Operator Station Lateral Movement Limiting System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Movable operator stations in machines can interfere with other components, causing damage and obstructing visibility, as they extend laterally, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a movable operator station with an actuating system allowing it to move between retracted and fully extended positions, a sensor to detect the position of a moveable component, and a controller to limit the operator station's lateral movement to prevent interference, ensuring safe operation and improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the operator station is moved laterally outward to improve visibility, then the operator's visibility is improved, but the operator station may interfere with other machine components causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect the position of moveable components and provides feedback to the controller. The controller continuously monitors component positions and adjusts the operator station movement limits accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents interference while maximizing visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the movement limits of the operator station based on real-time positions of other moveable components. Rather than using fixed limits, the system continuously adapts the operational boundaries to accommodate the dynamic positions of adjacent components, enabling full visibility when safe and preventing interference when components are in conflicting positions.
2Illumination intensity
If the operator station is extended to a fixed maximum distance to ensure full visibility, then visibility is maximized, but the system cannot adapt to positions of other moveable components
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static movement limits to dynamic, adaptive limits. The controller continuously receives position data from sensors monitoring moveable components and adjusts the operator station's movement boundaries in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to various component configurations while maintaining optimal visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (movement limits) of the operator station based on the positions of other components. By continuously adjusting these parameters according to sensor feedback, the system optimizes visibility while preventing interference, rather than using a fixed extended position.
3Reliability
If sensors and controllers are added to limit operator station movement, then interference with components is prevented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by using sensors to detect component positions and automatically adjusting operator station movement limits through the controller. This automated feedback mechanism prevents interference reliably while managing complexity through systematic sensor-controller integration rather than manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment regarding movement limits. The sensors automatically detect component positions and the controller autonomously determines appropriate movement boundaries without requiring external intervention, allowing the system to manage its own safety and operational parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile machine having a machine frame with a lateral outer wall, an operator station having an outer side edge, an actuating system configured to move the operator station between a retracted position and a fully extended position that is laterally outward of the retracted position, wherein in the fully extended position, the outer side edge is a first distance outward of the lateral outer wall, a moveable component moveable between a first position and a second position, a sensor configured to send a signal indicative of the moveable component being in the first position, and a controller configured to limit the distance the operator station may move laterally outward of the retracted position to a second distance in response to receiving the signal from the sensor, wherein the second distance is less than the first distance.