Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
  • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
  • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
  • G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
  • G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
  • G01N21/6428—Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes"
  • G01N2021/6439—Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/25—Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands
  • G01N21/31—Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device and a method for the automatic detection of at least one fluorescent and / or light-absorbing indicator contained in a liquid operating fluid during the filling process of the operating fluid into a machine.
• Liquid operating fluids in the sense of the present application are in particular lubricating oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil and similar operating fluids.
• the quality of a fuel is also decisive for determining the fuel change interval.
• Modern motor vehicles already have on-board computers that calculate or adjust the oil change intervals depending on various operating parameters.
• the quality of the lubricating oil filled in cannot be taken into account automatically.
• No. 6,274,381 B1 proposes to use two or more visible dyes in a fuel, the absorption maxima of which lie at different wavelengths. If a sample of such a marked fuel is placed in a suitable laboratory device, the indicator can be determined. According to US Pat. No. 6,274,381 B1, a light source is used for this and the absorption caused by the indicators is determined.
• the object of the present invention is to enable an automatic detection of the identity of an operating material contained in a machine.
• a device for the automatic detection of at least one fluorescent and / or light-absorbing indicator contained in a liquid fuel during the filling process of the fuel into a machine, in particular the engine of a vehicle with a filler tube for the fuel which the operating material to be filled enters the operating material supply of the machine, a measuring section formed by a light-permeable material, which is at least partially filled or flowed through with the operating material when the operating material is filled into the filler pipe, at least one light source which radiates onto the measuring section, a light receiving device, strikes the light which passes through the operating fluid as it flows through the measuring section and / or which emanates from the indicator due to a fluorescence effect, and at least one of the strength of the light receiving device t incident light dependent measurement signal is generated, and with an evaluation unit, in which the device is caught evaluated at least one measuring signal of the Lichtemp-.
• the design according to the invention makes it possible for the first time to automatically determine a liquid operating material, in particular its identity or quality, when it is filled into a machine.
• the invention has recognized that commonly used operating materials have areas with a significantly reduced absorption in their absorption spectrum. It has been found for lubricating oils that there is no or a reduced absorption in the range from 500 to 1000 nm, and these areas are therefore particularly suitable for marking with indicators. In the range above 500 nm, excitation of the fluorescence indicators is possible, since the excitation light is not or hardly absorbed by the operating fluid. Likewise, the light emitted by the fluorescence indicator in the range above 500 nm can also be determined particularly well, since the absorption of the operating medium does not or only slightly influences the measurement result.
• dyes in particular fluorescent dyes
• the device according to the invention has a measuring section formed by a translucent material, which is at least partially filled or flowed through with the operating material when the operating material is filled into the machine.
• the indicator or indicators and their concentration can be measured.
• the resulting measurement signal is then further processed by an evaluation unit. For example, it is possible to compare the measurement signals with data previously stored in an evaluation matrix, and in this way to obtain information about the filled operating fluid in the machine.
• the light receiving device has at least two light sensors, which have mutually different frequency ranges and each generate a measurement signal.
• a plurality of indicators can be measured by the device according to the invention.
• different concentration thresholds of the indicators can be determined, there are a multitude of coding possibilities. When using two indicators and four concentration levels, there are already 16 coding options. When using three dyes and four concentration levels, this number increases to 64 and increases when using four indicators to 256 coding possibilities.
• the light source and the light receiving device are aligned with the measurement section and are arranged at an angle of 0 to 170 degrees around the measurement section.
• the light source and light receiving device are particularly advantageously arranged at an angle of 30 to 140, in particular 60 to 120 degrees. In this way, a particularly good measurement signal is achieved when using fluorescent dyes.
• the filler pipe in the flow direction in front of the measuring section has a section which opens into the measuring section and has a reduced cross-section.
• This reduction in cross section is arranged in particular above the measuring section, it being sufficient if only a partial flow of the filled operating material passes through the measuring section.
• the measuring section is designed as a measuring tube which opens directly or indirectly into the operating fluid supply of the machine.
• a further improvement is achieved in that several light sources are provided which radiate in frequency ranges which differ from one another, as a result of which the detection of different indicators is facilitated.
• the light sources are formed by LEDs and / or laser diodes with different wavelengths.
• the invention also relates to a machine, in particular an engine of a vehicle, with a device having the aforementioned features.
• the present invention also provides a method for automatically detecting at least one fluorescent or light-absorbing indicator contained in a liquid operating fluid during the process of filling the operating fluid into a machine, in particular an engine of a vehicle, with the following steps:
• the signal resulting from the evaluation of the measurement signals can continue to be used in the machine.
• the identity or other information about the fuel that has been filled in can be determined automatically and processed automatically, for example in the on-board computer.
• the machine could be prevented from starting or the operating range could be restricted so that no damage is to be feared.
• the fuel change interval is calculated or adjusted depending on the fuel loaded.
• the at least one indicator is a fluorescent dye which is excited by the light source in the measuring section to produce fluorescent radiation, the fluorescent radiation forming at least part of the light captured by the light receiving device.
• the operating material contains at least two indicators acting in different frequency ranges and that the indicators, in particular their concentration, are detected by at least two sensors of the light receiving device that are sensitive in the different frequency ranges.
• the measurement signal or signals generated by the light receiving device correlate with the concentration of the at least one indicator in the operating material.
• one of the indicators of the operating material forms a reference indicator, on the basis of which the light receiving device generates a reference signal.
• the evaluation of the measurement signals can be facilitated in this way.
• the evaluation unit evaluates the at least one measurement signal based on the ratio of the strength of the at least one measurement signal to the strength of the reference signal. In this way, even under changing conditions, e.g. changing degree of filling of the measuring section with operating fluid, the concentrations of the indicators contained in the operating fluid are reliably determined. It is sufficient to determine the ratio of the indicators by comparing the measurement signal (s) with the reference signal.
• the evaluation is particularly simple when the reference indicator is always present in a constant concentration.
• a further improvement is achieved in that the evaluation unit assigns a quality signal to the at least one measurement signal. This can be done, for example, by comparing the Specific concentration levels of the various indicators are carried out using a table or value matrix in which combinations of the concentration levels of indicators are assigned specific qualities or other information about the operating fluid.
• the evaluation unit can be integrated, for example, in the on-board computer of a motor vehicle.
• a further improvement is achieved if the quality signal is used for the automatic determination of the time for the next fuel metabolism. In this way, the quality and origin of the filled operating fluid can be taken into account for the first time in the calculation or adjustment of the service interval or operating material change.
• Figure 1 A schematic representation of a device according to the invention
• Figure 2 The absorption spectra of various lubricating oils.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a device for automatically detecting at least one in a liquid operating fluid. indicator held during the process of filling the operating fluid into a machine.
• the device has a filling tube 1 for the operating material to fill in the operating material.
• a filling tube 1 for the operating material to fill in the operating material.
• any component which enables or facilitates the filling process of operating material into the machine is to be regarded as a filling pipe, regardless of its cross-sectional shape or the ratio of diameter and length.
• the filler tube can in particular be round or angular.
• the elongated filler pipe 1 has a circular cross section.
• the filler pipe of the device is designed and arranged in such a way that the filled operating material passes through the filler pipe 1 directly or indirectly into the working material supply 12, for example the oil pan of the machine.
• the device also has a measuring section 2 formed by a translucent material. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this is formed by a tube section consisting, for example, of clear plastic or glass.
• the measuring section 2 is at least partially filled or flowed through when filling the operating material into the filler pipe 1. It is sufficient if only a part of the filled operating fluid flows through the measuring section 2 for measuring purposes.
• the device according to the invention has a light source 3, which radiates onto the measuring section 2 and is directed onto the latter.
• the light emerging from the light source 3 can be a bundled beam 4, which is focused in particular on the center of the measuring section 2.
• the device according to the invention also has a light receiving device 5. This is struck by light which passes through the operating fluid as it flows through the measuring section 2 and / or emits the operating fluid due to a fluorescence effect (light 14).
• the light receiving device 5 shown has two light sensors 6, 7. These have different frequency ranges. The maxima of the spectral sensitivity of the light sensors 6, 7 are different and adapted to the indicators used. In this way, the presence and / or the concentration of an indicator in the operating material can be determined by one light sensor 6, 7 each. In addition to the two sensors shown, further sensors can also be provided, although a single sensor can also be sufficient according to the invention.
• the light receiving device 5 generates, in particular, a plurality of measurement signals by means of the light sensors 6, 7. 1 shows a measurement signal 8 from the light sensor 6 and a measurement signal 9 from the light sensor 7.
• PIN diodes can be used as sensors 6, 7 of the light receiving device 5.
• the light receiving device 5 also has a beam splitter 11, by means of which incoming light is distributed uniformly to the light sensors 6, 7.
• FIG. 1 also shows an evaluation unit 10 in which the at least one measurement signal 8, 9 of the light receiving device 5 is evaluated.
• the light source 3 and the light receiving device 5 are aligned with the measuring section 2 of the filler pipe 1 of the machine and are arranged at an angle of 0 to 170 degrees around the measuring section 2. This has an angle of 30 to 140 degrees, preferably 60 to 120 degrees especially proven. If the indicators and their concentration in the operating material are not to be determined by fluorescence measurement but by absorption measurement, the light receiving device 5 is arranged directly opposite the light source 3, in particular at an angle ⁇ of 180 ° to the latter.
• the filler pipe 1 has a section 15 with a reduction in cross section, which is arranged upstream of the measuring section 2 in the flow direction. Due to the narrowing of the cross-section, the measuring section can be completely filled with the operating fluid.
• the light sources can be formed particularly simply by LEDs and / or laser diodes.
• the LEDs or laser diodes can have different wavelengths.
• the device shown in FIG. 1 is also integrated into a machine, in particular an engine of a vehicle.
• One, preferably two or more different fluorescent dyes are added to the operating materials as indicators.
• a concentration in the range of 10 " 7 to 10" 9 mol is sufficient for this. However, higher concentrations, in particular up to 10 -4 mol, can also be used.
• Oil-soluble dyes from the group of the coumarins, fluoresceins, rhodamines, oxazines and carbocyanines or their oil-soluble modifications can be used as fluorescent dyes. Because of the low concentration of indicators In the operating materials, the intended properties of the operating materials are not influenced or only influenced to a minor extent. The dye cannot be seen with the eye because it is added in very low concentrations.
• non-fluorescent dyes for example diazo dyes
• oil-soluble dyes are used, in particular fluorescent dyes with emission maxima in the range from 500 nm to 1000 nm.
• the indicators used are detected during the filling process by excitation from the light sources 3, for example LEDs or laser diodes, in different wavelength ranges which are matched to the dyes used.
• the motor oils can be excited, for example, at 370, 490 and / or 570 to 590 nm.
• the light receiving device then collects light.
• light 14 emitted by the indicator due to the fluorescence effect is collected. If non-fluorescent dyes are used, the light that passes through the operating material is used.
• the sensors 5, 6 of the light receiving device 5 each generate a measurement signal 8, 9 which reproduce the intensity of the light 14 striking the light receiving device 5. Accordingly, the presence and the concentration of the indicators in the fuel can be determined by the evaluation unit 10 on the basis of the measurement signals 8, 9.
• a comparison is made with comparison values stored in a table.
• the identity of the filled operating fluid is determined and a quality signal is generated. This makes it possible to automatically detect the identity of the filled operating material or some other information about it and to process the information obtained in this way by machine.
• the information about the filled operating fluid can be used to calculate oil change intervals.
• the operation of the machine can be prevented or the operating range can be restricted if an operating fluid with a lower specification than the recommended one is filled.
• the evaluation is made possible in that the measurement signals 8, 9 generated by the light receiving device 5 correlate with the concentration of the at least one indicator in the operating material.
• one of the indicators or dyes of the operating material forms a reference indicator.
• the idea behind this is to provide the reference indicator either in a changing or in a constant concentration in the operating fluid. If, for example, the light sensor 6 detects the reference indicator, the resulting measurement signal 8 forms the reference signal.
• the light sensor 7, detects a further indicator of the operating fluid and generates a measurement signal 9 that depends on the concentration of this indicator in the operating fluid of the indicators are determined. This can also take place under changing measuring conditions, for example when the measuring section 2 is not completely filled with fuel. In this way, a good measurement result can be achieved under difficult or changing conditions, for example even without a section 15 with a cross-sectional constriction.
• the indicators are detected when fresh oil is poured into the machine, so that decomposition products, contamination or chemical changes in the oil cannot influence the detection process.
• Figure 2 shows the measured absorption spectra of a variety of different engine oils. The measurements clearly show that the absorption in the range between approximately 350 and 400 nm decreases very sharply for all products on loan. From a wavelength range of approximately 500 nm, there is only a very low absorption, which is less than a quarter of that at 300 nm. For most motor oils, the fluorescence is even significantly lower. It is therefore advantageous according to the invention to use fluorescent dyes which absorb and emit in the wavelength range from 500 nm to 1000 nm.
• the operating fluid motor oil is provided with two fluorescent dyes in specified concentrations, one of which has an emission maximum at 550 nm and the other has an emission maximum of 650 nm.
• the light source 3 is accordingly equipped with two LEDs that emit at 490 nm or 570 to 590 nm.
• the fluorescence caused by the indicators is detected spectrally separated by means of the beam splitter 11 and various filters by two sensors 6, 7, which are designed as semiconductor detectors.
• Different engine oils are marked by different dye mixture ratios of, for example, 1:10, 2: 10, 3: 10 etc. or 10: 1, 10: 2 etc. Accordingly, the engine oils can be clearly identified on the basis of the different measurement signal ratios of 0, 1, 0.2, 0.3 to 10 measured at the two detectors 6, 7. In this example there are 19 coding options.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-06-04 DE DE10325537A patent/DE10325537B4/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-05-25 DE DE502004002631T patent/DE502004002631D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-05-25 JP JP2006508200A patent/JP4794434B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-05-25 US US10/559,552 patent/US7466400B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-05-25 WO PCT/EP2004/005603 patent/WO2004109265A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2004-05-25 EP EP04734681A patent/EP1629265B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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