Lock controller of working machine, and working machine

• US 7,940,160 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Arakawa, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/793,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.28
• US Class Current: 340/5.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/20 Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/08 With time considerations, e.g. temporary activation, valid time window or time limitations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5611 For control and machine elements

Abstract

The convenience of use of a method for locking a working machine without locking actuation by a human being is improved. A lock control device (80) of a working machine (1) includes: a stop operation detection means (186) which detects that a predetermined stop operation has been performed by the working machine (1); a time period length measurement means (187) which measures the time period length from when it has been detected that the predetermined stop operation has been performed, to the present; and a lock setting means (188) which: if the time period length which has been measured is within a predetermined time period length, without locking the working machine, makes it possible to restart it without a password; and, if the time period length which has been measured is greater than the predetermined time period length, locks the working machine (1), and makes restarting possible upon password input.

Claims

1. A lock control device for a working machine, which locks starting upon a performance of a stop operation of the working machine, and releases the starting lock upon password input via an input unit, comprising:

a stop operation detection unit which detects that a predetermined stop operation has been performed by the working machine;

a time period length measurement unit which measures a time period length from when it has been detected that said predetermined stop operation has been performed, to the present;

a lock setting unit which;

if said time period length which has been measured is within a predetermined time period length, makes said locking of said working machine ineffective, and, if the starting of said working machine is requested, makes it possible to restart said working machine without password input; and

, if said time period length which has been measured is greater than said predetermined time period length, locks the starting of said working machine, and releases said locking to make it possible to restart said working machine only upon the password input;

a time point acquisition unit for acquiring a present time point; and

a time period length control unit which;

if the present time point is a time point which belongs to a certain time period band, makes said predetermined time period length be a first time period length; and

, if the present time point is a time point which does not belong to said certain time period band, makes said predetermined time period length be a second time period length which is different from said first time period length.

2. The lock control device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined time period length is a time period length which can be set by a user via the input unit.

3. The lock control device according to claim 1, wherein, among said first time period length and said second time period length, at least said second time period length is a time period length set from a manager terminal which is used by a manager who is present at a location remote from said working machine.

4. The lock control device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a time information storage unit which stores said certain time period band; and

a time information write unit which updates said certain time period band stored in said time information storage unit; and

wherein, while said time information write unit permits setting, from said manager terminal, of a start time point of said certain time period band to be earlier and/or setting of its end time point to be later, said time information write unit forbids setting, from said input unit, of the start time point of said certain time period band to be earlier and/or setting of its end time point to be later.

5. The lock control device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second time period length is shorter than said first time period length.

6. A working machine, comprising the lock control device as described in claim 1.