Work Vehicle Bucket Tilt Control for Spillage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Work vehicles with parallel link motion mechanisms face inefficiencies when using a bucket as a working unit, as the bucket tilts forward during scooping, causing contents to spill, and operators must readjust the bucket's posture, which degrades performance.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle equipped with a link mechanism and control unit that maintains the bucket in a parallel posture to the ground and automatically adjusts the tilt angle of the bucket based on boom elevation angles, reducing spillage and enhancing operational efficiency when using a bucket as the working unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a parallel link motion mechanism is used to maintain the fork in a parallel position to the ground, then the fork can be kept horizontal during boom elevation, but the bucket tilts forward during scooping causing contents to spill
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: parallel link mode for fork operations and tilt adjustment mode for bucket scooping. The control unit detects the working unit type and automatically adjusts the bucket tilt angle during boom elevation to maintain optimal scooping posture, resolving the contradiction between fixed parallel linkage and dynamic tilt requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the tilt angle parameter of the bucket based on boom elevation angle. When a bucket is detected, the control unit calculates and adjusts the bucket tilt angle to prevent forward tilting and content spillage during scooping operations, while maintaining the parallel link geometry for fork operations
2Stability of the object's composition
If the parallel link motion mechanism maintains constant bucket tilt angle during boom elevation, then the bucket posture remains stable, but operators must perform additional operations to reposition the bucket
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically detecting when a bucket is attached and autonomously adjusting the bucket tilt angle during boom elevation. The control unit monitors boom angle and working unit type, then automatically positions the bucket to maintain optimal scooping posture without operator intervention, eliminating the need for manual readjustment operations
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the working unit type detection signal and boom elevation angle, then automatically adjusting the bucket tilt angle in response. This closed-loop control system maintains optimal bucket posture during scooping operations without requiring operator input or manual intervention
3Productivity
If the normal Z-bar link mechanism is used for bucket operations, then the bucket can maintain proper scooping angle, but the fork cannot be kept parallel to the ground during elevation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal link mechanism system that can perform both parallel link operations for forks and tilted scooping operations for buckets. The control unit detects the working unit type and automatically switches between operational modes: maintaining parallel linkage geometry for fork operations and enabling dynamic tilt adjustment for bucket scooping operations, making the system multi-functional
Data Source
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AI summary
When a wheel loader (50) includes a bucket (53) attached as a working unit to a link mechanism (20), a controller (30) is configured to execute a control of adjusting the tilt angle of the bucket (53) as a working unit in accordance with variation in angle of booms (52) when the tilt angle of the bucket (53) disposed on the ground is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.