Method and Arrangement in Power Transmission of Forest Machine

• US 20080314659A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ponsse Oyj
• Original Assignee: Ponsse Oyj
• Inventors: Einola, Kalle, Rintamaki, Veikko, Hukkanen, Pentti
• Granted Patent: US 8,556,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2079 Control of mechanical transmission for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• 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

Abstract

A method and an arrangement in power transmission of a forest machine (1), the forest machine including a primary power source (5) for generating power required for moving and controlling the forest machine and/or actuators (6, 7) therein. In the present method and arrangement, at least part of the power generated by the primary power source (5) is converted into electric energy by a generator arrangement (8). This electric energy can be stored at least partly in an electricity storage unit (9), from which part thereof can be used, when required, for generating pressure medium-transmitted power for implementing a pressure medium-transmitted function of the forest machine (1) or at least one actuator (6, 7) therein.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A method in the power transmission of a forest machine (1), the forest machine comprising a primary power source (5) for generating power required for moving and controlling the forest machine and/or actuators (6,7) therein, at least part of the power generated by the primary power source (5) being converted into electric energy by means of a generator arrangement (8) the electric energy being stored at least partly for a shorter or a longer time in one or more electricity storage means (9) wherefrom at least part of the electric energy can be led from when required, characterized by

At least part of the electric energy being led to one or more conversion means (14) separated from the primary power source (5) to be used for a generating pressure medium-transmitted power at one or more locations for implementing one or more pressure medium-transmitted functions of the forest machine (1) and/or at least one actuator (6,7) therein or for enhancing operation.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, characterized by the pressure medium-transmitted power to be generated being at least momentarily higher than the power generated by the primary power source (5).

30. A method as claimed in claim 28, characterized by arranging energy recovery in at least one conversion means (14) in such a manner that the conversion means is employed for converting the energy contained in the pressure medium and for feeding it back for use by electric actuators (22) of the electric system or for storage in the electricity storage means (9).

31. A method as claimed in claim 28, characterized by driving the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power with an electric motor (17), the speed thereof being controlled.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, characterized by controlling the speed of the electric motor (17) with a frequency converter.

34. A method as claimed in claim 28, characterized by controlling, at least partly, a timber-processing device in the forest machine (1) with the pressure medium-transmitted power generated in the conversion means (14).

35. A method as claimed in claim 28, characterized by controlling the use of an actuator implementing a single working movement of a timber-processing device in the forest machine (1) with the pressure medium-transmitted power generated in the conversion means (14).

36. An arrangement in the power transmission of a forest machine (1), the forest machine comprising a primary power source (5) for generating power required for moving and controlling the forest machine and/or actuators (6,7) therein at least part of the power generated by the primary power source being adapted to be directed to a generator arrangement (8) for generating electric energy, the electric energy being arranged to be stored at least partly for a shorter or a longer time in one or more electricity storage means (9), at least part of the electric energy being arranged to be led form the storage means to one or more conversion means (14) characterized in that

the conversion means (14) comprised by the arrangement to be used for generating pressure medium-transmitted power at one or more locations is separated from the primary power source (5).

37. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that at least one conversion means (14) comprises means for recovering energy in such a manner that the conversion means accomplishes the conversion of the energy contained in the pressure medium into electric energy.

38. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that an electric motor (17) is arranged for driving the conversion means (14).

39. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the pressure medium-transmitted power generated in the conversion means (14) is adapted to control a timber-processing device in the forest machine (1).

40. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the pressure medium-transmitted power generated in the conversion means (14) is adapted to at least partly control a timber-processing device in the forest machine (1).

41. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the pressure medium-transmitted power generated in the conversion means (14) is adapted to control the use of an actuator implementing a single working movement of a timber-processing device in the forest machine (1).

42. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the generator arrangement (8) is adapted in connection with the primary power source (5) of the forest machine (1).

43. An arrangement as claimed in claim 42, characterized in that the generator arrangement (8) is integrated into the primary power source (5).

44. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that at least one conversion means (14) for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power is adapted substantially in connection with a pressure medium container comprised by the arrangement.

45. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power is driven with a permanent magnet motor.

46. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power is driven with a short circuit motor.

47. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power is driven with an electric motor (17), the speed thereof being adapted to be controllable.

48. An arrangement as claimed in claim 47, characterized in that the electric motor (17) is adapted to be controllable with a frequency converter.

49. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power comprises a fixed-volume pump unit (16), the adjustment of the volume flow of the pump unit being adapted to take place by adjusting the speed of rotation of the electric motor (17) adapted to drive it.

50. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power comprises an adjustable-volume pump unit (16), the electric motor (17) adapted to drive the pump unit being preferably arranged to rotate at an optimized speed of rotation.

51. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) employed for generating the pressure medium-transmitted power comprises a pump unit (21) that is a pump motor rotating in both directions, the electric motor (17) driving it also being adaptable to serve as a generator supplying electric energy to the storage means (9) when a load in hydraulic movement is being braked.

52. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the conversion means (14) and the electric motor (17) therein are located on a rear chassis (3) of the forest machine (1).

53. An arrangement as claimed in claim 52, characterized in that the conversion means (14) and the electric motor (17) therein are located in a base (19) comprised by a charger (6) installed on the rear chassis (3).

54. An arrangement as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the storage means (9) are placed in connection with the rear chassis (3) of the forest machine (1).