US20160348341A1

US20160348341A1 - Outrigger and dozer control using gui

Info

Publication number: US20160348341A1
Application number: US15/114,632
Authority: US
Inventors: Ji-Eun Kim
Original assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
Current assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
Priority date: 2014-01-27
Filing date: 2014-01-27
Publication date: 2016-12-01
Also published as: WO2015111777A1; EP3100972A4; CN105934403A; EP3100972A1

Abstract

The present invention provides an outrigger and dozer control device of a construction machine which includes one or more outriggers and one or more dozers, the device comprising: an actuator which drives outriggers or dozers of a vehicle; a first key input means which can select one of an outrigger set and a dozer set; a second key input means which can specifically select an outrigger or a dozer; a screen display unit which displays a selected outrigger or dozer while a specific outrigger or a dozer is being selected by the first key input means and the second key input means; and a control unit which receives a selection of an outrigger and a dozer from the first key input means and the second input means and controls an actuator of each selected outrigger and each selected dozer. The present invention simplifies the equipment operation environment for a worker and makes the equipment operation more convenient and easier.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to control over outriggers and dozer blades mainly used in construction equipment using simplified key input units and a graphical user interface (GUI).

BACKGROUND ART

In a prior art, in a construction machine including outriggers and dozer blades, separate switches, corresponding to the outriggers and the dozer blades respectively, have been provided to control actuators of the outriggers and the dozer blades. Corresponding actuators have been controlled using corresponding switches. In this case, however, separate switches must be provided for the outriggers and the dozer blades, respectively, to control the outriggers and the dozer blades. Thus, a large number of switches may be required to control an entirety of the outriggers and the dozer blades.
Outriggers and dozer blades can be disposed in a variety of positions. For example, front right, front right, rear right, and rear left outriggers may be provided, and front and rear dozer blades may be provided. A large number of switches may be required to control all of the outriggers and the dozer blades. This consequently increases the degree of complexity of equipment. Due to the increased complexity of equipment, it may be difficult for an operator to manipulate an equipment interface. In addition, an information providing area from which an operator can determine the current status of outriggers and dozer blades is not provided in an equipment cluster. Thus, a user may not be aware of set details (e.g. an outrigger or a dozer blade selected to be actuated), and a variety of settings may be impossible.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Unlike the prior art, the present disclosure is intended to provide a device and method for controlling actuators of a construction machine, to reduce the number of switches for setting outriggers and dozer blades, thereby simplifying the equipment control environment for an operator and facilitating control over equipment. Provision is made herein to allow a user to easily check data regarding outriggers and dozer blades and set details.

Technical Solution

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an aspect of the present disclosure proposes an approach to controlling actuators of a construction machine, in which a set of outriggers and a set of dozer blades can be controlled by only using a first key input unit, a single master switch button and a second key input unit, including a plurality of subsidiary setting buttons. More particularly, the set of outriggers and the set of dozer blades can be controlled by only using the first key input unit, or the single master switch button, and the second key input unit including a plurality of subsidiary setting buttons, such that the number of switches for setting outriggers and dozer blades can be reduced, thereby simplifying the equipment control environment for an operator and facilitating control over equipment.
When a user inputs data regarding the selection of outriggers and dozer blades using the key input units or a screen display unit, a control unit receives the input data through communications and processes the received data. Consequently, an actuator of an outrigger or a dozer blade can output power in response to a control signal.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to control a set of outriggers and a set of dozer blades using a first key input unit that is a single master switch button and a second key input unit including a plurality of subsidiary setting buttons. This can consequently reduce the number of switches, thereby further simplifying the equipment control environment for the user and facilitating the control over equipment by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an outrigger and dozer blade control device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary key input device for controlling an outrigger and a dozer blade;

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary key input device for controlling an outrigger and a dozer blade;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example displayed on the screen display unit;

FIG. 5 illustrates another example displayed on the screen display unit; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a further example displayed on the screen display unit.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, reference will be made to the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following exemplary embodiments are provided by way of specific examples so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure relates could easily put the present disclosure into practice, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.
Descriptions of specific parts unrelated to the present disclosure will be omitted. Throughout this document, the same reference numerals and symbols will be used to designate the same or like components.
The terms “comprise,” “include,” “have,” and any variations thereof used throughout the specification and the appended Claims are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion unless explicitly described to the contrary.
An outrigger is a type of balancing unit provided in a construction machine. The outrigger horizontally sticks out a beam from the body of the construction machine and supports the machine using a jack disposed on the distal end of the beam. The outrigger is typically used in a wheel excavator to support the weight of the body of the construction machine at four points, i.e. two points on the right side and the other two points on the left side, using hydraulic cylinders. With the outrigger, the construction machine can stay balanced while moving earth.
A dozer is a type of heavy construction equipment and is used to perform operations, such as excavation, pushing soil, and grounding, on construction sites by a blade mounted on the front thereof being moved upwardly or downwardly, inclined, or the like.
FIG. 1 illustrates an outrigger and dozer blade control device according to an exemplary embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, components required to efficiently control each outrigger and each dozer blade in a construction machine including one or more outriggers and one or more dozer blades are illustrated.
The outrigger and dozer blade control device according to the exemplary embodiment may include actuators for actuating an outrigger and a dozer blade of the construction machine. The actuators may be divided into an actuator 10 for actuating the outrigger and an actuator 12 for actuating the dozer blade.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate an exemplary key input device for controlling an outrigger and a dozer blade.
Referring to FIG. 2, the outrigger and dozer blade control device includes a first key input unit 100 for selecting a set of outriggers or a set of dozer blades to allow an outrigger or a dozer blade to be set.
This allows one of a set of outriggers or a set of dozer blades to be selected. Commands input by the first key input unit may be categorized depending on input methods. For example, when the first key input unit 100 is short-pressed (a short push), the commands may be sequentially determined to be “outrigger selection,” “dozer blade selection,” and “selection function turned off.” In another example, the user may register a combination of at least one outrigger and at least one dozer blade that are to be frequently used in edit mode. When the first key input unit 100 is long-pressed (a long push), the previously-registered combination of an outrigger and a dozer blade may be directly selected.
The outrigger and dozer blade control device according to the exemplary embodiment further includes a second key input unit 200. When the set of outriggers is selected by the first key input unit, the second key input unit 200 allows one or more outriggers to be specifically selected from the set of outriggers. When the set of dozer blades is selected by the first key input unit, the second key input unit 200 allows one or more dozer blades to be specifically selected from the set of dozer blades.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the second key input unit 200 includes direction keys, a selection key, and an ESC key, while FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which a second key input unit 210 includes a jog shuttle, a selection key, and an ESC key.
The user can select the set of outriggers or the set of dozer blades using the first key input unit and then select a specific outrigger or a specific dozer blade that he or she desires to actuate using the second key input unit, in particular, the direction key or the jog shuttle.
FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 illustrate examples displayed on a screen display unit.
An outrigger and dozer blade control device according to an exemplary embodiment may include a screen display unit that displays the selected outrigger or selected dozer blade while the specific outrigger or dozer blade is being selected by the first key input unit and the second key input unit. The screen display unit provides an outrigger or dozer blade selection interface. The outrigger or dozer blade selection interface displays the respective outrigger and dozer blades such that a user can determine which of the respective outrigger and dozer blades he or she can select. In addition, the outrigger or dozer blade selection interface may also provide an input function. In addition, the screen display unit can display an outrigger or a dozer blade selected using a graphical user interface (GUI).
The selection interface may include display and input functions as follows. The following selection interface is based on a construction machine including four outriggers and two dozer blades.

- Select all
- Front right outrigger
- Front left outrigger
- Rear right outrigger
- Rear left outrigger
- Front dozer blade
- Rear dozer blade

Referring to FIG. 4, the screen displays that the rear right outrigger and the rear left outrigger are selected. Referring to FIG. 5, the screen displays that the front dozer blade and the rear dozer blade are selected. Referring to FIG. 6, the front dozer blade, the front left outrigger, and the front right outrigger are selected.
The outrigger and dozer blade control device according to the exemplary embodiment includes a control unit that receives data regarding the selection of the outriggers and the dozer blades from the first key input unit and the second key input unit and controls the actuators of the selected outriggers and/or dozer blades.
The control unit 40 receives a command input by the user via a communications module 44, processes the input command using a data processing means 42, transfers the processed data to the screen display unit 30 to be provided to the user, and controls the outrigger actuator 10 and the dozer blade actuator 12 via an output control module 46. In addition, the control unit 40 feeds the result of the processing of the command back to the user.

Claims

1. An outrigger and dozer blade control device for a construction machine, the control device comprising:

actuators actuating a set of outriggers and a set of dozer blades of a construction machine;

a first key input unit for selecting at least one of the set of outriggers and the set of dozer blades to allow the at least one of the set of outriggers and the set of dozer blades to be set;

a second key input unit for specifically selecting at least one outrigger when the set of outriggers is selected by the first key input unit, and specifically selecting at least one dozer blade when the set of dozer blades is selected by the first key input unit;

a screen display unit displaying the selected at least one outrigger and/or the selected at least one dozer blade while the at least one outrigger and/or the at least one dozer blade is being selected by the first key input unit and the second key input unit; and

a control unit receiving data regarding a selection of the at least one outrigger and/or the at least one dozer blade from the first key input unit and the second key input unit and controls the at least one actuator of the at least one outrigger and/or the at least one dozer blade.

2. The outrigger and dozer blade control device of claim 1, wherein the screen display unit displays the selected at least one outrigger and/or the selected at least one dozer blade using a graphical user interface (GUI).

3. The outrigger and dozer blade control device of claim 1, wherein user edit mode is activated when pressing and holding the first key input unit, the user edit mode allowing a combination of at least one outrigger and/or at least one dozer blade to be frequently used to be registered.

4. The outrigger and dozer blade control device of claim 1, wherein the set of outriggers comprises a front right outrigger, a front left outrigger, a rear right outrigger, and a rear left outrigger of the construction machine.

5. The outrigger and dozer blade control device of claim 1, wherein the set of dozer blades comprises a front dozer blade and a rear dozer blade of the construction machine.