JPH03141828A - Operating time recorder for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the operating time of an engine or each fitted component correctly by constructing an operating time recorder in such a way as to be operated according to the temperature change of fitted components at the operating time of an engine and record cumulatively the time when the temperature is over the preset level. CONSTITUTION:A temperature sensor 31 is disposed being buried into a cylinder block, or in contact with or in proximity to the cylinder block. This sensor 31 is changed in resistance according to the temperature change of the cylinder block at the operating time of an engine. Voltage corresponding to the measured temperature is applied to a comparator 32 so as to be compared with the reference voltage corresponding to the preset reference temperature level. This comparison data is transmitted to a CPU 33. The CPU 33 is started at timer interruption. At this starting time, the comparison data is read, and when the cylinder block ls over the reference temperature level, the cumulative data of the engine operating time up to the present is called out of an ROM 34 and 1 is added to it. This added result is written as the latest cumulative data into the ROM 34. The CPU 33 further displays this cumulative data at an indicator 36 driven by a display driver 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an operating time recorder for an internal combustion engine suitable for use in marine propulsion devices such as outboard motors and inboard/outboard motors.

[Conventional technology] Conventionally, internal combustion engines such as marine propulsion engines have been equipped with an operating system that records cumulative operating hours in order to manage the manufacturer's performance guarantee period, the user's maintenance period such as oil changes, periodic inspections, etc. Some are equipped with time recording devices.

The present applicant has proposed an operating time recording device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-245382. This operating time recording device connects a recorder to the energizing circuit of a generator attached to an internal combustion engine via a detection lead wire, and uses this recorder to
It is designed to cumulatively record the amount of time the generator is outputting.

[Problem M to be solved by the invention] However, the above prior art has the following problem (2).

■The operating energy for the recorder is obtained from a generator via a detection lead wire, so it is essential to have a detection lead wire.

For this reason, there is a risk that the time summation will be stopped or reset due to intentional or accidental disconnection of the detection wire, making it impossible to know the exact engine usage time.

■Accurately, the recorder records the cumulative operation time of the generator that is linked to the operation of the internal combustion engine, and does not display the usage time of each component that makes up the internal combustion engine. When component parts are replaced during the usage process, it is not possible to accurately know the usage time of each component after replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an operating time recorder that can accurately determine the usage time of an internal combustion engine, and can also accurately determine the usage time of each specific component of the internal combustion engine.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The operating time recorder for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is attached to a component of the internal combustion engine, operates due to a temperature change in the component during engine operation, and detects the temperature of the component. It is designed to cumulatively record the time during which the temperature is above a predetermined level.

[Effect] According to the present invention, there is the following effect (2).

(2) The operating energy of the recorder is based on temperature changes during engine operation of the components of the internal combustion engine to which the recorder is attached. Therefore, the recorder is not accompanied by a detection lead for introducing actuation energy. Therefore, the time accumulation will not be stopped or reset due to intentional or accidental disconnection of the detection wire, and the accurate engine usage time can be determined.

■Since the recorder is attached to a component of an internal combustion engine, it accurately indicates the usage time of the attached component. Therefore, when components are replaced during the use of the internal combustion engine, it is possible to accurately know the usage time of each component after replacement.

[Example] Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an electric operating time recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an electric operating time recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electric operating time recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the electric operating time recorder, and FIG.
This figure is a schematic diagram showing a chemical operating time recorder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side view showing an internal combustion engine for an outboard motor.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 6, an internal combustion engine 10 for an outboard motor is mounted on the top of a propulsion unit 12 while being covered by a cowling 11. The internal combustion engine 10 includes a crankcase 13, a cylinder block 14, and a cylinder head 15 to form an engine body, and includes a carburetor 16 and an intake box 17 connected to the crankcase 13.

The internal combustion engine 10 also includes a Macneto generator 19 around the protruding end of the crankshaft 18 protruding from the engine body, and a starting motor 20 on the side of the crankcase 13.

Furthermore, the internal combustion engine 10 has a C
It includes a DI unit (ignition control device) 21 and an ignition coil 22. 23 is a spark plug.

However, in the internal combustion engine 10, the electric operating time recorder 30 is directly attached to four parts of the cylinder block 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recorder 30 includes a temperature sensor 31 consisting of a thermostat, a comparator 32, a CPU 33, and a ROM 34.
, a display driver 35, a display 36, and a battery 37 are housed in a case 38 fixed to the cylinder block 14.

Here, the temperature sensor 31 is embedded in the cylinder block 14, or is placed in contact with or close to the cylinder block 14, and the temperature sensor 31 is installed in the cylinder block 14 during engine operation.
The resistance changes in accordance with the temperature change in step 4, and a temperature measurement voltage corresponding to this resistance change is applied to the comparator 32.

The comparator 32 compares the temperature measurement voltage according to the resistance value of the temperature sensor 31 based on the current temperature of the cylinder block 14 with a reference voltage corresponding to a predetermined reference temperature level of the cylinder block 14, and stores the comparison data. The information is transmitted to the CPU 33.

The CPU 33 operates as shown in FIG. That is, C.P.
U33 is activated by a timer interrupt, repeats activation and stopping, and when activated, reads the comparison data of the comparator 32 described above, and the CPU 33
When the current temperature of 4 is above the predetermined reference temperature level, the cumulative data of the engine operating time up to the present is called from the ROM 34, °゛l°' is added to this cumulative data, and this addition result is added to the latest cumulative data. It is written to the ROM 34 as data.

Further, the CPU 33 calls up the latest cumulative data written in the ROM 34 and sends this cumulative data to the display driver 3.
The information is displayed on the display 36 driven at 5. As a result, the cumulative operating time of the cylinder block 14 at or above the reference temperature level is displayed on the display 3 as the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10.
6 are cumulatively recorded.

Note that the reference temperature level of the cylinder block 14 mentioned above is, for example, 80°C.

In the internal combustion engine 10, an operating time recorder 30A similar to the recorder 30 is connected to another component, such as a CD.
In this case, the cumulative operating time of the CDI unit 21 at or above the reference temperature level is cumulatively recorded on the display 36 of the recorder 3OA as the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10. Ru.

Note that the reference temperature level of the CDI unit 21 is set lower than the reference temperature level of the cylinder block 14 by the distance from the engine body.

The operation of the first embodiment will be explained below.

■The operating energy of the recorder 30.30A is the recorder 30.
This is based on temperature changes during engine operation of the cylinder block 14 and CDI unit 21, which are components of the internal combustion engine 10 to which the 30A is attached. Therefore, the recorder 30.30A is not accompanied by a detection wire for introducing operating energy. Therefore, the time integration will not be stopped or reset due to intentional or accidental disconnection of the detection lead wire, and accurate engine usage time can be determined.

■The recorder 30.30A is attached to each of the cylinder block 14 and CDI unit 21, which are the component parts of the internal combustion engine 10, so to be more precise, it is attached to the cylinder block 14 or CDI unit 21, which is the component part of the internal combustion engine 10. 6 which displays the usage time. Therefore, when, for example, the CDI unit 21 is replaced during the use of the internal combustion engine 10, the usage time of the replaced CDI unit 21 can be accurately known.

(Second Embodiment) The operating time recorder 40 is an electric type similar to the recorder 30, and is used by being attached to a component of the internal combustion engine 10. The recorder 40, as shown in FIG.
The U43, ROM44, and battery 47 are built into a case 48 that is fixed to the components of the internal combustion engine 10, and (B
) A display driver 45 and a display 46 are built into a portable display section 49.

That is, the recorder 40 operates in substantially the same manner as the recorder 30, and by connecting the display driver terminal of the display section 49 to the CPU terminal of the case 48, the reference of the engine component to which the case 48 is fixed is determined. The cumulative operating time above the temperature level is
The operation time of the internal combustion engine 10 is cumulatively recorded on the display 46.

(Third Embodiment) The operating time recorder 50 is an electric type similar to the recorder 30, and is used by being attached to a component of the internal combustion engine 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the recorder 50 includes (A) a temperature-sensitive switch 51, a CPU 53, a ROM 54, and a battery 57 built into a case 58 fixed to the components of the internal combustion engine 10; It is constructed by incorporating a display driver 55 and a display device 56 into a portable display section 59.

The temperature-sensitive switch 51 is turned on and off using the reference temperature level of the engine component to which it is attached as a threshold, and does not require a comparison circuit.

That is, the recorder 50 operates in substantially the same manner as the recorder 30, and by connecting the display driver terminal of the portable display section 59 to the CPU terminal of the case 58, the recorder 50 operates as an engine component to which the case 58 is fixed. The cumulative operating time at or above the reference temperature level is cumulatively recorded on the display 56 as the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10.

(Fourth Embodiment) An operating time recorder 606 is used by being attached to a component of the internal combustion engine 10. The recorder 60 is a chemical type thermosensitive tape 61 that changes color at a certain temperature or higher, and is attached to the cylinder block 14, for example, and displays the operating time of the internal combustion engine 10 based on the amount of increase in the range of color change.

Similarly to the electric operating time recorder 30, this operating time recorder 60 also: (1) calculates the operating energy based on the temperature change during engine operation of the engine component to which the recorder 60 is attached, and (2) has an engine configuration. Since it is attached to the parts, it is possible to accurately know the usage time of the internal combustion engine in the same way as the electric recorder 30, and it is also possible to accurately know the usage time of each specific component of the internal combustion engine. .

Incidentally, in carrying out the present invention, the reference temperature levels of the engine components may be set in two or more stages. In this case, it is possible to know the engine usage time when the first reference temperature level is, for example, 80°C, and the engine usage time when abnormalities such as overheating occur when the second reference temperature level is, for example, 95°C.
Useful for precise management of institutions.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately know the usage time of an internal combustion engine, and also the usage time of each specific component of the internal combustion engine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an electric single image time recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an electric operating time recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electric operating time recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electric operating time recorder, Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the chemical operating time recorder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electric operating time recorder. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Internal combustion engine, 13... Crank case, 14... Cylinder block, 15... Cylinder head, 21... CDI unit, 22... Ignition coil, 30.30A, 40.50.60 ...Operating time #11! Recorder.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) The operating time of an internal combustion engine that is attached to a component of the internal combustion engine, activates due to temperature changes in the component during engine operation, and cumulatively records the time during which the temperature of the component is above a predetermined level. Recorder.