Process and System for Controlling Engine Speed

• US 20170016405A1
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carroll, William, Moore, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,626,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1418 Several control loops, either as alternatives or simultaneous
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/007 controlling fuel supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 35/0092 by means of fuel injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/2422 Selective use of one or more tables

Abstract

A control process for controlling an engine speed governor of an engine is provided. The process comprises the steps of calculating the current engine power being developed by the engine, and determining an appropriate engine speed for the current engine power based upon a first engine map. The process then instructs the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the first map if required. The process monitors for desired engine power requests, and calculates a power ratio of desired engine power versus current engine power upon receiving a desired engine power request. The process then establishes an engine speed adjustment value based upon a second engine map of power ratio versus speed adjustment value, and instructs the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the speed adjustment value. A speed governor system incorporating the control process, and a work machine or vehicle incorporating such a system are also provided.

Claims

1. A control process for controlling an engine speed governor of an engine, the process comprising the steps of:

calculating the current engine power being developed by the engine;

determining an appropriate engine speed for the current engine power based upon a first engine map;

instructing the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the first map if required;

monitoring for desired engine power requests;

calculating a power ratio of desired engine power versus current engine power upon receiving a desired engine power request;

establishing an engine speed adjustment value based upon a second engine map of power ratio versus speed adjustment value; and

instructing the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the speed adjustment value.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the appropriate engine speed as defined by the first engine map is a minimum engine speed for the current engine power.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the speed governor is only instructed to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the first map if an actual engine speed is more than 5% slower or faster than the appropriate engine speed as determined by the first map.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the engine drives a work machine or vehicle and the desired engine power requests are received from one or more ancillary components located on the work machine or vehicle, and/or a manual operator input made by an operator of the vehicle.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the one or more ancillary systems are selected from the group comprising:

a power take-off unit, a hydraulically-actuated component, or a global positioning satellite system.

6. A speed governor system for an engine, the system comprising:

a plurality of engine sensors monitoring parameters associated with the engine;

a supervisory controller monitoring for desired engine power requests;

an engine controller which receives signals from the engine sensors and/or supervisory controller and applies a control process in response to one or more of those signals, the control process comprising the steps of;

calculating the current engine power being developed by the engine based upon one or more engine sensor signals;

determining an appropriate engine speed for the current engine power based upon a first engine map;

generating a speed governor signal to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the first map if required;

monitoring for desired engine power requests from the supervisory controller;

calculating a power ratio of desired engine power versus current engine power upon receiving a desired engine power request; and

establishing an engine speed adjustment value based upon a second map of power ratio versus speed adjustment value;

and the system further comprising;

an engine speed governor which adjusts the speed of the engine in response to the speed governor signal and/or engine speed adjustment value established by the engine controller.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the appropriate engine speed as defined by the first engine map is a minimum engine speed for the current engine power.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising at least one operator input sensor and at least one ancillary system sensor, wherein the supervisory controller receives the desired power requests from one or more of these operator input and ancillary system sensors.

9. A work machine or vehicle comprising a speed governor system for an engine in accordance with claim 6.

10. A work machine or vehicle comprising a speed governor system for an engine in accordance with claim 8, further comprising at least one operator input device, wherein the at least one operator input sensor monitors the operator input device.

11. The work machine or vehicle of claim 10, further comprising at least one ancillary system selected from the group comprising:

a power take-off unit, a hydraulically-actuated component, or a global positioning satellite system; and

wherein the at least one ancillary system sensor monitors the at least one ancillary system.