Work Machine Brake Control for Hydraulic Oil Overheating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydraulic brakes in work machines experience overheating due to frequent applications, long continuous operations, and heavy loads, leading to a high burden on the brake system.

Innovation Solution

A work machine equipped with an oil temperature sensor and a controller that reduces acceleration based on rising oil temperature to mitigate overheating by adjusting engine output and transmission speed ratios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the brake is applied frequently and continuously for heavy loads, then the braking force is maintained, but the hydraulic oil temperature rises causing overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking performanceVSAvoidhydraulic oil temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The controller predicts future brake temperature rise based on current operating conditions (brake application frequency, duration, and intensity) and takes preventive action by reducing acceleration before actual overheating occurs. This predictive approach prevents the contradiction from manifesting by adjusting operation parameters in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from brake temperature sensors and operating condition monitoring to continuously adjust acceleration commands. When the predicted or actual temperature exceeds thresholds, the controller reduces acceleration to allow brake cooling, creating a closed-loop control that balances braking performance with temperature management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Temperature

If the acceleration is reduced to lower brake temperature, then the hydraulic oil temperature is controlled, but the work time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic oil temperatureVSAvoidwork time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The acceleration command is dynamically adjusted based on real-time brake temperature and predicted temperature rise. Rather than using a fixed reduced acceleration, the system modulates acceleration commands to maintain optimal values within temperature constraints, allowing maximum acceleration when brakes are cool and reduced acceleration only when necessary for thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (acceleration commands) based on brake temperature conditions. By adjusting acceleration as a variable parameter rather than a fixed value, the system optimizes the balance between temperature control and productivity, reducing acceleration only to the extent necessary to manage brake thermal load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4650534A1Work machine and method for controlling work machine
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP4650534A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4650534A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4650534A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The work machine includes a drive source, a traveling device, a hydraulic brake, an oil temperature sensor, and a controller. The traveling device is driven by the drive source and thus causes the work machine to travel. The hydraulic brake is driven by hydraulic oil and thus brakes the traveling device. The oil temperature sensor detects the oil temperature of the hydraulic oil. The controller acquires the oil temperature of the hydraulic oil. The controller reduces the acceleration of the work machine, based on a rise in the oil temperature of the hydraulic oil.