CONTROL SYSTEM OF HYBRID CONSTRUCTION MACHINE

• US 20160312442A1
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Original Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Inventors: EGAWA, Masahiro, KAWASAKI, Haruhiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,995,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2267 Valves or distributors position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2282 Systems using center bypass type changeover valves
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2285 Pilot-operated systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/044 operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/14 Energy-recuperation means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20507 Type of prime mover
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20515 Electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20523 Internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20576 with multiple pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20584 Combinations of pumps with high and low capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/255 Flow control functions
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/265 Control of multiple pressure sources
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6313 : the pressure being a load pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6316 : the pressure being a pilot pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7053 : Double-acting output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7058 : Rotary output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7135 : Combinations of output members of different types, e.g. single-acting cylinders with rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7142 : the output members being arranged in multiple groups
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/88 : Control measures for saving energy

Abstract

A control system of a hybrid construction machine includes a regeneration passage switching valve having a normal position where flow of working fluid is blocked, and a regeneration position allowing for the working fluid to flow from main passages to a regeneration motor when a working fluid pressure of the main passages reaches a set pressure during operation of the actuators, and an assist switching valve having a normal position proportionally dividing the working fluid of an assist passage into a regeneration passages, a first switching position supplying more working fluid of the assist passage to one of the main passages when that the one has a higher working fluid pressure, and a second switching position supplying more working fluid of the assist passage to the other one of the main passages when that the other one has a higher working fluid pressure.

Claims

1. A control system of a hybrid construction machine, comprising:

two circuitry systems each having a main pump and an operation valve, the operation valve being configured to supply and discharge working fluid supplied from the main pump to an actuator through a main passage;

a main relief valve disposed in at least one of the two circuitry systems, the main relief valve being configured to maintain the working fluid pressure of the main passage at not more than a main relief pressure;

two regeneration passages each branching out between the main pump and the operation valve of the main passage of the two circuitry systems;

a regeneration motor for regeneration, configured to rotate by the working fluid guided through one of the regeneration passages of the two circuitry systems;

an assist pump configured to supply the working fluid to the two main passages via an assist passage by rotation with the regeneration motor interlockingly;

a regeneration passage switching valve configured to open and close one of the regeneration passages of the two circuitry systems; and

an assist switching valve interposed on the assist passage, the assist switching valve being configured to supply the working fluid supplied from the assist pump to at least one of the two regeneration passages, wherein

the regeneration passage switching valve includes a normal position where flow of the working fluid is blocked, and a regeneration position allowing for the working fluid to flow from the main passage to the regeneration motor when the working fluid pressure of the main passage reaches a set pressure lower than the main relief pressure during operation of the actuator, and

the assist switching valve includes a normal position proportionally dividing the working fluid of the assist passage into the two regeneration passages, a first switching position supplying more working fluid of the assist passage to one of the two main passages when that the one of the two main passages has a higher working fluid pressure, and a second switching position supplying more working fluid of the assist passage to the other one of the two main passages when that the other one of the two main passages has a higher working fluid pressure.

2. The control system of the hybrid construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to perform regeneration control of the hybrid construction machine, wherein

the controller controls regeneration flow amount of the regeneration motor to make a working fluid pressure of the two main passages be not less than a minimum operating pressure of the actuator, when the regeneration passage switching valve is controlled to switch to the regeneration position.

3. The control system of the hybrid construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure detector configured to detect a working fluid pressure of one of the two main passages;

a pilot pressure source configured to generate a pilot pressure; and

a solenoid valve interposed on a pilot passage for supplying the pilot pressure to switch the regeneration passage switching valve to the regeneration position, the solenoid valve allowing the pilot passage to communicate with the pilot pressure source, wherein

the solenoid valve is switched to communicate the pilot passage with the pilot pressure source when the working fluid pressure detected by the pressure detector reaches the set pressure during operation of the actuator.

4. The control system of the hybrid construction machine according to claim 3, further comprising:

a throttle connected downstream of the operation valve of the main passage, the throttle being configured to generate a pilot pressure transmitted to a regulator for controlling a capacity of the main pump; and

a main passage switching valve interposed between the operation valve and the throttle in the main passage, configured to open and close the main passage, wherein

the main passage switching valve is switched to a closed position when the solenoid valve is switched to communicate the pilot passage with the pilot pressure source.

5. The control system of the hybrid construction machine according to claim 1, wherein

the regeneration motor is also configured to be driven by working fluid discharged from the actuator through a merging regeneration passage at which the working fluid from one of the regeneration passages of the two circuitry systems merge, and

the regeneration passage switching valve further includes a tank communication position that allows the merging regeneration passage to communicate with a tank when a flow-in amount to the regeneration motor of the working fluid within the merging regeneration passage exceeds a defined value.

6. The control system of the hybrid construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the assist switching valve includes:

a spool configured to close a communication between the assist passage and the two regeneration passages; and

a pair of small-diameter pistons formed with a smaller diameter than that of the spool, the pair of small-diameter pistons being provided on either respective ends of the spool, wherein

position, and the second switching position by being pressed against the small-diameter piston pressed by the pressure of working fluid of the two regeneration passages as a pilot pressure.