Utility Vehicle Hydraulic Wheel Loading for Slope Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility vehicles, such as grape harvesters, experience lateral sliding issues on uneven terrain due to traction imbalances, which existing suspension systems struggle to fully mitigate, especially on large slopes.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic system with steerable and non-steerable wheels, equipped with sensors and a control system that adjusts pressure on steerable wheels to redistribute weight and improve traction by increasing downward pressure on the wheel opposite to the non-steerable wheel on the lower side, using a fluid supply and accumulators to compensate for lateral slopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic suspension system adjusts wheel position to compensate for lateral tilt, then vehicle stability is improved, but lateral drift still occurs on large slopes (15% or more inclination)
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the pressure parameter in the hydraulic cylinder to dynamically adjust wheel position. By increasing downward pressure on the steerable wheel on the higher side, the system compensates for lateral tilt and prevents lateral drift on large slopes
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects lateral slope conditions and provides feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the hydraulic pressure accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the vehicle maintains stability by continuously monitoring and responding to terrain changes
2Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic cylinders are installed on all four wheels, then weight distribution and traction are optimized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the hydraulic cylinder function from all wheels and applies it only to the steerable wheels. This selective approach maintains the ability to compensate for lateral tilt and improve traction while reducing the overall complexity and cost of the hydraulic system
Solution Approach 2:
The steerable wheels serve multiple functions: they provide steering control and also act as the actuation point for the hydraulic suspension system. By using the steerable wheels for both steering and suspension functions, the system reduces the need for separate hydraulic components on non-steerable wheels
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively reduces lateral drift on slopes with inclinations of 15% or more by enhancing the adherence of non-steerable wheels to the ground, without requiring action on non-steerable wheels, thus improving stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system comprising: a left hydraulic cylinder coupling the left steerable wheel to the vehicle frame, a right hydraulic cylinder coupling the right steerable wheel to the vehicle frame... and a fluid supply configured to supply fluid to either one of the left and right hydraulic cylinders
Implementation Method 2
a left accumulator coupled to the left hydraulic cylinder, a right accumulator coupled to the right hydraulic cylinder
Data Source
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AI summary
A utility vehicle (1) comprising: a vehicle frame (2); at least four wheels (3, 4) comprising left and right steerable wheels (3, 4) and left and right non-steerable wheels (3, 4); a hydraulic system (10) comprising: a left hydraulic cylinder (12L) coupling the left steerable wheel (3L, 4L) to the vehicle frame (2), a right hydraulic cylinder (12R) coupling the right steerable wheel (3R, 4R) to the vehicle frame (2), a left accumulator (14L) coupled to the left hydraulic cylinder (12L), a right accumulator (14R) coupled to the right hydraulic cylinder (12R), and a fluid supply (16) configured to supply fluid to either one of the left and right hydraulic cylinders (12L, 12R); a sensor configured to detect a right lateral slope condition wherein the right non-steerable wheel (4R) is positioned below the left non-steerable wheel (4L), and a control system operably coupled to the sensor and to the hydraulic system (10), the control system being configured to increase a downward pressure on the right steerable wheel (3R, 4R) when the right lateral slope condition is detected by controlling the fluid supply (16) to supply fluid to either one of the left and right hydraulic cylinders (12L, 12R).