Method for judging the locked state of auxiliaries for automobiles

• US 5,780,731 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
• Inventors: Kishita, Hiroshi, Takano, Yoshiaki, Yamanaka, Yasushi, Matsui, Hirohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Biegel, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US08/834,483
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 73/862.453, 73/862.194, 73/118.1, 701/101
• US Class Current: 73/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3225 characterised by safety arrangements, e.g. compressor anti-seizure means or by signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/02 directly from an engine shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/16 Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0861 comprising means for sensing tensioner position

Abstract

A system for detection of the load torque of auxiliaries of an automobile engine is utilized to detect a locked state of an air-conditioner refrigerant compressor, power-steering oil pump, etc. Namely, a first auxiliary torque in a state where the air-conditioner is operating is measured, and when this exceeds a predetermined value, a second auxiliary torque is measured in a state where the clutch of the compressor is disengaged. When the difference between them exceeds another predetermined value, it is judged that the compressor has locked. When the difference does not exceed the predetermined value, it is judged that the oil pump etc. has locked.

Claims

1. A method for judging a locked state of auxiliaries of an automobile in a belt driving system having a drive shaft pulley provided in an engine and rotated by said engine and having auxiliary pulleys driven simultaneously by a single belt wound upon said drive shaft pulley corresponding to a plurality of auxiliaries including at least an air-conditioner refrigerant compressor, comprising:

measuring a first auxiliary torque when the air-conditioner is operating by an auxiliary torque detection system,

disengaging a clutch of said air-conditioner refrigerant compressor when said first auxiliary torque exceeds a first predetermined value,

measuring a second auxiliary torque in a state where the clutch of said refrigerant compressor is disengaged,

comparing said first auxiliary torque and said second auxiliary torque, and

judging that said refrigerant compressor is in a locked state when a difference between them exceeds a second predetermined value.

2. A method for judging a locked state of auxiliaries for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein when the comparison of said first auxiliary torque and said second auxiliary torque shows that the difference between them does not exceed said second predetermined value, it is judged that an auxiliary other than said refrigerant compressor is in a locked state.

3. A method for judging a locked state of auxiliaries of an automobile in a belt driving system having a drive shaft pulley provided in an engine and rotated by said engine and having auxiliary pulleys driven simultaneously by a single belt wound upon said drive shaft pulley corresponding to a plurality of auxiliaries including at least an air-conditioner refrigerant compressor, comprising:

measuring a first auxiliary torque when the air-conditioner is operating by an auxiliary torque detection system,

storing in advance a normal value of said first auxiliary torque when all of the auxiliaries are operating normally,

disengaging a clutch of said air-conditioner refrigerant compressor when said first auxiliary torque exceeds the first predetermined value,

measuring a second auxiliary torque in a state where the clutch of said refrigerant compressor is disengaged,

comparing the normal value of said first auxiliary torque and said second auxiliary torque, and

judging that said refrigerant compressor is in a locked state when said second auxiliary torque is lower than the normal value of said first auxiliary torque.

4. A method for judging a locked state of auxiliaries of an automobile according to claim 3, wherein when the comparison of the normal value of said first auxiliary torque and said second auxiliary torque shows that said second auxiliary torque is higher than the normal value of said first auxiliary torque, it is judged that an auxiliary other than said refrigerant compressor is in a locked state.