Draft Control Assembly for Work Vehicle Reverse Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing draft control assemblies for work vehicles are ineffective in optimizing traction efficiency when moving in reverse direction, leading to increased pushing force and potential vehicle stoppage due to uncontrolled draft force variations.

Innovation Solution

A draft control assembly with detection means to measure draft force and control unit to adjust implement position based on threshold values specific to forward and reverse directions, using selection means to determine the vehicle's direction and slippage detection to prevent wheel slippage, ensuring optimal draft force management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the known draft control assembly lowers the implements to increase draft force during reverse movement, then the draft force increases, but the pushing force increases even more causing vehicle stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedraft forceVSAvoidpushing force
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The draft control assembly dynamically adjusts implement position based on detected vehicle movement direction. When reverse movement is detected, the control unit raises the implements to reduce pushing force; when forward movement is detected, it lowers the implements to increase draft force. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by changing the system's response based on operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detection means to continuously monitor vehicle movement direction and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the implement position through drive means, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents harmful pushing force buildup during reverse operation while maintaining optimal draft force during forward operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the draft control assembly uses a single threshold value for draft force control, then the control system is simple, but traction efficiency is not optimized during reverse direction movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments the draft force control into two distinct modes based on vehicle movement direction: forward movement mode with first threshold value and reverse movement mode with second threshold value. This segmentation allows optimization of traction efficiency for each direction while keeping the overall control structure manageable through clear conditional logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different control parameters (threshold values) locally appropriate to each operating condition. The first threshold value is optimized for forward movement to maximize draft force utilization, while the second threshold value is optimized for reverse movement to prevent pushing force buildup. This local quality approach ensures optimal traction efficiency in each specific operating context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4136950B1Draft control assembly, draft control method and work vehicle comprising such draft control assembly
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 CNH IND ITALIA SPA
  • EP4136950B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4136950B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Draft control assembly for a work vehicle (1) movable in an advancement or a reverse direction (F, R), coupable to implements and comprising drive means (5) adapted to raise and lower the implements; the draft control assembly (10) comprises selection means (13), which select whether the work vehicle (1) moves in the advancement or the reverse direction (F, R); detection means (11) adapted to detect a draft force; and a control unit (12) connected to the selection, the detection means (13, 11) and the drive means (5); wherein, when the work vehicle (1) moves in the reverse direction, the drive means (5) are controlled to lower the implements if the draft force is greater than a first threshold value (D2) but lower than a second threshold value (D1), which is greater than the first threshold value (D2), and to raise the implements if the draft force is lower than the first threshold value (D2).