JPH10169443A - Device and method for adjusting temperature for circulating fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the temperature of a circulating fluid to a desired level. SOLUTION: A temperature adjusting device comprises a circulation system flow passage 3, a heat exchanging means 2 provided in the midway of the flow passage 3 for heating or cooling a circulating fluid, a fluid control valve 6 provided in the flow passage 3 for controlling the inflow or outflow of the circulating fluid from the heat exchanging means caused by a change in the temperature of the circulating fluid, a circulation driving means 4 for circulating fluids to the flow passage 3, a temperature detecting means 10 for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid, and a control means 9 for controlling the driving of the fluid control valve 6 and the circulation driving means 4 based on a preset content and the temperature of circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circulating fluid temperature control apparatus and method for cooling or heating a circulating fluid by exchanging heat with a radiator or other heat exchange means. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a temperature control device and a temperature control method, there are provided a circulation driving means for circulating a fluid (circulating fluid) in a circulation passage of a circulation system, and a fluid control valve for controlling the flow of the fluid by changing the temperature of the circulating fluid. What is used for a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine is well known. FIG. 7 shows an example of a cooling system for an automobile engine using a thermostat as a fluid control valve. Reference numeral 1 denotes an engine, reference numeral 2 denotes a radiator, and reference numeral 3 denotes cooling water (circulating fluid) between the engine 1 and the radiator 2. It is a cooling water channel that circulates circulation. Cooling channel 3
Is a cooling water outflow portion 1a provided at an upper portion of the engine 1.
Cooling water inflow section 2 provided above radiator 2
outflow-side cooling water passage (first flow passage) 3a communicating with a
And a cooling water outlet 2 provided at a lower portion of the radiator 2.
b, the inflow part 1 of the cooling water provided in the lower part of the engine 1
b (inflow-side cooling water passage (second flow passage)) communicating with b
And a bypass water passage (third flow passage) 3c that connects the middle portions of the cooling water passages 3a and 3b in a communicating manner.

[0003] A thermostat 6 is provided at a branch portion between the outflow side cooling water passage 3a and the bypass water passage 3c. The thermostat 6 has a built-in thermal expansion body that expands and contracts due to a change in the temperature of the cooling water. When the temperature of the cooling water is high, the valve opens by expansion of the thermal expansion body, and the cooling water flowing out of the outflow portion 1 a of the engine 1. Can flow into the radiator 2 through the outflow-side cooling water passage 3a, and the cooling water that has been radiated to the radiator 2 and has a low temperature flows out of the outflow portion 2b, passes through the inflow-side cooling water passage 3b, and flows into the engine 1 This is to flow into the engine 1 from the section 1b. When the temperature of the cooling water is low, the valve is closed by contraction of the thermal expansion body, and the cooling water flowing out of the outflow portion 1a of the engine 1 passes through the bypass water passage 3c, passes through the inflow cooling water passage 3b, and flows out of the inflow portion 1b of the engine 1. Engine 1
So that it flows inside. In the figure, reference numeral 4 'denotes a water pump, which rotates a rotation shaft by rotation of a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 1 to forcibly circulate cooling water, and reference numeral 12 denotes a cooling air forcibly supplied to the radiator 2. Is a cooling fan.

[0004]

However, since the valve opening amount of the thermostat 6 is uniquely determined by the temperature of the cooling water, it is extremely difficult to adjust the temperature of the cooling water to a desired temperature. There is a problem that there is. In addition, especially in an engine for an automobile, there are the following problems in addition to the above. The temperature of the cooling water flowing through the engine greatly affects fuel efficiency and exhaust gas characteristics (particularly the ratio and amount of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons). In a conventional cooling system that uses a thermostat to adjust the cooling water temperature, the valve opening amount for the cooling water temperature is unique, and the exhaust gas characteristics etc. are optimized only by adjusting the cooling water temperature It is extremely difficult. There is also known a thermostat in which the amount of valve opening is quickly increased by heating the thermal expansion body by a heating means, and high-temperature cooling water can be sent to the radiator 2. Since the thermal time constant is large, the valve opening amount does not readily decrease even if the cooling water temperature decreases, and the cooling water temperature becomes too low.

In the type in which the water pump is directly driven by driving the engine, the amount of circulation of the cooling water is determined by the number of revolutions of the engine. For example, the amount of circulation of the cooling water during idling in a cold season becomes too large. In addition, the warm-up operation is not promoted, and the fuel efficiency and the exhaust gas characteristics are deteriorated. In the case where the water pump is driven by a servo motor, when the engine load shifts from a large load to a low load, it is necessary to reduce the rotation speed of the servo motor and reduce the amount of cooling water circulated by the water pump. But,
Since the flow rate of the cooling water decreases depending on the location where the cooling water temperature is detected, a phenomenon called boiling, in which the cooling water boils locally in the piping of the cooling water passage 3, may occur. Such a phenomenon can be prevented by reducing the amount of valve opening of the thermostat, but is not possible with the conventional thermostat since the amount of valve opening is uniquely determined by the cooling water temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a circulating drive means for circulating a circulating fluid in a flow passage, and a fluid for controlling the flow of the fluid by changing the temperature of the circulating fluid. A temperature control device and a method for controlling the temperature of the circulating fluid to a desired temperature by providing a temperature control device and a method for controlling the temperature of the circulating fluid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a circulating fluid temperature control apparatus and method that can adjust a cooling water temperature to an optimum value according to a load, and can perform a temperature control of a cooling water with a high response in response to a change in an engine load. Things.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a circulating fluid temperature controller according to the present invention is capable of controlling an opening amount of a fluid control valve and controlling a controllable drive of a servomotor or the like. The circulating drive means is also controllable using the body, and these controls are performed based on the temperature of the circulating fluid and the setting contents preset in the control device. More specifically, the temperature control device of claim 1 is provided in the circulation passage, a heat exchange unit that is provided in the middle of the circulation passage, and that heats or cools the circulating fluid, and is provided in the circulation passage, A fluid control valve for controlling the inflow or outflow of the circulating fluid to or from the heat exchange means by a temperature change of the circulating fluid, a circulation driving means for circulating the fluid in the flow passage, and a temperature for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid The control unit controls the driving of the fluid control valve and the circulation drive unit based on preset settings and the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detection unit. The temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the fluid control valve is a thermostat including a temperature-sensitive operating body that operates according to a temperature change, and the temperature-controlled operating body is heated at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid. Heating or cooling means for heating or cooling to operate is provided, and the control means controls the driving of the heating or cooling means and the circulating drive means by setting contents set in advance and the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means. It is configured to control based on the temperature of. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control device, wherein: a heat generating element; heat exchange means for cooling a circulating fluid heated by the heat generating element; and a first flow path for circulating the circulating fluid flowing from the heat generating element to the heat exchange means. A flow passage, a second flow passage through which the circulating fluid cooled by the heat exchange means flows into the heating element,
And a third flow path connecting the second flow path and the second flow path in a communication manner, and a third flow path provided in one of the first flow path and the third flow path. A fluid control valve that controls the inflow or outflow of the circulating fluid to the heat exchange means by changing the temperature of the circulating fluid.
Circulation drive means for circulating the fluid in the flow passage, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid, drive of the fluid control valve and the circulation drive means, a preset content and the temperature detection means And control means for controlling based on the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the control means. The temperature control device according to claim 4, wherein in the temperature control device for circulating fluid, the fluid control valve is a thermostat including a temperature-sensitive operating member that operates according to a change in temperature of the circulating fluid. Heating or cooling means for heating or cooling to operate at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid; the heating element is an engine; and a state detecting means for detecting a load on the engine; Selects a predetermined temperature from preset temperatures of the circulating fluid based on the detection content detected by the state detecting means, and selects the selected predetermined temperature and the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means. The driving of the heating or cooling means and the circulation driving means is controlled based on the temperature of the heating means. The temperature control device according to claim 5 is the temperature control device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the state detection means detects an engine state and an engine speed, and the control means includes the engine state and the engine speed. The setting content preset according to the temperature of the circulating fluid preset according to the engine speed, and the difference between the preset temperature of the circulating fluid and the actual temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means. Having a storage unit for storing a predetermined temperature from the temperature of the circulating fluid stored in the storage unit according to the detected engine state and the engine speed, the selected temperature,
Comparing the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting unit with the temperature of the circulating fluid, and controlling the driving of the heating or cooling unit and the circulating driving unit based on the setting result stored in the storage unit based on the comparison result It was constituted as.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control method comprising the steps of: detecting a temperature of a circulating fluid flowing through a flow path of a circulating system; and comparing a detected temperature of the circulating fluid with a preset temperature of the circulating fluid. And controlling a fluid control valve that controls the circulation of the circulating fluid flowing through the flow path based on the comparison result and a circulation driving unit that circulates the fluid through the flow path. The temperature adjusting method according to claim 7, wherein a step of detecting a temperature of the circulating fluid after the heating element is started, a step of detecting a state of the heating element, and a step of detecting the state of the circulating fluid based on the detected state of the heating element. Reading the temperature from the storage unit, and controlling the fluid control valve and the circulation drive unit based on the detected temperature of the circulating fluid and the predetermined temperature read from the storage unit. The temperature control method according to claim 8 is the temperature control method according to claim 7, wherein the heating element is an engine, the state of the heating element is the engine state and the number of revolutions, and the fluid control valve is a circulating fluid temperature. A thermostat including a temperature-sensitive operating body that operates by change, wherein the thermostat includes a step of heating or cooling the temperature-sensitive operating body to operate at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid; The heating or cooling of the circulating fluid and the driving of the circulating driving means are performed by comparing the temperature of the circulating fluid preset from the engine state and the engine speed with the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means. It was configured to be controlled based on the results.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the circulating fluid temperature control device is used for an automobile that cools an engine by circulating cooling water (circulating fluid) between an engine (heating element) and a radiator (heat exchange means). Although the present invention will be described as an engine cooling device, the present invention can be applied to other temperature adjusting devices as long as the temperature of the circulating fluid is adjusted to a constant temperature. 1 (a) is an overall configuration diagram of an engine cooling device to which the circulating fluid temperature control device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 (b) is an explanatory diagram of a control device, and FIG. 2 is used for the cooling device of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a thermostat to be used. The same parts and members as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, such as the engine 1, the radiator 2, and the cooling water passage 3, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[Description of Circulation Driving Means and Water Temperature Detection Means] In this embodiment, the circulation driving means for circulating the cooling water in the direction of the arrow in FIG. It comprises a servo motor 5 as a driving body rotated at a rotational speed, and a water pump 4 driven by the servo motor 5. A belt 5a is stretched between the drive shaft of the servo motor 5 and the rotation shaft of the water pump 4, and the drive of the servo motor 5 is transmitted to the water pump 4 via the belt 5a. The driving body may be any one that can be controlled by the control device 9, and is not limited to the servo motor 5, but may be another driving body such as a stepping motor. The outflow-side water passage 3a is provided with a water temperature sensor 10 as water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the outflow-side water passage 3a. In this embodiment, the water temperature sensor 10 is disposed near the cooling water outflow portion 1a of the engine 1, but is not limited to this position as long as it can detect the cooling water temperature. It may be provided near the thermostat 6 which is a valve. The detection signal output from the water temperature sensor 10 is transmitted to the control device 9 via the signal line 9a.

[0011] In addition to the signal transmitted from the water temperature sensor 10, a signal transmitted from the state detecting means 11 for detecting the state of the engine 1 is input to the control device 9 via a signal line 9 b. In this embodiment, the state detecting means 11 comprises a throttle position sensor 11a for detecting the opening of the throttle valve and an engine speed detecting sensor 11b for detecting the engine speed. Instead of detecting the opening of the throttle valve, an air flow meter or a negative pressure gauge may be provided to detect the amount of intake air or the negative pressure of the air intake pipe. As shown in FIG. 2, a thermostat 6 provided at a branch point of the outflow-side waterway 3a includes a frame 6b fixed to the outflow-side waterway 3a, and a thermoelement 7 attached to the frame 6b and serving as a temperature-sensitive operating body. Flange part 6 for supporting
e, a valve element 6a that is opened and closed by the thermoelement 7
And a spring 6d for normally urging the valve body 6a in the closing direction.

The thermoelement 7 further advances and retreats while being guided by the piston guide 7b, and has a piston 7a whose tip engages with the top of a support portion 6c formed on the frame 6b. And a temperature sensor 7c having a built-in thermal expansion element (wax) 7d for moving the piston 7a forward and backward. A thermistor (hereinafter, PTC) as a heating means for heating the thermal expansion element 7d is provided at the bottom of the temperature detection section 7c. 8) are provided. The PTC 8 is connected to a power supply unit 13 provided outside the cooling water passage 3 by a lead wire 8 a, and has a temperature corresponding to the magnitude of the voltage applied from the power supply unit 13.
d can be heated. The power supply unit 13 is connected to the control device 9 by a signal line 9c, and applies a predetermined applied voltage to the PTC 8 according to a command signal from the control device 9. Reference numeral 14 denotes a power supply such as a battery that supplies power to the power supply unit 13.

If the thermostat 6 in this embodiment has a temperature-sensitive operating element that opens and closes the valve element 6a by a change in temperature of the circulating fluid, the thermo-expanding element 7d of the thermo-element 7 as described above is used. The present invention is not limited to the one that opens and closes the valve body 6a by expansion and contraction. For example, a bellows-type thermostat that operates by a change in internal pressure due to a temperature change or a thermostat that uses a bimetal may be used. . Further, in this embodiment, the heating means is provided with a thermal expansion member 7 according to the magnitude of the applied voltage.
Other means such as a heater may be used as long as d can be raised to a temperature higher than the cooling water.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the control device 9 includes a memory 17 as storage means, a signal processing unit 15 for converting various input signals into digital signals or the like recognizable by the control device 9, A comparing unit 16 for comparing the input data processed by the signal processing unit 15 with the contents stored in the memory 17
And a processing unit 1 for calculating the comparison result by the comparison unit 16 and outputting a command signal to the power supply unit 13 and the servomotor 5.
8 is provided. In the memory 17, in addition to optimum cooling temperature for each load condition of the engine 1 is stored, and optimal coolant temperature _{T 11, T 12, T 13} ·· T nm that stored,
Servo motor 5 for each temperature difference ΔT _x (ΔT _x = T−T _nm ) from actual cooling water temperature T input from water temperature sensor 10
Rotation speed (or pulse duty value) and PTC8
The applied voltage from the power supply unit 13 based on the heating temperature is set and stored.

[0015] Figure 3 shows the storage contents stored in the memory 17, (a) is a representation of the optimal coolant temperature per load of the engine 1 to the table, (b) the per temperature difference [Delta] T _x Rotation speed (rpm) of the servo motor 5 and the power supply unit 1
3 is an example in which an applied voltage (V) of No. 3 is indicated by a parameter.
In general, the load of the engine 1 is closely related to the opening degree of the throttle valve, the amount of intake air or the negative pressure (negative pressure of the air intake pipe) and the engine speed. As the opening degree, the intake air amount, or the negative pressure increases, the load on the engine 1 increases, and the cooling water temperature needs to be lowered. Similarly, under a constant throttle valve opening, intake air amount, or negative pressure, it is necessary to lower the cooling water temperature as the engine speed increases.

The table shown in FIG. 3A shows the relationship between the load of the engine 1 and the temperature of the cooling water. The horizontal axis represents the engine speed (rpm), and the vertical axis represents the opening of the throttle valve (θ). It is. In this table, the vertical axis is every 10 ° of throttle opening,
The horizontal axis is divided for every 1000 rpm of the engine speed, and the optimal cooling water temperature T for each area partitioned in a matrix.
_11, T ₁₂ , T ₁₃ ... T _nm are defined. In general, the engine load increases as toward the top right of the table, becomes smaller as it goes to the lower left of the table, the upper right of the cooling water temperature Tnm table the lowest, bottom left of the cooling water temperature T ₁₁ in the table is the highest. The cooling water temperature of the engine for an automobile, because generally in the range of 75 degrees to 110 degrees centigrade, the upper right of the cooling water temperature Tnm becomes 75 degrees, the bottom left of the cooling water temperature T ₁₁ is 110 degrees. The optimum cooling water temperature T11 _, T determined as described above
_12, T ₁₃ ·· T _nm it is stored in the memory 17 in correspondence to the throttle opening (theta) and the engine speed (rpm). The same applies to the case where the optimum cooling water temperature is obtained from the intake air amount or the negative pressure and the engine speed.

The control unit 9 receives the input data on the throttle valve opening (θ), the intake air amount or the negative pressure, and the input data on the engine speed (rpm) transmitted from the throttle position meter, air flow meter or negative pressure gauge. Cooling water temperature T optimal for the engine load
_11, T ₁₂ , T ₁₃ ... T _nm are read from the memory 17.

The parameters shown in FIG. 3B are the optimum cooling water temperatures T _11, T ₁₂ , T ₁₃ ... T _nm selected as described above.
And the actual cooling water temperature T detected by the water temperature sensor 10
Temperature difference between ΔT _1, T ₂ ··, servo motors 5 for each T _X
R _1, R _2, ... R _x (rpm) of the
_, V _2, ... V _x (V). For example, the optimum cooling water temperature at low load is T
₁₁ (see Table 3 (a)), the difference from the actual cooling water temperature T is represented by ΔT ₁ (ΔT ₁ = T−T ₁₁ ), and the rotational speed R ₁ (rpm) of the servo motor 5 The applied voltage V ₁ (V) of the power supply unit 13 is selected, and the servo motor 5 and the power supply unit 1 are selected.
3 is commanded.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the valve opening amount due to the provision of the PTC 8 and the cooling water temperatures T _1, T ₂ . The PTC 8 is connected to the voltages V _1, V _2,
.. Since the heat is generated by V _x (V), the temperature sensing unit 7c
The temperature is higher than the actual cooling water temperature T _1, T _{2 ··,}
The valve opening increases accordingly. As shown in FIG.
There is a difference δ in the valve opening amount between the case where C8 is not provided (line indicated by A) and the case where PTC8 is provided (line indicated by B). Accordingly, the cooling water temperature T _1, T ₂ ... is well capable of accelerating the opening timing of the thermostat 6 when raised, the magnitude of the applied voltage coolant temperature T _1, T _2, changing every ... Thereby, the valve opening amount of the thermostat 6 can be adjusted.

The present invention is intended to bring the cooling water temperature closer to the preset optimum cooling water temperature by combining the increase and decrease of the rotation speed of the servomotor 5 and the adjustment of the valve opening of the thermostat 6. In addition, the combination of the two makes it possible to finely control the temperature of the cooling water which cannot be realized conventionally. Therefore, the rotation speed R _1, R ₂ of the servomotor 5, · · R _x
(Rpm) and the amount of opening of the thermostat 6, i.e. the applied voltage V ₁ of the feed section _{13, V 2, ·· V x} (V) , the coolant temperature is that of the optimum under the engine load combinations thereof Must be chosen as follows.

These temperature differences ΔT_1,T_Two・ ・ 、 T_XAgainst
Rotation speed R of the servo motor 5_1,R_2,..R_x(Rpm)
And the applied voltage V of the power supply unit 13_1,V_2,..V_x(V)
May be determined in association with each other
However, it may be determined independently. That is, an example
For example, when the engine 1 is switched from a large load to a low load or no load
When shifting, thermostat 6 is closed to some extent
To raise the temperature of the cooling water, and at low load or no load
It is necessary to prevent the supercooling of the engine 1 at
In this case, the applied voltage V_1,V_2,..V_xDo not change
And increase the number of rotations of the servo motor 5 to some extent to cool
Pour a large amount of water through the thermostat 6
Thus, the valve opening amount can be reduced to some extent. this
Speed R_1,R _2,..R_xAnd applied voltage V_1,V_2,..V_x
The optimal combination of (V) is based on experiments, calculations, experiences, etc.
Can be determined based on

Next, the invention of the cooling method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When the engine is started (Step 1), a detection signal of the cooling water temperature detected by the water temperature sensor 10, a detection signal of the engine speed, and a detection signal of the opening of the throttle valve are output to the control device 9 (Steps 2 to 4). . The control unit 9 is converted into a signal conversion unit 15 of these signals such as a digital signal, the optimal cooling load of the engine 1 obtained from the opening degree and the engine speed of the throttle valve temperature T _11, T _12, T ₁₃ ·· T _nm the memory 17 (FIG. 3
(A)) (Step 5), and the comparison unit 16 compares it with the actual cooling water temperature T (Step 6). as a result,
When the cooling water temperature is higher or lower than the optimum temperature, reading both the difference [Delta] T _1, T ₂ · ·, the rotational speed of the voltage and the servo motor 5 is applied to PTC8 based on T _X from the memory 17 ( Step 7), the read rotation speed R1 _{,
R 2, ·· R x (rpm} ) and the applied voltage V _1, V _2, ·· V
_The power supply unit 13 and the servomotor 5 are controlled according to _x (V) (steps 8 and 9). As a result, the cooling water temperature is adjusted to an optimum value according to the engine load. The above steps 1 to 12 are repeated while the engine 1 is driven (step 10), but are terminated by outputting a stop signal of the engine 1 (steps 10 and 1).
1).

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the thermostat 6 is provided in the outflow-side water passage 3a. However, the position where the thermostat 6 is provided is not limited to the outflow-side water passage 3a, and may be provided in the bypass water passage 3c. In addition, the PCT or the heater has been described as an example of the heating means. However, the present invention is not limited to such a heating means. For example, a cooling means that can lower the temperature-sensitive operating body below the temperature of the circulating fluid in accordance with the applied voltage is used. There may be. Furthermore, although the opening degree of the throttle, the intake air amount or the negative pressure has been described as an example of the element representing the magnitude of the engine load, other elements such as the depression speed of the throttle pedal, that is, the rotation speed of the throttle valve ( θ / s). Although a thermostat has been described as an example of a fluid control valve, other fluid control valves that can control the valve opening amount, such as a motor such as a DC motor or a stepping motor, a valve using a solenoid, or the like, are used. It may be a fluid control valve that opens and closes the body. However, in this case, since the valve opening can be directly adjusted by a command signal from the control device 9, it is not always necessary to provide a heating means or a cooling means as in the thermostat 6 described above.

Further, in the above embodiment, the description has been made on the premise that the temperature control device has the heating element (engine 1) and the heat exchange means (radiator 2). However, the temperature control device of the present invention has another form. For example, it is also possible to configure as a temperature control device as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the entire configuration of the temperature control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The temperature control device in this embodiment is provided with a heat exchanger 22 for heating or cooling the circulating fluid, a circulation passage 23 in the circulation system, and the circulation passage 23. A fluid control valve 26 for controlling the inflow or outflow of the circulating fluid; a circulating drive means 25 for circulating the fluid in the flow passage 23; a temperature sensor 30 as a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the circulating fluid; And a control unit 29 for controlling the driving of the circulation driving unit 25 based on the setting contents preset in a memory or the like and the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detection unit.

Such a temperature control device 21 can be applied to a wide variety of fields requiring temperature control of a circulating fluid flowing through a circulation passage of a circulation system, such as a cooling and heating system of a building or a house, or a snow melting facility buried in a road. It is. The fluid control valve 26 may be any one of the thermostat 6, the motor such as the DC motor and the stepping motor, the solenoid, and the like described in the first embodiment, as well as any other components that can be opened and closed by the control device 29. Can be used. Control device 2
9 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 (b), and a state detecting means (not shown) such as an indoor temperature sensor or an outside air temperature sensor is connected so that the room temperature and the room temperature detected by these are detected. The control of the drive of the fluid control valve 26 and the circulation drive means 24 may be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, based on the outside air temperature and the temperature of the circulating fluid. When only the temperature of the circulating fluid is to be controlled, the above-described state detecting means does not need to be provided, and the driving of the fluid control valve 26 and the circulating driving means 24 is performed only by the detection signal from the temperature sensor 30. May be performed.

[0026]

The present invention is configured as described above.
By combining the control of the opening amount of the fluid control valve with the control of the flow rate of the circulating fluid by the drive control of the circulating drive means, the temperature of the circulating fluid flowing through the circulation passage of the circulating system can be finely adjusted. In addition, by using a thermostat as the fluid control valve, the temperature of the circulating fluid can be adjusted with a simple device under all kinds of fluids and under severe conditions.

In addition, by applying the present invention to an engine cooling device using a thermostat, the temperature of the cooling water can be appropriately adjusted according to the engine load.
Fuel economy and exhaust gas characteristics can be improved.
Furthermore, even during idling, by adjusting the valve opening amount of the circulating drive means such as a servomotor and the thermostat, the cooling water temperature can be made appropriate and the warm-up operation can be promoted. In addition, when the engine load shifts from a large load to a low load or no load, the number of rotations of a circulating drive unit such as a servomotor is reduced, the amount of cooling water circulated by the water pump is reduced, and the thermostat is opened. By adjusting the amount, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the boiling phenomenon and to quickly adjust the cooling water temperature corresponding to the engine load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is an overall configuration diagram of an engine cooling control device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is an explanatory diagram of the control device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a thermostat that is a fluid control valve used in the cooling device of the engine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows storage contents stored in a memory;
(a) Engine load condition (throttle valve opening)
Shows an example of a table showing the optimal coolant temperature each, (b) the example shown rotating speed of the servo motor for each temperature difference [Delta] T _x (rpm) and the feeding portion of the applied voltage (V) as a parameter It is.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the operation of a thermostat provided with a PTC as a temperature control unit.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of a temperature control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a cooling device for an automobile engine using a thermostat as a fluid control valve according to a conventional example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine (heating element) 1a Fluid outflow part 1b Fluid inflow part 2 Radiator (heat exchange means) 2a Fluid inflow part 2b Fluid outflow part 3 Cooling water passage (flow passage) 3a Outflow water passage (first flow passage) 3b Inflow side Water path (second flow path) 3c Bypass water path (third flow path) 4 Water pump 5 Servo motor 6 Thermostat (fluid control valve) 7 Thermo element 7c Temperature sensing unit 7d Thermal expansion body 8 PTC (heating means) 9 Control Apparatus 10 Water temperature sensor (temperature detecting means) 11 State detecting means 11a Throttle position sensor 11b Sensor for detecting engine speed 13 Power supply section 14 Battery (power supply) 17 Memory (storage section)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Hiroshi Kadono, Inventor 6-59-2 Nakazato, Kiyose-shi, Tokyo Japan Thermostat Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A circulation passage, a heat exchange means provided in the middle of the circulation passage for heating or cooling the circulation fluid, and a heat exchange device provided in the circulation passage, wherein the heat exchange is performed by a temperature change of the circulation fluid. A fluid control valve for controlling the inflow or outflow of the circulating fluid to the means; a circulating drive means for circulating the fluid in the flow passage; a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the circulating fluid; A control device for controlling the driving of the circulating drive unit based on preset contents and a temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting unit, wherein: 2. The fluid control valve is a thermostat having a temperature-sensitive operating body that operates according to a temperature change, and heats the temperature-sensitive operating body to operate at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid. Or a heating or cooling means for cooling is provided, and the control means drives the heating or cooling means and the circulation driving means based on preset contents and the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detection means. The circulating fluid temperature controller according to claim 1, wherein 3. A heating element, heat exchange means for cooling a circulating fluid heated by the heating element, a first flow passage for flowing the circulating fluid flowing from the heating element to the heat exchange means, A second flow passage through which the circulating fluid cooled by the heat exchange means flows into the heating element, and a third flow passage connecting the first flow passage and the second flow passage in a communicating manner. And a flow passage provided in one of the first through third flow passages. The flow of the circulating fluid into or out of the heat exchange means is controlled by a temperature change of the circulating fluid. A fluid control valve for controlling; a circulating drive unit for circulating the fluid in the flow passage; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the circulating fluid; and a drive of the fluid control valve and the circulating drive unit, which is set in advance. Setting details and temperature detection Control means for controlling based on the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the step; and a temperature adjusting device for the circulating fluid. 4. The circulating fluid temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein the fluid control valve is a thermostat including a temperature-sensitive operating body that operates according to a temperature change of the circulating fluid. Heating or cooling means for heating or cooling to operate at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid is provided; the heating element is an engine; and a state detecting means for detecting a load on the engine is provided; Selects a predetermined temperature from preset temperatures of the circulating fluid based on the detection content detected by the state detecting means, and selects the selected predetermined temperature and the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means. And controlling the driving of the heating or cooling means and the circulation driving means based on the temperature of the circulating fluid. 5. The state detection means detects an engine state and an engine speed, and the control means sets a circulating fluid temperature preset according to the engine state and the engine speed. A storage unit for storing setting contents preset according to a difference between the temperature of the circulating fluid and the actual temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means, wherein the detected engine state and engine speed are detected; By selecting a predetermined temperature from the temperature of the circulating fluid stored in the storage unit,
The selected temperature is compared with the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means, and based on the result of the comparison, the heating or cooling means and the circulating drive are performed according to the settings stored in the storage unit. The circulating fluid temperature control device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein driving of the means is controlled. 6. A step of detecting a temperature of a circulating fluid flowing through a flow path of a circulating system; a step of comparing the detected temperature of the circulating fluid with a preset temperature of the circulating fluid; Controlling a fluid control valve that controls the flow of the circulating fluid flowing through the flow path and a circulating drive unit that circulates the fluid through the flow path based on the circulating fluid. 7. A step of detecting a temperature of the circulating fluid after starting the heating element, a step of detecting a state of the heating element, and storing a predetermined temperature of the circulating fluid based on the detected state of the heating element. Reading from the storage unit, and controlling the fluid control valve and the circulation driving means based on the detected temperature of the circulating fluid and the predetermined temperature read from the storage unit. How to adjust the temperature of fluid. 8. The heating element is an engine, the state of the heating element is the state of the engine and the number of revolutions, and the fluid control valve is a thermostat including a temperature-sensitive operating element that operates according to a temperature change of a circulating fluid. There is provided a step of heating or cooling the temperature-sensitive operating body to operate at a temperature higher or lower than the temperature of the circulating fluid, and the heating or cooling of the temperature-sensitive operating body and driving of the circulation driving means are performed as described above. Comparing the temperature of the circulating fluid preset from the engine state and the engine speed with the temperature of the circulating fluid detected by the temperature detecting means, and controlling based on the comparison result. The method for adjusting the temperature of a circulating fluid according to claim 7.