沃尔沃未来概念挖掘机图文精.docx

1、沃尔沃未来概念挖掘机图文精THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COMEMEETING THE FUTURES DEMANDS WITH THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOMORROWThe philosop hy of Volvo is characterizedby Quality, Safety and Environmental Care.While these common values are peoplecentered, they also create great demandson the products that Volvo CE produces.In

2、order to lead the industry in quality,safety and care for the environment, theequipment Volvo CE designs and manu-factures must be at the leading edge oftechnological development.This brochure examines the workof a team of industrial designersin their quest to design theVolvo Construction Equip-ment

3、 excavator of the 2020s.With the corporate values at thecore of the design philosophy,the end result the SfinX exca-vator is a symbol not only ofVolvos advanced technological thin-king, but also of where the companywants to go in its search for product excel-lence and customer intimacy. 2THE SHAPE O

4、F THINGS TO COMESfinX: guardian of the futureThe SfinX project was the brainchild of Volvo CEs Product Portfolio and Advanced Engineering department. Working closely with Swedish industrialdesign house, “Prospective Design” and Volvo Groups Technology Centre, theteam talked to operators about what f

5、eatures they would like to see on newmachines. In addition, the designers also looked outside of the constructionindustry to search for emergent technologies that could have applicationssuitable to construction equipment. The automotive and aerospace sectorsprovided rich pickings, as did laboratorie

6、s and universities.The excavator was chosen as the subject of the research, as this is themost competitive sector of the construction equipment market, and also themost popular piece. The SfinX team was not taking the easy option.While still recognizable as an excavator,almost every component has be

7、en radicallyaltered. The engine is no longer diesel but asmall fuel cell, which produces electric energy but emits only heat and water vapor. This freesup space in the superstructure and allows theengine to perform as an active counterweight,which moves in and out to compensate for theforces on the

8、boom. Hydraulics have been largely replaced and there hasbeen extensive use of new materials not all of which are available todayand will need inventing. In fact, some of the technology may never come tofruition while other aspects (e.g. GPS are available today. “We had to guesssometimes, ” says Han

9、s Zachau, chief designer on the SfinX project. “But thatsthe whole idea to imagine possible outcomes. We learned not to be scaredof new technology and radical concepts and have had the courage to includethem in the SfinX.”Hungry to digThe final design of the excavator is a mixture between space agea

10、nd primordial, like a prehistoric moon buggy.The animalistic look is intentional; SfinX should be efficient, lean and hungry to dig. Purposeful anda little mean looking. But its still a Volvo machine and therefore must reflectthe core values of Quality, Safety and Environmental Care. It has the fami

11、liaroutline of an excavator but the design updates current concepts of boom,cab, tracks and superstructure in an innovative way. The familiar Volvo logoand color scheme tie the design back to the current machines. The reduceduse of hydraulics helps to achieve a cleaner looking, more attractive desig

12、n.The excavator was chosen as the subject of the research.THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME3Power packThe future machines will no longer use diesel engines. The designers toyed with the idea of using gas turbines (effectivelyjet engines but settled on the idea of fuel cells. Fuel cells convert a fuels ene

13、rgy into usable electricity and heat withoutcombustion. Because hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity, it is the optimal fuel to use, as its only emissions arewater vapor and heat. They are like batteries that dont run down as long as you keep feeding them hydrogen. The hydrogenis store

14、d in liquid form at very low temperatures (circa. -45C.Fuel cells are currently in the development stage (although the automotive industry has working prototypes under eva-luation but it has been calculated that to power an excavator, a fuel cell the size of two normal suitcases would be needed.This

15、 frees up a lot of space on the superstructure where the diesel engine would normally sit hence the machines abilityto have such a large cutaway section. The engine acts as the machine counter weight, which moves all the time to com-pensate for the forces on the boom. By moving it towards the centre

16、 of the excavator, it could be made small for transport,moving it right out would give maximum stability. (Zero swing or large swing.Increasingly onerous emission legislations are also likely to speed up the move to hydrogen cells a most environmen-tally friendly power system.4THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO

17、 COME Fluid thinkingor electric ideas?The introduction of electricity could also do awaywith hydraulics. All systems that are currentlyhydraulic could be converted to electric motors.Notice how hydraulic cylinders have been re-moved as much as possible and hydraulic pipingabandoned. This would obvia

18、te the need to cir-culate oil all over the machine. Hydraulics is anold technology but it still has some life yet. Volvobelieves that gradually hydraulic cylinders maybe phased out and replaced by electric motorssited at the pivot points of the stick & boom.Boom boonThe central concept was to make a

19、 light boom because everything inweight on the boom is lost in capacity for lifting or digging. The see-through lattice allows visibility through the boom, aiding safety byreducing the operators blind spot caused by solid metal booms. Whilecurrent steels would struggle to cope with the large forces

20、imposed onthe boom, the designer are expecting a new generation of high strengthsteels to be available that could make this a design possibility.Independent thinkingThe adoption of four tracks is to make them more wheel-like. Whendriving on rough ground traditional tracks tiptoe and the contact area

21、is quite small. Four tracks have a much higher contact area with theground, aided by independent suspension to each track, suspendedvia a swing arm from a central pivot. Each track has a separatewheel motor, which can brake, accelerate and allow thetrack to steer the excavator. On traditional tracks

22、 you either brakeor accelerate, left or right. Tracks will also use a non-metal rubber-like material that can cope with high abrasion surfaces. The four trackscan be moved to form a traditional two track appearance to distributethe weight better when on soft ground. This system (also poweredby elect

23、ric motors can be used to extend the tracks outwards forincreased stability while working or inwards under the superstructurefor transportation.THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME5The engine acts as themachine counter weight,which moves all the time to compensate forthe forces on the boom.Drive-By-Wire Anot

24、her area where aerospace is developing new technologies of interest to the SfinX team is fly-by-wire. This is where there is no physical link (solid cables, mechanical links or hydraulic piping between the driver controls and the components they operate. Instead commands are sent wirelessly to senso

25、rs on the components or via electric wires. In construction machinery this would enable the eradication of hydraulic or mechanical controls and the replacement with electronic and electrical controls. These systems, like on aircraft, would have multiple redundancy on critical systems, such as brakes

26、 and steering, whereby a secondary back-up system would not only ensure constant performance, but also enhance safety. The coming generation of excavators, graders and wheel loaders is likely to feature some form of driveby-wire. It has potential applications in braking, steering and moving the boom

27、. Legislation will also play a part in determining when drive-by-wire becomes a reality. Are customers demanding drive-by-wire? Customers are demanding soft levers and easy to use controls and drive-by-wire allows this to happen. Drive-by-wire also eliminates the need for hydraulic oil to be piped i

28、nto the cab which can get very hot (thereby heating up the cab. Houston: we have a solution Satellite technology is already available and will become much more popular in the future. Volvo CE is working on GPS (Global Positioning System based telematic capabilities for its future pro- The SfinX exca

29、vator hovers on an electro-magnetic field. GPS information can help to notify the operator how the blade should be placed. duct range. Geo-fencing can make sure that a machine doesnt leave a predetermined area sounding an alarm and incapacitating the machine if necessary. Also data such as hours wor

30、ked, temperature, fuel consumption and productivity information can all be captured. This not only helps prepare service pro- grams, but also highlights machine misuse/abuse and enables equipment owners to calculate lifetime ownership costs. Real time fleet management is now a reality. GPS also has

31、operational advantages. For example, in excavators or graders, GPS information can help to notify the operator how the bucket or blade should be placed so that only the precise amount of material is removed. Therefore there is no wasted effort and productivity is correspondingly improved. 6 TH E SHA

32、PE OF TH INGS TO COME Material evidence As shown in SfinX, metal will increasingly be replaced as a component material by composites. This is because they are resistant to the environment and can be relatively easily repaired (they are also generally lighter; can be molded into more interesting shapes. Plastics, meanwhile, are lower cost, can be painted to a higher specification and in line with Volvos core values environmentally friendly plastics are becoming