Apparatus for calculating operational time of hybrid construction machine and method therefor

• US 10,144,410 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Choi, Dong-Uk
• Primary Examiner(s): Cass, Jean Paul
• Application Number:
  US15/305,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/02 directly from an engine shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/60 Control of electric machines, e.g. problems related to electric motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/91 Battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/112 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/60 Electric Machines, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2091 Control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. battery or capacitors energy recovery arrangements in hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2217
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/906 Motor or generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A hybrid construction machine is disclosed, which comprises an engine, a generator, the generator connected to the engine, a converter connected to the generator, and an ESS (Energy Storage System) connected to the converter. The hybrid construction machine further comprises a converter current detector positioned either between the converter and the generator or between the converter and the ESS to detect the current flowing between the converter and the generator, an ESS current detector positioned between the converter and the ESS to detect the current flowing between the converter and the ESS, a processing unit receiving the current detected from the converter current detector and the ESS current detector and calculating the operation time of the respective component, and a display unit displaying the operation time of the respective component. Since the hybrid construction machine calculates the operation time of the respective component and displays the same to an operator.

Claims

1. A hybrid construction machine comprising;

an engine;

a generator connected to the engine;

a converter connected to the generator, and an electrical storage system (“

ESS”

) connected to the converter, a converter current detector that is positioned between the converter and the generator and detects a current flowing from the generator to the converter and from the converter to the generator;

an ESS current detector that is positioned between the converter and the ESS, and

detects the current flowing from the converter to the ESS and from the ESS to the converter; and

a processing unit that receives the currents detected by the converter current detector as well as the ESS current detector, and calculates an operation time of a respective component;

wherein the processing unit sets the current level of ‘

a’

as a current level that is generated by an electric line noise and an error, and

when RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the current detected by the converter current detector is more than 0+a,

the processing unit recognizes that the converter is under operation and counts the operation time of the converter; and

wherein the processing unit sets the current level of ‘

a* as a current level that is generated by said electric line noise and said error, and

when said RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the current detected by the ESS current detector is more than 0+a, the processing unit recognizes that the ESS is under operation and counts the operation time of the ESS”

.

2. The hybrid construction machine of claim 1, further comprising a display unit displaying the operation time of the respective component.

7. The hybrid construction machine of claim 1, wherein, if the operation time exceeds a maintenance period, the processing unit either displays a maintenance alert on a display or transmits the maintenance alert to management server by using a wireline or a plurality of wireless communication devices.

8. The hybrid construction machine of claim 1, wherein, if the operation time exceeds a maintenance period, the processing unit either displays a maintenance alert on a display unit or transmits the maintenance alert to the management server by using wirelines or wireless communication devices.

3. A hybrid construction machine comprising:

an engine,

a generator connected to the engine,

a converter connected to the generator,

a ESS connected to the converter,

an electric motor connected to an inverter;

an inverter current detector that is positioned between the inverter and the electric motor, and detects a current flowing from the electric motor to the inverter and from the inverter to the electric motor; and

a processing unit that receives the current detected by the inverter current detector, and calculates an operation time of a respective component;

wherein the processing unit sets the current level of ‘

a’

as a current level that is generated by an electric line noise and an error, and when RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the current detected by the inverter current detector is more than 0+a, the processing unit recognizes that the inverter is under operation and counts the operation times of the inverter, the electric motor and a gear unit.

4. The hybrid construction machine of claim 3 further comprising a display unit displaying the operation time of the respective component.

9. The hybrid construction machine of claim 3, wherein, if the operation time exceeds a maintenance period, the processing unit either displays a maintenance alert on a display unit or transmits the maintenance alert to a management server by using a plurality of wirelines or a plurality of wireless communication devices.

5. A hybrid construction machine comprising:

an engine,

a generator connected to the engine,

a converter connected to the generator,

an electrical storage system (“

ESS”

) connected to the converter,

at least one of inverters connected to the ESS;

at least one of electric motors connected respectively to the inverter;

hydraulic pumps connected respectively to the electric motor;

cylinders, each of which is connected to and driven by one of the hydraulic pumps;

at least one of the inverter current detectors that are positioned between the at least one of the inverters and the at least one of the electric motors, respectively, and

detect a current flowing from the respective electric motor to the respective inverter and from the respective inverter to the respective electric motor; and

a processing unit that receives the current detected from the inverter current detector and calculates an operation time of a respective component;

wherein the processing unit sets the current level of ‘

a’

as a current level that is generated by an electric line noise and an error, and when RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the current detected by the inverter current detector is more than 0+a, the processing unit recognizes that the inverter is under operation and counts the operation times of the inverter, the electric motor, the hydraulic pumps and the cylinders.

6. The hybrid construction machine of claim 5, further comprising a display unit displaying the operation time of the respective component.

10. The hybrid construction machine of claim 5, wherein, if the operation time exceeds a maintenance period, the processing unit either displays a maintenance alert on a display unit or transmits the maintenance alert to a management server by using a plurality of wirelines or a plurality of wireless communication devices.