Work Vehicle Implement Control With Backward-Travel Forced Stop

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work vehicles with backward work permission switches lack sufficient safety measures when the switch is operated OFF, particularly during backward travel, which can lead to reduced visibility and increased risk of accidents.

Innovation Solution

A control system that includes a work operation unit, traveling operation unit, control device, and backward work permission switch, which forcibly stops the work implement when the vehicle is traveling backward and the switch is OFF, and allows operation when the switch is ON, ensuring the work implement is stopped during transitions from backward travel to a stop state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the work implement is allowed to operate during backward traveling, then work efficiency is improved, but safety is worsened due to reduced driver visibility and increased accident risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the work implement based on the vehicle's traveling direction. When backward traveling is detected, the control device automatically stops the work implement regardless of the work operation unit state. This dynamic control allows the work implement to operate during forward traveling (improving productivity) while automatically stopping during backward traveling (ensuring safety), thus resolving the contradiction between work efficiency and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the work implement is forcibly stopped when the vehicle travels backward, then safety is improved, but work continuity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidwork continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary action by detecting the backward traveling state and proactively stopping the work implement before any potential safety incident can occur. This preventive stopping mechanism ensures safety is maintained during backward travel, while the system is designed to quickly resume normal operation when forward traveling resumes, minimizing impact on work continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the work implement is stopped when shifting from backward traveling to stop state, then unintended restarts are prevented, but operational flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperational flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback from the traveling state detection to determine when to stop the work implement. When the vehicle transitions from backward traveling to a stop state, the control device receives feedback about this state change and automatically stops the work implement. This feedback-based control prevents unintended restarts while maintaining operational flexibility, as the system automatically adapts to the driver's intended actions based on vehicle motion patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4305944B1Control system for work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG
  • EP4305944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4305944B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4305944B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system for a work vehicle (10) includes a control device (40) that controls driving of a work implement in accordance with an operation of a work operation unit and forcibly stops the work implement (18) when the work vehicle travels backward, and a backward work permission switch (34) that disables forced stopping of the work implement at a start of backward traveling of the work vehicle by an ON operation performed by a user. In a case where the backward work permission switch (34) is operated ON and the work operation unit is operated ON, the control device drives the work implement when the work vehicle travels backward and, in a case where the backward work permission switch is operated OFF and the work operation unit is operated ON, the control device forcibly stops the work implement both when the work vehicle is traveling backward.