This application claims priority of German patent application no. 10 2013 021 832.2, filed Dec. 21, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
United States patent application publication 2012/0297631 discloses a method for operating a handheld work apparatus having a combustion engine. The combustion engine drives a tool via a clutch. The clutch engages in a speed range between a lower and an upper engagement speed.
In the case of handheld work apparatus of this type, the tool may stop under full load during operation, for example if a tooth of a saw chain intermeshes and locks in the material to be cut. This results in a drop in speed of the combustion engine to the engagement speed range. If the tool is stationary, that is, blocked, the clutch may be damaged in the engagement speed range. In order to avoid damage to the clutch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,131 makes provision to reduce the speed of the combustion engine if the speed is operated for too long a period within a critical speed range.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method for operating a handheld work apparatus having a combustion engine. The method makes it easier for the operator to work with the work apparatus.
The method of the invention is for operating a handheld work apparatus which includes a centrifugal clutch, a work tool and a combustion engine for driving the work tool via the centrifugal clutch, the centrifugal clutch defining a coupling engaging rotational speed range (nK) wherein the centrifugal clutch engages and the coupling engaging range extending between a lower coupling engaging rotational speed (nu) and an upper coupling engaging rotational speed (no); the combustion engine including a fuel metering device, an ignition device, a control unit and a device for detecting the rotational speed (n) of the combustion engine. The method includes the steps of: monitoring the rotational speed profile of the combustion engine in the coupling engaging rotational speed range (nK); and, increasing the power (P) delivered to drive the work tool from an operating power (P1) to an increased power (P2,′P3) when the rotational speed profile corresponds to a pregiven rotational speed profile over a pregiven time span (Δt).
Provision is made to increase the power, which is output for driving the tool, from an operating power to an increased power if a speed profile of the combustion engine in the engagement speed range corresponds to a predetermined speed profile for a predetermined period. By evaluation of the speed profile in the engagement speed range, a determination can be made as to whether the tool is locked in the engagement speed range, such that no further acceleration of the tool is possible. By increasing the power, it can be attempted to break the tool loose such that the speed can rise again. Owing to the fact that the power increase takes place only when the speed profile corresponds to the predetermined speed profile, an increase in power, which would lead to increased temperatures and increased wear during continuous operation, is also acceptable. If the increased power is sufficient in order to break the tool loose, the operator can continue to work without interruption.
The power output by the combustion engine for driving the tool is preferably increased. However, it can alternatively or additionally be provided to switch on a further energy source for driving the tool.
The predetermined speed profile is advantageously a constant speed profile. If the speed in the engagement speed range remains constant for a predetermined period, this can be evaluated as an indication of the fact that the tool cannot move, since the operator customarily opens the throttle in the engagement speed range, and therefore the speed rapidly rises in the engagement speed range and the clutch rapidly engages. The constant speed here is a substantially constant speed. In the case of a combustion engine, speed fluctuations occur within an engine cycle due to the design. Furthermore, in particular in the case of two-stroke engines, functionally induced fluctuations in the speed also occur to a certain extent over a plurality of cycles, in particular due to the efficiency of the combustion differing and due to combustion misfires, which interfere with the speed which is constant per se. A constant speed is present if the speed during an engine cycle and over a plurality of engine cycles fluctuates merely within the customary speed fluctuations and the rapid rise in speed customary for the engagement speed range does not take place. The predetermined period is advantageously at least approximately 0.1 s, in particular at least approximately 0.3 s, preferably at least approximately 0.5 s. As a result, a non-moving tool can be reliably detected. A very reliable detection of the non-moving tool is made possible if the predetermined period is at least approximately 1 s. The predetermined period is advantageously less than approximately 30 s, in particular less than approximately 10 s, preferably less than approximately 5 s. The predetermined speed profile can also be, for example, a slightly rising or dropping speed. A slightly changing speed may be produced, for example, due to heating as the clutch slips.
The increased power is advantageously 103%, in particular at least 105% of the operating power. In many cases, it can thereby be possible to break a sticking tool free. The increased power is in particular at maximum 120%, preferably at maximum 110%, of the operating power. This makes it possible to avoid excessive heating of the engine and excessive wear during the operation at increased power. A further increase in power can be achieved, for example, by a further drive motor, in particular an electric motor, preferably the electric motor of an electric starting device for the combustion engine, being switched on. The increased power which is achievable with the further drive motor for driving the tool can be, for example, approximately 150% to approximately 250% of the operating power.
The power is in particular increased abruptly to the increased power. The tool is thereby particularly effectively broken loose. Provision may be made for the power to be reduced at least once and increased again after the increase in power. After the increase in power, the power is advantageously repeatedly reduced and increased in short, consecutive intervals of time. In particular, the power fluctuates at an increased level. As a result, this can improve the effect of breaking the tool loose. In addition, the operator receives feedback about the fact that the tool is stuck, and can react appropriately, for example can reduce the feed force.
The power is advantageously reset to the operating power when the speed leaves the engagement speed range. This avoids an increased power during the customary operation. The operating power here is the power which arises at a certain speed and load when the gas throttle is correspondingly actuated. The operating power varies here depending on speed and load, and therefore the absolute power value after the resetting of the power can differ from the power value before the increasing of the power. For the resetting to the operating power, the operating parameter, which has been adjusted in order to increase the power, is advantageously restored to the starting value thereof before the increase in the power. Provision may also be made to define an operating parameter on the basis of a curve, for example, depending on the speed, and for the operating parameter for the increase in power to be changed by a fixed value or to be determined with reference to a second curve which is assigned to an increased power.
In order to avoid excessive loading of the combustion engine because of the increased power, provision is made for the power to be reset to the operating power after a predetermined time has expired. The predetermined time can be, for example, approximately 0.1 s to approximately 60 s. The predetermined time is advantageously approximately 0.5 s to approximately 30 s, in particular approximately 1 s to approximately 10 s. Periods of differing length can be predetermined here for different areas of use. Alternatively or in addition, provision may be made for the power to be reset to the operating power after a predetermined temperature of the combustion engine is reached. The criteria for resetting the power to the operating power are advantageously selected in such a manner that damage to the combustion engine because of the brief operation at increased power is avoided. Provision may be made to provide a plurality of criteria for the resetting of the power and to reset the power to the operating power as soon as one of the criteria is met.
If the power for driving the tool is increased by switching on a further drive motor, it is provided that the predetermined time is up to approximately 10 s. The predetermined time during which the further drive motor increases the power output for driving the tool is advantageously at least approximately 5 s.
In order to increase the power emanating from the combustion engine, an adjustment of the ignition time of the combustion engine can be provided. The ignition time is adjusted in particular to “early” in order to increase the power. Additionally or alternatively, provision may be made for the power to be increased by changing the quantity of fuel supplied. The quantity of fuel supplied is in particular reduced here; that is to say, the engine is leaned. This is provided in particular whenever the engine is operated within the rich mix range. However, provision may also be made to increase the supplied quantity of fuel in order to increase the power, that is to say to run the combustion engine at a slightly richer mix. This is preferably provided whenever the combustion engine is operated in the lean range. Alternatively or in addition, provision may also be made to increase the output power by changing the quantity of combustion air supplied to the combustion engine. The quantity of combustion air is in particular increased here such that the mixture supplied to the combustion engine is leaned. In order to increase the power output by the combustion engine, provision may also be made to change the supplied quantity of fuel/air mixture, in particular to increase the quantity, for example by supplying a fuel/air mixture via an additional mixture path. The individual measures for increasing the power output by the combustion engine can be used here individually or in any combination.
Provision may be made for the combustion engine to supply at least one further energy consumer with energy, in addition to supplying the tool with energy. In order to increase the power, provision can be made in particular for the at least one further consumer to be switched off. It may also be advantageous for the power to be increased by reducing the energy supplied to the at least one further consumer. Further consumers can be, for example, a generator or an oil pump for delivering lubricating oil to the tool. Other consumers can also be provided. The consumers can consume mechanical energy provided by the combustion engine or electrical energy generated by the combustion engine.
The work apparatus advantageously has a further drive motor, and the power output for driving the tool is increased by switching on the further drive motor. The further drive motor is in particular an electric motor. With an electric motor, a significant increase in power can briefly be achieved in a simple manner. The drive motor is preferably an electric motor which is present in any case, in particular the electric motor of an electric starter of the work apparatus.
The work apparatus advantageously has an operating element, and the power of the combustion engine is increased when the operating element is actuated. The operator can thereby trigger a brief increase in power. The increase in power takes place here in particular in the engagement speed range. However, a brief increase in power outside the engagement speed range may also be advantageous.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
A combustion engine 8 arranged in the housing 2 serves for driving the saw chain 7. The combustion engine 8 is a single-cylinder engine, advantageously a mixture-lubricated engine, such as a two-stroke engine, or a mixture-lubricated four-stroke engine. The combustion engine 8 draws in combustion air via an air filter 28 and a carburetor 9. A fuel valve which supplies the fuel directly into the combustion engine 8 can also be provided instead of the carburetor 9. The combustion engine 8 has a spark plug 10 which is supplied with electrical power by an ignition module 11.
A throttle lever 12, which is mounted pivotably on the rear handle 3, is provided for operating the combustion engine 8. In addition, a throttle lever lock 13, which prevents an unintentional actuation of the throttle lever 12, is mounted pivotably on the rear handle 3. An operating mode selector 14 is arranged on the housing 2 adjacent to the rear handle 3. The operating mode selector 14 advantageously serves for setting at least one starting position of the combustion engine 8 and for switching off the combustion engine 8. In addition, the motor-driven saw 1 has an operating element 15 which, in the embodiment, is arranged adjacent to the operating mode selector 14 and the function of which is also explained in more detail below.
As
A centrifugal clutch 24 is arranged on that side of the combustion engine 8 which is opposite the flywheel 21. The drive part 43 of the centrifugal clutch 24 is connected to the crankshaft 19 for rotation therewith. The drive part 43 advantageously comprises one or more centrifugal weights which are mounted so as to be pivotable radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation 20 and in a spring-loaded manner. The output part 44 is configured as a clutch drum which is connected to a drive pinion 26 for rotation therewith. The drive pinion 26 drives the saw chain 7 (not shown in
As
In order to control the quantity of fuel supplied, the throttle flap 35 is mounted pivotably. The completely open position of the throttle flap 35 is defined by an end stop 38 which interacts with a lever 47 (shown schematically in
The throttle lever 12 advantageously acts on the throttle flap 35. When the throttle lever 12 is fully actuated, the lever 47 bears against the end stop 38. As indicated schematically by the dashed line in
The control device 41 monitors the profile of the speed (n) in the engagement speed range nK and recognizes that the speed n1 remains constant over a period of time Δt up to a predetermined second time t2. Speed fluctuations which, in the case of a combustion engine, occur within an engine cycle and over a plurality of engine cycles due to the design are not taken into consideration in the determination of the constant speed profile. The period of time here is advantageously at least 0.1 s, in particular at least 0.3 s, preferably at least 0.5 s. The period of time Δt is advantageously less than approximately 30 s, in particular less than approximately 10 s, preferably less than approximately 5 s. After the predetermined period of time Δt has elapsed, the control device 41 takes measures for briefly increasing the power output by the combustion engine 8 for driving the saw chain 7. As a result, the speed of the drive part 43 is increased, and the at least one centrifugal weight is pressed outward with greater force. By this means, the frictional force in effect is increased and therefore the power available for driving the saw chain 7 rises.
In order to increase the power, it is possible, for example, for the ignition time ZZP to be adjusted. A possible profile of the ignition time is illustrated schematically in
Δt the second time t2, the power P output by the combustion engine corresponded to an operating power P1. Upon adjustment of the ignition time from the ignition time ZZP1 to the ignition time ZZP2 to “advanced”, the power has abruptly increased to an increased power P2. As indicated by the line 45 in
Instead of adjusting the ignition time ZZP, provision may also be made to change the quantity of fuel (x) supplied to the combustion engine 8. This is shown schematically in
In order to increase the power provided by the combustion engine 8 for driving the saw chain 7, provision can also be made to switch off at least one additional consumer of the motor-driven chain saw 1 or to reduce the energy supplied to the consumer. For example, provision can be made to switch off the oil pump 25. This is indicated schematically in
In order to increase the power of the combustion engine 8, provision may also be made to change the quantity of combustion air supplied to the combustion engine 8, for example by adjusting the end stop 38 into the position shown by dashed lines in
It can also be advantageous to combine a plurality of measures for increasing the power P output by the combustion engine 8 for driving the saw chain 7. The measures mentioned for increasing the power P can be used in each case by themselves or in any combination for increasing the power P of the combustion engine 8.
In order to assist breaking a tool loose from a cut, provision may be made, after the increase in the power, to reduce the power P of the combustion engine 8 again and to increase it again. In particular, provision may be made to increase the power P in an alternating manner. This is shown schematically in
In order to increase the power P of the combustion engine 8, the operator can also actuate the operating element 15. The operation of the operating element 15 brings about an increase in the operating power P1 to an increased power P2 or P3. The increased power can be maintained for a predetermined period of time or until a predetermined, increased temperature of the combustion engine 8 is reached, in order then to be reset to the operating power P1. If the increased power (P2, P3) is of such a low level that it is suitable for continuous operation, provision may also be made to reset the power to the operating power P1 again only when the operator releases the operating element 15.
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2013 021 832.2 | Dec 2013 | DE | national |