Vehicle Drive System Torque Control for Load Variations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive systems for vehicles fail to maintain consistent traction and performance when vehicle loads change, leading to issues such as abrupt speed variations and safety risks during load changes, particularly in agricultural or industrial vehicles equipped with PTO implements and hydraulic pumps.

Innovation Solution

A drive system comprising a control unit and traction device that generates and adjusts traction torque in response to load variation signals, allowing the vehicle to maintain stability and performance by compensating for load changes through a calculated torque range, ensuring safe and smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle load is changed to perform different functions, then the versatility and functionality of the vehicle is improved, but the traction stability and speed consistency deteriorates due to abrupt load variations causing rush-out problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle load adaptabilityVSAvoidtraction stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit predicts future load variations based on predefined load patterns and proactively adjusts the traction torque before the actual load change occurs. This preliminary action prevents abrupt torque fluctuations and maintains traction stability during load transitions, resolving the contradiction between load adaptability and traction stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors actual load conditions and compares them with predicted load patterns. The control unit uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the traction torque, ensuring that the vehicle maintains stable traction while adapting to different load conditions. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction by enabling real-time stabilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the traction torque is increased to maintain vehicle speed during load changes, then the speed consistency is improved, but the risk of abrupt speed variations and safety issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle speed consistencyVSAvoidvehicle safety
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit predicts load variations in advance and pre-adjusts the traction torque to compensate for upcoming load changes. This prevents abrupt speed variations and maintains safe, consistent vehicle speed during load transitions, resolving the contradiction between speed consistency and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the traction torque based on predicted and actual load conditions, using smooth transition strategies rather than abrupt torque changes. This dynamic control maintains speed consistency while preventing safety issues associated with sudden torque fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed speed control is implemented for the diesel engine, then the engine operation stability is improved, but the vehicle's ability to respond to load changes and maintain traction performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine operation stabilityVSAvoidvehicle response to load changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit predicts load variations and proactively adjusts the traction torque before the load change occurs. This allows the diesel engine to operate at a stable fixed speed while the predicted torque adjustments maintain the vehicle's responsiveness to load changes, resolving the contradiction between engine stability and vehicle productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the fixed-speed diesel engine and the variable load conditions. It converts the stable engine output into adaptive traction torque by predicting load changes and applying appropriate torque adjustments, thereby maintaining both engine stability and vehicle response capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2779413B1Drive system and method for driving a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2779413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2779413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2779413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drive system 100 includes a control unit 11 and a traction device 13. The control unit is configured to receive a load variation signal indicating a vehicle load is to be or being changed and generate a traction torque in response to the load variation signal. The traction device 13 is coupled to the control unit 11 and configured to drive a vehicle according to the traction torque.