Vehicle horn system

Abstract

To provide a vehicle horn system capable of suppressing a decrease in sound pressure without causing poor sound quality.SOLUTION: A vehicle horn system 10 is provided with a horn 12 installed in a vehicle and a cooling section 30 for cooling the horn 12. The horn 12 comprises a housing 14 and a coil 24 that generates magnetic force when fed with power, and the cooling section 30 is interposed between the housing 14 and the coil 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a horn system for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Horn devices capable of preventing breakdowns while emitting a warning sound by performing intermittent operation within a predetermined temperature range have been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-021819 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the internal temperature of the horn rises, the sound pressure drops. Therefore, the horn is operated intermittently within a specified temperature range. However, intermittent operation means that there are times when the horn is not operating, resulting in discontinuous sound. In other words, poor sound quality occurs.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle horn system capable of suppressing a decrease in sound pressure without causing poor sound quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle horn system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a horn provided in a vehicle, and a cooling unit that cools the horn.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the invention, the horn provided in the vehicle is cooled by the cooling unit, so that the rise in the internal temperature of the horn is suppressed, and the deterioration of sound quality is prevented, and the decrease in sound pressure is suppressed.

[0008] Furthermore, a second aspect of the vehicle horn system according to the present invention is the vehicle horn system of the first aspect, wherein the horn includes a housing and a coil that generates magnetic force when powered, and the cooling portion is interposed between the housing and the coil.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the invention, the cooling unit is interposed between the housing and the coil that generates a magnetic force when powered. Therefore, the coil is cooled by efficient heat exchange with the housing and the outside air. In other words, the rise in the internal temperature of the horn is effectively suppressed, and the drop in sound pressure is effectively suppressed.

[0010] Furthermore, a third aspect of the vehicle horn system according to the present invention is the vehicle horn system of the second aspect, wherein the cooling section is a Peltier element, the heat dissipation side of the Peltier element being in contact with the housing and the heat absorption side of the Peltier element being in contact with the coil.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the invention, the heat dissipation side of the Peltier element serving as the cooling section is in contact with the housing, and the heat absorption side of the Peltier element is in contact with the coil, thereby effectively cooling the coil.

[0012] Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the vehicle horn system according to the present invention is a vehicle horn system according to the second or third aspect, comprising a control unit that controls the cooling unit and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the coil, and the control unit controls the horn to be cooled when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the control unit that controls the cooling unit controls the horn to cool when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature, thereby efficiently controlling the temperature to the level required to ensure sound pressure.

[0014] A vehicle horn system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle horn system according to the fourth aspect, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on the opposite side of the coil from the cooling section.

[0015] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the temperature sensor is disposed on the opposite side of the coil from the cooling unit, and therefore the temperature required to ensure the sound pressure can be detected more appropriately than when the temperature sensor is disposed on the same side as the cooling unit. Effect of the Invention

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in sound pressure without causing poor sound quality. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle horn system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic front view showing a horn of a vehicle horn system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 5 is a graph showing the operation of the vehicle horn system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle horn system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A vehicle horn system 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle (not shown). The vehicle horn system 10 has a horn 12 as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the horn 12 has a metal housing 14 having a substantially hollow truncated cone shape, and one axial side of the housing 14 is attached to a plate-shaped stay 11.

[0019] 3, an end portion 16A on one axial side of a core 16 which serves as an electromagnet is provided at an axial center portion on one axial side of the housing 14, and a moving bolt 18 is provided on the other axial side of the housing 14 relative to the core 16. More specifically, an end face 18A on one axial side of the moving bolt 18 faces an end face 16B on the other axial side of the core 16 with a predetermined gap therebetween.

[0020] A disk-shaped diaphragm (vibration plate) 20 is coaxially attached to the other axial end 18B of the moving bolt 18, and a resonance tube 22 that resonates and amplifies vibrations (sound) is disposed opposite the other axial end of the diaphragm 20 with a predetermined gap therebetween. Note that a metal heat dissipation part 23 that has the function of preventing the intrusion of foreign matter is integrally attached to at least a part of the resonance tube 22 shown in the figure.

[0021] A coil 24 that generates a magnetic force when powered is provided around the core 16 and the moving bolt 18 inside the housing 14. When power is supplied, the coil 24 generates a magnetic force, which magnetizes the core 16. The moving bolt 18 is attracted to the magnetized core 16 and collides with the core 16. The vibration (sound) generated at the time of the collision is transmitted to the resonance tube 22 via the diaphragm 20, and the vibration (sound) is resonated and amplified by the resonance tube 22.

[0022] The diaphragm 20 also has the function of generating a biasing force (elastic restoring force) for returning the moving bolt 18 to its original position when the moving bolt 18 is attracted to the core 16. A ventilation hole 14A is formed at a predetermined location in the housing 14 so that the vibration of the diaphragm 20 is not hindered.

[0023] Also provided within the housing 14 is a contact 26 that turns on and off the power supply to the coil 24. The contact 26 is connected to the moving bolt 18 and is normally closed to supply power to the coil 24, and opens when the moving bolt 18 moves axially to one side, cutting off the power supply to the coil 24. A terminal 28 for supplying power is connected to the contact 26.

[0024] A Peltier element 30 serving as a cooling section for cooling the coil 24, and a temperature sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the coil 24 are provided within the housing 14 of the horn 12 configured as described above. As shown enlarged in Fig. 3, the Peltier element 30 is interposed between the housing 14 and the coil 24 in order to generate a temperature difference between one surface 30A and the other surface 30B when power is supplied thereto, thereby providing cooling.

[0025] That is, the Peltier element 30 is disposed so that its heat dissipation surface 30A contacts the housing 14 and its heat absorption surface 30B contacts the coil 24. Although not shown, the Peltier element 30 is also provided with a power supply terminal. The temperature sensor 32 is disposed close to the coil 24 on the opposite side of the Peltier element 30 with the coil 24 in between.

[0026] 1, the coil 24 and Peltier element 30 of the horn 12 constituting the vehicle horn system 10 are supplied with electricity from an auxiliary battery 34 mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a control unit 36 ​​that controls the power supply to the coil 24 and the Peltier element 30, and the control unit 36 ​​is electrically connected to a temperature sensor 32. In other words, the control unit 36 ​​is configured to issue a command (signal) to cool the coil 24 when the temperature of the coil 24 detected by the temperature sensor 32 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (threshold value T1: see FIG. 4).

[0027] Next, the operation of the vehicle horn system 10 according to the present embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0028] 4, as the temperature of coil 24 rises, the resistance of coil 24 increases. When the resistance of coil 24 increases, the current flowing through coil 24 decreases, and the magnetic force generated by coil 24 decreases. When the magnetic force generated by coil 24 decreases, the sound pressure of the sound generated by horn 12 decreases.

[0029] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the temperature of the coil 24 becomes equal to or higher than the threshold value T1, the coil 24 is cooled. According to this, for example, when the temperature of the coil 24 is cooled from T1 to T2, the sound pressure can be increased from S1 to S2. Hereinafter, the control for cooling the coil 24 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0030] 5, when the ignition (IG) mode is turned ON in step P1, the temperature of the coil 24 is detected by the temperature sensor 32 in step P2. Then, in step P3, the control unit 36 ​​determines whether the temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold value T1, and if it is determined that the temperature is less than the threshold value T1, the process returns to step P2 to detect the temperature of the coil 24 again.

[0031] On the other hand, if the control unit 36 ​​determines in step P3 that the temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold value T1, then in step P4, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 under the control of the control unit 36 ​​to cool the coil 24. Then, in step P5, the temperature of the coil 24 is detected by the temperature sensor 32, and in step P6, the control unit 36 ​​determines whether or not the temperature is less than the threshold value T1.

[0032] If the temperature of the coil 24 is not below the threshold T1, power supply to the Peltier element 30 is continued under the control of the control unit 36, and steps P4, P5, and P6 are repeated. If the control unit 36 ​​determines in step P6 that the temperature is below the threshold T1, power supply to the Peltier element 30 is stopped in step P7. Thereafter, in step P8, it is determined whether the ignition (IG) mode is continuing or not (OFF), and if it is continuing, the process is repeated from step P1, and if it is OFF, this control is terminated.

[0033] In this manner, according to the vehicle horn system 10 of this embodiment, the power supply to the Peltier element 30 is controlled by the control unit 36, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the internal temperature of the horn 12. Therefore, in the sound (warning sound) generated from the horn 12, a decrease in sound pressure can be suppressed without causing poor sound quality.

[0034] In particular, this Peltier element 30 is interposed between the housing 14 and the coil 24 that generates a magnetic force when powered (the heat dissipation surface 30A of the Peltier element 30 contacts the housing 14, and the heat absorption surface 30B of the Peltier element 30 contacts the coil 24). Therefore, the coil 24 is cooled by efficient heat exchange with the housing 14 and the outside air. In other words, the rise in the internal temperature of the horn 12 can be effectively suppressed, and the drop in sound pressure can be effectively suppressed.

[0035] Furthermore, temperature sensor 32 for this purpose is disposed on the opposite side of coil 24 to Peltier element 30. Therefore, the temperature required to ensure sound pressure can be detected more appropriately than when temperature sensor 32 is disposed on the same side as Peltier element 30. Control unit 36, which controls Peltier element 30, controls horn 12 to be cooled when the temperature of coil 24 detected by temperature sensor 32 reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature (threshold T1), thereby enabling efficient control to the temperature required to ensure sound pressure.

[0036] The vehicle horn system 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, but the vehicle horn system 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately modified in design without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the cooling unit is not limited to the Peltier element 30. As the cooling unit, for example, the cooling pipe of an air conditioner may be placed near the coil 24 to cool the coil 24, or other cooling methods may be used.

[0037] Furthermore, the vehicle in which the vehicle horn system 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted is not limited to an electric vehicle. However, electric vehicles may have a small front grille in order to reduce the need for cooling the power unit room and to reduce air resistance, which may make it difficult to ensure the sound pressure of the sound transmitted from the horn 12 through the front grille. The vehicle horn system 10 according to the present embodiment can effectively ensure the sound pressure, and is therefore particularly effective in electric vehicles with small front grilles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10 Vehicle horn system 12 Horn 14 Housing 24 Coil 30 Peltier element (cooling part) 32 Temperature Sensor 36 Control Unit

Claims

1. A horn provided in a vehicle; A cooling unit that cools the horn; A vehicle horn system comprising:

2. The horn is Housing and A coil that generates magnetic force when powered; The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a computer-implemented ...

2. The vehicle horn system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling portion is interposed between the housing and the coil.

3. the cooling unit is a Peltier element, 3. The vehicle horn system according to claim 2, wherein a heat radiation side of the Peltier element is in contact with the housing, and a heat absorption side of the Peltier element is in contact with the coil.

4. A control unit that controls the cooling unit; A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coil; Equipped with 4. The vehicle horn system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the horn so as to cool the horn when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature.

5. The vehicle horn system according to claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on an opposite side of the coil from the cooling portion.

Images