JPS6355447B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an air conditioner for an automobile, and in particular to an air conditioner for an automobile in which, when an abnormality occurs in an actuator, efforts are made to resolve the abnormality so that the actuator can recover to a normal state. It is related to the device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when an abnormality occurs in the actuator of an automobile air conditioner, it is caused by phenomena such as the blowing air not being hot or cold, or the air intake and outlet not being switched. The crew was able to learn of the abnormal condition. However, in some cases, the abnormal state cannot be detected at all, and the abnormal operation continues undesirably and the actuator continues to be driven undesirably, which is undesirable.

[Object of the invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner for an automobile in which, when an abnormality occurs in an actuator, efforts are made to release the abnormality so that the actuator can recover to a normal state.

[Configuration of the Invention] The configuration of the present invention made to achieve the above object is as shown in FIG.
a position sensor M2 that detects the actual position of the position sensor M2; and an input means group M3 that includes the position sensor M2.
a control circuit M4 that receives a signal from the actuator M1, calculates a target position of the actuator M1, and outputs an actuator control command signal; position determining means M5 for determining whether the actual position of the actuator M1 is at the target position;
and the position determining means M5 is connected to the actuator M1.
a command signal output means M6 for outputting the actuator control command signal to control the actual position to the target position when the actual position of the actuator is determined not to be the target position; a timer M7 for measuring the elapsed time while outputting the actuator control command signal; and an abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality in the actuator M1 when the time measurement result of the timer M7 exceeds a predetermined time. M8, and the abnormality determining means M8 detects the actuator M.
1, the actuator control command signal outputted from the command signal output means M6 is changed to temporarily move the actuator M1 in the opposite direction, and the abnormality of the actuator is canceled. The gist of the present invention is an air conditioner for an automobile characterized by comprising: a release means M9;

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an air conditioner for an automobile according to the present invention, which is of a reheat type.

In Figure 1, air conditioner (air conditioner) 1
An inside/outside air switching damper 5 is provided at the connection portion between the air passage 2, the outside air intake passage 3, and the inside air intake passage 4. The flow rate is selected by , and then it is cooled by the evaporator 7,
The air is then heated by the heater core 8 and blown out into the vehicle interior 10 through the outlet selected by the outlet switching damper 9. Here, refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 7 by a compressor 13 which is part of a cooling cycle 14 and to which the driving force of an engine 11 is supplied and cut off via a clutch 12. cooling water is supplied through the water valve 15 to cool and heat the air, respectively.

The water valve 15 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 2, and according to the respective positions of the outgoing valve 17 and the incoming valve 18, which move together in the vertical direction in the drawing as the negative pressure of the diaphragm 16 changes, The mixing ratio between the flow rate of hot water supplied from the engine 11 side to the heater core 8 side and the flow rate of cold water that is cooled while flowing within the heater core 8 and is supplied to the heater core 8 side again is determined, and the mixture ratio is determined and the mixture ratio is supplied to the heater core 8. Determine the overall temperature of the engine coolant. The air intake passage of the diaphragm 16 is provided with a hot valve 19 that controls opening and closing of a communication passage with an engine intake pipe (not shown) and a cool valve 20 that controls opening and closing of a communication passage with the atmosphere. Further, a motor pump 21 is provided in a passage leading from the outward valve 17 to the heater core 8.

The air conditioner 1 is equipped with various sensors for detecting operating conditions and atmospheric conditions, and condition indicating means for indicating operating conditions, and these input means are controlled by temperature control by a control circuit 32 as described later. Provide data for That is,
The outside temperature information from the outside temperature sensor 22, the inside temperature information from the inside temperature sensor 27, the solar radiation information from the solar radiation sensor 28, and the target temperature information from the temperature setting device 30 are used as data for calculating the required blowing temperature as described later. and the duct sensor 23
The post-evaporation temperature information obtained by the evaporator temperature sensor 26 and the engine cooling water temperature information obtained by the water temperature sensor 26 are used to calculate the target stroke amount (target position) of the actuator together with the calculated necessary blowout temperature data, and the actual position of the actuator obtained by the position sensor 24 is used to calculate the target stroke amount (target position) of the actuator. The information is used together with the calculated target position data to calculate the control amount for the actuator. Further, the negative pressure sensor 25, which is an example of a state detection means for detecting the operating state of the engine, uses its detected information, that is, pressure information, to determine the operating state of the actuator as described later.

Further, a switch panel 29, which is one of the condition indicating means, is used to indicate various operation modes, such as automatic operation mode and manual operation mode.

Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 is provided with an abnormality indicator 31, which displays an abnormality when the control circuit 32 determines that there is an abnormality in the actuator.

When the ignition switch 33 is turned on and a constant voltage is applied by the power supply circuit 34, the control circuit 32 detects the detection from the sensors under the conditions set by the switch panel 29 and temperature setting device 30. It performs predetermined arithmetic processing based on the signals and controls various driving means. Here, this driving means includes an inside/outside air switching damper driving means 35 that drives the inside/outside air switching damper 5, a blower driving means 36 that drives the blower 6, a water valve driving means 37 that drives the hot valve 19 and the cool valve 20, and a blower driving means 36 that drives the blower 6. Blowout switching bumper driving means 38 that drives the switching damper 9 and the engine 1 as described above.
There is a clutch 12 that connects and disconnects the transmission of driving force from the compressor 1 to the compressor 13.

Further, as will be described later, the control circuit 32 determines whether the actual position of the water valve 15 matches the target position or not, and if it does not match, the water valve driving means 37 controls the water valve drive means 37 to control the actual position to the target position. In addition to controlling the drive of the water valve 15 that outputs the control command signal, the actual position of the water valve 15 has not changed for more than a predetermined period of time even though the water valve 15 can be driven after the water valve control command signal has been output. An abnormality determination process that determines whether there is an abnormality in the water valve 15 if the water valve 15 is not present; and an abnormality determination process in which an abnormality is determined to be abnormal in the water valve 15, and when an abnormality in the water valve 15 is determined, an effort is made to remove the abnormality by driving the water valve in the opposite direction to restore the water valve 15 to a normal state. The release process is also executed.

Next, the main parts of the processing operation by the control circuit 32 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the ignition switch 33 is turned on, the control circuit 32 starts processing. As the process progresses and reaches step 101, step 101 is executed to sequentially take in input signals from the various sensors, ie, input means group.

Next, execute step 102 and repeat step 1 above.
The required blowout temperature Tao is calculated based on the various data taken in step 01. To calculate this temperature Tao, use the following formula: Tao=Ks・Ts−Kr・Tr−Kam・Tam −Ksun・Tsun−C (However, Ks, Kr, Kam, Ksun, and C are constants, respectively.
Ts is the set temperature or target temperature, Tr is the vehicle interior temperature,
Tam represents the outside temperature of the vehicle, and Tsum represents the intensity of solar radiation. ) is used. In addition, in step 102, the necessary blowout temperature Tao calculated as above, the duct sensor 2
The target stroke amount SW (target position) of the water valve 15 is determined based on the after-evaporation temperature information from 3 and the engine cooling water temperature information from the water temperature sensor 26.
Calculate.

Next, execute step 103 and repeat step 1 above.
Water valve 1 based on the target stroke amount SW calculated in step 02 and the signal from the position sensor 24 taken in in the input step 101 above.
5, the deviation from the actual stroke amount SP (actual position), that is, (SW-SP) is calculated. Here, both the target stroke amount SW and the actual stroke amount SP are 0%.
MAX COOL, 100% corresponds to MAX HOT.

Next, step 104 is executed to control the hot valve (HV) 19 and the cool valve (CV) 20 based on a predetermined control pattern as shown in the figure, that is, the control characteristics of the hot valve (HV) 19 and the cool valve (CV) 20 with respect to the deviation (SW-SP). It is determined whether the valve (CV) 20 should be on, ie, open, or off, ie, closed. As is clear from the figure, in the above control pattern, when the deviation (SW-SP) of the hot valve (HV) 19 increases to 6% or more, the hot valve (HV) 19 is reversed from the off state to the on state, and the hot valve (HV) 19 passes through the heater core 8. while increasing the fluid temperature, while the deviation (SW-SP) is 3%
When the temperature decreases to below, the ON state is reversed to the OFF state to maintain the temperature of the fluid passing through the heater core 8. For cool valve (CV) 20, deviation (SW-SP)
When the temperature increases to -6% or less, the current OFF state is reversed to the ON state to lower the temperature of the fluid passing through the heater core 8, while the deviation (SW-SP) decreases to -3% or more. When this happens, the ON state is reversed to the OFF state to maintain the temperature of the fluid passing through the heater core 8.

Next, execute step 105 and repeat step 1 above.
Hot valve (HV) defined by 04 19
Or whether or not the cool valve (CV) 20 belongs to the ON region, that is, the deviation (SW-SP) between the actual stroke amount (actual position) SP of the water valve 15 and the target stroke amount (target position) SW is large. 15 is necessary to drive the position determining means M5.

If the hot valve (HV) 19 or the cool valve (CV) belongs to the ON region, then step 106 is executed and the ON command signal is used to drive the water valve to turn ON the valve 19 or 20 belonging to the ON region. Processing as a command signal output means M6 to be outputted to the means 37 is executed.

Next, step 107 is executed, and if the timer is in the stopped state, the timer is started. As will be described later, this timer measures the time during which the actual position SP of the water valve 15 remains unchanged after the hot valve (HV) 19 or the cool valve (CV) 20 is turned on. This corresponds to means M7.

Next, execute step 108 and repeat step 1 above.
Based on the actual position SP of the water valve 15 taken in step 01 and the actual position taken in the previous execution of step 101, it is determined whether the actual position SP has changed.

If it is determined that the actual position SP has changed, the above-mentioned timer is cleared in step 109, and if it is determined that the actual position SP has not changed, the process directly proceeds to step 110, where the step 1 is
In step 10, it is determined whether or not negative pressure is being generated normally based on the negative pressure signal from the negative pressure sensor 25 taken in step 101.

If it is determined that negative pressure is not being generated normally, the program jumps to a subsequent program (not shown).
On the other hand, if it is determined that negative pressure is generated normally,
Next, step 111 is executed and the value of the above timer is
Determine whether it is above 30 seconds.

If the timer value has not yet reached 30 seconds, the program jumps to a subsequent program (not shown). On the other hand, if it is determined that the timer value is 30 seconds or more, then step 112 is executed. This step 112
In the above step 106, when an ON command signal is output for the hot valve (HV) 19, it is determined whether the actual position SP belongs to a predetermined range, that is, from 95% to 105%. ,
Meanwhile, in step 106 above, the cool valve (CV)
When the ON command signal is output for 20, the actual position SP is within the predetermined range, that is, from -5% to +5%.
Determine whether it belongs to the range up to %. In other words, this judgment process is a hot valve (HV)
When at least 30 seconds have passed since the ON command signal was output for 19, the actual position SP
Assuming that it should have reached MAX HOT, it is determined whether it has actually reached the vicinity of MAX HOT. On the other hand, if the ON command signal is output for the cool valve (CV) 20, the actual position is determined.
Determine whether it has reached the vicinity of MAX COOL.

Actual position SP is near MAX HOT or MAX
When it is determined that the temperature has reached near COOL, that is, the water valve 15 is operating normally,
Jump to a subsequent program not shown. On the other hand, if it is determined that the water valve 15 is not operating normally, that is, that an abnormality has occurred,
Next, step 113 is executed.

In step 113, it is determined whether the content of the release effort counter has reached "2". As will be described later, the release effort counter counts the number of times a control command signal is inverted for a predetermined period of time, for example, 5 seconds, and then output. Then, a subsequent program (not shown) is executed.

If the content of the release effort counter has not reached the final value of "2", that is, it is "0" or "1", then step 114 is executed and the hot valve (HV) is activated.
The control command signal for the water valve 19 and the control command signal for the cool valve (CV) 20 are maintained inverted for a predetermined period of time, for example, 5 seconds, in an effort to release the abnormal state of the water valve 15. This abnormal condition may include, for example, the valve being clogged with dirt, and the dirt may be removed from the valve by reversing the valve. Then, step 115 is executed and the contents of the release effort counter are incremented. On the other hand, if it is determined that the content of the release effort counter is ``2'' or more, steps 116, 117, and 118 are executed in sequence. That is, the release effort counter is cleared, an abnormality display command signal is output to the abnormality display 31, and an off command signal is sent to the water valve driving means 37 to turn off both the hot valve (HV) 19 and the cool valve (CV) 20. Output to. Then, a subsequent program (not shown) is executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that neither the hot valve (HV) 19 and the cool valve (CV) 20 belong to the ON region by executing step 105 as described above, then step 119 is executed and the hot valve (HV) 19 and cool valve (CV) 20 are /or output an off command signal to the cool valve (CV) 20;
Step 120 is then executed to stop and clear the timer described above. Then, a subsequent program (not shown) is executed.

In this way, in the flowchart shown in Figure 3, the target position SW and actual position SP of the water valve are
When the deviation (SW-SP) from the water valve 15 becomes large and an ON command signal is output to the hot valve (HV) 19 or the cool valve (CV) 20, the timer indicates that the actual position SP of the water valve 15 has not changed. The elapsed time in this state is counted as the elapsed time after the output of the ON command signal, and the measured time is 30 seconds or more, the negative pressure for driving the water valve 15 is normal, and the actual position SP is driven for more than 30 seconds. water valve 1, provided that it has not reached the MAX HOT or MAX COOL
Determine the abnormality in 5. and water valve 15
If an abnormality is determined, an effort is made to release the control command signal by inverting it for 5 seconds, and if the actual position SP still does not change despite the efforts, the control command signal is inverted for 5 seconds as described above. 30 after output
A second release effort is made when the seconds have elapsed. This release effort is made twice at most in Figure 3. If it is determined that the water valve 15 is still in an abnormal state despite two attempts to release it, the abnormality indicator 3
1 to indicate an abnormality, and both the hot valve (HV) 19 and the cool valve (CV) 20 are turned off.

The processing operation of the control circuit 32 has been described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, and will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The temperature setting device 31 is operated at time _T1 under the condition that the target stroke amount (target position) SW of the water valve is, for example, 60% and the actual stroke amount (actual position) SP is maintained around 60%. When the target stroke amount SW is changed to, for example, 40%, the cool valve (CV) 20 is turned on,
The actual stroke amount SP gradually approaches the target stroke amount SW of 40%. Then, at time T ₂ , the actual stroke amount SP approximately matches the target stroke amount SW,
When the difference (SW-SP) comes to belong to the off region in the control pattern as described above, the cool valve (CV) 20 is reversed from on to off,
From then on, the actual stroke amount SP is maintained at around 40%.

Thereafter, at time T ₃ , the target temperature setting is changed again and the target stroke amount SW is changed to 60%, and this time an ON command signal is output to the hot valve (HV) 19.
is turned on. At time _T4 , for example, 30 seconds have passed since time ^T3 , the hot valve (HV) 19 is switched off, the cool valve (CV) 20 is switched on, and this inverted state is continued for 5 seconds. In other words, make the first effort to cancel.

At time _T5 , after the 5 seconds have elapsed, only the hot valve (HV) 19 is turned on, and the on state is maintained for 30 seconds.

Then, after 30 seconds have elapsed, at T ₆ , a second release effort is made for 5 seconds. Then, at time _T7 , only the hot valve (HV) 19 is turned on again, and the on state is continued for 30 seconds. If the water valve is still in an abnormal state, a display command signal is output to the abnormality indicator 31 at time _T8 to display the abnormality.

Here, in the above embodiment, the actuator M
Although the case where 1 is a water valve has been described, other actuators such as an air mix damper in an air mix type air conditioner may be used.

Further, the water valve may be of a motor type instead of the diaphragm type as described above.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, in the automotive air conditioner of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
a position sensor M2 that detects the actual position of the position sensor M2; and an input means group M3 that includes the position sensor M2.
a control circuit M4 that receives a signal from the actuator M1, calculates a target position of the actuator M1, and outputs an actuator control command signal; position determining means M5 for determining whether the actual position of the actuator M1 is at the target position;
and the position determining means M5 is connected to the actuator M1.
a command signal output means M6 for outputting the actuator control command signal to control the actual position to the target position when the actual position of the actuator is determined not to be the target position; a timer M7 for measuring the elapsed time while outputting the actuator control command signal; and an abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality in the actuator M1 when the time measurement result of the timer M7 exceeds a predetermined time. M8, and the actuator M by the abnormality determining means M8.
1, the actuator control command signal outputted from the command signal output means M6 is changed to temporarily move the actuator M1 in the opposite direction, and the abnormality of the actuator is canceled. It is characterized by comprising a release means M9.

Therefore, if the abnormality of the actuator M1 could be easily recovered by temporarily moving the actuator M1 in the opposite direction when it is determined that the abnormality of the actuator M1 is abnormal, for example, a slight mechanical If the cause is contact, the abnormality can be recovered by an abnormal escape effort, and normal operation can be resumed.

Note that when an abnormality is determined or when efforts to escape from the abnormality are unsuccessful, it is desirable to display an abnormality display as in the above embodiment.

Further, in the present invention, when the actuator control command signal is outputted from the control circuit M4 to control the actuator M1 to the target position, the actuator M detected by the position sensor M2
Since the structure is configured to determine whether there is an abnormality in actuator M1 on the condition that the actual position of actuator M1 does not reach the target position for a predetermined period of time or more, the position sensor used to control the actuator to the target position is This can be used to determine whether there is an abnormality in the actuator, and there is no need to provide a special sensor or detection circuit to detect an abnormality in the actuator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration of an embodiment of an automotive air conditioner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water valve thereof, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the main parts of the process according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a time chart for more specific explanation, and FIG. 5 shows a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. M1... Actuator, M2, 24... Position sensor, M3... Input means group, M4, 32
...Control circuit, M5...Position judgment means, M6...
Command signal output means, M7...Clocking means, M8...
Abnormality determination means, M9... Abnormality release means, 1... Air conditioner, 5... Inside/outside air switching damper, 6... Blower, 7... Evaporator, 8... Heater core,
9...Blowout switching damper, 15...Water valve, 22...Outside temperature sensor, 23...Duct sensor, 25...Negative pressure sensor, 26...Water temperature sensor,
27... Inside temperature sensor, 28... Solar radiation sensor, 2
9...Switch panel, 30...Temperature setting device, 3
1... Abnormality indicator, 32... Control circuit, 33...
Ignition switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A position sensor that detects the actual position of an actuator whose position can be changed reversibly; and an actuator that calculates a target position of the actuator in response to signals from an input means group including the position sensor. A control circuit for outputting a control command signal; and an air conditioner for an automobile, wherein the control circuit determines whether the actual position of the actuator detected by the position sensor is at the target position. and a command for outputting the actuator control command signal to control the actual position to the target position when the position determining means determines that the actual position of the actuator has not reached the target position. a signal output means; a clock means for measuring the elapsed time while the command signal output means outputs the actuator control command signal; abnormality determining means for determining an abnormality in the actuator; and when the abnormality determining means determines that the actuator is abnormal, the actuator is output from the command signal output means to temporarily move the actuator in the opposite direction. An air conditioner for an automobile, comprising: abnormality canceling means for changing a control command signal to cancel an abnormality in the actuator. 2. The air conditioner for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality release means includes a time limit means for specifying a time limit for moving the actuator in the opposite direction. 3. The air conditioner for an automobile according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality canceling means outputs a significant signal indicating that at the end of the time limit. 4. The air conditioner for an automobile according to claim 3, wherein the significant signal output by the abnormality release means is connected to an abnormality indicator.