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Method for controlling an electric drive machineRelated Patent Categories: Motor Vehicles, Power, ElectricMethod for controlling an electric drive machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070251740, Method for controlling an electric drive machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to electric drive machines and more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling the engine speed of an electric drive work machine. BACKGROUND [0002] The increase in fossil fuel consumption coupled with the diminishing supply of these resources have given rise to the implementation of electric drive machines. These machines may be designed to provide combinations of electric and/or internal combustion power to the machines' drive train to reduce fuel consumption. In some configurations, an engine powers a generator, which provides electric power to a battery system and an electric motor. Typically, the electric motor is configured to drive the wheels or travel mechanisms of the work machine (e.g., sprockets on a track type tractor, etc.). Other types of electric drive machines allow both an engine and electric motor to provide power to the travel mechanisms of the work machine. [0003] The evolution of electric drive machines have also given rise to new types of systems for controlling the power produced by the electric motor and/or engine. Typically, conventional control systems for electric drive machines use various machine operating conditions and parameters to adjust the operations of the machine's engine and/or electric motor in an attempt to increase the performance efficiency of the work machine. [0004] Although conventional systems may control an engine in an electric drive machine, such control is based on anticipated changes to the work loads experienced by the vehicle. Accordingly, these systems may require extensive processing capabilities to determine the appropriate adjustments to be made to the operation of the engine to offset the loads experienced by the machine's motor. Such processing is sometimes not feasible in working environments where a work machine performs repeated motions that require many directional shifts and speed fluctuations. To reduce losses experienced by a work machine in such conditions, some control systems have been developed that take into account machine speed or directional fluctuations. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,064 ("the '064 patent"), which uses a control system to cut off the fuel supply of an electric drive machine's engine when the machine is in reverse, when an auxiliary component is running during idle conditions, or when the motor is exclusively used to drive the machine. The control system in the '064 patent decompresses the engine following its shut down to reduce engine pumping losses. This reduces drag on the motor that may result from the shut down of the engine. [0005] Although the system described in the '064 patent uses a control system to increase the efficiency of an electric drive machine, it does so in a manner requiring the engine to be shut down. Thus, the vehicle relies on the electric motor for mobility while in reverse. Further, the '064 patent, as well as other conventional electric drive control systems, do not consider overspeed limit conditions during directional shifts. Accordingly, there is a need for an electric drive control system that controls an engine based on directional shifts without complex processing or drastic mechanical changes in order to increase fuel efficiency and overspeed limit capabilities during certain directional shift conditions. [0006] Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or more of the problems set forth above. SUMMARY [0007] A method is provided for controlling an electric drive work machine including an engine and an electric motor that provides power to enable the work machine to travel across a surface terrain at certain ground speeds. In one embodiment, the method may include detecting a reverse directional shift of the work machine causing the work machine to travel in a reverse direction. Further, the method may include performing an engine speed reduction process that reduces a current speed of the engine based on the detected reverse directional shift without reducing a ground speed of the work machine while traveling in the reverse direction. [0008] In another embodiment, a system is provided for controlling an electric drive work machine. The system may include an engine, an electric motor that provides power to a travel mechanism that allows the work machine to travel across a terrain surface at certain ground speeds and an engine control system. The engine control system may be configured to determine when the work machine experiences a reverse directional shift causing the work machine to operate in a reverse direction. Based on the detected directional shift the engine control system may send an engine control signal to the engine that reduces the speed of the engine from a current engine speed to an adjusted engine speed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary work machine consistent with certain disclosed embodiments; [0010] FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system that may be configured to perform certain functions consistent with disclosed embodiments; [0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary control system consistent with certain disclosed embodiments; [0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary reverse control process consistent with certain disclosed embodiments; and [0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of another exemplary reverse control process consistent with certain disclosed embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. [0015] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary work machine 100, shown as a track type work machine, equipped with work implements 102 and capable of performing various production operations, such as ripping, grading, and moving material. Work machine 100 may include an operator's cab 104 wherein an operator is positioned to operate work machine 100. Although work implements 102 are shown as being a ripper 106 and dozing blade 108, it should be understood that any type of work implements (e.g., dozer blades, buckets, forks, etc.) or none at all may be implemented and used by work machine 100. Work machine 100 may also include travel mechanisms, such as tracks 103, that engage the ground and is capable of operating in forward and reverse on level or sloped terrains. [0016] Further, although work machine 100 is shown as a track type tractor machine, machine 100 may be any type mobile machine that performs at least one operation associated with a particular industry, such as mining, construction, farming, etc. and operates between or within work environments (e.g., construction site, mine site, power plant, etc.). Work machine 100 may also be a mobile machine for use in non-industrial settings (e.g., machines for personal use). For example, work machine 100 may represent a commercial machine, such as a truck, a crane, earth moving vehicle, a mining vehicle, a backhoe, material handling equipment, farming equipment, and other types of machines that operate in a commercial or industrial environment. In one embodiment, work machine 100 is an electric drive work machine that includes an electric motor that provides at least some power to a drive train of work machine 100. [0017] Also, in accordance with certain embodiments, work machine 100 may be a machine that performs tasks that require repeated transitions from a forward and reverse direction while performing these tasks. For example, work machine 100 is depicted as a track type machine that may be used by an operator to manipulate material or terrain using work implements 102 by continuously moving machine 100 forward and backward during the course of the manipulations. [0018] FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of certain components of work machine 100 that may be configured to perform certain functions consistent with certain embodiments. As shown, work machine 100 may include at least an on-board data link 105, a work machine control system 110, an engine control system 120, an engine 130, a generator system 140, an electric motor 150, travel mechanism 155, and one or more sensors 160 and 162. [0019] On-board data link 105 represents one or more proprietary and/or non-proprietary data links that interconnect modules included in work machine 100. In one embodiment, data link 105 may represent Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939, Controller Area Network (CAN), etc. standard data links. Continue reading about Method for controlling an electric drive machine... Full patent description for Method for controlling an electric drive machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for controlling an electric drive machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method for controlling an electric drive machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Electronic all-wheel drive module with overrunning clutch differential Next Patent Application: Method and system for hybrid energy management control Industry Class: Motor vehicles ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method for controlling an electric drive machine patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.22515 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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