Construction machine traveling control system

Abstract

A construction machine traveling control system is provided. The construction machine traveling control system includes first and second electric traveling pedals for outputting manipulation values including electric signals in response to the driver's manipulation and thereby operating first and second traveling motors connected thereto, respectively; a traveling pattern input means installed in the driving room so as to enable the driver to input a construction machine traveling pattern; a controller electrically connected to the first and second electric traveling pedals and to the traveling pattern input means; and a hydraulic circuit electrically connected to the controller so as to control the flow rate of operation oil supplied to the first and second traveling motors, as well as the flow of the operation oil, according to the command values delivered from the controller.

Claims

1. A traveling control system for a construction machine comprising: first and second electric traveling pedals configured to output manipulation values of electric signals in response to driver's manipulation and to thereby operate first and second traveling motors connected thereto, respectively; a traveling pattern input means equipped in an operator's cab so as to enable a driver to input a traveling pattern of the construction machine; a controller electrically connected to the first and second electric traveling pedals and the traveling pattern input means, and configured to sense the manipulation value to be output from at least one of the first and second electric traveling pedals and the traveling pattern to be input to the traveling pattern input means and to calculate and output command values required for operations of the first and second traveling motors in accordance with the input traveling pattern; and a hydraulic circuit electrically connected to the controller and configured to control a flow rate and flow of operating oil to be supplied to the first and second traveling motors in accordance with the command values to be transmitted from the controller, thereby driving the first and second traveling motors, wherein the traveling pattern comprises a first traveling pattern for moving the construction machine forward or backward in accordance with manipulation on only the first electric traveling pedal and turning the construction machine left or right in accordance with manipulation on only the second electric traveling pedal.

2. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises: a memory unit configured to store a plurality of setting traveling patterns, a sensing unit configured to sense the manipulation values and the traveling pattern, and a calculation unit configured to compare the sensed traveling pattern and the plurality of setting traveling patterns and to calculate the command values to be output to the hydraulic circuit in accordance with the sensed manipulation values so that the first and second traveling motors are to be operated in accordance with a setting traveling pattern of the plurality of setting traveling patterns, wherein the setting traveling pattern coincides with the sensed traveling pattern.

3. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the traveling pattern comprises a second traveling pattern for turning the construction machine left, or right in accordance with manipulation on only the first electric traveling pedal and moving the construction machine forward or backward in accordance with manipulation on only the second electric traveling pedal.

4. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein responsive to the controller sensing the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means and the manipulation value output from the first electric traveling pedal, the controller calculates a first command value required for the operation of the first traveling motor and a second command value required for the operation of the second traveling motor and transmits the same to the hydraulic circuit causing the construction machine to move forward or backward.

5. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 4, wherein responsive to the controller sensing the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means and the manipulation value output from the second electric traveling pedal, the controller calculates a third command value required for the operation of the first traveling motor and a fourth command value required for the operation of the second traveling motor and transmits the same to the hydraulic circuit causing the construction machine to turn left or right.

6. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 5, wherein responsive to the controller sensing the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means and the manipulation values output from each of the first and second electric traveling pedals, the controller calculates a fifth command value required for the operation of the first traveling motor and a sixth command value required for the operation of the second traveling motor and transmits the same to the hydraulic circuit, causing the construction machine to turn left or right, a relative turning speed thereof being increased or decreased as compared to the left turn or right turn of the construction machine in accordance with the third command value and the fourth command value.

7. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein the fifth command value is a sum of the first command value and the third command value.

8. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 7, wherein when the sum of the first command value and the third command value is a positive value, the first traveling motor rotates in a forward direction, and when the sum is a negative value, the first traveling motor rotates in a reverse direction.

9. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 8, wherein an electric signal having a magnitude corresponding to an absolute value of the fifth command value is transmitted from the controller to the hydraulic circuit.

10. The traveling control system for a construction machine according to claim 6, wherein as the sixth command value, a relatively larger command value of the second command value and the fourth command value is selected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view depicting a traveling control system for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a configuration view depicting a controller of the traveling control system for a construction machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIGS. 3 to 6 are graphs showing command values required for operations of traveling motors in accordance with manipulation values of electric traveling pedals.

(4) FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram depicting a hydraulic system for excavator traveling in accordance with the related art.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(5) Hereinafter, a traveling control system for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(6) When describing the present invention, the specific descriptions of the related well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is considered that the descriptions make the gist of the present invention unclear.

(7) A traveling control system for a construction machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a system for controlling traveling such as forward movement, backward movement, left turn and right turn of a construction machine, for example, an excavator. As shown in FIG. 1, the traveling control system for a construction machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention includes a first electric traveling pedal 11a, a second electric traveling pedal 11b, a traveling pattern input means 12, a controller 13 and a hydraulic circuit 14.

(8) The first electric traveling pedal 11a is configured to output a manipulation value of an electric signal in response to driver's manipulation and to thereby operate a first traveling motor 3 connected thereto. For example, when the first electric traveling pedal 11a is manipulated forward (on the basis of a posture of the driver sitting on a front driver seat) by the driver, the first traveling motor 3 rotates in a forward direction, and when the first electric traveling pedal 11a is manipulated backward, the first traveling motor 3 rotates in a reverse direction. Here, the first traveling motor 3 is configured to be substantially driven by operating oil that is to be supplied from the hydraulic circuit 14 in accordance with the manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a. The first traveling motor 3 may be a track motor configured to drive a crawler type track mounted on a lower traveling structure of an excavator, for example.

(9) The second electric traveling pedal 11b is configured to output a manipulation value of an electric signal in response to driver's manipulation and to thereby operate a second traveling motor 4 connected thereto. The second electric traveling pedal 11b is configured to control the second traveling motor 4 in the same manner as the first electric traveling pedal 11a. That is, when the second electric traveling pedal 11b is manipulated forward by the driver, the second traveling motor 4 rotates in a forward direction, and when the second electric traveling pedal 11b is manipulated backward, the second traveling motor 4 rotates in a reverse direction. Like the first traveling motor 3, the second traveling motor 4 is configured to be driven by operating oil that is to be supplied from the hydraulic circuit 14 in accordance with the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b, and may be a track motor.

(10) The traveling pattern input means 12 is equipped in an operator's cab. In this case, the traveling pattern input means 12 is preferably equipped at a position at which the driver sitting on the driver seat can perform manipulation with sitting on the driver seat. The traveling pattern input means 12 is configured to enable the driver to input a traveling pattern of the excavator. That is, the traveling pattern input means 12 is configured to enable the driver to select a traveling pattern of the excavator. When the driver selects a desired traveling pattern with the traveling pattern input means 12, an electric signal relating to the traveling pattern is transmitted to the controller 13 electrically connected to the traveling pattern input means 12.

(11) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Manipulation direction First traveling pattern Second traveling pattern Third traveling pattern First electric traveling Excavator: Excavator: right turn First traveling motor: pedal: forward forward movement forward direction First electric traveling Excavator: Excavator: left turn First traveling motor: pedal: backward backward movement reverse direction Second electric Excavator: left turn Excavator: Second traveling motor: traveling pedal: forward forward movement forward direction Second electric Excavator: right turn Excavator: Second traveling motor: traveling pedal: backward movement reverse direction backward

(12) Table 1 shows traveling patterns that can be selected by the driver. As shown in Table 1, the first traveling pattern is a traveling pattern for moving forward or backward the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a and turning left or right the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b. Also, the second traveling pattern is a traveling pattern for turning left or right the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a and moving forward or backward the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b. That is, since the manipulation manners of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b are determined depending on the traveling pattern, when there are the manipulation manners of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b desired by the driver, the driver can select the corresponding traveling pattern. As can be seen from the first traveling pattern and the second traveling pattern in Table 1, the excavator can be moved forward or backward with only one of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b. Therefore, it is possible to increase driver's convenience and to more stably move forward or backward the excavator. Like this, the change in manipulation manner based on the traveling pattern selected by the driver and the corresponding operations of the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 are controlled by the controller 13, which will be described later in more detail.

(13) In the meantime, as shown in Table 1, the traveling pattern may further include the third traveling pattern. The third traveling pattern is a traveling pattern for rotating the first traveling motor 3 in the forward or reverse direction in accordance with the manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a and rotating the second traveling motor 4 in the forward or reverse direction in accordance with the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b. The traveling pattern may further include diverse traveling patterns so as to widen the options to be selected by the driver, in addition to the first to third traveling patterns.

(14) The traveling pattern input means 12 may have a display window so that the driver can select the traveling pattern. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, the first to third traveling patterns may be displayed as “setting 1”, “setting 2” and “setting 3” on the display window of the traveling pattern input means 12. The display window may be configured by a touch panel so that icons relating to the traveling patterns displayed in this way can be touched and selected by the driver. Also, the traveling pattern input means 12 may be provided with an icon selection button. In this case, the driver can select a desired traveling pattern by manipulating the icon selection button.

(15) The controller 13 is electrically connected to the first electric traveling pedal 11a, the second electric traveling pedal 11b and the traveling pattern input means 12. The controller 13 is configured to sense a manipulation value that is to be output from at least one of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b. Also, the controller 13 is configured to sense a traveling pattern that is to be input to the traveling pattern input means 12 by the driver. The controller 13 is configured to calculate command values required for operations of the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 in accordance with the input traveling pattern and to output the same to the hydraulic circuit 14 electrically connected thereto. In the embodiment of the present invention, the command values are defined as magnitudes of electric signals for determining degrees of switching of the traveling spools 6, 7 (refer to FIG. 7) provided to the hydraulic circuit 14.

(16) To this end, as shown in FIG. 2, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the controller 13 may include a memory unit 13a, a sensing unit 13b and a calculation unit 13c.

(17) In the memory unit 13a, a plurality of setting traveling patterns is stored. Here, the plurality of setting traveling patterns is the first to third traveling patterns as shown in Table 1. The setting traveling patterns stored in the memory unit 13a are displayed on the display window of traveling pattern input means 12 so that the driver can select the same.

(18) The sensing unit 13b is configured to sense the manipulation values that are to be output from the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b and are to be transmitted as electric signals. Also, the sensing unit 13b is configured to sense a traveling pattern that is to be selected and input to the traveling pattern input means 12 by the driver and is to be transmitted as an electric signal by the traveling pattern input means 12.

(19) The calculation unit 13c is configured to compare the traveling pattern sensed by the sensing unit 13b and the plurality of setting traveling patterns stored in the memory unit 13a, to select a setting traveling pattern, which coincides with the sensed traveling pattern, of the plurality of setting traveling patterns, and to calculate the command values, i.e., the command values required for operations of the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 to be output to the hydraulic circuit 14 in accordance with the manipulation values of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b sensed by the sensing unit 13b so that the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 are to be operated in accordance with the selected setting traveling pattern.

(20) The hydraulic circuit 14 is electrically connected to the controller 13. Thereby, the hydraulic circuit 14 is configured to control a flow rate and flow of operating oil to be supplied to the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 in accordance with the command values transmitted from the controller 13, thereby driving the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4. Here, since the hydraulic circuit 14 has the same configuration and operation as the main control valve 8 configured to control a flow rate and flow of the operating oil that is to be discharged from the hydraulic pumps P1, P2 shown in FIG. 7 and is to be supplied to the left and right traveling motors 3, 4, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

(21) In the below, the control method of the controller that is to be executed when the first traveling pattern is selected by the driver is described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. The reference numerals of the respective configurations are denoted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(22) In Examples of the present invention, the first traveling pattern is a traveling pattern for moving forward or backward the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a and turning left or right the excavator in accordance with the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b.

EXAMPLE 1

(23) When the controller 13 senses the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means 12 by the driver and the manipulation value output as the first electric traveling pedal 11a is manipulated forward, the controller 13 calculates a first command value (a command value 1 to be input to the first traveling motor, in FIG. 3) required for operation of the first traveling motor 3, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, the controller 13 calculates a second command value (a command value 1 to be input to the second traveling motor, in FIG. 4) required for operation of the second traveling motor 4, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the controller 13 transmits the first command value and the second command value to the hydraulic circuit 14 so as to operate the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4. In this case, since the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 are all rotated in the forward direction and the manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b has not been sensed, the excavator is moved forward. On the contrary, when the first electric traveling pedal 11a is manipulated backward, the excavator is moved backward through the series of controls of the controller 13 as described above.

EXAMPLE 2

(24) When the controller 13 senses the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means 12 by the driver and the manipulation value output as the second electric traveling pedal 11b is manipulated backward, the controller 13 calculates a third command value (a command value 2 to be input to the first traveling motor, in FIG. 5) required for operation of the first traveling motor 3, as shown in FIG. 5. Also, the controller 13 calculates a fourth command value (a command value 2 to be input to the second traveling motor, in FIG. 6) required for operation of the second traveling motor 4, as shown in FIG. 6. Then, the controller 13 transmits the third command value and the fourth command value to the hydraulic circuit 14 so as to operate the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4. In this case, the first traveling motor 3 is rotated in the reverse direction and the second traveling motor 4 is rotated in the forward direction. By the rotations of the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4, the excavator is turned left. On the contrary, when the second electric traveling pedal 11b is manipulated backward, the excavator is turned right through the series of controls of the controller 13 as described above.

Example 3

(25) When the controller 13 senses the first traveling pattern input to the traveling pattern input means 12 by the driver and the respective manipulation values output as a result of the simultaneous manipulation on the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b, the controller 13 calculates a fifth command value required for operation of the first traveling motor 3. Here, the controller 13 calculates the fifth command value as a sum of the first command value and the third command value. In this case, when the fifth command value calculated as a sum of the first command value and the third command value is a positive value, the first traveling motor 3 is rotated in the forward direction, and when the fifth command value is a negative value, the first traveling motor 3 is rotated in the reverse direction. At this time, an electric signal having a magnitude corresponding to an absolute value of the fifth command value is transmitted from the controller 13 to the hydraulic circuit 14, so that the first traveling motor 3 is rotated at speed proportional to the electric signal having a magnitude corresponding to the absolute value of the fifth command value.

(26) Also, the controller 13 calculates a sixth command value required for operation of the second traveling motor 4. Here, the controller 13 selects, as the sixth command value, one of the second command value and the fourth command value. Since the second command value and the fourth command value are all values enabling the second traveling motor 4 to rotate in the forward direction, the controller 13 selects, as the sixth command value, a relatively larger command value of the second command value and the fourth command value.

(27) Then, the controller 13 transmits the fifth command value and the sixth command value to the hydraulic circuit 14, thereby operating the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4.

(28) As described above, when the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b are manipulated at the same time, the fifth command value and the sixth command value required for operations of the first traveling motor 3 and the second traveling motor 4 are determined in the above-described manner by the controller 13. Therefore, when the manipulation values of the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b are changed, the left and right turning speeds of the excavator can be adjusted. That is, when the first electric traveling pedal 11a and the second electric traveling pedal 11b are manipulated at the same time, a relative turning speed can be increased or decreased, as compared to the left turn or right turn of the excavator in accordance with the third command value and the fourth command value as a result of the single manipulation on the second electric traveling pedal 11b.

(29) Although the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments and the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and a variety of variations and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art of the present invention.

(30) Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the above-described embodiments but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.