Control laws for individual traction electric drive of a front loader

BACKGROUND: The operation of technological machinery is associated with regular slipping of driving wheels, which can lead to increased tire wear and soil damage. This determines the relevance of works aimed at study and reduction of slip.

AIM: Analysis of the considered control strategies of individual traction electric drive of a front loader with regard to driving wheels slipping.

METHODS: The paper considers three control strategies of individual traction electric drive of a front loader — initial, with equal utilization rates of electric motor-wheels (strategy 1), simulation of locked drive (strategy 2), and the proposed option of building traction control system (strategy 3). Using a simulation computer model of dynamics, the working process of the front loader was studied during earthmoving operations and when accelerating.

RESULTS: It was obtained that the application of the strategy 2 during earthmoving helps to ensure almost the equal slip coefficient of the driving wheels, which potentially helps to reduce tire wear and fuel consumption (in comparison to the strategy 1). The application of the strategy 3 in such conditions turned out to be unsuitable, as the slip limitation in this case reduces the operation speed as well. The simulation of the front loader acceleration process showed some advantage of strategy 3 over the others in terms of energy consumed.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the study, it is reasonable to use the control strategy 2, which simulates a locked transmission, in case of performing heavy technological operations by a front loader such as earthmoving. In the case of the acceleration process, typical for transportation operations and driving on public roads, it is effective to use the strategy 3.