Lift Arm Assembly Repositioning for Low-Clearance Refuse Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicles face challenges in navigating low clearance environments and efficiently positioning lift arms without obstructing the operator's view or requiring manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A refuse vehicle equipped with a telescoping lift arm assembly and a control system that automatically adjusts the lift arm positions based on environmental data and vehicle speed, providing visual indications and allowing for automatic repositioning to accommodate low clearance areas while maintaining operator visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lift assembly is positioned in a high clearance position (stowed position above the body), then the vehicle has better operator visibility and access, but the vehicle cannot navigate low clearance environments
Solution Approach 1:
The lift assembly is made dynamically adjustable between multiple positions (stowed, transit, and working positions) rather than being fixed. The control system automatically transitions the lift assembly between these positions based on detected clearance conditions, allowing the vehicle to adapt its profile height dynamically to navigate both high and low clearance environments while maintaining operator visibility when appropriate
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lift assembly is automatically repositioned to accommodate low clearance environments, then the vehicle can navigate tight spaces, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically detects clearance conditions using sensors and autonomously repositions the lift assembly without requiring manual operator intervention. The system monitors its own state and the environment, making decisions about when to transition between positions based on pre-programmed logic, thereby reducing the need for complex manual control interfaces while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors clearance conditions through sensors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the lift assembly position. The system receives input about the environment (clearance height detection) and responds by transitioning the lift assembly to appropriate positions, creating a closed-loop control system that manages complexity through automated decision-making based on real-time conditions
3Reliability
If the vehicle speed is limited when the lift assembly is not in the transit position, then safety is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system proactively transitions the lift assembly to the transit position before the vehicle enters low clearance zones, based on pre-detection of clearance conditions. By preparing the vehicle configuration in advance, the system eliminates the need for speed limitations during normal operation, maintaining both safety and productivity through anticipatory positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a cab, a lift assembly coupled to the chassis and/or the body, and a control system. The lift assembly includes a first arm, a second arm, an implement coupled to the first arm and the second arm, and an actuator positioned to pivot the first arm and the second arm to facilitate repositioning the implement between a plurality of positions. The control system is configured to (i) control a user interface to provide an indication of a current position of the lift assembly, (ii) automatically reposition the lift assembly without requiring operator intervention to accommodate a low clearance environment, and/or (iii) limit a speed of the refuse vehicle in response to the current position not being a transit position.