Crawler Dozer Blade Cushioning With Switchable Hydraulic Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crawler dozers lack effective cushioned blades that can change angles, making them less efficient for material movement and prone to damage during earth cutting operations and pushing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A blade cushioning system with a hydraulic actuator, accumulator, and control valve, controlled by a controller, allows the blade to pivot or maintain angle based on operating conditions, providing cushioned or non-cushioned responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cushioned blades are used, then cushioning is provided, but the blade size is small and angle adjustment is limited, reducing effectiveness for material movement
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is made dynamically adjustable with multiple degrees of freedom. The blade can pivot about a longitudinal axis and the entire assembly can tilt relative to the push beam through hydraulic actuators. This dynamic capability allows the blade to adapt its angle for both cushioning operations and material movement, resolving the contradiction between protection and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides cushioning protection when pivoting to absorb impact forces, and it enables effective material movement when positioned at optimal cutting angles. The universal design allows a single blade assembly to replace multiple specialized tools, addressing both the cushioning need and the material movement effectiveness requirement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cushioned blades are used for pushing vehicles, then vehicle protection is improved, but the blade becomes less effective for earth cutting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly incorporates dynamic angle adjustment capabilities through hydraulic tilt actuators. During earth cutting operations, the blade can be positioned at optimal cutting angles for maximum effectiveness. When pushing vehicles, the blade can pivot to absorb impact forces. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to excel at both vehicle protection and earth cutting without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (blade angle, pivot position) based on the task at hand. For earth cutting, the blade is positioned at aggressive cutting angles with full structural rigidity. For vehicle pushing, the blade pivots to cushioning positions that absorb impact. These parameter changes allow the same blade assembly to optimize performance for each specific operation, resolving the contradiction between vehicle protection and cutting effectiveness.
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
Enhances the efficiency and durability of crawler dozers by minimizing damage to components and vehicles while maintaining functionality for earth cutting and pushing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic actuator, interconnecting the push beam and the work tool and configured for moving the work tool relative to the push beam in response to fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator
Implementation Method 3
a control valve disposed fluidly between the accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, wherein the control valve is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the accumulator and the hydraulic actuator and a closed position blocking fluid communication
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle comprising a push beam, a work tool, a hydraulic actuator, interconnecting the push beam and the work tool and configured for moving the work tool, an accumulator, wherein the accumulator is fluidly coupled with the hydraulic actuator, a control valve disposed between the accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, wherein the control valve is controllable between an open position and a closed position, a controller configured to receive a cushion control signal selecting one of a cushioned operating condition for providing a cushioned response between the work tool and the push beam and a non-cushioned operating condition for providing non-cushioned response between the work tool and the push beam, control the control valve to the open position when the cushion control signal indicates the cushioned operating condition, and control the control valve to the closed position when the cushion control signal indicates the non-cushioned operating condition.