U.S. patent application number 13/994538 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-31 for low idle control system of construction equipment and automatic control method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOOSAN INFRACORE CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Hee Jun Jeong, Sung Il Kim, Kwang Seok Park. Invention is credited to Hee Jun Jeong, Sung Il Kim, Kwang Seok Park.
Application Number | 20130289834 13/994538 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46314627 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130289834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Kwang Seok ; et
al. |
October 31, 2013 |
LOW IDLE CONTROL SYSTEM OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND AUTOMATIC
CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a low idle control system of
construction equipment and an automatic control method thereof. The
low idle control system of construction equipment includes: a front
angle change sensing means which detects an operation of at least a
part of a front unit through changes in an angle; a controller
which is electrically connected to the front angle change sensing
means, determines whether to enter an auto idle state by receiving
an output signal that is transmitted from the front angle change
sensing means, and generates an rpm control signal corresponding to
the result of the determination on whether to enter the auto idle
state; and an ECU which controls the rpm of an engine by receiving
the rpm control signal outputted from the controller. The present
disclosure is capable of implementing an effective auto idle
function by more accurately recognizing a state of using
equipment.
Inventors: |
Park; Kwang Seok; (Incheon,
KR) ; Kim; Sung Il; (Incheon, KR) ; Jeong; Hee
Jun; (Incheon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Park; Kwang Seok
Kim; Sung Il
Jeong; Hee Jun |
Incheon
Incheon
Incheon |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
DOOSAN INFRACORE CO., LTD.
Incheon
KR
|
Family ID: |
46314627 |
Appl. No.: |
13/994538 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2011/009920 |
371 Date: |
June 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 9/2066 20130101;
F02D 41/083 20130101; F02D 41/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/50 |
International
Class: |
E02F 9/20 20060101
E02F009/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0131189 |
Claims
1. A low idle control system of construction equipment, comprising:
a front angle change sensing means which detects an operation of at
least a part of a front unit through changes in an angle; a
controller which is electrically connected to the front angle
change sensing means, determines whether to enter an auto idle
state by receiving an output signal that is transmitted from the
front angle change sensing means, and generates an rpm control
signal corresponding to the result of the determination on whether
to enter the auto idle state; and an ECU which controls the rpm of
an engine by receiving the rpm control signal outputted from the
controller.
2. The low idle control system of construction equipment of claim
1, wherein the front angle change sensing means includes at least
one of a boom angle sensor which is installed at an upper turning
unit and detects a change in an angle of a boom, an arm angle
sensor which is installed at the boom and detects a change in an
angle of an arm, and a bucket angle sensor which is installed at
the arm and detects a change in an angle of a bucket.
3. The low idle control system of construction equipment of claim
1, further comprising: an accelerator pedal sensor which detects
operating pressure of an accelerator pedal or a change in an angle
of the accelerator pedal; and a steering sensor which detects a
change in an angle or operating pressure of a steering wheel or a
steering joystick, wherein the controller additionally considers
signals outputted from the accelerator pedal sensor and the
steering sensor, at the time of determining whether to enter the
auto idle state.
4. The low idle control system of construction equipment of claim
1, further comprising: a working oil pressure sensor which detects
pilot pressure that is generated corresponding to pressure of
working oil supplied to drive a working device of the front unit,
or an operation of an operating lever for operating the front unit,
wherein the controller additionally considers a signal outputted
from the working oil pressure sensor, at the time of determining
whether to enter the auto idle state.
5. An automatic control method of a low idle control system of
construction equipment, comprising: monitoring output signals that
are received from a steering sensor, an accelerator pedal sensor,
and a front angle change sensing means; determining whether a
preset output signal corresponding to a steering pressure reference
value or less from the steering sensor, an off signal from the
accelerator pedal sensor, and an off signal from the front angle
change sensing means are continued for a predetermined time or
more; entering an auto idle mode by recognizing that the equipment
does not work when it is determined that the condition is continued
for a predetermined time or more according to the determination
result of step; and outputting normal rpm by inputting a preset
control signal into the ECU, which controls the engine, when it is
determined that the condition is not satisfied according to the
determination result.
6. The automatic control method of a low idle control system of
construction equipment of claim 5, further comprising: determining,
after entering the auto idle mode, whether at least one of a preset
output signal corresponding to a steering pressure reference value
or more from the steering sensor, an operating signal from the
accelerator pedal sensor, and an operating signal from the front
angle change sensing means is received, wherein when it is
determined that at least a signal of the signals is received
according to the determination result, a preset control signal is
inputted into the ECU, which controls the engine, and normal rpm is
outputted.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application
of International Application No. PCT/KR2011/009920, filed Dec. 21,
2011 and published, not in English, as WO2012/087020 on Jun. 28,
2012.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a low idle control system
of construction equipment and an automatic control method thereof,
and more particularly, to a low idle control system of construction
equipment and an automatic control method thereof, capable of
implementing an effective auto idle function by accurately
recognizing a state of using equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] In general, there are excavators, wheel loaders, and the
like as construction equipment. The excavators perform various
operations such as operations of excavating, leveling the ground,
compacting the ground, lifting heavy objects, and the like. The
excavator has a working device including a boom, an arm, and a
bucket, and work of the excavator is performed by controlling the
working device including the boom, the arm, and the bucket by
operating each corresponding actuator (or a hydraulic cylinder).
The wheel loader refers to equipment that is used to perform civil
work at construction sites, and is widely used to perform
operations of conveying powder materials such as soil, sand, or the
like, loading or unloading conveyed soil and sand onto or from
freight vehicles, leveling ground for road, removing snow, towing
vehicles, and the like.
[0004] In the construction equipment such as the excavator, the
wheel loader, or the like according to the related art, a
technology of converting a state of an engine into an idle state so
as to improve fuel efficiency is generally applied in a case in
which pressure of working oil in an accelerator pedal, a steering
part, and a front unit is not varied for a predetermined time. This
function is typically referred to as an `auto idle function`.
[0005] In the construction equipment of the related art, a no-load
operation, for example, a bucket dump, a boom floating that the
boom is lowered by its own weight, or the like, may occur during
performing work. However, because a variation in pressure of the
front unit is very small when the no-load operations are performed,
it may be recognized that the equipment does not work. Accordingly,
a case occurs in which the equipment enters the aforementioned auto
idle state, or the auto idle state, which is already in progress,
is continued. However, the aforementioned no-load operation is
frequently converted directly into a load operation, and in this
case, because the auto idle state needs to be suddenly released,
there is a problem in that the engine is stopped (engine stall), or
an increase in output of the engine is delayed.
[0006] The discussion above is merely provided for general
background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARY
[0007] This summary and the abstract are provided to introduce a
selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further
described below in the Detailed Description. The summary and the
abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential
features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be
used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
[0008] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve
the aforementioned problem, and an object of the present disclosure
is to provide a low idle control system of construction equipment
and an automatic control method thereof, capable of implementing an
effective auto idle function by more accurately recognizing a state
of using equipment.
[0009] In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present
disclosure provides a low idle control system of construction
equipment, including: a front angle change sensing means which
detects an operation of at least a part of a front unit through
changes in an angle; a controller which is electrically connected
to the front angle change sensing means, determines whether to
enter an auto idle state by receiving an output signal that is
transmitted from the front angle change sensing means, and
generates an rpm control signal corresponding to the result of the
determination on whether to enter the auto idle state; and an ECU
which controls the rpm of an engine by receiving the rpm control
signal outputted from the controller.
[0010] In addition, with respect to the above exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides
the following specific exemplary embodiments.
[0011] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the front angle change sensing means may include at
least one of a boom angle sensor which is installed at an upper
turning unit and detects a change in an angle of a boom, an arm
angle sensor which is installed at the boom and detects a change in
an angle of an arm, and a bucket angle sensor which is installed at
the arm and detects a change in an angle of a bucket.
[0012] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the low idle control system of construction equipment
may further include: an accelerator pedal sensor which detects
operating pressure of an accelerator pedal or a change in angle of
the accelerator pedal; and a steering sensor which detects a change
in angle or operating pressure of a steering wheel or a steering
joystick, in which the controller may additionally consider signals
outputted from the accelerator pedal sensor and the steering
sensor, at the time of determining whether to enter the auto idle
state.
[0013] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the low idle control system of construction equipment
may further include: a working oil pressure sensor which detects
pilot pressure that is generated corresponding to pressure of
working oil supplied to drive a working device of the front unit,
or an operation of an operating lever for operating the front unit,
in which the controller may additionally consider a signal
outputted from the working oil pressure sensor, at the time of
determining whether to enter the auto idle state.
[0014] Meanwhile, as another exemplary embodiment, the present
disclosure provides an automatic control method of a low idle
control system of construction equipment, including: monitoring
output signals that are received from a steering sensor, an
accelerator pedal sensor, and a front angle change sensing means
(S20); determining whether a preset output signal corresponding to
a steering pressure reference value or less from the steering
sensor, an off signal from the accelerator pedal sensor, and an off
signal from the front angle change sensing means are continued for
a predetermined time or more (S22); entering an auto idle mode by
recognizing that the equipment does not work when it is determined
that the condition is continued for a predetermined time or more
according to the determination result of step S22 (S24); and
outputting normal rpm by inputting a preset control signal into the
ECU, which controls the engine, when it is determined that the
condition is not satisfied according to the determination result of
step S22 (S22a).
[0015] In addition, with respect to the above exemplary embodiment
of the present disclosure, the present disclosure further provides
the following specific exemplary embodiments.
[0016] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the automatic control method of a low idle control
system of construction equipment may further include: determining,
after step S24, whether at least one of a preset output signal
corresponding to a steering pressure reference value or more from
the steering sensor, an operating signal from the accelerator pedal
sensor, and an operating signal from the front angle change sensing
means is received (S26), in which when it is determined that at
least a signal of the signals is received according to the
determination result, a preset control signal is inputted into the
ECU, which controls the engine, and normal rpm is outputted
(S22a).
[0017] The present disclosure additionally provides an angle change
sensing means, which may detect an operation of a front unit
through changes of the angle of the front unit, in addition to the
existing partial input elements (a steering sensor and an
accelerator pedal sensor) that are used to determine a state of
using equipment, and an ECU may be controlled by a controller using
signals of the aforementioned components, thereby implementing an
effective auto idle function by more accurately recognizing a state
of using the equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the entire
configuration of a low idle control system of construction
equipment according to the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a control flow chart for explaining an automatic
control method of a low idle control system of construction
equipment according to the present disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF MAIN REFERENCE NUMERALS OF DRAWINGS
[0020] 1: Steering sensor [0021] 2: Accelerator pedal sensor [0022]
3: Controller [0023] 4: ECU [0024] 5: Engine [0025] 10: Front angle
change sensing means [0026] 11: Boom angle sensor [0027] 12: Arm
angle sensor [0028] 13: Bucket angle sensor
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of an automatic control
method of a low idle control system of construction equipment
according to the present disclosure will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a low idle control system of
construction equipment according to a preferred exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure includes a front angle change
sensing means 10, a controller 3, and an ECU 4.
[0031] The front angle change sensing means 10 detects an operation
of at least a part of a front unit (for example, a working device)
through changes in an angle. The controller 3 is electrically
connected to the front angle change sensing means 10. The
controller 3 determines whether to enter an auto idle state by
receiving an output signal that is transmitted from the front angle
change sensing means 10, and generates an rpm control signal
corresponding to the result of the determination on whether to
enter the auto idle state. The ECU 4 controls the rpm of an engine
5 by receiving the rpm control signal outputted from the controller
3.
[0032] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a low idle control
system of construction equipment according to another preferred
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a
steering sensor 1, and an accelerator pedal sensor 2. The steering
sensor 1 detects an operation of a steering wheel or a steering
joystick through changes in pressure or an angle, and the
accelerator pedal sensor 2 detects an operation of an accelerator
pedal through changes in pressure or an angle.
[0033] In addition, a working oil pressure sensor 9, which measures
pilot pressure that is generated corresponding to pressure of
working oil supplied to drive a drive unit of the existing steering
device and the existing front working device, or an operation of an
operating lever, may be used. In this case, the controller 3 first
confirms whether to enter an auto idle mode on the basis of an
inputted signal from the working oil pressure sensor 9, and then
may determine whether to enter/release the auto idle mode according
to the detection result of the front angle change sensing means 10.
In this case, the problem of the related art may be solved only by
additionally installing the front angle change sensing means 10,
which may be comparatively easily installed in the front working
device, in the existing equipment, and correcting a control method
as described above.
[0034] The controller 3 is electrically connected to the steering
sensor 1 and the accelerator pedal sensor 2, or the working oil
pressure sensor 9, respectively. Accordingly, the controller 3 may
additionally consider signals outputted from the accelerator pedal
sensor 2 and the steering sensor 1, or a signal outputted from the
working oil pressure sensor 9, at the time of determining whether
to enter the auto idle mode.
[0035] Moreover, the ECU 4 may control the rpm of the engine 5 by
receiving the rpm control signal corresponding to output signals
from the steering sensor 1, the accelerator pedal sensor 2, and the
front angle change sensing means 10 in the controller 3.
[0036] Meanwhile, the front angle change sensing means 10 may be
configured by at least one of a boom angle sensor 11 which is
installed at an upper turning unit and detects a change in an angle
of a boom, an arm angle sensor 12 which is installed at the boom
and detects a change in an angle of an arm, and a bucket angle
sensor 13 which is installed at the arm and detects a change in an
angle of a bucket.
[0037] Even though the front angle change sensing means 10 is
individually used, the front angle change sensing means 10 may
implement a function of entering/releasing the auto idle state
corresponding to most operations except for traveling/turning
operations.
[0038] In order to add a function for a more accurate control of
entering/releasing the auto idle state and various items of
convenience, all of the steering sensor 1, the accelerator pedal
sensor 2, the working oil pressure sensor 9, and the front angle
change sensing means 10, which are described above, may be
installed.
[0039] An automatic control method of the low idle control system
of construction equipment according to the present disclosure,
which is based on the aforementioned hardware configuration, will
be described with reference to a control flow chart of FIG. 2.
[0040] First, in a state in which the construction equipment is
started, and then the engine is driven, the controller 3 monitors
output signals that are received from the steering sensor 1, the
accelerator pedal sensor 2, and the front angle change sensing
means 10 (S20).
[0041] Next, it is determined whether a preset output signal
corresponding to a steering pressure reference value or less from
the steering sensor 1, an off signal from the accelerator pedal
sensor 2, and an off signal from the front angle change sensing
means 10 are continued for a predetermined time or more (S22).
[0042] Here, when it is determined that the aforementioned
condition is continued for a predetermined time (for example, 5
seconds) or more according to the determination result of step S22,
it is recognized that the equipment does not work, and then the
equipment enters the auto idle mode (S24).
[0043] Alternatively, when it is determined that the aforementioned
condition is not satisfied according to the determination result of
step S22, a preset control signal is inputted into the ECU 4, which
controls the engine 5, and normal rpm is outputted (S22a).
[0044] Next, after step S24, it is determined whether at least one
of a preset output signal corresponding to a steering pressure
reference value or more from the steering sensor 1, an operating
signal from the accelerator pedal sensor 2, and an operating signal
from the front angle change sensing means 10 is received (S26).
[0045] When it is determined that at least a signal of the
aforementioned signals is received according to the determination
result of step S26, a preset control signal is inputted into the
ECU 4, which controls the engine 5, and normal rpm is outputted
(S22a).
[0046] The present disclosure described above is not limited to the
aforementioned exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings,
and it is apparent to those persons skilled in the art that simple
substitutions, modifications and alterations may be made without
departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.
[0047] The present disclosure additionally provides an angle change
sensing means, which may detect an operation of a front unit
through changes in the angle of the front unit, in addition to the
existing partial input elements (a steering sensor, an accelerator
pedal sensor, and a working oil pressure sensor) that are used to
determine a state of using equipment, and an ECU may be controlled
by a controller using signals of the aforementioned components,
thereby implementing an effective auto idle function by more
accurately recognizing a state of using the equipment.
[0048] Although the present disclosure has been described with
reference to exemplary and preferred embodiments, workers skilled
in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and
detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
* * * * *