Retarding control of a machine through power dissipation through power source and parasitic loads

• US 8,326,499 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sopko, Thomas M. Jr., Barngrover, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/314,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/50, 701/51, 701/53, 701/54, 701 58- 61, 701 99-102, 701/110, 123/41.11, 123/319, 123/320, 123/339.16, 123349-352, 180/165
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2253 Controlling the travelling speed of vehicles, e.g. adjusting travelling speed according to implement loads, control of hydrostatic transmission

Abstract

A method for dissipating power through a machine may include directing power into a power system of the machine. The method may further include controlling a parasitic load of the power system to increase dissipation of the power system, the controlling of the parasitic load being a function of a power dissipation limit of the power system.

Claims

1. A method for dissipating power through a machine, comprising:

determining a required retarding power, the required retarding power being an amount of power to be dissipated by the machine;

determining a maximum power dissipation potential of a power source of the machine; and

directing a value of power equal to the maximum power dissipation potential of the power source into the power source and controlling a hydraulic pump of the machine to variably dissipate a value of power equal to a total difference between the required retarding power and the maximum power dissipation potential using a parasitic load of the machine when the required retarding power is greater than the maximum power dissipation potential.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum power dissipation potential is a fixed value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the required retarding power value includes determining the required retarding power value based on a user desired speed of the machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine is a mobile machine and the parasitic load is a cooling fan.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the required retarding power is triggered by an operator request for a propulsion direction change.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a maximum power dissipation potential includes determining the maximum power dissipation potential based on a maximum desirable speed of the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, further including directing a value of power equal to the required retarding power into the power source for dissipation when the required retarding power is not greater than the maximum power dissipation potential.

8. A method for dissipating power through a machine, comprising:

directing power into a power system of the machine for dissipation;

determining a power dissipation potential of the power system; and

controlling a hydraulic pump of the machine to variably dissipate a total amount of power in excess of the power dissipation potential when a total amount of power to be dissipated by the machine is greater than the power dissipation potential of the power system.

9. The method of claim 8, further including determining a required retarding power value based on a user desired speed of the machine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the hydraulic pump includes adjusting a setting of the hydraulic pump to increase the magnitude of power consumed by one or more parasitic devices when the required retarding power value exceeds the maximum dissipation potential value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more parasitic devices includes one or more devices that consumes power at a variable load.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the maximum dissipation potential value is a function of a power dissipation limit of a power source.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining of the dissipation potential value includes sensing a parameter indicative of a load applied to a power source of the power system and determining the dissipation potential of the power system based on the sensed load.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the machine is a mobile machine and the power directed into the power system is a function of a desired mobile speed of the machine.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling the hydraulic pump includes driving a cooling fan to dissipate power.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein directing power into the power system includes driving a power source of the machine to a speed limit of the power source.

17. A power system, comprising:

a power source operably coupled to a transmission;

a cooling fan operably coupled to the power source; and

a controller configured to;

cause the transmission to direct power into the power source;

determine a maximum power dissipation potential of the power source; and

control the cooling fan to variably dissipate a total amount of power in excess of the maximum power dissipation potential of the power source when an amount of power to be dissipated by the system is greater than the determined maximum power dissipation potential of the power source.

18. The power system of claim 17, wherein the maximum power dissipation potential value of the power source is a function of a dissipation limit of the power source.

19. The power system of claim 18, wherein the dissipation limit is a speed limit of the power source.

20. The power system of claim 17, wherein the transmission includes a hydraulic transmission.