Drivetrain overload protection for work vehicles using power boost

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022016974-A1
Application number	US-202016933008-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2020
Priority date	Jul 20, 2020
Publication date	Jan 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Overload protection systems and methods are provided for controlling the amount of energy delivered to the drivetrain of work vehicles including axles, transmission, and other components thereof including for vehicles using power boost. A sensor in operative communication with a primary power equipment unit driving a transmission of a work vehicle generates a torque signal representative of torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit. The overload protection method and system uses the torque signal to control the torque delivered to the transmission of a work vehicle by the primary power equipment unit.

First claim

1 . A work vehicle comprising:
a primary power equipment unit; an engine operable to deliver power to the primary power equipment unit in response to an engine setpoint signal; an output shaft; a transmission positioned between the output shaft and the primary power equipment unit such that the output shaft receives power from the primary power equipment unit to drive the output shaft; and an overload protection system controlling torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit, the overload protection system comprising:
a primary power equipment torque sensor in operative communication with the primary power equipment unit, the primary power equipment torque sensor generating a primary power equipment torque signal representative of torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit; and
an overload protection system controller comprising:
a processor;
an input operatively coupled with the processor and receiving the primary power equipment torque signal;
a non-transient memory device operatively coupled with the processor; and
overload protection logic stored in the memory device, the overload protection logic being executable by the processor to:
limit a magnitude of the engine setpoint signal based on the primary power equipment torque signal to control the torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit to less than a torque design value.

2 . The work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the engine is selectively operable in a first mode to deliver rated power to the primary power equipment unit for a predetermined first work application of the work vehicle; the engine is selectively operable in a power boost mode to deliver boost power greater than the rated power to the primary power equipment unit for a predetermined second work application of the work vehicle; and the overload protection logic is executable by the processor to limit the magnitude of the engine setpoint signal to control the torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit for the engine operating in the power boost mode to less than the torque design value.

3 . The work vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein:
the primary power equipment unit is a continuously variable power source (CVP); the output shaft comprises a drive axle of the work vehicle; the transmission is a split path transmission; and the engine is selectively operable in the power boost mode to deliver the boost power to the CVP for accelerating or decelerating the work vehicle in a transport application of the work vehicle as the second work application.

4 . The work vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein:
the engine is selectively operable in the power boost mode to deliver the boost power for a predetermined third work application of the work vehicle to a combination of the primary power equipment unit and an associated secondary power equipment unit operatively coupled with the work vehicle; the primary power equipment unit is a continuously variable power source (CVP); the associated secondary power equipment unit is a power take off (PTO) device operatively coupled with the transmission; the output shaft comprises a drive axle of the work vehicle; the transmission is a split path transmission; and the engine is selectively operable in the power boost mode to deliver the boost power to the PTO device for powering an associated driven working implement operable complimentary to the work vehicle in a joint working application of the work vehicle as the third work application.

5 . The work vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein:
the engine is selectively operable in the power boost mode to deliver the boost power for a predetermined third work application of the work vehicle to a combination of the primary power equipment unit and a plurality of associated secondary power equipment units operatively coupled with the work vehicle; the primary power equipment unit is a continuously variable power source (CVP); the plurality of associated secondary power equipment units comprise one or more of:
a power take off (PTO) device operatively coupled with the transmission;
a hydraulic pump device operatively coupled with the engine; and/or
an electric generator operatively coupled with the engine;
the output shaft comprises a drive axle of the work vehicle; the transmission is a split path transmission; and the engine is selectively operable in the power boost mode to deliver the boost power to the plurality of associated secondary power equipment units for powering a plurality of associated driven working implements operable complimentary to the work vehicle in a joint working application of the work vehicle as the third work application.

6 . The work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the transmission is positioned operatively between the output shaft and the engine and the primary power equipment unit such that the output shaft selectively receives power from one or both of the engine and the primary power equipment unit to drive the output shaft.

7 . The work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the engine setpoint signal is an engine torque setpoint signal; the engine is operable to deliver torque power to the primary power equipment unit in response to the engine torque setpoint signal; the overload protection logic is executable by the processor to limit the magnitude of the engine torque setpoint signal based on the primary power equipment torque signal to control the torque to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit to less than the torque design value.

8 . An overload protection system controlling torque delivered to a transmission of an associated work vehicle by a primary power equipment unit, the overload protection system comprising:
a primary power equipment torque sensor in operative communication with the primary power equipment unit, the primary power equipment torque sensor generating a primary power equipment torque signal representative of torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit; and an overload protection system controller comprising:
a processor;
an input operatively coupled with the processor and receiving the primary power equipment torque signal;
a non-transient memory device operatively coupled with the processor; and
overload protection logic stored in the memory device, the overload protection logic being executable by the processor to:
limit a magnitude a torque setpoint signal based on the primary power equipment torque signal to control the torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit to less than a predetermined torque design value.

9 . The overload protection system according to claim 8 , wherein:
the primary power equipment unit is selectively operable in a first mode to deliver rated power to the transmission for a predetermined first work application of the work vehicle; the primary power equipment unit is selectively operable in a power boost mode to deliver boost power greater than the rated power to the transmission for a predetermined second work application of the work vehicle; and the overload protection logic is executable by the processor to limit the magnitude of the torque setpoint signal to control the torque delivered to the transmission by the primary power equipment unit for the primary power equipment unit operating in the power boost mode to less than the torque design value.

10 . The overload protection system according to claim 9 , wherein:
the primary power equipment unit comprises a continuously variable power source (CVP); the output shaft comprises a drive axle of the

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Burjes Roger W
• Gugel Rainer
• Mueller David
• Faucher Adam J
• Kuhl Marcus L
• Neumann Clayton P
• Pence Jacob

Classifications

• B60W30/1846 Primary

  Preventing of breakage of drive line components, e.g. parts of the gearing · CPC title

• B60K2025/022

  by a mechanical transmission · CPC title

• B60K17/28 Primary

  characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off · CPC title

• B60Y2200/221

  Tractors · CPC title

• F16D2500/10437

  Power Take Off clutch · CPC title