DEVICE FOR OPERATING AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

Abstract

A device for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle with a driven rear axle and a front axle that can be engaged for performing an all-wheel-drive mode. A control unit determines, during the all-wheel-drive mode, a front wheel slip parameter that characterizes a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle of the agricultural commercial vehicle. The control unit deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of the driver if this unit detects that the determined front wheel slip parameter is greater than a specified threshold value.

Claims

1. A device for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle, comprising: a driven rear axle and a front axle engageable for performing an all-wheel-drive mode; and a control unit configured to determine during the all-wheel-drive mode a front wheel slip parameter (), the front wheel slip parameter being a function of a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle of the agricultural commercial vehicle; wherein, the control unit deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of a driver input if the determined front wheel slip parameter () is greater than a specified threshold value (.sub.lim).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates the front wheel slip parameter () from the ratio between an instantaneous driving speed of the agricultural commercial vehicle and a wheel circumferential speed on the front axle during the all-wheel-drive mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the front wheel slip parameter () from the ratio of a computed drive powers (P.sub.v, P.sub.h) between the front and rear axles during the all-wheel-drive mode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the drive moment (M.sub.v) applied to the front axle for computing the drive power (P.sub.v) of the front axle.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a torque sensor for determining the drive moment (M.sub.v) applied to the front axle.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising a pressure-controlled coupling for engaging the front axle, wherein the control unit determines a coupling pressure (p) applied at the slip point of the coupling by modulating a coupling closure; further wherein, the control unit determines the drive moment (M.sub.v) transmitted via the coupling to the front axle from a breakaway torque corresponding to the determined coupling pressure (p).

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the slip point is determined at time intervals during the all-wheel-drive mode.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the control unit evaluates a drive wheel slip occurring on the rear axle for a driver-independent activation of the all-wheel-drive mode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the control unit evaluates the drive wheel slip on the rear axle as a function of a percentage engine workload related to the instantaneous driving speed (v) of the agricultural commercial vehicle.

10. An all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle, comprising: a device for operating the vehicle; a driven rear axle and a front axle engagable for performing an all-wheel-drive mode; and a control unit configured to determine during the all-wheel-drive mode a front wheel slip parameter (), the front wheel slip parameter being a function of a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle of the agricultural commercial vehicle; wherein, the control unit deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of a driver input if the determined front wheel slip parameter () is greater than a specified threshold value (.sub.lim).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the device for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a flow chart representative of a method for deactivating an all-wheel-drive mode executed by the device shown in FIG. 1; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flow chart that represents a method for activating an all-wheel-drive mode that can be executed by the device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the disclosure for operating an all-wheel-drive agricultural commercial vehicle.

[0033] The device 10 is part of a higher-level engine or transmission management system of the agricultural commercial vehicle, wherein the agricultural commercial vehicle can be, for example, an all-wheel-drive tractor 12. The device 10 comprises a driven rear axle 14 with rear wheels 16 and a front axle 18 that can be engaged for performing an all-wheel-drive mode with steerable front wheels 20. A microprocessor-controlled control unit 22 is used for coordinating the all-wheel-drive mode, including activation or deactivation performed independent of the driver.

[0034] An internal combustion engine constructed as a diesel engine 24 is connected to a vehicle transmission 26 via a crankshaft. The vehicle transmission 26 comprises a rear axle transmission output 30 connected to the rear axle 14 via a rear axle differential 28 and also a front axle transmission output 36 that can be engaged via a pressure-controlled all-wheel-drive coupling 32 and can be connected in this way via a front axle differential 34 to the front axle 18.

[0035] The actuation of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 on the part of the control unit 22 is realized electro-hydraulically. For this purpose, the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 can be loaded by means of an electrically controllable proportional valve 38 with pressurized hydraulic fluid from a not-shown hydraulic supply system of the tractor 12. A first and second rotational speed sensor 40 and 42, respectively, connected to the control unit 22 is used for detecting a rotational speed n.sub.a and n.sub.b, respectively, applied to the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 on the input side and output side, respectively.

[0036] Wheel rotational speed sensors 44 and 46 may be allocated to the front and rear wheels 20 and 16 of the tractor 12 and may be used for detecting associated wheel rotational speeds n.sub.v and n.sub.h, respectively, wherein the rotational speed signals generated by the wheel rotational speed sensors 44 and 46 are fed to the control unit 22 for evaluation in addition to the signals of the first and second rotational speed sensors 40 and 42, respectively.

[0037] In addition, the control unit 22 receives information with respect to the instantaneous engine operating point of the diesel engine 24. The preparation is realized on the side of an engine control module 48. A GPS navigation system 50 is furthermore used for determining the position of the tractor 12.

[0038] An actuation element 52 in the form of a switch permits a manual activation or deactivation of the all-wheel-drive mode, wherein the driver is informed about the respective activation state of the device 10 by means of a display element 54. The actuation element 52 is, for example, a mechanical switch, however, in the case of a graphical user interface, a software implementation in the form of a control superimposed on a touchscreen is also conceivable.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart that represents a method for deactivating an all-wheel-drive mode executed by the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] When an activated all-wheel-drive mode is detected, the method performed by the control unit 22 is initialized in a starting step 100, wherein, in a first step 102, the control unit 22 sets a counter N to the value zero.

[0041] In a subsequent second step 104, the instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12 relative to the ground is determined. The instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12 is derived by the control unit 22 by detecting time position changes of the tractor 12. The latter are made available to the control unit 22 on the part of the GPS navigation system 50 in the form of corresponding position information.

[0042] In addition, in the second step 104, the control unit 22 determines a wheel circumferential speed v.sub.v occurring on the front axle 18 from the known, previously specified tire circumference of the front wheels 20 as a function of the wheel rotational speed n.sub.v detected by means of the wheel rotational speed sensors 44.

[0043] The speeds v and v.sub.v determined in the second step 104 are used in a third step 106 for calculating a front wheel slip parameter that characterizes a drive wheel slip occurring on the front axle 18 of the tractor 12, in that the ratio between the instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12 as well as the wheel circumferential speed v.sub.v occurring on the front axle 18 during the all-wheel-drive mode is formed,

[00002]$=\frac{v_v-v}{v_v}$

[0044] In a fourth step 108, the control unit 22 compares the calculated front wheel slip parameter with a specified threshold value .sub.lim. If the front wheel slip parameter is less than or equal to the specified threshold value .sub.lim, then the process continues with a fifth step 110, in which the counter N is again assigned the value zero. Then the method returns to the second step 104.

[0045] In the fourth step 108, if the control unit 22 detects that the front wheel slip parameter is greater than the specified threshold value .sub.lim, then the counter N is increased in a sixth step 112 by the value one. Then, in a seventh step 114 it is checked whether the counter N has reached the value five. If this is the case, the control unit 22 deactivates the all-wheel-drive mode independent of the driver by opening the all-wheel-drive coupling 32, where the proportional valve 38 is controlled electrically in a corresponding way in an eighth step 116. Then the method is ended in a closing step 118.

[0046] In contrast, if it is determined in the seventh step 114 that the counter N is less than the value five, the method returns to the second step 104.

[0047] Through suitable specification of the threshold value .sub.lim, it can be avoided that the drive of the front axle 18 is maintained in situations in which, for example, due to reduced wheel vertical forces in the area of the front axle 18, there is no longer sufficient ground contact of the front tires of the tractor 12. Churning up of the ground while driving on fields or green areas, as well as excessive wear of the front tires in the case of driving on streets, can be reliably prevented in this way.

[0048] This may also be the case for an unloading of the front axle 18 due to back-loaded driving conditions of the tractor 12. Such conditions typically occur while plowing or while driving with accessories or attachments connected in the rear area.

[0049] In this way, the drive connection to the front axle 18 is broken, without any action by the driver, by opening the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 as soon as it is determined during the all-wheel-drive mode that an increased drive wheel slip is occurring on the front tires.

[0050] For the case that the tractor 12 has no GPS navigation system 50 available, a different procedure for determining the front wheel slip parameter is provided below.

[0051] Accordingly, in an alternative second step 104a, the control unit 22 initially determines the drive moment M.sub.v applied to the front axle 18 of the tractor 12. Here, the control unit 22 performs a targeted modulation of the coupling closure of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 with the goal of determining the respective slip point; the slip point represents the breakaway moment of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 and thus the drive moment M.sub.v transmitted via the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 to the front axle 18.

[0052] At the slip point, the applied coupling pressure p is essentially proportional to the drive moment M.sub.v transmitted from the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 to the front axle 18; consequently, it can be determined directly. The all-wheel-drive coupling 32 is closed in the unpressurized state, wherein the applied coupling pressure p is increased successively by corresponding energization of the proportional valve 38 until, with reference to a drop in the output-side rotational speed n.sub.a relative to the input-side rotational speed n.sub.b of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32, it is detected that the slip point has been reached. Then the control unit 22 determines the coupling pressure p applied at the slip point and, with this, the drive moment M.sub.v corresponding to the associated breakaway torque, by evaluating an associated electrical valve control current I. Then the applied coupling pressure p is removed and the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 is returned to its closed state.

[0053] It shall also be noted that the use of separate rotational speed sensors 40 and 42 is not required for determining the slip point, because a drop of the output-side rotational speed n.sub.a relative to the input-side rotational speed n.sub.b of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 can also be derived from a comparison of the wheel rotational speeds n.sub.v and n.sub.h detected by the two wheel rotational speed sensors 44 and 46 between the front axle and rear axle 18 and 14.

[0054] The slip point is determined at equal time intervals during the all-wheel-drive mode, and indeed for each new execution of the method shown in FIG. 2. The time intervals are selected in the area of a few minutes such that overheating of the all-wheel-drive coupling 32 is ruled out.

[0055] The drive moment M.sub.v determined in the alternative second step 104a forms, in a subsequent alternative third step 106a, the basis for the computational determination of the drive power P.sub.v of the front axle 18. The drive power P.sub.v of the front axle 18 is then given by multiplying the drive moment M.sub.v with the wheel rotational speed n.sub.v,

P.sub.v=2.Math.n.sub.v.Math.M.sub.v.

[0056] The drive power P.sub.v calculated in this way is simultaneously used for deriving the drive power P.sub.h of the rear axle 14, wherein this drive power is subtracted from the total drive power P.sub.g provided by the diesel engine 24 and corrected with respect to the incidental transmission losses,

P.sub.h=P.sub.gP.sub.v.

[0057] The (uncorrected) total drive power P.sub.g provided by the diesel engine 24 is here given from the instantaneous engine operating point and is determined by the control unit 22 by reading out an engine characteristic curve stored in the engine control module 48.

[0058] The control unit 22 then determines the ratio of the drive powers P.sub.v, P.sub.h between the front axle and rear axle 18 and 14. The ratio formed in this way represents a reliable indicator for the drive wheel slip occurring on the front wheels 20 during the all-wheel-drive mode and is ideally on the order of magnitude of 40/60. Lower values indicate reduced traction of the front tires and thus a corresponding increase of the drive wheel slip on the front axle 18. The control unit 22 therefore derives the front wheel slip parameter in the alternative third step 106a from the ratio Q of the computationally determined drive powers P.sub.v, P.sub.h between the front axle and rear axle 18 and 14 during the all-wheel-drive mode. The threshold value Q.sub.lim corresponding to the activation of the all-wheel-drive mode is specified in an alternative fourth step 108 on the order of magnitude of 20/80 to 30/70.

[0059] Therefore, if it is detected in the alternative fourth step 108a that the ratio Q of the drive powers P.sub.v, P.sub.h between the front axle and rear axle 18 and 14 is greater than the specified threshold value Q.sub.lim, then it is determined that there is an increased drive wheel slip on the front axle 18, so that the process continues with the sixth step 112. Otherwise, after performing the fifth step 110, the method returns to the second step 104 to perform this step again.

[0060] Deviating from the previously described procedure, a direct detection of the drive moment M.sub.v by means of a torque sensor (not shown in FIG. 1) could also be realized. The torque sensor is typically constructed as an arrangement of multiple strain gauges for detecting a torsion occurring on the front axle 18 as a function of the drive torque.

[0061] FIG. 3 further shows a flow chart that represents a method for activating the all-wheel-drive mode that can be executed by the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0062] The method performed by the control unit 22 is initialized when a deactivated all-wheel-drive mode is detected in a starting step 200.

[0063] In a first step 202, the control unit 22 evaluates a drive wheel slip occurring on the rear axle 14. For this purpose, the control unit 22 compares the instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12 with a wheel circumferential speed v.sub.h occurring on the rear axle 14. The latter is given from the known, previously specified tire circumference of the rear wheels 16 as a function of the associated wheel rotational speed n.sub.h. For evaluating the drive wheel slip, a rear wheel slip parameter characterizing this condition is calculated,

[00003]${}^{}=\frac{v_h-v}{v_h}$

[0064] For the already mentioned case that the tractor 12 has no GPS navigation system 50 available, the instantaneous driving speed v is derived from the wheel rotational speeds n.sub.v of the front wheels 20 running freely during the deactivated all-wheel-drive mode.

[0065] If it is determined in a second step 204 that the rear wheel slip parameter is greater than a correspondingly previously specified threshold value .sub.lim, the control unit 22 activates the all-wheel-drive mode in a third step 206 independent of the driver by closing the all-wheel-drive coupling 32. Otherwise, the method reverts to the first step 202.

[0066] Additionally, in the second step 204, the drive wheel slip occurring on the rear axle 14 may be evaluated according to a percentage engine workload relative to the instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12. Thus, when a value on the order of magnitude of 70% is reached, it can be determined that there is an increased need for drive power and thus a corresponding increase in the drive wheel slip on the rear axle 14. The percentage engine workload related to the instantaneous driving speed v of the tractor 12 is here determined by the control unit 22 from the instantaneous engine operating point by reading out the engine characteristic curve stored in the engine control module 48. The method is ended in a closing step.

[0067] While embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been described hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.