Automatic configuration for a secondary engine electronic governor

• US 20080133117A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Carlton, Douglas J., Mahaffey, Aaron M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/114
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2487 Methods for rewriting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems

Abstract

A control system for a machine having an engine is disclosed. The engine has a first electronic governor. The first electronic governor is operable to control the engine. The engine also has a memory including predetermined configuration data. The engine also has a second electronic governor. The second electronic governor is operable to control the engine. The second electronic governor is connected to the first electronic governor via a datalink. The second electronic governor is configured to automatically receive the predetermined configuration data from the first electronic governor.

Claims

1. A control system for a machine, the system comprising:

an engine;

a first electronic governor operable to control the engine and having a memory with predetermined configuration data stored thereon; and

a second electronic governor operable to control the engine, connected to the first electronic governor via a datalink, and configured to automatically receive the predetermined configuration data from the first electronic governor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined configuration data is programmed in advance of engine operation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein upon power-up of the engine, the first electronic governor is configured to transmit a datalink identifier to the second electronic governor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, the second electronic governor is configured to detect the datalink identifier and automatically program itself to a corresponding identifier.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the configuration data is received only in response to successful matching of datalink identifiers.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the configuration data includes at least one of product part information, communication protocols supported by the first and second electronic governors, and data settings supported by the engine.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the configuration data further includes at least one parameter specifying values for operation of the engine.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second electronic governor is configured to function as a backup governor and control operation of the engine only in the event the first electronic governor fails.

9. A method for automatically configuring a backup electronic governor in an engine, comprising:

transmitting, upon power-up of the engine, a datalink identifier from a primary electronic governor to the backup electronic governor;

automatically programming the backup electronic governor to an identifier corresponding to the transmitted datalink identifier; and

automatically transmitting configuration data stored in the primary electronic governor to the backup electronic governor.

10. The method of claim 9, further including determining whether the datalink identifiers of the primary and backup electronic governors substantially match, wherein the configuration data is automatically transmitted only in response to the determination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuration data includes at least one of product part information, communication protocols supported by the primary and backup electronic governors, and data settings supported by the engine.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuration data further includes at least one configuration parameter specifying values for the operation of the engine.

13. The method of claim 12, further including enabling the backup electronic governor to control the engine in the event the primary electronic governor fails.

14. A computer-readable medium, tangibly embodied, storing instructions executable by a processor for automatic configuration of a backup electronic governor in an engine comprising:

transmitting, upon power-up of the engine, a datalink identifier from a primary electronic governor to the backup electronic governor;

automatically programming the backup electronic governor to an identifier corresponding to the transmitted datalink identifier; and

automatically transmitting configuration data stored in the primary electronic governor to the backup electronic governor.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the configuration data is programmed in advance of engine operation.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further including determining whether the datalink identifiers of the primary and backup electronic governors substantially match.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration data is automatically transmitted only in response to the determination.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the configuration data includes at least one of product part information, communication protocols supported by the primary and backup electronic governors, and data settings supported by the engine.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the configuration data further includes at least one configuration parameter specifying values for the operation of the engine.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including enabling the backup electronic governor to control the engine in the event the primary electronic governor fails.