Work machine

• US 10,590,628 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ariga, Nobuei, Kamata, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US16/082,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20190112791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/412 Excavators
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/261 Surveying the work-site to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles

Abstract

Provided are a plurality of cameras (96) mounted to an upper swing structure (12) so as to be capable of shooting in different directions, a video storage device (99) for storing videos taken by the plurality of cameras, a controller (40), and a hydraulic excavator (1). The controller has a camera selection section (40a) which when a lower track structure (11), the upper swing structure (12), or a work device (1A) makes an operation, selects a camera in accordance with the operation from among the plurality of cameras (96), and a storage control section (40b) which stores videos taken by the camera selected by the camera selection section (40a) during the operation of the lower track structure, the upper swing structure, or the work device in a video storage device (99).

Claims

1. A work machine equipped with:

a track structure capable of traveling,

a swing structure mounted on the track structure and capable of swinging to right and left, and

a work device mounted to the swing structure,

wherein the work machine comprises;

a plurality of cameras mounted to the swing structure so as to be capable of shooting in different directions;

a storage device for storing videos taken by the plurality of cameras; and

a controller having a camera selection section that when the track structure, the swing structure or the work device makes an operation, selects from among the plurality of cameras a camera in accordance with the operation, and a storage control section storing in the storage device a video taken during the operation by the camera selected by the camera selection section; and

an acceleration sensor mounted to the swing structure, wherein when an acceleration of the swing structure calculated from a detection value of the acceleration sensor while the track structure, the swing structure, and the work device are at rest exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the storage control section stores videos taken by the plurality of cameras in the storage device.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of cameras include a forward shooting camera for shooting a front side of the swing structure, a leftward shooting camera for shooting a left side of the swing structure, and a rightward shooting camera for shooting a right side of the swing structure;

when the swing structure swings to right, the camera selection section selects the forward shooting camera and the rightward shooting camera, and when the swing structure swings to left, the camera selection section selects the forward shooting camera and the leftward shooting camera.

3. The work machine according to claim 2, wherein

when the work device operates, the camera selection section selects the forward shooting camera.

4. The work machine according to claim 3, further comprising a drive mechanism for tilting the forward shooting camera in a vertical direction, wherein

the controller further has a drive mechanism control section that when the work device operates, tilts the forward shooting camera in conformity with a forward end position of the work device.

5. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein

the threshold value is set to be larger than an acceleration generated in the swing structure due to an operational vibration of an engine while the swing structure and the work device are at rest.

6. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller further has a temporary storage section that stores videos taken by the plurality of cameras for a predetermined period of time; and

the storage control section causes videos taken by the plurality of cameras, the videos starting at a point in time attained by going back in time by a predetermined period of time from a time when the acceleration of the swing structure exceeds the predetermined threshold value, to be transferred from the temporary storage section to the storage device, thereby storing the videos in the storage device.

7. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of cameras include a forward shooting camera for shooting a front side of the swing structure and a backward shooting camera for shooting a back side of the swing structure; and

when the track structure travels, the camera selection section selects the forward shooting camera and the backward shooting camera.

8. The work machine according to claim 1, further comprising an operation device for outputting an operation signal controlling operation of each of a plurality of actuators driving the track structure, the swing structure, and the work device, wherein

the camera selection section determines an operation of the work machine based on the operation signal output from the operation device.

9. The work machine according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for switching between permission and prohibition of recording of videos taken by the plurality of cameras in the storage device.