Systems and methods for controlling slip of vehicle drive members

• US 7,798,272 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Pruitt, Randall D., Strashny, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, TASHIANA R
• Application Number:
  US11/606,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20080128189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 180/197, 180/307, 180/308
• US Class Current: 180/197
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/175 Skid-steer loaders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/001 control systems B62D11/183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/06 by means of a single main power source
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/6861 the pressures, e.g. high, low or differential pressures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/421 Motor capacity control by electro-hydraulic control means, e.g. using solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/431 Pump capacity control by electro-hydraulic control means, e.g. using solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/472 for achieving a target output torque

Abstract

A system for controlling slip of vehicle drive members is disclosed. The system includes a power train including a plurality of drive members and a hydraulic transmission configured to supply torque to at least one of the drive members. A magnitude of the torque is related to fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission. The system further includes a controller configured to control the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a steering command and a signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure in the hydraulic transmission. The controller is further configured to control slip of the at least one drive member based on the signal indicative of a steering command and the signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure.

Claims

1. A system for controlling slip of vehicle drive members, the system comprising:

a power train including

a plurality of drive members, and

a hydraulic transmission configured to supply torque to at least one of the drive members,

wherein a magnitude of the torque is related to fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission; and

a controller in communication with the hydraulic transmission to control the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission,

wherein the controller controls slip of the at least one drive member based on a signal indicative of a steering command and a signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure, wherein the controller limits a pressure of the hydraulic transmission at or below a dynamic pressure set point determined from the signal indicative of the steering command and the signal indicative of the parameter related to pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission such that a first magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a substantially straight line travel path of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission such that a second magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a curved travel path of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the curved travel path of the vehicle defines a turning radius, and wherein as the turning radius decreases, the second magnitude increases, such that more torque is supplied to the at least one drive member.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first magnitude is limited such that the at least one drive member does not slip with respect to the ground during the substantially straight-line travel path of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic transmission includes a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to a hydraulic motor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor is configured to vary displacement.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an electronic controller.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a hydro-mechanical controller.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive members include ground engaging tracks.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive members include wheels.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is stores a plurality of values corresponding to the parameter related to pressure and a plurality of values for the steering commands that correspond to the plurality of values corresponding to the parameter related to pressure.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameter related to pressure includes pressure in the hydraulic transmission.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic pressure set point varies with the steering command.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a power train including;

a power source,

a plurality of drive members, and

a hydraulic transmission operably coupling the plurality of drive members to the power source and configured to supply torque to at least one of the drive members,

wherein a magnitude of the torque is related to fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission; and

a controller in communication with the hydraulic transmission to control the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission,

wherein the controller controls slip of the at least one drive member based on a signal indicative of a steering command and a signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure, wherein the controller limits a pressure of the hydraulic transmission at or below a dynamic pressure set point determined from the signal indicative of the steering command and the signal indicative of the parameter related to pressure.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the controller controls the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission such that a first magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a substantially straight line travel path of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to control the fluid flow in the hydraulic transmission such that a second magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a curved travel path of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the curved travel path of the vehicle defines a turning radius, and wherein as the turning radius decreases, the second magnitude increases, such that more torque is supplied to the at least one drive member.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the controller stores a plurality of values corresponding to the parameter related to pressure and a plurality of values for the steering commands that correspond to the plurality of values corresponding to the parameter related to pressure, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of a steering command and control slip of the at least one drive member controls slip of the at least one drive member based on a value corresponding to the parameter related to pressure that corresponds to the value for the steering commands.

20. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the dynamic pressure set point varies with the steering command.

17. A method for limiting slip of drive members of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure in a transmission of the vehicle;

receiving a signal indicative of a steering command of the vehicle; and

controlling fluid flow in the transmission based on the signal indicative of a parameter related to pressure in the transmission and the signal indicative of a steering command, such that the slip of at least one of the drive members is limited,

wherein controlling fluid flow in the transmission further includes determining a dynamic pressure set point from the signal indicative of the steering command and the signal indicative of the parameter related to pressure, wherein the dynamic pressure set point varies with the signal indicative of the steering command, and

wherein controlling fluid flow in the transmission further includes limiting a pressure of the hydraulic transmission at or below the dynamic pressure set point.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein controlling fluid flow in the transmission includes controlling the fluid flow such that a first magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a substantially straight-line travel path of the vehicle, and controlling fluid flow such that a second magnitude of torque is supplied to the at least one drive member when the signal indicative of a steering command corresponds to a curved travel path of the vehicle, and wherein the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude.