Construction machine including a display device displaying the weight of a work object
11169018 · 2021-11-09
Assignee
Inventors
- Kazunori Hoshino (Tsukuba, JP)
- Kunitsugu Tomita (Kashiwa, JP)
- Satoshi Nakamura (Hitachinaka, JP)
- Yousuke Yamanobe (Ushiku, JP)
- Youhei Toriyama (Kashiwa, JP)
Cpc classification
E02F9/2029
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E02F9/2221
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
A controller (18) calculates, based on a target loading weight (P) that is a target value of a total weight of working objects to be loaded into a hauling vehicle, a set loading time number indicative of a loading time number required for the construction machine before the target loading weight (P) is reached and bucket shape information indicative of a shape of a bucket (7), an appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) that is an appropriate value of the weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a single time loading work by the construction machine, creates an appropriate amount illustration (30) that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) are loaded into the bucket and that illustrates the state of the working objects, based on the appropriate loading weight (W.sub.a) and the bucket shape information, and controls a display device (19) to display an illustration (29) of the bucket (7) and the appropriate amount illustration (30) in a superimposed relationship.
Claims
1. A construction machine comprising: a work implement including a bucket; a controller configured to calculate a weight of working objects in the bucket; and a display device configured to display the weight of the working objects calculated by the controller, wherein the controller: calculates, based on a target loading weight that is a target value of a total weight of working objects to be loaded into a hauling vehicle, a set loading time number indicative of a loading time number required for the construction machine before the target loading weight is reached and bucket shape information indicative of a shape of the bucket, an appropriate loading weight that is an appropriate value of the weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a single time loading work by the construction machine in order to load the working objects of the target loading weight into the hauling vehicle by a number of loading works equal to the set loading time number, creates an appropriate amount illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate loading weight are loaded into the bucket having a predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, based on the appropriate loading weight and the bucket shape information, and controls the display device to display an illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture and the appropriate amount illustration in a superimposed relationship.
2. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller: calculates, based on the posture of the work implement and a pressure of hydraulic fluid that acts upon a hydraulic cylinder for driving the work implement, an actual loading weight that is a weight of the working objects in the bucket during action of the work implement, calculates the appropriate loading weight based on a value obtained by subtracting an integrated value of the actual loading weight that is a weight of the working objects loaded already on the hauling vehicle from the target loading weight, a value obtained by subtracting a number of times of a loading work carried out already from the set loading time number and the bucket shape information, creates the appropriate amount illustration based on the appropriate loading weight and the bucket shape information, and controls the display device to display, every time a one-time loading work into the hauling vehicle by the construction machine is completed, an illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture and the appropriate amount illustration.
3. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller further includes a storage device in which a plurality of the appropriate amount illustrations corresponding to the appropriate loading weight are stored for each shape of the bucket in advance, and the controller: selects an appropriate amount illustration confirming to the appropriate loading weight and the bucket shape information from among the plurality of appropriate amount illustrations stored in the storage device, and controls the display device to display the illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture and the selected appropriate amount illustration in a superimposed relationship.
4. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller: calculates an appropriate upper limit weight that is an allowable upper limit value of a weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a one-time loading work on a basis of the appropriate loading weight and a predetermined upper limit coefficient, and calculates an appropriate lower limit weight that is an allowable lower limit value of a weight of the working objects to be loaded into the hauling vehicle by a one-time loading work on a basis of the appropriate loading weight and a predetermined lower limit coefficient, creates, based on the appropriate upper limit weight and the bucket shape information, an appropriate amount upper limit illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate upper limit weight are loaded into the bucket having the predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, and creates, based on the appropriate lower limit weight and the bucket shape information, an appropriate amount lower limit illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the appropriate lower limit weight are loaded into the bucket having the predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, and controls the display device to display an illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture, the appropriate amount illustration, the appropriate amount upper limit illustration and the appropriate amount lower limit illustration in a superimposed relationship.
5. The construction machine according to claim 4, further comprising: an inputting device configured to input the upper limit coefficient and the lower limit coefficient.
6. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller: calculates, based on a posture of the work implement and a pressure of hydraulic fluid that acts upon a hydraulic cylinder for driving the work implement, an actual loading weight that is a weight of the working objects in the bucket during action of the work implement, creates, based on the actual loading weight and the bucket shape information, an actual loading amount illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the actual loading weight are loaded into the bucket having the predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, and controls the display device to display the illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture, the appropriate amount illustration and the actual loading amount illustration in a superimposed relationship.
7. The construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising: an inputting apparatus for inputting a sticking weight that is a weight of the working objects sticking to the bucket, wherein the controller: creates, based on a total value of the appropriate loading weight and the sticking weight and the bucket shape information, a corrected appropriate amount illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the total value are loaded into the bucket having the predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, and controls the display device to display the illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture and the corrected appropriate amount illustration in a superimposed relationship.
8. The construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising: an inputting device for inputting a falling weight indicative of a weight of the working objects having fallen from the bucket upon loading into the hauling vehicle, wherein the controller: creates, based on a total value of the appropriate loading weight and the falling weight and the bucket shape information, a corrected appropriate amount illustration that is an illustration of a state at which the working objects of the total value are loaded into the bucket having the predetermined posture and that illustrates the state of the working objects in the bucket, and controls the display device to display the illustration of the bucket having the predetermined posture and the corrected appropriate amount illustration in a superimposed relationship.
9. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined posture in the illustration of the bucket and the appropriate amount illustration to be displayed on the display apparatus is changeable.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(18) In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings.
(19) One of construction machines according the embodiments of the present invention is described with reference to
(20) Referring to
(21) The front work implement 4 includes a boom 5 attached rock in an upward and downward reaction to the upper swing structure 3, an arm 6 attached rocking motion to the distal end of the boom 5, a bucket 7 attached pivotably to the distal end of the arm 6, a boom cylinder 8 (a hydraulic cylinder) for rocking the boom 5 upwardly and downwardly, an arm cylinder 9 (a hydraulic cylinder) for rocking the arm 6, and a bucket cylinder 10 (a hydraulic cylinder) for pivoting the bucket 7. The boom 5 is connected to a bracket provided at a front central portion of the upper swing structure 3 through a pin and is supported to rock around a fulcrum at the connection portion.
(22) Further, on the upper swing structure 3, a controller (control apparatus) 18 for performing various calculations in the load measurement system of the present embodiment, a display device 19 that displays a calculation result by the controller 18 and so forth, an inputting device 50 for allowing an operator to perform inputting of information to the controller 18, a load measurement start switch 22 for starting a series of processes by the load measurement system of the present embodiment and a load measurement end switch 23 for ending the series of processes by the load measurement system of the present embodiment.
(23) The controller 18 has a function for calculating a weight of working objects in the bucket 7, which is executed by a load calculation section 26 (see
(24) The display device 19, the inputting device 50, the load measurement start switch 22 and the load measurement end switch 23 can be installed in the cab 17. The controller 18 may be installed in the cab 17 or may be installed at an arbitrary place outside the cab 17.
(25) On the front work implement 4, a posture sensor 101 and a pressure sensor 102 individually configured from various sensors are provided. The posture sensor 101 is a device for detecting the posture of the front work implement 4 and is configured from a boom angle sensor 12 for detecting the angle of the boom 5 with respect to the upper swing structure 3, an arm angle sensor 13 for detecting the angle of the arm 6 with respect to the boom 5 and a bucket angle sensor 14 for detecting the angle of the bucket 7 with respect to the arm. Meanwhile, the pressure sensor 102 is configured from a boom bottom cylinder pressure sensor 15 for detecting the hydraulic fluid pressure in the cylinder on the bottom side of the boom cylinder 8 and a boom rod cylinder pressure sensor 16 for detecting the hydraulic fluid pressure in the cylinder on the rod side of the boom cylinder 8, and a load acting upon the boom cylinder 8 is detected on the basis of the hydraulic fluid pressures detected by the sensors 15 and 16.
(26) Now, while
(27) The inputting device 50 is, for example, ten keys, a touch panel, a keyboard and so forth and includes a target loading weight setting section 20 for performing input setting of a target loading weight P that is a target value of the total weight of working objects to be loaded into a dump track, a bucket shape setting section 21 for performing input setting of bucket shape information indicative of a shape of the bucket 7, and a loading time number setting section 61 for performing inputting of a set loading time number n indicative of a loading time number (a number of times of a loading work) required for the hydraulic excavator 1 before the weight of working objects to be loaded into the dump truck reaches the target loading weight P. From the point of view of maximization of the efficiency of the loading work, preferably the maximum loading weight of the dump truck to be used in the loading work is set to the target loading weight P. The bucket shape information includes information necessary to define a shape of the bucket 7 as a vessel mounted on the front work implement 4 and can include, for example, dimension information including outer dimensions and inner dimensions of the bucket 7, a cross sectional shape and a cross sectional area perpendicular to a bucket widthwise direction and a bucket widthwise direction length, a maximum weight, a maximum capacity and so forth of working objects capable of being loaded into the bucket 7 and so forth. It is to be noted that, in the case where an identifier is set for each of types of buckets and bucket shape information is stored in a tied relationship with each identifier in the controller 18 (a storage device 40), a bucket shape may be set indirectly by inputting an identifier of the bucket 7 of the front work implement 4 as bucket shape information. Such information as the target loading weight P, set loading time number n, bucket shape information and so forth inputted through the inputting device 50 are inputted to the controller 18.
(28) The controller 18 includes a storage device 40 configured from a semiconductor memory (for example, a ROM or a RAM) or a magnetic storage device (a HDD), and a processor not depicted (for example, a CPU or an MPU), and functions as a sensor signal inputting section 25, a load calculation section 26, a loading weight calculation section 27 and an illustration creation section 28.
(29) The sensor signal inputting section 25 receives, as inputs thereto, output signals of the sensors of the posture sensor 101 and the pressure sensor 102 provided on the front work implement 4, an output signal of the load measurement start switch 22 and an output signal of the load measurement end switch 23, and the controller 18 (a processor) converts the format of the input signals into a format necessary for the load calculation section 26 to perform calculation.
(30) The load calculation section 26 calculates, during action of the front work implement 4, an actual loading weight W.sub.k that is the weight of working objects (earth and sand, ore or the like) in the bucket 7 during transportation on the basis of signals from the sensors of the posture sensor 101 and the pressure sensor 102, and outputs the calculated actual loading weight W.sub.k to the display device 19 and the loading weight calculation section 27. As the calculation method of the actual loading weight W.sub.k, the calculation method of a working object weight W in an embodiment 1 of Japanese Patent No. 6042358 is available. In the calculation method of this document, the weight W is calculated on the basis of the weight of the front work implement 4 itself, supporting force of the boom cylinder 8 calculated from detection values of the pressure sensors 15 and 16, a horizontal length between the boom rocking motion center and the bucket gravity center position calculated from detection values of the sensors 12, 13 and 14 and a horizontal length between the boom rocking motion center calculated from the detection values of the sensors 12, 13 and 14 and the gravity center position of the front work implement 4 excluding the boom cylinder 8. However, the calculation method of the actual loading weight W.sub.k is not restrictive, and a known method that can calculate the working object weight W of working objects in the bucket 7 being transported can be utilized.
(31) The loading weight calculation section 27 is an element that executes a process for calculating an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a, which is an appropriate value of the weight of working objects to be loaded into a dump truck by a next time loading work by the hydraulic excavator 1. The loading weight calculation section 27 in the present embodiment first calculates a remaining loading weight P.sub.a and a remaining loading time number n. The remaining loading weight P.sub.a is a value obtained by subtracting an integrated value (ΣW.sub.k, where k, =1, 2, 3, . . . ) of the actual loading weight W.sub.k that is the weight of working objects loaded already in the dump truck from the target loading weight P (P.sub.a=P−ΣW.sub.k). k indicates a number of times of a loading work having been performed for the dump truck, and the remaining loading time number n is a value obtained by subtracting k from the set loading time number (an initial value of n) inputted by the loading time number setting section 61. Then, the loading weight calculation section 27 divides the remaining loading weight P.sub.a by the remaining loading time number n to calculate the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a that is an appropriate value of the weight of the working objects to be loaded into the dump truck by the next time loading work by the hydraulic excavator 1 (W.sub.a=P.sub.a/n). In the case where the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is higher than a bucket maximum weight W.sub.cap of the working objects that can be loaded into the bucket 7, the remaining loading time number n may be incremented by one to calculate the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a again. In this case, it is preferable to repeat this process until the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a becomes lower than the bucket maximum weight W.sub.cap. The appropriate loading weight W.sub.a calculated by the loading weight calculation section 27 is outputted to the illustration creation section 28.
(32) The illustration creation section 28 creates an appropriate amount illustration 30 (see
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(34) It is to be noted that the display device 19 may be made function as the inputting device 50 by configuring the display device 19 from a touch panel such that a touch with the target integrated weight 41 on the screen image causes transition to an input screen image of the target loading weight P. Similarly, a touch with the bucket capacity 42 may cause transition to an input screen image for bucket shape information, and a touch with the loading time number 43 may cause transition to an input screen image for the set loading time number n.
(35) Now, a flow of calculation in the load measurement system of the present embodiment is described with reference to a flow chart depicted in
(36) At step S104, the illustration creation section 28 creates a bucket illustration 29 (an illustration of the bucket 7 having the specific posture) on the basis of the bucket shape information inputted at step S103. The program may be configured otherwise such that, in the case where the shape of the bucket 7 mounted on the front work implement 4 is known in advance, the inputting of bucket shape information at step S103 is omitted and the bucket illustration 29 stored in advance in the storage device 40 is utilized in later processing.
(37) At step S105, the loading weight calculation section 27 calculates an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a. In a first operation cycle before working objects are loaded into a dump truck, a value obtained by dividing the target loading weight P inputted at step S102 by the loading time number inputted at step S102 similarly is determined as the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a.
(38) At step S106, it is decided whether or not the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a calculated at step S105 is smaller than the bucket maximum weight W.sub.cap of the working objects capable of being loaded into the bucket 7. Here, in the case where the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is smaller than the bucket maximum weight W.sub.cap (in the case of YES), the processing advances to step S107. On the contrary, in the case where the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is equal to or greater than the bucket maximum weight W.sub.cap (in the case of NO), since this indicates that the working objects (earth and sand) cannot fit in the bucket 7, the loading time number n is incremented by one at step S119, and the processing returns to step S105, at which the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is calculated again.
(39) At step S107, the illustration creation section 28 creates an appropriate amount illustration 30 on the basis of the bucket shape defined from the bucket shape information and the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a calculated at step S105. The illustration creation section 28 in the present embodiment first divides, upon creation of the appropriate amount illustration 30, the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a by the density ρ1 of the working objects set in advance to calculate an appropriate loading capacity V.sub.a. Then, the illustration creation section 28 defines the shape of the bucket 7 as a vessel on the basis of the bucket shape information inputted at step S103 and creates the appropriate amount illustration 30 on the basis of how the working objects in the bucket 7 when the working objects by the appropriate loading capacity V.sub.a are placed in the bucket 7 having the specific posture are seen (the appearance of the working objects). In the present embodiment, a quadrangle that appears by crossing of the surface of working objects at the time of placing the working objects of the appropriate loading capacity V.sub.a into the bucket 7 having the specific posture, with the inner side face of the bucket 7 is the appropriate amount illustration 30 as depicted in
(40) At step S109, the illustration creation section 28 creates a target illustration 31 by superimposition of the bucket illustration 29 and the appropriate amount illustration 30. Then at step S110, the target illustration 31 is displayed on the display device 19. Consequently, it is possible to allow the operator in the cab 17 to intuitively grasp by what degree the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time excavation work.
(41) At step S111, the load calculation section 26 calculates an actual loading weight W.sub.k on the basis of signals inputted from the posture sensor 101 and the pressure sensor 102, and at step S112, the value of the actual loading weight W.sub.k is displayed as an excavation amount 33 on the display device 19.
(42) At step S113, the posture of the front work implement 4 is detected from the input signal of the posture sensor 101, and it is decided whether or not the front work implement 4 is performing a bucket dumping action. Here, in the case where a bucket dumping action is detected, it is considered that soil discharging action to the dump truck is being performed, and the processing advances to step S114, at which the remaining loading time number is decremented by one. It is to be noted that, although, in the present embodiment, it is decided by detection of a bucket dumping action whether or not a soil discharging action is performed, carrying out of a soil discharging action into the dump truck may be decided by detecting a swinging action in an approaching direction to the dump truck, a change of the actual loading weight W.sub.k in the bucket 7, a change of the loading weight into the dump truck or the like.
(43) At step S115, it is decided whether or not the remaining loading time number reaches zero. Here, in the case where the remaining loading time number is not zero, the processing advances to step S116, at which the integrated loading weight ΣW.sub.k is calculated by the load calculation section 26.
(44) At step S117, the loading weight calculation section 27 calculates the remaining loading weight P.sub.a (P.sub.a=P−ΣW.sub.k). For example, in the case where a loading work is completed once, P.sub.a becomes P.sub.a=P−W.sub.1.
(45) At step S118, k is incremented by 1, and at step S105, the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is calculated again. For example, in the case where the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is calculated for the second time, W.sub.a=(P−W.sub.1)/(n−1) is calculated (n in this expression is the value inputted by the loading time number setting section 61).
(46) On the other hand, in the case where the remaining loading time number is zero at step S115, k is set to the initial value 1 at step S120 and the processing of the flow chart is ended (step S121).
(47) According to the load measurement system configured in such a manner as described above, an illustration (the target illustration 31) indicative of a state in which working objects of an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a are placed in the bucket 7 having a predetermined posture (the specific posture) on the basis of a value (an appropriate loading capacity V.sub.a) obtained by conversion of the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a into a capacity (volume) and the shape of the bucket 7 as a vessel mounted currently, and this illustration is displayed on the display device 19. Therefore, the operator can intuitively grasp by what capacity the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time loading work. Since this makes it possible to easily make the loading weight of a dump truck closer to the target loading weight P (for example, a maximum loading weight), the working efficiency can be improved.
(48) Further, in the embodiment described above, since the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a and the loading time number are corrected in response to the integrated value (ΣW.sub.k) of the actual loading weight W.sub.k, even if the working objects of a weight different from the initial appropriate loading weight W.sub.a are loaded in the middle of a loading work, the final loading weight of the dump truck can be made closer to the target loading weight P.
(49) Now, another embodiment of the present invention is described. In the present embodiment, bucket illustrations according to bucket shape information are stored in the storage device 40 in advance, and appropriate amount illustrations 30 of buckets each corresponding to the respective ratios W.sub.b that are ratios of the appropriate loading weight to a maximum weight (hereinafter referred to “bucket capacity” for the convenience of description) W.sub.cap of working objects that can be loaded into the bucket are stored in advance in the storage device 40. In particular, a plurality of appropriate amount illustrations 30 according to bucket shapes and the ratios W.sub.b are stored in the storage device 40. The hardware configuration of the other part is same as that depicted in
(50) In the following, a flow of calculation of the load measurement system in the present embodiment is described with reference to a flow chart depicted in
(51) At step S3, bucket shape information set by the operator is inputted through the bucket shape setting section 21. At step S4, the illustration creation section 28 recalls a bucket illustration 29 according to the bucket shape information inputted at step S103, from the storage device 40.
(52) At step S5, the loading weight calculation section 27 calculates an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a. Then at step S32, it is decided whether or not the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is smaller than the bucket capacity W.sub.cap. For the bucket capacity W.sub.cap, a value suitable as the bucket capacity of the bucket 7 at present is selected on the basis of the bucket shape information from within the storage device 40. Here, in the case where it is decided that the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is smaller than the bucket capacity W.sub.cap, the processing advances to step S6. On the contrary, in the case where it is decided that the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a is equal to or greater than the maximum weight W.sub.cap, the loading time number n is increased by one at step S33, whereafter the processing returns to step S5 to calculate the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a again.
(53) At step S6, the illustration creation section 28 calculates the ratio W.sub.b between the bucket capacity W.sub.cap and the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a, and at step S8, the illustration creation section 28 recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 according to the ratio W.sub.b from the storage device 40.
(54) At step S9, the illustration creation section 28 superimposes the bucket illustration 29 recalled at step S4 and the appropriate amount illustration 30 recalled at step S8 to create a target illustration 31 and outputs the target illustration 31 to the display device 19, and at step S10, the target illustration 31 is displayed on the screen of the display device 19.
(55) At step S11, the load calculation section 26 calculates an actual loading weight W.sub.k on the basis of signals inputted from the posture sensor 101 and the pressure sensor 102, and at step S12, the value of the actual loading weight W.sub.k is displayed as the excavation amount 33 on the display device 19.
(56) At step S13, it is decided whether or not the load measurement end switch 23 is depressed. In the case where the load measurement end switch 23 is depressed (in the case of YES), load measurement is to be stopped and the processing advances to step S14, at which the processing for load measurement is ended. On the contrary, in the case where the load measurement end switch 23 is not depressed (in the case of NO), the remaining loading time number is decremented by one at step S34. Then at step S35, it is decided whether or not the remaining loading time number n is zero, and in the case where the remaining loading time number is 0 (in the case of YES), the processing advances to step S14, at which the processing ended. On the other hand, in the case where the remaining loading time number is any other than zero (in the case of NO), the processing returns to step S5 to repeat the succeeding processes.
(57) It is to be noted that the flow may be configured otherwise such that, in the case where the decision at step S13 is NO, by executing step S113 of
(58) Also in the embodiment configured in such a manner as described above, the operator can intuitively grasp by what capacity working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time loading work. Especially, in the present embodiment, since bucket illustrations 29 prepared according to bucket shape information and appropriate amount illustrations 30 of buckets each prepared for individual bucket capacities W.sub.cap and ratios W.sub.b of the appropriate loading weight are stored in the storage device 40 in advance, it is a merit that the calculation load to the controller 18 involved in creation of a bucket illustration 29 and an appropriate amount illustration 30 (in short, creation of a target illustration 31) can be reduced significantly from that of the example of
(59) It is to be noted that the bucket capacity W.sub.cap not only can be inputted as bucket shape information through the bucket shape setting section 21 but also can be calculated from other bucket shape information and besides can be stored in advance in the storage device 40 for each of types of the buckets 7 and recalled on the basis of bucket shape information. This similarly applies also to the other embodiments that utilize the bucket capacity W.sub.cap.
(60) Now, a further embodiment of the present invention is described.
(61) First, description is given with reference to
(62) The upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 calculates an appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up, which is an allowable upper limit value of the weight of working objects to be loaded into a dump truck by a single time loading work on the basis of an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a and an upper limit coefficient A.sub.up that is a predetermined value equal to or greater than 1, and calculates an appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo, which is an allowable lower limit value of the weight of working objects to be loaded into a dump truck by a single time loading work, on the basis of the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a and a lower limit coefficient A.sub.lo that is a predetermined value equal to or lower than 1.
(63) The upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 in the present embodiment calculates the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up in the following manner. First, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 acquires a bucket capacity W.sub.cap on the basis of bucket shape information inputted through the bucket shape setting section 21 and receives, as an input thereto, an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a from the loading weight calculation section 27. Then, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 multiplies the input appropriate loading weight W.sub.a by the upper limit coefficient A.sub.up to calculate an appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up. In the case where the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up is greater when the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up and the bucket capacity W.sub.cap are compared with each other, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 outputs the bucket capacity W.sub.cap as the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up to the illustration creation section 28. On the contrary, in the case where the bucket capacity W.sub.cap is greater, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 outputs the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up to the illustration creation section 28. It is to be noted that, as the upper limit coefficient A.sub.up, one or more arbitrary values equal to or greater than 1 can be set and stored in advance in the storage device 40.
(64) Further, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 in the present embodiment calculates the appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo in the following manner. The upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 multiplies the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a inputted from the loading weight calculation section 27 by the lower limit coefficient A.sub.lo to calculate an appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo and outputs the appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo to the illustration creation section 28. It is to be noted that, as the lower limit coefficient A.sub.lo, one or more arbitrary values equal to or lower than 1 can be stored in advance in the storage device 40.
(65) The illustration creation section 28 calculates an upper limit ratio W.sub.bup (W.sub.bup=W.sub.up/W.sub.cap) that is a ratio of the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up to the bucket capacity W.sub.cap, recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 according to the upper limit ratio W.sub.bup from the storage device 40, and determines the appropriate amount illustration 30 as an appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35. Further, the illustration creation section 28 calculates a lower limit ratio W.sub.blo (W.sub.blo=W.sub.lo/W.sub.cap) that is a ratio of the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.lo to the bucket capacity W.sub.cap, recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 according to the lower limit ratio W.sub.bup from the storage device 40 and determines the appropriate amount illustration 30 as an appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36. Then, the illustration creation section 28 superimposes the appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35 and the appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36 on the displayed bucket illustration 29 to create a target illustration 31, outputs the created target illustration 31 to the display device 19 and displays the target illustration 31 on the display device 19.
(66)
(67) Now, a flow of calculation in the load measurement system of the present embodiment is described with reference to a flow chart depicted in
(68) At step S15, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 multiplies the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a by the upper limit coefficient A.sub.up to calculate an appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up, and at step S16, it is decided whether or not the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up is smaller than the bucket capacity W.sub.cap.
(69) In the case where it is decided at step S16 that the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up is smaller than the bucket capacity W.sub.cap (in the case of YES), the processing advances directly to step S18. On the contrary, in the case where it is decided at step S16 that the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up is greater than the bucket capacity W.sub.cap (in the case of NO), the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up and the bucket capacity W.sub.cap are made equal to each other (step S17), whereafter the processing advances to step S18.
(70) At step S18, the upper and lower limit weight calculation section 34 multiplies the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a by the lower limit coefficient A.sub.lo to calculate an appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo.
(71) At step S19, the illustration creation section 28 calculates the ratio W.sub.bup between the bucket capacity W.sub.cap and the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up, and at step S21, the illustration creation section 28 recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 corresponding to the ratio W.sub.bup as an appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35 from the storage device 40.
(72) Then at step S22, the illustration creation section 28 calculates the ratio W.sub.blo between the bucket capacity W.sub.cap and the appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo, and at step S24, the illustration creation section 28 recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 corresponding to the ratio W.sub.blo as an appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36 from the storage device 40.
(73) At step S25, the illustration creation section 28 creates a target illustration 31 in which the bucket illustration 29 created at step S4, the appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35 created at step S21 and the appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36 crated at step S24 are superimposed and outputs the target illustration 31 to the display device 19, and at step S10, the target illustration 31 is displayed on the screen of the display device 19. The succeeding processes are same as those of the flow chart of
(74) Also in the embodiment configured in such a manner as described above, it is possible to allow the operator to intuitively grasp by what capacity the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time loading work. Especially in the present embodiment, since the upper limit weight W.sub.up and the lower limit weight W.sub.lo are provided for the appropriate loading weight, even in the case where the appropriate loading weight has a predetermined allowable width, the operator can intuitively grasp by what amount the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time excavation work.
(75) It is to be noted that, although, in the present embodiment, an appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35 and an appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36 are recalled from the storage device 40 on the basis of the two ratios W.sub.bup and W.sub.blo, an appropriate amount upper limit illustration 35 and an appropriate amount lower limit illustration 36 may be created on the basis of volumes calculated from the appropriate upper limit weight W.sub.up and the appropriate lower limit weight W.sub.lo, respectively, as in the case of the example of
(76) Further, the inputting device 50 is preferably configured such that an upper limit coefficient A.sub.up and a lower limit coefficient A.sub.lo of values desired by an operator can be inputted.
(77) Now, a still further embodiment of the present invention is described.
(78) First, description is given with reference to
(79) The illustration creation section 28 calculates a ratio W.sub.c (W.sub.c=W.sub.k/W.sub.cap) that is a ratio of the actual loading weight W.sub.k to the bucket capacity W.sub.cap. The illustration creation section 28 reads out an appropriate amount illustration 30 corresponding to the ratio W.sub.c from the storage device 40, determines the appropriate amount illustration 30 as an actual loading amount illustration 38 and outputs a result of superimposition (a result illustration 39) of the actual loading amount illustration 38 on the target illustration 31 (the bucket illustration 29 and the appropriate amount illustration 30) to the display device 19. Consequently, the result illustration 39 is displayed as depicted in
(80)
(81) Now, a flow of calculation in the load measurement system of the present embodiment is described with reference to a flow chart depicted in
(82) Also with the embodiment configured in such a manner as described above, it is possible to allow the operator to intuitively grasp by what capacity the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time excavation work. Especially, in the present embodiment, since the appropriate amount illustration 30 indicative of a target value of the working objects and the actual loading amount illustration 38 indicative of an actual amount are displayed together, the accuracy of the loading work (excavating work) of the working objects into the bucket 7 can be fed back immediately to the operator. Consequently, a chance for improvement in skill can be provided to the user, and further, also improvement in working efficiency in the future can be anticipated.
(83) Now, a yet further embodiment of the present invention is described.
(84) First, description is given with reference to
(85)
(86) Now, a flow of calculation of the load measurement system in the present embodiment is described with reference to a flow chart depicted in
(87) At step S171, the illustration creation section 28 calculates a total value W.sub.s of an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a, a sticking weight W.sub.f and a falling weight W.sub.d. Then, the illustration creation section 28 calculates a ratio W.sub.g between the bucket capacity W.sub.cap and the total value W.sub.s at step S172 and recalls an appropriate amount illustration 30 corresponding to the ratio W.sub.g as a corrected appropriate amount illustration 30A from the storage device 40 at step S173.
(88) At step S174, the illustration creation section 28 creates a target illustration 31A in which the bucket illustration 29 created at step S4 and the corrected appropriate amount illustration 30A created at step S173 are superimposed and outputs the target illustration 31A to the display device 19, and at step S10, the target illustration 31A is displayed on the screen of the display device 19.
(89) At step S11, the load calculation section 26 calculates an actual loading weight W.sub.k on the basis of the signals inputted from the posture sensor 101 and the pressure sensor 102, and at step S175, a value obtained by subtracting the total value of the sticking weight W.sub.f and the falling weight W.sub.d from the actual loading weight W.sub.k (the corrected actual loading weight W′.sub.k=W.sub.k−(W.sub.f+W.sub.d)) is displayed in the excavation amount 33 of the display device 19. Succeeding processes are same as those of the flow chart of
(90) It is to be noted that, in the case where an integrated loading weight is utilized when an appropriate loading weight W.sub.a for a next cycle is calculated as in the case of the flow chart depicted in
(91) Also in the embodiment configured in such a manner as described above, it is possible to allow the operator to intuitively grasp by what capacity the working objects are to be placed into the bucket 7 by a next time excavation work. Especially, in the present embodiment, since an illustration (a corrected appropriate amount illustration 30A) of working objects whose capacity is corrected to a rather great amount taking the weight of the working objects that are not discharged to the cargo bed of a dump truck (the sticking weight W.sub.f and the falling weight W.sub.d) into consideration, is displayed on the display device 19, such a situation that the loading weight of the dump truck becomes lower than an estimated value because of sticking matters or falling matters can be prevented, and degradation of the working efficiency can be prevented.
(92) <Others>
(93) Although, in the embodiments described above, a view (a perspective view) of the bucket 7 held in the specific posture as viewed from the cab 17 is adopted as the bucket illustration 29, a view of the bucket 7 held in the specific posture as viewed from a side (a side elevational view) as depicted in
(94) Further, although, in the embodiments described above, an appropriate amount illustration 30 is created assuming that the surface of working objects in the bucket 7 is a flat face, an appropriate amount illustration 30 may be created otherwise assuming that working objects are piled up with predetermined gradients from forward, rearward, leftward and rightward directions of the bucket 7 as depicted in
(95) Further, the target illustration 31 or the result illustration 39 may be created in the following manner. In particular, a three-dimensional model of the bucket 7 is created on the basis of bucket shape information, and a state in which working objects of the appropriate loading weight W.sub.a are placed in the bucket 7 of the three-dimensional model is simulated. Then, the target illustration 31 or the result illustration 39 is created on the basis of a view when the state mentioned is viewed from a predetermined direction. Further, the “predetermined direction” in this case is preferably configured so as to be suitably changed to a desired direction by the operator, and also the specific posture of the bucket 7 at the time is preferably configured for suitable change to a posture desired by the operator.
(96) The present invention can be applied not only to a hydraulic excavator utilized for explanation in the foregoing description of the embodiments but also to construction machines that perform excavation and loading by a front work implement such as a wheel loader. Further, while, in the embodiments described above, it is described that the hauling vehicle is a dump track, for example, also a large-sized truck or some other self-propelled construction machine that can carry luggage can be utilized.
(97) Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and includes various modifications without departing from the subject matter thereof. For example, the present invention is not limited to configurations that include all components described in connection with the embodiments described above and includes also configurations in which part of the components is deleted. Further, it is possible to add or substitute part of the components of a certain embodiment to or with the components of a different embodiment.
(98) Further, the components of the controller described above or the functions, execution processes and so forth of the components may be implemented partly or entirely by hardware (for example, logics that execute the functions are designed as an integrated circuit or circuits). Further, the components of the controller described above may be given as a program (software) that implements the functions of the components of the controller by being read out and executed by an arithmetic processing unit (for example, a CPU). Information relating to the program can be stored, for example, in a semiconductor memory (a flash memory, an SSD or the like), a magnetic storage device (a hard disk drive or the like), a recording medium (a magnetic disk, an optical disk or the like) or the like.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
(99) 1: Hydraulic excavator 2: Front work implement 5: Boom 6: Arm 7: Bucket 8: Boom cylinder 9: Arm cylinder (hydraulic cylinder) 10: Bucket cylinder (hydraulic cylinder) 12: Boom angle sensor 13: Arm angle sensor 14: Bucket angle sensor 15: Boom bottom cylinder pressure sensor 16: Boom rod cylinder pressure sensor 17: Cab 18: Controller (control apparatus) 19: Display device 20: Target loading weight setting section 21: Bucket shape setting section 22: Load measurement start switch 23: Load measurement end switch 25: Sensor signal inputting section 26: Load calculation section 27: Loading weight calculation section 28: Illustration creation section 29: Bucket illustration 30: Appropriate amount illustration 30A: Corrected appropriate amount illustration 31: Target illustration 31A: Target illustration 34: Upper and lower limit weight calculation section 35: Appropriate amount upper limit illustration 36: Appropriate amount lower limit illustration 38: Actual loading amount illustration 39: Result illustration 40: Storage device 44: Upper limit allowable amount inputting portion 45: Lower limit allowable amount inputting portion 50: Inputting device 61: Loading time number setting section 62: Sticking weight inputting section 63: Falling weight inputting section 66: Sticking and falling weight setting section