Work Vehicle Steering Clutch Priority Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering systems for work vehicles, such as bulldozers, suffer from reduced steering performance when both steering levers are operated simultaneously, leading to increased susceptibility to slope effects during turning.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that adjusts the operation of the left and right steering clutches based on the relative operation amounts of the steering levers, ensuring that the clutch with the larger operation amount is prioritized, preventing complete release of both clutches and enhancing steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If both left and right steering clutches are controlled independently when both steering levers are operated, then each clutch responds to its respective lever operation, but both clutches may be completely released simultaneously causing reduced steering performance
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the operation states of both steering levers and adjusts clutch engagement accordingly. When both levers are operated, the system detects this condition and applies priority-based engagement logic to prevent simultaneous complete release, ensuring reliable steering performance through continuous feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engagement parameter of the steering clutches based on the operation state of the steering levers. When both levers are operated simultaneously, the controller modifies the engagement parameters by applying priority logic (giving priority to the lever with larger operation amount), thereby preventing both clutches from being completely released and maintaining steering performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the steering system allows both clutches to be completely released during simultaneous lever operation, then the system responds to operator input, but the vehicle becomes susceptible to slope effects and steering stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The controller applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively preventing the complete release of both clutches when simultaneous lever operation is detected. By giving priority engagement to the clutch corresponding to the lever with the larger operation amount, the system counteracts the potential instability before it can occur, ensuring steering stability is maintained during complex operator inputs.
3Device complexity
If independent clutch control is used for each steering lever, then the control system is simple, but steering performance deteriorates when both levers are operated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts clutch engagement based on real-time lever operation states. While maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, the system implements dynamic control logic that detects when both levers are operated and automatically applies priority-based engagement, thereby improving steering performance without significantly increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
When left and right steering levers are both operated and the operation amount of the left lever is larger than that of the right lever, a controller calculates a correction left operation amount of the left lever according to the operation amount of the right lever, and controls a left steering clutch so as to cause a vehicle body to turn toward the left in accordance with the correction left operation amount. When left and right steering levers are both operated and the operation amount of the right lever is larger than that of the left lever, the controller calculates a correction right operation amount of the right lever according to the operation amount of the left lever, and controls a right steering clutch so as to cause the vehicle body to turn toward the right in accordance with the correction right operation amount.