VEHICULAR HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20160221417A1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: ITO, Satoru, AIKAWA, Hidefumi, AMANO, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 10,124,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00314 Arrangements permitting a rapid heating of the heating liquid B60H1/00492, B60H1/03 take precedence; aiding engine start by heating of engine coolants F02N19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00885 Controlling the flow of heating or cooling liquid, e.g. valves or pumps B60H1/00899 takes precedence; constructions of valves B60H1/00485
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2221 arrangements of electric heaters for heating an intermediate liquid B60H1/034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2234 when vehicle is parked, preheating
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/001 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/005 Controlling temperature of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/021 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 19/04 by heating of fluids used in engines

Abstract

A vehicular heat management system is described and includes: a heater configured to carry out heating of a heat medium and stop the heating, and a heat exchanger configured to carry out heat exchange between lubricant oil for lubricating a speed change apparatus and the heat medium. A heat medium circulator is provided that is configured to switch the heat medium circulation state between a first circulation state where the heat medium circulates through the heater and the heat exchanger, and a second circulation state where the heat medium circulates through the heater and a heater core. An electronic control unit is also provided. When a pre-operation warm-up request to warm up the speed change apparatus and a pre-operation heating request to heat a vehicle cabin are both issued, the electronic control unit causes the heat medium circulator to switch the circulation state such that a warm-up of the speed change apparatus is carried out before heating of a vehicle cabin.

Claims

1. A vehicular heat management system comprising:

a speed change apparatus lubricated with lubricant oil;

an air-conditioner including a heater core, the air-conditioner configured to heat a vehicle cabin of a vehicle by using the heater core as a heat source;

a heater configured to carry out heating of a heat medium and to stop said heating;

a heat exchanger configured to carry out heat exchange between the lubricant oil and the heat medium;

a heat medium circulator configured to switch a circulation state of the heat medium between a first circulation state where the heat medium is circulated through the heater and the heat exchanger, and a second circulation state where the heat medium is circulated through the heater and the heater core; and

an electronic control unit configured to;

i) warm up the speed change apparatus by heating the lubricant oil in response to a pre-operation warm-up request, before an operation of the vehicle;

ii) heat the vehicle cabin in response to a pre-operation heating request, before the operation of the vehicle; and

iii) execute a first operation and a second operation after there are both the pre-operation warm-up request and the pre-operation heating request are issued,

the first operation being an operation in which the lubricant oil is heated to a prescribed oil temperature by the heat exchanger in the first circulation state while the heat medium is heated by the heater, and

the second operation being an operation in which the circulation state is switched from the first circulation state to the second circulation state after the lubricant oil reaches the prescribed oil temperature, and heating of the heat medium by the heater is stopped until a vehicle cabin temperature of the vehicle cabin reaches a prescribed cabin temperature.

2. The vehicular heat management system according to claim 1, wherein:

the heat medium circulator includes a pump configured to pump the heat medium to be circulated, a main path through which the heat medium flows, a first branch path, a second branch path, a first valve, and a second valve;

the pump and the heater located downstream of the pump are disposed on the main path;

the main path branches into the first branch path and the second branch path, at a branching point located between the heater and the pump;

the first branch path and the second branch path merge into the main path, at a merging point located upstream of the pump;

the heat exchanger is disposed on the first branch path;

the heater core is disposed on the second branch path;

the first valve is configured to be operated between an opening position for opening the first branch path and a closing position for closing the first branch path;

the second valve is configured to be operated between an opening position for opening the second branch path and a closing position for closing the second branch path; and

the electronic control unit is configured to control, after both the pre-operation warm-up request and the pre-operation heating request have been issued, the first valve and the second valve to

i) place the first valve in the opening position and place the second valve in the closing position while the heat medium is heated by the heater, as the first operation, and

ii) place the first valve in the closing position and place the second valve in the opening position while heating of the heat medium by the heater is stopped, as the second operation that is executed after completion of the first operation.