Hinged Skid Loader Blade Assembly for Grade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Skid loader operators face challenges in maintaining grade while digging due to the machine's light weight and compact size, leading to difficulties in controlling the front blade, with conventional feedback systems requiring manual correction and causing physical and mental exhaustion.
Innovation Solution
A blade attachment assembly with sliding, pivotable, and adjustable features connected to a skid loader via actuators and sensors, allowing for automatic control and stabilization of the blade's position and orientation, enabling precise grading and digging with reduced operator effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual feedback correction is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operator exhaustion increases and grading precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors blade position relative to the desired grade using sensors and provides automatic feedback control through actuators, eliminating the need for manual interpretation and response to grading conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The skid loader system performs self-correction of blade position automatically through integrated sensors and actuators, freeing the operator from continuous manual adjustment and reducing physical and mental exhaustion
2Ease of operation
If skid loader weight is reduced, then ease of operation is improved, but stability deteriorates causing bouncing and blade control difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The system compensates for the skid loader's light weight and instability by using actuators to apply counteracting forces that stabilize the blade position and prevent bouncing during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical stabilization with an electromechanical control system that uses sensors and actuators to actively manage stability, allowing the light skid loader to operate stably without adding significant weight
3Power
If blade lever arm is extended, then digging capability is improved, but vibration and wiggling increase making control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors monitor the extended blade's position and vibration in real-time, providing feedback to actuators that adjust blade position to counteract wiggling and vibration, enabling precise control despite the extended lever arm
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts blade position and orientation through actuators responding to real-time sensor data, adapting to changing conditions during digging operations to maintain control stability
Data Source
AI summary
A skid loader blade assembly, including a connection plate, at least one vertical actuator operationally connected to the connection plate for moving a blade relative to the plate, and a hinged blade operationally connected to the vertical actuator. The hinged blade further includes a hinge, a first blade portion connected to the hinge, and a second, oppositely disposed blade portion connected to the hinge. The skid loader blade assembly also includes a first pivot actuator operationally connected to the first blade portion and a second pivot actuator operationally connected to the second blade portion.