FR3050144A1 - DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING TEMPORARY STOPS OF A THERMAL MOTOR OF A VEHICLE WITH ISOTHERMAL COMPARTMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device (DC) equips a vehicle (V) comprising a heat engine (MT), first control means (MC1) capable of triggering a temporary stop of the engine (MT) when the vehicle (V) is traveling at a speed of speed below a threshold, an isothermal compartment (C1), and an air-conditioning system (IC) capable of conditioning the isothermal compartment (C1) when it is placed in an operating state and that the heat engine (MT) is in operation. This device (DC) comprises second control means (MC2) adapted to prohibit the first control means (MC1) to trigger the shutdown of the engine (MT) when the air conditioning system (IC) is placed in its state Operating.

Description

The invention relates to vehicles which comprise an isothermal compartment associated with an air conditioning installation.

Some vehicles, generally of automobile type, comprise at least one isothermal compartment associated with an air conditioning installation. This is for example the case of certain commercial vehicles or certain trucks. The invention relates more particularly to vehicles comprising a power train with a combustion engine and in which the air conditioning system can only operate if the engine is in operation. The air conditioning installation can be either powered by a vehicle power supply circuit or driven by a belt that is coupled to the engine of the vehicle.

When the vehicle comprises control means for triggering the temporary shutdown of its engine when it travels at a speed below a threshold (frequently called "stop and start" function), whenever the engine does heat subject to a temporary shutdown the air conditioning system no longer works and therefore no longer generates cold. For this to have no effect on the cold chain, it is necessary that the isothermal compartment is very well insulated thermally, which is (very) expensive, and / or that the air conditioning installation is arranged in such a way as to mitigate very quickly the increase in temperature during each restart, which is also (very) expensive.

In addition, each time the heat engine is restarted after a temporary shutdown, this can induce damage or even breakage of the compressor of the air conditioning system because it is engaged. The invention is therefore particularly intended to improve the situation.

It proposes for this purpose a control device for equipping a vehicle comprising a heat engine, first control means for triggering a temporary stop of the engine when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold, an isothermal compartment, and a clean air conditioning system to cool this insulated compartment when it is placed in an operating state and the heat engine is in operation.

This control device is characterized in that it comprises second control means adapted to prohibit the first control means to trigger the shutdown of the engine when the air conditioning system is placed in its operating state.

Thus, it is only when one wants the air-conditioning system to work that the temporary stopping of the engine is automatically prohibited, which makes it possible to automatically use the temporary engine stopping function. thermal when you do not want to operate the air conditioning system.

For example, the second control means may be able to detect the placement of the air conditioning installation in its operating state in the event of reception of an information signal having a first value and generated by control means of the control system. air conditioning system. In this case, the second control means may also be able to detect the placement of the air conditioning system in a stopped state in the event of reception of the information signal with a second value and generated by the control means, and to allow the first control means to trigger the shutdown of the engine in case of detection of this placement. The information signal may, for example, be of the analog type. The invention also proposes a computer adapted to equip a vehicle comprising a heat engine, first control means adapted to trigger a temporary stop of the engine when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold, an isothermal compartment, and a clean air conditioning system to cool this insulated compartment when it is placed in an operating state and the heat engine is in operation. This calculator is characterized by the fact that it comprises a control device of the type of that presented above. The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of automotive type, and comprising: a heat engine; first control means capable of triggering a temporary stop of this engine when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold; an isothermal compartment, - a clean air-conditioning installation to air-condition this isothermal compartment when it is placed in an operating state and the heat engine is in operation, and - a computer of the type of the one presented above or a control of the type of that presented above.

For example, the air conditioning system may comprise control means suitable for placing it in its operating state or in a state of rest and for generating an information signal having a first or a second value when it places it in the air conditioner. operating state or in the state of rest. In this case, the computer may be able to recover this information signal generated by the control means to provide it to its control device.

Also for example, the air conditioning system can be adapted to be driven by the engine. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawing, in which the single figure illustrates schematically and functionally, an example of a vehicle comprising an isothermal compartment associated with a air conditioning installation and a computer comprising an example of a control device according to the invention. The object of the invention is notably to propose a DC control device intended to equip a vehicle V comprising a thermal engine MT and an isothermal compartment C1 associated with an air-conditioning installation IC.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle is automotive type. This is for example a commercial vehicle adapted to the transport of goods or people to be air-conditioned. Thus, it may, for example, be a refrigerated vehicle or a taxi. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns indeed any type of vehicle comprising a heat engine and an isothermal compartment to be air-conditioned (at least when transporting goods or people). Thus, it also concerns trucks (possibly semi-trailer type) and buses, for example.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle V (here utility type) comprising a heat engine MT, an isothermal compartment C1, an air conditioning system IC, a DC control device according to the invention, and a first C1 calculator.

This first computer C1 comprises first control means MC1 arranged so as to trigger a temporary stop of the thermal engine MT when the vehicle V is traveling at a speed which is below a threshold. In other words the first control means MC1 implement a function of the type "stop and start" (or STT).

The first control means MC1 can be made in the form of software modules (or computer or "software"), or a combination of electronic circuits (or "hardware") and software modules.

It should be noted that the first computer C1 can be dedicated to the stop and start type function or can perform several functions including the stop and start type.

For example, the aforementioned speed threshold may be equal to 5 km / h. The air conditioning unit IC is arranged to cool (cool and / or heat) the insulated compartment C1 when it is placed in an operating state and the heat engine MT is in operation. For example, this air conditioning system IC may be driven by a belt which is coupled to the heat engine MT of the vehicle V. In an alternative embodiment, the air conditioning system could be powered by a power supply circuit of the vehicle V when the thermal engine MT of the latter (V) is in operation.

This air conditioning installation IC can be placed in at least one operating state, in which it provides an air conditioning of the insulated compartment Cl, and a shutdown state, in which it does not work. This placement in the operating state or in the off state is controlled by MCD control means which may be part of the air conditioning system IC and which are controlled by a user of the vehicle V.

For example, these MCD control means may comprise a controller that can be placed by the user in at least two states respectively corresponding to the operating state and shutdown state of the air conditioning installation IC, as required. It will be noted that in the example illustrated in the sole FIGURE, the control means MCD are entirely placed outside the passenger compartment H of the vehicle V. But they (MCD) could be at least partially implanted at the vehicle. interior of the passenger compartment H of the vehicle V (at least as regards the possible control device). As a variant, the control means MCD could be controlled by the user via a menu or submenu that can be displayed on a screen installed inside the passenger compartment H of the vehicle V and associated with a man / machine interface.

It should be noted that the air conditioning installation IC could also, but possibly, be arranged to ensure the air conditioning of the passenger compartment H of the vehicle V.

The control device DC, according to the invention, comprises second control means MC2 which are adapted to prohibit the first control means MC1 to trigger the shutdown of the thermal engine MT when the air conditioning installation IC is placed in its state Operating.

To do this, the DC control device is coupled at least to the first control means MC1, either directly or indirectly, in order to know if the STT type function has been activated or selected by the user. This coupling can be done wired (possibly via a possible communication network of the vehicle V) and / or by wave. The DC control device shall also be informed at least when the IC air conditioning system is placed in its operating state. Therefore, in the presence of MCD control means, the control device DC is also coupled thereto (MCD), either directly or indirectly. This second coupling can be done wired (possibly via a possible communication network of the vehicle V) and / or by wave.

Thanks to the invention, when the user wants the air conditioning installation IC to work, he controls the MCD control means so that they place it in its operating state. If the stop and start type function has been selected (and therefore the first control means MC1 are authorized to trigger the temporary shutdown of the thermal engine MT when the vehicle V is traveling at a speed below the threshold), the second means of MC2 control are immediately informed not only of this last authorization but also of the placement of the air conditioning system IC in its operating state. Consequently, the second control means MC2 prohibit the first control means MC1 from temporarily stopping the heat engine MT (which amounts to temporarily deactivating the STT type function), so that the air conditioning unit IC can operate from uninterrupted way. There is therefore no risk of damage or breakage of the compressor of the air conditioning system IC when it is engaged.

On the other hand, when the user does not want the air conditioning installation IC to work, he controls the MCD control means so that they place it in his stopped state. If the stop and start type function has been selected (and therefore the first control means MC1 are authorized to trigger the temporary shutdown of the thermal engine MT when the vehicle V is traveling at a speed below the threshold), the second means of MC2 control are immediately informed not only of this last authorization but also of the placement of the air conditioning system IC in its shutdown state. Therefore, the second control means MC2 allow the first control means MC1 to temporarily stop the thermal engine MT (which amounts to allow the activation of the STT type function). It is then possible to use the temporary shutdown function of the thermal engine MT since the air conditioning system IC is not in operation.

For example, the second control means MC2 can be arranged in such a way as to detect the placement of the air conditioning installation IC in its operating state in the event of reception of an information signal having a first value v1 and having been generated. by the MCD control means of the air-conditioning system IC.

In this case, the second control means MC2 can also be arranged to detect the placement of the air conditioning system IC in a stop state in the event of reception of the information signal with a second value v2 (different from v1) and generated by the MCD control means. The second control means MC2 are then arranged to allow the first control means MC1 to trigger the shutdown of the thermal engine MT in case of detection of this placement (and therefore of receipt of v2).

For example, the information signal may be of the analog type. In this case, the first v1 and second v2 values respectively correspond to two different values of a voltage or a current. But as a variant, the information signal could be of the digital type. In this case, the first v1 and second v2 values correspond to 0 and 1 respectively (or to 1 and 0).

Preferably, the control means MCD are arranged to automatically supply the information signal to the second control means MC2 without the latter (MC2) requiring it.

Note that in the example shown in non-limiting manner in the single figure the DC control device is part of a second computer C2. But this is not obligatory. This DC control device could indeed be an electronic equipment coupled to the first computer C1 and MCD control means, directly or indirectly. Therefore, the DC control device can be realized in the form of software modules (or computer or software), or a combination of electronic circuits (or hardware) and software modules.

For example, the second computer C2 may be what the person skilled in the art sometimes calls an "intelligent service enclosure" (or BSI), which is in particular responsible for controlling the vehicle equipment power supply relays V which are connected to a communication network of the latter (V), possibly of the multiplexed type.

Thanks to the invention, it is now possible to adapt one of the parts of a series vehicle (comprising an original STT type function) in an isothermal compartment associated with an air conditioning installation without risk that this adaptation induces in use a damage or a breakage of the latter.

Claims (9)

1. Control device (DC) for a vehicle (V) comprising a heat engine (MT), first control means (MC1) adapted to trigger a temporary stop of said heat engine (MT) when said vehicle (V) circulates at a speed below a threshold, an isothermal compartment (Cl), and an air-conditioning system (IC) capable of conditioning said isothermal compartment (Cl) when it is placed in an operating state and that said heat engine (MT) is in operation, characterized in that it comprises second control means (MC2) capable of preventing said first control means (MC1) from triggering the stopping of said heat engine (MT) when said air conditioning installation (IC) is placed in its operating state. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second control means (MC2) are adapted to detect the placement of said air conditioning system (IC) in its operating state when receiving an information signal. having a first value and generated by control means (MCD) of said air conditioning system (IC). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said second control means (MC2) are adapted to detect the placement of said air conditioning system (IC) in a shutdown state upon receipt of said information signal with a second value and generated by said control means (MCD), and to allow said first control means (MC1) to trigger the shutdown of said heat engine (MT) in case of detection of this placement. 4. Device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said information signal is of analog type. 5. Calculator (C2) adapted to equip a vehicle (V) comprising a heat engine (MT), first control means (MC1) adapted to trigger a temporary stop of said engine (MT) when said vehicle (V) circulates at a speed below a threshold, an isothermal compartment (Cl), and an air-conditioning system (IC) capable of conditioning said isothermal compartment (Cl) when it is placed in an operating state and that said heat engine (MT) is in operation, characterized in that it comprises a control device (DC) according to one of the preceding claims. 6. Vehicle (V) comprising a heat engine (MT), first control means (MC1) capable of triggering a temporary stop of said heat engine (MT) when said vehicle (V) is traveling at a speed below a threshold, a an insulated compartment (Cl), and an air conditioning system (IC) capable of conditioning said insulated compartment (Cl) when it is placed in an operating state and said heat engine (MT) is in operation, characterized in that it further comprises a calculator (C2) according to claim 5. 7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said air conditioning system (IC) comprises control means (MCD) adapted to place it in its operating state or in a state of rest and to generate an information signal having a first or second value when they place it in said operating state or in said idle state, and in that said computer (C2) is adapted to recover said information signal generated by said control means (MCD) to provide it to said control device (DC). 8. Vehicle according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said air conditioning system (IC) is adapted to be driven by said engine (MT). 9. Vehicle according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is automotive type.