Attachment Leveling System for Utility Vehicles on Inclined Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility vehicles face challenges in maintaining the stability and level position of attachments when operating on inclined surfaces, as existing systems lack the ability to compensate for movement across slopes, leading to instability and potential load spillage.
Innovation Solution
An attachment leveling system that includes a movable subframe, a rotational attachment actuated by an actuator, position detection sensors, and an electronic processor to automatically adjust the work tool's orientation relative to gravity, ensuring it remains level, using data from sensors to rotate the tool about an axis parallel to the vehicle's central longitudinal axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the work tool is operated on an inclined surface without a leveling system, then the vehicle can move across the terrain, but the work tool cannot maintain a level position with gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses position detection sensors to continuously monitor the orientation of the work tool relative to gravity and provides feedback to the electronic processor, which automatically adjusts the work tool position to maintain a level orientation despite vehicle movement on inclined surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical leveling operations with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators to automatically maintain the work tool in a level position, eliminating the need for operator intervention and vehicle-mounted IMUs
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle operates across inclined surfaces, then it can access various terrains, but vehicle stability becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the work tool to self-adjust its orientation automatically through the electronic processor and actuator system, which detects position deviations and corrects them without requiring external intervention or complex vehicle-mounted stabilization systems
3Device complexity
If attachments lack leveling capability, then the system remains simple, but load retention becomes difficult on inclines
Solution Approach 1:
Position detection sensors continuously monitor the work tool orientation and provide feedback to the electronic processor, which automatically adjusts the tool position to maintain a level orientation, ensuring load retention without requiring complex vehicle-mounted stabilization systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively maintains the work tool's position level with gravity, enhancing vehicle stability, reducing load spillage, and enabling more versatile operations on uneven terrain, including grading and earth moving tasks, without requiring a vehicle-mounted IMU.
Implementation Method 1
a position detection sensor operable to detect data related to an orientation of the work tool relative to a direction of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A utility vehicle comprising a main frame, a movable subframe coupled with the main frame, a work tool coupled with the movable subframe by a rotational attachment, an actuator coupled with the rotational attachment, wherein the work tool rotates, by the rotational attachment, relative to the movable subframe about an axis that is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the main frame, a position detection sensor operable to detect data related to an orientation of the work tool relative to a direction of gravity, a computer-readable memory storing operation information, where an electronic processor is configured to receive a first work tool position data from the position detection sensor about a first position of the work tool, send a work tool rotation signal to the actuator, move the work tool to a second position wherein the second position comprises a position substantially level with gravity.