Demand based hydraulic pump control system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJeffrey L. Lubben, Dwayne A. Nystrom, Thomas Butts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for a demand-based hydraulic system. A clutch is positioned between a hydraulic pump and an engine. The clutch is selectively engaged to power the hydraulic pump based on a level of demand for hydraulic power. A control system is also provided to control the clutch and/or the pump in accordance with a plurality of operating mode.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a hydraulic pump coupled to an engine via a clutch;
- a second hydraulic pump coupled to the engine via a second clutch, and
- a controller configured to control operation of the hydraulic pump, the second hydraulic pump, the clutch, and the second clutch in accordance with a selected mode of a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes include at least an off mode, a demand mode, and a continuous mode,
- wherein, with the demand mode, the controller is configured to selectively and automatically engage or disengage one or more of the clutch or the second clutch in response to changes in demand for hydraulic power,
- wherein the hydraulic pump and second hydraulic pump, when coupled to the engine via the clutch and second clutch, respectively, provide hydraulic power to a hydraulic system in tandem.
A method for a hydraulic system of an agricultural vehicle, comprising:
- receiving a mode selection from a plurality of modes from an operator via an operator interface, wherein the plurality of modes include at least an off mode, a demand mode, and a continuous mode;
- selectively initializing a set of pumps to respective initial states based on the mode selected;
- and
- when the mode selected is the demand mode:
- monitoring a level of demand for hydraulic power;
- and
- selectively activating and deactivating one or more hydraulic pumps of the set of pumps in response to the level of demand and a current state of the set of pumps,
- wherein the set of pumps, when activated, provide hydraulic power to a hydraulic system in tandem.
A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:
- receive a selection of an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes for a hydraulic power system having a plurality of pumps that includes at least a first pump and a second pump, wherein the plurality of modes include at least an off mode, a demand mode, and a continuous mode;
- configure a default state of the plurality of pumps in accordance with the operating mode selected;
- and
- when the operating mode selected is the demand mode, adjust a state of the plurality of pumps based on an operational input, wherein the operational input indicates a level of demand for hydraulic power,
- wherein the processor is further configured to adjust one or more of the plurality pumps from an on state to an off state, or adjust one or more of the plurality of pumps from an off state to an on state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.