Utility Vehicle Engine Speed Control for Front Loader Load Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural utility vehicles, such as tractors, face challenges in maintaining consistent vehicle speed due to the influence of front loader operations on engine power, leading to discomfort for operators and potential undesired accelerations or decelerations.
Innovation Solution
A method that predicts or detects the operating state of the front loader to adjust engine speed, ensuring the vehicle speed remains constant by automatically controlling the transmission ratio and limiting engine power only when necessary, thereby reducing fuel consumption and enhancing operator comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the engine power is increased to support front loader operations, then the loading apparatus can perform movement driving, but the vehicle speed is influenced and may change undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The control system predicts future movement driving of the loading apparatus based on the current operating state (activated/deactivated) and proactively increases engine speed before the movement is actually executed. This preliminary action ensures engine power is available when needed while maintaining vehicle speed through coordinated transmission control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the operating state of the loading apparatus and uses this feedback to adjust engine speed dynamically. When movement driving is detected or predicted, the control unit increases engine speed; when not needed, it reduces engine speed to idle, creating a closed-loop control system that balances power availability with vehicle speed stability.
2Power
If the engine speed is increased to adapt to working movements, then the engine power can be automatically increased, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine speed is increased periodically and temporarily only when movement driving of the loading apparatus is predicted or detected, rather than maintaining high speed continuously. After a predetermined waiting period with no movement detected, the engine speed is reduced back to idle, creating a periodic on-demand power delivery pattern that reduces overall fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically changes the engine speed parameter based on the predicted or detected operating state of the loading apparatus. By adjusting this key parameter only when necessary and reducing it after a waiting period, the system optimizes the balance between power availability and fuel consumption.
3Power
If the engine speed is increased in advance to predict movement driving, then the engine power is ready for operation, but extra fuel is consumed during the waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by increasing engine speed in advance when movement driving is predicted based on the activated operating state. This ensures power is ready before actual movement occurs, accepting temporary fuel consumption during the waiting period as a trade-off for operational readiness and responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for controlling engine speed of a drive engine of a utility vehicle having a drivable loading apparatus. The method includes detecting or predicting a driving movement of the loading apparatus, and requesting an increase of engine speed if the movement of the loading apparatus is predicted or detected.