Engine control system for construction machine

• US 5,878,721 A
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, CARL STUART
• Application Number:
  US09/090,847
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 123/357, 123/496, 123/385, 123/386, 123/387
• US Class Current: 123/496
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2285 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

Abstract

The pump controller determines pump load torques (T_r1, T_r2) from tilting signals (θ₁, θ₂) of hydraulic pumps and delivery pressure signals ( P_D1, P_D2) of the hydraulic pumps based on T_r1 =K·θ₁ ·P_D1 and T_r2 =K·θ₂ ·P_D2 (K: constant), and adds these pump load torques to provide a resulting value as an engine load torque signal (T). Using the signal (T) and an engine revolution speed signal, an engine controller determines a fuel injecting rate to control a pre-stroke actuator. Simultaneously, the engine controller calculates target injection timing not to change fuel injection start timing, thereby controlling a timer actuator. This makes it possible to control the fuel injection rate with good response and high accuracy following load fluctuation, achieve improved combustion, and hold a fuel injection period within an optimum angle range. As a result, optimum combustion is achieved and such a deterioration of exhaust gas as the generation of NO_x and black smoke can be avoided.

Claims

1. An engine control system for a construction machine comprising a diesel engine, at least one variable displacement hydraulic pump rotatively driven by said engine for driving a plurality of actuators, flow rate instruction means for instructing a delivery rate of said hydraulic pump, and an electronic fuel injection device for controlling an injected fuel amount in said engine, said electronic fuel injection device including a fuel injection rate control actuator for controlling a fuel injection rate of said engine, wherein said engine control system comprises:

first detecting means for detecting a status variable of said hydraulic pump,

load calculating means for calculating a load of said hydraulic pump based on a value detected by said first detecting means, and

injection rate calculation control means for operating said fuel injection rate control actuator so that the fuel injection rate depending on the load of said hydraulic pump is resulted.

2. An engine control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said first detecting means comprises means for detecting a delivery pressure of said hydraulic pump and means for detecting a tilting position of said hydraulic pump, and wherein said load calculating means calculates the load of said hydraulic pump based on values detected by said delivery pressure detecting means and said tilting position detecting means.

3. An engine control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said first detecting means comprises means for detecting a delivery pressure of said hydraulic pump, and wherein said load calculating means calculates the load of said hydraulic pump based on a value detected by said delivery pressure detecting means and a target tilting corresponding to the delivery rate of said hydraulic pump instructed by said flow rate instructing means.

4. An engine control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising second detecting means for detecting a revolution speed of said engine,

wherein said injection rate calculation control means determines, based on the load of said hydraulic pump and the revolution speed of said engine, an injection rate command value causing the fuel injection rate to reduce as the load of said hydraulic pump increases or as the revolution speed of said engine lowers, and wherein said electronic fuel injection device further includes injection timing control means for making control such that fuel injection start timing is not essentially changed regardless of the fuel injection rate.

5. An engine control system for a construction machine comprising a diesel engine and an electronic fuel injection device for controlling an injected fuel amount in said engine, wherein said engine control system comprises:

means for detecting a load of said engine,

means for detecting a revolution speed of said engine, and

fuel injection control means for making control, based on the load of said engine and the revolution speed of said engine, such that a fuel injection rate reduces as the load of said engine increases or as the revolution speed of said engine lowers, and fuel injection start timing is not essentially changed regardless of the fuel injection rate.