Wheel loader

• US 6,705,030 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Tokunaga, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US10/106,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 373/48, 373/47, 172/2-11, 477/1, 477/2, 477/5, 477/153, 477/123, 477/124
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/30 characterised by chargeable mechanical accumulators, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 Wheel loaders
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 Stepped shift

Abstract

A wheel loader, which reduces fuel consumption and eliminates lack of output power of an engine, is provided. For this purpose, the wheel loader is a wheel loader performing operations by driving a hydraulic pump (8) for driving a working machine and driving wheels (6) of a vehicle (101) by an engine (1), and includes a first electric motor (11) capable of transmitting torque to the driving wheels, an electricity accumulation device (13) for transferring electric energy to and from the first electric motor, and a controller (10, 20) for controlling a generating operation of the first electric motor that receives torque transmission from the driving wheels and generates electric power at the time of a decelerating operation of the vehicle, and storing generated electric energy into the electricity accumulation device.

Claims

1. A wheel loader performing operations by driving an hydraulic pump for driving a working machine and driving wheels of a vehicle by an engine, comprising:

a first electric motor capable of transmitting torque to said driving wheels;

electricity accumulation means for transferring electric energy to and from said first electric motor; and

a controller for controlling a generating operation of said first electric motor that receives torque transmission from said driving wheels and generates electric power at the time of a decelerating operation of said vehicle, and storing generated electric energy into said electricity accumulation means.

2. The wheel loader according to claim 1,

wherein said controller controls discharge of the electric energy stored in said electricity accumulation means, and controls a motor operation of said first electric motor to transmit torque to said driving wheels, at the time of an accelerating operation of said vehicle.

3. The wheel loader according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

a second electric motor capable of transmitting torque to said hydraulic pump,

wherein said electricity accumulation means is capable of transferring electric energy to and from said second electric motor; and

wherein said controller controls discharge of the electric energy stored in said electricity accumulation means, and controls a motor operation of said second electric motor to transmit torque to said hydraulic pump, at the time of operating a working machine of said vehicle.

4. The wheel loader according to claim 1, further comprising:

a resister capable of being connected to said first electric motor,

wherein said controller has function of detecting a charge amount of said electricity accumulation means, and supplies electric energy generated by said first electric motor to said resistor when said controller detects that the charge amount of said electricity accumulation means reaches full charge.

5. The wheel loader according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a system controller portion and a power supply controller portion, the system controller portion operative for receiving and transmitting signals from and to the power supply controller portion and for receiving signals from a pressure sensor, an accelerator sensor, a brake sensor, a forward and reverse travel lever, a speed change lever, a bucket angle sensor and a boom angle sensor, the power supply controller portion operative for controlling the first electric motor, a second electric motor, a resistor and the electricity accumulation means based on receiving signals from the system controller portion.

6. A wheel loader, comprising:

an engine;

a generator driven by said engine;

electricity accumulation means for storing electric energy generated by said generator;

a first electric motor capable of transferring the electric energy to and from said electricity accumulation means and transmitting torque to driving wheels of a vehicle;

a second electric motor capable of transferring the electric energy to and from said electricity accumulation means and transmitting torque to a hydraulic pump for driving a working machine; and

a controller for controlling a generating operation of said first electric motor that receives torque transmission from said driving wheels and generates electric power, and storing generated electric energy in said electricity accumulation means, at the time of a decelerating operation of said vehicle.

7. The wheel loader according to claim 6, wherein the controller includes a system controller portion and a power supply controller portion, the system controller portion operative for receiving and transmitting signals from and to the power supply controller portion and for receiving signals from a pressure sensor, an accelerator sensor, a brake sensor, a forward and reverse travel lever, a speed change lever, a bucket angle sensor and a boom angle sensor, the power supply controller portion operative for controlling the first electric motor, a second electric motor, a resistor and the electricity accumulation means based on receiving signals from the system controller portion.