Control Device for Vehicle, Control Method for Vehicle, and Method for Estimating Power Consumption of Cooling Fan

• US 20090007856A1
• Filed: 01/24/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Minekawa, Hideto
• Application Number:
  US12/087,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.110
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/042 using fluid couplings couplings or clutches of this type per se F16D35/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/10 of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/062 for starting F02D41/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/083 taking into account engine load variation, e.g. air-conditionning
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/00 Starting aids for combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/104 Control of the starter motor torque

Abstract

Along with a rotational speed sensor being fitted to the crank shaft of an engine, a rotational speed sensor is fitted to a cooling fan; and the energy consumption of the cooling fan is estimated by using a map based upon an engine rotational speed (a pulley rotational speed Np) and a fan rotational speed Nf which have been detected by these rotational speed sensors. By controlling the operation of the engine based upon the energy consumption of the cooling fan which has been estimated in this manner, it is possible to control the operation of the engine more appropriately.

Claims

1. A control device for vehicle comprising

an internal combustion engine and

a cooling device comprising

a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and

a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan, wherein the device comprises:

fan side rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan; and

power consumption estimation means for estimating a power consumption of the cooling fan, based at least upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

2. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

engine side rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine;

and wherein the power consumption estimation means estimates the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected, and upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected.

3. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein:

the engine side rotational speed detection means detects a time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine;

the fan side rotational speed detection means detects a time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan; and

the power consumption estimation means estimates the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and the time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

4. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

vehicle speed detection means for detecting the speed of the vehicle; and

wherein the power consumption estimation means estimates the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the vehicle speed which has been detected, the time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and the time rate of change of the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

9. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power consumption estimation means estimates a power consumption of an auxiliary unit which is driven from and consumes power from the internal combustion engine, and the control device further comprises operation control means for controlling an operation of the internal combustion engine based upon the power consumption of the auxiliary unit which has been estimated.

10. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the operation control means controls the operation of the internal combustion engine, so that the power which is lacking based upon the estimation of the power consumption of the auxiliary unit is outputted from the internal combustion engine.

11. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising output setting means for setting a target output for the internal combustion engine based upon input to the vehicle, and wherein

the operation control means controls the operation of the internal combustion engine, so that the power, obtained by integrating the target output of the internal combustion engine which has been set by the output setting means and the power consumption of the auxiliary unit which has been estimated, is outputted by the internal combustion engine.

5. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a control device for a vehicle, comprising;

engine side rotational speed detection means for detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine;

state estimation means for estimating a state of the fluid coupling; and

power consumption estimation means for estimating a power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been estimated.

6. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the state estimation means estimates the amount of the viscous fluid which is supplied to the power transmission unit.

7. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein:

the state estimation means comprises engine side rotational speed detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine, and fan side rotational speed detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan;

and the state estimation means estimates the state of the fluid coupling, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

8. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the state estimation means comprises temperature detection means for detecting a temperature of the device, and estimates the state of the fluid coupling based upon the temperature of the device which has been detected;

and

the fluid coupling is made so as to adjust the amount of the viscous fluid which is supplied to the power transmission unit, according to the temperature of the device which has been detected.

12. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan, and motoring means for being capable of motoring the internal combustion engine:

a control device for a vehicle, comprising;

state estimation means for estimating a state of the fluid coupling; and

starting control means which, when a predetermined starting condition has become effective, sets a target torque based upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been estimated, and controls the motoring means and the internal combustion engine, so that the internal combustion engine is motored with the target torque which has been set, and is started.

13. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising

automatic means for stopping the operation of the internal combustion engine automatically when a predetermined stoppage condition has become effective, and starting the operation of the internal combustion engine automatically when, with the operation of the internal combustion engine stopped, the predetermined starting condition has become effective.

14. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising storage means for storing data;

and wherein the state estimation means comprises engine side rotational speed detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine, and fan side rotational speed detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan, and, along with estimating the state of the fluid coupling based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine, and upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan, which have been detected during operation of the internal combustion engine, also stores the estimated state of the fluid coupling in the storage means.

15. A control device for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein:

the fluid coupling is so adapted that the amount of the viscous fluid which is supplied to the power transmission unit is adjusted according to a temperature of the device; and

the state estimation means comprises temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the device, and estimates the state of the fluid coupling based upon the temperature which has been detected.

16. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a control device for a vehicle, comprising;

a fan side rotational speed detection device which detects the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan; and

a power consumption estimation device which estimates a power consumption of the cooling fan, based at least upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

17. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a control device for a vehicle, comprising;

an engine side rotational speed detection device which detects a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine;

a state estimation device which estimates a state of the fluid coupling; and

a power consumption estimation device which estimates a power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been detected.

18. In a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan, and a motoring device which is capable of motoring the internal combustion engine:

a control device for a vehicle, comprising;

a state estimation device which estimates a state of the fluid coupling; and

a starting control device which, when a predetermined starting condition has become effective, sets a target torque based upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been estimated, and controls the motoring device and the internal combustion engine, so that the internal combustion engine is motored with the target torque which has been set, and is started.

19. For a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a power consumption estimation method for estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, comprising;

detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan;

detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine; and

estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected, and upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected.

20. For a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a power consumption estimation method for estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, comprising;

detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan; and

estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the cooling fan which has been detected.

21. For a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan:

a power consumption estimation method for estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, comprising;

detecting a rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine;

estimating a state of the fluid coupling; and

estimating the power consumption of the cooling fan, based upon the rotational speed of the fluid coupling on the side of the internal combustion engine which has been detected, and upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been detected.

22. For a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a cooling device comprising a cooling fan used for cooling of a device, the cooling fan being an auxiliary unit which is driven along with consuming power from the internal combustion engine, and a fluid coupling which, along with adjusting the amount of a viscous fluid which is supplied to a power transmission unit, also transmits power from the internal combustion engine to the cooling fan, and a motoring means which is capable of motoring the internal combustion engine:

a control method for a vehicle, comprising;

estimating a state of the fluid coupling;

when a predetermined starting condition becomes effective, setting a target torque based upon the state of the fluid coupling which has been estimated; and

controlling the motoring means and the internal combustion engine, so that the internal combustion engine is motored with the target torque which has been set, and is started.