METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A DUAL FUNCTION WORK MACHINE

• US 20150039163A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: West, Sean P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• 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 10/26 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/17 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2091 Control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. battery or capacitors energy recovery arrangements in hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2217
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling power for a work machine. An example method disclosed herein includes identifying an energy storage level of an energy storage device; identifying a transmission setting of the work machine; and determining whether to control a function of the work machine using power from the energy storage device or power from a second power source different from the energy storage device based on the energy storage level and the transmission setting.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a work machine comprising:

a battery monitor to identify an energy storage level of an energy storage device;

a transmission monitor to identify a transmission setting of the work machine; and

a power analyzer to determine whether to control a function of the work machine using power from the energy storage device or from a second power source different from the energy storage device based on the energy storage level and the transmission setting.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery controller to store energy from the second power source in the energy storage device when the second power source is to be used to control the function.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power analyzer is to control the function using power from the energy storage device when the energy level is between a maximum energy state threshold and a minimum energy state threshold and the transmission is in neutral.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an engine monitor to determine that the second power source is in an emergency state, wherein the power analyzer controls the function using power from the energy storage device until the work machine has reached a safe state.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operator station monitor to identify a configuration of an operator station of the work machine, wherein the power analyzer controls whether power to control the function is to be used from the energy storage device or from the second power source based on the configuration of the operator station.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engine controller to, when the second power source is being used to power the function, shut down the second power source when (1) the transmission is in forward or reverse and (2) an operator station of the work machine is configured to control the function.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function selector to, when the energy storage device is to be used to power the function, disable control of the function when an operator station is configured to control a second function separate from the first function.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function selector to disable control of the function and enable control to a second function when an operator station of the work machine is configured to control the second function and the transmission is set to forward or reverse,

wherein the second power source is used to power the second function.

9. A method for controlling a work machine comprising:

identifying, an energy storage level of an energy storage device;

identifying a transmission setting of the work machine; and

determining, via a power analyzer, whether to control a function of the work machine using power from the energy storage device or power from a second power source different from the energy storage device based on the energy storage level and the transmission setting.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

storing energy from the second power source in the energy storage device when the second power source is to be used to control the function.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the function is to be controlled using power from the energy storage device when the energy level is between a maximum energy state threshold and a minimum energy state threshold and the transmission is in neutral.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

identifying the second power source is in an emergency state; and

controlling the function using power from the energy storage device until the work machine has reached a safe state.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

identifying a configuration of an operator station of the work machine;

and controlling whether power to control the function is to be used from the energy storage device or from the second power source based on the configuration of the operator station.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

when the second power source is being used to power the function, shutting down the second power source when the transmission is in forward or reverse and an operator station of the work machine is configured to control the function.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

when the energy storage device is to be used to power the function, disabling control of the function when an operator station is configured to control a second function separate from the first function.

16. (canceled)

17. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed cause a machine to at least:

identify an energy storage level of an energy storage device;

identify a transmission setting of the work machine; and

determine whether to control a function of the work machine using power from the energy storage device or power from a second power source different from the energy storage device based on the energy storage level and the transmission setting.

18. A storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed further cause the machine to store energy from the second power source in the energy storage device when the second power source is to be used to control the function.

19. A storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the function is to be controlled using power from the energy storage device when the energy level is between a maximum energy state threshold and a minimum energy state threshold and the transmission is in neutral.

20. A storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed further cause the machine to:

identify the second power source is in an emergency state; and

control the function using power from the energy storage device until the work machine has reached a safe state.

21. A storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the instructions when executed further cause the machine to:

identifying a configuration of an operator station of the work machine; and

control whether power to control the function is to be used from the energy storage device or from the second power source based on the configuration of the operator station.

22-24. -24. (canceled)