A VALVE STROKE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system which measures the valve stroke amount relative to time by processing high speed camera images in the valvetrain test mechanism.
Background of the Invention
Valve opening closing stroke measurement is performed with sensors produced specifically for measurement. These sensors are instrumented on suitable placed on the valve, and the measurement is performed with digital measurement systems specially produced for sensors. Instrumenting the sensors required for valve stroke measurement on suitable places requires additional operations on the parts. These operations cause change in geometry and mass of the part, and change the dynamic behavior of the valve. As a result of instrumenting the system and the operations on the parts, error-free operation of the measurement system cannot be guaranteed, and error-free operation of the system is provided via trial and error method. In trial and error process, part, time and labor losses occur. United States Patent Document no US5056046A, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a system which enables to acquire data from pneumatic valves. The said system has a camera which enables to receive image from the valves. This system also has a market in order to be used in calculating displacement of the valve. While the said valve is changing between fully open and fully closed positions, images are received from the said valve and these images are processes. Valve openness control is determined by processing lines in
analogue video signals whether the markers on the valve control rod are covered or uncovered with the actuator movement.
Japanese Patent Document no JP2010085105, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a device for monitoring and diagnosing state of motorized valves. The said system has a camera which enables to receive image from the said valves. The said system also has a market. The said system also has an image processing system for processing the images received from the cameras and measuring time and stress on the shaft. The images received from the image processing unit are processed by a data analysis device. A camera which can receive image at high speed is not used for these operations, and the measurements are performed by taking two images. These measurements are performed with more than two markers. Summary of the Invention
The objective of the present invention is to provide a system which enables to measure valve stroke amounts of the internal combustion engines according to time by processing high speed camera images in the valvetrain test mechanism.
The inventive valve stroke measurement system is based on calculating where the a marker placed on the valve, having high contrast relative to the objects around itself is on the digital image with two dimensional digital statistical methods in the digital video image received from the high speed camera. Calculation process is performed with a computer. Therefore, it is calculated where the marker moving with the valve is on each frame of the video, each movement of the valve is measured in each video frame. Imaging speed of the high speed camera can be adjusted as 1000-5000 frames per second. Movement of a valve can be up to maximum 250 movements per second. Therefore, time passing between two frames is calculated, and the valve movement relative to time is measured.
Since no operation is required to be performed on the valvetrain for image processing and valve stroke measurement, no change is made on the system geometry and mass. Therefore, no change occurs in the dynamic behaviors of the system. Since there is no instrumenting mechanically, error possibility is minimized in the measurement system, possible part, time and labor losses due to trial/error are minimized.
Detailed Description of the Invention A valve stroke measurement system developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which:
Figure 1 is the schematic view of the valve stroke measurement system.
Figure 2 is the view of reference measurement on the test valve.
Figure 3 is a schematic view in which the movements of test valve and reference valve amongst the test mechanism are shown.
The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:
1. Valve stroke measurement system
2. Test mechanism
3. Test valve
4. Reference valve
5. Camera
6. Control unit
A. Marker 1
B. Marker 2
X. Reference measurement
A valve stroke measurement system (1), which enables the valve stroke amount of internal combustion engines to be measured relative to time by processing digital images received from the high speed camera in valvetrain test mechanism, essentially comprises
- at least one test mechanism (2) which enables the valve in the internal combustion engines to be operated independent from the engine,
at least one test valve (3) the valve stroke amount of which is to be measured in the test mechanism (2), and which is marked such that it will be distinguished from the objects and parts around it,
- at least one reference valve (4) which is marked in a different marker in the test mechanism (2),
at least one camera (5) which is preferably fixed in vertical angle with the valves moving in the test mechanism (2),
at least one control unit (6) which is adapted to calculate the stroke amount of the test valve (3) relative to time by calculating the locations of the markers on the test valve (3) and the reference valve (4) and their locations relative to each other.
In the inventive valve stroke measurement system (1), valves of the internal combustion engines are placed on a test mechanism (2). By means of the said test mechanism (2), the said valves are enabled to operate independent from the engine. On the test valve (3), one of these valves the measurement of which will be performed, marking is performed such that it will be distinguished from the objects and parts around it (having high contrast). In one embodiment of the invention, a black/and white marker is used for marking. A second marking is performed on the reference valve (4) the valve stroke amount of which will be measured, with high black/white contrast in a different marker from the test valve (3). Then, a camera (5) is fixed vertical to the valves moving in the test mechanism (2), its position is adjusted such that the movements of the valves will remain on the imaging area (Figure 1). After the suitable lighting for the test is positioned, moving digital image of the movements of the valve is taken via the
camera (5) before the test. The taken image is transferred to a control unit (6) which is preferably a computer, it is calculated how many mm (millimeters) one pixel image is relative to the reference measurement (X). Therefore, position measurement accuracy is also calculated. In one embodiment of the invention, reference measurement (X);
X= 2,98 mm +/- 0,02 = 23 pixels.
1 pixel = 0,13 mm.
When the test mechanism (2) comes to the speed point of the valves to be tested, image taking process is started via the camera (5) and the received digital image is transferred to the control unit (6) and recorded here. On the recorded digital image, first the location of Marker- 1 (A) which is a marking performed on the test valve (3) is calculated with a statistical method in the image. By means of an image processing program loaded in the control unit (6).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two dimensional correlation method is used for statistical method calculation. Digital images are comprises of three matrices according to RGB (red, green, blue) digital image standard, and the matrix size shows the resolution of the digital image. For example, a digital image with resolution of 800x600 is comprised of three matrices with (RGHB) [800x600] size.
The image of the moving object in this image is a matrix with a smaller size in the matrix. The matrix location of the image created by the moving object can be calculated in the whole image with the two dimensional correlation method. Therefore, in the video comprised of digital images, it can be measured at which location the moving object is in each frame. The equation given below is used for the measurement:
-(G-i)≤/≤N-i,
X: image matrix in MxN dimension
H: image matrix of the object moving in PxQ dimension (marker 1)
C: matrix generated as a result of calculation ( M+P-l x N+Q-l dimension),
The number of line and column where the maximum value in the calculated C matrix is present expresses the location of the moving object searched in the image. Movement amount is calculated according to the change in location values calculated for each frame. 1 pixel location change is calculated according to the reference measurement (X) (in the example above 1 pixel=0.13 mm). After the location of the Marker 1 (A) is calculated with the equation given above, the location of Marker-2 (B) made on the reference valve (4) is also calculated with the same statistical method in the image. Then, according to the location of Marker-2 (B) on the reference valve (4), the location of Marker- 1 (A) on the test valve (3) is calculated, and the movement amount of the test valve (3) relative to a reference point (4) is calculated.
-(G-i)≤ ≤N-i,
The location of the valve is extracted from the reference point, and the calculation is performed. The abovementioned formula is used for this.