Condition Responsive Patents (Class 37/348)
  • Patent number: 10752237
    Abstract: A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle includes monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. The method further includes initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Klint J. Peterson, Christopher Barrick, John C. Endsley, James W. Henry, Tracey D. Meiners
  • Patent number: 10729068
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a position of one or more ground engaging tools of an agricultural implement is relative to a ground surface may include monitoring a position signal indicative of a position of a ground engaging tool of the implement. The position signal may have an associated system delay time. The method also may include estimating an arrival time when the position of the ground engaging tool will be within a predetermined threshold of a target position based on the monitored position signal and the system delay time associated with the monitored position signal. The method may include adjusting the position of the ground engaging tool and terminating the adjustment of the ground engaging tool at a termination time determined based on the arrival time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Duqiang Wu, Aditya Singh, Navneet Gulati, Jason Fox
  • Patent number: 10704231
    Abstract: A front loader includes a boom to which a bucket or a working implement other than the bucket is attached, a boom cylinder to move the boom, a first control valve to supply an operation fluid to the boom cylinder, a supporting member supporting the boom on a front portion of a vehicle body of a work machine, an attachment frame extending backward from the supporting member. The attachment frame is attached to a side portion of the vehicle body. The front loader further includes a second control valve to supply the operation fluid to the working implement. The second control valve is attached to the attachment frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Iizuka, Daniel Underwood, Chad Reeves, Patrick Penland
  • Patent number: 10689833
    Abstract: A process and tool for monitoring the status, health, and performance of wear parts used on earth working equipment. The process and tool allow the operator to optimize the performance of the earth working equipment. The tool has a clear line of site to the wear parts during use and may be integrated with a bucket or blade on the earth working equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Bewley, Noah D. Cowgill, Joseph E. Blomberg
  • Patent number: 10685303
    Abstract: A system and method is presented for gathering data concerning harvests. Data tickets are generated at a point of origination (i.e., the field), local storage, processing, or a customer location. Data tickets may also be generated for supplies delivered to the field. Implements attached to a vehicle in the field (e.g., a tractor) may provide sensor data over a vehicle communication bus about how a field processing task was performed. A computing device on the vehicle periodically reads the sensor data and records the data along with the current time and GPS position of the vehicle as a data point. A plurality of data points are transmitted to a remote server as a data trail. Data trails from a plurality of vehicles are compared to find points of intersection. Sensor data in the data trails for the points of intersection are examined to determine data related to the transfer of goods between vehicles during the time of intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Conservis Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick P. Christie, Paul Larson, Matthew Shilts, Chuck Faison, Michael Borman, Joe Tevis
  • Patent number: 10676898
    Abstract: In a hydraulic drive system of a work machine which drives a plurality of actuators using three or more pumps, for an operation not including traveling, a highly efficient combined operation in a front implement and excellent combined operability of a swing and the front implement are enabled, while for an operation including traveling, a highly efficient traveling operation and a highly efficient combined operation of traveling and the front implement are enabled, and a sufficient operation speed of the front implement is achieved. To this end, each of the flow rates of the first, second, and third pumps (101, 201, 301) can be controlled independently by performing the load sensing control, and in a combined operation for driving a boom (511) and an arm (512), ether one of them is driven by the first pump while the other one is driven by the second pump, and the swing is driven by the third pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Hibachi Construction Machinery Tierra Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiwamu Takahashi, Taihei Maehara, Kazushige Mori, Yoshifumi Takebayashi, Natsuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10657464
    Abstract: A planning system (201) for scheduling the operation of autonomous entities within a defined geographical region. The planning system operates at a region plan level (301) for strategic planning across the geographical region, at an operation plan level (302) for operations to be performed by autonomous entities in localised zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries, and at a task plan level (303) in which processing is undertaken in respect of specific tasks to be performed by the autonomous entities, in undertaking the operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES PTY. LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Nettleton, Ross Hennessy, Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Ali Haydar Goktogan
  • Patent number: 10633832
    Abstract: A product and system for identifying and monitoring a characteristic including the part ID, presence, condition, usage and/or performance of ground-engaging products used on various kinds of earth working equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Carpenter, Steven D. Hyde, Javier Lander, Jason W. Betournay, Karsten D. Zuendel
  • Patent number: 10633821
    Abstract: An automated backslope cutting system which, based on a survey of an area, automatically adjusts a scraper blade during the cutting of a ditch backslope. The automated backslope cutting system generally includes a scraper which is automatically adjusted by a computing device to effectuate cutting of backslopes for a ditch based on a desired cut profile. The desired cut profile may be manually entered by the operator and automatically processed by the computing device. The area is surveyed with a positioning sensor to determine an optimal desired cut profile requiring a minimum number of cuts. A proximity sensor may be provided to accommodate for rotational movement of the cutting blade as the scraper performs cuts. A control software is provided for execution by the computing device to provide functionality including the automatic adjustment of hydraulic actuators controlling movement of the cutting blade as the scraper cuts the ditch and backslopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: GK Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly J. Sharpe, Darin G. Johnson, Travis C. Yeik
  • Patent number: 10590629
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a vehicle main body to which a tire is mounted, an excavation member coupled to the vehicle main body on a front side of the vehicle main body and that includes an end part arranged on an outer side of the tire in a vehicle-width direction of the vehicle main body, a hydraulic cylinder arranged at a center part in the vehicle-width direction and that is to move the excavation member, a housing that houses a power transmission mechanism to transmit power to the tire, and a camera supported by a part of the vehicle main body on a lower side of the hydraulic cylinder and on an upper side of the housing and that acquires an image of a region that includes end parts on both sides of the excavation member and that is between the excavation member and the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Imaizumi, Isamu Satou
  • Patent number: 10501911
    Abstract: A control device includes a bucket control unit and a speed restricting unit. The bucket control unit calculates a control speed controlling a bucket so as to maintain an angle of the work equipment at a constant angle. The speed restricting unit reduces the control speed when the bucket is driven at the control speed calculated by the bucket control unit and when a direction in which the bucket is driven and a direction in which the arm is driven coincide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Jin Kitajima
  • Patent number: 10455756
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for determining the depth of a trench opened by an agricultural planter. Sensors are provided for detecting the position of a ground-engaging element of the planter such as a gauge wheel or seed firmer of a row unit of the planter. Apparatus and methods are provided for installing such sensors onto a row unit of the planter. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling downpressure on a row unit based on the trench depth. Methods are provided for mapping trench depth measured by the depth sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Derek Sauder, Jason Stoller, Ian Radtke, Kent Levy
  • Patent number: 10422111
    Abstract: A boom is attached to a body. A boom pin supports the boom while being swingable with respect to the body. A through-hole is made in the body. The through-hole is made such that a member (for example, the boom pin or a boom angle detector) that recognizes a position of the boom pin can be observed through the through-hole from a side of a hydraulic excavator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Takeo Yamada, Ryosuke Okui, Gousuke Nakashima
  • Patent number: 10407282
    Abstract: A large manipulator includes a boom arm with a turntable and a plurality of boom segments, which are configured to be pivoted at respective articulation joints with respect to an adjacent boom segment or the turntable. The boom arm further includes at least one inertial sensor configured to measure inclination and/or acceleration of at least one of the plurality of boom segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Schwing GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Henikl, Wolfgang Kemmetmüller, Andreas Kugi
  • Patent number: 10395445
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame, a suspension system mounted to the frame and including a plurality of struts, and a payload distribution monitoring system supported by the frame. The payload distribution monitoring system includes pressure sensors respectively arranged with the struts, a computer-readable medium bearing a payload distribution monitoring program, a controller, and an interface device. The controller is in operable communication with the pressure sensors to receive their signals and configured to execute the payload distribution monitoring program. The interface device is in operable communication with the controller and configured to display the payload distribution monitoring program's graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan S. Pauli
  • Patent number: 10377125
    Abstract: A control system for a machine, operating on a worksite is associated with an implement, which perform additive construction operations in accordance with a pre-determined implement control plan. The system includes a positioning system, one or more implement control actuators, and a controller. The positioning system is configured to determine positioning signals associated with, at least, a terrain of the worksite and any worksite objects existing thereon. The controller determine an available zone, in which the machine and implement are capable of executing the additive construction operations within the available zone, based on the positioning signals and the pre-determined implement control plan, and determine an operation zone, relative to a desired additive construction site on the worksite, within the available zone, wherein parameters of the operation zone are based, at least in part, on the available zone, the machine configuration, and the pre-determined implement control plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Friend, Qi Chen, Jean-Jacques Clar
  • Patent number: 10364547
    Abstract: The lifetime of an electrical storage device is prolonged by reducing a speed of at least relevant one of hydraulic actuators for a specific operation to be performed by a work machine. This hybrid work machine includes a limit control section. When at least one specific operation defined as predetermined one or more among a plurality of work operations performed by the hybrid work machine is performed under condition of a degree of tendency to deterioration of the electrical storage device becoming higher, the limit control section reduces a speed of at least relevant one of the hydraulic actuators at a rate preset for the specific operation depending on the degree of tendency to deterioration of the electrical storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Hita, Shinya Imura, Hidekazu Moriki
  • Patent number: 10358788
    Abstract: An excavator calibration framework comprises an excavator, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a plurality of laser reflectors. The excavator comprises a chassis, linkage assembly (LA), implement, and control architecture. The LA comprises a boom, stick, the implement, and a four-bar linkage including nodes, with a laser reflector at each node. The control architecture comprises a controller programmed to execute an iterative process at n linkage assembly positions to determine a position of an nth calibration node of the plurality of nodes of the four-bar linkage to determine triangular angles and side lengths of an external triangle formed between the nth calibration node and two other nodes having identified positions. The iterative process is repeated n times until triangular angles and side lengths of three external triangles are determined that form an internal triangle. Angles of the internal triangle are determined to generate an implement angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CATERPILLAR TRIMBLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Mark Nicholas Howell, Samuel Joseph Frei
  • Patent number: 10323388
    Abstract: A display system for a construction machine includes: a moving direction computing section for computing a predictive moving direction of a bucket; a work-tool display control section that, if the moving direction computing section predicts a movement of the bucket, changes the display position of a bucket image based on the predictive moving direction such that the area of a region located on the predictive moving direction side from the bucket image on the display screen of a monitor is displayed wider than when the bucket image is displayed at a reference position and that displays the bucket image at the reference position if a movement of the bucket cannot be predicted. A target-surface display control section displays on the display screen an image of a target surface when the bucket image is displayed at the display position determined by the work-tool display control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kanari, Manabu Edamura, Shiho Izumi, Takahiko Kurose
  • Patent number: 10221871
    Abstract: The Construction machinery includes at least two actuators, a main pump that generates hydraulic energy for driving the actuators, control valves disposed between the main pump and the actuators, a hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator motor that generates energy to be added to the hydraulic energy, and a controller that reduces hydraulic energy generated by the main pump when the hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator-motor generates energy. The construction machinery further comprises changeover valves that selectively change a location at which the energy from the hydraulic pump motor driven by the generator-motor is to be added according to the actuators. The controller changes a reduction rate of the hydraulic energy generated by the main pump depending on a specific actuator to which the energy is to be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Imura, Hidetoshi Satake, Kouji Ishikawa, Seiji Hijikata, Takatoshi Ooki, Shinji Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10208459
    Abstract: A blind spot estimation portion for estimating the blind spot region of the object in the bucket; a blind spot region shape estimation portion for estimating a shape of the object in the blind spot region; and a volume estimation portion for estimating a volume of the object in the blind spot region are included, the blind spot estimation portion estimates the blind spot region by mesh disparity data obtained from a captured image of the object in the bucket imaged by a plurality of cameras, the blind spot region shape estimation portion estimates the shape of the object in the blind spot region by the mesh disparity data, and the volume estimation portion estimates the volume of the object in the blind spot region based on the shape of the object in the blind spot region estimated by the blind spot region shape estimation portion and a shape of a bottom of the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsuo, Noriyasu Hasejima, Kenichirou Kurata
  • Patent number: 10208453
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a work zone in a worksite is disclosed. The work zone includes an overburden region, a dump region having an incline of positive slope, and an initial pivot point at a junction of the overburden region and the incline. The method includes monitoring, by a controller, an elevation of the work zone based on an elevation data received from one or more sensors. Further, the method comprises detecting, by the controller, a location in the work zone having an elevation lower than an elevation of the initial pivot point based on the elevation data. Furthermore, the method comprises updating, by the controller, the detected location as a new pivot point if the detected location is within a predetermined distance from the initial pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Taylor, Steven E. Empson, Mo Wei
  • Patent number: 10174484
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control circuit and a control method for boom energy regeneration, and the control circuit for boom energy regeneration includes: a control unit which controls a discharge amount control valve, such that the amount of oil, which is discharged from a head of a boom cylinder, is supplied to a regeneration device or a rod of the boom cylinder through a hydraulic regeneration line, and when the regeneration device has an abnormality, the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the main control valve through a hydraulic discharge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DOOSAN INFRACORE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Choon Shik Joo
  • Patent number: 10166969
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recuperating energy in a hybrid vehicle, having an internal combustion engine an electrical machine, and on-board electrical system with an energy store that can be charged with electrical energy during a recuperation operation. A recuperation power for a recuperation operation of the electrical machine is set to a first value that allows a recuperation operation with a maximum generator capacity of the electrical machine if an actual energy level of the energy store is lower than or equal to a threshold value. However, the recuperation power for a recuperation operation is set to a second value lower than the first value and allows a recuperation operation with a reduced generator capacity of the electrical machine if the actual energy level of the energy store is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG
    Inventors: Detlef Fischer, Stefan Pfau, Matthias Hierlmeier
  • Patent number: 10132056
    Abstract: A shovel that performs excavation in accordance with an arm excavation operation including an arm closing operation includes an excavation operation detection part, a position detection part, a maximum allowable pressure calculation part, and an arm cylinder pressure control part. The excavation operation detection part detects that the arm excavation operation has been performed. The position detection part detects the position of the shovel. The maximum allowable pressure calculation part calculates the pressure of the expansion-side oil chamber of an arm cylinder corresponding to an excavation reaction force at a time when the shovel is dragged by the excavation reaction force as a maximum allowable pressure, based on the position of the shovel. The arm cylinder pressure control part controls the pressure of the expansion-side oil chamber not to exceed the maximum allowable pressure when the arm excavation operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10132335
    Abstract: Industrial machines and methods of operating the same. One industrial machine includes at least one controller that is configured to (1) detect an occurrence of a regenerative work cycle segment within a repetitive work cycle performed by the industrial machine and including a plurality of work cycle segments and (2) modify operation of at least one power source included in the industrial machine for the regenerative work cycle segment (i.e., prior to and/or during the regenerative work cycle segment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc
    Inventors: Joe Wutke, William A. Dorsett, Marcus N. Barr, Jason Sorgee
  • Patent number: 10119250
    Abstract: A work machine control system that controls a work machine including a member that rotates about a shaft line includes a target construction shape generation unit that generates a target construction shape indicating a target shape of a construction target of the work machine; and a determination unit that outputs first information when the member is present on an air side which is a side on which the work machine is present in relation to the target construction shape and outputs second information when the member is not present on the air side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Iwamura, Yoshiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10106951
    Abstract: An automatic dump control system and method are disclosed for a loader having a boom and a bucket each positionable by hydraulic cylinders actuated by a hydraulic circuit. The control system includes a source of image data of a receptacle and a source of position data for the boom and the bucket. The control system includes a controller that: determines a height of the receptacle based on the image data; determines a difference between the height of the receptacle and a height of the bucket based on the position data; outputs one or more control signals to the hydraulic circuit to position at least one of the boom and the bucket at a target height above the receptacle; determines that the bucket is positioned over the receptacle; and outputs one or more control signals to the hydraulic circuit to dump a load in the bucket into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: David J. Myers
  • Patent number: 10094654
    Abstract: An integrated sensing device with a suite of sensors assists construction machine operators in finding the correct level to dig a ditch/trench. The sensing device includes a gravity sensor to determine angles, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a laser receiver for detecting a known jobsite elevation. The sensing device is mounted to the dipper stick of an excavator; the gravity sensor detects the angle of the stick, and the laser receiver detects a laser plane of light that represents a known jobsite elevation. The LDM is aimed at another member of the machine that moves in a predetermined path as the bucket is rotated, and the distance between the LDM and the target member is used to calculate the vertical elevation of the working tool edge. A display graphically shows the operator the proper dig depth and the present position of the working tool edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Scott Tasman Crozier, Kevin Ray Nau
  • Patent number: 10087605
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a work machine includes a data storage device (210) in which sensor information (A) input from a sensor (101A) that senses an oil property of oil used for operation of the work machine and an abnormality degree determination value defined for each kind of the sensor information (A) are stored, and an arithmetic processing device (104) that executes first processing of discriminating the degree of abnormality level of the oil based on the sensor information (A) and the abnormality degree determination value, second processing of determining whether or not necessity to carry out oil analysis involving oil extraction exists based on the degree of abnormality level of the oil discriminated in the first processing, and third processing of outputting information indicating that the oil analysis is necessary to other terminal if it is determined that the oil analysis is necessary in the second processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Nakamura, Akira Kurasako, Hideki Akita, Yoshiya Hamamachi, Katsutoshi Hakozaki, Kotaro Ogura
  • Patent number: 10072395
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower running body and an upper turning body that is turnably provided on the lower running body. An engine is mounted on the upper turning body. A hydraulic pump is driven by the engine to discharge an operating oil. A hydraulic actuator is mounted on the upper turning body. A control device controls operations of the shovel. An entering object detection device detects a position of an entering object in a monitoring area of said shovel and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection position of said entering object. The control device supplies, after a determination of an entry of the entering object into the monitoring area, the operating oil from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10053835
    Abstract: A shovel includes an attachment including a working assembly, a diesel engine provided with a supercharger, an oil hydraulic pump connected to the diesel engine provided with the supercharger, and a controller that executes a preload boost function, wherein the preload boost function is for increasing boost pressure of the supercharger prior to increasing a hydraulic pressure load on the oil hydraulic pump, wherein a range accessible by a predetermined part of the attachment includes a partial range at which, upon the working assembly being operated, the preload boost function is to be executed and a partial range at which, upon the working assembly being operated, the preload boost function is not to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideto Magaki, Kiminori Sano, Ryuji Shiratani
  • Patent number: 10047495
    Abstract: A loader control system includes: a boom position calculation unit configured to calculate a position of a boom rotatably supported by a vehicle body of a loader; a bucket attitude calculation unit configured to calculate an attitude of a bucket rotatably supported by the boom; a determination unit configured to determine whether the attitude satisfies a predetermined condition on the basis of the attitude and a reference attitude of the bucket in dumping movement; and a work machine control unit configured to cause the bucket to carry out the dumping movement, and output a control signal to cause the boom to carry out lifting movement when the attitude is determined to satisfy the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Imaizumi, Ken Hirabayashi, Satoshi Kousuge
  • Patent number: 10036137
    Abstract: A hauling machine is disclosed. The hauling machine may include a dump body and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) disposed proximate to the dump body. The IMU may be configured to measure an impact of a payload material on the dump body during a first load cycle, and generate impact data based on the impact of the payload material. The hauling machine may also include a controller in operative communication with the IMU. The controller may be configured to: receive the impact data from the IMU, estimate a center of gravity, a net load, and an amplitude of the impact of the payload material based on the impact data, and determine a desired dumping point of the payload material into the dump body for a second load cycle based on the center of gravity, the net load, and the amplitude of the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xinyu Ge, Jia Li, Hao Wu
  • Patent number: 10030363
    Abstract: A hybrid work machine has an engine, an assist motor, a hydraulic pump which is driven by the total torque of the engine and the assist motor, and an electric storage device which accumulates electric power generated by the assist motor and supplies the electric power when the assist motor performs electric discharge. The continuous electric discharge from the electric storage device due to continuous operation at high load pressure can be suppressed without an operator experiencing an unusual operational characteristic. To this end, a pump flow rate correction control unit judges whether each hydraulic pump is in a high load operation state or not based on the output horsepower and/or the delivery pressure of each hydraulic pump and performs control such that the delivery flow rate gradually decreases when the hydraulic pump is in the high load operation state and this state continues beyond a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Imura, Shinji Nishikawa, Masafumi Hita, Hiroaki Amano
  • Patent number: 10024032
    Abstract: The work machine includes a stabilization control calculation unit that calculates and outputs a gradual stoppage command for making a drive actuator stop gradually and an operation speed limitation command for limiting an upper limit operation speed according to the status of stability of the work machine, a stoppage characteristic modification unit that corrects pilot pressure so as to make the drive actuator stop gradually when a stoppage operation is performed on a control lever, and an operation speed limitation unit that corrects the pilot pressure so as to limit the operation speed of the drive actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mariko Mizuochi, Akinori Ishii, Kazuyoshi Hanakawa
  • Patent number: 9938694
    Abstract: A control device for a work machine is a device for controlling a working unit of a work machine to excavate an object to be excavated. The control device includes a control unit for controlling the working unit to prevent a working implement of the working unit from crossing a predetermined target profile, and a switching unit for defining the target profile as an offset profile separated by a predetermined distance from a target excavation profile that is a target profile for finishing of the object to be excavated or the target excavation profile, based on an attitude of the working implement relative to the target excavation profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Yuki Shimano, Masashi Ichihara, Yoshiki Kami
  • Patent number: 9904747
    Abstract: Novel tools and techniques might provide for implementing mass haul optimization for agricultural terrain forming, based at least in part on three-dimensional soil modeling. In some embodiments, a computer system might determine desired soil conditions (including minimum topsoil depth, maximum and minimum slope, etc.) for an agricultural area. The computer system might also identify, based on 3-D topographical surveys and 3-D soil profiles, deficient locations within the agricultural area that do not possess at least the minimum topsoil depth, excess locations that possess greater than the minimum topsoil depth, sloped locations that exceed the maximum slope, and/or flat locations whose slopes are less than the minimum slope. Costs and volumes of topsoil and/or subsurface material may be calculated, and based on such calculations it may be determined how much topsoil and/or subsurface material to relocate or order to achieve the desired topsoil depth and slope at the identified locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua W. Shuler, Christopher van der Loo
  • Patent number: 9878886
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for use on a construction machine includes a first valve, a second valve, and at least a third valve. The second and third valve each includes at least one inlet port connected to a first outlet port of the first valve. The first outlet port of each of the second and third valves are configured to reduce a first pressure to a second pressure and/or a third pressure downstream of the second valve and the third valve, respectively. The second valve and the third valve also include at least a second outlet port connected to a reservoir tank. A hydraulic motor is connected to the first outlet port of the second valve, which operates the hydraulic motor in a first direction. The hydraulic motor also is connected to the first outlet port of the third valve, which operates the hydraulic motor in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE COMPANIES, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Benton, Mark A. Harbold, Todd Snider, David R. Peiffer
  • Patent number: 9856628
    Abstract: A control system controls a construction machine having a work machine including a tilting bucket. The control system includes: a first acquisition unit configured to acquire dimension data; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire external shape data of the bucket; a third acquisition unit configured to acquire target excavation landform data indicating a target excavation landform that is a two-dimensional target shape of an excavation object on a work machine operation plane perpendicular to a bucket axis; a fourth acquisition unit configured to acquire work machine angle data; a fifth acquisition unit configured to acquire tilt angle data indicating a turning angle of the bucket; and a calculation unit configured to obtain two-dimensional bucket data indicating an external shape of the bucket on the work machine operation plane on the basis of the dimension data, the external shape data, the work machine angle data, and the tilt angle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Kitajima, Kazuki Takehara
  • Patent number: 9856662
    Abstract: A large manipulator includes a chassis, at least two front support arms, and at least two rear support arms. The support arms are coupled to corresponding extendable support legs that are each coupled to the chassis and that are each configured to be extended between a travel position and a support position. The large manipulator further includes a mast arm with a turntable coupled to the chassis. An operating range of the mast arm is dependent upon the support positions of the extendable support arms. The large manipulator further includes a computer with a monitor and a program-controlled positioning aid. The positioning aid is configured to generate a graphical representation of surrounding image data on the monitor. The operating range of the mast arm is visualized in the graphical representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SCHWING GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Vierkotten, Joseph Schnittker
  • Patent number: 9835187
    Abstract: A control system for a construction machine includes: a boom cylinder; a boom switching valve; a fluid pressure motor adapted to drive a motor generator by being rotated by means of a return fluid guided from a piston side chamber; a regeneration control valve adapted to adjust a first supply amount serving as a supply amount of a working fluid supplied from the piston side chamber to the boom switching valve, and a second supply amount serving as a supply amount of the working fluid supplied from the piston side chamber to the fluid pressure motor; and a controller adapted to control the regeneration control valve so that the second supply amount becomes smaller than the first supply amount in a case where a stroke amount of a spool becomes an upper limit value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Egawa, Haruhiko Kawasaki, Yasuhiro Yonehara
  • Patent number: 9832386
    Abstract: An external recognition apparatus and an excavation machine using the external recognition apparatus, the external recognition apparatus including: a three-dimensional distance measurement device configured to acquire distance information in a three-dimensional space in a predetermined, region which is under a hydraulic shovel and which includes a region to be excavated by the hydraulic shovel; a plane surface estimation unit configured to estimate a plane surface in the predetermined region based on the distance information; and an excavation object region recognition unit configured to recognize the region to be excavated in the predetermined region based on the plane surface and the distance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Hasejima, Shigeru Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9822510
    Abstract: To provide a construction machine that appropriately sets the magnitude of an engine output for each work mode. A construction machine according to the present invention includes: an engine (22); a generator-motor (23) configured to generate electric power by the engine; a hydraulic pump (41) configured to be driven by the engine and the generator-motor; a hydraulic actuator (32, 34, 36) that drives and operates a working device (30) with the power of the hydraulic pump; an electric storage device (24) for supplying electric power to drive the generator-motor and charging the electric power generated by the generator-motor; a work-mode selecting device (45, 46) that selects a work mode corresponding to operation of an operator; and an engine-output setting unit (403, 405, 407) that sets the magnitude of the output of the engine corresponding to the work mode selected by the work-mode selecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakamoto, Masatoshi Hoshino, Shinji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9803338
    Abstract: A hydraulic system including an accumulator and a hydraulic transformer is disclosed. The hydraulic transformer includes first and second variable displacement pump/motor units mounted on a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft has an end adapted for connection to an external load. The first variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to a pump and a second side that fluidly connects to a tank. The second variable displacement pump/motor unit includes a first side that fluidly connects to the accumulator and a second side that fluidly connects with the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron Hertzel Jagoda
  • Patent number: 9783952
    Abstract: A working machine includes: an operation state detection unit configured to detect a physical amount output according to an operation of an operation lever; a time integration unit configured to calculate a time integration value by performing time integration of the physical amount; a determination unit configured to cause the time integration value and a predetermined operating angle of an excavating and loading mechanism associated with the operation of the operation lever to correspond to each other, and to determine that the operation of the operation lever has been performed at a time the time integration value becomes a predetermined integration value or more; and a counting unit configured to count at a time operations of the excavating and loading mechanism determined by the determination unit are performed in a predetermined order, number of times of excavating and loading work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagato, Masamichi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9746329
    Abstract: Systems and methods for augmenting an inertial navigation system (INS) include outputting from the INS position information associated with the implement and adjusting the implement based upon a comparison of the position information of the implement and a desired position of the implement. The INS is periodically re-initialized using error estimates generated by a kalman filter as a function of position information from one or more positioning (or measuring) devices, such as a fan laser, an automatic total station (ATS), a GNSS receiver, or a ground based radio positioning system, to correct a drift of the position information that may be caused by inherent characteristics of the INS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Mark Edward Nichols, Adam John Gudat, Richard Piekutowski
  • Patent number: 9725879
    Abstract: The invention concerns a portable power supply system (30) intended to supply a remotely controlled, electrically driven work machine (1) with electrical power, where the work machine is of the type that demonstrates a propulsion means that includes continuous tracks (8b) and is equipped with a maneuverable arm (10) intended to carry a tool at its free end, and electric motor (19) that is connected to a hydraulic pump (20) and is intended to supply the operating means (8c, 10a) of the machine with a hydraulic medium, whereby the work machine is intended to be connected under normal operation to a primary source of power (30a) via an electrical cable (2?), which primary source of power includes a fixed alternating current electricity distribution grid at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: BROKK AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Gunnar Bystedt
  • Patent number: 9719498
    Abstract: An energy recovery system for a first machine includes a cylinder member, and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder member and operatively coupled to a frame of the first machine. The piston and the cylinder member together define a chamber configured to receive a hydraulic fluid. The energy recovery system includes an accumulator in fluid communication with the chamber and a first valve assembly for regulating a flow of the hydraulic fluid from the chamber to the accumulator. The energy recovery system includes a controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a parameter of a payload that is to be received from a second machine during a work cycle thereof. The controller is configured to control the first valve assembly, during the work cycle of the second machine, to at least partially open the fluid communication between the chamber and the accumulator based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Xinyu Ge
  • Patent number: 9617714
    Abstract: The hybrid constructions machine has an engine rotation speed sensor 11A to detect a rotation speed NE of an engine 11, an engine state determination unit 20B to determine the state of output torque TE of the engine 11, a load torque estimation unit 20C to calculate load torque TP of a hydraulic pump 13, and an engine assistance limiting unit 20E to, when the rotation speed NE detected with the engine rotation speed sensor 11A is equal to or greater than a rotation speed N0, and the engine state determination unit 20B determines that the output torque TE of the engine 11 has not become minimum torque Tmin, or the load torque TP calculated with the load torque estimation unit 20C is lower than torque T1, limit motive-power assistance with the motor generator 12 to the engine 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishihara, Masatoshi Hoshino, Kentarou Itoga, Hidekazu Moriki