Recommending a machine repositioning distance in an excavating operation

• US 7,694,442 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Price, Robert J., Koch, Roger D., Alig, Jeffrey S., Stanek, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/606,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 373/48, 374/44, 373/82, 374/14, 172 2- 11, 701/50, 414/699, 414/700
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/02 for digging trenches or ditches machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/145 control and indicating devices
• 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 system and method of assisting an operator of an excavating machine includes recommending a hop distance to move the machine based on the maximum distance that the machine can move and still be able to reach the bottom of the excavation that has already been dug by the machine during an excavating operation.

Claims

1. A system for excavating a trench requiring a plurality of excavating phases, each from a different machine set-up position, comprising:

an excavating assemblage; and

a control system configured to calculate repositioning distance for machine movement between excavating phases and set-up positions based upon an effective reach of the excavating assemblage and a trench depth, and configured to communicate the repositioning distance to a machine operator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the excavating assemblage includes a backhoe mechanism including a swing assembly, a boom, a stick, and a bucket, and wherein the control system is configured to factor in the type of bucket employed, or the type of material being excavated in calculating the repositioning distance.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the stick is an extendable stick, and wherein the control system is configured to factor in additional reach facilitated by the extendable stick in calculating the repositioning distance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the trench depth from a sensor associated with the excavating assemblage and a signal provided from the sensor during a first excavating phase.

5. A machine for excavating a continuous trench in a plurality of excavating phases, each excavating phase having a different machine set-up position along the oath of the trench being excavated, comprising:

an excavating assemblage including a boom pivoted to the machine, a stick pivoted to the boom, and a bucket pivoted to the stick; and

a control module configured to calculate and recommend to an operator repositioning distance for machine movement between the excavating phases and set-up positions based upon a reach of the excavating assemblage and a desired trench depth.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the boom is pivoted to the rear of the machine, further including:

a front loader assembly mounted at the front of the machine;

a pair of stabilizers mounted on the machine;

an operator station on the machine and including a seat movable to a position facing toward the machine front and movable to a position facing toward the machine rear; and

an input device positioned proximate the operator station.

7. The machine of claim 5, wherein the control module is further configured to include the type of material being excavated, or dimensions of the bucket being employed in calculating the recommended repositioning distance.

8. The machine of claim 5, further comprising a touch screen display configured to enable an operator to initiate calculation of the repositioning distance, the control module further configured for receiving input signals from the touch screen display and for delivering output signals to the touch screen display, the control module further configured for delivering output signals to:

display the repositioning distance on the touch screen display; and

program the machine for moving the repositioning distance.

9. The machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the desired depth from a sensor associated with the excavating assemblage.

10. A method of operating an excavating machine in a trenching operation, comprising:

initiating a trenching operation including a plurality of excavating phases for completion of a continuous trench, each excavating phase defined by a separate set-up position;

employing the excavating assemblage during a first excavating phase at a first set-up position to excavate a trench to a first desired depth;

activating an electronic controller for calculating a repositioning distance that the machine may be moved for a second excavating phase at a second set-up position based upon a second desired depth for the second excavating phase and a reach of the excavating assemblage; and

providing a signal from the electronic controller communicating to an operator the calculated repositioning distance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating to the operator the calculated repositioning distance includes displaying the repositioning distance on a display device located proximate a machine control station.

12. The method of claim 10, further including, terminating the first excavating phase, and before moving the machine for the second excavating phase, initiating an automated machine preparation for repositioning mode for preparing the machine for repositioning for the second excavating phase.

13. The method of claim 10, further including:

initiating a machine repositioning phase by communicating a signal to the electronic controller; and

autonomously moving the machine toward the second set-up position for the second excavating phase, the electronic controller;

determining when the machine has moved the calculated repositioning distance and reached the second set-up position for the second excavating phase; and

stopping the machine under automated machine control at the second set-up position for the second excavating phase.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second desired depths are determined relative to a fixed point on the machine when the machine is in one of the set-up positions and leveled.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the excavating assemblage includes a backhoe mechanism including a swing assembly, a boom, an extendable stick, and a bucket, and wherein the reach of the excavating assemblage includes the additional reach permitted by the extendable stick.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein calculating the repositioning distance includes factoring in the type and size of the bucket and the type of material being excavated.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating the repositioning distance includes calculating the maximum permissible distance the machine may be moved while still permitting excavation of the continuous trench by the excavating assemblage to the second desired depth.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein calculating repositioning distance includes calculating the optimum permissible distance the machine may be moved while still permitting excavation of the continuous trench by the excavating assemblage to the second desired depth.

19. The method of claim 10, further including providing a signal to the controller indicative of the first desired depth during the first excavating phase, the second desired depth being determined by the controller based on the first desired depth.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the signal is provided by a sensor associated with the excavating assemblage.