DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETESPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
A TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE

Applicant:
BEML Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
BEML Soudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 027,
Karnataka, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
[001] The present invention claims priority from Indian patent application numbered IN 202041008965 filed on 02 March 2020.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a traction control system for an underground mining vehicle. More specifically, the traction control system for an underground mining vehicle for enabling continuous traction and additional traction available at the wheels at various operating road conditions in mines.
BACKGROUND
[003] Generally, underground mining vehicle is used for mining in underground mines. The underground mines may have a steep gradient, uphill drive, muddy surface or ditches. However, driving the underground mining vehicle in such conditions is a difficult task. The underground vehicle equipment may skid and loose traction while passing through muddy conditions. Further, the underground vehicle equipment may require additional traction at the wheels while driving uphill or in while overcoming ditches. Thus, there is a need to devise a traction control system that can enable safe and smooth travel of the underground mining vehicle in such situations.
SUMMARY
[004] Before the present system and method are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular machine or an apparatus, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments that are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a traction control system and method for a vehicle, and the aspects are further elaborated below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the proposed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the proposed subject matter.
[005] A traction control system for a vehicle comprises of a traction control module configured for controlling traction, a pump configured for delivering hydraulic fluid from a tank to at least one hydraulic motor mounted on an axle of said vehicle for providing traction and a diverter flow valve configured for diverting flow of hydraulic fluid from said tank to said at least one hydraulic motor for providing additional traction.
[006] A method for operating a traction control system of a vehicle comprises the steps of activating a normal mode or a traction mode of a traction control module and pumping hydraulic fluid from a tank to at least one hydraulic motor mounted on an axle of said vehicle for providing traction based on the selected mode of traction control module.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[007] Main object of the present invention is to provide a traction control module configured to be operated in traction mode for providing additional traction at the required wheel.
[008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a diverter flow valve configured to divert or modulate flow to at least one hydraulic motor based on the selected mode of traction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing:
[010] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer like features and components.
[011] Figure 1 illustrates a conventional hydraulic tramming circuit without traction control.
[012] Figure 2 illustrates a hydraulic tramming circuit with traction control system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[013] Figure 3 illustrates a traction control block, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[014] The figure depicts various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[015] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising", “having”, and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[016] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[017] Referring now to figure 1, a conventional hydraulic tramming circuit without traction control is disclosed. The conventional hydraulic tramming circuit includes two hydraulic motors M1 (fitted on front/rear axles) configured to receive oil from pump P1 and accordingly generate the regular traction by which the underground mining vehicle can be driven through the designed gradient conditions. However, condition's like localized high gradient / muddy roads / ditches demand higher traction. Thus, the conventional hydraulic tramming circuit fails to generate sufficient traction, thereby preventing the underground mining vehicle from travelling uphill.
[018] Referring now to figure 2, in one aspect of present invention, a hydraulic tramming circuit with traction control system is disclosed. The Traction Control system mainly consist of traction control module, RD2 Diverter valve & can be implemented on conventional circuit using high pressure pipe work and fittings to couple traction control block & diverter valve. The traction control system has two modes of operations i.e. the normal mode of operation and the traction control mode of operation. The normal mode of operation has RD2 (Diverter valve) in OFF position. The hydraulic motor (M1) at front & rear is configured to receive regular flow of fluid. The traction control mode of operation has RD2 (Diverter valve) in ON position. In this mode, flow of fluid the hydraulic motor (M1) of the spinning wheel side is reduced whereas controlled flow of fluid is provided to the other hydraulic motor (M1). When operator experiences the wheel spinning/slipping, the traction control mode is activated and the RD2-diverter valve is turned ON. Further, the hydrostatic pump flow is divided equally to each axle motor & prevents the slipping axle draining out the pump flow resulting in less overall traction. The axle that does not slip receives the modulated oil flow resulting in the underground mining vehicle having increased traction. After the underground mining vehicle is let out of the skidding area, the vehicle operator will switch off RD2-diverter valve. Then the underground mining vehicle will work on normal mode of operation. The traction control system avoids the spinning wheel and give extra traction capabilities (when required) at wheels at various operating road condition and even for both forward & reverse movement.
[019] Referring now to Figure 3, When the traction block is not activated using a two way switch by operator, the hydrostatic pump flow is divided equally to each axle motor. The slipping axle drains all the pump flow thereby resulting in less traction. When the traction block is activated, the axle that does not slip will receive the modulated portion of oil flow and the vehicle will have increased traction. The traction control function can be activated when going up a steep gradient with poor traction capabilities or in muddy conditions where standard driving mode has not sufficient traction. The traction control block includes a diverter valve to activate traction control, a high pressure pipe work and fittings to couple traction control block, a traction control block mounting plate and a pipe work to couple diverter valve to traction control block.
[020] A traction control system for a vehicle comprises of a traction control module configured for controlling traction, a pump configured for delivering hydraulic fluid from a tank to hydraulic motor mounted on axle of said vehicle for providing traction and a diverter flow valve configured for diverting flow of hydraulic fluid from said tank to said hydraulic motor through traction control module for providing additional traction.

[021] The traction control module is configured to be operated in a normal mode and a traction mode. The normal mode is configured to distribute hydraulic fluid from said tank uniformly to said hydraulic motors for producing equal traction at respective axles. The normal mode is configured to maintain said diverter valve in an OFF position. The traction mode is configured to modulate flow of hydraulic fluid from said tank to said hydraulic motor via said diverter flow valve for producing the required traction at respective axles.
[022] A method for operating a traction control system of a vehicle comprises the steps of activating a normal mode or a traction mode of a traction control module and pumping hydraulic fluid from a tank to hydraulic motor mounted on axle of said vehicle for providing traction based on the selected mode of traction control module. On activation of said normal mode, hydraulic fluid from said tank is configured to be uniformly distributed to said hydraulic motors for producing equal traction at respective axles. On activation of said normal mode, a diverter flow valve is configured to be maintained in an OFF position. On activation of said traction mode, hydraulic fluid from said tank is configured to be modulated to said hydraulic motor via said diverter flow valve for producing the required traction at respective axles.
[023] Further, the invention can be used, but not limited to, in the following applications.
[024] One embodiment of the invention can be used in steep localized gradient, muddy conditions or ditches.
[025] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
[026] Some object of the present invention prevents skidding of the underground mining vehicle wheels.
[027] Some object of the present invention improves traction of the underground vehicle equipment in muddy areas, ditches or uphill gradient.
,CLAIMS:
1. A traction control system for a vehicle comprises of:
a traction control module configured for controlling traction;
a pump configured for delivering hydraulic fluid from a tank to hydraulic motor mounted on an axle of said vehicle for providing traction; and
a diverter flow valve configured for diverting flow of hydraulic fluid from said tank to said hydraulic motor through said traction control module for providing additional traction to said hydraulic motor.

2. The traction control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traction control module is configured to be operated in a normal mode and a traction mode.

3. The traction control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said normal mode is configured to distribute hydraulic fluid from said tank uniformly to said hydraulic motors for producing equal traction at respective axles.

4. The traction control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said normal mode is configured to maintain said diverter valve in an OFF position.

5. The traction control system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said traction mode is configured to modulate flow of hydraulic fluid from said tank to said hydraulic motor via said diverter flow valve through traction control module for producing the required traction at respective axles.

6. A method for operating a traction control system of a vehicle comprises the steps of:
activating a normal mode or a traction mode of a traction control module; and
pumping hydraulic fluid from a tank to hydraulic motor mounted on an axle of said vehicle for providing traction based on the selected mode of traction control module.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein on activation of said normal mode, hydraulic fluid from said tank is configured to be uniformly distributed to said hydraulic motors for producing equal traction at respective axles.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein on activation of said normal mode, a diverter flow valve is configured to be maintained in an OFF position.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein on activation of said traction mode, hydraulic fluid from said tank is configured to be modulated to said hydraulic motor via said diverter flow valve through traction control module for producing the required traction at respective axles.