Cable-Assisted Timber Transport Control for Steep Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods and apparatuses for transporting wood in steep terrain suffer from low efficiency and high ground damage due to uncoordinated actuation of the cable winch and travel drive, leading to undesirable mechanical loads and subsurface damage.
Innovation Solution
A mobile winch and transport vehicle system with a data connection and sensor feedback for coordinated control of cable speed and travel drive speed, allowing for automated adjustment based on the vehicle's direction relative to the cable, combined with a chassis design featuring independent carriages and a rotatable arm for centralized force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cable winch and travel drive are actuated independently without coordination, then the transport vehicle can navigate rough terrain, but ground damage increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors detect the transport vehicle's position, orientation, and speed, and this information is fed back to the control system. The control system continuously adjusts the cable winch and travel drive actuation based on real-time data, ensuring coordinated operation that minimizes ground damage while maintaining navigation capability through rough terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters (cable tension, winch speed, travel drive power) based on terrain conditions and vehicle state. By continuously adjusting these parameters in response to sensor feedback, the system optimizes the balance between navigation capability and ground protection, reducing harmful effects while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If the cable winch applies a fixed pulling force, then the transport mechanism is simple, but efficiency decreases when the vehicle moves transversely to the cable direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static, fixed pulling force system to a dynamic control system that continuously adapts cable tension and winch speed based on the vehicle's movement direction and terrain conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high efficiency whether the vehicle moves parallel or transverse to the cable direction, while the automated control manages the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect the vehicle's direction of travel and speed, providing feedback to the control system which then adjusts the cable winch parameters accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize efficiency for various movement scenarios without requiring complex manual intervention, automatically adapting the pulling force to match actual operational needs.
3Ease of operation
If the travel drive speed and cable speed are not coordinated, then the system is simpler to operate, but mechanical loads increase and wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements coordinated control that dynamically adjusts travel drive speed and cable winch speed as matched parameters. The control system ensures these parameters change in synchronization based on terrain conditions and vehicle state, preventing excessive mechanical loads and wear while maintaining operational simplicity through automated coordination rather than manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives feedback on both travel drive speed and cable winch speed, comparing these parameters to detect mismatches. When a mismatch is detected that could cause excessive loads, the system automatically adjusts the parameters to restore coordination, thereby protecting components from wear and damage while keeping the operation simple for the user.
Data Source
AI summary
to an apparatus and method for transporting wood in steep terrain, the apparatus including a mobile winch and a mobile transport vehicle which connectable to the winch via a cable and has a chassis. The winch includes a winch drive for winding and unwinding the cable and the transport vehicle includes a travel drive for driving the chassis. The transport vehicle and the winch are connected by a data connection. Further, the transport vehicle includes a sensor for determining a direction of travel relative to the cable winch and a data processing device is provided which is connected to the travel drive and the winch drive so that, using the data processing device, a cable speed and a travel drive speed can be adjusted in an automated manner depending on a direction of travel of the transport vehicle.