Vehicle heating system

Abstract

Vehicle heating system (10) comprising: - a preferably fuel-operated vehicle heater (12) with a heater control unit (30), - a control unit (14), - a vehicle climate control system control unit (38) for controlling a vehicle blower (36) during the operation of a vehicle, - a vehicle blower control unit (16) for providing control commands for the vehicle blower (36) when the vehicle is not in operation, - a data bus system (40) wherein the heater control unit (30), the operating unit (14) and the vehicle blower control unit (16) are connected to each other for data exchange via the data bus system (40).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle heating system comprising a preferably fuel-operated vehicle heater with a heater control unit, an operating unit and a vehicle blower control unit.

[0002] In such systems, for example, those integrated into vehicles as auxiliary heaters or parking heaters, or those to be integrated into vehicle heating systems, the control unit and the heater control unit are connected for data exchange. This allows, for instance, the transmission of a user-defined start time for parking heater operation, which can be entered via corresponding controls on the control unit, to the heater control unit. The heater control unit controls and regulates the operation of the vehicle heater based on heater-specific information, which is input as analog signals via corresponding interfaces. This includes, for example, information about the combustion state or the temperature of a heat transfer medium to be heated by the vehicle heater, such as the liquid coolant circulating in the coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine.Based on this information, the heater control unit generates control signals for various system components of the vehicle heater, such as a metering pump for supplying liquid fuel or a combustion air blower. These control commands are also sent by the heater control unit to the respective system components in the form of analog signals. Furthermore, the heater control unit generates, for example, a control command for the vehicle blower control unit to activate the blower, for instance, when the heat transfer medium being heated in the vehicle heater reaches a sufficiently high temperature, in order to introduce heated air into the vehicle interior during auxiliary heating operation.

[0003] With this known design, the heater control unit must be configured to receive and generate heater-specific analog signals. Furthermore, the heater control unit must also be capable of receiving vehicle-specific information as analog signals, such as the operating state of a drive motor, the temperature in the vehicle interior to be heated, and similar information. This results in a comparatively complex heater control unit design, which must be specifically adapted to the vehicle-specific information provided by each vehicle and vehicle type.

[0004] German patent DE 195 48 584 A1 discloses a vehicle heating system in which a receiver receives operating information from a remote control unit. This information can be transmitted either directly or via a data bus system and an on-board computer to a heater control unit. Furthermore, information provided by a climate control unit, for example about the interior temperature of a vehicle, can be used via the data bus system to control the vehicle heater.

[0005] German patent DE 10 2010 048 277 B4 discloses the connection of an electronic control and simulator unit to a bus system of a vehicle equipped with, for example, a fuel-operated auxiliary heater. When the vehicle is deactivated, the control of actuators or motors, in particular a blower motor of the vehicle, is transferred from a heating / air conditioning control unit to the electronic control and simulator unit. The connection of the electronic control and simulator unit to the auxiliary heater is established via a signal line to switch the auxiliary heater on or off.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle heating system which, with a simple and cost-effective design, can be easily built or adapted for integration into vehicles of various designs.

[0007] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a vehicle heating system comprising: - a preferably fuel-operated vehicle heater with a heater control unit, - a control unit, - a vehicle climate control system control unit for controlling a vehicle blower during vehicle operation, - a vehicle blower control unit for providing control commands for the vehicle blower when the vehicle is not in operation, - a data bus system, wherein the heating unit control unit, the operating unit and the vehicle blower control unit are connected to each other for data exchange via the data bus system.

[0008] In the vehicle heating system according to the invention, information exchange between the essential system components, namely the heater control unit, the operating unit, and the vehicle blower control unit, takes place digitally via the data bus system. This means that any information transmitted via this data bus system is available for use in each of these system components. Furthermore, each of these system components is capable of directly addressing any other system component. For example, a direct information exchange connection can be established between the operating unit and the vehicle blower control unit to activate the vehicle blower, for instance, independently of the operation of the vehicle heater, for example, to initiate stationary ventilation mode.

[0009] The data bus system used in the vehicle heating system according to the invention can, for example, be structured as: - CAN bus system, or - LIN bus system, or - FlexRay bus system.

[0010] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the vehicle heating system according to the invention can provide that the vehicle blower control unit includes at least one analog signal interface for establishing an analog signal connection for the input / output of vehicle-specific analog signals. In the system according to the invention, communication between the vehicle heating system according to the invention and the vehicle itself via the exchange of analog signals thus primarily takes place via the vehicle blower control unit. This means that the vehicle heater with its heater control unit, as well as the operating unit, can be designed and used independently of the vehicle type or the information transported in a particular vehicle. Vehicle-specific adaptation can be achieved through appropriate design or programming of the vehicle blower control unit. This expands the range of applications for the vehicle heater and the operating unit.This makes them independent of which vehicle they are to be integrated into or with which functionality, for example as a parking heater or as an auxiliary heater.

[0011] For example, it may be intended that the vehicle-specific analog signals represent at least one of the following pieces of information: - Engine operation, - Operation of theft alarm systems, - Indoor temperature, - Dangerous goods.

[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the heater control unit includes at least one analog signal interface for establishing an analog signal connection for the input / output of heater-specific analog signals. This means that the information required solely for the internal operation of the vehicle heater, and therefore to be exchanged between system areas of the vehicle heater itself, can be exchanged independently of the other system areas, i.e., independently of the operating unit and also the vehicle blower control unit, within the vehicle heater itself.

[0013] For example, it may be stipulated that the heating appliance-specific analog signals represent at least one of the following pieces of information: - Fuel pump operation, - Combustion air blower operation, - Ignition operation, - Heat transfer medium temperature, - State of combustion.

[0014] The present invention is described below with reference to the enclosed Fig. 1. described in detail, which shows a vehicle heating system in a basic representation.

[0015] The one in Fig. The vehicle heating system 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises as essential system components a fuel-operated vehicle heater 12, a control unit 14 and a vehicle blower control unit 16. The fuel-operated vehicle heater 12 comprises a combustion chamber assembly 18, to which combustion air is supplied by a combustion air blower 20 and fuel is supplied by a fuel delivery arrangement 22, for example a metering pump, in order to generate an ignitable or combustible mixture of combustion air and fuel in the combustion chamber assembly 18.

[0016] The heat generated during combustion is transferred in a heat exchanger arrangement 24 to a heat transfer medium M flowing through it, for example the coolant flowing in a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine.

[0017] To initiate combustion, an ignition element 26, for example a glow plug, is assigned to the combustion chamber assembly 18. Furthermore, at least one temperature sensor 28 can be assigned to the heat exchanger assembly 24 to monitor the temperature of the heat transfer medium M. This sensor can be located, for example, near the inlet of the heat transfer medium M or the outlet of the heat transfer medium M from the heat exchanger assembly 24. The use of several such temperature sensors is also conceivable. In addition, the ignition element 26 can also be used to monitor the combustion state during combustion. Alternatively, it is possible to additionally or alternatively use so-called flame sensors, for example temperature sensors positioned in the exhaust gas flow path.

[0018] A heater control unit 30 is assigned to the heater 12. This unit controls the various system components of the vehicle heater 12, such as the combustion air blower 20, the fuel delivery system 22, and the ignition device 26. Furthermore, the heater control unit 30 receives input signals from the various sensors previously mentioned and assigned to the vehicle heater 12, such as the temperature sensor 28 or the ignition device 26. These signals supplied to the heater control unit 30 are analog signals that are fed into the heater control unit 30 via associated signal lines at designated interfaces and can be used there to control the operation of the vehicle heater 12.

[0019] The control unit 14 can, for example, be positioned in the area of ​​a vehicle's dashboard and be equipped with a display 32 that can show the operator, e.g., the driver of a vehicle, information about the operation of the vehicle heater 12. Furthermore, the control unit 14 can have input elements 34, for example, in the form of one or more buttons and / or a touch-sensitive screen, which allow the operator to enter data relevant to the operation of the vehicle heater 12. For example, if the vehicle heater 12 is to be used as a parking heater, the operator can enter a desired departure time so that, based on this time, the vehicle heater 12 can be activated in a timely manner by the heater control unit 30, ensuring that the vehicle has the desired thermal condition at the specified departure time.

[0020] The vehicle blower control unit 16 is connected to a vehicle blower 36 located in a vehicle. This blower is also associated with an internal vehicle control unit 38, for example, as part of a vehicle air conditioning system. This control unit generally controls the operation of the vehicle blower 36 when the vehicle itself is in operation. If the vehicle is not in operation and, for example, the vehicle heater 12 is to be operated as a parking heater, the internal vehicle control unit 38 is deactivated, and the vehicle blower 36 receives control commands exclusively from the vehicle blower control unit 16 of the vehicle heating system 10. The hierarchy can be such that whenever the vehicle is out of operation, the vehicle blower 36 is controlled by the vehicle heater 16.When the control unit 38 is not active, the vehicle blower control unit 16 controls / regulates the vehicle blower 36, whereas when the control unit 38 is active, it takes precedence over the vehicle blower control unit 16 in the operation of the blower 36.

[0021] The heater control unit 30, the operating unit 14, and the vehicle blower control unit 16 are interconnected via a data bus system 40 for data exchange. This data bus system can, for example, comprise a CAN bus system, a LIN bus system, or a FlexRay bus system. This means that data exchange between the heater control unit 30, the operating unit 14, and the vehicle blower control unit 16 is digital, with any information fed into the data bus system by any of these system components being available for use by any other system partner connected to the data bus system 40.

[0022] To connect the vehicle heating system 10 to the information generally present in a vehicle and potentially relevant for its operation, the vehicle blower control unit 16 has one or more interfaces through which such information can be input in the form of analog signals A via one or more wiring connections 42. These signals include, for example, a signal output by a vehicle temperature sensor, which provides information about the vehicle's interior temperature. Furthermore, information indicating whether the vehicle has an anti-theft alarm system and whether it is active can be input into the vehicle blower control unit 16 in this way, so that, for example, the anti-theft alarm system can be deactivated during auxiliary heating operation through appropriate communication from the vehicle blower control unit 16.Furthermore, the information fed into the vehicle blower control unit 16 in analog form can be information about hazardous materials that may be transported in or are to be transported by the vehicle. In this way, for example, it can be ensured that the fuel-operated vehicle heater 12 cannot be activated during a loading or unloading process.

[0023] The vehicle heating system constructed according to the invention makes it possible to assemble the vehicle heater 12 with the associated heater control unit 30 and the operating unit 14 independently of the vehicle, i.e., the environment, into which the vehicle heater 12 is to be integrated. This intelligence can be transferred to the vehicle blower control unit 16, which can then be selected or programmed accordingly to adapt to the environment in which the vehicle heating system 10 is housed. This allows the vehicle heater 12 and the operating unit 14 to be used in a variety of different environments without structural modifications, which makes it possible to offer such a system at a lower cost. Adaptation measures are made in the area of ​​the vehicle blower control unit 16.

[0024] Furthermore, the digital data exchange between the system components of the vehicle heating system 10, and the ability for each system component to utilize information provided by another system component, allows for a broader range of applications while maintaining a simple structural design. For example, the control unit 14 can directly influence the vehicle blower control unit 16, even when the vehicle heater 12 is not in operation, such as for stationary ventilation. The control unit 14 can also utilize and display information received from the vehicle blower control unit 16, such as information about the temperature of the vehicle interior, regardless of whether the vehicle heater 12 itself is in operation or not.

Claims

[1] Vehicle heating system (10) comprising: - a preferably fuel-operated vehicle heater (12) with a heater control unit (30), - a control unit (14), - a vehicle climate control system control unit (38) for controlling a vehicle blower (36) during the operation of a vehicle, - a vehicle blower control unit (16) for providing control commands for the vehicle blower (36) when the vehicle is not in operation, - a data bus system (40) wherein the heater control unit (30), the operating unit (14) and the vehicle blower control unit (16) are connected to each other for data exchange via the data bus system (40). [2] Vehicle heating system (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the data bus system (40) is structured as: - CAN bus system, or - LIN bus system, or - FlexRay bus system. [3] Vehicle heating system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the vehicle blower control unit (16) includes at least one analog signal interface for establishing an analog signal connection (42) for input / output of vehicle-specific analog signals (A). [4] Vehicle heating system (10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the vehicle-specific analog signals (A) represent at least one of the following pieces of information: - Engine operation, - Operation of theft alarm systems, - Indoor temperature, - Dangerous goods. [5] Vehicle heating system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the heating appliance control unit (30) includes at least one analog signal interface for establishing an analog signal connection for the input / output of heating appliance-specific analog signals. [6] Vehicle heating system (10) according to claim 5, characterized bythat the heating appliance-specific analog signals represent at least one of the following pieces of information: - Fuel pump operation, - Combustion air blower operation, - Ignition operation, - Heat transfer medium temperature, - State of combustion.

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