Hydraulic Circuit Auto-Assignment for Tractor-Implement Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural equipment operators face challenges in efficiently configuring and calibrating hydraulic circuits between tractors and implements, leading to time-consuming manual setups and potential incorrect configurations that can result in undesirable performance or damage.
Innovation Solution
An automated system for detecting and assigning hydraulic circuit configurations, confirming directionality, and calibrating operational control units, utilizing sensor devices and control applications to learn and adjust SCV connections, ensuring accurate and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual configuration and calibration of hydraulic circuits is performed, then operators can control the setup process, but setup time is excessive and configuration errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-configuration by having the control unit autonomously detect hydraulic circuit connections through sensor devices, automatically assign SCV connections, and perform calibration without operator intervention. The implement controller independently completes the entire configuration process by monitoring hydraulic sensor signals and storing detected connections in memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and assignment of hydraulic circuit connections before actual implement operation begins. The control unit detects SCV connections and calibrates the system in advance, ensuring the hydraulic system is properly configured and ready for immediate use without requiring manual setup during operation.
2Reliability
If manual SCV connection assignment is performed, then operators can configure hydraulic circuits, but configuration accuracy is reduced and errors may lead to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensor devices that provide real-time feedback signals to the control unit about hydraulic circuit connections and SCV positions. The control unit monitors these feedback signals to automatically detect and verify connections, ensuring accurate configuration and preventing errors that could lead to system damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with an automated electronic detection and assignment system. The control unit uses electronic sensor signals and software logic to detect hydraulic connections and assign SCV mappings, eliminating manual wiring and configuration errors.
3Productivity
If automatic detection and assignment system is implemented, then setup time is reduced and configuration accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it controls implement operations, detects hydraulic circuit connections, assigns SCV mappings, stores configuration data in memory, and performs calibration. This multi-functional approach consolidates the automatic detection system within the existing controller, avoiding the need for separate dedicated detection hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensor devices act as intermediaries between the hydraulic circuit and the control unit, providing electrical signals that represent hydraulic connection states. These intermediary sensors enable the control unit to detect and interpret hydraulic system status without direct physical contact or complex sensing mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (600) for automatic configuration detection and assignment of control of a plurality of hydraulic circuits of an associated work vehicle (1) is disclosed. The system applies (600) to a plurality of operation systems of an associated implement (30) operatively coupled with the associated work vehicle (1), the system 600 comprising: a supervisory control unit (690) operatively coupled with an associated implement communication network of the associated implement (30), the supervisory control unit (690) comprising: a processor (504); a memory device (510) operatively coupled with the processor (504); and logic (690) stored in the memory device (510), the logic (690) being executable by the processor (504) to: determine a physical exercise of a first operation system (662) of the plurality of operation systems of the associated implement (30) caused by an activation of a first hydraulic circuit (SCV1) of the plurality of hydraulic circuits of the associated work vehicle (1); and generate first pairing assignment data (710) representative of the detected physical exercise of the first operation system (662) caused by the activation of the first hydraulic circuit (SCV1), wherein the first hydraulic circuit (SCV1) of the plurality of hydraulic circuits of the associated work vehicle (1) is assigned to a first operation control application (660) based on the first pairing assignment data (710) for control by the first operation control application (660) of the first operation system (662) of the associated implement (30) using the first hydraulic circuit (SCV1) of the associated work vehicle (1). Furthermore, such method is disclosed.