Shovel Display Control for Simultaneous Fuel Efficiency Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of shovels cannot view engine fuel efficiency information during operation due to the need to switch screens, which requires releasing the operation lever, making it impossible to monitor fuel efficiency in real-time.

Innovation Solution

A display control system that displays fuel efficiency data in multiple graphs with different time axes on a single screen, allowing operators to view fuel efficiency information without releasing the operation lever, thereby enabling efficient lever operation and improved fuel efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the display monitor shows only one type of information at a time, then the information is displayed clearly, but the operator cannot view multiple types of information simultaneously and must switch screens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiency informationVSAvoidoperation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple regions, with each region showing different types of information (engine room temperature, fuel efficiency graphs with different time axes, etc.). This allows the operator to view multiple types of information simultaneously without switching screens, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple graphs showing fuel efficiency with different time axes (e.g., 1-hour graph and 24-hour graph) are merged and displayed simultaneously on the same screen. This combines multiple information types into a unified display, allowing the operator to monitor various parameters without interrupting work.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of information

If the display screen shows multiple graphs with different time axes, then multiple information types are visible simultaneously, but the display screen space is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiency informationVSAvoiddisplay screen area
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses different time axes (multiple time dimensions) to display fuel efficiency information. By plotting graphs with different time periods (1-hour, 24-hour, etc.) on the same spatial screen, it effectively adds a temporal dimension to the display, allowing multiple information types to coexist without increasing physical screen area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display screen are allocated to different types of information with different display characteristics. For example, some regions show real-time fuel efficiency graphs while others show engine room temperature or different time-axis graphs, allowing each area to serve its specific function optimally within the limited screen space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2784229B1Shovel
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY
  • EP2784229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2784229B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2784229B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shovel includes a cabin in which a display monitor is provided, a main pump that generates a hydraulic pressure, an internal combustion engine that drives the main pump, and a display control part configured to generate display information to be displayed on the display monitor based on information communicated between the display control part and the internal combustion engine, and cause the generated display information to be displayed on the display monitor. The display control part is configured to cause the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine to be displayed simultaneously in multiple graphs having different time axes on a single display screen. The graphs show the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine over time.