Working Vehicle Mode Control Using Hydraulic Pressure and Engine Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing working vehicles face issues with inefficient fuel consumption due to manual switching between economy and standard modes, leading to wasteful energy consumption when large work power is required, and increased fuel consumption when operating in standard mode.
Innovation Solution
A working vehicle with an engine and hydraulic pumps, controlled by an ECU and vehicle-controller, automatically switches between economy and standard modes based on hydraulic pump discharge pressure and engine load factors, eliminating the need for manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle operates in economy mode to suppress fuel consumption, then fuel consumption is reduced, but when large work power is required, the operator must manually switch to standard mode, increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors hydraulic pump discharge pressure and engine load factor, and autonomously switches between economy mode and standard mode without operator intervention. The vehicle controller detects when large work power is required and switches modes accordingly, making the system self-regulating and eliminating manual switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors discharge pressure from the second hydraulic pump and engine load factor, using this feedback information to determine when to switch between modes. When discharge pressure reaches a reference value or higher and engine load factor reaches a predetermined upper limit or higher, the system automatically switches to standard mode, ensuring optimal performance based on real-time conditions.
2Power
If the vehicle continues to operate in standard mode, then work power requirements are met, but energy is consumed wastefully, increasing fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operating mode based on real-time conditions. When the travel unit is stopped and a first period has elapsed, and discharge pressure from the second hydraulic pump is equal to or higher than a reference value and engine load factor is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit, the system switches to standard mode to meet work power requirements. When these conditions are not met, it operates in economy mode to reduce fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between economy mode and standard mode based on monitored conditions. The vehicle controller adjusts the engine control unit's operation mode according to discharge pressure and engine load factor parameters, optimizing the balance between work power delivery and fuel consumption reduction.
3Speed
If the system switches modes based on temporary high pressure during initial operation, then mode switching responsiveness is improved, but unnecessary mode switches occur, increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system waits for a first period (0.2 to 0.7 seconds) to elapse before responding to pressure changes during initial operation. This preliminary delay prevents unnecessary mode switches caused by temporary high pressure spikes at startup, while still maintaining responsive switching when genuine work power requirements arise after the initial period.
Data Source
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AI summary
A working vehicle (1) includes an engine (20), a hydraulic pump (32), a travel unit (6), a working unit (9), an ECU (30) and a vehicle-controller (7). The vehicle-controller (7) transmits a control command of a standard mode to the ECU (30) when the travel unit (6) stopped and a first period (T1) is elapsed, with a discharge pressure from the hydraulic pump (32) being equal to or higher than a reference value (Ul), an engine load factor being equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit (El), the vehicle-controller (7) transmits the control command of the economy mode to the ECU (30) when a second period (T2) is elapsed, with the engine load factor being equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit, and the vehicle-controller (7) transmits the control command of the standard mode to the ECU (30) when the travel unit (6) is operated.