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US 11,841,080 B2Granted
Vehicle system with hydromechanical transmission and power management strategy
AssigneeDana Italia S.R.L.
InventorsLorenzo Dalla Palma, Fabio Gunsch, Alessandro Dilisa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for a hydromechanical transmission. In one example, a vehicle system includes a hydromechanical transmission with a power-take off (PTO) that is designed to rotationally couple to an implement. The vehicle system further includes an engine coupled to the hydromechanical transmission and a power-management control unit configured to, during a drive or coast condition, cause the power-management control unit to: determine a net available power for the hydromechanical transmission and manage a power flow between the hydromechanical transmission, a drive axle, and the implement based on the net available power.
Claims16
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a hydromechanical transmission comprising:
- a power-take off (PTO) designed to rotationally couple to an implement;
- an engine coupled to the hydromechanical transmission;
- and
- a power-management control unit including instructions that when executed, during a drive or coast condition, cause the power-management control unit to:
- determine a net available power for the hydromechanical transmission;
- and
- manage a power flow between the hydromechanical transmission, a drive axle, and the implement based on the net available power;
- wherein the net available power is a net negative available power, and the power-management control unit comprises:
- instructions that when executed, responsive to a drag power request surpassing a threshold value and an actual engine speed indicating an overspeed condition, cause the power-management control unit to:
- command actuation of at least one of a retarder, an energy accumulator, and an auxiliary component which is coupled to the engine to increase power absorption and/or dissipation;
- wherein commanding actuation of the retarder, the energy accumulator, and/or the auxiliary component includes operating a proportional integral (PI) controller to maintain an engine speed at or near a set-point based on an amount of power dissipation and/or absorption occurring in the retarder, the energy accumulator, and/or the auxiliary component.
9 more elements
A method for managing power in a vehicle system, comprising:
- at a power-management control unit, receiving power use data from one or more of an engine control unit (ECU), a vehicle control unit (VCU), and an implement control unit (ICU);
- determining a net positive available power or a net negative available power for a hydromechanical transmission;
- and
- distributing power from the hydromechanical transmission to a drive axle and an implement based on the net positive available power or the net negative available power;
- wherein the implement is coupled to a power-take off (PTO) in the hydromechanical transmission;
- wherein the drive axle is coupled to an output gear of the hydromechanical transmission;
- wherein the net positive available power is determined by subtracting transmission power losses and an auxiliary component power absorption from a maximum available engine power;
- and
- wherein the net negative available power is determined by summing a minimum engine drag power, the auxiliary component power absorption, and transmission power losses.
6 more elements
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a power-management control unit including instructions that when executed, during operating of a hydromechanical transmission, cause the power-management control unit to:
- determine a net available power for the hydromechanical transmission via data gathered from one or more of an engine control unit (ECU), a vehicle control unit (VCU), and an implement control unit (ICU), wherein the data includes a power demand of an auxiliary component and/or an auxiliary system driven by an engine;
- and
- balance a power flow from the hydromechanical transmission to a traction system and an implement system as percentages of the net available power;
- wherein the net available power is a net negative available power, and the power-management control unit comprises:
- instructions that when executed, in response to a drag power request, cause the power-management control unit to:
- command actuation of a retarder and an energy accumulator in the auxiliary system and/or the auxiliary component to generate engine drag;
- and
- maintain an engine speed at or near a set-point based on how much power at least one of the retarder, the energy accumulator, and the auxiliary component which are driven by the engine are dissipating and/or absorbing.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.