Excavator Swing Control with Attachment-Aware Rotation Limits

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing construction equipment lacks effective control over the rotation of the upper rotating body, leading to potential collisions and the inability to accurately manage repetitive rotations, especially when attachments are exchanged, due to the need for separate sensors and the operator's inability to adjust for shape and structure differences.

Innovation Solution

A construction equipment system that includes a swing control unit with a display unit for inputting swing control data, allowing operators to set swing pause and limit points, an obstacle recognition sensor, and an attachment recognition sensor to adjust rotation control based on detected obstacles and attachment changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a separate sensor is used to measure the angle and swing angle of the work machine, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the angle measurement function and swing angle measurement function into a single sensor system. The sensor measures both the angle of the work machine relative to the upper rotating body and the swing angle of the upper rotating body itself, eliminating the need for separate sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the upper rotating body is allowed to rotate freely, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential over-rotation and collisions

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the sensor continuously monitors the swing angle of the upper rotating body, and the control unit receives this information to determine whether to allow rotation. When the swing angle exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit restricts further rotation in that direction, preventing over-rotation and potential collisions while allowing free rotation within safe limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the operator manually calculates the area in which the construction equipment might collide, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and reliability of collision prevention decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the construction equipment to automatically perform collision risk assessment and rotation control without requiring manual calculation by the operator. The sensor automatically measures the swing angle, the control unit compares it with predetermined thresholds, and automatically restricts rotation when necessary, replacing manual calculation with automated precision measurement and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If the construction equipment uses a fixed rotation radius, then the stability of the object's composition is improved, but the adaptability decreases when exchanging attachments with different shapes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic rotation control system where the rotation radius and swing angle thresholds are not fixed but can be adjusted based on the attached work machine. When attachments with different shapes are exchanged, the system can modify the predetermined swing angle thresholds and rotation limits to match the specific geometry and operational requirements of each attachment, maintaining both stability during operation and adaptability across different attachments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3951083B1Construction equipment
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
  • EP3951083B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3951083B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3951083B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a construction equipment comprising a lower traveling body; an upper rotating body rotatably supported on the lower traveling body; a work machine supported on the upper rotating body, comprising a boom, an arm, and an attachment operated by respective cylinders; a rotating device comprising a swing motor for rotating the upper rotating body and a swing reduction gear for reducing rotation of the swing motor; a controller for outputting a control signal to the rotating device; and a swing control unit for receiving an input for swing control of the upper rotating body.