Control apparatus and control method for a construction machine

• US 6,522,964 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hikiyama, Mitsuru, Miki, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/355,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/35, 701/33, 701/36, 172/4.5, 172/9, 172/161, 172/303, 172/304, 172/315
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2282 Systems using center bypass type changeover valves
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2285 Pilot-operated systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A control apparatus and a control method for a construction machine make it possible to set an operation condition suitable for the working attachment by a simple operation with certainty, even if unique information of a working attachment cannot be inputted. To this end, a control apparatus for a construction machine to which a working attachment is attached is constructed that includes a control section for controlling a hydraulic power source based on unique information about the working attachment, a display section which performs discrimination failure display when the type of the working attachment has not successfully been discriminated, and a standard set valve setting section for setting, when the discrimination failure display is performed by the display section, the type of the working attachment and a standard value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment, and that the control section is capable of controlling the hydraulic power source based on the operation condition set based on the unique information of the working attachment of information of the standard set valve set by the standard set valve setting section.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a construction machine, the construction machine having a working attachment removably attached to a construction machine body and wherein the control apparatus comprises:

a control section for discriminating a type of the working attachment and controlling a hydraulic power source, which supplies working oil to the working attachment, based on unique information for setting an operation condition required by the working attachment in accordance with the type;

a display section for displaying the type of the working attachment discriminated by said control section and performing discrimination failure display when said control section has failed to discriminate the type of the working attachment; and

a standard set value setting section for setting, when the discrimination failure display is performed by said display section, the type of the working attachment and a standard value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment; and

that

said control section is capable of controlling said hydraulic power source based on the operation condition set based on the unique information of the working attachment or information of the standard set value set by said standard wet value setting section.

2. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus further comprises a confirmation switch for performing an operation for a premise of start of control by said control section, and said control section starts control of said hydraulic power source after confirming a switch operation by said confirmation switch.

3. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said standard set value setting section includes a plurality of standard set values to which a priority order is applied, and

said control section is capable of controlling said hydraulic power source based on the operation condition set based on the unique information of the working attachment or information of a standard set value from said standard set value setting section selected in accordance with the priority order.

4. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display section performs discrimination failure display when said control section discriminates by a predetermined number of times that the unique information is not normal.

5. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein when the standard set value is set by said standard set value setting section, said display section displays the type of the working attachment and the standard set value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment.

6. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus further comprises changing means for changing the standard set value.

7. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein said changing means includes a changing switch which is capable of being manually operated by an operator.

8. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein

said changing switch is provided on said display section, and

change of the type of the working attachment and the standard set value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment which is performed by an operation of said changing switch is capable of being performed while the type of the working attachment and the standard set value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment displayed on said display section are confirmed.

9. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control apparatus further comprises a unique information storage member for discriminating the type of the working attachment and storing the unique information for setting the operation condition required by the working attachment in accordance with the type, and

said control section automatically sets discrimination of the type of the working attachment and the operation condition required by the working attachment based on the unique information fetched from said unique information storage member.

10. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said unique information storage member is an IC memory.

11. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said unique information storage member is a connector.

12. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said unique information storage member is a bar code.

13. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said unique information storage member is a transmitter.

14. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said transmitter performs transmission of the unique information to said control section by wire communication.

15. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 14, wherein said transmitter performs transmission of the unique information to said control section through a data communication interface.

16. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 14, wherein said transmitter performs transmission of the unique information to said control section through a buffer.

17. A control apparatus for a construction machine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said transmitter performs transmission of the unique information to said control section by radio communication.

18. A control method for a construction machine wherein a working attachment is removably attached to a construction machine body for discriminating a type of the working attachment and controlling a hydraulic power source for supplying working oil to the working attachment based on unique information for setting an operation condition required by the working attachment in accordance with the type, the control method comprising:

a displaying step in which a type display mode wherein the discriminated type of the working attachment is displayed on a display section and a discrimination failure display mode wherein discrimination failure display is performed on said display section when the type of the working attachment cannot be discriminated are taken selectively;

a standard set value setting step of setting, when the discrimination failure display is performed in the displaying step, the type of the working attachment and a standard set value regarding the operation condition of the working attachment; and

a controlling step of controlling said hydraulic power source based on the operation condition set based on the unique information of the working attachment or information of the standard set value set in the standard set value setting step.

19. A method for controlling a construction machine having a working attachment removably attached to a machine body, comprising:

discriminating a type of the working attachment;

displaying one of the discriminated type of the working attachment and a discrimination failure;

setting the type of the working attachment and a standard set value regarding an operating condition of the working attachment when the discrimination failure is displayed; and

controlling a hydraulic power source supplying a working oil to the working attachment based on unique information for the operating condition required by the working