Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit...

Details Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit... Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit...

2003-04-22

2004-05-18

Norman, Marc (Department: 3744)

Refrigeration

Automatic control

Responsive to vehicle body motion or traction

C062S323400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06735962

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon, claims the benefit of priority of, and incorporates by reference, the contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-125858 filed Apr. 26, 2002 and No. 2002-164359 filed Jun. 5, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle and a control unit thereof that are suitably applied to a refrigeration cycle device installed in a vehicle having an idling-stop function which automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle stops.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicles incorporating the “idling-stop” function for better fuel economy have appeared on the market in recent years. With idling-stop the engine automatically shuts off when the vehicle stops moving, without turning off the ignition. In a conventional vehicle this means that the air-conditioning stops working during the stop because the compressor of the refrigeration cycle device also stops when the power from the engine is stopped.
The present inventors have shown a composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-111054 that can resolve this problem. This composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle combines an electric motor/generator with a compressor, and incorporates a torque distributing mechanism which is connected to the engine, motor/generator, and compressor respectively via engaging shafts. A locking mechanism is provided to the engaging shaft of the compressor, and a clutch is provided between the engaging shafts of the electric motor/generator and compressor.
This system not only allows the powering of the compressor by the electric motor/generator during stoppage of the engine but also enables flexible operation of the electric motor/generator and compressor in accordance with the operational state of the engine. The system also achieves simplification of its construction by integrating the electric motor/generator and its drive circuit.
Nevertheless, there is still a need for further improvement in the above invention with respect to the complexity in controlling both the locking mechanism and the clutch when regulating the operational performance of the compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle and a control unit thereof by which performance control of the compressor is readily achieved. To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a composite auxiliary machine for a vehicle includes a compressor (
140
) for compressing a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle device (
200
), a rotary machine (
130
) functioning as a generator and as an electric motor, and a torque distributing mechanism (
150
) for distributing torque of a drive shaft (
112
). The drive shaft (
112
) is rotated by a driving force of a vehicle engine (
10
).
The torque distributing mechanism (
150
) distributes torque to a compressor shaft (
142
) of the compressor (
140
) and to a shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
), and distributes torque input from the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
) to the drive shaft (
112
) and to the compressor shaft (
142
). Additionally, an intermittent means (
120
) provided to the torque distributing mechanism (
150
) connects and disconnects any two of the drive shaft (
112
), the compressor shaft (
142
), and the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
). A locking mechanism (
160
) restricts rotation of the compressor shaft (
142
). The compressor (
140
) includes a variable displacement mechanism (
145
,
148
) for varying an amount of discharge per turn of the compressor shaft.
In this composite auxiliary machine (
100
) for a vehicle, the intermittent means (
120
) is connected while the vehicle engine (
10
) is running, so that torque is transmitted from the drive shaft (
112
) to the compressor shaft (
142
) and the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
) via the torque distributing mechanism (
150
) and the compressor (
140
) and the rotary machine (
130
) are activated simultaneously, whereby operation of the refrigeration cycle device (
200
) by the compressor (
140
) and power generation by the rotary machine (
130
) are both achieved.
While the compressor (
140
) is operating, the intermittent means (
120
) remains connected, and an amount of discharge of the compressor (
140
) is readily changeable in accordance with a predetermined thermal load of the refrigeration cycle device (
200
) by means of the variable displacement mechanism (
145
,
148
). Because changing the amount of discharge does not involve switching the intermittent means (
120
), favorable drivability is achieved.
When the vehicle engine (
10
) is stopped, the intermittent means (
120
) is disconnected, and the rotary machine (
130
) is operated as an electric motor and provides power to the compressor (
140
) through the torque distributing mechanism (
150
). This permits the compressor (
140
) to continue providing air-conditioning. In this state also, in which the intermittent means (
120
) is disconnected, an amount of discharge of the compressor (
140
) is readily changeable by means of the variable displacement mechanism (
145
).
Operating the rotary machine (
130
) as an electric motor in this state with the intermittent means (
120
) being disconnected and the compressor shaft (
142
) being restricted by the locking mechanism (
160
), will rotate the drive shaft via the torque distributing mechanism (
150
) thereby restarting the vehicle engine (
10
).
According to a second aspect of the invention, a planetary gear (
150
) should preferably be used as the torque distributing mechanism (
150
). When the intermittent means (
120
) is connected while the engine (
10
) is running, because of the characteristics of the planetary gear (
150
), both the compressor shaft (
142
) and the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
) rotate with the same rpm as that of the drive shaft. Accordingly, the rotary machine (
130
) can carry on stable power generation without being affected by changes in the amount of discharge of the compressor (
140
).
According to a third aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism (
160
) may be a one-way clutch (
160
) that allows forward rotation of the compressor shaft (
142
) and inhibits reverse rotation of the same. Thereby, the locking of the compressor shaft (
142
) at the time of starting the engine (
10
) is performed mechanically. Thus the locking mechanism (
160
) requires no control, and can be simply constructed.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the drive shaft (
112
) is connected to a planetary carrier (
152
) of the planetary gear (
150
), the compressor shaft (
142
) is connected to a ring gear (
153
) of the planetary gear (
150
), the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
) is connected to a sun gear (
151
) of the planetary gear (
150
), and the intermittent means (
120
) is disposed between the drive shaft (
112
) and the compressor shaft (
142
). Thereby, the rotary machine (
130
) can be constructed compactly and when working as an electric motor, it can provide the same level of power to the compressor (
140
) or to the vehicle engine (
10
) at reduced rpm but with increased torque transmission.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a limiter mechanism (
170
) is interposed between the torque distributing mechanism (
150
) and the compressor shaft (
142
) for discontinuing the torque transmission between the drive shaft (
112
) and the compressor shaft (
142
) and between the shaft (
132
) of the rotary machine (
130
) and the compressor shaft (
142
) when the compressor (
140
) is locked. Thereby, even if the compressor (
140
) should be locked for some reason, the vehicle engine (
10
) and the rotary machine (
130
) are protected. Therefore, functions related to the drive are not impaired.
According to a sixth aspect of th

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Composite auxiliary machine for vehicle and control unit... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3240552