IP Library Granted Patent US 10,399,572
Granted Patent B2
US 10,399,572 · App. 15/309,120 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Hydraulic hybrid propel circuit with hydrostatic option and method of operation

Inventors: Timothy Isaac Meehan (Waconia, MN); Michael William Olson (Minneapolis, MN)
Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
B60W30/182B60K6/12B60W10/06B60W10/20B60W10/30B60W30/188B66F9/07572B66F9/22E02F9/2075E02F9/2217E02F9/2253E02F9/2289E02F9/2296F16H61/4078F16H61/4096F16H61/42B60W2300/121B60W2530/00B60W2710/06B60W2710/09
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,399,572
App. No.
15/309,120
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of propelling a vehicle with a hybrid mode and a hydrostatic mode includes determining if a current propulsion mode is hybrid and if a selected mode is hydrostatic. A first transition mode is entered if the selected mode is hydrostatic and the current mode is hybrid. An engine-pump displacement target is set in the first transition mode. The method may include determining if the current mode is hybrid, hydrostatic, or a no-propulsion mode and if the selected mode is hybrid, hydrostatic, or no-propulsion. The engine-pump displacement target may be matched to a system consumption and an accumulator isolation valve closed when an engine-pump output matches the system consumption in the first transition mode. The method may include entering a second transition mode if the selected mode is hybrid and the current mode is hydrostatic. A method of configuring a propulsion mode from hybrid to hydrostatic includes configuring a drive motor displacement target to full displacement, matching a pump displacement to system consumption, and closing an accumulator isolation valve when a pump flow output matches the system consumption.

Claims (44)

1. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a work circuit, and a propel circuit, the engine-pump assembly including a prime mover and a hydraulic pump/motor, the work circuit including an actuator for powering a work component of the mobile work vehicle, the propel circuit including a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including a hydraulic accumulator that is selectively coupled to the high pressure line via an accumulator isolation valve, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring a drive motor displacement target of the drive motor to a pre-determined displacement if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pre-determined displacement is full displacement.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hybrid propulsion mode includes pressure based control and the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes displacement based control.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating the system flow consumption and thereby maintaining flow continuity when closing the accumulator isolation valve.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the calculating of the system flow consumption includes calculating a flow consumption of a work circuit.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the calculating of the system flow consumption includes calculating a flow consumption of a steering circuit.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes evaluating if an acceleration request of an operator requires a propulsion pressure target that is greater than an accumulator pressure of the hydraulic accumulator.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes determining if the hydrostatic propulsion mode is enabled.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting an engine state target to an on state when the accumulator isolation valve is closed;

setting an engine speed target to a calculated value when the accumulator isolation valve is closed; and

configuring a valve set in a configuration compatible with the hydrostatic propulsion mode when the accumulator isolation valve is closed.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising opening the accumulator isolation valve when in the hydrostatic propulsion mode and when a drive motor pressure drops below a predetermined level.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator isolation valve is closed both when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and a drive-motor pressure rate of change is greater than a predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising powering the hybrid propulsion mode and the hydrostatic propulsion mode with a same pump.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion elements of the work vehicle includes either wheels or tracks.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using energy accumulated in the hydraulic accumulator to provide power for starting a power source used to drive the hydraulic propulsion pump/motor.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising using energy accumulated in the hydraulic accumulator to provide propulsion functionality even when the power source coupled to the hydraulic propulsion pump/motor is not operating.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising using energy accumulated in the hydraulic accumulator to provide work circuit functionality.

18. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a hydraulic accumulator, and a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including an accumulator isolation valve that selectively couples the hydraulic accumulator to the high pressure line, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode;

configuring a drive motor displacement target of the drive motor to a pre-determined displacement if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode, wherein the pre-determined displacement is full displacement.

19. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a hydraulic accumulator, and a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including an accumulator isolation valve that selectively couples the hydraulic accumulator to the high pressure line, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, wherein the hybrid propulsion mode includes pressure based control and the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes displacement based control, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode.

20. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a hydraulic accumulator, and a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including an accumulator isolation valve that selectively couples the hydraulic accumulator to the high pressure line, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode, wherein determining if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes evaluating if an acceleration request of an operator requires a propulsion pressure target that is greater than an accumulator pressure;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode.

21. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a hydraulic accumulator, and a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including an accumulator isolation valve that selectively couples the hydraulic accumulator to the high pressure line, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode, wherein determining if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode includes determining if the hydrostatic propulsion mode is enabled;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode.

22. A method of configuring a propulsion mode of a mobile work vehicle having a hydraulic circuit system including a high pressure line extending between an engine-pump assembly, a hydraulic accumulator, and a drive motor for powering propulsion elements of the mobile work vehicle through a drivetrain, the hydraulic circuit system including an accumulator isolation valve that selectively couples the hydraulic accumulator to the high pressure line, the mobile work vehicle being configured to selectively operate in a hybrid propulsion mode and a hydrostatic propulsion mode, the method comprising:

determining if a selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode;

substantially matching a flow output of the engine-pump assembly to a system flow consumption if the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode; and

closing the accumulator isolation valve to isolate the hydraulic accumulator from the high pressure line when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and the selected propulsion mode is the hydrostatic propulsion mode, wherein the accumulator isolation valve is closed both when the engine-pump flow output matches the system flow consumption and a drive-motor pressure rate of change is greater than a predetermined value.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
To: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
Reel/Frame 060518/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2022
From: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
To: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS II TECHNOLOGY A/S
Reel/Frame 060201/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2019
From: EATON CORPORATION
To: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048855/0626 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2016
From: MEEHAN, TIMOTHY ISAAC; OLSON, MICHAEL WILLIAM
To: EATON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040231/0105 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61989335 · May 6, 2014
Related Publication 20170113691A1 · Apr 27, 2017