Work Machine Brake Control via Seat Orientation Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work machine control systems often require unnecessary stopping and restarting when operators need to change the direction of travel, leading to inefficiencies and increased processing time, as they must stop, rotate the seat, and then restart in the new direction, which can cause temporary misalignment that triggers automatic braking.
Innovation Solution
A work machine equipped with sensors and a controller that monitor the orientation of the operator seat relative to the direction of travel, allowing a time delay before automatically actuating the brake system if the seat is out of alignment for more than a threshold time, enabling smoother transitions between directional changes without interrupting machine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the brake system automatically actuates when the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel, then safety is improved, but machine operation is interrupted and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the braking response based on the duration of misalignment. Instead of immediate braking upon detecting seat misalignment, the system implements a time-based threshold that allows temporary misalignment without interrupting operation, while still providing safety braking for prolonged misalignment conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of brake actuation from a static condition (immediate braking on misalignment) to a dynamic condition (braking after threshold time). This parameter change allows the system to distinguish between transient misalignment during normal operation and sustained misalignment indicating potential safety issues.
2Manufacturing precision
If the machine requires stopping and restarting when changing direction, then alignment with direction of travel is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases and processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for directional changes by allowing the operator to rotate the seat in advance without triggering brake actuation. The time threshold provides a buffer period during which the operator can reposition the seat for the new direction before the machine would normally require stopping, enabling smoother transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous machine operation during seat rotation by implementing a time delay before brake actuation. This allows the operator to rotate the seat and change direction without interrupting the useful action of machine movement, thereby reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency.
3Reliability
If the brake system actuates immediately upon seat misalignment, then safety response time is reduced, but unnecessary braking occurs during normal operational adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic response behavior where the brake actuation threshold is based on time duration rather than immediate static detection. This dynamic approach allows the system to tolerate short-term misalignment during normal operational adjustments while maintaining rapid response capability for sustained misalignment conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A work machine includes a power generator configured to generate power to propel the machine, a brake system, an operator seat, one or more sensors, and a controller. The operator seat is rotatably mounted to the machine. The one or more sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of an orientation of the operator seat relative to a direction of travel of the machine. The controller is coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to determine that the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel based on the one or more signals and automatically actuate the brake system if the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel for more than a first threshold time.