Dump Height Control System for Wheel Loaders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Controlling the dump height of a material engaging work implement in machines like wheel loaders is complex, requiring significant operator skill and simultaneous manipulation of multiple input devices, especially when transitioning between loading and dumping operations, and existing systems lack efficient autonomous or semi-autonomous solutions.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a linkage assembly with position sensors and a controller that stores identifying codes for dump bodies, determines desired dump heights based on minimum lifting heights, and generates commands to position the linkage assembly and dump material effectively, enabling semi-autonomous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control of dump height is used, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operator skill requirement and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically determines dump height by receiving identifying codes from dump bodies, retrieving corresponding desired dump heights from memory, and positioning the linkage assembly without requiring manual operator input for height adjustment. The system serves itself by autonomously completing the control function that previously required skilled operator intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated control system that uses identifying code recognition, memory retrieval, and automated command generation to control linkage positioning. This substitutes the mechanical skill-based control method with an automated electronic control system.
2Ease of operation
If automated dump height positioning is implemented, then operator workload is reduced, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-stores identifying codes and corresponding desired dump heights in memory before operation. When a dump body is identified, the system retrieves the pre-stored information and automatically positions the linkage, eliminating the need for real-time manual calculation or adjustment and significantly reducing operator workload.
3Reliability
If dump height is not precisely controlled, then equipment wear increases and material spillage occurs, but maintaining precise height requires complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives identifying codes from dump bodies, retrieves predetermined dump height information from memory, and uses this feedback to automatically position the linkage assembly at the correct height. This closed-loop approach ensures consistent dump height while using relatively simple control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for setting a dump height of a work implement includes a linkage assembly and a linkage position sensor. In one embodiment, a controller stores an identifying code corresponding to the dump body, stores a desired dump height, associates the desired dump height with the identifying code, and subsequently receives the identifying code. In another embodiment, the controller stores a plurality of linkage positions corresponding to a plurality of desired dump heights, receives data indicative of a minimum lifting height of the dump body, and determines a desired dump height at which the linkage assembly is to be positioned. In both embodiments, the controller generates a command to position the linkage assembly at the desired dump height and generates a command to dump material within the material engaging work implement into the dump body.