Patent for a tractor 4WD changeover control

Takeji Tanaka from the Advanced Engineering Department, Mitsubishi Mahindra Agriculture Machinery

Co. Ltd., has received the Shimane Governor Award patent for his innovation. Tanaka has developed an automatic 4WD changeover control. Setting out to improve fuel economy in tractors, where up until now, the driver was responsible for switching between the 2WD and 4WD modes, it removed the need to intervene manually. The 4WD changeover works so that the tractor automatically shifts from 2WD to 4WD when deemed appropriate thereby making the drive more efficient. It also reduces the unstable state of the vehicle, which occurs due to the slippage of the tractor while running, and by improving complex operations for the switch, it enables safe and secure operating conditions. Notably, tractors will now be able to intelligently calculate the rotation ratio of the rear wheels (which are the driving wheels) and the front wheels (which are nondriving wheels) to make the switch. The control unit will use its memory feed with the last rotation ratio to regulate any unnecessary changeover. The invention is being hailed as a big breakthrough and promises to offer an enhanced farming experience.