Trailing vehicle traction control system with force increase control

A traction control system for a vehicle train comprising:

• a work vehicle having a power source;
• a trailing vehicle connected to the work vehicle, the trailing vehicle having one or more ground engaging apparatus in contact with a ground surface;
• an electric machine coupled to the one or more ground engaging apparatus;
• a speed sensor measuring the speed of trailing vehicle;
• and
• a controller configured to provide a first traction control signal to the electric machine for a first tractive force at the speed of the ground engaging apparatus during normal operation, the controller configured to provide a second traction control signal to the electric machine for an increased second tractive force at the speed of the ground engaging apparatus when the force increase control is activated and the speed of the ground engaging apparatus is between a lower speed limit greater than zero speed and an upper speed limit, and the controller configured to provide the first traction control signal to the electric machine for the first tractive force at the speed of the ground engaging apparatus when the force increase control is activated but the speed of the ground engaging apparatus is below the lower speed limit.

A method of activating a force increase control in a traction control system for a trailing vehicle, comprising:

• providing via an electric machine a first tractive force to one or more ground engaging apparatus;
• requesting a tractive force increase via the force increase control from the first tractive force to a second tractive force at a specified speed;
• determining via a controller whether the number of activations and the percent of time active of the force increase control are within acceptable limits;
• activating the force increase control via the controller when both the number of activations and the percent of time active are within the acceptable limits;
• providing additional electrical power via the controller to one or more electric machines on the trailing vehicle when the force increase control is activated and the speed of the ground engaging apparatus is between a lower speed limit greater than zero speed and an upper speed limit resulting in the tractive force increase to the one or more ground engaging apparatus on the trailing vehicle from the first tractive force to the second tractive force at the specified speed;
• providing the same electrical power via the controller to one or more electric machines on the trailing vehicle when the force increase control is activated but the speed of the ground engaging apparatus is below the lower speed limit resulting in the same tractive force to the one or more ground engaging apparatus on the trailing vehicle;
• deactivating the force increase control via the controller when a specific amount of time has elapsed;
• and
• recording via the controller the amount of time the force increase control was active.