Internal combustion engine

Abstract

An internal combustion engine in which component parts slide against each other during operation, the internal combustion engine including: a water supply device that supplies water to the sliding surfaces of the component parts; and a control device that controls an operation of the internal combustion engine. At least one of the sliding surfaces of the component parts is made of silicon-based ceramics. The control device controls the operation of the internal combustion engine such that a low load or a no-load operation in which an engine load is limited to a predetermined reference load or less is performed until a predetermined standby period elapses after the operation of the internal combustion engine is started, and controls the operation of the internal combustion engine such that a normal operation in which the engine load is not limited to the reference load or less is performed after the standby period elapses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An internal combustion engine in which component parts slide against each other during operation, the internal combustion engine comprising:
 a water supply device that supplies water to sliding surfaces of the component parts; and   a control device that controls an operation of the internal combustion engine,   wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the component parts is made of silicon-based ceramics, and   wherein the control device controls the operation of the internal combustion engine such that a low load or a no-load operation in which an engine load is limited to a predetermined reference load or less is performed until a predetermined standby period elapses after the operation of the internal combustion engine is started, and controls the operation of the internal combustion engine such that a normal operation in which the engine load is not limited to the reference load or less is performed after the standby period elapses.   
     
     
         2 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the standby period is a period required for a cumulative sliding distance between the sliding surfaces of the component parts to reach a predetermined fixed distance. 
     
     
         3 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 2 , wherein the standby period is a predetermined fixed time. 
     
     
         4 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a concentration parameter detection device that detects a value of a concentration parameter that changes in accordance with a concentration of impurities contained in water supplied to the sliding surfaces,   wherein the water supply device repeatedly supplies water to the sliding surfaces, the water being water that has already been supplied to the sliding surfaces, and   wherein the standby period is a period until a change speed of the value of the concentration parameter detected by the concentration parameter detection device becomes equal to or less than a predetermined reference value.   
     
     
         5 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 4 , wherein the concentration parameter is an electrical resistance of water supplied to the sliding surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a resistance parameter detection device that detects a value of a resistance parameter that changes in accordance with a magnitude of a sliding resistance between the component parts,   wherein the standby period is a period until the value of the resistance parameter detected by the resistance parameter detection device becomes a value indicating that the magnitude of the sliding resistance is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value.   
     
     
         7 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to be driven by a motor, and   wherein the resistance parameter is an output of the motor when the internal combustion engine is driven by the motor so as to reach a predetermined rotational speed.   
     
     
         8 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the water supply device includes a filter that removes powder of the silicon-based ceramics contained in water supplied to the sliding surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a storage portion in which water after being supplied to the sliding surfaces is stored, and a stirring device that stirs water stored in the storage portion,   wherein the water supply device supplies water stored in the storage portion to the sliding surfaces, and   wherein the control device causes the stirring device to stir water stored in the storage portion until the standby period elapses after the operation of the internal combustion engine is started.   
     
     
         10 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , comprising a cylinder and a piston ring that is provided on an outer circumference of a piston that reciprocates within the cylinder, as the component parts that slide against each other. 
     
     
         11 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the water supply device includes a water jet for spraying water toward the piston and a piston passage provided in the piston, and   wherein the piston passage is provided such that water sprayed from the water jet flows into the piston passage and water in the piston passage is supplied to the piston ring.   
     
     
         12 . The internal combustion engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is an internal combustion engine that uses hydrogen as fuel.