System and method for providing automatic power control and torque boost

• US 7,034,476 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Large Drives LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaobin, Brown, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US10/902,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20050062449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 318 59- 61, 318/63, 318/64, 318/139, 318375-376, 318379-381, 318432-434
• US Class Current: 318/139
• 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: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/06 for stopping or slowing an individual dynamo-electric motor or dynamo-electric converter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide for automatic power control and/or torque boost for retarding a machine. The automatic power control and/or torque boost can provide a control margin under retard. Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising: for a machine comprising a wheel drive system comprising a braking system, comparing an acceleration to a predetermined acceleration threshold; determining a dynamic maximum retard torque associated with the braking system based on said comparing activity; controlling a retard torque to no greater than the dynamic maximum retard torque; and affecting a retard power.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

for a machine comprising a wheel drive comprising an electric motor and an electric motor braking system, a determinator adapted to determine a dynamic maximum retard torque based on a comparison of an acceleration of the electric motor to a predetermined threshold; and

a controller adapted to control a retard torque of the electric motor to no greater than the dynamic maximum retard torque.

2. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising:

for a machine comprising a wheel drive system comprising an electric motor and an electric motor braking system, comparing an acceleration of the electric motor to a predetermined acceleration threshold;

determining a dynamic maximum retard torque associated with the electric motor braking system based on said comparing activity; and

responsive to a feedback metric, controlling a retard torque of the electric motor to no greater than the dynamic maximum retard torque; and

affecting a retard power of the electric motor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the retard torque of the electric motor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring the retard torque of the electric motor.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is also based on a received retard setpoint for the machine.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is also based on a predetermined retard power limit.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

increasing the dynamic maximum retard torque temporarily to a predetermined level associated with a boost power that is above the predetermined retard power limit.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

contingent on a retard torque setpoint exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time, increasing the dynamic maximum retard torque temporarily to a predetermined level associated with a boost power that is above a predetermined retard power limit.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is associated with a power level less than a predetermined retard power limit.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is associated with a power level approximately equal to a predetermined retard power limit.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is associated with a power level above a predetermined retard power limit.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the dynamic maximum retard torque is related to a maximum retard power rating of at least one component of the electric motor braking system.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a speed of the electric motor.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

measuring a speed of the electric motor.

15. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the feedback metric.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the feedback metric responsive to a speed of the electric motor and the retard torque.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the feedback metric responsive to a retard power of the electric motor.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a retard power of the electric motor.

19. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a retard power of the electric motor.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a predetermined retard power limit of the electric motor braking system.

21. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a predetermined retard power limit of the electric motor braking system.

22. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining the feedback metric responsive to a predetermined retard power limit of the electric motor braking system.

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine is a truck.

24. The method of claim 2, wherein the machine is a mine haul truck.

25. A machine-readable medium comprising stored instructions for

for a machine comprising a wheel drive system comprising an electric motor and an electric motor braking system, comparing an acceleration of the electric motor to a predetermined acceleration threshold;

determining a dynamic maximum retard torque of the electric motor based on said comparing activity; and

responsive to a feedback metric, controlling a retard torque of the electric motor to no greater than the dynamic maximum retard torque associated with the wheel drive system.