SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM OF A MACHINE

• US 20160251827A1
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ge, Xinyu
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1038 Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2253 Controlling the travelling speed of vehicles, e.g. adjusting travelling speed according to implement loads, control of hydrostatic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• 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 41/1402 Adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/47 for achieving a target output speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method of controlling a machine is disclosed. The method includes receiving signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the machine. The method further includes determining a current machine operating pattern based on the multiple operating parameters. The method further includes comparing the determined current machine operating pattern with reference to a plurality of predefined machine operating patterns and controlling at least one of a speed of an engine and an output speed of a variable speed member based on the comparison of the determined current machine operating pattern. The variable speed member is drivably coupled to the engine of the machine.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a machine, the method comprising:

receiving signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the machine;

determining a current machine operating pattern based on the multiple operating parameters;

comparing the determined current machine operating pattern with reference to a plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

controlling at least one of a speed of an engine and an output speed of a variable speed member based on the comparison of the determined current machine operating pattern, wherein the variable speed member is drivably coupled to the engine of the machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an error output based on an actual speed of the engine and a desired speed of the engine.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a probability of the current machine operating pattern matching with the plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

determining gain factors and weighting factors based on the determined probability output.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising communicating the determined error output, the gain factors and the weighting factors with a first controller configured to be in communication with the engine and a second controller configured to be in communication with the variable speed member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein controlling the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member comprises determining a response time for the first controller and the second controller based on the gain factors.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining a fuel offset and a displacement offset based on the determined error output, the gain factors and the weighting factors.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising comparing the fuel offset and the displacement offset with reference to a predefined fuel offset and a predefined displacement offset, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising controlling at least one of the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member based on the compared output of the fuel offset and the displacement offset.

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

a first controller in communication with an engine, the first controller configured to control a speed of the engine based on supply of fuel;

a second controller in communication with a variable speed member, the second controller configured to control an output speed of the variable speed member, wherein the variable speed member is drivably coupled to the engine; and

an adaptive adjustment module configured to be in communication with the first controller and the second controller, the adaptive adjustment module configured to;

receive signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the machine;

determine a current machine operating pattern based on the multiple operating parameters;

compare the determined current machine operating pattern with reference to a plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

control at least one of the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member based on the comparison of the determined current machine operating pattern.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the adaptive adjustment module comprises:

a pattern recognition module configured to receive signals indicative of the multiple operating parameters of the machine, the pattern recognition module configured to determine the current machine operating pattern and a load acting on the machine based on the multiple operating parameters; and

a powertrain controller in communication with the pattern recognition module, the powertrain controller configured to be in communication with the first controller and the second controller.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the pattern recognition module is configured to be in communication with a load sensing module, the load sensing module comprising:

at least a grade sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position the machine relative to a ground surface; and

at least a load sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a load carried by the machine.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the pattern recognition module is further configured to be in communication with:

at least an engine sensor configured to generate signals indicative of an actual speed of the engine; and

at least a transmission sensor configured to generate signals indicative of an actual output speed of the variable speed member.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the adaptive adjustment module is configured to determine an error output, wherein the error output is a difference of an actual engine speed and a desired engine speed.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the adaptive adjustment module is further configured to:

determine a probability of the current machine operating pattern matching with the plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

determine gain factors and weighting factors based on the determined probability output.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein the adaptive adjustment module is further configured to communicate the determined error output, the gain factors and the weighting factors with the first controller and the second controller to control the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member, respectively.

16. A machine comprising:

an engine;

a transmission system drivably coupled to the engine, the transmission system comprises a variable speed member coupled parallel to the engine; and

a control system comprising;

a first controller in communication with the engine, the first controller configured to control a speed of the engine based on supply of fuel;

a second controller in communication with the variable speed member, the second controller configured to control an output speed of the variable speed member; and

an adaptive adjustment module configured to be in communication with the first controller and the second controller, the adaptive adjustment module configured to;

receive signals indicative of multiple operating parameters of the machine;

determine a current machine operating pattern based on the multiple operating parameters;

compare the determined current machine operating pattern with reference to a plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

control at least one of the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member based on the comparison of the determined current machine operating pattern.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the adaptive adjustment module comprises:

a pattern recognition module configured to receive signals indicative of the multiple operating parameters of the machine, the pattern recognition module configured to determine the current machine operating pattern and a load acting on the machine based on the multiple operating parameters; and

a powertrain controller in communication with the pattern recognition module, the powertrain controller configured to be in communication with the first controller and the second controller.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the pattern recognition module is configured to be in communication with:

at least a grade sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a position the machine relative to a work surface;

at least a load sensor configured to generate signals indicative of a load carried by the machine;

at least an engine sensor configured to generate signals indicative of an actual speed of the engine; and

a transmission sensor configured to generate signals indicative of an actual output speed of the variable speed member.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the adaptive adjustment module is configured to:

determine a probability of the current machine operating pattern matching with the plurality of predefined machine operating patterns; and

determine gain factors and weighting factors based on the determined probability output.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the adaptive adjustment module is configured to communicate an error output, the determined gain values and the weighting factors with the first controller and the second controller to control the speed of the engine and the output speed of the variable speed member, respectively, wherein the error output is a difference of an actual engine speed and a desired engine speed.