Excavator Auto-Greasing Control After Long Engine Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing automatic greasing devices for shovels do not adequately grease pin linking members before a set period of time has passed since the shovel's engine was stopped for a long period, potentially leading to insufficient or deteriorated grease when the shovel is restarted, resulting in operational inefficiencies and potential lubrication defects.
Innovation Solution
A shovel with an automatic greasing device that includes a control system to determine the timing of greasing based on past operating conditions, such as elapsed time since the engine was stopped, to ensure appropriate greasing even after long periods of inactivity, using a controller with a time obtaining part, an operating state estimating part, and a greasing controlling part to manage the greasing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the automatic greasing device operates only after a set period of time has passed since the start of the work apparatus, then grease is fed periodically to eliminate waste, but pin linking members may be operated with insufficient or deteriorated grease when the engine is started after being stopped for a long period
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary greasing action when the engine is started after being stopped for a long period, before the work apparatus begins normal operation. This preliminary action ensures that pin linking members are adequately lubricated at the start of operation, preventing insufficient or deteriorated grease conditions while maintaining periodic greasing to eliminate waste.
2Device complexity
If the automatic greasing device feeds grease based on fixed time intervals, then the greasing timing is simple to control, but it cannot adapt to different operating conditions such as long engine stoppages
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts greasing timing based on engine operation status. When the engine is started after being stopped for a long period, the control device activates preliminary greasing. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to different operating conditions without requiring complex control logic, maintaining simplicity while improving versatility.
3Reliability
If the automatic greasing device operates continuously, then all pin linking members are always lubricated, but grease is wasted when the work apparatus is not in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic greasing device operates periodically based on engine operation status rather than continuously. Grease is fed during engine operation and at preliminary stages after long stoppages, but not during extended idle periods. This periodic operation maintains lubrication reliability when needed while eliminating grease waste during non-operational periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A shovel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower traveling body (1), an upper turning body (3) turnably attached to the lower traveling body (1), an automatic greasing device (50) mounted on the upper turning body (3), and a controller (30) configured to control the automatic greasing device (50). The controller (30) is configured to control timing to start greasing by the automatic greasing device (50) based on the past operating condition of the shovel.