Vehicle

Abstract

This vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; and auxiliary equipment for cooling the internal combustion engine. The vehicle also includes: a detection device for detecting the height of the water surface of water surrounding the vehicle; and a control device that, if the height of the water surface becomes higher than a predetermined first threshold value, changes an output value of the auxiliary equipment to a second output value smaller than a first output value until the output value becomes higher than the first threshold value.

Description

vehicle

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles.

[0002] Vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine and accessories for cooling the internal combustion engine are widely known, such as a radiator fan (see Patent Document 1) and a cooling water pump (see Patent Document 2).

[0003] JP 2019-214970 A JP 2022-146709 A

[0004] Incidentally, when the vehicle is submerged in water and the internal combustion engine is submerged in water, the cooling of the internal combustion engine progresses, so the output value of the accessories for cooling the internal combustion engine can be made smaller than before the internal combustion engine was submerged. As a result, by making the output value of the accessories for cooling the internal combustion engine smaller than before the internal combustion engine was submerged in water, it is possible to save energy for operating the accessories.

[0005] In view of the above, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a vehicle that can save energy for operating accessories.

[0006] (1) A vehicle according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and an auxiliary device for cooling the internal combustion engine, and is equipped with a detection device that detects the height of the water surface around the vehicle, and a control device that, when the height of the water surface becomes higher than a predetermined first threshold, changes the output value of the auxiliary device to a second output value that is smaller than the first output value until the height of the water surface becomes higher than the first threshold.

[0007] According to the configuration (1) above, when the water level around the vehicle becomes higher than the first threshold, it is determined that there is a high possibility that the internal combustion engine will be cooled by the water around the vehicle, and the output value of the auxiliary equipment is changed from the first output value to a second output value that is smaller than the first output value, thereby saving energy for operating the auxiliary equipment.

[0008] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the auxiliary equipment includes a radiator fan, and when the water surface height becomes higher than the first threshold, the control device reduces the rotation speed of the radiator fan as the water surface height increases.

[0009] According to the configuration (2) above, the higher the water level, the lower the rotation speed of the radiator fan. As the water level rises, the radiator fan is more likely to be submerged in the water around the vehicle, increasing the likelihood of increased driving resistance of the radiator fan. However, by lowering the rotation speed of the radiator fan as the water level rises, it is possible to save energy required to operate the radiator fan.

[0010] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the auxiliary equipment includes a radiator fan and a cooling water pump, and when the height of the water surface becomes higher than the first threshold, the control device changes the rotation speed of the radiator fan to a second rotation speed that is lower than the first rotation speed at which the height of the water surface becomes higher than the first threshold, and when the height of the water surface becomes higher than a second threshold that is predetermined higher than the first threshold, the control device changes the rotation speed of the cooling water pump to a fourth rotation speed that is lower than the third rotation speed at which the height of the water surface becomes higher than the second threshold.

[0011] According to the configuration (3) above, when the water level exceeds the first threshold, the rotation speed of the radiator fan, whose driving resistance is affected by the water level, is reduced before the rotation speed of the cooling water pump, and when the water level exceeds a second threshold that is higher than the first threshold, the rotation speed of the cooling water pump is also reduced. This makes it possible to more effectively save energy required to operate the radiator fan and the cooling water pump.

[0012] (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (3) above, the auxiliary equipment includes an oil pump, and when the water level becomes higher than a third threshold value that is predetermined higher than the second threshold value, the control device changes the rotation speed of the oil pump to a sixth rotation speed that is lower than the fifth rotation speed at which the water level becomes higher than the third threshold value.

[0013] According to the configuration of (4) above, when the water level rises above a third threshold value that is higher than the second threshold value, the rotation speed of the oil pump is reduced. That is, the reduction in the rotation speed of the oil pump, which affects the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine, is postponed before the reduction in the rotation speed of the radiator fan and the coolant pump. This makes it possible to more effectively save energy for operating the radiator fan and the coolant pump, as well as to more effectively save energy for operating the oil pump, thereby suppressing a deterioration in fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine.

[0014] At least one embodiment of the present invention allows for the conservation of energy used to run accessories.

[0015] It is a configuration diagram that shows roughly the mechanical configuration of the vehicle according to the first embodiment. It is a block diagram that shows roughly the control configuration of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart that shows roughly the control operation of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart that shows roughly the control operation of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart that shows the operation of the vehicle according to the second embodiment. It is a diagram that shows an example of a first threshold, a second threshold, and a third threshold.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0017] [Embodiment 1] [Mechanical Configuration of Vehicle] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical configuration of a vehicle 1A according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle 1A according to embodiment 1 includes an internal combustion engine 2 and accessories 3 for cooling the internal combustion engine 2. The internal combustion engine 2 is, for example, a gasoline engine or a diesel engine, but is not limited thereto. The accessories 3 for cooling the internal combustion engine 2 are, for example, a radiator fan 32, a cooling water pump 33, and an oil pump 34, but are not limited thereto.

[0018] The internal combustion engine 2 is provided with a coolant circuit 4, which is a passage for circulating coolant through the internal combustion engine 2. The coolant circuit 4 is provided with a radiator 31 and a coolant pump 33. The radiator 31 is a device for radiating heat from the coolant heated by the internal combustion engine 2, and is installed, for example, in front of the internal combustion engine 2.

[0019] The cooling water pump 33 is a device for circulating the cooling water filled in the cooling water circuit 4. The cooling water pump 33 may be a mechanical pump that is powered by power transmitted from the internal combustion engine 2, or an electric pump that is powered by electricity supplied from a battery. In the case of a mechanical pump, the output value can be changed, for example, by providing an electromagnetic clutch between the internal combustion engine 2 and the mechanical pump, while in the case of an electric pump, the output value can be changed, for example, by changing the pulse width (duty ratio).

[0020] The radiator fan 32 is a device for promoting heat dissipation from the coolant in the radiator 31, and is installed, for example, behind the radiator 31. The radiator fan 32 may be a mechanical fan that is powered by power transmitted from the internal combustion engine 2, or an electric fan that is powered by power supplied from a battery. In the case of a mechanical fan, the output value can be changed, for example, by providing an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) between the internal combustion engine 2 and the mechanical fan, while in the case of an electric fan, the output value can be changed, for example, by changing the pulse width (duty ratio).

[0021] The oil pump 34 is a device that ensures lubrication and cooling of various parts of the internal combustion engine 2 by supplying oil to each part. The oil pump 34 includes a mechanical pump that is powered by power transmitted from the internal combustion engine 2, and an electric pump that is powered by electricity supplied from a battery. In the case of a mechanical pump, the output value can be changed, for example, by providing an electromagnetic clutch between the internal combustion engine 2 and the mechanical pump, and in the case of an electric pump, the output value can be changed, for example, by changing the pulse width (duty ratio).

[0022] [Vehicle Control Configuration] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic control configuration of the vehicle 1A shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle 1A according to the first embodiment includes a detection device 5 that detects the height of the water surface around the vehicle 1A, and a control device 6A that changes the output value of the auxiliary device 3.

[0023] The detection device 5 is, for example, but not limited to, a level sensor such as a float switch or a distance sensor such as a radar. The height of the water surface around the vehicle 1A represents the relative position of the water surface with respect to the vehicle 1A submerged in water, i.e., the relative position of the water surface with respect to the internal combustion engine 2 mounted on the vehicle 1A.

[0024] The control device 6A is provided, for example, in an internal combustion engine control device (hereinafter referred to as "engine ECU") that controls the internal combustion engine 2 and the auxiliary device 3, but is not limited to this and may be provided separately from the engine ECU. The control device 6A is configured, for example, by an arithmetic unit, a processor configured by registers that store instructions and information, peripheral circuits, etc., memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input interface, but is not limited to this.

[0025] When the water level around the vehicle 1A exceeds a predetermined first threshold value LV1, the control device 6A changes the output of the auxiliary device 3 to a second output value that is smaller than the first output value until the water level exceeds the first threshold value LV1. The first threshold value LV1 is, for example, the position at which the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged in water, i.e., the height of the lower end of the internal combustion engine 2, and is determined by correlating the vertical position of the vehicle 1A with the vertical position of the internal combustion engine 2. The first output value until the water level exceeds the first threshold value LV1 may be, for example, a variable value that varies depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2 or the temperature of the coolant, or may be a fixed value that does not vary. The second output value after the water level exceeds the first threshold value LV1 may be a variable value that varies depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2 or the temperature of the coolant, or may be a fixed value that does not vary, as long as it is smaller than the first output value. In addition, when the first output value and the second output value are variable values ​​that vary depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2, the second output value is smaller than the first output value when compared under the same rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2.

[0026] [Vehicle Operation] The operation of the vehicle 1A in the first embodiment will be described in detail. The auxiliary device 3 of the vehicle 1A in the first embodiment includes a radiator fan 32. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle 1A shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle 1A in the first embodiment, the detection device 5 detects the water surface height (step S11). If the water surface height is lower than the first threshold value LV1 (step S12: No), the output value of the auxiliary device 3 is set to a first output value (step S13). On the other hand, if the water surface height is higher than the first threshold value LV1 (step S12: Yes), the output value of the auxiliary device 3 is changed to a second output value smaller than the first output value (step S14). If the auxiliary device 3 is the radiator fan 32, the first output value and the second output value are the rotation speeds of the radiator fan 32 per unit time (hereinafter simply referred to as "rotation speeds"). That is, when the water surface height is higher than the first threshold value LV1 (step S12: Yes), the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is made lower than when the water surface height is lower than the first threshold value LV1.

[0027] Next, Fig. 4 will be described. If the water surface height is higher than the first threshold value LV1, i.e., if step S12 in Fig. 3 is Yes, and the water surface height becomes higher than the previous height (step S21: Yes), the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is reduced from the previous rotation speed. If the water surface height does not change (step S21: No), the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is maintained. Note that if the water surface height becomes lower than the previous height, the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 may be reduced from the previous rotation speed. The rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 may be reduced gradually or in stages in response to the water surface height.

[0028] [Effect] When the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged in water, cooling of the internal combustion engine 2 is promoted, so the internal combustion engine 2 can be cooled even if the output of the auxiliary device 3 is reduced. In the first embodiment, when the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged in water, the output value of the auxiliary device 3 is changed from the first output value to a second output value that is smaller than the first output value. This saves energy required to operate the auxiliary device 3. In particular, if the auxiliary device 3 is a radiator fan 32, the driving resistance of the radiator fan 32 increases when the radiator fan 32 is submerged in water. This increases the driving energy required to maintain the same rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 compared to before the radiator fan 32 was submerged in water. Furthermore, the more the radiator fan 32 is submerged in water, the greater the driving energy required to maintain the same rotation speed of the radiator fan 32. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is reduced as the water level increases. This more effectively saves energy required to operate the auxiliary device 3.

[0029] In the first embodiment, the first threshold value LV1 is set to the water surface height at which the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged. However, the first threshold value LV1 may be set to, for example, the water surface height at which the radiator fan 32 is submerged or the water surface height at which the radiator 31 is submerged. Furthermore, the first threshold value LV1 may be set to a water surface height at which the internal combustion engine 2 is not submerged, as long as the water surface height is high enough to sufficiently cool the internal combustion engine 2 by waves and splashes generated in the surrounding water as the vehicle 1A travels. The water surface height at which the internal combustion engine 2 is sufficiently cooled by waves and splashes may be set in advance based on experiments or analyses. In other words, the first threshold value LV1 may be set to a water surface height at which the water surrounding the vehicle 1A promotes cooling of the internal combustion engine 2 and the coolant flowing through the internal combustion engine 2.

[0030] [Embodiment 2] [Mechanical configuration of vehicle] The mechanical configuration of vehicle 1B according to embodiment 2 is the same as the mechanical configuration of vehicle 1A according to embodiment 1, but the auxiliary equipment 3 of vehicle 1B according to embodiment 2 includes a radiator fan 32, a cooling water pump 33, and an oil pump 34.

[0031] [Vehicle Control Configuration] The control configuration of the vehicle 1B according to the second embodiment is the same as the control configuration of the vehicle 1A according to the first embodiment, except for the control device 6B.

[0032] The control device 6B of the vehicle 1B according to the second embodiment stores, in addition to a first threshold value LV1, a second threshold value LV2 that is predetermined higher than the first threshold value LV1, and a third threshold value LV3 that is predetermined higher than the second threshold value LV2. When the water level exceeds the first threshold value LV1, the control device 6B changes the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 from a first rotation speed (first output value) to a second rotation speed (second output value). When the water level exceeds the second threshold value LV2, the control device 6B changes the rotation speed per unit time of the cooling water pump 33 (hereinafter simply referred to as "rotation speed") to a fourth rotation speed that is lower than the third rotation speed required for the water level to exceed the second threshold value LV2. When the water level exceeds the third threshold value LV3, the control device 6B changes the rotation speed per unit time of the oil pump 34 (hereinafter simply referred to as "rotation speed") to a sixth rotation speed that is lower than the fifth rotation speed required for the water level to exceed the third threshold value LV3. The first rotation speed, the second rotation speed, the third rotation speed, the fourth rotation speed, the fifth rotation speed, and the sixth rotation speed may be variable values ​​that vary depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2 and the temperature of the coolant, or may be fixed values ​​that do not vary depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2 and the temperature of the coolant. Note that when the first rotation speed, the second rotation speed, the third rotation speed, the fourth rotation speed, the fifth rotation speed, and the sixth rotation speed are variable values ​​that vary depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2, the second rotation speed is smaller than the first rotation speed, the fourth rotation speed is smaller than the third rotation speed, and the sixth rotation speed is smaller than the fifth rotation speed, when compared under the same rotation speed of the internal combustion engine 2.

[0033] [Vehicle Operation] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle 1B according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, in the vehicle 1B according to the second embodiment, the detection device 5 detects the water surface height (step S31). If the water surface height exceeds the first threshold LV1 (step S32: Yes), the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is changed to a second rotation speed that is lower than the first rotation speed required to exceed the first threshold LV1 (step S33). If the water surface height exceeds the second threshold LV2 (step S34: Yes), the rotation speed of the cooling water pump 33 is changed to a fourth rotation speed that is lower than the third rotation speed required to exceed the second threshold LV2 (step S35). If the water surface height further exceeds the third threshold LV3 (step S42: Yes), the rotation speed of the oil pump 34 is changed to a sixth rotation speed that is lower than the fifth rotation speed required to exceed the third threshold LV3 (step S43). That is, as the water level rises, the rotation speeds of the radiator fan 32, the cooling water pump 33, and the oil pump 34 are reduced in that order.

[0034] [Effect] Because cooling of the internal combustion engine 2 is promoted as the water level rises, the number of accessories 3 that reduce output (rotation speed) is increased among the multiple accessories 3 that cool the internal combustion engine 2. At this time, the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32, which is an accessory 3 whose drive energy varies depending on the water level, is preferentially reduced, while the rotation speed of the oil pump 34, which lubricates the internal combustion engine 2 and thus affects fuel economy, is minimized. This saves energy for the accessories 3 and prevents deterioration of fuel economy of the internal combustion engine 2. In the second embodiment, the first threshold LV1, the second threshold LV2, and the third threshold LV3 are set to values ​​as shown in FIG. 6 . As shown in FIG. 6 , the first threshold LV1 is set at the lower end of the internal combustion engine 2 in the height direction, the second threshold LV2 is set at the middle position of the internal combustion engine 2 in the height direction, and the third threshold LV3 is set at the upper end of the internal combustion engine 2 in the height direction. When the water level reaches the first threshold LV1 and the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged up to its lower end in the vertical direction, the internal combustion engine 2 is cooled not only by the coolant but also by the surrounding water. Therefore, the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32 is changed from the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed, thereby saving energy required to operate the radiator fan 32. The radiator fan 32 is an accessory 3 whose drive energy varies depending on the water level. By reducing the rotation speed of the radiator fan 32, energy saving begins before the water level rises further and the energy required to operate the radiator fan 32 increases. When the water level reaches the second threshold LV2 and the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged up to the middle in the vertical direction, the rotation speed of the cooling water pump 33 is changed from the third rotation speed to a fourth rotation speed lower than the third rotation speed, thereby saving energy required to operate the cooling water pump 33. When the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged up to the middle in the vertical direction, the radiator 31 is also considered to be submerged. Therefore, it is considered that the cooling capacity of the coolant by the radiator 31 is improved, and therefore, even if the rotation speed of the coolant pump 33 is reduced, sufficient cooling capacity for the internal combustion engine 2 can be ensured. When the water level reaches the third threshold value LV3 and the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged up to its vertically upper end, the rotation speed of the oil pump 34 is further changed from the fifth rotation speed to a sixth rotation speed which is lower than the fifth rotation speed, thereby saving energy for operating the oil pump 34.It is believed that reducing the rotation speed of the oil pump 34 would reduce the amount of lubricating oil supplied to the internal combustion engine 2, increasing friction and thereby worsening fuel efficiency. If the internal combustion engine 2 is submerged in water up to its vertically upper end, it is believed that the surrounding water will sufficiently cool the internal combustion engine 2 and that sufficient viscosity of the lubricating oil can be ensured. Therefore, reducing the rotation speed of the oil pump 34 is believed to not significantly increase friction, so priority is given to saving energy required to operate the oil pump 34. Note that the first threshold value LV1, the second threshold value LV2, and the third threshold value LV3 are not limited to those described above.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes modifications to the above-described embodiments and appropriate combinations of these modifications.

[0036] 1A, 1B Vehicle 2 Internal combustion engine 3 Auxiliary equipment 31 Radiator 32 Radiator fan 33 Cooling water pump 34 Oil pump 4 Cooling water circuit 5 Detection device 6A, 6B Control device LV1 First threshold LV2 Second threshold LV3 Third threshold

Claims

1. an internal combustion engine; a plurality of accessories for cooling the internal combustion engine; A vehicle equipped with a detection device for detecting the height of the water surface around the vehicle; a control device that, when the water surface height exceeds a predetermined first threshold, changes the output value of the auxiliary device to an output value that is smaller than the output value until the water surface height exceeds the first threshold; Equipped with The control device of the vehicle increases the number of auxiliary devices that reduce their output values ​​as the water level increases when the water level exceeds the first threshold.

2. The auxiliary equipment includes a radiator fan, When the height of the water surface becomes higher than the first threshold, the control device reduces the rotation speed of the radiator fan as the height of the water surface increases. The vehicle of claim 1 .

3. The auxiliary equipment includes a radiator fan and a cooling water pump, When the water level becomes higher than the first threshold, the control device changes the rotation speed of the radiator fan to a second rotation speed that is lower than a first rotation speed at which the water level becomes higher than the first threshold, and when the water level becomes higher than a second threshold that is predetermined higher than the first threshold, the control device changes the rotation speed of the cooling water pump to a fourth rotation speed that is lower than a third rotation speed at which the water level becomes higher than the second threshold. The vehicle of claim 1 .

4. The auxiliary machinery includes an oil pump, When the water level becomes higher than a third threshold value that is predetermined higher than the second threshold value, the control device changes the rotation speed of the oil pump to a sixth rotation speed that is lower than a fifth rotation speed at which the water level becomes higher than the third threshold value.

4. The vehicle of claim 3.