Hybrid sweeper-scrubber control method and system

• US 9,937,918 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Johnson, Kale R., Habbas, Hanafi, Lorenz, Wayne G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, JAMES P
• Application Number:
  US14/113,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/04 Monitoring the functioning of the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/15 Fork lift trucks, Industrial trucks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for controlling an engine (552) in a sweeper-scrubber. An electrical system alternator (554) provides power to at least one cleaning function (576, 578, 580) of a self-propelled hybrid vehicle and to driven wheels. The operational load is monitored, and the running state of an internal combustion engine (552) is controlled based on the monitored operational load. A threshold charge, of an electrical system battery pack (556) is maintained.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

starting an internal combustion engine of a self-propelled hybrid vehicle via an electric motor;

providing power, via an electrical system alternator, to at least one cleaning function of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

monitoring an operational load, including an operational state of the at least one cleaning function of the self-propel led hybrid vehicle;

controlling a running state of the internal combustion engine to produce a power output based on the monitored operational load;

maintaining a threshold charge, via the electrical system alternator, of an electrical system battery pack of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle; and

charging an engine battery of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle via an engine alternator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising alternating between a number of running modes of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle, the number of running modes including at least an electric mode and a hybrid mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein running the electric mode further comprises:

monitoring the electrical system alternator for an occurrence of an electrical component fault; and

taking protective measures if the occurrence of an electrical component fault is detected, protective measures including at least one of;

providing a warning to an operator; and

shutting down the self-propelled hybrid vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein running the hybrid mode further comprises:

monitoring the self-propelled hybrid vehicle for an occurrence of an engine component fault; and

alternating to the electric mode if the occurrence of an engine component fault is detected.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising overriding alternating between the number of running modes if an override mode is activated.

6. The method of claim 3, including monitoring the electrical system alternator at a designated time interval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the running state includes adjusting a running speed of the internal combustion engine to a distinct running speed to produce the power output based on the monitored operational load.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the running speed based on a number of cleaning functions with an active operation state.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the running speed when the monitored operational load is greater than at least a threshold operational load.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising adjusting the running speed to an idle speed.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining at least a threshold engine speed for a number of cleaning functions to operate during a manual adjustment of the running speed of the engine.

12. A method, comprising:

starting an internal combustion engine of a self-propelled hybrid vehicle via an electric motor;

providing power, via an electrical system alternator, to at least one cleaning function of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

monitoring an operational load, including an operational state of the at least one cleaning function of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

controlling a running state of the internal combustion engine to produce a power output based on the monitored operational load, wherein controlling the running state includes adjusting a running speed of the internal combustion engine to a distinct running speed to produce the power output based on the monitored operational load;

adjusting the running speed when the monitored operational load is greater than at least a threshold operational load;

alternating between a number of running modes of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle, the number of running modes including at least an electric mode and a hybrid mode;

overriding alternating between the number of running modes if an override mode is activated;

maintaining a threshold charge, via the electrical system alternator, of an electrical system battery pack of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle; and

charging an engine battery of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle via an engine alternator.

13. A method, comprising:

starting an internal combustion engine of a self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

providing power, via an electrical system alternator, to at least one cleaning function of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

monitoring an operational load, including an operational state of the at least one cleaning function of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle;

controlling a running state of the internal combustion engine to produce a power output based on the monitored operational load;

maintaining a threshold charge, via the electrical system alternator, of an electrical system battery pack of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle; and

charging an engine battery of the self-propelled hybrid vehicle via an engine alternator.