Tractor Linkage Control System Draft Force Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linkage control systems for tractors face issues during braking, as the draft force increase detected by CVT tractors can cause unintended movement of the linkage, leading to inconvenience and potential damage, especially when the driver forgets to re-activate draft control mode after braking.

Innovation Solution

A control system that automatically sets the draft force to its pre-braking value when the brakes are applied, maintaining the linkage in a set position during braking and reverting to the draft control mode post-braking, ensuring continuous operation in draft control mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If draft control mode is active during braking, then the linkage can automatically adjust to draft force variations, but the detected draft force increase causes unintended linkage movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelinkage position stabilityVSAvoidoperator control over linkage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting brake application and preemptively compensating for the false draft force increase. When brakes are detected as applied, the system counteracts the unintended linkage movement by adjusting the hydraulic actuator to maintain the original linkage position, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system acts as an intermediary between the draft control mode and the linkage actuator. It receives the draft force signal, detects brake application status, and mediates the control signal to the hydraulic actuator by subtracting the false draft force component during braking, thus preventing unintended linkage movement while maintaining draft control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the driver deactivates draft control mode during braking to prevent linkage movement, then linkage position stability is maintained, but the driver must remember to re-activate it, increasing complexity and potential for error

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelinkage position stabilityVSAvoidcontrol mode management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system provides self-service by automatically detecting brake application and adjusting the draft force signal accordingly without requiring operator intervention. The system monitors its own operational state, identifies the braking condition, and self-corrects the control signal to prevent unintended linkage movement, eliminating the need for the driver to manually switch control modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses feedback from the brake status signal to automatically adjust the draft control behavior. By continuously monitoring the brake application state and feeding this information back into the draft force calculation, the system automatically compensates for false draft force increases during braking, maintaining linkage stability without requiring driver awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the linkage moves during braking, then the system responds to detected draft force changes, but this causes inconvenience and potential damage to the implement or tractor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic control responsivenessVSAvoidimplement or tractor damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies beforehand cushioning by preparing for the potential harmful effect of unintended linkage movement during braking. It detects brake application in advance and pre-compensates for the false draft force increase by adjusting the hydraulic actuator control signal, thereby cushioning against the potential damage to the implement or tractor before the harmful movement can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3202243B1Vehicle implement control
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 AGCO INT GMBH
  • EP3202243B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3202243B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3202243B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle having a linkage for attaching an implement thereto, said vehicle comprising a control system for controlling a draft mode of operation in which the linkage is automatically raised and lowered depending on a draft force detected by the vehicle. When one or more of the brakes of the vehicle are applied, the control system sets the detected draft force to the value it was before, or at the moment the brake or brakes were applied so that the linkage will remain in a set positon during braking.