Control system of an internal combustion engine burning a gaseous fuel and internal combustion engine

Abstract

Control system (2) of an internal combustion engine (1), with at least one sensor (3) and / or at least one actuator (4), wherein the at least one sensor (3) and / or the at least one actuator (4) is assigned to a space (1a) of the internal combustion engine (1) that carries a gaseous fuel and / or other aggressive and / or otherwise hazardous medium which may endanger safety and / or function; with at least one control unit (5), wherein the at least one control unit (5) receives signals from the at least one sensor (3) and / or transmits signals to the at least one actuator (4), with at least one signal line (6, 7) extending between the at least one control unit (5) and the at least one sensor (3) and / or the at least one actuator (4), characterized by the fact that the signal line (6, 7) consists of at least one single conductor (6a, 7a) surrounded by a sheath (8b, 9b), the at least one single vein (6a, 7a) surrounded by a sheath (8b, 9b) is surrounded by an umbrella weave (6c, 7c), which at least one isolated single conductor (6a, 7a) and the shielding braid (6c, 7c) are surrounded by an overall sheath (8a, 9a), which at least one insulated single conductor (6a, 7a) is converted at least section by section into a solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) or is brought into a state comparable to the solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) by suitable measures, the shielding braid (6c, 7c) is at least partially converted into a solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) or is brought into a state comparable to the solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) by suitable measures, the cavities (10) between the solid wire conductors (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) and the overall sheath (8a, 9a) are filled at least partially with potting compound (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control system for an internal combustion engine burning a gaseous fuel. Furthermore, the invention relates to an internal combustion engine.

[0002] In internal combustion engines, at least one sensor and / or at least one actuator can be assigned to a fluid-carrying chamber. Preferably, but not limited thereto, a sensor and / or at least one actuator can be assigned to a gaseous fuel-carrying chamber of an internal combustion engine, such as a gas or dual-fuel engine, which is coupled to a control unit via at least one signal line in order to transmit signals either from the respective sensor to the control unit and / or signals from the control unit to the respective actuator. The signal line typically consists, but is not limited thereto, of at least one insulated single conductor, typically designed as a stranded wire. These are optionally enclosed by a braided shield or foil shield and surrounded by an overall sheath.The problem is that gaseous fuel can leak through both the isolated single wire(s) and the entire signal line, thereby impairing the safety and / or function of the internal combustion engine. In particular, there is a risk that the gaseous fuel could ignite, for example, in the area of ​​the control unit. Similarly, in other media-carrying compartments, flammable and / or corrosive gaseous and / or liquid substances can creep into areas of the control system via the signal line, thus impairing the safety and / or function of the internal combustion engine.

[0003] So far, it has been difficult to prevent such a leak safely and reliably.

[0004] US Standard 2010 / 0108020A1 discloses an internal combustion engine that is operated in a potentially explosive atmosphere. Various components, such as the cables used to connect sensors, actuators, and control units, must comply with a corresponding standard.

[0005] Furthermore, it is already evident from US 2018 / 0 075 947 A1 that the cable shown therein is to be used for connecting a gas turbine to a control room for a connection between sensors or actuators and a control unit of an internal combustion engine.

[0006] Based on this, the invention aims to create a novel control system for an internal combustion engine.

[0007] This problem is solved by a control system of an internal combustion engine according to claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, the individual conductors of the signal line are section by section converted into solid wire conductors or brought into a state comparable to that of a solid wire conductor by suitable measures such as crimping or filling the spaces between the individual wires of the stranded wire with suitable conductive material. The cavity between the solid wire conductor and the sheath is filled, at least section by section, with a potting compound that fills a cavity between the at least one individual conductor of the signal line and the respective sheath of the signal line, at least section by section. The invention makes it possible to safely and reliably prevent leakage of gaseous fuel and / or other aggressive and / or otherwise safety- and / or functionally hazardous media that can extend from the respective sensor and / or actuator towards the respective control unit.This can increase the safety and / or the function of the internal combustion engine.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment, the potting compound comprises a glass melt and / or glass ceramic and / or plastic melt and / or plastic resins and / or ceramic mass. Such a potting compound is particularly preferred to prevent leakage of the gaseous fuel.

[0010] The internal combustion engine according to the invention is defined in claim 3.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A highly schematic representation of an internal combustion engine, with a control system.

[0012] Fig. Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of an internal combustion engine 1 together with a control system 2 for the internal combustion engine 1. The control system 2 has at least one sensor 3 and / or at least one actuator 4.

[0013] In the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. A sensor 3 and an actuator 4 are assigned to space 1a of the internal combustion engine 1, which contains gaseous fuel and / or an aggressive medium and / or a medium that otherwise endangers safety and / or function. Space 1a, which contains gaseous fuel and / or an aggressive medium and / or a medium that otherwise endangers safety and / or function, can be, for example, a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, a fuel line, or the crankcase of the internal combustion engine.

[0014] The control system 2 also has at least one control unit 5. In the illustrated embodiment, a signal line 6 extends between the sensor 3 and the control unit 5, and another signal line 7 extends between the actuator 4 and the control unit 5.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the signal lines 6, 7 consists of a single conductor 6a or 7a, respectively, surrounded by an insulating sheath 8b or 9b. In the illustrated embodiment, the single conductor 6a or 7a, surrounded by an insulating sheath 8b or 9b, is additionally surrounded by a braided shield 6c or 7c and by a complete sheath 8a or 9a. Due to the described construction of the signal lines, cavities 10 are formed between the single conductor and the complete sheath.

[0016] It should be noted that each of the individual wires 6a or 7a may have several twisted strands.

[0017] It is also possible for several individual veins to be surrounded by a common sheath.

[0018] According to the invention, it is proposed that the respective single wire 6a in Fig. 1 is converted at least section by section into a solid wire conductor 6b or is brought at least section by suitable measures such as crimping or filling the spaces between the individual wires of the stranded conductors with suitable conductive material into a condition comparable to that of a solid wire conductor.

[0019] Likewise, the braided shield 6c is at least partially converted into a solid wire conductor 6d or brought into a condition comparable to that of a solid wire conductor by suitable measures. The existing cavities 10 are at least partially filled with potting compound 11. This prevents leakage from flowing from the sensor 3 towards the control unit 5 between the individual conductor 6a and the sheath 8b surrounding the individual conductor 6a, between the sheath 8b and the surrounding braided shield 6c, and between the braided shield 6c and the overall sheath 8a.

[0020] In the area of ​​signal line 7, which runs between the in Fig. The actuator 4 shown in Figure 1 and the control unit 5 are designed to be filled at least partially with a potting compound 14 in order to partially fill a cavity 13 between the at least one single conductor 7a, which is converted into a solid wire conductor 7b or brought into a state comparable to a solid wire conductor by suitable measures such as crimping or filling the spaces between the individual conductors of the stranded wire with suitable conductive material, and / or the braided shield 7c, which is converted into a solid wire conductor 7d or brought into a state comparable to a solid wire conductor by suitable measures, and a housing 12 of the actuator 4.

[0021] Furthermore, in Fig.1. It is provided that the control unit 5 is also partially filled with a potting compound 17 in order to partially fill a cavity 16 between the at least one single conductor 7a (which is converted into a solid wire conductor 7e or brought into a condition comparable to a solid wire conductor by suitable measures such as crimping or filling the spaces between the individual conductors of the stranded wire with suitable conductive material) and / or the braided shield 7c (which is converted into a solid wire conductor 7f or brought into a condition comparable to a solid wire conductor by suitable measures) and a housing 15 of the control unit 5. This also reliably prevents any leakage from the gaseous fuel chamber 1a of the internal combustion engine 1 towards the control unit 5.

[0022] It is possible to apply the potting compound 14 exclusively to the housing 12 of the actuator 4. It is also possible to apply the potting compound 17 exclusively to the housing 15 of the control unit 5. Furthermore, any combination thereof is possible.

[0023] The potting compound 11 in the area of ​​the sheath 8a and 8b can be combined with the potting compound 14 in the area of ​​the housing 12 of actuator 4 or sensor 3, or alternatively or additionally with the potting compound 17 in the area of ​​the housing 15 of the control unit 5. If all three potting compounds 11, 14 and 17 are used in the area of ​​a respective signal line 6 and / or 7, maximum protection against unwanted fuel leakage is ensured.

[0024] Then, when the potting compound 14 is used in the area of ​​a housing 12 of the actuator 4 and / or in the area of ​​a housing of the sensor 3 or the potting compound 17 is used in the area of ​​the housing 15 of the control unit 5, it is preferably arranged in an area in which the respective signal line 6, 7 is connected to the sensor 3 or the actuator 4 or the control unit 5, i.e. in the area of ​​a respective interface, which is provided, for example, by a socket.

[0025] The potting compound can consist of molten glass and / or glass ceramics and / or molten plastics and / or plastic resins and / or ceramic mass. Such a potting material and / or a suitable combination of several potting materials is particularly preferred to reliably prevent the unwanted leakage of gaseous fuel and / or other aggressive and / or otherwise safety- and / or functionally hazardous media. Reference symbol list 1 internal combustion engine Room 1a 2 Control system 3 Sensor 4 Actuator 5 Control unit 6 Signal line 6a Single wire 6b Solid wire conductor 6c Umbrella weave 6d solid wire conductor 7 Signal line 7a Single wire 7b Solid wire conductor 7c Umbrella weave 7d solid wire conductor 7e Solid wire conductor 7f solid wire conductor 8a Total coat 8b Coat 9a Total coat 9b Coat 10 Cavity 11 Potting compound 12 cases 13 Cavity 14 Potting compound 15 cases 16 Cavity 17 Potting compound

Claims

[1] Control system (2) of an internal combustion engine (1), with at least one sensor (3) and / or at least one actuator (4), wherein the at least one sensor (3) and / or the at least one actuator (4) is assigned to a space (1a) of the internal combustion engine (1) that carries a gaseous fuel and / or other aggressive and / or otherwise hazardous medium which may endanger safety and / or function; with at least one control unit (5), wherein the at least one control unit (5) receives signals from the at least one sensor (3) and / or transmits signals to the at least one actuator (4), with at least one signal line (6, 7) extending between the at least one control unit (5) and the at least one sensor (3) and / or the at least one actuator (4), characterized by , that the signal line (6, 7) consists of at least one single conductor (6a, 7a) surrounded by a sheath (8b, 9b), the at least one single vein (6a, 7a) surrounded by a sheath (8b, 9b) is surrounded by an umbrella weave (6c, 7c), which at least one isolated single conductor (6a, 7a) and the shielding braid (6c, 7c) are surrounded by an overall sheath (8a, 9a), which at least one insulated single conductor (6a, 7a) is converted at least section by section into a solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) or is brought into a state comparable to the solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) by suitable measures, the shielding braid (6c, 7c) is at least partially converted into a solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) or is brought into a state comparable to the solid wire conductor (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) by suitable measures, the cavities (10) between the solid wire conductors (6b, 6d, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f) and the overall sheath (8a, 9a) are filled at least partially with potting compound (11). [2] Control system according to claim 1, characterized by , that the at least one sensor (3) and / or the at least one actuator (4) is filled at least partially with a potting compound (14) which fills at least partially a cavity (13) between the at least one signal line (6, 7) and a housing (12) of the respective sensor (3) or actuator (4), that at least one control unit (5) is filled at least partially with a potting compound (17) which fills at least partially a cavity (16) between the at least one signal line (6, 7) and a housing (15) of the respective control unit (5). [3] Internal combustion engine (1), namely gas engine or dual-fuel engine, with a control system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 2.

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