Pump control method in coolant circulation device of vehicle

Abstract

To provide a pump control method in a coolant circulation device of a vehicle which enables reduction of a load in a coolant circulation system and can maintain a heating function when an engine is started with a heater being used in a vehicle including an idle stop system.SOLUTION: In a pump control method, a heater pump P2 is driven during operation of an engine in a vehicle including the heater pump P2, which supplies a heater coolant serving as a heat source of a heater during idle stop, separately from an engine driving coolant pump P1. In the pump control method, when the engine E is started with the heater being used, a load in a coolant circulation system is reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump control method used to control a pump in a coolant circulation device of a vehicle equipped with an idle stop system.

Background Art

[0002] As a vehicle idle stop system, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses that when both the establishment of the idle stop condition and the stopped state of the vehicle are determined by an electronic control device, the engine of the vehicle is idled, and after the engine is idled, it is determined whether the restart condition of the engine is satisfied, and when it is determined that the restart condition of the engine is satisfied, the engine is restarted. A system and method for controlling the idle stop and heater of a vehicle are described.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described system and method for controlling the idle stop and heater of a vehicle, during the operation of the engine, in order to reduce the burden on the battery, the auxiliary pump of the heater is not operated. For this reason, in the conventional idle stop system, when the engine is operated while using heating, there is a risk that the auxiliary pump may impose a load (pressure loss) on the coolant circulation system or the heating function may deteriorate.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and in a vehicle equipped with an idle stop system, when starting the engine while using heating, it reduces the load in the coolant circulation system and provides a pump control method in a vehicle coolant circulation device capable of maintaining the heating function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The pump control method in the coolant circulation device of a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that, in a vehicle equipped with a heater pump for supplying heater coolant, which is a heat source for heating, separately from the engine-driven cooling water pump, the heater pump is driven when the engine is operating.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] By adopting the above configuration, the pump control method in the coolant circulation device of a vehicle according to the present invention can reduce the load (pressure loss) in the coolant circulation system and maintain the heating function when operating the engine while using heating.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a coolant circulation device in a vehicle equipped with an idle stop system. FIG. 1 shows a coolant circulation device for a vehicle equipped with an engine E having a pair of left and right cylinder banks, and is configured such that various devices arranged between the engine E, the multi-control valve MCV, and the coolant inlet INT are connected by pipes. The pipes are connected to the water jackets of the various devices.

[0010] The engine E includes left and right cylinder blocks 1L, 1R, left and right cylinder heads 2L, 2R, left and right turbochargers 3L, 3R, and a throttle chamber 4, and an engine-driven cooling water pump (electric water pump) P1 for supplying coolant to the engine E is arranged between the coolant inlet INT.

[0011] Also, a main heater (heater core) H1 and a rear heater (rear heater core) H2, which are heat sources for heating, are arranged between the multi-control valve MCV and the coolant inlet INT, and a heater pump (electric water pump) P2 for supplying heater coolant during idle stop is arranged between the multi-control valve MCV and each heater H1, H2, separately from the engine-driven cooling water pump P1.

[0012] Furthermore, an engine oil cooler 5 and a transmission warmer 6 are arranged in series between the multi-control valve MCV and the coolant inlet INT, and a radiator 7 and a reservoir tank 8 are arranged in parallel.

[0013] The pump control method in the above-described coolant circulation device is to drive a heater pump P2 that supplies coolant to heaters H1, H2, which are heat sources for heating, during engine operation in a vehicle equipped with a heater pump P2 that supplies heater coolant, which is a heat source for heating, during idle stop, separately from the engine-driven cooling water pump P1.

[0014] Further, as a more preferred embodiment, the above-described pump control method uses an in-vehicle temperature sensor S1 that measures the blowing temperature of the heater as shown in FIG. 1, measures the blowing temperature of the heater with this in-vehicle temperature sensor S1, and when the blowing temperature is lower than the set temperature of the heater, drives the heater pump P2.

[0015] Furthermore, as a more preferred embodiment, the above-described pump control method uses an outside air temperature sensor S2 that measures the outside air as shown in FIG. 1, measures the outside air temperature with this outside air temperature sensor S2, and when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a set value, drives the heater pump P2 until the blowing temperature of the heater reaches the set temperature.

[0016] That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, the above-described pump control method determines in step S11 whether it has been changed from ignition off to engine on, and if it is determined that the engine is on (YES), proceeds to step S12 to determine whether the heater is on. If it is determined in step 12 that the heater is on (YES), proceeds to step S13 to determine whether the outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor S2 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (0°C or lower in the illustrated example), and if the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (YES), proceeds to step S14 to drive the heater pump P2.

[0017] In addition, in steps S11, S12, and S13, if a negative determination is made (NO), since the vehicle is not running, the heater is not being used, and the outside air temperature is also equal to or higher than a predetermined value, proceeds to step S16 to stop the heater pump P2. Exactly, maintain the stopped state of the heater pump P2.

[0018] Next, in step S15, the pump control method measures the blowing temperature of the heater with the in-vehicle temperature sensor S1 and determines whether the blowing temperature has exceeded the set temperature of the heater. If it is determined that the set temperature has not been exceeded (NO), in other words, if it is determined that the blowing temperature is lower than the set temperature, returns to step S14 to continue driving the heater pump P2. As a result, the coolant heated by the engine E is supplied to the heaters H1 and H2.

[0019] Also, in step S15, when it is determined that the blowing temperature of the heating exceeds the set temperature of the heating (YES), since the heating is functioning effectively, the process proceeds to step S16 to stop the heater pump P2.

[0020] The pump control method in the coolant circulation device of the vehicle described in the above embodiment is a vehicle that, separately from the engine-driven cooling water pump P1, includes a heater pump P2 that supplies heater coolant, which is the heat source of the heating, during idling stop. When the engine is operating, the heater pump P2 is driven. Therefore, when starting or restarting the engine while using the heating, the load (pressure loss) in the coolant circulation system can be reduced, and the heating function can be maintained.

[0021] Also, in the above pump control method, when the blowing temperature of the heating is lower than the set temperature, the heater pump P2 is driven. Therefore, the blowing temperature of the heating can reach the set temperature quickly, contributing to further improvement of the comfort in the vehicle interior.

[0022] Furthermore, in the above pump control method, since it takes time for the blowing temperature of the heating to reach the set temperature in a situation where the outside air temperature is low, in contrast, when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the set value, the heater pump is driven until the blowing temperature of the heating reaches the set temperature. Thereby, the above pump control method can shorten the time for the blowing temperature of the heating to reach the set temperature, especially in a situation where the outside air temperature is low, and realize further improvement of the comfort in the vehicle interior.

[0023] The pump control method in the coolant circulation device of the vehicle according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment only, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0024] E Engine H1 Heater P1 Engine-driven cooling water pump Pump for P2 heater S1 In-vehicle temperature sensor S2 Out-vehicle temperature sensor

Claims

1. In a vehicle equipped with a heater pump that supplies heater coolant, which is a heat source for heating, separately from an engine-driven cooling water pump, a pump control method for a coolant circulation device in a vehicle, characterized in that the heater pump is driven during engine operation.

2. The pump control method for a coolant circulation device in a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the blowing temperature of the heating is measured, and the heater pump is driven when the blowing temperature is lower than the set temperature of the heating.

3. The pump control method for a coolant circulation device in a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outside air temperature is measured, and the heater pump is driven until the blowing temperature of the heating reaches the set temperature when the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than a set value.

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