Work machine with auxiliary power unit and intelligent power management

• US 7,992,370 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Ramp, Benjamin E., Sheidler, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Misa; Joan D
• Application Number:
  US12/048,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20090233759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 460/6, 606/98, 56/102.R, 56/106, 56/107
• US Class Current: 56/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/08 comprising more than one engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series 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 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/222 Harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A work machine includes a primary power unit having a rated primary output. The primary power unit is couplable with at least one primary load, including a propulsion load. An auxiliary power unit is mechanically independent from the primary power unit, and has a rated auxiliary output which is smaller than the primary output. The auxiliary power unit is couplable with at least one external load, including an operator initiated load. At least one electrical processing circuit is configured for selectively coupling the primary power unit with one or more primary loads, and for selectively coupling the auxiliary power unit with one or more external loads.

Claims

1. A work machine, comprising:

a primary power unit having a rated primary output, said primary power unit being couplable with at least one primary load, said at least one primary load including a propulsion load;

an auxiliary power unit which is mechanically independent from said primary power unit, said auxiliary power unit having a rated auxiliary output which is smaller than said rated primary output, said auxiliary power unit being couplable with at least one external load, said at least one external load including an operator initiated load; and

at least one electrical processing circuit configured for selectively coupling said primary power unit with at least one of said at least one primary load, and for selectively coupling said auxiliary power unit with at least one said at least one external load said auxiliary power unit including an auxiliary motor-generator mechanically coupled with said auxiliary power unit, said auxiliary motor-generator being configured to electrically drive at least one said at least one external load, said primary power unit including a primary motor-generator mechanically coupled with said primary power unit, said primary motor-generator and said auxiliary motor-generator being electrically coupled together.

2. The work machine of claim 1, wherein said primary power unit includes a primary drive train, and each of said at least one primary load is driven by said primary drive train.

3. The work machine of claim 1, wherein said work machine is an agricultural harvester, and said at least one primary load includes a threshing system load.

4. The work machine of claim 3, wherein said agricultural harvester is an agricultural combine, and said threshing system load corresponds to at least one of:

a cutting platform;

a header;

a feederhousing;

a rotor;

a separator; and

a residue chopper.

5. The work machine of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one external load corresponds to one of a parasitic load and an auxiliary load.

6. The work machine of claim 5, wherein each said parasitic load is a non-drivetrain load without operator intervention, and each said auxiliary load is a non-drivetrain load with operator intervention.

7. The work machine of claim 5, wherein said work machine is an agricultural combine, and said at least one auxiliary load corresponds to at least one of:

a heating and air conditioning system;

a reel drive;

a cleaning shoe drive;

an air compressor for cleanout function;

a vehicle lighting system;

a clean grain unloading system;

a cleaning fan drive;

a cutterbar or auger drive;

a chaff spreader;

a clean grain elevator; and

an auxiliary electrical power outlet.

8. The work machine of claim 5, wherein at least one of said at least one said auxiliary load corresponds to a hydraulic load placed on said auxiliary power unit.

9. The work machine of claim 5, wherein said primary power unit is a primary internal combustion (IC) engine, and said auxiliary power unit is an auxiliary IC engine.

10. The work machine of claim 9, including a transmission coupled with said primary IC engine, and wherein said at least one electrical processing circuit includes a vehicle control unit (VCU) and a transmission control unit (TCU), said TCU controlling operation of said transmission, and said VCU controlling operation of at least one said at least one auxiliary load.

11. The work machine of claim 10, wherein said transmission is an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) coupled with said primary IC engine.

12. The work machine of claim 1, including at least one battery which is electrically connectable with at least one said at least one external load.

13. The work machine of claim 1, wherein said primary motor-generator and said auxiliary motor-generator are electrically coupled together for 2-way electrical power transfer.

14. The work machine of claim 1, wherein said work machine comprises one of a construction work machine, an agricultural work machine, a forestry work machine, a mining work machine, and an industrial work machine.

15. A method of operating a work machine, comprising the steps of:

driving a propulsion load with a primary power unit, said primary power unit having a rated primary output; and

driving an operator initiated load with an auxiliary power unit, said auxiliary power unit being mechanically independent from said primary power unit, said auxiliary power unit having a rated auxiliary output which is smaller than said primary output said auxiliary power unit including an auxiliary motor-generator mechanically coupled with said auxiliary power unit, said auxiliary motor-generator being configured to electrically drive at least one said external load, said primary power unit including a primary motor-generator mechanically coupled with said primary power unit, said primary motor-generator and said auxiliary motor-generator being electrically coupled together.

16. The method of operating a work machine of claim 15, wherein said work machine is an agricultural harvester, and including the step of driving a threshing system load with said primary power unit.

17. The method of operating a work machine of claim 16, wherein said threshing system load corresponds to at least one of:

a cutting platform;

a header;

a feederhousing;

a rotor;

a separator; and

a residue chopper.

18. The method of operating a work machine of claim 15, wherein said work machine is an agricultural combine, and said operator initiated load corresponds to at least one of:

a heating and air conditioning system;

a reel drive;

a cleaning shoe drive;

an air compressor for cleanout function;

a vehicle lighting system;

a clean grain unloading system;

a cleaning fan drive;

a cutter bar or auger drive;

a chaff spreader;

a clean grain elevator; and

an auxiliary electrical power outlet.

19. The method of operating a work machine of claim 15, wherein at least one said operator initiated load is an electrically driven load, and said step of driving said operator initiated load is carried out using said auxiliary motor-generator mechanically coupled with said auxiliary power unit.

20. The method of operating a work machine of claim 19, including at least one battery which is electrically connectable with at least one said electrically driven load.

21. The method of operating a work machine of claim 15, wherein said primary motor-generator and said auxiliary motor-generator are electrically coupled together for 2-way electrical power transfer.

22. The method of operating a work machine of claim 15, wherein said work machine comprises one of a construction work machine, an agricultural work machine, a forestry work machine, a mining work machine, and an industrial work machine.