Method for Optimizing Operation of a Work Vehicle

• US 20080319618A1
• Filed: 02/20/2006
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Sjogren, Joakim, Thorn, Susanna
• Application Number:
  US12/279,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0604 Estimation of fuel pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0625 Fuel consumption, e.g. measured in fuel liters per 100 kms or miles per gallon
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/007 controlling fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0205 using an auxiliary engine speed control engine speed control per se F02D31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1406 with use of a optimisation method, e.g. iteration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method is provided for optimizing operation of a work vehicle with an engine for propelling the vehicle. The method includes detecting at least one operating parameter, determining an optimized engine speed parameter value with regard to fuel consumption, reduced emissions and/or increased productivity on the basis of the detected operating parameter and stored information regarding fuel consumption, emissions and/or productivity, and controlling the engine in accordance with the determined engine speed parameter value.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing operation of a work vehicle with an engine for propelling the vehicle, comprising

detecting at least one operating parameter,

determining an optimized engine speed parameter value with regard to fuel consumption, reduced emissions and/or increased productivity on the basis of the detected operating parameter and stored information regarding fuel consumption, emissions and/or productivity,

detecting actuation of an operator-controlled element which is adapted for requesting an engine speed,

determining if the vehicle is in an operator selected fuel economy mode,

initiating determination of the engine speed parameter value if full engine speed is requested by the operator and only if the vehicle is in said operator selected fuel economy mode and

controlling the engine in accordance with the determined engine speed parameter value.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the optimized engine speed parameter value is an engine speed value, and the method comprises controlling the actual engine speed to the determined engine speed value.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising calculating the engine speed parameter value as a function of the stored information and the detected operating parameter.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising determining an efficiency of a converter in the vehicle powertrain on the basis of the detected operating parameter and using the determined converter efficiency for determining the engine speed parameter value.

5. A method according to claim 1 comprising determining an efficiency of a transmission in the vehicle powertrain on the basis of the detected operating parameter and using the determined transmission efficiency for determining the engine speed parameter value.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising determining a torque of a vehicle powertrain and determining the engine speed parameter value also on the basis of the determined torque.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising selecting values from the stored information on the basis of the detected operating parameter and determining the engine speed parameter value on the basis of the selected values.

8. A method according to claim 1, comprising controlling a limit for a maximum available engine speed.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising using stored information of at least fuel consumption and emissions and determining an optimized engine speed parameter value with regard to fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

10. A method according to claim 1, comprising using stored information of at least two of the parameters fuel consumption, emissions and productivity.

11. A method according to claim 1, comprising using stored information of all three parameters fuel consumption, emissions and productivity.

12. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step or determining if the vehicle is in a predetermined operation state and initiating determination of the engine speed parameter value only if the vehicle is in said predetermined operation state.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined operation state corresponds to that a vehicle engine is subjected to a high load.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined operation state corresponds to an uphill travel by the vehicle.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined operation state corresponds to the vehicle carrying a heavy load.

16. A method according to claim 12, comprising determining if the vehicle is in the predetermined operation state by detecting at least one operating parameter.

17. A method according to claim 12, comprising detecting an engine load, comparing the detected engine load value with a predetermined engine load value and determining that the vehicle is in the predetermined operation state if the engine load value is above the predetermined engine load value.

18. A method according to claim 12, comprising detecting a vehicle inclination, comparing the detected vehicle inclination value with a predetermined vehicle inclination value and determining that the vehicle is in the predetermined operation state if the vehicle inclination value is above the predetermined vehicle inclination value.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is adapted for operation in a mode selected by an operator from a set of modes comprising a fuel economy mode and at least one further operation mode, comprising performing the method steps if the vehicle is in the selected fuel economy mode.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information regarding fuel consumption, emissions and/or productivity is stored for a specific performance.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the performance comprises travel a distance uphill.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the performance comprises performing a predetermined work function with a work implement.

23. A method according to claim 1, comprising comparing values for the engine speed parameter value from at least one table for the fuel consumption, emissions and/or productivity, selecting a specific engine speed parameter value and controlling the engine accordingly.

24. A method according to claim 1, comprising optimizing operation of the work vehicle when used in a repetitive operation, storing information regarding fuel consumption, emissions and/or productivity during a specific performance and using the stored information in a consecutive performance.

25. A computer program comprising software code for carrying out all the steps as claimed in claim 1 when the program is run on a computer.

26. A computer program product comprising software code stored on a medium that can be read by a computer for carrying out all the steps as claimed in claim 1 when the program is run on a computer.