Method and apparatus for setting the rotation speed of a...

Electricity: motive power systems – Constant motor current – load and/or torque control

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C388S838000, C180S065100, C056S01020R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06359403

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for setting a rotation speed of a drive motor or an internal combustion engine of any work machine that is operated at a constant engine or motor rotation speed while working. Especially the method relates to a self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine, such as a chopper-harvester, combine or harvester-thresher.
2. Prior Art
Work machines usually have an internal combustion engine, which drives the individual control or working elements and also can be used as the source of motive power for machine travel. The motors used are designed so that their power fits the required work necessary in the work process. The power provided in work machines, such as baggers, cranes or harvesting machines, is very much larger than necessary for machine travel. During the work process the motors are operated with a rotation speed, which guarantees optimum utilization of the drive power. The rotation speed is usually set so that it is constant. If it is necessary for the work process that the work machine be moved continuously at different travel speeds, the machines are equipped with a travel drive, which may be adjusted independently of the motor speed. The known travel drive is formed as a hydraulic pump/motor unit or as a Variator unit. The travel speed change is obtained by changing the fluid supply rate to the hydraulic motor and/or by changing the fluid volume drawn by the hydraulic motor. A transmission can be connected to the respective drive elements for increasing efficiency. This transmission can be shifted by an adjusting lever or also automatically in a known manner and frequently serves also for travel direction reversal of the work machine, in connection with a Variator travel drive.
The rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is controlled by variation of the amount of fuel injected. The adjustment can take place by a mechanical adjusting lever, electromotorized adjusting spindle, electropneumatically, electrohydraulically or also more recently by means of an electronically controlled fuel injection. In work machines the adjustment of the motor rotation speed is performed in steps or stages and in order to avoid working with incorrect motor rotation speed. Often only two stages are available so that the motor rotation speed can only be the idle speed or the maximum rotation speed necessary for the work process. For transport or road travel two travel speed ranges are needed for conveying travel or road travel, namely travel with motor idle speed or with the working motor speed. When the motor idle speed is used in conveying or road travel, the power performance of the motor in certain cases is insufficient and the motor can be killed or stall. Usually the conveying travel or road travel is performed with maximum motor rotation speed or with working motor rotation speed. This has the disadvantage that the motor or engine of the work machines produces unused drive power during conveying travel or road travel, which leads to unnecessary consumption of fuel and also produces excessive noise in the surrounding environment.
A method of reducing fuel consumption in self-propelled work machines during conveying is known from DD 200 234, in which the fuel consumption of the drive engine is reduced during transport or conveying by using an automatic constant motor speed lowered from the nominal motor rotation speed. The transport gear stage is designed so that the maximum permitted travel speed can be achieved with a reduced engine rotation speed. The vehicle operator sets the motor speed that has been lowered by a predetermined amount prior to the conveying or transport and engages the transport gear stage. A locking device prevents unintended engagement of the transport gear stage at the motor nominal speed. In an additional embodiment of the method, the adjusting of the shift lever is demanded or requested prior to setting the transport gear stage and on engagement of the transport gear stage the motor rotation speed is automatically lowered to the reduced motor rotation speed, at which the motor provides the maximum drive efficiency for conveying or transport.
The fuel consumption is reduced by the proposed method, but the motor rotation speed is optimally reduced only for drive performance during transport. The work machine still burns fuel unnecessarily and produces unnecessary noise at idle or with reduced drive performance requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for setting the rotation speed of a drive motor of a work machine of the above-described kind, in which the fuel consumption and noise generation during both transport and road travel are adjusted to optimize work machine performance.
According to the invention this object is attained by a method for setting the rotation speed of the engine in the work machine, in which the set rotation speed of the drive motor depends automatically on the set vehicle travel speed during transport travel or road travel.
By the method according to the invention the fuel consumption and noise generation are both reduced to a considerable extent during transport and road travel. The operator of the work machine, for example, has a switch available in the dashboard for setting the motor rotation speed. When the work machine has finished its work in one location and is required to travel to another location by means of its travel drive, the operator can selected the type of setting for the motor rotation speed according to the invention by means of the switch. The motor rotation speed setting then occurs automatically by setting the vehicle travel speed. These can occur by means of a foot pedal, an adjusting lever, a travel speed lever or also by an electronic determination of the pressure on the travel speed lever.
In the simplest embodiment of the invention the motor rotation speed switches from a higher motor rotation speed to the idle speed of the drive motor, when the vehicle is in the idle condition. This reduces the fuel consumption, for example, at an entrance or at a traffic light and also reduces the noise generation expected at the entrance or light. When the operator activates the drive of the work machine, for example, by operation of the drive pedal, the motor rotation speed is automatically increased from the idle speed to the higher rotation speed.
It is especially advantageous to set the motor rotation speed according to the position of a travel speed lever in a work machine. For example, the fluid feed rate of a hydraulic pump is set by a Bowden cable or by a electrohydraulic adjusting device. When the machine operator moves the travel speed lever into its neutral position during transport or road travel, a switch detects this motion and the motor rotation speed is automatically lowered. The lowering of the rotation speed does not necessarily continue until the idle speed is reached so that a higher motor rotation speed is available during subsequent starting of the work machine.
In work machines, in which the travel speed setting is uncoupled, for example by an electronically controlled adjusting pump, from the drive elements, it is also possible to carry out a changed setting of the vehicle speed either by a change of the motor rotation speed and/or by a change in the fluid feed rate to the hydraulic pump. It is also possible to react in one predetermined speed range by changing the motor rotation speed and in another or in a subsequent vehicle speed range by changing the fluid feed rate. Furthermore the relationship between the fluid feed rate and the motor rotation speed can be adjusted to the performance requirements of the travel drive so that an optimum fuel consumption with a minimum noise generation always takes place. For measurement of the required power performance with a hydrostatic travel drive, the rotation speed set in the drive motor and the feed rate to the adjusting pump or the draw volume of the adjusting motor

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