U.S. patent application number 11/793567 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for system for position detection.
Invention is credited to Markus Kliffken, Sorn Stoll.
Application Number | 20080134547 11/793567 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36019811 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080134547 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kliffken; Markus ; et
al. |
June 12, 2008 |
System For Position Detection
Abstract
The invention relates to a position determination and regulation
system for working devices arranged on the working arms of mobile
machine-tools. Said system comprises at least one sensor and an
emission/reception unit. The determination and transmission of
position co-ordinates (x, y) and/or an incline (.phi.) of the
working device between the at least one sensor and the
emission/reception unit are carried out in a contact-free
manner.
Inventors: |
Kliffken; Markus;
(Elchingen, DE) ; Stoll; Sorn; (Nersingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCULLY SCOTT MURPHY & PRESSER, PC
400 GARDEN CITY PLAZA, SUITE 300
GARDEN CITY
NY
11530
US
|
Family ID: |
36019811 |
Appl. No.: |
11/793567 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2005/013676 |
371 Date: |
July 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/347 ;
340/686.1; 414/699; 701/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/435 20130101;
E02F 9/264 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/347 ;
340/686.1; 414/699; 701/50 |
International
Class: |
E02F 3/43 20060101
E02F003/43; E02F 9/20 20060101 E02F009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2004 |
DE |
102004061560.8 |
May 30, 2005 |
DE |
102005024676.1 |
Claims
1. System for detection and control of operating mechanisms (3)
disposed on operating arms (2) of mobile machines (1), comprising
at least one sensor (4) and a transmitting/receiving unit (5),
characterised in that the transmission and detection of position
coordinates (x, y) and/or of an inclination (.phi.) of the
operating mechanism (3) between the at least one sensor (4) and the
transmitting/receiving unit (5) is effected without contact.
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least
one sensor (4) is configured as an active sensor (4).
3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least
one sensor (4) is configured as a passive sensor (4).
4. System according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in
that the at least one sensor (4) is disposed in the operating
mechanism (3).
5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that signals
emitted via a control lever (10) of the machine (1) can be
transmitted by the transmitting/receiving unit (5) and the at least
one sensor (4) to the operating mechanism (3).
6. System according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in
that at least one further sensor (4) is disposed in a hydraulics
unit (6) of the operating arm (2).
7. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the sensor
(4) disposed in the hydraulics unit (6) transmits a pressure signal
(p).
8. System according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in
that the system has an amplifier unit (8).
9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that the amplifier
unit (8) is configured in the form of at least one
transmitting/receiving unit (5).
10. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the
amplifier unit (8) is disposed on the operating arm (2) of the
machine (1).
11. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the
amplifier unit (8) is disposed separately from the machine (1).
12. System according to one of the claims 8 to 11, characterised in
that the amplifier unit (8) is in direct visual contact with the at
least one sensor (4) and the transmitting/receiving unit (5).
13. System according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterised in
that the transmission of the signals is effected on the basis of a
radio signal, in particular on the basis of microwaves.
14. System according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterised in
that in addition physical variables (p) can be transmitted via the
system to the transmitting/receiving unit (5).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a system for position detection and
control of operating arms of mobile machines according to the
preamble of claim 1.
[0002] In the case of position-controlled operating arms of mobile
machines, the position of the operating mechanisms is usually
detected indirectly by length sensors in cylinders of the hydraulic
system or by angle sensors. An example of position detection by
angle sensors is known from DE 100 00 771 A1. The publication
describes a device for position control for operating mechanisms of
mobile machines which comprises a measuring device for measuring an
angle which is formed between a plane determined by the position of
the operating mechanism and the direction of the gravitational
force, an angle transmitter for prescribing an angle which is
formed between a plane determined by the position of the operating
mechanism and the direction of the gravitational force, and a
control device for controlling the angle between the plane of the
operating mechanism and the direction of the gravitational force so
that the measured angle comes to correspond with the prescribed
angle.
[0003] In particular, the merely very limited possibility for
detecting interferences and inaccuracies is disadvantageous in
systems of this type, so that the possibility of adjustment to
maximum power is likewise restricted.
[0004] It is known furthermore to detect the position of mobile
machines on the ground by means of positioning systems (e.g. GPS,
global positioning system). An operating device equipped with a
detection system of this type emerges for example from WO
95/30799.
[0005] In particular the cost factor and the precision are thereby
disadvantageous in position detection systems of this type. A
transmitter/receiver which is suitable for application for this
purpose is cost-intensive and high-maintenance.
[0006] An object of the present invention hence resides in
providing a system for position detection and control for operating
arms of mobile machines, which enables simple, economical and
accurate position measurement and repositioning of the operating
mechanism provided on the operating arm.
[0007] The object is achieved by the characterising features of
claim 1.
[0008] The transmission or determination of position coordinates
and/or inclination of the operating mechanism between at least one
sensor and one transmitting/receiving unit is advantageously
effected without contact by transmitting signals by means of
electromagnetic waves.
[0009] The sub-claims include advantageous developments of the
invention.
[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are represented
schematically subsequently with reference to the Figures. There are
shown in the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a first embodiment of
the system according to the invention for position detection and
position control of movable operating arms of mobile machines;
and
[0012] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of
the system according to the invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows, in a greatly schematic representation, an
embodiment of a system which is configured according to the
invention for position detection and position control for an
operating arm 2 of a mobile machine 1. The machine 1 in the
presently described embodiment is thereby an earth-moving device,
such as e.g. a digger, having an operating mechanism 3 disposed on
the operating arm 2, a digger bucket in the embodiment. However the
invention is not restricted thereto but can be applied also for
other applications, such as e.g. for cranes, concrete pumps,
telehandlers etc.
[0014] The position detection of the operating mechanism 3 is
effected according to the invention via contact-free sensors 4,
preferably based on radio signals with microwave technology or
high-frequency electromagnetic waves. The sensors 4 are positioned
on the operating arm 2 or on the operating mechanism 3 wherever the
position is intended to be detected. In the first embodiment
represented in FIG. 1, one of the sensors 4 is disposed in the
operating mechanism 3 disposed on the operating arm 2 and a further
sensor 4 is disposed in a hydraulics unit 6 of the operating arm
2.
[0015] Active and particularly advantageously passive sensors 4 are
suitable as sensors 4. Active sensors 4 are thereby supplied for
example by a battery, as a result of which several years of freedom
from maintenance can be achieved. If necessary, environmental
energy can be used for charging. When using passive sensors 4, a
transmitting/receiving unit 5 is installed on the mobile machine 1.
The signals transmitted by the transmitting/receiving unit 5 are
converted in the passive sensor 4 and returned in coded form. The
measuring accuracy of systems of this type is, in the case of
current microwave technology, a few centimetres, the range in the
sense of the application is unlimited. Transmission of signals from
other types of sensors 4, for example from pressure sensors, can be
implemented with comparable technology.
[0016] The position and orientation of the operating mechanism 3 is
determined by the cooperation of the sensors 4 and of the
transmitting/receiving unit 5. The first sensor 4 disposed on the
operating mechanism 3 thereby picks up the position and orientation
for example in the form of variables x and y for the position
determination and .phi. for the inclination determination of the
operating mechanism 3 and conveys the signals without contact to
the transmitting/receiving unit 5. The absolute position and
orientation of the reference system, i.e. of the machine 1, can be
determined by GPS (global positioning system), inclination or
acceleration sensors. Equally, for example pressure signals of the
hydraulics unit 6 or other physical variables, such as e.g. speed
or acceleration of the operating mechanism 3 and the temperature of
the fluid and the volume flow through the system can be conveyed
further without contact. In FIG. 1, a pressure sensor 4 is
illustrated by way of example in the hydraulics unit 6.
[0017] The transmitting/receiving unit 5 is in communication in the
machine 1 with further components, such as e.g. a control unit 9
and a control lever 10 for operating by the machine driver of the
machine 1. Movements carried out by the machine driver via the
control lever 10 are converted by the control unit 9 into
corresponding signals and movements of the operating mechanism
3.
[0018] The signals for determining the position and orientation of
the operating mechanism 3 are thereby determined by at least one
sensor 4 in the operating mechanism 3 on the basis of running time
measurements between the individual parts of the device. The
signals of the further physical variables, such as e.g. pressure,
speed, acceleration, temperature and volume flow, can be
transmitted directly to the transmitting/receiving unit 5.
[0019] The communication of the sensors 4 with the
transmitting/receiving unit 5 can however be made difficult or
impossible by obstacles, such as for example a wall 7, illustrated
in FIG. 2.
[0020] In order to counteract this, the system according to FIG. 1,
as represented in a second embodiment in FIG. 2, can be provided
advantageously with an amplifier unit 8 which assists communication
between the sensors 4 and the actual transmitting/receiving unit 5
on the machine 1. In order to determine the position and
orientation of the operating mechanism 3, the amplifier unit 8 is
disposed such that it has a direct visual connection to both units.
As represented in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, it can be
disposed on the operating arm 2 of the machine 1 or also at a
suitable position outside the machine 1. The amplifier unit 8 can
thereby be designed such that, on the basis of the same technology
as the main system, it picks up in addition separate data, such as
for example position information and transmits it to the
transmitting/receiving unit 5. The data can be used for control or
for operator assistance.
[0021] The invention is not restricted to the illustrated
embodiments but can be applied with any machine 1 using different
sensors 4 for different operating mechanisms 3. The features of the
invention can thereby be combined in any manner.
* * * * *