Fuel Consumption Measurement System for Work Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

In work vehicles, frequent changes in engine drive states and fuel injection amounts due to repeated driving and stopping make it challenging to accurately measure fuel consumption, leading to potential inaccuracies in fuel consumption measurement.

Innovation Solution

A fuel consumption measurement system that includes first and second fuel data calculation units, a correction coefficient calculation unit, and a correction coefficient storage unit, which determine a correction coefficient based on fuel injection amounts and fuel tank changes, ensuring accurate fuel consumption data by stabilizing the measurement under specific travel conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If fuel consumption is measured by accumulating fuel injection amount indicated by fuel injection command, then real-time measurement is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to frequent changes in fuel injection amount and limitation on response performance of fuel injection device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time measurement speedVSAvoidfuel consumption measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a correction coefficient as an intermediary element that mediates between the fuel injection command data and the actual fuel consumption measurement. This correction coefficient, derived from the relationship between fuel injection amount and actual fuel consumption, compensates for the inaccuracies introduced by frequent changes in drive states and response limitations of the fuel injection device, thereby maintaining both real-time measurement capability and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the correction coefficient based on changing drive states and operating conditions. By monitoring parameters such as fuel injection amount, actual fuel consumption, and drive state changes, the system modifies the correction coefficient to adapt to varying conditions, ensuring accurate fuel consumption measurement across different operating scenarios while maintaining real-time measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If correction coefficient is calculated based on frequent changes in fuel injection amount, then real-time correction is achieved, but correction accuracy deteriorates due to instability in measurement data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrection coefficient calculation speedVSAvoidcorrection coefficient accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary calculations of the correction coefficient during periods of stable drive state before actual fuel consumption measurement is needed. By pre-calculating and storing correction coefficients under various stable operating conditions, the system avoids the need to calculate correction coefficients during frequent transient changes, thereby maintaining both real-time responsiveness and correction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares correction coefficients in advance during stable operating periods to cushion against the instability that occurs during frequent drive state changes. By having pre-calculated correction coefficients ready for different operating conditions, the system protects against accuracy deterioration that would result from attempting to calculate corrections during transient, unstable periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fuel consumption measurement is performed during frequent driving and stopping operations, then work vehicle operational flexibility is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to unstable drive states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework vehicle operational flexibilityVSAvoidfuel consumption measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic measurement approach that adapts to the work vehicle's operational flexibility. The system continuously monitors drive state stability and dynamically adjusts the measurement strategy - using pre-calculated correction coefficients during transient periods and performing real-time measurements during stable periods. This dynamic adaptation maintains operational flexibility while ensuring measurement accuracy across varying work conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3438622B1System for measuring fuel consumption of work vehicle and method for measuring fuel consumption of work vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP3438622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3438622B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3438622B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A fuel consumption measurement system of a work vehicle includes a first fuel data calculation unit configured to calculate first fuel data related to fuel consumption, based on a fuel injection amount injected to an engine, a second fuel data calculation unit configured to calculate second fuel data related to fuel consumption, based on a change amount of a fuel amount in a fuel tank, a correction coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate a correction coefficient based on the first fuel data and the second fuel data, a correction coefficient determination unit configured to determine whether the correction coefficient falls within a prescribed range, a fuel consumption data calculation unit configured to calculate fuel consumption data indicating a fuel consumption rate, based on the correction coefficient determined to fall within the prescribed range, and the first fuel data, and an output unit configured to output the fuel consumption data.