Fuel Supply Pump Control for Construction Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machines require multiple dedicated sensors to manage fuel supply, leading to increased components, maintenance costs, and decreased workability due to potential clogging and fuel disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A control section in the fuel supply apparatus calculates fuel remaining amounts using a fuel gauge and determines if fuel supply is disrupted or the strainer is clogged, eliminating the need for dedicated sensors by integrating fuel supply determination and notification within the control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated sensors are used to detect fuel supply status and strainer clogging, then fuel supply monitoring reliability is improved, but the number of components and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control section is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the fuel supply pump operation, monitors fuel supply status by analyzing pump operation patterns, and detects strainer clogging conditions. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensors while maintaining monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the fuel supply monitoring function and strainer clogging detection function into the existing control section that already manages the fuel supply pump. By merging these monitoring functions with the control logic, the system reduces component count while achieving comprehensive fuel supply management.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated sensors are installed for fuel supply detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but maintenance costs and workability degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control section performs self-diagnosis by analyzing the operation status of the fuel supply pump itself. The system detects fuel supply disruptions and strainer clogging by monitoring the pump's operational characteristics, eliminating the need for external sensors that would require separate maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section continuously monitors the fuel supply pump operation and uses feedback from the pump's performance to detect abnormalities. When fuel supply is disrupted or the strainer becomes clogged, the pump's operation changes, and the control section detects these changes to trigger appropriate responses without requiring additional sensing components.
3Reliability
If the fuel supply pump runs continuously to ensure fuel supply, then fuel supply reliability is improved, but the risk of pump seizure increases when fuel container is empty
Solution Approach 1:
The control section monitors the fuel supply status in real-time by analyzing pump operation patterns. When fuel supply is disrupted (such as when the fuel container becomes empty), the control section detects this condition and automatically stops the fuel supply pump, preventing pump seizure while maintaining fuel supply reliability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section detects fuel supply disruptions before they can cause pump damage. By monitoring pump operation characteristics and identifying supply issues early, the system takes preventive action to stop the pump before it runs dry and seizes, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of pump seizure while maintaining continuous fuel supply capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel supply apparatus able to stop actuating of a fuel supply pump when the fuel supply is stopped or becomes slow, includes a control section which calculates an amount of the fuel in the fuel tank based upon a signal from a fuel gauge, and outputs the result to a fuel meter. The control section also calculates from the fuel gauge signal the amount of the fuel supplied into the fuel tank per unit of time, and if the amount of the fuel supplied per unit of time is determined to be less than a set supply rate, the fuel supply pump is stopped so that a malfunction of the fuel supply can be detected without mounting a special fuel supply sensor.