System and method for controlling a vehicle

• US 9,227,515 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wolff, Jeffrey, Young, Henry Todd, Brown, Timothy, Carter, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTLER, RODNEY ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US14/464,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2063 for creeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/22 : polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 : of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2079 : Control of mechanical transmission for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 17/06 : Distributing electric power; Cable networks; Conduits for cables circuit arrangements for supplying or distributing electric power in general H02J
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 903/902 : Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors

Abstract

A control system for a vehicle comprises a control unit configured to be electrically coupled to a drive system of the vehicle. The drive system includes at least one traction motor for providing motive power to the vehicle. The control unit is configured to control a torque output of the traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about the grade and/or a load of the vehicle, and without a service brake of the vehicle being activated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a control unit configured to be electrically coupled to a drive system of the vehicle, the drive system including at least one traction motor for providing motive power to the vehicle;

wherein the control unit is configured to control a torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about at least one of the grade or a load of the vehicle;

and wherein the control unit is configured to calculate a deceleration of the vehicle and control the torque output of the at least one traction motor in dependence upon the deceleration that is calculated to hold the vehicle at the zero speed or near zero speed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade, without a service brake of the vehicle being activated.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the drive system of the vehicle, the drive system including an engine, and the drive system being configured to convert power produced by the engine into electrical power for use by at least one traction motor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade at least partially responsive to at least one of an acceleration of the vehicle decreasing, or deactivation of an operator accelerator control of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade to prevent rollback of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle comprising:

at least one wheel; and

the system of claim 3, wherein;

the drive system includes an alternator configured to be driven by the engine, a rectifier electrically coupled to the alternator, and one or more power converters electrically coupled to the rectifier;

the one or more power converters are electrically coupled to the at least one traction motor;

the at least one traction motor is configured to drive the at least one wheel; and

the control unit is configured to electrically communicate a torque request signal to the one or more power converters to control the torque output of the at least one traction motor.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade, without a service brake of the vehicle being activated.

8. A system comprising:

a control unit configured to be electrically coupled to a drive system of the vehicle, the drive system including at least one traction motor for providing motive power to the vehicle;

wherein the control unit is configured to control a torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about at least one of the grade or a load of the vehicle;

and the control unit is configured to actively manage the vehicle to a target deceleration to a selectable speed, without applying a service brake of the vehicle, by controlling the torque output of the at least one traction motor.

9. A system comprising:

a control unit configured to be electrically coupled to a drive system of the vehicle, the drive system including at least one traction motor for providing motive power to the vehicle;

wherein the control unit is configured to control a torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about at least one of the grade or a load of the vehicle, and without a service brake of the vehicle being activated; and

wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control the torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade responsive to;

in a first mode of operation, an acceleration of the vehicle decreasing below a first designated threshold;

in a second mode of operation, deactivation of an operator accelerator control of the vehicle below a second designated threshold; and

in a third mode of operation, actuation of the operator accelerator control from a first, deactivated state to a second, activated state that is insufficient in terms of causing acceleration of the vehicle to avoid vehicle rollback absent application of the service brake and operation of the control unit to automatically control holding the vehicle at the zero speed or near zero speed.

10. A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:

electrically powering a drive system of the vehicle for vehicle propulsion, the drive system including at least one traction motor;

with a control unit of the vehicle, controlling a torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about at least one of the grade or a load of the vehicle;

with the control unit, calculating a deceleration of the vehicle; and

wherein the torque output of the at least one traction motor is controlled in dependence upon the deceleration that is calculated to hold the vehicle at the zero speed or near zero speed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the vehicle includes at least one power converter for powering the at least one traction motor; and

the method further comprises electrically communicating, with the control unit, a torque request signal to the one or more power converters to control the torque output of the at least one traction motor.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

with the control unit, actively managing the vehicle to a target deceleration to a selectable speed, without applying a service brake of the vehicle, by controlling the torque output of the at least one traction motor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the torque output of the at least one traction motor is controlled to hold the zero speed or the near zero speed of the vehicle on the grade, without a service brake of the vehicle being activated.

14. A method for controlling a vehicle on grade, comprising:

determining, with a control unit on-board the vehicle, a calculated deceleration of the vehicle; and

with the control unit, controlling a torque output of at least one traction motor of the vehicle, based at least in part on the calculated deceleration, to a target deceleration of the vehicle to a selected speed, without applying a service brake of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the selected speed is one of a zero speed or a near zero speed.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the steps of determining the calculated deceleration and controlling the torque output are performed without knowing information about at least one of vehicle load or grade.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the step of determining the calculated deceleration includes estimating a grade and a load of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle comprising:

at least one traction motor;

a power system configured to convert received electrical power to electrical signals for powering the at least one traction motor to move the vehicle; and

a control unit electrically coupled to the power system, wherein the control unit is configured to electrically communicate a torque request signal to the power system to control a torque output of the at least one traction motor to hold zero speed or near zero speed of the vehicle on a grade without knowing information, in at least one mode of operation, about the grade and/or a load of the vehicle; and

determine a calculated deceleration of the vehicle, and to electrically communicate the torque request signal to the power system to control the torque output of the at least one traction motor, based at least in part on the calculated deceleration, to a target deceleration of the vehicle to a selected speed, without applying a service brake of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising at least one of an on-board energy storage device or an off-board power coupling device, the at least one of the on-board energy storage device or the off-board power coupling device configured to provide the electrical power, wherein the power system is configured to convert the electrical power received from the at least one of the on-board energy storage device or the off-board power coupling device to the electrical signal for powering the at least traction motor to move the vehicle.