# US 11,993,246 B2 · Work machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,246 B2 - Document ID: US11993246B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/021,368 - Filed: 2020-09-15 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-20 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa; Norikazu Shimizu; Nobuo Yamazaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993246B2 ## CPC - B60K 6/442: Series-parallel switching type - B60W 20/10: Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand - A01D 34/64: mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) - A01D 69/02: electric - A01D 69/025: {Electric hybrid systems} - A01D 69/08: Clutches - B60K 6/24: characterised by the combustion engines - B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators - B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means - B60K 6/448: Electrical distribution type - B60K 6/52: Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive - B60W 10/02: including control of driveline clutches - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/08: including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators - B60W 10/26: for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors - B60W 20/20: Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration - B60W 20/40: Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} - A01D 34/76: Driving mechanisms for the cutters - A01D 2101/00: Lawn-mowers - B60W 2300/156: Ridable lawn mowers - B60W 2510/085: Power - B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position - B60Y 2200/223: Ridable lawn mowers - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2300/42: Control of clutches - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - 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 - 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 - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A work machine comprising a work unit that performs work on a travel path, an internal combustion engine configured to generate power for driving the work unit, a traveling unit including a front wheel and a rear wheel, an electric motor configured to generate power for driving a first wheel of the front wheel and the rear wheel, a first clutch for switching between transmission and discontinuation of the power from the internal combustion engine to a second wheel of the front wheel and the rear wheel, and a switching control unit configured to control the first clutch based on a power consumption of the electric motor for switching between the transmission and the discontinuation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A work machine, comprising: a work unit that performs work on a travel path; an internal combustion engine configured to generate power for driving the work unit; a traveling unit including a front wheel and a rear wheel; an electric motor configured to generate power for driving a first wheel which is one of the front wheel and the rear wheel; a first clutch provided in a power transmission path between the internal combustion engine and a second wheel which is the other of the front wheel and the rear wheel, configured to be switched between a transmission state and a discontinuation state of the power transmission path; and a switching control unit configured to control the first clutch such that the first clutch switches between the transmission state and the discontinuation state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit controls the first clutch based on a power consumption of the electric motor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the switching control unit controls the first clutch based on variation in an average value of an amount of electric current supplied to the electric motor for a predetermined duration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The work machine according to claim 3, wherein the switching control unit places the first clutch into the transmission state in response to the average value of the amount of electric current supplied to the electric motor exceeding a first reference current value, and thereafter, places the first clutch into the discontinuation state in response to the average value reaching a second reference current value that is smaller than the first reference current value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the switching control unit controls the first clutch based on variation in a value of voltage supplied to the electric motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The work machine according to claim 5, wherein the switching control unit places the first clutch into the transmission state in response to the value of the voltage supplied to the electric motor falling below a first reference voltage value, and thereafter places the first clutch into the discontinuation state in response to the value of the voltage reaching a second reference voltage value that is higher than the first reference voltage value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the switching control unit acts as a detection unit for detecting a loaded state of the electric motor based on the power consumption. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the work machine further comprises a motor driver configured to drive the electric motor by a driving force corresponding to a loaded state of the electric motor, and the switching control unit controls the first clutch based on a signal from the motor driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the work machine further comprises a travel operation element for operating the traveling unit, and the switching control unit controls the first clutch further based on a manipulated variable input to the travel operation element and a vehicle speed of the work machine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The work machine according to claim 9, wherein the work machine further comprises a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect the vehicle speed of the work machine, and the vehicle speed sensor measures a rotational speed of the second wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The work machine according to claim 2, wherein the work machine further comprises an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration applied to the work machine, and the switching control unit controls the first clutch further based on a detection result from the acceleration sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The work machine according to claim 1, the work machine further comprises, as an operation mode, a normal traveling mode for driving the first wheel based on the power of the electric motor; and an assisted traveling mode for driving the first wheel based on the power of the electric motor, with driving the second wheel based on the power of the internal combustion engine by controlling the first clutch by the switching control unit to switch the first clutch to the transmission state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The work machine according to claim 12, wherein the operation mode shifts from the normal traveling mode to the assisted traveling mode in a case where a load of the electric motor is out of an allowable range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the work machine further comprises: a battery; and a starter configured to aid the internal combustion engine in starting based on an electric power of the battery. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The work machine according to claim 14, wherein the work machine further comprises a second clutch configured to connect the starter to the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The work machine according to claim 14, wherein the starter is provided so as to be closer to the internal combustion engine with respect to the first clutch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the work machine further comprises an operation unit configured to receive an input from an operator, and the first clutch is configured to be mechanically/electrically controlled in response to the operator operating a predetermined operation element of the operation unit.