Abstract:
The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method of braking a machine having an electric drive configuration. The electric drive configuration includes at least one electric retarding system connected to a first set of wheels. Additionally, a first friction brake system connects to the first set of wheels to provide a braking output torque. A second friction brake system connects to a second set of wheels and provides a second braking output torque. The system calculates and applies a braking ratio between the electric and friction braking systems based upon both user controls and conditions encountered.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This patent disclosure relates generally to braking systems, and, more particularly to braking systems and methods that combine electric retarding and friction braking to slow a machine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Braking systems are used in a large variety of machines and vehicles to control, slow and stop the machine. Exemplary machines include passenger vehicles, trains, dump trucks, and mining vehicles. Machines increasingly use electric drive systems to provide propulsion for the machine. For example, passenger vehicles may use a hybrid drive system whereby a traditional gasoline powered engine and an electric motor are both used to provide propulsion for the vehicle. Machines, such as a railway engines and off-road vehicles may use a diesel powered engine to drive a generator, which provides electric power to a motor. The motor then provides propulsion for the machine. 
         [0003]    Braking systems may take advantage of components in electric drive systems to provide braking for machines. For example, a hybrid passenger vehicle may include a regenerative braking system whereby the vehicle is slowed by the electric drive system while at the same time a battery in the vehicle is recharged. Railway engines use dynamic retarding to slow the train. Although brake systems utilizing electric drive systems have been used, these systems cannot stop a machine traveling at high speed quickly, nor can these systems consistently slow a heavily loaded machine traveling downhill or in slippery conditions. 
         [0004]    Some prior systems include a manual retarder lever that enables the operator to control ground speed by manually selecting the level of retarding or automatic retarder control that automatically controls machine speed based the operator&#39;s machine speed setting. The manual or automatic retarder may control an electric retarding system. Additionally, the operator may control a traditional braking pedal to actuate hydraulic brakes. In this way, the operator can manually control both dynamic retarding and hydraulic brakes. However, this configuration may be difficult for an operator to control effectively. For example, if the speed setting lever is set to high, the operator may have to rely more on the service brakes. In a large, heavily loaded machine, this may lead to the service brakes overheating. In addition, excess service brake wear may occur on a machine if the service brakes are used for continuous retarding. 
         [0005]    One exemplary braking system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,573 to Zuber et al. This system describes an electrical and friction braking system. However, the system does not vary the ratio of braking torques based upon user controls, nor based upon whether the electric braking system is meeting the requested retarding needs of the machine. 
         [0006]    The foregoing background discussion is intended solely to aid the reader. It is not intended to limit the disclosure, and thus should not be taken to indicate that any particular element of a prior system is unsuitable for use within the disclosure, nor is it intended to indicate that any element, including solving the motivating problem, is essential in implementing the systems and methods described herein. The implementations and application of the systems and methods described herein are defined by the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method of braking a machine having an electric drive configuration. The electric drive configuration includes at least one electric retarding system connected to a first set of wheels. Additionally, a first friction brake system associated to the first set of wheels to provide a braking output torque. A second friction brake system associated to a second set of wheels and provides a second braking output torque. 
         [0008]    A desired machine retarding torque to be applied to the machine is calculated. A desired ratio of machine retarding torque splits between the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels is determined. The electric retarding system is commanded to supply the calculated output torque based on the desired machine retarding torque and the desired ratio of torque splits. It is then determined whether the output torque supplied by the at least one electric retarder system approximates the calculated output torque. Next, a ratio of the first brake system output torque to the second brake system output torque is applied to supplement the output torque supplied by the electric retarding system if the electric retarding system is not providing the desired machine retarding torque. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the disclosure describes an off-road work machine having an engine connected to a generator that powers an electric motor. An electric retarding system is associated with a rear set of wheels. A front friction brake system associated to a front set of wheels and provides a front brake system output torque. A rear friction brake system connects to the rear set of wheels and provides a rear brake system output torque. The electric motor connects to a set of rear wheels and is configured to provide electric retarding to the off-road machine. 
         [0010]    The off-road work machine includes at least one control module configured to calculate a desired machine retarding torque to be applied to the machine. A signal indicative of a desired ratio of machine retarding torque splits between the front set of wheels and the rear set of wheels is obtained. The control module commands the at least one electric retarding system to supply a calculated output torque based on the desired machine retarding torque and the desired ratio of retarding torque splits. It is then determined whether an output torque supplied by the at least one electric retarding system approximates the calculated output torque. A ratio of the front brake system output torque to the rear brake system output torque is supplied to supplement the output torque supplied by the at least one electric retarding system if the at least one electric retarding system is not providing the calculated output torque. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an electric drive system including an electric retarding system for a machine. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a logical block diagram illustrating a braking system for a machine including hydraulic friction brakes, an oil cooling system and an electric retarder. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a braking control process for a machine including hydraulic friction brakes and an electric retarder. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a brake oil diverter control process for a machine. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    This disclosure relates to systems and methods for braking a machine having an electric retarding system and a mechanical brake system. The system automatically balances the braking load between the electric retarding system and the brake system as needed. Additionally, a brake oil cooling system and methods for controlling flow of the brake oil cooling are described. 
         [0016]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary electric drive system including an electric retarding system for a machine. The exemplary electric drive system includes an engine  100 . Suitable engines include gasoline powered and diesel powered internal combustion engines. When in a drive configuration, The engine  100  powers a generator  102 . The generator  102  produces three-phase alternating current. The three-phase alternating current passes through a rectifier  104 , which converts the alternating current to direct current. An inverter or invertors  106  convert the direct current to variable frequency back to alternating current which feeds a motor  108 . By controlling the frequency of the current produced by the invertors  106 , the speed of the motor  108  is controlled. The motor  108  produces torque which powers the drive wheels  110 . 
         [0017]    In an alternative embodiment, an engine is not needed and the motor  108  is driven directly from an electric power source, such as a battery. In some embodiments, one motor powers all drive wheels. In alternative embodiments, various number of motors are used to power drive wheels. For example, each drive wheel may have an individual motor associated with the wheel. 
         [0018]    When operating in an electric braking, also known as electric retarding, configuration, the drive wheels  110  power the motor  108 . Driving the motor  108  places a torque on the drive wheels  110  and causes them to slow, thus braking the machine. The motors  108  generate alternating current. The inverters  106  convert the alternating current to direct current and feed the current to a chopper  112 , which acts as a direct current to direct current convert, and resistor grid  114 . The power generated by the motors  108  is thus dissipated thru heat by the resistor grid  114 . However, in alternative embodiments, the power generated by the motors  108  is stored for later use. In one embodiment, the power generated by the motors  108  is stored in an electric battery. The energy in the electric battery can then be used in drive mode to power the motors  108  and propel the machine. 
         [0019]    The braking system operates in two modes. In first mode, the electric retarder supplies as much of the requested braking torque as it can. In a second mode, the electric retarder supplies only a ratio of the requested braking torque. For example, 2/3 of the braking torque may be supplied by the electric retarder and 1/3 may be supplied by the friction brake system. This configuration improves handling by spreading the retarding torque according to the weight on each axle. 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a logical block diagram illustrating a braking system for a machine including hydraulic friction brakes, an oil cooling system and an electric retarder is illustrated. In some embodiments, a user interface  116  allows the operator of the machine to view status information relating to the braking system on a display  118 . Displayed information may include whether the electric retarding capacity has been exceeded. Additionally, status information regarding whether a front brake enable selection is set, automatic retarding settings and manual retarding settings may be shown on the display  118 . The front brake enable selection allows the operator to engage the front friction brakes. This may be done to assist machine braking in slick, wet or steep conditions. The selection can be made using the front brake retarding enable switch  122 . The front brake enable selection will be more fully described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . A manual retarder torque setting allows the operator to control the speed of the machine by setting the manual retarder torque. For example, the manual retarder torque setting may be a lever the operator controls to set a desired amount of retarding torque. The manual retarder torque control sets a desired retarding torque for the electric retarder. Additionally, an auto retarder torque may be automatically set by the braking control system. For example, the machine may be programmed in advance, either by the operator or at the factory, to automatically prevent the ground speed of the machine from exceeding a threshold. In one embodiment, the operator may set the auto retarder torque value at any time before or during machine operation. In this way, the operator can adjust the auto retarder torque value as conditions warrant. If the auto retarder torque and manual retarder torque are both set, the system will multiply the values to determine a desired machine retarding torque. In another embodiment, the system uses the greater of the auto retarder torque and manual retard torque values. In some embodiments, the manual retarder cannot request more torque than can be provided by the electric retarding system. In one embodiment, the desired machine retarding torque is the total desired retarding torque from the axles of all wheels on the machine. The automatic retarder (also used for over-speed protection) sets the desired machine retarding torque to control machine speed. 
         [0021]    The user interface  116  includes a manual and automatic retarder interface  120 . The user interface  116  interacts with a controller  124 . The controller  124  may include one or more control modules. In the illustrated embodiment, two electronic control modules (ECM) are used to implement the controller  124 . The drive-train ECM  126  controls elements in the drive-train  128 . The drive-train  128  includes the engine  100 , generator  102 , rectifier  104 , inverters  106 , motor  108 , and chopper  112 . When braking the machine, the electric retarding system  130  includes the rectifier  104 , inverters  106 , motor  108 , and chopper  112  and the resistor grid  114 . In electric retarding mode, the drive-train ECM  126  commands the electric retarding system  130  to provide a requested desired machine retarding torque and a ratio of retarding torque splits between sets of wheels. Thus, the system drive-train ECM may command the machine to apply the proper ratio of torque splits between, for example a set of front wheels and a set of rear wheels. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the ratio of retarding torque splits is a ratio of braking torques between a front set of wheels and a rear set of wheels. This ratio may be based on the front brake retarding enable switch  122 . The ratio will be more fully described with reference to  FIG. 3  below. In some embodiments, the ratio of retarding torque splits between the front set of wheels and rear set of wheels is based on the relative weight at each set of wheels. For example, in a machine that is not loaded, the ratio may be 50/50, but in a loaded machine the ratio may be 1/3 braking torque to the front and 2/3 of the braking torque to the rear. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the drive-train ECM  126  receives signals indicating the front brake retarding enable switch  122  status, the manual retarder torque setting and the auto retarder torque setting from a brake ECM  132 . Based on these signals, the drive-train ECM  126  calculates the desired machine retarding torque to be applied to the machine. The drive-train ECM  126  provides signals indicating the desired machine retarding torque and the requested electric retarding torque to the brake ECM  132 . The brake ECM, based on these signals, determines whether the requested electric retarding torque is sufficient to provide the full desired machine retarding torque. If additional braking is necessary to meet the desired machine retarding torque, the brake ECM requests a ratio of additional braking torque from the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136 . The front friction brake system  134  connects to a front set of wheels  138  and the rear friction brake system  136  connects to a rear set of wheels  140 . In one embodiment the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136  are part of a hydraulic brake system  142 . In this embodiment, the hydraulic brake system includes a front brake solenoid valve  144  for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to the front friction brake system  134 . Likewise, a rear brake solenoid valve  146  controls the pressure of hydraulic fluid to the rear friction brake system  136 . 
         [0024]    In large, heavy machines, such as large haul trucks used in off-road applications such as mining, friction brakes may overheat during use. Friction brakes continue to warm as they are applied. If the friction brake system overheats, component life may be reduced. Therefore, in some embodiments a brake cooling system supplies brake cooling oil to cool the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136 . Brake cooling oil flows to both front and rear friction brakes. While front brake retarding is not enabled, oil flow is split between front and rear brakes according to the brake power requirements. While front brake retarding is enabled, the majority of the cooling oil flows to the front friction brakes. In one embodiment, the brake ECM  132  provides a signal to the brake cooling flow system  148 . The brake ECM  132  and brake cooling flow system  148  can divert additional flow to either the front friction brake system  134  or the rear friction brake system  136 . In one embodiment, the flow is based on the ratio of retarding toque splits between set of wheels. In an alternative embodiment, the brake cooling flow system  148  diverts the flow based on heat sensors in the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136 . 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a braking control process for a machine including hydraulic friction brakes and an electric retarder is shown. The illustrated embodiment shows the control process for a machine, such as an off-highway haul truck having a set of two front wheels deposed on opposite sides of the truck and a set of four rear wheels, with two wheels deposed on each side of the machine. At decision point  150  the system first determines whether the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is enabled. If the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is enabled, at step  152 , the system commands the electric retarding system  130  to supply 2/3 of the desired machine retarding torque. The system requests 2/3 of the desired machine retarding torque from the electric retarding system  130  because, in this embodiment, the electric retarding system is associated to the rear wheels. More braking force can be applied to the rear wheels because there are four rear wheels and two front wheels. 
         [0026]    At step  154 , the system limits the requested torque from the electric retarding system  130  to the maximum torque that can be provided by the electric retarding system  130 . At current operating conditions, the available electric retarding torque depends on the RPM of the motors. This can be accomplished in a number of ways including pre-calculating the maximum torque that can be provided by the electric retarding system  130  or by receiving feedback signal from the electric retarding system  130  indicative of whether the electric retarding system  130  is providing the requested retarding. In the illustrated embodiment, at step  156 , the system requests the remaining 1/3 of the desired machine retarding torque from the front friction brake system  134 . 
         [0027]    The rear friction brake system  136  is set to 2/3 of the desired machine retarding torque minus the requested torque from the electric retarding system  130  at step  158 . Therefore, if the electric retarding system  130  is providing all of the requested torque, then the rear friction brake system  136  is set to not provide any additional braking torque. Finally, at step  160 , the front service brake solenoid current and the rear service brake solenoid current are determined based on the front service brake pressure and rear service brake pressure needed to provide the commanded front service brake torque and rear service brake torque. 
         [0028]    If, at decision point  150 , the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is disabled, then the system moves to step  162 . At step  162 , the system commands the electric retarding system  130  to supply all of the desired machine retarding torque. At step  164 , the system limits the requested torque from the electric retarding system  130  to the maximum torque that can be provided by the electric retarding system  130 . As discussed above, this can be accomplished in a number of ways including pre-calculating the maximum torque that can be provided by the electric retarding system  130  or by receiving feedback signal from the electric retarding system  130  indicative of whether the electric retarding system  130  is providing the requested retarding. 
         [0029]    In the illustrated embodiment, at step  166 , the system requests 1/3 of the desired machine retarding torque minus 1/3 of the requested torque from the electric retarding system  130 . Therefore, if the electric retarding system  130  is providing all of the requested torque, then the front friction brake system  134  is set so as not to provide any additional braking torque. At step  168 , the rear friction brake system  136  is set to 2/3 of the desired machine retarding torque minus 2/3 of the requested torque from the electric retarding system  130 . Therefore, the system maintains the braking ratio of 1/3 braking torque from the front friction brake system  134  and 2/3 of the braking ratio from the rear friction brake system  136  for any braking torque needed to supplement the electric retarding system  130  braking torque. This is done based on the default cooling flow split. The system next enters step  160  as described above. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the system monitors the temperature of the front and rear brakes using temperature sensors in the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136 . Based on the measured temperatures, the braking control process can request additional cooling flow from a brake oil diverter control process described in  FIG. 4 . In another embodiment, the system may predict the temperature and cooling flow needed. 
         [0031]    Turing now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a brake oil diverter control process for a machine is shown. At decision point  170 , the system determines its current state. The states include (1) divert to front and (2) divert normally. When the front friction brake system  134  is used, the system state is divert to front. When the front friction brake system  134  is not used, the system state is divert normally. In the divert normally state, the majority of brake cooling oil is diverted to the rear friction brake system  136  because the front friction brake system  134  is only used to supplement the electric retarding system  130  and therefore does not need additional cooling. In one embodiment, in the divert normally state, sixty percent of the brake cooling flow is diverted to the rear friction brake system  136  and forty percent of the flow is diverted to the front friction brake system  134 . In the divert to front state, ten percent of the brake cooling flow is diverted to the rear friction brake system  136  and ninety percent of the flow is diverted to the front friction brake system  134 . In other embodiments, the system senses the heat in the braking systems and automatically adjusts flow as needed to cool the braking systems. At startup, the system can default to either state. 
         [0032]    If, at decision point  170  the system is in the divert normally state, the system enters decision point  172 . At decision point  172 , the system determines whether the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is on. If the switch is not on, the system goes to block  174  and enters the divert normal state. From block  174 , the system returns to the initial decision point  170 . If the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is on, the system enters decision point  176 . At decision point  176 , the system determines whether the rear friction brake system  136  is in use. If the rear friction brake system  136  is in use, the system enters step  174  and diverts the cooling flow normally. In one embodiment, at decision point  176 , the system determines whether the rear brakes had been used within some period of time, such as five seconds. If the rear friction brake system  176  have not been applied, the system enters decision point  178  and determines whether the front friction brake system  134  cooling oil reaches a threshold temperature. If the oil does not reach the threshold, the system enters step  174  and diverts the cooling oil normally. If, at step  178  front friction brake system  134  cooling oil is warm, the system enters step  180  and diverts additional cooling oil flow to the front friction brake system  134 . The system then returns to decision point  170 . 
         [0033]    If, at decision point  170  the last state was not diverting normally, the system enters decision point  182 . At decision point  182 , the system determines whether the rear friction brake system  136  is in use. If the rear friction brake system  136  is in use, the system enters step  174  and diverts the cooling flow normally. In one embodiment, at decision point  182 , the system determines whether the rear brakes had been used within some period of time. If the rear friction brake system  136  is not in use, the system enters decision point  184 . At decision point  184 , the system determines whether the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is on. If the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is on, the system goes to step  180  and diverts the cooling flow to the front. If the front brake retarding enable switch  122  is off, the system goes to decision point  186 . At decision point  186 , the system determines whether the front friction brake system  134  is in use. If the front friction brake system  134  is in use, the system enters step  180  and diverts flow to the front friction brake system  134 . If the front friction brake system  134  is not in use, the system enters step  174  and diverts the cooling flow normally. In some embodiments, at decision point  186 , the system determines whether the front friction brake system  134  has been applied with in some period of time, such as 2 seconds. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0034]    The industrial applicably of the methods and systems for braking machines described herein will be readily appreciated from the foregoing discussion. The present disclosure is applicable to many machines and many environments. One exemplary machine suited to the disclosure is a large off-highway truck, such as a dump truck. Exemplary off-highway trucks are commonly used in mines, construction sites and quarries. The off-highway trucks may have payload capabilities of 100 tons or more and travel at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more when fully loaded. The trucks operate in a variety of environments and must be able to negotiate steep inclines in wet conditions. 
         [0035]    These large off-highway trucks must be able to slow and stop even when traveling down steep, wet slopes. Using the described methods and systems, trucks can be slowed by using the electric retarding system  130  or the electric retarding system  130  in combination with the front friction brake system  134 , the rear friction brake system  136  or both. In some embodiments, the trucks are slowed using the electric retarding system  130  to save wear and tear on the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136 . However, in wet conditions, the truck operator can manually engage the front friction brake system  134  to aid machine handling. Additionally, the system can automatically use the front friction brake system  134  and the rear friction brake system  136  to aid in braking when electric retarding capacity is exceeded. 
         [0036]    Similarly, the methods and systems described above can be adapted to a large variety of machines and tasks. For example, backhoe loaders, compactors, feller bunchers, forest machines, industrial loaders, skid steer loaders, wheel loaders and many other machines can benefit from the methods and systems described. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0038]    Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.