Bucket Tilt-Dump Lever Switching to Prevent Unintended Auto Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of work vehicles may unintentionally trigger automatic drive control by mistakenly tilting or dumping the operating lever by a predetermined amount, leading to unintended operation of attachments, which affects the operability of the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A controller is implemented in the work vehicle that disables automatic drive control if the switching time between tilt and dump operations is less than a predetermined disabling time period, allowing the operator to manually control the attachment with smaller increments without initiating automatic functions, and re-enables the control when the switching time exceeds a predetermined enabling period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the operator performs manual operations to adjust the work implement, then the work implement can be positioned, but the positioning precision is insufficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidpositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect the work implement's position and a controller to automatically adjust it. This substitution of mechanical manual control with an automated sensing-and-control system resolves the contradiction by achieving both high positioning precision and reduced positioning time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The work implement performs self-positioning through the automated control system that continuously monitors its own position via sensors and makes self-correcting adjustments without operator intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the time loss and precision limitations of manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the work vehicle travels at high speed, then productivity is improved, but stability during work operations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel speedVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamic control by using sensors to continuously detect the work vehicle's posture and position, then the controller dynamically adjusts the work implement's position in real-time to compensate for vibrations and instability caused by high-speed travel. This dynamic adjustment maintains operational stability while allowing high travel speeds for improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If automatic control is implemented for work implement positioning, then positioning precision and speed are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a single control system that simultaneously performs detection, calculation, and control operations. The controller not only positions the work implement but also manages communication with the mobile device and coordinates with the work vehicle's existing systems, reducing overall complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3572589B1Work vehicle and method for controlling work vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP3572589B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3572589B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3572589B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

A controller (25) executes an automatic drive control to automatically tilt a bucket (4) to a prescribed tilt position when an operating lever (CL) is operated by a first tilt operation amount (P1) or greater to a tilt side, and to cause the bucket (4) to automatically dump to a prescribed dump position when the operating lever (CL) is operated to a first dump operation position (P1') or greater to a dump side. The controller (25) disables the automatic drive control when a switching time period (Tc) required for the operating lever (CL) to be switched from the tilt side to the dump side is equal to or less than a disabling time period (Tp), or when the switching time period (Tc) required for the operating lever (CL) to be switched from the dump side to the tilt side is equal to or less than the disabling time period (Tp).