Method for operating a hydraulic device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic device using an operating device which can be connected to the hydraulic device by means of a data connection, the method comprises: if an impending change (200, 202) in the connection state relating to the data connection between the operating device (50) and the hydraulic device (20) is identified: determining (204) state information about the current operating state of the hydraulic device; if the current operating state (208) satisfies the correlation criterion (207) according to the state information: determining (212) one or more action suggestions (216, 218) relating to the current operating state of the hydraulic device based on the state information; providing (214) one or at least one action suggestion of a plurality of action suggestions (216, 218) to the user; obtaining (224) one or more action instructions (222) relating to a current operating state of the hydraulic device; and if one or at least one of the plurality of action instructions includes a change in the current operating state of the hydraulic device: causing (242) the change in the operating state of the hydraulic device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulic device in the case of use of an operating device which can be connected to the hydraulic device by means of a data connection, and to a computing unit and a computer program for implementing the method. BACKGROUND

[0002] Hydraulic devices, such as for example valves or hydraulic machines (pumps, motors), are increasingly being electronicized or digitized. In addition to actuation, digitization can also bring advantages for monitoring, in particular for measurement value detection. SUMMARY

[0003] According to the invention, a method for operating a hydraulic device having the features of the independent patent claim is proposed, as is a computing unit and a computer program for implementing the method. Advantageous design proposals are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the subsequent description.

[0004] The invention deals with hydraulic devices, such as for example hydraulic valves, which can be operated by means of an operating device, such as for example a smartphone, a tablet computer or the like. In the case of a smartphone or tablet computer as operating device, a suitable application or App can be provided there, for example. However, other types of operating devices, such as for example specially constructed operating devices, are also conceivable, however, for example, a computer is also conceivable. Irrespective thereof, a data connection can be established between the operating device and the hydraulic device; here, as data connection, in particular a wireless data connection, such as in particular a Bluetooth connection or a WiFi connection (or W-LAN) is conceivable. However, in principle, a wired data connection is also conceivable. It is understood that, in addition to the operating device, the hydraulic device must also have a suitable data and / or communication interface for this purpose.

[0005] In the case of the proposed method, when an impending change in the connection state relating to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device is recognized, status information about the current operating state of the hydraulic device is now determined. As such an impending change in the connection state, for example, the data connection should (actively) be separated can be considered, i.e. for example when the user wants to deliberately separate the connection. However, for example, also a logout of a user account on the operating device or on the hydraulic device, or a change in the user level on the operating device or on the hydraulic device, should take place, i.e. when a new user level includes less rights for the operation of the hydraulic device, for example. The status information can be determined, for example, from the current information in the operating device, but this can also include, for example, then asking information from the hydraulic device by means of the data connection.

[0006] If the current operating state meets the relevance criterion according to the state information, i.e. is considered a relevant operating state, one or more action proposals are determined on the basis of the state information which relate to the current operating state of the hydraulic device. Then, the user is provided with said one or at least one of the plurality of action proposals, i.e. for example displayed on a display of the operating device. This can be done, for example, in particular also in the context of various selection possibilities. Then, one or more action instructions are obtained which relate to the current operating state of the hydraulic device, i.e. in particular in response to the provision of the action proposal. For example, the user can select and confirm one of the action proposals, which then corresponds to the obtaining of the action instruction.

[0007] If one or at least one of the plurality of action instructions comprises a change of the current operating state of the hydraulic device, this change of the operating state of the hydraulic device is brought about. For this purpose, control instructions can thus be transmitted, for example by the operating device to the hydraulic device via the data connection, according to which the current operating state is changed accordingly.

[0008] In this way, it can be avoided that an undesired operating state is unintentionally maintained when the connection state of the data connection changes, which undesired operating state, for example, forces or can lead to problems when the connection state is changed.

[0009] As such operating states which meet the relevance criterion, in which the action proposal is thus determined and provided, there can be considered in particular such operating states which comprise at least partial manual operation of the hydraulic device, at which information for the operation is obtained from the operating device. An example of this is an operating mode of the hydraulic device, for example a hydraulic valve, in which a setpoint value is manually predefined or can be predefined by the operating device. It is also conceivable that the actual value can also be changed directly, for example for maintenance purposes. The action proposal can then comprise, for example, a proposal for ending the current operating state.

[0010] But also other operating states can be considered as operating states which meet the relevance criterion, for example an error message to be processed, a required software update, an ongoing bidirectional data transfer, necessary maintenance, an unconfirmed system message, etc.

[0011] If such an operating state is maintained when the data connection is, for example, separated, the hydraulic device cannot be used in normal operation; this can lead, for example, to errors or serious problems. This can be avoided by the action proposal and in particular by requesting the user to take action. Of course, it can be provided in principle that the user still does not change the operating state; but in this case the user is aware of this.

[0012] The operating state and the action proposal, and then if necessary the action instruction, can of course be represented differently depending on the type of the hydraulic device. For example, configuration information or configuration data for a specific hydraulic device can be provided, which sets a specific action proposal depending on the situation.

[0013] In one embodiment, if an imminent change in the connection state relating to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device is identified, it can also be checked whether there is unsaved operating data, in particular parameterization data, about the current operating state of the hydraulic device. In the example of the manual operating mode, for example the currently used parameters can not yet have been saved (or stored). If this is the case, one or more further action proposals are determined and provided for the user, which include a request for saving (securing) the unsaved operating data (or parameterization data). One or more action instructions for saving the unsaved operating data can then be obtained and the saving of the unsaved operating data is facilitated. This can be in the operating device itself or in the hydraulic device, for example.

[0014] In one embodiment, a change made in the connection state relating to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device can also be identified. Such a change made in the connection state in particular includes that the data connection has been separated, in particular due to a loss of the data connection. This can be the case, for example, when the operating device is outside the active distance with respect to the hydraulic device; in the case of a Bluetooth connection, this is typically the case at distances of more than 10 m. However, there can also be other reasons why the data connection has been separated, for example deactivation of the communication module (e.g. Bluetooth adapter) of the hydraulic device, activation of a firewall (which then results in the data connection no longer being able to be maintained) or deactivation of the communication module (e.g. Bluetooth module) at the operating device.

[0015] In this case, state information about the last operating state of the hydraulic device before the change in the connection state is determined. Here, for example, information which was last (i.e. while the data connection was still present) interrogated from the hydraulic device and / or transmitted there can be used. However, information present in the operating device can also be used. If the last operating state meets the relevance criterion (which is in particular the relevance criterion explained) according to the state information, one or more messages relating to the last operating state of the hydraulic device are determined on the basis of the state information. In simple cases, such a message can for example simply include the information that there is an operating state which is determined by the relevance criterion; however, additional information, for example about the specific operating state, etc. can also be included.

[0016] Based on the one or at least one of the plurality of messages, then one or more further action recommendations are determined which relate to the one or at least one of the plurality of messages, and then the further action recommendations are provided for the user, for example displayed again on the display of the operating device. Such further action recommendations can then in particular also include the recommendation to establish (or restore) a data connection, for example in the manner of reducing the distance between the operating device and the hydraulic device.

[0017] In this way, the mentioned errors or problems can be avoided even in the event of a connection loss, etc. Here, if necessary, unsaved operating data can also be prompted to be saved.

[0018] In general, therefore, for example, an extension of the diagnostic function can be implemented in this way in the case of a hydraulic device for identifying and displaying device states which indicate an action in order to prevent malfunctions / configurations by targeted action recommendations.

[0019] The computing unit according to the application, for example a smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop, is in particular set up in program technology for carrying out the method according to the application.

[0020] It is also advantageous for the method according to the application to be implemented in the form of a computer program or computer program product with program code for carrying out all the method steps, since this results in particularly low costs, in particular when the execution device is also used for other tasks and is therefore already present. Suitable data carriers for providing the computer program are in particular magnetic, optical and electronic memories, such as hard disks, flash memories, EEPROMs, DVDs, etc. It is also possible for the program to be downloaded via a computer network (internet, intranet, etc.).

[0021] Further advantages and design solutions of the application result from the description and the attached drawings.

[0022] It is understood that the features described above and still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the application.

[0023] The application according to embodiments is schematically illustrated in the drawings and is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 An exemplary hydraulic device and operating device for explaining the application are shown.

[0025] Figure 2 The flow of a method according to an embodiment of the application is schematically illustrated.

[0026] Figure 3The flow of a method according to a further embodiment of the application is schematically shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In Figure 1 a hydraulic device configured as a valve is shown schematically in a partially cut side view and is designated generally by 20. Here, this is, for example, an electrically piloted three-way pressure-reducing valve with load protection. Such a valve can be used, in particular, for reducing the system pressure.

[0028] Furthermore, in Figure 1 an operating device 50 configured as a smartphone is shown exemplarily, which has a display 52 and a computing and communication unit 54.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the valve has a pilot valve 1, a proportional magnet 2 and a main valve 3 with a main spool 4. The main valve is equipped as usual with ports for P, A, B and T. In the rest position, i.e. in the case of no pressure in the channel P, a spring 9 holds the main spool 4 in the initial position (far right in the figure). The connection from A to T is thereby broken and the connection from P to A is blocked.

[0030] The hydraulic fluid, such as regulation oil, flows via the pressure connection of the port P to the pilot valve 1 via a flow regulator 5 and a jet and throttle gap and then out to the channel T. The pressure to be reduced in the channel A is set in relation to a setpoint value by the proportional magnet 2. Depending on the setpoint value, a pilot pressure is established in the control chamber 6. The main spool 4 is thereby displaced to the right, so that pressure fluid flows from P to A. The load pressure in the channel A waits in the spring chamber 9 via the channel 7 and the jet 8. If the pressure in the port A rises to the set pressure of the pilot valve, this causes the main spool 4 to be displaced to the left. The pressure in the port A is approximately equal to the set pressure at the pilot valve.

[0031] If, however, the pressure in the port A exceeds the set pressure of the pilot valve, the main spool 4 is displaced further to the left, so that the connection from A to T is broken. The pressure to be processed in the port A is thereby limited to the set setpoint value.

[0032] A computing unit or electronic unit 10 is located on the proportional magnet 2. The computing unit or electronic unit can be equipped with different electrical interfaces 12, such as an analog interface (for example a current or voltage interface for receiving a setpoint value) and / or a digital interface (such as an IO-Link) for receiving and sending data (setpoint value, actual value, etc.). In the present example, in addition a pressure measurement transducer 11 is placed directly on the pilot valve, but can also be integrated externally in the system via the interface 12. The pressure in the channel P is detected by means of the pressure measurement transducer 11 and is regulated by the electronic unit 1 independently of the volume flow. The pressure in the channel A can be provided as an analog or digital actual value. At a setpoint value of zero, the electronic unit 10 only applies a minimum control current to the proportional magnet 2 and a minimum set pressure occurs.

[0033] In the embodiment shown, the electronic unit 10 also has a radio interface, for example a Bluetooth interface or Bluetooth adapter 13 (for example according to "Blue-tooth Low Energy"). Thereby, in particular a digital diagnostic interface can be provided, by means of which the status of the valve can be displayed externally and can be configured at the valve.

[0034] In particular, a data connection (for example a Bluetooth connection) can be established in this way with an operating device 50. Thereby, for example, the hydraulic device 20 can also be operated or controlled by means of the operating device 50, for example also by means of a specific operating mode, in which the setpoint value for the valve is manually preselected specifically by input at the operating device 50.

[0035] In addition, the electronic unit 10 has a display unit 14, here for example in the form of three light-emitting displays, for example LEDs, with which the status of the valve 20 can be displayed in a simple manner, for example in the form of text, symbols, colors, by means of different flashing frequencies, etc. Alternatively or additionally, the Bluetooth adapter 13 can also have a display unit 14', here for example in the form of a light-emitting display, for example an LED. Displays, etc. can also be used.

[0036] In Figure 2 a flow of a method according to an embodiment of the application is shown schematically. For this purpose, two different impending changes in the connection state relating to a data connection between an operating device and a hydraulic device are shown exemplarily, as this is shown for example in Figure 1 Change 200 should include an impending change in which the data connection should be separated, while change 202 should include an impending change in which a user account should be logged off on the operating device. In both cases (and others), the following steps can be identical or at least comparable.

[0037] If such an impending change is identified, in step 204 state information about the current operating state of the hydraulic device is determined. The impending change can here be used as a trigger or initiator for step 204, for example. In step 206 it can then be checked whether the current operating state fulfils the relevance criterion 207 according to the state information. If this is not the case, i.e. if there is no relevant operating state, for example, step 210, the impending change of the connection state can be implemented in a usual manner. Thus, for example, the data connection can simply be disconnected.

[0038] If, however, the current operating state 208 fulfils the relevance criterion 207 according to the state information, step 212, one or more action proposals are determined which relate to the current operating state of the hydraulic device. The operating state can comprise, for example, at least partial manual operation of the hydraulic device, in which information for the operation, such as a setpoint value, is obtained from the operating device. In general, however, such an operating state can comprise, for example, an error to be processed, a required update, a data traffic currently in progress, if necessary bidirectional, an overdue maintenance of the hydraulic device, unconfirmed system messages, etc.

[0039] For this, two action proposals are exemplarily shown: namely an action proposal 216, according to which the current operating mode or operating state should be ended, and an action proposal 218, according to which the current operating mode or operating state should not be ended. The action proposals 216, 218 are provided, step 214, for example displayed to the user on a display of the operating device and for selection. The user can then, for example, abort the process, step 220, but thereby also not change the connection state.

[0040] However, the user can also select one of the two action proposals 216, 218 and can select one of them, for example, by clicking on the display, if the display is a touch display. Thereby an action instruction 222 is generated, which is obtained from the operating device, step 224.

[0041] There can likewise be other operating states that meet the relevance criterion. Here the same steps can then be carried out. Exemplarily this is shown for the operating state 208'. Step 212', here one or more action proposals are determined that relate to the current operating state of the hydraulic device. Exemplarily three action proposals 216', 217', 218' are shown for this purpose. These action proposals are provided, step 214', for example displayed to the user on the display of the operating device and provided for selection. The user can then for example (step 220') abort the procedure, but thereby the connection state is not changed either. However, likewise the user can select one or more of the three action proposals and select one or more of them. Thereby an action instruction 222' is generated, which is obtained from the operating device, step 224'.

[0042] Likewise, step 226', it can be checked whether there is unsaved operating information about the current operating state of the hydraulic device. If this is the case, step 228, one or more further action proposals 232, 234 can be determined, which comprise a request for saving the unsaved operating data, and which are provided, step 230, i.e. displayed to the user on the display of the operating device and provided for selection, for example. The user can then for example (step 236) abort the procedure and thereby not store the unsaved data. However, likewise the user can select one of the action proposals and select one of them. Thereby an action instruction 238 is generated, which is obtained from the operating device, step 240.

[0043] In step 242, all existing action instructions can then be implemented. For the case that the action instructions comprise a change of the current operating state of the hydraulic device, this means that a change of the operating state of the hydraulic device is brought about.

[0044] In Figure 3 The procedure of the method according to another embodiment of the application is schematically shown in Fig. 3. For this purpose an exemplary change of the connection state that relates to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device is carried out, as this is shown for example in Fig. 2. Figure 1 The change 300 should comprise a separation of the data connection, for example a loss of the data connection due to too great a distance.

[0045] If such a performed change is identified, in step 304 state information about the last operating state of the hydraulic device before the change in the connection state is determined. The performed change can here be used as a trigger or initiator for step 304, for example. In step 306 it can then be checked whether the last operating state according to the state information meets the relevance criterion 307. If this is not the case, i.e. if there is no relevant operating state, for example, the action can end in step 310, or the loss of the data connection is displayed in a usual manner, for example.

[0046] If the last operating state 308 according to the state information meets the relevance criterion 307, however, in step 312 one or more messages relating to the last operating state of the hydraulic device are determined. The operating state can comprise a manual operation of at least part of the hydraulic device, for example, in which information for the operation, such as a setpoint, is obtained from the operating device. For this example a message 314 is shown, which contains information about the operating state, for example.

[0047] Likewise, there can be other operating states that meet the relevance criterion. Here, the same steps can be carried out. This is shown exemplarily for an operating state 308'. In step 312', one or more messages relating to the last operating state of the hydraulic device are determined. For this example a message 314' is shown, which contains information about the operating state, for example.

[0048] Such messages can comprise information about errors to be processed, for example, required updates, currently ongoing data traffic, if necessary bidirectional, of the hydraulic device, due maintenance of the hydraulic device, unconfirmed system messages, etc., for example, in general.

[0049] Likewise, in step 326 it can be checked whether there is unsaved operating information about the current operating state of the hydraulic device. If this is the case, in step 328 one or more messages, here message 330, can be determined, which contain information about the existence of such unsaved data, if necessary also information about these unsaved data.

[0050] All the above messages can be collected, for example. In step 342 one or more further action proposals 344 relating to one or at least one of the plurality of messages can then be determined, which are then provided to the user, i.e. displayed on the display of the operating device, for example, in step 346. The loss of the data connection and the last operating state can thereby be notified to the user, for example. In particular, however, such an action proposal can also comprise a request to restore the data connection.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hydraulic device (20) using an operating device (50), the operating device being connectable to the hydraulic device (20) via a data connection, the method comprising: If an impending change (200, 202) in the connection status related to the data connection between the operating device (50) and the hydraulic device (20) is identified: then (204) status information regarding the current operating status of the hydraulic device is determined; If the current operating state (208) satisfies the correlation criterion (207) according to the state information, then based on the state information, determine (212) one or more action suggestions (216, 218) related to the current operating state of the hydraulic equipment. Provide the user with one or more action suggestions from (214) multiple action suggestions (216, 218); Obtain (224) one or more action commands (222) relating to the current operating state of the hydraulic equipment; and If one or more of the multiple action instructions include a change in the current operating state of the hydraulic equipment, then (242) the change in the operating state of the hydraulic equipment is caused.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: If a change is made to the connection state related to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device: then determine (304) the state information of the hydraulic device regarding its last operating state before the change in connection state; If the final operating state (308) satisfies the correlation criterion (307) according to the state information, then based on the state information, determine (312) one or more messages (314) related to the final operating state of the hydraulic equipment. Based on one or more of the multiple messages (314), determine (342) one or more other action proposals (344) relating to one or more of the multiple messages (314); and Provide the user with (346) one or more additional action suggestions (344) related to one or more of the multiple messages.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the connection state includes: -In particular, the data connection has been severed due to the loss of the data connection.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the impending change in the connection state includes one of the following changes: - Data connections should be separated; - The user account should be logged out on the operating equipment or on the hydraulic equipment; - The user level should be changed on the operating equipment or on the hydraulic equipment.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: If an impending change in the connection status related to the data connection between the operating device and the hydraulic device is identified: then check (226) whether there is any unsaved operating data, particularly parameterized data, regarding the current operating status of the hydraulic device; If there is unsaved runtime information: then determine (228) one or more other action suggestions (232, 234), the other action suggestions including a request to save the unsaved runtime data; Provide the user with one or at least one of (230) other action suggestions; Obtain (240) one or more other action instructions (238) for saving unsaved runtime data; as well as This facilitates the saving of unsaved runtime data.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein if the operating state includes at least a portion of the hydraulic equipment (20) being manually operated, wherein information for operation is obtained from the operating equipment (50), then the operating state satisfies the correlation criterion according to the state information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one or at least one of the plurality of action recommendations includes a recommendation to terminate the current operating state.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data connection includes a wireless data connection, particularly a Bluetooth connection or a WiFi connection.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydraulic device (20) has a hydraulic valve.

10. A computing unit (54) comprising a processor configured to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer-readable data carrier having a computer program as claimed in claim 11 stored thereon.

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