Work Vehicle Excavation Control via Bucket Angle

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Solution Overview

Problem

The excavation operation of a work vehicle like a wheel loader requires skilled operation to manage the movement of the boom and bucket simultaneously, making efficient excavation challenging.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle equipped with a controller that calculates the direction of the cutting edge of the bucket to maintain a predetermined excavation angle, allowing for automatic control of the boom and bucket movement to optimize excavation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automatic control of boom and bucket is implemented, then excavation efficiency is improved and operator skill requirements are reduced, but device complexity increases due to addition of controller and sensors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcavation efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables semi-automatic excavation where the controller automatically calculates boom and bucket movements based on operator input for bucket angle and vehicle speed, allowing the system to self-regulate complex coordination while the operator maintains control of key parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that receives simple operator inputs (bucket angle, vehicle speed) and automatically computes the complex coordinated movements of boom and bucket, mediating between simple operator commands and complex mechanical coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If excavation angle is optimized to minimize soil resistance, then fuel consumption is reduced and excavation efficiency is improved, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidcontrol algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the excavation angle parameter based on calculated optimal values, changing this critical parameter to minimize soil resistance and fuel consumption while maintaining efficient excavation geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from detected bucket angle and vehicle speed to continuously calculate and adjust the optimal excavation angle, creating a closed-loop control that adapts to changing operating conditions to maintain energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3546656B1Work vehicle and work vehicle control method
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP3546656B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546656B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546656B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work vehicle includes a work implement and a controller. The work implement includes a vehicular body that travels in excavation, a boom pivotable with respect to the vehicular body, and a bucket pivotable with respect to the boom. The controller calculates a direction of a cutting edge of the bucket, determines a direction of movement of the cutting edge by an excavation operation such that an excavation angle between the calculated direction of the cutting edge of the bucket and the direction of movement of the cutting edge by the excavation operation keeps a predetermined angle, and causes the work vehicle to perform the excavation operation in the direction of movement.