JPS6213509B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a drain device for draining tar in a vaporizer.

For example, in an engine that uses liquefied gas as fuel, such as an LPG engine, the liquefied gas is first depressurized and vaporized in a vaporizer, and then supplied to the engine combustion chamber through a mixer. A considerable amount of tar accumulates within the vaporizer, particularly in its secondary chamber, and there is a strong possibility that this tar may adhere to the diaphragm of the vaporizer or enter other operating parts and impede the function of the vaporizer.

For this reason, conventionally, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-153312, a drain device is attached to the secondary chamber of the vaporizer, and the tar in the secondary chamber is drained externally by manual operation of the drain valve. I was trying to drain it. However, this conventional drain device
If you forget to close the above drain valve, or if the valve is left open due to tar getting into the valve part, vaporized fuel in the secondary chamber will leak out through the drain valve during engine operation. This could lead to a dangerous situation where the person could come out. Liquefied gas engines are especially frequently used in taxis, and in taxis, the above-mentioned drain valve is operated to remove tar after the day's work, so the drain valve must be opened and closed on a daily basis. However, it is common for people to forget to close the drain valve after draining the tar.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 50-153312 also discloses a drain device that is provided with a spring that biases the valve body of the drain valve in the valve closing direction so that the drain valve is always closed unless an external force is applied. has been done. This type of drain device eliminates the possibility of forgetting to close the drain valve, but if tar gets into the valve part, the drain valve will not close completely, resulting in the above-mentioned inconvenience. Occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vaporizer drain device that solves the above-mentioned problems.

The vaporizer drain device of the present invention causes engine malfunction when the drain valve is opened, i.e.,
This is characterized by the provision of a control device that makes it difficult to start the engine, making it impossible to operate the engine, or lowering the combustion state or output of the engine, thereby making the engine malfunction.

If the engine is made malfunction by the control device, the driver will no longer operate the liquefied gas engine with the drain valve open and leak vaporized fuel to the outside of the engine.

Note that various methods can be used as appropriate to make the engine malfunction, such as, for example, making the starter motor of the engine stop rotating, or making the spark plug incapable of igniting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the present invention applied to an LPG engine. The inside of the main body 2 of the vaporizer 1 is divided into a primary chamber 4 and a secondary chamber 5 by a partition wall 3.
It is defined as LPG inlet 6 in primary room 4
However, an LPG outlet 7 is opened in the secondary chamber 5, and the primary chamber 4 and the secondary chamber 5 are communicated with each other through a communication path 8 formed in the partition wall 3. The LPG inlet 6 has a primary valve 10 interlocking with a primary diaphragm 9.
The opening degree (valve opening pressure) of the communication passage 8 is adjusted by the secondary valve 13 which is interlocked with the secondary diaphragm 11 and also controlled by the lock-off diaphragm 12. ) is adjusted. Since the structure and operation of such a vaporizer itself have been well known, further detailed explanation will be omitted.

The LPG inlet 6 is connected to an LPG tank 15 via an LPG inlet passage 14, and an electromagnetic on-off valve 16 as a fuel cut device is connected in the middle of the LPG inlet passage 14. This electromagnetic on-off valve 16
As will be described later, when the solenoid 16a is de-energized, it becomes closed (the state shown in Figure 1), and when the solenoid 16a is energized and energized, it becomes open, which is the so-called open-when-energized type. It is.

The LPG outlet 7 is connected to a fuel supply port 20 of a mixer 19 (its bench lily portion 19a) provided in the intake passage 18 via an LPG outlet side passage 17. A negative pressure outlet 22 opening into the intake passage 18 on the downstream side of the throttle valve 21 is connected to the lock-off diaphragm 1 via a pipe 23.
It is connected to a negative pressure chamber 24 defined by 2.

A drain pipe 25 is connected to the secondary chamber 5 in the vaporizer 1, and the secondary chamber 5 communicates with the outside (atmosphere) through a drain passage 25a formed within the drain pipe 25. This drain pipe 25
The electromagnetic on-off valve 26 includes an energized time type electromagnetic on-off valve 26, which is opposite to the electromagnetic on-off valve 16 described above.
A manually operated drain valve 27 is interposed on the downstream side (atmospheric side) of 6. The drain valve 27 used in this embodiment has a rotary valve body 27a.
and an operating lever 27b that protrudes radially from the rotary valve body 27a, and is opened and closed by grasping the operating lever 27b and rotating the rotary valve body 27a.

A sensor 28 is attached to the drain valve 27 to detect its open/closed state. As shown in FIG. 2, this sensor 28 consists of a contact switch 29 fixed near the drain valve 27 and a rotary valve body 2
A support arm 30 extending radially and protruding from 7a, and a screw 31 screwed into the support arm 30.
and a coil spring 32 that prevents the screw 31 from rotating. When the drain valve 27 is completely closed as shown in FIG.
The switch 29 is closed by pressing 9a. Also, by screwing the screw 31 forward and backward with respect to the support arm 30, the drain valve 27
The above switch 2 is activated only when the valve is completely closed.
Fine adjustment is made so that 9 is closed.

Next, we will mainly explain the specific configuration for making the engine malfunction. An ignition switch 34 is connected to the positive pole of the battery 33, and a solenoid 16a of the electromagnetic on-off valve 16 described above is connected between the ignition switch 34 and the ground terminal (negative pole of the battery 33). The solenoid 1
A first switch 35 and a pilot lamp 36 are connected in series with each other in parallel with the switch 6a, and a second switch 37, a starter motor switch 38, and a starter motor 39 are connected in parallel with the first switch 35 and the pilot lamp 36. are connected to each other in series. Of course, the starter motor switch 38 is normally combined integrally with the ignition switch 34, and when a key (not shown) is inserted into the ignition switch 34 and turned, the ignition switch 34 is first turned on. When the key is further rotated, the starter motor switch 38 is turned on.

The first and second switches 35 and 37 are controlled by the sensor 28 described above, and when the drain valve is fully open or partially open (that is, not completely closed), the first switch 35 is closed and the second switch is open. Conversely, when the drain valve 27 is completely closed, the first switch 35 is open and the second switch is closed.

The pilot lamp 36 is for informing the driver that the drain valve 27 is in the open state, and is placed in a position where the driver can easily see it, such as on the instrument panel of the vehicle.

The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained below. First, turn on the ignition switch 34.
When turned ON, the solenoid 16a is energized and excited, and the electromagnetic on-off valve 16 opens. Also, solenoid 26
A is energized and excited, and the electromagnetic on-off valve 26 is closed. In this state, if the drain valve 27 is completely closed, the output from the sensor 28 will cause the first
The switch 35 is opened and the pilot lamp 36 remains off, indicating that the drain valve 27 is completely closed. At this time, the second
Switch 37 is closed by the output from sensor 28 and thus starter motor switch 38
When turned on, the starter motor 39 is energized and the engine is started. And LPG tank 1
LPG in 5 is a solenoid on-off valve 16, vaporizer 1
The LPG enters the primary chamber 4 through the LPG inlet 6 and the primary valve 10. When LPG passes through the primary valve 10, the pressure is reduced to a level slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. depressurized
LPG passes through the communication path 8 from the primary chamber 4 to the secondary valve 13
It enters the secondary chamber 5 after being reduced to approximately atmospheric pressure. LPG is supplied from the secondary chamber 5 through the LPG outlet 7 and from the fuel supply port 20 of the mixer 19 to the engine combustion chamber (not shown).

As LPG is supplied as described above, tar accumulates in the secondary chamber 5 within the vaporizer 1. The tar accumulated in the secondary chamber 5 is discharged to the outside by opening the drain valve 27 with the ignition switch 34 turned OFF and the engine stopped. i.e. ignition switch 3
4 opens the electromagnetic on-off valve 26, so if you open the drain valve 27 manually,
The tar in the secondary chamber 5 is discharged to the outside.

After draining the tar, if the drain valve 27 is completely closed, the engine can be started normally by turning on the ignition switch 34 and the starter motor switch 38 as described above. However, if the drain valve 27 is not completely closed, the second switch 37 will be opened, so even if the starter motor switch 38 is turned on, the starter motor 39 will not rotate and the engine will not start. At this time, the first switch 35 closes and the pilot lamp 36 lights up, so that the above-mentioned engine malfunction (not starting) is caused by drain valve 2.
The driver is notified that this is due to the opening of the 7. Therefore, in such a case, the engine will start normally if the drain valve 27 is completely closed, or if necessary, after removing the tar trapped in the valve part, the drain valve 27 is completely closed. The pilot lamp 36 also goes out.

The device shown in FIG. 1 above prevents the starter motor 39 from starting and prevents the engine from being operated with the drain valve 27 open, but it does not prevent the engine from malfunctioning by other methods. is also possible. FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which the spark plug 40 is controlled to cause an engine malfunction. The device shown in FIG. 3 can be combined with the drain device main body as shown in FIG. 1, and the drain device main body is not particularly shown. Also, in Fig. 3, parts with already mentioned part numbers are equivalent to the parts already mentioned, and will not be explained in particular (the above also applies to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, which will be described later). be). In the device of FIG. 3, the ignition coil 41
In addition to the ignition switch 34 and the contact breaker 42, the sensor 2 is connected to the primary wire 41a.
8 are connected in series. With such a configuration, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the drain valve 2
When 7 is opened, the starter motor 39 is prevented from starting, but the spark plug 40 is prevented from igniting, and the engine does not operate.

Further, FIG. 4 shows a further different embodiment of the present invention, and the device of this embodiment has a drain valve 2.
7 remains open, the engine performs EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), even when idling.
It is designed to actively impair the combustion performance of the engine by performing EGR. That is, the intake passage 18 and exhaust passage 44 of the engine 43
An EGR valve 46 is normally provided in the EGR passage 45 that communicates with the EGR valve 46, but a negative pressure is applied to the negative pressure chamber 46a of the negative pressure operated EGR valve 46 even during idling to perform EGR. It is.

The above points will be explained in detail below. Throttle valve 21
An EGR port 47 is opened in the intake passage 18 on the upstream side of the throttle valve 21, and a sub-EGR port 48 is opened in the intake passage 18 on the downstream side of the throttle valve 21. Both EGR ports 47, 48
is the ESR valve 4 via the electromagnetic three-way switching valve 49.
The negative pressure chamber 46a of No. 6 is connected to the negative pressure chamber 46a. The electromagnetic three-way switching valve 49 has three ports 49a, 49b, and 49c, first, second, and third, and the first port 49a communicates with the negative pressure chamber 46a through a passage 50, and the The port 49b of the
The third port 49c is connected to the EGR port 47 through a passage 52 to the sub-EGR port 48.
It is connected to the.

The electromagnetic three-way switching valve 49 has a solenoid 49d.
During demagnetization, when the valve body 49e is not energized, the valve body 49e is in the upper position shown in the figure, communicating the first port 49a and the third port 49c, and connecting the negative pressure chamber 46a and the sub-port 49a to each other.
It communicates with the EGR port 48. Further, when the solenoid 49d is energized and energized, the valve body 49e is displaced downward from the illustrated state, and the first port 49
a and the second port 49b to communicate with each other to form a negative pressure chamber 46.
a and the EGR port 47. For solenoid 49d, ignition switch 3
4, a second switch 37 controlled by sensor 28 is connected immediately before.

In the above configuration, when the engine is operated with the ignition switch 34 turned on, if the drain valve 27 is completely closed, the second switch 3
7 is closed and the electromagnetic three-way switching valve 49 is energized, the negative pressure chamber 46a of the EGR valve 46 is communicated with the EGR port 47, and normal EGR is performed. That is, during idling when the throttle valve 21 is throttled close to fully closed, the throttle valve 21
Since negative pressure of a predetermined value or more is not applied to the negative pressure chamber 46a from the upstream EGR port 47, the EGR valve 46 is closed and EGR is stopped.

However, when the drain valve 27 is open, the second switch 37 opens and the electromagnetic three-way switching valve 4
9 is demagnetized, the negative pressure chamber 46a of the EGR valve 46 is communicated with the sub-EGR port 48. Then, even during idling when the throttle valve 21 is throttled close to fully closed, the large negative pressure in the intake passage 18 on the downstream side of the throttle valve 21 is transmitted to the negative pressure chamber 46a via the sub-EGR port 48, and the EGR valve 46 remains open and EGR continues. If EGR is performed even during idling in this way, the combustion performance of the engine will be impaired, leading to malfunctions such as engine stalling.

Although the above three embodiments have been described, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in order to make the engine malfunction, atmospheric air is introduced into the negative pressure chamber 24 of the vaporizer 1 shown in FIG. Alternatively, the opening degree of the throttle valve 21 may be controlled to reduce the engine output regardless of the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.

Further, other alarm devices such as an alarm buzzer may be used in place of the pilot lamp 36 in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and furthermore, this type of alarm device may not be specially provided. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the electromagnetic on-off valves 16, 26 used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

As explained in detail above, the vaporizer drain device of the present invention prevents the dangerous situation of operating the engine with the drain valve open, and improves the safety of liquefied gas engines. This will contribute greatly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is an elevational view showing an example of a sensor provided in a drain valve, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial system diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. 1...vaporizer, 25a...drain passage,
27...Drain valve, 28...Sensor, 37...
...Second switch, 39...Starter motor, 40
...Spark plug, 41...Ignition coil, 45...
EGR passage, 46...EGR valve, 48...sub
EGR port, 49...Solenoid three-way switching valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a drain device in which a drain passage is established in a vaporizer for discharging tar in a vaporizer that vaporizes liquefied petroleum gas, and a drain valve is provided in the drain passage, a control device is provided that causes the engine to malfunction when the drain valve is opened. A vaporizer drain device characterized by: