Idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9701312-B2
Application number	US-201414547671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

An idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for a machine is disclosed. The machine can include an engine operably connected to a drivetrain including ground engaging propulsion members. The drivetrain can be configured to transmit mechanical energy between the engine and the ground engaging propulsion members. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for the machine can include a starter operatively associated with the engine and configured to effectuate ignition of the engine. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for the machine can further include an idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller electronically and controllably connected to the engine and configured to shut down the engine in an engine shutdown mode. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller can additionally be electronically and controllably connected and configured to actuate the engine and the starter to start the engine in one or more of an initial engine start mode and one or more engine restart modes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system for a machine, comprising:
the machine including an engine operably connected to a drivetrain including ground engaging propulsion members, the drivetrain configured to transmit mechanical energy between the engine and the ground engaging propulsion members;
a starter operatively associated with the engine, the starter configured to effectuate ignition of the engine;
an idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller electronically and controllably connected to the engine and configured to shut down the engine in an engine shutdown mode;
the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller electronically and controllably connected and configured to actuate the engine and the starter to start the engine in one or more of an initial engine start mode and one or more engine restart modes;
wherein the machine includes one or more work material implements; and
wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is electronically connected and configured to require one or more signals indicative of a predetermined position of the one or more work material implements to activate the engine shutdown mode.

2. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 1 wherein the machine includes one or more operator position sensors operatively positioned and configured to sense one or more of an operator's position, presence, and location relative to the machine, and wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is electronically connected and configured to require one or more signals indicative of an operator's seated position within a cab of the machine from the operator position sensors to activate one or more of the initial engine start mode, the one or more engine restart modes, and the engine shutdown mode.

3. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 1 further comprising one or more payload sensors operatively configured and positioned to sense and transmit one or more machine payload signals indicative of an amount of work material within the one or more work material implements.

4. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 3 wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is electronically connected and configured to control the activation of one or more of the one or more engine restart modes and the engine shutdown mode based upon one or more of the one or more machine payload signals.

5. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 4 wherein the one or more engine restart modes include a machine movement restart mode and the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is electronically connected and configured to activate the machine movement restart mode in response to a machine payload signal corresponding to an amount of work material below a maximum capacity amount of work material such that the machine movement restart mode is completed to provide engine-driven power for movement of the machine once the maximum capacity amount of work material is reached.

6. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 5 wherein the maximum capacity amount of work material is an amount of work material within a work material implement of a second machine and wherein a signal indicative of the maximum capacity amount of work material is sensed by a payload sensor of the second machine and electronically transmitted to the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller via a machine positioning and communication system.

7. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 4 wherein the machine includes a parking brake and the drivetrain includes a transmission including one or more clutches operatively positioned and configured to selectively engage a connection between the engine and gearing of the transmission, and wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is electronically and controllably connected to the one or more clutches and the parking brake during a machine movement restart mode in response to one or more machine payload signals and a grade signal from a grade sensor indicative of a level of inclination of the machine to release the parking brake upon the transmission reaching an output torque corresponding to an amount of work material within the one or more work material implements and the level of inclination of the machine to prevent free rolling motion of the machine.

8. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 3 wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is connected in electronic communication with a machine positioning and communication system, and the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller is configured to activate one or more of the engine shutdown mode and one or more of the one or more engine restart modes in response to one or more signals from the machine positioning and communication system.

9. The idle reduction engine shutdown and restart system of claim 8 wherein the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller activates the engine shutdown mode in response to one or more signals indicative of a stationary, loading state of the machine from the machine positioning and communication system including a machine speed signal indicative of zero speed and one or more position signals including a machine signal indicative of a stationary position of the machine and one or more signals indicative of a position of a second machine positioned substantially adjacent to the machine.

10. A machine, comprising:
one or more hydraulic pumps driven by an electric motor;
one or more hydraulic pumps driven by an engine;
one or more accumulators;
a starter operatively associated with the engine;
a hydraulic starter circuit connected in fluid communication between at least one of the one or more hydraulic pumps driven by the electric motor, at least one of the one or more hydraulic pumps driven by the engine, and the one or more accumulators;
the hydraulic starter circuit including a starter valve body, the starter valve body connected in fluid communication between the one or more accumulators and the starter and configured to control the fluid communication of the pressurized fluid from the one or more accumulators to the starter; and
an idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller electronically and controllably connected to the hydraulic starter circuit.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the starter valve body includes a first control valve and a second control valve fluidly connected in series, wherein the first control valve is an electrically actuated valve configured to fluidly connect and direct the supply of pressurized fluid from the one or more accumulators to the second control valve in response to an activation signal from the idle reduction engine shutdown and restart controller.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein the second control valve is configured to move from a first position including a flow restriction configured to fluidly direct a restriction controlled rate of flow of pressurized fluid from the one or more accumulators to the starter, to a second position including a substantially unrestricted passage configured to direct an unrestricted flow of pressurized fluid from the one or more accumulators to the starter in response to downstream pressure.

13. The machine of claim 10 wherein the starter valve body includes a first control valve, a second control valve, and a third control valve, wherein the first control valve is an electrically actuated valve configured to fluidly con

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Jensen Joshua D
• Ault David E
• Fehr Drew A
• Morris Emily A
• Peterson Jeremy T
• Leesman Kory K
• Johnston Richard D
• Hook Layne E
• Jones Ii Jeffrey A
• Steinlage Justin L

Classifications

• F02N11/006

  using a plurality of electric motors · CPC title

• F02N2300/2002

  using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear · CPC title

• B60W30/18118 Primary

  Hill holding · CPC title

• B60W10/182

  including control of parking brakes · CPC title

• F02N9/04

  the pressure fluid being generated otherwise, e.g. by compressing air · CPC title