# US 11,299,141 B1 · System for multi-layer braking and retardation in a work vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,141 B1 - Document ID: US11299141B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/172,740 - Filed: 2021-02-10 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-10 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Kyle K. McKinzie; Clayton G. Janasek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299141B1 ## CPC - B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators - B60W 20/14: in conjunction with braking regeneration - B60K 6/365: with the gears having orbital motion - B60K 6/442: Series-parallel switching type - B60K 6/547: the transmission being a stepped gearing - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/101: Infinitely variable gearings - B60W 10/115: with planetary gears - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 10/196: acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders - B60W 10/30: including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps - B60W 30/18127: {Regenerative braking} - B60W 50/0098: {Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for} - B60K 6/445: Differential gearing distribution type - B60K 2006/4816: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox internal shaft} - B60K 2006/4825: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft} - B60W 2050/0008: {Feedback, closed loop systems or details of feedback error signal} - B60W 2300/12: Trucks; Load vehicles - B60W 2300/125: Heavy duty trucks - B60W 2510/0638: Engine speed - B60W 2510/1005: Transmission ratio engaged - B60W 2510/104: Output speed - B60W 2510/107: Temperature - B60W 2510/244: Charge state - B60W 2710/305: target power to auxiliaries - B60Y 2200/1422: Multi-axle trucks - B60Y 2200/417: Articulated frame vehicles - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A control system is provided for implementing multi-layer braking and retardation in a work vehicle that includes a hybrid electric drive system having an engine and one or more electric machines. The control system includes a braking and retardation system that dissipates energy generated by motion of the work vehicle, with the braking and retardation system including a brake resistor, an engine brake, and a transmission operable to provide transmission braking. A controller receives inputs on a braking torque demand and operational parameters of the hybrid electric drive system and the braking and retardation system, determines an amount of energy absorption necessary to meet the braking torque demand, and allocates the energy to be absorbed within the braking and retardation system according to a hierarchal energy allocation scheme based on the energy to be absorbed and the operational parameters of the hybrid electric drive system and braking and retardation system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control system for providing multi-layer braking and retardation in a work vehicle that includes a hybrid electric drive system having an engine and one or more electric machines, the control system comprising: a braking and retardation system configured to dissipate energy generated by motion of the work vehicle, the braking and retardation system comprising a brake resistor, an engine brake, and a transmission operable to provide transmission braking; and a controller, including a processor and memory architecture, operably connected to the hybrid electric drive system and the braking and retardation system, the controller configured to: receive a plurality of inputs comprising a braking torque demand from an operator and operational parameters of the hybrid electric drive system and the braking and retardation system; determine an amount of energy absorption necessary in the work vehicle to meet the braking torque demand; and allocate the energy to be absorbed within the braking and retardation system according to a hierarchal energy allocation scheme, with the energy allocated based on the determined amount of energy absorption and the operational parameters of the hybrid electric drive system and the braking and retardation system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the braking and retardation system further comprises an energy storage device that may be charged from the energy generated by motion of the work vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The control system of claim 2, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to: perform a first energy subtraction by supplying charging energy to the energy storage device; and perform a second energy subtraction, after the first energy subtraction, by supplying energy to the brake resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to: measure a voltage on a DC bus in the work vehicle after the first and second energy subtractions, the DC bus electrically coupled to the brake resistor and the energy storage device; determine if the voltage is above a DC bus voltage threshold; and when the voltage is above the DC bus voltage threshold, reduce a level of the braking torque demand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The control system of claim 3, wherein the braking and retardation system further comprises axle service brakes and engine accessories, the engine accessories including one or more of an alternator, an HVAC compressor, and vehicle cooling fans. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control system of claim 5, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to: perform a third energy subtraction, after the second energy subtraction, by supplying energy to the engine accessories; and perform a fourth energy subtraction, after the third energy subtraction, by dissipating energy via actuation of the engine brake and the axle service brakes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control system of claim 6, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to perform a fifth energy subtraction, after the fourth energy subtraction, by controlling the transmission to perform transmission braking. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control system of claim 7, wherein the transmission comprises an infinitely variable transmission configured to selectively transfer power from one or both of the engine and the one or more electric machines to an output shaft, and wherein the infinitely variable transmission performs the transmission braking by selectively engaging a plurality of clutches in the infinitely variable transmission. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The control system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to: determine if the energy storage device has any available charging capacity; perform the first energy subtraction by providing charging energy to the energy storage device when there is available charging capacity; and skip the first energy subtraction if there is no available charging capacity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The control system of claim 2, wherein the operational parameters comprise at least some of engine speed, axle oil temperature, transmission oil temperature, DC bus voltage, energy storage device state of charge, transmission output speed, transmission gear, engine accessory status, and cooling fan speed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein allocation of the energy to be absorbed according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme provides overspeed protection to the engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The control system of claim 1, wherein the hierarchal energy allocation scheme is an iterative control scheme, with a plurality of program cycles being performed by the controller. ### Claim 13 A work vehicle comprising: a drive train including an engine, one or more electric machines, and a transmission to selectively transfer power from at least one of the engine and the one or more electric machines to an output shaft; and a braking and retardation system configured to dissipate energy generated by motion of the work vehicle, the braking and retardation system comprising a brake resistor, an engine brake, and transmission braking provided by the transmission; and a controller, including a processor and memory architecture, in communication with the drive train and the braking and retardation system, the controller configured to: receive a plurality of inputs comprising a braking torque demand and operational parameters of the drive train and the braking and retardation system; determine an amount of energy absorption necessary in the work vehicle to meet the braking torque demand; and allocate the energy to be absorbed within the braking and retardation system according to a hierarchal energy allocation scheme, with the energy allocated based on the determined amount of energy absorption and the operational parameters of the drive train and the braking and retardation system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The work vehicle of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to: monitor a speed of the engine; and allocate the energy to be absorbed according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme and further based on the speed of the engine, to provide overspeed protection to the engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The work vehicle of claim 13, wherein the braking and retardation system further comprises an energy storage device configured to draw power as part of the hierarchal energy allocation scheme. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The work vehicle of claim 15, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to assign a highest priority to storing energy and a next highest priority to engaging non-wear components of the braking and retardation system to dissipate energy. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The work vehicle of claim 15, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to: perform a first energy subtraction by providing charging energy to the energy storage device; and perform a second energy subtraction, after the first energy subtraction, by supplying energy to the brake resistor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The work vehicle of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to: measure a voltage on a DC bus in the work vehicle after the first and second energy subtractions, the DC bus electrically coupled to the brake resistor and the one or more electric machines; determine if the voltage is above a DC bus voltage threshold; and when the voltage is above the DC bus voltage threshold, reduce a level of the braking torque demand. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The work vehicle of claim 17, wherein the braking and retardation system further comprises axle service brakes and engine accessories, the engine accessories including one or more of an alternator, an HVAC compressor, and vehicle cooling fans. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The work vehicle of claim 19, wherein in allocating the energy according to the hierarchal energy allocation scheme, the controller is configured to: perform a third energy subtraction, after the second energy subtraction, by supplying energy to the engine accessories; perform a fourth energy subtraction, after the third energy subtraction, by supplying energy to the engine brake and the axle service brakes; and perform a fifth energy subtraction, after the fourth energy subtraction, by controlling the transmission to perform the transmission braking.