JP2005287149A - Temperature regulator and temperature regulating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a power consumption while suppressing the excessive temperature rise of a motor or an inverter. <P>SOLUTION: When a running route is set by a navigation device 50, the prediction temperature of cooling water in a circulation pipeline 22 is presumed based on the road gradient of the running route. Then, a switching threshold for switching an Hi drive and a Lo drive of a motor-operated water ump 24 is set based on the presumed predicted temperature. And, when the temperature of the cooling water from the temperature sensor 29 exceeds the switching threshold value, the motor-driven water pump 24 is switched from the Lo drive to the Hi drive. When an ascent gradient is large and loads of motors MG1, MG2 and inverters 15, 16 are large, a small value is set to the switching threshold value. Thus, the motor-driven water pump 24 is set to be easily Hi driven, and the excessive temperature rise can be suppressed. When the ascent gradient is small and the loads are small, a large value is set to the switching threshold value so that the Lo drive is easily maintained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature control device and a temperature control method, and more particularly, a navigation device that performs route guidance by setting a travel route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination designated by an operator using map information about a road. The present invention relates to a temperature adjusting device and a temperature adjusting method for adjusting the temperature of an electric drive system including an electric motor for traveling in an electric vehicle.

Conventionally, as this type of temperature control device, a device that manages cooling of a fuel cell that supplies power to a motor for traveling based on map information from a navigation device has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this device, the travel load is calculated based on the road gradient on the travel route to the destination, and the predicted temperature of the coolant circulating through the fuel cell is calculated from the calorific value of the fuel cell corresponding to the calculated travel load. When the calculated predicted temperature of the cooling water exceeds the allowable upper limit temperature, the electric water pump that circulates the cooling water by lowering the cooling water temperature target value or the electric fan that blows air to the radiator that cools the cooling water is controlled. Thus, it is said that the cooling water can be sufficiently cooled prior to high-load operation of the fuel cell, and an excessive temperature rise of the fuel cell can be suppressed.
JP 2002-343396 A

  Although the above-described temperature control device is described as suppressing an excessive temperature increase of the fuel cell, there is no specific description regarding suppressing a temperature increase of an electric drive system such as a motor or an inverter. In recent years, further energy saving of vehicles has been demanded, and it is desirable to manage the temperature of the electric drive system in consideration of such energy efficiency.

  An object of the temperature adjusting device and the temperature adjusting method of the present invention is to suppress power consumption required for cooling while suppressing an excessive temperature rise of an electric drive system such as an electric motor using a navigation device.

  The temperature control apparatus and temperature control method of the present invention employ the following means in order to achieve the above-described object.

The temperature control device of the present invention comprises:
Temperature of an electric drive system including an electric motor for traveling in an electric vehicle having a navigation device for setting a traveling route from the current position of the vehicle to a destination designated by an operator using map information about the road A temperature control device for adjusting
Cooling means capable of cooling the electric drive system with switchable cooling capacity;
A switching threshold setting means for setting a switching threshold for switching between high and low or on / off of the cooling capacity based on load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system in the map information;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the electric drive system;
And a control means for controlling the cooling means so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature of the electric drive system with the set switching threshold value.

  In the temperature control device of the present invention, the cooling capacity of the cooling means capable of cooling the electric drive system is turned on or off based on the load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system among the map information related to the road of the navigation device. A switching threshold for switching is set, the temperature of the electric drive system is detected, and the cooling means is controlled so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature of the electric drive system with the set switching threshold. Therefore, since the switching threshold is set according to the load relation information of the electric drive system in the map information of the navigation device, it is possible to suppress power consumption necessary for cooling while suppressing an excessive temperature rise of the electric drive system. It becomes possible. Here, the “electric drive system” includes, in addition to the electric motor for traveling, components constituting the electric motor, control means for driving and controlling these components, and a part thereof.

  In such a temperature control device of the present invention, it is assumed that the switching threshold value setting means controls the cooling means under a predetermined condition based on the load relation information while the vehicle has traveled the set travel route. In this case, the temperature of the electric drive system may be estimated, and the switching threshold may be set based on the estimated temperature of the electric drive system. In the temperature control apparatus of the present invention of this aspect, the switching threshold setting means sets a first value as the switching threshold when the estimated temperature of the electric drive system exceeds a predetermined temperature, and the estimated electric drive system When the temperature does not exceed the predetermined temperature, a second value larger than the first value may be set as the switching threshold.

  Alternatively, in the temperature control apparatus of the present invention, the switching threshold value setting means may be configured such that the load of the electric drive system corresponding to the load relation information until the vehicle travels a predetermined distance from the current position exceeds a predetermined load. The value is set as the switching threshold, and when the load of the electric drive system does not exceed the predetermined load, a fourth value larger than the third value is set as the switching threshold. You can also.

  Moreover, the temperature control apparatus of this invention WHEREIN: The said load relation information can also be information containing a road gradient.

  Furthermore, in the temperature control apparatus of the present invention, the control means may be means for controlling the cooling means so that the cooling capacity is switched with hysteresis with respect to the detected temperature of the electric drive system. . In this way, frequent switching of the cooling capacity can be suppressed.

  In the temperature control apparatus of the present invention, the cooling means cools the cooling medium by heat exchange between a circulation path connected to the electric drive system, an electric pump that circulates the cooling medium in the circulation path, and air. A heat exchanger and an electric fan for sending air to the heat exchanger, and the temperature detection means is means for detecting the temperature of the cooling medium as the temperature of the electric drive system, and the control The means may be means for controlling the electric pump and / or the electric fan.

The temperature control method of the present invention includes:
An electric motor for traveling with a switchable cooling capacity in an electric vehicle having a navigation device for setting a traveling route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination designated by an operator using map information relating to a road A temperature control method used in a temperature control device having a cooling means for cooling an electric drive system including:
(A) setting a switching threshold for switching between high and low or on / off of the cooling capacity based on load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system in the map information;
(B) detecting the temperature of the electric drive system;
(C) The gist is to control the cooling means so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature with the set switching threshold.

  According to the temperature control method of the present invention, the cooling capability of the cooling means capable of cooling the electric drive system based on the load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system among the map information related to the road of the navigation device is adjusted. A switching threshold for switching off is set, the temperature of the electric drive system is detected, and the cooling means is controlled so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature of the electric drive system with the set switching threshold. Therefore, since the switching threshold is set according to the load relation information of the electric drive system in the map information of the navigation device, it is possible to suppress power consumption necessary for cooling while suppressing an excessive temperature rise of the electric drive system. It becomes possible.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an electric vehicle 10 including a temperature control device 20 as an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the electric vehicle 10 will be briefly described first, and then the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment will be described. As illustrated, the electric vehicle 10 includes an engine 12, a planetary gear mechanism 14 having a carrier connected to the crankshaft 13 of the engine 12, a motor MG1 capable of generating electricity connected to a sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism 14, and a planetary gear. The motor MG2 connected to the ring gear of the gear mechanism 14 and connected to the drive shaft 18, the battery 17 for exchanging electric power with the motors MG1 and MG2 via the inverters 15 and 16, the entire vehicle and the first implementation. The hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit 40 that also functions as a part of the temperature control device 20 of the example, and a navigation device 50. Drive wheels 19a and 19b are connected to the drive shaft 18 via a differential gear. Therefore, the power output to the drive shaft 18 is finally output to the drive wheels 19a and 19b.

  The motors MG1 and MG2 are configured as, for example, a synchronous generator motor that functions as a motor and also as a generator, and is accompanied by input / output of power from the battery 17 by switching of switching elements included in the inverters 15 and 16. To rotate.

  The navigation device 50 includes a receiving antenna 52 that receives data such as information related to the current position of the vehicle from the GPS, a touch panel display 54 that can input various instructions by the operator, and a map recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD 56. Based on this map information, the travel route from the current position received by the receiving antenna 52 to the destination designated by the operator via the touch panel display 54 is set based on this map information, and displayed on the display 54. And a DVD device 58. Here, the map information recorded on the DVD 56 includes data such as predetermined distances for each travel section, road gradient, identification information indicating whether the road is a general road or a highway. The navigation device 50 is communicably connected to the electronic control unit 40 and can exchange various data with the electronic control unit 40.

  As shown in the figure, the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment includes a cooling medium (cooling water) flow path (not shown) for cooling the motor and inverter formed in the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16. And a circulation line 22 that forms a circulation path, an electric water pump 24 that circulates the cooling water in the circulation line 22, a radiator 26 that cools the cooling water by outside air, and an electric fan 28 attached to the radiator 26, A motor / inverter cooling system comprising a temperature sensor 29 mounted on the circulation line 22 and a cooling medium (cooling water) passage (not shown) for cooling the engine formed in the engine 12 circulates. A circulation line 32 that forms a path and a circulation pipe that is mechanically driven by the rotational force of the crankshaft 13 connected to the crankshaft 13 of the engine 22 An engine cooling system comprising a mechanical water pump 34 that circulates the cooling water to 32, a radiator 36 that cools the cooling water by outside air, and an electric fan 38 attached to the radiator 36, and an electronic device that controls these systems. And a control unit 40.

  In the embodiment, the electric water pump 24 is controlled by the electronic control unit 40 so that the number of rotations can be switched between two stages of Hi driving and Lo driving, and the electric fans 28 and 38 are also electronic. Under the control of the control unit 40, the number of rotations can be switched between two stages of Hi driving and Lo driving.

  The electronic control unit 40 is configured as a microprocessor centered on the CPU 42, and includes a ROM 44 that stores a processing program, a RAM 46 that temporarily stores data, and an input / output port (not shown), in addition to the CPU 42. The electronic control unit 40 includes a signal relating to the operating state of the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2 for controlling the driving of the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2, and cooling water for cooling the motor and inverter detected by the temperature sensor 29. The temperature (cooling water temperature) Tw and the like are input via the input port. Further, the electronic control unit 40 controls the engine 22, the control signals of the switching elements of the inverters 15 and 16 for controlling the motors MG 1 and MG 2, and the drive for driving the electric water pump 24. Signals, drive signals for driving the electric fans 28 and 38, and the like are output via the output port.

  Next, the operation of the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a temperature adjustment processing routine executed by the electronic control unit 40 of the temperature adjustment device 20 of the first embodiment. This routine is repeatedly executed every predetermined time (for example, every 20 msec).

  When the temperature adjustment processing routine is executed, the CPU 42 of the electronic control unit 40 first inputs data such as the cooling water temperature Tw from the temperature sensor 29, the current drive state of the electric water pump 24, and the switching threshold Tref (step). S100), the input cooling water temperature Tw is compared with the switching threshold Tref (step S110). Here, for example, if the current drive state sets a flag corresponding to the state after the switching every time the electronic control unit 40 switches the drive state of the electric water pump 24, the value of this flag is set as follows. It can be input by reading.

  When it is determined that the cooling water temperature Tw is larger than the switching threshold Tref, the current driving state of the electric water pump 24 is checked (step S120). When the current driving state is in the Lo driving state, the Lo driving state is Control is made to switch to the Hi drive state (step S130), this routine is terminated, and when the current drive state of the electric water pump 24 is in the Hi drive state, control is performed so that the Hi drive state is maintained as it is. To end this routine.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or lower than the switching threshold Tref, the cooling water temperature Tw is further compared with a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value H from the switching threshold Tref (= Tref−H) (step S140). If it is determined that the cooling water temperature Tw is equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value H from the switching threshold Tref, the current driving state of the electric water pump 24 is checked (step S150), and the current driving state is in the Hi driving state. If it is determined, control is performed to switch from the Hi drive state to the Lo drive state (step S160), and this routine is terminated. When it is determined in step S140 that the coolant temperature Tw is greater than the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value H from the switching threshold Tref, or in step S150, it is determined that the current drive state is in the Lo drive state, the current drive state is Control is performed so as to be maintained as it is, and this routine is terminated. Thus, when the cooling water temperature Tw becomes larger than the switching threshold value Tref, the electric water pump 24 is switched from the Lo driving state to the Hi driving state, and the cooling water temperature Tw is a value obtained by subtracting the predetermined value H from the switching threshold value Tref. When the following occurs, the electric water pump 24 is switched from the Hi drive state to the Lo drive state. That is, since the driving state of the electric water pump 24 is switched with a hysteresis with respect to the increase / decrease of the cooling water temperature Tw, it is possible to prevent the driving state of the electric water pump 24 from being frequently switched.

  As described above, the switching threshold Tref is used to switch the electric water pump 24 from the Hi driving state to the Lo driving state or from the Lo driving state to the Hi driving state according to the cooling water temperature Tw. The value is set by a switching threshold value setting routine illustrated in FIG. Hereinafter, the switching threshold value setting process routine of FIG. 3 will be described. This routine is executed when a travel route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is set by the navigation device 50 by an operation of the operator or when the set travel route is changed.

  When the switching threshold setting processing routine is executed, the CPU 42 of the electronic control unit 40 inputs the road gradient θ of the next traveling section in the traveling route in order from the current position of the vehicle to the destination by communication from the navigation device 50. When it is assumed that the electric water pump 24 is driven by the temperature adjustment processing routine of FIG. 2 (normal driving) using the switching threshold value Tref of the normal value Tmiddle based on the input road gradient θ (step S200), the motor MG1. , MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 are set with the rising temperature ΔTm of the cooling water due to the load acting on the inverters 15 and 16 (step S210), and the integrated rising temperature ΔTm is integrated to calculate the temperature integrated value Tm (step S220). The electric water pump 24 is maintained in the Lo drive state based on the input road gradient θ. Is set (step S230), and the set rising temperature ΔTl is integrated, while setting the rising temperature ΔTl of the cooling water due to the load acting on the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15, 16 Then, the temperature integrated value Tl is calculated (step S240). In this embodiment, the rising temperatures ΔTm and ΔTl are obtained by experimentally obtaining the relationship between the road gradient θ and the rising temperatures ΔTm and ΔTl in advance and storing them in the ROM 44 as a map. The corresponding rising temperatures ΔTm and ΔTl are derived and set. An example of this map is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the relationship between the road gradient θ and the rising temperature ΔTm is indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4, and the relationship between the road gradient θ and the rising temperature ΔTl is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. When the vehicle travels on an uphill, the load acting on the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 increases, and the amount of heat generated also increases. The map was created so that the rising temperatures ΔTm and ΔTl of the

  Then, the temperature integrated value Tm is compared with the predetermined value Tlim (step S250), and if it is determined that the temperature integrated value Tm is larger than the predetermined value Tlim, a value Tlow smaller than the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold Tref. (Step S260), and the process ends. Here, in the embodiment, the predetermined value Tlim is set as a temperature slightly lower than the upper limit temperature at which the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 can be continuously driven, and the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 are set. Determined by. In this way, the temperature integrated value Tm set as the predicted temperature of the cooling water when traveling on the travel route set while driving and controlling the electric water pump 24 using the switching threshold Tref of the normal value Tmiddle is the predetermined value Tlim. By setting the value Tlow smaller than the normal value Tmiddle as the switching threshold value Tref when the value exceeds the threshold value, the electric water pump 24 can be easily set to the Hi drive state, so that the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 are excessive. Temperature rise can be suppressed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature integrated value Tm is equal to or less than the predetermined value Tlim, the temperature integrated value Tl is compared with the predetermined value Tlim (step S270). When it is determined that the temperature integrated value Tl is larger than the predetermined value Tlim, the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold value Tref (step S280). When the temperature integrated value Tl is determined to be equal to or less than the predetermined value Tlim, the switching threshold value is still set. The process proceeds to the next process without setting Tref. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next travel section, that is, whether or not the process has been completed for all travel sections in the travel route set by the navigation device 50 (step S290), and the process has been completed. If it is determined that there is no, the process returns to step S200. If it is determined that there is no next travel section, that is, the process has been completed for all travel sections in the set travel route, normal processing is performed in step S280 in the process of repeating steps S200 to S280 for each travel section. It is determined whether or not the value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold value Tref (step S300). When the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold value Tref, the processing is ended as it is, and the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold value Tref. When there is no change, that is, when the temperature integrated value Tl has never exceeded the predetermined value Tlref even in all the travel sections on the travel route, a value High that is larger than the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold Tref (step S310). ), The process is terminated. As described above, when the temperature integrated value Tl set as the predicted temperature of the cooling water when traveling the travel route set while the electric water pump 24 is fixedly driven in the Lo drive state does not exceed the predetermined value Tlim. By setting the value High higher than the normal value Tmiddle as the switching threshold value Tref, the electric water pump 24 can be easily maintained in the Lo drive state, so that unnecessary cooling can be suppressed and power consumption can be suppressed. is there.

  According to the temperature control apparatus 20 of the first embodiment described above, the predicted temperature of the cooling water for each travel section is set based on the road gradient θ of each travel section on the travel route set by the navigation device 50. In addition, a switching threshold value Tref for switching between Hi driving and Lo driving of the electric water pump 24 is set based on the predicted temperature, and the cooling water temperature Tw detected by the temperature sensor 29 and the set switching threshold value Tref are set. By comparing, the Lo drive and the Hi drive are switched. Accordingly, when it is considered that the road gradient θ is large as the climbing gradient and the load acting on the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 is considered to be relatively large, the switching threshold Tref is set small and the electric water pump 24 is brought into the Hi drive state. Therefore, the excessive temperature rise of the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 can be suppressed, the road gradient θ is small as the climbing gradient, and the load acting on the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 is relatively small. When considered, the switching threshold value Tref is set to be large so that the electric water pump 24 is easily maintained in the Lo drive state, so that unnecessary cooling can be suppressed and power consumption can be suppressed. As a result, power consumption can be suppressed while suppressing an excessive temperature rise of the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15, 16.

  In the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment, the temperature of the cooling water (temperature integrated values Tm, Tl) of the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15, 16 is set based on the road gradient θ for each travel section on the travel route. The switching threshold value Tref is set based on the set cooling water temperature. However, the switching threshold value Tref is set using the road gradient θ directly, or the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15, 16 are set based on the road gradient θ. The switching threshold Tref may be set by estimating the heat generation amount.

  In the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment, the switching threshold Tref is selected and set from three values (Tlow, Tmiddle, and High) according to the load acting on the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16. However, if the larger value is set as the switching threshold as the load acting on the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16 is smaller, it can be selected from two large and small values or four or more different values. The switching threshold value may be set so that it gradually increases as the load decreases.

  In the temperature adjustment device 20 of the first embodiment, the driving state of the electric water pump 24 is switched by providing hysteresis with respect to the change in the cooling water temperature Tw. However, the hysteresis may not be provided.

  In the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment, the temperature of the motors MG1, MG2 and the inverters 15, 16 is adjusted by switching the driving state of the electric water pump 24 using the switching threshold Tref. It may be performed by switching the driving state of the electric fan 28 instead of the pump 24, or may be performed by switching the driving state of both the electric water pump 24 and the electric fan 28.

  In the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment, the driving state of the electric water pump 24 and the electric fan 28 is formed to be switchable between two stages of a Hi driving state and a Lo driving state. One or both of the fans 28 may be formed to be switchable in three or more stages, or the driving state may be formed to be continuously changeable. Moreover, you may form so that the drive state of one or both of the electric water pump 24 and the electric fan 28 can be switched only on and off. In the case where the on / off state can be switched, the Hi drive state in the embodiment may be replaced with the On state and the Lo drive state may be replaced with the off drive.

  Next, the temperature control apparatus 20B of 2nd Example is demonstrated. The temperature adjustment device 20B of the second embodiment is configured such that the electronic control unit 40 sets the switching threshold Tref used in the temperature adjustment processing routine of FIG. 2 by executing the switching threshold setting processing routine of FIG. 5 instead of FIG. Is the same as the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment and its modification. Therefore, the illustration of the temperature control device 20B of the second embodiment and the description of its configuration are omitted to avoid duplication.

  When the switching threshold value setting processing routine of FIG. 5 is executed, first, data such as the travel route set by communication from the navigation device 50, the current position, the travel direction, and the road gradient θ in each travel section on the travel route are obtained. (Step S400), and it is determined whether or not there is a travel section in which the road gradient θ is higher than the predetermined slope θref as the climb slope among the travel sections within a predetermined distance from the current position on the set travel route ( Step S410). When it is determined that there is no travel section with a predetermined gradient θref or more, the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold Tref (step S420), the process is terminated, and when it is determined that there is a travel section with a predetermined gradient θref or more. Then, a value Tlow smaller than the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold Tref (step S430), and the process ends. Here, in the embodiment, the predetermined gradient θref is an angle at which the temperature of the cooling water when the electric water pump 24 and the electric fan 28 are driven using the normal value Tmiddle as the switching threshold Tref may exceed the predetermined temperature Tlim. The gradient is preset.

  According to the temperature control device 20B of the second embodiment described above, the road gradient θ in the travel section within a predetermined distance from the current position on the travel route set by the navigation device 50 is less than the predetermined gradient θref and the motor MG1, When the load acting on MG2 and inverters 15 and 16 is considered to be relatively small, normal value Tmiddle is set as switching threshold Tref, and road gradient θ is greater than or equal to predetermined gradient θref and acts on motors MG1 and MG2 and inverters 15 and 16. When it is considered that the load to be performed is relatively large, a value Tlow smaller than the normal value Tmiddle is set as the switching threshold Tref. Therefore, similarly to the temperature control device 20 of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress power consumption while suppressing an excessive temperature rise of the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16.

  In the temperature control device 20B of the second embodiment, the switching threshold Tref is selected and set from two values of the normal value Tmiddle and the value Tlow based on the road gradient θ, but is selected from three or more different in magnitude. The switching threshold value Tref may be set so that it gradually decreases as the road gradient θ increases.

  In the temperature control devices 20 and 20B of the respective embodiments, the switching threshold Tref is set by using the road gradient θ as information related to the load acting on the motors MG1 and MG2 and the inverters 15 and 16, Information relating to highway distinction, speed limit information, traffic jam information received using VICS, and the like may also be used.

  In the embodiment, the temperature adjustment device that adjusts the temperature of the motors MG1, MG2, etc. is applied to the electric vehicle 10 as a hybrid vehicle including the engine 22 and the motors MG1, MG2, but it may be an electric vehicle including a navigation device. For example, the present invention may be applied to other hybrid vehicles or to an ordinary electric vehicle that includes only a motor as a driving power source.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in the form.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the electric vehicle 10 provided with the temperature control apparatus 20 as one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the temperature control processing routine performed by the electronic control unit 40 of the temperature control apparatus 20 of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the switching threshold value setting process routine performed by the electronic control unit 40 of the temperature control apparatus 20 of 1st Example. It is a map which shows the relationship between road gradient (theta) and rising temperature. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the switching threshold value setting process routine performed by the electronic control unit 40 of the temperature control apparatus 20B of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric vehicle, 12 Engine, 13 Crankshaft, 14 Planetary gear mechanism, 15, 16 Inverter, 17 Battery, 18 Drive shaft, 19a, 19b Drive wheel, 20 Temperature control device, 22 Circulation line, 24 Electric water pump, 26 Radiator, 28 Electric fan, 29 Temperature sensor, 32 Circulation line, 34 Mechanical water pump, 36 Radiator, 38 Electric fan, 40 Electronic control unit, 42 CPU, 44 ROM, 46 RAM, 50 Navigation device, 52 Receiving antenna 54 Display, 56 DVD, 58 DVD device, MG1, MG2 motor.

Claims (8)

Temperature of an electric drive system including an electric motor for traveling in an electric vehicle having a navigation device for setting a traveling route from a current position of the vehicle to a destination designated by an operator using map information relating to a road A temperature control device for adjusting
Cooling means capable of cooling the electric drive system with switchable cooling capacity;
A switching threshold setting means for setting a switching threshold for switching the cooling capacity between high and low or on / off based on load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system in the map information;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the electric drive system;
And a control unit that controls the cooling unit so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature of the electric drive system with the set switching threshold.   The switching threshold value setting means sets the temperature of the electric drive system when it is assumed that the vehicle has traveled the set travel route while controlling the cooling means under a predetermined condition based on the load relation information. The temperature control apparatus according to claim 1, which is a means for estimating and setting the switching threshold based on the estimated temperature of the electric drive system.   The switching threshold setting means sets a first value as the switching threshold when the estimated temperature of the electric drive system exceeds a predetermined temperature, and when the estimated temperature of the electric drive system does not exceed the predetermined temperature, The temperature control apparatus according to claim 2, which is a means for setting a second value larger than the first value as the switching threshold.   The switching threshold setting means sets a third value as the switching threshold when a load of the electric drive system corresponding to the load relation information until the vehicle travels a predetermined distance from the current position exceeds a predetermined load, 2. The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein when the load of the electric drive system does not exceed the predetermined load, the temperature adjustment device is a unit that sets a fourth value larger than the third value as the switching threshold.   The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the load-related information is information including a road gradient.   6. The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is means for controlling the cooling means so that the cooling capacity is switched with hysteresis with respect to the detected temperature of the electric drive system. The temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The cooling means includes a circulation path connected to the electric drive system, an electric pump that circulates the cooling medium in the circulation path, a heat exchanger that cools the cooling medium by heat exchange with air, and the heat exchange. An electric fan for sending air to the vessel,
The temperature detection means is means for detecting the temperature of the cooling medium as the temperature of the electric drive system,
The control means is means for controlling the electric pump and / or the electric fan. An electric motor for driving with a switchable cooling capacity in an electric vehicle including a navigation device for setting a driving route from a current position of a vehicle to a destination designated by an operator using map information relating to a road A temperature control method used in a temperature control device having a cooling means for cooling an electric drive system including:
(A) setting a switching threshold for switching the cooling capacity between high and low or on / off based on load relation information related to the load of the electric drive system in the map information;
(B) detecting the temperature of the electric drive system;
(C) A temperature adjustment method for controlling the cooling means so that the cooling capacity is switched by comparing the detected temperature with the set switching threshold.

Images