Method for controlling operation of repeated work of excavator vehicle

• US 5,629,849 A
• Filed: 10/10/1995
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Samsung Heavy Industries Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Ahn, Seong-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/541,717
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 364/167.01, 364/424.07, 414/698, 414/699, 340/684, 340/686, 37/348, 37/414, 37/415, 37/902, 37/907
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/438 Memorising movements for repetition, e.g. play-back capability
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/085 using a data bus, e.g. "CANBUS"
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/087 Control strategy, e.g. with block diagram
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/427 Teaching successive positions by tracking the position of a joystick or handle to control the positioning servo of the tool head, master-slave control G05B19/423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36413 Adapt playback as function of hardness material, time comparison to reach start point
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39399 Convert position of old, teach to new, changed, actual tool by transform matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45012 Excavator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for automatically controlling prescribed work to be repeatedly done by the excavator. An electronic control using a processor and sensors is used to precisely control the work under program control regardless of the hardness of the ground. The controlling method according to the present invention utilizes stored data of the position of each of the joints of the actuators when the prescribed work is performed. During the repeated work, each joint is able to maintain its desired position regardless of the hardness of the ground. Further, because the operational mode can be stored at the same time as storing of the data for the prescribed work, the invention compares the operational mode with the repeated work. The performance speed of the repeated work can be controlled as much as intended by the operator. The repeated work can be performed with high speed when an unskilled operator stores the operation of the prescribed work with a slow speed. The work efficiency of the excavator is enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling repetitive operations of a construction machine having a plurality of attachments, said method comprising:

storing during a teaching mode in a memory device a plurality of operational positions defined by manual actions of the attachments including attachment pivot angles of a boom, dipper stick and bucket and an angle of rotation of the construction machine of a work mode used in the construction machine to regulate fluid flow from a hydraulic pump according to a work load or a ground condition; and

providing during a repetitive mode a repetitive operation control signal responsive to the stored angles and controlling a work mode of the attachments in accordance with the control signal to automatically perform a controlled operation of the manual actions of an operator during the repetitive mode and controlling a speed of the work mode performed by the construction machine during the repetitive mode by comparing a maximum flow rate of the hydraulic pump of the work mode in the teaching mode with a maximum flow rate of the hydraulic pump of the work mode in the repetitive mode to regulate the fluid flow from the hydraulic pump to cylinders to power the attachments according to the work load or the ground condition in the repetitive mode.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

moving all of the plurality of attachments automatically to a starting position for the repetitive mode that is identical to a starting position in the teaching mode.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a target angle position of each of the plurality of attachments according to the work mode for a variable speed of operation in the repetitive mode.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

decreasing a target speed of each of the plurality of attachments repetitively by an identical rate to maintain a direction of repetitive operation if a calculated dischargeable fluid flow amount does not satisfy the target speed of each of the plurality of attachments.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

transforming the target angle position of each of the plurality of attachments into positions of the cylinders providing fluid flow to move the attachments.