# US 9,038,448 B2 · Monitoring apparatus, as well as monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,448 B2 - Document ID: US9038448B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/262,710 - Filed: 2010-03-25 - Published: 2012-03-15 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-06 - Assignees: Wärtsilä Schweiz AG - Applicants: Francesco Micali; Matthias Stark; Markus Weber - Inventors: Francesco Micali; Matthias Stark; Markus Weber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038448B2 ## CPC - G01M 15/042: {by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12} - F01M 1/08: Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant jetting means - F01M 11/10: Indicating devices; Other safety devices - F16N 29/00: Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems - G01N 33/22: Fuels; Explosives - G01N 33/2888: {Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration (lubricating properties G01N33/30)} - F01M 2011/022: {for lubricating cylinders} - F01M 2011/14: {for indicating the necessity to change the oil} - F01M 2011/1406: {by considering acidity} - F01M 2011/1413: {by considering dielectric properties} - F01M 2011/1453: {by considering oil quantity} - F01M 2011/146: {by considering moisture level} - F01M 2011/1473: {by considering temperature} - F01M 2011/1493: {by considering total base number [TBN]} - F16N 2250/30: Dialectricum - F16N 2250/32: Inductive - F16N 2250/34: Transparency; Light; Photo sensor - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - F16N: LUBRICATING - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder; and, a piston arranged in the cylinder and moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly suppliable from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device wherein the measurement device includes an electromagnetic measurement unit, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil, and wherein the monitoring apparatus is provided miniaturized directly in the cylinder wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection valve actuatable by a control device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection space which is an integral part of the cylinder wall and lubrication oil collected in the oil collection space is suppliable to the measurement device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least two oil collection openings are provided which are arranged at the cylinder displaced from one another in the circumferential direction and/or with regard to the axial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A reciprocating piston internal combustion engine, having a monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the measurement unit is for the amplitude dependent and/or the frequency dependent and/or the frequency independent determination of a capacitance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection opening which is provided at the cylinder wall between the bottom dead center of the piston and the cylinder cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is a longitudinally scavenged internal combustion engine having scavenging slits and a slow running two-stroke large diesel engine and the oil collection opening is arranged in the region of the scavenging slits such that lubrication oil exiting via the scavenging slits is collectable through the oil collection opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the oil collection opening is designed such that a lubrication oil flow-rate is settable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A monitoring apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is a four-stroke reciprocating piston internal combustion engine and the oil collection opening is arranged at the cylinder between the position of a crown of the piston in the top dead center and the position of a bottom side of the piston in the bottom dead center such that lubrication oil is collectable from the cylinder through the oil collection opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The monitoring apparatus of claim 5 wherein the engine is a two-stroke large diesel engine or a four-stroke engine. ### Claim 12 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes an electromagnetic measurement unit, of a magnetic permeability, of an electric DC conductivity and/or of an AC conductivity, and/or of a complex electric conductivity and/or of a complex electric resistance of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is carried out. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection opening which is provided at the cylinder wall between the bottom dead center of the piston and the cylinder cover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection valve actuatable by a control device, and in the operating state a predefined amount of lubricant is led away out of the cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The monitoring method of claim 12 wherein the measurement unit is for the amplitude dependent and/or the frequency dependent and/or the frequency independent determination of a capacitance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the oil collection device includes an oil collection space which is an integral part of the cylinder wall and lubrication oil collected in the oil collection space is supplied to the measurement device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least two oil collection openings are provided which are arranged at the cylinder displaced from one another in the circumferential direction and/or with regard to the axial direction, so that samples of lubrication oil can be taken from different positions in the cylinder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein a maintenance point in time for the maintenance of a predefined engine component is automatically determined. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is controlled and/or regulated in dependence on a measurement result of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil (9). ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is a longitudinally scavenged internal combustion engine having scavenging slits, and the oil collection opening is arranged in the region of the scavenging slits such that lubrication oil exiting via the scavenging slits is collected through the oil collection opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The monitoring method of claim 20 wherein the engine is a slow running two-stroke large diesel engine. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the oil collection opening is designed such that a lubrication oil flow-rate can be set. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The monitoring method of claim 22 wherein the lubrication oil flow-rate can be set automatically. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) A monitoring method in accordance with claim 12, wherein data recorded with the measurement device are evaluated and consequentially a state of wear of a component of the reciprocating piston internal combustion engine is determined. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The monitoring method of claim 24 wherein the data are evaluated by means of a look-up table and/or by means of a predetermined mathematical function and/or by means of a calibration. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The monitoring method of claim 24 wherein the state of wear of the piston and/or of a piston ring and/or of the running surface of the cylinder wall and/or of a gas exchange valve and/or of a different engine component is determined. ### Claim 27 A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder; and, a piston arranged in the cylinder and moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly suppliable from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes an X-ray measurement unit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The monitoring apparatus of claim 27 wherein the X-ray measurement unit is for the determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil (9). ### Claim 29 A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder; and, a piston arranged in the cylinder and moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly suppliable from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes an optical measurement unit for the determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The monitoring apparatus of claim 29 wherein the optical measurement unit is an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit. ### Claim 31 A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder; and, a piston arranged in the cylinder and moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly suppliable from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes a chemical measurement unit for the determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil. ### Claim 32 A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder; and, a piston arranged in the cylinder and moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder so that a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is suppliable from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly suppliable from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly suppliable from the combustion space and/or is directly suppliable from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes a measurement system for the determination of a content of water and/or of a content of metal and/or for the determination of a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The monitoring apparatus of claim 32 wherein the metal content to be determined is of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium. ### Claim 34 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes an X-ray measurement unit. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The monitoring method of claim 34 wherein a determination of a transmission property and/or of an absorption property and/or of a reflection property and/or of a fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is carried out by the X-ray measurement unit. ### Claim 36 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes an optical measurement unit. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The monitoring method of claim 36 wherein a determination of an optical transmission property and/or of an optical absorption property and/or of an optical reflection property and/or of an optical fluorescence property of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is carried out by the optical measurement unit and wherein an infrared measurement unit and/or an ultraviolet measurement unit is used as the optical measurement unit. ### Claim 38 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein the measurement device includes a chemical measurement unit and a determination of a chemical composition of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is carried out. ### Claim 39 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein a content of water and/or a content of metal, and/or a content of phosphor and/or of sulfur of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is determined by the measurement device. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The monitoring method of claim 39 wherein the metal content to be determined is of iron and/or of chromium and/or of vanadium. ### Claim 41 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein an evaluation of the measurement of the collected measured quantity of lubrication oil is carried out for each engine cycle. ### Claim 42 A monitoring method for monitoring a state of wear of a component of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine including a cylinder having a cylinder cover and a running surface provided at a cylinder wall of the cylinder, in which cylinder a piston is arranged moveable to and fro in an axial direction along the running surface between a bottom dead center and a top dead center such that the piston, the cylinder cover and the cylinder wall form a combustion space in the cylinder for the combustion of a mixture of a fuel and air, wherein an oil collection device is provided for the collection of lubrication oil from the cylinder and in the operating state a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is supplied from the cylinder to a measurement device, wherein the measured quantity of lubrication oil is directly supplied from the running surface of the cylinder and/or is directly supplied from the combustion space and/or is directly supplied from a piston ring package of the piston to the oil collection device and wherein a predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil is collected during a predetermined number of engine cycles, and a measurement is carried out and evaluated on the predetermined measured quantity of lubrication oil.