JP2000213441A - Protective device for stater cable and starter device with protective device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cut off energization in the short circuit of a cable for preventing the fusion and the like of the cable by closing a switching means mounted between an on-vehicle battery and the cable in the operation of a starter only when the short-circuit of the starter cable is not detected. SOLUTION: When an IG switch 8 is not located on a stator position (a), a starter relay 5 and a starter switch 4 are opened. When the IG switch 8 is moved to the starter position (a) in this state, a microcomputer 16d judges the short-circuit of the cable 2 under a condition that a potential of the starter cable 2 is below a predetermined value, and operates an alarm buzzer 16e. On this occasion, the relay 16a is kept opened, so that the current does not flow even when the cable 2 is short-circuited, and the fusion of the cable can be prevented. On the other hand, when the potential of the cable is above the predetermined value, an ON control signal is output to a transistor 16b, and the relay 16a is energized to drive the starter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a starter cable protection device and a starter device with a protection device, and more particularly to a starter cable protection device and a starter cable protection device for protecting a starter cable of a vehicle from problems such as cable fusing due to short-circuit. The present invention relates to a starter device with a protection device to which a protection device is attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a starter device as shown in FIG. 4 is used in a vehicle. In the figure, a power supply from a vehicle-mounted battery 1 is connected to a starter cable 2.
To the starter motor 3 having the field coil 3a and the armature 3b. On the starter cable 2, a starter motor switch 4 for turning on and off the power supplied to the starter motor 3 is provided. Also, the power from the vehicle-mounted battery 1 is supplied to the coils 6a and 6b of the solenoid actuator 6 which is branched after passing through the starter relay 5 and is provided integrally with the contact of the starter motor switch 4, and the coil 6b Is further supplied to the starter motor 3. This solenoid actuator 6 has a spring 7
Is wound, and the contact of the starter motor switch 4 is kept normally open.

The starter relay 5 has a relay coil and a relay contact which closes when a current flows through the normally open relay coil. The relay coil is connected to a vehicle battery via a starter position a of an ignition switch 8. When the ignition switch 8 connected to the switch 1 is set to the starter position a, power flows from the vehicle-mounted battery 1 to the relay coil, the relay contact closes, and current flows to the coils 6a and 6b through the closed relay contact.

The solenoid actuator 6 includes:
A movable iron core 10 having one end provided integrally with the starter motor 3 is mounted via a shift lever 9 rotatable about a point O. At the other end of the movable iron core 10,
There is provided a connection portion 11 including a gear 11a that rotates in accordance with the rotation of the armature 3b and a gear 11b connected to a crankshaft (not shown), and two gears 11a and 11b.
The torque generated by the starter motor 3 is transmitted to a crankshaft (not shown).

The operation of the starter circuit having the above configuration will be described below. When the ignition switch 8 is set to the starter position a, a current flows through the relay coil of the starter relay 5, the relay contact is closed, and a current flows through the coils 6a and 6b through the closed relay contact. When a current flows in the direction of arrow 12, the solenoid actuator 6 acts as a magnet having an N pole on the contact side and an S pole on the side opposite to the contact. Thus, the solenoid actuator 6 moves in the direction of the arrow 12 due to the force of the spring 7, and the contact of the starter motor switch 4 is closed. At the same time as the contact of the starter motor switch 4 is closed, the coil 6a is short-circuited, the current flowing through the coil 6a stops, and the solenoid actuator 6 consisting of only the coil 6b is turned off.
, The contact of the starter motor switch 4 is kept closed. A current from the starter cable 2 flows through the closed starter motor switch 4 to the field coil 3a and the armature 3b, and the armature 3b rotates.

Further, in conjunction with the movement of the solenoid actuator 6 in the direction of arrow 13, the shift lever 9 rotates in the direction of arrow 14, and the movable iron core 10 connected to the shift lever 9 moves in the direction of arrow 15. Move in the direction
The gear 11a meshes with the gear 11b, and the rotation of the armature 3b is transmitted to the crankshaft.

When the ignition switch 8 is set to a position other than the starter position a, the starter relay 5
The current flowing through the relay coil stops, and the relay contact opens. As a result, the current flowing through the coil 6b stops, and accordingly, the attraction force between the solenoid actuator 6 and the magnet 4a disappears, and the force of the spring 7 again moves the solenoid actuator 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow 12; The contact of the starter motor switch 4 opens. In conjunction with the movement of the solenoid actuator 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow 12, the shift lever 9 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow 13, and the movable iron core 10 connected to the shift lever 9 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow 15. Gear 11a
And the gear 11b.

[0008]

Generally, an electric wire such as the starter cable 2 is formed by coating a core with an insulating coating such as polyvinyl chloride. These wires are provided with protective members such as protective fuses.Before malfunctions such as cable fusing occur due to the heat generated when the wires are short-circuited and an overcurrent flows, the protective fuses blow and stop power supply. , To protect the wires.

However, in the starter cable 2, a large current must flow through the field coil 3a through the starter cable 2 while the ignition switch 8 is at the starter position a in order to increase the rotational force of the armature 3b. Therefore, a protection fuse, which is a protection member for the starter cable 2, cannot be provided. For this reason, when a short circuit occurs, an overcurrent continues to flow through the starter cable 2, and the starter cable 2 generates heat and heats the insulating coating.

Accordingly, the present invention focuses on the above-mentioned problems, and protects a starter cable protection device and a starter with a protection device to which the starter protection device is attached to prevent a problem such as a cable fusing due to a short-circuit of a starter cable. It is an object to provide a device.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above problems is provided when the ignition switch 8 is at a starter position a as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. One end is connected to a normally open starter motor switch 4 to be closed, and a starter cable protection device for protecting a starter cable 2 that supplies power from the vehicle-mounted battery 1 to the starter motor 3 through the closed starter motor switch 4. When the normally open first switch means 16a-21 provided between the vehicle-mounted battery 1 and the other end of the starter cable 2 and the first switch means 16a-21 are open ,
Short-circuit detection means 16d-11 for detecting the presence or absence of a short-circuit in the starter cable 2, and only when the short-circuit detection means 16d-11 does not detect a short-circuit in the starter cable 2, while the ignition switch 8 is in the starter position a, First switch means 16a-
And a switch control means 16d-12 for controlling the closing of the starter cable 21.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the normally open first switch means 16a-21 is provided between the vehicle-mounted battery 1 and the other end of the starter cable 2. No power is supplied. Moreover, when the normally open first switch means 16a-21 is open and the short-circuit detection means 16d-11 does not detect a short-circuit, the ignition switch 8 is switched to the switch control means 16d-12 during the starter position a.
Controls the closing of the first switch means 16a-21 provided between the vehicle-mounted battery 1 and the other end of the starter cable 2, so that when the starter cable 2 is short-circuited, the ignition switch 8 is switched to the starter position. Even in the case of "a", the normally open first switch means 16a-21 is not closed, and power is not supplied to the starter cable having a short circuit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the ignition switch 8 is set to a starter position a, the switch control means 16d-12 switches the first switch means 16d before the starter motor switch 4 is closed.
a-21 is controlled to be closed, and when the ignition switch 8 is set to a position other than the starter position a,
The starter cable protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first switch means (16a-21) is controlled to open after the starter motor switch (4) is opened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the switch control means 16d-12 switches the first switch means 16a-21 before the starter motor switch 4 is closed when the ignition switch 8 is at the starter position a. When the ignition switch 8 is set to a position other than the starter position a when the ignition switch 8 is closed, the first switch means 16a-21 after the starter motor switch 4 is opened.
, The current flowing through the starter cable 2 is not stopped by opening and closing the first switch means 16a-21, and the current does not start flowing through the starter cable 2, so that the first switch means 16a-21 Means that the current flowing through the starter cable 2 is stopped by opening and closing,
There is no need to make the starter motor switch 4 as rugged as the existing rugged starter motor switch 4 in order to prevent deterioration due to sparks generated when current starts to flow through the starter cable 2.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the ignition switch 8 is set to a starter position a, the short-circuit detecting means 16d-11 switches between the first switch means 16a-21 and the starter motor switch 4. 3. The protection for a starter cable according to claim 1, wherein before closing, the short circuit is detected by detecting that the potential of the starter cable 2 to which a voltage is applied has dropped below a predetermined value. Exists in the device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the ignition switch 8 is set to the starter position a,
The short detection means 16d-11 is the first switch means 1
Before closing the starter motor switch 6a-21 and 6a-21, the short circuit is detected by detecting that the potential of the starter cable 2 to which the voltage is applied has dropped below a predetermined value. By detecting a short circuit before the means 16a-21 and the starter motor switch 4 are closed, the supply of power to the starter cable 2 can be cut off before an overcurrent due to the short circuit flows through the starter cable 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the switch control means 16d-12 is connected to the other end of the starter cable 2.
The first switch means 16a-21 is controlled to open while the first switch means 16a-21 is closed.
Switch means 16a that is controlled to be closed while the switch is open
4. The starter cable protection device according to claim 3, further comprising a first switch, wherein a voltage is applied to the starter cable through the closed second switch means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the switch control means 16d provided at the other end of the starter cable 2 is provided.
12, the second switch means 16a-1 is controlled to be open while the first switch means 16a-21 is closed, and is controlled to be closed while the first switch means 16a-21 is open.
Is applied to the starter cable, the first switch means 16a-21 is opened, and while the power is supplied from the vehicle battery 1 to the starter motor 3 via the starter cable 2, the second switch means 16a-21 is opened. Switch means 16a
-1 is open, and no voltage is applied to the starter cable 2.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1B, a starter motor 3 that generates rotational force by a power supply supplied from a vehicle-mounted battery 1 and an ignition switch 8 are connected to a starter position a. In this case, the connecting means 11 for connecting the starter motor 3 and the crankshaft, which are connected to each other to transmit the rotational force of the starter motor 3 to the crankshaft, and the power supply from the on-board battery 1 And a starter motor switch 4 provided between one end of the starter cable 2 and the starter motor 3 and closed when the connecting means 11 is connected. A starter cable protection device 16 for protecting the starter cable protection device 1 It includes a normally open switch means 16a-22 which is provided between the other end of the vehicle battery 1 and the starter cable 2, the switch means 16a-22
When the starter cable 2 is open, the short-circuit detecting means 16d-11 for detecting the presence or absence of a short-circuit in the starter cable 2 and the short-circuit detecting means 16d-11
Switch control means 16d- for controlling to close the switch means 16a-22 while the ignition switch 8 is in the starter position a only when the short circuit is not detected.
And a starter device with a protection device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the switch control means 16d-12 while the ignition switch 8 is in the starter position a only when the short-circuit detection means 16d-11 does not detect a short-circuit in the starter cable 2.
The switch means 16a-22 of the starter cable protection device 16 for controlling the normally open switch means 16a-22 provided between the vehicle battery 1 and the other end of the starter cable 2 is connected to the starter motor 3 by the vehicle battery. 1 is provided between the starter cable 2 for supplying power from the power supply 1 and the vehicle-mounted battery 1, so that when the starter cable 2 is short-circuited, the ignition switch 8 is switched to the starter position a. The means 16a-22 is not closed, and power is not supplied to the starter cable 2 in which a short circuit has occurred.

[0021]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a starter cable protection device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a starter device incorporating the starter cable protection device according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those described above with reference to FIG. Is omitted.

In the figure, a starter cable protection device 16 is shown.
Is for preventing problems such as cable fusing due to short-circuit of the starter cable 2. The starter cable protection device 16 includes a relay 16a, transistors 16b and 16c, and a microcomputer 16d.
(Hereinafter, microcomputer 16d), a warning buzzer 16e, a protection resistor R1 and a resistor R2.

The relay 16a provided between the starter cable 2 and the vehicle battery 1 is always on the contact 16a-1 side with the relay coil, and switches to the contact 16a-2 side when a current flows through the relay coil. A transistor 16b that is turned on and off by the microcomputer 16d is connected to the relay coil. When the relay contact is on the side of the contact 16a-2, the starter cable 2 is connected to the stabilized power supply E via the protection resistor R1, and when a voltage is applied, the potential of the starter cable 2 to which the voltage is applied is reduced. CPU 16d-1 serving as short detection means for detecting short by monitoring
Is connected via a resistor R2 to a microcomputer 16d having By switching the relay contact to the contact 16a-2 or 16a-2 as described above, the relay contact functions as a first switch and a second switch. The microcomputer 16
When d outputs the ON control signal of the H level, the transistor 16b is turned on and a current flows through the relay coil, and the relay contact is switched to the contact 16a-2, and this contact 16a-
Power from the vehicle-mounted battery 1 is supplied to the starter cable 2 through the power supply 2.

The microcomputer 16d includes a CPU 16d-1 operating according to a predetermined control program, a ROM 16d-2 storing a control program, and a RAM 16d-3 storing various data. A starter position a of the ignition switch 8 is connected to the microcomputer 16d. When the ignition switch 8 is at the starter position a, the starter position a outputs an H level starter signal S1.
Further, the relay coil of the starter relay 5 is the microcomputer 1
CPU 16d as switch control means of 6d-
1 is connected to a transistor 16c that is controlled to be on and off. When the microcomputer 16d outputs the ON control signal of the H level, the transistor 16c is turned on, the current flows through the relay coil, the relay contact is closed, and the current flows through the coils 6a, 6b through the closed relay contact. The warning buzzer 16e is for notifying that a short circuit has occurred in the starter cable 2, and is connected to the microcomputer 16d.

The operation of the starter device incorporating the starter cable protection device having the above-described configuration will be described below. When the ignition switch 8 is not in the starter position a, the starter relay 5 and the starter motor switch 4
Is open, and the starter cable 2 is open. The contact 16 of the relay 16a is connected to the opened starter cable 2.
By applying a voltage through a-1, the starter cable 2 shows a potential equal to or higher than a predetermined value if a short circuit does not occur, and the potential decreases if a short circuit occurs, and shows a potential equal to or lower than the predetermined value. . In this state, when the ignition switch 8 is set to the starter position and an H-level starter signal S1 is output from the starter terminal a, the microcomputer 16d takes in the potential of the starter cable 2.

As a result of taking in the potential of the starter cable 2, if the potential of the starter cable 2 is lower than a predetermined value,
When it is determined that a short circuit has occurred in the starter cable 2, the warning buzzer 16e is sounded. At this time, the relay 16a is kept open, and even if a short circuit occurs in the starter cable 2, no current flows, so that an overcurrent flows through the starter cable 2 and the cable is not melted.

As a result, if the potential of the starter cable 2 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the microcomputer 16d determines that a short circuit has not occurred in the starter cable 2 and outputs an ON control signal to the transistor 16b. I do. At this time, the transistor 16b is turned on, a current flows through the relay coil, and the relay contact of the relay 16a is closed. Next, the microcomputer 16d outputs an ON control signal to the transistor 16c. At this time, the transistor 16c
Turns on, current flows through the relay coil, and the starter relay 5
Relay contacts close. Hereinafter, until the ignition switch 8 is set to a position other than the starter position, the same operation as in the related art described above is performed. Next, when the ignition switch 8 is operated to switch from the starter position to another position, the microcomputer 16d first stops the ON control signal to the transistor 16c, opens the relay contact of the starter relay 5, and then turns ON the transistor 16b. Output control signal and relay 1
Open the relay contact 6a.

As described above, since the relay 16a is closed before the starter motor switch 4 is closed, the current does not flow at the moment when the relay 16a is closed, and the current flows at the moment when the relay 16a is closed. There is no deterioration of the relay 16a due to the generated spark, and the relay 16a is opened after the starter motor switch 4 is opened. The relay 16a does not deteriorate due to sparks generated at the moment when the relay 16a is opened when the air flows. For this reason,
There is no need to make a current flow at the moment of closing, or to make the starter motor switch 4 which is closed when the current is flowing, more robust than the existing starter motor switch 4, and the relay 16a to be mounted later can be made smaller.

The details of the operation outlined above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 showing the processing procedure of the microcomputer 16d. That is, the microcomputer 16d sets the ignition switch 8 to the starter position a,
When the starter signal S1 output from the starter terminal is input (Y in step SP1), the potential value of the starter cable 2 to which the voltage is applied via the protection resistor R1 is taken in, and the potential value is A / D converted. Digital signal D
1 (step SP2). If the converted digital signal is equal to or less than the predetermined value (N in step SP3), it is determined that a short circuit has occurred in the starter cable 2 and the buzzer 16e is sounded to notify the effect (step SP4), and then the process proceeds to step SP1. Return.

If the converted digital value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (Y in step SP3), it is determined that no short circuit has occurred in the starter cable 2, and the transistor 16b
Output an on-control signal to the controller. As a result, the transistor 16b is turned on, a current flows through the relay coil of the relay 16a, and the relay 16a is closed (step SP5).
Next, after waiting for a time t1 at which the relay 16a is securely closed (step SP6), an ON control signal is output to the transistor 16c. As a result, the transistor 16c
Turns on and the starter relay 5 closes (step SP
7).

Next, wait until the ignition switch 8 is set to a position other than the starter position and the starter signal S1 from the starter terminal stops (step S5).
P8) When the starter signal S1 stops (step SP)
8), the output of the ON control signal to the transistor 16c is stopped, the starter relay 5 is opened, the current flowing through the coil 6a is stopped, and the starter motor switch 4 is opened (step SP9). Next, after waiting for a time t2 when the starter relay 5 and the starter motor switch 4 are opened (step SP10), the ON control signal to the transistor 16b is stopped and the relay 16a is opened (step SP11).

In the above-described embodiment, the short circuit is detected without causing an overcurrent by referring to the potential of the starter cable 2 to which the potential is applied. For example, the starter cable 2 is connected to the starter cable 2 via a protective resistor. A short circuit may be detected when a current flows through the starter cable 2 by a current sensor provided on the starter cable 2.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, power is not always supplied to the starter cable. Further, when a short circuit occurs in the starter cable, even if the ignition switch is set to the starter position, the normally open first switch means is not closed, and power may be supplied to the starter cable having the short circuit. Since there is no starter cable, an overcurrent due to a short circuit does not flow through the starter cable, and a starter cable protection device that can protect the starter cable from problems such as cable fusing can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the current flowing through the starter cable does not stop by opening and closing the first switch means, and the current does not start flowing through the starter cable. Since the switch does not need to be made as rugged as existing rugged starter motor switches to prevent the current flowing through the starter cable from stopping or the deterioration caused by sparks when current starts to flow through the starter cable, Thus, it is possible to obtain a starter motor protection device that can reduce the size of the first switch means to be mounted.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the short circuit is detected before the first switch means and the starter motor switch are closed, so that an overcurrent due to the short circuit is applied to the starter cable before the starter cable is closed. Since the supply of power can be cut off, it is possible to obtain a starter cable protection device capable of preventing deterioration of the starter cable due to an overcurrent flowing when a short circuit occurs.

According to the present invention, while the first switch means is opened and power is supplied to the starter motor from the vehicle-mounted battery via the starter cable,
Since the second switch means is opened and no voltage is applied to the starter cable, while the power is supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery to the starter motor via the starter cable, the starter cable is used to detect a short circuit. Can be obtained without being affected by the voltage applied to the starter cable.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the ignition switch is set to the starter position, the switch means is not closed, and power is not supplied to the starter cable having a short circuit. It is possible to obtain a starter device with a protection device that can protect the starter cable from troubles such as cable fusing due to a short circuit and transmit the torque of the starter motor to the crankshaft.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration diagram of a starter cable protection device and a starter device with a protection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a starter device incorporating a starter cable protection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by a microcomputer constituting a starter device incorporating the starter cable protection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a starter device in a general vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 On-board battery 2 Starter cable 3 Starter motor 4 Starter motor switch 8 Ignition switch a Starter position 16a-21 First switch 16a-1 Second switch 16a-22 Switch 16d-11 Short detector 16d-12 Switch Control means

Claims (5)

[Claims] An end is connected to a normally open starter motor switch that closes when an ignition switch is in a starter position, and protects a starter cable that supplies power from a vehicle-mounted battery to the starter motor through the closed starter motor switch. And a normally open first switch means provided between the vehicle-mounted battery and the other end of the starter cable, when the first switch means is open. Short-circuit detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a short-circuit in the starter cable; and closing control of the first switch means while the ignition switch is in the starter position only when the short-circuit detecting means does not detect a short circuit in the starter cable. Switch control means. Starter cable protection device. 2. The switch control means, when the ignition switch is in a starter position, controls the first switch means to close before the starter motor switch is closed, so that the ignition switch is in a position other than the starter position. 2. The protection device for a starter cable according to claim 1, wherein the first switch means is controlled to open after the starter motor switch is opened when the switch is set to the position. 3. The starter cable to which a voltage is applied when the ignition switch is in a starter position and before the first switch means and the starter motor switch are closed. 3. The protection device for a starter cable according to claim 1, wherein a short circuit is detected by detecting that a potential of the starter cable has dropped below a predetermined value. 4. The other end of the starter cable is controlled by the switch control means to be open while the first switch means is closed, and to be closed while the first switch means is open. 4. The protection device for a starter cable according to claim 3, further comprising a second switch means, wherein a voltage is applied to the starter cable through the closed second switch means. 5. A starter motor for generating a rotational force by a power supply supplied from a vehicle-mounted battery, and when an ignition switch is in a starter position,
Connecting means for connecting the starter motor and the crankshaft which can be separated and connected to transmit the rotational force of the starter motor to a crankshaft; and a starter cable for supplying power from a vehicle-mounted battery to the starter motor. A starter motor switch provided between one end of the starter cable and the starter motor and closed when the connection unit is connected; and a starter cable protection device for protecting the starter cable. The starter cable protection device includes a normally open switch provided between the vehicle-mounted battery and the other end of the starter cable, and detects whether the starter cable is short-circuited when the switch is open. Short detection means, and the short detection means is a starter cable. And a switch control means for controlling to close the switch means while the ignition switch is in the starter position only when the short circuit is not detected.