Agricultural Vehicle Braking Control via Attachment Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural working vehicles face inefficiencies in braking performance and handling due to variations in attachments and counterweights, leading to inconsistent braking distances and reduced controllability.

Innovation Solution

A control device adjusts brake pressure based on attachment-specific properties, including weight and type, to optimize braking power and reduce locking tendencies, while also determining necessary counterweights for reduced overall vehicle weight and improved fuel efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wheel and axle sensors are arranged to detect chassis forces for brake pressure distribution, then braking performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking performanceVSAvoidsensor arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of detecting chassis forces from complex sensor arrangements and implements it through a simplified approach using attachment type information. Instead of using wheel and axle sensors to detect forces, the system determines braking parameters based on the known attachment type, thereby achieving reliable braking performance without complex sensor arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses information about the attachment type as a substitute for direct force measurement. The attachment type serves as a proxy that contains information about the chassis forces, allowing the control device to determine appropriate brake pressure distribution without physically measuring the forces with sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If brake pressure is increased to shorten braking distance, then braking performance is improved, but locking tendency of front axle increases reducing controllability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking distanceVSAvoidcontrollability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different brake pressure characteristics to different axles based on their specific functions and load conditions. The front axle and rear axle receive differentiated brake pressure commands from the control device, with the front axle receiving proportionally less pressure to prevent locking while the rear axle receives sufficient pressure to achieve legal braking distances, thereby maintaining both braking performance and controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If counterweights are added to balance chassis forces, then vehicle stability is improved, but overall vehicle weight increases leading to higher fuel consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of brake pressure based on the detected attachment type and current chassis forces. Instead of using fixed counterweights to compensate for all possible attachment variations, the system dynamically adapts the braking characteristics to match the actual attachment and load conditions, achieving vehicle stability without the penalty of increased overall weight and fuel consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3424788B1Agricultural work vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP3424788B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3424788B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3424788B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an agricultural work vehicle (1) with a device (4) for receiving an implement (2) and a device for receiving counterweights (16), as well as a chassis comprising at least two axles, a front axle (6) and a rear axle (8) on which torque transmission means (5, 7) are arranged, and with a braking system controllable by a control unit (13), which comprises at least one braking device (18, 19, 24) acting on at least one of the axles (6, 8) or the torque transmission means (5, 7) arranged thereon, wherein the control unit (13) is configured to provide, depending on at least one implement-specific characteristic, which can be determined by the control unit (13) on the basis of information provided about the implement type, a maximum braking pressure and/or a braking pressure profile (26a) provided by the braking system on the front axle (6).26b, 26c).