Wheel Loader Bucket Control for Soil-Adaptive Excavation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel loaders face inefficiencies in excavation operations due to the need for balanced allocation of engine power between traveling and work implement functions, often resulting in poor fuel efficiency and operational stalls, especially when unskilled operators exceed accelerator pressure.
Innovation Solution
A wheel loader equipped with a control unit that utilizes soil property information, such as grain size and moisture content, to optimize excavation operations by adjusting the bucket's trace and operation based on these properties, ensuring efficient excavation attitudes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the driver excessively presses the accelerator to increase drive force for the traveling apparatus, then the vehicle can move forward more easily, but the drive force for the work implement is reduced and fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the operational state of the hydraulic pump and adjusts engine output based on feedback signals. When the hydraulic pump is in relief state or stall state, the control unit detects this condition and automatically reduces engine output to prevent excessive fuel consumption while maintaining adequate drive force for both traveling and work implement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes engine output parameters based on operational conditions. The control unit adjusts engine power output according to the hydraulic pump's operational state, transitioning between different power levels to optimize the balance between traveling force and work implement force, thereby improving fuel efficiency without sacrificing operational capability.
2Power
If the driver presses the accelerator to increase engine power for excavation, then the work implement can be raised more effectively, but the vehicle cannot move forward and stalls
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the hydraulic pump's operational state and detects when it enters relief or stall state, indicating excessive engine power allocation to the work implement. Upon detecting this feedback, the control unit automatically reduces engine output to restore vehicle mobility while maintaining sufficient power for work implement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts engine power distribution between the traveling apparatus and work implement based on real-time operational conditions. The control unit modifies engine output parameters to maintain an optimal balance, enabling the vehicle to transition smoothly between traveling and excavation modes without stalling or losing mobility.
3Reliability
If the hydraulic circuit enters relief state to protect the hydraulic pump during stall, then the pump is protected from damage, but engine power remains high and fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the hydraulic circuit's pressure and flow conditions to detect when the hydraulic pump enters relief state. Upon detecting this condition, the control unit receives feedback and automatically reduces engine output to minimize fuel consumption while maintaining hydraulic pump protection through controlled relief operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes engine output parameters in response to hydraulic pump relief state detection. The control unit adjusts engine power levels to reduce fuel consumption during relief operation, optimizing the balance between hydraulic system protection and energy efficiency by operating at lower power levels when relief is active.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
A wheel loader includes a work implement, an obtaining unit, and a control unit. The work implement includes a bucket. The obtaining unit obtains soil property information on a soil property of an excavation object. The control unit controls an operation to excavate the excavation object with the bucket of the work implement based on the soil property information obtained by the obtaining unit.