Excavation system having adaptive dig control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587369-B2
Application number	US-201514790397-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

An excavation system is disclosed for a machine having a work tool. The excavation system may have a speed sensor to detect a travel speed of the machine and a load sensor to detect loading of the work tool. The excavation system may also have a controller configured to detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. The controller may also be configured to select at least one tilt control parameter value for the work tool and operate the work tool based on the selected tilt control parameter value to load the work tool with an amount of material. The controller may be configured to determine whether the amount of material exceeds a target amount and to cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile when the amount exceeds the target amount.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An excavation system for a machine having a work tool, comprising:
a speed sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine;
at least one load sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of loading of the work tool;
a controller in communication with the speed sensor and the at least one load sensor, the controller being configured to:
detect engagement of the work tool with a material pile based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal;
select at least one tilt control parameter value for the work tool;
operate the work tool based on the selected tilt control parameter value to load the work tool with an amount of material;
determine whether the amount of material exceeds a target amount;
cause the machine to withdraw from the material pile when the amount exceeds the target amount; and
wherein the controller is further configured to position a wheel of the machine by raising the work tool to a target height above a ground surface.

2. The excavation system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to select the tilt control parameter value by:
determining an angle of repose;
selecting the tilt control parameter value from steep face tilt control parameter values when the angle of repose exceeds a steep face threshold;
selecting the tilt control parameter value from shallow face tilt control parameter values when the angle of repose is less than a shallow face threshold; and
selecting the tilt control parameter value from normal face tilt control parameter values when the angle of repose lies between the shallow face threshold and the steep face threshold.

3. The excavation system of claim 2 , wherein the tilt control parameter value is at least one of a minimum tip angle of the work tool, a maximum tip angle of the work tool, a maximum rack angle, a maximum unrack angle, a maximum rack time, a maximum unrack time, a maximum rack velocity, a maximum unrack velocity, a maximum pressure in a lift actuator, and a maximum pressure in a tilt actuator.

4. The excavation system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one tilt control parameter value includes a first set of tilt control parameter values, and the controller is further configured to:
select a second set of tilt control parameter values that are penetration focused from the first set of tilt control parameter values;
operate the work tool based on the second set of tilt control parameter values until a penetration condition is satisfied;
select a third set of tilt control parameter values that is face cut focused from the first set of tilt control parameter values; and
operate the work tool based on the third set of tilt control parameter values until a face cut condition is satisfied.

5. The excavation system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the work tool by:
racking the work tool until a rack angle exceeds a threshold rack angle; and
unracking the work tool when the rack angle exceeds the threshold rack angle.

6. The excavation system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the work tool by:
racking the work tool until a rack time exceeds a threshold rack time; and
unracking the work tool when the rack time exceeds the threshold rack time.

7. The excavation system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine an angle of repose;
determine a target penetration depth based on the angle of repose.

8. The excavation system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one tilt control parameter value includes a first set of tilt control parameter values, and the controller configured to:
select the first set of tilt control parameter values that are penetration focused;
operate the work tool based on the first set of tilt control parameter values until a penetration condition is satisfied;
select a second set of tilt control parameter values that is face cut focused; and
operate the work tool based on the second set of tilt control parameter values until a face cut condition is satisfied.

9. A method of controlling a machine having a work tool, comprising:
sensing, by a controller, a first parameter from a speed sensor indicative of a travel speed of the machine;
sensing, by the controller, at least a second parameter from at least one load sensor indicative of loading of the work tool;
detecting, by the controller, engagement of the work tool with a material pile based on at least one of the first parameter and the second parameter;
selecting, by the controller, at least one tilt control parameter value for the work tool;
operating, by the controller, the work tool based on the selected tilt control parameter value to load the work tool with an amount of material;
determining, by the controller, whether the amount of material exceeds a target amount;
causing, by the controller, the machine to withdraw from the material pile when the amount exceeds the target amount; and
wherein the method further includes positioning a wheel, by the controller, of the machine by raising the work tool away from a ground surface to a target height.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including:
determining, by the controller, an angle of repose; and
determining, by the controller, a target penetration depth based on the angle of repose.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tilt control parameter value includes at least one of a minimum tilt angle of the work tool, a maximum tilt angle of the work tool, a maximum rack angle, a maximum unrack angle, a maximum rack time, a maximum unrack time, a maximum rack velocity, a maximum unrack velocity, a maximum pressure in a lift actuator, and a maximum pressure in a tilt actuator.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one tilt control parameter value includes a first set of tilt control parameter values, and the method further includes:
selecting, by the controller, the first set of tilt control parameter values that are penetration focused;
operating, by the controller, the work tool based on the first set of tilt control parameter values until a penetration condition is satisfied;
selecting, by the controller, a second set of tilt control parameter values that are face cut focused; and
operating, by the controller, the work tool based on the second set of tilt control parameter values until a face cut condition is satisfied.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein operating the work tool includes:
racking, by the controller, the work tool until a rack angle exceeds a threshold rack angle; and
unracking, by the controller, the work tool when the rack angle exceeds the threshold rack angle.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein operating the work tool includes:
racking, by the controller, the work tool until a rack time exceeds a threshold rack time; and
unracking the work tool when the rack time exceeds the threshold rack time.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the penetration condition is satisfied when at least one of a penetration rate is less than a target penetration rate and a penetration depth exceeds a target penetration depth.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the face cut condition is satisfied when a target penetration depth is reached in a predefined time.

17. A machine, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the frame and configured to support the frame;
a power source mounted to the frame and configured to drive the plurality of wheels;
a work tool operatively connected to the frame, driven by the power source

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Fletcher Jeffrey Graham
• JONES Daniel Aaron
• Hewavisenthi Ranishka De Silva
• Chow Ricky Kam Ho

Classifications

• E02F9/268

  with failure correction follow-up actions · CPC title

• E02F9/2041 Primary

  Automatic repositioning of implements, i.e. memorising determined positions of the implement (for dipper-arms or bucket-arms E02F3/434, E02F3/437, E02F3/438, E02F3/439 take precedence) · CPC title

• E02F3/431 Primary

  for bucket-arms, front-end loaders, dumpers or the like · CPC title

• E02F9/2029

  Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed (control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence) · CPC title

• E02F3/283 Primary

  with a single arm pivoted directly on the chassis (linkage mechanism for it E02F3/3405) · CPC title