ARRANGEMENT OF A CONTROLLER AND A MOBILE CONTROL MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement of a control system arranged, or to be arranged, on a hydraulic lifting device, and of a mobile control module, via which the control system can be remote-controlled. The control system can be supplied with sensor data via signal inputs, and a processing unit of the control system is configured to calculate from said sensor data and from stored lifting device-specific data information, which is characteristic for the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the lifting device, optionally in the given current lifting load situation. The control system has a mode, in which the control system transmits the information that is characteristic for the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the lifting device, optionally in the given current lifting load situation, to the mobile control module, via a transmitting and receiving module, to a transmitting and receiving module of the mobile control module in a wireless and/or cable-bound manner. From said information, a processing unit of the mobile control module calculates graphic data for a display, which can be displayed for a user via a display unit.

Claims

1. Arrangement consisting of a controller arranged or to be arranged on a hydraulic lifting device and a mobile control module via which the controller can be remote-controlled, wherein it is possible to feed sensor data to the controller via signal inputs and a processor of the controller is formed to calculate, from these sensor data and from stored data specific to the lifting device, information which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the lifting deviceoptionally in the given current lifting load situationwherein the controller has a mode in which it transmits to the mobile control module, via a transmitting and receiving module, the information which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the lifting deviceoptionally in the given current lifting load situationwirelessly and/or via cables to a transmitting and receiving module of the mobile control module, and in that a processor of the mobile control module calculates from this information graph data for a display which can be displayed to a user via a display unit.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mobile control module has activation facilities for activating the calculation and/or the display, which can be operated by a user.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mobile control module has an energy storage and the calculation and/or the display can only be effected in a minimum charge state of the energy storage.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information is transmitted incrementally.

5. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the controller has a further mode, in which it transmits the characteristic information depending on the rate of change of the sensor data.

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, wherein when the change in the sensor data is slow the transmission of the characteristic information is effected with a reduced data rate.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, before the transmission of the characteristic information, a data compression is effected in the controller.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the characteristic information is effected in the event of a changepreferably only in the event of a changein the supporting situation of the lifting device and/or the location of the centre of gravity of the lifting device.

9. Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the change in the supporting situation of the lifting device and/or the location of the centre of gravity is effected through a change in the size or position of a payload raised by the lifting device and/or through a change in the size or position of a ballast weight that can be arranged on the lifting device.

10. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises an indication of the present capacity utilization of the lifting device in a Cartesian coordinate system or a polar coordinate system.

11. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises an indication of the present capacity utilization of the lifting device in the form of a point, a line or another geometric shape in a coordinate system, wherein the point, the line or the other geometric shape has a colouring or greyscale corresponding to the present capacity utilization of the lifting device.

12. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises information on the present overload and/or cut-off values for the lifting device, preferably in the form of a polygonal chain.

13. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission of the characteristic information used for the display is effected via its own parallel second transmission channel.

14. Arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the transmission channel is encrypted.

15. Hydraulic lifting device, in particular loading crane for a vehicleparticularly preferably articulated arm craneor aerial work platform, with an arrangement according to claim 1.

Description

[0029] Embodiment examples of the invention will be discussed with reference to the figures. There are shown in:

[0030] FIG. 1 a schematic display of an embodiment example of an arrangement according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 2 an embodiment of a lifting device arranged on a vehicle,

[0032] FIG. 3 a schematic display of an embodiment example of a lifting device and an arrangement according to the invention and

[0033] FIGS. 4a-4c in each case schematically a display of graph data calculated from the characteristic information.

[0034] The crane controller 1 receives, via signal inputs 6, 7, sensor data with respect to the crane geometry, the supporting situation and optionally the lifting load. In a processor 8, the crane controller 1 calculates, from these data and from stored crane-specific data, information which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the craneoptionally in the given current lifting load situation.

[0035] The controller 1 has a memory 30, in which data specific to the lifting device can be stored. These can comprise information on equipment, functions and limit values of operating parameters of the lifting device. The calculation of the information which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the lifting deviceoptionally in the given current lifting load situationcan be advantageously effected taking into account the data stored in the memory 30.

[0036] Via a transmitting and receiving module 4, the information which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the craneoptionally in the given current lifting load situationis transmitted to a transmitting and receiving module 5 of the mobile control module 2 via a wireless connection 10 or a cable connection 11. A combination of a transmission with a wireless connection 10 and a cable connection 11 is also conceivable. The wireless connection 10 can transmit and receive data via several channels and in several frequency bands, even in parallel.

[0037] The mobile control module 2 has a memory 31, in which the transmitted information and also calculated graph data for a display can be stored.

[0038] For the supply of power, the mobile control module 2 has an energy storage 29, for example in the form of a rechargeable battery. The supply of power to the controller 1 can be effected via a power unit, not shown, of the lifting device.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a lifting device arranged on a vehicle 12 and a controller 1 arranged thereon. The vehicle 12 has a loading area 13 for accommodating or also for transporting a payload or also a ballast weight 32. A lifting device in the form of a crane 14 is connected to the vehicle 12 via the crane base 15. A crane pillar 16 rotatable about a vertical axis is mounted on the crane base 15. A lifting arm 17 pivotable about a horizontal axis by means of a hydraulic cylinder 22 is arranged on the crane pillar 16. In turn a crane arm extension 18 pivotable about a horizontal axis by means of a hydraulic cylinder 23 with at least one telescopic crane extension arm 19 is arranged on the lifting arm 17. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 2, an attachment arm 20, which is also pivotable about a horizontal axis by means of a hydraulic cylinder 24, can be arranged on the crane arm extension 18. The attachment arm 20 can likewise have at least one telescopic crane extension arm 21. For additional support of the crane 14 or of the vehicle 12 bearing the lifting device, a support device in the form of an outrigger 26, 27, which can have extendible, telescopic support legs, is provided.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic display of an embodiment example of a lifting device and an arrangement according to the invention consisting of a controller 1 and a mobile control module 2. In addition to the previously named components, the lifting device in the form of a crane 14 has various sensors for detecting the present positioning of the crane 14. For the outrigger 26, which can be formed on both sides of the crane base 15, switches S3, S4 are provided to detect the supporting state of the outrigger 26 on the ground. In a similar manner, such a sensor system can be provided for the outrigger 27, not shown here, which can be arranged on a frame part of the vehicle 12. It is also conceivable that the extending position of the outrigger 26, 27 is detected via a distance measurement device not shown here. A rotary encoder DG1 is provided to detect the angle of rotation of the crane pillar 16 in relation to the crane base 15. The angle of rotation of the crane pillar 16 detected by the rotary encoder DG1 about a vertical axis would correspond to the polar angle in a polar display. A further rotary encoder DG2 is provided to detect the articulation angle in a vertical plane between the crane pillar 16 and the lifting arm 17. The hydraulic pressure characteristic of the crane's capacity utilization in the hydraulic cylinder 22 of the lifting arm 17 is provided a pressure sensor DS1. A rotary encoder DG3 is provided to detect the articulation angle between the lifting arm 17 and the crane arm extension 18 in a vertical plane. A pressure sensor DS2 is provided to detect the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder 23 of the crane arm extension 18. A switch S1 is provided to detect the retraction state of a crane extension arm 19 of the crane arm extension 18. A rotary encoder DG4 is further provided to detect the articulation angle between the crane arm extension 18 and the attachment arm 20 in a vertical plane. A pressure sensor DS3 is provided to detect the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic cylinder 24 of the attachment arm 20. A switch S2 is provided to detect the retraction state of a crane extension arm 21 of the attachment arm 20. In principle, detecting the extension position of the individual crane extension arms via an extension position sensor with, for example, a distance measurement device is not to be ruled out.

[0041] The sensor data are fed to the controller 1 in each case via signal inputs, by which, by way of example, the signal inputs 6, 7 of the switches S1, S2 detecting the retraction position of the crane arm extension 18 and of the attachment arm 20 are designated. In the controller 1, from these sensor data and from data, in this example specific to the crane 14, stored in a memory 30, information is then calculated which is characteristic of the current lifting load situation and/or the allowability of work processes on the crane 14. Via a transmitting and receiving module 4 of the controller 1, this information can then be transmitted to a transmitting and receiving module 5 of a mobile control module 2 via a wireless connection 10 and/or a cable connection 11. From this information, graph data can be calculated in the mobile control module 2 for a display and displayed to a user via a display unit 3. An activation of the display can optionally be effected via an activation facility 28 actuatable by a user, for example in the form of a switch or a button. Various operating elements 25 are provided on the mobile control module 2 for operating the mobile control module 2 and for inputting control commands.

[0042] FIG. 4a shows a schematic display of graph data calculated from the transmitted information on a display unit 3. The display unit 3 can be formed, for example, of a graphics-capable liquid crystal display 33 which is or can be fixed in or on the mobile control module 2. In the embodiment shown, the display on the display unit 3 comprises a schematic display, embedded in a coordinate system 36, of a vehicle 12 as shown in FIG. 2 with a lifting device in top view, wherein the rotatably mounted crane pillar 16 is advantageously placed at the origin of the coordinate system 36. The display can be effected, as shown, in a Cartesian coordinate system with coordinate axes denoted X and Y or also in a polar coordinate system. The present capacity utilization of the lifting device is displayed in the form of a point P plotted in the coordinate system 36. The polygonal chain K represents the nominally maximum allowable capacity utilization of the lifting device. As shown, the lifting device is currently located close to a maximum allowable capacity utilization, which is easily and intuitively recognizable for a user through the proximity of the point P to the capacity utilization limit represented by the polygonal chain K. The display on the display unit 3 can additionally comprise a menu bar 35, via which settings, information or alternative functions can be accessed, and a title bar 34 with for instance a status display 37, which can give an indication of the charge state of the energy storage 29 or also of the type and quality of the data connection. The coordinate lines can also have a legend 38 with information on the current scaling of the display.

[0043] FIG. 4b shows a schematic display of graph data calculated from characteristic information and displayed via a display unit 3, wherein the present capacity utilization of the lifting device is indicated in the form of a line in a polar coordinate system. In the case of an arrangement shown, for example, in FIG. 3 with a crane 14, the polar angle of the line L corresponds substantially to the angle of rotation of the crane pillar 16 detected with the rotary encoder DG1 in relation to the crane base 15, wherein the vehicle 12 represented schematically in top view in FIG. 4b is oriented along its imaginary longitudinal axis in the coordinate system 36. The nominally allowable capacity utilization limit is drawn in with the polynomial chain K in the coordination system 36. The capacity utilization of the lifting device displayed in the form of the line L is represented by the length of the line L, wherein the capacity utilization of the lifting device, as shown, exceeds the nominally allowable capacity utilization limit. It is thus easily recognizable for a user that the lifting device is located within an inadmissible capacity utilization range.

[0044] FIG. 4c shows a further embodiment of a graphic display of the capacity utilization of the lifting device. The display is again effected with a line L plotted in a coordinate system 36, wherein the polar angle of the line L again corresponds to the angle of rotation of the lifting device. The capacity utilization of the lifting device is shown by a greyscale corresponding to the present capacity utilization. A greater capacity utilization can be displayed with a darker greyscale. Alternatively, it is possible to display the capacity utilization with a corresponding colouring. For example, similarly to the colouring of a traffic light system, a small capacity utilization can be represented by a green line L, a medium capacity utilization by an amber line L and a large capacity utilization, for example, by a red line L.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0045] control 1 [0046] control module 2 [0047] display unit 3 [0048] transmitting and receiving module 4 [0049] transmitting and receiving module 5 [0050] signal input 6, 7 [0051] processor 8 [0052] processor 9 [0053] wireless connection 10 [0054] cable connection 11 [0055] vehicle 12 [0056] loading area 13 [0057] crane 14 [0058] crane base 15 [0059] crane pillar 16 [0060] lifting arm 17 [0061] crane arm extension 18 [0062] crane extension arm 19 [0063] attachment arm 20 [0064] crane extension arm 21 [0065] hydraulic cylinder 22, 23, 24 [0066] operating elements 25 [0067] outrigger 26, 27 [0068] activation facility 28 [0069] energy storage 29 [0070] memory 30 [0071] memory 31 [0072] ballast weight 32 [0073] liquid crystal display 33 [0074] title bar 34 [0075] menu bar 35 [0076] coordinate system 36 [0077] status display 37 [0078] legend 38 [0079] pressure sensor DS1, DS2 [0080] rotary encoder DG1, DG2, DG3, DG4 [0081] switch S1, S2, S3, S4 [0082] point P [0083] line L [0084] polygonal chain K