Work machine with engine control device

• US 7,588,118 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Sawada, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Hau V
• Application Number:
  US10/555,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 180/302, 180/333, 180/315, 180/242, 180/53.4, 180/69.3, 180/301, 180/89.12, 70/50, 70/36, 606/07, 604/31, 604/49, 606/29, 604/28
• US Class Current: 180/302
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2246 Control of prime movers, e.g. depending on the hydraulic load of work tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/00 Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed

Abstract

A work machine with an engine control device is provided, which is capable of ensuring fine controllability and providing further improved fine controllability with a simple construction. To this end, the work machine includes: an engine control device for controlling the output of an engine in accordance with each of a plurality of operation modes which are set according to the contents of operations; and operation mode selector switches for selecting any one of the plurality of operation modes. If the operation mode selector switches select, from the plurality of operation modes, an operation mode for setting a set revolution speed for the engine to a relatively low value, the engine control device performs isochronous control for maintaining the revolution speed of the engine to a constant value irrespective of load fluctuations.

Claims

1. A work machine comprising:

hydraulic actuators activated by pressure oil from a hydraulic pump driven by an engine;

an implement driven by activation of the hydraulic actuators;

an engine control device for controlling output of the engine in accordance with each of a plurality of operation modes which are set according to contents of operations, the plurality of operation modes including a finely-controlled operation mode in which the implement is allowed to operate at ultraslow speed, and a revolution speed operation mode in which a revolution speed for the engine is set to a value in a vicinity of a rated output revolution speed; and

operation mode selecting means for selecting any one of the plurality of operation modes,

wherein the engine control device is arranged such that when the finely-controlled operation mode has been selected from the plurality of operation modes by the operation mode selecting means, the engine control device performs isochronous control for maintaining the revolution speed of the engine at a substantially constant value irrespective of load fluctuations, and

wherein the engine control device is arranged such that when the revolution speed operation mode has been selected from the plurality of operation modes by the operation mode selecting means, the engine control device performs regulation control for increasing or decreasing the revolution speed of the engine according to load fluctuations.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the engine control device performs equi-horse-power control subsequently to the isochronous control, if an output torque value of the engine which the load requires still increases after reaching a specified value when the finely-controlled operation mode is selected.

3. A work machine comprising:

hydraulic actuators activated by pressure oil from a hydraulic pump driven by an engine;

an implement driven by activation of the hydraulic actuators;

an engine control device for controlling output of the engine in accordance with each of a plurality of operation modes which are set according to contents of operations, the plurality of operation modes including a finely-controlled operation mode in which the implement is allowed to operate at ultraslow speed, and a revolution speed operation mode in which a revolution speed for the engine is set to a value in a vicinity of a rated output revolution speed; and

operation mode selecting means for selecting any one of the plurality of operation modes,

wherein the engine control device is arranged such that when each of the finely-controlled operation mode and the revolution speed operation mode has been selected from the plurality of operation modes by the operation mode selecting means, the engine control device performs isochronous control for maintaining the revolution speed of the engine at a substantially constant value irrespective of load fluctuations.

4. The work machine according to claim 3,

wherein the engine control device performs equi-horse-power control subsequently to the isochronous control, if an output torque value of the engine which the load requires still increases after reaching a specified value when the finely-controlled operation mode is selected.