Dozing apparatus of a bulldozer

• US 5,996,703 A
• Filed: 04/28/1999
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Shigeru, Nagase, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/297,264
• Time in Patent Office: 223 Days
• Field of Search: 172/2, 172/3, 172/4, 172/4.5, 172/7, 172/12, 701/50
• US Class Current: 172/4.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/845 using mechanical sensors to determine the blade position, e.g. inclinometers, gyroscopes, pendulums
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2029 Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2285 Pilot-operated systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps

Abstract

Smooth, effective dumping is achieved by automating. A switching point, at which a carrying mode is switched to a dumping mode during automatic driving in a dozing operation, is set beforehand. A dumping attitude of the blade is also preset for a desired traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point to a dumping point. The actual traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point is detected, based on which the blade is controlled so as to take the preset attitude.

Claims

1. A dozing system for a bulldozer, comprising:

(a) switching point setting means for setting a switching point at which a carrying mode is switched to a dumping mode in automatic driving in a dozing operation;

(b) blade dumping attitude setting means for setting a dumping attitude of a blade for a desired traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point set by the switching point setting means to a dumping point;

(c) actual traveling distance detecting means for detecting the actual traveling distance of the bulldozer from the switching point; and

(d) blade controlling means for controlling the blade to take the attitude which has been set by the blade dumping attitude setting means, according to the actual traveling distance detected by the actual traveling distance detecting means.

2. A dozing system for a bulldozer, according to claim 1, wherein the actual traveling distance detecting means detects the actual traveling distance of the bulldozer by integrating an actual ground speed detected by a Doppler sensor.

3. A dozing system for a bulldozer, according to claim 1, wherein the actual traveling distance detecting means detects the actual traveling distance of the bulldozer by integrating an actual ground speed obtained from the rotational speed of sprockets for crawler belts.

5. A dozing system for a bulldozer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blade dumping attitude setting means sets a dumping attitude of the blade by setting the vertical position of the blade in relation to a vehicle body.

6. A dozing system for a bulldozer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blade dumping attitude setting means sets a dumping attitude of the blade by setting the pitch angle of the blade in relation to a vehicle body.

7. A dozing system for a bulldozer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching point setting means sets a switching point through a teaching operation.

8. A dozing system for a bulldozer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the switching point setting means sets a switching point by a dial switch.

4. A dozing system for a bulldozer, comprising:

(a) switching point setting means for setting a switching point at which a carrying mode is switched to a dumping mode in automatic driving in a dozing operation;

(b) blade dumping attitude setting means for setting a dumping attitude of a blade for a desired traveling time period taken by the bulldozer to travel from the switching point set by the switching point setting means to a dumping point;

(c) actual traveling time detecting means for detecting the actual traveling time of the bulldozer traveling from the switching point; and

(d) blade controlling means for controlling the blade to take the attitude which has been set by the blade dumping attitude setting means, according to the actual traveling time detected by the actual traveling time detecting means.