Hydraulic Oil Temperature Control via Multi-Sensor Engine Torque Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic systems in power machines, such as loaders, face high operating loads that lead to excessive hydraulic oil temperature, potentially damaging components, and existing technologies lack effective control methods to manage temperature variations between the drive and implement systems.
Innovation Solution
A controller system with multiple temperature sensors is used to detect hydraulic oil temperatures in different parts of the hydraulic system, allowing for variable engine torque control to reduce heat generation by identifying temperature variations based on load case, thereby optimizing cooling and managing oil temperature differently depending on system usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the engine provides high torque to meet power demands, then productivity is improved, but hydraulic oil temperature increases causing component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into drive system and implement system with separate temperature monitoring. Temperature sensors are placed at different locations (drive motor inlet/outlet, implement pump outlet) to detect temperature variations in different hydraulic circuits, enabling targeted torque control based on which system is overheating
Solution Approach 2:
The engine torque is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature feedback from multiple sensors. The controller continuously monitors temperature signals and modulates engine torque output accordingly, allowing the system to adapt torque levels to current thermal conditions rather than using fixed torque limits
2Device complexity
If a single temperature sensor is used to control engine torque, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient to identify load case
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one temperature sensor, the system segments temperature monitoring into multiple locations: drive motor inlet, drive motor outlet, and implement pump outlet. This segmentation enables precise identification of which hydraulic circuit (drive or implement) is generating excessive heat, allowing for more accurate load case determination
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple temperature sensors provide feedback signals to the controller, creating a comprehensive thermal profile of the hydraulic system. The controller processes these feedback signals to determine load case and adjust engine torque accordingly, forming a closed-loop control system that improves measurement precision through multi-point monitoring
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces heat generation in the hydraulic system by adjusting engine torque based on temperature readings from multiple sensors, allowing for higher oil temperatures in certain circumstances, thus preventing component damage and improving overall system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor positioned and configured to measure a first temperature of hydraulic oil in the drive system and to provide a first temperature signal indicative of the measured first temperature of the hydraulic oil in the drive system; and a second temperature sensor positioned and configured to measure a second temperature of hydraulic oil and to provide a second temperature signal indicative of the measured second temperature
Implementation Method 2
a controller configured to control a variable output torque of the engine based upon the first and second temperature signals to reduce heat generation in the hydraulic system
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include power machines, and hydraulic systems for power machines, in which a machine controller is configured to detect high temperature conditions of the hydraulic oil and to responsively control or reduce the overall torque available from the engine to reduce heat generation in the hydraulic system.