Hydraulic Function Priority Control for Faster Work Vehicle Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic systems in construction and agricultural vehicles face inefficiencies due to non-uniform task goals, leading to suboptimal trade-offs in fluid flow distribution, which can be addressed by prioritizing hydraulic function based on position and motion data.
Innovation Solution
A control system that utilizes position and movement data to optimize hydraulic fluid flow sharing by selectively providing fluid to actuators based on operation modes and vehicle specifications, reducing cycle times and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic fluid is distributed to all potential activities simultaneously, then all actuators can operate, but the system achieves less-than-optimal trade-offs and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple priority levels, with critical functions (e.g., steering, braking) receiving guaranteed fluid flow while non-critical functions receive flow only when resources are available. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to serve multiple functions adaptively while maintaining high productivity for prioritized operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes hydraulic fluid flow parameters (flow rate, pressure allocation) based on real-time operational conditions and priority assignments. By adjusting these parameters according to system state, the hydraulic system achieves both adaptability across different operations and optimized productivity for current tasks.
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic fluid flow is shared equally among all actuators, then all movable elements can be actuated, but cycle times increase and operational speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic fluid flow distribution is made dynamic rather than static, with real-time adjustment of flow allocation based on operational priority, system load, and task requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain ease of operation for all actuators while optimizing speed for high-priority functions by allocating greater flow to them when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor actuator performance, system pressure, and flow consumption to continuously adjust fluid distribution. This feedback loop enables the hydraulic system to balance ease of operation across all actuators while accelerating response time for critical operations through adaptive flow management.
3Reliability
If the hydraulic system prioritizes critical functions, then operational reliability improves, but non-critical functions may experience delays
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system performs preliminary actions by pre-allocating fluid flow to critical functions and maintaining them in a ready state with sufficient pressure and flow capacity. This preliminary preparation ensures that when critical operations are needed, they can execute immediately with high reliability, while non-critical functions can wait for available flow capacity without compromising overall system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system of a work vehicle to one or more fluid demand subsystems, thereby prioritizing the output of one or more actuators associated with the one or more fluid demand subsystems. A control system of the work vehicle may comprise an operator input system, a sensor array, and a controller is configured to determine an operation mode of the work vehicle based at least upon the state of the work vehicle and an input command. The control system may be further configured to generate a modified command based on the determined operation mode, the input command, and specifications of the work vehicle. The modified command may then used to provide hydraulic fluid to a fluid demand subsystem and drive movement of movable elements of the work vehicle.