison means 26 Fuel identification means 27 Alarm Means 28 Display means (mechanical monitor)
29 Control means

Claims (6)

  In a fuel monitoring device for a construction machine equipped with an exhaust gas analyzer in an engine exhaust system, a measuring means for measuring the concentration of poisonous substances such as sulfur dioxide contained in the exhaust gas by the exhaust gas analyzer, A fuel identifying means for determining that fuel other than the designated fuel is being used when the set threshold value is exceeded, and an alarm means for issuing an alarm signal when fuel other than the designated fuel is being used. A fuel monitoring device for construction machinery.   2. The fuel monitoring apparatus for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the fact that the fuel is illegally used is displayed on a display means such as a machine monitor based on the alarm signal.   3. The fuel monitoring device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein a change in remote operation by wireless communication is controlled based on the alarm signal.   4. The fuel monitoring device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the engine speed is decreased based on the alarm signal.   5. The fuel monitoring apparatus for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the load of a hydraulic pump connected to the engine is reduced to a specified value or less based on the alarm signal.   6. The fuel monitoring apparatus for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the engine is stopped immediately after receiving the warning signal or after a lapse of a specified time based on the warning signal.

Images