Commercial Vehicle Front-Loader Control for Engine Stall Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Front loaders on commercial vehicles face challenges in loading operations due to the increased resistance encountered when the loading tool immerses into the load, which can exceed the performance of the internal combustion engine, leading to potential engine stalling, especially for less experienced operators.

Innovation Solution

A control unit monitors the loading process to detect potential overload conditions and automatically brings the vehicle to a drive-neutral standstill by intervening in the drive and brake management systems, ensuring the engine is not overloaded during the loading operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the loading tool is driven into the load during forward travel, then the loading operation can be performed, but the resistance may exceed the engine performance causing engine stalling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading operation efficiencyVSAvoidengine stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit proactively monitors the driving state and loading process to detect potential overload conditions before they occur. When a potential overload is detected, the system preemptively brings the commercial vehicle to a drive-neutral standstill by interrupting the drive connection and actuating wheel brakes, preventing the engine from stalling during the loading operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the driver manually controls both vehicle travel and loader linkage, then coordination is required, but this increases operational difficulty and risk of engine overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading process controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the driving state through sensors detecting accelerator pedal position, drive lever position, and wheel rotation direction. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically detect when forward travel is intended or occurring, and when combined with loading tool immersion, triggers the drive-neutral standstill to prevent engine overload, thereby simplifying operator control while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the drive connection is interrupted to prevent overload, then engine stalling is prevented, but the vehicle must be brought to standstill during loading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine performance protectionVSAvoidloading process interruption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring of the driving state and loading process, detecting potential overload conditions in real-time. The drive connection is intermittently interrupted only when necessary to prevent engine stalling, allowing the loading operation to proceed with minimal interruptions while protecting engine performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4621136A1Method for supporting a charging process
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 DEERE & CO
  • EP4621136A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4621136A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4621136A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Method for assisting a loading process, in which a front loader (16) is provided on a commercial vehicle (14), which front loader comprises a loading tool (18) for receiving a load (20) and a hydraulically adjustable loader linkage (24) for pivoting and for raising or lowering the loading tool (18), wherein a control unit (52) monitors, during the execution of a loading process, whether a travel state indicating a current or intended forward travel of the commercial vehicle (14) leads to a potential overload state of a travel drive (40) provided for carrying out the forward travel, in order to automatically bring the commercial vehicle (14) into a drive-neutral standstill and to hold it there in a loading assistance mode by intervening in a drive and/or brake management system (64).