Work vehicle dig preparation control system and method

Abstract

A control system is provided for a work vehicle having a powertrain and at least one implement configured to engage with a material during a dig operation. The control system includes a power source; a transmission configured for selective engagement to transfer the power from the engine and the motor to drive an output shaft of the powertrain of the work vehicle; and a controller. The controller has a processor and memory architecture configured to: receive at least one operational parameter of the work vehicle; evaluate the at least one operational parameter to determine if the at least one operational parameter satisfies a dig preparation condition; and generate, upon satisfying the dig preparation condition, at least one dig preparation command for at least one of the transmission and the engine to prepare the powertrain for the dig operation prior to the at least one implement engaging the material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for a work vehicle having a powertrain and at least one implement configured to engage with a material during a dig operation, the control system comprising:
 a power source including at least one of an engine and a motor configured to generate power;   a transmission including at least one directional clutch and a plurality of control assembly clutches coupled together and configured for selective engagement to transfer the power from the engine and the motor to drive an output shaft of the powertrain of the work vehicle according to a plurality of modes; and   a controller coupled to the power source and the transmission, the controller having a processor and memory architecture configured to:
 receive at least one operational parameter of the work vehicle; 
 evaluate the at least one operational parameter to determine if the at least one operational parameter satisfies a dig preparation condition; and 
 generate, upon satisfying the dig preparation condition, at least one dig preparation command for at least one of the transmission and the engine to prepare the powertrain for the dig operation prior to the at least one implement engaging the material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to modulate the at least one directional clutch to enable slippage of the at least one directional clutch. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to prefill at least one of the plurality of control assembly clutches. 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to increase at least one of air and fuel to the engine. 
     
     
         5 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to increase a minimum speed of the engine. 
     
     
         6 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle direction input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle direction input data indicates that the work vehicle is moving forward.   
     
     
         7 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle draft load input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle draft load input data indicates that the work vehicle is subject to a draft load of less than a predetermined draft load threshold.   
     
     
         8 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle ground speed input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle ground speed input data indicates that the work vehicle is moving at a ground speed of less than a predetermined speed threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as boom position input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the boom position input data indicates that a boom of the at least one implement is lower than a predetermined boom position threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as bucket position input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the bucket position input data indicates that a bucket of the at least one implement is lower than a predetermined bucket position threshold.   
     
     
         11 . A work vehicle configured to engage with a material during a dig operation, comprising:
 a chassis;   a powertrain supported by the chassis and including:
 a power source including at least one of an engine and a motor configured to generate power; and 
 a transmission including at least one directional clutch and a plurality of control assembly clutches coupled together and configured for selective engagement to transfer the power from the engine and the motor to drive an output shaft of the powertrain of the work vehicle according to a plurality of modes; 
   at least one implement supported by the chassis and configured to receive the power from the power source to engage with the material during the dig operation; and   a controller coupled to the power source and the transmission, the controller having a processor and memory architecture configured to:
 receive at least one operational parameter of the work vehicle; 
 evaluate the at least one operational parameter to determine if the at least one operational parameter satisfies a dig preparation condition; and 
 generate, upon satisfying the dig preparation condition, at least one dig preparation command for at least one of the transmission and the engine to prepare the powertrain for the dig operation prior to the at least one implement engaging the material. 
   
     
     
         12 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to modulate the at least one directional clutch to enable slippage of the at least one directional clutch. 
     
     
         13 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to prefill at least one of the plurality of control assembly clutches. 
     
     
         14 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to increase at least one of air and fuel to the engine. 
     
     
         15 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the at least one dig preparation command to increase a minimum speed of the engine. 
     
     
         16 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle direction input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle direction input data indicates that the work vehicle is moving forward.   
     
     
         17 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle draft load input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle draft load input data indicates that the work vehicle is subject to a draft load of less than a predetermined draft load threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as vehicle ground speed input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the vehicle ground speed input data indicates that the work vehicle is moving at a ground speed of less than a predetermined speed threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as boom position input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the boom position input data indicates that a boom of the at least one implement is lower than a predetermined boom position threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The work vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the at least one operational parameter as bucket position input data; and   evaluate the at least one operation parameter to determine that the at least one operation parameter corresponds to the dig preparation condition only when the bucket position input data indicates that a bucket of the at least one implement is lower than a predetermined bucket position threshold.