Construction Machine Auto-Idle Control for Erroneous Lever Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machines with auto idle control often inadvertently cancel power reduction when control levers are accidentally operated, leading to increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine equipped with a controller that performs power reduction control based on the operation states of control levers, canceling the control only when a lever is intentionally operated, and reinstating power reduction after a short period following an erroneous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If power reduction control is canceled when a control lever is operated, then the system responds to lever operation, but erroneous operations cause unnecessary power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller preliminarily determines whether a control lever operation is intentional or erroneous by checking if the operation state change persists for a predetermined time period before canceling power reduction control. This preliminary time-based verification prevents hasty cancellation due to accidental lever movements, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption while still responding to genuine operational needs.
2Loss of energy
If power reduction control is maintained during erroneous lever operations, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system fails to respond to intentional operations
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses feedback from the operation state sensor to monitor whether a control lever remains in the operated state for a predetermined time period. This feedback mechanism distinguishes between transient erroneous operations (which are quickly reverted) and intentional operations (which maintain the operated state), enabling accurate detection while maintaining energy efficiency during genuine non-operation periods.
3Speed
If the system immediately responds to control lever operation, then operational responsiveness is improved, but accidental operations trigger unnecessary power state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements a preliminary time-based verification step before canceling power reduction control. When a control lever operation is detected, the controller waits for a predetermined time period to confirm the operation is intentional rather than accidental. This preliminary action maintains fast response to genuine operations while filtering out transient erroneous inputs, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption increases.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is made possible to perform power reduction control during non-operation of control levers, and suppress power consumption of a power source when a control lever is moved by an erroneous operation, and thus reduce energy consumption. Accordingly, a controller 50 performs the power reduction control when a non-operation time exceeds a set time after a transition is made from a state in which at least one control lever is operated to a non-operation state in which none of the control levers is operated, and the controller 50 cancels the power reduction control when at least one control lever is operated in a state in which the power reduction control is performed. In addition, the set time is set as a first set time Tth1 when an operation time until at least one of levers 14 and 34 makes a transition to the non-operation state is longer than a monitoring time TthO, and the set time is set as a second set time Tth2 shorter than the first set time Tth1 when the operation time until the at least one control lever makes a transition to the non-operation state is shorter than the monitoring time Tth0.