Excavator Engine Restart Confirmation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine restart technologies in work machines, such as hydraulic excavators, risk unintended engine restarts due to accidental operator interaction with sensors near the operation lever, leading to potential unwanted hydraulic actuator activation.
Innovation Solution
A work machine with a lock device, control device, display device, and inputting device that requires explicit operator confirmation and instruction for engine restart, preventing unintended engine activation by displaying a confirmation screen and allowing controlled input for restart instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If engine restart is triggered by sensor detection near operation lever, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental touches
Solution Approach 1:
A confirmation screen is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor detection and engine restart execution. When the sensor detects operator proximity, it triggers a confirmation screen display rather than immediate restart. The operator must actively confirm through the input device to proceed with restart, preventing accidental activation while maintaining ease of operation through automatic detection.
2Productivity
If automatic engine restart is implemented, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors increase due to unintended hydraulic actuator activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by displaying a confirmation screen before executing engine restart. This preliminary step counteracts the potential harmful effect of unintended hydraulic actuator activation by requiring explicit operator confirmation. The harmful factor is prevented before it can occur, while the productivity benefit of automatic restart is preserved through the convenient sensor-based detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A work machine that can prevent restarting of an engine against a will of an operator from an idle stop state is provided. A hydraulic excavator includes a display device 52 that displays a confirmation screen image 58 for allowing an operator to confirm whether or not an engine 32 is to be restarted from an idle stop state, and an inputting device 54 that allows the operator to input a restart instruction for the engine in an interlocked relationship with the display of the confirmation screen image 58. A machine controller 100 includes a restart controlling section 118 that restarts the engine 32 based on the restart instruction for the engine inputted by the inputting device 54.