Traction drive system and method for operating a traction drive system
AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG
InventorsRico Glöckner, Jan Döring, Johannes Kugler
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Abstract
A traction drive system for a work machine, including at least one electric motor, a transmission, and a controller. The controller is configured to select a gear ratio of the transmission depending on a change to be expected in a motor output of the at least one electric motor. The change to be expected in the motor output is conditional on a change in the gear ratio of the transmission. The change to be expected in the motor output is determined on the basis of at least one operating parameter of the work machine.
Claims10
A traction drive system for a work machine, comprising:
- at least one electric motor;
- a transmission;
- and
- a controller which is configured to select a gear ratio of the transmission depending on a change to be expected in a motor output of the at least one electric motor, each gear ratio providing mechanical connection of the transmission to both a traction drive and a work drive of the work machine,
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is conditional on a change in the gear ratio of the transmission,
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is determined on a basis of at least one operating parameter of the work machine, and
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is determined based on a simulation performed by the controller,
- wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from a group consisting of a speed of the work machine, a change in the speed of the work machine, and a change in electrical energy which is output from an electrical energy source for supplying the at least one electric motor with energy,
- wherein the controller is configured to select at least two different gear ratios of the transmission, and
- wherein the controller is configured to select a second gear ratio which is different from a first gear ratio of the transmission when the change to be expected in the motor output is below a predetermined threshold value.
A method for operating a traction drive system for a work machine which has at least one electric motor and a transmission, the method comprising:
- determining, on a basis of at least one operating parameter of the work machine, a change to be expected in a motor output of the at least one electric motor, which the change to be expected in the motor output is conditional on a change in a gear ratio of the transmission, each gear ratio providing mechanical connection of the transmission to both a traction drive and a work drive of the work machine;
- selecting the gear ratio of the transmission depending on the change to be expected in the motor output;
- and
- setting the transmission to operate at the selected gear ratio,
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is conditional on the change in the gear ratio of the transmission,
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is determined on a basis of the at least one operating parameter of the work machine, and
- wherein the change to be expected in the motor output is determined based on a simulation performed by the controller,
- wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from a group consisting of a speed of the work machine, a change in the speed of the work machine, and a change in electrical energy which is output from an electrical energy source for supplying the at least one electric motor with energy,
- wherein the controller is configured to select at least two different gear ratios of the transmission, and
- wherein the controller is configured to select a second gear ratio which is different from a first gear ratio of the transmission when the change to be expected in the motor output is below a predetermined threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.