VALVE TIMING IN ELECTRONICALLY COMMUTATED HYDRAULIC MACHINE

Abstract

An electronically commutated hydraulic machine is coupled to a drivetrain. Working chambers of the hydraulic machine are connected to low and high pressure manifold through electronically controlled valves. The phase of opening and closing of the valves has a default. In order to avoid cycle failure due to acceleration events, for example due to backlash in the drivetrain, the phase of opening or closing of the electronically controlled valves is temporarily advanced or retarded from the default timing.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a fluid working machine, the fluid working machine comprising a rotatable shaft, at least one working chamber having a volume which varies cyclically with rotation of the rotatable shaft, a low pressure manifold and a high pressure manifold, a low pressure valve for regulating communication between the low pressure manifold and the working chamber, a high pressure valve for regulating communication between the high pressure manifold and the working chamber, the method comprising actively controlling one or more said valves in phased relationships with cycles of working chamber volume, to determine the net displacement of fluid by the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis, wherein for a given cycle type, a control signal to cause the opening or closing of the low or high pressure valve is transmitted to the valve at a default phase of a cycle of working chamber volume and, responsive to a measurement or prediction of an event associated with a temporary acceleration of the rotatable shaft or an event associated with a temporary change in the pressure in the high pressure manifold, the corresponding control signal to cause the opening or closing of the low or high pressure valve is transmitted at an alternative phase of a cycle of working chamber volume, which alternative phase is advanced or retarded relative to the default phase.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein, in the case that the cycle type is a motoring cycle in which there is a net displacement of working fluid from the high pressure manifold to the low pressure manifold, the method comprises either or both of (i) advancing the phase of the transmission of a control signal which causes the closing of the low pressure valve during the contraction phase of a cycle of working chamber volume and (ii) advancing the phase of the transmission of a control signal which causes the opening of the high pressure valve during the expansion phase of a cycle of working chamber volume.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein, in the case that the cycle type is a pumping cycle in which there is a net displacement of working fluid from the low pressure manifold to the high pressure manifold, the method comprises retarding the phase of the transmission of a control signal which causes the closing of the low pressure valve during the contraction phase of a cycle of working chamber volume.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to a drive train and wherein the event which is measured or predicted is a discontinuity in the torque exerted on the rotatable shaft by the drive train, for example due to backlash.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the discontinuity in the torque exerted on the rotatable shaft is predicted from the pattern of decisions as to the cycle type of successive cycles of working chamber volume.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the event which is measured or predicted is an oscillation in the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the event which is measured or predicted is a vibration arising from a pattern of a selection of working chambers to carry out active cycles in which a working chamber makes a net displacement of working fluid, and inactive cycles, in which a working chamber makes substantially no net displacement of working fluid.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein events leading to an acceleration of the rotatable shaft are monitored and used to predict future events leading to an acceleration of the rotatable shaft

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the event which is predicted or measured is predicted responsive to a received actuation signal.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid working machine is operated in a first (default) mode, with the control signals transmitted at the default phase, by default and is operated in a second (conservative) mode, with the control signals transmitted at the alternative phase, responsive to the measurement or prediction of an event.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the phase of transmission of the control signal changes from the default phase to the alternative phase (for example when the mode of operation switches from the first mode to the second mode), or vice versa, the phase of transmission of the control signal changes progressively over a plurality of cycles of working chamber volume.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the default phase and the alternative phase is variable.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the default phase of transmission of the control signal varies with the measured speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the difference between the alternative phase and the default phase is variable, for example in dependence on the expected magnitude of a temporary acceleration or in response to a measured variable, or in response to an AC component of speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft or high pressure manifold pressure.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the phase difference between the alternative phase and the default phase is varied such as to damp oscillations of the rotatable shaft or of the pressure in the high pressure manifold.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the default phase is variable over time.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the event is an event associated with a transient change in the pressure in the high pressure manifold.

18. Apparatus comprising a fluid working machine, the fluid working machine comprising a rotatable shaft, at least one working chamber having a volume which varies cyclically with rotation of the rotatable shaft, a low pressure manifold and a high pressure manifold, a low pressure valve for regulating communication between the low pressure manifold and the working chamber, a high pressure valve for regulating communication between the high pressure manifold and the working chamber, a controller configured to actively control one or more said valves in phased relationships with cycles of working chamber volume, to determine the net displacement of fluid by the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis, wherein for a given cycle type, the controller is configured to by default transmit control signals to the low or high pressure valves at a default phase of a cycle of working chamber volume, the control signals causing the opening or closing of the low or high pressure valves and, responsive to a measurement or prediction of an event associated with a temporary acceleration of the rotatable shaft or an event associated with a temporary change in the pressure in the high pressure manifold, to transmit the controls signals at an alternative phase of cycles of working chamber volume, which alternative phase is advanced or retarded relative to the default phase.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to a drive train and wherein the measurement or prediction of an event associated with a temporary acceleration of the rotatable shaft or an event associated with a temporary change in the pressure in the high pressure manifold is a measurement or prediction of an event associated with a discontinuity in the torque exerted on the rotatable shaft by the drive train, for example due to backlash.

20. A method of operating apparatus according to claim 18, comprising monitoring the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft, detecting instances of temporary accelerations of the rotatable shaft, analysing operating parameters when the detected instances occur, determining parameters of a prediction algorithm responsive thereto and subsequently predicting events associated with a temporary acceleration of the rotatable shaft using the prediction algorithm and the determined parameters, and responsive thereto actively controlling the said opening or closing of the low or high pressure valve to temporarily occur at the alternative phase.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures in which:

[0071] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a hydraulic hybrid drivetrain of a vehicle;

[0072] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronically commutated machine;

[0073] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the general operation of an example embodiment of the invention;

[0074] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for deciding the phase of valve advancement or retardation due to conservative mode;

[0075] FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for an example embodiment of the invention when motoring, illustrating the phase of key events within a cycle of working change volume;

[0076] FIGS. 6a-6e are plots of behaviour of a fluid working machine operating in binary conservative mode, with hysteresis;

[0077] FIG. 7 is a plot of behaviour of a fluid working machine with binary conservative mode with hysteresis and ramp rates, where the ramp rates are asymmetric;

[0078] FIG. 8 is a series of plots of the relationships between RPM and predicted shaft dominant frequency, conservative mode activation (or deactivation) and displacement demand (Fd) during operation of an embodiment of the invention, wherein two modes are encountered;

[0079] FIG. 9 is a plot of conservative mode as a function of shaft rotation speed (w);

[0080] FIG. 10 is a plot of resonances as a function of shaft torque oscillation frequency (f), and

[0081] FIG. 11 is a plot of resonant mode response as a function of shaft torque oscillation frequency (f);

[0082] FIG. 12 is a plot indicating the main frequency of ripple per revolution as a function of Fd;

[0083] FIG. 13 is a plot of the dominant harmonic of shaft-period as a function of cylinders used per revolution;

[0084] FIG. 14 shows a pair of plots of behaviour of a fluid working machine with continuous or proportional conservative mode;

[0085] FIG. 15 is a graph of net displacement volume with LPV closing phase angle during pumping and the effect of conservative mode on that volume; and

[0086] FIG. 16 is a graph of net displacement volume with LPV closing phase during motoring and the effect of conservative mode on that volume.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0087] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle drivetrain within which the invention can be employed. The drivetrain has a first wheel 2A and a second wheel 2B, an axle 4, a rear differential 6, a driveshaft 8, a gearbox 10, an internal combustion engine (ICE) 12, a power take off (PTO) 14, an intermediate shaft 16 and an electronically commutated hydraulic machine (ECM) 20. The intermediate shaft and gearbox are configured to transfer torque to one another via the PTO. The PTO is mechanically connected to the gearbox and typically contains at least two gears including a first gear in rotatable torque communication with a gear of the gearbox and a second gear which is non-rotatably secured to the intermediate shaft. The ICE functions as the prime mover, optionally driving the ECM and thereby the wheels, through the intervening drivetrain. The ECM may also be driven, for example, when carrying out regenerative braking.

[0088] As well as vehicles, the invention is useful in many other types of machines with drive trains, such as renewable power generation apparatus (e.g. wind turbines), injection moulding machines, hydraulically powered robots and so forth. The invention is also useful in non-drive vehicle applications such as refuse truck or forklift/digger hydraulics with the invention being used to control hydraulic actuators such as a compactor, crusher, boom or swing.

[0089] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a ECM 20 comprising a plurality of cylinders 70 which have working volumes 72 defined by the interior surfaces of the cylinders and pistons 40 which are driven from a rotatable shaft 42 by an eccentric cam 44 and which reciprocate within the cylinders to cyclically vary the working volume of the cylinders. The rotatable shaft is firmly connected to and rotates with intermediate shaft 16 and, when the gears are engaged, rotates in a suitable gearing ratio with axle 8. A shaft position and speed sensor 46 indicates the instantaneous angular position and speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft, communicating via a signal line 48, to the machine controller 50, which enables the machine controller to determine the instantaneous phase of the cycles of each cylinder.

[0090] The working chambers are each associated with Low-Pressure Valves (LPVs) in the form of electronically actuated face-sealing poppet valves 52, which have an associated working chamber and are operable to selectively seal off a channel extending from the working chamber to a low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold 61, which may connect one or several working chambers, or indeed all as is shown here, to the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold 54 of the ECM 20. The LPVs are normally-open solenoid actuated valves which open passively when the pressure within the working chamber is less than or equal to the pressure within the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold, i.e. during an intake stroke, to bring the working chamber into fluid communication with the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold, but are selectively closable under the active control of the controller via control signals transmitted via LPV control lines 56 to bring the working chamber out of fluid communication with the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold. The valves may alternatively be normally closed valves.

[0091] The working chambers are each further associated with a respective High-Pressure Valve (HPV) 64 each in the form of a pressure actuated delivery valve. The HPVs open outwards from their respective working chambers and are each operable to seal off a respective channel extending from the working chamber to a high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold 58, which may connect one or several working chambers, or indeed all as is shown in FIG. 2, to the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold 60. The HPVs function as normally-closed pressure-opening check valves which open passively when the pressure within the working chamber exceeds the pressure within the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold. The HPVs also function as normally-closed solenoid actuated check valves which the controller may selectively hold open via controls signals transmitted through HPV control lines 62 once the HPV is opened by pressure within the associated working chamber. Typically, the HPV is not openable by the controller against pressure in the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold. The HPV may additionally be openable under the control of the controller when there is pressure in the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold but not in the working chamber, or may be partially openable.

[0092] Arrows on the ports 61, 60 indicate hydraulic fluid flow in the motoring mode; in the pumping mode the flow is reversed. A pressure relief valve 66 may protect the hydraulic machine from damage.

[0093] With suitable control of the LPVs and HPVs in phased relationship with cycles of working chamber volume, the controller can control the net displacement (from the low pressure manifold to the high pressure manifold or vice versa) of each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume. Each working chamber may, on a given cycle of working chamber volume, undergo an active cycle with a net displacement of working fluid or an inactive cycle with no net displacement of working fluid. Active cycles can be pumping mode cycles, in which there is a net displacement of working fluid from the low pressure manifold to the high pressure manifold, driven by the rotation of the rotatable shaft, or motoring mode cycles in which there is a net displacement of working fluid from the high pressure manifold to the low pressure manifold (driving the rotation of the shaft). Inactive cycles can be achieved by holding a valve (typically the LPV) open throughout a cycle so that the working chamber remains in communication with a manifold throughout the cycle, or by keeping both valves closed. A decision is made on a cycle by cycle basis as to whether to carry out active or inactive cycles in order that the net displacement follow a target demand indicated by a demand signal. The demand signal may for example be a demand for a pressure of hydraulic fluid, or a flow rate of hydraulic fluid, or a total displaced volume of hydraulic fluid, or a power output, or the position of an actuator hydraulically linked to the hydraulic fluid etc.

[0094] In a pumping mode cycle, for example as taught by EP 0 361 927, the controller selects the net rate of displacement of hydraulic fluid from the working chamber to the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold by the hydraulic motor by actively closing one or more of the LPVs typically near the point of maximum volume in the associated working chamber's cycle, closing the path to the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold and thereby directing hydraulic fluid out through the associated HPV on the subsequent contraction stroke (but does not actively hold open the HPV). The controller selects the number and sequence of LPV closures and HPV openings to produce a flow or create a shaft torque or power to satisfy a selected net rate of displacement.

[0095] In a motoring mode of operation, for example as taught by EP 0 494 236, the hydraulic machine controller selects the net rate of displacement of hydraulic fluid, displaced by the hydraulic machine, via the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold, actively closing one or more of the LPVs shortly before the point of minimum volume in the associated working chamber's cycle, closing the path to the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold which causes the hydraulic fluid in the working chamber to be compressed by the remainder of the contraction stroke. The associated HPV opens when the pressure across it equalises and a small amount of hydraulic fluid is directed out through the associated HPV, which is held open by the hydraulic machine controller. The controller then actively holds open the associated HPV, typically until near the maximum volume in the associated working chamber's cycle, admitting hydraulic fluid from the high-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold to the working chamber and applying a torque to the rotatable shaft.

[0096] As well as determining whether or not to close or hold open the LPVs on a cycle by cycle basis, the controller is operable to vary the precise phasing of the closure of the HPVs with respect to the varying working chamber volume and thereby to select the net rate of displacement of hydraulic fluid from the high-pressure to the low-pressure hydraulic fluid manifold or vice versa, for example as taught by EP 1 537 333.

[0097] In some embodiments, there are a plurality of groups of one or more of the working chambers (coupled to the same shaft) which are connected to a respective plurality of high pressure manifolds (and thereby to sources or sinks of hydraulic fluid, e.g. hydraulic actuators or pumps). Each group may be controlled according to a separate demand signal for the respective group. In some embodiments, the allocation of working chambers to groups can be dynamically changed during operation, for example using one or more electronically controlled switching valves.

[0098] As is known from WO2011/104547 (Rampen et al.), the contents of which are incorporated herein by virtue of this reference, the precise phase of the opening or closing of the LPV or HPV may be optimised taking into account measurements made during earlier cycles of working chamber volume. For example the phase of the closure of the HPV may be optimised taking into account previous measurements of the timing of the phase of the opening or closing of the LPV or HPV. This leads to a default phase of opening or closing of the LPV or HPV. The controller will transmit control signals to the LPV and HPV at default phases in a default operating mode.

[0099] We have found that hydraulic machines of the type discussed remain vulnerable to cycle failure events. These may occur due to transient accelerations of the rotatable shaft, for example due to phenomenon such as backlash. Accelerations can be positive or negative (deceleration).

[0100] Causes of Transient Accelerations

[0101] By backlash (or lash) we refer to a clearance or lost motion in a (typically rotating) mechanism caused by gaps between the parts. It is the maximum distance or phase difference (lash angle) through which any part of a mechanical system may be moved in one direction without applying appreciable force or motion to the next part in a mechanical sequence. An example, in the context of gears and gear trains, is the amount of clearance between mated gear teeth. Lash occurs either in a change in relative torque between parts, such that (continuing rotation in the original direction) the driving part and the driven part, have a reversal of roles. Or, when the direction of movement is reversed, then the slack or lost motion is taken up before the reversal of motion, or torque reversal, is complete. Backlash can also be quantified with a measure of the power transmission error resulting from backlash. Zero backlash means zero loss in power transmission. Even if a pair of components start their working life with little backlash between them, it is foreseeable that the level of slack or backlash will increase, and therefore it is useful for the control strategy to anticipate or simply compensate for this increase in slack between components, as well as overall changes in driveline backlash.

[0102] Lash at individual interfaces/connections adds together, thus compounding along the length of the driveline. Where multiple components are free to take-up lash between one another, this happens along the driveline length sequentially at each interface/connection. Thus, backlash events and transient accelerations may be short lived and potentially frequent.

[0103] It is worth noting that the gearbox ratio may influence the lash angle as seen by the ECM. Typically the higher the selected gear, the smaller the angle of lash. The differential (gears) in the driveline axle have some lash, and this differential in the same driveline along with the gearbox, thus together causing a certain degree (angle) of lash at the PTO (power take off). It is likely the degree of lash will be different in different gears. Thus, it is preferable to be able to deal with different degrees of lash.

[0104] Another potential cause of transient acceleration events arises from shaft windup. Shaft windup occurs in all rotating torque transmitting components to some extent. The driveline may comprise a number of shafts or shaft-like components, or components which transmit torque. Initial windup occurs where one end of a rotating component turns and the other end does not (or does not move through the same angle), due to internal torsional deflection of the shaft material. A torque is applied along the length of the shaft which will lead to windup under stress. In a sense, windup is position error, without torque error. When the torque is removed, the shaft member will unwind thus removing the position error. Although windup is an important consideration in driveline members, backlash tends to have a far greater effect on shaft position error.

[0105] Considering machines with drivetrains as a whole, a component pair comprises a driving and a driven component. The driving component tries to go faster in one direction, providing driving torque. The connected component, termed the load or driven component, provides load torque. The drive component and load component may switch role, from an original first state to a new second state, with a corresponding switch from engagement of first engaging opposing surfaces, to second engaging opposing surfaces. The switch in engaged faces, and the reversal of energy flow, may be termed a torque reversal. An example joint may comprise a cardan joint or splined interface between two components, or other such torque transmission mechanism.

[0106] A coupling may comprise two connected components with an interface between them: a first, and a second component which are torque-connected somehow (e.g. keyed together). Each component comprises at least one engagement surface. In the example driveline, the intermediate shaft and gearbox transfer torque to one another via the PTO. The PTO is mounted to the gearbox, and may contain a pair of gears: a first one of which meshes with a gear in the gearbox, and the second one of which is fixedly-secured to the intermediate shaft. The 1st gear may be the 1st component, and the 2nd gear may be the 2nd component. For Table 1, positive torque is motoring in the clockwise (CW) direction, or pumping in the counter-clockwise (CCW) direction:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 all possible states of engagement and non-engagement between 2 components Engagement of engage-able Relative opposing absolute Rotation State surfaces 1st component 2nd component Torque direction 1a First pair +torque 1 (T1) torque 2 (T2) T1 > T2 CW 1b Second pair torque 1 (T1) +torque 2 (T2) T1 < T2 CW 2a Second pair torque 1 (T1) +torque 2 (T2) T1 > T2 CCW 2b First pair +torque 1 (T1) torque 2 (T2) T1 < T2 CCW 3* Not engaged +/torque 1 (T1) +/torque 2 (T2) T1 & T2 Either adopt any value *State 3: This third state is an in-between transient state in which the engagement surfaces do not engage. In this state, typically the first and second components may be said to be taking up the lash, travelling through their lash, or taking up the free movement until engagement of their respective first pair or second pair of surfaces. The period of this state is likely to be extremely brief.

[0107] Turning to the specific example of the hydraulic hybrid drivetrain illustrated in FIG. 1, Table 2 sets out possible driveline configurations.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 possible driveline configurations State (from ECM mode Rotation Table 1) of operation Gearbox mode Nickname direction 1a, 2a Pump Driving Braking/Regeneration CW, CCW 1b, 2b Motor Driven Motor/Propelling CW, CCW 1a, 2a Idle Driving (driving the Idling CW, CCW losses of the ECM)

[0108] There are a number of possible sources of backlash in hybrid transmissions using ECMs. There may be coupling lash due to non-ECM sources. Backlash may arise, either side of the coupling, from transient torque changes caused by a source other than the ECM. There may be coupling lash due to ECM mode switching, for example, from pumping mode to motoring mode and vice versa. This is further explained below. Transitions between modes may lead to coupling lash, and travel through this lash may lead to cycle failure.

[0109] In general, within a driveline having a coupling interface with a level of backlash, the contacting surfaces of that coupling travel through the backlash during certain mode transitions of the ECM. Travel through the backlash may occur at high frequency, which can itself disrupt control of the ECM. In this example, the ECM is connected to a rotating driveshaft (e.g. vehicle propshaft, vehicle PTO shaft, etc) having backlash in the various coupling interfaces. The combined inertia of the ECM, intermediate driveshaft, and the ECM side of the PTO is very low and thus high shaft accelerations may occur. High shaft acceleration may occur in the connected drivetrain, for example caused by backlash, shaft wind-up, general play in mounts, and shaft oscillation.

[0110] Transient Accelerations, Cycle Failure, and Valve Timing

[0111] These transient accelerations (including in some cases negative accelerations) can lead to the previously described possible modes of cycle failure. The problem of avoiding cycle failure is affected by the time delay between the controller transmitting the control signal to actively control a valve and the actual subsequent opening or closingand the duration of the opening or closing event. Transmitting the control signal may include starting a current through a solenoid, stopping a current (e.g. to allow a held open valve to close), reversing the direction of a current, varying the pulse width modulation of a current etc. The problem is also affected by the practical limitations of measurements of the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft. For example, the position of the rotatable shaft may be detected when it has rotated by 360/n where n is an integer. Interpolation can be used to monitor acceleration.

[0112] However, generally there will be a short lag in detecting sudden changes in acceleration changes between decision points.

[0113] To open or close a valve at a desired target phase, the opening or closing event is scheduled in advance taking into account the speed and position of the shaft at the point/time at which the scheduling process takes place. At the appropriate phase, the control signal is sent by the controller to the valve (in particular to the valve actuator which may be a solenoid). By the time that the valve actually opens or closes, subsequent acceleration/deceleration will cause the actual valve opening or closing phases to be inaccurate, for example because its time of opening or closing had been forecast making an incorrect assumption about shaft velocity.

[0114] This inaccuracy can cause cycle failure, for example, in the form of valve holding fail in which the solenoid of a valve fails to latch the armature in a particular state (associated with the valve being open or closed), or with the latch failing after the latch is initially made. Valve holding fail leads to a failure to fully pressurise a cylinder and so is an example of cycle failure. For example in a motoring cycle the LPV might close too late, just after TDC, with the effect that the HPV does not open at all, meaning the motoring cycle does not happen. Other types of cycle failure exist, for example the reverberation phenomenon mentioned above. Cycle failure is generally undesirable.

[0115] If all other factors (e.g. manifold pressure, fluid composition, temperature etc.) remain constant, the angle (phase difference) through which the machine shaft turns during the time it takes for the valve to respond to a control signal to close depends on the shaft rotation speed. LPV opening time (time between sending a signal to a valve to the valve opening) is relatively constant, irrespective of rotational speed of the machine. Thus, at higher speed, the machine will have passed through a greater angle than at lower speeds.

[0116] Valve timing is based on sampling of the phase and/or rotational speed measurements, and estimation of valve closing and/or opening times. There will be a delay due to processor lag, between the decision to actuate a valve and the valve being actuated. There is another physical delay between the solenoid of the valve being powered and the valve actually closing. If the shaft accelerates during these delays, there will be an error between the target and actual valve actuation phase.

[0117] Errors in the valve actuation phase may lead to displacement errors. The invention significantly reduces the impact of any error between target and actual valve actuation phase. During a motoring cycle these errors may for example be:

[0118] a) Actuating the LPV solenoid too late, leading to a valve holding failure and thereby cycle failure;

[0119] b) Actuating the LPV too early may mean that the cycle does complete but with a reduced output (below the displacement demand);

[0120] c) Turning off the HPV latching current too late, leading to a cycle failure with a reverberation phenomenon;

[0121] d) Turning off the HPV latching current too early, which leads to reduced output.

[0122] Error a) above is far more significant and potentially disruptive in comparison to error b) above. Error c) is also a highly significant, disruptive, and hence undesirable error.

[0123] During a pumping cycle these errors may for example be:

[0124] e) Actuating LPV closure too early may mean the pumping cycle fails completely;

[0125] f) Actuating LPV closure too late may mean simply a reduced output (below the displacement demand).

[0126] Some error in displacement is expected and is acceptable. For example, a small number of reverberation phenomenon strokes may be acceptable (depending on the application) and will not necessarily lead to total loss of control of the machine. However, if the reverberation phenomenon strokes continue, this may exacerbate the situation, triggering a positive feedback loop, leading to a total loss of control and total instability. According to the invention, preventative steps are taken which avoid this total breakdown from occurring, even at the cost of other factors (e.g. efficiency).

[0127] Typically, the default phase of opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV depends on high pressure manifold pressureespecially the default phase of opening or closing of the HPV as the precise moment when it starts to open or close will depend on the pressure difference across the HPV. If there are gradual changes in the high pressure manifold, the controller can readily determine the correct default phase. However, transient pressure changes in the high pressure manifold may also cause cycle failure. For example, if the pressure in the high pressure manifold is higher than expected the HPV may open late, or not at all, after closure of the LPV in a motoring cycle, or the pressure in the working chamber after closure of the HPV may be too high in a motoring cycle, leading to a delay in opening or failure to open the LPV.

[0128] According to the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the timing of the opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV is usually operated according to a default mode 74. The timing may for example vary with high pressure manifold pressure but in normal operation in the default mode, the opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV takes place at a default phase of working chamber volume, chosen to maximise efficiency while remaining a margin away from a phase which would lead to cycle failure. A control signal or open or close the LPV and/or HPV is transmitted to the respective valve actuator at a phase which is calculated to give the intended valve opening or closing phase. Events associated with sudden accelerations of the rotatable shaft of the ECM, or transient pressure changes in the high pressure manifold, are detected (measured) or predicted 76 and, as a result, for a period of time, the active control of the opening or closing phase of the LPV and/or HPV is temporarily advanced or retarded (revised) as appropriate 78 to reduce the risk of or avoid cycle failure, albeit with a possible reduction in ADF and reduced efficiency. This is achieved by advancing or retarding the respective valve actuation control signal as appropriate. Then, after a period of time, the phase of opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV, and the phase at which the control signals are generated, returns to the default phase.

[0129] There may be a default operating mode and a separate conservative mode in which the phase of the opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV, and the phase of the control signals which cause these events are amended. In this conservative mode, the timing of the valve control signal(s) which cause the opening or closing of the LPV and/or HPV take place at an amended phase, which is advanced or retarded relative to the default phase.

[0130] The valve timing is therefore amended, from the default, by being advanced or retarded as appropriate. In the case of a working chamber carrying out a motoring cycle, the valve timing would be advanced; in the case of a working chamber carrying out a pumping cycle, the valve timing would be retarded. In either case, the swept angle through which the cylinder is pressurised is reduced. The reduced swept angle through which the working chamber is pressurised may have the effect of reducing overall torque or flow. This leads to a reduction in performance in comparison with default mode. ADF is reduced but losses stay similar. Although counterintuitive, only ever using constant reduced volume strokes (rather than interleaving default mode active cycles with default mode inactive cycles) could have the effects of increasing noise, valve damage and torque ripple, and reducing torque level and energy efficiency, over the lifetime of the machine to which the hydraulic machine is applied. Hence, the conservative mode of operation (conservative mode) in which the control signals are transmitted at the alternative phase, instead of the default phase, is used only selectively, and temporarily.

[0131] Although in these examples the phase of the control signal to open or close a valve is advanced or retarded (relative to a default) to cause the opening or closing of the valve to be advanced or retarded (as appropriate), the phase of the control signal to open or close a valve is advanced or retarded (relative to a default) which in some embodiments may, by no specific intention, cause the phase of the opening or closing of the valve to remain the same.

[0132] Deciding when to Activate Conservative Mode

[0133] In some embodiments, conservative mode (use of the alternative phase instead of the default phase) is triggered in response to the detection of an event associated with a transient acceleration, for example, detecting a spike in shaft rotation speed, receiving a signal indicating that a gear change is taking place or calculating from a mathematical model and the pattern of decisions as to whether working chambers undergo active or inactive cycles that there is about to be a change in the sense of the forces acting on the rotatable shaft.

[0134] In some embodiments, conservative mode of operation, using the amended phase, is triggered using feedback control, for example in dependence on one or more of the following factors: [0135] sensed shaft acceleration. i.e. a single acceleration/change in shaft rotation speed, [0136] sensed oscillation of the shaft. i.e. multiple speed changes/accelerations constituting an oscillation event, [0137] sensing that the shaft exceeds a range of peak to peak shaft speeds over a time period, [0138] sensed/measured pressure (especially if in a stiff hydraulic system), [0139] sensed/measured torque or flow, [0140] a measured start time or phase of valve opening or closing (as determined by a user or by the controller), [0141] measured clutch slip exceeding a threshold.

[0142] The above detected factors may have been caused by cycle failure(s), or they may have been caused by external driveline components or external hydraulic components. In addition, cycle failure may be directly detected by the electronically commutated machine controller, for example, by detection of the timing of movement, or otherwise, of valves, which can be determined for example by monitoring current in valve solenoids. Conservative mode of operation may be triggered directly based on this detection.

[0143] The conservative mode may also be triggered in response to detection of an oscillating pressure in the high pressure manifold.

[0144] Alternately, in a feedforward embodiment, the controller schedules or triggers conservative mode dependent on events such as: [0145] a prediction that shaft torque ripple will to come in to resonance with a (learned or anticipated) vibration mode of the coupled system. For example, if the controller knows the system is in gear X, the vehicle speed is Y and the ECM is about to perform motoring at displacement fraction Z, then the controller responds by implementing conservative mode, or [0146] an anticipated step change of the ECM torque due to discontinuous displacement demand or some other change of displacement demand (e.g. change from idle to a quarter displacement), or [0147] a step change of the coupled drivetrain system affecting the inertial load, or damping, for example receiving data indicative that the engine is de-clutching, or there is a gear-shift, or [0148] detecting that the ECM control algorithm will trigger a pattern of working chamber selection decisions (the pattern of whether consecutive working chambers carry out active or inactive cycles) associated with higher peak-to-peak ripple. This is especially relevant e.g. at low displacements where there may be spaced active mode cycles, thus defining longer periods of zero pressure/torque pulses interspersed infrequently with associated pressure/torque pulses arising from the active mode cycles.

[0149] In respect of the first of these points, it may be that the shaft vibration is mainly encountered at resonance between ECM torque ripple frequency (which is a characteristic frequency arising from the ECM) and the natural modes of vibration of the shaft (frequencies which cause strong vibration of the shaft). Simply put, when the excitation frequency of the ECM matches a natural frequency of the shaft (or other parts of the driveline), undesirable resonance occurs giving large sinusoidal accelerations of the rotatable shaft.

[0150] Resonant frequencies can be learned by detecting when resonances occur and building up a table of estimated shaft modes by statistical correlation between estimated shaft ripple frequency and the activity of the feedback system.

[0151] Ripple and resonance may be due to a known driveline oscillation resonant frequency or set of frequencies. Detection of speed ripple may be aided by filtering the shaft speed signal with filters configured to selectively boost the detection of known frequencies, and to reject other frequencies. Conservative mode may then be applied selectively with respect to the known resonant frequencies (e.g. only 30-50 Hz).

[0152] In some applications, there will be no or only limited information initially available about frequencies which will cause unwanted oscillations. For example, although the hydraulic machine may be fully tested, optimised and programmed it may be attached to the drive train of a new machine. In this case, the frequencies are static but unknown. The feedback system can be used to build up a table of frequencies which cause undesirable oscillations by analysing the correlation between estimated dominant shaft ripple frequency (determined by the pattern of selection of working chambers to carry out active or inactive cycles, and by the shaft speed of rotation) and the actual activity of the feedback system (e.g. size of feedback signal). For example, every time the conservative operating mode is activated it may increment a counter in a table. This table can then be used to build up a record of which frequencies of selection of working chambers to carry out active or inactive cycles caused an oscillating shaft response (leading to use of the conservative mode). This information can then be used to proactively engage the conservative mode when generation of those frequencies is again predicted (based on the displacement demand, Fd, and speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft).

[0153] Furthermore, the frequencies which may cause oscillations may vary during operation of the machine (e.g. when the clutch is depressed or in different speed ranges). In an example a vehicle has a first, lower speed, mode and a second, higher speed, mode, with different shaft dynamics in each. In this case, the controller may monitor the effectiveness of the advancement or retarding of the control signal and subsequently increase the phase difference between the amended and default phases if the current phase difference is not effective. Effectiveness can be monitored by measuring how frequently the conservative mode (e.g. variable continuous conservative mode) acts. If the conservative mode is actuated frequently (e.g. more than 10% of the time) then greater advancement or retarding of the control signal is required.

[0154] Feedforward can also be used to trigger the conservative mode when an event causing a transient change in high pressure manifold is predicted.

[0155] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a procedure according to the invention by which the controller makes the decision regarding whether or not (and if so when) to activate conservative mode, or to deactivate conservative mode and return to the default mode of operation. The controller processes inputs including the shaft speed (e.g. as RPM) 80 and a demand signal, for example a displacement demand fraction, Fd 82. By the displacement fraction, Fd, we refer to the fraction of the maximum displacement per revolution of the rotatable shaft of the ECM. The controller includes a database, here a fixed table 84 containing mode frequencies 86. The method allows the implementation of both a feedforward implementation of conservative mode 90 and a feedback implementation of conservative mode 88 (one skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments it may be more appropriate to only implement either feedforward conservative mode or feedback conservative mode).

[0156] In the feedback aspect, both the shaft speed and the demand fraction, Fd, are input and are compared to a maximum allowable degree of fluctuation 92, conservative mode 94 being activated only when the RPM fluctuates above this. For the feedforward aspect of conservative mode, the measured RPM is filtered using a filter 96 and the filtered measurement of RPM is amplified using an amplifier 98 before it is determined whether the RPM is fluctuating beyond the maximum allowable degree of fluctuation. If this is the case, a machine learning module 100 also receives the filtered, amplified measurement of RPM and the demanded Fd to calculate the frequency at which this occurred, and this frequency will be added to the mode frequencies 86 table 84. This allows the system to mitigate the resonance when the same conditions (including, RPM, Fd) are subsequently re-encountered. This has the advantage that a resonant mode can be predicted and attenuated pre-emptively and hence more effectively.

[0157] Thus, measurements of resonance obtained from the feedback control can be used to build the database of operating parameters during which resonance may take place used in the feedforward system.

[0158] To summarise, feedback conservative mode waits for resonance to build up, detects this and activates conservative mode in order to attenuate the amplitude of the resonance. Feedforward conservative mode learns the response of the system and then pro-actively actuates conservative mode to mitigate the resonance before it can build up. Furthermore, the transition from default to conservative mode can be controlled using a combination of feedback and feedforward modes. In the case, of the embodiment of FIG. 4 this can be triggered by the maximum of the two outputs.

[0159] Conservative Mode Triggered by Machine Mode Transitions

[0160] As described above, backlash may occur due to changes in the direction of the torque exerted on the drive train. The controller may analyse the pattern of decisions as to whether consecutive working chambers carrying out active or inactive cycles, and motoring or pumping modes, and if required model the response to the drive train, to thereby determine when backlash is about to occur, and trigger conservative mode.

[0161] The following table simplifies the various engagement states of the couplings within a transmission (relative to tables 1 and 2 above):

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Mode DD mode of Gearbox Torque at number Nickname operation mode the PTO 1 Idling Idle Drive Negative 2 Braking/regen Pump Drive Negative 3 Assisting torque Motor Driven Positive input/propel

[0162] In the context of a (vehicle) transmission, the power take off (PTO) is the general label of the part containing the engagement element between the ECM and the driveline of the transmission.

[0163] Some working chamber mode changes cause backlash, and the most likely to cause lash are described in detail below. At the moment of switching mode (e.g. from pumping to motoring or vice versa, or from idling to motoring or vice versa), there is a transition from an interface-engaged state (clutch closed, thus connecting the driveline and vehicle inertia) to an interface disengaged state (clutch open, thus disconnecting the driveline and vehicle inertia), the ECM shaft and rotating components may then undergo very rapid acceleration (promoted by the low inertia of the driveline). By idling we refer to carrying out predominantly or entirely inactive cycles with no net displacement of working fluid.

[0164] Changes between idling and pumping, or vice versa, are less likely to cause high shaft accelerations than changes between idling and motoring, and vice versa, or between pumping and motoring, and vice versa.

[0165] For example, with reference to Table 3, changing from mode 1 (idling) to mode 3 (propel, i.e. motoring) results in the coupling passing through its free movement (lash), and then switching-in the engagement side of the lash, can cause substantial accelerations, where conservative mode is advantageous. The reverse change is usually less problematic as when idling there is no actively controlled torque on the shaft provided by the ECM and so no instability can be caused by high shaft acceleration.

[0166] The change from mode 2 (braking, i.e. pumping) to mode 3 (propel, i.e. motoring) also cause substantial accelerations. The reverse change usually leads to lower accelerations as pumping is more tolerant to valve phase error, but conservative mode may still be advantageous.

[0167] However, backlash can also occur without reversal of the ECM torque direction if there is a reversal of torque elsewhere in the drive train, for example a sudden increase or decrease in motoring or pumping displacement of the ECM may cause a coupling to pass through its free movement due to inertia in the driving or driven load.

[0168] With reference to FIG. 1, the higher the shaft acceleration, whether driven by the ECM or by the wheels, through the lash region, the harder it is for valves to commutate correctly, leading to a higher chance of reverberation phenomenon or valve holding failure, thus leading to a mismatch with displacement demand or possibly to system instability. Acceleration of axle 4 is itself is not an issue. The problems arise if there is high acceleration of the intermediate shaft 16 and/or ECM shaft 42 (shown in FIG. 2).

[0169] The controller may predict accelerations, and as a result enable conservative mode, for example by: [0170] referring to a table which lists patterns of cylinder selection (patterns of selection of active or inactive cycles), and whether or not the resulting torque will be discontinuous, or [0171] by employing a model-based algorithm, which predicts the torque waveform and acts to initialise conservative mode or to schedule it to coincide with the operating points when discontinuous torque is predicted to occur.

[0172] Valve Timing Changes During Conservative Mode

[0173] By advancing the timing (when implementing conservative mode while motoring) we refer to causing the respective valve to open or close (as appropriate) in advance of (i.e. earlier than) its usual, default phase. This results from transmitting the control signals at the alternative phase instead of the default phase.

[0174] This advanced timing may for example mean; while motoring: [0175] the LPV is closed earlier than normal before TDC, typically by advancing LPON angle, the phase at which the current to the LPV is switched on/increased, thus closing the LPV), and/or [0176] the HPV is closed earlier than generally it would otherwise be, at a phase further than normal in advance of BDC. Advancing HPOFF angle (the phase at which the HPV solenoid current is switched off, or reduced, thereby de-actuating the HPV and allowing (causing) the HPV to close passively by the action of a spring etc.). The average torque/flow is reduced in proportion to the amount of conservative mode applied.

[0177] In the context of pumping mode of the DD machine, retarded timing may mean: [0178] the LPV will close later than normal around BDC (the HPV will consequently open later, which is a passive result of delaying the LPV timing).

[0179] In more detail, FIG. 5 is a timing diagram, indicating a cycle of working chamber volume as a piston reciprocates within the working chamber in a motoring mode. The direction of rotation is shown with arrow 108. TDC and BDC label top dead centre and bottom dead centre respectively. The cycle has a motoring phase 102 in which pressurised fluid is received from the high pressure manifold and an exhaust phase 104 in which pressurised fluid is vented to the low pressure manifold.

[0180] In a motoring cycle, shortly before TDC, the LPV is closed, under the active control of the controller. In default mode a control signal is transmitted to close the LPV at phase 117 (a default phase) and the LPV closes shortly thereafter at phase 118. In conservative mode the LPV closure signal is transmitted at phase 105 (an alternative phase) and the LPV closes at phase 106.

[0181] The closure of the LPV traps working fluid in the chamber and pressurisation from the piston motion enables opening of the HPV, starting the pressurised motoring phase, at phase 126 in default mode in response to the transmission of a preceding control signal transmitted at phase 125 (default phase). In the conservative mode, the HPV opening control signal is advanced to phase 127 (alternative phase) leading to the opening phase 128 of the HPV also being advanced.

[0182] Thereafter, towards the end of the contraction stroke of the working chamber, a control signal transmitted at phase 115 (default phase) precedes the high pressure valve being actively closed at phase 116 in default mode. Similarly in the conservative mode, the HPV control signal is transmitted at phase 119 (alternative phase) which precedes the closure of the HPV at phase 120, both of which are advanced relative to default mode phases. Pressure in the working chamber drops rapidly as the trapped fluid expands and this enables the LPV to open passively (indicated by the dashed line) at phase 114, which is advanced to phase 112 in conservative mode.

[0183] In this example, the phase of each valve opening or closing event has been advanced, although this is not essential and it may be that only some, or just one valve opening or closing event is advanced (or retarded in the case of pumping cycles).

[0184] In practice the valve opening and closing phases shown in FIG. 5 are target phases. The actual phase of opening or closing may differ due to unexpected accelerations or changes of pressure in the high pressure manifold.

[0185] The extent to which the phase is revised relative to default mode timing may be fixed or variable. The phase advance may be binary (and so either taking place or not) as shown in FIGS. 6a-6e, or continuously varying (as shown in FIG. 12).

[0186] FIGS. 6a-6e are a series of plots of working machine behaviour, the machine operating in binary conservative mode, with hysteresis. FIG. 6a is a plot of shaft speed AC component 130 as a function of time 132, and includes decision points at T1 and T2 where the decisions are made to respectively start conservative mode and to stop conservative mode and return to default mode. FIG. 6b is a plot of peak-to-peak of shaft speed AC component 134 as a function of time, wherein the function enters conservative mode threshold 136, (defined as a peak-to-peak value of the shaft speed AC component above which conservative mode will be activated) and leaves conservative mode threshold 138 (defined as a peak-to-peak value of the shaft speed AC component below which conservative mode will be deactivated). FIG. 6c is a plot of when conservative mode 140 is activated (where 1 indicates that conservative mode is active and 0 indicates that conservative mode is not active), as a function of time. FIG. 6d is a plot of valve advance 142 as a function of time, where the valve advance varies between maximum valve advance 144 and zero valve advance 146 in response to the activation (or deactivation) of conservative mode. FIG. 6e is a plot of valve movement phase, the bottom trace for the LPV and the upper trace for the HPV, in degrees and labelled 148, as a function of time. 130 is the advanced LPV on angle (150), 140 is the default LPV on phase at which the LPV is open (152), 210 is the advance HPV off phase (154), and 220 is the default HP off phase at which the HPV is closed (156).

[0187] From FIGS. 6a-6e the activation, deactivation and the effect of applying conservative mode may be further understood. In FIG. 6a the shaft speed AC component 130 oscillates over time 132. FIG. 6b is a plot of the peak-to-peak speed AC component 134 as a function of time. At time T1 the peak-to-peak of the shaft speed AC component has increased above a conservative mode upper threshold (136), and breaching this threshold specifically causes conservative mode to be activated. As a result of conservative mode being activated, as can be seen in FIG. 6d, the valve advance (142) is set to maximum (144), such that both the LPV and the HPV are activated some phase angle before they ordinarily would be in the cylinder cycle, as indicated in FIG. 6e. Returning to FIG. 6a, this subsequently causes the amplitude of oscillation of the shaft speed AC component to reduce. At time T2 the peak-to-peak of the shaft speed AC component has been reduced to the point where it is below the conservative mode lower threshold 138, causing conservative mode to be deactivated, then the shaft speed oscillation continues to reduce naturally. The valve advance time is reset to zero valve advance 146 and both the LPV and the HPV are activated at the normal timing for default mode. Operating in discrete conservative mode may also have time/phase based ramps or rate limits applied to valve actuation phase so as to avoid sudden steps of torque or flow, as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 demonstrates it is possible to have different ramp rates for entering and for leaving conservative mode. FIG. 7 shows the change from maximum valve advance to zero valve advance over a longer time period than from zero to maximum.

[0188] The binary conservative mode of FIGS. 6a-6e is especially useful where the controller needs to quickly change to advance the timing, for example in anticipation of or during sudden acceleration of the shaft. In contrast, in a second example embodiment a continuous variable implementation of conservative mode is explained with reference to FIG. 12.

[0189] The magnitude of the advancement (when motoring) or retardation (when pumping) of valve timing typically depends on the respective trigger for conservative mode. The controller may store a current phase difference between conservative mode and default mode, for example 10. It may be different for different valves.

[0190] In conservative mode, the phase value(s) of the valve opening or closing may be set in the ECM controller, or in another controller, which communicates the value to the electronically commutated machine controller via serial communication or otherwise.

[0191] In different embodiments, the value of one or more of the valve opening or closing phases in conservative mode may: [0192] depend on the reason for the measured or predicted cycle breakdown which triggered conservative mode. A set or standard large response (i.e. larger degree of advancing/retarding timing) is needed where a reverberation phenomenon is the trigger for conservative mode. In these cases, the phase advance should be relatively large. [0193] depend on the influence which conservative mode would have, for example may depend on the change in efficiency or capacity of the machine arising from the switch to conservative mode. For example, the phase advance of the solenoid current to cause the LPV to close could be increased until the ADF reduces by 5%. Or, the phase advance of the HPV solenoid current being switching off to enable the HPV to open during a motoring cycle could be increased until the ADF reduces by 5%, [0194] depend on the effect that applying conservative mode has on the torque and/or pressure ripple, for example it may be in proportion to a measured feedback signal [0195] depend on the type of event (e.g. for a gear shift, or a step change in displacement demand). [0196] be calculated continuously as a function of an operating parameter, such as a measured amount of shaft acceleration or oscillation.

[0197] With respect to this last option, FIG. 14 is an example as to how valve advance 250, for either LPV or HPV, may be varied up to a maximum phase advancement 246 in proportionate continuous response to a shaft oscillation with a measured peak to peak AC signal (244). 248 is a range, defined between 0 and level e AC signal, within which there is some oscillation but it is tolerated without the use of conservative mode.

[0198] In respect of either the LPV or HPV timing, the phase advancement may need to be limited since at some magnitude of the advancement, the torque ripple will reach an extreme (possibly even applying a negative torque), which may in itself increase transient acceleration of the shaft. This effect will be more pronounced at low displacements, when flow is more pulsatile.

[0199] This continuous mode may be advantageous over discrete mode in only applying the necessary degree of conservative mode for a given shaft oscillation, and avoiding sudden steps of torque and flow due to the valve advancement.

[0200] Return to Default Mode

[0201] There is typically some flexibility over returning to default mode. The controller may for example return the valve timing back to the default timing, changing from conservative to default mode, after a period of time, or predetermined number of shaft rotations, or in response to measured operating parameters, for example, a measurement that the peak to peak shaft speed variation has dropped to below a threshold, indicating that a resonance has been suppressed, or that valve reopening phases are within a predetermined range or the pressure oscillation in the high pressure manifold is below a threshold. The period of time, or number of shaft rotations may be dependent on the trigger for conservative mode and may be learned over time.

[0202] The return to the default timing may take place from one working chamber cycle to the immediately following working chamber cycle, giving a step change, or gradually, for example with ramp down. The controller may enter conservative mode in the discrete step fashion of FIGS. 6a-6e but return to default mode gradually using the discrete conservative mode with hysteresis and ramp rates method of FIG. 7. In contrast, in a situation where the shaft speed approaches a range within which resonance may occur, it may be preferable instead to both enter and exit conservative mode using the discrete conservative mode with hysteresis and ramp rates of FIG. 7, thus ensuring smooth operation.

[0203] In some embodiments, the phase difference between the alternative phase and the default phase may be calculated as a continuous variable which is derived from (e.g. proportional to) a measured shaft speed variation, possibly with the application of a slew rate limit. A slew rate limit on the valve advance can ensure that the phase of valve actuation does not change too quickly. This regulation reduces the chance of the very steps to mitigate excess vibration themselves being the cause of excitation or increased vibration. However, the faster the slew rate the quicker change of valve opening or closing phase, and thus the sooner normal timing can be resumed in order to return to valve timing associated with peak efficiency.

[0204] The transition from conservative mode back to default mode may also occur after a period of time determined to ensure take-up of play along the driveline has happened, or once it is determined that re-engagement has occurred (for example from the shaft speed or by a reduction in the AC component of the speed variation of the shaft, or using contact sensors). Once take-up of play along the driveline has occurred, conservative mode can be reduced so that valve timing advancement or retardation (relative to default mode) is reduced, or the controller may simply return directly to default mode.

[0205] The amount of backlash may be determined by measuring the error between expected and actual shaft position at specific times during mode transitions (e.g. from pumping to motoring) which may cause backlash. The learned error may be used to set the amount of phase advance or retardation to apply to valve opening or closing timing in conservative mode.

[0206] More about Vibration Modes

[0207] As described above, one of the circumstances in which conservative mode is useful is to avoid resonance effects. Operating parameters which cause resonance can be learned, enabling later predicting of resonance. Resonances arise from patterns of selection of cylinders to carry out active or inactive cycles. For example, if the demand is for 10% of the maximum displacement, it may be that every 10.sup.th working chamber to reach a decision point will undergo an active cycle and the rest will not, leading to a resonance effect with a period equal to the time difference between the decision points of every 10.sup.th working chamber. Note that it is more efficient to intersperse active and inactive cycles in this way, than to cause each working chamber to output 10% of its maximum displacement volume, despite the resonance effects.

[0208] With reference to FIG. 12, the frequency (f) of cylinder activations 230 increases with displacement fraction (Fd). Repeating patterns of cylinders carrying out inactive cycles can also generate resonances, especially at high Fd and the frequency of cylinder deactivations 232 decreases with displacement fraction.

[0209] The resonance effects create particular problems if there are other components of the machine with corresponding resonant frequencies. It is notable that the actual frequency of the resonance effect is proportional to the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft, which must also be taken into account. The decision frequency is the number of revolutions per second multiplied by number of cylinders (or decision points, often the same number) per revolution. The ECM does not generate frequencies faster than this decision frequency (except for harmonics).

[0210] FIG. 8 is a series of related plots of the relationships between shaft speed (w, for example expressed as RPM) and predicted dominant shaft frequency (204), activation (or de-activation) of conservative mode 140, and displacement demand (Fd) 206 during operation of an embodiment of the invention, wherein two vibration modes, a first mode 184 and a second mode 186 arise in response to working machine variables. These plots also indicate three transitions, a first transition (188) (where Fd has dropped from 1 to 0.5), a second transition 190 (where Fd has dropped from 0.5 to 0.3) and a third transition 192 (where Fd has dropped from 0.3 to 0.1). Variables include the fraction of maximum displacement, for example, where 12 cylinders are activated in one revolution of the rotatable shaft this represents maximum displacement (194), where 6 cylinders are activated in one revolution of the rotatable shaft, this represents 50% of maximum displacement (3 cylinders represents 25% (198), 2 cylinders 12.5% (200) and 1 cylinder 0.833% (202)).

[0211] In some embodiments the invention may be implemented in a system for which there is no available information about shaft frequency resonant modes of oscillation, or where the resonant modes change during operating of the machine. For example, the system may be a vehicle which has two or more speed ranges (e.g. a high speed range and a low speed range) wherein a first speed range has different shaft dynamics to a second speed range, but it may not be clear which speed range is selected at a given time. In such a case, the controller may also monitor the effectiveness of conservative mode, optionally by measuring how frequently the variable proportional conservative mode is acting. If conservative mode acts frequently (e.g. if it is active for more than 10% of the time) then it may be that conservative mode is presently insufficiently effective and may simply need to be tuned, for example by increasing the extent to which the valve timings are advanced (or retarded in the case of pumping). In addition, or alternately, conservative mode could generate an alert to an operator.

[0212] Where there is no available information about shaft frequency resonant modes of oscillation, it may be that the frequencies are constant, but simply unknown. In such a case, the activity of the feedback system may be used to populate a database (e.g. a table) of estimated shaft modes, calculated via a statistical analysis of the dominant shaft ripple frequency (including analysis of the enabling pattern of cylinder actuation and the RPM) and the actual activity of the feedback system. Accordingly, frequencies which cause excitation leading to conservative mode activation can be determined. This information can then be subsequently used to pro-actively enable conservative mode at the frequencies so determined.

[0213] In an example, a machine may require three cylinders to be actuated per revolution, leading to a dominant frequency of shaft ripple of 6 times per revolution. At 200 RPM, this would produce a torque ripple at 20 Hz, a frequency which could lead to damage to the machine. Accordingly, conservative mode may be activated at 200 RPM to pre-emptively avoid the resonance of the shaft at this frequency. FIG. 9 is a plot indicating an example of this where conservative mode 140 is either activated to some non-zero degree (1) or is not activated (0) in dependence on the RPM 182. In this example, both six cylinder activations per revolution (208) at 200 RPM (212A), and 3 cylinders per revolution (210) at 700 RPM (212B) cause shaft ripple at undesirable frequencies and, accordingly, conservative mode is activated to mitigate this.

[0214] In an example where the natural resonant modes of vibration are known at the design stage, a database may be used to predetermine the activation of cylinders where shaft torque ripple is at, or close to, or otherwise likely to excite a resonant mode. FIG. 10 is an example of a plot of resonant mode response (214) as a function of shaft torque frequency (f), where data (which may be obtained either via simulation or measurement of an existing system) includes two resonant modes, a first resonant mode (218) at 20 Hz (222A) and a second resonant mode (220) at 70 Hz (222B) are excited to a greater or lesser degree. FIG. 11 is a plot indicating how conservative mode 140 might be activated in response to such measured or simulated data, such that conservative mode is selectively and proportionally activated at a predicted shaft torque frequency (224) of 20 Hz and at 70 Hz to prevent the resonant modes at these frequencies from being excited (1,1). The ranges of rotation speeds (212A) and (212B) at which conservative mode is employed may be varied dynamically.

[0215] FIG. 13 is a plot of the dominant harmonics of shaft periods (t) as dependent upon the number of cylinders used per revolution of the rotatable shaft 238. Where twelve cylinders are available, 1 (240A), 2 (240B), 3 (240C), 4 (240D), 6 (240E), 8 (240F) or all 12 (240G) cylinders might be used. This can occur in a quantised or wheel-motor mode, where fixed patterns of cylinders are used per revolution. In this case, the dominant frequencies present in the torque or flow, for a given shaft speed, are known. Thus, the transformation from a non-resonant state to a resonant state may be continuous (in the case of Fd operation) or it may be discrete, for example, where finite length fixed patterns of cylinder actuation of predetermined length are used (e.g. . . . 1010101010 . . . or . . . 001001001001001 . . . ). In the case of finite length fixed patterns of cylinder actuation, the known dominant frequency of torque ripple may be combined with the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft to find a resonance, and the found resonance can be used to populate a database (for example, a table).

[0216] Effects of Conservative Mode Valve Timing on Absolute Displacement Fraction (ADF) and Displacement Output Error

[0217] FIG. 15 illustrates cylinder displacement volume 300 (the y axis is cubic centimetres) as a function of the phase angle of closure of the LPV during a pumping cycle.

[0218] In respect of FIG. 15, the graph is not a cumulative cylinder displacement trace. Instead the curve represents the cylinder volume of working fluid (HP fluid which passes from the working chamber via the HPV to the HP manifold) which is displaced for the range of phases that the LPV may be chosen to be actuated to close. When it is engaged during pumping, valve timing in conservative mode takes into account the characteristic shape of the cylinder displacement curve, seeking to reduce or prohibit operation at or near the left end of the plateau 314, where the left end of the plateau is marked by the cut-off phase 302. If the LPV is closed before the cut-off phase 302 the respective displacement is zero. The characteristic shape arises from the nature of ECM HP and LP valve operation. Conservative mode aims to avoid closure of the LPV in advance of the cut-off phase 302 by retarding the target phase of the LPV closure. By sufficiently retarding the LPV closure, bearing in mind that there will be some error in the precise phase of closure, it is more likely (relatively certain) that LPV closure will occur on the plateau or at worst at slightly later phases where the gradient of the cylinder displacement volume is gentle and so the impact of conservative mode on net displacement is relatively limited. 308 is the target phase of LPV closure in default mode and 310 is the target phase of LPV closure in conservative mode. In the present example, conservative mode introduces a minimal reduction of total net displacement, ignoring the effects of variations in the precise phase due to shaft accelerations. With a small variation in the precise phase, or a larger variation (for example due to a substantial transient shaft acceleration), the impact on the cylinder displacement is still within an acceptable range. In more depth, in the example shown, the actual phase in default mode will in practice vary between 308a and 308d if there are relatively large errors in shaft speed, and between 308b and 308c for small errors. Similarly, in the present example the target phase of LPV closure in conservative mode in practice could vary between 310a and 310d for a relatively large error in LPV phase. For such an error range, at its most extreme, there is a corresponding cylinder displacement error (312) of around 10cc as shown in FIG. 15. At the other end (310a) of the relatively large error phase range, the corresponding displacement error is either zero or not substantial. The retarded target phase 310 of conservative mode has minimal effect on expected displacement, but the radical advantage is that even if there is a large error (shown as the range extending between 310a and 310d) in the executed phase, the resulting reduction of displacement is either zero or not substantial. In this example, the reduction of displacement in default mode, resulting from a large phase time delay 308d is approximately 4cc, versus 10cc reduction in displacement in conservative mode with large phase time delay 310d. Thus conservative mode, over default mode, results in a greater reduction in displacement for a similar large phase error. However this is outweighed by a primary benefit of conservative mode, evident considering that without conservative mode, if target phase 308 was retained, there would be a risk of zero displacement, leading to displacement error 313, if the LPV closed particularly early at a large phase time advance 308a. Such total cycle failure can be a significant issue in ECM operation.

[0219] Similar effects can be seen with motoring, as shown in FIG. 16 where the effect of LPV close angle on displacement during motoring can be seen. If LPV close angle is delayed too far then this will lead to a sudden collapse in displacement after a cut-off phase 314, as approaching TDC late LPV closure means insufficient working fluid is trapped in the working chamber to raise the pressure sufficiently during further contraction to enable the pressure to sufficiently balance across the HPV to allow it to open. Again there is a change of target phase from phase 308 in default mode to 310 in conservative mode, although in this case the phase is advanced rather than retarded. There is a sort of plateau, this time without the flat top, but the effect of conservative mode is the same. Operation in conservative mode reduces or even eliminates the risk of the LPV closure phase being after cut-off phase 314 for even a large error in LPV closure phase (308d).

[0220] In respect of FIGS. 15 and 16, timing is interchangeable with phase, as a reference to a particular position (angle) of a piston within a cycle. Each graph relates the phase of this closure of the LPV, to the displacement of fluid from a single piston stroke. Each graph illustrates the margin of phase (timing) of firing, at a particular speed, required to produce a desired displacement. For a given phase of the control signal for the LPV, we can read off from the line the displacement which will result in the event that there is no error in LPV close time.

[0221] A smaller displacement error is preferable in simple terms of meeting the displacement demand and minimising peak to peak ripple. Therefore, if high shaft acceleration is expected or detected, the LPV ON angle could be retarded (i.e. the conservative mode used) in order that a successful pumping stroke occurs albeit at reduced flow, rather than a complete failure to pump.

[0222] Although in the above example, the controller 50 controls the apparatus (vehicle) as a whole, as well as controlling valve opening and closure, and determining whether to apply default or conservative mode, these functions and others of the controller can be distributed between two or more components, for example a machine controller which controls the apparatus as a whole, and an ECM controller which controls the valve opening and closure in response to signals received from the machine controller.