Construction Machine Restart Warning for Battery Shutoff Misuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing construction machines do not adequately address the risks associated with operating the battery shutoff switch while the key switch is on, leading to potential fuse blowouts, electronic component breakage, and data loss due to improper shutdown procedures, particularly when the engine is running or the key switch is left on.

Innovation Solution

A construction machine with a controller that chronologically stores operation histories of the key, engine start, and engine stop switches, determining risks based on these histories and issuing warnings through a notification device when the battery shutoff switch is turned on, ensuring safe restarts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the battery shutoff switch is disposed outside the vehicle to permit another person to operate the vehicle, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because one person cannot check at a time how the switch in the cab is operated and how the battery shutoff switch is operated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device provides feedback to the operator about the state of the key switch and engine operation. When the battery shutoff switch is operated, the notification device alerts the operator about potential risks based on the current operational state, enabling informed decision-making without requiring constant physical monitoring of both switches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The notification device acts as an intermediary between the switch operations and the operator. It processes the states of the key switch and engine, and provides synthesized information about operational risks, allowing the operator to understand the consequences of operating the battery shutoff switch without directly monitoring all switch states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the battery shutoff switch is operated while the engine is running, then the productivity is improved by quick stopping, but the object-affected harmful factors worsen due to surge current flow causing fuse blowout or electronic component breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidobject-affected harmful factors
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device provides preliminary warning before the harmful effect occurs. When the battery shutoff switch is operated while the engine is running, the notification device alerts the operator about the risk of surge current and potential damage, allowing the operator to take preventive action by using the proper shutdown procedure instead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification device performs preliminary assessment of the operational state before the battery shutoff is executed. It determines whether the engine is running or stopped and provides appropriate warnings in advance, enabling the operator to choose the safe shutdown path when the engine is running.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the power supply is shut off by the battery shutoff switch while the key switch is on, then the ease of operation is improved by simple stopping, but the reliability deteriorates due to controller breakage and data loss from incomplete shutdown procedure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The notification device provides preliminary warning about the risks of operating the battery shutoff switch while the key switch is on. It alerts the operator about potential controller damage and data loss, preventing the harmful action before it occurs by guiding the operator to use the proper shutdown sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification device provides feedback about the current operational state (key switch position and engine status) and the consequences of operating the battery shutoff switch in that state. This feedback mechanism enables the operator to make informed decisions about shutdown procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3832036B1Construction machine
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3832036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832036B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3832036B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

To provide a technique where a case of shutting off a battery shutoff switch while a key switch is on is detected, and a warning according to a risk can be issued at time of restart. A construction machine includes: the key switch, an engine start switch, an engine stop switch, a notification device, a controller, and the battery shutoff switch. The controller chronologically stores operation histories of the key switch, engine start switch, and engine stop switch in a history storage section in a non-volatile manner. The controller determines, on the basis of the stored operation history, a risk content in a case of shutting off the battery shutoff switch while the key switch is on. In a case where, the controller is restarted by resuming the battery shutoff switch and turning on the key switch, the controller controls the notification device so that the notification device issues a warning according to the risk content, on the basis of a result of the determination.