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Loader Power-Split Transmission System Based On A
Loader Power-Split Transmission System Based On A
Abstract
In hydraulic mechanical transmission loaders, a hydraulic torque converter can prevent an engine from stalling due to
overloading of the loader during the spading process; however, the hydraulic torque converter also reduces the loader’s
fuel economy because of its low transmission efficiency. To address this issue, the study designs an output-power-split
transmission system that is applied to a hybrid loader. The designed transmission system removes the hydraulic torque
converter in the power transmission system of a traditional loader and adopts a planetary gear set with a compact struc-
ture as the dynamic coupling element, thus allowing the output power of the loader to be split transmitted. During sho-
veling, the loader power-split transmission system based on a planetary gear set can prevent the motor from plugging
and over-burning under conditions that ensure that the traction does not decrease. In addition, the transmission effi-
ciency and loader fuel economy are higher in the proposed transmission system than in the power transmission system
of a traditional loader. The test results show that the transmission efficiency of the designed system was 13.2% higher
than that of the traditional hydraulic mechanical transmission loader.
Keywords
Hybrid power, loader, power-split, transmission system, planetary gear set
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2 Advances in Mechanical Engineering
In general, the engine and motor or the oil hydraulic when the efficiency of the HTC is extremely low. With
pump driving the loader operate singly or in combina- an increasing number of energy-saving schemes being
tion for the parallel hybrid loader. Because there are proposed, the continuously variable transmission and
fewer energy conversions, the parallel hybrid loader planetary coupling structure are becoming the energy-
has a higher energy utilization rate than the serial saving schemes with the greatest potential. Both
hybrid system in vehicles.8–10 However, the regulating schemes improve the engine energy efficiency using
action of a parallel hybrid loader on the engine operat- hybrid power technology and improve the system drive
ing point is weaker. Parallel hybrid systems typically efficiency by replacing the HTC with the new transmis-
include hydraulic torque converters (HTCs), thereby sion scheme.
limiting the energy conservation effect.9,11–13 The com-
bined hybrid system is connected to an engine, an alter-
nator and an electromotor or hydraulic pump/motor Structure of power-split transmission
through the power distribution unit and integrates the system
merits of the series and parallel systems. The engine is
not affected by the vehicle driving cycle, allowing it to A schematic diagram of the power-split transmission
remain highly efficient for a long period.14 The con- system of the loader based on a planetary gear set is
struction machinery can perform the required task well shown in Figure 1; the system is composed of an engine,
under harsh conditions and realize energy conservation an input shaft, the first gear, the second gear, a plane-
and emission reductions. tary gear set, an output shaft, motor #1, motor #2, a
In 2008, Volvo launched a coaxial and parallel struc- power cell, an inverter, lockup devices, and a hydraulic
ture hybrid power loader (L220F Hybrid) that adopted working system. The planetary gear set includes a sun
a parallel structure of a hybrid oil and electric power gear, front-row planetary gear, front-row gear ring,
system with a torque combination of a front-row trans- rear-row planetary gear, rear-row gear ring, and plane-
mission and single shaft.15,16 In 2010, Liugong and tary carrier. The parameters of the front-row planetary
Xugong Machinery Co., Ltd. launched hybrid wheel gear are the same as those of the rear planetary gear;
loaders CLG862-HYBRID and ZL50GS. These two both are mounted on the same shaft, and the para-
models are parallel hybrid systems.17,18 Caterpillar pro- meters of the front-row gear ring are also the same as
duces the hybrid wheel loader 966KXE. This loader those of the back-row gear ring. The engine, input
uses advanced powertrain CVT and does not have a
torque converter; furthermore, the hydraulic system of
this technology can accomplish infinitely variable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
speeds; therefore, the transmission has the characteris-
tics of infinitely variable speeds.19 In 2011, the
Japanese company Kawasaki developed hybrid loader
65ZHybrid, in which the torque converter is replaced
with a ‘‘HYTCs’’ system, which consists of planetary
gears, motors, and alternators. The energy utilization
11
rate is 35% higher than that of a traditional loader of
the same level.18 In 2014, Hitachi Construction 12
Machinery announced that they had developed a wheel
loader equipped with a hybrid power system
(ZW220HYB-5B). The electric alternator is driven by a
diesel engine and generates electric power to drive the
motor. The loader has no gearbox and adopts infinitely
variable speeds; therefore, it has the advantage of no
changes in the speed operation when the loader is dig-
ging or driving on a ramp, thereby decreasing the labor
intensity of the drivers.5
The above analysis of the development history of the 18 17 16 15 14 13
hybrid loader has shown that important advancements
and prototypes have emerged in the hybrid loader tech- Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the power-split transmission
nology field. At present, research on hybrid loaders is system of the proposed hybrid power loader.
focused on parallel hybrid loaders and series hybrid 1: Second lockup device; 2: motor #2; 3: front-row gear ring; 4: sun
gear; 5: front-row planetary gear; 6: rear-row planetary gear; 7: rear-row
loaders;20–23 however, because these systems include an gear ring; 8: motor #1; 9: power cell; 10: inverter; 11: planetary carrier;
HTC, the engine does not always operate in the optimal 12: output shaft; 13: engine; 14: input shaft; 15: first lockup device; 16:
operating condition, particularly under heavy loads, first gear; 17: second gear; 18: hydraulic working system.
Lyu et al. 3
shaft, first gear, and second gear are connected in turn. into electrical energy using an alternator. The power
The second gear and front-row gear ring are connected cell discharges, with motor #2 simultaneously provid-
coaxially; the planetary carrier and output shaft are ing electrical energy to motor #1; motor #1 works as
connected coaxially; motor #1 is connected with the an electric motor and transforms electrical energy to
back-row gear ring; motor #2 is connected to the sun mechanical energy. The power generated by motor #1
gear; and the power cell is connected to motor #1 and is eventually transmitted to the drive wheel to provide
motor #2 through the inverter. The lockup devices traction along with the engine via the rear-row gear
include the first lockup device and second lockup ring, rear-row planetary gear, planetary carrier, and
device. The ends of the first and second lockup devices output shaft. A portion of the power of the engine is
are connected to the input shaft and motor #2, respec- transmitted to the hydraulic work system through the
tively. The other ends of the two lockup devices are input shaft.
fixed connected to the frame. The engine, sun gear, planetary carrier, front-row
gear ring, and rear-row gear ring are abbreviated as
Operating characteristics of the ICE, S, C, R1, and R2, respectively.
power-split transmission system In the low-speed power-split mode, the revolving
speeds of the output shaft and planetary carrier are zero
According to the operation condition of the loader, the when the wheel of the loader is jammed. Thus, nC is zero
power-split mode is divided into two categories: low-
speed power-split mode and high-speed power-split nC = 0 ð1Þ
mode. The low-speed power-split mode is mainly used
The motion characteristic equation of the front-row
for low-speed and high-load conditions, such as shovel-
planetary gear set is given as follows
ing and lifting. The power transmission route is shown
in Figure 2. ns + anR1 = (a + 1)nc ð2Þ
In the low-speed power-split mode, the first lockup
device is separated from the second lockup device. where a = ZR1 =ZS . Combining equations (1) and (2)
When the engine is operating, the power is transmitted yields
to ride wheels via the input shaft, first gear, second nS = anR1 ð3Þ
gear, front-row gear ring, front-row planetary gear, pla-
netary carrier and output shaft; motor #1 and motor Because the parameters of the front-row planetary
#2 are working simultaneously, and the loader is placed gear and rear planetary gear, front-row gear ring, and
in the continuously variable-speed state. back-row gear ring are identical, the relationship
In the low-speed power-split mode, motor #2 trans- between them is as follows
forms a portion of the power output from the engine
nR1 = nR2 ð4Þ
11
12
nR1(nR2)
18 17 16 15 14 13
the front axle right shaft, respectively; channels 8 and 9 where Pe is the input power of the loader (kw), Te is the
are the torque of the front axle left shaft and that of torque of the input shaft (N m), and ne is the revolving
the front axle right shaft, respectively; and channel 10 speed of the input shaft (r/min).
is the torque of the input shaft of the transmission sys- The input power of the loader can be calculated
tem. Using vib.sys and ncode software to process the according to formula (9), and the torque and speed of
tested signals and selecting 50 test working cycles, con- the input shaft tested by the NO. 5 channel and NO. 10
tinuous time-domain signals are acquired by filtering channel are given in Figure 7.
and eliminating any abnormal peak values. Similarly, the output power values of the front axle
The input power of the loader can be calculated from shaft and the rear axle shaft can be calculated. Then, the
formula (9) as follows output power of the transmission system is acquired by
adding the two figures together, as shown in Figure 7.
Te ne The transmission efficiency of the loaders is obtained
pe = ð9Þ
9550 according to formula (10)
6 Advances in Mechanical Engineering
dynamometer. The output power is calculated using that of the hydraulic mechanical transmission loader
the acquired output speed and torque. (63.5%). Therefore, the transmission efficiency of the
The working load of the hydraulic system is simu- loader power-split transmission system based on a pla-
lated by a pilot-operated electricity proportion overflow netary gear set was 13.2% higher than that of the
valve.31 To control the working pressure of the overflow hydraulic mechanical transmission loader.
valve, the tested working pressure spectrum data of the
hydraulic system is loaded into the overflow valve, and
the loading spectrum digital signals are transformed Conclusion
into voltage signals through the serial port. The over-
This article designed a loader power-split transmission
flow valve is controlled by the pulse width modulation
system based on a planetary gear set. The transmission
(PWM), and the control pressure overflow valve is regu-
system adopts a planetary gear set with a compact
lated by changing the duty ratio of the PWM wave-
structure as the dynamic coupling element and enables
form. According to test data used to calibrate the single
the output power of loader to be split transmitted. In
chip micyoco (SCM), the SCM computes and outputs
addition, the HTC is removed in the transmission sys-
the duty ratio of the PWM based on the calibrated data
tem, thereby effectively increasing both the transmis-
after the data overflow valve controller receives the
sion efficiency and loader fuel economy.
pressure control signal, and then, the drive proportional
The power-split mode of the system can be divided
overflow valve achieves pressure control.
into two categories according to the operation condi-
The exit pressure loading spectrum and transmission
tion of the loader: low-speed power-split mode and
shaft loading spectrum of the transmission pump, work-
high-speed power-split mode. The low-speed power-
ing pump, and steering pump for a real loader test are
split mode is mainly used for low-speed and high-load
shown in Figure 5. The field-tested working pressure
conditions, such as shoveling and lifting, whereas the
spectrum data of the hydraulic system are loaded into the
high-speed power-split mode is mainly suitable for the
overflow valve to simulate the hydraulic system load. The
loader running at high speed during converse site pro-
load spectrum tested in the real loader test of the trans-
cessing. When shoveling, the transmission system can
mission shaft is loaded through the power-measured
prevent the motor from plugging and over-burning
devices controllers, and the hydraulic dynamometer takes
under the condition that traction is not reduced.
advantage of a vortex to produce braking torque to simu-
Two experiments, namely, a real loader experiment
late the transmission system load. After recording the
and a bench test, were performed to investigate the
experimental transmission efficiency of the real loader
energy savings of the hybrid loader system. Comparing
and bench test, the fuel economies of the two components
the experimental results revealed that the transmission
are calculated for the two types of transmission; the cal-
efficiency was 13.2% higher for the hybrid loader sys-
culated results are shown in Figure 9.
tem than for the hydraulic mechanical transmission
As shown in Figure 9, the transmission efficiency of
loader.
the loader power-split transmission system based on a
planetary gear set was 76.7%, which was higher than
Declaration of conflicting interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with
respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
article.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial sup-
port for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
article: This work was financially supported by the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51205151)
and a prospective industry-university-research cooperation
research project in Jiangsu province of China (Grant No.
BY2016061-01).
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