Construction Machine Hydraulic Flow Restriction Around Detected Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines face challenges in safely restricting and canceling motion restrictions around detected objects, aiming to ensure both safety and work efficiency while avoiding unnecessary interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine equipped with a surroundings monitoring system that detects objects using cameras and sensors, restricts motion by reducing hydraulic pump flow rate, and allows for controlled relaxation or cancellation of restrictions through a processor and user-operated switches, enabling safe operation and efficient work resumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If motion restriction is imposed by reducing hydraulic pump flow rate upon detecting an object, then safety is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to motion interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pump flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on detection results. When an object is detected, the flow rate is reduced to restrict motion for safety. When no object is detected or relaxation condition is met, the flow rate returns to normal level, resuming work efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety and work efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the surrounding area using detection means and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the hydraulic pump flow rate accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures safety when objects are present while maintaining work efficiency when the area is clear.
2Reliability
If motion restriction is maintained for extended period to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but loss of time increases due to prolonged work interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically checks whether the relaxation condition is met (object no longer detected or operator input received) and adjusts the flow rate accordingly. This periodic evaluation allows the system to maintain safety restriction only as long as necessary, minimizing time loss while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit prepares to relax the motion restriction in advance when the relaxation condition is met, quickly transitioning from restricted to normal operation. This preliminary preparation minimizes the time the system remains in restricted mode, reducing work interruption time while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A construction machine includes a hydraulic actuator and a processor. The processor is configured to detect a predetermined object present within a predetermined area around the construction machine, impose a motion restriction on the construction machine by decreasing the flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the hydraulic actuator, in response to detection of the object present within the predetermined area, and relax or cancel the motion restriction by increasing the flow rate to a level lower than before a start of the motion restriction or a level substantially same as before the start of the motion restriction, in response to a predetermined operation for relaxing or canceling the motion restriction being performed or in response to the object being no longer detected within the predetermined area, after the start of the motion restriction.