Construction machine

Abstract

This invention provides an engineering machine capable of easily returning the swing posture of a spoiler to a predetermined reference posture. The engineering machine includes: a support member rotatably mounted on the vehicle body in the vertical direction; a spoiler mounted on the front end of the support member in the longitudinal direction; an angle cylinder that causes the spoiler to swing in the longitudinal direction; a control valve that controls the flow of hydraulic oil from a hydraulic pump to the angle cylinder; an operating device that instructs the swinging action of the spoiler in the longitudinal direction; a controller that controls the control valve according to the instructions of the operating device; and a reference switch that instructs the controller to set the swing posture of the spoiler relative to the longitudinal direction to a predetermined reference posture. The controller controls the control valve according to the instructions of the reference switch, so that the swing posture of the spoiler relative to the longitudinal direction becomes the predetermined reference posture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to engineering machinery equipped with a soil dumping device. Background Technology

[0002] Hydraulic excavators, as a type of construction machinery, typically include a self-propelled lower traveling body and an upper slewing body rotatably mounted on top of the lower traveling body. The lower traveling body and the upper slewing body together constitute the machine body. The upper slewing body is equipped with working devices for excavating sand and soil, etc. The lower traveling body is equipped with a soil removal device for discharging sand and soil, etc.

[0003] For example, the soil-discharging device described in Patent Document 1 includes: a support member that is rotatably disposed on the front side of the lower traveling body in the vertical direction; a soil-discharging plate (scraper) that is oscillatingly disposed at the front end of the support member with a pin (connecting pin) in the vertical direction as the center; a lifting cylinder (scraper cylinder) that causes the support member to rotate in the vertical direction to raise and lower the soil-discharging plate; and an angle cylinder that causes the soil-discharging plate to oscillate in the front and back direction.

[0004] Furthermore, by moving the hydraulic excavator with the support members rotating downwards and the spoiler plate touching the ground, the spoiler plate pushes out sand and soil from the ground to level the land. At this time, if the spoiler plate's posture is set to a predetermined reference posture (specifically, a posture where the length of the spoiler plate is perpendicular to the straight-line direction of the hydraulic excavator), land leveling can be performed while simultaneously discharging sand and soil to the left and right sides of the spoiler plate. Alternatively, if the spoiler plate is swung to one side with its left end at the rear and its right end at the front, land leveling can be performed while simultaneously discharging sand and soil to the left side of the spoiler plate. Or, if the spoiler plate is swung to the other side with its left end at the front and its right end at the rear, land leveling can be performed while simultaneously discharging sand and soil to the right side of the spoiler plate.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-181274 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] However, the aforementioned prior art has the following room for improvement. In the prior art, when it is desired to return the attitude of the spoil heap from a swinging posture to a predetermined reference posture according to the progress of the land preparation operation, the driver operates the control device to adjust the attitude of the spoil heap while checking its posture. Therefore, it is not easy to return the swinging posture of the spoil heap to the predetermined reference posture.

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to provide engineering machinery that can easily return the swing posture of the soil dumping plate to a specified reference posture.

[0011] Methods for solving problems

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention includes: a support member rotatably mounted on a vehicle body in a vertical direction; a soil-discharging plate swaying in a longitudinal direction at the front end of the support member; an angle cylinder for swaying the soil-discharging plate in a longitudinal direction; a control valve for controlling the flow of hydraulic oil from a hydraulic pump to the angle cylinder; an operating device for instructing the longitudinal swaying motion of the soil-discharging plate; and a controller for controlling the control valve according to the instructions of the operating device. The construction machinery includes a reference switch that instructs the controller to set the swaying posture of the soil-discharging plate relative to the longitudinal direction to a predetermined reference posture. The controller controls the control valve according to the instructions of the reference switch so that the swaying posture of the soil-discharging plate relative to the longitudinal direction becomes the predetermined reference posture.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to the present invention, the swing posture of the soil discharge plate can be easily returned to the specified reference posture. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the structure of a hydraulic excavator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing the structure of a soil discharge device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the soil discharge plate in a predetermined reference posture.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a drive system related to an angle cylinder drive in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the controller involved in the attitude benchmarking of the dumping plate in one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the structure of the hydraulic excavator in this embodiment. Figure 2This is a perspective view showing the structure of the soil-discharging device in this embodiment, illustrating the soil-discharging plate in a predetermined reference posture (specifically, the posture where the length direction of the soil-discharging plate is perpendicular to the straight-line direction of the hydraulic excavator). It should be noted that the hydraulic excavator will be in... Figure 1 The driver's front side is shown in the position indicated by the driver sitting in the driver's seat. Figure 1 Right side of the middle, rear side ( Figure 1 (middle left) (right) Figure 1 lower middle side), left side ( Figure 1 The upper middle side is abbreviated as front side, back side, right side, and left side.

[0021] The hydraulic excavator of this embodiment includes a self-propelled lower traveling body 1 and an upper slewing body 2 rotatably mounted on the upper side of the lower traveling body 1, the lower traveling body 1 and the upper slewing body 2 constituting the vehicle body. Furthermore, the hydraulic excavator includes a soil-discharging device 3 mounted on the front side of the lower traveling body 1 and a working device 5 connected to the front side of the upper slewing body 2 via a rocker arm 4.

[0022] The upper slewing body 2 includes a slewing frame 6 forming the basic structure, a driver's cab 7 located at the front of the slewing frame 6 for the driver to sit in, a counterweight 8 located at the rear of the slewing frame 6, and a machine room 9 located at the rear of the slewing frame 6 (specifically, between the driver's cab 7 and the counterweight 8). The driver's cab 7 is equipped with multiple operating devices for the driver to instruct on the movement of the lower traveling block 1, the rotation of the upper slewing body 2, the operation of the soil removal device 3, the operation of the rocker arm 4, and the operation of the working device 5. The machine room 9 is equipped with an engine and a hydraulic pump.

[0023] The rocker column 4 is rotatably connected to the front of the rotating frame 6 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the rocker column 4 rotates in the left-right direction by the extension and retraction drive of the swing cylinder 10, thereby causing the working device 5 to rotate in the left-right direction.

[0024] The working device 5 includes: a boom 11, which is rotatably connected to a rocker arm 4 in the vertical direction; a stick 12, which is rotatably connected to the boom 11 in the vertical direction; and a bucket 13, which is rotatably connected to the stick 12 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the boom 11, stick 12, and bucket 13 are rotated by the extension and retraction of the boom cylinder 14, stick cylinder 15, and bucket cylinder 16.

[0025] The lower running gear 1 is equipped with a track frame 17. The track frame 17 consists of a center frame (not shown), a right side frame 18A located to the right of the center frame, and a left side frame 18B located to the left of the center frame.

[0026] A drive wheel 19 and a travel motor (not shown) for rotating the drive wheel 19 are provided at the rear end of the right frame 18A. A driven wheel (not shown) is rotatably provided at the front end. A crawler 20A is wound around the drive wheel and the driven wheel. The right drive wheel 19 is rotated by the travel motor on the right side, which in turn rotates the crawler 20A on the right side.

[0027] Similarly, a drive wheel (not shown) and a travel motor (not shown) for rotating the drive wheel are provided at the rear end of the left frame 18B, and a driven wheel (not shown) is rotatably provided at the front end. A track 20B is wound around the drive wheel and the driven wheel. Furthermore, the drive wheel on the left side is rotated by the travel motor on the left side, which in turn rotates the track 20B on the left side.

[0028] A slewing wheel (not shown) is provided on the central frame, and the upper slewing body 2 is configured to rotate by means of this slewing wheel. Furthermore, the upper slewing body 2 rotates by being driven by a slewing motor (not shown).

[0029] The soil removal device 3 includes: a support member 21, which is rotatably mounted on the front side of the center frame of the track frame 17 in the vertical direction; and a soil removal plate (scraper) 23, which is swaying in the front end of the support member 21 with the vertical pin 22 as the center.

[0030] The support member 21 consists of a pair of support arms 24A and 24B, a soil discharge plate support component 25, a reinforcing beam 26, and a cylinder mounting beam 27. The support arms 24A and 24B extend in the front-rear direction and are separated from each other in the left-right direction, and are rotatably connected to the front side of the center frame of the track frame 17 in the vertical direction.

[0031] The soil discharge plate support component 25 has a bracket structure located at the front end of the support arms 24A and 24B, and consists of a longitudinal plate and a pair of transverse plates separately disposed on the longitudinal plate in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the soil discharge plate 23 can be oscillatingly supported by means of a pin 22.

[0032] The reinforcing beam 26 engages with the support arms 24A and 24B and the soil discharge plate support component 25. The cylinder mounting beam 27 is located behind the reinforcing beam 26 and engages with the support arms 24A and 24B. A lifting cylinder 28 is provided between the cylinder mounting beam 27 and the center frame of the track frame 17. Furthermore, the extension and retraction of the lifting cylinder 28 causes the support member 21 to rotate vertically, thereby raising and lowering the soil discharge plate 23.

[0033] Additionally, an angle cylinder 29 is provided between the support arm 24A on the right side and the soil discharge plate 23. Furthermore, the extension and retraction of the angle cylinder 29 causes the soil discharge plate 23 to swing back and forth around the pin 22.

[0034] Next, the drive system involved in the swinging of the aforementioned soil discharge plate 23, i.e., the drive of the angle cylinder 29, will be explained. Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the drive system involved in the angle cylinder drive in this embodiment.

[0035] The drive system of this embodiment includes a hydraulic pump 31 driven by an engine 30 (prime mover), a control valve 32 that controls the flow of hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 31 to the angle cylinder 29, an operating device 33 for the driver to instruct the driver to swing the excavation plate 23 in the forward and backward direction, and a controller 34 that controls the control valve 32 according to the instructions of the operating device 33. The operating device 33 consists of an operating switch 35A that instructs the excavation plate 23 to swing on one side and an operating switch 35B that instructs the excavation plate 23 to swing on the other side. It should be noted that the operating switches 35A and 35B are, for example, push-button types.

[0036] When the controller 34 receives an indication signal from the operating switch 35A, it outputs a drive signal (extension signal) to the solenoid portion of the control valve 32 (shown on the left). This switches the control valve 32 to the switching position shown on the left, supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 31 to the bottom of the angle cylinder 29. As a result, the angle cylinder 29 extends, and the soil discharge plate 23 moves towards... Figure 2 Arrow A swings in the direction of the arrow.

[0037] When the controller 34 receives an indication signal from the operating switch 35B, it outputs a drive signal (retraction signal) to the solenoid portion of the control valve 32 (shown on the right). This switches the control valve 32 to the switching position (shown on the right), supplying hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump 31 to the rod side of the angle cylinder 29. As a result, the angle cylinder 29 retracts, and the soil discharge plate 23 moves towards... Figure 2 Arrow B swings in the direction of the arrow.

[0038] Here, as a feature of this embodiment, the drive system includes a reference switch 36 that instructs the controller 34 to set the swing posture of the dump plate 23 relative to the front-rear direction to a predetermined reference posture (specifically, the posture in which the length direction of the dump plate 23 is perpendicular to the straight-line direction of the hydraulic excavator). The controller 34 controls the control valve 32 according to the instruction of the reference switch 36, so that the swing posture of the dump plate 23 relative to the front-rear direction becomes the predetermined reference posture (reference of the posture of the dump plate 23).

[0039] Furthermore, as a feature of this embodiment, the drive system includes pressure sensors 37A and 37B for detecting the load pressure of the angle cylinder 29. When the controller 34 controls the control valve 32 according to the instruction of the reference switch 36, if the load pressure detected by the pressure sensor 37A or 37B is higher than a predetermined threshold, the controller 34 stops the control of the control valve 32.

[0040] It should be noted that the controller 34 calculates and stores the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 based on the indication signals from the operation switches 35A and 35B. Additionally, it stores a reference amount of the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 preset to correspond to a specified reference posture of the soil discharge plate 23. The reference switch 36 is, for example, a push-button type.

[0041] Next, the processing of the controller 34 involved in the attitude benchmarking of the aforementioned soil dumping plate 23 will be explained. Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the controller involved in the attitude benchmarking of the dumping plate in this embodiment.

[0042] First, in step S1, the controller 34 determines whether an indication signal from the reference switch 36 has been input. If no indication signal from the reference switch 36 has been input, step S1 is repeated. On the other hand, if an indication signal from the reference switch 36 has been input, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0043] In step S2, the controller 34 determines whether the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is within the specified reference range. Based on this, it determines whether the posture of the soil discharge plate 23 is within the specified reference range. If the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is not within the specified reference range, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0044] In step S3, if the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is less than a predetermined reference amount, the controller 34 selects the pressure sensor 37A on the rod side; if the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is greater than the predetermined reference amount, the controller 34 selects the pressure sensor 37B on the bottom side. It then determines whether the load pressure of the angle cylinder 29 detected by the selected pressure sensor is above a predetermined threshold. This determines whether the angle cylinder 29 is in an overload state. If the load pressure of the angle cylinder 29 is below the predetermined threshold, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0045] In step S4, the controller 34 determines whether the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is greater than a predetermined reference amount. If the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is less than the predetermined reference amount, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the controller 34 outputs the aforementioned extension signal to switch the control valve 32, causing the angle cylinder 29 to extend. Conversely, if the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is greater than the predetermined reference amount, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the controller 34 outputs the aforementioned retraction signal to switch the control valve 32, causing the angle cylinder 29 to retract.

[0046] After step S5 or S6, return to step S2. In step S2, if the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is a predetermined reference amount, that is, if the posture of the soil discharge plate 23 is a predetermined reference posture, the reference processing ends. On the other hand, if the stroke of the angle cylinder 29 is not a predetermined reference amount, proceed to step S3 and repeat the same steps.

[0047] In step S3, if the load pressure of the angle cylinder 29 is above a predetermined threshold, that is, if the angle cylinder 29 is in an overload state, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the controller 34 stops the control of the control valve 32 and, for example, sounds the buzzer 38.

[0048] As described above, in this embodiment, the driver can easily return the swing posture of the dump truck 23 to the prescribed reference posture simply by pressing the reference switch 36. As a result, work efficiency can be improved.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the swing posture of the soil discharge plate 23 is restored to the predetermined reference posture according to the instruction of the reference switch 36, if the load pressure of the angle cylinder 29 is higher than a predetermined threshold, the control valve 32 is stopped. This improves safety.

[0050] It should be noted that, in the above embodiment, the example described uses the configuration of operation switches 35A and 35B and reference switch 36, but the implementation is not limited to this. Operation switches 35A and 35B can also be used as reference switches. In detail, the controller 34 can also determine the indication content based on the length of the indication signal from operation switch 35A or 35B. That is, operation switches 35A and 35B can swing one side and the other side of the soil discharge plate 23 by short-pressing the operation indication, respectively, and at least one of operation switches 35A and 35B can also set the swing posture of the soil discharge plate 23 to a predetermined reference posture by long-pressing the operation indication controller 34.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the example described is that the operating device 33 is composed of push-button operating switches 35A and 35B, but it is not limited to this. The operating device 33 may also be composed of, for example, a toggle switch.

[0052] In addition, in one embodiment described above, the soil discharge device 3 is described as having a configuration in which the soil discharge plate 23 is mounted on the front end of the support member 21 by means of a vertically oriented pin 22, allowing it to swing only in the longitudinal direction, and an angle cylinder 29 is provided to allow the soil discharge plate 23 to swing in the longitudinal direction. However, this is not a limitation. That is, for example, it can also be configured such that the soil discharge plate is mounted on the front end of the support member by means of a free pin (specifically, a configuration having a pin shaft in the longitudinal direction that is rotatably supported on the front end of the support member and a pin hole in a direction orthogonal to it) and a rotating pin (specifically, a configuration that communicates with the pin hole of the free pin and supports the soil discharge plate in a manner that allows it to swing in the longitudinal direction) in a manner that allows it to swing in both the longitudinal and vertical directions, and an angle cylinder for swinging the soil discharge plate in the longitudinal direction and a tilting cylinder for swinging the soil discharge plate in the vertical direction are provided.

[0053] Furthermore, the invention has been described using a hydraulic excavator equipped with a soil removal device as an example, but it is not limited to this example and can also be applied to other construction machinery equipped with soil removal devices.

[0054] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0055] 1 lower running body

[0056] 2. Upper Rotating Body

[0057] 21 Support components

[0058] 23 Soil-draining boards

[0059] 29 Angle Cylinder

[0060] 31 Hydraulic pump

[0061] 32 Control valve

[0062] 33 Operating device

[0063] 34 Controllers

[0064] 35A, 35B Operating Switches

[0065] 36 reference switches

[0066] 37A and 37B pressure sensors

Claims

1. An engineering machine comprising: a support member which is turnably provided to a vehicle body in a vertical direction; a dozing plate which is swingably provided to a front end portion of the support member in a longitudinal direction about a pin shaft; a lift cylinder which turns the support member in the vertical direction to raise and lower the dozing plate; an angle cylinder which swings the dozing plate in the longitudinal direction; a control valve which controls a flow of hydraulic oil from a hydraulic pump to the angle cylinder; an operation device which instructs a swinging operation of the dozing plate in the longitudinal direction; and a controller which controls the control valve in accordance with an instruction of the operation device, calculates and stores a stroke of the angle cylinder, and stores a reference amount of the stroke of the angle cylinder, characterized by: a reference switch which instructs the controller to set a swinging posture of the dozing plate with respect to the longitudinal direction to a prescribed reference posture; a pressure sensor which detects a load pressure of the angle cylinder; and a buzzer, the controller controls the control valve so that the stroke of the angle cylinder becomes the reference amount stored in the controller when the reference switch instructs, during the control of the control valve, if the load pressure detected by the pressure sensor is higher than a prescribed threshold value, the control of the control valve is stopped and the buzzer is sounded.

2. The engineering machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: the operation device is constituted by a first operation switch of a key type which instructs a swing of one side of the dozing plate by a short press operation, and a second operation switch of a key type which instructs a swing of the other side of the dozing plate by a short press operation, at least one of the first operation switch and the second operation switch is used as the reference switch by a long press operation which instructs the controller to set the swinging posture of the dozing plate to the prescribed reference posture.

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