CONTROL DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE

• US 20100186404A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Nishio, Jun, Yasufuku, Akira
• Application Number:
  US12/445,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/20 Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/22 Hydraulic devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/60 Electric or hybrid propulsion means for production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85986 Pumped fluid control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86019 Direct response valve

Abstract

A control device for an industrial vehicle including an electric storage device, a load device, a hydraulic pump, and a load motor is disclosed. The electric storage device stores regenerative power generated through regenerative braking performed by the travel motor. The hydraulic pump supplies a hydraulic circuit with hydraulic oil to operate the load device. The load motor drives the hydraulic pump. The control device includes a power control unit and a resistance flow passage. The power control unit executes control for supplying the load motor with the regenerative power when the electric storage device is in a fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor. The resistance flow passage is arranged in the hydraulic circuit and enables passage of hydraulic oil while applying flow resistance to the hydraulic oil. When the electric storage device is in the fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor and, at the same time, the load device is not performing a load handling operation, the hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump is guided to the resistance flow passage.

Claims

1. A control device for an industrial vehicle including a travel motor, an electric storage device capable of storing regenerative power generated through regenerative braking performed by the travel motor, a load device, a hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic circuit with hydraulic oil to operate the load device, and a load motor for driving the hydraulic pump, the control device comprising:

a power control unit which executes control for supplying the load motor with the regenerative power when the electric storage device is in a fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor; and

a resistance flow passage which is arranged in the hydraulic circuit and which enables passage of hydraulic oil while applying flow resistance to the hydraulic oil;

wherein when the electric storage device is in the fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor and, at the same time, the load device is not performing a load handling operation, the hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump is guided to the resistance flow passage.

2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an open/close valve which selectively opens and closes a flow passage that connects the hydraulic pump to the resistance flow passage; and

a switch control unit which switches the open/close valve to an open state when the electric storage device is in the fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor and, at the same time, the load device is not performing a load handling operation.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the resistance flow passage is a relief flow passage including a relief valve which opens the flow passage when an acting hydraulic pressure reaches a predetermined pressure.

4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the resistance flow passage is a restriction flow passage in which the flow passage is partially constricted.

5. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lift device serving as the load device;

a tilt cylinder which tilts the lift device; and

a tilt switch valve arranged between the tilt cylinder and the hydraulic pump, with the tilt switch valve being switchable to at least a rearward tilting position in which the hydraulic pump is connected to the tilt cylinder so as to rearwardly tilt the lift device;

wherein the resistance flow passage is a relief flow passage including a relief valve that opens when pressure of the hydraulic circuit between the hydraulic pump and the tilt switch valve exceeds a predetermined pressure; and

a switch control unit which switches the tilt switch valve to the rearward tilting position when the electric storage device is in the fully charged state during regenerative braking performed by the travel motor and, at the same time, the load device is not performing a load handling operation.