Ground Milling Machine Actuator Feedback for Parallel Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ground milling machines require manual adjustment by the driver to position the milling drum box parallel to the ground, which is inefficient and prone to errors due to the need for visual estimation, and existing solutions with ground contact sensors are affected by dirt, reducing their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses actuators for height adjustment of the milling drum box side plates to detect ground contact indirectly by measuring changes in operating parameters, allowing for automated positioning of the machine frame and milling drum relative to the ground without separate ground contact sensors, thereby enabling precise longitudinal and transverse inclination adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment by driver is used to position the milling drum box parallel to the ground, then the positioning can be performed, but it is inefficient and prone to errors due to visual estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the operating parameters of the actuators (force, current, voltage) and feeds this information back to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the side plate height to maintain optimal ground contact, eliminating the need for manual visual estimation and improving both precision and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system with an automated control system that uses sensor data (operating parameters of actuators) and electronic control to position the milling drum box, substituting human operation with an automated feedback-controlled mechanism
2Extent of automation
If ground contact sensors are used to detect ground contact, then automated positioning can be achieved, but the sensors are affected by dirt, reducing their effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the actuator itself as an intermediary element to detect ground contact indirectly through its operating parameters (force, current, voltage), rather than using separate ground contact sensors that are directly exposed to dirt and milled material, thus maintaining automation while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a functional copy of the ground contact detection function by measuring the operating parameters of the actuator, which indirectly reflect ground contact conditions without requiring physical contact sensors in the dirty environment
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If separate ground contact sensors are used for detection, then ground contact can be detected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed to serve multiple functions: it not only adjusts the height of the side plate but also detects ground contact conditions through its operating parameters, eliminating the need for separate detection sensors and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The detection function is merged with the actuator by monitoring its operating parameters (force, current, voltage), combining the adjustment and detection functions into a single component rather than using separate sensors, thereby simplifying the system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for positioning a milling drum box of a ground milling machine, in particular of a road milling machine, a recycler or a stabilizer, arranged on a machine frame relative to the ground, comprising the steps of: detecting the presence or absence of a ground contact, in particular in a region located in the front or a region located in the rear in the working direction (a), of at least one side plate of the milling drum box of the ground milling machine, and controlling a lifting and/or a lowering of the machine frame depending on the detected presence or absence of a ground contact. The present invention also relates to a ground milling machine for carrying out the method.