Automated machine repositioning in an excavating operation

• US 7,726,048 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Alig, Jeffrey S., Stanek, Daniel, Price, Robert J., Koch, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/606,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 373/48, 374/66, 371/95, 373/47, 172 2- 11, 701/23, 701/25, 701/26, 701/50
• US Class Current: 37/195
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004

Abstract

A method of repositioning a machine during an excavating operation from a first machine position to a second machine position is provided. A target distance to the second machine position is selected. An operator input device configured to send a control input signal to a control module to initiate a repositioning phase is activated. During a repositioning phase, the machine is moved toward the second position while an operator maintains control of movement. A determination is made when the machine has traveled the target distance. The machine is stopped under automated machine control at the second machine position.

Claims

1. A method of excavating a trench with a backhoe loader machine, the backhoe loader machine including an engine, a backhoe mechanism at the rear of the machine, and a front loader assembly at the front of the machine, comprising:

setting up the backhoe loader machine at a first position suitable for forming the trench by deploying a pair of stabilizers into ground contact,

excavating a portion of the trench with the backhoe mechanism during a first excavating phase while the backhoe loader machine is set up at the first position;

moving the backhoe mechanism to a stowed position;

retracting the pair of stabilizers;

determining a target distance and path for moving the backhoe loader machine to a second position suitable for excavating another portion of the trench during a second excavating phase;

moving the backhoe loader machine forward for the target distance while steering the backhoe loader machine along the target path;

stopping the backhoe loader machine at the second position under automated machine control;

setting up the backhoe loader machine at a second position by deploying the pair of stabilizers into ground contact; and

excavating a portion of the trench with the backhoe mechanism during a second excavating phase while the backhoe loader machine is set up at the second position.

2. The method of claim 1, further including forcing a loader bucket of the front loader assembly into ground contact during setting up the backhoe loader machine at the first position and at the second position, and retracting the loader bucket from ground contact after moving the backhoe mechanism to a stowed position.

3. The method of claim 1, further including increasing engine speed to a level sufficient to support the stresses involved in excavating with the backhoe mechanism prior to excavating a portion of the trench with the backhoe mechanism at the first position and at the second position.

4. The method of claim 3, further including reducing engine speed prior to moving the backhoe mechanism to a stowed position, and reducing engine speed further and engaging a transmission gear suitable for machine movement prior to moving the machine forward.

5. The method of claim 4, further including increasing engine speed after engaging a transmission gear suitable for machine movement.

6. The method of claim 5, further including decreasing engine speed, applying machine brakes, and disengaging the transmission gear on approach to the second position.

7. The method of claim 6, further including increasing engine speed prior to setting up the backhoe loader machine at the second position.