JP2018155164A - Vehicle controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle controller capable of reliably and quickly responding to a heating request of a heater.SOLUTION: A vehicle controller includes: an engine enabling full cylinder operation and cylinder deactivation operation; a heater configured to utilize heat of the engine to supply hot air to the cabin; setting means 52 of setting a first prescribed value of a water temperature related value of the engine on the basis of an ambient temperature related value and/or a heating request from a crew of a vehicle, in cold of the engine; and permission means 53 of, when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a prescribed value, permitting the cylinder deactivation operation of the engine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control apparatus, and more specifically, control of a vehicle having an engine capable of all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of a plurality of cylinders and reduced-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in some cylinders. Relates to the device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an engine control device that can perform all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of a plurality of cylinders and reduced-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in some cylinders. For example, a control device described in Patent Document 1 includes a valve operation switching means for switching the operation / non-operation state of an intake / exhaust valve of a cylinder that stops combustion, and a valve that switches the valve operation mode by driving the valve operation switching means. And a variable drive mechanism. Here, the variable valve drive mechanism is hydraulic, and the oil used for the lubrication system of the engine body is shared. For this reason, there may be a case where sufficient hydraulic pressure to drive the valve operation switching means cannot be secured immediately after the engine is started. Therefore, in this control device, the switching control for the reduced cylinder operation is not performed within a predetermined time immediately after the engine is started, and the reduced cylinder operation is performed at a subsequent time.
As described above, in the control device described in Patent Document 1, the fuel efficiency of the engine is reduced by appropriately performing the reduced-cylinder operation after a predetermined time.

JP-A-6-81678

  By the way, the vehicle may be provided with a heating device, and the heating device generally supplies warm air into the vehicle interior using heat generated by the engine. However, when the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine is performed as in the control device described in Patent Document 1, the reduced-cylinder operation has higher thermal efficiency than the case of all-cylinder operation. It becomes difficult to secure the amount of heat required by the heating device.

  The objective of this invention is providing the control apparatus of the vehicle which can respond to the heating request | requirement of a heating apparatus reliably and rapidly.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle control apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of cylinders and performs all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the plurality of cylinders, and combustion is performed in some of the plurality of cylinders. A vehicle control device comprising an engine capable of reducing cylinder operation and a heating device that supplies warm air into the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine, when the engine is cold, Or setting means for setting a predetermined value of the engine water temperature related value based on the heating request of the vehicle occupant, and permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature related value reaches the predetermined value; , Further comprising.

In the present invention configured as described above, when the engine is cold, the setting means sets a predetermined value of the engine water temperature related value based on the outside air temperature related value and / or the heating demand of the vehicle occupant. The permitting means permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature related value reaches a predetermined value.
Here, when the engine is cold, the water temperature related value of the engine is in a relatively low state, and the heat available from the engine is relatively small. In the present invention, when the engine is cold, the permitting unit permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value. Thereby, until the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value, the reduced-cylinder operation is not performed, it is prevented that the amount of heat that can be used for the heating device is reduced, and more heat can be used for the heating device. It becomes possible. Therefore, it becomes possible to respond to the heating request | requirement of a heating apparatus reliably and rapidly.

  In the present invention, when the engine is cold, it means that the temperature of the engine and / or the cooling water of the engine is not sufficiently high. For example, when the engine is not warmed up or when the engine starts, A state in which the engine and / or the engine water temperature is relatively low, for example, when the reduced-cylinder operation or the fuel cut continues for a predetermined time or longer even while the vehicle is running. When the engine is cold, for example, it can be defined as a case where an engine water temperature related value such as a coolant temperature of the engine is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.

In the present invention, the outside air temperature related value is preferably at least one of a starting engine water temperature, a starting engine oil temperature, an engine intake air temperature, a vehicle outside temperature, and a vehicle interior temperature.
In the present invention configured as above, the outside air temperature related value is at least one of the engine water temperature at the start, the engine oil temperature at the start, the engine intake air temperature, the vehicle outside temperature, and the vehicle interior temperature. Information about temperature will be available in a simple configuration.

In the present invention, preferably, the heating device includes a heater device that is heated by engine cooling water, and the engine cooling water is heated when the engine water temperature related value reaches a second predetermined value lower than the predetermined value. It is comprised so that it may supply to an apparatus.
In the present invention configured as described above, when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches the second predetermined value, the engine cooling water is supplied to the heater device. Here, since the second predetermined value is lower than the predetermined value for permitting the reduced cylinder operation, the engine coolant is supplied to the heater device before the reduced cylinder operation is permitted. Therefore, the heater device can be used before the reduced-cylinder operation is permitted by the permission means, and the heat of the engine during the period when the reduced-cylinder operation is not permitted is efficiently used to quickly meet the heating request of the heating device. It becomes possible to respond.

In the present invention, it is preferable to further include a hydraulic variable valve mechanism for changing the valve characteristics of the intake / exhaust valve of the cylinder that stops the combustion during the reduced-cylinder operation, and the permitting means operates the hydraulic variable valve mechanism. When the oil temperature is equal to or higher than the permitted oil temperature for permitting the operation of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism and the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value, the reduced-cylinder operation is permitted.
In the present invention configured as described above, the permitting unit is configured to reduce the cylinder operation when the temperature of the hydraulic oil of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism is equal to or higher than the permitting oil temperature and the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to use more heat for the heating device until the engine water temperature related value reaches the predetermined value, while ensuring the reliable operation of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism hydraulic oil. The

  In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle control apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of cylinders and all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the plurality of cylinders, and combustion is performed in some of the plurality of cylinders. A vehicle control device comprising: an engine capable of reduced-cylinder operation, and a heating device that supplies warm air into the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine, wherein the outside air temperature related value and / or the vehicle A setting means for setting a predetermined value of the engine water temperature related value based on a passenger's heating request; and a permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature related value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value. It is characterized by having.

In the present invention configured as described above, the setting means sets the predetermined value of the engine water temperature related value based on the outside air temperature related value and / or the heating requirement of the vehicle occupant. The permitting unit permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the water temperature related value of the engine is equal to or greater than the set predetermined value.
Since the permitting means permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature-related value is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the reduced-cylinder operation is not performed when the engine water temperature-related value is lower than the predetermined value. It is prevented that the amount of heat available to the device is reduced, and more heat can be used for the heating device. Therefore, it becomes possible to respond to the heating request | requirement of a heating apparatus reliably and rapidly.

  Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-described object, the vehicle control apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of cylinders and combustion in all cylinders and combustion in some of the plurality of cylinders. A vehicle control device comprising an engine capable of reduced-cylinder operation, and a heating device that supplies warm air to the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine, when the engine is cold It further comprises setting means for setting a predetermined value of the engine water temperature based on the engine water temperature, and permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature reaches the predetermined value. .

In the present invention configured as described above, the setting means sets a predetermined value of the engine water temperature based on the engine water temperature when the engine is started when the engine is cold. The permitting unit permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature reaches a predetermined value.
Here, when the engine is cold, the engine water temperature is relatively low and the heat available from the engine is relatively low. In the present invention, when the engine is cold, the permission means permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature reaches a predetermined value. As a result, the reduced-cylinder operation is not performed until the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value, and it is prevented that the amount of heat available for the heating device is reduced, so that more heat is used for the heating device. It becomes possible. Therefore, it becomes possible to respond to the heating request | requirement of a heating apparatus reliably and rapidly.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an engine system to which a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device and a heating device to which a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the driving | operation area | region of an engine in the case of switching an operation mode in the control apparatus of the vehicle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the engine starting water temperature and the cylinder reduction permission water temperature in the vehicle control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing of the control apparatus of the vehicle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, an engine system to which a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an engine system to which a vehicle control device according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device and a heating device to which the vehicle control device according to the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the engine system 100 mainly includes an intake passage 1 through which intake air (air) introduced from the outside passes, intake air supplied from the intake passage 1, and fuel injection described later. An engine 10 (specifically, a gasoline engine) that generates fuel for the vehicle by burning an air-fuel mixture supplied from the valve 13 and an exhaust passage 25 that discharges exhaust gas generated by combustion in the engine 10. And sensors 30 to 38 for detecting various states related to the engine system 100, and a PCM (Power-train Control Module) 50 for controlling the entire engine system 100.

  In the intake passage 1, in order from the upstream side, an air cleaner 3 for purifying intake air introduced from the outside, a throttle valve 5 for adjusting the amount of intake air (intake air amount) passing through, and the intake air supplied to the engine 10 temporarily. And a surge tank 7 for storing automatically.

As shown in FIG. 2, the engine 10 of the present embodiment is an in-line four-cylinder engine having four cylinders 2 (2A to 2D) arranged in a straight line, and these four cylinders 2 (2A to 2D). ) To form a cylinder block 10A and a cylinder head 10B. The engine 10 mainly includes an intake valve 12 that introduces intake air supplied from the intake passage 1 into the combustion chamber 11, a fuel injection valve 13 that injects fuel toward the combustion chamber 11, and a combustion chamber 11. A spark plug 14 that ignites the supplied air-fuel mixture, a piston 15 that reciprocates by combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 11, a crankshaft 16 that is rotated by the reciprocating motion of the piston 15, And an exhaust valve 17 that exhausts exhaust gas generated by combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 11 to the exhaust passage 25.
The pistons 15 provided in the cylinders 2A to 2D reciprocate with a phase difference of 180 ° (180 ° CA) at the crank angle. Correspondingly, the ignition timing in each of the cylinders 2A to 2D is set to a timing shifted in phase by 180 ° CA.

Here, the engine 10 of the present embodiment stops all the cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the four cylinders 2A to 2D and two of the four cylinders 2A to 2D, and the remaining part, In the present embodiment, a reduced-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed by operating two cylinders is configured.
Specifically, in order from the left side of FIG. 2, assuming that the cylinder 2A is the first cylinder, the cylinder 2B is the second cylinder, the cylinder 2C is the third cylinder, and the cylinder 2D is the fourth cylinder, all of the four cylinders 2A to 2D When all cylinders are operated, ignition is performed in the order of the first cylinder 2A → the third cylinder 2C → the fourth cylinder 2D → the second cylinder 2B.
Further, during the reduced-cylinder operation, the ignition operation of the spark plug 14 is prohibited in the two cylinders whose ignition order is not continuous (the first cylinder 2A and the fourth cylinder 2D in the present embodiment), and the remaining two cylinders (that is, the third cylinder) Ignition is performed alternately in the cylinder 2C and the second cylinder 2B).

The engine 10 has a variable valve mechanism 18 that can change the valve characteristics of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17. The variable valve mechanism 18 includes a variable intake valve mechanism 19A and a variable exhaust valve mechanism 19B that can change the operation timing (corresponding to the phase of the valve) of each of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17, and a first during a reduced cylinder operation. And a valve closing holding mechanism 20 that stops the opening and closing operations of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17 of the cylinder 2A and the fourth cylinder 2D and holds the valve closing state.
Various known types can be applied as the variable intake valve mechanism 19A and the variable exhaust valve mechanism 19B. For example, the operation of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17 is performed using a mechanism configured in an electromagnetic or hydraulic manner. Timing can be changed.

  The valve closing holding mechanism 20 includes, for example, a so-called lost motion mechanism that is interposed between the cam and the valve and that enables or disables transmission of the driving force of the cam to the valve. Alternatively, the valve closing holding mechanism 20 includes two types of cams having different cam profiles, a first cam having a cam crest for opening and closing the valve and a second cam for stopping the opening and closing operation of the valve, and the first cam. And a so-called cam shifting mechanism that selectively transmits the operating state of one of the second cams to the valve.

  The exhaust passage 25 is mainly provided with exhaust purification catalysts 26a and 26b having an exhaust gas purification function, such as a NOx catalyst, a three-way catalyst, and an oxidation catalyst.

The engine system 100 is provided with sensors 30 to 38 that detect various states relating to the engine system 100. Specifically, these sensors 30 to 38 are as follows.
The accelerator opening sensor 30 (FIG. 3) detects the accelerator opening which is the accelerator pedal opening (corresponding to the amount by which the driver has depressed the accelerator pedal). The intake air amount sensor 31 detects an intake air amount corresponding to the flow rate of intake air passing through the intake passage 1. The throttle opening sensor 32 detects the throttle opening that is the opening of the throttle valve 5. The intake pressure sensor 33 detects intake manifold pressure (intake manifold pressure) corresponding to the pressure of intake air supplied to the engine 10. The crank angle sensor 34 detects the crank angle in the crankshaft 16. The water temperature sensor 35 detects the engine water temperature that is the temperature of the cooling water that cools the engine 10. The temperature sensor 36 detects an in-cylinder temperature that is a temperature in the cylinder 2 of the engine 10. The cam angle sensors 37 and 38 detect operation timings including the closing timings of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17, respectively. These various sensors 30 to 38 output detection signals S130 to S138 corresponding to the detected parameters to the PCM 50, respectively.

  Next, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the cooling device 60 and the heating device 200 of the engine of this embodiment are demonstrated. The cooling device 60 includes water jackets 61A and 61B formed in the cylinder block 10A and the cylinder head 10B, respectively, in which cooling water for cooling the engine 10 flows, and cooling water that has absorbed heat by the water jackets 61A and 61B. A radiator 62 for cooling and a water pump 63 for returning cooling water from the radiator 62 to the water jackets 61A and 61B are provided. A first passage 64 for cooling water is provided between the outlets of the water jackets 61A and 61B and the inlet of the radiator 62, and a second passage 65 is provided between the outlet of the radiator 62 and the inlet of the water pump 63. A third passage 66 is provided between the outlet of the water pump 63 and the inlets of the water jackets 61A and 61B.

The cooling device 60 is provided with a fourth passage 67 that serves as a flow path that connects the first passage 64 and the second passage 65 and bypasses the radiator 62. A first on-off valve 68 for opening and closing the first passage 64 is provided downstream of the position where the fourth passage 67 is provided in the first passage 64.
The water temperature sensor 35 shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown at a position where the water jacket 61B of the cylinder head 10B exits the first passage 64 in the cooling device 60 shown in FIG.
A radiator water temperature sensor 69 for detecting the outlet temperature of the radiator 62 is provided in the second passage 65 near the outlet of the radiator 62.

The cooling device 60 is further connected to a heater core 70 and an ATF warmer 71 for exchanging heat with engine coolant. The heater core 70 constitutes a part of a heating device 200 for supplying warm air into the vehicle interior. The heating device 200 includes a fan 201, and heats the air from the fan 201 heated by heat exchange in the heater core 70. By supplying the vehicle interior, the vehicle interior is heated. The heating device 200 includes a heating operation member 76 (FIG. 3) such as a heating ON / OFF switch and an air volume adjustment knob that can be operated by a vehicle occupant. A signal S176 from the heating operation member 76 is input to the PCM 50.
The ATF warmer 71 is configured to exchange heat with the cooling water of the engine, whereby the lubricating oil of the automatic transmission is warmed using the heat of the engine 10.

The heater core 70 and the ATF warmer 71 are provided in a fifth passage 72 connected to the first passage 64, and are connected to branch passages 72A and 72B branching in parallel from the fifth passage 72, respectively. The outlets of the heater core 70 and the ATF warmer 71 are connected to a sixth passage 73, and the sixth passage 73 is connected to the second passage 65.
The fifth passage 72 is provided with a second on-off valve 75 that opens and closes the fifth passage 72.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the PCM 50 detects the components in the engine system 100 based on the detection signals S130 to S138 input from the various sensors 30 to 38 described above, the signal S176 input from the heating operation member 76, and the like. Take control. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the PCM 50 supplies a control signal S105 to the throttle valve 5, controls the opening / closing timing and throttle opening of the throttle valve 5, and sends a control signal S113 to the fuel injection valve 13. Then, the fuel injection amount and the fuel injection timing are controlled, the control signal S114 is supplied to the spark plug 14, the ignition timing is controlled, and the control signal S119 is supplied to each of the variable intake valve mechanism 19A and the variable exhaust valve mechanism 19B. , The operation timing of the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17 is controlled, the control signal S120 is supplied to the valve closing holding mechanism 20, and the intake valve 12 and the exhaust valve 17 of the first cylinder 2A and the fourth cylinder 2D are supplied. Controls stop / actuation of the opening / closing operation and maintenance of the valve closed state. Further, the PCM 50 supplies a control signal S168 to the first opening / closing valve 68 of the cooling device 60 to control opening / closing of the first passage 64, and supplies a control signal S175 to the second opening / closing valve 75 of the cooling device 60. Thus, the opening / closing of the fifth passage 72 is controlled. Further, the PCM 50 supplies a control signal S200 to the fan 201 of the heating device 200 to control the operation / stop of the fan 201.

  In addition, the PCM 50 according to the present embodiment includes an all-cylinder reduction cylinder switching unit 51 for switching between all-cylinder operation and reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 and a predetermined engine water temperature of cooling water of the engine 10 when the engine 10 is cooled. Setting means 52 for setting a value and permission means 53 for permitting reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature of the engine reaches a predetermined value.

The all-cylinder reduction cylinder switching means 51 is configured to switch from all-cylinder operation to reduced-cylinder operation in accordance with the operating state of the engine 10.
FIG. 4 is a map conceptually showing an engine operation region when the operation mode is switched in the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the engine speed Ne on the horizontal axis and the engine load CE on the vertical axis. As shown in FIG. 4, a reduced-cylinder operation region A for performing reduced-cylinder operation is set in a range where the engine speed is relatively low and the engine load is low, and in a range excluding this reduced-cylinder operation region, An all-cylinder operation region B for performing all-cylinder operation is set. The all cylinder reduction cylinder switching means 51 is an engine load calculated from the engine speed calculated from the crank angle input from the crank angle sensor 34 and information input from the accelerator opening sensor 30, the crank angle sensor 34, and the like. With reference to the map shown in FIG. 4, it is configured to determine whether the current engine speed and the engine load are included in the reduced-cylinder operation region A or the all-cylinder operation region B. Yes. Further, the all-cylinder reduction cylinder switching means 51 determines that the current operation state is in the reduction-cylinder operation area A, and as a result, when it is necessary to switch from all-cylinder operation to reduced-cylinder operation, the variable valve mechanism 18 The valve closing holding mechanism 20 is controlled to close the first cylinder 2A and the fourth cylinder 2D.

The setting means 52 is configured to acquire the temperature of the cooling water of the engine 10, that is, the engine water temperature as the starting water temperature from the water temperature sensor 35 when the engine 10 is started. Further, the setting means 52 is configured to set a first predetermined value of the engine water temperature for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation based on the engine water temperature when the engine 10 is started.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the starting water temperature of the engine 10 and the reduced cylinder permissible water temperature in the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. When the engine 10 is started, the engine 10 is in a cold state, and the engine water temperature has a certain correlation with the outside air temperature. Therefore, in this embodiment, the engine water temperature is adopted as an outside air temperature related value related to the outside air temperature, and the setting means 52 refers to a map as shown in FIG. 5 based on the engine water temperature and permits the reduced cylinder operation. An engine water temperature reduction permitting water temperature to be set is set as a first predetermined value.

  The permission means 53 is configured to monitor the engine water temperature of the engine 10 and permit the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value.

  Each component of the PCM 50 as described above includes a CPU, various programs that are interpreted and executed on the CPU (including a basic control program such as an OS and an application program that is activated on the OS to realize a specific function), and It is constituted by a computer having an internal memory such as a ROM or RAM for storing programs and various data.

Next, engine control processing by the vehicle control apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the engine control process of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, when it is confirmed that the ignition of the vehicle is turned on and the engine control device is turned on (YES in step S1), the engine 10 is started (step S2). The engine control process of the form is activated. When the engine 10 is started, it is cold when the engine 10 is not warmed.

First, the PCM 50 detects the starting engine water temperature, which is the temperature of the cooling water of the engine 10, from the water temperature sensor 35 as a detection signal S135 (step S3). The setting means 52 sets a first predetermined value for permitting reduced cylinder operation based on the detected engine water temperature (step S4).
The PCM 50 monitors the engine water temperature input from the water temperature sensor 35 (step S5), and permits the reduced cylinder operation of the engine 10 when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value (YES in step S5) (step S6). ). On the other hand, if the engine water temperature has not reached the first predetermined value in step S5, the PCM 50 disallows the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 (step S7).

  After permitting the reduced cylinder operation in step S6, the all cylinder reduced cylinder switching means 51 closes the variable valve mechanism 18 when determining that it is necessary to switch the entire cylinder operation of the engine 10 to the reduced cylinder operation. A control signal S120 is transmitted to the valve holding mechanism 20, and the first cylinder 2A and the fourth cylinder 2D are closed to switch to the reduced cylinder operation.

  Regardless of the control processing described above, the PCM 50 closes both the first on-off valve 68 and the second on-off valve 75 of the cooling device 60 when the engine is started. Thereby, the cooling water of the engine 10 passes from the water jackets 61 </ b> A and 61 </ b> B through the first passage 64 to the second passage 65 through the fourth passage 67 bypassing the radiator 62, and from the water pump 63 to the water jacket 61. Return. The PCM 50 monitors the engine water temperature input from the water temperature sensor 35, and when the engine water temperature reaches a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value that permits the reduced-cylinder operation, the PCM 50 opens the second on-off valve 75. The valve is opened, and the cooling water flowing through the first passage 64 is also distributed to the heater core 70 and the ATF warmer 71. Thereby, heat exchange in the heater core 70 is performed, and it becomes possible to supply warm air. When there is a heating request by operating the heating operation member 76 of the vehicle occupant, the PCM 50 operates the fan 201 to supply heat heated by the heater core 70 to the vehicle interior. Further, when the engine water temperature reaches a third predetermined value higher than the second predetermined value, the PCM 50 determines that the cooling water of the engine 10 is sufficiently high, and the first on-off valve 68 is opened to open the engine 10. A part of the cooling water is passed through the radiator 62 to cool the cooling water.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
When the engine 10 is cold, that is, when the engine 10 is started, the setting means 52 sets a first predetermined value based on the engine water temperature at the time of starting, and the permission means 53 determines when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value. Since the reduced-cylinder operation of 10 is permitted, the reduced-cylinder operation is not performed until the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value. Here, the engine 10 is started when the engine 10 is cold. At this time, the coolant temperature of the engine is relatively low, and the amount of heat exchanged by the heater core 70 is relatively small. In addition, if the reduced-cylinder operation is performed when the engine is cold, the heat efficiency is improved by the reduced-cylinder operation. Therefore, heat is not transferred to the cooling water of the engine 10, and the amount of heat that can be exchanged with the heater core 70 is further reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the permission unit 53 permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value when the engine is cold, so that the engine water temperature is less than the first predetermined value. While the temperature is low, it is possible to prevent the amount of heat that can be used by the reduced cylinder operation from being reduced. Thereby, the heat of the cooling water of the engine can be efficiently recovered by the heater core 70, and when the heating device is used, the heating request can be reliably and promptly met.
Further, since the permitting means 53 permits the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine 10 when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value, it responds to the heating request without permitting the reduced-cylinder operation when the engine water temperature is relatively low. On the other hand, after the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value, the reduced-cylinder operation can be permitted to reduce fuel consumption, so that both the heating request and the reduced-cylinder request can be achieved.

  Since the temperature of the cooling water of the engine 10 at the time of starting the engine 10 (starting engine water temperature) is adopted and the setting means 52 sets the first predetermined value based on the starting engine water temperature, the water temperature already provided is set. Information relating to the outside air temperature can be obtained using information obtained from the sensor 35. Therefore, the configuration of the vehicle control device can be simplified.

  When the engine water temperature reaches the second predetermined value, the PCM 50 opens the second on-off valve 75 and supplies the coolant for the engine 10 to the heater core 70. Here, since the second predetermined value is set lower than the first predetermined value for permitting the reduced cylinder operation, the cooling water of the engine is supplied before the permitting means 53 permits the reduced cylinder operation. It can be supplied to the heater core 70. Therefore, since the heat of the engine can be used for the heating device before the reduced-cylinder operation is permitted, it is possible to quickly respond to the heating request of the heating device.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and may be, for example, as follows.
In the above-described embodiment, the setting means sets the first predetermined value based on the engine water temperature at the time of starting. However, the setting means is not limited to this, and the setting means sets the predetermined value based on other outside air temperature related values. It may be set. As the outside air temperature related value, for example, at least one of engine water temperature at startup, engine oil temperature, engine intake air temperature, vehicle outside air temperature, and vehicle interior temperature may be adopted.

Further, the setting means is not limited to setting the first predetermined value based on the outside air temperature related value such as the engine water temperature. A first predetermined value of the engine coolant temperature may be set based on the request. Further, the setting means may set a predetermined value of the coolant temperature related value of the engine coolant based on the outside air temperature related value and the heating demand of the vehicle occupant.
In the above-described embodiment, the setting means is configured to set the predetermined value of the engine water temperature. However, the setting means is not limited to this, and the water temperature related value related to the coolant temperature of the engine such as the engine oil temperature is not limited thereto. You may be comprised so that a predetermined value may be set.

In the above-described embodiment, the heating device includes the heater core 70, and when the engine water temperature reaches a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value, the second on-off valve 75 is opened to supply engine cooling water to the heater core 70. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second predetermined value may be set to be equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, or the second predetermined value may not be set. The second predetermined value is not limited to the set value of the engine water temperature, but may be a set value of other water temperature related values such as the engine oil temperature. Furthermore, the condition for supplying the cooling water to the heater core 70 is not limited to when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches the second predetermined value, and can be arbitrarily set, for example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the engine was started.
The setting means can set a predetermined value for the coolant temperature related to the engine coolant in any case, not limited to when the engine is cold.

In the above-described embodiment, the permission unit 53 is configured to permit the reduced-cylinder operation when the engine water temperature reaches the first predetermined value. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the engine water temperature is set to the first predetermined value. In addition to reaching, the reduced-cylinder operation may be permitted when the temperature of the hydraulic oil of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism becomes equal to or higher than the permitted oil temperature. According to such a configuration, it is possible to reliably operate the hydraulic oil of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism while allowing more heat to be used for the heating device until the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value. Can be secured.
Further, the permission means is not limited to the one configured to permit the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value. For example, the water temperature related value of the engine becomes a predetermined value or more. In such a case, the engine may be configured to allow the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Engine 14 Spark plug 18 Variable valve mechanism 35 Water temperature sensor 51 All cylinder reduction cylinder switching means 52 Setting means 53 Permit means 70 Heater core (heater apparatus)
76 Heating operation member

Claims (6)

An engine having a plurality of cylinders and capable of all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the plurality of cylinders and reduced cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in some of the plurality of cylinders;
A heating device for supplying warm air into the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine;
A vehicle control device comprising:
Setting means for setting a predetermined value of the water temperature related value of the engine based on an outside air temperature related value and / or a heating request of an occupant of the vehicle when the engine is cold.
Permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the water temperature related value of the engine reaches the predetermined value;
A control apparatus for a vehicle. The outside air temperature related value is at least one of start-up engine water temperature, start-up engine oil temperature, engine intake air temperature, vehicle outside air temperature, and vehicle interior temperature.
The vehicle control device according to claim 1. The heating device includes a heater device heated by cooling water of the engine,
When the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a second predetermined value lower than the predetermined value, the engine coolant is configured to be supplied to the heater device.
The vehicle control device according to claim 1 or 2. A hydraulic variable valve mechanism for changing a valve characteristic of an intake / exhaust valve of the cylinder that stops the combustion during the reduced-cylinder operation;
The permission means is configured such that the temperature of the hydraulic oil of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism is equal to or higher than a permitted oil temperature that permits the operation of the hydraulic variable valve mechanism, and the water temperature related value of the engine reaches a predetermined value. Configured to allow the reduced-cylinder operation when
The vehicle control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An engine having a plurality of cylinders and capable of all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the plurality of cylinders and reduced cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in some of the plurality of cylinders;
A heating device for supplying warm air into the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine;
A vehicle control device comprising:
Setting means for setting a predetermined value of the water temperature related value of the engine based on an outside air temperature related value and / or a heating request of an occupant of the vehicle;
Permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the water temperature related value of the engine is equal to or greater than the predetermined value;
A control apparatus for a vehicle. An engine having a plurality of cylinders and capable of all-cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in all of the plurality of cylinders and reduced cylinder operation in which combustion is performed in some of the plurality of cylinders;
A heating device for supplying warm air into the vehicle interior using the heat of the engine;
A vehicle control device comprising:
Setting means for setting a predetermined value of the engine water temperature based on the engine water temperature at the time of engine start when the engine is cold;
Permission means for permitting the reduced-cylinder operation of the engine when the engine water temperature reaches the predetermined value;
A control apparatus for a vehicle.

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