JPH08246493A - Digging range-presetting apparatus for control of restricted range to be digged by construction machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To dig as near a digging range preset as possible, by a method wherein presetting of the digging range is not changed even if the height of a construction machine body is changed by the movement of the body, and errors such as manufacturing tolerance for the body, sensor accuracy, setting tolerance and so an do not give influence on the digging range preset, in a digging range-presetting apparatus for a construction machine. CONSTITUTION: A reference light generators 80, 81 respectively emitting light 1, 2 are placed on the outside of a hydraulic power shovel, and a depth from the level of the reference light 1 to a reference point of a digging range is preset using an operating instrument. After that, in digging-work, a height from the center of a hydraulic power shovel body to the level of the reference light 1 is operated on the basis of the information about the position and posture of a front attachment 1A at the time when a reference light detector 70 detects the reference light 1, and a depth from the center of the body to the level of the reference point of the digging range is operated on the basis of that height operated and the depth preset. In the same manner, a distance from the center of the body at the time when a base light detector 71 detects the reference light 2 to the reference light 2 (a base point P) is operated, following which the depth, which is operated, from the center of the body to the level of the reference point, the distance from the center of the body to the level of the reference light 2, and an angle between them are stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to area limiting excavation control of a construction machine, and more particularly, in a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator having a multi-joint type front apparatus, area limitation in which a movable area of the front apparatus is limited. The present invention relates to an excavation area setting device for excavation control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hydraulic excavator is a typical example of construction machines. The hydraulic excavator is composed of a front device consisting of a boom, an arm, and a bucket that are vertically rotatable, and a vehicle body consisting of an upper revolving structure and a lower traveling structure, and the base end of the boom of the front device is in front of the upper revolving structure. Supported by the department. Such a hydraulic excavator is a construction machine that is characterized by a wide operating range of the front device.On the other hand, it is convenient, but when it is used for work where the front does not protrude beyond a specific excavation shape, It requires careful operation from the operator. For this reason, it is considered to limit the working range of the front device as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-136324. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-136324, as a method of setting a restricted area (inaccessible area), the tip of the front device (toe of a bucket) is moved to the restricted area (inaccessible area) and the position is stored. Alternatively, a method of inputting and setting the restricted area with a numerical value from the operation panel is shown.

Further, in hydraulic excavators, front members such as a boom are operated by respective manual operation levers. However, since each of them is connected by a joint portion to perform a rotary motion, these front members are operated. Excavation of a predetermined area, especially a linearly set area is a very difficult task, and automation is desired. When such a work is configured to be automated, when the vehicle body moves, the posture and height of the hydraulic excavator itself change due to changes in the terrain at the work site, and every time the vehicle body moves within the area set for the vehicle body. Must be reset to. Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-295933 proposes an automatic excavation method for facilitating such work. In this automatic excavation method, the height of the vehicle body is detected by the sensor installed on the vehicle body by the laser light of the laser oscillator installed on the surface of the excavation ground, and the excavation depth (of the former example is detected based on the detected vehicle body height. (Equivalent to the restricted area) is determined and linear excavation is performed for a predetermined length with the vehicle stopped, and then the vehicle height is displaced by the laser light when the vehicle travels a predetermined distance and recedes again with the vehicle stopped. The amount of displacement is detected and the excavation depth is corrected by the amount of height displacement.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

First, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-136324, a restriction area (an inaccessible area) is set on the basis of the vehicle body, so that the vehicle body moves and the excavator itself is changed due to the change of the terrain at the work site. When the posture and height change,
The set depth of the restricted area changes accordingly. For example, if the ground is tilted, the set depth changes along the tilted surface of the ground as the vehicle body moves, and the set surface of the restricted area also tilts.

Further, in the prior art described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-295933, although the change in the vehicle body height due to the movement of the vehicle body can be corrected, when the excavation depth is set by the operation panel, the vehicle body is used as a reference. Since the digging depth is set, when calculating the tip position of the bucket in digging control, the manufacturing tolerance of the vehicle body, the accuracy of the angle sensor that measures the position and posture of the front device used for control, the mounting tolerance, etc. It is impossible to excavate as set because the accumulated and actual excavation depth differs from the set excavation depth.

Further, since the excavation depth from the vehicle body changes when the vehicle body height changes due to the movement of the vehicle body, the error of the sensor for measuring the position and orientation of the front device also affects the amount of change in the excavation depth. As a result, the excavation depth changes before and after the vehicle body height changes.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that the laser light hits the sensor even if the height of the vehicle body changes and the laser light can be detected, it is necessary to install a number of sensors on the vehicle body side by side in the height direction. Equipment becomes complicated.

Similarly, since the height is corrected by the sensor provided on the vehicle body, the height that can be corrected is limited due to the restriction of the size of the sensor.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine in which the setting of the excavation area does not change even if the height of the vehicle body changes due to movement of the vehicle body. Is.

A second object of the present invention is to provide manufacturing tolerances for the vehicle body,
Alternatively, the accuracy of the sensor that measures the position and orientation of the front device used for control, the influence of errors such as mounting tolerances are small, and it is possible to excavate with a small difference from the set excavation area. A drilling area setting device is provided.

A third object of the present invention is that the setting of the excavation area does not change even if the vehicle body height changes due to the movement of the vehicle body, and it is due to the influence of the error of the sensor for measuring the position and orientation of the front device. An object of the present invention is to provide an excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine with little change in excavation depth.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine, which can simplify the structure of the sensor when light is used to correct the movement of the vehicle body. .

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide an excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine capable of correcting movement of a vehicle body in a wide range.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above first to fifth objects, the area limiting excavation control system for a construction machine according to the present invention adopts the following configuration. That is, a plurality of front members that constitute an articulated front device and are rotatable in the up-down direction, and a vehicle body that supports the front device are provided, and the plurality of front members are drive-controlled to operate the front members. In an excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine that limits and controls a range, (a) a first external device that is installed outside the construction machine and that generates reference light indicating a reference position in the height direction with respect to the excavation area. A reference light generator; (b) a second external reference light generator which is installed outside the construction machine and which generates reference light indicating a horizontal reference position with respect to the excavation area; and (c) the front device. First detecting means for detecting the reference light output from the first external reference light generating device; (d) output from the second external reference light generating device provided in the front device. Second detection means for detecting quasi-light; (e) third detection means for detecting a state quantity relating to the position and orientation of the front device; (f) position of the front device based on a signal from the third detection means. And a first calculation means for calculating a posture; (g)
First setting means for setting the positional relationship between the reference light generated by the first external reference light generating device and the excavation area; (h) the reference generated by the first external reference light generating device by the first detecting means. When light is detected, a correction value relating to a change in the position of the vehicle body is calculated based on the position and orientation information of the front device calculated by the first calculation means, and this correction value and the first setting means are set. Second computing means for computing the positional relationship in the height direction between the vehicle body and the excavation area based on the positional relationship between the reference light and the excavation area; and (i) the second detection means of the second external reference light generator. Third computing means for computing the horizontal positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavation area based on the position and orientation information of the front device computed by the first computing means when the generated reference light is detected; j) the second
The positional relationship in the height direction between the reference light calculated by the calculating means and the excavation area, the horizontal positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavation area calculated by the third calculating means, and the reference set by the first setting means. Second setting means for setting an excavation region based on the vehicle body based on a positional relationship between light and the excavation region;

[0016] Preferably, the first setting means sets a depth from a reference light generated by the first external reference light generator to a reference point of the excavation area and an inclination angle of a boundary of the excavation area. Is.

Preferably, the first setting means is
It is a means for setting the positional relationship between the reference light and the setting area based on the data input by the operation device.

The first setting means, when the front device is moved and the front end of the front device reaches a reference point of the setting area, the first setting means is based on the position and orientation information of the front device calculated by the first calculating means. A means for calculating the position of the tip of the front device, and the first device for moving the front device.
When the detection means detects the reference light generated by the first external reference light generation device, the position of the first detection means is calculated based on the information on the position and orientation of the front device calculated by the first calculation means. Means, and a means for calculating and storing the positional relationship between the reference light and the set area from the tip position of the front device and the position of the first detection means.

[0019]

In the present invention constructed as above, the first
Every time the second detecting means crosses the reference light, the second calculating means corrects the positional relationship between the reference light and the excavation area set by the first setting means to determine the positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavating area in the height direction. In addition to the calculation, the third calculation means calculates the horizontal positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavation area, and the second setting means sets the excavation area with respect to the vehicle body. Therefore, the height change due to the movement of the vehicle body is corrected every time. Then excavation work can be performed. Therefore, even if the vehicle body moves and the vehicle body height changes, the setting of the excavation area does not change, and it is possible to always excavate a predetermined depth and position based on the reference light.

Further, the first and second detecting means are installed in a front device that actually acts on the ground, and the vehicle body is used as a reference based on the position and orientation of the front device when these detecting means detect the reference light. Since the excavation area is set, the influence of errors such as the manufacturing tolerance of the vehicle body, the accuracy of the first to third detection means and the like, the mounting tolerance and the like is offset by the excavation area setting calculation and the excavation control calculation when setting the excavation area. It will be. For this reason, when calculating the position of the front device in excavation control, the influence of these errors is reduced compared to the method of detecting the reference light by the sensor installed on the vehicle body, and the difference from the set excavation area is set to be small. Can be drilled exactly on the street.

Further, since it is hard to be influenced by the error of the first detecting means for measuring the position and posture of the front device, the excavation depth from the vehicle body changes due to the movement of the vehicle body to change the vehicle body height. However, the influence of the error of the first detection means on the amount of change in the excavation depth is reduced, and the excavation depth is prevented from changing before and after the vehicle body height changes.

Further, since the first and second detecting means are installed in the front device and the first and second detecting means cross the reference light while operating the front device, the reference light is detected respectively. The reference light can be reliably captured even if the installation area of the first and second detection means (sensors) is small, and the first and second detection means can be made small and simple respectively.

Similarly, since the first detecting means detects the reference light by traversing the reference light while the front device is being operated, the movement of the vehicle body in a wide range is possible in consideration of the wide movable range of the front device. Can be corrected.

Further, in the present invention, the depth from the reference light generated by the first external reference light generator to the excavation area and the reference point and the inclination angle of the boundary of the excavation area are set by the first setting means. By this, it is possible to set an excavation area with a slope.

Further, in the present invention, the first setting means is means for setting the positional relationship between the reference light and the setting area based on the data input by the operating device, so that the first setting is performed at the beginning of the work. By setting the means, it is not necessary to have an assistant for positioning the front device at the boundary of the excavation area at the start of work or each time the vehicle travels and moves. Further, the time required for setting by the instruction of the assistant can be eliminated, and the working time can be shortened.

Further, in the present invention, the position of the front end of the front device calculated by the first setting means when the front end of the front device comes to the boundary of the setting area, and the first detecting means is the external reference light generating device. By calculating the positional relationship between the reference light and the setting area from the position of the first detecting means calculated when the reference light generated by the above is detected and stored, the excavation area can be set by direct teaching. The desired excavation area can be set accurately according to the situation.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, a hydraulic excavator to which the present invention is applied includes a hydraulic pump 2, a boom cylinder 3a and an arm cylinder 3 which are driven by pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 2.
b, a plurality of hydraulic actuators including a bucket cylinder 3c, a swing motor 3d, and left and right traveling motors 3e and 3f, and a plurality of operating lever devices 4a to 4f provided corresponding to the hydraulic actuators 3a to 3f, respectively.
And the hydraulic pump 2 and the plurality of hydraulic actuators 3a to 3
A plurality of flow rate control valves 5a to 5 which are connected between f and control the flow rate of the pressure oil supplied to the hydraulic actuators 3a to 3f.
f, and a relief valve 6 that opens when the pressure between the hydraulic pump 2 and the flow control valves 5a to 5f exceeds a set value, and these are hydraulic drive devices that drive the driven members of the hydraulic excavator. I am configuring.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the hydraulic excavator includes a boom 1a and an arm 1 which rotate vertically.
articulated front device 1 including b and bucket 1c
A and a vehicle body 1B including an upper swing body 1d and a lower traveling body 1e, and a base end of a boom 1a of the front device 1A is supported by a front portion of the upper swing body 1d. Boom 1
a, an arm 1b, a bucket 1c, an upper swing body 1d, and a lower traveling body 1e are driven members respectively driven by a boom cylinder 3a, an arm cylinder 3b, a bucket cylinder 3c, a swing motor 3d, and left and right traveling motors 3e, 3f. And their operations are instructed by the operation lever devices 4a to 4f.

Returning to FIG. 1, the operating lever devices 4a to 4f are hydraulic pilot systems that drive the corresponding flow control valves 5a to 5f by pilot pressure, and the operating lever 40 and the operating lever 40 are operated by an operator, respectively.
1 Generates pilot pressure according to the operation amount and operation direction
It is composed of a pair of pressure reducing valves (not shown), the primary port of each pressure reducing valve is connected to the pilot pump 43, and the secondary ports are pilot lines 44a, 44b; 45a, 45.
b; 46a, 46b; 47a, 47b; 48a, 48
b; hydraulic drive units 50a, 50b; 51a, 51b; 52a, 52 of the corresponding flow control valves via 49a, 49b.
b; 53a, 53b; 54a, 54b; 55a, 55b
It is connected to the.

An area limiting excavation control device including the excavation area setting device according to this embodiment is mounted on the hydraulic excavator as described above. This control device has a boom 1a, a setting device 7 for instructing setting of a predetermined portion of the front device, for example, an excavation region in which the tip of the bucket 1c can move in advance according to work.
Angle meters 8a, 8b, which are provided on the respective pivots of the arm 1b and the bucket 1c, and which detect the respective pivot angles as state quantities related to the position and posture of the front device 1A,
8c, an inclinometer 8d for detecting an inclination angle θ in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 1B, and a boom and arm operation lever device 4
a, 4b pilot lines 44a, 44b; 45a,
Pressure detectors 60a, 60b; 61 provided on 45b for detecting pilot pressures from the operating lever devices 4a, 4b;
a and 61b, a reference light generator 80 (see FIG. 2) that is installed outside the hydraulic excavator and generates laser light as reference light indicating a reference position in the height direction with respect to the excavation area, and is installed outside the hydraulic excavator. A reference light generator 81 (see FIG. 2) that generates laser light as reference light indicating a horizontal reference position with respect to the excavation region, and the arm 1 of the front device 1a.
The reference light detector 70 attached to the reference light detector b for detecting the reference light output from the reference light generator 80, and the reference light attached to the arm 1b of the front device 1a for detecting the reference light output from the reference light generator 81. The detector 71, the setting signal of the setting device 7, the detection signals of the angle meters 8a, 8b, 8c and the inclinometer 8d, the pressure detectors 60a, 60b; the detection signals of 61a, 61b, and the reference light detectors 70, 71. A control unit 9 that inputs a detection signal, sets an excavation region in which the tip of the bucket 1c can move, and outputs an electric signal for performing excavation control with the region limited, and a proportional solenoid valve driven by the electric signal. 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b,
It is composed of a shuttle valve 12. The shuttle valve 12 is installed in the pilot line 44a, selects the pilot pressure in the pilot line 44a and the high pressure side of the control pressure output from the proportional solenoid valve 10a, and guides it to the hydraulic drive unit 50a of the flow rate control valve 5a. Proportional solenoid valves 10b, 11a, 11b
Are installed in the pilot lines 44b, 45a, 45b, respectively, and reduce the pilot pressure in the pilot lines in accordance with the respective electric signals and output.

In the above structure, the excavation area setting device of this embodiment includes a setting device 7, reference light generators 80 and 81, reference light detectors 70 and 71, angle meters 8a, 8b and 8c, and an inclinometer 8d. The control unit 9 has the following functions.

The setting device 7, as shown in FIG. 3, is an up button 7a and a down button 7b for inputting the depth and angle of the excavation area, and a selection button for selecting which of depth and angle is to be input. 7c and 7d, a display device 7e that displays the input depth and angle, and an area setting switch 7f that outputs and sets the input depth and angle as setting signals to the control unit 9. The buttons of the setting device 7 may be provided on the grip of an appropriate operating lever. Further, other methods such as a method using an IC card, a method using a bar code, and a method using wireless communication may be used.

The reference light generator 80 generates reference light which serves as a reference in the height direction, and is installed on the ground so as to emit laser light in a direction horizontal to the excavation area as shown in FIG. . The reference light generator 81 generates reference light that serves as a reference in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction), and is installed on the ground so as to emit laser light in a direction perpendicular to the excavation area as shown in FIG. . The laser light (reference light) emitted from the reference light generator 80 may be a single spot light, or may be a fan-shaped light or a circular light as illustrated. The laser light (reference light) emitted from the reference light generator 81 is preferably fan-shaped or circular light as shown in the drawing. Particularly, at the position where the distance from the hydraulic excavator to the reference point of the excavation area is set, the height direction of the hydraulic excavator is set. It is better to spread the light to.

The reference light detector 70 is attached to the back of the arm 1b of the hydraulic excavator, and the reference light detector 71 is attached to the side of the arm 1b of the hydraulic excavator, while operating the front device 1A. Reference light generator 8
The reference light generated by 0, 81 is detected, and the moment when the arm 1b crosses the reference light is captured. The reference light detectors 70 and 71 are both installed as close as possible to the tip of the arm 1b so as not to interfere with the work, and detect the reference light near the tip of the bucket 1c that actually acts on the soil.

The control unit 9 controls the setting signal of the setting device 7, the reference light detectors 70 and 71, the angle meters 8a and 8b, and
The excavation area is set using the detection signals of 8c and the inclinometer 8d. A method of setting the excavation area by the control unit 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The excavation area is set by setting a boundary between the excavation area and the restricted area (hereinafter, simply referred to as a boundary of the excavation area), and this embodiment sets a slope having a slope as the boundary of the excavation area. .

In setting the excavation area, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the reference light generator 80 is set so that the reference light 1 is emitted in the horizontal direction outside the hydraulic excavator body. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the reference light is emitted in the vertical direction on the extension of the reference point P (see FIG. 4; hereinafter simply referred to as the reference point P of the excavation area) located on the boundary of the excavation area to be set. Thus, the reference light generator 81 is installed.

Next, using the operating unit 7, the reference light generator 8
The depth hr from the reference light 1 generated from 0 to the reference point P of the excavation area to be set, and the inclination angle θ of the boundary of the excavation area
By inputting r, the positional relationship between the reference light generated by the reference light generator 80 and the excavation area is set by the depth hr and the angle θr. That is, the excavation area is set based on the reference light. This setting is performed by the operator.

Next, the excavation work is started. In excavation work, the position and orientation of the front device 1A is calculated in the control unit 9 based on the signals of the angle meters 8a, 8b, 8c and the inclinometer 8d, and the arm 1b of the front device 1A is calculated.
The reference light detector 70 captures the moment when the reference light 1 generated by the reference light generator 80 is crossed, and the information on the position and attitude of the front device 1A when the reference light detector 70 detects the reference light 1 is obtained. Based on this, the height hf from the vehicle body center O to the reference light is calculated. Then, using this height hf as a correction value, the depth hs of the reference point P of the excavation area with respect to the vehicle body center O is calculated from the previously set depth hr. That is, the depth of the reference point P in the excavation area with respect to the vehicle body 1B of the hydraulic excavator is calculated.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5, the reference light detector 71 captures the moment when the arm 1b of the front device 1A crosses the reference light 2 generated by the reference light generator 81.
The distance hrx from the vehicle body center O to the reference light 2 (reference point P) is calculated based on the information on the position and orientation of the front device 1A when the reference light detector 71 detects the reference light 2.

The depth hs and distance hrx of the reference point P of the excavation area obtained as described above and the angle θr set by the setting device 7 are used to set the excavation area with the vehicle body 1B as a reference.

The above operation is performed every time the arm 1b crosses the reference lights 1 and 2, and even if the hydraulic excavator travels and changes its position, a new excavation area is set at that location.

The control unit 9 performs the above-mentioned processing, which is summarized in FIG. In FIG. 6, the control unit 9 has each function of the first setting means 100, the first calculating means 120, the second calculating means 140, the third calculating means, and the second setting means 160. The first setting means 100 is a reference point P of the excavation area input by the setting device 7.
The positional relationship between the reference light 1 and the excavation area is set by the depth hr and the angle θr. The first calculation means 120 includes a goniometer 8a,
The position and orientation of the front device 1A are calculated based on the signals from 8b and 8c and the inclinometer 8d. The second calculation means 140 is
The height hf from the vehicle body center O to the reference light 1 is calculated as a correction value based on the information on the position and orientation of the front device 1A when the reference light detector 70 detects the reference light 1, and the correction value and the first value are calculated. The depth hs from the vehicle body center O to the reference point P of the excavation area is calculated from the positional relationship between the reference light 1 set by the setting means 100 and the excavation area. The third calculation means 150 is used for the front device 1 when the reference light detector 71 detects the reference light 2.
Reference light 2 from the center O of the vehicle body based on the position and orientation information of A
The distance hrx to the (reference point P) is calculated. The second setting means 160 determines the depth hs of the reference point P obtained by the second calculating means.
And the distance hrx to the reference point P obtained by the third calculating means.
And the previously set angle θr of the reference point P, the excavation area with respect to the vehicle body is set. When the setting of the excavation area based on the vehicle body 1B is completed, the area limited excavation control is performed as shown in block 180.

Reference light 1 in the first setting means 100
The details of the function of setting the positional relationship between the excavation area and the excavation area are shown in the processing flow in FIG. In the figure, the part surrounded by the broken line shows the operation that the operator of the hydraulic excavator must perform.

First, the operator determines the depth hd from the ground surface to the reference point P of the excavation area to be set and the inclination angle θr of the boundary.
Are determined by the design and construction drawing, etc., the depths and angles thereof are input using the buttons 7a to 7d of the setting device 7, and after being confirmed on the display device 7e, the area setting switch 7f is pressed. In the control unit 9, in the process 101, the area setting switch 7f
It is determined whether or not has been pressed. If not, processing 101 is continued, and if it has been pressed, processing 102 is entered. In process 102, the depth hr from the reference light 1 to the reference point P of the excavation area to be set is calculated by the following equation (1).

Hr = hd + ho (1) In the equation (1), ho is the height of the reference light generator 80 (height from the ground surface to the reference light 1), and this value ho is known and It is stored in the control unit 9. Then, the process moves to step 103, and the depth hr and the previously inputted angle θ
Remember r. The operator remembers the height ho of the reference light generator 80, and the height hr including this height ho
The operator may directly input using the setting device 7.
Further, the setting device 7 is provided with a button for inputting the height ho of the reference light generator 80, and the height h can be operated by the operator.
The setting of o may be changed.

Second calculating means 140, third calculating means 150
The details of the function of setting the excavation area based on the vehicle body in the second setting means 160 are shown in the processing flow in FIG.

The operator operates the operation lever 40 (see FIG. 1).
When operating the front device 1A by operating, the process 141 first determines whether or not the reference light detector 70 has crossed the reference light 1. If not, process 15
1 to determine whether the reference light detector 71 has crossed the reference light 2. If it does not traverse again, the process is skipped to the next region limited excavation control process without changing the excavation region setting. When it is determined in the process 141 that the reference light detector 70 has crossed the reference light 1, the process goes to a process 142.

In process 142, the boom 1 is moved by the angle meters 8a and 8b and the inclinometer 8d provided on the front device 1A.
a, the angles α and β of the arm 1b, and the inclination angle θ of the vehicle body 1B are read. Next, in processing 143, the height hf from the vehicle body center O to the reference light detector 70 when the reference light 1 is detected using the boom and arm angles α and β and the tilt angle θ is calculated.

First, the calculation is performed by the following equation (2):
Then, the height hb of the joint point between the boom and the arm (the installation point of the arm angle meter 8b) is obtained.

Hb = L1 × cos (α−θ) (2) In the above equation (2), L1 is the junction between the boom 1a and the vehicle body 1B (the installation point of the boom angle meter 8a), and the junction between the boom and the arm. Is a known distance and is stored in the control unit 9 in advance.

Next, the height hfl from the joining point of the boom and the arm to the reference light detector 70 is obtained by the equation (3).

Hfl = Lf × cos ((α−θ) + (β−θf)) (3) In the above equation (3), Lf is from the joint point of the boom and the arm to the installation point of the reference photodetector 70. Θf is a distance, and θf is a mounting angle of the reference photodetector 70 with respect to a straight line connecting a joint point between the boom and the arm and a joint point between the arm and the bucket (installation point of the bucket angle meter 8c), and these values are known. And is stored in the control unit 9 in advance.

Next, the height hf from the center O of the vehicle body to the reference photodetector 70 is calculated from the heights hb and hfl by the equation (4).

Hf = hb + hfl (4) Next, the process moves to the process 144, and the reference light 1 set by the setter 7 is set.
To the reference point P of the excavation area is read.

Next, in processing 145, the height hf from the vehicle body center O to the reference light detector 70 calculated above is used as a correction value, and this value hf and the reference light 1 set by the setting device 7 are used as the reference for the excavation area. From the depth hr to the point P, equation (5)
Depth h from the body center O to the reference point P in the excavation area
Calculate s.

Hs = hr + hf (5) On the other hand, in process 151, the reference light detector 71 causes the reference light 2
If it is determined that the vehicle has crossed, the process goes to processing 152.

In process 152, the boom 1 is moved by the angle meters 8a and 8b and the inclinometer 8d provided in the front device 1A.
a, the angles α and β of the arm 1b, and the inclination angle θ of the vehicle body 1B are read. Next, in processing 153, the distance hr from the vehicle body center O to the reference light 2 (reference point P) when the reference light 1 is detected using the boom and arm angles α and β and the tilt angle θ.
Calculate x.

Finally, in step 161, the depth hs of the reference point P of the excavation area calculated in step 145 and step 152
The distance hrx to the reference point P calculated in step 1 and the angle θr set using the setter 7 are stored, and the excavation area is set with the vehicle body as a reference.

In the above, the processes 141 to 145 are shown in FIG.
Corresponding to the second calculation means 140 shown in FIG.
3 corresponds to the third calculation means 150 shown in FIG.
1 corresponds to the second setting means 160 shown in FIG.

When the above is completed, the process proceeds to the next area limiting excavation control calculation.

Next, the overall control function of the control unit 9 including the above-mentioned excavation area setting function will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 9
In the control unit 9, the first excavation area setting unit 9
a, front attitude calculation unit 9b, target cylinder speed calculation unit 9c, target tip speed vector calculation unit 9d, direction conversion control unit 9e, corrected target cylinder speed calculation unit 9f, restoration control calculation unit 9g, corrected target cylinder speed calculation Section 9h, target cylinder speed selection section 9i, target pilot pressure calculation section 9
j, valve command calculation unit 9k, first positional relationship calculation unit 9m,
It has the respective functions of the second positional relationship calculation unit 9p and the second excavation area setting unit 9n.

The first excavation area setting unit 9a corresponds to the first setting means 100 of FIG. 6, and the depth from the reference light to the reference point P of the excavation area is set by the processing 101 to 103 of the processing flow shown in FIG. The positional relationship between the reference light and the excavation area is set by the hr and the angle θr.

The front attitude calculating section 9b corresponds to the first calculating means 120 in FIG. 5, and it is detected by the angle meters 8a, 8b, 8c and the respective dimensions of the front device 1A and the vehicle body 1B stored in the control unit 9. The position and orientation of the front device 1A necessary for setting and control are calculated using the rotation angles α, β, γ and the tilt angle θ detected by the inclinometer.

The first positional relationship calculating section 9m corresponds to the second calculating means 140 in FIG. 6, and the depth from the vehicle body center O to the reference point P in the excavation area is set by the processing 141 to 145 in the processing flow shown in FIG. Calculate hs.

The second positional relationship calculating section 9p corresponds to the third calculating means 150 in FIG. 6, and from the vehicle body center O to the reference light 2 (reference point P) by the processing 151 to 153 of the processing flow shown in FIG. The distance hrx is calculated.

The second excavation area setting unit 9n corresponds to the second setting means 160 in FIG. 6, and the depth hs and distance hrx and the first excavation area setting in step 161 of the processing flow shown in FIG. The excavation area is set based on the vehicle body 1B of the hydraulic excavator by the angle θr set in the portion 9a.

In the front posture calculation unit 9b, the position and posture of the front device 1A are calculated in the XY coordinate system with the pivot of the boom 1a as the origin. This XY coordinate system is an orthogonal coordinate system fixed to the main body 1B and is assumed to be in a vertical plane. For example, at the tip position of the bucket 1c of the front device 1A, the distance between the rotation fulcrum of the boom 1a and the arm 1b is L ₁ , and the rotation fulcrum of the arm 1b and the bucket 1c.
If the distance between the rotation fulcrum of c and L ₂ and the distance between the rotation fulcrum of the bucket 1c and the tip of the bucket 1c are L ₃ , they can be obtained from the following formula using the XY coordinate system.

X = L ₁ sin α + L ₂ sin (α + β) + L ₃ sin (α + β + γ) Y = L ₁ cos α + L ₂ cos (α + β) + L ₃ cos (α + β + γ) However, when the vehicle body 1B is tilted as shown in FIG. Since the relative positional relationship between the bucket, the tip and the ground changes,
The excavation area cannot be set correctly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle θ of the vehicle body 1B is detected by the inclinometer 8d, and the value of the inclination angle θ is input to the front posture calculation unit 9b, and XY
The position of the bucket tip is calculated in the XbYb coordinate system in which the coordinate system is rotated by the angle θ. As a result, the correct area setting can be performed even if the vehicle body 1B is tilted. It should be noted that when the vehicle body is tilted, the inclinometer is not always necessary when the work is performed after correcting the vehicle body tilt or when the vehicle body is not tilted.

First excavation area setting unit 9a, correction value calculation unit 9
m and the second excavation area setting unit 9n, depths hr, hs,
The height hf and the like are converted into values in the XbYb coordinate system for processing.

In the target cylinder speed calculation unit 9c, the pressure detector 60a, which is an operation signal for the operation lever devices 4a, 4b,
60b: Input the detection signals of 61a and 61b. From the operation signal (pilot pressure), the target discharge flow rate of the flow control valves 5a and 5b (boom cylinder 3a and arm cylinder 3
The target speed of b) is calculated.

In the target tip speed vector calculation unit 9d, the bucket tip position obtained by the front attitude calculation unit 9b, the target cylinder speed obtained by the target cylinder speed calculation unit 9c, and the L value stored in the control unit 9 are stored. ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃
The target velocity vector Vc at the tip of the bucket 1c is obtained from the dimensions of each part such as. At this time, the target velocity vector Vc is obtained as a value in the XaYa coordinate system shown in FIG. This Xa
The Ya coordinate system is an orthogonal coordinate system having an origin at a reference point P of the excavation area shown in FIG. 4 and an Xa axis on the boundary of the excavation area, and the XbYb coordinate system is Xb for the depth hs and the distance hrx. Direction and Yb direction move in parallel
It can be easily obtained by rotating only. Where X
The Xa coordinate component Vcx of the target speed vector Vc in the aYa coordinate system is a vector component in a direction parallel to the boundary of the set area of the target speed vector Vc, and the Ya coordinate component Vcy is perpendicular to the boundary of the set area of the target speed vector Vc. It becomes the vector component of the direction.

The direction conversion control unit 9e sets a vertical vector component when the tip of the bucket 1c is in the vicinity of the boundary within the set area and the target velocity vector Vc has a component in the direction of approaching the boundary of the set area. It is corrected so that it decreases as it approaches the boundary of the region. In other words, a vector (reverse direction vector) smaller than the set area is added to the vertical vector component Vcy.

By correcting the vertical vector component Vcy of the target velocity vector Vc as described above, the vector component Vcy is reduced so that the decrease amount of the vertical vector component Vcy increases as the distance Ya decreases. , The target speed vector Vc is the target speed vector V
It is corrected to ca. Here, the distance Y from the boundary of the setting area
The range of a1 can be called a direction change area or a deceleration area.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the locus when the tip of the bucket 1c is subjected to the direction change control in accordance with the corrected target velocity vector Vca as described above. Target speed vector V
When c is constant obliquely downward, its parallel component Vc
x becomes constant, and the vertical component Vcy decreases as the tip of the bucket 1c approaches the boundary of the set region (as the distance Ya decreases). Since the corrected target velocity vector Vca is a combination thereof, the locus becomes a curved line that becomes parallel as it approaches the boundary of the set region as illustrated.

In the corrected target cylinder speed calculating section 9f,
The target cylinder speeds of the boom cylinder 3a and the arm cylinder 3b are calculated from the corrected target speed vector obtained by the direction change control unit 9e. This is an inverse operation of the operation in the target tip speed vector operation unit 9d.

When the tip of the bucket 1c goes out of the set area, the restoration control section 9g corrects the target velocity vector so that the tip of the bucket returns to the set area in relation to the distance from the boundary of the set area. . In other words, a vector (reverse vector) in the direction approaching the set area larger than that is added to the vertical vector component Vcy. Thus, the vertical vector component Vc of the target velocity vector Vc
By correcting y, the target speed vector Vc is corrected to the target speed vector Vca so that the vertical vector component Vcy becomes smaller as the distance Ya becomes smaller.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the locus when the tip of the bucket 1c is restored and controlled according to the corrected target velocity vector Vca as described above. When the target velocity vector Vc is constant obliquely downward, its parallel component Vch is constant, and the restoration vector −KYa is proportional to the distance Ya, so that the vertical component of the vertical component becomes closer to the boundary of the set area ( It decreases as the distance Ya decreases). Corrected target velocity vector Vc
Since a is a combination of the two, the locus becomes a curved line that becomes parallel as it approaches the boundary of the set region, as shown in FIG.

In this way, the restoration controller 9g uses the bucket 1
Since the tip of c is controlled to return to the setting area, a restoration area can be obtained outside the setting area. Also in this restoration control, the movement of the tip of the bucket 1c in the direction approaching the boundary of the setting area is decelerated, and as a result, the moving direction of the tip of the bucket 1c is converted to the direction along the boundary of the setting area. In this sense, this restoration control can also be called direction change control.

In the corrected target cylinder speed calculator 9h,
The target cylinder speeds of the boom cylinder 3a and the arm cylinder 3b are calculated from the corrected target speed vector obtained by the restoration control unit 9g. This is an inverse operation of the operation in the target tip speed vector operation unit 9d.

Here, when the restoration control is performed, the operation directions of the boom cylinder and the arm cylinder required for the restoration control are selected, and the target cylinder speed in the operation direction is calculated. However, in the restoration control, since the bucket tip is returned to the set region by raising the boom 1a, the raising direction of the boom 1 is always included. The combination is also determined by the control software.

In the target cylinder speed selector 9i, the larger of the target cylinder speed by the direction change control obtained by the target cylinder speed calculator 9f and the target cylinder speed by the restoration control obtained by the target cylinder speed calculator 9h (the maximum value) ) Is selected as the target cylinder speed for output.

In the target pilot pressure calculation unit 9j, the pilot lines 44a, 44b; 4 are set as the target pilot pressures.
Calculate the target pilot pressure of 5a, 45b.

The valve command calculation unit 9k calculates a command value according to the target pilot pressure calculated by the target pilot pressure calculation unit 9j, and the corresponding electric signal is transmitted to the proportional solenoid valve 10a,
It is output to 10b, 11a, 11b.

In the present embodiment constructed as described above, each time the reference light detectors 70, 71 cross the reference lights 1, 2, the positional relationship between the reference light 1 and the excavation area is corrected to correct the vehicle body 1.
In addition to calculating the positional relationship in the height direction between B and the excavation area, the positional relationship in the horizontal direction between the vehicle body and the excavation area is calculated, and the excavation area is set with respect to the vehicle body. Excavation work can be performed with correction every time. Therefore, even if the vehicle body moves and the vehicle body height changes, the setting of the excavation area does not change, and it is possible to always excavate a predetermined depth and position based on the reference lights 1 and 2.

Further, the reference light detectors 70 and 71 are installed near the tip of the bucket of the front device 1A having a bucket which is a member that actually acts on the ground. Since the excavation area based on the vehicle body 1B is set based on the position and posture of the front device 1A when the lights 1 and 2 are detected, the excavation area setting calculation and the excavation control operation are performed to set the excavation area of the vehicle body 1B. Manufacturing tolerances, reference light detectors 70 and 71, angle sensor 8a
The effects of the accuracy of 8c and the error of the mounting tolerance are offset. Therefore, when the tip position of the bucket 1c is calculated by the excavation control, the influence of the above tolerance and accuracy error is reduced as compared with the method of detecting the reference lights 1 and 2 by the sensor installed in the vehicle body 1B. Excavation can be performed exactly as set with little difference from the set excavation area.

Now, this will be further described. JP-A-3-
In the conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 295933, the vehicle body height can be corrected by the reference light as described above. When excavating, the height of the vehicle body is corrected, and the tip of the bucket is controlled to move to the set depth hs from the center of the vehicle body. At this time, the control device uses the dimensions L1, L2, L3 of the boom, arm, and bucket set in the control device and the angles α, β, γ of the front members detected by the angle sensor, and the bucket tip is at the position hs. The control calculation is performed so that
However, there are manufacturing errors in the actual front member, for example, the boom has dimensions L1 + εL1, the arm has dimensions L2 + εL2, and the bucket has dimensions L3 + εL3. Further, the angles α, β, γ detected by the sensor include errors εα, εβ, εγ with respect to the true angles α ′, β ′, γ ′ due to sensor mounting errors, detection errors of the sensor itself, and the like. Therefore, even if the control device tries to control the bucket tip to hs (L1, L2, L3, α (hs), β (hs), γ (hs)), it is actually hs' (L1 ', L', L3 ', α' (hs), β '(hs), γ' (hs)) = hs' (L1 + εL1, L2 + εL2, L3 + εL3, α (hs) + εα, β (hs) + εβ, γ (hs) + εγ) ... It becomes the position of (6).

Here, L1, L2, L3: Design values α, β, γ: Detected values L1'L2'L3 ', α', β ', γ': Actual values εL1, εL2, εL3, εα, εβ, εγ: error Also, L1 ′ = L1 + εL1 L2 ′ = L2 + εL2 L3 ′ = L3 + εL3 α = α ′ + εα β = β ′ + εβ γ = γ ′ + εγ where α (hs), β (hs), γ (hs), α ′ (Hs), β ′ (h
s) and γ '(hs) are the detected value and the actual value of the angle when the front device takes the hs detection posture.

For example, when the target boom angle is 30 °, the control device controls the front device so that the detected value α (hs) = 30 °. At this time, when the detected value α and the actual angle α ′ have an error of εα = 0.5 °, the position is actually controlled to α ′ = 30.5 °.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the reference light detector 70 is provided in the front device (arm), the position hf of the detector 70 when the detector 70 crosses the reference light 1 is the inside of the control unit 9. Then, it is recognized as the position calculated by hf (L1, Lfα (hf), β (hf), θf). The actual detector 70 at that time is as follows: hf '(L1', Lf ', α' (hf), β '(hf), θf') = hf '(L1 + εL1, Lf + εLf, α (hf) + εα, β (hf ) + Εβ, θf + εθf). The position of the bucket tip at this time is (L1 ', L2', L3 ', α' (hf), β '(hf), γ' (hf)) = (L1 + εL1, L2 + εLf, L3 + εL3, α (hf) + εα (hf), β (hf) + εβ (hf), γ (hf) + εγ (hf)) (7).

Here, εθf: b mounting error of the detector 70 α (hf), β (hf), γ (hf): Detected value α ′ (hf of the angle when the front device takes the hf detection posture. ), Β ′ (hf), γ ′ (hf): Detected value of the angle when the front device takes the hf detection posture At this time, the reference photodetector 70 is at the position of the true reference light 1, The control unit 9 has detected the position of the true reference light 1 including an error. If this hf is used for the area limiting control, the error between the detected position hf in the control unit 9 and the actual position hf 'includes the same error as when the hf is detected, so that it is actually canceled out and the true hf is eliminated. It matches the position of ′.

For example, suppose that the actual boom angle α '= 30 ° when the reference light 1 is detected, and the detected value by the sensor 8a has an error of εα = 0.5 °, α = 2.
Detected at 9.5 °. If this detected value α = 29.5 ° is used, the position of α ′ = 30 °, that is, the reference light 1 is actually used.
Since it matches the true position of, the error is canceled out.

Next, when the area restriction control is performed, this hf
When the bucket tip position is controlled with the target hs corrected by using, the error contained in at least hf is canceled when considering from the actual reference light position as described above.
For the rest, h is the tip of the bucket from the posture when hf is detected.
It is due to the error of the sensor until it moves to s. At this time, the bucket tip is actually hs '(L1', L2 ', L3', α ', β' (hs), γ '(hs)) = hs' (L1 + εL1, L2 + εLf, L3 + εL3, α (hs ) + Εα (hs), β (hs) + εβ (hs), γ (hs) + εγ (hs)) (8).

Here, α (hs), β (hs), γ (hs): detected values α ′ (hs), β ′ (hs), γ of the angle when the front device takes the hs control posture. ′ (Hs): Detected value of angle when the front device takes the control attitude of hs At this time, in this embodiment, the position at the time of hf detection is the true position of the reference light 1 according to the equation (7). Different from the prior art, the deviation α when the attitude is controlled from hf detection to hs
Error relating to (hs) -α (hf), β (hs) -β (hf), γ (hs) -γ (hf), Δεα = εα (hs) -εα (hf) (9) Δεβ = εβ (hs) -εβ (hf) (10) Δεγ = εγ (hs) -εγ (hf) (11) is a slight amount due to the error when the area limiting control is actually performed. Further, in the present embodiment, the reference light detector 7
By equipping the front device with 0, it is possible to minimize posture changes during reference light detection and excavation. In that case, (9)
It is possible to further reduce the error related to equations (11).

In the case of direct teaching, which will be described later, an error in setting hr can be taken in at the time of setting and can be operated during control, so that more accurate excavation control can be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, since it is difficult to be influenced by the error of the angle sensors 8a to 8c for detecting the position and the posture of the front device 1A, the vehicle body moves and the vehicle body height is changed, so that the vehicle body height from the vehicle body is changed. Even if the excavation depth changes, the influence of the error of the angle sensors 8a to 8c on the variation amount of the excavation depth is reduced, and the excavation depth is prevented from changing before and after the vehicle body height changes. It

Further, in the conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-295933, it is necessary that the reference light detector provided in the vehicle body is in a wide range capable of detecting the reference light. In the present embodiment, the reference light detectors 70 and 71 are connected to the front device 1.
Since the reference light detectors 70 and 71 cross the reference lights 1 and 2 to detect the reference lights 1 and 2 respectively while the front device 1A is being operated, the reference light detector 7 is installed.
Even if the installation areas of 0 and 71 are small, the reference lights 1 and 2 can be reliably captured, and the reference light detectors 70 and 71 can be made small and simple.

Similarly, the reference light detectors 70 and 71 detect the reference lights 1 and 2 by traversing the reference lights 1 and 2 while operating the front device 1A.
Considering the wide movable range, the movement of the vehicle body can be corrected in a wide range.

Further, in the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-295933, it is necessary that the reference photodetector provided in the vehicle body be within the range in which the reference light can be detected, as described above. Considering the size of the vessel, it becomes a big limitation. In the present embodiment, the reference light detectors 70 and 71 are provided in the front device 1A, especially in the arm, so that the installation locations of the reference light generators 80 and 81 are not greatly restricted considering the wide movable range of the front device. This is shown in FIG.
As shown in 2, when there is no suitable reference light generator installation place on the ground level with the vehicle body 1B, the reference light generators 80, 81 can be installed in the groove G. There is. Further, by this, the reference light generators 80 and 81 can be installed so as to reduce the change between the posture at the time of detecting the reference light and the posture at the time of excavation due to the problem of the above error, and the accuracy of the excavation can be improved. Can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, if the reference light generators 80 and 81 are installed at the beginning of the work and the setting is performed using the setting device 7, the work is started or the hydraulic excavator body is moved. Therefore, an auxiliary member for positioning the tip of the bucket 1c at the boundary of the excavation area every time it moves is unnecessary.
Further, the time required for setting by the instruction of the assistant can be eliminated, and the working time can be shortened.

Further, the reference light generators 80 and 81 are installed outside the vehicle body, and once installed, there is no need to change their positions, and they can be continuously used as a reference for the excavation area even if the vehicle body moves.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the reference light and the excavation area in the first setting means 100 (see FIG. 5) of the first embodiment is set by direct teaching.

That is, in the first embodiment, the depth hr from the reference light to the reference point P of the excavation area in the first setting means 100 is set by the up button 7a and the down button 7c of the setter 7 (see FIG. 3) and the like. Set using. In the present embodiment, the reference point P at which the tip of the bucket 1c is desired to be set as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
To set the depth hr of the reference point P by moving the position to and teaching the location directly.

FIG. 14 shows a processing flow of the setting method by direct teaching of the excavation area. In the figure, the operations surrounded by broken lines indicate the operations that the operator of the hydraulic excavator must perform.

First, the operator operates the operation lever to move the front device 1A so that the tip of the bucket 1c comes to the reference point P in the excavation area, as shown in FIG.
When the tip of the bucket 1c reaches the reference point P, the operator inputs the angle θr using the setting device 7, and then pushes the area setting switch 7f (see FIG. 3).

In the control unit 9 (see FIG. 1), the process 1
At 90, it is determined whether or not the area setting switch 7f is pressed. If not, the process 190 is continued. When the area setting switch 7f is pressed, the process proceeds to processing 191.

In process 191, the front device 1A at that time
From this posture, the depth hs from the vehicle body center O to the tip of the bucket 1c is calculated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the operator operates the operation lever again to move the front device 1A so that the reference light detector 70 can cross the reference light 1 and detect the reference light 1.

In the meantime, the control unit continues to determine in process 192 whether reference light detector 70 has detected reference light 1. Here, if the reference light 1 is detected, the process 19 is performed.
Move to 3.

In process 193, the front device 1 at that time is
From the posture of A, the height hfo from the center O of the vehicle body to the reference photodetector 70 is calculated.

Next, in process 194, the depth hr from the reference light 1 to the reference point P of the excavation area is obtained by the calculation of hr = hs-hfo (12).

Finally, in process 195, the depth hr obtained as described above and the angle θr input using the setting device 7 are stored, and the setting is completed.

When the setting of the depth hr and the angle θr of the reference point P in the excavation area with reference to the reference light 1 is completed as described above, excavation control is started. The configuration other than the first setting means of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and during excavation work, the first calculating means 120 and the second calculating means 14 shown in FIG. 6 are used.
0, the third calculating means 150, and the second setting means 160 use the hr set in the process 195 as shown in FIG. 15, and each time the reference light 1 is detected, the correction value hf is obtained and the depth hs is updated. Then, the area limiting excavation control is performed while setting the excavation area based on the vehicle body.

According to the present embodiment, since the excavation area is set by direct teaching, the desired excavation area can be set accurately according to the work situation.

[0114]

According to the present invention, even if the height of the hydraulic excavator changes due to the movement of the vehicle body and the change of the terrain at the work site, it is possible to always excavate a predetermined depth and position based on the reference light. Can

Further, in comparison with the method of detecting the reference light by the sensor installed on the vehicle body at the time of excavation, it is less susceptible to the manufacturing tolerance of the vehicle body, the accuracy of the sensor, etc. It is possible to excavate exactly according to the setting with less difference.

Further, since it is not easily affected by the error of the sensor, even if the excavation depth from the vehicle body changes due to the movement of the vehicle body, it is possible to prevent the excavation depth from changing before and after the vehicle body height changes. it can.

Furthermore, the reference light can be reliably captured even if the installation area of the first and second detecting means is small.
The first and second detecting means can be made small and simple.

Further, considering the wide movable range of the front device having the first detecting means, the movement of the vehicle body can be corrected in a wide range.

Further, according to the present invention, an operation such as digging a groove for burying a water and sewer pipe is facilitated by setting an excavated area having a slope and controlling the area limited excavation.

Further, according to the present invention, if the first setting means is set at the beginning of the work using the operation device, the front device is excavated at the start of the work or each time the vehicle travels and moves. There is no need for assistants to position the boundaries of the area. Further, the time required for setting by the instruction of the assistant can be eliminated, and the working time can be shortened.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the setting of the first setting means is performed by direct teaching, a desired excavation area can be set accurately according to the working situation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an area limiting excavation control device for a construction machine equipped with an excavation area setting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention together with a hydraulic drive device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a hydraulic excavator to which the present invention is applied and a shape of a setting area around the hydraulic excavator.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of a setting device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship with a reference light in a horizontal direction when setting an excavation region by the excavation region setting device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship with reference light in a height direction when setting an excavation region by the excavation region setting device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an excavation area setting device according to a first embodiment. .

FIG. 7 is a first view of the excavation area setting device of the first embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a setting means.

FIG. 8 is a second view of the excavation area setting device of the first embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a calculating means, a 3rd calculating means, and a 2nd setting means.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an overall control function of the control unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a trajectory when the tip end of the bucket is subjected to direction change control as calculated in the area limited excavation control.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a trajectory when the tip of the bucket is restored and restored as calculated in the area limited excavation control.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which the reference light generator is installed in the groove when there is no suitable installation place for the reference light generator at the same height as the vehicle body.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship with reference light when setting an excavation region by the excavation region setting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a processing flow of first setting means in the excavation area setting device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the first setting and the subsequent movement when the excavation area is set by the excavation area setting device of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A Front device 1B Vehicle body 1a Boom 1b Arm 1c Bucket 1d Upper revolving structure 1e Lower traveling structure 2 Hydraulic pump 3a to 3f Hydraulic actuators 4a to 4f; 204a to 204f Operation lever device 5a to 5f Flow control valve 6 Relief valve 7 Setting device 8a , 8b, 8c Angle meter (second detecting means) 8d Inclinometer (second detecting means) 9 Control unit 9a First excavation area setting section (first setting means) 9b Front attitude calculation section (first calculation means) 9c Target Cylinder speed calculation unit 9d Target tip speed vector calculation unit 9e Direction conversion control unit 9f Corrected target cylinder speed calculation unit 9g Restoration control unit 9h Corrected target cylinder speed calculation unit 9i Target cylinder speed selection unit 9j Target pilot pressure calculation unit 9k Valve Command computing unit 9m First positional relationship computing unit (second computing means) 9n 2 excavation area setting section (second setting means) 9p Second positional relationship calculation section (third calculation means) 10a Proportional solenoid valve 10b, 11a, 11b Proportional solenoid valve 12 Shuttle valve 44a, 44b to 49a, 49b Pilot line 60a, 60b, 61a, 61b Pressure detector 70 Reference light detector (first detection means) 71 Reference light detector (second detection means) 80 Reference light generator (first external reference light generation device) 81 Reference light generator ( Second external reference light generator) 100 First setting means 120 First calculating means 140 Second calculating means 150 Third calculating means 160 Second setting means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A front device comprising a plurality of vertically movable front members constituting an articulated front device, and a vehicle body supporting the front device, the front members being driven and controlled respectively. In an excavation area setting device for area limitation excavation control of a construction machine that limits and controls the operating range of a member, (a) is installed outside the construction machine and generates reference light indicating a reference position in the height direction with respect to the excavation area A first external reference light generating device; (b) a second external reference light generating device which is installed outside the construction machine and generates reference light indicating a horizontal reference position with respect to the excavation area; (c) the front A first detection means provided in the device for detecting the reference light output from the first external reference light generation device; and (d) an output of the second external reference light generation device provided in the front device. Second detection means for detecting the reference light, (e) third detection means for detecting a state quantity relating to the position and orientation of the front device, and (f) the front device based on a signal from the third detection device. First calculating means for calculating the position and orientation; (g) first setting means for setting the positional relationship between the reference light generated by the first external reference light generating device and the excavation area; (h) the first When the detecting means detects the reference light generated by the first external reference light generating device, the correction value for the position change of the vehicle body is calculated based on the information on the position and the posture of the front device calculated by the first calculating means. Second calculating means for calculating and calculating the positional relationship in the height direction between the vehicle body and the excavation area based on the correction value and the positional relationship between the reference light set by the first setting means and the excavation area; The second detection means is the second external Third, when the reference light generated by the quasi-light generator is detected, the horizontal positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavation area is calculated based on the position and orientation information of the front device calculated by the first calculating means. (J) A positional relationship in the height direction between the reference light and the excavation area calculated by the second calculating means, and a horizontal positional relationship between the vehicle body and the excavation area calculated by the third calculating means. , The first
Second setting means for setting the excavation area based on the vehicle body based on the positional relationship between the reference light and the excavation area set by the setting means; Setting device. 2. The excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first setting means determines a reference of the excavation area from reference light generated by the first external reference light generator. An excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine, which is means for setting a depth to a point and an inclination angle of a boundary of the excavation area. 3. The excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first setting means has a positional relationship between the reference light and the setting area based on data input by an operating device. An excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine, which is a means for setting an excavation area. 4. The excavation area setting device for area limited excavation control of a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first setting means moves the front device so that a front end of the front device reaches a reference point of the setting region. Means for calculating the position of the tip of the front device based on the information on the position and orientation of the front device calculated by the first calculating means, and the first detecting means for moving the front device to cause the first external reference light to move. A means for calculating the position of the first detecting means based on the position and orientation information of the front device calculated by the first calculating means when the reference light generated by the generating device is detected; and a tip position of the front device. And a position of the first detection means to calculate and store a positional relationship between the reference light and the set area, and a means for storing the positional relationship. apparatus.