Power system

• US 20080081734A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Duffy, Kevin Patrick, Pierpont, David Andrew, Rose, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US11/529,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20080081734A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/16 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/12 of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0652 : Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 : Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0661 : Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 : Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 : Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 : Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/088 : Power split variators with summing differentials, with the input of the CVT connected or connectable to the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 : with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method of operating a power system of a machine is provided. The method may include selectively supplying power from an engine to one or more other components of the machine., including, during at least some load increases on the power system, supplementing power from the engine with power from an additional power source. The method may also include, during at least some load increases on the power system, supplementing power from the engine with power from an additional power source while recirculating exhaust gas through the engine.

Claims

1. A method of operating a power system of a machine, comprising:

selectively supplying power from an engine to one or more other components of the machine; and

during at least some load increases on the power system, supplementing power from the engine with power from an additional power source while recirculating exhaust gas through the engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein supplementing power from the engine with power from the additional power source during at least some load increases on the power system includes supplementing power from the engine as necessary to meet power needs of the machine while maintaining torque output of the engine within a target torque range.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selectively supplying power from the engine to one or more other components of the machine includes selectively propelling the machine at least in part by supplying power from the engine to a propulsion device, including, when accelerating the machine, adjusting a speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively supplying power from the engine to one or more other components of the machine includes selectively propelling the machine at least in part by supplying power from the engine to a propulsion device, including, when accelerating the machine, adjusting a speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range includes adjusting the speed ratio through a continuous range.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range includes adjusting the speed ratio of a multiple-ratio transmission through a continuous range by adjusting the speed of a motor drivingly connected to one or more components of the multiple-ratio transmission.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein supplementing power from the engine with power from the additional power source includes supplying power from an electric motor to a propulsion device.

8. A power system for a machine, comprising:

an engine;

an additional power source;

power-system controls operable to

selectively cause the power system to supply power from the engine to one or more other components of the mobile machine, and

during at least some load increases on the power system, supplement power from the engine with power from the additional power sourcewhile recirculating exhaust gas through the engine.

9. The power system of claim 8, wherein the additional power source includes an electric motor.

10. The power system of claim 8, wherein the additional power source includes a hydraulic motor.

11. The power system of claim 8, wherein selectively causing the power system to supply power from the engine to one or more other components of the machine includes selectively propelling the machine at least in part by supplying power from the engine to a propulsion device, including when accelerating the machine, adjusting a speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein supplementing power from the engine with power from the additional power source during at least some load increases on the power system includes supplementing power from the engine as necessary to meet power needs of the machine while maintaining torque output of the engine within a target range.

13. The power system of claim 11, further including:

a multiple-ratio transmission; and

wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range includes adjusting a speed ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission through a continuous range.

14. The power system of claim 11, further including:

a multiple-ratio transmission;

wherein the additional power source includes a motor drivingly connected to one or more components of the multiple-ratio transmission; and

wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range includes adjusting the speed ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission through a continuous range by adjusting the speed of the motor.

15. The power system of claim 8, wherein supplementing power from the engine with power from the additional power source during at least some load increases on the power system includes supplementing power from the engine as necessary to meet power needs of the machine while maintaining torque output of the engine within a target torque range.

16. A method of operating a power system of a machine, comprising:

selectively propelling the machine at least in part by supplying power from an engine to a propulsion device, including, when accelerating the machine, adjusting a speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device as necessary to accelerate the machine at a target rate while maintaining acceleration of the engine within a target range.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device includes adjusting the speed ratio through a continuous range.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein adjusting the speed ratio between the engine and the propulsion device includes adjusting a speed ratio of a multiple-ratio transmission through a continuous range by adjusting the speed of a motor drivingly connected to one or more components of the multiple-ratio transmission.

19. The method of claim 16, further including, when accelerating the machine, recirculating exhaust gas through the engine.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein selectively propelling the machine at least in part by supplying power from the engine to the propulsion device includes supplementing power from the engine with power from an additional power source as necessary to meet propulsion needs of the machine while maintaining torque output of the engine within a target range.