Shift Control Device for Work Vehicle

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rapid decrease in engine rotation rate during forward-to-reverse switchover in work vehicles with stepped automatic transmissions can cause sudden changes in the turbine runner rotation, leading to shift shocks.

Innovation Solution

A control device that gradually decreases the engine rotation rate to a target lower limit value, with an initial adjustment to a predetermined rotation rate if necessary, to prevent reverse rotation of the turbine runner and ensure smooth clutch switching without shift shock.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the accelerator pedal is released during forward-to-reverse switchover, then the vehicle speed is quickly reduced, but the engine rotation rate decreases rapidly causing turbine runner reverse rotation and shift shock

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle speed reduction speedVSAvoidshift shock
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary action by detecting the forward-to-reverse switchover operation in advance and proactively controlling the engine rotation rate to maintain it above the target lower limit value during the switchover period. This prevents the turbine runner from reversing rotation before the switchover is complete, thereby avoiding shift shock while still achieving quick vehicle speed reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses feedback by continuously monitoring the accelerator pedal operation quantity and engine rotation rate, then adjusting the engine rotation rate control based on this feedback. During forward-to-reverse switchover, the system feedback-controls the engine rotation rate to ensure it remains above the target lower limit value, preventing turbine runner reverse rotation and shift shock.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If the engine rotation rate is immediately decreased to a low value during switchover, then the vehicle speed reduces quickly, but the turbine runner reverses rotation causing shift shock

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitchover timeVSAvoidturbine runner reverse rotation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies preliminary action by detecting the forward-to-reverse switchover operation in advance and proactively maintaining the engine rotation rate above the target lower limit value during the switchover period. This prevents turbine runner reverse rotation before it occurs, thereby avoiding shift shock while achieving quick vehicle speed reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses feedback control by continuously monitoring the accelerator pedal operation quantity and engine rotation rate, then adjusting the engine rotation rate based on this feedback. During switchover, the system maintains engine rotation rate above the target lower limit value through feedback control, preventing harmful reverse rotation while minimizing switchover time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the engine rotation rate is controlled to decrease gradually to the target lower limit value, then shift shock is prevented, but the vehicle speed reduction may be slower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshift shockVSAvoidvehicle speed reduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary action by detecting the forward-to-reverse switchover operation in advance and proactively controlling the engine rotation rate to maintain it above the target lower limit value during the critical switchover period. This prevents turbine runner reverse rotation and shift shock while still allowing for relatively quick vehicle speed reduction through coordinated clutch control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses feedback control to continuously monitor the accelerator pedal operation quantity and engine rotation rate, then adjusts the engine rotation rate accordingly. During switchover, feedback control maintains the engine rotation rate above the target lower limit value, preventing shift shock while coordinating with clutch control to achieve efficient vehicle speed reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1911953B1Shift control device for working vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.04.23 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP1911953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1911953B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1911953B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shift control device for a work vehicle that has a stepped automatic transmission includes: a control device that controls an engine rotation rate at the work vehicle and the stepped automatic transmission; a forward/reverseswitchover member that outputs a forward/reverse switchover command for the work vehicle; and an operation quantity detection device that detects an accelerator pedal operation quantity in the work vehicle is operated. As the forward/reverse switchover command is output via the forward/reverse switchover member, the control device executes forward/reverse switchover control for the stepped automatic transmission and also controls the engine rotation rate so as to decrease the engine rotation rate gradually to a target lower limit value selected to ensure that a reverse rotation of a turbine runner at a torque converter in the work vehicle does not occur.