Crawler-type work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503161-B2
Application number	US-202118253830-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2021
Priority date	Jan 21, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A controller of a crawler type work machine controls left and right steering clutches, left and right steering brakes, and a turning motor to cause the crawler type work machine to turn in either a slow turning mode or a pivot turning mode. The controller executes a hydraulic fluid amount control to reduce a hydraulic fluid amount supplied from a hydraulic pressure supply unit to the turning motor and to increase the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the hydraulic pressure supply unit from the hydraulic pressure supply unit to the work implement cylinder when the work implement cylinder is driven while the turning motor is being rotated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A crawler-type work machine comprising:
left and right planetary gear mechanisms disposed between an input shaft and left and right output shafts; left and right steering clutches configured to rotate about the input shaft and switch between transmitting and blocking rotational power from the input shaft to the left and right output shafts using the left and right planetary gear mechanisms; left and right steering brakes configured to brake the left and right output shafts; a turning motor configured to cause the left and right steering clutches to rotate so that a rotation speed difference is produced between the left and right output shafts; a work implement cylinder configured to drive a work implement attached to a vehicle body; a hydraulic pressure supply unit configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the turning motor and the work implement cylinder; and a controller configured to control the left and right steering clutches, the left and right steering brakes, and the turning motor to cause the crawler-type work machine to turn in either a slow turning mode or a pivot turning mode, the controller being configured to execute a hydraulic fluid amount control to reduce the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the hydraulic pressure supply unit to the turning motor and to increase the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the hydraulic pressure supply unit to the work implement cylinder when the work implement cylinder is driven while the turning motor is being rotated.

2 . The crawler-type work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the hydraulic pressure supply unit has
a hydraulic pump that is driven by power from an engine and that discharges hydraulic fluid, and
a control valve that distributes the hydraulic fluid discharged by the hydraulic pump to the turning motor and to the work implement cylinder, and
the controller is configured to execute the hydraulic fluid amount control to reduce the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the control valve to the turning motor and to increase the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the control valve to the work implement cylinder when the work implement cylinder is driven while the turning motor is being rotated.

3 . The crawler-type work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the hydraulic pressure supply unit has
a turning motor hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic fluid to the turning motor, and
a work implement hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic fluid to the work implement cylinder, and
the controller is configured to execute the hydraulic fluid amount control to reduce the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the turning motor hydraulic pump to the turning motor and to increase the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the work implement hydraulic pump to the work implement cylinder when the work implement cylinder is driven while the turning motor is being rotated.

4 . The crawler-type work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to execute the hydraulic fluid amount control while turning in the pivot turning mode without executing the hydraulic fluid amount control while turning in the slow turning mode.

5 . The crawler-type work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a low-speed switch, the controller being configured to execute the hydraulic fluid amount control when the low-speed switch is turned on.

Assignees

• Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoshikawa Takeshi
• Takeshima Hiroaki
• Akiyama Naoya
• Okada Toshikazu
• Nakata Kazushi
• Yatsuda Osamu

Classifications

• E02F9/2267 Primary

  Valves or distributors (position of valves arrangements on upper-structures E02F9/0875) · CPC title

• B62D11/08

  using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means · CPC title

• B62D11/183

  Control systems therefor · CPC title

• E02F9/225

  Control of steering, e.g. for hydraulic motors driving the vehicle tracks (steering in general B62D) · CPC title

• E02F9/22

  Hydraulic or pneumatic drives {(for dipper or bucket arm position control E02F3/43, for blade position control for graders E02F3/844; for turntables E02F9/121; for fork-lift trucks B66F9/22)} · CPC title