Anti-toppling device for construction machine

• US 6,032,094 A
• Filed: 01/28/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Yanagi, Kunikazu, Okamura, Kenji, Ohtsukasa, Naritoshi, Yoshinada, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/014,869
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 37/413, 37/418, 340/440
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/325 Backhoes of the miniature type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/961 with several digging elements or tools mounted on one machine for backhoes E02F3/964 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence

Abstract

To prevent toppling of a construction machine where a plurality of operating tools are provided on a single mobile platform, a control section detects the cylinder axial forces, joint angles and relative angle of rotation for a plurality of operating tools provided rotatably on a single mobile platform, and a moment calculator calculates a composite moment for the plurality of operating tools on the basis of these detection results and further calculates a stability value relating to toppling, from this composite moment and a reference moment. If the calculated stability value is less than a reference value, an anti-toppling controller issues an alarm from the alarm via an output controller and halts the operation of the plurality of operating tools, or alternatively, if the operation of the operating lever input via the lever gain calculator will cause the stability to fall below a set value, it controls a hydraulic control section such that the action of the operating tool corresponding to this operation is prohibited. By allowing the operating tool located on the base where the control section and hydraulic control section are installed to be detected by electrical signals, but using pressure signals only for the other operating tools, the need for electrical swivels between the plurality of devices is removed.

Claims

1. An anti-toppling device for a construction machine which moves by means of a mobile platform and performs tasks by means of a plurality of operating tools, comprising:

first detection means for detecting the relative angle of rotation of the plurality of operating tools;

a plurality of second detection means for detecting values of moment components contributing to toppling for each of the plurality operating tools; and

control means for judging toppling of the construction machine on the basis of the detection signals from the first and second detection means and controlling the construction machine such as to be prevented from toppling over on the basis of results of the judgement.

2. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein, when the value of the moment component in a particular operating tool as indicated by the detection signal from the second detection means corresponding to the operating tool exceeds a specific value previously determined on the basis of the moment of the particular operating tool in an operational state where the operational state of the particular operating tool contributes towards the toppling of the construction machine, the control means determines that the current operational state of the particular operating tool is contributing towards the toppling of the construction machine.

3. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 2, wherein the second detection means corresponding to the particular operating tool detects the value of the moment component of the particular operating tool by means of pressure.

4. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 2, wherein the second detection means corresponding to the particular operating tool is provided on the base of the operating tool where the control means is located.

5. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 2, wherein the control means implements control such that the plurality of operating tools are halted and thereafter, operation of those operating tools of the plurality of operating tools which do not contribute to toppling is permitted, when the judging means judges that there is a possibility of toppling.

6. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein, when the control means judges toppling of the construction machine by comparing the value of the moment component due to a particular operating tool as indicated by the detection signal from the second detection means corresponding to the particular operating tool with a specific value previously determined on the basis of the moment of the particular operating tool in an operational state where the operational state of the particular operating tool contributes towards the toppling of the construction machine, wherein the specific value is corrected to a value corresponding to the relative angle of rotation as detected by the first detection means.

7. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein the control means corrects the values to values allowing a greater margin for toppling of the construction machine as the relative angle of rotation increases.

8. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein, when the control means judges toppling of the construction machine by comparing the value of the moment component due to a particular operating tool as indicated by the detection signal from the second detection means corresponding to the particular operating tool with a specific value previously determined on the basis of the moment of the particular operating tool in an operational state where the operational state of the particular operating tool contributes towards the toppling of the construction machine, wherein the value of the moment component is corrected to a value corresponding to the relative angle of rotation as detected by the first detection means.

9. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means judges that there is a possibility of the construction machine toppling over when the value of the moment component indicated by the detection signal from the second detection means corresponding to one of the operating tools exceeds a specific value, and the value of the moment component indicated by the detection signal from the second detection means corresponding to the other of the operating tools exceeds a reference value corrected in response to the relative angle of rotation.

10. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising moment calculating means for calculating a composite moment for the whole of the construction machine on the basis of the detection signals from the first and second detection means, wherein the control means compares the calculation result of the moment calculating means with a prescribed reference moment indicating the possibility of the construction machine toppling over, and judges that there is the possibility of the construction machine toppling over when the composite moment exceeds the prescribed reference moment.

11. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claims 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of operating tools can be rotated.

12. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 11, wherein the control means implements control such that the relative angle of rotation is increased when the judging means judges that there is a possibility of the toppling.

13. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means implements control such that at least one of the plurality of operating tools is halted, when the judging means judges that there is a possibility of toppling.

14. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means implements control such that it prohibits operation of the operating tools which increase the possibility of toppling, when the judging means judges that there is a possibility of toppling.

15. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means implements control such that the operating tool is relocated to a position which reduces the possibility of toppling, when the judging means judges that there is the possibility of toppling.

16. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means implements control such that when the possibility of toppling has increased whilst one of the operating tools is at rest due to a change in the position of another operating tool, the operating tool which is at rest is relocated to a position which reduces the possibility of toppling.

17. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising alarm means for warning of the danger of the construction machine toppling over, wherein the control means implements control such that a alarm is issued by the alarm means at least, when it is judged that there is a possibility of toppling.

18. The anti-toppling device for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means calculates the moment due to an operating tool which is contributing significantly to the toppling of the construction machine on the basis of the value of a plurality of moment components indicated by the detection signals from the second detection means corresponding to that operating tool, and if the value of these moments exceeds a predetermined value, then it judges that the current operational state of this operating tool will contribute to the toppling of the construction machine.