Work Vehicle Blade Position Adjustment to Prevent Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced Grade Control Systems for work vehicles like crawler dozers do not adequately prevent bridging, which can damage the vehicle and create unsafe working conditions, especially when the vehicle is stationary or unable to cut through materials.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that adjusts the blade position of work vehicles using a processor to determine if the chassis pitch angle exceeds a threshold, calculating an offset to raise the blade to a height above the grade, thereby inhibiting bridging by preventing downward blade movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the blade is continuously lowered to achieve the desired grade, then the grading precision is improved, but the risk of bridging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting bridging conditions (through pitch angle sensors and blade position feedback) before actual bridging occurs, and preemptively adjusting blade height to prevent the harmful effect. The control system monitors chassis pitch angle and blade penetration force, and when bridging is detected or predicted, it automatically raises the blade to counteract the downward movement tendency, thus preventing bridging while maintaining grading accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring blade position, chassis pitch angle, and penetration force, and using this information to dynamically adjust blade height. The Grade Control System receives feedback from sensors about actual blade penetration and chassis attitude, compares it with desired values, and automatically corrects blade position to maintain both grading precision and prevent bridging, resolving the contradiction between continuous lowering and bridging prevention.
2Productivity
If the blade penetration force is increased to cut through materials, then the productivity is improved, but the bridging risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the blade penetration force and height dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The control system continuously adapts blade penetration force based on real-time conditions (material hardness, ground slope, vehicle speed), allowing high penetration force when needed for productivity while automatically reducing it when bridging risk is detected, thus resolving the contradiction between cutting capability and bridging prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (blade height, penetration force, cutting angle) dynamically based on feedback from sensors. When material resistance increases or bridging is detected, the system adjusts these parameters to maintain effective cutting while preventing bridging, enabling both high productivity and safety through adaptive parameter modification.
3Manufacturing precision
If the blade height is reduced to improve grading accuracy, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the blade may get stuck in the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by continuously monitoring blade penetration resistance and ground conditions before the blade becomes stuck. When increased resistance is detected (indicating potential sticking), the system preemptively adjusts blade height or penetration force to prevent the blade from becoming stuck, thus maintaining both grading accuracy and operational reliability through advance intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for inhibiting the bridging of a work vehicle. A method adjusts a position of an implement of a work vehicle to inhibit a bridging of the work vehicle. The method includes: receiving, by a processor associated with the work vehicle, a chassis pitch angle associated with a chassis of the work vehicle from the Grade Control System; determining, by the processor, whether the chassis pitch angle is greater than a predefined threshold; receiving, by the processor, a current height of the implement relative to a grade from the Grade Control System; determining, by the processor, an offset to move the implement to a height above the grade based on the current height of the implement; and outputting, by the processor, the offset to the Grade Control System to move the implement to inhibit the bridging of the work vehicle.