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 vehicle horn system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a horn device capable of preventing failure while emitting a warning sound by performing intermittent operation within a predetermined temperature range is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the internal temperature of a horn rises, the sound pressure decreases. For this reason, the horn is operated intermittently within a predetermined temperature range; however, intermittent operation means that there are periods when the horn is not activated, so the sound is interrupted and becomes discontinuous. In other words, poor sound quality occurs.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle horn system capable of suppressing a decrease in sound pressure without causing poor sound quality.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] 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 invention of the first aspect, the horn provided in the vehicle is cooled by the cooling unit. Therefore, an increase in the internal temperature of the horn is suppressed, and a decrease in sound pressure is suppressed without causing poor sound quality.

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

[0009] According to the second embodiment 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 decrease in sound pressure is effectively suppressed.

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

[0011] According to the third embodiment of the invention, the heat-dissipating side of the Peltier element, which acts as a cooling unit, is in contact with the housing, and the heat-absorbing side of the Peltier element is in contact with the coil. Therefore, the coil is effectively cooled.

[0012] Furthermore, a fourth embodiment of the vehicle horn system according to the present invention is a vehicle horn system according to the second or third embodiment, comprising a control unit for controlling the cooling unit and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coil, wherein the control unit controls the horn to cool when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature.

[0013] According to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the control unit that controls the cooling unit controls the cooling of the horn when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the temperature is efficiently controlled to the temperature necessary to ensure sound pressure.

[0014] Furthermore, a fifth embodiment of the vehicle horn system according to the present invention is a vehicle horn system according to the fourth embodiment, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on the opposite side of the cooling unit from the coil.

[0015] According to the fifth embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor is positioned on the opposite side of the cooling unit from the coil. Therefore, the temperature required to secure sound pressure is detected more appropriately compared to the case where the temperature sensor is positioned on the same side as the cooling unit. [Effects of the Invention]

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

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle horn system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic front view showing the horn of the vehicle horn system according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XX. [Figure 4] This graph shows the operation of the vehicle horn system according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the operation of the vehicle horn system according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Vehicles such as electric vehicles (not shown) are equipped with a vehicle horn system 10 as shown in Figure 1. The vehicle horn system 10 has a horn 12 as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the horn 12 has a metal housing 14 that is substantially hollow and frustoconical in shape, and one axial side of the housing 14 is attached to a plate-shaped stay 11.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, an end portion 16A on one axial side of a core 16 serving as an electromagnet is provided at the axial center portion on one axial side of a 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 surface 18A on one axial side of the moving bolt 18 faces an end surface 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 an end portion 18B on the other axial side of the moving bolt 18, and a resonance tube 22 that resonates and amplifies vibration (sound) is disposed opposite to the other axial side of the diaphragm 20 with a predetermined gap therebetween. A metal heat radiating portion 23 having a function of preventing entry of foreign matter is integrally attached to at least a part of the illustrated resonance tube 22.

[0021] Further, a coil 24 that generates magnetic force when supplied with power is provided around the core 16 and the moving bolt 18 in the housing 14. The core 16 is magnetized when the coil 24 generates magnetic force by power supply. Then, the moving bolt 18 is attracted to the magnetized core 16 and collides with the core 16, 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 a function of generating an urging 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. Further, a breathing hole 14A is formed at a predetermined position in the housing 14, so that vibration of the diaphragm 20 is not inhibited.

[0023] Furthermore, a contact 26 is provided inside the housing 14 to switch the power supply to the coil 24 ON and OFF. The contact 26 is connected to the moving bolt 18, and is normally closed to supply power to the coil 24, but opens when the moving bolt 18 moves axially in one direction, cutting off the power supply to the coil 24. A terminal 28 for power supply is connected to the contact 26.

[0024] The horn 12, configured as described above, has a Peltier element 30 as a cooling unit for the coil 24 and a temperature sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the coil 24 inside its housing 14. As shown in an enlarged view in Figure 3, the Peltier element 30 is interposed between the housing 14 and the coil 24 in order to cool the coil by creating a temperature difference between one surface 30A and the other surface 30B when power is supplied to it.

[0025] In other words, the Peltier element 30 is positioned such that its heat-dissipating side 30A is in contact with the housing 14, and its heat-absorbing side 30B is in contact with the coil 24. Although not shown in the diagram, the Peltier element 30 is also provided with terminals for power supply. The temperature sensor 32 is positioned on the opposite side of the coil 24 from the Peltier element 30, and is in close proximity to the coil 24.

[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the coil 24 and Peltier element 30 of the horn 12, which constitute 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 Peltier element 30, and this control unit 36 ​​is electrically connected to a temperature sensor 32. In other words, when the temperature of the coil 24 detected by the temperature sensor 32 exceeds a predetermined temperature (threshold T1: see Figure 4), the control unit 36 ​​issues a command (signal) to cool the coil 24.

[0027] The operation of the vehicle horn system 10 according to this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, will now be explained.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, when 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 therefore the magnetic force generated by coil 24 decreases. When the magnetic force generated by coil 24 decreases, the sound pressure of the sound emitted from horn 12 decreases.

[0029] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the temperature of the coil 24 exceeds the threshold T1, the coil 24 is cooled. This means that, for example, if the temperature of the coil 24 is cooled from T1 to T2, the sound pressure can be increased from S1 to S2. The control for cooling the coil 24 will be explained below based on the flowchart shown in Figure 5.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5, in step P1, when the ignition (IG) mode is turned ON, in step P2, the temperature of the coil 24 is detected by the temperature sensor 32. Then, in step P3, the control unit 36 ​​determines whether the temperature is above or below the threshold T1. If it is determined to be below the threshold T1, the process returns to step P2 and the temperature of the coil 24 is detected again.

[0031] On the other hand, in step P3, if the control unit 36 ​​determines that the temperature is above the threshold T1, then in step P4, power is supplied to the Peltier element 30 under the control of the control unit 36, and the coil 24 is cooled. 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 the temperature is below the threshold T1.

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

[0033] Thus, 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 suppressing the rise in the internal temperature of the horn 12. Therefore, the sound (warning sound) generated from the horn 12 can be made to suppress a decrease in sound pressure without causing poor sound quality.

[0034] In particular, the Peltier element 30 is interposed between the housing 14 and the coil 24, which generates a magnetic force when powered (the heat-dissipating surface 30A of the Peltier element 30 is in contact with the housing 14, and the heat-absorbing surface 30B of the Peltier element 30 is in contact with the coil 24). As a result, 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 decrease in sound pressure can be effectively suppressed.

[0035] Furthermore, the temperature sensor 32 is positioned on the opposite side of the Peltier element 30, with the coil 24 in between. Therefore, compared to the case where the temperature sensor 32 is positioned on the same side as the Peltier element 30, the temperature required to secure sound pressure can be detected appropriately. The control unit 36 ​​that controls the Peltier element 30 controls the cooling of the horn 12 when the temperature of the coil 24 detected by the temperature sensor 32 exceeds a predetermined temperature (threshold T1), thus efficiently controlling the temperature to the level required to secure sound pressure.

[0036] The vehicle horn system 10 according to this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings. However, the vehicle horn system 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated version, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit 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 routed near the coil 24 to cool the coil 24, or it may be cooled by other cooling methods.

[0037] Furthermore, the vehicle equipped with the vehicle horn system 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to electric vehicles. However, electric vehicles may have smaller front grilles to reduce the need for cooling the power unit compartment and to reduce air resistance, which can make it difficult to ensure sufficient sound pressure when transmitting sound from the horn 12 through the front grille. The vehicle horn system 10 according to this embodiment can effectively ensure sufficient sound pressure, making it particularly effective in electric vehicles with small front grilles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10. Vehicle horn systems 12 horns 14 Housing 24 coils 30 Peltier element (cooling section) 32 Temperature sensors 36 Control Unit

Claims

1. A horn provided on a vehicle comprising a housing, a coil that generates a magnetic force when powered, and a resonant tube that amplifies vibrations by causing resonance, A cooling unit interposed between the housing and the coil to cool the coil, Equipped with, A vehicle horn system in which a metal heat dissipation element is integrally attached to at least a portion of the aforementioned resonant tube.

2. The cooling unit is a Peltier element, The vehicle horn system according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation side of the Peltier element is in contact with the housing, and the heat absorption side of the Peltier element is in contact with the coil.

3. A control unit that controls the cooling unit, A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the coil, Equipped with, The vehicle horn system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the coil to cool when the temperature of the coil detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined temperature.

4. The vehicle horn system according to claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on the opposite side of the cooling unit, with the coil in between.

5. The vehicle horn system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

Images