Drive controller for cargo handling vehicle

• US 8,634,977 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
• Inventors: Koide, Yukikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/945,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/20 Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump, a cargo handling actuator, a travel motor, and a battery. The drive controller includes an engine control unit, a rotation speed detection unit, a deviation calculation unit, and a power generation control unit. The engine control unit controls the engine in accordance with a command rotation speed. The rotation speed detection unit detects an actual rotation speed of the engine. The deviation calculation unit calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine. The power generation control unit controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor.

Claims

1. A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump arranged coaxially with the engine and the generator motor, a cargo handling actuator driven through an operational oil from the cargo handling pump, a travel motor used when the cargo handling vehicle travels, and a battery supplying drive power to the generator motor and the travel motor, the drive controller comprising:

an engine control unit that determines a command rotation speed for the engine and controls the engine in accordance with the command rotation speed;

a rotation speed detection unit that detects an actual rotation speed of the engine;

a deviation calculation unit that calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine;

a power generation control unit that controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor; and

a determination unit that determines whether or not he rotation speed deviation is less than a predetermined value,

wherein the power generation control unit controls the generator motor as to limit the power generated by the generator motor when the determination unit determines that the rotation speed deviation is less than the predetermined value.

2. The drive controller according to claim 1, wherein the power generation control unit controls the generator motor so as to decrease the power generated by the generator motor as the rotation speed deviation increases.

6. The drive controller according to claim 1, further comprising a second assistance control unit that controls the generator motor so that the generator motor assists the engine in driving the cargo handling pump when the actual rotation speed of the engine becomes lower than an idle rotation speed.

7. The drive controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a travel control unit that controls the travel motor so that sum of drive power for the travel motor and drive power for the generator motor does not exceed a discharge power limit value of the battery.

3. The drive controller according to claim Maim 1, further comprising:

a first assistance control unit for controlling the generator motor so that the generator motor assists the engine in driving the cargo handling pump when the determination unit determines that the rotation speed deviation is greater than the predetermined value.

4. The drive controller according to claim 3, wherein the first assistance control unit controls the generator motor so that an assistance amount of the generator motor increases as the rotation speed deviation increases.

5. The drive controller according to claim 3, wherein the first assistance control unit controls the generator motor so that sum of drive power for the travel motor and drive power for the generator motor does not exceed a discharge power limit value of the battery.