Patent ID: 12241404

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

<Overview of Vehicle Management System>

An overview of a vehicle management system according to an embodiment will be described with reference toFIG.1.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram showing an overview of a vehicle management system S. The vehicle management system S is a system configured to manage states of a plurality of vehicles1a,1b, . . . ,1n(hereinafter, also collectively referred to as “vehicles1”) by operating a management device100and the vehicles1in cooperation with each other.

The plurality of vehicles1are, for example, trucks. The vehicle1corresponds to an internal combustion engine device including an engine which is an internal combustion engine. The vehicle1is provided with a sensor or the like configured to measure a state of the own vehicle, and transmits measured data to the management device100.

The management device100is a vehicle management device capable of communicating with the plurality of vehicles1and configured to manage the vehicles1. The management device100is, for example, a server provided in a management center. The management device100receives data (such as cumulative data to be described later) from each vehicle1. The management device100diagnoses the state of the vehicle1using the received data. For example, the management device100determines whether maintenance is necessary based on a diagnosis result.

<Configuration of Vehicle>

Configurations of the plurality of vehicles1a,1b, . . . ,1nshown inFIG.1are the same. The configuration of the vehicle1will be described with reference toFIG.2. Hereinafter, a configuration related to the diagnosis of the vehicle1will be described.

FIG.2is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle1. As shown inFIG.2, the vehicle1includes an engine10, an intake passage20, an exhaust passage30, a supercharging device32, a pressure sensor36, and a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) passage38.

The engine10burns and expands an air-fuel mixture of fuel and intake air injected into an intake pipe or a cylinder (a combustion chamber) to generate power. In the engine10, the intake air is suctioned into the cylinder, and exhaust gas after combustion is discharged from the cylinder.

The intake passage20is a passage through which the intake air flows toward the engine10. The intake passage20is provided with the supercharging device32and the pressure sensor36.

The exhaust passage30is a passage through which the exhaust gas from the engine10flows. The exhaust passage30is provided with a purification device configured to purify the exhaust gas.

The supercharging device32is, for example, a turbocharger. The supercharging device32includes a compressor33configured to compress intake air to increase an amount of the intake air. The compressor33includes fins configured to supercharge the intake air by rotating. The fins are provided in a housing of the compressor33.

The compressor33is connected to a turbine (not shown) provided in the exhaust passage30via a connecting shaft34. When the turbine is driven by the exhaust gas, the compressor33rotates to supercharge the intake air. The compressor33supercharges the intake air, so that a pressure of the intake air increases.

The pressure sensor36is configured to detect the pressure (hereinafter, also referred to as a supercharging pressure) of the intake air supercharged by the supercharging device32. The pressure sensor36is provided between the supercharging device32and the engine10in the intake passage20.

The PCV passage38is a passage configured to recirculate blow-by gas of the engine10to the intake passage20. The PCV passage38connects the engine10and the intake passage20(specifically, upstream of the compressor33in the intake passage20). The PCV passage38is provided with a pump39configured to perform pumping from an engine10side to an intake passage20side.

The blow-by gas is a combustion gas or unburned fuel that has leaked from a combustion chamber of the engine10to a crankcase. The blow-by gas causes deterioration of lubricating oil in the crankcase and deterioration of fuel efficiency. Therefore, after the blow-by gas has been recirculated to the intake passage20, the blow-by gas is burned again in the combustion chamber of the engine10.

Oil such as engine oil may be contained in the intake air flowing through the intake passage20. For example, since mist-shaped oil is contained in the blow-by gas, when the blow-by gas is recirculated from the PCV passage38to the intake passage20, the oil is contained in the intake air. In this case, the oil adheres to the compressor33(specifically, the housing or the fins of the compressor33) of the supercharging device32, and damage of coking occurs. When coking occurs, the supercharging pressure drops, and the supercharging efficiency of the compressor33deteriorates.

On the other hand, the management device100acquires cumulative data indicating operation states from the plurality of vehicles1, and obtains a relational expression between the degree of damage to the compressor33and a characteristic value (specifically, the supercharging pressure) for identifying the damage. Then, the management device100estimates the degree of damage to the compressor33of the vehicle1to be diagnosed based on the relational expression obtained in advance and a supercharging pressure acquired from the vehicle1to be diagnosed. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately estimate the degree of damage to the compressor33of the vehicle1to be diagnosed.

<Configuration of Management Device>

A configuration of the management device100that functions as a diagnosis device will be described with reference toFIG.3.

FIG.3is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management device100. The management device100is operated by an administrator of the management center. As shown inFIG.3, the management device100includes a communication unit110, a storage unit112, and a control unit120.

The communication unit110is configured to communicate with the vehicle1(FIG.1). The communication unit110is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the vehicle1. For example, the communication unit110receives the cumulative data indicating the operation state of the vehicle1from the vehicle1.

The storage unit112includes, for example, a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit112is configured to store a program to be executed by the control unit120and various types of data. For example, the storage unit112stores the cumulative data acquired from each of the plurality of vehicles1. Further, the storage unit112is configured to store information on the relational expression of the degree of damage to the compressor33.

The control unit120is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The control unit120is configured to diagnose the vehicle1by executing the program stored in the storage unit112. In the present embodiment, the control unit120functions as a data acquisition unit122, a damage degree identification unit123, a relationship identification unit124, a target information acquisition unit125, and a diagnosis unit126.

The data acquisition unit122is configured to acquire data of the vehicle1from the plurality of vehicles1. In the present embodiment, the data acquisition unit122acquires cumulative data for each parameter related to stress acting on the supercharging device32(here, the compressor33) from the plurality of vehicles1. By using the cumulative data, it is possible to diagnose the degree of damage to the compressor33that has deteriorated due to the complex stress. The data acquisition unit122periodically (for example, once per month) acquires the cumulative data. The data acquisition unit122stores the acquired cumulative data in the storage unit112.

There are a plurality of parameters of stress factors acting on the compressor33. For example, the parameters of the stress factors are use in an operation in which the engine oil is consumed in a large amount, use in a state in which the intake air is at a high temperature, and the like. The cumulative data indicates a frequency of each parameter.

The data acquisition unit122acquires the supercharging pressure of the supercharging device32together with the cumulative data from the plurality of vehicles1. That is, the data acquisition unit122acquires the supercharging pressure during supercharging performed by the supercharging device32. Specifically, the data acquisition unit122acquires the supercharging pressure detected by the pressure sensor36during the supercharging. The supercharging pressure is a characteristic value capable of identifying the degree of damage to the deteriorated compressor33. Normally, when the supercharging pressure is high, the degree of damage to the compressor33tends to be small, and when the supercharging pressure is low, the degree of damage to the compressor33tends to be large.

The damage degree identification unit123is configured to identify the degree of damage to the supercharging device32(specifically, the compressor33) of the vehicle1. The damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33of each vehicle1based on the cumulative data acquired from the plurality of vehicles1. That is, the damage degree identification unit123identifies a degree of coking of the compressor33due to a plurality of stress factors.

The damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33according to the cumulative data of each of the plurality of stress factors deteriorating the compressor33. At this time, the damage degree identification unit123multiplies a weighting coefficient for each stress factor. Accordingly, it is possible to identify the degree of damage reflecting the plurality of stress factors.

The damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33due to the blow-by gas recirculated to the intake air as the degree of damage.

That is, the damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33caused by the oil in the blow-by gas recirculated to the intake passage20via the PCV passage38. Specifically, the damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of coking which is burn-in in the compressor33. Accordingly, it is possible to identify a degree of progress of coking in the compressor33.

The relationship identification unit124is configured to identify a relational expression indicating a relationship between the degree of damage to the supercharging device32and a characteristic value for identifying the damage. That is, the relationship identification unit124is configured to identify a relational expression indicating the relationship between the degree of damage to the compressor33identified by the damage degree identification unit123and the supercharging pressure for identifying the damage. The relationship identification unit124stores the identified relational expression in the storage unit112.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram showing the relational expression. In a graph inFIG.4, a horizontal axis represents the degree of damage to the compressor33, and a vertical axis represents the supercharging pressure which is the characteristic value. In the graph, the correspondence relationship between the degree of damage and the characteristic value based on the data periodically acquired from the one vehicle1, which is a failed vehicle, is plotted as a x mark. A curve on the graph is an approximate line of plotted data, and indicates the relational expression. The relationship identification unit124may identify the relational expression by averaging the approximate lines obtained for each of the plurality of vehicles1.

The relationship identification unit124may update the relational expression by machine learning. That is, the relationship is updated using the cumulative data and the supercharging pressure that are periodically acquired from the vehicle1. Accordingly, it is possible to identify the relational expression with higher accuracy.

The target information acquisition unit125is configured to acquire, from the vehicle1to be diagnosed, information on the characteristic value (here, the supercharging pressure) for identifying the degree of damage to the compressor33. That is, the target information acquisition unit125functions as a supercharging pressure acquisition unit configured to acquire the supercharging pressure of the supercharging device32. Specifically, the target information acquisition unit125is configured to acquire the supercharging pressure detected by the pressure sensor36(FIG.2). When the device to be diagnosed is the vehicle1ashown inFIG.1, the target information acquisition unit125acquires the supercharging pressure from the vehicle1a. The target information acquisition unit125outputs information on the acquired supercharging pressure to the diagnosis unit126.

The diagnosis unit126is configured to diagnose the vehicle1to be diagnosed. The diagnosis unit126functions as an estimation unit configured to estimate the degree of damage to the compressor33to be diagnosed based on the supercharging pressure acquired by the target information acquisition unit125and the relational expression identified by the relationship identification unit124. Specifically, the diagnosis unit126estimates the degree of damage to the compressor33to be diagnosed by applying the supercharging pressure to the relational expression. For example, as shown inFIG.4, when the supercharging pressure is P1, the diagnosis unit126estimates that the degree of damage is D1. Accordingly, if the supercharging pressure is known, the diagnosis unit126can accurately estimate the degree of damage (the degree of coking in the compressor33) to the compressor33that deteriorates due to the plurality of stress factors. The diagnosis unit126may predict a life of the compressor33based on the estimated degree of damage to the compressor33.

<Flow of Processing Executed by Management Device>

A flow of the diagnosis processing executed by the management device100will be described with reference toFIGS.5and6.

FIG.5is a flowchart showing the flow for identifying the relational expression.

The data acquisition unit122of the management device100acquires the cumulative data and the supercharging pressure from the plurality of vehicles1(for example, the vehicles1ato In inFIG.1) (step S102). The data acquisition unit122periodically (for example, once per month) acquires the cumulative data and the supercharging pressure.

Next, the damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33of each vehicle1based on the acquired cumulative data (step S104). That is, the damage degree identification unit123identifies the degree of damage to the compressor33that deteriorates due to the plurality of stress factors.

Next, the relationship identification unit124identifies the relational expression indicating the relationship between the identified degree of damage and the supercharging pressure (step S106). For example, the relationship identification unit124identifies the relational expression indicated by an approximate expression shown inFIG.4.

Next, the relationship identification unit124stores the identified relational expression in the storage unit112(step S108). By repeating the above-described processing, the relational expression stored in the storage unit112is updated. Accordingly, the relational expression with high accuracy can be stored.

FIG.6is a flowchart showing estimation processing of the degree of damage to a diagnosis target.

Here, the target information acquisition unit125of the management device100starts from the acquisition of the supercharging pressure from the vehicle1to be diagnosed (step S122). Specifically, the target information acquisition unit125acquires the supercharging pressure detected by the pressure sensor36.

Next, the diagnosis unit126estimates the degree of damage to the compressor33of the vehicle1to be diagnosed based on the supercharging pressure acquired in step S122and the relational expression stored in advance in the storage unit112(step S124). For example, the diagnosis unit126can accurately estimate the degree of damage to the compressor33by obtaining the degree of damage corresponding to the supercharging pressure based on the relational expression shown inFIG.4.

Next, the management device100transmits the information on the estimated degree of damage (step S126). For example, the management device100transmits the information on the degree of damage to a maintenance factory.

Effects According to Present Embodiment

The management device100according to the above-described embodiment identifies the relational expression between the degree of damage to the compressor33and the supercharging pressure using the cumulative data acquired from the plurality of vehicles1.

When the management device100acquires the supercharging pressure from the vehicle1to be diagnosed, the management device100estimates the degree of damage to the compressor33of the vehicle1to be diagnosed based on the correspondence relationship with the relational expression identified in advance.

Accordingly, by applying the supercharging pressure of the compressor33to be diagnosed to the relational expression, it is possible to appropriately estimate the degree of damage (specifically, the degree of progress of coking) to the compressor33that deteriorates due to the plurality of stress factors. As a result, it is possible to appropriately perform maintenance of the compressor33or the like by providing the information on the estimated degree of damage to the maintenance factory.

Although the present disclosure has been described above using the embodiment, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the scope described in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. For example, all or a part of the devices can be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit. Further, a new embodiment generated by any combination of a plurality of embodiments is also contained in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Effects according to the new embodiment obtained by the combination include effects according to the original embodiments.

The present application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-033207 filed on Feb. 28, 2020, and contents thereof are incorporated herein as reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The diagnosis device and the diagnosis method according to the present disclosure are useful in that the degree of damage to the supercharging device can be appropriately estimated.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1vehicle10engine32supercharging device33compressor100management device (diagnosis device)122data acquisition unit123damage degree identification unit124relationship identification unit125target information acquisition unit126diagnosis unit