Speed change system for work vehicle

• US 8,447,479 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Umemoto, Susumu, Mukai, Hisao, Ichikawa, Nobushige, Inamori, Takuya, Matsuzaki, Yushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US12/968,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/56, 475/207, 475/275, 475/198, 743/36.R
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/196 acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/00 Use of speed-sensing governors to control combustion engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/363 Rate of change of input shaft speed, e.g. of engine or motor shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/366 Engine or motor speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6615 Imitating a stepped transmissions
• 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 61/47 for achieving a target output speed

Abstract

A speed change system for work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device selects a first change gear ratio which is set larger than a smallest change gear ratio, when an engine rotational speed is a first set rotational speed which is set equal or close to an idling rotational speed of an engine; retains the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device at the smallest change gear ratio, when the engine rotational speed is equal to or above a second set rotational speed set on a high-speed side relative to the first set rotational speed; and makes the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device larger between the first change gear ratio and the smallest change gear ratio, as the engine rotational speed at that moment becomes lower, when the engine rotational speed is between the first and second set rotational speeds.

Claims

1. A speed change system for a work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device comprising:

a pump swash plate operation mechanism configured to operate a swash plate of a variable capacity pump for the continuously variable transmission device;

a motor swash plate operation mechanism configured to operate a swash plate of a variable capacity motor for the continuously variable transmission device;

a swash plate angle control unit configured to non-stepwise adjust a swash plate angle of the variable capacity pump through the pump swash plate operation mechanism and stepwise adjust a swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor through the motor swash plate operation mechanism; and

an operation position detector configured to detect an operation position of a speed change operation tool;

wherein

the swash plate angle control unit sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity pump and the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor based on an output from the operation position detector, and controls the pump swash plate operation mechanism and the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity pump and the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor become respective set swash plate angles, and

when the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is changed based on the output from the operation position detector, the swash plate angle control unit controls the pump swash plate operation mechanism in such a manner that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity pump is changed with a control amount which is set so as to compensate an amount of change in a change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device caused along with the change of the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the swash plate angle control unit reads out the operation position of the speed change operation tool based on the output from the operation position detector, sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on a higher-speed side as an operation region in which the speed change operation tool is positioned is on a higher-speed side, and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set swash plate angle.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a change gear ratio determining unit configured to determine the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device which is set based on the output from the operation position detector,

wherein

when the change gear ratio determining unit determines that the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device set based on the output from the operation position detector is a change gear ratio that can be attained by the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor on a low-speed side, the swash plate angle control unit sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on the low-speed side and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set angle on the low-speed side, and

when the change gear ratio determining unit determines that the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device set based on the output from the operation position detector is a change gear ratio that cannot be attained by the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor on the low-speed side, the swash plate angle control unit sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on a high-speed side and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set angle on the high-speed side.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a decrease detection unit configured to detect a decrease amount of an engine rotational speed from a set rotational speed,

wherein, in a case where the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is an angle on a high-speed side, when it is detected that the decrease amount of the engine rotational speed from the set rotational speed reaches a set amount based on an output from the decrease detection unit, the swash plate angle control unit controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is switched from the angle on the high-speed side to an angle on a low-speed side, and afterward, when it is detected that the engine rotational speed to the set rotational speed is recovered based on the output from the decrease detection unit, the swash plate angle control unit controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is switched from the angle on the low-speed side to the angle on the high-speed side.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a change gear ratio determining unit configured to determine the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device which is set based on the output from the operation position detector;

a decrease detection unit configured to detect a decrease amount of an engine rotational speed from a set rotational speed; and

a speed change step detector configured to detect a speed change step of a stepped transmission device capable of performing three-step speed change;

wherein the swash plate angle control unit includes;

a first switching control unit configured to switch the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor based on the output from the operation position detector;

a second switching control unit configured to switch the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor based on a determination by the change gear ratio determining unit; and

a third switching control unit configured to switch the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor based on an output from the decrease detection unit,

wherein

the first switching control unit reads out the operation position of the speed change operation tool based on the output from the operation position detector, sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on a higher-speed side as an operation region in which the speed change operation tool is positioned is on a higher-speed side, and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set swash plate angle,

when the change gear ratio determining unit determines that the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device set based on the output from the operation position detector is a change gear ratio that can be attained by the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor on a low-speed side, the second switching control unit sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on the low-speed side and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set angle on the low-speed side, and

when the change gear ratio determining unit determines that the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device set based on the output from the operation position detector is a change gear ratio that cannot be attained by the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor on the low-speed side, the second switching control unit sets the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor to an angle on a high-speed side and controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor becomes the set angle on the high-speed side,

in a case where the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is the angle on the high-speed side, when it is detected that the decrease amount of the engine rotational speed from the set rotational speed reaches a set amount based on the output from the decrease detection unit, the third switching control unit controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is switched from the angle on the high-speed side to the angle on the low-speed side, and afterward, when it is detected that the engine rotational speed to the set rotational speed is recovered based on the output from the decrease detection unit, the third switching control unit controls the motor swash plate operation mechanism so that the swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor is switched from the angle on the low-speed side to the angle on the high-speed side,

wherein

the swash plate angle control unit actuates

the first switching control unit when it is detected that the speed change step of the stepped transmission device is a low-speed step for low-speed working based on an output from the speed change step detector,

the first switching control unit and the third switching control unit when it is detected that the speed change step of the stepped transmission device is a high-speed step for high-speed working based on the output from the speed change step detector, and

the second switching control unit and the third switching control unit when it is detected that the speed change step of the stepped transmission device is a fastest step for high-speed moving based on the output from the speed change step detector.

6. A speed change system for a work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device comprising:

an engine rotational speed detector configured to detect an engine rotational speed; and

a vehicle speed control unit configured to control a change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device;

wherein

the vehicle speed control unit controls the change gear ratio with a process comprising;

(a) when the engine rotational speed is a first set rotational speed which is set to a rotational speed equal or close to an idling rotational speed of an engine, selecting a first change gear ratio which is set to a change gear ratio larger than a smallest change gear ratio as the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device;

(b) when the engine rotational speed is a rotational speed which is equal to or above a second set rotational speed which is set on a high-speed side relative to the first set rotational speed, retaining the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device at the smallest change gear ratio; and

(c) when the engine rotational speed is a rotational speed between the first set rotational speed and the second set rotational speed, making the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device larger between the first change gear ratio and the smallest change gear ratio, as the engine rotational speed at that moment becomes low.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein

the second set rotational speed is a rotational speed at which the engine outputs a maximum torque.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein

the second set rotational speed is a rotational speed which is equal or close to a rated rotational speed of the engine.

9. The system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a speed change step detector configured to detect a speed change step of a stepped transmission device having a speed change step for working and a speed change step for moving,

wherein

when the speed change step of the stepped transmission device is the speed change step for working, the second set rotational speed becomes a rotational speed at which the engine outputs a maximum torque, and

when the speed change step of the stepped transmission device is the speed change step for moving, the second set rotational speed becomes a rotational speed equal or close to a rated rotational speed of the engine.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein

the vehicle speed control unit corrects the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device corresponding to the engine rotational speed, based on the smallest change gear ratio set for the continuously variable transmission device.

11. The system according to claim 6, wherein

when the engine rotational speed is a rotational speed larger than zero, the continuously variable transmission device is controlled so as not to become neutral.

12. A speed change system for a work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device comprising:

an engine rotational speed detector configured to detect an engine rotational speed;

a vehicle speed control unit configured to control a change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device; and

a vehicle speed detector configured to detect a vehicle speed;

wherein

the vehicle speed control unit computes a control target vehicle speed based on the detected engine rotational speed and a change gear ratio which is set for the continuously variable transmission device, and controls the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device so that the detected vehicle speed matches the control target vehicle speed.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the continuously variable transmission device is HST,

the system further comprises:

a pump swash plate operation mechanism configured to operate a swash plate of a variable capacity pump of the HST; and

a motor swash plate operation mechanism configured to operate a swash plate of a variable capacity motor of the HST, and

the vehicle speed control unit non-stepwise adjusts a swash plate angle of the variable capacity pump through the pump swash plate operation mechanism and stepwise adjusts a swash plate angle of the variable capacity motor through the motor swash plate operation mechanism.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the vehicle speed control unit controls the change gear ratio with a process comprising:

(a) when the engine rotational speed is a first set rotational speed which is set to a rotational speed equal or close to an idling rotational speed of an engine, selecting a first change gear ratio which is set to a change gear ratio larger than a smallest change gear ratio as the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device;

(b) when the engine rotational speed is a rotational speed which is equal to or above a second set rotational speed which is set on a high-speed side relative to the first set rotational speed, retaining the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device at the smallest change gear ratio; and

(c) when the engine rotational speed is a rotational speed between the first set rotational speed and the second set rotational speed, making the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device larger between the first change gear ratio and the smallest change gear ratio, as the engine rotational speed at that moment becomes low.

15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a speed change step detector configured to detect a speed change step of a stepped transmission device;

wherein

the vehicle speed control unit computes the control target vehicle speed, with a change gear ratio of the stepped transmission device obtained from an output from the speed change step detector being taken into account, and controls the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device so that an output from the vehicle speed detector matches the control target vehicle speed.

16. A speed change system for a work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device comprising:

a computing unit configured to compute a rated vehicle speed obtained when an engine rotational speed reaches a rated rotational speed of an engine, based on the rated rotational speed and a change gear ratio set for the continuously variable transmission device;

a display device comprising;

a vehicle speed display part configured to display information regarding a vehicle speed; and

a speed change step display part for variable speed change configured to display with characters without unit the rated vehicle speed output by the computing unit as a speed change step of the continuously variable transmission device; and

a display control unit configured to control the display device.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a stepped transmission device configured to stepwise change power for traveling;

a speed change step detector configured to detect a speed change step of the stepped transmission device;

wherein

the computing unit computes the rated vehicle speed, with a change gear ratio of the stepped transmission device read out from an output from the speed change step detector being taken into account.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein

a speed change step display part for stepped speed change configured to display the speed change step of the stepped transmission device which is output from the speed change step detector is provided, and

the speed change step display part for stepped speed change and the speed change step display part for variable speed change are arranged adjacently.

19. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a set rotational speed detector for detecting a set rotational speed which is set for the engine;

wherein

the computing unit replaces the rated rotational speed of the engine with an output from the set rotational speed detector and computes a set vehicle speed obtained when the engine rotational speed reaches the set rotational speed, and

the display device is provided with a set vehicle speed display part configured to display with characters the set vehicle speed output by the computing unit.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein

when an operation of a speed change operation tool is detected, the display control unit displays a set vehicle speed on the set vehicle speed display part, and

when a set time elapsed after the operation of the speed change operation tool becomes undetectable, the display control unit finishes displaying the set vehicle speed on the set vehicle speed display part.

21. The system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a rotational speed detector configured to detect a rotational speed associated with the vehicle speed;

wherein

the vehicle speed display part displays with characters the vehicle speed output by the computing unit, and is positioned away from the speed change step display part for variable speed change.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein

the continuously variable transmission device is a hydrostatic continuously variable transmission device having a variable capacity motor capable of performing multi-step speed change and is provided with a motor speed change step detector configured to detect a speed change step of the variable capacity motor, and

the display device is provided with a motor speed change step display part configured to display the speed change step of the variable capacity motor which is output from the motor speed change step detector.