Adaptive Ripper Control for Excessive Terrain Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile excavation machines face inefficiencies and potential damage due to varying terrain resistance when operating ripping tools, as they struggle to penetrate and displace non-homogeneous soil or compacted materials, leading to increased fuel consumption and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A control system equipped with sensors and actuators adjusts the ripper's tilt and lift to mitigate excessive travel resistance by altering the shank's angle and depth relative to the terrain, using an electronic controller to automate these adjustments based on resistance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ripper maintains a fixed position during operation, then the structure is simple and easy to control, but the machine experiences high travel resistance when encountering compacted or non-homogeneous terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The ripper position is made dynamic through automated adjustment mechanisms. The system continuously monitors terrain conditions via sensors and automatically modifies the ripper's vertical position and tilt angle to optimize penetration through varying soil conditions, transforming a static implement into an adaptive one that responds to real-time terrain changes
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback control loop is implemented where sensors measure travel resistance and machine position, the controller processes this information, and automatically adjusts the ripper position accordingly. This closed-loop system enables the ripper to self-regulate based on encountered resistance, maintaining optimal operating conditions without manual intervention
2Productivity
If the ripper is adjusted frequently to reduce travel resistance, then the machine moves more efficiently through terrain, but the mechanical stress on the ripper and machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary adjustments to the ripper position before encountering excessive resistance. By anticipating terrain changes and proactively adjusting the ripper angle and depth, the system prevents mechanical overload rather than reacting after stress has accumulated, thereby protecting the machine while maintaining efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies operational parameters such as ripper vertical position, tilt angle, and penetration depth to optimize performance. By continuously adjusting these parameters based on terrain conditions, the system maintains efficient travel while distributing mechanical stress across multiple parameters rather than concentrating it at fixed positions
3Productivity
If the ripper penetrates deeper into compacted terrain, then the ripping operation becomes more effective, but the travel resistance increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The ripper penetration depth and angle are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system continuously monitors travel resistance and automatically modifies the ripper's immersion depth and tilt to maintain optimal penetration effectiveness while preventing excessive resistance buildup, allowing the machine to adapt to varying soil compactness levels
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile machine is operatively attached to a ripper for conducting a ripping operation of the terrain substrate by traveling over the terrain surface. The mobile machine may be associated with sensors to measure the travel resistance from the terrain opposing travel of the mobile machine in the travel directing during the ripping operation. If the travel resistance is excessive, the mobile machine can conduct a shank adjustment sequence by adjusting one or more of a tilt actuator and a lift actuator to move the ripper relative to the terrain and reduce the travel resistance.