Automated Consumable Supply Inlet Connection for Mobile Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for supplying consumables to mobile usage units, such as agricultural or forestry machines, are not efficient and require significant manual effort from maintenance personnel.
Innovation Solution
A method that automates the supply of consumables to mobile usage units by using a movable delivery connection from a maintenance station to a supply inlet on the usage unit, controlled by a sensor system and a control unit to ensure precise and efficient delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual supply of consumables is used, then maintenance personnel can control the process, but the process is inefficient and requires significant manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The usage unit automatically identifies itself and its supply inlets to the maintenance station through RFID communication. The system autonomously determines the correct supply inlet without requiring manual intervention from maintenance personnel, enabling the system to serve itself in the identification and connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated system combining RFID identification, automated movement control, and automated valve control. The maintenance station automatically navigates to the correct position and controls the delivery connection, eliminating the need for manual positioning and connection operations.
2Productivity
If automated supply is implemented, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance station is designed as a universal system that can serve multiple usage units and different supply inlets through automated identification and navigation. The RFID reader and automated movement control enable the system to adapt to different configurations without requiring separate manual procedures for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an RFID identifier and RFID reader as intermediary components to enable automatic identification and communication between the usage unit and maintenance station. This intermediary system simplifies the automation process by providing reliable automatic recognition without requiring complex vision systems or manual input.
3Quantity of substance
If delivery connection is opened during supply, then consumable can be delivered, but accuracy of quantity control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback through the RFID communication channel and automated monitoring to track the supply process. The control unit receives information about the connection status and supply progress, enabling it to control the opening and closing of the delivery connection precisely to achieve the desired quantity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supplying a mobile usage unit with a consumable delivered by a movable delivery connection of a maintenance station to a supply inlet of the mobile usage unit includes identifying via a sensor system a supply inlet of the mobile usage unit, the sensor system providing data to a control unit, fluidly connecting via the control unit the delivery connection to the identified supply inlet, delivering via the control unit the consumable to the supply inlet, and after the delivery of the consumable has terminated, fluidly separating via the control unit the delivery connection from the supply inlet.