Mine Detonating Apparatus Steering via Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mine detonating apparatuses face challenges such as the need for a rear roller assembly, which is impractical for some vehicle types, high hydraulic energy consumption, and instability, especially on low friction surfaces, making it difficult to ensure the rollers follow the vehicle's path accurately and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A mine detonating apparatus with a frame structure pivotably mounted to the vehicle, featuring ground engaging means and actuators that adjust relative to the vehicle's path using feedback signals from transducers and a controller, allowing for automatic steering and alignment to cover the path driven by the vehicle with minimal energy expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rear roller assembly is used to provide mechanical feedback for steering the front roller assembly, then the rollers can be steered to follow the vehicle's path, but the device complexity increases and the arrangement is unpractical for some vehicle types
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the rear roller assembly from the system. Instead of using a rear roller to provide mechanical feedback, the patent uses a sensor to detect the vehicle's turning angle and a controller to process this information, thereby steering the front roller assembly electronically without requiring a physical rear roller structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical feedback system (rear roller assembly linked to front roller via mechanical connection) with an electronic control system. The controller receives electrical signals from sensors about vehicle orientation and actuates the front roller assembly accordingly, substituting mechanical coupling with electronic sensing and control.
2Ease of operation
If the front roller assembly is steered using front cylinders with substantial hydraulic energy, then the rollers can be positioned accurately, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the substantial hydraulic front cylinders with a more energy-efficient actuation system. The controller uses electrical signals to actuate the front roller assembly based on sensor input, consuming significantly less energy than the hydraulic system while maintaining steering precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's own steering mechanism as a reference. The sensor detects the vehicle's turning angle, and the controller uses this information to automatically position the front roller assembly, making the system self-regulating and energy-efficient without requiring continuous high-power hydraulic actuation.
3Device complexity
If a fixed relationship between front roller assembly angle and rear roller assembly angle is maintained, then the steering mechanism is simpler, but the rollers cannot accurately follow the vehicle's path on varying terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a fixed mechanical relationship between roller angles to a dynamic, sensor-based control system. The controller continuously adjusts the front roller assembly angle based on real-time vehicle orientation data from the sensor, allowing the system to adapt to varying terrain and vehicle movements while maintaining path following accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mine detonating apparatus (100) for a vehicle (150) is disclosed. The mine detonating apparatus for a vehicle, comprises a frame structure (120) pivotably mountable to the vehicle, ground engaging means (130, 140) pivotably mounted to the frame structure for applying a load to the ground, first actuator (190a, 190b) means adapted to move the frame structure relative to the vehicle about a first axis (160) substantially vertical relative to the ground, transducer means (229) adapted to provide a first feedback signal (330) related to the position of the frame structure relative to the vehicle; and controller means (220) configured to receive an input signal (310) relating to an actual path of the vehicle and to determine a desired position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle. The controller means is further configured to receive the first feedback signal to determine an actual position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle, and operate the first actuator means in accordance with a difference between the actual position and the desired position of the apparatus to move the apparatus such that the ground engaging means cover a path subsequently driven over by the vehicle.