Refuse Vehicle Hydraulic Pump Control Using Pressure Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicles face inefficiencies in compacting waste due to high engine load during packing cycles, which can affect performance and require larger engine sizes.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a pressure sensor and controller to monitor fluid pressure during packing, reducing fluid power to packer actuators when threshold pressure is reached or other vehicle functions are active, thereby optimizing engine load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high fluid power is supplied to packer actuators to compact refuse effectively, then compacting force is improved, but engine load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system dynamically adjusts fluid power supply to packer actuators based on real-time pressure feedback from sensors. The controller modulates pump output to maintain optimal compacting force while reducing engine load during low-resistance phases of the packing cycle
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors provide continuous feedback on hydraulic system pressure and packer actuator performance. The controller uses this feedback to adjust fluid power supply, ensuring adequate compacting force is maintained only when necessary, thereby reducing overall engine load
2Power
If large engine size is used to handle peak loads during packing cycles, then power availability is improved, but vehicle weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic pump control and variable displacement technology to provide high power output during peak packing demands while consuming less energy during normal operation, allowing a smaller engine to suffice
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system changes operational parameters (pressure, flow rate) dynamically based on packing needs. Pressure sensors detect when threshold pressure is reached and the controller adjusts fluid power accordingly, enabling peak power on demand rather than continuous high power
3Speed
If continuous high fluid power is supplied to packer actuators, then packing speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The packing cycle operates in periodic phases: high-power extension phase for rapid packing, followed by reduced-power hold or retraction phases. Pressure sensors detect when compacting objectives are met and the controller reduces or terminates fluid power supply, maintaining packing speed while reducing energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces engine load, improves vehicle performance, and potentially downsizes the engine required for the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to the packer actuator and is configured to indicate a measured pressure of at least one of a first fluid associated with the first pump or a second fluid associated with the second pump
Implementation Method 2
The hydraulic system includes a first pump, a second pump, and a packer actuator. The first pump and the second pump are configured to supply fluid power to the packer actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse vehicle can include a controller in communication with a hydraulic system of the refuse vehicle. The controller can control the hydraulic system to supply fluid power to a packer actuator of the refuse vehicle such that the packer actuator moves a packer of the refuse vehicle, determine that one or more other vehicle functions are active, and reduce the fluid power supplied to the packer actuator, while maintaining an amount of fluid power supplied to one or more components of the refuse vehicle, to adjust a load applied to the hydraulic system. The fluid power supplied to the packer actuator can be reduced by an amount without impacting a performance of the one or more components.