Tractor Tire Pressure Control for Road-Field Traction Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of tractors face difficulties in selecting suitable internal tire pressures for different applications due to numerous varying factors, including traction conditions, which can lead to inefficiencies in traction and fuel consumption, and the need to avoid exceeding tire load limits.
Innovation Solution
A tractor with a driver assistance system featuring an automatic tire pressure control system that uses characteristic curves and optimization target variables to autonomously determine optimal tire pressures based on real-time operating conditions, taking into account the efficiency and performance of the drive train and attachment, and adjusting tire pressure to maximize traction efficiency and minimize fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the operator manually selects tire pressure based on operating conditions, then the system complexity remains low, but the traction efficiency and fuel consumption optimization is insufficient due to the complexity of factors involved
Solution Approach 1:
The tire pressure control system automatically determines optimal tire pressure based on recorded characteristic curves and current operating conditions without requiring manual operator intervention. The system self-adjusts by selecting appropriate characteristic curves and calculating optimal pressure values, thereby improving traction efficiency while eliminating the need for complex manual decision-making processes
Solution Approach 2:
Characteristic curves are recorded in advance for various operating conditions and traction scenarios. These pre-recorded curves contain optimized pressure settings that are stored in the system's memory, allowing the control unit to quickly retrieve and apply appropriate settings without real-time complex calculations, thus improving responsiveness while maintaining manageable system complexity
2Use of energy by moving object
If the tire pressure is increased for road travel to reduce rolling resistance and save fuel, then the fuel consumption decreases, but the traction efficiency in field conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tire pressure control system dynamically adjusts tire pressure based on the current operating mode detected by the control unit. When road travel is detected, higher pressure is applied to reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption. When field work conditions are detected, lower pressure is applied to maximize traction efficiency. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for the current task rather than maintaining a fixed pressure setting
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of tire pressure according to the operating conditions. By retrieving appropriate characteristic curves that define pressure settings for different modes (road vs. field), the system adjusts the tire pressure parameter to achieve optimal fuel efficiency on roads and optimal traction in fields, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements
3Productivity
If the tire pressure is decreased for field travel to increase contact area and traction, then the traction efficiency improves, but the fuel consumption increases due to higher rolling resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The tire pressure control system dynamically adjusts tire pressure based on the current operating mode detected by the control unit. When road travel is detected, higher pressure is applied to reduce rolling resistance and fuel consumption. When field work conditions are detected, lower pressure is applied to maximize traction efficiency. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for the current task rather than maintaining a fixed pressure setting
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of tire pressure according to the operating conditions. By retrieving appropriate characteristic curves that define pressure settings for different modes (road vs. field), the system adjusts the tire pressure parameter to achieve optimal fuel efficiency on roads and optimal traction in fields, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements
4Productivity
If the operator must consider numerous factors including tire load limits and varying operating conditions to select optimal tire pressure, then the tire pressure can be optimized for specific conditions, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity of decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The tire pressure control system automatically determines optimal tire pressure based on recorded characteristic curves and current operating conditions without requiring manual operator intervention. The system self-adjusts by selecting appropriate characteristic curves and calculating optimal pressure values, thereby improving traction efficiency while eliminating the need for complex manual decision-making processes
Solution Approach 2:
The manual decision-making process is replaced by an automated control system that uses recorded characteristic curves and sensor data to determine optimal tire pressure. The control unit processes operating conditions and retrieves appropriate pressure settings from stored curves, substituting the operator's complex mental calculations and decision-making with an automated computational system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tractor (1), in particular a tractor (2), with a drive train (5) and a tire pressure control system (52) for setting and adjusting the internal tire pressure (p1, p2) of at least one tire (50, 51) of the tractor (1) and with at least one implement (3, 4) adapted to the tractor (1), wherein the drive train (5) comprises at least one drive motor (16), a transmission (17), at least one power take-off (18) and at least one auxiliary unit (19), wherein the tractor (1) has a driver assistance system (6) for controlling the tire pressure control system (52), which is designed with a processing unit (7), a storage unit (8) and an input/output unit (9), wherein the driver assistance system (6) comprises a characteristic curve-based tire pressure control unit (27),wherein the tire pressure control unit (27) is configured for optimized control of the tire pressure control system (52) depending on selectable control strategies (30) and/or optimization target variables (33) stored in the memory unit (8).