Electric Power Machine Control for Tilt Actuator Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power machines, particularly electrically powered ones, face issues with actuator damage due to excessive strain and stress during operations like lifting and tilting, especially when a cutting edge is pushed too hard against the ground, leading to potential damage of tilt actuators.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control system that dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as speed, power, and current limits for lift and tractive actuators based on detected operational conditions to prevent unnecessary strain, using electronic processors to determine and control these limits based on lift position and other factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cutting edge is pushed hard against the ground to perform effective digging operations, then productivity is improved, but the tilt actuator experiences excessive strain and stress leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the operational state of the power machine and adjusts the electric current limit for the lift actuator based on real-time feedback. When the cutting edge is pushed hard against the ground, the system detects this condition and dynamically reduces the current limit to prevent excessive strain on the tilt actuator, thereby maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the electric current limit for the lift actuator based on the detected operational conditions. Instead of using a fixed current limit, the system varies the limit in real-time according to the lift position and operational state, allowing effective digging operations while protecting the tilt actuator from damaging strains.
2Reliability
If dynamic current limits are imposed on the lift actuator to protect the tilt actuator, then tilt actuator reliability is improved, but operator freedom to perform various operations is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of electric current limits based on real-time operational conditions rather than static restrictions. This allows the operator to perform various operations effectively while the system automatically protects the tilt actuator by reducing current limits only when potentially damaging conditions are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically monitors operational conditions and adjusts current limits without requiring operator intervention. The system protects the tilt actuator autonomously while maintaining operator freedom to perform operations, as the current limit adjustments are made automatically based on detected conditions rather than manual restrictions.
3Reliability
If electric current limit is dynamically adjusted based on lift position, then tilt actuator strain is reduced, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from sensors monitoring lift position and operational conditions to dynamically adjust the electric current limit. This feedback mechanism reduces tilt actuator strain by automatically lowering current limits when the cutting edge is pushed hard against the ground, while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical protection mechanisms with an electronic control system that dynamically adjusts current limits. This substitution reduces tilt actuator strain through intelligent control while keeping the system complexity manageable by using electronic sensors and controllers rather than complex mechanical protection devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for a power machine can be configured to receive operation data associated with a current operation of the electric power machine, determine, based on the operation data, a commanded direction of travel for the electric power machine, determine, based on the operation data, an orientation of the work element relative to the lift arm, perform a comparison of the orientation to an orientation criterion, and, in response to determining a forward commanded direction of travel and based on the comparison, determine a modified operation parameter for the electric power machine, and control the at least one of electrical actuators based on the modified operation parameter.