Motor Grader Shutdown Control for Brake, Neutral, and Grounded Implements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile work machines, such as motor graders, face issues with systems not being properly shut down, leading to undesirable conditions like unintended movement or implement interference, which reduces their life and usability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes sensors and a controller to ensure the parking brake is engaged, transmission is in neutral, and implements are in a grounded position before shutting down the power system, with optional alerts for the operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the power system is shut down without ensuring proper positioning of devices, then shutdown speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to unintended movement or implement interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically positioning the parking brake to a braked position, transmission to neutral, and implements to grounded position before shutting down the power system. This ensures all safety conditions are met prior to shutdown, preventing unintended movement or implement interference while maintaining efficient shutdown timing.
2Reliability
If multiple safety checks are performed before shutdown, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The shutdown control system automatically monitors the positions of the parking brake, transmission, and implements using existing sensors, and autonomously adjusts them to required positions before shutdown. This self-service approach ensures comprehensive safety checks without requiring additional manual intervention or significantly increasing system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If automatic positioning of parking brake and transmission is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the control of parking brake positioning and transmission shifting into a single integrated shutdown control sequence. The shutdown control system coordinates both components simultaneously, ensuring they are properly positioned before power shutdown. This consolidation simplifies the operator's task while managing complexity through unified control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to shut down a motor grader is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining information that indicates the motor grader is to be shutdown. The method further includes causing a parking brake of the motor grader to be in a braked position, and a transmission of the motor grader to be in a neutral position. The method further includes causing an implement to be moved to a grounded position when the implement is not in the grounded position. The method further includes at least one of causing, via a controller, the motor grader to be shutdown, or causing, via the controller, an alert to be provided, wherein the alert includes information that, to complete the shutdown of the motor grader, the parking brake is to be in the braked position, the transmission is to be in the neutral position, and the implement is to be moved to the grounded position.