Working machine

• US 8,639,404 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited, Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited, Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Yuta, Sano, Kiminori, Yuasa, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/129,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/20 Energy regeneration from auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/06 electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2091 Control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. battery or capacitors energy recovery arrangements in hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2217
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2095 Control of electric, electro-mechanical or mechanical equipment not otherwise provided for, e.g. ventilators, electro-driven fans control of hydraulic driven equipment E02F9/22
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

Provided is a working machine capable of decreasing a voltage of a DC busbar (DC bus) with a configuration suppressing a degradation in reliability. A hybrid type construction machine as a working machine includes: a DC bus which is connected to a rotation motor via an inverter circuit, a battery which is connected to the DC bus via a step-up/step-down converter and a switch, a controller which drives the inverter circuit and the step-up/step-down converter, a cooling liquid circulating system which includes a pump motor, and an inverter circuit which is connected to the DC bus and driving the pump motor. The controller includes a mode used for decreasing the voltage of the DC bus, and in that mode, the switch enters a disconnection state and the inverter circuit is operated to consume electricity in the pump motor.

Claims

1. A working machine comprising:

a running mechanism;

an engine configured to generate a hydraulic pressure;

an electrical generator configured to assist the engine;

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a second motor;

a rotation body which mounts the working motor, the engine, the electrical generator, and the second motor;

a boom and an arm which attach to the rotation body;

a hydraulic pump configured to be driven by the electrical generator or the engine; and

a motor driving circuit which is connected between the second motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the second motor,

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the second motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode.

2. The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the operation of the motor driving circuit when the voltage of the DC busbar becomes a predetermined value or less in the busbar voltage lowering mode.

3. The working machine according to claim 2,

wherein the control unit charges the storage battery by driving the DC voltage converter before the switch enters a disconnection state when the voltage of the DC busbar is higher than that of the storage battery upon starting the busbar voltage lowering mode.

4. The working machine according to claim 2,

wherein the control unit starts the busbar voltage lowering mode whenever the operation of the working machine is stopped.

5. The working machine according to claim 2,

wherein the control unit starts the busbar voltage lowering mode when there is an input from the operator while the operation of the working machine is stopped.

6. The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit charges the storage battery by driving the DC voltage converter before the switch enters a disconnection state when the voltage of the DC busbar is higher than that of the storage battery upon starting the busbar voltage lowering mode.

7. The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the busbar voltage lowering mode whenever the operation of the working machine is stopped.

8. The working machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the busbar voltage lowering mode when there is an input from the operator while the operation of the working machine is stopped.

9. The working machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a first cooling liquid circulating system which includes a first heat exchanger cooling the internal combustion engine; and

a second cooling liquid circulating system which includes a second heat exchanger provided separately from the first cooling liquid circulating system to cool the first inverter circuit and the DC voltage converter.

10. The working machine according to claim 9,

wherein the DC voltage converter includes a reactor, and

wherein the second cooling liquid circulating system cools the reactor.

11. The working machine according to claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of driver units which includes an inverter unit having the first inverter circuit with an intelligent power module and a step-up/step-down converter unit having the DC voltage converter with an intelligent power module,

wherein the plurality of driver units includes a second temperature sensor which is provided outside the intelligent power module to detect the temperature of the intelligent power module in addition to a first temperature sensor built in the intelligent power module, and

wherein when a temperature detection result obtained by the second temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined first threshold value lower than a temperature where an overheat protection function of the intelligent power module is operated by the first temperature sensor, the control unit decreases a maximum driving current to the working motor when the driver unit is the inverter unit and decreases a maximum discharging current from the storage battery and/or a maximum charging current to the storage battery when the driver unit is the step-up/step-down converter unit.

12. The working machine according to claim 11,

wherein the DC voltage converter includes a reactor, and

wherein the second cooling liquid circulating system cools the reactor.

13. The working machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of driver units which includes an inverter unit having the first inverter circuit with an intelligent power module and a step-up/step-down converter unit having the DC voltage converter with an intelligent power module,

wherein the plurality of driver units includes a second temperature sensor which is provided outside the intelligent power module to detect the temperature of the intelligent power module in addition to a first temperature sensor built in the intelligent power module, and

wherein when a temperature detection result obtained by the second temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined first threshold value lower than a temperature where an overheat protection function of the intelligent power module is operated by the first temperature sensor, the control unit decreases a maximum driving current to the working motor when the driver unit is the inverter unit and decreases a maximum discharging current from the storage battery and/or a maximum charging current to the storage battery when the driver unit is the step-up/step-down converter unit.

14. The working machine according to claim 13,

wherein the plurality of driver units each includes a casing accommodating the first inverter circuit or the DC voltage converter and is disposed in parallel along a predetermined direction, and

wherein the casings of the adjacent driver units are fixed to each other by a fastening tool.

15. The working machine according to claim 14,

wherein the control unit includes a casing which has a sealing structure, a plurality of CPUs which is provided inside the casing and controls the DC voltage converters and the inverter circuits of the plurality of driver units, and a cooling pipe which is thermally coupled to the plurality of CPUs and cools the plurality of CPUs by introducing a cooling liquid from the outside of the casing.

16. The working machine according to claim 14, further comprising:

a casing which fixes the inverter unit and the step-up/step-down converter unit,

wherein an input terminal of the inverter unit and an input terminal of the step-up/step-down converter unit are connected to a DC bus formed as the DC busbar.

17. The working machine according to claim 16,

wherein the control unit includes a casing which has a sealing structure, a plurality of CPUs which is provided inside the casing and controls the DC voltage converters and the inverter circuits of the plurality of driver units, and a cooling pipe which is thermally coupled to the plurality of CPUs and cools the plurality of CPUs by introducing a cooling liquid from the outside of the casing.

18. The working machine according to claim 13,

wherein the control unit includes a casing which has a sealing structure, a plurality of CPUs which is provided inside the casing and controls the DC voltage converters and the inverter circuits of the plurality of driver units, and a cooling pipe which is thermally coupled to the plurality of CPUs and cools the plurality of CPUs by introducing a cooling liquid from the outside of the casing.

19. The working machine according to claim 13, further comprising:

a casing which fixes the inverter unit and the step-up/step-down converter unit,

wherein an input terminal of the inverter unit and an input terminal of the step-up/step-down converter unit are connected to a DC bus formed as the DC busbar.

20. The working machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling device which cools the first inverter circuit; and

a temperature detection means which detects the temperature of a refrigerant in the cooling device,

wherein the first inverter circuit includes a mechanism which stops a supply of current for driving the working motor when detecting that the temperature of the first inverter circuit becomes a predetermined operation stop temperature or higher,

wherein when the temperature of the refrigerant obtained from the temperature detection means is higher than a predetermined output suppressing temperature, the control unit compares the state with the case where the temperature of the refrigerant is the output suppressing temperature or lower and controls the first inverter circuit to decrease an upper limit value of a current supplied to the working motor, and

wherein the output suppressing temperature is lower than the operation stop temperature.

21. A working machine comprising:

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a cooling motor which drives a cooling fan and/or a cooling liquid circulating pump used for cooling at least one of the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the control unit; and

a cooling motor driving circuit which is connected between the cooling motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the cooling motor,

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the cooling motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the cooling motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode, and

wherein the control unit charges the storage battery by driving the DC voltage converter before the switch enters a disconnection state when the voltage of the DC busbar is higher than that of the storage battery upon starting the busbar voltage lowering mode.

22. A working machine comprising:

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a cooling motor which drives a cooling fan and/or a cooling liquid circulating pump used for cooling at least one of the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the control unit;

a cooling motor driving circuit which is connected between the cooling motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the cooling motor;

an internal combustion engine;

a first cooling liquid circulating system which includes a first heat exchanger cooling the internal combustion engine; and

a second cooling liquid circulating system which includes a second heat exchanger provided separately from the first cooling liquid circulating system to cool the first inverter circuit and the DC voltage converter,

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the cooling motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the cooling motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode.

23. A working machine comprising:

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a cooling motor which drives a cooling fan and/or a cooling liquid circulating pump used for cooling at least one of the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the control unit;

a cooling motor driving circuit which is connected between the cooling motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the cooling motor; and

a plurality of driver units which includes an inverter unit having the first inverter circuit with an intelligent power module and a step-up/step-down converter unit having the DC voltage converter with an intelligent power module,

wherein the plurality of driver units includes a second temperature sensor which is provided outside the intelligent power module to detect the temperature of the intelligent power module in addition to a first temperature sensor built in the intelligent power module,

wherein when a temperature detection result obtained by the second temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined first threshold value lower than a temperature where an overheat protection function of the intelligent power module is operated by the first temperature sensor, the control unit decreases a maximum driving current to the working motor when the driver unit is the inverter unit and decreases a maximum discharging current from the storage battery and/or a maximum charging current to the storage battery when the driver unit is the step-up/step-down converter unit, and

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the cooling motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the cooling motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode.

24. A working machine comprising:

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a cooling motor which drives a cooling fan and/or a cooling liquid circulating pump used for cooling at least one of the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the control unit; and

a cooling motor driving circuit which is connected between the cooling motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the cooling motor,

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the cooling motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the cooling motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode,

wherein the control unit stops the operation of the cooling motor driving circuit when the voltage of the DC busbar becomes a predetermined value or less in the busbar voltage lowering mode, and

wherein the control unit charges the storage battery by driving the DC voltage converter before the switch enters a disconnection state when the voltage of the DC busbar is higher than that of the storage battery upon starting the busbar voltage lowering mode.

25. A working machine comprising:

a working motor which is driven by an operator'"'"'s operation;

a DC busbar which is connected to the working motor via a first inverter circuit;

a storage battery which is connected to the DC busbar via a DC voltage converter and a switch;

a control unit which controls the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the switch;

a cooling motor which drives a cooling fan and/or a cooling liquid circulating pump used for cooling at least one of the first inverter circuit, the DC voltage converter, and the control unit;

a cooling motor driving circuit which is connected between the cooling motor and the DC busbar and is controlled by the control unit to drive the cooling motor;

a cooling device which cools the first inverter circuit; and

a temperature detection means which detects the temperature of a refrigerant in the cooling device,

wherein the first inverter circuit includes a mechanism which stops a supply of current for driving the working motor when detecting that the temperature of the first inverter circuit becomes a predetermined operation stop temperature or higher,

wherein when the temperature of the refrigerant obtained from the temperature detection means is higher than a predetermined output suppressing temperature, the control unit compares the state with the case where the temperature of the refrigerant is the output suppressing temperature or lower and controls the first inverter circuit to decrease an upper limit value of a current supplied to the working motor,

wherein the output suppressing temperature is lower than the operation stop temperature, and

wherein the control unit includes a busbar voltage lowering mode decreasing a voltage of the DC busbar when the operation of the working machine is stopped, and decreases the voltage of the DC busbar in a manner such that the cooling motor driving circuit is operated after the switch enters a disconnection state to consume electricity in the cooling motor in the busbar voltage lowering mode.