Work machine with power limit control using an infinitely variable transmission
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorClayton George Janasek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A work machine includes an internal combustion (IC) engine, and an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) coupled with the IC engine. The IVT includes an adjustable module and a mechanical module, with an adjustable input/output (I/O) ratio. A clutch is coupled with the mechanical module and has an output. An adjustable operator input device provides an output signal representing a power limit control. At least one electrical processing circuit is coupled with the operator input device and configured for controlling a selected combination of the I/O ratio and the clutch output, dependent upon the output signal from the operator input device.
Claims16
A work machine, comprising:
- an internal combustion (IC) engine;
- an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) coupled with said IC engine, said IVT including an adjustable module and a mechanical module, said IVT having an adjustable input/output (I/O) ratio;
- a clutch coupled with said mechanical module, said clutch having an output;
- an adjustable operator input device providing an output signal representing a power limit control;
- at least one electrical processing circuit coupled with said operator input device and configured for controlling a selected combination of said I/O ratio and said clutch output, dependent upon said output signal from said operator input device;
- and
- said at least one electrical processing circuit correlates said output signal from said operator input device into a maximum allowable ground speed and a maximum allowable output torque from said clutch.
A method of operating a work machine including an internal combustion (IC) engine, an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) and a clutch, said method comprising the steps of:
- outputting an output signal from an operator input device to an electrical processing circuit corresponding to a maximum allowable ground speed and a maximum allowable output torque from said clutch;
- and
- controlling a selected combination of an I/O ratio of said IVT and a clutch pressure of said clutch, dependent upon said output signal from said operator input device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.