Material Ejector Controller for Consistent Spreading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing material ejector systems for vehicles face challenges in maintaining even material spreading when vehicle speed changes, particularly on inclines or when obstacles are encountered, as they require operators to carefully control vehicle speed to ensure consistent ejector blade speed, complicating vehicle operation and potentially leading to uneven material distribution.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that adjusts the speed of the ejector blade relative to the material container based on vehicle speed and desired material depth, using a hydraulic multistage cylinder driven by a variable displacement pump, allowing for automatic compensation of changes in vehicle speed to maintain consistent material spreading, even when the vehicle is moving on uneven terrain or encountering obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the ejector blade speed is maintained constant using a hydraulic multistage cylinder with different fluid volumes, then the material can be spread evenly on the ground, but the operator must carefully control the vehicle speed which increases the difficulty of vehicle operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial spreading uniformityVSAvoidvehicle operation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fluid volume parameter in the hydraulic multistage cylinder to adapt to different vehicle speeds. When vehicle speed changes, the controller selects appropriate cylinder stages with different fluid volumes to maintain consistent ejector blade speed, thereby keeping material spreading uniform while allowing the vehicle to operate at varying speeds without requiring careful speed control by the operator

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from vehicle speed sensors to automatically adjust the ejector blade speed. The controller continuously monitors vehicle speed and adjusts the hydraulic cylinder fluid volume accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal ejector blade speed regardless of vehicle speed variations, eliminating the need for operator intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle speed changes due to obstructions or inclines, then the vehicle can navigate terrain variations, but the material is no longer spread evenly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterrain adaptabilityVSAvoidmaterial spreading uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the ejector blade speed is automatically adjusted in real-time based on vehicle speed changes. The hydraulic multistage cylinder can transition between different stages to provide dynamic speed compensation, allowing the system to adapt to terrain variations while maintaining consistent material spreading uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the fluid volume parameter in the hydraulic cylinder in response to vehicle speed changes caused by terrain variations. This parameter adjustment ensures that the ejector blade speed remains optimal even when the vehicle encounters obstructions or inclines, thereby maintaining material spreading uniformity across varying terrain conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system ensures even and consistent material spreading across the ground, simplifying vehicle operation by automatically adjusting the ejector blade speed in response to changes in vehicle speed, reducing the need for manual control and maintaining material depth consistency.

Implementation Method 1

The ejector blade speed may be determined from a rate at which fluid is injected into the hydraulic multistage cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP2976235B1Method and apparatus for controlling a material ejector system
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 CATERPILLAR SARL
  • EP2976235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2976235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2976235B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the spreading of a material (30) by pushing the material (30) from the back of a vehicle (10) using a material ejector system (40) whilst the vehicle (10) is moving. The depth of the spread material and how evenly it is spread is dependent on a number of factors that can be difficult and complicated for an operator of the vehicle (10) to control. In the present disclosure the speed at which the material is ejected from the vehicle (10) is set on the basis of a measured speed of the vehicle (10).