Industrial Vehicle Engine Stop Control Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial vehicles with automatic engine stop functions often stop the engine prematurely when the operator is not seated, which can be undesirable, especially when the engine needs to be jump-started due to battery drainage, leading to incomplete charging.

Innovation Solution

An industrial vehicle equipped with a seating detector and a controller that disables the automatic engine stop function if the operator seat is vacant, allowing the engine to continue running when jump-started, ensuring the engine starting battery can be charged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the automatic engine stop function is activated to stop the engine when the operator leaves the seat, then fuel consumption is reduced and emissions are decreased, but the engine stops prematurely when jump-starting is needed, preventing the battery from being charged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidengine operation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic engine stop function is made dynamic by allowing it to be selectively enabled or disabled based on operational conditions. The control unit detects whether the engine was started with a starter motor or a start switch, and automatically adjusts the engine stop function accordingly - disabling it when jump-starting is detected and enabling it during normal operations, thus adapting to different operational modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of the automatic engine stop function based on the detected starting method. When a start switch operation is detected (indicating jump-starting), the parameter is changed to disable the automatic stop function. When normal starting is detected, the parameter returns to enabled state, allowing automatic stopping after a set period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the engine is automatically stopped when the operator is not seated, then safety is improved and unnecessary operation is prevented, but the engine cannot remain running to charge the starting battery after jump-starting

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidengine running time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the engine starting method before the automatic engine stop function is activated. By detecting whether a start switch operation occurred (indicating jump-starting), the system prepares the control logic in advance to disable the automatic stop function, ensuring the engine remains running for battery charging without safety compromises

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the automatic engine stop function is always enabled, then fuel efficiency is maximized, but the engine cannot remain running during battery charging operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically detecting the operational mode and adjusting the engine stop function without requiring manual intervention. The control unit monitors start switch operations and starter motor operations, automatically disabling the automatic stop function when jump-starting is detected and re-enabling it for normal operations, thus maintaining fuel efficiency while ensuring operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2915690B1Industrial vehicle and method for controlling industrial vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.11.02 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP2915690B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2915690B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2915690B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An industrial vehicle implements an automatic engine stop function that automatically stops an engine installed on a vehicle body. The industrial vehicle includes an engine starting battery arranged in the vehicle body to start the engine, an operator seat arranged on the vehicle body, a seating detector adapted to detect whether or not the operator seat is vacant, and a controller adapted to disable the automatic engine stop function if the engine is started when the seating detector detects that the operator seat is vacant.