Current-limiting value setting method for electric-vehicle traveling motor, and device for practicing the method

• US 6,246,198 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippon Yusoki Company Limited (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nippon Yusoki Company Limited (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Banba, Tadashi, Makino, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David S.
• Application Number:
  US09/406,842
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 318/139, 318/432-434, 361/31-32, 361/86-87, 361/93.9, 180/170, 180/171, 180/65.1, 180/65.8
• US Class Current: 318/434
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/10 for automatic control superimposed on human control to limit the acceleration of the vehicle, e.g. to prevent excessive motor current electric devices for safety purposes B60L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

In a current-limiting setting mode, with, the motor locked and with the accelerator 4 operated fully, the detection current value of the motor provided by a current sensor CT is displayed. The operator, while observing the display, operates up/down push buttons 13 and 14 until the detection current value reaches a predetermined current-limiting value, and a duty of application of current is stored. This feature makes it unnecessary to additionarily provide a current meter, and makes it possible for only one person to perform the adjusting operation.

Claims

1. A method of setting a current-limiting value by adjusting parameters of control circuit of an electric vehicle motor, to set a predetermined upper current corresponding to a rated current which flows when said motor is locked, said method comprising the steps of:

placing a mode of said control circuit to a current-limiting value setting mode;

displaying, on a display means, a detected current value of said motor while said motor is in locked condition;

operating an up/down adjusting means which, with an accelerator operated fully, increases or decreases a duty-cycle of a current applied to said motor so that said detected current value displayed on said means represents a predetermined current-limiting value; and

storing said duty-cycle of said current in a memory means,

wherein said mode of said control circuit is placed in an effective current display mode when said detected current value is approximately equal to said predetermined current-limiting value.

2. A current-limiting value setting device in which a control circuit of an electric vehicle motor is adjusted, to set a predetermined upper current corresponding to a rated current which flows when said motor is locked, said device comprising:

mode switching means for switching a mode of said control circuit to a current-limiting value setting mode;

displaying means for displaying a detected current value of said motor while said motor is locked;

an accelerator provided near a driver'"'"'s seat, said accelerator operable to issue a traveling instruction;

up/down adjusting means provided near said driver'"'"'s seat, said adjusting means operable to increase or decrease a duty-cycle of a current applied to said motor; and

memory means for storing said duty-cycle of said current when said detected current value is approximately equal to a predetermined current limiting value;

wherein when said mode of said control circuit is set to a current-limiting value setting mode, with said accelerator operated fully said up/down adjusting means is operated so that a detection current value displayed on said display means represents a predetermined current-limiting value, and the duty-cycle of said current is stored in said memory means.

3. A method of setting a current-limiting value in a control circuit of an electric vehicle motor, said method comprising:

placing a mode of the control circuit in a current-limiting value setting mode;

displaying, on a display device, a detected current value of said motor, said detected current value being detected while said motor is in a locked condition;

operating an adjuster, operable to increase or decrease a duty-cycle of a current applied to the motor, while an accelerator is operated fully, wherein said operating is performed until the detected current value displayed on the display device represents a predetermined current-limiting value;

storing, in a memory device, a representation of the duty-cycle of the current applied to the motor, wherein the storing is performed when the displayed detected current value represents the predetermined current-limiting value; and

changing the mode of the control circuit to an effective current display mode when said detected current value is approximately equal to said predetermined current limiting value.

4. A device for adjusting a parameter of a control circuit of an electric vehicle motor, said device comprising:

a mode switch operable to set a mode of said control circuit, wherein said mode includes a current-limiting value setting mode;

a display device operable to display a detected current value of said motor, wherein the detected current value is detected while said motor is in a locked condition;

an accelerator provided near an operator of the motor, said accelerator operable to issue a traveling instruction to the motor;

an up/down adjusting device provided near the driver, said adjusting device being operable to increase or decrease a duty-cycle of a current applied to the motor; and

a memory device operable to store a representation of the duty-cycle of the current when said detected current value is approximately equal to a predetermined current limiting value,

wherein when the mode of said control circuit is set to the current-limiting value setting mode, with said accelerator operated fully, the up/down adjusting device is operated so that a detection current value displayed on the display device represents a predetermined current-limiting value, and the duty-cycle of the current at that time is stored in the memory device.