Electric powered systems for paving machines

• US 9,382,675 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frelich, Toby Andrew, Ramamoorthy, Krishnakumar Dharapuram, Phelps, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/305,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20150361627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.245, 180/65.24, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.285, 180/65.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/00 Arrangements or mounting of propulsion unit control devices in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/17 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/305 Power absorbed by auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/305 target power to auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/48 for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface , e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/4853 Apparatus designed for railless operation, e.g. crawler-mounted, provided with portable trackway arrangements
• 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: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A paving machine having electric powered systems in lieu of hydraulic systems for performing work at a work site may include an integrated generator operatively connected to a power source of the paving machine, such as an engine, to produce AC power. A power converter may receive the AC power and output DC power to electric motors, with each electric motor being operatively connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of mechanical components. The power converter may distribute power from the generator to the plurality of electric motors in response to commands to actuate the plurality of mechanical components input at an operator station. The electric powered systems may include propulsion devices, material conveyors, augers and the like.

Claims

1. A paving machine for performing work at a work site, the paving machine comprising:

an operator station;

a power source having an output shaft;

a generator operatively connected to the output shaft of the power source to drive the generator and produce alternating current (AC) power;

a power converter operatively connected to the generator to transfer AC power between the generator and the power converter, and to output direct current (DC) power;

a plurality of electric motors with each being operatively connected to the power converter to receive DC power therefrom;

a plurality of mechanical components with each being operatively connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of electric motors; and

a controller operatively connected to the operator station and the power converter,

wherein the controller is configured to detect command signals from the operator station to actuate the plurality of mechanical components,

wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to the plurality of electric motors in response to detecting the command signals to actuate the plurality of mechanical components, and

wherein the controller is configured to detect a first command signal from the operator station to actuate a first one of the plurality of mechanical components, to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to a first one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the first one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to detecting the first command signal from the operator station, to detect a second command signal from the operator station to actuate a second one of the plurality of mechanical components, to compare a total power requirement for operating the first and second ones of the plurality of mechanical components to a generated power amount by the generator, and to cause the power converter to decrease a first output power to the first one of the plurality of electric motors and to output a second output power to a second one of the plurality of electric motors corresponding to the second one of the plurality of mechanical components in response to determining that the total power requirement is greater than the generated power amount.

2. The paving machine of claim 1, comprising an energy storage device operatively connected to the power converter to transfer DC power between the power converter and the energy storage device, wherein the controller is configured to compare a generator power output amount to a mechanical component power requirement amount, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to output DC power to the energy storage device to increase an electrical charge in the energy storage device in response to determining that the generator power output amount is greater than the mechanical component power requirement amount.

3. The paving machine of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to receive DC power from the energy storage device and to distribute the power from the generator and the energy storage device to the plurality of electric motors in response to determining that the generator power output amount is less than the mechanical component power requirement amount.

4. The paving machine of claim 1, comprising:

a transformer operatively connected to the power converter to receive electrical power therefrom; and

a plurality of auxiliary devices operatively connected to the transformer to receive DC power therefrom to operate the plurality of auxiliary devices,

wherein the controller is configured to detect auxiliary device actuation commands from the operator station to actuate the plurality of auxiliary devices, and

wherein the controller is configured to cause the power converter to distribute power from the generator to the transformer for actuation of the plurality of auxiliary devices in response to detecting the auxiliary device actuation commands.