Work machine, controller for work machine, and method of controlling work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023417021-A1
Application number	US-202118036448-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Dec 10, 2020
Publication date	Dec 28, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A work machine is provided that can achieve an automatic brake retention function without hindering work. The work machine includes a vehicular body that travels, a work implement supported on the vehicular body, an accelerator operation device operated to increase a traveling speed of the vehicular body, a brake operation device operated to decrease the traveling speed of the vehicular body, and a controller. The controller performs automatic brake retention control to retain a braking force to maintain a travel-stopped state of the vehicular body when the traveling speed of the vehicular body becomes less than or equal to a threshold by operation of the brake operation device, and release the retention of the braking force by operation of the accelerator operation device. The controller determines whether work is being performed by the work implement, and when work is being performed, disables the automatic brake retention control.

First claim

1 . A work machine comprising:
a vehicular body that travels; a work implement supported on the vehicular body; an accelerator operation device operated to increase a traveling speed of the vehicular body; a brake operation device operated to decrease the traveling speed of the vehicular body; and a controller, wherein the controller
performs automatic brake retention control to retain a braking force to maintain a travel-stopped state of the vehicular body when the traveling speed of the vehicular body becomes less than or equal to a threshold by operation of the brake operation device, and release the retention of the braking force by operation of the accelerator operation device, and
determines whether work is being performed by the work implement, and when work is being performed, disables the automatic brake retention control.

2 . The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a work implement lock device that restricts an operation of the work implement,
wherein the controller determines whether work is being performed based on a state of operation of the work implement lock device.

3 . The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a work implement operation unit for an operator to operate the work implement,
wherein the controller determines whether work is being performed based on a state of operation of the work implement operation unit.

4 . The work machine according to claim 3 , further comprising a steering control unit for the operator to control a direction of travel of the vehicular body,
wherein the controller determines whether work is being performed based on a state of operation of the steering control unit.

5 . The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a switch operated to select a setting for enabling the automatic brake retention control,
wherein the controller performs the automatic brake retention control when determining that work is not being performed by the work implement while the setting for enabling the automatic brake retention control is set by operation of the switch.

6 . A controller for a work machine, the work machine including:
a vehicular body that travels; a work implement supported on the vehicular body; an accelerator operation device operated to increase a traveling speed of the vehicular body; and a brake operation device operated to decrease the traveling speed of the vehicular body, wherein the controller
performs automatic brake retention control to retain a braking force to maintain a travel-stopped state of the vehicular body when the traveling speed of the vehicular body becomes less than or equal to a threshold by operation of the brake operation device, and release the retention of the braking force by operation of the accelerator operation device, and
determines whether work is being performed by the work implement, and when work is being performed, disables the automatic brake retention control.

7 . A method of controlling a work machine,
the work machine including:
a vehicular body that travels;
a work implement supported on the vehicular body;
an accelerator operation device operated to increase a traveling speed of the vehicular body; and
a brake operation device operated to decrease the traveling speed of the vehicular body,
the method comprising: performing automatic brake retention control to retain a braking force to maintain a travel-stopped state of the vehicular body when the traveling speed of the vehicular body becomes less than or equal to a threshold by operation of the brake operation device, and release the retention of the braking force by operation of the accelerator operation device; and determining whether work is being performed by the work implement, and when work is being performed, disabling the automatic brake retention control.

Assignees

• Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Okamune Yuki
• Kitamura Tsukasa
• Kyozu Akihiro
• Kamimae Takeshi

Classifications

• E02F9/2083 Primary

  Control of vehicle braking systems · CPC title

• E02F3/841

  Devices for controlling and guiding the whole machine, e.g. by feeler elements and reference lines placed exteriorly of the machine (construction of roads E01C19/008) · CPC title

• B60T7/12

  for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)} · CPC title

• E02F3/7636

  Graders with the scraper blade mounted under the tractor chassis · CPC title

• B60T13/662

  characterised by specified functions of the control system components · CPC title