A method for managing a modulation system for modulating a flow of cooling air in an acceleration maneuver of a vehicle

Abstract

A method for managing a modulation system ( 100 ) for modulating a flow of cooling air during the execution of an acceleration maneuver of a vehicle (V). The modulation system ( 100 ) for modulating a flow of cooling air has a maneuver operation mode configured for reducing or blocking the flow of cooling air directed towards a cooling system ( 104 ) comprised in the vehicle (V) during the execution of the acceleration maneuver. The method comprises, following the receipt of a setting command of the maneuver, evaluating for the components of the vehicle whether a corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satisfied. Said safety conditions of the start of the maneuver depend on a parameter indicative of the operating status of the component, detected at receipt of the setting command. The maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) for modulating the flow of cooling air is enabled if for each component the respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satisfied. The maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) for modulating the flow of cooling air is disabled if for at least one component the respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver is not satisfied.

Description

[0001] "A method for managing a modulation system for modulating a flow of cooling air in an acceleration maneuver of a vehicle"

[0002] ★ ★ ★ ★

[0003] TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention refers to vehicles provided with modulation systems for modulating a flow of cooling air into the vehicle , of the type conventionally named "active grill shutter" , AGS , for example .

[0006] Solutions as described herein may be applied to vehicles with ( completely or partially) electric propulsion, provided with said system for modulating a flow of cooling air .

[0007] Known Art

[0008] Figure 1 schematically shows the operation of a system for modulating a flow of cooling air into a vehicle V . As it is commonly known, a flow of air may be admitted into the vehicle V through an air inlet located at the front of the vehicle V (which is not shown in the Figure for simplicity) and may be directed towards a cooling system 104 which comprises , for example , a set of heat exchangers arranged inside the vehicle . Such heat exchangers 104 may comprise for example a radiator and / or a condenser .

[0009] Albeit very useful , the inlet of a flow of air towards the exchangers 104 of the vehicle may af fect the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle and, consequently, the performances thereof .

[0010] In some vehicles it is envisaged, at the air inlet , a modulation system 100 for modulating the flow of air , e . g . a system of the kind conventionally known as active grill shutter, AGS , 100 , which is configured for modulating the flow rate of the air entering the vehicle V and flowing through the set of exchangers 104 . Such an AGS system 100 comprises flaps configured for varying their orientation with respect to the direction of the flow of air, in such a way as to vary the section which counters the passage of the air flow .

[0011] Figures 2A to 2C show such an AGS system 100 in various configurations , i . e . , speci fically :

[0012] Figure 2A: an AGS 100 in an "open" configuration, wherein the flaps 100 are oriented parallel to the direction of the incoming flow of air, in such a way as to minimi ze the section of the flaps 101 which counters the flow of air or, in other words , to maximi ze the incoming flow of air,

[0013] Figure 2B : an AGS 100 in a partially closed configuration, wherein the flaps 101 are oriented transversely to the direction of the flow of air, the passage whereof is thus partially countered by the flaps 101 , and

[0014] Figure 2C : an AGS in a closed configuration, wherein the flaps 101 are arranged perpendicular to the direction of the flow of air, thereby countering ( and notionally blocking) the entry of the flow of air into the vehicle V .

[0015] An electronic control unit (which is not shown in the figures for simplicity) may be installed on board the vehicle , and may be configured for controlling the modulation system 100 for modulating the flow of cooling air, according to managing modes configured for modulating the flow of cooling air (by varying the configuration of the modulation system 100 between the configurations exempli fied in the Figures 2A to 2C ) as a function of the quantity of cooling air which must reach the set of exchangers 104 , for example as a function of the desired conditioning power .

[0016] An AGS system 100 as described in the foregoing is known in the art , which makes it unnecessary to provide herein a more detailed description thereof . Moreover, the speci fic system described is merely exemplary, since solutions according to embodiments of the present description may be applied to systems for modulating flows of air into the vehicle other than the system previously described .

[0017] As known to the person skilled in the art , the closed configuration of the modulation system 100 ( shown in Figure 2C ) represents the most advantageous configuration from the aerodynamic point of view . Particularly in a sports vehicle , it would be advantageous to have the possibi lity of executing an acceleration maneuver, set by the driver, which may benefit from the aerodynamic advantages of fered by closing the AGS system 100 without risking damages of the vehicle or the components thereof ; indeed, the closed configuration of the AGS ( as exempli fied in Figure 2C ) may signi ficantly reduce the operational capability of the set of heat exchangers 104 of the vehicle V, due to the reduced flow of air directed towards the exchangers 104 .

[0018] The conventional systems , therefore , must face the problem of evaluating whether even partially closing such system 100 for modulating the flow of air may be performed safely during an acceleration maneuver of the vehicle .

[0019] Obj ect of the Invention

[0020] The invention aims at solving the technical problems mentioned in the foregoing . Speci fically, the obj ect of the invention is to provide a method for managing a modulation system for modulating the flow o f cooling air into the vehicle is such a way as not to cause an undesirable overheating of the vehicle components .

[0021] Summary of the Invention The obj ect of the invention is achieved by means o f a method having the features set forth in the claims that follow, which are an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention .

[0022] Brief Description of the Figures

[0023] The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed Figures , which are provided by way o f non-limiting example only and wherein :

[0024] - Figure 1 and Figures 2A to 2C, already described in the foregoing, schematically show the operation of a modulation system for modulating a flow of air into the vehicle , such as an active gri ll shutter, AGS , for example ,

[0025] - Figures 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating methods for managing a modulation system for modulating a flow of air according to embodiments of the present description, and

[0026] - Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method according to embodiments of the present description .

[0027] Detailed Description

[0028] In the following it will be described a method for managing a modulation system for modulating a flow of cooling air of a vehicle during the execution of an acceleration maneuver .

[0029] As already mentioned in the foregoing, it would be desirable , in order to improve the vehicle performances during the execution of sports maneuvers , to be able to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle by means of a modulation system for modulation the flow of cooling air, which may be configured for reducing or blocking said flow during the execution of the maneuver . As discussed in the foregoing, in the vehicles provided with an "active grill shutter", AGS , it is possible to reduce said resistance by reducing or blocking the flow of air into the vehicle by means of flaps , the orientation whereof with respect to the flow of air is adj ustable .

[0030] Some vehicles , especially sports vehicles , may provide sports driving modes wherein, upon request by the driver of the vehicle , the vehicle and the components thereof are configured in such a way as to favour high performances in the execution of the maneuver . Such maneuvers , which in the following will be referred to with the general term of "acceleration maneuvers" , may therefore comprise maneuvers characteri zed by a request of high performances for a limited time interval .

[0031] Examples of such acceleration maneuvers comprise , for example , the maneuvers denoted as " launch control" and as "drag race of the quarter of mile" .

[0032] In one or more embodiments of the present description, in order to enhance the performances of a vehicle during the execution of said maneuvers , it is possible to envisage an operation mode of the AGS 100 which, once enabled, is configured for reducing or blocking the flow of cooling air during the execution of the acceleration maneuver .

[0033] As stated in the foregoing, said flow reduction generally leads to heating the components of the vehicle , since the cooling of such components depends on the flow of cooling air impinging upon the set of exchangers 104 .

[0034] Therefore , it would be desirable to enable such maneuver operation mode of the modulation system 100 during the execution of an acceleration maneuver in such a way as to improve the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle without risking damaging the components the cooling whereof depends on the flow of air into the vehicle .

[0035] In a method according to the present description it is possible to evaluate whether, at the start of the acceleration maneuver, the operating status of one or more components of the vehicle permits enabling such operation mode of the AGS 100 for the duration of the acceleration maneuver, without undesired consequences for the components . Once enabled, other possible managing modes of the modulation system 100 are overridden / disabled . In other words , such maneuver operation mode of the modulation system 100 has priority over other managing modes of the modulation system 100 .

[0036] In one or more embodiments , it is possible to evaluate the thermal condition of the components of the vehicle by evaluating whether safety conditions of the start of the maneuver are satis fied, which safety conditions comprise conditions regarding the temperature of the components of the vehicle at the start of the acceleration maneuver .

[0037] In one or more embodiment , the method may comprise veri fying whether the temperature of the components of the vehicle involved in the maneuver is such as to enable executing the maneuver while preventing a temperature increase of the components due to the maneuver ( and to closing the AGS ) from exceeding a given critical value of the temperature , which may depend, for instance , on the speci fications of the component .

[0038] In other words , named Tstartj the temperature of the i-th component detected at the setting of the acceleration maneuver by the driver, the method may comprise veri fying that , for each i-th component involved in the maneuver, said temperature is lower than a threshold value predetermined for the same i-th component , i . e . , expressed as a formula

[0039] Tstartj < Tth ,i

[0040] Said predetermined threshold value generally depends on the speci fications of the particular component it refers to . Speci fically, the threshold value for the i-th component may depend on a corresponding critical value of temperature TCj , which represents an upper limit for the operating temperature of the component .

[0041] It is possible to rewrite the conditions in such a way as to highlight the dependence of the threshold temperature on the critical temperature of the component

[0042] Tstartj < TC,i—TOj which simply rewrites the previous condition by clearly expressing the dependence of the threshold value on the critical temperature of the component ^4=^ — AT0;i.

[0043] The value ATOj represents a sort of safety margin which is selected ( during calibration, for example ) so as to contrast an excessive temperature increase of the component in response to the execution of the acceleration maneuver, and to contrast reaching temperatures approaching the critical temperature of the component Tc i.

[0044] In one or more embodiments , the threshold value of the temperature of the i-th component may vary as the acceleration maneuver which is selected varies . Such maneuvers may di f fer, for example , in the duration in time and / or in the power dissipated in each component . It is therefore possible to associate , to each acceleration maneuver, a given threshold value for the i-th component Tt™ fn. As the acceleration maneuver varies , the total power dissipated by each component will vary as well and, as a consequence , the corresponding temperature increase will vary . Therefore , it may be advantageous to define the threshold temperatures ( at the start of the maneuver ) of the i-th component also as a function of the speci fic maneuver which is about to be executed .

[0045] Named ATmanj the temperature increase for the i-th component , it is possible to define the threshold temperature for the component as wherein ATlfj represents a safety margin which is independent of the speci fic acceleration maneuver which is about to be executed .

[0046] I l will be noted that , irrespective of the involvement of the i-th component in the maneuver ( i . e . irrespective of the fact that the maneuver may cause an increase of the temperature of the component ) , it is possible to retain the definition of threshold temperature as set forth in the foregoing, possibly by setting ATman4= 0 and selecting a value of AT1 i= ATOj .

[0047] It is possible to estimate the temperature increase of the i-th component in the execution of the maneuver as a ratio of the energy Eman idissipated by the i-th component in the execution of the maneuver to a constant parameter Cj indicative of the thermal capacity of the i-th component . Expressed as a formula : f = TC;i- Eman / Ci - AT1;i

[0048] In one or more embodiments the method may comprise , in addition to evaluating the safety conditions regarding the temperature of the components at the start of the maneuver, veri fying that no component is operating in particular modes . By way of example only, the instances may be considered wherein : the cabin conditioning system i s operating in defrost mode or in max power mode , and / or in an electric vehicle , the electric motors are operating in recovery mode .

[0049] Such operating conditions represent particular operation modes wherein it may be undesirable to enable the maneuver operation mode of the AGS thus reducing ( or blocking) the flow of air impinging upon the set of heat exchangers .

[0050] Figure 3 schematically shows a method as described herein . In the embodiment schematically shown in Figure 3 , a method as described in the foregoing is applied in order to enable the maneuver mode of an AGS system 100 installed on board an electric vehicle V following the setting of an acceleration maneuver . In the presently shown embodiment , the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver comprise : safety conditions of the start of the maneuver concerning the detected temperature values of components of the vehicle , and safety conditions of the start of the maneuver concerning the operation mode of components of the vehicle .

[0051] In the shown embodiment , the components of the vehicle on which a check is performed about the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver concerning the temperature values comprise : the electric motors , the inverter, the battery, and the transmission oil .

[0052] Of course , the present list is only given for exemplary purposes , and shall not be construed as limiting .

[0053] As shown, enabling the maneuver mode of the AGS (block "AGS maneuver mode ON" ) depends on an AND block , in such a way that enabling said mode depends on veri fying all envisaged safety conditions .

[0054] To sum up, the obj ect of the present description i s a method for managing a modulation system 100 for modulating a flow of cooling air directed towards a cooling system 104 during the execution of an acceleration maneuver of a vehicle V (which comprises , beside said cooling system 104 and said modulation system 100 , one or more components ) . The modulation system 100 has a maneuver operation mode , configured for reducing or blocking the flow of cooling air directed towards said cooling system 104 during the execution of the acceleration maneuver .

[0055] The method comprises , following the receipt of a setting command of an acceleration maneuver of the vehicle V, evaluating for each component whether a corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied, which condition depends on a parameter indicative of the operating status of the component detected at receipt of the setting command .

[0056] The maneuver operation mode of the modulation system 100 for modulating the flow of cooling air i s enabled i f , for each component , the respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied .

[0057] The maneuver operation mode of the modulation system 100 for modulating the flow of cooling air i s disabled i f , for at least one component , the respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver is not satis fied .

[0058] In one or more embodiments , for ( at least ) one component , the respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver depends on a value Tstartj indicative of the temperature of the component detected at receipt o f the setting command of the acceleration maneuver . The respective safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied i f the value Tstartj indicative of the temperature of the component detected at receipt of the setting command of the acceleration maneuver is les s than a threshold value ( the threshold value T^j or Tt™fn) defined for that component .

[0059] In one or more embodiments , the components of the vehicle V may comprise : a conditioning system, wherein the corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied i f the conditioning system is not in defrost mode or in max power mode at receipt of the setting command of the acceleration maneuver, and / or an electric motor, wherein the corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied if the electric motor is not in recovery mode at receipt o f the setting command of the acceleration maneuver .

[0060] In one or more embodiments , the method may comprise veri fying the temperatures also during the execution o f the acceleration maneuver . Such a check during the execution of the maneuver further reduces the risk of an undesirable overheating of the components during the acceleration maneuver .

[0061] To that ef fect , it is possible to detect the instant temperature Tj of each component of the vehicle during the execution of the maneuver, and to veri fy that they are below a second threshold temperature Ttj12j •

[0062] As known to the skilled in the art , the phrase " instant value" denotes a value sampled or detected at a suitable frequency ( for example , at time intervals in the order of tens of milliseconds ) .

[0063] Named, as in the foregoing, TCj the critical temperature of the i-th component , it is possible to write the safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver for the i-th component as :

[0064] Ti < Tth2,i = Tci — AT2 iwherein AT2J is a safety parameter of the execution of the maneuver for the i-th component . In other words , it is possible to veri fy that the temperature of each o f the components of the vehicle does not rise up to values approaching the critical temperature TCj of the component throughout the execution of the maneuver . The method may comprise disabling the maneuver mode of the AGS i f one of said safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver is not satis fied . In one or more embodiments , the method may further comprise veri fying safety conditions of execution of the maneuver which are independent of the temperature of the components . Similarly to what has been said in the foregoing regarding the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver, it will be poss ible to veri fy that , during the execution of the maneuver : the conditioning system is not operating in defrost mode or in max power mode , and / or the electric motors are not operating in recovery mode .

[0065] Moreover, it will be possible to envisage veri fying the total duration of the maneuver ; as a function of the speci fic maneuver that the driver is executing, and of a characteristic duration or a maximum duration of the same maneuver, it is possible to impose that the maneuver mode of the AGS be disabled after said limit duration o f the maneuver tman. Named "t" the time interval which has elapsed from the start of the maneuver, it will be veri fied whether the condition on the duration of the maneuver t < tmanholds true .

[0066] In other words , the maneuver mode of the AGS ( or, generally, of the system for modulating the flow or air ) will be disabled i f the previous condition is not satis fied .

[0067] Figure 4 summari zes a method according to embodiments of the present description, comprising veri fying the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver, and safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver .

[0068] The description of the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver ( the conditions of the set denoted with reference I in Figure 4 ) is quite similar to what has been set forth with reference to Figure 3 , and wil l not be repeated in the following .

[0069] As illustrated, the method also comprises evaluating the safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver ( the conditions of the set denoted with reference I I in Figure 4 ) . As discussed in the foregoing, said conditions of the execution of the maneuver may comprise : safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver regarding the temperature values of components of the vehicle , the values being detected during the execution of the maneuver, safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver regarding the operation mode o f components of the vehicle , and safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver regarding the duration of the same maneuver .

[0070] In the embodiment exempli fied in Figure 4 , the components of the vehicle the temperature whereof is veri fied during the test are , similarly to what has been stated with reference to Figure 3 , the battery, the inverter, the motors and the transmission oil .

[0071] In other words , in one or more embodiments , a method as described herein may further comprise , following detecting the start of the execution of the acceleration maneuver, evaluating for each component whether a respective safety condition of the execution of the maneuver is satis fied . Said safety condition of the execution of the maneuver depends on a parameter indicative of the operating status of the component detected during the execution of the maneuver . The maneuver operation mode of the modulation system 100 i s disabled i f , for at least one component , the corresponding safety condition of the execution of the maneuver is not satis fied . A method according to any of the embodiments described herein may be implemented by means of an electronic control unit installed on board the vehicle, and configured for executing such method.

[0072] Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method according to embodiments of the present description, applied to an acceleration maneuver.

[0073] The driver sets the desired acceleration maneuver by imparting a command "cmd". The method comprises detecting 1000 said setting command of the maneuver imparted by the driver.

[0074] It is then verified 1010 that the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver are satisfied (e.g., the safety conditions of the start of the maneuver shown in Figure 3 or in Figure 4) .

[0075] If verifying 1010 yields a negative result (arrow "N" out of block 1010) , the maneuver mode of the AGS system is disabled 1020. The acceleration maneuver can anyway be executed while the maneuver mode of the AGS is disabled. The AGS system will therefore be controlled by means of other managing modes.

[0076] If verifying 1010 yields a positive result (arrow "Y" out of block 1010) , the maneuver mode of the AGS system is enabled 1030, wherein the flow of cooling air is either reduced or blocked.

[0077] The block 1040 indicates the start of the execution of the acceleration maneuver by the driver. As discussed in the foregoing, the method may comprise detecting the start of the acceleration maneuver and verifying, 1050, throughout the execution of the maneuver, that the safety conditions of the execution of the maneuver are satisfied.

[0078] If verifying 1050 yields a negative result (arrow "N" out of block 1050) , the maneuver mode of the AGS system is disabled 1020. The execution of the acceleration maneuver can anyway proceed while the maneuver mode of the AGS is disabled (in this case, the AGS system will be controlled by means of other managing modes) .

[0079] If verifying 1050 yields a positive result (arrow "Y" out of block 1050) , the AGS system is kept in the maneuver mode.

[0080] It will be noted that verifying 1050 is performed throughout the execution of the maneuver, e.g. on the "instant" values of the temperature of the components, during all the execution of the maneuver.

[0081] The block 1060 represents the end of the acceleration maneuver.

[0082] Without prejudice to the underlying principle, the details and the embodiments may vary, even appreciably, with respect to what has been described by way of nonlimiting example only, without departing from the extent of the embodiments.

[0083] The scope of protection is determined by the annexed claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Method for managing a modulation system ( 100 ) for modulating a flow of cooling air directed towards a cooling system ( 104 ) in an acceleration maneuver of a vehicle (V) , the vehicle (V) comprising one or more components , said cooling system ( 104 ) and said modulation system ( 100 ) , wherein the modulation system( 100 ) has a maneuver operation mode configured for reducing or blocking the flow of cooling air directed towards said cooling system ( 104 ) during the execution of the acceleration maneuver, the method comprising : receiving a setting command of the acceleration maneuver of the vehicle (V) , evaluating for each component of said one or more components whether a corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied, wherein said corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver depends on a parameter indicative of the operating status of the component detected at receipt of said setting command, and the method comprises : enabling said maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) of the flow of cooling air i f for each of the one or more components the corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied, or disabling said maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) of the flow of cooling air i f for at least one of the one or more components the corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is not satis fied .2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein said modulation system ( 100 ) of the flow of cooling airdirected towards the cooling system ( 104 ) comprises an active grill shutter, AGS .3 . Method according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein said maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) , i f enabled, overrides other managing modes of the modulation system ( 100 ) .4 . Method according to any of the claims 1 to 3 , wherein for at least one of said one or more components said corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver depends on a value ( Tstart) indicative of the temperature of the at least one component detected at receipt of said setting command of the acceleration maneuver, wherein said corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied i f said value ( Tstart, i ) indicative of the temperature of the at least one component detected at receipt of said setting command of the acceleration maneuver is less than a threshold value r the at least one component5 . Method according to claim 4 , wherein said threshold value (Tth i; Tt™jn) defined for the at least one component is defined as a critical temperature (Tc) of the at least one component minus a safety margin (AT1;i) predetermined for the component minus a value (ATmanj ) indicative of the temperature increase of the at least one component in response to the execution of the acceleration maneuver .6 . Method according to any of the previous claims , wherein the one or more components of the vehicle (V) comprise : a conditioning system, wherein the correspondingsafety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied i f the conditioning system is not in defrost mode or in max power mode at receipt of said setting command of the acceleration maneuver, and / or an electric motor, wherein the corresponding safety condition of the start of the maneuver is satis fied i f the electric motor is not in recovery mode at receipt o f said setting command of the acceleration maneuver .7 . Method according to any of the previous claims , comprising : detect the start of the acceleration maneuver, and evaluate for each component of said one or more components whether a corresponding safety condition of execution of the maneuver is satis fied, wherein said safety condition of execution of the maneuver depends on a parameter indicative of the operating status of the component detected during the execution of the acceleration maneuver, wherein the method comprises disabling said maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) i f , for at least one component , the corresponding safety condition of execution of the maneuver is not satis fied .8 . Method according to claim 7 , wherein for at least one of said one or more components the corresponding execution safety condition depends on a value ( T indicative of the temperature of the at least one component detected during the execution of the acceleration maneuver, wherein said corresponding safety condition of execution of the maneuver is satis fied i f said value (T indicative of the temperature of the at least one component detected during the execution of the acceleration maneuver is less than a second threshold value (Tth2j ) defined for the at least one component ( Tj <Tth2,i ) •9. Method according to claim 7 or claim 8 , wherein the one or more components of the vehicle (V) comprise : a conditioning system, wherein the corresponding safety condition of execution of the maneuver i s satis fied i f the conditioning system is not in defrost mode or in max power mode during the execution of the acceleration maneuver, and / or an electric motor, wherein the corresponding safety condition of execution of the maneuver is satis fied i f the electric motor is not in recovery mode during the execution of the acceleration maneuver .10 . Method according to any of the claims 7 to 9 , comprising disabling said maneuver operation mode of the modulation system ( 100 ) i f a value (t) of the time elapsed from the detection of the start of the acceleration maneuver is greater than a time threshold (tman) predetermined for the acceleration maneuver (t > tman) .

Images