Work Vehicle Fuel Reduction via Integrated Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current work vehicle control systems fail to optimize fuel efficiency by not considering both hydraulic and drivetrain power consumers simultaneously, leading to suboptimal fuel consumption during operations that require both lift assembly and drive system usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that monitor pressure differentials and discharge pressures to determine optimal engine speed and hydraulic pump swash plate angles, adjusting engine and pump operations to minimize fuel consumption based on total system power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If current vehicle control systems optimize only single power consumer, then control simplicity is maintained, but fuel efficiency deteriorates during operations requiring both lift assembly and drive system usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of two primary power consumers (hydraulic system for lift assembly and drivetrain for vehicle movement) into a single integrated control system. The controller simultaneously monitors both hydraulic power requirements (from lift assembly operations) and drive power requirements (from vehicle movement), then coordinates their power distribution to optimize overall fuel efficiency. This combining approach resolves the contradiction by achieving superior fuel efficiency through integrated control while managing complexity through a unified system architecture.
2Reliability
If engine power is allocated to meet maximum hydraulic power requirement, then lift assembly operation reliability is ensured, but fuel consumption increases during simultaneous drive and lift operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where the controller continuously adjusts engine power distribution between the hydraulic system and drivetrain based on real-time operational demands. Rather than allocating fixed maximum power to the hydraulic system, the controller dynamically monitors both hydraulic power requirements (from lift assembly operations) and drive power requirements (from vehicle movement), then optimizes power distribution moment-by-moment. This dynamic approach ensures lift assembly reliability when needed while reducing fuel consumption during operations where both systems operate simultaneously at partial loads.
3Power
If engine speed is increased to meet total system power requirement, then power availability for both drive and hydraulic systems is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the continuously variable transmission (CVT) to optimize the relationship between engine speed and wheel speed. By adjusting the CVT ratio parameter, the system can maintain higher engine speeds (where fuel efficiency is better) while delivering appropriate power to the wheels at lower speeds. This parameter adjustment allows the engine to operate in more efficient fuel consumption regions while still meeting total system power requirements for both drive and hydraulic operations.
4Loss of energy
If hydro-mechanical transmission mode is used, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but adaptability to operations requiring coordinated hydraulic and drive power reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control system that manages both hydrostatic and hydro-mechanical transmission modes, as well as coordinated hydraulic system operations. The controller is designed to adaptively select and coordinate between different operational modes (hydrostatic drive, hydro-mechanical drive, lift assembly operations) based on real-time power requirements. This multi-functional control approach maintains the mechanical efficiency benefits of hydro-mechanical mode when applicable while providing the adaptability to seamlessly coordinate power distribution across all systems during complex operations requiring both drive and hydraulic power.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for reducing fuel consumption of a work vehicle may include monitoring one or more loads associated with both a drive power requirement and a hydraulic power requirement for the work vehicle. In addition, the method may include actively adjusting one or more operating parameters of the work vehicle based on the monitored loads in a manner that meets the drive power requirement and the hydraulic power requirement for the work vehicle while reducing the fuel consumption of the vehicle's engine.