JP2010121520A - Engine warming-up apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently warm-up an engine, while achieving simplification of an engine warming-up apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The engine warming-up apparatus (1) includes a cooling water circulating means (14) mounted on a vehicle equipped with an engine (10) and a motor (20), capable of circulating cooling water of the engine, an engine oil circulating means (12) capable of circulating an engine oil of the engine, a heat pipe (30) in which an evaporation end (30a) comes into contact with oil for cooling the motor, as well as a condensation end (30b) comes into contact with at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil, a determining means (40) for determining whether the heat pipe is operating or not, and a control means (40) for controlling at least one of the cooling water circulating means and the engine oil circulating means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil, if it is determined that the heat pipe is operating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine engine warming apparatus and method for a vehicle including an engine and a motor, such as a hybrid vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle, and more particularly to warming up an engine when the vehicle is running only with a motor. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the technical field of engine warm-up devices and methods.

  With this type of device, it is possible to warm up the engine relatively quickly, for example, to improve fuel efficiency. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for warming up an engine by supplying oil after cooling a motor to engine oil and engine cooling water and heating the engine oil and engine cooling water. Yes. Alternatively, Patent Document 2 discloses that the engine and the automatic transmission are controlled by controlling the flow rates of the cooling water and the hydraulic oil in a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the cooling water of the engine and the hydraulic oil of the automatic transmission. A technique for warming up in a well-balanced manner is disclosed.

JP-A-6-54409 JP-A-2005-3134

  However, according to the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, a device for supplying oil to engine oil or engine cooling water, a flow switching valve, a heat exchanger, etc. must be provided. There is a technical problem that can be complicated. Furthermore, since a drive unit such as a flow path switching valve is included, there is a technical problem that the expected performance may not be exhibited due to a failure of the drive unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, for example, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine warm-up device and method capable of warming up an engine efficiently while enabling simplification of the device. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an engine warm-up device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle including an engine and a motor, and is capable of circulating cooling water for the engine and circulating engine oil for the engine. The engine oil circulation means, the evaporating end is in contact with oil for cooling the motor, and the condensation end is in contact with at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil, and it is determined whether the heat pipe is operating. And at least one of the cooling water circulating means and the engine oil circulating means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating. Control means for controlling.

  According to the engine warm-up device of the present invention, the engine warm-up device is mounted on a vehicle including an engine and a motor, such as a hybrid vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Here, the “motor” is typically a motor for driving the vehicle, but may be a motor realized in, for example, a motor generator (motor generator). That is, it may mean a motor generator as long as it can function as a motor.

  For example, the cooling water circulation means that is a water pump can circulate the cooling water of the engine. For example, engine oil circulation means, which is an oil pump, can circulate engine oil. The heat pipe has an evaporation end that contacts the oil, such as mission oil, for cooling the motor, and a condensation end that contacts at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil.

  Note that “the condensation end is in contact with at least one of cooling water and engine oil” means that (i) the condensation ends of all of the one or more heat pipes are in contact with cooling water, (ii) all of the one or more heat pipes Condensation end is in contact with engine oil, or (iii) Condensation end of some heat pipes out of the plurality of heat pipes is in contact with cooling water, and condensation end of heat pipes in other parts of the plurality of heat pipes is in engine oil It means to touch.

  For example, a determination unit including a processor, a memory, a comparator, and the like determines whether or not the heat pipe is operating. Whether or not the heat pipe is operating may be determined, for example, by detecting the temperature at the evaporation end of the heat pipe or the temperature of oil near the evaporation end and detecting the temperature. Alternatively, the pressure in the heat pipe may be detected and determined based on the detected pressure.

  For example, the control means including a processor, a memory, and the like is configured to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating. To control. Here, “at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means” means (i) when the condensation end of the heat pipe is in contact with the cooling water, and (ii) the condensation end of the heat pipe. Means the engine oil circulation means, and (iii) the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means when the condensation end of the heat pipe is in contact with the cooling water and the engine oil.

  The control means may control at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so as to continuously circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil. Alternatively, the control means may control at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil intermittently.

  Further, the control means may control the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so that the cooling water and the engine oil circulate simultaneously. Alternatively, the control means may control the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so that the cooling water and the engine oil circulate at different times.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the heat pipe is not operating, the control means typically controls the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so as not to circulate the cooling water and the engine oil.

  According to the research of the present inventor, for example, in a vehicle that runs mainly by a motor, such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, since the engine is stopped for a relatively long period, the engine is warm even while the vehicle is running. There is a high possibility that it has not been operated. Then, for example, it may take time until the engine is started, or the power consumption until the engine is started may increase due to the relatively high viscosity of the engine oil.

  On the other hand, for example, a technique for warming up the engine by supplying oil after cooling the motor to engine oil and engine cooling water and heating the engine oil and engine cooling water has been proposed. However, for example, it has been found that there is a risk that the apparatus may be complicated because a flow path for guiding oil to engine oil or engine cooling water, a flow path switching valve, and the like must be provided.

  However, in the present invention, the engine warm-up device includes a heat pipe whose evaporating end is in contact with oil for cooling the motor, and whose condensing end is in contact with at least one of cooling water and engine oil. For this reason, for example, without providing a flow path for guiding oil to engine oil or engine cooling water, a flow path switching valve, etc., the heat of the oil heated due to the heat generated by the motor is reduced between the cooling water and the engine oil. Can be transmitted to at least one.

  Further, in the present invention, when the control means determines that the heat pipe is operating, at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means is circulated so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil. Be controlled. For this reason, at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil can be heated so that the temperature of at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil approaches uniformly, which is very advantageous in practice.

  When the condensation end of the heat pipe is in contact with only one of the cooling water and the engine oil, the control means typically prevents the cooling water or engine oil that is not in contact with the condensation end of the heat pipe from circulating. The cooling water circulating means or the engine oil circulating means is controlled. As a result, heat dissipation associated with engine warm-up can be suppressed, which is very advantageous in practice.

  As a result, according to the engine warm-up device of the present invention, the engine can be warmed up efficiently while enabling simplification of the device. In addition, the heat transfer between the oil that cools the motor and at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil uses a heat pipe that does not have a drive unit such as a valve. It can be reliably transmitted to at least one of water and engine oil.

  In one aspect of the engine warm-up device of the present invention, the control means circulates at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil intermittently when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating. And controlling at least one of the cooling water circulating means and the engine oil circulating means.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to suppress power consumption due to activation of at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means. As a result, for example, engine start for charging a storage battery that supplies power to the motor can be reduced, and fuel consumption can be improved.

  Here, “so as to circulate intermittently” means that at least one of cooling water and engine oil circulates at a predetermined interval, that is, every predetermined time. The “predetermined time” is a time when the temperature distribution of at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil is biased unless at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil is circulated. Such “predetermined time” is obtained by empirically or experimentally or by simulation, for example, by determining the relationship between the heating time of the cooling water or engine oil and the temperature distribution of the cooling water or engine oil. It may be set based on the relationship.

  In another aspect of the engine warm-up device of the present invention, the determination means includes temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the evaporation end, and whether or not the heat pipe is operating based on the detected temperature. Determine whether.

  According to this aspect, it can be determined relatively easily whether or not the heat pipe is operating, which is very advantageous in practice. Note that the temperature detection means is not limited to directly detecting the temperature at the evaporation end of the heat pipe, but indirectly detects, for example, the temperature of the oil near the evaporation end of the heat pipe and based on the detected temperature. In particular, the temperature at the evaporation end may be detected. In addition, since the temperature at which the heat pipe operates depends on the hydraulic fluid contained in the heat pipe, the temperature for determining whether the heat pipe is operating can be set as appropriate according to the characteristics of the hydraulic fluid. Good.

  In order to solve the above problems, an engine warm-up method of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle including an engine and a motor, and is capable of circulating cooling water for the engine and circulating engine oil for the engine. In the engine warm-up device, the engine warm-up device includes engine oil circulation means, and an evaporation end that is in contact with oil that cools the motor, and a condensation end that is in contact with at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil. A determination method for determining whether or not the heat pipe is operating; and when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating, at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil is circulated. A control step of controlling at least one of the cooling water circulating means and the engine oil circulating means. Obtain.

  According to the engine warming-up method of the present invention, the engine can be warmed up efficiently while enabling simplification of the device, similarly to the engine warming-up device of the present invention described above.

  In the engine warm-up method of the present invention, various aspects of the above-described engine warm-up device of the present invention can be adopted.

  The operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the best mode for carrying out the invention described below.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to an engine warm-up device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
(Configuration of engine warm-up device)
A first embodiment of the engine warm-up device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  First, the configuration of the engine warm-up device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the engine warm-up device according to the present embodiment. In addition, the arrow of each of the engine oil flow path 13 and the cooling water flow path 14, which will be described later, indicates the direction in which the engine oil flows and the direction in which the cooling water flows.

  In FIG. 1, an engine warm-up device 1 is mounted on a vehicle including an engine 10 and a motor / generator 20 as an example of a “motor” according to the present invention. The engine 10 includes an oil pan 11 that stores engine oil, and an oil pump 12 and an engine oil passage 13 that circulate the engine oil in the engine 10.

  Here, the “oil pump 12” according to the present embodiment is an example of the “engine oil circulating means” according to the present invention. The oil pump 12 is typically a trochoid oil pump that is driven by rotation of a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 10, but may be an electric oil pump.

  Further, the engine 10 is provided with a part of a cooling water flow path 14 which is a cooling water flow path for cooling the engine 10. The cooling water flow path 14 is provided with a water pump 15, a heater core 16, a radiator 17, and a thermostat 18. Here, the “water pump 15” according to the present embodiment is an example of the “cooling water circulation means” according to the present invention.

  The water pump 15 may be an electric water pump or a belt-driven water pump. However, the water pump 15 is preferably an electric water pump from the viewpoint of controlling the oil pump 12 and the water pump 15 independently from each other in order to suppress the heat dissipation related to the warm-up of the engine 10.

  The motor / generator 20 includes a mission oil tank 21 for storing mission oil as an example of “oil” according to the present invention. Here, since the mission oil stored in the mission oil tank 21 is typically stirred up by a differential gear (not shown) into the motor / generator 20 while being agitated, the mission oil is circulated. No pump is provided. The motor / generator 20 is connected to the crankshaft of the engine 10 and can crank the engine 10.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the oil pump 12 for circulating the engine oil and the water pump 15 for circulating the cooling water are used as a part of the engine warm-up device 1. For this reason, since it is not necessary to provide an oil pump and a water pump separately, for example, manufacturing cost can be suppressed and the engine warm-up device 1 can be reduced in size and weight.

  The engine warm-up device 1 further detects the temperature of the heat pipe 30 in which the evaporation end 30a is in contact with the mission oil and the condensation end 30b is in contact with the engine oil, and the temperature of the mission oil in the vicinity of the evaporation end 30a of the heat pipe 30. Based on the sensor 41 and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41, it is determined whether or not the heat pipe 30 is operating, and when it is determined that the heat pipe 30 is operating, the cooling water is circulated. An ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 40 that controls the water pump 15 is provided.

  Here, the “temperature sensor 41” according to the present embodiment is an example of the “temperature detection unit” according to the present invention, and the “ECU 40” according to the present embodiment includes the “determination unit” and the “control” according to the present invention. It is an example of “means”. In the present embodiment, a part of the ECU 40 for various electronic controls is used as a part of the engine warm-up device 1. An arrow h in FIG. 1 indicates the direction of heat transport in the heat pipe 30.

(Engine warm-up treatment)
Next, the engine warm-up process executed by the ECU 40 to warm up the engine 10 when the vehicle equipped with the engine warm-up device 1 configured as described above is mainly running is referred to the flowchart of FIG. To explain. This engine warm-up process is mainly executed periodically, for example, periodically or irregularly, or continuously every few seconds to several seconds when the vehicle is traveling only by the motor / generator 20. .

  In FIG. 2, first, the ECU 40 acquires the temperature of the mission oil in the vicinity of the evaporation end 30a of the heat pipe 30 via the temperature sensor 41, and estimates the temperature of the evaporation end 30a (step S101).

  Next, the ECU 40 determines whether or not the heat pipe 30 is operating (step S102). Specifically, for example, it is determined whether or not the estimated temperature is higher than the boiling point of the hydraulic fluid included in the heat pipe 30 to determine whether or not the heat pipe 30 is operating. When it is determined that the heat pipe 30 is operating (step S102: Yes), the ECU 40 starts a timer (not shown) built in the ECU 40 (step S103). The timer may be a subtraction type or an addition type. On the other hand, when it is determined that the heat pipe 30 is not operating (step S102: No), the process is temporarily terminated.

  In the process of step S103, after the timer is started, the ECU 40 determines whether or not the timer has reached a predetermined value (step S104). Here, when the timer is a subtraction type, the “predetermined value” is typically zero. On the other hand, when the timer is an addition type, the “predetermined value” is set, for example, as a time such that the temperature distribution of engine oil is biased. Such a time is set as a fixed value in advance or as a variable value according to some parameter.

  Note that the preset time when the timer is a subtraction type may also be set, for example, as a time that causes a bias in the temperature distribution of the engine oil. This preset time is set in advance as a fixed value or as a variable value according to some parameter.

  When it is determined that the timer has reached the predetermined value (step S104: Yes), the ECU 40 starts control of the oil pump 12 so as to circulate the engine oil, and calculates the elapsed time from the start of the control. Count (step S105). Specifically, for example, the ECU 40 controls the motor / generator 20 to rotate the crankshaft in order to operate the engine oil 12. On the other hand, when it is determined that the timer has not reached the predetermined value (step S104: No), the process of step S104 is executed again.

  After starting control of the oil pump 12, the ECU 40 determines whether or not the control time of the oil pump 12 (that is, the elapsed time since the start of control of the oil pump 12 this time) is longer than a predetermined time (step) S106). Here, the “predetermined time” is set as a time during which it is predicted that the temperature of the engine oil will approach uniformly. Such a “predetermined time” is set based on the obtained relationship by, for example, obtaining a relationship between the circulation time of the engine oil and the temperature distribution of the engine oil by empirical, experimental or simulation. That's fine.

  If it is determined that the control time is longer than the predetermined time (step S106: Yes), then the ECU 40 controls the oil pump 12 so as not to circulate the engine oil (that is, stops the control of the oil pump 12). (Step S107). On the other hand, when it is determined that the control time is shorter than the predetermined time (step S106: No), the process of step S106 is executed again.

  After the control of the oil pump 12 is stopped, the ECU 40 resets the timer (step S108) and once ends the process.

  Next, refer to FIG. 3 for the fluctuation of the battery charge amount, the fluctuation of the temperature near each of the heat generating end 30a and the condensing end 30b of the heat pipe 30, and the fluctuation of the engine oil circulation amount during the engine warm-up process described above. To explain. Here, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the concept of fluctuation of the battery charge amount according to the present embodiment, (b) a conceptual diagram showing the concept of fluctuation of the temperature near the heat generating end of the heat pipe, (c) 2) A conceptual diagram showing the concept of temperature fluctuations near the condensation end of the heat pipe, and (d) a conceptual diagram showing the concept of fluctuations in the engine oil circulation amount.

(Time 0 to Time T1)
Since the vehicle runs only with the motor / generator 20, the battery charge amount decreases (see FIG. 3A). At this time, the mission oil is heated by the heat generated by the motor / generator 20, thereby increasing the temperature in the vicinity of the evaporation end 30 a of the heat pipe 30 (see FIG. 3B). Since the heat pipe 30 has not been operated yet, the temperature in the vicinity of the condensation end 30b of the heat pipe 30 does not change (see FIG. 3C). Further, since the oil pump 12 is not operated, the circulation amount of the engine oil is zero (see FIG. 3D).

(Time T1 to Time T2)
Since the vehicle is traveling only by the motor / generator 20, the battery charge amount continues to decrease (see FIG. 3A). On the other hand, since the temperature near the evaporation end 30a of the heat pipe 30 is higher than the boiling point Tth of the working fluid of the heat pipe 30 (see FIG. 3B), the heat pipe 30 operates and the temperature near the condensation end 30b. Rises (see FIG. 3C). Here, in FIG. 3B, the temperature near the evaporation end 30 a of the heat pipe 30 repeatedly increases and decreases because of the temperature increase caused by the heat generated by the motor / generator 20 and the heat transport by the heat pipe 30. This is because the temperature decrease due to the above is repeated.

  At time T1, the ECU 40 determines that the heat pipe 30 is operating and starts a timer (see steps S102 and S103 in FIG. 2). When time t1 has elapsed from time T1 (see FIG. 3D), the ECU 40 determines that the timer has reached a predetermined value and starts control of the oil pump 12 (see steps S104 and S105 in FIG. 2). ). Due to the operation of the oil pump 12, the temperature in the vicinity of the condensation end 30b of the heat pipe 30 decreases (see FIG. 3C).

  When the time t2 has elapsed since the control of the oil pump 12 was started (see FIG. 3D), the ECU 40 determines that the control time of the oil pump 12 is longer than the predetermined time, and the oil pump 12 stops. Thus, the oil pump 12 is controlled and the timer is reset (see steps S106 to S108 in FIG. 2).

(After time T2)
Since the battery charge amount reaches a predetermined amount (for example, 40% of full charge) at time T2, the ECU 40 controls the motor / generator 20 so as to crank the engine 10, and for example, the fuel injection valve, the ignition Controls a plug (not shown) and the like. When the engine 10 is started at time T3, the battery charge amount starts to increase (see FIG. 3A).

  In the present embodiment, since the engine 10 has been warmed up in advance by the engine warm-up process, the time from the start of cranking of the engine 10 to the start of the engine 10 (that is, from time T2 to time T3). Time) can be made relatively short.

<Second Embodiment>
A second embodiment of the engine warm-up device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the arrangement of the heat pipes is different. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the description overlapping with that of the first embodiment is omitted, and the common portions in the drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only fundamentally different points are described with reference to FIG. explain. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the engine warm-up device according to the present embodiment having the same concept as in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, in the engine warm-up device 2 according to the present embodiment, the condensation end 30 b of the heat pipe 30 is in contact with the cooling water in the cooling water passage 14. For this reason, the heat of the mission oil stored in the mission oil tank 21 is transmitted to the cooling water via the heat pipe 30, and the cooling water is heated. As a result, since the engine 10 is warmed up, the time until the engine 10 is started can be made relatively short.

  In the present embodiment, the water pump 15 is controlled by the ECU 40 in steps S105 to S107 in FIG. That is, when it is determined that the timer has reached the predetermined value (step S104: Yes), the ECU 40 starts control of the water pump 15 so as to circulate the cooling water, and the elapsed time from the start of the control. Time is counted (step S105). After starting the control of the water pump 15, the ECU 40 determines whether or not the control time of the water pump 15 (that is, the elapsed time since the start of control of the water pump 15 this time) is longer than a predetermined time (step) S106).

  Here, the “predetermined time” is set as a time during which the temperature of the cooling water is predicted to approach uniformly. Such a “predetermined time” is set based on the obtained relationship by, for example, obtaining the relationship between the circulation time of the cooling water and the temperature distribution of the cooling water by empirical, experimental or simulation. That's fine.

  When it is determined that the control time is longer than the predetermined time (step S106: Yes), the ECU 40 subsequently controls the water pump 15 so as not to circulate the cooling water (that is, stops the control of the water pump 15). (Step S107). After the control of the water pump 12 is stopped, the ECU 40 resets the timer (step S108) and once ends the process.

  Further, the “engine oil circulation amount” in FIG. 3D may be read as “cooling water circulation amount”.

<Third Embodiment>
A third embodiment of the engine warm-up device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the arrangement of the heat pipes is different. Therefore, the description of the third embodiment that is the same as that of the first embodiment is omitted, and common portions in the drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only fundamentally different points are described with reference to FIG. explain. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the engine warm-up device according to this embodiment having the same concept as in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, in the engine warm-up device 3 according to the present embodiment, the condensation end 30 b of some of the heat pipes 30 is in contact with the engine oil stored in the oil pan 11. On the other hand, the condensation end 30 b of the heat pipe 30 in the other part of the plurality of heat pipes 30 is in contact with the cooling water in the cooling water flow path 14. For this reason, the heat of the mission oil stored in the mission oil tank 21 is transmitted to the engine oil and the cooling water via the heat pipe 30, and the engine oil and the cooling water are heated. As a result, since the engine 10 is warmed up, the time until the engine 10 is started can be made relatively short.

  In the present embodiment, the engine warm-up process described above may be executed for each of the oil pump 12 and the water pump 15. Specifically, for example, the engine warm-up process program for the oil pump and the engine warm-up process program for the water pump may be executed in parallel.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within a scope not departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification. Warming up devices and methods are also within the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the engine warming-up apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the engine warm-up process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the fluctuation | variation of the battery charge amount based on 1st Embodiment, (a) The conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the fluctuation | variation of the temperature of the heat pipe vicinity of the heat pipe, (c) The condensation end of a heat pipe It is a conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the fluctuation | variation of the temperature of the vicinity, and (d) The conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the fluctuation | variation of engine oil circulation amount. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the engine warming-up apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the engine warming-up apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2, 3 ... Engine warm-up device, 10 ... Engine, 11 ... Oil pan, 12 ... Oil pump, 13 ... Engine oil flow path, 14 ... Cooling water flow path, 15 ... Water pump, 16 ... Heater core, 17 ... Radiator , 18 ... Thermostat, 20 ... Motor generator, 21 ... Mission oil tank, 30 ... Heat pipe, 30a ... Evaporation end, 30b ... Condensing end, 40 ... ECU, 41 ... Temperature sensor

Claims (4)

Mounted on a vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor,
Cooling water circulation means capable of circulating the cooling water of the engine;
Engine oil circulation means capable of circulating the engine oil of the engine;
A heat pipe having an evaporation end in contact with oil that cools the motor and a condensation end in contact with at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil;
Determining means for determining whether or not the heat pipe is operating;
Control means for controlling at least one of the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating; An engine warm-up device comprising:   The control means is configured to control the cooling water circulation means and the engine oil circulation means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil intermittently when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating. The engine warm-up device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of them is controlled. The determination means includes
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the evaporation end,
The engine warm-up device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the heat pipe is operating based on the detected temperature. Mounted in a vehicle equipped with an engine and a motor, the cooling water circulation means capable of circulating the engine cooling water, the engine oil circulation means capable of circulating the engine oil of the engine, and the evaporation end in contact with the oil for cooling the motor And an engine warm-up method in an engine warm-up device comprising a heat pipe with a condensation end in contact with at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil,
A determination step of determining whether or not the heat pipe is operating;
A control step of controlling at least one of the cooling water circulating means and the engine oil circulating means so as to circulate at least one of the cooling water and the engine oil when it is determined that the heat pipe is operating; An engine warm-up method comprising:

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