DE102012207739B3 - Switching relay has contact bridge and bridging switch that are formed in change-over contact to occupy intermediate position in which switch and bridge are closed during switchover of retracted position into holding position - Google Patents

Abstract

The switching relay (100) has contact bridge (11,14) which is opened/closed in retracted position/holding position of relay. The pull-in winding (1) and holding winding (2) are connected in series. A bridging switch (13) is closed in retracted position of relay and bridges holding winding, and vice versa in holding position. The contact bridge and bridging switch are formed together in change-over contact (10) to occupy intermediate position in which bridging switch and contact bridge are closed during switchover of retracted position into holding position. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) motor car starter; and (2) method for starting of motor car.

Description

The present invention relates to a switching relay for a motor vehicle starter, a motor vehicle starter with such a switching relay and a method for starting a motor vehicle.

State of the art

As a motor vehicle starter electrical machines can be used, which drive a so-called starter pinion gear. About a release device, the starter pinion can be meshed with a ring gear on the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The force required for this purpose can be generated by a so-called single-track or engagement relay.

To start the internal combustion engine, a starter circuit, for example via an ignition, closed. As a result, the relay armature of the contactor is pulled over a pull-in winding and pushes on the release device, the starter pinion in the sprocket. If the pinion is sufficiently far in the ring gear, the relay armature of the single track relay additionally switches through a contact bridge and thus closes the circuit of the electrical machine. Its anchor begins to rotate thereby and the pinion spurts over a coarse thread in its final position. Thus, the internal combustion engine can be turned off and finally starts. A freewheel ensures the decoupling of the electric machine as soon as the internal combustion engine starts.

If the ignition circuit is interrupted, the relay armature moves through a relaxing relay armature return spring in its rest position, thereby opening the contact bridge and pushes the pinion from the ring gear to its original position. The circuit of the electric machine is interrupted and the electric machine runs out.

In conventional vehicles, the meshing and the subsequent start of the internal combustion engine are usually unproblematic. However, in the case of so-called start-stop systems, conventional starters are unsuitable.

Start-stop systems, for example, require the fastest possible meshing of the starter pinion in the still rotating ring gear with expiring internal combustion engine to allow a quick restart. Therefore, and also due to the relatively frequent starting operations, the wear of corresponding devices in start-stop systems is significantly increased. The noise associated with the starting process is also perceived as disturbing.

In order to minimize the mechanical wear and the noise input in start-stop systems as possible, the described single-track and shift functions can be separated from each other. For this purpose, an additional switching relay can be provided, which allows energization of the circuit of the electric machine regardless of the meshing of the pinion in the sprocket by the further existing Einspurrelais. The energization can be done, for example, time offset to the meshing.

The invention seeks to improve the function of corresponding Einspurrelais and thus provide improved possibilities for starting motor vehicles, especially of motor vehicles with start-stop systems.

From the DE 101 60 300 A1 For example, a relay is known which comprises a simple coil and requires a reduced number of terminals.

From the EP 2 239 455 A1 is a starter for a motor vehicle with an electrical contact element known.

From the DE 196 46 145 A1 is an engagement relay of a Anmlasseranordnung an internal combustion engine with two fixed contacts and a movable contact known.

From the US 4,305,002 A For example, a two-stage starter for an internal combustion engine is known, in which a few electrical switches are switched in succession by an actuating coil, which latches the pinion into the ring gear.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a switching relay with a changeover contact for a motor vehicle starter, a motor vehicle starter with such a switching relay and a method for starting a motor vehicle with the features of the independent claims are proposed. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

Advantages of the invention

The switching relay according to the invention improves the closing of a circuit of an electrical machine of a motor vehicle starter regardless of the meshing of the pinion in the sprocket. It has for this purpose at least two electrical coils ("windings") which move a relay armature. A first winding is of high resistance and is referred to below as a "holding winding", a second winding is formed low resistance and is hereinafter referred to as "pull-in winding" designated. Feeding and holding winding can be wound around a common core.

Feeding and holding winding are connected in series and there is a bypass switch for bypassing the holding winding via a bypass line in a first switching position of the relay (preferably the rest position / normal position), hereinafter also referred to as "feed position" provided. The relay is designed so that the bypass switch in a second switching position (preferably the actuated position), hereinafter also referred to as "holding position" is open, and thus the bridging of the holding winding is released. At the same time in the holding position, a contact bridge, which is connected by the relay, closed. In the retraction position, the contact bridge is open. It is understood that with closed bypass switch under certain circumstances still a residual current flows through the holding winding. This can be amplified and advantageously used by arranging, for example, a resistance element or a diode in the bypass line. The respective current flows through the bridging line on the one hand and the holding winding on the other hand then result from the resistance ratio, as explained below.

Relay with retraction and holding windings can advantageously first exert a large pull-in force and subsequently a reduced holding force on the relay armature. The pull-in force is generated by energizing the low-impedance pull-in winding, as long as the holding winding is bridged. This results in a strong magnetic flux due to a relatively high current flow. Due to the high current flow but also results in a high heat development, the u. U. the relay can damage, and should be avoided. At the same time a smaller magnetic flux is sufficient to hold the relay. Both can be achieved by subsequent common energizing of the high-impedance holding winding (which is no longer bridged) and the low-impedance pull-in winding.

Due to the series connection of pull-in and hold winding no means must be provided in order to energize the pull-in winding with parallel-connected feed and hold winding only for the time required for switching the relay and thus a contact bridge to close the circuit of the electric machine Motor vehicle starter is required. Corresponding means must further ensure that only the holding winding is energized for the time after which the contact bridge must be kept closed. However, this often proves to be costly and requires appropriate control logic that make the motor vehicle starter more expensive. In contrast, the present invention proposes a solution in which the functions mentioned proceed largely independently and without the use of expensive control logics.

The switching relay according to the invention is designed to close a circuit for a motor vehicle starter via the contact bridge. It is particularly suitable for a start-stop system.

In order to improve the switching reliability of the relay, a low-resistance resistor in the bypass line is advantageous. The resistance value may be, for example, <1/10 of the pull-in winding. The resistor causes a certain current flow through the holding winding, even in the bridged state. This measure improves the switching of feed and hold function. Instead of a resistor, a diode may also be advantageous.

The switching relay according to the invention is to be designed such that in addition to the previously described switching positions (retraction and holding position) by the switching contact, a third switching position is possible. The third switching position is referred to in the context of this application as "intermediate position". It is preferably taken during a transition from the retraction to the holding position.

For this purpose, the changeover contact may comprise two contact elements, which can be moved in each case via drivers on a shift axis. This embodiment will be explained below. A first contact element is designed to close the contact bridge, a second contact element is designed to close the bypass switch. When switching from the retraction to the stop position, as mentioned, the bypass switch is initially closed. The contact bridge is open. When switching the switching axis is shifted so that the driver of the first contact element presses this via a spring to the contacts of the contact bridge and the contact bridge closes it. However, the second contact element is not detected by its driver and therefore initially holds the bypass switch closed. This corresponds to the said intermediate position, in which therefore both the bypass switch and the contact bridge are closed. The switching axis then moves on, so that the second contact element is detected by its driver. Thus, the bypass switch is opened and taken in this way the holding position.

An inventive motor vehicle starter has the explained switching relay. This and the method also provided according to the invention profit in the same way from the explained advantages.

Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is illustrated schematically by means of exemplary embodiments in the drawing and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawing.

Brief description of the drawings

1 shows a starter relay according to an embodiment of the invention.

2A to 2C show a changeover contact of a starter relay according to an embodiment of the invention in different switching states.

Embodiment (s) of the invention

In the figures, identical or equivalent elements bear identical reference numerals and will not be explained repeatedly.

In 1 a switching relay according to an embodiment of the invention is shown schematically and in total with 100 designated.

The switching relay is arranged in a housing shown in dash-dotted lines. It has a pull-in winding 1 and a holding winding 2 which are connected in series. The intake winding 1 and the holding winding 2 are, for example, a common core 3 wrapped as in 1 shown only symbolically. For energizing the pull-in winding 1 and the holding winding 2 is a connection 4 provided, for example, via the standard provided in a motor vehicle terminal 50 can be acted upon with a starter current. The series windings 1 . 2 are both connected to a ground connection 5 as well as to a mass connection 6 connected to the housing.

The holding winding 2 is via a bridging line 7 bridged. Bridging contacts can be bridged 13 that with a contact element 11 a changeover contact 10 form a bypass switch, via the contact element 11 be connected to each other. This is in the in 1 shown switching state is the case. Is at the connection 4 A voltage can be a current through the bypass line 7 and through the contact element 11 interconnected bridging contacts 13 to the intake winding 1 flow away. Is in the bypass line 7 a resistance element 8th is provided, a current distribution between the bypass line 7 and the holding winding 2 causes.

The in the 1 shown switching position corresponds to the explained retraction position. An electrical connection between contact bridge contacts 14 , in turn, with appropriate connections 9 an electric machine are connected, is open in this state.

Will over the connection 4 When a voltage is applied, a current initially flows, as explained above, essentially through the pull-in winding. This exercises over a through the magnet armature 3 generated magnetic field a force on a switching axis 12 out, which causes them in the direction of the arrow 15 shifts. As a result, the contact element is also 11 postponed. The electrical connection between the bridging contacts 13 is thereby separated and by the bridging contacts 13 and the contact element 11 formed bridging switch so open. On the other hand, via the contact element 11 an electrical connection between the contact bridge contacts 14 manufactured and the contact bridge 14 . 11 closed. An electric machine can be energized thereby. At the same time the current continues to flow at the connection 4 voltage applied now via the holding relay 2 and the feed-in relay 1 , As explained, this corresponds to the holding state. The current through the pull-in winding decreases due to the higher resistance of the holding winding.

2A to 2C show a changeover contact 10 a starter relay according to an embodiment of the invention in different switching states.

In the in the 2A to 2C illustrated embodiment, the changeover contact 10 two contact elements each 11a and 11b on that by a switching axis 12 can be moved one after the other. For this purpose are on the switching axis 12 corresponding drivers 12a and 12b intended.

The in the 2A shown switching position of the changeover contact 10 corresponds to the multiple explained insertion position. The contact bridge contacts 14 are separated from each other, since the first contact element 11a not contacted. The bridging contacts 13 the bypass switch, however, are on the second contact element 11b connected with each other. The contact elements 11a . 11b are not from the respective carriers 12a and 12b detected.

When a corresponding relay is energized 100 is, as explained above, a movement of the switching axis 12 in the direction of the arrow 15 induced.

In 2 B is shown hereby occupied intermediate position. The first driver 12a shifts it via an intermediate spring 16 the first contact element and presses this to the contact bridge contacts 14 at. The spring travel of the spring 16 defines a distance over which the switching axis 12 in the direction of the arrow 15 can be moved further without the second driver 12b already the second contact element 11b would capture. As a result, in the illustrated intermediate position, both the bridging contacts 13 as well as the contact bridge contacts 14 be connected to each other simultaneously.

Shifts the switching axis 12 in the direction of the arrow 15 continue, the holding position is taken, in 2C is shown. In this one has the second driver 12b the second contact element 11b recorded and postponed accordingly. As a result, the previously closed connection between the bridging contacts 13 separated.

Claims (10)

Switching relay ( 100 ) with a contact bridge ( 14 . 11 ; 14 . 11a ), which is opened in a retracted position of the switching relay and is closed in a holding position of the switching relay, a pull-in winding ( 1 ) and a holding winding ( 2 ), wherein the pull-in winding ( 1 ) and the holding winding ( 2 ) are connected in series, and with a bypass switch ( 13 . 11 ; 13 . 11b ) for bridging the holding winding ( 2 ), which is closed in the infeed position of the switching relay and the holding winding ( 2 ), and which is open in the holding position of the switching relay and the holding winding ( 2 ) is not bridged, characterized in that the contact bridge ( 14 . 11 ; 14 . 11a ) and the bypass switch ( 13 . 11 ; 13 . 11b ) together in a changeover contact ( 10 ) are formed, and that the changeover contact is adapted to occupy an intermediate position during the switching from the feed position to the holding position, in which the bypass switch ( 13 . 11 ; 13 . 11b ) and the contact bridge ( 14 . 11 ; 14 . 11a ) are closed. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to claim 1, wherein the changeover contact comprises two movable contact elements ( 11a . 11b ), by which the bypass switch ( 13 . 11 ; 13 . 11b ), the contact bridge ( 14 . 11 ; 14 . 11a ) or both can be closed. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to claim 2, wherein the contact elements ( 11a . 11b ) displaceable on a switching axis ( 12 ) are arranged. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to claim 3, wherein the switching axis ( 12 ) is slidably mounted in the changeover contact and driver ( 12a . 12b ), which are formed during a displacement of the switching axis ( 12 ) in the changeover contact the contact elements ( 11a . 11b ). Switching relay ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to be energized when the pull-in winding ( 1 ) to switch from the feed position to the stop position. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to generate in the feed position during energization a magnetic flux between 1,000 and 2,000, in particular between 1,250 and 1,750, for example of 1,500 Amperewindungen. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to generate in the holding position during energization a magnetic flux between 50 and 500, in particular between 100 and 300, for example of 200 Amperewindungen. Switching relay ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which in the bridging line ( 7 ) a resistance element and / or a diode ( 8th ), resulting in a certain current flow through the holding winding ( 2 ) with the bypass switch closed ( 13 . 11 ; 13 . 11b ) leads. Motor vehicle starter, an electric machine and a switching relay ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact bridge ( 14 . 11 ; 14 . 11a ) of the switching relay is connected in the electric machine circuit. Method for starting a motor vehicle, in which a motor vehicle starter according to claim 9 is energized, whereby the switching relay ( 100 ) switches from the retraction position to the holding position and the electric machine is energized.

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