JP2006205931A - Compressor control device of air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate that a compressor is quickly activated in the state of lack of lubrication even if an air conditioner is turned ON after a vehicle is stored for a long period of time and to effectively protect it from lack of lubrication. <P>SOLUTION: In the delivery state that a fuse 8 is attached from the storage state for a long period of time that the fuse 8 for backup power source is unattached, the number of revolutions Ne of an engine is restricted to a set low speed number of revolutions Nea/c and rotation of an air conditioner compressor 5 driven by the engine is restricted. By restricting the rotation of the compressor 5, the compressor 5 is not quickly activated in the state of lack of lubrication and the compressor 5 can be protected from lack of lubrication. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a compressor control device for a vehicle air conditioner that automatically operates the compressor when operating the vehicle air conditioner after long-term storage.

  As is well known, a compressor used in a vehicle air conditioner mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile takes a mixed fluid of refrigerant and lubricating oil from the suction side when circulating the refrigerant in the compressor. Lubrication is performed by directly contacting the sliding part. Therefore, when the compressor is stopped for a long time, not only the lubricating oil in the compressor gradually flows down, but also the lubricating oil moves from the compressor due to the movement of the refrigerant.

  As a result, if the compressor of the vehicle air conditioner is rapidly rotated after being left for a long period of time, the compressor will be driven before the inside of the compressor is sufficiently lubricated. Inconvenience of lowering occurs.

  For this reason, before a vehicle is delivered to a user, a dealer or the like first rotates the engine at a low speed to acclimate the compressor of the vehicle air conditioner for a predetermined time, and after the interior of the compressor is sufficiently lubricated with lubricating oil, the vehicle is delivered. I am doing so.

  For the same reason, when storing the finished vehicle in the motor pool, remove the connector that supplies power to the compressor so that the compressor will not operate even if the vehicle air conditioner is accidentally turned on. I try to protect it.

  On the other hand, for example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-232544), when the compressor is temporarily overloaded, the driving force from the compressor and the engine is shut off, and when it returns to normal, it is again. A technique for protecting a compressor from overload by connecting is disclosed.

When the compressor is driven in a poorly lubricated state, the load on the compressor temporarily increases. Therefore, by applying the technology described in the document, the rapid start-up of the compressor in a poorly lubricated state can be prevented. Is possible.
JP-A-7-232544

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the driving force from the engine is transmitted to the compressor and driven when the vehicle air conditioner is turned on, the compressor is insufficiently lubricated until an insufficient lubrication state is detected. However, there is a possibility of driving.

  On the other hand, since the person in charge of the break-in operation of the compressor in a dealer or the like is manually performed, it is difficult to clearly determine the end time of the break-in operation. There is a possibility that the break-in operation may be terminated in the state.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention makes it possible to prevent the compressor from starting up rapidly due to insufficient lubrication even when the vehicle air conditioner is turned on when leaving the vehicle after long-term storage. An object of the present invention is to provide a compressor control device for an in-vehicle air conditioner that can be protected and is easy to use.

  In order to achieve the above object, a compressor control device for a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention includes an information output means for outputting information on whether the vehicle is in a long-term storage state or a state of leaving from the long-term storage state; When it is determined that the vehicle is in a long-term storage state based on the information from the output means, at least a drive stop means for stopping the drive of the compressor, and a delivery state from the long-term storage state based on the information from the information output means And a drive limiting means for limiting the rotation speed of the compressor for a set time.

  According to the present invention, during the long-term storage state, the compressor is stopped to prevent the compressor from starting rapidly, and when the vehicle is stored after long-term storage, even if the vehicle air conditioner is turned on, the compressor Since the rotation of the compressor is limited for a set time without rapidly starting up the compressor, the compressor can be effectively protected from insufficient lubrication. Convenient because the compressor rotation is automatically limited.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a compressor control device of an in-vehicle air conditioner.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a control unit (air conditioner control unit) of a vehicle air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as “air conditioner”), which is mainly composed of a computer such as a microcomputer. An air conditioner switch 2 is connected to the input side of the air conditioner control unit 1. Further, the air conditioner control unit 1 and the engine control unit 3 are connected to each other via a vehicle communication line 4 such as CAN (Controller Area Network) communication so as to be capable of bidirectional communication.

  An air conditioner compressor 5 is connected to the output side of the air conditioner control unit 1. On the other hand, on the output side of the engine control unit 3, there are various engine drive actuators 6 such as an injector drive actuator, an ISCV (idle speed control valve) drive actuator, or a throttle control actuator if the vehicle is equipped with an electronic control throttle. It is connected.

  The air conditioner compressor 5 is engine driven, and the air conditioner control unit 1 controls the disconnection and connection of an electromagnetic clutch interposed between the engine and the air conditioner compressor 5. In the following description, when the air conditioner compressor 5 is driven by the air conditioner control unit 1, it is expressed as an air conditioner ON, when it is stopped, it is expressed as an air conditioner OFF, and an explanation of the operation of disconnecting and connecting the electromagnetic clutch Since it is well known, it is omitted.

  Further, a battery 7 that supplies backup power to the air conditioner control unit 1 and the engine control unit 3 to retain data stored in a built-in backup memory even after an ignition switch (not shown) is turned off. Are connected via a detachable backup power supply fuse 8.

  If the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed, the backup power supply is cut off and the data stored in the backup memory is volatilized, but the power consumption of the battery 7 can be suppressed instead. Accordingly, when the completed vehicle before shipment is stored in the motor pool, the storage period may be relatively long. Therefore, the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed to suppress the consumption of the battery 7.

  Further, the air conditioner control unit 1 has an air conditioner compressor rotation control function for preventing the rapid start of rotation of the air conditioner compressor 5 even when the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on in engine operation after the vehicle has been stored for a long time. Is provided.

  This air-conditioner compressor rotation control function checks whether or not the backup power supply fuse 8 removed when storing the completed vehicle in a motor pool or the like is installed, and in starting the engine after the backup power supply fuse 8 is installed. The engine speed is rotated at a low speed for a set time so as to prevent rapid start-up of the air conditioner compressor 5.

  Specifically, the compressor rotation control executed by the air conditioner control unit 1 is processed according to the compressor rotation control routine shown in FIG.

  This routine is started when the ignition switch is turned on. First, in step S1, it is checked whether the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on or off. If it is turned off, the routine is exited, and the routine waits until it is turned on.

  When the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S2 to check whether the backup power supply fuse 8 is connected. Since the backup power supply fuse 8 may be stored for a long time when the vehicle is stored in a motor pool or the like, it is removed to suppress the power consumption of the battery 7 during that time. In this embodiment, the backup power supply fuse 8 is an information source indicating long-term storage. Whether or not the backup power supply fuse 8 is connected is determined, for example, by detecting a backup power supply terminal voltage provided in the air conditioner control unit 1.

  In addition to the backup power supply fuse 8, as an information source indicating the long-term storage state, for example, if there is a connector to be removed during long-term storage among the connectors connecting the units, the connector can be the information source. That is, if this connector is disconnected, it becomes information indicating a long-term storage state. Alternatively, a failure diagnosis device (not shown) which is an example of an external input device is connected, and information indicating that the storage state is in the long-term storage state is input from the failure diagnosis device to the air conditioner control unit 1 from the outside. good. In this case, in order to shift from the long-term storage state to the leaving state, it is preferable to transmit a cancel signal from the failure diagnosis device to clear information indicating the long-term storage state.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the backup power supply fuse 8 has been removed, the process proceeds to step S3 because it is in a long-term storage state, and the air conditioner is turned off to exit the routine.

  As described above, when the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed, the air conditioner is kept stopped even if the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on, so that the air conditioner compressor 5 is also kept stopped. Therefore, when the vehicle is moved with the backup power supply fuse 8 removed, the air conditioner is not driven even if the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on. The compressor 5 does not move accidentally, and the air conditioner compressor 5 is not driven in a state of insufficient lubrication.

  On the other hand, when the backup power supply fuse 8 is connected, the process branches to step S4, and the value of the break-in operation completion determination flag F is referred to. The initial value of the running-in completion determination flag F is 0, and F = 0 when the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed and the backup data is volatilized.

  When F = 0, that is, when the backup power supply fuse 8 is connected and the first routine is executed, it is determined that the product is in the shipping state, and the process proceeds to step S5. Further, the backup power supply fuse 8 of F = 1 is connected and 2 When the routine is executed after the first time, the routine is exited and normal air conditioner control is executed.

  In step S5, the engine speed Ne is compared with the set low speed Nea / c. The set low speed Nea / c may hinder the operation of the air conditioner compressor 5 even when the air conditioner compressor 5 is not sufficiently lubricated with the lubricating oil when the air conditioner compressor 5 is conditioned. The number of revolutions is approximately 600 to 2000 rpm, but is a fixed value set in accordance with the characteristics of the installed engine, the capacity of the air conditioner compressor 5, and the like.

  When Ne ≧ Nea / c, the process proceeds to step S6. When Ne <Nea / c, the process jumps to step S7.

  In step S6, the target engine speed Neo is set at the set low speed Nea / c (Neo ← Nea / c), and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7 from step S5 or step S6, the timer count value Tim is incremented (Tim + 1), and in step S8, the timer count value Tim is compared with the set elapsed time Tima / c. The set elapsed time Tima / c is a time during which the air conditioner compressor 5 can be sufficiently lubricated by driving the air conditioner compressor 5, and is a fixed value set according to the capacity of the air conditioner compressor 5. In this embodiment, the set elapsed time Tima / c is set to about 3 minutes.

  If the count value Tim of Tim <Tima / c has not reached the set elapsed time, the process returns to step S5 and the same processing is repeated. On the other hand, when the count value Tim of Tim <Tima / c has reached the set elapsed time, that is, when it has reached a time during which the air conditioner compressor 5 can be sufficiently lubricated, the routine proceeds to step S9, where the running-in operation completion determination is made. The flag F is set (F ← 1) and the routine is exited.

  After that, when the flowchart is restarted, the running-in operation completion determination flag F is maintained until the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed again (F = 1). Executed. Since the count value Tim of the timer is stored as backup data, when the engine is once stopped and then restarted, timing is started from the previous count value Tim. In this case, when the engine is stopped, the count value Tim of the timer may be cleared, and the time may be started from the beginning when restarting.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the backup power supply fuse 8 is detected, it is determined that the backup power supply fuse 8 may be stored for a long time, and when the backup power supply fuse 8 is attached, that is, When the air conditioner switch 2 is turned on after the long-term storage state is finished, the engine speed is rotated at a low speed, so that the air conditioner compressor 5 is driven without any trouble even if the air conditioner compressor 5 is insufficiently lubricated. be able to. As a result, the life of the air conditioner compressor 5 can be extended relatively. Further, this low-speed rotation state is continued until the inside of the air conditioner compressor 5 is sufficiently lubricated with the lubricating oil, and after the set time has elapsed, the engine speed Ne automatically shifts to the normal operation. Since it can be easily determined, handling is good.

  When the air conditioner compressor 5 is a variable capacity air conditioner compressor capable of changing the refrigerant discharge amount, the capacity is minimized during the break-in operation, and the amount of refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle is reduced to reduce the load. You may make it plan.

  In this embodiment, as shown in step S3, when the backup power supply fuse 8 is disconnected, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped. However, only the operation of the air conditioner compressor 5 is stopped, and the peripherals such as the blower motor are stopped. The device may be driven. Further, even if the backup power supply fuse 8 is removed, if the engine speed Ne is within the speed that does not hinder the operation of the air conditioner compressor 5 in a state of insufficient lubrication, the air conditioner compressor 5 is driven. You may do it.

  Furthermore, for vehicles equipped with a navigation system, use GPS (Global Positioning System) to check whether the vehicle position is within a specific area set in advance, such as a motor pool or a dealer service station. When the vehicle departs from the specific area due to the above, even if the running-in operation of the air-conditioning compressor 5 is not completed, the running-in operation is not performed and normal air-conditioning control is executed so as not to cause discomfort to the user. Anyway. In vehicle inspection or the like, a cancel signal for canceling the compressor rotation control may be transmitted from the unillustrated failure diagnosis device side to temporarily interrupt the break-in operation.

  Further, while the running-in operation of the air conditioner compressor 5 is being executed, a lamp or a buzzer mounted on the vehicle may be driven to notify that the running-in operation is being performed. In this case, a sound system installed in a navigation system or the like may be used to notify the user that the running-in operation is being performed by voice. You may make it notify that there is.

  Further, an in-vehicle computer such as the air conditioner control unit 1 or the engine control unit 3 is connected to a communication network such as the Internet so that the condition of the running-in operation of the air conditioner compressor 5 can be monitored from a remote place or the compressor rotation control can be canceled. May be.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the form mentioned above, For example, an air-conditioner compressor may be a motor drive type. In this case, the rotation control of the air conditioner compressor is performed by controlling the rotation speed of the motor that drives the air conditioner compressor. Therefore, in this case, in steps S5 and S6 of the compressor rotation control routine shown in FIG. 2, the rotation speed of the motor is detected, and control is performed so that the rotation speed becomes the set low speed rotation speed.

Schematic configuration diagram of compressor control device for in-vehicle air conditioner Flowchart showing compressor rotation control routine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air-conditioner control unit 2 ... Air-conditioner switch 3 ... Engine control unit 4 ... In-vehicle communication line 5 ... Air-conditioner compressor 6 ... Actuator for engine drive 7 ... Battery 8 ... Fuse for backup power supply F ... Break-in completion flag Ne ... Engine speed Nea / c ... Set low speed Neo ... Target engine speed Tim ... Count value Tima / c ... Set elapsed time

Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (6)

Information output means for outputting information on whether the vehicle is in a long-term storage state or in a state of leaving from the long-term storage state;
Drive stop means for stopping the drive of at least the compressor when it is determined that the vehicle is in a long-term storage state based on information from the information output means;
A vehicle air conditioner comprising: a drive limiting unit that limits a rotation speed of the compressor for a set time when it is determined that the output state from the long-term storage state is based on information from the information output unit Compressor control device. The compressor control device for a vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the information source indicating whether the long-term storage state or the leaving state from the long-term storage state is a detachable backup power source fuse. The compressor control device for a vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the information source indicating whether the long-term storage state or the leaving state from the long-term storage state is input via an external input device. 2. The compressor control apparatus for a vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the information source indicating whether the long-term storage state or the leaving state from the long-term storage state is input from a remote location via a communication network. . 5. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is of an engine drive type, and the rotation of the compressor is limited by setting the rotation speed of the engine to be equal to or lower than a preset low speed rotation speed. Compressor control device for vehicle air conditioner. 5. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is motor-driven, and the rotation of the compressor is limited by setting the rotation speed of the motor to be equal to or lower than a preset low-speed rotation speed. Compressor control device for vehicle air conditioner.

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