Monitoring apparatus, as well as monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine

• US 20120062894A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waertsilae Schweiz AG
• Original Assignee: Waertsilae Schweiz AG
• Inventors: Micali, Francesco, Stark, Matthias, Weber, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/436
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/08 Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant jetting means
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/022 for lubricating cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/14 for indicating the necessity to change the oil
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1406 by considering acidity
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1413 by considering dielectric properties
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1453 by considering oil quantity
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/146 by considering moisture level
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1473 by considering temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1493 by considering total base number [TBN]
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/30 Dialectricum
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/32 Inductive
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/34 Transparency; Light; Photo sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/042 by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/22 Fuels; Explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

The invention relates to a measurement device (10), to a measurement method, to a monitoring apparatus (1) and a monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) including a cylinder (3) having a cylinder cover (4) and a running surface (51) provided at a cylinder wall (5) of the cylinder (3), in which cylinder (3) a piston (6) is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction (A) along the running surface (51) between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston (6), the cylinder cover (4) and the cylinder wall (5) form a combustion space (7) in the cylinder (3) for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device (8) is provided for the collection of lubrication oil (9) from the cylinder (3) so that a predetermined measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is suppliable from the cylinder (3) to a measurement device (10). In accordance with the invention the measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is directly supplied from the running surface (51) of the cylinder (3) and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space (7) and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston (6) to the oil collection device (8).

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) including a cylinder (3) having a cylinder cover (4) and a running surface (51) provided at a cylinder wall (5) of the cylinder (3), in which cylinder (3) a piston (6) is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction (A) along the running surface (51) between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston (6), the cylinder cover (4) and the cylinder wall (5) form a combustion space (7) in the cylinder (3) for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device (8) is provided for the collection of lubrication oil (9) from the cylinder (3) so that a predetermined measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is suppliable from the cylinder (3) to a measurement device (10), characterized in that the measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is directly suppliable from the running surface (51) of the cylinder (3) and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space (7) and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston (6) to the oil collection device (8).

2. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection opening (81) which is provided at the cylinder wall (5) between the bottom dead center of the piston (6) and the cylinder cover (4).

3. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection valve actuatable by a control device.

4. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is a four-stroke reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) and the oil collection opening (81) is arranged at the cylinder (3) between the position of a crown of the piston (6) in the top dead center and the position of a bottom side of the piston (6) in the bottom dead center such that lubrication oil (9) is collectable from the cylinder (3) through the oil collection opening (81).

5. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is a longitudinally scavenged internal combustion engine (2) having scavenging slits (11), in particular is a slow running two-stroke large diesel engine (2) and the oil collection opening (81) is arranged in the region of the scavenging slits (11) such that lubrication oil (9) exiting via the scavenging slits (11) is collectable through the oil collection opening (81).

6. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection space (92) which is preferably an integral part of the cylinder wall (5) and lubrication oil collected in the oil collection space (92) is suppliable to the measurement device (10).

7. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two oil collection openings (81) are provided which are arranged at the cylinder (3) displaced from one another in the circumferential direction and/or with regard to the axial direction (A).

8. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection opening (81) is designed such that a lubrication oil flow-rate is settable.

9. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an electromagnetic measurement unit, in particular includes a measurement unit for the amplitude dependent and/or the frequency dependent and/or the frequency independent determination of a capacitance, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9), wherein the monitoring apparatus is preferably provided miniaturized directly in the cylinder wall (5).

10. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an X-ray measurement unit, in particular for the determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).

11. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an optical measurement unit for the determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9), wherein the optical measurement unit is preferably an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit.

12. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device (10) includes a chemical measurement unit for the determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).

13. A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the measurement device (10) includes a measurement system for the determination of a content of water and/or of a content of metal, in particular of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium, and/or for the determination of a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).

14. A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, in particular a two-stroke large diesel engine or a four-stroke engine having a monitoring apparatus (1) in accordance with claim 1.

15. A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) including a cylinder (3) having a cylinder cover (4) and a running surface (51) provided at a cylinder wall (5) of the cylinder (3), in which cylinder (3) a piston (6) is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction (A) along the running surface (51) between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston (6), the cylinder cover (4) and the cylinder wall (5) form a combustion space (7) in the cylinder (3) for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device (8) is provided for the collection of lubrication oil (9) from the cylinder (3) and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is supplied from the cylinder (3) to a measurement device (10), characterized in that the measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is directly supplied from the running surface (51) of the cylinder (3) and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space (7) and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston (6) to the oil collection device (8).

16. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection opening (81) which is provided at the cylinder wall (5) between the bottom dead center of the piston (6) and the cylinder cover (4).

17. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection valve actuatable by a control device, and in the operating state a predefined amount of lubricant (9) is led away out of the cylinder (3).

18. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is a longitudinally scavenged internal combustion engine (2) having scavenging slits (11), in particular is a slow running two-stroke large diesel engine (2) and the oil collection opening (81) is arranged in the region of the scavenging slits (11) such that lubrication oil (9) exiting via the scavenging slits (11) is collected through the oil collection opening (81).

19. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the oil collection device (8) includes an oil collection space (92) which is preferably an integral part of the cylinder wall (5) and lubrication oil collected in the oil collection space (92) is supplied to the measurement device (10).

20. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least two oil collection openings (81) are provided which are arranged at the cylinder (3) displaced from one another in the circumferential direction and/or with regard to the axial direction (A), so that samples of lubrication oil (9) can be taken from different positions in the cylinder (3).

21. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the oil collection opening (81) is designed such that a lubrication oil flow-rate can be set, preferably such that a lubrication oil flow-rate can be set automatically.

22. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an electromagnetic measurement unit and, in particular an amplitude dependent and/or a frequency dependent and/or a frequency independent determination of a capacitance, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is carried out.

23. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an X-ray measurement unit and, in particular a determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is carried out.

24. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an optical measurement unit and, in particular a determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is carried out, wherein an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit is preferably used as the optical measurement unit.

25. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the measurement device (10) includes a chemical measurement unit and a determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is carried out.

26. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein a content of water and/or a content of metal, in particular of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium, and/or a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is determined by the measurement device (10).

27. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the data recorded with the measurement device (10) are evaluated, in particular are evaluated by means of a look-up table and/or by means of a predetermined mathematical function and/or by means of a calibration and consequentially a state of wear of a component of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is determined, in particular the state of wear of the piston (6) and/or of a piston ring and/or of the running surface (51) of the cylinder wall (5) and/or of a gas exchange valve and/or of a different engine component is determined.

28. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein an evaluation of the measurement of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is carried out for each engine cycle.

29. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein a predetermined measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9) is collected during a predetermined number of engine cycles, and a measurement is carried out and evaluated on the predetermined measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).

30. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein a maintenance point in time for the maintenance of a predefined engine component is preferably automatically determined.

31. A monitoring method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is controlled and/or regulated in dependence on a measurement result of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).

32. A measurement device for detemiining a composition of a fluid, in particular of an oil, specifically of a lubrication oil (9) or of a fuel for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, characterized in that the measurement system includes an electromagnetic measurement unit, in particular a measurement unit for the amplitude dependent and/or the frequency dependent and/or the frequency independent determination of a capacitance, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of a predefined measured quantity of the fluid.

33. A measurement device in accordance with claim 32, wherein the measurement system includes an X-ray measurement unit, in particular for the determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the measured quantity (91) of fluid.

34. A measurement device in accordance with claim 32, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an optical measurement unit for the determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the measured quantity (91) of fluid, wherein the optical measurement unit is preferably an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit.

35. A measurement device in accordance with claim 32, wherein the measurement device (10) includes a chemical measurement unit for the determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity (91) of fluid.

36. A measurement device in accordance with claim 32 for the determination of a content of water and/or of a content of metal, in particular of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium, and/or for the determination of a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity (91) of fluid.

37. A measurement method for determining a composition of a fluid, in particular of an oil, specifically of a lubrication oil (9) or of a fuel for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, characterized in that a measurement device (10) is used which measurement device (10) includes an electromagnetic measurement unit and, in particular an amplitude dependent and/or a frequency dependent and/or a frequency independent determination of a capacitance, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of the collected measured quantity of the lubrication oil is carried out.

38. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an X-ray measurement unit and, in particular a determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the measured quantity (91) of fluid is carried out.

39. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein the measurement device (10) includes an optical measurement unit and, in particular a determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the measured quantity (91) of fluid is carried out, wherein an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit is preferably used as the optical measurement unit.

40. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein the measurement device (10) includes a chemical measurement unit and a determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity (91) of fluid is carried out.

41. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein a content of water and/or a content of metal, in particular of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium, and/or a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity (91) of fluid is determined with the measurement device (10).

42. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein the data recorded with the measurement device (10) are evaluated, in particular are evaluated by means of a look-up table and/or by means of a predetermined mathematical function and/or by means of a calibration and consequentially a state of wear of a component of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is determined, in particular the state of wear of the piston and/or of a piston ring and/or of the running surface (51) of the cylinder wall and/or of a gas exchange valve and/or of a different engine component is determined.

43. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein an evaluation of the measurement of the collected measured quantity (91) of fluid is carried out for each engine cycle.

44. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein a predetermined measured quantity (91) of fluid is collected during a predetermined number of engine cycles, and a measurement is carried out and evaluated on the predetermined measured quantity (91) of fluid.

45. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein a maintenance point in time for the maintenance of a predefined engine component is preferably automatically determined.

46. A measurement method in accordance with claim 37, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine (2) is controlled and/or regulated in dependence on a measurement result of the collected measured quantity (91) of lubrication oil (9).