Control system for a remote control work machine

• US 8,428,791 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Carlsson, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US13/145,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701/50, 701/538, 701/541
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/01 Arrangements of two or more controlling members with respect to one another double foot control, e.g. for instruction vehicles G05G1/34; mounting units comprising an assembly with two or more pedals G05G1/36
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

Control system for a remote-controlled working machine provided with tracks, the control system including a remote control, the remote control being connected wirelessly or by a cable to at least one electronic unit in the machine, and having at least one control stick or joystick and a number of buttons, levers and/or knobs for operating the different travel and working functions of the machine. The machine furthermore has one or more different setting modes or positions, wherein its control sticks and/or certain buttons have different functions in different modes.

Claims

1. A control system for a remote-controlled working machine provided with tracks, said control system comprising:

a remote control, said remote control being coupled to at least one electronic unit in the machine, and having two control sticks and a number of buttons, levers and/or knobs for operating different travel and working functions of the machine, the machine has one or more different setting modes or positions, wherein the control sticks and/or certain buttons have different functions in different modes, the two control sticks each having at least two different setting modes or positions, so that each control stick performs at least two different functions of work or travel, and in a travel mode, travel of the machine is handled entirely by one of said two control stick, such that the tracks of the machine are operated as follows;

if the one control stick is moved forwards or backwards, both tracks are driven forwards or backwards so that the machine moves forwards or backwards;

if the one control stick is moved straight to the left, the right track is driven forwards and the left track is driven backwards so that the machine turns to the left;

if the one control stick is moved straight to the right, the left track is driven forwards and the right track is driven backwards so that the machine turns to the right;

if the one control stick is moved in a diagonal direction forwards or backwards and to the side, the abovementioned movements are combined so that the machine both turns and goes forwards or backwards in a diagonal direction.

2. The control system according to claim 1, in which the extent of the deviation of the one control stick from a center position determines how quickly the tracks are driven, such that a small deviation results in slow movement of the machine and a large deviation results in faster movement of the machine.

3. The control system according to claim 1, in which each control stick is provided with a first control member, also referred to as the left button, which, when activated, gives the control stick a different function from a basic function.

4. The control system according to claim 1, in which at least one control stick is provided with a second control member, also referred to as the right button, which, when activated, gives the control stick a third function different from a basic function and a first function.

5. The control system according to claim 4, in which at least one control stick is provided with a third control member and possibly a fourth control member which, when activated, give the control stick a fourth or possibly a fifth different function.

6. The control system according to claim 1, in which, at the same time as the machine is moved with the aid of one control stick, a series of other machine movements can be executed with the aid of the second control stick, alone or in combination with the action of the first control member or the second control member, including at least one of the following:

rotating the tower of the machine clockwise or anti-clockwise;

raising or lowering arm;

extending or retracting a first arm;

extending or retracting a second arm;

swinging tools in or out.

8. A remote-controlled working machine provided with a control system according to claim 1.

7. A remote control intended to be carried by an operator situated beside a machine, the remote control comprising:

two control sticks and a number of buttons, levers and/or knobs for operating the different travel and working functions of the machine having one or more different setting modes or positions;

the control sticks and/or a plurality of the buttons have different functions in different modes;

the two control sticks each having at least two different setting modes or positions, so that each control stick performs at least two different functions of work or travel, and in a travel mode, also referred to as a transport position, travel of the machine is handled entirely by one of the two control sticks, such that two tracks of the machine are operated as follows;

if the one control stick is moved forwards or backwards, both tracks are driven forwards or backwards so that the machine moves forwards or backwards;

if the one control stick is moved straight to the left, the right track is driven forwards and the left track is driven backwards so that the machine turns to the left;

if the one control stick is moved straight to the right, the left track is driven forwards and the right track is driven backwards so that the machine turns to the right;

if the one control stick is moved in a diagonal direction forwards or backwards and to the side, the abovementioned movements are combined so that the machine both turns and goes forwards or backwards in a diagonal direction.

9. The remote-controlled working machine according to claim 7, in which the working machine is a demolition robot having an arm consisting of at least three parts, an outer end of said arm furthermore being designed for attachment of a demolition tool.

10. The remote-controlled working machine according to claim 7, in which the machine has an electrically driven hydraulic pump with hydraulic fluid for operation thereof, and the machine is connected to the electrical supply by a power cable which then trails behind the machine during travel.