Dump Truck Engine Power Control for Predicted Work Waiting Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine control systems for haulage dump trucks often compromise transportation efficiency when attempting to reduce fuel consumption, as they solely rely on load-based engine power suppression, leading to decreased traveling speed and potential deterioration in transportation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controller that considers both engine load and work waiting time to dynamically adjust engine power suppression, allowing for a balance between improved transportation efficiency and reduced fuel consumption by delaying arrival at the destination within the work waiting time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If engine output power is suppressed solely based on load to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel consumption amount is reduced, but traveling speed is reduced leading to deterioration in transportation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumption amountVSAvoidtransportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The engine control system dynamically adjusts the power suppression amount based on real-time work waiting time predictions. When work waiting time is long, larger power suppression is applied to reduce fuel consumption. When work waiting time is short, power suppression is reduced or eliminated to maintain traveling speed and transportation efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the control strategy adaptive to changing operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the engine output power parameter based on the predicted work waiting time. By calculating the expected waiting time at the destination and combining it with current load conditions, the controller selects an appropriate power suppression amount from multiple levels. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize fuel consumption without permanently sacrificing transportation efficiency, as the power level is adjusted according to specific operational contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If engine power suppression amount is increased to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel consumption amount is reduced, but work amount is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumption amountVSAvoidwork amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary calculation of the work waiting time before the haulage vehicle arrives at the destination. Based on this advance knowledge and the current engine load, the system determines the optimal power suppression amount to apply during the remaining journey. This preliminary action allows the system to reduce fuel consumption through power suppression while ensuring that the vehicle still arrives in time to maintain its work cycle and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the predicted work waiting time and actual load conditions to adjust the power suppression amount. The controller continuously monitors whether the predicted waiting time aligns with actual operational conditions and adjusts the power suppression accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that fuel consumption is reduced without compromising the work amount, as the system can respond to changing conditions in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3376006B1Transport vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3376006B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376006B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376006B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a dump truck that includes an engine (1) and an ECU (7) controlling the engine (1) and that performs a predetermined operation after arriving at a destination. The ECU (7) is configured to makes larger an engine power suppression amount on a route leading the dump truck to the destination as a work waiting time that is a prediction time elapsing from an arrival of the dump truck at the destination to a start of the operation by the dump truck is longer and as an engine load of the dump truck is lower.