AIR FLOW DIRECTION MONITORING DEVICE IN A VEHICLE'S PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF USE

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring an airflow direction flap (13) of the air circulation system in the passenger compartment (1) of a vehicle, said circulation system comprising at least one outside air intake duct (2) connected to an air distribution duct (5) in the passenger compartment (1) of the vehicle, and an air recirculation duct (10) from the passenger compartment (1) connected to the air distribution duct (5) in the passenger compartment (1) of the vehicle. A flap (13) motorized by an airflow direction actuator is pivotally mounted between at least an open position (Po) in which it opens the outside air intake duct (2), and a closed position (Pf) in which the air recirculation duct (10) is open.The airflow direction control flap monitoring device (13) includes at least one element for counting the number of actuator activations when the flap (13) moves from at least one position (Po, Pf) to another position (Pf, Po). The invention also relates to a method of use and a vehicle equipped with such a monitoring device. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR MONITORING THE AIR FLOW DIRECTION FLAP IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF A VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF USE

[0001] The invention relates to a device for monitoring the airflow direction flap in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a method of using the device. The term vehicle refers to a self-propelled vehicle, whether it be a car, van, truck, construction equipment, or agricultural machinery.

[0002] The air in the passenger compartment of a vehicle comes either from outside or from within the passenger compartment by recirculation. A vehicle passenger compartment air circulation system comprises, in a known manner, at least one outside air intake duct connected to a passenger compartment air distribution duct, and a passenger compartment air recirculation duct connected to the passenger compartment air distribution duct. These three ducts are connected together. At the connection point between these three ducts is a motorized, pivoting flap that directs the airflow into the passenger compartment. This flap is also called a three-way valve or Y-valve. It allows the passenger compartment air distribution duct to be selectively supplied with fresh air from outside or recirculated air from within the passenger compartment. For ease of reading, the term "flap" will be used hereafter.

[0003] The passenger compartment air circulation system advantageously also includes at least one filter located on the outside air intake duct and at least one adjustable motor-driven fan located at the outlet of the air distribution duct into the passenger compartment, allowing control of the airflow circulating within the passenger compartment. Furthermore, on many vehicles, the air circulation system includes a passenger compartment air conditioning system.

[0004] The airflow direction flap is movable between at least one open position, in which it closes the air recirculation duct and opens the outside air intake duct, and a closed position, in which the outside air intake duct is closed and the air recirculation duct is open. On certain vehicles, the flap can also assume at least one intermediate position in which some of the air in the passenger compartment comes from outside and some comes from recirculation within the passenger compartment. In other words, in an intermediate position, neither the outside air intake nor the air recirculation duct is completely open or closed.

[0005] While the flap is usually in the open position to ensure a constant supply of fresh air from outside into the passenger compartment, the closed position is used when the outside air is polluted and it is necessary to maintain the air quality inside the vehicle. Such a situation arises, for example, when the vehicle is passing through a tunnel, near a source of smoke or gas, or when following a vehicle emitting polluting exhaust fumes. When possible, the intermediate position of the flap allows for partial air renewal in the passenger compartment with outside air while maintaining the air temperature inside the passenger compartment.

[0006] The pivoting of the flap when moving from one position to another is achieved by an electrical actuator known per se and controlled either manually by one of the vehicle occupants or automatically, for example, by means of sensors detecting pollution and triggering a closure of the air intake duct by the flap, as described in FR-B-3 051 146, which discloses automatic management of the flap position based on outside air quality. A method using pollutant particle sensors placed in the outside air intake duct and in the air distribution duct in the passenger compartment is also known from application FR2304097, filed by the applicant and not yet published. This method includes a step in which, depending on the expected position of the flap, a ratio of particle concentrations in the ducts is determined.Depending on the actual position of the flap, this report either corresponds to the expected position or reflects a malfunction, as the flap is not in the expected position. If a malfunction is detected, an alert is issued. Indeed, a flap malfunction can cause it to become stuck in the open, intermediate, or closed position. It is clear that such a blockage not only impairs the comfort and / or health of the vehicle's occupants but also affects the operation of the air treatment system. The known solution of FR2304097 allows for the automatic detection of a flap malfunction but does not allow for its anticipation. Therefore, there is a need to prevent any failure of the airflow direction flap as early as possible, thus ensuring optimal and continuous comfort for vehicle occupants without lengthy vehicle downtime for repairs.

[0007] The invention aims to meet this need by providing an air circulation device in the passenger compartment adapted to optimally prevent any malfunction of the airflow direction flap entering a vehicle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a device for monitoring an airflow direction flap of the air circulation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, said circulation system comprising at least one outside air intake duct connected to an air distribution duct in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a air recirculation duct from the passenger compartment connected to the air distribution duct in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the three ducts being connected together at a connection zone receiving a motorized flap for directing the airflow entering the passenger compartment, said flap being mounted pivoting under the action of at least one actuator between at least one so-called open position in which it closes the air recirculation duct from the passenger compartment and opens the outside air supply duct, a so-called closed position where it is the outside air supply duct that is closed, the air recirculation duct being open, characterized in that the monitoring device for the flap directing the airflow entering the passenger compartment includes at least one counting device for the number of activations of the actuator when the flap passes from at least one position to another position.

[0009] Thus, thanks to the invention, a means of monitoring the airflow direction flap entering the passenger compartment of a vehicle is available, allowing the number of times the flap occupies at least one position to be determined. It is therefore possible to schedule inspection and maintenance operations for the flap based on this count, and thus to prevent any failure of the flap in advance. Such inspection and maintenance operations are easy to plan, resulting in minimal vehicle downtime and ensuring optimal comfort for the vehicle's occupants under all circumstances.

[0010] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a device for monitoring an airflow direction flap may include one or more of the following features:

[0011] The flap can be in at least one intermediate position in which the outside air supply and air recirculation ducts are partially open.

[0012] The counting device is a counter integrated into the electronic computer of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0013] The counter is adapted to send, via the electronic control unit, an alert message and / or a fault code at least to the vehicle's after-sales service when the number of activations carried out by the actuator reaches a defined value called the threshold.

[0014] The counter increments the activation of the actuator in the same way when the flap passes from an open, closed or intermediate position to another closed, open or intermediate position.

[0015] The counter increments the activation of the actuator differently when the flap passes from an open, closed or intermediate position to another closed, open or intermediate position.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method of using the monitoring device for an airflow direction flap of the air circulation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle conforming to any one of the preceding characteristics, ca-

[0017]

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[0022]

[0023] characterized in that it includes at least the following steps: - a) define a so-called threshold value for the number of times the actuator is activated when the flap moves from at least one open, closed or intermediate position to another closed, open or intermediate position, - b) using the counting device, count the number of activations of the actuator when the flap moves from at least one open, closed or intermediate position to another closed, open or intermediate position, incrementing each of the moves from the so-called threshold value defined in step a), - c) issue a warning message and / or a fault code for at least one after-sales service or vehicle maintenance when the number of activations counted by the counting device is greater than or equal to the so-called threshold value, - d) after intervention by the after-sales service or maintenance, continue counting the number of actuator activations until a new threshold value is reached, which is defined either as being identical to the value defined in step a) if at least one part has been changed, or as being equal to the threshold value defined in step a) increased by a variable value if none have been changed, - e) send an alert message and / or a fault code at least to the after-sales service when the number of activations counted by the counting device is greater than or equal to the new so-called threshold value defined in step d), - f) repeat steps b) to e) as many times as necessary. Depending on advantageous but not mandatory aspects, such a process may include one or more of the following steps: During step b), each transition between open, closed or intermediate positions is incremented by the same value, regardless of the positions involved. During step b), each passage between the open, closed or intermediate positions is incremented by a different value depending on the positions concerned. The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a monitoring device for an airflow direction flap in the passenger compartment of a vehicle conforming to any of the preceding characteristics. The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Fig.1] is a simplified schematic view of an air circulation device in the passenger compartment of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of a circulation device. air distribution in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Figure 1 illustrates the air distribution according to arrow F in a passenger compartment 1 of a vehicle in general. The passenger compartment 1 is supplied with air either from outside according to arrow F1, or in a closed circuit by recycled air from the passenger compartment 1 according to arrow F2. Outside air is brought into the passenger compartment 1 by an outside air intake duct 2, the air intake opening 3 of which is generally located in the upper part of the vehicle. This opening 3 is covered to limit the entry of pollutants into the duct 2. On this air intake duct 2, a set of filters 4 retains the pollutants entering the air intake duct 2. The duct 2 is connected to the passenger compartment 1 by an air distribution duct 5.At the outlet 6 in the passenger compartment 1 of this air distribution duct 5, in addition to generally adjustable and / or closable ventilation nozzles (not shown), there is at least one motor-driven fan 7 which allows the airflow into the passenger compartment 1 to be regulated, as indicated by the arrows F3. At the connection point 8 between the air supply duct 2 and the air distribution duct 5 is the outlet 9 of a passenger compartment 1 air recirculation duct 10. This duct 10 opens at its other end 11 into the passenger compartment 1. It is advantageously, but not necessarily, also equipped with filters 12 to purify the air from the passenger compartment 1 as much as possible before recirculation.Thus there are two circuits for the air supplying the passenger compartment 1: an external circuit in which the air passes from outside the vehicle to inside the vehicle according to arrows Fl and F and a recycled circuit according to arrows F2 and F where the air from the passenger compartment 1 is used continuously, the motor-fan 7 ensuring in both cases the required airflow in the passenger compartment 1 according to arrows F3. .

[0024] At the connection point 8 between the three ducts 2, 5, and 10, there is a valve for selectively directing the airflow circulating in the passenger compartment 1. This is a three-way valve or Y-valve with a flap 13, only the flap being schematically illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The flap 13 is pivotally mounted between at least two positions, as illustrated by the double arrow F4. This motorized, movable flap 13 selectively opens or closes the passage between a duct, either for outside air intake 2 or for air recirculation 10, and the air distribution duct 5 in the passenger compartment 1. The flap 13 is pivotally mounted around an axis of rotation 14 under the action of at least one electrical actuator, not shown and known per se.

[0025] In the position illustrated in [Fig. 1], the flap 13 is in an intermediate position. Such a position is not present on all air circulation devices in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. In this intermediate position of the flap 13, the air entering the passenger compartment 1 comes both from outside, as indicated by arrow F1, and from the passenger compartment itself, as indicated by arrow F2. This configuration allows outside air to enter and be quickly brought to the same temperature as the air from the passenger compartment.

[0026] On all vehicles, the flap 13 can occupy at least one open position Po and one closed position Pf. When the flap 13 is in the open position Po, shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1], then the air distribution duct 5 is supplied solely by the outside air duct 2, the air recirculation duct 10 being closed. The passenger compartment 1 is thus supplied solely by outside air. When the flap 13 is in the closed position Pf, the outside air intake duct 2 is closed and the air recirculation duct 10 is open, the air in the passenger compartment 1 then being completely recirculated in a closed loop.

[0027] Most of the time, the flap 13 is in the open position Po to ensure not only a continuous supply of fresh air to the passenger compartment 1 but also to maintain the passenger compartment 1 at atmospheric pressure. The flap 13 is in the closed position Pf less frequently, particularly when the outside air is polluted. Such a case occurs, for example, when the vehicle is in a tunnel, an underground parking garage, when passing near a source of smoke (for example, in the event of a fire), near a source of gas (in the event of a chemical accident), or when following a vehicle with a defective exhaust system. To ensure optimal and continuous comfort for the vehicle's occupants, the percentage of incoming air from outside or recirculated air should be easily adjustable, either manually or automatically; that is, the passenger compartment should be supplied with either 100% outside air, 0%, or an intermediate value.A malfunction in the air distribution system usually stems from a failure of the electric actuator for flap 13, which either fails to move the flap or moves it but without bringing it to the desired position, for example, with a blockage in an intermediate position. Most actuators are designed for a minimum number of activations, this minimum number being chosen to ensure the actuator's lifespan is consistent with the vehicle's overall lifespan; however, malfunctions are still possible.

[0028] By way of non-limiting example, a known specification for a flap actuator 13 provides that it safely performs 10,000 activations, which corresponds, in theory, to 5,000 passages in the closed position Pf and 5,000 passages in the open position Po. The activation of the actuator ensuring the pivoting of the flap from one position to another is controlled either manually from a control located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and managed by one of the occupants of the vehicle, or automatically, for example by pollution sensors placed on the outside air intake duct.

[0029] The invention makes it possible to count the number of actuator activations, and therefore the number of pivots performed by the flap 13 when moving from at least one position to another, in order to implement preventive maintenance operations. For this purpose, the A counting device, not shown, is advantageously integrated into the passenger compartment electronic control unit 1 found in current vehicles. Each activation of the actuator is thus counted as the flap 13 moves from at least one position to another, regardless of the initial and final positions. The method for using the monitoring device for the airflow direction flap 13 in a vehicle, and therefore for using the counting device, is now described.

[0030] The first step consists of defining a threshold value S for the number of actuator activations required for the flap to move from at least one position to another. This threshold S is initially defined, for example, by the manufacturer of the electric flap actuator and / or the vehicle manufacturer. Once the threshold S is defined, its value is stored in the control unit responsible for the function, and the counter is initialized to zero. The counting device is then ready to record each actuator activation.

[0031] The second step, which is in fact the longest, consists of automatically incrementing the counter by a given value each time the actuator is activated when the flap 13 moves from at least one position—open Po, closed Pf, or intermediate—to another position—closed Pf, open Po, or intermediate. According to a first embodiment, each movement from one position to another is incremented by the same value, for example, 1. In this way, there is no individualization between the positions. According to another embodiment of the invention, the increment differs depending on whether the movement is to one position or another. For example, the movement of the flap 13 to the closed position Pf, thus closing the air intake duct from an open or intermediate position Po, generally occurs against the incoming airflow, therefore against a pressure higher than that prevailing in the passenger compartment 1, when the vehicle is in motion.The actuator is therefore under greater stress than during the transition to the open position Po, which occurs by taking advantage of the incoming airflow. It is understood that in other cases, depending, for example, on the geometric configuration of the ducts, it is the transition to the open position Po or to an intermediate position that places the greatest stress on the actuator. Thus, when differentiating the type of transition, it is possible to increment, for example, the transition to the open position Po by a value of 1 and the transition to the closed position Pf by a value of 2. According to another embodiment, the increment values ​​assigned to each position—open, closed, or intermediate—are modifiable during implementation of the invention concerning the monitoring of the airflow direction flap in the passenger compartment 1. In yet another embodiment, only the transition to a given position—open Po, closed Pf, or intermediate—is counted.

[0032] The next step consists, when the number of activations counted by the counting device is at least equal to the value of the threshold S, in generating an action on the part of the After-sales service or vehicle maintenance, or at least the service responsible for maintaining the air distribution system in the vehicle's passenger compartment 1. Alternatively, such an action is triggered only when the number of recorded activations is strictly greater than the threshold S. In all cases, when the threshold S is reached or exceeded, the vehicle's passenger compartment 1 control unit issues a fault code stored in the memory of a vehicle control unit. In another embodiment, a warning message is also displayed on the vehicle's instrument panel so that the vehicle occupant is informed and can quickly schedule an appointment with the maintenance or after-sales service.

[0033] The next step involves an intervention by the after-sales service or maintenance department, which verifies the operation and condition of at least the actuator. Once the intervention has been carried out, the counting of the number of activations can continue, with two distinct cases: - At least one part has been changed, either because it was defective or for safety reasons. In this case, the counter is reset to the same threshold value S as in the first step, and the counting will restart, with the counter being reset to zero, with the same threshold value S. - No parts have been changed, and no faults have been identified; the assembly is considered operational. In this case, the threshold is raised. The initial value S of the threshold is increased by a value A, which is chosen by the vehicle maintenance department or predefined. A new threshold S1, equal to S+A, is thus defined. In such a configuration, either the counter is not reset to zero, only the threshold value is modified, and counting continues until the threshold value SI is reached, or the counter is reset to zero and counting resumes from zero until the new value SL is reached. In both cases, counting continues until the number of actuator activations reaches this threshold value SI, the counter having been calibrated with the new threshold value SL.

[0034] Thus, for example, if the initial threshold S is 10,000, the maintenance department can estimate, if the inspection carried out when the value of threshold S is reached is positive, that the next inspection will be at 10,500, i.e., an addition A of 500. If, at this new threshold value S1, the actuator and the other constituent parts of the airflow direction device are still in perfect working order, the counting continues and a new threshold S2, corresponding to the threshold S1 increased by the addition A, is defined, and the counter is calibrated with this new threshold S2. If the addition A remains the same, then S2 is 11,000, with the initial values ​​of S1 (10,500) and A (500). The counting continues, with regular adjustments to the threshold, until a failure is detected, which will entail changing the defective part or the entire assembly. the valve and therefore a reset of the counter with the initial threshold S.

[0035] Alternatively, the counting unit includes a physical counting means, for example sensors placed on the flap 13 and / or on the conduits 2, 5, 10.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for monitoring a flap (13) for directing the air flow of the air circulation device in the passenger compartment (1) of a vehicle, said circulation device comprising at least one exterior air inlet duct (2) connected to an air distribution duct (5) in the passenger compartment (1) of the vehicle, an air recirculation duct (10) coming from the passenger compartment (1) connected to the air distribution duct (5) in the passenger compartment (1) of the vehicle, the three ducts (2, 5, 10) being connected together at a connection zone (8) receiving a motorized flap (13) for directing the air flow entering the passenger compartment (1), said flap (13) being pivotally mounted (14) under the action of at least one actuator between at least one so-called open position (Po) in which it closes the air recirculation duct (5) coming from the passenger compartment (1) and opens the outside air intake duct (2),a so-called closed position (Pf) where it is the outside air inlet duct (2) which is closed, the air recirculation duct (5) being open, characterized in that the device for monitoring the flap (13) for directing the flow of air entering the passenger compartment (1) comprises at least one member for counting the number of activations of the actuator when the flap moves from at least one position (Po, Pf) to another position (Pf, Po).,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flap (13) can be in at least one intermediate position in which the outside air inlet (2) and air recirculation (10) ducts are partially open.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the counting member is a counter integrated into the electronic computer of the passenger compartment (1) of the vehicle.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the counter is adapted to send, via the electronic computer, an alert message and / or a fault code at least to the vehicle's after-sales service when the number of activations carried out by the actuator reaches a defined value called a threshold (S, SI, S2).

5. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the counter increments in an identical manner the activation of the actuator when the shutter (13) moves from an open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate position to another closed (Pf), open (Po) or intermediate position.

6. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the counter increments the activation of the actuator differently when the shutter (13) moves from an open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate position to another closed (Pf), open (Po) or intermediate position.

7. Method of using the device for monitoring a flap (13) for directing the air flow of the air circulation device in the passenger compartment (1) of a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: - a) defining a so-called threshold value (S) of the number of activations of the actuator when the shutter (13) passes from at least one open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate position to at least one other closed (Pf), open (Po) or intermediate position, - b) carrying out, using the counting member, the counting of the number of activations of the actuator when the shutter (13) passes from at least one open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate position to at least one other closed (Pf), open (Po) or intermediate position by incrementing each of the passages from the so-called threshold value (S) defined in step a), - c) issue an alert message and / or a fault code for at least one after-sales service or maintenance of the vehicle when the number of activations counted by the counting device is greater than or equal to the so-called threshold value (S), - d) after intervention by the after-sales service or maintenance, continue counting the number of activations of the actuator up to a new so-called threshold value (1) which is defined either as being identical to the value (S) defined in step a) if at least one part has been changed, or as being equal to the threshold value (S) defined in step a) increased by a variable value (A) if no part has been changed, - e) send an alert message and / or a fault code at least to the after-sales service when the number of activations counted by the counting device is greater than or equal to the new threshold value (SI) defined in step d), - f) repeat steps b) to e) as many times as necessary

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that during step b), each passage between the positions, open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate, is incremented by the same value, whatever the positions (Po, Pf) concerned.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that during step b), each passage between the positions, open (Po), closed (Pf) or intermediate, is incremented by a different value according to the positions (Po, Pf) concerned.

10. Vehicle equipped with a device for monitoring a flap (13) for directing the air flow in the passenger compartment (1) of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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