Refrigerator-Freezer Vehicle Torque Control for False-Start Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In freezing vehicles, the engine torque changes due to the refrigerating/freezing chamber load, leading to unstable false-start prevention effects, especially when the accelerator pedal is mistakenly depressed, risking unintended movement.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator/freezer vehicle with an engine control unit and refrigerating/freezing chamber that sets a constant or zero torque demand value for the compressor during false-start prevention, using obstacle detection and vehicle speed to stabilize engine torque suppression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the engine torque suppression function is actuated with normal torque allocation to the compressor, then the false-start prevention effect is strong, but the cooling performance becomes unstable when the refrigerating/freezing chamber is actuated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse-start prevention effectVSAvoidcooling performance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the torque demand parameter allocated to the compressor from its normal variable value to a constant value or zero during false-start prevention actuation. This parameter change ensures that the compressor receives sufficient torque to maintain stable cooling operation even when the engine torque is suppressed for false-start prevention, thereby resolving the contradiction between strong false-start prevention and stable cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the torque demand allocated to the compressor is reduced during false-start prevention, then the vehicle stability is improved, but the false-start prevention effect is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidfalse-start prevention effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter change by setting the torque demand value for the compressor to a constant value or zero during false-start prevention actuation. This ensures that the compressor receives adequate torque allocation independently of the engine torque suppression, maintaining both vehicle stability through proper torque management and effective false-start prevention through sufficient compressor operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4242027B1Refrigerator/freezer vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4242027B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4242027B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4242027B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem to be Solved] Provided is a refrigerator/freezer vehicle that makes it possible to obtain a stable false-start prevention effect regardless of the actuation situation of a refrigerating/freezing chamber. [Solution] A refrigerator/freezer vehicle (1) includes: an engine control unit (10) to control an engine (12) depending on torque demand; and a refrigerating/freezing chamber (2) to perform cooling by a compressor (22) that is actuated by output of the engine, the refrigerator/freezer vehicle having a function (30) to suppress engine torque when an accelerator pedal is operated in a state in which an obstacle is detected within a predetermined distance in a movement direction at a predetermined low vehicle speed or lower, in which the refrigerator/freezer vehicle is configured to set a constant value or zero as a torque demand value to be allocated to the compressor, at time of actuation of the engine torque suppression function.