WORK VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING AN ATTACHMENT OF SUCH A VEHICLE
A sensor-controlled system in work vehicles adjusts rotational speed for wear testing and replacement of worn parts, enhancing maintenance efficiency and component longevity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102025112341
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-23
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-31
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing work vehicles lack effective inspection and maintenance capabilities for attachments with rotatable components, particularly in detecting wear and tear and facilitating timely replacement.
A sensor detects when an attachment is raised to a maintenance height, triggering a controller to limit the rotatable component's rotation to a slower maintenance speed, enabling wear testing and subsequent replacement.
Facilitates efficient wear detection and replacement of worn parts, optimizing maintenance operations and extending the life of rotatable components.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL AREA
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a work vehicle. The work vehicle comprises a frame supported by a plurality of ground engagement units, the ground engagement units being designed to support the frame on a ground surface, a boom assembly coupled to the frame, the boom assembly having two boom arms pivotably coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame by two boom actuators. An attachment coupling coupled to the two boom arms, wherein the attachment coupling is movable relative to the frame by two attachment actuators. Furthermore, the work vehicle comprises an attachment coupled to the attachment coupling, wherein the attachment includes a rotatable component. The disclosure also relates to a method for maintaining an attachment. STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Many attachments are available for work vehicles. Many of these attachments have a rotating component with wear parts that are subject to wear and tear through use. Therefore, there is a need to provide inspection and maintenance options to determine wear and tear on the attachment and, if necessary, to replace it.
[0003] The object underlying the invention is seen as being to provide a work vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, which provides or simplifies a possibility for testing the attachment with regard to wear and tear.
[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by the teaching of claims 1 and 9. Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
[0005] According to the invention, a work vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset is designed such that a sensor is positioned to detect when the attachment is raised from an operating height to a maintenance height and provides a signal. Furthermore, a control device is provided which is communicatively coupled to the two boom actuators, the two attachment actuators, and the sensor. The control device comprises a data storage device and an electronic data processor. The data storage device is designed to store instructions that can be executed by the electronic data processor to: receive the signal, activate a maintenance mode which limits the rotation of the rotatable component to a maintenance rotation speed at which the rotatable component rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed.When the attachment is raised to maintenance height, selectively rotate the rotating component of the attachment to allow for wear inspection of consumable parts, stop the rotation to replace the consumable part, lower the attachment to operating height, and deactivate maintenance mode. SUMMARY
[0006] A method for maintaining an attachment for a work vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises activating a maintenance mode that limits the rotation of a rotating component of the attachment to a maintenance rotation speed, at which the rotating component rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed when the attachment is raised to a maintenance height; raising the attachment to the maintenance height; selectively rotating the rotating component of the attachment at the maintenance rotation speed to allow a wear inspection of a consumable part; stopping the rotation to replace the consumable part; lowering the attachment to an operating height; and deactivating the maintenance mode to allow the rotating component to rotate at the operating rotation speed.
[0007] A work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises a frame supported by several ground engagement units. The ground engagement units are designed to support the frame on a ground surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. The boom assembly comprises two boom arms that are pivotally coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame by two boom actuators. An attachment coupling is coupled to the two boom arms. The attachment coupling is movable relative to the frame by two boom actuators. An attachment is coupled to the attachment coupling. The attachment includes a rotatable component. A sensor is positioned to detect when the attachment is raised from an operating height to a maintenance height and to provide a signal. A control device is communicatively coupled to the two boom actuators, the two attachment actuators, and the sensor.The control device comprises a data storage device and an electronic data processor. The data storage device is designed to store instructions that can be executed by the electronic data processor to cause the electronic data processor to receive the signal, activate a maintenance mode which limits the rotation of the rotating component to a maintenance rotation speed, at which the rotating component rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed when the attachment is raised to the maintenance height, selectively rotate the rotating component of the attachment to allow for wear testing of wear parts, stop the rotation to replace the wear part, lower the attachment to the operating height, and deactivate the maintenance mode.
[0008] A work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises a frame supported by several ground engagement units. The ground engagement units are designed to support the frame on a ground surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. The boom assembly comprises two boom arms that are pivotally coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame by two boom actuators. An attachment coupling is coupled to the two boom arms. The attachment coupling is movable relative to the frame by two boom actuators. An attachment is coupled to the attachment coupling. The attachment includes a rotatable component. A sensor is positioned to detect when the attachment is raised from an operating height to a maintenance height and to provide a signal. A control device is communicatively coupled to the two boom actuators, the two attachment actuators, and the sensor.The control device comprises a data storage device and an electronic data processor. The data storage device is designed to store instructions that can be executed by the electronic data processor to cause the electronic data processor to receive the signal, limit the rotation of the rotatable component to a maintenance rotation speed, at which the rotatable component rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed when the attachment is raised to the maintenance height, selectively rotate the rotatable component of the attachment to allow for wear testing of wear parts, stop the rotation to replace the wear part, and lower the attachment to the operating height. Further features and aspects will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the attached figures. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work vehicle with an attachment according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a front view of the work vehicle of the embodiment in Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 3 is a side view of a work vehicle with an attachment according to a further embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the work vehicle of the embodiment in Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a work vehicle with an attachment. Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart of a procedure for maintaining an attachment for a work vehicle.
[0010] Matching reference symbols are used across different figures to indicate matching elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Fig. Figure 1 shows a work vehicle 100, depicted as a compact loader 105 with an attachment 110 coupled to the work vehicle 100 in a forward direction 115. It is understood, however, that the work vehicle 100 can be one of many work vehicles 100, including, but not limited to, a compact track loader, a front loader, and other work vehicles used in construction, road building, agriculture, lawn care, and commercial vehicles that utilize an attachment 110. The work vehicle 100 shown here has a frame 120 with ground engagement units 125 designed to support the frame 120 on a ground surface 130. While the illustrated ground engagement units 125 include wheels, other embodiments may also include tracks that engage with the ground surface 130.Work vehicles 100 include an attachment 110 with which an operator can work the ground surface 130 and cut and move material to achieve simple or complex features on the ground surface 130. The directions used here in relation to the work vehicle 100 refer to the perspective facing the attachment 110 from the frame 120 of the work vehicle 100.
[0012] The work vehicle 100 comprises a boom assembly 135 which is pivotably coupled to the frame 120. The attachment 110, or in particular a cold milling cutter 140, is pivotably coupled to a front section of the boom assembly 135. The cold milling cutter 140 is connected via an attachment coupling 145 ( Fig. 3), such as Quik-Tach from Deere and Company, coupled to the boom arrangement 135, with Quik-Tach being an industry-standard coupling configuration universally applicable to many Deere attachments and several aftermarket attachments.
[0013] The boom arrangement 135 comprises two boom arms 150 which are pivotably coupled to the frame 120 and can be moved relative to the frame 120 by means of two hydraulic boom actuators 155 ( Fig. 2) The attachment coupling 145 is coupled to a remote section of the two boom arms 150 and can be moved relative to the frame 120 by two attachment actuators 160 ( Fig. 3) In this embodiment, the two boom actuators 155 and the two attachment actuators 160 can each be double-acting hydraulic cylinders. Each can exert a force in the extension or retraction direction by directing pressurized hydraulic fluid into a head chamber of the cylinder to exert a force in the extension direction. Conversely, if pressurized hydraulic fluid is directed into a rod chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, a force in the retraction direction is generally exerted. Alternatively, the two boom actuators 155 and the two attachment actuators 160 can be electric or pneumatic.
[0014] The attachment 110 can be operational to engage the ground or surface 130 and to level, cut, and / or move material to create simple or complex features on the ground surface 130. When the attachment 110 is mounted on and operating with a work vehicle 100, it can move and rotate in three directions. A direction of the leveling blade attachment 110 can also be specified in terms of a longitudinal direction 165, a lateral or transverse direction 170, and a vertical direction 175. The rotation of the attachment 110 can be referred to as roll 180 or roll direction, pitch 185 or pitch direction, and yaw 190 or yaw direction. The attachment 110 can be hydraulically operated to move vertically up and down ("lifting"), to roll left or right ("tilting") and to yaw left and right ("swaying"), as described in more detail below.
[0015] The terms “remote”, “nearby”, “left”, and “right” can be used here to describe certain features of the attachment 110. The terms “remote” and “nearby” refer to the perspective of an operator located on or in the work vehicle 100. For example, a nearby end of the attachment 110 may be the end closest to the operator and the work vehicle 100. A remote end of the attachment 110 may be the end furthest from the operator and the work vehicle 100.
[0016] Referring to the Fig. 1 and Fig. The attachment 110 comprises a rotatable component 195 that can extend transversely over a length 200 of the work vehicle 100. Several wear parts 205 are coupled to the rotatable component 195. The cold milling cutter 140 comprises a drum 210 as a rotatable component 195 and several chisels 215 as wear parts 205.
[0017] During the Fig. 3 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the attachment 110 is depicted as a mulcher or mulching head 220. The mulching head 220 comprises the drum 210 and several teeth or a single tooth 225 as a wear part 205. Referring to Fig. The attachment 110 can also be a brush cutter 230. The brush cutter 230 comprises a blade shaft 235 as a rotating component 195 and a blade 240 as a wear part 205.
[0018] A sensor 245 can be arranged to detect when the attachment 110 descends from an operating height of 250 ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) to a maintenance height of 255 ( Fig. 2 and Fig. 4) is raised, and a signal 260 is provided ( Fig. 5) The maintenance height 255 can be set by an operator using an operator interface 265 located in an operator cabin 270 that is coupled to or remotely connected to the frame 120 of the work vehicle 100 and communicates via a network 275.
[0019] A control device 280 is communicatively coupled to the two boom actuators 155, the two attachment actuators 160, and the sensor 245. The control device 280 comprises a data storage device 285 and an electronic data processor 290.The data storage device 285 is designed to store instructions that can be executed by the electronic data processor 290 to cause the electronic data processor 290 to receive the signal 260, activate a maintenance mode 295 which limits the rotation of the rotatable component 195 to a maintenance rotation speed 300, at which the rotatable component 195 rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed 305 when the attachment 110 is raised to the maintenance height 255, selectively rotate the rotatable component 195 of the attachment 110 to allow a wear test of wear parts 205, stop the rotation to replace the wear part 205, lower the attachment 110 to the operating height 250 and deactivate the maintenance mode 295.
[0020] As used here, "control device" shall be understood in accordance with the understanding of the term by a person skilled in the art and refers to a computing component with processing, storage, and communication capabilities used to execute instructions (i.e., those stored in memory or received via the communication capabilities) to control or communicate with one or more other components. In certain embodiments, the control device may be designed to receive input signals in various formats (e.g., hydraulic signals, voltage signals, current signals, CAN messages, optical signals, radio signals) and to output command or communication signals in various formats (e.g., hydraulic signals, voltage signals, current signals, CAN messages, optical signals, radio signals).
[0021] The control device 280 can communicate with other components on the work vehicle 100, such as hydraulic components, electrical components, and operator inputs in an operator station or cabin 270 of an associated work vehicle 100. The control device 280 can be electrically connected to these other components by a wiring harness, allowing messages, commands, and electrical power to be transmitted between the control device and the other components. Although the control device 280 is referred to in the singular, in alternative embodiments the configuration and functionality described herein can be distributed among several devices using techniques known to a person skilled in the art. The control device 280 contains the tangible, non-volatile memory in which computer-executable instructions are recorded.
[0022] The control device 280 can be configured as one or more digital computers or host machines, each with one or more electronic data processors 290, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), optical drives, magnetic drives, etc., a high-speed clock, an analog / digital circuit arrangement (A / D circuit arrangement), a digital / analog circuit arrangement (D / A circuit arrangement), and any required input / output circuit arrangements (I / O circuit arrangements), I / O devices and communication interfaces, as well as signal conditioning and buffer electronics.
[0023] The attachment 110 is hydraulically coupled to the work vehicle 100 via hoses connected to an auxiliary hydraulic port of the work vehicle 100. A hydraulic circuit 310 is communicatively coupled to the control device 280. The hydraulic circuit 310 includes a hydraulic pump 315, which is coupled to the two boom actuators 155 and the two attachment actuators 160 via multiple flow paths 320. The hydraulic pump 315 pumps fluid through the multiple flow paths 320. The multiple flow paths 320 are coupled to the two boom actuators 155, the two attachment actuators 160, and at least one proportional valve 325. The control device 280 is designed to selectively adjust the at least one proportional valve 325 depending on an input signal corresponding to a desired configuration of the attachment 110.The control device 280 automatically controls at least one proportional valve 325 to achieve the desired configuration of the attachment 110.
[0024] Referring to Fig.Section 6 discloses a method for servicing an attachment for a work vehicle. In step 400, a maintenance mode is activated which limits the rotation of a rotating component of the attachment to a maintenance rotation speed. At this speed, the rotating component rotates more slowly than at an operating speed when the attachment is raised to a maintenance height. The maintenance height can be set by an operator. The rotating component can rotate in a pulsating motion. In step 405, the attachment is raised to the maintenance height, which can be detected. In step 410, the rotating component of the attachment is selectively rotated at the maintenance rotation speed to allow for wear testing of consumable parts. In step 415, the rotation is stopped to replace the part. In step 420, the attachment is lowered to an operating height.In step 425, the maintenance mode is deactivated to allow the rotatable component to rotate at operating rotational speed.
[0025] Although the foregoing describes exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions are not to be construed as limitations. Rather, other variations and modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of protection and nature of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
[1] Work vehicle (100) comprising the following: a frame (120) which is supported by a plurality of ground engagement units (125), wherein the ground engagement units (125) are designed to support the frame (120) on a ground surface (130); a boom assembly (135) coupled to the frame (120), wherein the boom assembly (135) has two boom arms (150) pivotably coupled to the frame (120) and movable relative to the frame (120) by means of two boom actuators (155); an attachment coupling (145) which is coupled to the two boom arms (150), wherein the attachment coupling (145) is movable relative to the frame (120) by means of two attachment actuators (160); an attachment (110) coupled to the attachment coupling (145), wherein the attachment (110) comprises a rotatable component (195); characterized by , that a sensor (245) is positioned to detect when the attachment (110) is raised from an operating height (250) to a maintenance height (255), and provides a signal (260); and a control device (280) that is communicatively coupled to the two boom actuators (155), the two attachment actuators (160) and the sensor (245), wherein the control device (280) comprises a data storage device (285) and an electronic data processor (290), wherein the data storage device (285) is designed to store instructions that can be executed by the electronic data processor (290) to effect the following for the electronic data processor (290): Receiving the signal (260), Activating a maintenance mode (295) which limits the rotation of the rotating component (195) to a maintenance rotation speed (300) at which the rotating component (195) rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed (305) when the attachment (110) is raised to the maintenance height (255), selectively rotating the rotating component (195) of the attachment (110) to allow wear testing of wear parts (205), Stopping the rotation to replace the wear part (205), lowering the attachment to the operating height (250), and Disabling maintenance mode. [2] Working vehicle (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic circuit (310) communicatively coupled to the control device (280), wherein the hydraulic circuit (310) includes a hydraulic pump (315) coupled to the two boom actuators (155) and the two attachment actuators (160), wherein the hydraulic pump (315) pumps fluid through several flow paths (320), the several flow paths (320) being coupled to the two boom actuators (155), the two attachment actuators (160) and at least one proportional valve (325), wherein the control device (280) is designed to selectively adjust the at least one proportional valve (325) depending on an input signal corresponding to a desired attachment configuration, wherein the control device (280) automatically controls the at least one proportional valve (325) to achieve the desired attachment configuration to reach. [3] Working vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the working vehicle (100) comprises a compact loader (105), the attachment (110) comprises a cold milling cutter (140), the rotatable component (195) comprises a drum (210) and the wear part (205) comprises a chisel (215). [4] Working vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the working vehicle (100) comprises a compact loader (105), the attachment (110) comprises a brush cutter (230), the rotatable component (195) comprises a cutter shaft (235) and the wear part (205) comprises a cutter (240) coupled to the cutter shaft (235). [5] Working vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the working vehicle (100) comprises a compact loader (105), the attachment (110) comprises a mulching attachment (220), the rotatable component (195) comprises a drum (210) and the wear part (205) comprises a tooth coupled to the drum (210). [6] Working vehicle (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment (110) comprises a cold milling cutter (140), the rotatable component (195) comprises a drum (210) and the wear part (205) comprises a chisel (215). [7] Method for servicing an attachment for a work vehicle (100), with a work vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the method further comprises: Activating a maintenance mode which limits the rotation of a rotating component (195) of the attachment to a maintenance rotation speed (300) at which the rotating component (195) rotates more slowly than at an operating rotation speed (305) when the attachment (110) is raised to a maintenance height (255); Raising the attachment to maintenance height (255); selective rotation of the rotating component (195) of the attachment at maintenance rotation speed (300) to enable wear testing of wear parts (205); Stop the rotation to replace the wear part (205); Lowering the attachment to an operating height (250); and Deactivating maintenance mode to allow the rotating component (195) to rotate at operating rotational speed (305). [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein the rotatable component (195) rotates in a pulsating motion. [9] Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the maintenance height (255) is determined by an operator interface (265). [10] Method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a capture when the attachment (110) is raised to the maintenance height (255). [11] Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising determining the maintenance level (255).