System and method for controlling transmission based on variable pressure limit

• US 8,540,048 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Randall T., Will, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US13/338,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20130168179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 604/45, 604/49, 604/51, 604/52, 604/90, 180/6.48, 180/197, 180305-308, 180/338, 180/367, 477/38, 477/50, 477/52, 701/51, 701/53, 701/54, 701/70, 701/82, 701/84, 701/87, 701/90, 701/99
• US Class Current: 180/338
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/4017 Control of high pressure, e.g. avoiding excess pressure by a relief valve
• 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 a transmission including a fluid pump and a fluid motor operably coupled to one another in a fluid circuit is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to receive signals indicative of operator inputs, and determine a variable pressure limit in the fluid circuit based on the signals indicative of operator inputs. The controller is further configured to control displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit, such that a pressure level in the fluid circuit is maintained below the variable pressure limit.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a transmission comprising a fluid pump and a fluid motor operably coupled to one another in a fluid circuit, the system comprising:

a controller configured to

receive signals indicative of operator inputs from an operator interface device,

determine a scale factor based on the signals indicative of operator inputs, and multiply the scale factor by a maximum fixed pressure limit to determine a modified maximum fixed pressure limit,

determine an engine torque pressure limit based on a displacement associated with an engine torque limit,

determine a variable pressure limit in the fluid circuit based on a lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit, and

control displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit, such that a pressure level in the fluid circuit is maintained below the variable pressure limit.

2. The system of claim 1, further including an operator interface device configured to facilitate selection of a maximum torque level supplied by the fluid motor.

3. The system of claim 1, further including a travel speed input device, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the variable pressure limit based on signals from the travel speed input device and the lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to determine a scale factor associated with the signals from the travel speed input device, and multiply the scale factor associated with the travel speed input device with the lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit to determine the variable pressure limit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the travel speed input device includes a foot pedal.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a pressure sensor configured to send signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit, wherein the controller is configured to control displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit and the signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit, such that the pressure level in the fluid circuit is substantially maintained below the variable pressure limit.

7. A method for controlling a transmission comprising a fluid pump and a fluid motor operably coupled to one another in a fluid circuit, the method including:

receiving signals indicative of operator inputs from an operator interface device,

determining a scale factor based on the signals indicative of operator inputs, and multiplying the scale factor by a maximum fixed pressure limit to determine a modified maximum fixed pressure limit,

determining an engine torque pressure limit based on a displacement associated with an engine torque limit, and

determining a variable pressure limit in the fluid circuit based on a lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit,

controlling displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit, such that a pressure level in the fluid circuit is maintained below the variable pressure limit.

8. The method of claim 7, further including receiving signals from a travel speed input device and determining the variable pressure limit based on the signals from the travel speed input device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the variable pressure limit based on the signals from the travel speed input device includes determining a scale factor associated with the signals from the travel speed input device, and determining the variable pressure limit by multiplying the scale factor associated with the signals from the travel speed input device with the lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit.

10. The method of claim 7, further including receiving signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit, and controlling displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit and the signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit, such that the pressure level in the fluid circuit is substantially maintained below the variable pressure limit.

11. A machine comprising:

a chassis;

a prime mover coupled to the chassis;

a transmission coupled to the prime mover, the transmission including;

a fluid pump configured to provide a flow of fluid,

a fluid motor configured to receive the flow of fluid from the fluid pump, and

fluid lines providing a fluid circuit including the fluid pump and the fluid motor;

traction devices coupled to the transmission, such that the traction devices are supplied with torque from the transmission; and

a controller configured to

receive signals indicative of operator inputs from an operator interface device,

determine a scale factor based on the signals indicative of operator inputs, and multiply the scale factor by a maximum fixed pressure limit to determine a modified maximum fixed pressure limit,

determine an engine torque pressure limit based on a displacement associated with an engine torque limit,

determine the variable pressure limit based on a lesser of the engine torque pressure limit and the modified maximum fixed pressure limit, and

control displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit, such that a pressure level in the fluid circuit is maintained below the variable pressure limit.

12. The machine of claim 11, further including a selector configured to facilitate selection of a maximum amount of torque supplied to the traction devices by the transmission.

13. The machine of claim 11, further including a travel speed input device configured to facilitate control of travel speed of the machine.

14. The machine of claim 11, further including a pressure sensor associated with the fluid circuit, the pressure sensor being configured to provide signals indicative of pressure in the fluid circuit, wherein the controller is configured to control the displacement of at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor based on the variable pressure limit and signals from the pressure sensor.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to control displacement of the fluid pump based on the variable pressure limit and the signals from the pressure sensor.