Engine control device

• US 6,959,241 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Itow, Koichiro, Morinaga, Jun, Hiraki, Hikosaburou
• Primary Examiner(s): Argenbright, Tony M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang, Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US10/694,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20040088103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 701/102, 701/111, 123/481, 123/493, 123/361, 123/339
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2510/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/25 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/101 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An engine control device capable of improving engine efficiency by operating the engine in an area where fuel consumption is small (good) while allowing high responsivity of the engine to be maintained. The object can be achieved by operating to match at a point on a target torque line of a torque diagram and operating an electric motor when a matching point moves on the target torque line in a direction in which a load applied to the engine output shaft becomes large.

Claims

1. An engine control device for controlling an engine to move a matching point according to a load applied to the engine on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a target torque line is set to pass through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum, or to pass through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed on the engine torque diagram, and the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line.

3. The engine control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line including a line segment which connects a torque point at a time of rated output and the fuel consumption minimum point or the vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point.

4. The engine control device according to claim 1, wherein the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line which connects a torque point at a time of rated output, the fuel consumption minimum point or the vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and a deceleration point at a time of auto deceleration or a vicinity of the deceleration point.

7. The engine control device according to claim 1, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

16. The engine control device according to claim 3, wherein the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line which connects the torque point at the time of rated output, the fuel consumption minimum point or the vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and a deceleration point at a time of auto deceleration or a vicinity of the deceleration point.

18. The engine control device according to claim 3, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

19. The engine control device according to claim 4, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

2. An engine control device for controlling an engine to move a matching point according to a load applied to the engine on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a target torque line is set to pass through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum on individual equal horsepower curves of the engine torque diagram, or to pass through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed, and the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line.

14. The engine control device according to claim 2, wherein the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line including a line segment which connects a torque point at the time of rated output and the fuel consumption minimum point or the vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point.

15. The engine control device according to claim 2, wherein the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line which connects a torque point at a time of rated output, the fuel consumption minimum point or the vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and a deceleration point at a time of auto deceleration or a vicinity of the deceleration point.

17. The engine control device according to claim 2, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

5. An engine control device for controlling an engine by a governor to move a matching point according to a load applied to the engine on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a target torque line is set to pass through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum on the engine torque diagram or to pass through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed;

individual regulation lines are set to connect individual matching target rotational speeds and individual instructed rotational speeds on the target torque line;

the governor injects fuel in an amount corresponding to a difference between an instructed rotational speed and a real rotational speed into the engine; and

a command to change the instructed rotational speed by a portion corresponding to a difference between a matching target rotational speed and the real rotational speed is given to the governor.

8. The engine control device according to claim 5, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine;

an upper limit line specifying a maximum injection amount of fuel is set between an engine maximum torque line and the target torque line on the engine torque diagram; and

the electric motor is operated when an injection amount corresponding to a difference between an instructed rotational speed and a real rotational speed exceeds the maximum injection amount specified by the upper limit line.

20. The engine control device according to claim 5, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

6. An engine control device for controlling an engine by a governor to move a matching point according to a load applied to the engine on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a target torque line is set to pass through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum on individual equal horsepower curves of the engine torque diagram, or to pass through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point; and

is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed;

individual regulation lines are set to connect individual matching target rotational speeds and individual instructed rotational speeds on the target torque line;

the governor injects fuel in an amount corresponding to a difference between an instructed rotational speed and a real rotational speed into the engine; and

a command to change the instructed rotational speed by a portion corresponding to a difference between a matching target rotational speed and the real rotational speed is given to the governor.

21. The engine control device according to claim 6, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

22. The engine control device according to claim 6, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine;

an upper limit line specifying a maximum injection amount of fuel is set between an engine maximum torque line and the target torque line on the engine torque diagram; and

the electric motor is operated when an injection amount corresponding to a difference between an instructed rotational speed and a real rotational speed exceeds the maximum injection amount specified by the upper limit line.

9. An engine control device for controlling an engine to move a matching point, where engine power torque matches absorption torque of a hydraulic pump, on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a target torque line is set in an area on the engine torque diagram where the engine has a low rotational speed and the hydraulic pump has a large displacement and is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed, and the engine is controlled to match at a point on the target torque line.

12. The engine control device according to claim 9, further comprising means for controlling to have a prescribed differential pressure between a discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump and a load pressure of a hydraulic actuator.

13. The engine control device according to claim 9, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when a matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

10. An engine control device for controlling an engine to move a matching point, where engine power torque matches absorption torque of a hydraulic pump, on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a second target torque line being continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed, where the engine has a low rotational speed and the hydraulic pump has a large displacement, is set with respect to a first target torque line which passes through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum on individual equal horsepower curves of the engine torque diagram, or passes through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and is continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed; and

the engine is controlled to match at a point on the second target torque line.

23. The engine control device according to claim 10, further comprising means for controlling to have a prescribed differential pressure between a discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump and a load pressure of a hydraulic actuator.

25. The engine control device according to claim 10, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.

11. An engine control device for controlling an engine to move a matching point, where engine power torque matches absorption torque of a hydraulic pump, on an engine torque diagram having an axis representing engine speed and an axis representing torque, wherein:

a first target torque line is set to pass through a fuel consumption minimum point, where a fuel consumption rate becomes minimum on individual equal horsepower curves of the engine torque diagram, or pass through a vicinity of the fuel consumption minimum point and is set to be continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed;

a second target torque line being continuous from a low rotational speed to a high rotational speed, where the engine has a low rotational speed and the hydraulic pump has a large displacement, is set with respect to the first target torque line;

either the first target torque line or the second target torque line is selected; and

the engine is controlled to match at a point on the selected target torque line.

24. The engine control device according to claim 11, further comprising means for controlling to have a prescribed differential pressure between a discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump and a load pressure of a hydraulic actuator.

26. The engine control device according to claim 11, wherein:

an electric motor is coupled to an output shaft of the engine; and

the electric motor is operated when the matching point moves on the engine torque diagram in a direction that a load applied to the output shaft becomes large.