Work Vehicle Engine Control Device for Idling Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine control devices for work vehicles automatically stop the engine if the control lever remains unoperated for a predetermined time, leading to unintended engine shutdowns while the vehicle is traveling, requiring constant operator attention to prevent coasting or rolling.
Innovation Solution
An engine control device that includes decision-making units for front device, steering device, pedal, transmission, and brake states, along with a time count mechanism, to determine if an idling stop condition is met, allowing the engine to stop only when the vehicle is stationary and the conditions are met, and resetting the time count if the ignition is turned off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine automatically stops when the control lever remains unoperated for a predetermined time, then energy consumption is reduced, but the engine may stop unintentionally during coasting or downhill travel requiring constant operator attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the idle stop control into multiple independent detection units: front device non-engagement decision-making unit, steering device non-engagement decision-making unit, pedal non-operation state decision-making unit, neutral state decision-making unit, parking brake engagement decision-making unit, and service brake non-engagement decision-making unit. Each unit monitors a specific parameter, and only when all conditions are simultaneously satisfied does the engine stop. This segmentation prevents unintended shutdowns during coasting while enabling automatic stop during genuine idle periods, resolving the contradiction between energy reduction and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the engine control device monitors multiple parameters (front device, steering device, pedal, transmission, brake states), then the accuracy of determining idle stop conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional control unit that simultaneously performs six distinct detection functions: front device non-engagement detection, steering device non-engagement detection, pedal non-operation detection, transmission neutral state detection, parking brake engagement detection, and service brake non-engagement detection. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated control unit rather than separate systems, the patent achieves high measurement precision for idle stop condition determination while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine control device for a work vehicle decides that an idling stop condition is established when the front device is in the unengaged state, the steering device is in the unengaged state, the accelerator pedal is in the non-operation state, either the transmission is in the neutral state or the parking brake device is in the engaged state or the transmission is in the neutral state and also the parking brake device is in the engaged state, and the service brake device is in the unengaged state, and stops an engine when it is decided that it passes the predetermined length of time since it was decided that the idling stop condition was established.