System and method for traction control in a work vehicle with an electric infinitely variable transmission using wheel speed

A work vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• a transmission assembly comprising:
• a variator selectively connected to the engine;
• a first electric motor operably connected to the engine, the first electric motor configured to convert mechanical power from the engine to electrical power;
• and
• a second electric motor configured to receive the electrical power from the first electric motor and convert the electrical power to a mechanical output,
• wherein the transmission assembly is configured to selectively transfer power from the engine and the second electric motor to the output shaft to drive ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• a movement monitoring system having a ground engaging element speed sensor, the ground engaging element speed sensor being a global positioning system (GPS) or a ground radar system configured to monitor an actual ground speed of the work vehicle;
• and
• a traction control unit, including a processor, that controls a speed or torque output of the electric motor to provide traction control for the work vehicle, the traction control unit operating to:
• receive a first input associated with a predicted ground engaging element speed of at least one of the ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• receive a second input from the ground engaging element speed sensor of the movement monitoring system providing the actual ground engaging element speed of the at least one of the ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• compare the predicted ground engaging element speed to the actual ground engaging element speed;
• and
• when the predicted ground engaging element speed is less than the actual ground engaging element speed by more than a threshold amount, identify a wheel slip condition of the at least one of the ground engaging elements and reduce the speed or torque output of the electric motor thereby reducing power provided to the output shaft such that power transferred to the at least one of the ground engaging elements is reduced to provide traction control for the ground engaging elements that reduces or eliminates the wheel skip condition.

A work vehicle comprising:

• an engine;
• a transmission assembly comprising:
• a variator selectively connected to the engine;
• a gear arrangement configured to provide a selective gear reduction for transmission of output power from the variator to an output shaft;
• a first electric machine operably connected to the engine, the first electric machine configured to convert mechanical power from the engine to electrical power;
• and
• a second electric machine configured to receive the electrical power from the first electric machine and convert the electrical power to a mechanical output;
• wherein the transmission assembly is configured to selectively transfer power from the engine and the second electric machine to the output shaft to drive ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• a movement monitoring system having a ground engaging element speed sensor, the ground engaging element speed sensor being a global positioning system (GPS) or a ground radar system configured to monitor an actual ground speed of the work vehicle;
• and
• a traction control unit, including a processor, that controls a speed or torque output of the electric machine to provide traction control for the work vehicle, the traction control unit operating to:
• receive a first input associated with a predicted ground engaging element speed of at least one of the ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• receive a second input from the ground engaging element speed sensor of the movement monitoring system providing the actual ground engaging element speed of the at least one of the ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• compare the predicted ground engaging element speed to the actual ground engaging element speed;
• and
• when the predicted ground engaging element speed is less than the actual ground engaging element speed by more than a threshold amount, identify a wheel slip condition of the at least one of the ground engaging elements and reduce the speed or torque output of the electric machine thereby reducing power provided to the output shaft such that power transferred to the at least one of the ground engaging elements is reduced to provide traction control for the ground engaging elements that reduces or eliminates the wheel skip condition.

A method for providing traction control in a work vehicle including an engine and a transmission assembly having a first electric machine operably connected to the engine for converting mechanical power from the engine to electrical power, and a second electric machine that receives the electrical power from the first electric machine and converts the electrical power to a mechanical output, the transmission assembly selectively transferring power from the engine and the second electric machine to an output shaft to drive ground engaging elements of the work vehicle, the method comprising:

• transmitting a first input to a traction control unit of the work vehicle, the first input comprising a predicted ground engaging element speed of at least one of the ground engaging elements of the work vehicle;
• transmitting a second input to the traction control unit of the transmission assembly from a ground engaging element speed sensor being a global positioning system (GPS) or a ground radar system of a movement monitoring system, the second input comprising an actual ground engaging element speed of the work vehicle;
• comparing, via the traction control unit, the predicted ground engaging element speed and the actual ground engaging element speed;
• and
• when the predicted ground engaging element speed is less than the actual ground engaging element speed by more than a threshold amount, identifying a wheel slip condition of at least one of the ground engaging elements and controlling the electric machine, via the traction control unit, to reduce a speed or torque output thereof on to the output shaft, thereby reducing power provided to the output shaft such that power transferred to the at least one of the ground engaging elements is reduced to provide traction control for the ground engaging elements that reduces or eliminates the wheel skip condition.