Lifting Vehicle Transverse Stability Control via Load Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stability control systems for lifting vehicles primarily focus on longitudinal stability, neglecting transverse stability, which is crucial for operational safety, especially on uneven terrains, and can lead to serious accidents.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a stability control system that includes first and second load sensors to provide information on the loads acting on the front wheels, an electronic control unit to calculate and compare the transverse dimension of the vehicle's center of gravity with reference values, and real-time feedback to operators through displays and warning signals for both longitudinal and transverse stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the stability control system only checks longitudinal stability using existing sensors, then the system complexity is low, but the transverse stability control capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse stability control capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing load sensors on the front wheels are made to serve dual purposes: they continue to provide longitudinal stability information while also providing transverse stability information. The electronic control unit is programmed to process this existing sensor data for both longitudinal and transverse stability assessments, eliminating the need for additional dedicated transverse sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic control unit changes the parameters being analyzed from the existing sensor data. Instead of only analyzing longitudinal load distribution, the system now calculates transverse dimension of center of gravity position by comparing load values between left and right front wheels, transforming the same sensor inputs into transverse stability information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If load sensors are added to monitor transverse stability, then the measurement precision of transverse stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransverse stability measurement precisionVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front wheel load sensors are designed with multi-functionality to simultaneously measure both longitudinal and transverse stability parameters. By strategically positioning these sensors on the front wheels and programming the control unit to analyze the data from multiple angles, the system achieves comprehensive stability monitoring without adding dedicated transverse sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing sensor infrastructure serves itself by providing transverse stability measurement capabilities through its existing longitudinal stability monitoring function. The system uses its own existing resources (load sensors and control unit) to achieve the additional transverse stability measurement function without requiring external additions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3059202B1A lifting vehicle with a transverse stability control system
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 MERLO PROJECT SRL
  • EP3059202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3059202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3059202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lifting vehicle comprising: - a frame (12) carrying a front axle (20) and a rear axle (22), carrying a pair of front wheels (24d, 24s) and a pair of rear wheels (25d, 25s), respectively, - a lifting boom (16) articulated in a rear section (18) of the frame (12), and - a stability control system (36) configured to control the conditions of operational stability of the vehicle, wherein said stability control system (36) comprises: - a first and a second load sensor (26d, 26s) configured to provide information about the loads acting on the front right wheel (24d) and on the front left wheel (24s), and - an electronic control unit (38) programmed for: - calculating a transverse dimension (Y) of the position of the center of gravity (G) of the vehicle according to the values provided by said first load sensor (26d) and said second load sensor (26s), - comparing the transverse dimension (Y) of the position of the center of gravity (G) of the vehicle with reference values (54, 56) and, - reporting conditions of transversal instability of the vehicle when said calculated value of the transverse dimension (Y) exceeds a corresponding reference value (54, 56).