METHOD AND A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A WORK MACHINE

• US 20100332061A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Filla, Reno, Forslöw, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series 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 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 : Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 : Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/24 : Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 : Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 : Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 : Wheel loaders
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/434 : providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. automatic dumping or loading, automatic return-to-dig
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 : Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004
• 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: 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: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling a work machine during operation in a repeated work cycle including controlling transfer of power to and from an energy storage arrangement in the work machine according to a predetermined control strategy, which is adapted for the characteristics of the work cycle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a work machine (101) during operation in a repeated work cycle comprising the step of controlling transfer of power to and from an energy storage means (208) in the work machine according to a predetermined control strategy, which is adapted for characteristics of the work cycle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the control strategy comprises information that is indicative of an amount of energy required for a certain portion of the work cycle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the energy information is based on a change in a work cycle travel path.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the energy information is based on a change of direction of a work cycle travel path in a horizontal plane.

5. A method according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the energy information is based on a change of ground inclination of a work cycle travel path.

6. A method according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the energy information is indicative of an end position of the work cycle.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the end position represents a loading position and/or an unloading position.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of controlling transfer of power from a power generator (203) in response to the predetermined control strategy during operation of the work machine (101) in the work cycle.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the power generator (203) comprises an internal combustion engine (202).

10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of controlling power transfer to and from at least one power consuming system (201,214) in the work machine.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the power consuming system comprises a powertrain (201) for propelling the work machine.

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the power consuming system comprises a system (214) for moving a work implement (107) of the work machine.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the system for moving the work implement is constituted by a hydraulic system (214).

14. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of determining at least one condition that is indicative of an amount of energy required for a certain portion of the work cycle, and establishing the energy control strategy on the basis of said energy condition.

15. A method according to claim 14, comprising the step of detecting at least one operational parameter during operation of a work machine in the work cycle in question, and determining the energy condition on the basis of a magnitude of the detected operational parameter.

16. A method according to claim 15, comprising the step of repeatedly detecting said at least one operational parameter.

17. A method according to any one of claims 14-16, comprising the step of predicting at least part of the energy condition on the basis of pre-available information of the work cycle in question.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the pre-available information of the work cycle comprises a geographical map.

19. A method according to any one of claims 14-18, comprising the step of using a satellite based system (701) for establishing a travel path of the work cycle.

20. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the control strategy comprises a plurality of consecutive control steps, wherein each step is indicative of a specific condition variation.

21. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a travel path of the work cycle comprises a plurality of positions, wherein each position is indicative of a specific condition variation.

22. A computer program comprising computer program segments for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-21 when the program is run on a computer.

23. A computer program product comprising computer program segments stored on a computer-readable means for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-21 when the program is run on a computer.

24. A system (301) for controlling a work machine (101) during operation in a repeated work cycle comprising means (303) for controlling transfer of power to and from an energy storage means (208) in the work machine in according to a predetermined control strategy, which is adapted for the characteristics of the work cycle.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the system comprises at least one power consuming system (201,214) and means (303) for controlling power transfer to and from the power consuming system.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the power consuming system comprises a powertrain (201) for propelling the work machine.

27. A system according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the power consuming system comprises a system (214) for moving a work implement (107) of the work machine.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the system for moving the work implement is constituted by a hydraulic system (214).

29. A system according to any one of claims 25-28, wherein the energy storage means (208) comprises a capacitor.

30. A system according to any one of claims 25-28, comprising means (305,307,313,315) for determining at least one condition that is indicative of an amount of energy required for a certain portion of the work cycle, wherein the control strategy can be based on said condition.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the determination means (305,307,313,315) is adapted to detect at least one operational parameter during operation of a work machine in the work cycle in question.

32. A system according to claim 30 or 31, comprising means (303) for establishing the energy control strategy on the basis of said condition.

33. A work machine (101) comprising a control system (301) according to any one of claims 25-32.