Dual-Motor Electric Drive Control for Wheel Loader Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drives for work machines, such as wheel loaders, lack the ability to replicate the driving behavior of diesel engine-driven machines, making it difficult to transition to purely electric systems without compromising performance and driver experience.
Innovation Solution
A drive system that includes a computing unit controlling separate electric motors for vehicle wheels and work attachments, using signals from an accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and multifunction lever to mimic diesel engine behavior, allowing for independent control of both motors and optimizing energy use through characteristic curves and load sensing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electric motor is used to drive both vehicle wheels and work attachment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to independently control drive functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drive system into two separate electric motors: a first electric motor dedicated to driving vehicle wheels and a second electric motor dedicated to driving the work attachment. This segmentation allows independent control of each motor, enabling the operator to control vehicle movement and work attachment operations separately, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced complexity and independent control capability.
2Ease of operation
If electric motors are controlled separately, then the ease of operation improves with independent control, but the device complexity increases due to separate motor control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes signals from the accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and multifunction lever, and independently controls both the first and second electric motors. This multi-functional control unit manages the complexity centrally, allowing separate motor control without proportionally increasing overall system complexity, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electric drives are used for work machines, then energy efficiency improves, but the driving behavior differs from diesel engine machines reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically adjusts the control characteristics of the electric motors based on input signals from accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and multifunction lever. By making the control system dynamic and adaptive to operator inputs, the electric drive replicates the driving behavior of diesel engine machines, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and driving behavior compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive for a work machine includes a computer configured to control a first electric motor for driving vehicle wheels and a second electric motor for driving a work attachment. The computer is configured to process signals which correspond to control of a movement of a lifting mechanism of the work attachment or a bucket of the work attachment. The computer is further configured to process a signal which corresponds to a position of an accelerator pedal. The first electric motor and the second electric motor are configured to be controlled separately from each another, and control of the second electric motor takes place according to the control of the movement of the work attachment.