Gearbox control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10408310-B2
Application number	US-201514863852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A power-split gearbox device in an agricultural work vehicle. The gearbox device includes a compounded gearbox, an electrical variator for the continuous varying of a ratio of the compounded gearbox, and a gearbox with an adjustable ratio to connect a drive motor with a propulsion of the work vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a power-split gearbox device in an agricultural work vehicle, comprising:
providing the power-split gearbox device with:
a compounded gearbox,
a gearbox with an adjustable ratio range in order to connect a combustion engine with a propulsion of the work vehicle, and
an electrical variator for continuously varying a ratio of the compounded gearbox, wherein the electrical variator includes a first electrical machine and a second electrical machine and a controller to control the electrical machines;

driving the second electrical machine with a machine gear that is fixed for rotation therewith, such that the second electrical machine and the machine gear rotate in unison at a same rotational speed;
driving the machine gear with a drive gear that meshes therewith, such that the machine gear contacts the drive gear;
driving the drive gear with the combustion engine that is fixed for rotation therewith, such that the drive gear and the combustion engine rotate in unison at a same rotational speed;
detecting an external power demand of an electrical consumer;
adjusting the ratio range of the gearbox after the detecting step; and
compensating for a power shortfall that is produced relative to the external power demand by operating the first electrical machine as a first generator and simultaneously operating the second electrical machine as a second generator.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the ratio range of the gearbox in view of a drive resistance, the external power demand, and a desired drive speed.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing an energy storage unit coupled to the controller; and
using the energy storage unit to compensate for a power surplus or the power shortfall relative to the external power demand.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting a torque of the electrical machines via the controller independent of a speed of the electrical machines; and
supplying energy into each of the electrical machines or an energy storage unit.

5. A method for controlling a power-split gearbox device in an agricultural work vehicle, comprising:
providing the power-split gearbox device with:
a compounded gearbox,
a gearbox with an adjustable ratio range in order to connect a combustion engine with a propulsion of the work vehicle, and
an electrical variator for continuously varying a ratio of the compounded gearbox, wherein the electrical variator includes a first electrical machine and a second electrical machine and a controller to control the electrical machines;

driving the second electrical machine with machine gear that is fixed for rotation therewith, such that the second electrical machine and the machine gear rotate in unison, at a same rotational speed, via a shaft;
driving the machine gear with a drive gear that meshes therewith, such that the machine gear contacts the drive gear;
driving the drive gear with the combustion engine that is fixed for rotation therewith, such that the drive gear and the combustion engine rotate in unison, at a same rotational speed, via a drive shaft;
detecting an external power demand of an electrical consumer;
adjusting the ratio range of the gearbox after the detecting step; and
compensating for a power shortfall or a power surplus that is produced relative to the external power demand.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising compensating for the power shortfall that is produced relative to the external power demand by operating the first electrical machine as a first generator and simultaneously operating the second electrical machine as a second generator.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Gugel Rainer
• Fritz Norbert
• Rekow Andrew K
• Jeffries Dennis L
• Mueller David

Classifications

• B60L1/003

  to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors · CPC title

• B60W2510/305

  Power absorbed by auxiliaries · CPC title

• B60L2200/40

  Working vehicles · CPC title

• B60W2710/08

  Electric propulsion units · CPC title

• F16H2200/2007

  with two sets of orbital gears · CPC title