Control systems and methods for electric motors of utility vehicles

• US 9,408,343 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Wyatt, Christopher K., Fox, Ivan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/597,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0411 Arrangement in the front part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/00 Arrangements or mounting of propulsion unit control devices in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/025 using field orientation; Vector control; Direct Torque Control [DTC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/18 for stopping or slowing an ac motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric auxiliary motors for performing work, such as electric deck motors for mower blades. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A utility vehicle comprising:

a plurality of vehicle systems comprising an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system;

a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the utility vehicle;

a plurality of sensors; and

an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors;

the traction system comprising;

at least one driven wheel; and

at least one electric drive transaxle engaged with the at least one driven wheel;

the auxiliary system comprising;

an auxiliary mechanism; and

an AC electric auxiliary motor engaged with the auxiliary mechanism;

the electric motor control system comprising;

a traction controller in communication with the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the at least one electric drive transaxle of the traction system; and

an auxiliary controller in communication with the traction controller, the power system, and the AC electric auxiliary motor, wherein the auxiliary controller applies field oriented control to the AC electric auxiliary motor and controls the AC electric auxiliary motor via at least one DC control technique.

2. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a Hall effect sensor for detecting a position of a rotor of the AC electric auxiliary motor; and

the auxiliary controller is further in communication with the Hall effect sensor.

3. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary mechanism comprises a cutting blade mechanism.

4. The utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a data bus that provides communication between the traction controller and the auxiliary controller.

5. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the AC electric auxiliary motor comprises an AC PMSM motor.

6. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of operator interfaces comprises a left drive lever and a right drive lever, the left drive lever and the right drive lever associated with the accelerator system.

7. The utility vehicle of claim 6, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a left drive lever position sensor associated with the left drive lever and a right drive lever position sensor associated with the right drive lever.

8. The utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the field oriented control comprises sensorless field oriented control.

9. A utility vehicle comprising:

a plurality of vehicle systems comprising an accelerator system, a power system, a traction system, and an auxiliary system;

a plurality of operator interfaces for operating the utility vehicle;

a plurality of sensors; and

an electric motor control system in communication with the plurality of vehicle systems, the plurality of operator interfaces, and the plurality of sensors;

the traction system comprising;

at least one driven wheel; and

at least one electric drive transaxle engaged with the at least one driven wheel;

the auxiliary system comprising;

a first auxiliary mechanism and first AC electric auxiliary motor engaged with the first auxiliary mechanism; and

a second auxiliary mechanism and a second AC electric auxiliary motor engaged with the second auxiliary mechanism;

the electric motor control system comprising;

a traction controller in communication with the accelerator system, at least one of the plurality of operator interfaces, at least one of the plurality of sensors, the power system, the auxiliary system, and the at least one electric drive transaxle of the traction system; and

an auxiliary control system in communication with the traction controller, the power system, the first AC electric auxiliary motor, and the second AC electric auxiliary motor, the auxiliary control system comprising;

a first controller;

a second controller;

a common interface in communication with the first controller and the second controller;

a first power inverter in communication with the common interface and the first AC electric auxiliary motor; and

a second power inverter in communication with the common interface and the second AC electric auxiliary motor;

wherein each of the first controller and the second controller applies field oriented control to the first AC electric auxiliary motor and the second AC electric auxiliary motor and controls the first AC electric auxiliary motor and the second AC electric auxiliary motor via at least one DC control technique.

10. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first auxiliary mechanism and the second auxiliary mechanism each comprises a cutting blade mechanism.

11. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first AC electric auxiliary motor and the second AC electric auxiliary motor each comprises an AC PMSM motor.

12. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises a Hall effect sensor for detecting a position of a rotor of the first AC electric auxiliary motor and the second AC electric auxiliary motor; and

the auxiliary control system is further in communication with the Hall effect sensor.

13. The utility vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a first data bus that provides communication between the traction controller and the auxiliary control system.

14. The utility vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a second data bus that provides communication between the first controller and the second controller.

15. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first controller of the auxiliary control system is designated as a master and the second controller of the auxiliary control system is designated as a slave that is configured to be subordinate to the first controller.

16. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the plurality of operator interfaces comprises a left drive lever and a right drive lever, the left drive lever and the right drive lever associated with the accelerator system.

17. The utility vehicle of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a left drive lever position sensor associated with the left drive lever and a right drive lever position sensor associated with the right drive lever.

18. The utility vehicle of claim 9, wherein the field oriented control comprises sensorless field oriented control.