Method and device for actuating a mobile work machine

Abstract

A method of controlling a mobile work machine having a reversing gearbox. The driving direction reversal is initiated by detecting a driving direction reversal command. A change of the torque transmission from a current driving direction to a new driving direction is carried out as a powershift. Braking for the driving direction reversal occurs in a manner so as to recuperate energy. Furthermore, a device for controlling a mobile work machine, in particular for implementing the method, is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile work machine with a reversing gearbox (11), the method comprising: initiating a driving direction reversal, from a current driving direction to an other driving direction, by detecting a driving direction command; carrying out a change of torque transmission from the current driving direction to the other driving direction by powershifting; recuperatively braking the work machine to reverse the driving direction of the work machine; and at least partially engaging at least one of a current driving direction clutch (KF) and an other driving direction clutch (KR) of the reverse gearbox (11) during at least part of the recuperative braking.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: when a driving direction command is received at a first point in time (t.sub.1), operating an electric machine (10) of a hybrid drive in the drive-train of the work machine as a generator to brake the work machine, until the work machine has substantially stopped at a second time-point (t.sub.2), and changing the torque transmission from the current driving direction to the other driving direction while the work machine is substantially at a standstill.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: if the electric machine (9) is arranged in a force flow of the drive train between a primary source of drive-power (10) and the current driving direction clutch (KF) and the other driving direction clutch (KR), then keeping the current driving direction clutch (KF) engaged during the braking process until the work machine has substantially come to rest at the second time-point (t.sub.2), and starting engagement of the other driving direction clutch (KR) before reaching the second time-point (t.sub.2).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the primary source of drive-power (10) is an internal combustion engine, and further comprising: during the braking of the work machine, either keeping a converter bridging clutch (LC) of a torque converter (TC) in an engaged condition or changing the converter bridging clutch (LC) to the engaged condition, and when a predetermined lower rotational speed limit of the internal combustion engine (10) is reached, disengaging and holding the converter bridging clutch (LC) in the disengaged condition, then braking the work machine with service brakes until the work machine comes to rest at the second time-point (t.sub.2), and thereafter engaging the other driving direction clutch (KR).

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: when a change of the driving direction clutch occurs, keeping a converter bridging clutch (LC) of a torque converter (TC) in the disengaged condition, driving the work machine in the other driving direction, and engaging the converter bridging clutch (LC) upon reaching a predetermined operating point.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising driving the work machine in the other driving direction by at least one of an internal combustion engine (10) and the electric machine (9).

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising during the braking of the work machine by the electric machine (9), decoupling an internal combustion engine (10) from the drive-train via actuation of a separator clutch (SC).

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: when the other driving direction clutch (KR) is fully engaged, engaging the separator clutch (SC), and either keeping a converter bridging clutch (LC) of a torque converter (TC) in a disengaged condition or changing the converter bridging clutch (LC) to a disengaged condition, driving the work machine in the other driving direction with the internal combustion engine (10), upon reaching a predetermined operating point, engaging the converter bridging clutch, and driving the work machine by the electric machine (9) to assist the internal combustion engine (10).

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: of, if an electric machine (9) is arranged in a force flow of the drive train such that the current driving direction clutch (KF) and the other driving direction clutch (KR) space the electric machine (9) from a primary source of drive-power (10), then disengaging the current driving clutch (KF) at a first time-point (t.sub.1), and braking the work machine by the electric machine (9) until the work machine comes to a standstill at a second time-point (t.sub.2).

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising driving in the other driving direction via the electric machine (9) before the other driving direction clutch (KR) is fully engaged.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: initiating an transition of the other driving direction clutch (KR) into a state of full engagement before the second time-point (t.sub.2) is reached, transitioning the other driving direction clutch (KR) into the state of full engagement at a substantially linear rate of change, and assisting driving of the work machine by an internal combustion engine.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising braking the work machine via an electric machine (9) and service brakes of the work machine.

13. A control device for controlling a mobile work machine utilizing a method comprising initiating a driving direction reversal by detecting a driving direction command, carrying out a change of torque transmission from a current driving direction to an other driving direction by powershifting, recuperatively braking the work machine to reverse the driving direction of the mobile work machine, and at least one of a current driving direction clutch (KF) and an other driving direction clutch (KR) of a reverse gearbox (11) being at least partially engaged during at least part of the recuperative braking, the work machine having a reversing gearbox (11) and a hybrid drive, the device comprising: a control unit (12) connected to exchange signals with a drive-train of the work machine in order to control a powershifted driving direction reversal, the control unit communicating with at least one electric machine (9) of the hybrid drive which is actuatable for recuperative braking of the work machine during the driving direction reversal.

14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit (12) has a signal connection for detecting an accelerator pedal position (AccPos), a signal connection for detecting a driving direction command (DriveDir) from a driver, a signal connection for detecting a state of charge (SOC) of an electrical energy accumulator (13) for storing the recuperatively recovered energy (E) and supplying the energy (E) to the electric machine (9), signal connections for controlling torque and rotational speed (T.sub.EM, n.sub.EM) of the electric machine (9), signal connections (KRS, KFS) for actuating the current driving direction clutch (KF) and the other driving direction clutch (KR) of the reversing gearbox (11) and a signal connection (LCS) for controlling a converter bridging clutch (LC) of the hydrodynamic torque converter (TC).

15. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit (12) is integrated in a transmission control unit of the work machine.

16. A method of controlling a mobile work machine having a drive train comprising a hybrid drive and a reversing gearbox (11), an electric machine (9) being arranged in the drive train in a force flow between a primary source of drive-power (10) and a current driving direction clutch (KF) and an other driving direction clutch (KR) of the reversing gearbox (11), the method comprising the steps of: initiating, via a control unit, a reversal of driving direction from a current driving direction to an other driving direction when a driving direction command is detected by the control unit; changing torque transmission from the current driving direction to the other driving direction by powershifting; recuperatively braking the work machine to reverse the driving direction of the work machine; and at least partially engaging at least one of a current driving direction clutch (KF) and an other driving direction clutch (KR) of the reverse gearbox (11) during at least part of the recuperative braking.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving, via the control unit, the driving direction command at a first point in time (t.sub.1); operating the electric machine (10) of the hybrid drive as a generator to brake the work machine, until driving of the work machine in the current driving direction substantially stops at a second time-point (t.sub.2); and changing the torque transmission in the reversing gearbox (11) from the current driving direction to the new driving direction while the work machine is substantially at a standstill.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: maintaining engagement of the current drive direction clutch (KF) in the reversing gearbox that is engaged to transmit torque in the current driving direction, during recuperative braking until the work machine substantially stops at the second time-point (t.sub.2); and initiating engagement of the other driving direction clutch in the reversing gearbox that is engaged to transmit torque in the other driving direction, before the work machine substantially stops at the second time-point (t.sub.2).

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the current driving direction clutch (KF) and the other driving direction clutch (KR) are at least substantially halfway engaged during at least part of the recuperative braking.

20. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: initiating engagement of the other driving direction clutch (KR) while the current driving direction clutch (KF) is fully engaged and an electric machine (9) is functioning as a generator, when the of the other driving direction clutch (KR) is substantially halfway engaged, substantially abruptly fully disengaging the current driving direction clutch (KF) and shifting the electric motor to function as a motor (9), and completing engagement of the other driving direction clutch (KR) while the current driving direction clutch (KF) is fully disengaged and the electric machine (9) is functioning as a motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Below, the present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: A first example shows three diagrams of various parameters as a function of time for a method according to the invention for carrying out a driving direction reversal of a mobile work machine;

(3) FIG. 2: A second example shows three diagrams of various parameters as a function of time for a method according to the invention for carrying out a driving direction reversal of a mobile work machine;

(4) FIG. 3: A schematic view of a control system for reversing the driving direction, relating to a drive-train of a mobile work machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIGS. 1 and 2 show graphical representations of respective example embodiments of a method according to the invention for carrying out the driving direction reversal, for example from the forward to the reverse driving directions of a mobile work machine, although the procedure according to the invention can also be used for the converse direction change. In each case the diagram at the top shows the speed variation 1, 5 of the work machine, the middle diagram shows the actuation sequence 2, 3, 6, 7 of the driving direction clutches KF, KR, and the lower diagram in each case shows the torque variation 4, 8 of the electric machine 9 (EM).

(6) A first example embodiment of a method according to the invention, shown in FIG. 1, relates to an arrangement of the electric machine 9 of a hybrid drive in the drive-train of the work machine, ahead of the driving direction clutches KF, KR in the force flow direction. Driven by the internal combustion engine 10 of the hybrid drive, the work machine first moves at a certain constant initial speed in the forward direction, as can be seen from the speed variation 1. During this the driving direction clutch currently associated with the forward driving direction KF is at first kept closed and the driving direction clutch associated with the reverse driving direction KR is at first kept open, as can be seen from the actuation sequences 2 and 3. When a driving direction command is received from the driver, the work machine is braked recuperatively (speed variation 1, first time-point t1). For this the electric machine 9 is operated as a generator and therefore produces a negative torque, as can be seen from the torque variation 4. During this the speed of the work machine falls linearly to zero, which is reached at a second time-point t2. The actuation sequence 3 of the driving direction clutch associated with the reverse driving direction KR shows that it is closed in a linear and continuous manner as the second time-point t2 corresponding to zero speed is approached, so that at the zero-speed second time-point t2 the clutch KR is approximately half-closed. At that time point the driving direction clutch associated with the forward driving direction KF is opened abruptly, as shown by the corresponding actuation sequence 2. Thus, the actuation sequences 2 and 3 overlap. In this way, shortly before the second time-point t2 when the speed of the work machine reaches zero the driving direction clutches KF, KR are changed over to reverse the driving direction by a so-termed overlapping shift. Since the driving direction clutch associated with the forward driving direction KF is kept closed until shortly before the work machine comes to a standstill, it is ensured that the braking energy is recuperated by the electric machine 9 until the work machine has almost come to rest at the second time-point t2. After the driving direction change, in order to assist the internal combustion engine 10 the electric machine 9 is operated as a motor and produces a positive torque at constant acceleration until the constant initial speed is reached in the new, reverse direction (speed variation 1, third time-point t3), when the electric machine 9 is switched off.

(7) A second example embodiment of a method according to the invention for carrying out a driving direction reversal, shown in FIG. 2, relates to an arrangement of the electric machine 9 behind the driving direction clutches KF, KR in the drive-train. With this arrangement braking by the electric machine 9 can be carried out with the driving direction clutches KF, KR open. For this, at the beginning of the braking process the driving direction clutch currently associated with the forward driving direction KF is opened abruptly, as can be seen from the actuation sequence 6 (first time-point t1). In this way, during the braking process the internal combustion engine 10 is decoupled from the drive input and from the electric machine 9. Consequently, almost until the work machine has come to a standstill (at the second time-point t2) the braking energy can be recuperated completely by the electric machine 9, as indicated by the negative torque variation 8. During this, as shown by its actuation sequence 7 the driving direction clutch associated with the reverse driving direction KR is at first held in the open condition. Close to the zero-speed time-point (second time-point t2) of the work machine, as shown by the speed variation 5 and in accordance with the actuation sequence 7 the driving direction clutch associated with the reverse driving direction KR is closed continuously in a linear manner as in the method according to FIG. 1, and after the driving direction has changed the internal combustion engine 10 is assisted by a positive torque variation 8 provided by the electric machine 9 during acceleration in the new driving direction.

(8) FIG. 3 shows an example of a mobile work machine, with reference to which a device according to the invention for controlling a powershifted driving direction reversal in a mobile work machine will be explained.

(9) The drive-train comprises an internal combustion engine 10, an electric machine 9 and a reversing gearbox 11 for reversing the driving direction of the work machine, the gearbox comprising, at least, respective driving direction clutches KF, KR for the forward and reverse driving directions and a reversing gearset, as well as a main transmission which is connected to the differential Diff of the drive axle of the work machine. The internal combustion engine 10 and the electric machine 9 form a so-termed parallel hybrid. In the drive-train they are arranged in the force flow one behind the other, so that they can act conjointly upon the drive-train. The electric machine 9 is arranged in the force flow between the internal combustion engine 10 and the transmission input of the reversing gearbox 11. In the drive-train the internal combustion engine 9 can produce a torque T and a rotational speed n in the drive-train. Conversely, from the drive-train a torque T and a rotational speed n can be transmitted to the internal combustion engine 10.

(10) In the drive-train, in the force flow the reversing gearbox 11 comprises one behind the other a hydrodynamic torque converter TC with a converter bridging clutch LC, at least driving direction clutches KF, KR for the forward and reverse driving directions, a reversing gearset and a powershift transmission as the main transmission. In this case a plurality of forward gears of the powershift transmission are associated with one driving direction clutch KF and one reversing gear is associated with the other driving direction clutch KF. The torque converter TC with its converter bridging clutch LC is arranged in the force flow between the internal combustion engine 10 and the driving direction clutches KF, KR. The powershift transmission is in driving connection with a differential of a driven axle of the work machine, which distributes the drive power produced in the drive-train to the wheels of the axle.

(11) To select an appropriate strategy for reversing the driving direction of the work machine, a control unit 12 detects signals from the system components and evaluates them. To carry out the driving direction reversal the system components can be actuated by the control unit 12. In an electrical energy accumulator 13 (ACCUM), in this case an electric battery, the electrical energy E produced recuperatively by the electric machine 9 during braking can be stored and returned again to the electric machine 9 as necessary.

(12) The electric signal flow connections or signal connections are in each case indicated by arrows. The control unit 12 detects the accelerator pedal position AccPos, the driver's driving direction command DriveDir, the state of charge SOC of the electric battery 13, the torque T.sub.EM and the rotational speed n.sub.EM of the electric machine 9 and the operating condition of the converter bridging clutch LC. To carry out the driving direction reversal the torque T.sub.EM and the rotational speed n.sub.EM of the electric machine 9, the converter bridging clutch LC, the driving direction clutches KR, KF and if necessary the service brakes BRAKE of the work machine that act on the wheels can be actuated by the control unit 12.

(13) Alternatively, a separator clutch SC for decoupling the internal combustion engine 9 from the drive-train can be arranged between it and the electric machine 10, the operating condition of the separator clutch SC being detected by the control unit 12 so that the separator clutch SC can be actuated by the control unit 12.

INDEXES

(14) 1 Speed variation 2 Actuation sequence 3 Actuation sequence 4 Torque variation 5 Speed variation 6 Actuation sequence 7 Actuation sequence 8 Torque variation 9 Electric machine 10 Internal combustion engine 11 Reversing gearbox 12 Control unit 13 Electrical energy accumulator E Energy T Torque n Rotational speed AccPos Signal connection for accelerator pedal position DriveDir Signal connection for driving direction command SOC Signal connection for state of charge of the battery or energy accumulator TEM Signal connection for the torque of the electric machine nEM Signal connection for the rotational speed of the electric machine LCS Signal connection for the converter bridging clutch KFS Signal connection for a current/forward drive direction clutch KRS Signal connection for an other/reverse drive direction clutch BRAKE Signal connection for the service brakes t1 First time-point, start of recuperation t2 Second time-point, work machine at rest t3 Third time-point, electric machine switched off VFz Speed of the work machine Diff Differential of the drive axle of the work machine