Wheel Loader Bucket Angle Control for Incline Spill Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wheel loaders do not effectively prevent spillage of load materials when transitioning from flat ground to inclined ground, even if the bucket angle is not adjusted by the operator.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a control system in the wheel loader that automatically adjusts the bucket angle based on the vehicle's inclination angle, ensuring the bucket maintains a stable angle relative to the ground even on uneven terrain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bucket angle is adjusted manually by the operator to prevent spillage on flat ground, then spillage is prevented during normal operation, but the operator may forget to adjust the angle when transitioning to inclined ground, causing spillage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of load material spillageVSAvoidmanual adjustment requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically detects the vehicle's inclination angle using sensors and autonomously adjusts the bucket angle to maintain the optimal bucket-to-ground angle, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and ensuring reliable spillage prevention even during transitions to inclined ground

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the vehicle's inclination angle through sensors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the bucket angle, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing terrain conditions and prevents spillage without operator input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the bucket angle is kept constant relative to the vehicle body, then the bucket mechanism is simple to operate, but the bucket angle relative to the ground changes on inclined terrain, causing spillage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebucket angle control simplicityVSAvoidprevention of load material spillage on inclined ground

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the bucket angle based on real-time detection of vehicle inclination, transforming the static bucket angle control into a dynamic system that automatically adapts to changing terrain conditions while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that uses sensors and actuators to adjust the bucket angle, substituting complex manual operations with an automated mechanism that maintains simple operator interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12291839B2Work vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD

AI summary

A wheel loader with a front bucket is capable of preventing spillage of load materials from the bucket, even without adjusting an angle of the bucket where a traveling state is switched from a flat ground to an inclined ground. The wheel loader has a bucket provided on the front of a vehicle body to scoop and discharge a work material, an inclination sensor for detecting an inclination angle θ of the vehicle body, and a controller configured to, in the case where a height position of the bucket is higher than a predetermined height and it is determined that the vehicle body is in a state of being inclined rearward, activate a bucket cylinder for causing the bucket to correct an angle of the bucket toward a front side where the bucket dumps in accordance with the inclination angle of the vehicle body.