EP3186611A1

EP3186611A1 - Control device for a cooling device and method for testing a cooling device

Info

Publication number: EP3186611A1
Application number: EP15747139.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephan Wenk
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2014-08-28
Filing date: 2015-07-29
Publication date: 2017-07-05
Also published as: DE102014217111A1; WO2016030115A1; CN106574882A

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (20) for a cooling device (9), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a first interface (21) for activating the cooling device (9) for test operation, a second interface (22) for sensing at least one operating parameter of the cooling device during the test operation, a third interface (23) for sensing at least one vehicle parameter, a fourth interface (29) for outputting an error indication with regard to the cooling device (9), and a computing unit (25), which initiates test operation of the cooling device in dependence on the at least one vehicle parameter and which outputs the error indication during the test operation in dependence on the at least one operating parameter of the cooling device (9).

Description

Description title

Control device for a cooling device and method for testing a cooling device

State of the art

The invention relates to a control device for a cooling device and a method for testing a cooling device according to the preamble of the independent claims.

From DE 103 00 051 AI is already a method and apparatus for testing electric motors, in particular fan motors, on their

Operability known. In this case, the electromagnetic alternating fields formed by the electric motor are received by means of an antenna, the received signals are analyzed for signal components in the frequency range of the rotational values of electric motors or their harmonics and if available the functionality is output by means of an output unit.

Disclosure of the invention

Advantages of the invention

The control device according to the invention for a cooling device with the features of the independent claim has the advantage that at least one vehicle parameter is detected and depending on the at least one detected vehicle parameter, a test operation is performed. This makes it possible that a functional test of a cooling device is performed not only during operation of the cooling device, but that in a test operation, a functionality already in advance of a required use of a cooling device is checked and the

Functionality of a cooling device can be ensured if there is a need for operation of the cooling device. In addition, by selecting a test operation depending on a vehicle parameter, a test operation of the cooler is allowed to be performed at an appropriate time. Thus, a disturbance of the driver can be avoided by an unexpected performance of a test operation, which is possibly associated with a disturbing noise. By running a test operation e.g. is performed only in a driving operation of the vehicle, can also be avoided that an energy storage in the vehicle is unnecessarily burdened in a rest mode.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide a timing circuit with which a time of a test operation is processed such that a test operation is prevented before a predetermined period of time has elapsed. This avoids that, depending on the driving situation, a test operation is unnecessarily often carried out. For after detecting a functioning of a cooling device, it can be assumed that a functioning capability of the cooling device can be assumed, at least for a certain period of time. Furthermore, it can thus also be made possible that a test operation is not carried out until a predetermined time, for example 5 minutes, after switching on a driving operation, by unnecessary means

To avoid testing operations.

It is also advantageous that the cooling device is designed as a fan. A fan, so usually driven by an electric motor

Paddle wheel for air movement, which introduces an amount of air for cooling to a device to be cooled, on the one hand cost and on the other hand can be selectively controlled. Furthermore, an operation of a fan can also be easily detected. So is a function of a fan, for example, by detecting a speed of the fan or a

Power consumption of the fan easily possible.

Corresponding advantages also result for a method according to the invention for testing a cooling device. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that, as a vehicle parameter, an activation of an ignition of a vehicle is detected. For only with an activated ignition of a vehicle or correspondingly in an electric vehicle, or in a vehicle with an alternative drive, with an activated driving mode, it can be assumed that a test of a cooling device is required and the necessary energy is available for this purpose.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to carry out a test operation as a function of a rotational speed of an engine of the vehicle drive. Namely, when a predetermined speed is exceeded, for example at a

Engine speed of 2000 revolutions per minute, so the drive of the vehicle is associated with a noise. A

Performing a test operation of a cooling device, which is also associated with a noise, thus becomes very high

Probability not noticed by a driver of the vehicle. A

Irritation of the driver can thus be excluded.

Correspondingly, a test operation is possible even without a fault of a driver when a predetermined vehicle speed is exceeded, for example, a speed of 80 km / h. Similarly, irritation of the driver due to noise of a test operation of a refrigerator may be precluded even if activation of a vehicle air-conditioning fan as a vehicle parameter is detected.

drawing

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a driver information device in a motor vehicle with a

Cooling device and a control device according to the invention for the cooling device, FIG. 2 shows a control device according to the invention for a cooling device, FIG. 3 shows a method according to the invention for testing a cooling device. Embodiments of the invention

In vehicles, especially in motor vehicles, by a

Heat engine are driven, a continuous cooling in particular for the vehicle drive due to the heat generated by power loss and friction heat is required. In addition, vehicles today have a variety of electronic device, which must be cooled in particular depending on an outside temperature and a service life of the vehicle. Often, however, only a temporary cooling in a particular heat load is required. If the cooling does not occur, for example as a result of a malfunction of the present cooling device, then the electronic component may fail abruptly. As a result, if appropriate, the driving safety can be endangered.

FIG. 1 shows a driver information device 1 as an example of such an electronic component in a motor vehicle. The driver information device 1 has a display unit 2. The

Display unit 2 is arranged, for example, in front of a driver of the motor vehicle and informs the driver about vehicle parameters and the vehicle condition. In the display unit 2, for example, a scale display 3 is shown, with a vehicle speed is displayed. Furthermore, a warning symbol, for example, which indicates a malfunction of a vehicle component can be displayed via a symbol representation 4. In a screen display 5 multimedia information or driving instructions can be displayed.

The display unit 2 is controlled via a data bus 6 by a control unit 7. The control unit 7 has a computing unit 8, the

Vehicle data processed and the display unit 2 drives. This requires a considerable amount of computation. The control unit 7 is generally installed invisible to a driver behind an instrument panel in the motor vehicle. Thus, an immediate release of waste heat, which arises during operation of the arithmetic unit 8, to the environment even when using passive heat sink only possible to a limited extent. For cooling the arithmetic unit 8 is therefore an additional

Cooling device 9 is provided.

The cooling device 9 can be designed, for example, as a liquid cooling device, for example a heat pipe. In the present

Embodiment, the cooling device 9 is designed as a fan.

In a first embodiment, it is possible for the fan 9 to move preferably cooled air in the direction of the arithmetic unit 8 via a first, dashed air feed 11. The arithmetic unit 8 is over, for example

Ventilation slots or via a heat sink designed such that it can deliver heat to a resulting air flow. In another

Embodiment, a second air supply 12 is provided, via which the now heated air can be removed. In an alternative operating mode, a reverse air guidance from the second air feed 12 to the first air feed 11 is also possible.

However, according to the thermal design and taking into account sometimes only a very short use of a vehicle per trip, it may happen that such a temperature is reached only rarely. Continuous fan operation, however, is associated with noise and wear. Thus, the fan 9 is operated only when needed, so in particular if an additional cooling capacity is required, for example, at a high outside temperature and / or a very long service life.

For example, this is in or adjacent to the arithmetic unit 8 a

Temperature sensor 13 is provided. The temperature sensor 13 is checked by a monitoring unit 10. The required control value results, for example, from a characteristic curve depending on the arithmetic unit temperature. Typically, such an increasing control value is generated as the temperature rises (eg 0% at 86 ° C, 50% at 96 ° C, 100% at 105 ° C). To unnecessary speed fluctuations of the fan, the calculated control value of the fan is filtered in time. Alternatively, the drive value of the fan can also be determined differently, eg as a controller, in particular as a P, PI or two-position controller (with or without hysteresis).

However, since a vehicle is sometimes not moved at very high temperatures or used only for a relatively short period of time, operation of the cooling device 9 is not required in many cases. Since the fan is thus usually operated only when it is really needed, it may happen that an impairment of operational readiness of

Cooling device unnoticed for a long time, for example, by a mechanical contamination or by a cable break. But then it is the

Support the cooling device but once required, they can not provide the necessary cooling in the event of a previously unnoticed defect, so it can lead to failure or emergency shutdown of the arithmetic unit.

According to the invention, a control device 20 is provided for a test operation of the cooling device 9. The control device 20 performs a test operation of the cooling device at an appropriate time.

The control device 20 is explained in detail in FIG. The control device 20 has a first interface 21, with which it is connected to the cooling device 9. Via the first interface 21, a computing unit 25 of the control device 20 can activate the cooling device 9 for a test operation. In one embodiment, such a test operation may include a sequence of specific instructions stored in a memory 26 of the controller 20. In one embodiment of the cooling device 9 as a fan, this can

For example, be a sequence of specific speeds of the fan. Thus, it is possible, for example, to control the entire speed spectrum that is provided for a cooling operation of the fan, respectively.

When the cooling device is designed as a fan, it is particularly important to determine whether the fan is running at all, ie whether the fan motor is supplied with power or whether there is a mechanical blockage of the fan. In one embodiment, therefore, in a test operation of a fan, the fan can be just controlled so that it runs only at a low speed, for example, between 10% and 25% of its design maximum speed. As a result, a noise is minimized. The fan runs safely, but at low speed.

Furthermore, it is also possible to supply the cooling device 9 in a test mode only with a designated operating voltage. The control device 20 is further equipped with a second interface 22, which is provided with a sensor 27 for detecting an operating parameter of

Cooling device is connected. The sensor 27 may be configured, for example, to determine an actual speed of the fan. The sensor 27 can be designed for this purpose, for example, as an optical, as a magnetic or as an electronic sensor. Furthermore, it is also possible that the sensor 27 detects a power consumption of the cooling device 9. In a further embodiment, it is also possible for the sensor 27 to be designed as a temperature sensor, with which a temperature reduction in an environment of the cooling device 9 is determined as a result of an operation of the cooling device 9.

The control device 20 is also equipped with a third interface 23, via which at least one vehicle parameter can be detected. In one embodiment, for this purpose, the control device 20 may be directly connected to a measuring device in a motor vehicle.

In the embodiment illustrated here, the control device 20 is connected to a data bus 28 in the motor vehicle. The data bus 28 can

For example, as a preferably bi-directional data bus, for example, as a CAN data bus to be executed. On the data bus 28 can have several

Be connected vehicle equipment. For example, it is possible to connect an engine control unit 31 to the vehicle data bus 28. The engine control unit 31 transmits an engine speed to the control device 20 via the vehicle data bus. Furthermore, a

Speed measuring device 32, for example, the determination A wheel speed determines a speed of the vehicle to be connected to the vehicle data bus for transmitting a speed information of the vehicle to the control device 20. Furthermore, the vehicle data bus 28 may also be provided with an air conditioning device 33 in the

Be connected to the vehicle. The air conditioning 33 can over the

Report vehicle data 28 to the controller 20, if a

Ventilation fan of the air conditioning is activated. Furthermore, the control device 20 via a readout of the bus status of

Vehicle data bus 28 or depending on an example issued by the engine control unit 31 signal determine whether the vehicle is ready to drive. The arithmetic unit 25 evaluates one or more of the transmitted

Vehicle parameters off. Depending on one of the vehicle parameters, on a plurality of the vehicle parameters or on a corresponding combination of the parameters, the arithmetic unit 25 causes the execution of a

Test operation. For the driving conditions, for example, the following conditions can be used alternatively or additionally: exceeding an engine speed of 1800 revolutions per minute, exceeding a vehicle speed of 80 km / h, activating the driving mode G. ignition on ") for at least 5 minutes The cooling device 9 is activated via the first interface 21, for example for a period of 10 seconds Furthermore, various operating modes of the cooling device 9 can also be traversed A status of the cooling device 9 is detected via the sensor 27. Via the second interface 22, the status to the control device 20

returned.

The computing unit 25 checks the status of the cooling device 9, which it received during or after the test operation via the second interface 22.

Preferably, the arithmetic unit 25 compares the obtained data with data stored in the memory 26. Are the transmitted data in one predetermined range, so is a functioning of the cooling device. 9

determine. If the data is outside the predetermined range, then there is a fault condition of the cooling device 9. In this case, the control device 20 accesses an output unit 30 via a fourth interface 29 and gives an error message concerning a malfunction of the cooling device to the

Output unit 30 off. The error message can be displayed, for example, by means of a symbol in the display unit 2. Furthermore, the

Error message also be documented by means of a fault memory. After a successful execution of a test operation, the arithmetic unit controls

25 a timer 35 at. In this case, for example, a counter is reset or a time of carrying out a test operation is stored. Before a test operation is now carried out again, the arithmetic unit 25 checks on what time elapsed between the last test operation and the current request. Only if this time span is a given

Limit exceeds, for example, one hour, a new test operation is performed.

In a further embodiment, it is also possible for a status of the cooling device 9 to be regularly reported back to the control device 20 via the sensor 27, for example at a regular time interval. If, during operation of the cooling device, preferably beyond a predetermined amount, for example 25 percent of the full load, it is determined that the

Timer also reset. Preferably, the predetermined amount is chosen so high that a stable operation of the cooling device is ensured.

Thus, in this embodiment, an actual,

determined operation of the cooling device replace a performance of a test operation. As a result, unnecessary implementations of test farms can be saved.

In a further embodiment, it is also possible that after a

Resetting the timer during a driving operation of the vehicle, the timer is reset and will not be reactivated. Activation takes place again only in a next driving operation, so for example in a vehicle with combustion drive to one Switch off and restart the engine. This ensures that a maximum of one check of the cooling device takes place per ignition cycle.

In a further embodiment, the control device may also be connected to a temperature sensor 34 in order to cause an activation of the cooling device when a predetermined temperature limit is exceeded. In this case, only one controller is required for controlling the normal operation and the test operation of the cooling device.

The test operation of a fan according to the invention is activated with a start step 40, for example, with activation of a driving operation of a vehicle. Subsequently, a branch is made to a first test step 41. In the first test step 41, it is checked whether one or more of the driving parameters for a test operation is fulfilled, ie, for example, a vehicle speed of greater than 80 km / h and / or an engine speed of at least 1800

Revolutions per minute. If this is not the case, the system branches back and the procedure is carried out again. Otherwise, a branch is made to a second test step. In the second test step 42 it is checked whether a test operation has taken place during the present driving cycle or within a predetermined period of, for example, one hour. If this is the case, then it is also branched back. Otherwise, branching is made to an execution step 43. In the implementation step 43, the cooling device, so for example a fan, temporarily activated. In a subsequent third test step 44 it is checked whether the operating parameters of the cooling device during the execution step 43 are within a predetermined range. If this is the case, then it is branched back.

Otherwise, an error message is output in an output step 45. A vehicle user is now informed that the cooling device is no longer functioning properly, so that a workshop can be visited at a suitable time. Subsequently, the method is terminated by an end step 46.

Claims

claims

First control device (20) for a cooling device (9), in particular for a

Motor vehicle, with a first interface (21) for activating the

Cooling device (9) for a test operation, with a second interface (22) for detecting at least one operating parameter of the cooling device during the test operation, with a third interface (23) for detecting at least one vehicle parameter, with a fourth interface (29) for outputting an error message with respect to the cooling device (9) and with a computing unit (25) which causes a test operation of the cooling device (9) depending on the at least one vehicle parameter and which outputs the error message depending on the at least one operating parameter of the cooling device (9) during the test operation.

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized by a timing circuit (35) which processes a time of a test operation such that a renewed test operation is prevented before a predetermined period of time.

3. Cooling device, for a particular electronic component (7) in one

Motor vehicle, with a control device (20) according to one of

preceding claims, characterized in that the

Cooling device has a fan (9).

4. Method for testing a cooling device, in particular in one

Motor vehicle, wherein at least one vehicle parameter is detected, wherein depending on the detected at least one vehicle parameter, a test operation of a cooling device (9) is performed, wherein during the test operation or following the test operation at least one

Operating parameters of the cooling device (9) is detected and where in the case that the detected at least one operating parameter is within a predetermined range, an error message is output.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that as the

at least one vehicle parameter is an activation of an ignition of the vehicle, a rotational speed of an engine of the vehicle drive, a

Activation of a fan of a vehicle air conditioning and / or a

Vehicle speed is detected.

6. The method according to any one of claims 4-5, characterized in that as the at least one operating parameter of the cooling device (9) a speed and / or power consumption of a fan of the cooling device are detected.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4-6, characterized in that after carrying out a test operation, a renewed test operation is performed only after a predetermined period of time.