JPH104699A - Generator for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a generator for internal combustion engine which can restrain noise of an generator. SOLUTION: At the time of driving a three-phase AC generator, relatively strong noise sometimes occurs under a prescribed condition, however, this device is capable of restraining noise occurrence by reducing exciting current IE under a prescribed condition. The reduction in the exciting current IE is conducted by a control mechanism 25. The control mechanism 25 can be constituted as the component member of a voltage controller 12. The conditions for the reduction in the exciting current IE are obtained from supplied or recorded information to output a driving signal A corresponding to this.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power generator for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a generator driven by the internal combustion engine, a load supplied with electric energy from the generator, and an excitation current supplied from the generator. A voltage controller having a control mechanism and a control mechanism, capable of supplying configurable information to the control mechanism, and reducing the generation of noise generated during operation of the generator. The present invention relates to a power generator for an internal combustion engine in which a generator is adjusted based on information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, three-phase alternators are generally widely used, for example, to supply electric loads to automobiles. The generator generates an alternating voltage and an alternating current, which is rectified in a rectifier connected to the generator and then used to supply a load and to charge a battery. ing. In addition, the output voltage of the generator is very dependent on the rotation speed of the generator.
Voltage control is performed by using a voltage controller that adjusts the exciting current of the generator. This control is generally performed by continuously turning on and off the exciting current by a transistor.

In addition, the control of the generator or the driving of the generator is as follows.
Due to the various factors in an optimal way, for example in the generator set disclosed in DE-OS 37 29 722, several factors, such as a generator, an on-board system or a controller, are detected. After being evaluated by a special evaluation circuit device, the control of the generator adapted to the special request is performed. In this case, in particular, it is preferable to set the rotation speed of the generator so as to move within an optimum range with respect to generation of noise. As a result, it is possible to prevent a possible noise peak at a predetermined rotation speed from acting as an obstacle. Further, in order to reduce the magnetic noise of the power generator, the power generator disclosed in the above publication operates under a predetermined driving condition to act on an electric intermediate drive between the internal combustion engine and the generator. It has been proposed to adjust the transmission ratio to eliminate the rotational speed range of the generator with high noise. Such a method involves the internal combustion engine or generator
It is only feasible if there is a controllable intermediate drive mechanism between the shaft of the internal combustion engine driven via these and the generator.

[0004]

However, a general power generator for an internal combustion engine does not have the above-described intermediate drive mechanism. Therefore, it is often difficult to attach an intermediate drive to a power generator of an internal combustion engine that has already been used. Also, from now on, even when an intermediate drive device is provided in a power generator of an internal combustion engine mounted on an automobile, for example, the configuration of the power generator must be changed, and by providing the intermediate drive device, This can increase production costs. Further, in the case where the generation of noise is reduced by, for example, changing the arrangement of the generator without using the intermediate drive device, it is often difficult, for example, in the design of the automobile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of a conventional power generator for an internal combustion engine, and uses a control mechanism provided in a voltage controller to generate an exciting current. By making adjustments to reduce the generation of noise from the generator, it is possible to reduce the generation of noise from the generator without changing the design of the mechanical equipment or changing the arrangement of the equipment, and without increasing production costs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved power generator for an internal combustion engine capable of reducing the power generation.

[0006]

The power generator for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is characterized in that the power generator functions irrespective of the existence of an intermediate drive mechanism provided between the internal combustion engine and the generator. doing. Such a feature is achieved by the voltage controller adjusting the exciting current such that the magnetic noise is reduced in the rotational speed range where magnetic noise is a problem. This adjustment can be performed collectively by a preferable method. In this case, as is known, in a predetermined rotation speed region where the highest noise is generated,
The configuration is such that the excitation current is reduced without measuring the generated noise. In a preferred embodiment for implementing the present invention, the magnetic noise actually generated is measured by a dedicated sensor, and the excitation current is reduced only when the noise exceeds a settable limit value. The configuration is performed.

In another preferred embodiment, the logical combination of various information can be implemented in a voltage controller or in a component of the voltage controller or in an evaluation circuit formed as a separate circuit. It is carried out, for example, by evaluating the generator current, the excitation current, the temperature of the generator or its surroundings at selectable locations, the internal combustion engine or generator speed, and the recorded vibrations of the generator, by means of a logical combination. Conditions are formed that screen the reduction of the excitation current to reduce noise. When the evaluation circuit is formed as a microprocessor, the memory includes the type of the generator, the exciting current when the generator is used, and the exciting current that can reduce magnetic noise as desired. Is programmed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a power generator for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a three-phase AC generator 10 for supplying power to an on-board system 11. The output voltage UB + of the three-phase AC generator 10
Is performed by the voltage controller 12. Connection terminals provided on the three-phase AC generator 10 and the voltage controller 12 are indicated by D-, DF, and D +, respectively. The three-phase AC generator 10 further has a terminal B +.
Via +, the rectified generator current IG flows to the on-board system 11. The voltage at terminal B + is UB
Indicated by +.

The three-phase AC generator 10 has an exciting winding 14 in addition to the stator (stator) windings 13a, 13b, 13c, and an exciting current IE flows through the exciting winding 14. It has become. Further, the partial configuration of the three-phase AC generator 10 is generally configured by a rectifier of the output current IG of the three-phase AC generator 10 and, in some cases, a bridge rectifier that is also used to rectify the exciting current IE.

FIG. 1 shows an on-board system 1.
1, only some important components, such as the charge control lamp 15 and the terminal KL. 15 are shown, and the terminals KL. 15 is an ignition switch 16
Is connected to The battery 19 is disposed between the connection terminal B + of the three-phase AC generator 10 and the ground.
Further, the load 18 is connected to the battery 1 via the switch 17.
9 is connected. Furthermore, the starter 20 is connected to the terminal K of the ignition switch 16 via the switch 21.
L. 15 is connected.

The following are shown as important components of the voltage controller 12 in FIG. That is, a switching element including a protection diode 23, a freewheel (one-way) diode 24, and a control mechanism 25 that controls the operation of the switching transistor 22 connected in parallel, for example, the switching transistor 2
2 is shown. This switching transistor 2
The opening and closing of the switching section 2 controls the exciting current IE flowing through the exciting winding 14 arranged between the terminal D + and the terminal DF. Further, the duty ratio of the pulse generated by the switching of the switching transistor 22 changes according to the rotation speed or the load 18 of the three-phase AC generator 10. By adjusting the exciting current IE, the output voltage UB + output from the terminal B + of the three-phase AC generator 10 is controlled to a settable value.

Further, depending on the control mechanism 25 of the voltage controller 12, other information detected using the corresponding sensor or directly based on the internal combustion engine control device may be supplied to the control mechanism 25. is there. Such information includes, for example, the current IG of the three-phase AC generator 10, the exciting current IE, the temperature T of the settable components of the three-phase AC generator 10 or the voltage controller 12, the ambient temperature, and the three-phase AC generator 10. Rotation speed n
G or the number of revolutions n of the internal combustion engine, information on the vibration of the three-phase AC generator 10, or output signals from one or more sensors that measure the solid-state sound of the three-phase AC generator 10. These signals collectively represent the current I or the voltage U
It is shown as

An activation signal A is formed from the information or data supplied to the control mechanism 25, and this activation signal can sometimes result in a decrease in the excitation current IE. Further, since the control mechanism 25 is formed as, for example, a microprocessor, in order to reduce the exciting current IE, the type of the three-phase AC generator 10 recorded in the memory of the microprocessor and the three-phase AC generator Programming for the use of 10 can also be used. Then, what principle is used to reduce the exciting current IE for reducing magnetic noise can be adapted to necessary conditions. Some examples of this possible method are described in detail below.

The magnetic noise of the three-phase alternator 10 is usually related to the current IG or the exciting current IE of the three-phase alternator 10. In particular, in a relatively large rotational speed range, the magnetic noise of the cold three-phase alternator 10 is perceived as annoying. When the temperature of the three-phase alternator 10 is equal to or lower than a settable temperature, it is defined that the three-phase alternator 10 is cold, especially after the start of operation when the outside air temperature is low. Is the case. Also, for example, about 2000 to 30
The noise peak in the rotation speed range where the rotation speed of the three-phase AC generator 10 having a rotation of 00 is narrow may occur even when the three-phase AC generator 10 is driven and warmed. In principle, magnetic noise relates to the type of generator.

Also, the magnetic noise of the three-phase AC generator 10 may be caused by mechanical vibration. First, a rotor that generates mechanical vibration
The stator and the end shield (Lag)
erschild). The end shield and, in some cases, an internal combustion engine portion connected via a swing arm and a holder (fixing member) act like a so-called loudspeaker membrane (speaker cone) to form a three-phase The magnetic noise of the alternator 10 is amplified. These magnetic noises or mechanical vibrations are offensive to the driver or passenger. By the way, mechanical vibrations are reduced by changing the geometry of the rotor, the coupling between the air gap or end shield and the stator, and the coupling between the three-phase alternator 10, the holder and the internal combustion engine. Can be. However, all such changes are associated with fundamental structural changes in the generator structure and therefore cannot be implemented immediately. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is proposed to eliminate undesirable magnetic noise of the generator, for example, the three-phase AC generator 10 by appropriately reducing the exciting current IE. This is made possible by the fact that the exciting current IE or the magnetomotive force provided by the exciting current IE regulates the occurrence of mechanical vibrations in the system that causes the mechanical vibrations.
Accordingly, the generation of mechanical vibration and the accompanying magnetic noise can be reduced by reducing the exciting current IE. In this case, the generator current IG is also reduced according to the use of each three-phase AC generator 10.

As a method capable of reducing magnetic noise by reducing the exciting current IE, the following method is proposed to be implemented. (1) In a case where the three-phase AC generator 10 is cold in a settable rotation speed range where the rotation speed of the three-phase AC generator 10 spreads over a relatively large range, the exciting current IE decreases in principle. Is done. The condition that the three-phase alternator 10 is cold is determined by comparing the temperature of a selectable portion of the three-phase alternator 10 with a reference temperature, and the assumption that the three-phase alternator 10 is cold is: This holds when the temperature of the three-phase AC generator 10 is lower than the reference temperature. The determination that the three-phase alternator 10 is cold can also be made by considering it as a cold three-phase alternator 10 for a configurable period of time after starting the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, how much the exciting current IE is reduced can be determined individually.

(2) The magnetic noise is reduced by the decrease of the exciting current IE in one or two or more small rotation speed ranges. In this case, the rotation speed range is a three-phase where a noise peak occurs. It can be considered as the rotation speed of the alternator 10. Such a speed range usually depends on the type of generator, and thus it is possible to determine a speed range in which noise peaks are to be expected for a particular generator. When the rotation speed of three-phase AC generator 10 is within the range of this rotation speed range, exciting current IE is reduced.

(3) The magnetic noise is detected directly or indirectly through a sensor, for example, a solid-state acoustic sensor. In this case, the output signal of the solid-state acoustic sensor is supplied to the control mechanism 25 configured as an evaluation device.
The control device (evaluation device) 25 calculates the obtained solid sound,
Compare with the limit value that corresponds to the maximum allowable noise level. When the measured solid-state sound reaches the maximum value, the exciting current IE is reduced until the value falls below this value again.

(4) The reduction in the magnetic noise due to the decrease in the exciting current IE is caused by the fact that a logical connection of various parameters is formed in the control mechanism 25 and as soon as the logical connection satisfies predetermined conditions, the exciting current IE is reduced. This can also be done by outputting a drive signal that introduces a reduction in The logical combination of the various parameters is, for example, current (generator current IG or excitation current IE), temperature (generator temperature, controller temperature,
Ambient temperature), rotation speed (generator rotation speed, crankshaft rotation speed) or vibration amplitude, in which case the vibration amplitude can be detected using a suitable sensor.

(5) Another method of reducing magnetic noise is that the control mechanism 25 or the controller is configured as a microprocessor, which uses a generator type, a generator holder, and a generator. Regarding information such as engine
Being programmable. These pieces of information can be recorded in the memory of the controller. With such a controller, the excitation current IE for reducing the magnetic noise can be reduced independently of the other information to be supplied, and on the contrary, described in the above (1) to (4). Since one or a combination of two or more of the above methods can be selected, the condition for reducing the exciting current IE and the strength of the reduction of the current IG can be changed by a simple method.

In another embodiment, the reduction of the exciting current IG is not a component of the voltage controller 12.
This can be done with an additional control mechanism. This control mechanism can be provided in the generator as an independent control mechanism or can be formed as a component of the control device of the engine.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. In the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, those skilled in the art
It is possible to correspond to various modified examples and modified examples, and it is understood that these modified examples and modified examples also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The control mechanism adjusts the excitation current so that the generation of noise from the generator is reduced within the range of the number of rotations of the generator that can be particularly selected. The generation of noise from the generator can be reduced without the need for a power generator. In addition, since the exciting current is reduced in a substantially small rotation speed range where a noise peak is predicted, noise can be effectively reduced, and
It does not affect the electrical energy output of the generator. Furthermore, the excitation current is reduced immediately after the generator is started or when it is detected that the generator is cold. Therefore, not only the rotational speed range where the noise peak is predicted but also the comprehensive noise generation Can be reduced. Furthermore, by adjusting the excitation current by a microprocessor capable of recording and detecting various factors, it is possible to perform adjustment according to various noise generation factors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining a power generator of an internal combustion engine to which the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 three-phase AC generator 11 on-board system 12 voltage controller 14 excitation winding 18 load 25 control mechanism IE excitation current

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Friedhelm Meyer, Germany, 74528 Illingen, Falkenstrasse 29 (72) Inventor Hans-Joachim Lutz Germany, 68623 Lampertheim, Hans-Thomas-Strasse 3

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A generator driven by an internal combustion engine, a load supplied with electric energy by the generator,
A voltage controller having a control mechanism for controlling an output voltage of the generator by adjusting an exciting current, capable of transmitting settable information to the control mechanism, and generating a voltage during operation of the generator. To reduce the generation of noise
In a power generator for an internal combustion engine in which the generator is adjusted based on the information, the control mechanism may control the excitation current to generate the noise of the generator within a particularly selectable rotation speed range of the generator. A power generator for an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the power generation device is adjusted so as to reduce the generation of fuel. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the exciting current is reduced in one or more substantially smaller rotational speed ranges, wherein the rotational speed range is a range in which at least one noise peak is expected. The power generator for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the power generator is provided. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the generator is detected to be cold, the exciting current is adjusted so as to decrease in the substantially large rotation speed range. A power generator for an internal combustion engine according to any one of the preceding claims. 4. The method of detecting that the generator is cold includes measuring a temperature of a settable portion of the generator, comparing the temperature with a limit value, and as long as the measured temperature does not exceed the limit value. 4. The generator of claim 3, wherein the determination is made that the generator is cold. 5. The power generator according to claim 3, wherein the generator is considered to be cold during a selectable period that is started immediately after the start of driving of the generator. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic noise is detected directly or by a sensor, in particular a solid-state acoustic sensor, and said excitation current is reduced such that it does not exceed a configurable maximum noise peak. Claims 1, 2,
The power generator for an internal combustion engine according to any one of 3, 4, and 5. 7. A condition under which the substantially large noise is predicted by various factors, in particular, evaluation of current, temperature, rotation speed, vibration amplitude, and logical combination. The power generator according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, wherein the driving is performed by generating a drive signal for reducing the exciting current. 8. The control mechanism for reducing the exciting current is a microprocessor capable of programming information on the type of the generator, the mounting means of the generator, the internal combustion engine, and the like. ,
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction of the exciting current is performed according to the programmable information.
The power generator for an internal combustion engine according to any one of 4, 5, 6, and 7.