JP4870021B2 - Fuel property detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel property detection device capable of making injection control start timing corresponding to fuel of new alcohol concentration after change accurately coincident with timing of injection of fuel of new alcohol concentration after change from a fuel injection valve. <P>SOLUTION: A light emission part 70 and a light detection part 80 are arranged with putting a fuel passage 12 provided inside of an injector 2 therebetween and mutually opposing. Consequently, fuel passage space volume from alcohol concentration detection position to an injection hole is made greatly smaller than that of a fuel injection system having former fuel property detection device applied, and calculation accuracy of retarded time from detection of alcohol concentration till execution of drive control of the injector 2 based on that. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel property detection device for detecting the property of fuel.

  The conventional fuel property detection device is applied to, for example, an engine operated with different types of fuels, for example, gasoline, alcohol, and the above-mentioned two kinds of mixed liquids, and the fuel property detected by the fuel property detection device, that is, alcohol. Based on the mixing ratio (alcohol concentration), the air fuel consumption, ignition timing, and the like are optimally controlled.

A conventional fuel property detection device is installed in the middle of a fuel path from a fuel tank that stores fuel to an engine. Therefore, the fuel passage from the fuel property detection device to the engine, specifically, the fuel injection valve of the engine has a predetermined volume, and a predetermined amount of fuel exists inside the fuel passage. Therefore, when the fuel property detection device detects a change in the fuel property, that is, the alcohol concentration, the fuel injection control according to the specification corresponding to the new alcohol concentration after the change is performed when the fuel of the alcohol concentration is not in the fuel injection valve of the engine. It needs to be started at the time of injection from the nozzle hole. In other words, when the fuel property detection device detects a change in the fuel property, that is, the alcohol concentration, it is necessary to perform the fuel injection control according to the specification corresponding to the new alcohol concentration after the change from the time when the predetermined delay time has elapsed. There is. Therefore, in an engine to which a conventional fuel property detection device is applied, the above-described delay time is estimated from the engine operating conditions, and based on this, fuel injection control is performed according to specifications corresponding to the new alcohol concentration after the change. (See Patent Document 1).
US Pat. No. 5,325,836

  By the way, in the engine to which the conventional fuel property detection device is applied, the above-described delay time is estimated and calculated from the engine operating conditions, that is, the engine speed and load (fuel injection amount). When the engine operating conditions are constant and hardly change, the above-described delay time can be estimated with relatively high accuracy. However, when the engine operating conditions fluctuate, it is difficult to accurately estimate the delay time described above. Especially when the engine operating conditions fluctuate after the fuel property change is detected by the fuel property detection device, the delay time is estimated with high accuracy, that is, the specification corresponding to the fuel with the new alcohol concentration after the change. It is very difficult to accurately match the fuel injection control start time of the fuel and the time when the fuel with the new alcohol concentration after the change is injected from the injection hole of the fuel injection valve.

  In general, the engine includes a plurality of cylinders, and a fuel injection valve is also provided for each cylinder. For this reason, the fuel volume from the fuel property detection device to the injection hole of each fuel injection valve of the engine is different. To accurately match the start timing of fuel injection control with the specifications corresponding to the fuel with the new alcohol concentration after the change and the timing when the fuel with the new alcohol concentration after the change is injected from the nozzle hole of each fuel injection valve The delay time described above needs to be calculated and estimated for each of the plurality of fuel injection valves, but the fuel property detection device described in Patent Document 1 has no description about this.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to respond to changes in fuel properties and to start fuel injection control with specifications corresponding to new properties of the fuel after the change and to a new after change. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel property detection device capable of accurately matching the timing when the property fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve.

  Means for achieving the above object and its operation and effects will be described below.

  A fuel property detection device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a fuel property detection device that includes a passage through which fuel flows and a detecting means arranged facing the passage, and detects the property of the fuel flowing through the passage. The passage is formed in a fuel injection valve that supplies fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.

  According to the above configuration, the fuel property detection device is incorporated in the fuel injection valve. For this reason, the fuel volume from the position where the fuel property is detected, that is, the position where the detection means is installed to the injection hole of the fuel injection valve, which is the part where the fuel is injected toward the combustion chamber, is detected by the conventional fuel property detection. Compared to the case where the device is applied, it is much smaller. For this reason, the time from when the fuel property detecting device detects the change in the fuel property until the fuel reaches the injection hole of the fuel injection valve, that is, the delay time is also greatly reduced. Therefore, since the estimation accuracy of the delay time based on the engine operating conditions can be improved, the fuel injection control start timing of the specification corresponding to the new property fuel after the change and the fuel with the new property after the change are injected into the fuel injection. It is possible to provide a fuel property detection device capable of accurately matching the time of injection from the nozzle hole of the valve.

  In addition, since the fuel property detection device according to claim 1 of the present invention is incorporated in the fuel injection valve, in an engine including a plurality of fuel injection valves, the delay time described above is provided for each of the plurality of fuel injection valves. And the fuel injection control can be performed based on the estimation. In other words, the fuel injection control start timing of the specification corresponding to the changed fuel properties for each of the plurality of fuel injection valves and the timing when the changed fuel properties of the changed fuel properties are injected from the nozzle holes of the fuel injectors are accurately determined. It is possible to match.

The fuel property detection apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, as the detection means, capable of receiving a light emitting element which is attached to the fuel injection valves can be irradiated with the measurement light in the passage, the measurement light transmitted through the passageway to attached to the fuel injection valve and a light receiving element for outputting a detection signal corresponding to the received light amount, and the alcohol concentration based-out in the fuel to the detection signal and detecting a property of the fuel.

  The detection means in the configuration described above is a so-called optical detection means. A fuel property detection method using the optical detection means will be briefly described. In the optical detection means, the measurement light that irradiates the measurement light into the passage from the light emitting element, that is, into the fuel and passes through the fuel is received by the light receiving element, and the fuel property is determined based on the detection signal emitted from the light receiving element. ing. That is, by utilizing the property that the light transmittance of the fuel differs depending on the fuel property, or the property that the refractive index at the interface between the fuel and another light-transmitting substance such as glass or resin is different if the fuel property is different. The fuel property is judged.

  In light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements that are generally commercially available, various specifications are set for the wavelength characteristics of measurement light emitted from the light-emitting elements and the light-receiving wavelength characteristics of the light-receiving elements. Accordingly, since the light emitting element and the light receiving element having the optimum specifications can be easily selected according to the type of fuel to be subjected to the property detection, the fuel property detection can be performed with high accuracy by using the optical detection means. .

Furthermore, the fuel property detection apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, as the detection means, a light emitting element disposed outside the fuel injection valve, and a light receiving element arranged outside the fuel injection valve, fuel injection valves A first light guide member and a second light guide member disposed inside the first light guide member, and a third light guide member disposed so that one end faces the light emitting element and the other end faces the passage through the first light guide member When, and a fourth guide member, one end of which is arranged so as to face the passage through and the other end second light guide member faces the light-receiving element, a measuring light emitting element emits the third light guide member and guiding into the passage-out by the first light guide member, the measurement light transmitted through the passage, is characterized by rather guide to the light receiving element by the second light guide member and the fourth guide member.

Since the fuel injection valve is attached to the cylinder head of the engine so as to face the combustion chamber, it receives the heat generated by the combustion and becomes high temperature. For this reason, when the light emitting element and the light receiving element are directly attached to the fuel injection valve, it is necessary to have high heat resistance that can withstand the temperature of the fuel injection valve during engine operation. A semiconductor is generally used as the light emitting element and the light receiving element, but a semiconductor having excellent heat resistance is expensive. If such a light emitting element and light receiving element are employed, the cost of the fuel property detecting device increases. Therefore, with the configuration of the fuel property detection apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, the light emitting element and the light receiving element will be outside of the fuel injection valve, i.e. the temperature than the fuel injection valve is installed in the lower region . Thereby, even if an inexpensive thing having high heat resistance is not used as the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the function can be sufficiently achieved even with an inexpensive one. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light emitting element and the light receiving element from being deteriorated by being exposed to a high temperature environment, and at the same time, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost of the fuel property detecting device.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the fuel property detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the fuel property detection device according to the present invention is applied to a fuel injection valve that is a component of a fuel injection system of an engine mounted on an automobile.

  The fuel injection system 1 is configured to optimally control the amount of fuel supplied to the engine 100 and the amount of intake air in accordance with operating conditions, that is, control to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel injection system 1 is a fuel injection valve disposed facing a combustion chamber of the engine 100, an injector 2 as a fuel property detection device, a delivery pipe 3 that supplies fuel to the injector 2, and an injector 2, a fuel tank 5, a fuel pump 6 that pumps the fuel in the fuel tank 5, a fuel pipe 7 that supplies fuel discharged from the fuel pump 6 to the delivery pipe 3, and an intake air of the engine 100 The throttle valve 8 is provided in the middle of the pipe 101 and adjusts the intake air amount of the engine 100. The engine 100 in the first embodiment is a four-cylinder engine, and therefore, four injectors 2 are used as shown in FIG.

  First, the operation of the fuel injection system 1 will be briefly described.

  In the fuel injection system 1, the fuel pumped from the fuel pump 6 is sent to the delivery pipe 3 via the fuel pipe 7, and the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe 3 is maintained at a predetermined pressure (positive pressure). Therefore, the fuel pressure in the injector 2 connected to the delivery pipe 3 is also equal. When a voltage is applied to the drive coil 64 included in the injector 2 by the control device 4, the needle 30 engaged with the movable core 50 and the movable core 50 moves, the needle 30 moves away from the valve body 20, and fuel of a predetermined pressure is obtained. Is injected from the injector 2.

  Gasoline, alcohol, and a mixed liquid thereof are used as the fuel of the engine 100 including the injector 2 to which the fuel property detection device according to the present invention is applied. That is, engine 100 can be operated with any of gasoline, alcohol, and a mixed liquid thereof. The driver of the car can freely select between gasoline and alcohol when refueling. For this reason, a mixed liquid of gasoline and alcohol is always present in the fuel tank 5 of the automobile. The mixed liquid in the fuel tank 5, that is, the alcohol concentration in the fuel, changes before and after the vehicle is refueled. For example, when the alcohol concentration of the fuel in the fuel tank 5 is a certain value, if the gasoline is replenished, the alcohol concentration in the fuel after replenishment decreases. On the other hand, when alcohol is replenished, the alcohol concentration in the fuel after replenishment increases. In order to operate such an engine 100 in an appropriate state regardless of the value of the alcohol concentration in the fuel, that is, in a state where the fuel consumption is low and the amount of combustion emissions is the minimum, It is necessary to detect the alcohol concentration by the fuel property detection device and optimally control the ignition timing and the air-fuel ratio in accordance with the detected alcohol concentration. In the fuel injection system 1 according to the first embodiment, a fuel property detection device is mounted in the injector 2. That is, the alcohol concentration of the fuel in the fuel passage of the injector 2 is detected.

  Next, the structure of the injector 2 which is 1st Embodiment which actualized the fuel property detection apparatus based on this invention is demonstrated.

  First, the structure which concerns on the fuel injection which is the main functions of the injector 2 is demonstrated.

  The holder 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a magnetic member and a non-magnetic member, and as shown in FIG. 2, a fuel passage 12 is formed therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel passage 12 accommodates the needle 30 and the movable core 50 engaged with the needle 30, the valve body 20, the fixed core 40, the spring 13, and the adjusting pipe 14.

  The holder 11 is formed by joining the first magnetic member 111, the nonmagnetic member 112, and the second magnetic member 113 in this order from the lower valve body 20 side in FIG. 2, for example, by laser welding. The nonmagnetic member 112 prevents the magnetic flux from being short-circuited between the first magnetic member 111 and the second magnetic member 113. In other words, the magnetic flux is intended to flow through the first magnetic member 111 to the movable core 50 to the second magnetic member 113. As shown in FIG. 2, the valve body 20 is fixed to the anti-nonmagnetic member 112 side of the first magnetic member 111 by welding.

  A nozzle hole plate 21 formed in a cup shape is fixed to the end of the valve body 20 on the side opposite to the holder 11 as shown in FIG. The nozzle hole plate 21 is formed in a thin plate shape and forms a plurality of nozzle holes 22. A plate holder 23 that covers the nozzle hole plate 21 is mounted outside the nozzle hole plate 21. The valve body 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a valve seat 24 on the inner peripheral surface. The nozzle hole 22 is disposed on the fuel flow outlet side of the valve seat 24.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the needle 30 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a fuel passage 31 therein. One end of the needle 30 is press-fitted and fixed to the anti-fixed core 40 side of the movable core 50. A seat portion 32 that can be seated on the valve seat 24 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the valve body 20 is formed at the end of the needle 30 on the side of the non-movable core 50. The needle 30 forms a fuel passage 25 between the needle body 30 and the inner peripheral surface of the valve body 20. When the seat portion 32 is seated on the valve seat 24, the communication between the fuel passage 25 and the injection hole 22 is blocked, and fuel is not injected from the injection hole 22.

  The needle 30 has fuel holes 33 and 34 that penetrate the side wall. The fuel that has flowed into the inner peripheral side of the needle 30 flows out to the outer peripheral side of the needle 30 through the fuel holes 33 and 34 and flows into the fuel passage 25 formed in the valve body 20. The valve body 20 has a guide portion 26 on the inner peripheral side. The guide portions 26 are formed at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the valve body 20, and a space between the adjacent guide portions 26 serves as a fuel passage (not shown). The inner diameter of the valve body 20 in the guide portion 26 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the needle 30. Therefore, the needle 30 slides with the guide part 26 of the valve body 20, and the movement in the axial direction is guided by the guide part 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed core 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The fixed core 40 is fixed to the holder 11 by being press-fitted into the nonmagnetic member 112 and the second magnetic member 113 of the holder 11. The fixed core 40 is installed on the side opposite to the injection hole 22 with respect to the movable core 50 and faces the movable core 50.

  The adjusting pipe 14 is press-fitted inside the fixed core 40. One end of the spring 13 is in contact with the adjusting pipe 14, and the other end is in contact with the movable core 50. The spring 13 biases the seat portion 32 of the needle 30 in the direction in which the seat portion 32 is seated on the valve seat 24 of the valve body 20. The set load of the spring 13 is changed by adjusting the press-fitting amount of the adjusting pipe 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a housing 15, which is a metal outer frame member, is disposed on the outer periphery of the holder 11 with a drive coil 64 described later interposed therebetween. The housing 15 is formed from a magnetic member. The valve body 20 side portion of the housing 15 is press-fitted into the outer peripheral side of the first magnetic member 111 as shown in FIG. The counter valve body 20 side portion of the housing 15 surrounds the outer peripheral side of the drive coil 64 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a housing plate 16 is disposed on the outer periphery of the holder 11 with a drive coil 64 described later interposed therebetween. The housing plate 16 is formed from a magnetic member. The housing 15 and the housing plate 16 are magnetically connected to each other and are installed on the outer peripheral side of the coil 61. The fixed core 40, the movable core 50, the first magnetic member 111, the housing 15, the housing plate 16, and the second magnetic member 113 constitute a magnetic circuit.

  The drive coil 64 for operating the magnetic circuit described above, that is, the magnetic circuit composed of the fixed core 40, the movable core 50, the first magnetic member 111, the housing 15, the housing plate 16, and the second magnetic member 113 is energized. The coil 61 is configured to generate an electromagnetic force and a spool 62 around which the coil 61 is wound. As shown in FIG. 1, the spool 62 is formed of a resin material or the like in a hollow cylindrical shape having flanges at both ends. The drive coil 64 is attached to the outer periphery of the holder 11. That is, the holder 11 is inserted into the hole 62 a that is a cylindrical hole of the spool 62. The coil 61 of the drive coil 64 is electrically connected to the terminal 63. Further, the terminal 63 is connected to an external electric circuit. As a result, a drive current is supplied to the coil 61 via the terminal 63.

  The holder 11, needle 30, movable core 50, valve body 20, fixed core 40, housing 15, housing plate 16, spring 13, adjusting pipe 14, and drive coil 64 described above are made of resin as shown in FIG. Covered by the housing 60. That is, after assembling the holder 11, the needle 30, the movable core 50, the valve body 20, the fixed core 40, the housing 15, the housing plate 16, the spring 13, the adjusting pipe 14, and the drive coil 64, they are molded by a resin material. A resin housing 60 is formed. The terminal 63 is also insert-molded at the same time. The terminal 63 forms a connector 60 a together with a part of the resin housing 60. Since the terminal 63 is exposed to the outside in the connector 60a, the terminal 63 is connected to the external electric circuit when a connector of external electric wiring (not shown) is coupled to the connector 60a.

  Next, the operation of the injector 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described.

  Foreign matter is removed from the fuel flowing into the fuel passage 12 from above in FIG. 2 of the holder 11 by the filter member 17. The fuel from which foreign matter has been removed passes through the fuel passage 12, the inner peripheral side of the adjusting pipe 14, the inner peripheral side of the fixed core 40, the inner peripheral side of the movable core 50, the fuel passage 31 of the needle 30 and the fuel holes 33 and 34. Then, the fuel is supplied to the fuel passage 25 shown in FIG. That is, in the injector 2, the fuel passage 25 is always filled with fuel pressurized to a predetermined pressure.

  When no driving current is supplied to the coil 61, no magnetic attractive force is generated between the fixed core 40 and the movable core 50. Therefore, the movable core 50 is moved in the direction away from the fixed core 40, that is, in the direction of the valve body 20 by the urging force of the spring 13. Thus, the seat portion 32 of the needle 30 integrated with the movable core 50 is seated on the valve seat 24 of the valve body 20, and the fuel passage 25 described above is not in communication with the outside of the injector 2. Therefore, fuel is not injected from the injection hole 22.

  When a drive current is supplied to the coil 61, the coil 61 is excited, and a magnetic circuit is formed in the fixed core 40, the movable core 50, the first magnetic member 111, the housing 15, the housing plate 16, and the second magnetic member 113. The As a result, a magnetic attractive force is generated between the fixed core 40 and the movable core 50. When the magnetic attractive force generated between the fixed core 40 and the movable core 50 becomes larger than the urging force of the spring 13, the movable core 50 moves toward the fixed core 40. The movable core 50 moves until it collides with the fixed core 40. Therefore, the needle 30 integrated with the movable core 50 also moves upward in FIG. As a result, the seat portion 32 of the needle 30 is separated from the valve seat 24 of the valve body 20. As a result, the fuel passage 25 described above communicates with the outside of the injector 2, so that fuel flows from the fuel passage 25 toward the injection hole 22 and is injected from the injection hole 22.

  When the supply of the drive current to the coil 61 is stopped, the magnetic attractive force between the fixed core 40 and the movable core 50 disappears. Therefore, the movable core 50 moves again in the direction away from the fixed core 40 by the urging force of the spring 13. As a result, the seat portion 32 of the needle 30 integrated with the movable core 50 is seated on the valve seat 24 of the valve body 20, the fuel passage 25 is disconnected from the outside of the injector 2, and fuel injection from the injection hole 22 is performed. Stopped.

  Next, the configuration relating to the fuel property detection function, that is, the alcohol concentration detection function in the fuel, which is another function of the injector 2 will be described.

  In detail, the holder 11 includes a light emitting unit 70 and a light receiving unit sandwiching a fuel passage 12 formed in the second magnetic member 113, which is one of the components of the holder 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. 80 are arranged facing each other.

  The light emitting unit 70 includes a light emitting diode 71 that is a light emitting element and a light guide 72 that is a first light guide member. The light guide 71 is made of a translucent material such as a colorless and transparent polycarbonate resin or glass. A part of the light guide 72 is fitted in a through hole 113 a provided in the second magnetic member 113 as shown in FIG. 3. A light emitting diode 71 is fixed to the light guide 72 at the end opposite to the fuel passage 12 in the axial direction of the through hole 113a. The light emitting diode 71 is a chip type, and its light emitting surface is fixed in contact with the end surface 72 a of the light guide 72. The light emitting diode 71 is fixed so that its optical axis is substantially coaxial with the through hole 113a. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 enters the light guide 72 from the end face 72a, is guided to the fuel passage 12 side, and is emitted into the fuel from the end face 72b on the fuel passage 12 side of the light guide 72. The light guide 72 is disposed such that the end surface 72 a faces the light emitting diode 71 and the other end surface 72 b faces the fuel passage 12, and guides light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 to the fuel passage 12. Thus, by interposing the light guide 72 between the light emitting diode 71 and the fuel passage 12, the light emitting diode 71 passes through the wall of the second magnetic member 113, which is a non-translucent member, and enters the fuel passage 12. It is possible to prevent the light emitting diode 71 from coming into direct contact with the fuel.

  The light receiving unit 80 includes a phototransistor 81 that is a light receiving element and a light guide 82 that is a second light guide member. The light guide 81 is made of a translucent material such as a colorless and transparent polycarbonate resin or glass. A part of the light guide 82 is fitted in a through hole 113b provided in the second magnetic member 113 as shown in FIG. The through hole 113b is formed coaxially with the above-described through hole 113a. A phototransistor 81 is fixed to the light guide 82 at the end opposite to the fuel passage 12 in the axial direction of the through hole 113a. The phototransistor 81 is a chip type, and its light receiving surface is fixed in contact with the end surface 82 a of the light guide 82. The phototransistor 81 is fixed so that its optical axis is substantially coaxial with the through hole 113b. As a result, the light emitting diode 71 of the light emitting unit 70 and the phototransistor 81 of the light receiving unit 80 are arranged to oppose each other with their optical axes aligned. Therefore, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 traveling in the fuel passage 12 enters the light guide 82 from the end face 82b of the light guide 82, is guided to the phototransistor 81 side, and is the end face of the light guide 82. The light enters the phototransistor 81 from 82a. The light guide 82 is disposed with the end face 82 a facing the phototransistor 81 and the other end face 82 b facing the fuel passage 12, and guides the light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 to the phototransistor 81. As described above, by interposing the light guide 82 between the phototransistor 81 and the fuel passage 12, the fuel passage 12 has traveled through the wall of the second magnetic member 113, which is a non-translucent member. The light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 can be guided to the phototransistor 81, and the phototransistor 81 can be prevented from coming into direct contact with the fuel.

  An electrode (not shown) of the light emitting diode 71 and an electrode (not shown) of the phototransistor 81 are connected to a terminal 90 made of a conductive material, for example, metal. The light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81 are not shown via the terminal 90. Connected to an external electrical circuit. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 90 is exposed to the outside at the connector 60 a of the injector 2. Therefore, when a connector of external electric wiring (not shown) is coupled to the connector 60a, the coil 61 is connected to the external electric circuit via the terminal 63, and at the same time, the light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81 are connected to the external electric circuit via the terminal 90. Connected. In FIG. 2, only one terminal 63 and one terminal 90 are shown, but the necessary number is actually provided.

  After the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 described above are attached to the holder 11, the resin housing 60 is formed by molding each component of the injector 2 with a resin material. That is, since the fitting portion between each light guide 72, 82 and the second magnetic member 113 is molded with a resin material and covered with the resin housing 60, the air tightness of the fuel passage 12 is maintained well.

  Here, the mounting positions of the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 with respect to the holder 11 are downstream from the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 which are alcohol concentration detection sites in order to perform fuel injection control with high accuracy. It is desirable that the fuel space volume up to the nozzle hole 22 be as small as possible. In the injector 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the injector 2 is installed in the immediate vicinity and upstream of the adjusting pipe 14.

  Next, a fuel injection control processing procedure in the fuel injection system 1 to which the injector 2 as the fuel property detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. Briefly described. This fuel injection control is performed in the control circuit 4.

  When the fuel injection control is started, the control device 4 first executes an initialization process in step S1.

  Subsequently, the control device 4 measures the amount of light received by the phototransistor 81 of each injector 2 as the process of step S2.

  Then, the control apparatus 4 detects the alcohol concentration in each injector 2 based on each measured light reception amount as a process of step S3.

  Subsequently, as a process in step S4, the control device 4 determines a control condition for each injector 2, for example, an injection amount, an ignition timing, and the like based on each detected alcohol concentration.

  Subsequently, as a process of step S5, the control device 4 determines that the fuel in which the delay time, that is, the alcohol concentration is detected based on the operating conditions of the engine 100, for example, the engine rotation speed, the injection amount, etc., is the injection hole 22 of the injector 2. The time to reach is calculated.

  Subsequently, the control device 4 determines whether or not the calculated delay time has elapsed as the determination processing in step S6. If the delay time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S6 again.

  On the other hand, if the delay time has passed as a result of the determination process in the previous step S6, the injector 2 is driven according to the control condition determined in step S4.

  The fuel property detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in the injector 2 and detects the alcohol concentration in the fuel using the fuel in the fuel passage 12 in the injector 2 as a measurement target.

  According to the above configuration, the conventional fuel property detection device is applied to the fuel passage space volume from the alcohol concentration detection position, that is, the position where the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 are installed to the injection hole 22 in the injector 2. The fuel injection system, that is, the fuel property detection device provided in the middle of the fuel pipe from the fuel tank to the engine is much smaller than the volume from the fuel property detection device to the injection hole of the fuel injection valve. The time until the fuel whose concentration is detected reaches the injection hole 22 of the injector 2 is also significantly shorter than that in the case of the fuel injection system to which the conventional fuel property detection device is applied. Thereby, the calculation accuracy of the delay time from the detection of the alcohol concentration to the execution of the drive control of the injector 2 based on the alcohol concentration can be increased. Therefore, the fuel injection control start timing of the specification corresponding to the new alcohol concentration fuel after the change and the timing when the new alcohol concentration fuel after the change is injected from the injection hole 22 of the injector 2 can be matched with high accuracy.

  In addition, since the fuel property detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in the injector 2, in the engine 100 including a plurality of injectors 2, that is, including four injectors 2, each injector 2 is individually provided. In addition, it is possible to detect the alcohol concentration and calculate the delay time described above, and to perform fuel injection control individually for each injector 2 based on them. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress problems caused by the mismatch between the fuel property and the injection control specification when the fuel property is changed, such as torque fluctuation and increase in combustion emission amount.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the fuel property detection device according to the present invention will be described.

  In the second embodiment, the installation location of the light emitting diode 71 of the light emitting unit 70 and the phototransistor 81 of the light receiving unit 80 is changed with respect to the first embodiment. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, only changes in the configuration of the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 will be described.

  In the fuel property detection device according to the second embodiment, the injector 2 is provided with only the light guide 72 of the light emitting unit 70 and the light guide 82 of the light receiving unit 80, and the light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81 are provided outside the injector 2. Is installed. As shown in FIG. 5, flexible linear light guides 73 and 83 are connected to the light guide 72 and the light guide 82 so as to be able to transmit and receive light. The linear light guides 73 and 83 are made of, for example, an optical fiber. The ends of the linear light guides 73 and 83 opposite to the light guide 72 and the light guide 82 are led out of the injector 2 as shown in FIG. A transistor 81 is arranged. In the fuel property detection device according to the second embodiment, light emitted from the light emitting diode 71 is irradiated into the fuel passage 12 via the linear light guide 73 and the light guide 72. Then, the light from the light emitting diode 71 that has passed through the fuel enters the phototransistor 81 via the light guide 82 and the linear light guide 83.

  Since the injector 2 is mounted facing a combustion chamber (not shown) of the engine 100, the temperature is increased by receiving heat from combustion. In order to maintain normal operation under such temperature conditions, if a light emitting diode 71 and a phototransistor 81 that are excellent in heat resistance are employed, the cost of the fuel property detecting device increases. If it is set as a structure like 2nd Embodiment, the light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81 can be arrange | positioned in the environment where temperature is lower than the injector 2. FIG. Therefore, the light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81 can be of a variety having general heat resistance, and the cost increase of the fuel property detecting device can be suppressed.

  In the injector 2 as the fuel property detecting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the linear light guides 73 and 83 are each composed of a single continuous optical fiber. Instead, it may be divided into a plurality of parts and connected via a connector capable of transmitting and receiving light.

  In the injector 2 as the fuel property detection device according to each embodiment described above, the phototransistor 81 is used as the light receiving element, but other types of light receiving elements may be used. For example, a photodiode may be used.

  In the injector 2 as the fuel property detection device according to each embodiment described above, a pair of the light emitting unit 70 and the light receiving unit 80 are provided in one injector 2, but a plurality of pairs may be installed instead of a pair.

  In addition, in the injector 2 that is the fuel property detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, a mixture of gasoline and alcohol is used as the fuel, the emission wavelength characteristics of the light emitting diode 71, and the phototransistor 81 As the light receiving wavelength characteristic, a characteristic suitable for detecting the fuel property, that is, for detecting the alcohol concentration in the above-mentioned mixed liquid is selected. Therefore, when using another type of fuel, for example, a mixture of light oil and alcohol, it is necessary to select a light emitting diode and a phototransistor having a wavelength characteristic suitable for the fuel.

  Further, in the injector 2 as the fuel property detection device according to each embodiment described above, the fuel is a mixture of gasoline and alcohol. However, the fuel is not limited to these, and only one of gasoline and alcohol, or the other These types of fuels, for example, light oil, heavy oil, kerosene, etc., a mixture thereof, and water may also be mixed. The engine to which the injector 2 is applied may be a spark ignition engine or a compression ignition engine.

Further, in the injector 2 as the fuel property detection device according to each embodiment described above, the fuel property detection means employs so-called optical detection means using the light emitting diode 71 and the phototransistor 81. It is not necessary to limit to the detection means, and other types of detection means such as a capacitance type detection means or an ultrasonic detection means may be used. Also in these systems, by attaching each detection means to an injector which is a fuel injection valve, the injection control start timing corresponding to the new property fuel after the change and the new property fuel after the change are injected from the fuel injection valve. It is possible to provide a fuel property detection device capable of matching the timing with a high accuracy.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the fuel-injection system 1 in which the fuel-injection valve incorporating the fuel property detection apparatus which concerns on this invention is used. It is sectional drawing of the injector 2 which is a fuel property detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the liquid property detection process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the fuel-injection control process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the injector 2 which is a fuel property detection apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Fuel Injection System 2 Injector (Fuel Injection Valve, Fuel Property Detection Device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Delivery pipe 4 Control apparatus 5 Fuel tank 6 Fuel pump 7 Fuel piping 8 Throttle valve 11 Holder 12 Fuel passage 13 Spring 14 Adjusting pipe 15 Housing 16 Housing plate 20 Valve body 21 Injection hole plate 22 Injection hole 23 Plate holder 24 Valve seat 25 fuel passage 30 needle 31 fuel passage 32 seat portion 33, 34 fuel hole 40 fixed core 50 movable core 60 housing 60a connector portion 61 coil 62 spool 63 terminal 64 drive coil 70 light emitting portion 71 light emitting diode (light emitting element)
72 Light guide (first light guide member)
72a, 72b End face 73 Linear light guide 80 Light receiving part 81 Phototransistor (light receiving element)
82 Light guide (second light guide member)
82a, 82b End face 83 Linear light guide 100 Engine 101 Intake pipe 111 First magnetic member 112 Nonmagnetic member 113 Second magnetic member F Fuel

Claims (1)

A fuel property detection device comprising a passage through which fuel flows and a detecting means arranged facing the passage, and detecting the property of the fuel flowing through the passage,
The passage is formed inside a fuel injection valve that supplies fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine ,
The detection means is disposed outside the fuel injection valve and is provided with a light emitting element attached to the fuel injection valve so as to irradiate measurement light in the passage, and is disposed outside the fuel injection valve and passes through the passage. A light receiving element that is attached to the fuel injection valve so as to be able to receive the transmitted measurement light and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of received light, and a first light guide member and a second light guide disposed inside the fuel injection valve A light member, a third light guide member disposed so that one end faces the light emitting element and the other end faces the passage through the first light guide member, and one end faces the light receiving element and the other end A fourth light guide member disposed so as to face the passage through the second light guide member, and the measurement light emitted by the light emitting element is transmitted to the third light guide member and the first light guide. Led to the passage by a light member, and passed through the passage. The constant light, guided to the light receiving element by the second light guide member and the fourth guide member, fuel property, and detecting the alcohol concentration in the fuel based on the detection signal as a property of the fuel Detection device.

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