Vehicle cooling system

Abstract

Radiator fans have a need to suppress uneven wear on the drive motor caused by continuous rotation in one direction, thereby improving the lifespan of the drive motor. [Solution] The system includes a radiator 1 positioned at the front of the vehicle and tilted upward toward the front of the vehicle, a fan 2 positioned on the rear side of the radiator 1, a controller 3 for the fan 2, and an operating switch 4 for the fan 2. The controller 3 reverses the rotation of the fan 2 for a predetermined time based on the input signal from the operating switch 4, thereby suppressing uneven wear in the drive motor of the fan 2 that occurs when it rotates in one direction continuously, and improving the lifespan of the drive motor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle cooling device including a radiator and a fan.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional vehicle cooling device, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle cooling device that includes a radiator disposed in an inclined state at the front portion of a vehicle, and a fan disposed on the back side of the radiator. In this vehicle cooling device, airflow that has passed through the radiator can smoothly pass through a ram pressure reduction hole provided in an upper portion of a fan shroud that is inclined with respect to the vehicle vertical direction such that the upper end portion is located further rearward than the lower end portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the fan of the radiator as described above continues to rotate in one direction by the drive motor, there is a need to suppress uneven wear in the drive motor and extend the service life of the drive motor.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle cooling device capable of extending the service life of the drive motor that drives the fan of the radiator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle cooling system according to the present invention comprises a radiator positioned at the front of the vehicle and inclined upward toward the front of the vehicle, a fan positioned on the rear side of the radiator, a fan controller, and a fan operation switch. The vehicle cooling system is characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction based on an input signal from the operation switch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle cooling device according to the present invention, by adopting the above configuration, can suppress uneven wear in the drive motor caused by continuous rotation in one direction by rotating the fan in the reverse direction for a predetermined time, thereby improving the lifespan of the drive motor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a key part of one embodiment of a vehicle cooling device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart illustrating the control process using the controller shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle cooling system comprises a radiator 1 located at the front of the vehicle V and tilted upward toward the front of the vehicle (to the left in Figure 1), a fan 2 located on the rear side of the radiator 1 (to the right in Figure 1), a controller 3 for the fan 2, and an operating switch (4) for the fan 2. In the illustrated example, the vehicle V has a trunk located at the front, and therefore the radiator 1 located below the trunk is tilted.

[0010] Fan 2 is equipped with a drive motor 5 on its rear side and is located in a passage 6 that is open to the front of the vehicle V. Driven by the drive motor 5, fan 2 generates an airflow that passes from the front to the back of the radiator 1, thereby cooling the coolant in the radiator 1. A grid is placed in the open portion of passage 6, allowing outside air to be introduced as the vehicle V moves.

[0011] The controller 3 controls the fan 2, specifically the drive motor of the fan 2. This controller 3 is a so-called computer, and while a dedicated unit can be used, it is more preferable to use a part of the existing on-board control system. For the operation switch (4), a dedicated switch can be provided, but in a more preferable embodiment, the ignition switch 4 can be used.

[0012] In the above-described vehicle cooling system, the controller 3 has a first function: to rotate the fan 2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction based on the input signal of the ignition switch (operation switch) 4. Furthermore, the controller 3 has a second function: to rotate the fan 2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction when the ignition switch 4 is turned from off to on, or when the vehicle V is stopped. In this case, the stopping of the vehicle V can be determined by the signal from the existing speedometer.

[0013] Furthermore, the controller 3 has a third function: when the cooling water temperature is above a predetermined value, it rotates the fan 2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction. It also has a fourth function: when it detects that the cooling water temperature is above a predetermined value a predetermined number of times, it rotates the fan 2 in the forward direction. In this case, the cooling water temperature can be determined using the signal from an existing water thermometer.

[0014] Furthermore, the controller 3 has a fifth function: when the ignition switch 4 is turned off, it rotates the fan 2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then stops it; and a sixth function: when the vehicle speed is 0 km / h and the vehicle speed becomes 0 km / h again within a predetermined time, it rotates the fan 2 in the forward direction without rotating it in the reverse direction.

[0015] Next, the control process of the controller 3 in the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 2.

[0016] The controller 3 starts control (START), and in step S1, when the ignition switch 4 changes from off to on, in step S2, both the number of times the fan 2 has been rotated in reverse N and the elapsed time T are set to "0". Then, in step S3, the controller 3 rotates the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time (S seconds), and then in step S4, it rotates the fan 2 in forward rotation. Steps S1 to S4 described above are the first and second functions mentioned earlier.

[0017] Next, in step S5, the controller 3 counts the elapsed time T and in step S6 determines whether the cooling water temperature is above a predetermined value. If it is determined that the cooling water temperature is above a predetermined value (Yes), in step S9 the number of times N the fan 2 is reversed is set to "N+1", and in step S10 it determines whether the number of times N the fan 2 is reversed is less than or equal to the upper limit n for the number of reverse rotations of the fan.

[0018] If it is determined in step S10 that the number of reverse rotations N of fan 2 is less than or equal to the upper limit number of reverse rotations n (Yes), the process proceeds to step 3 via step SS, where fan 2 is rotated in reverse for a predetermined time, and then fan 2 is rotated in forward in step S4. Steps S6, S9, S10, SS, S3, and S4 described above constitute the third function mentioned earlier.

[0019] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S10 that the number of reverse rotations N of fan 2 is not less than or equal to the upper limit number of reverse rotations n of the fan (No), the process proceeds to step S4 to rotate fan 2 in the forward direction. Steps S6, S9, S10, and S4 described above constitute the fourth function mentioned earlier.

[0020] Next, if the controller 3 determines in step S6 that the coolant temperature is not above a predetermined value (Yes), it determines in step S7 whether the ignition switch 4 has turned from on to off. If it determines that the ignition switch 4 has turned off (Yes), it reverses the fan 2 for a predetermined time (S seconds) in step S8 and terminates the control (END). Steps S7 and S8 described above constitute the fifth function mentioned earlier.

[0021] Further, when the controller 3 determines in step S7 that the ignition switch 4 has not been switched from on to off (No), it determines in step S11 whether the vehicle speed is 0 km / h, and when it determines that the vehicle speed is not 0 km / h (No), it proceeds to step S4 to rotate the fan 2 in the forward direction.

[0022] When it is determined in the above step S11 that the vehicle speed is 0 km / h (Yes), it is determined in step S12 whether the elapsed time T is greater than the duration h of the vehicle speed being 0 km / h (T>h), and when it is determined that the elapsed time T is not greater (No), the process proceeds to step S4 to rotate the fan 2 in the forward direction.

[0023] When it is determined in the above step S12 that the elapsed time T is greater than the duration h of the vehicle speed being 0 km / h (Yes), the elapsed time T is set to "0" in step S13, the process proceeds to step S3 via step SS, the fan 2 is rotated in the reverse direction for a predetermined time, and then the fan 2 is rotated in the forward direction in step S4. The above steps S7, S11, S12, S13, SS, S3, SS and S4 are the aforementioned sixth function.

[0024] The above vehicle cooling device adopts the first function of the controller 3, that is, the function of rotating the fan 2 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time based on the input signal of the operation switch (ignition switch 4), so that the airflow generated by the fan 2 flows from the back side to the front side of the radiator 1, and the deposits on the radiator 1 can be blown off and removed.

[0025] In recent years, there are vehicles in which a trunk is arranged on the upper side of the front portion of the vehicle. In such vehicles, it is necessary to incline the radiator in order to secure the trunk space. However, in the structure with the radiator inclined, foreign matter such as dead leaves may enter through the openings of the front grille and the bumper and accumulate on the upper surface of the radiator. Since a grid is arranged at the openings of the front grille and the bumper, it is difficult to remove the deposits on the radiator by hand or with a cleaning tool.

[0026] In contrast, the above-described vehicle cooling system is effective because it circulates the airflow generated by the fan 2 from the back to the front of the radiator 1, blowing away and removing deposits on the radiator 1.

[0027] The above-described vehicle cooling system reverses the fan 2 for a predetermined time, thereby suppressing uneven wear on the drive motor 5 of the fan 2 and improving the lifespan of the drive motor 5. Moreover, since the function of reversing the fan 2 for a predetermined time can be realized with a simple circuit configuration, sensors for acquiring control signals are unnecessary, and the system can be obtained at a low cost.

[0028] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system employs a second function of the controller 3, namely, a function that rotates the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time before rotating it in the forward direction when the ignition switch 4 is turned from off to on, or when the vehicle is stopped. As a result, the vehicle cooling system can blow away accumulated debris such as fallen leaves and dead leaves that have accumulated on the front of the radiator 1 when the vehicle is parked or stopped, and discharge the debris outside the vehicle through openings in the front bumper, thereby preventing blockage of the radiator 1 after the vehicle starts moving.

[0029] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system employs a third function of the controller 3, namely, a function that rotates the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time and then in forward rotation when the coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined value. This allows the vehicle cooling system to recognize that the coolant temperature has become high due to deposits in the radiator 1, and to rotate the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time to blow away and remove the deposits.

[0030] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system employs a fourth function of the controller 3, namely, a function that rotates the fan 2 forward when it detects that the coolant temperature is above a predetermined value a predetermined number of times. As a result, if the high water temperature condition is not resolved even after rotating the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time, the vehicle cooling system can assume and recognize that "the radiator 1 is not in a blocked state," and can switch to the normal operating mode, which provides maximum cooling performance, i.e., the mode in which the fan 2 rotates forward.

[0031] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system employs a fifth function of the controller 3, namely, a function that rotates the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time and then stops it when the ignition switch 4 is turned off. As a result, when the vehicle V has finished driving and the ignition switch 4 is turned off for parking or the like, the vehicle cooling system anticipates the possibility that the front of the radiator 1 may be blocked by fallen leaves or the like, and rotates the fan 2 in reverse for a predetermined time before stopping its operation, thereby preventing an increase in accumulated debris.

[0032] Furthermore, the above-mentioned vehicle cooling system employs a sixth function of the controller 3, namely, a function that rotates the fan 2 forward without reversing it if the vehicle speed is 0 km / h and the vehicle speed becomes 0 again within a predetermined time. This allows the vehicle cooling system to determine whether it wants to reverse the fan 2 when the vehicle stops after a long period of driving, or whether it does not want to reverse the fan when the vehicle stops in traffic. This prevents the fan 2 from unnecessarily reversing when the vehicle stops in traffic, thus maintaining normal cooling functionality.

[0033] The vehicle cooling device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment in terms of its specific configuration, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] V Vehicle 1. Radiator 2 Fans 3. Controller 4. Ignition switch (operating switch)

Claims

1. A vehicle cooling system comprising a radiator positioned at the front of the vehicle and inclined upward toward the front of the vehicle, a fan positioned on the rear side of the radiator, a controller for the fan, and an operating switch for the fan, wherein the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction based on an input signal from the operating switch.

2. The aforementioned operating switch is an ignition switch, The vehicle cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the forward direction after rotating it in the reverse direction for a predetermined time when the ignition switch is turned from off to on, or when the vehicle is stopped.

3. The vehicle cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the reverse direction for a predetermined time and then in the forward direction when the temperature of the cooling water is above a predetermined value.

4. The vehicle cooling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the forward direction when it detects that the temperature of the cooling water is above a predetermined value a predetermined number of times.

5. The vehicle cooling device according to claim 2, characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in reverse for a predetermined time and then stop it when the ignition switch is turned off.

6. The vehicle cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller has a function to rotate the fan in the forward direction without reversing it if the vehicle speed is 0 km / h and the vehicle speed becomes 0 km / h again within a predetermined time.

Images