SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR WITH A FIRST AND A SECOND HAND OPERATED CONTROL, CONTROLLING MOTION ON A WORK TOOL FOR A CONSTRUCTION MACHINE

• US 20160145832A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelwrist AB
• Original Assignee: Steelwrist AB
• Inventors: Stockhaus, Stefan, Nilsson, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 10,202,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/32 working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3677 allowing movement, e.g. rotation or translation, of the tool around or along another axis as the movement implied by the boom or arms, e.g. for tilting buckets
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3681 Rotators
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/437 providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. linear excavation, keeping dipper angle constant
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for, with a first and a second hand operated control means (11a, 11b), controlling movement on a work tool (5) for a construction machine (1). The construction machine (1) comprises a lower carriage (2), a top (3), a digging arm (4) and a work tool (5). The digging arm (4) comprises an inner link arm (4a) with a first and a second inner link arm end (4a1, 4a2) and an outer link arm (4b) with a first and a second outer link arm end (4b1, 4b2). The work tool (5) is secured in the second outer link arm end (4b2) via an attachment device (6) which enables controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool (5) in relation to the outer link arm (4b). The system is characterized in that the first hand operated control means (11a) is intended to control the position of the second outer link arm end (4b2) and the second hand operated control means (11b) is intended to control the function of the tool (5), comprising controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool (5) in relation to the outer link arm (4b).

Claims

1. A system for, with a first and a second hand operated control means, controlling movement on a work tool for a construction machine, the construction machine comprising a lower carriage, a top, a digging arm and a work tool,

wherein the digging arm comprises an inner link arm with a first and a second inner link arm end and an outer link arm with a first and a second outer link arm end,

wherein one joint connects the top with the first inner link arm end, one joint connects the second inner link arm end with the first outer link arm end and one joint connects the second outer link arm end with the work tool,

and wherein the work tool is secured in the second outer link arm end via an attachment device which enables controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool in relation to the outer link arm;

wherein

the first hand operated control means is intended to control the position of the second outer link arm end and

the second hand operated control means is intended to control the function of the tool, comprising controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool in relation to the outer link arm.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein actuators are adapted to via control devices control the relative movement between the attachment device and the outer link arm, the outer link arm and the inner link arm and between the inner link arm and the top.

3. The system according to claim 2, comprising a control system which converts the movements of the first and the second control means to signals which activate, deactivate and control the control devices which control the movements of the first and second link arms and which activate, deactivate and control the control devices arranged in the attachment device which control the movement of the work tool.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the control system is adapted to control the velocity of the relative movement between the different moveable link arm parts by via the control devices controlling at least one of power supply, pressure or flow in the different actuators and to the attachment device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is a tiltrotator and comprises a rotor member intended to control the rotation of the work tool about a first attachment device axis and tilting device intended to control the tilting of the work tool about a second attachment device axis substantially perpendicular to the first attachment device axis.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is provided in the attachment device which measures the relative position between the separate parts of the attachment device and/or the force that acts upon the control devices which are provided interconnected with the attachment device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second control means are possible to tilt in a movement parallel to at least a first and a second control means axis which are substantially perpendicular to each other and rotate about a third control means axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first and the second control means axis.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first and the second control means is possible to adjust vertically along the third control means axis which is a substantially vertical axis.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein a movement on the first control means is intended to control a movement for the second outer link arm end and wherein a movement on the second control means is intended to control a movement or a function of the tool.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second control means is a touch screen.

11. A method for, with a first and a second hand operated control means, controlling a movement on a work tool for a construction machine, the construction machine comprising a lower carriage, a top, a digging arm and a work tool,

wherein the digging arm comprises an inner link arm with a first and a second inner link arm end and an outer link arm with a first and a second outer link arm end,

wherein one joint connects the top with the first inner link arm end, one joint connects the second inner link arm end with the first outer link arm end and one joint connects the second outer link arm end with the work tool,

and wherein the work tool is secured in the second outer link arm end via an attachment device which enables controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool in relation to the outer link arm;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

with the first hand operated control means controlling the position of the second outer link arm end and

with the second hand operated control means controlling the function of the tool, comprising controlled rotation and controlled tilting of the work tool in relation to the outer link arm.

12. The method according to claim 11 comprising the step of:

with a control system converting the movements of the first and the second control means into control signals which activate, deactivate and control control devices which control the movements of the first and the second link arm and the work tool.

13. A computer program product stored on non-transitory a computer readable medium, which when executed on a computer performs the steps according to the method according to claim 11.