JP2013083489A - Sensor unit for internal combustion engines and status monitoring device for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor unit for internal combustion engines that can dispense with wiring from outside an internal combustion engine to a position to be monitored.SOLUTION: A sensor unit for an internal combustion engine X to be fitted to one or another of constituent parts of the internal combustion engine comprises a vibration power generator element 38 that generates electric power by utilizing the vibration occurring during the operation of the internal combustion engine, a strain gauge 39 (one example of detector) driven by the power generated by the vibration power generator element 38 to detect statuses (including temperature, pressure, strain, vibration and oil mist concentration) of the internal combustion engine, a controller 37 driven by the power generated by the vibration power generator element 38 to transmit the result of detection by the strain gauge 39 by wireless communication, and an antenna 41.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor unit for an internal combustion engine having various sensors for detecting the state of the internal combustion engine and a state monitoring device for the internal combustion engine.

  In general, an internal combustion engine is provided with various sensors for detecting temperature, pressure, strain, vibration, or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). And the monitoring apparatus of an internal combustion engine monitors the driving | running state of an internal combustion engine, the presence or absence of abnormality, etc. based on the detection result by various sensors. Here, since electric power is required for the operation of the sensors, each of the sensors is wired to the monitoring device by wiring. The power supply from the monitoring device to each sensor and the transmission of the detection result from each sensor to the monitoring device are performed through the wiring. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which a battery and a sensor that operates with electric power supplied from the battery are provided in a tire, and a detection result of the sensor is wirelessly notified.

JP-A-6-137164 JP 2000-355203 A

  However, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires a battery to be provided near the sensor, it is not preferable to use the battery in an internal combustion engine where replacement of the battery is not easy. Further, in the configuration in which the monitoring device and the sensor are connected by wiring, there is a problem that the wiring work and wiring processing are complicated. In this respect, particularly in a large-sized internal combustion engine used for marine engines and land engines, the wiring distance becomes long, so that the problem appears remarkably. Furthermore, there is also a problem that a state such as temperature, pressure, strain, or vibration cannot be monitored at a location where it is difficult to arrange a sensor from the viewpoint of securing a wiring path in the internal combustion engine. For example, a sensor cannot be disposed on a rotating body such as a crankshaft that rotates during operation of an internal combustion engine because wiring is twisted during the rotating operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sensor unit and an internal combustion engine for an internal combustion engine that can omit wiring from the outside of the internal combustion engine to a monitoring target location. It is to provide a state monitoring apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a sensor unit for an internal combustion engine attached to a component part of the internal combustion engine, and includes the following components (1) to (3).
(1) One or a plurality of vibration power generation elements that generate power using vibrations generated during operation of the internal combustion engine.
(2) One or a plurality of detection units that operate by the electric power generated by the vibration power generation element and detect the state of the internal combustion engine. Here, the state of the internal combustion engine includes, for example, temperature, vibration, strain, pressure, displacement, oil mist concentration, etc. of components such as a crankshaft provided in the internal combustion engine. Further, the state of the internal combustion engine includes the exhaust pipe, the crank chamber, the air supply pipe, and the internal temperature or internal pressure of the cylinder.
(3) A wireless communication unit that operates by the electric power generated by the vibration power generation element and transmits the detection result of the detection unit by wireless communication.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a sensor unit for an internal combustion engine that is attached to a component of the internal combustion engine, and includes the following components (11) to (13). Good.
(11) One or a plurality of thermoelectric generators that generate electricity using heat generated during operation of the internal combustion engine.
(12) One or a plurality of detection units that operate by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator and detect the state of the internal combustion engine. Here, the state of the internal combustion engine includes, for example, the temperature, distortion, and vibration of components such as a crankshaft provided in the internal combustion engine, as well as the environmental temperature, environmental humidity, oil mist concentration, etc. in the internal combustion engine. included. Further, the state of the internal combustion engine includes the exhaust pipe, the crank chamber, the air supply pipe, and the internal temperature or internal pressure of the cylinder.
(13) A wireless communication unit that operates by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator and transmits the detection result of the detection unit by wireless communication.

  In the sensor unit for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention, the vibration power generation element or the thermoelectric power generation element attached to the component generates power using vibration or heat during operation of the internal combustion engine. And the said detection part and the said radio | wireless communication part operate | move with the electric power generated with the said vibration electric power generation element or the said thermoelectric power generation element. Thereby, the said detection part can detect the state of the said internal combustion engine. In addition, the wireless communication unit can transmit the detection result by the detection unit to the outside by the wireless communication unit. Therefore, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to supply electric power from the outside of the internal combustion engine, wiring from the outside to the monitoring target portion can be omitted.

Furthermore, since no wiring is required, the degree of freedom of the arrangement position of the sensor unit for the internal combustion engine in the internal combustion engine is high, and in the past, it was difficult to arrange the detection unit from the viewpoint of securing the wiring path. Information regarding various states such as temperature, pressure, strain, vibration, or oil mist concentration can be obtained. Specifically, a rotating body such as a crankshaft that rotates during the operation of the internal combustion engine twists the wiring during the rotation operation, and thus sensors cannot be arranged by wire. Therefore, the present invention is suitable when the component is a rotating body that is rotationally driven in the internal combustion engine. The component may be a bearing of the rotating body. Furthermore, the component may be a coupling attached to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and a load of the internal combustion engine. Further, a configuration may be considered that includes power storage means for storing the power generated by the vibration power generation element or the thermoelectric power generation element and supplying the stored power to the detection unit and the wireless communication unit. As a result, the detection unit and the wireless communication unit can be operated as long as the electric power stored in the power storage unit remains even after the operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped.
By the way, the present invention includes one or a plurality of the sensor units attached to the components of the internal combustion engine, a receiving unit that receives the detection result transmitted from the wireless communication unit of each of the sensor units, and the receiving unit. A state monitoring device for an internal combustion engine comprising: a state monitoring unit that performs abnormality determination according to the received detection result; and a monitoring unit that includes an external output unit that outputs the determination result by the state monitoring unit to the outside You may catch it. By using such a state monitoring device, for example, it is possible to detect an abnormality of each bearing early due to damage of the bearing, for example, or to detect an explosion accident due to a large amount of oil mist, while omitting the wiring to the sensor unit. This can be prevented beforehand. Further, for example, when the sensor unit is attached to the coupling, the detection unit detects the occurrence of combustion failure (for example, misfire) of a specific cylinder in the internal combustion engine or the deterioration of the rubber material constituting the coupling. It is also possible to make a determination based on the detection result and to prevent a coupling breakage caused by these.

  According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to supply electric power from the outside of the internal combustion engine, the connection from the outside to the monitoring target location can be omitted.

1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a marine diesel engine 10. It is the principal part schematic diagram which expanded a part of crankshaft 12 of the diesel engine 10 for ships. It is an example of the block diagram which shows schematic structure of the sensor unit X which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a sensor unit X for an internal combustion engine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and the present embodiment can be modified without changing the gist of the present invention.

  A sensor unit X for an internal combustion engine according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the diesel engine 10 shown in FIG. 1 (an example of the internal combustion engine of the present invention).

  A diesel engine 10 (hereinafter, abbreviated as “engine 10”) is configured by arranging a plurality of cylinders in series or in parallel. The engine 10 mainly includes the same number of cylinders (not shown) as the number of cylinders, a cylinder head 16 disposed at the top of the cylinders, a piston 11 supported so as to be able to reciprocate vertically along the cylinders, and an output shaft. 15, a crankshaft 12 connected to 15, a connecting rod 13 for changing the reciprocating motion of each piston 11 into a rotational motion of the crankshaft 12 (an example of a rotating body), and a cam for opening and closing a cylinder intake / exhaust valve. A camshaft (not shown), a supercharger 14 forcibly sending air to the cylinder, an air cooler (not shown) for cooling the air sent from the supercharger 14 to the cylinder, And a fuel injection pump (not shown) for supplying the fuel.

  The cylinder head 16 is provided with a fuel injection valve and a fuel injection valve nozzle. When the plunger is driven by the cam of the camshaft, the fuel injection pump pumps fuel to the fuel injection valve through the fuel pipe. When the fuel pressure rises above the closing pressure of the fuel injector, fuel is sprayed from the fuel injector nozzle into the cylinder. The engine 10 is used, for example, as an application for supplying rotational power to a power generation motor in a ship, or as an application for rotating a propeller shaft of a ship. For example, the engine 10 is a large diesel engine having an engine output of several hundred kW to several thousand kW.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a main part in which a part of the crankshaft 12 of the engine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is enlarged. As shown in FIG. 2, the crankshaft 12 includes a crank journal 121, crank arms 122 and 123, a crank pin 124, and the like. Each of the crank arms 122 and 123 connects a crank journal 121 and a crank pin 124. The crank journal 121 is rotatably supported by a journal metal (not shown) in a crank chamber in which the crankshaft 12 is disposed. The crankpin 124 is rotatably supported by a crankpin metal (not shown) provided in a grip 131 formed at the lower end of the connecting rod 13. The journal metal and the crankpin metal are radial bearings.

  A sensor unit X is attached to each of the crank journal 121, the crank arms 122 and 123, and the crank pin 124 of the crankshaft 12 (an example of a component) of the engine 10. For example, the sensor unit X is joined to the outer peripheral surface of the crank journal 121. Also, the sensor unit X is joined to the outer peripheral surface of each of the crank arms 122 and 123. The sensor unit X is joined by various joining methods such as adhesive, welding, or screwing. On the other hand, a sensor unit X is built in the crankpin 124. Of course, for example, the sensor unit X may be built in the crank journal 121 and the crank arms 122 and 123. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the sensor unit X is attached to each part of the crankshaft 12 will be described as an example. However, the sensor unit X may be attached to other components of the engine 10. Good. For example, the sensor unit X can be attached to a rotating body that is rotationally driven in the engine 10 such as the crankshaft 12 or a bearing of the rotating body. The sensor unit X can also be attached to a coupling that is provided on the output shaft 15 of the engine 10 and connects the output shaft 15 and a load such as a generator. In addition, the sensor unit X can be attached to components such as an engine frame and a connecting rod.

Next, the configuration and operation of the sensor unit X will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring device 45 (an example of a monitoring unit) that monitors the internal combustion engine 10 and a sensor unit X. Here, a system including the monitoring device 45 and the sensor unit X is an example of the state monitoring device of the present invention.
First, as shown in FIG. 3, the monitoring device 45 includes a control unit 47 such as a CPU, a ROM 48, a RAM 49, a data storage unit 50 that is a large-capacity storage medium such as an HDD, and an input unit 51 such as a keyboard. A computer (electronic computer) including a monitor 52 such as a liquid crystal display, a communication I / F 53 (an example of a receiving unit) that communicates with the outside, and an antenna 54 for wireless communication with the sensor unit X is there. Specific examples of the monitoring device 45 include a monitoring device using a control device mounted on the engine 10 or a personal computer installed separately. The monitoring device 45 may be a control device mounted on the engine 10 or an electric circuit board that can be mounted in a slot of a personal computer.

  The monitoring device 45 is arranged in an area where radio waves transmitted from all sensor units X attached to the components of the engine 10 can be caught. When the monitoring device 45 catches the radio wave from the sensor unit X by the communication I / F 53, the control unit 47 acquires detection result information described later included in the radio wave and stores it in the data storage unit 50. At this time, the detection result information received by the monitoring device 45 is stored in the data storage unit 50 as a database. Specifically, the detection result information is stored in the data storage unit 50 in a state in which the time (for example, ms unit) received by the monitoring device 45 is associated. The user can browse the detection result information stored in the data storage unit 50 on the monitor 52 or output it to a printer (not shown) by operating the monitoring device 45 using the input unit 51. .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor unit X includes a control unit 37 such as a small CPU, a vibration power generation element 38, a strain gauge 39, a power storage element 40, an antenna 41, and the like. The control unit 37 performs wireless communication with the monitoring device 45 using the antenna 41. Here, the control unit 37 and the antenna 41 are an example of the wireless communication unit of the present invention. These electronic components are housed in a housing such as a resin case or an aluminum case.

The vibration power generation element 38 generates power using so-called environmental vibration. In the present embodiment, the vibration power generation element 38 receives vibration energy generated during operation of the engine 10 and generates electric power.
The vibration power generation element 38 is of an electrostatic induction type. As an element for generating electric power using vibration energy, an electromagnetic induction type or a piezoelectric type is known in addition to an electrostatic induction type such as the vibration power generation element 38. An electrostatic induction type power generation element such as the vibration power generation element 38 is conventionally known as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-136598, and therefore, detailed description of the structure thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a configuration in which the sensor unit X includes a vibration power generation element 38 that generates power using vibration generated when the engine 10 is operated. A configuration including a thermoelectric generator that generates electricity using heat generated during operation is also conceivable. Of course, a configuration in which both the vibration power generation element 38 and the thermoelectric generation element are provided and the sensor unit X is operated by using the power generated by one or both of them can be considered.

  The strain gauge 39 detects strain (an example of the state of the internal combustion engine) of the crankshaft 12 that is a detection target portion (installation portion) to which the sensor unit X is attached. The detection result of the strain gauge 39 is input to the control unit 37. The sensor included in the sensor unit X is not limited to the strain gauge 39 and may be any sensor that detects the state of the engine 10. For example, the sensor unit X detects a temperature sensor that detects temperature, a vibration sensor that detects vibration, a pressure sensor that detects pressure, a displacement sensor that detects displacement, or an oil mist concentration (oil mist generation amount). It is conceivable to have an oil mist concentration sensor or the like. Specifically, the sensor unit X detects the temperature and vibration of the component itself such as the crankshaft 12 provided in the engine 10, and the environmental temperature, environmental humidity, oil mist concentration, etc. around the component in the engine 10. It is conceivable to have various sensors. In addition, the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor are, for example, an exhaust pipe, a crank chamber, an air supply pipe, an internal temperature (water temperature, oil temperature, air temperature, etc.) and an internal pressure (water pressure, hydraulic pressure) of components of the cylinder provided in the engine 10. , Pressure, etc.). Note that the displacement amount sensor detects, for example, the displacement of the amount of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil tank in the engine 10. It is also conceivable that the sensor unit X has a plurality of sensors having different detection contents (temperature, pressure, strain, vibration, displacement, oil mist concentration, etc.). The strain gauge 39 and the temperature sensor, pressure sensor, vibration sensor, displacement sensor, oil mist concentration sensor, etc., which are replaced with the strain gauge 39, operate on the electric power generated by the vibration power generation element 38 and display the detection result. It is conceivable that the display portion is included. Further, the monitoring device 45 determines whether or not the detection result information acquired from the sensor unit X indicates that an abnormality has occurred, and if it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, for example, a monitor display or lamp Notification (output) is made by a display, a bell, or a buzzer. In this case, the ROM 48, the RAM 49, the data storage unit 50, etc. may be omitted. That is, the monitoring device 45 may be a communication I / F 53 that performs wireless communication, an electric circuit including only the antenna 54 and the control unit 47. It is also conceivable that the monitoring device 45 outputs an abnormality determination result to another state monitoring device provided outside.

  The power storage element 40 stores electric charges, and is, for example, a capacitor or a storage battery. A rectifier circuit (not shown) that rectifies the voltage is provided between the vibration power generation element 38 and the power storage element 40. The power storage element 40 is used as a power source of the sensor unit X when the engine 10 is stopped, that is, when the vibration power generation element 38 is stopped. Therefore, for example, when it is not necessary to drive the sensor unit X when the engine 10 is stopped, the power storage element 40 may have a small capacity. A configuration in which the storage element 40 is omitted if the generated current is sufficient is also conceivable. In the configuration in which the power storage element 40 is not provided, power is directly supplied from the vibration power generation element 38 to the control unit 37 and the sensor 39.

  In the sensor unit X configured as described above, the vibration power generation element 38 generates electric power due to vibration generated during operation of the engine 10. Then, the electric power generated by the vibration power generation element 38 is supplied to the control unit 37 and the strain gauge 39 via the power storage element 40. As a result, the control unit 37 and the strain gauge 39 operate by receiving the electric power supplied from the vibration power generation element 38. Specifically, the strain gauge 39 detects the strain of the crankshaft 12 that is the mounting position, and inputs detection result information (detection result data) indicating the detection result to the control unit 37. Then, the control unit 37 generates a radio wave having a predetermined frequency necessary for wireless communication, places the detection result information input from the strain gauge 39 on the radio wave, and transmits the detection result information from the antenna 41 by wireless communication. Even if the vibration is stopped by stopping the operation of the engine 10, the sensor unit X operates thereafter until the electric charge of the power storage element 40 is exhausted.

  As described above, since the sensor unit X operates using the power generated by the built-in vibration power generation element 38, the power from the outside to the component that is the mounting position of the sensor unit X in the engine 10 Wiring for supply and the like can be omitted. Therefore, the sensor unit X can also be attached to a component that rotates during operation of the engine 10, such as the crankshaft 12, and the temperature, pressure, strain, vibration in the engine 10 at the position of the component. In addition, various states such as oil mist concentration can be detected and transmitted. Therefore, the monitoring device 45 can acquire and manage various data regarding the state in the engine 10 at the position of the components such as the crankshaft 12 that has been difficult to monitor.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the sensor unit X has one vibration power generation element 38 has been described. On the other hand, a configuration in which the sensor unit X includes a plurality of vibration power generation elements 38 is also conceivable. In this case, the vibration power generation elements 38 may be connected in series or in parallel so that the sensor unit X can obtain a necessary voltage value or current value.

  Furthermore, when the sensor unit X includes a plurality of vibration power generation elements 38, it is desirable that the vibration power generation elements 38 are arranged so that the vibration directions serving as power generation conditions are different. Specifically, when the vibration power generation element 38 is of an electrostatic induction type that generates electricity by relatively sliding two substrates arranged opposite to each other in a predetermined direction, the slide in the sensor unit X It is conceivable to arrange the two vibration power generation elements 38 so that the directions are orthogonal to each other. Thus, if the two vibration power generation elements 38 are connected in series or in parallel, even if the direction of vibration acting on the sensor unit X is biased, power is generated by any one of the vibration power generation elements 38. Can do. In this respect, as the number of the vibration power generation elements 38 is increased, it is possible to cope with various vibration directions.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the strain gauge 39 is used has been described as an example. On the other hand, in a configuration including a vibration sensor that detects vibration instead of the strain gauge 39, the vibration power generation element 38 may also serve as the function of the vibration sensor. Specifically, the control unit 37 indicates that the abnormal vibration has occurred on the condition that the amount of power generated by the vibration power generation element 38 is equal to or greater than the power value corresponding to the predetermined abnormal vibration amount. A configuration for wireless transmission from 41 is conceivable. As a result, when the vibration power generation element 38 senses a vibration that is greater than or equal to the abnormal vibration amount, this is notified to the monitoring device 45, so that the function of monitoring whether or not abnormal vibration has occurred is provided without separately providing a vibration sensor. Can be fulfilled. It is also conceivable that the control unit 37 derives a vibration amount according to the amount of electric power input from the vibration power generation element 38 and transmits the vibration amount from the antenna 41 by wireless communication.

  In the above-described embodiment, the main engine or the auxiliary engine 10 mounted on the ship is illustrated as an example of the internal combustion engine. Even if it is a large-sized diesel engine, a gas engine, or a gas turbine for generators used for the present invention, the present invention can be applied to this component.

10: Diesel engine 37: Control unit 38: Vibration power generation element 39: Strain gauge 40: Power storage element 41: Antenna 45: Monitoring device 47: Control unit 48: ROM
49: RAM
50: Data storage unit 51: Input unit 52: Monitor 53: Communication I / F
54: Antenna X: Sensor unit

Claims (5)

A sensor unit for an internal combustion engine attached to a component of the internal combustion engine,
One or a plurality of vibration power generation elements that generate power using vibration generated during operation of the internal combustion engine;
One or a plurality of detection units that operate by the electric power generated by the vibration power generation element to detect the state of the internal combustion engine;
A wireless communication unit that operates by power generated by the vibration power generation element and transmits a detection result of the detection unit by wireless communication;
A sensor unit for an internal combustion engine, comprising: A sensor unit for an internal combustion engine attached to a component of the internal combustion engine,
One or more thermoelectric generators for generating electric power using thermal energy generated during operation of the internal combustion engine;
One or a plurality of detectors that operate by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric generator and detect the state of the internal combustion engine;
A wireless communication unit that operates by power generated by the thermoelectric generator and transmits a detection result of the detection unit by wireless communication;
A sensor unit for an internal combustion engine, comprising:   3. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the component is a rotating body that is rotationally driven in the internal combustion engine, a bearing of the rotating body, or a coupling that is attached to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine. Sensor unit.   The sensor unit for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the state of the internal combustion engine is a temperature, vibration, strain, pressure, displacement amount, or oil mist generation amount of an installation portion of the detection unit. One or more sensor units attached to components of an internal combustion engine, according to any of claims 1 to 4,
A receiving unit that receives the detection result transmitted from the wireless communication unit of each of the sensor units, a state monitoring unit that performs abnormality determination according to the detection result received by the receiving unit, and a determination by the state monitoring unit A monitoring unit having an external output unit for outputting the results to the outside;
A state monitoring device for an internal combustion engine comprising:

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