Machine having a multiple-ratio transmission
First Claim
1. A method of operating a machine having a power system that includes a prime mover, a multiple-ratio transmission, a propulsion device, and power-system controls, the method comprising:
- propelling the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, while controlling operation of the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission with the power-system controls, including;
determining with the power-system controls at least one energy-efficiency estimate based at least on energy-efficiency characteristics of the prime mover and energy-efficiency characteristics of the multiple-ratio transmission, wherein determining the at least one energy-efficiency estimate includes determining multiple energy-efficiency estimates associated with alternative combinations of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, andcontrolling a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission based at least on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate, wherein controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio includes;
selecting a combination of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio associated with one of the multiple energy-efficiency estimates as a first target for the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio;
determining a second target for the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, the second target being associated with responsiveness of the power system to increased power demands; and
controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio based at least on the first target and the second target.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The machine may have a power system that includes a prime mover, a multiple-ratio transmission, a propulsion device, and power-system controls. The method may include propelling the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, while controlling operation of the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission with the power-system controls. This may include determining with the power-system controls at least one energy-efficiency estimate based at least on energy-efficiency characteristics of the prime mover and energy-efficiency characteristics of the multiple-ratio transmission. Controlling the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission may further include controlling a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission based at least in-part on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a machine having a power system that includes a prime mover, a multiple-ratio transmission, a propulsion device, and power-system controls, the method comprising:
propelling the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, while controlling operation of the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission with the power-system controls, including; determining with the power-system controls at least one energy-efficiency estimate based at least on energy-efficiency characteristics of the prime mover and energy-efficiency characteristics of the multiple-ratio transmission, wherein determining the at least one energy-efficiency estimate includes determining multiple energy-efficiency estimates associated with alternative combinations of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, and controlling a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission based at least on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate, wherein controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio includes; selecting a combination of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio associated with one of the multiple energy-efficiency estimates as a first target for the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio; determining a second target for the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, the second target being associated with responsiveness of the power system to increased power demands; and controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio based at least on the first target and the second target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a machine having a power system that includes a prime mover, a multiple-ratio transmission, a propulsion device, and power-system controls, the method comprising:
propelling the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, while controlling operation of the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission with the power-system controls, including; determining with the power-system controls at least one energy-efficiency estimate based at least on energy-efficiency characteristics of the prime mover and energy-efficiency characteristics of the multiple-ratio transmission, wherein determining the at least one energy-efficiency estimate includes determining an energy-efficiency estimate for each of a plurality of candidate combinations of prime-mover operating speed and transmission drive ratio capable of meeting an estimated power demand on the power system; and controlling a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission based at least on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate, wherein controlling the prime-mover operating speed and transmission drive ratio based at least on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate includes selecting from among the candidate combinations of prime-mover operating speed and transmission drive ratio based on the associated energy-efficiency estimates.
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8. A machine, comprising:
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a power system, including a prime mover; a propulsion device; a multiple-ratio transmission; and power-system controls that selectively operate the power system to propel the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, including; determining a first target for a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission, the first target being associated with promoting energy efficiency, determining a second target for the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, the second target being associated with promoting responsiveness of the power system to increased power demands, and controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio based at least on both the first target and the second target. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A machine, comprising:
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a power system, including a prime mover; a propulsion device; a multiple-ratio transmission; and power-system controls that selectively operate the power system to propel the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, including determining a first target for a combination of a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission, including determining multiple combined energy-efficiency estimates for a plurality of components of the power system at multiple alternative combinations of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, and selecting the first target based at least in part on the multiple combined energy-efficiency estimates; determining a second target for the combination of the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio, the second target being associated with promoting responsiveness of the power system to increased power demands; and controlling the prime-mover operating speed and the transmission drive ratio based at least on both the first target and the second target. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification