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EP-4467786-B1 - WORK VEHICLE WITH AN IMPROVED THERMAL LAYOUT AND A CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

EP4467786B1EP 4467786 B1EP4467786 B1EP 4467786B1EP-4467786-B1

Inventors

  • PELLIZZARI, PIERO
  • TONDO, MATTEO
  • Martina, Vito

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240521

Claims (16)

  1. Work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ) comprising: - a main body (2); - locomotion means (3) adapted to move said main body (2) relative to a reference system; - a thermal engine (4) and an electrical motor (5), which are adapted to generate mechanical power; - electrical energy storage means (6) electrically connected to said electrical motor (5); - a control unit (500; 500 I ; 500 II ; 500 III ; 500 IV ); - a first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) and a second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III ; 20 IV ) to be cooled down, in use; - a first cooling assembly (100; 100 I ; 100 II ; 100 III ; 100 IV ) and a second cooling assembly (200; 200 I ; 200 II ; 200 III ; 200 IV ), which are respectively configured to cool down said first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) and said second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III , 20 IV ); said first cooling assembly (100; 100 I ; 100 II ; 100 III ; 100 IV ) comprising: - a first circuit (101; 101 I ; 101 II ; 101 III ; 101 IV ), which is adapted to be crossed by a first fluid; - at least one first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) configured to circulate said first fluid within said first circuit (101; 101 I ; 101 II ; 101 III ; 101 IV ); and - at least one first heat exchanger (103; 103 I ; 103 II ; 103 III ; 103 IV ); said second cooling assembly (200; 200 I ; 200 II ; 200 III ; 200 IV ) comprising: - a second circuit (201; 201 I ; 201 II ; 201 III ; 201 IV ), which is adapted to be crossed by a second fluid; - at least one second pump (202; 202 I ; 202 II ; 202 III ; 202 IV ) configured to circulate said second fluid within said second circuit (201; 201 I ; 201 II ; 201 III ; 201 IV ); and - at least one second heat exchanger (203; 203 I ; 203 II ; 203 III ; 203 IV ); said control unit (500; 500 I ; 500 II ; 500 III ; 500 IV ) being configured to control, in use, said first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) and said second pump (202; 202 I ; 202 II ; 202 III ; 202 IV ) independently of each other; said work vehicle further comprises one or more of the following: - a generator (8) operatively connected to said thermal engine (4) and electrically connected to said electrical energy storage means (6); - a first inverter (52) electrically connected to said generator (8); - a hydraulic system; - an air system configured to cool down, in use, said thermal engine (4); - a transmission (7), which operatively connects said thermal engine (4) and/or said electrical motor (5) to said locomotion means (3); - a second inverter (53) electrically connected to said electrical motor (5); - a hydraulic pump motor (54); - a third inverter (55) electrically connected to said hydraulic pump motor (54); - a DC/DC converter (56); - an on-board charger (57) electrically connected to said electrical energy storage means (6); said work vehicle is characterized in that said first system (10; 10 I ) comprises said hydraulic pump motor (54), said electrical motor (5), said transmission (7), said second inverter (53) and said third inverter (55); said second system (20; 20 I ) comprising said first inverter (52) and said generator (8).
  2. Work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ) is settable to: - a plug-in charging mode, wherein said electrical energy storage means (6) are charged, in use; - an electric mode, wherein said electrical motor (5) is operatively connected to said locomotion means (6) and said thermal engine (4) is idle, in use; and - a hybrid mode, wherein said electrical motor (5) and said thermal engine (4) are adapted to at least indirectly supply said locomotion means (6) with mechanical power.
  3. Work vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first cooling assembly (100; 100 I ; 100 II ; 100 III ; 100 IV ) comprises a first fan (104; 104 I ; 104 II ; 104 III ; 104 IV ), which is adapted to increase the kinetic energy of the air impinging, in use, said first heat exchanger (103; 103 I ; 103 II ; 103 III ; 103 IV ) and/or said second cooling assembly (200; 200 I ; 200 II ; 200 III ; 200 IV ) comprises a second fan (204; 204 I ; 204 II ; 204 III ; 204 IV ), which is adapted to increase the kinetic energy of the air impinging, in use, said second heat exchanger (203; 203 I ; 203 II ; 203 III ; 203 IV ); said control unit (500; 500 I ; 500 II ; 500 III ; 500 IV ) being configured to control said first fan (104; 104 I ; 104 II ; 104 III ; 104 IV ) and said second fan (204; 204 I ; 204 II ; 204 III ; 204 IV ) independently of each other.
  4. Work vehicle according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) and said second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III ; 20 IV ) each comprise one or more components of said work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ); each said component being associated with a respective nominal cooling flow rate range, which is a range of the flow rate of said respective first or second fluid adapted to remove heat, in use, from said component without causing damages; wherein when said first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) comprises more than one component of said work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ) , the components of said first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) have respective nominal flow rate ranges at least partially overlapping; wherein when said second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III ; 20 IV ) comprises more than one component of said work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ) , the components of said second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III ; 20 IV ) have respective nominal flow rate ranges at least partially overlapping.
  5. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, wherein said first system (10; 10 I ; 10 II ; 10 III ; 10 IV ) and said second system (20; 20 I ; 20 II ; 20 III ; 20 IV ) each comprise one or more of said thermal engine (4), generator (8), first inverter (52), hydraulic system, air system, transmission (7), second inverter (53), hydraulic pump motor (54), third inverter (55), DC/DC converter (56), electrical energy storage means (6) and on-board charger (57).
  6. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, wherein said first system (10 II ) comprises said hydraulic pump motor (54), said electrical motor (5), said transmission (7), said second inverter (53) and said third inverter (55); said second system (20 II ) comprising said first inverter (52), said generator (8), said DC/DC converter (56) and said on-board charger (57).
  7. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, wherein said first system (10 III ) comprises said hydraulic pump motor (54), said electrical motor (5), said transmission (7), said second inverter (53) and said third inverter (55); said second system (20 III ) comprising said first inverter (52), said generator (8) and said on-board charger (57); said second cooling assembly (200 III ) comprising a first three-way valve (205 III ), which is settable to: - a first configuration, wherein it is adapted to allow, in use, the passage of said second fluid from said second pump (202 III ) towards said generator (8) and said inverter (52) and to deny the passage of said second fluid towards said on-board charger (57); or - a second configuration, wherein it is adapted to deny, in use, the passage of said second fluid from said second pump (202 III ) towards said generator (8) and said inverter (52) and to allow the passage of said second fluid towards said on-board charger (57).
  8. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, wherein said first system (10 IV ) comprises said hydraulic pump motor (54), said electrical motor (5), said transmission (7), said second inverter (53), said third inverter (55) and said DC/DC converter (56); said second system (20 IV ) comprising said first inverter (52), said generator (8) and said on-board charger (57); said second cooling assembly (200 IV ) comprising a first three-way valve (205 IV ), which is settable to: - a first configuration, wherein it is adapted to allow, in use, the passage of said second fluid from said second pump (202 IV ) towards said generator (8) and said inverter (52) and to deny the passage of said second fluid towards said on-board charger (57); or - a second configuration, wherein it is adapted to deny, in use, the passage of said second fluid from said second pump (202 IV ) towards said generator (8) and said inverter (52) and to allow the passage of said second fluid towards said on-board charger (57).
  9. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, wherein said first circuit (101; 101 I ; 101 II ; 101 III ; 101 IV ) comprises: - a first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) extending from said first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) across or in proximity to said hydraulic pump motor (54), said electrical motor (5) and said transmission (7); - a second branch (101b; 101b I ; 101b II ; 101b III ; 101b IV ), which fluidly connects said first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) to said first heat exchanger (103; 103 I ; 103 II ; 103 III ; 10 IV ); - a third branch (101c; 101c I ; 101c II ; 101c III ; 101c IV ) extending between said first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) and said second branch (101b; 101b I ; 101b II ; 101b III ; 101b IV ); and - a by-pass valve (105; 105 I ; 105 II ; 105 III ; 105 IV ), which is fluidly connected to said first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) and said third branch (101c; 101c I ; 101c II ; 101c III ; 101c IV ); wherein said by-pass valve (105; 105 I ; 105 II ; 105 III ; 105 IV ) is settable to: - a first configuration, wherein it allows the passage of said first fluid from said first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) towards said transmission (7) along said first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) and denies the passage of said first fluid along said third branch (101c; 101c I ; 101c II ; 101c III ; 101c IV ); or - a second configuration, wherein it denies the passage of said first fluid from said first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) towards said transmission (7) along said first branch (101a; 101a I ; 101a II ; 101a III ; 101a IV ) and allows the passage of said first fluid along said third branch (101c; 101c I ; 101c II ; 101c III ; 101c IV ).
  10. Work vehicle according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 11, wherein said control unit (500; 500 I ) is configured to activate said second pump (202; 202 I ) and/or said second fan (204; 204 I ) when said work vehicle (1; 1 I ) is set, in use, to said hybrid mode and to deactivate said second pump (202; 202 I ) and/or said second fan (204; 204 I ) when said work vehicle (1; 1 I ) is set, in use, to said plug-in charging mode or said electric mode.
  11. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, further comprising: - a third system (30) and a fourth system (40) to be cooled down; - a third cooling assembly (300) and a fourth cooling assembly (400), which are respectively configured to cool down said third system (30) and said fourth system (40); said third cooling assembly (300) comprising: - a third circuit (301), which is adapted to be crossed by a third fluid; - at least one third pump (302) configured to circulate said third fluid within said third circuit (301); and - at least one third heat exchanger (303); said fourth cooling assembly (400) comprising: - a fourth circuit (401), which is adapted to be crossed by a fourth fluid; - at least one fourth pump (402) configured to circulate said fourth fluid within said fourth circuit (401); and - at least one fourth heat exchanger (403); said control unit (500) being configured to control said third pump (302) and said fourth pump (402) independently of each other and independently of said first and second pumps (102, 202); said third system (30) comprising said DC/DC converter (56) and said on-board charger (57); said fourth system (40) comprising said electrical energy storage means (6).
  12. Work vehicle according to any of the preceding claim, further comprising a third system (30 I ) to be cooled down and a third cooling assembly (300 I ) configured to cool down said third system (30 I ); said third cooling assembly (300 I ) comprising: - a third circuit (301 I ), which is adapted to be crossed by a third fluid; - at least one third pump (302 I ) configured to circulate said third fluid within said third circuit (301 I ); and - at least one third heat exchanger (303 I ); said control unit (500) being configured to control said third pump (302 I ) independently of said first and second pumps (102 I , 202 I ); said third system (30 I ) comprising said DC/DC converter (56), said on-board charger (57) and said electrical energy storage means (6).
  13. Work vehicle according to claims 2, 3 and 11, wherein said third cooling assembly (300) comprises a third fan (304), which is adapted to increase the kinetic energy of the air impinging, in use, said third heat exchanger (303); wherein said control unit (500) is configured to activate said third pump (302) and/or said third fan (304) and to deactivate said first and second pumps (102, 202) and/or said first and second fans (104, 204) when said work vehicle (1) is set, in use, to said plug-in charging mode.
  14. Work vehicle according to claims 2, 3 and 12, wherein said third cooling assembly (300 I ) comprises: - a third fan (304 I ), which is adapted to increase the kinetic energy of the air impinging, in use, said third heat exchanger (303 I ); - a chiller (4030), which is adapted to cool down, in use, said third fluid; said third cooling assembly (300 I ) further comprising a second three-way valve (305 I ), which is settable to: - a first configuration, wherein it is adapted to allow the passage of said third fluid from said third pump (302 I ) to said third heat exchanger (303 I ); or - a second configuration, wherein it is adapted to deny the passage of said third fluid from said third pump (302 I ) to said third heat exchanger (303 I ) and to allow the passage of said third fluid from said third pump (302 I ) towards said chiller (4030). wherein when an environmental temperature is lower than a temperature threshold, said control unit (500 I ) is configured to activate, in use, said third fan (304 I ), to deactivate said chiller (4030) and to set said second three-way valve (305 I ) to said first configuration; when said environmental temperature is greater than said temperature threshold, said control unit (500 I ) is configured to deactivate, in use, said third fan (304 I ), to activate said chiller (4030) and to set said second three-way valve (305 I ) to said second configuration.
  15. Work vehicle according to claim 7 or claim 9 when depending on claim 7, further comprising a third system (30 III ) to be cooled down and a third cooling assembly (300 III ) configured to cool down said third system (30 III); said third cooling assembly (300 III ) comprising: - a third circuit (301 III ), which is adapted to be crossed by a third fluid; - at least one third pump (302 III ) configured to circulate said third fluid within said third circuit (301 III ); and - at least one third heat exchanger (303 III ); said control unit (500 III ) being configured to control said third pump (302 III ) independently of said first and second pumps (102 III ; 202 III ); said third system (30 III ) comprising said DC/DC converter (56).
  16. Method of controlling a work vehicle (1; 1 I ; 1 II ; 1 III ; 1 IV ) according to any one of the foregoing claims; said method comprising the step i) of controlling said first pump (102; 102 I ; 102 II ; 102 III ; 102 IV ) and said second pump (202; 202 I ; 202 II ; 202 III ; 202 IV ) independently of each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a work vehicle comprising an improved thermal layout and to a related control method. BACKGROUND OF THE INNOVATION Work vehicles are known comprising a main body, a plurality of wheels or tracks adapted to move the main body relative to a reference system, a hybrid propulsion system adapted to generate mechanical power and a transmission adapted to transmit motion from the hybrid propulsion system to the wheels or tracks. In detail, the hybrid propulsion system comprises one or more thermal engines and one or more electrical motors, which may be operated singularly or simultaneously according to various configurations, as shown for example in EP3176334A1. In such known work vehicles, several components and systems generally need to be cooled down during operation. These components and systems include, by way of example, the thermal engine, the electrical motor, the transmission, hydraulic systems, batteries and other electrical or electronic devices (inverters, DC/DC converters, generators, hydraulic pump motor, etc.). In order to control the temperature of these components, the work vehicles are usually equipped with a cooling assembly comprising a plurality of pumps, heat exchangers, and fans. The energy consumption associated with the cooling assembly is sometimes very high and is not always optimized. In particular, in some cases, the cooling assembly of the known vehicles is configured to carry out the cooling of certain components, even when some conditions occur that make cooling unnecessary. As a result, the amount of electrical energy available to be used on board the work vehicle, such as to power electrical or electronic devices of the work vehicle, is significantly reduced. Therefore, there is a need within the industry for a work vehicle capable of optimizing the amount of electrical power required to cool down the components to be cooled of the work vehicle. An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above mentioned need in a cost-effective and optimized manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned aim is reached by a work vehicle and by a control method for a work vehicle as claimed in the appended independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are realized according to the claims dependent or related to the above independent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of the present invention, one preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a work vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention and with parts removed for clarity;Figure 2 is a block diagram of a portion of the work vehicle of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a block diagram of a portion of a work vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention;Figure 4 is a block diagram of a portion of a work vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention;Figure 5 is a block diagram of a portion of a work vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; andFigure 6 is a block diagram of a portion of a work vehicle according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to figure 1, numeral 1 schematically indicates a work vehicle, by way of example a telescopic handler. Work vehicle 1 comprises a main body 2 and locomotion means 3, such as wheels or tracks, which are adapted to move main body 2 relative to a reference system. By way of example, the reference system is fixed to the ground. Work vehicle 1 further comprises a thermal engine 4, such as an internal combustion engine, and an electrical motor 5, which are adapted to generate mechanical power for operating locomotion means 3. In detail, work vehicle 1 comprises a transmission 7, which is adapted to transmit motion from electrical motor 5 to locomotion means 3. Work vehicle 1 also comprises electrical energy storage means 6 electrically connected to electrical motor 5 and adapted to supply electrical energy to electrical motor 5. In the embodiment shown, electrical energy storage means 6 comprise two batteries 60, 61. Work vehicle 1 further comprises an electrical generator 8, which is operatively connected to thermal engine 4 and electrically connected to electrical energy storage means 6. Generator 8 is adapted to convert at least part of the motive power of thermal engine 4 into electric power, which may be stored into electrical energy storage means 6. Furthermore, work vehicle 1 comprises an on-board charger 57, which is electrically connected to energy storage means 6 and which is adapted to be electrically connected to the electric grid. In detail, work vehicle 1 is settable to: a plug-in charging mode, wherein work vehicle 1 is electrically connected to the electric grid and electrical energy storage means 6 are charged;an electric mode, wherein e