Drive controller for cargo handling vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US8634977B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Drive controller for cargo handling vehicle",
  "abstract": "A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump, a cargo handling actuator, a travel motor, and a battery. The drive controller includes an engine control unit, a rotation speed detection unit, a deviation calculation unit, and a power generation control unit. The engine control unit controls the engine in accordance with a command rotation speed. The rotation speed detection unit detects an actual rotation speed of the engine. The deviation calculation unit calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine. The power generation control unit controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump arranged coaxially with the engine and the generator motor, a cargo handling actuator driven through an operational oil from the cargo handling pump, a travel motor used when the cargo handling vehicle travels, and a battery supplying drive power to the generator motor and the travel motor, the drive controller comprising: an engine control unit that determines a command rotation speed for the engine and controls the engine in accordance with the command rotation speed; a rotation speed detection unit that detects an actual rotation speed of the engine; a deviation calculation unit that calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine; a power generation control unit that controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor; and a determination unit that determines whether or not he rotation speed deviation is less than a predetermined value, wherein the power generation control unit controls the generator motor as to limit the power generated by the generator motor when the determination unit determines that the rotation speed deviation is less than the predetermined value.",
    "2. The drive controller according to claim 1, wherein the power generation control unit controls the generator motor so as to decrease the power generated by the generator motor as the rotation speed deviation increases.",
    "3. The drive controller according to claim Maim 1, further comprising: a first assistance control unit for controlling the generator motor so that the generator motor assists the engine in driving the cargo handling pump when the determination unit determines that the rotation speed deviation is greater than the predetermined value.",
    "4. The drive controller according to claim 3, wherein the first assistance control unit controls the generator motor so that an assistance amount of the generator motor increases as the rotation speed deviation increases.",
    "5. The drive controller according to claim 3, wherein the first assistance control unit controls the generator motor so that sum of drive power for the travel motor and drive power for the generator motor does not exceed a discharge power limit value of the battery.",
    "6. The drive controller according to claim 1, further comprising a second assistance control unit that controls the generator motor so that the generator motor assists the engine in driving the cargo handling pump when the actual rotation speed of the engine becomes lower than an idle rotation speed.",
    "7. The drive controller according to claim 1, further comprising: a travel control unit that controls the travel motor so that sum of drive power for the travel motor and drive power for the generator motor does not exceed a discharge power limit value of the battery."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, and a travel motor, which are arranged coaxially with one another. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-298163 describes a prior art example of a drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle. The cargo handling vehicle includes an engine, a generator-motor, and a cargo handling pump, which are arranged so as to be coaxial to one another. The cargo handling vehicle also includes a travel motor, which is used when the vehicle travels, and a battery, which supplies power to the generator motor and travel motor. The cargo handling vehicle switches the operation modes of the generator-motor between generator mode and motor mode. More specifically, when a cargo handling operation does not require a high output, the generator-motor is switched to the generator mode, and the pump is driven by the engine. When a cargo handling operation requires a high output, the generator-motor is switched to the motor mode.\n\nWhen such a cargo handling vehicle of the prior art travels, the generator motor often generates power to drive the travel motor. When the cargo handling vehicle climbs up a slope while carrying cargo at the maximum load, the power used to drive the travel motor increases. This increases the power required to be generated by the generator motor. When such cargo handling is performed as the cargo handling vehicle travels, the cargo handling load and power generation load applied to the engine may lower the cargo handling speed.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60K 6/46",
    "B60L 2240/441",
    "B60L 50/61",
    "B60W 10/06",
    "B60W 10/08",
    "B60W 10/30",
    "B60W 20/00",
    "B60W 20/10",
    "B60W 2510/0638",
    "B60W 2710/086",
    "B60Y 2200/15",
    "B66F 9/20",
    "Y02T 10/62",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 6/46",
    "B60L 50/15",
    "B60W 10/06",
    "B60W 10/08",
    "B60W 20/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "KOIDE YUKIKAZU",
    "TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI KK"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "KOIDE YUKIKAZU"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2010-11-12",
  "publication_date": "2014-01-21",
  "grant_date": "2014-01-21",
  "priority_date": "2009-11-17",
  "application_number": "US-94550910-A",
  "family_id": "43533344",
  "citations": [
    "EP1834854A2",
    "EP1974979A2",
    "JP2003219501A",
    "JP2005298163A",
    "JP2008101440A",
    "JP2008121659A",
    "JPH07111709A",
    "US2008093864A1",
    "US5473228A",
    "US5545928A",
    "US6666022B1",
    "US7728449B2",
    "US7745947B2"
  ]
}