초록 ▼

A method and system may be provided to perform a process for controlling power provided by an engine in a machine. In an embodiment of the present invention, a process for controlling power provided by an engine operating in a machine is provided. The process may include determining a first power va

A method and system may be provided to perform a process for controlling power provided by an engine in a machine. In an embodiment of the present invention, a process for controlling power provided by an engine operating in a machine is provided. The process may include determining a first power value reflecting a predetermined first power to be provided by the engine to a component operating in the machine and determining, during machine operations, at least one of a parasitic load power value and an intermittent power load value. A second power value may then be determined that reflects a second power provided by the engine based on the parasitic power value, the intermittent power value, and the net power value. The second power value is adjusted such that the engine substantially provides the predetermined net power to the component.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for controlling power provided by an engine operating with a machine, the method comprising:determining a first power value reflecting a predetermined first power to be provided by the engine to a component; determining, during machine operations, at least one of a parasitic power value

1. A method for controlling power provided by an engine operating with a machine, the method comprising:determining a first power value reflecting a predetermined first power to be provided by the engine to a component; determining, during machine operations, at least one of a parasitic power value reflecting power received by at least one parasitic load module from the engine and an intermittent power value reflecting power received by an intermittent load module from the engine; determining, during machine operations, a second power value reflecting a second power provided by the engine based on the parasitic power value, the intermittent power value, and the first power value; and adjusting, during machine operations, the second power value based on changes in at least one of the parasitic power value and the intermittent power value such that the engine substantially provides the predetermined first power to the component, and adjusting the second power value such that the second power value fluctuates between a first maximum power that the engine may provide when the parasitic load module, the intermittent load module, and the machine component are receiving power from the engine and a second maximum power value that the engine may provide when the parasitic load module and the machine component are receiving power from the engine and the intermittent load module is not receiving power from the engine. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined power is a net power that the component receives from the engine.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined power is a gross power provided by the engine.4. The method of claim 2, wherein the net power reflects a maximum net power that the machine component is designed to receive without experiencing substantial degradation of at least one of physical and functional attributes associated with the machine component.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically adjusted second power is greater than a predetermined maximum power, the predetermined maximum power reflecting power to be provided by the engine when the intermittent load module is not receiving power from the engine while the parasitic load module and system component are receiving power from the engine.6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined maximum power further reflects gross power to be provided by the engine when a plurality of parasitic load modules and the machine component are receiving power from the engine.7. The method of claim 3, wherein adjusting includes:adjusting the gross power value based on an indication that the intermittent load module is not operating during the machine operations. 8. The method of claim 3, further including:providing control signals to the engine that control one or more engine components that affect operations of the engine based on the adjusted gross power value. 9. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined net power value is determined prior to the operation of the machine.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parasitic power value reflects a total power provided by the engine to a plurality of parasitic load modules operating in the machine.11. The method of claim 9, wherein the intermittent power value reflects a total power provided by the engine to a plurality of intermittent load modules operating in the machine.12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a first power value includes:determining a maximum power value associated with the maximum power that the engine may provide based on power requirements associated with one or more parasitic load modules, one or more intermittent load modules, and the net power, wherein the adjusted second power value reflects a percentage of the maximum power value. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting further includes:determining whether a constraint applies to the machine operations; and readjusting the adjusted second power value based on a determination whether a constraint applies to the machine operations. 14. A method for controlling power provided by an engine included in a machine, comprising:determining a net power value reflecting a predetermined net power to be provided by the engine to a machine component included in the machine; determining a maximum amount of gross power that the engine is to provide when one or more parasitic load modules, the machine component, and one or more intermittent load modules are receiving power from the engine during machine operations; controlling a current gross power provided by the engine during machine operations based on determined power values associated with at least one of the one or more parasitic and the intermittent load modules such that the machine component consistently receives the predetermined net power and the current gross power does not exceed the maximum amount of gross power; determining a transient condition during machine operations that indicates extra power is required by the machine component; and adjusting, based on the determined transient condition, the current gross power provided by the engine such that the current gross power exceeds the maximum amount of gross power for a predetermined amount of time. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the maximum amount of gross power is greater than a second maximum amount of gross power that the engine is to provide during machine operations when the one or more parasitic load modules and the machine component are operating and the one or more intermittent load modules are not operating.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the determined amount of time is based on previously collected information associated with physical and functional operating limits of the machine component.17. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting the current gross power provided by the engine increases the net power provided to the machine component for the determined amount of time.18. The method of claim 17, wherein the increased net power exceeds the predetermined net power for the determined amount of time.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the external factor is associated with at least one of a change in terrain that the machine is exposed to during machine operations, an increase in a weight associated with material the machine is manipulating during machine operations, and a change in ambient weather conditions that affect the performance of one or more components of the engine.20. A method of providing engines that allow for dynamically adjustable gross power, comprising:developing a plurality of engines each with similar design characteristics including a designed gross power that the respective engine is designed to provide; providing, for each engine, software in a controller that is configured to dynamically adjust the designed gross power provided by the engine based on data reflecting an amount of power provided by the engine to at least one of one or more parasitic load modules and one or more intermittent load modules, such that the engine provides a constant net power to an output component of the engine; providing a first engine of the plurality of engines in a first machine that requires a first net power from the output component of the first engine; providing a second engine of the plurality of engines in a second machine that requires a second net power from the output component of the second engine, wherein the second net power is different from the first net power; operating the first engine in the first machine such that the controller associated with the first engine controls the first engine to constantly provide the first net power at the output component of the first engine regardless of power received by at least one of a one or more parasitic load modules and one or more intermittent load modules operating in the first machine; and operating the second engine in the second machine such that the controller associated with the second engine controls the second engine to constantly provide the second net power at the output component of the second engine regardless of power received by at least one of a one or more parasitic load modules and one or more intermittent load modules operating in the second machine. 21. A system comprising:an engine configured to provide a net power to an output component of the engine; at least one of one or more parasitic load modules that each are configured to receive parasitic power from the engine, and one or more intermittent load modules that each are configured to receive intermittent power from the engine; a receiving component for receiving the net power from the output component; and a controller configured to: determine, during engine operations, a gross power provided by the engine based on the parasitic power received by the net power and at least one of the one or more parasitic load modules and the intermittent power received by the one or more intermittent load modules, and adjust, during engine operations, the gross power based on changes in at least one of the parasitic power value and the intermittent power value such that the engine provides a constant net power to the output component, wherein the controller adjusts the gross power such that the gross power fluctuates between a first maximum gross power that the engine may provide when the one or more parasitic load modules, the one or more intermittent load modules, and the system component are receiving power from the engine and a second maximum gross power that the engine may provide when the one or more parasitic load modules and the system component are receiving power and the one or more intermittent load modules are not receiving power from the engine. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein the adjusted gross power is greater than a predetermined maximum gross power reflecting power to be provided by the engine when the one or more intermittent load modules are not receiving power from the engine while the one or more parasitic load modules and system component are receiving power from the engine.