Locus control system for construction machines

• US 5,918,527 A
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fujishima, Kazuo, Watanabe, Hiroshi, Haga, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): LOPEZ, FRANK D
• Application Number:
  US08/842,042
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 91/361, 91/363 R, 37/348, 172/2, 172/4.5, 414/699
• US Class Current: 91/363.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/437 providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. linear excavation, keeping dipper angle constant
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence

Abstract

A locus control system of hydraulic excavators whereby a target locus for a front device is set beforehand. A control unit calculates a position and posture of the front device based on signals from angle sensors, and calculates a target speed vector of the front device based on signals from control lever devices. Through this calculation process, the control unit maintains the target speed vector as it is when the front device is not near the target locus, and modifies the target speed vector to a vector pointing to a second point on the target locus advanced in the excavating direction by a second distance from a first point located on the target locus at a minimum distance from a tip of the front device, when the front device is near the target locus.

Claims

1. A locus control system equipped on a construction machine comprising a plurality of members to be driven including a plurality of front members which constitute a multi-articulated front device and are each rotatable vertically, a plurality of hydraulic actuators for driving respectively said plurality of members to be driven, a plurality of operating means for instructing movements of said plurality of members to be driven, and a plurality of hydraulic control valves driven in accordance with operation signals from said plurality of operating means and controlling flow rates of a hydraulic fluid supplied to said plurality of hydraulic actuators, said locus control system comprising locust setting means for setting a target locus along which said front device is to be moved, first detecting means for detecting status variables in relation to a position and posture of said front device, first calculating means for calculating the position and posture of said front device based on signals from the first detecting means, and signal modifying means for, based on the operation signals from those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with particular front members and values calculated by said first calculating means, modifying at least one of the operation signals from those operating means associated with said particular front members so that said front device is moved to reach said target locus wherein:

said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals so that said front device is moved toward a second point on said target locus advanced in the excavating direction by a second distance from a first point located on said target locus at a first distance from said front device and said signal modifying means sets said second distance as a fixed value.

2. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said signal modifying means uses, as said first distance, a minimum distance between said target locus and said front device.

3. A locust control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said signal modifying means includes second calculating means for calculating a target speed vector of said front device based on the operation signals from said operating means associated with said particular front members, third calculating means for receiving values calculated by said first and second calculating means, calculating a modification vector to modify said target speed vector based on the received values, and modifying said target speed vector based on said modification vector to point to said second point, and valve control means for driving the associated hydraulic control valves so that said front device is moved in accordance with said target speed vector modified by said third calculating means.

4. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 3, wherein said third calculating means includes modification vector altering means for altering said modification vector depending on said first distance.

5. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals only when said first distance is not greater than a predetermined distance.

6. A locus control system equipped on a construction machine comprising a plurality of members to be driven including a plurality of front members which constitute a multi-articulated front device and are each rotatable vertically, a plurality of hydraulic actuators for driving respectively said plurality of members to be driven, a plurality of operating means for instructing movements of said plurality of members to be driven, and a plurality of hydraulic control valves driven in accordance with operation signals from said plurality of operating means and controlling flow rates of a hydraulic fluid supplied to said plurality of hydraulic actuators, said locus control system comprising locus setting means for setting a target locus along which said front device is to be moved, first detecting means for detecting status variables in relation to a position and posture of said front device, first calculating means for calculating the position and posture of said front device based on signals from the first detecting means, and signal modifying means for, based on the operation signals from those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with said particular front members and values calculated by first calculating means, modifying at least one of the operation signals from those operation means associated with said particular front members so that said front device is moved to reach said target locus wherein:

said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals so that said front device is moved toward a second point on said target locus advanced in the excavating direction by a second distance from a first point locating on said target locus at a first distance from said front device and said signal modifying means sets said second distance to be variable depending on said first distance.

7. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein said signal modifying means uses, as said first distance, a minimum distance between said target locus and said front device.

8. A locust control system for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein said signal modifying means includes second calculating means for calculating a target speed vector of said front device based on the operation signals from said operating means associated with said particular front members, third calculating means for receiving values calculated by said first and second calculating means, calculating a modification vector to modify said target speed vector based on the received values, and modifying said target speed vector based on said modification vector to point to said second point, and valve control means for driving the associated hydraulic control valves so that said front device is moved in accordance with said target speed vector modified by said third calculating means.

9. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals only when said first distance is not greater than a predetermined distance.

10. A locus control system equipped on a construction machine comprising a plurality of members to be driven including a plurality of front members which constitute a multi-articulated front device and are each rotatable vertically, a plurality of hydraulic actuators for driving respectively said plurality of members to be driven, a plurality of operating means for instructing movements of said plurality of members to be driven, and a plurality of hydraulic control valves driven in accordance with operation signals from said plurality of operating means and controlling flow rates of a hydraulic fluid supplied to said plurality of hydraulic actuators, said locus control system comprising locus setting means for setting a target locus along which said front device is to be moved, first detecting means for detecting status variables in relation to a position and posture of said front device, first calculating means for calculating the position and posture of said front device based on signals from the first detecting means, and signal modifying means for, based on the operation signals from those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with particular front members and values calculated by said first calculating means, modifying at least one of the operation signals from those operating means associated with said particular front members so that said front device is moved to reach said target locus wherein:

said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals so that said front device is moved toward a second point on said target locus advanced in the excavating direction by a second distance from a first point located on said target locus at a first distance from said front device and said signal modifying means sets said second distance to be variable depending on a moving speed of said front device,

at least those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with said particular front members are of hydraulic pilot type outputting pilot pressures as said operation signals, an operating system including said operating means of hydraulic pilot type drives the associated hydraulic control valves,

said control system further comprising second detecting means for detecting input amounts by which said operating means of hydraulic pilot type are operated, second calculating means for calculating a target speed vector of said front device based on signals from said second detecting means, said valve control means including fourth calculating means for, based on said modified target speed vector, calculating target pilot pressures for driving the associated hydraulic control valves, and pilot control means for controlling said operating system so that said target pilot pressures are established,

and said second detecting means comprises pressure sensors disposed in the pilot lines of said operating system.

11. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 10, wherein said modifying means sets said second distance to be variable depending on the operation signals from said operating means for said front device.

12. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 10, wherein said operating system includes a first pilot line for introducing a pilot pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve so that said front device is moved away from said target locus, said fourth calculating means includes means for calculating a target pilot pressure in said first pilot line based on said modified target speed vector, and said pilot control means includes means for outputting a first electric signal corresponding to said target pilot pressure, electro-hydraulic converting means for converting said first electric signal into a hydraulic pressure and outputting a control pressure corresponding to said target pilot pressure, and higher pressure selecting means for selecting a higher one of the pilot pressure in said first pilot line and the control pressure output from said electro-hydraulic converting means, and introducing the selected pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve.

13. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 12 wherein said particular front members include a boom and an arm of a hydraulic excavator, and said first pilot line includes a pilot line on the boom-up side.

14. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 10, wherein said operating system includes a second pilot line for introducing a pilot pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve so that said front device is moved toward said target locus, said fourth calculating means includes means for calculating a target pilot pressure in said second pilot line based on said modified target speed vector, and said pilot control means includes means for outputting a second electric signal corresponding to said target pilot pressure and pressure reducing means disposed in the second pilot line and operated in accordance with said second electric signal for reducing the pilot pressure in said second pilot line to said target pilot pressure.

15. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 14, wherein said particular front members include a boom and an arm of a hydraulic excavator, and there are a plurality of said second pilot lines on the boom-down side and the arm crowding side.

16. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 14, wherein said particular front members include a boom and an arm of a hydraulic excavator, and there are a plurality of said second pilot lines on the boom-down side, the arm crowding side, and the arm dumping side.

17. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 10, wherein said operating system includes a first pilot line for introducing a pilot pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve so that said front device is moved away from said target locus, and a second pilot line for introducing a pilot pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve so that said front device is moved toward said target locus, said fourth calculating means includes means for calculating target pilot pressures in said first and second pilot lines based on said modification target speed vector, and said pilot control means includes means for outputting first and second electric signals corresponding to said target pilot pressures, electro-hydraulic converting means for converting said first electric signal into a hydraulic pressure and outputting a control pressure corresponding to said target pilot pressure, higher pressure selecting means for selecting a higher one of the pilot pressure in said first pilot line and the control pressure output from said electro-hydraulic converting means and introducing the selected pressure to the associated hydraulic control valve, and pressure reducing means disposed in the second pilot line and operated in accordance with said second electric signal for reducing the pilot pressure in said second pilot line to said target pilot pressure.

18. A locus control system equipped on a construction machine comprising a plurality of members to be driven including a plurality of front members which constitute a multi-articulated front device and are each rotatable vertically, a plurality of hydraulic actuators for driving respectively said plurality of members to be driven, a plurality of operating means for instructing movements of said plurality of members to be driven, and a plurality of hydraulic control valves driven in accordance with operation signals from said plurality of operating means and controlling flow rates of a hydraulic fluid supplied to said plurality of hydraulic actuators, said locus control system comprising locus setting means for setting a target locus along which said front device is to be moved, fist detecting means for detecting status variables in relation to a position and posture of said front device, first calculating means for calculating the position and posture of said front device based on signals from the first detecting means, and signal modifying means for, based on the operation signals from those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with particular front members and values calculated by said first calculating means, modifying at least one of the operation signals from these operating means associated with said particular front members so that said front device is moved to reach said target locus wherein:

said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals so that said front device is moved toward a second point on said target locus advanced in the excavating direction by a second distance from a first point located on said target locus at a first distance from said front device and said signal modifying means modifies said operation signals only when said operation signals from those ones of said plurality of operating means associated with said particular front members are operation signals in the direction causing said front device to approach said target locus.

19. A locus control system for a construction machine according to claim 18, wherein said signal modifying means sets said second distance to be variable depending on the operation signals from said operating means for said front device.