Pitching Vibration Damping in a Wheel Loader

If a manufacturer turns to ARGO-HYTOS with the task of realizing a pitching vibration damping in a wheel loader, the customer accompanies the development process in close cooperation with our application experts up to a successful testing of the project. In a first step, the current state is analyzed together with the customer. A matched to the wheel loader pitching vibration damping can only work efficiently, if the development engineer of ARGO-HYTOS is aware of all peculiarities of the present system. It is therefore not unusual that we name potential weak points on the wheel loader directly on site. This can, for example, be the realized pipe rupture protection or the type of pre-charge pressure. An optimally to the system adapted pitching vibration damping increases in addition to the driving comfort also the driving safety and the handling performance. For this reason, it is equally important to incorporate the machine user’s experiences during the design phase.

After all the weak points of the present system have been analyzed, customized solutions are developed. The proposed solutions are subsequently discussed at eye level with the customer. A discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of the developed concepts provides the necessary transparency. Such a transparency has the advantage that the customer can choose the best possible approach for himself. On the basis of years of experience in pitching vibration damping, the approach is checked for compliance with applicable standards (DIN EN ISO 4413) and directives (machinery directive).

When all technical aspects relating to the function and the behavior of the pitching vibration damping have been discussed with the customer, the block can be designed. The control block which includes the pitching vibration damping is specifically tailored to the wheel loader. In addition to the arrangement of the ports, good accessibility to the valves is taken into account as well. The block design is made available to the customer in the form of a 3D model. On the basis of a first model, it is possible for the customer to quickly and easily detect collisions with other components. Thus the optimal block design can iteratively be determined together with the customer.

When the block design has been determined, the operation of the pitching vibration damping will be tested on the basis of a prototype. In the context of testing, in addition to a normal operating behavior even extreme situations can be tested. The damping behavior as well as the ease of use is optimized in the testing phase to such an extent that it corresponds to the requirements of the customer.