Patent Description:
In general, a work machine represented by a hydraulic excavator may perform an operation of loading an excavated matter (this may herein be referred to as "object to be worked") onto a hauling machine such as a dump truck (loading work), in the case of, for example, excavation of a mineral and loading of the mineral onto the dump truck at a mine.

At the time of such an operation, if the loading amount onto the hauling machine (the total weight of the object to be worked on the hauling machine) can be set to a suitable amount, a lowering in production amount due to insufficient loading or wastefulness of reloading due to overloading can be reduced, and production efficiency in the site can be enhanced.

A general method for setting the loading amount onto the hauling machine to a suitable amount may include measuring the load of the excavated matter during when the hydraulic excavator (loading machine) is conveying the excavated matter, integrating the load measured during a loading work onto the hauling machine to calculate the loading amount onto the hauling machine, and presenting the loading amount to the operator of the hydraulic excavator. With the loading amount onto the hauling machine thus presented, the operator of the hydraulic excavator can regulate the excavation amount at the next time and thereafter, and, therefore, the loading amount onto the hauling machine can be set to a suitable amount. In addition, with the loading amount onto the hauling machine and the load of the excavated matter under conveyance presented, the operator of the hydraulic excavator can judge whether or not the loading of the excavated matter being conveyed results in overloading, and, therefore, overloading can be prevented.

As a device for measuring the loading amount onto the hauling machine, <CIT> discloses a work amount monitoring device for a hydraulic excavator, in which in a case where the load difference between an in-bucket load during a swing operation for conveying the conveyed matter (object to be worked) onto the hauling machine and an in-bucket load during a swing operation after the conveyed matter is released onto the hauling machine is equal to or more than a predetermined value and where a bucket dump operation is carried out within a predetermined angle range in the swing direction, the in-bucket load immediately before the bucket dump operation is calculated and integrated as a conveyed matter weight onto the hauling machine. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a loading system that includes a transporter and a loader or a transporter. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a method in which during transfer of a material by a hydraulic excavator, load computing means periodically computes the weight of the material in a bucket of the excavator.

In the work amount monitoring device for the hydraulic excavator disclosed in <CIT>, the presence or absence of loading (soil dropping) onto the hauling machine is determined based on only the hydraulic excavator side information of the swing angle and the bucket dump operation, and, therefore, it is difficult to accurately determined whether or not the object to be worked has actually been loaded onto the hauling machine. For example, in a case where a bucket dump operation is generated in a predetermined swing angle range by other operation than loading, the weight of the object to be worked may be measured and integrated erroneously, with the bucket dump operation as a trigger. In addition, in a case where the dump truck is moved to outside of a predetermined angle range and thereafter a bucket dump operation is performed erroneously within the predetermined angle range, the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck would be failed. In the technology of the above document, however, the weight of the object to be worked would be measured and integrated even in such a case.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic excavator capable of correctly detecting the throwing of an object to be worked onto a hauling machine and capable of accurately outputting a loading amount onto the hauling machine.

The above-mentioned problem is solved in accordance with the appended claims. In particular, there is provided a hydraulic excavator including a hydraulic cylinder driven by a hydraulic fluid delivered from a hydraulic pump, a work implement driven by the hydraulic cylinder, and a controller that calculates a loaded weight of an object to be worked loaded onto a hauling machine by the work implement. The controller performs a first determination of determining whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the hauling machine by the hydraulic excavator has been conducted based on posture of the work implement, calculates a first load that is a load of the object to be worked loaded onto the hauling machine by the hydraulic excavator based on a thrust force of the hydraulic cylinder and a determination result of the first determination, performs a third determination of determining whether or not the first load is to be integrated based on a determination result of a second determination of determining whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the hauling machine by the hydraulic excavator has been conducted that is transmitted from a hauling machine side controller possessed by the hauling machine and on the determination result of the first determination, and calculates the loaded weight on the hauling machine by integrating the first load in a case where it is determined by the third determination that the first load is to be integrated.

According to the present invention, that loading of the object to be worked has been completed is determined based on information from both the hydraulic excavator and the hauling machine. Therefore, the throwing of the object to be worked from the hydraulic excavator onto the hauling machine is detected correctly, and the loading amount onto the hauling machine can be accurately computed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, using the drawings. A case where a hydraulic excavator is utilized as a loading machine constituting a load measuring system for a work machine and a dump truck is utilized as a hauling machine will be described below.

In addition, for convenience herein, a "loading work (conveying work)" onto the dump truck (hauling machine) by the hydraulic excavator (loading machine) is defined as an operation including four motions, that is, A) an "excavating motion" of excavating an object to be worked (matter to be conveyed) and loading the object to be worked into a bucket (see <FIG>), B) a "conveying motion" of moving the bucket to an upper side of a cargo bed of the dump truck by combination of a swing of an upper swing structure and a motion of a front work implement, C) a "loading operation" (see <FIG>) of releasing (soil dropping) the object to be worked in the bucket onto the cargo bed of the dump truck, and D) a "reaching motion" of moving the bucket to a desired position over the object to be worked for starting the excavating motion. In many cases, the hydraulic excavator performs these four motions repeatedly in this order, thereby filling the cargo bed of the dump truck with the object to be worked. The conveying motion of B) is in many cases performed by swing boom raising. The loading operation of C) is in many cases performed by bucket dumping. The loading machine to which the present invention pertains is not limited to a hydraulic excavator having a bucket as an attachment, but includes a hydraulic excavator having a member capable of holding and releasing a matter to be conveyed, such as a grapple and a lifting magnet. In addition, the present invention is applicable also to a wheel loader or the like including a work arm that cannot be swung like the hydraulic excavator.

<FIG> is a side view of a hydraulic excavator according to the present embodiment, and <FIG> is a side view of a dump truck according to the present embodiment.

A hydraulic excavator <NUM> of <FIG> includes: a lower track structure <NUM>; an upper swing structure <NUM> to be swingable provided at an upper part of the lower track structure <NUM>; a front work implement <NUM> that is an articulated work arm mounted on a front side of the upper swing structure <NUM>; a swing motor <NUM> that is a hydraulic motor for swinging the upper swing structure <NUM>; an operation room <NUM> which is provided on the upper swing structure <NUM> and into which an operator ride to operate the excavator <NUM>; a control lever <NUM> provided in the operation room <NUM> for controlling motions of actuators mounted on the hydraulic excavator <NUM>; and a controller <NUM> that includes a storage device (for example, ROM or RAM), a calculation processing device (for example, CPU) and an input/output device and that controls operations of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>.

The front work implement <NUM> includes: a boom <NUM> rotatably provided on the upper swing structure <NUM>; an arm <NUM> rotatably provided at a tip of the boom <NUM>; a bucket (attachment) <NUM> rotatably provided at a tip of the arm <NUM>; a boom cylinder <NUM> as a hydraulic cylinder that drives the boom <NUM>; an arm cylinder <NUM> as a hydraulic cylinder that drives the arm <NUM>; and a bucket cylinder <NUM> as a hydraulic cylinder that drives the bucket <NUM>. The boom cylinder <NUM>, the arm cylinder <NUM> and the bucket cylinder <NUM> are individually driven by a hydraulic fluid delivered from a hydraulic pump (not illustrated) mounted on the upper swing structure <NUM>.

A boom angle sensor <NUM>, an arm angle sensor <NUM> and a bucket angle sensor <NUM> are attached respectively to rotary shafts of the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM>. Respective rotational angles of the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> can be acquired from these angle sensors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. In addition, a swing angular velocity sensor <NUM> and an inclination angle sensor <NUM> are attached to the upper swing structure <NUM>, and they are configured such that swing angular velocity of the upper swing structure <NUM> and inclination angle in the front-rear direction of the upper swing structure <NUM> can be acquired. Posture of the front work implement <NUM> can be specified from detection values at the angle sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

A boom bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and a boom rod pressure sensor <NUM>, and an arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and an arm rod pressure sensor <NUM> are attached respectively to the boom cylinder <NUM> and the arm cylinder <NUM>, such that the pressure inside each hydraulic cylinder can be acquired. Thrust forces of the cylinders <NUM> and <NUM>, that is, driving forces given to the front work implement <NUM> can be specified from detection values at the pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

Note that the boom angle sensor <NUM>, the arm angle sensor <NUM>, the bucket angle sensor <NUM>, the inclination angle sensor <NUM> and the swing angular velocity sensor <NUM> may be replaced by other sensors insofar as the other sensors can detect physical quantities concerning the posture of the front work implement <NUM>. For instance, the boom angle sensor <NUM>, the arm angle sensor <NUM> and the bucket angle sensor <NUM> can be each replaced by an inclination angle sensor or an inertia measuring unit (IMU). In addition, the boom bottom pressure sensor <NUM>, the boom rod pressure sensor <NUM>, the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and the arm rod pressure sensor <NUM> can be replaced by other sensors insofar as the other sensors can detect physical quantities concerning the thrust forces generated by the boom cylinder <NUM> and the arm cylinder <NUM>, that is, the driving forces given to the front work implement <NUM>. Further, instead of detecting the thrust forces or driving forces, moving speeds of the boom cylinder <NUM> and the arm cylinder <NUM> may be detected by stroke sensors, or moving speeds of the boom <NUM> and the arm <NUM> may be detected by IMUs, thereby detecting the motions of the front work implement <NUM>.

An external input/output device <NUM> that displays measurement results of a load measuring system is provided inside the operation room <NUM>, and a wireless transceiver <NUM> for the controller <NUM> to communicate with an external controller (for example, a controller <NUM>) is attached to an upper surface of the upper swing structure <NUM>.

As the external input/output device <NUM>, there are provided a display device 23A (see <FIG>) that displays results of calculation in the controller <NUM> and the like, and an input device 23B (see <FIG>) for an operator to input information to the controller <NUM>. As the display device 23A, there can be utilized, for example, a liquid crystal display. As the input device 23B, there can be utilized, for example, a ten-key pad, a touch panel, a keyboard or the like.

The dump truck <NUM> of <FIG> includes a machine body <NUM>, four tires 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d attached individually to front and rear axles (not illustrated) provided on the machine body <NUM>, a vessel <NUM> as a cargo bed into which a matter to be loaded is thrown by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, and an operation room <NUM> into which the operator rides to operate the dump truck <NUM>.

Four suspensions 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d that support the machine body <NUM> are attached to the axles. The suspensions 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d are provided with suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d (first machine status sensors) for measuring the pressures of suspensions. The suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d detects the suspension pressures as physical quantities concerning the weight of the object to be worked that is loaded into the dump truck <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> that includes a storage device (for example, ROM or RAM), a calculation processing device (for example, CPU) and an input/output device and that controls the dump truck <NUM>, and a wireless transceiver <NUM> for the controller <NUM> to communicate with an external controller (for example, the controller <NUM>) are attached to the machine body <NUM>. A display device <NUM> for displaying machine body information on the dump truck <NUM> is provided inside the operation room <NUM>. As the display device <NUM>, there can be utilized, for example, a liquid crystal display. In addition, the machine body <NUM> is provided with a machine speed sensor (third machine body status sensor) <NUM> that measures the traveling speed of the dump truck <NUM>.

Note that the suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d can be replaced by other sensors insofar as the other sensors can detect physical quantities concerning the weight of the object to be worked loaded into the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>. In addition, the machine speed sensor <NUM> can be replaced by other sensor insofar as the other sensor can detect a physical quantity concerning the traveling status of the dump truck <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are external views depicting an example of motion of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> during a loading work. The hydraulic excavator <NUM> of <FIG> is performing an "excavating motion" of excavating the object to be worked (the object to be excavated) <NUM> and loading the object to be worked <NUM> into the bucket <NUM>, and the hydraulic excavator <NUM> of <FIG> is performing a "loading operation" of releasing the object to be worked <NUM> in the bucket <NUM> onto the cargo bed <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>.

<NUM> is a system configuration diagram of a load measuring system in the present embodiment, in which respective functions are depicted in block diagrams in the inside of the controller <NUM> and the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> on the dump truck <NUM> side receives inputs of signals from the suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d and the machine speed sensor <NUM>, and is configured such that information (for example, loading determination and loading work determination which will be described later) computed based on these signals can be transmitted to the controller <NUM> on the excavator side through the wireless transceiver <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> functions as: a loading determination section <NUM> that determines whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> (throwing of the object to be worked onto the cargo bed <NUM>) by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted based on the weight of the object to be worked calculated from detection values outputted from the suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d; a loading work determination section <NUM> that determines whether or not the dump truck <NUM> is under the loading work of loading the object to be worked by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> based on the speed of the dump truck <NUM> calculated by a detection value outputted by the machine speed sensor <NUM>; and a transmission/reception section <NUM> that controls transmission/reception of information (for example, results of determination by the loading determination section <NUM> and the loading work determination section <NUM>) through the wireless transceiver <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side is configured to be able to receive, as inputs, outputs of the angle sensors <NUM> to <NUM> and the pressure sensors <NUM> to <NUM>, reception signals of the wireless transceiver <NUM>, and information inputted from the input device 23B, to calculate information (for example, the loading amount onto the hauling machine <NUM>) computed based on the inputs, display the information on the display device 23A, or to transmit the information to the controller <NUM> on the dump truck side through the wireless transceiver <NUM>.

In addition, the controller <NUM> functions as: a conveyance determination section <NUM> that determines whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted based on a detection value at the bucket angle sensor <NUM> indicating the posture of the front work implement <NUM> and detection values at the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and the arm rod pressure sensor <NUM> indicating a load on the arm cylinder <NUM>; a load calculation section <NUM> that calculates the load (first load) of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> concerning the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> based on a thrust force of the boom cylinder <NUM> calculated from detection values at the boom bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and the boom rod pressure sensor <NUM>; a transmission/reception section <NUM> that controls transmission and reception of information (for example, results of determination by the loading determination section <NUM> and the loading work determination section <NUM>) through the wireless transceiver <NUM>; an abnormality determination section <NUM> that determines presence or absence of an abnormality in a load measuring system based on results of determination by the conveyance determination section <NUM>, the loading determination section <NUM> and the loading work determination section <NUM>, detection values outputted by the suspension pressure sensors 39a, 39b, 39c and 39d and the like; a load integration propriety determination section <NUM> that determines whether or not the load calculated by the load calculation section <NUM> is to be integrated based on results of determination by the conveyance determination section <NUM> and the loading determination section <NUM>; and a load integration section <NUM> that calculates the load loaded on the dump truck <NUM> by integrating the load when it is determined by the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> that the load (first load) calculated by the load calculation section <NUM> is to be integrated, and that outputs a display based on the calculation results to the display device 23A.

Next, a method of calculating the load loaded on the dump truck <NUM> by integrating the load in the bucket <NUM> based on the determination results of both the conveyance determination in the hydraulic excavator <NUM> and the loading determination in the dump truck <NUM> by the load measuring system according to the present embodiment will be described below, using <FIG>.

<Loading Work Determining Method by Loading Work Determination Section <NUM>>.

<FIG> is a flow chart depicting a method (sixth determination) of determining whether or not the dump truck <NUM> is under a loading work by the loading work determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the dump truck <NUM> side, and <FIG> is an example of graph depicting the relation between a detection value at the machine speed sensor <NUM> and the result of determination by the loading work determination section <NUM>.

The flow chart of <FIG> is executed every predetermined sampling period in the controller <NUM> on the dump truck <NUM>.

The loading work determination section <NUM> first determines whether or not a fixed time Δtv has passed from the time of start of the flow chart, in step S100. When it is determined that the fixed time Δtv has not passed, the control returns to before execution of step S100, and continues monitoring time passage in step S100. On the other hand, when it is determined that the fixed time Δtv has passed, the control proceeds to step S101.

In step S101, it is determined whether or not the loading work determination is in non-loading work. The loading work determination includes "in loading work" that indicates that the dump truck <NUM> is under a loading work together with the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, and "in non-loading work" that indicates that the dump truck <NUM> is not under a loading work (for example, it is in traveling). The loading work determination is set in steps S103 and S105 described later. A default value (a value at the time of start of the flow of <FIG>) for the loading work determination is in non-loading work. When the loading work determination in step S101 is in non-loading work (in the case of YES), the control goes to step S102. In contrast, when the loading work is in loading work (in the case of NO), the control goes to step S104.

In step S102, it is determined whether or not the machine speed (traveling speed) of the dump truck <NUM> is equal to or less than a predetermined value, based on an output from the machine speed sensor <NUM>. The predetermined value here is a value by which it can be determined whether or not the dump truck <NUM> is at stoppage, and can be set at, for example, <NUM>/h. When the machine speed is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the loading work determination is set in step S103 to be in loading work, after which the control goes to step S106. On the other hand, when the machine speed exceeds the predetermined value, the processing in step S103 is skipped, and the control goes to step S106. As depicted in <FIG>, in a case where the machine speed is lowered to or below the predetermined value during when the loading work determination is set to be "in non-loading work," the dump truck <NUM> is deemed as being at stoppage for a loading work, and the loading work determination is changed to "in loading work.

In step S104, it is determined whether or not the machine speed of the dump truck <NUM> is equal to or more than a predetermined value, based on an output from the machine speed sensor <NUM>. The predetermined value here is the same as the predetermined value in step S102, and is a value by which it can be determined whether or not the dump truck <NUM> is at stoppage. When the machine speed is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the loading work determination is set to be in non-loading work in step S105, after which the control goes to step S106. On the other hand, when the machine speed is less than the predetermined value, the processing in step S105 is skipped, and the control goes to step S106. As depicted in <FIG>, in a case where the machine speed is raised to or above the predetermined value during when the loading work determination is set to be "loading work," it is deemed that the loading work is finished and the dump truck <NUM> has started traveling, and the loading work determination is changed to "in non-loading work.

Finally, the loading work determination section <NUM> outputs the result of the loading work determination of the dump truck <NUM> (whether the dump truck <NUM> is in loading work or in non-loading work) to the transmission/reception section <NUM> in step S106, and the transmission/reception section <NUM> transmits it to the hydraulic excavator <NUM> through the wireless transceiver <NUM>. When the processing in step S106 is finished, the control returned to before step S100, and the loading work determination section <NUM> monitors whether a predetermined time has passed from the time of finish of step S106, in step S100.

Note that a flow chart may be configured such that the control goes to step S103 or step S105 and the loading work determination is changed only when a machine speed satisfying a condition has continued for a predetermined time in step S102 or step S104.

<FIG> is a flow chart depicting a method (second determination) of determining whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, by the loading determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the dump truck <NUM> side. <FIG> is a graph depicting an example of time variation of a detection value at the suspension pressure sensor 39a of the dump truck <NUM> under a loading work.

Each step in <FIG> is executed every predetermined sampling period in the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>.

The loading determination section <NUM> first determines, in step S110, whether or not a fixed time Δtp has passed from the time of start of the flow chart; when it is determined that the fixed time Δtp has not passed, the control goes to before execution of step S110, and monitoring of passed time is continued in step S110. On the other hand, when it is determined that the fixed time Δtp has passed, the control proceeds to step S111.

In step S111, pressure values outputted from the four suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d are acquired.

In step S112, differences ΔP between the pressure values obtained in step S111 by the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d and preceding-time pressure values are computed, and it is determined whether or not any one of the four differences is equal to or more than a predetermined value. The "preceding-time pressures" here means the pressure values acquired in step S111 before one control period (before Δtp) and stored in step S115. The predetermined value here is a value by which it can be determined whether or not the object to be worked has been thrown onto the cargo bed <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>, and can be set to, for example, a pressure value increased by the weight of the object to be worked equal to one half of the bucket capacity. When the object to be worked is thrown onto the cargo bed of the dump truck <NUM>, the pressures of the suspensions 38a to 38d are raised as indicated in section of t1 to t2 and section of t3 to t4 in <FIG>. Note that in <FIG>, only the variation in the pressure concerning the suspension 38a is depicted, for simplification of explanation, and the suffixes in the subsequent description correspond to the suspensions 38a to 38d. In step S112, when any one of the four differences ΔPa to ΔPd is equal to or more than the predetermined value, it is determined that the object to be worked has been thrown onto the cargo bed <NUM>, and the control proceeds to step S113. If not so, the control proceeds to step S115.

In step S113, the loading determination section <NUM> calculates the weight (loaded amount) M (second load) of the object to be worked that is thrown in. Let inside diameters of the suspensions 38a to 38d be Aa to Ad and let the gravitational acceleration be g, then the weight M (second load) of the object to be worked is represented by the following formula (<NUM>).

After the loaded amount M is calculated in step S113, the loading determination section <NUM> determines (loading determination) that the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted, in step S114, while the transmission/reception section <NUM> transmits the determination result (loading determination) and the loaded amount M to the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side through the wireless transceiver <NUM>, and the control proceeds to step S115.

In step S115, the loading determination section <NUM> stores the suspension pressures acquired in step S111 this time as the preceding-time suspension pressures for calculation in step S112 next time, and the transmission/reception section <NUM> transmits the suspension pressures to the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side through the wireless transceiver <NUM>. Thereafter, the control returns to before step S110, and the loading determination section <NUM> stands by until the fixed time Δtp passes again.

<FIG> is a flow chart depicting a method (first determination) of determining whether or not the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted, by the conveyance determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side. <FIG> is an example of graph depicting the relation between a detection value at the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> (arm cylinder bottom pressure) and a detection value at the bucket angle sensor <NUM> (arm-bucket relative angle) and the result of determination by the conveyance determination section <NUM>.

The flow chart of <FIG> is executed every predetermined sampling period in the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>.

The conveyance determination section <NUM> monitors an output of the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM>, and determines whether or not the output has exceeded a preset threshold <NUM> from the state of being below the threshold <NUM>, in step S120. Since the hydraulic excavator <NUM> performs excavation by pushing out the arm cylinder <NUM>, the arm cylinder bottom pressure increases during an excavating motion, as depicted in the graph on the lower side in <FIG>. In the present embodiment, therefore, the excavating motion is deemed as being started at the timing when the arm bottom pressure exceeds the threshold <NUM>. When it is determined in step S120 that the arm bottom pressure has exceeded the threshold <NUM> from the state of being below the threshold <NUM>, the conveyance determination section <NUM> determines that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has started an excavating motion, and the control proceeds to step S121. In contrast, when the arm bottom pressure does not exceed the threshold <NUM> from the state of being below the threshold <NUM> (when it remains equal to or less than the threshold <NUM>), the control returns to before step S120, and monitoring of the output of the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> is continued.

In step S121, continued monitoring of the output of the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM> is conducted, and it is determined whether or not the output has decreased below a preset threshold <NUM> from the state of being above the threshold <NUM>. Since the arm cylinder bottom pressure decreases when an excavating motion is finished as depicted in the graph on the lower side in <FIG>, in the present embodiment the excavating motion is deemed as finished and the conveying motion is deemed as started, at the timing when the arm bottom pressure decreases below the threshold <NUM>. When it is determined in step S121 that the arm bottom pressure has decreased below the threshold <NUM> from the state of being above the threshold <NUM>, the conveyance determination section <NUM> determines that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has finished the excavating motion and that the conveying motion is started (fourth determination (No. <NUM>)), and the control proceeds to step S122. In contrast, when the arm bottom pressure does not decease below the threshold <NUM> from the state of being above the threshold <NUM> (when it remains equal to or more than the threshold <NUM>), the conveyance determination section <NUM> determines that the excavating motion is being continued, and the control returns to before step S121, to continue monitoring the output of the arm bottom pressure sensor <NUM>.

Note that as for the relation between the threshold <NUM> and the threshold <NUM>, the relation of threshold <NUM> < threshold <NUM> is established in the example depicted in <FIG>, but this is merely an example. Arbitrary threshold values can be set in such a range that the start and finish of an excavating motion of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> can be determined. Besides, in this case, the relation in magnitude between the threshold <NUM> and the threshold <NUM> does not matter.

In step S122, the conveyance determination section <NUM> outputs to the exterior a determination that a conveying motion has been started, and the control proceeds to step S123. The destinations to which this determination is outputted include the load integration propriety determination section <NUM>.

In step S123, the conveyance determination section <NUM> monitors an output of the bucket angle sensor <NUM>, and determines whether or not an arm-bucket relative angle (the angle formed between the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM>) has exceeded a preset threshold <NUM>. The hydraulic excavator <NUM> having finished the conveying motion and starting the loading operation operates such as to widen the angle formed between the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> in order to release the earth and sand (the object to be excavated) in the bucket <NUM>. Specifically, as depicted in the graph on the upper side in <FIG>, the relative angle between the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> increases at the time of transition from the conveying motion to the loading operation. In the present embodiment, therefore, the conveying motion is deemed as finished and the loading operation is deemed as started at the timing when the relative angle between the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> exceeds the threshold <NUM>. When it is determined in step S123 that the arm-bucket relative angle has exceeded the threshold <NUM>, the conveyance determination section <NUM> determines that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has finished the conveying motion and has started the loading operation (fourth determination (No. <NUM>)), and the control proceeds to step S124. On the other hand, when it is determined that the arm-bucket relative angle does not exceed the threshold <NUM> (when it remains equal to or less than the threshold <NUM>), the conveyance determination section <NUM> determined that the conveying motion is being continued, and the control returns to before step S123, to continue monitoring the output of the bucket angle sensor <NUM>.

In step S124, the conveyance determination section <NUM> outputs to the exterior a determination that the conveying motion has been finished (a determination that the loading operation has been started), and the control returns to step S120. The destinations to which this determination is outputted include the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> and the abnormality determination section <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flow chart depicting a method (fifth determination) of determining presence or absence of an abnormality in the load measuring system according to the present embodiment, by the abnormality determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side.

First, in step S130, the abnormality determination section <NUM> determines whether or not the loading work determination (the result of the loading work determination transmitted in step S106 of <FIG>) received from the dump truck <NUM> is set to the loading work. When the loading work determination is set to "loading work," the control proceeds to step S133, whereas when the loading work determination is set to "non-loading work," the control proceeds to step S131.

In step S131, the abnormality determination section <NUM> determines whether or not a predetermined time Δtw has passed from the time of start of the flow chart, and checks if a state of no reception of the result of the loading work determination is being continued. The predetermined time Δtw here is a time of equal to or more than the execution period of the flow chart of <FIG> by the loading work determination section <NUM>, that is, a time of equal to or more than the fixed time Δtv in step S100 of <FIG>. Note that the value of Δtw is preferably a value in the range from Δtv to two times Δtv. The controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> transmits the result of the loading work determination at the fixed period Δtv, as depicted in <FIG>. If reception of the result of the loading work determination is absent even when the fixed period Δtv has passed, therefore, communication with the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> may not be being performed. When it is determined in step S131 that the predetermined time Δtw has not passed, the control returns to before step S130, and the presence or absence of reception of the loading work determination is again monitored in step S130. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time Δtw has passed, the control proceeds to step S132.

In step S132, it is determined whether or not it has been determined in the conveyance determination section <NUM> that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has finished the conveying motion. Here, when the determination of the finish of the conveying motion is absent, the control returns to before step S130, and whether there is reception of the result of the loading work determination is again monitored in step S130. On the other hand, when the determination of the finish of the conveying motion is present, the control proceeds to step S137, where it is determined that an abnormality is present in the system and an abnormality determination is outputted. In this way, in a case where the result of loading work determination could not been received for the predetermined period Δtw in step S131 and where it is determined in step S132 that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has finished conveyance, it can be decided that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> is conducting loading onto the dump truck <NUM> but communication is not established between them. In other words, when determination at step S132 is YES, it can be decided that an abnormality in communication relation is present. Note that start of a loading operation may be determined in step S132 in place of finish of the conveying motion.

When loading work determination is set to "in loading work" in step S130, whether or not there is an abnormality in the output values of the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d transmitted from the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> in step S115 of <FIG> is determined in step S133 (fifth determination). Specifically, from the output values of the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d indicative of the weight of the object to be worked loaded on the dump truck <NUM>, an average value of the pressure values of the four suspensions is computed, then differences of the four pressure values from the average value are computed, and, if all the four differences are within a predetermined value, it is deemed that no abnormality is present in the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d, and the control proceeds to step S134. On the other hand, if any one of the four differences is equal to or more than a predetermined value, it is determined that an abnormality is present in the system. When any one of the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d is troubled, the pressure value is not outputted normally, and the difference between the output value of the troubled sensor and that of the non-troubled sensor is enlarged. Therefore, in a case where determination at step S133 is NO, it can be decided that one or some of the pressure sensors 39a to 39d may be troubled.

In step S134, the abnormality determination section <NUM> determines whether or not a determination that the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted (the loading determination transmitted in step S114 of <FIG>) has been received from the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>. When it is determined that the loading determination has been received, the control proceeds to step S135, and, if not so, the control returns to before step S130, to again monitor whether or not the loading determination has been received.

In step S135, a load value (first load) of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> outputted from the load calculation section <NUM> in step S146 of <FIG> to be described later and a loaded amount M (second load) outputted from the loading determination section <NUM> in step S114 of <FIG> are compared with each other, and it is determined whether or not the difference (weight difference) between them is within a predetermined value. When the weight difference is within the predetermined value, it is determined in step S136 that the system is normal. On the other hand, when the weight difference exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined in step S137 that an abnormality is present in the system. In this way, when decision at step S135 is NO, it can be decided that a trouble may have been generated in either of the load calculation section <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> and the loading determination section <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>.

Note that the determination result of the system abnormality based on the flow chart of <FIG> is stored inside the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side, and is referred to, as required, by the controller <NUM> itself or other devices or computers. Even in a case where abnormality determination is once made in step S137, if the control proceeds to step S136 due to a change-over of the dump truck <NUM> or the like, a determination result that the system is normal is stored.

<FIG> is an illustration of a calculating method for an instantaneous load Ml of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> by the load calculation section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side. In the present embodiment, the load is computed by utilizing the balance between a torque acting around a rotational axis of the boom <NUM> which torque is generated by the boom cylinder <NUM>, a torque generated by the front work implement <NUM> due to gravity and a swing centrifugal force, and a torque generated by the object to be worked due to gravity and a swing centrifugal force.

A thrust force Fcyl of the boom cylinder <NUM> is computed by multiplying an output signal of the boom bottom pressure sensor <NUM> and an output signal of the boom rod pressure sensor <NUM> by a pressure receiving area of the boom cylinder <NUM>, and then obtaining the difference between the products. A torque Tbm generated by the boom cylinder <NUM> is computed from the following formula (<NUM>), where Lbm is the length of a line segment interconnecting a boom rotational axis and a working point of the thrust force Fcyl of the boom cylinder <NUM>, and θbmcyl is an angle formed between the thrust force Fcyl of the boom cylinder <NUM> and the line segment Lbm and the direction of the thrust force.

A torque Tgfr generated by the front work implement <NUM> due to gravity is computed by the following formula (<NUM>), where Mfr is the center-of-gravity weight of the front work implement <NUM>, g is the gravitational acceleration, and Lfr is the length in the front-rear direction from the rotational axis of the boom to the center of gravity of the front work implement.

A torque Tcfr generated by the front work implement <NUM> due to a swing centrifugal force is computed by the following formula (<NUM>), where ω is the swing angular velocity, and θfr is the angle formed between a line segment interconnecting the boom rotational axis and the center of gravity of the front work implement and a horizontal plane.

Note that Mfr, Lfr, and θfr are computed from the respective center-of-gravity positions and weights of the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM> that are preset and the angle signals outputted from the boom angle sensor <NUM>, the arm angle sensor <NUM>, the bucket angle sensor <NUM> and the inclination angle sensor <NUM>.

A torque Tgl generated by the object to be worked due to gravity is computed by the following formula (<NUM>), where Ml is the instantaneous load of the object to be worked, and Ll is the length in the front-rear direction from the rotational axis of the boom to the center of gravity of the bucket.

A torque Tcl generated by the object to be worked due to the swing centrifugal force is computed by the following formula (<NUM>), where θl is the angle formed between a line segment interconnecting the rotational axis of the boom and the center of gravity of the object to be worked and a horizontal plane.

When the balance from the formula (<NUM>) to the formula (<NUM>) is modified and the formulas are developed with respect to the instantaneous load Ml of the object to be worked, the instantaneous load Ml is computed by the following formula (<NUM>).

The calculations of the load by the formulas (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) cannot always output a fixed value during conveyance due to the sensor noises and the characteristics of the hydraulic circuit; therefore, the instantaneous load Ml computed in a predetermined period during when the hydraulic excavator <NUM> is in a conveying motion is averaged, and the load (first load) of the object to be worked is determined.

<FIG> is a flow chart of processing steps performed by the load calculation section <NUM>, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> and the load integration section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side. Here, using <FIG>, description will be made of a method in which the load calculation section <NUM> determines the load (first load) of the object to be worked in the bucket during conveyance, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines whether or not the load (first load) is to be integrated (third determination), and the load integration section <NUM> integrates the load and thereby outputs the loaded weight.

The flow chart of <FIG> is executed every predetermined sampling period in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side.

First, in step S140, the load integration section <NUM> determines whether or not the setting of loading work determination outputted at a fixed period Δtv from the dump truck <NUM> in step S106 of <FIG> has been changed over. When it is determined that the loading work determination has not been changed over, the control proceeds to step S142, whereas when it is determined that the loading work determination has been changed over, the control proceeds to step S141 to reset the loaded weight on the dump truck <NUM>, and the control proceeds to step S142. The loaded weight is reset at with the timing when in loading work and in non-loading work are changed over, whereby it is possible to integrate the load of the object to be worked only in the period in which the dump truck <NUM> is under a loading work.

In step S142, the load calculation section <NUM> monitors whether or not a conveying motion start determination has been outputted from the conveyance determination section <NUM>. When the conveying motion start determination has been outputted, the control proceeds to step S143, and if not so, the control returns to before step S140, to monitor the output of the loading work determination section <NUM> (setting of the loading work determination).

In step S143, the load calculation section <NUM> performs calculations concerning the formulas (<NUM>) to (<NUM>) to calculate the instantaneous load Ml of the object to be worked, the instantaneous load Ml is recorded in the controller <NUM> in step S144, and the control proceeds to step S145.

In step S145, the load calculation section <NUM> determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed from the time of output of the conveying motion start determination (the time when determination of YES is made in step S142). When it is determined here that the predetermined time has not passed, the control returns to before step S143, and step S143 and step S144 are again executed. By repeating step S143 and step S144 in the predetermined time, a plurality of instantaneous loads Ml calculated in the predetermined time can be recorded. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the control proceeds to step S146. In step S146, the load calculation section <NUM> calculates an average load of the plurality of instantaneous loads Ml recorded within the predetermined time, the average load is made to be a load value (first load) of the object to be worked, and the control proceeds to step S147.

In step S147, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> monitors whether or not a conveying motion finish determination has been outputted from the conveyance determination section <NUM>. When it is determined that the conveying motion finish determination has not been outputted, the control returns to before step S147, to continue monitoring the conveying motion finish determination. On the other hand, when it is determined that the conveying motion finish determination has been outputted, a loading operation by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> is deemed as started, and the control proceeds to step S148. Note that in step S147, a loading operation start determination may be monitored in place of the conveying motion finish determination.

In step S148, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines whether or not the abnormality determination section <NUM> has made an abnormality determination. Specifically, determination is made by referring to the result of abnormality determination stored in the inside of the controller <NUM>. Here, when the abnormality determination has not been made (that is, when a normality determination is stored), the control proceeds to step S149, whereas when the abnormality determination has been made (that is, when the abnormality determination is stored), the control proceeds to step S151.

In step S149, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines whether or not a determination that the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has been conducted (a loading determination transmitted in step S114 of <FIG>) has been received from the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>. When it is determined that the loading determination has been received, the load integration section <NUM> integrates the average load computed in step S145 onto the loaded weight (integrated weight) in step S154, and the control proceeds to step S155. On the other hand, when reception of the loading determination is not found in step S149, the control proceeds to step S150.

In step S150, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines whether or not a predetermined time ΔT has passed from the time of conveying motion finish determination in step S147. As the predetermined time ΔT, there can be set an arbitrary time within a range from (<NUM>) a time required for the hydraulic excavator <NUM> to perform a loading operation to (<NUM>) a time required for the hydraulic excavator <NUM> to perform a series of operations including excavation, conveyance, loading and reaching at the time of a loading work. The predetermined time ΔT may be inputted and determined by the operator through the input device 23B according to the tendency of the required time of each operator concerning the loading work. When it is determined in step S150 that the predetermined time ΔT has not passed, the control returns to before step S148, to again monitor the abnormality determination and the loading determination. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time ΔT has passed, it is deemed that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has completed a conveying motion (has started a loading operation) but the loading of the object to be worked onto the cargo bed <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> has not been performed, and the control proceeds to step S155 by skipping step S154 (that is, without integration of the average load in step S145). A specific example of a case where the control proceeds from step S150 to step S155 is a situation in which the hydraulic excavator <NUM> puts the bucket <NUM> into a dump operation, but, since the cargo bed <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> is not located thereunder, the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> is failed.

When it is determined in step S148 that there has been an abnormality, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> instructs outputting, to the display device 23A, of a warning display of notifying the operator that automatic load integration is impossible due to system abnormality, and an inquiry display of inquiring the operator if integration is needed, in step S151, whereby the warning display and the inquiry display are displayed on the display device 23A (for the inquiry display, refer to an inquiry display section <NUM> of <FIG> to be described later). When the operator desires to perform integration, in response to the warning display and the inquiry display, an instruction of need for integration is inputted through the input device 23B.

In subsequent step S152, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines whether or not the instruction of need for integration (this may herein be referred to as "integration instruction") has been inputted by the operator through the input device 23B. Here, when it is determined that the integration instruction has been given from the operator, the load integration section <NUM> integrates (step S154) the average load computed in step S145 onto the previous loaded weight (integrated load), and the control proceeds to step S155. On the other hand, when the integration instruction is absent, the control proceeds to step S153, to determine whether or not a predetermined time has passed from the warning output in step S151. When it is determined in step S153 that the predetermined time has not passed, the control returns to before step S152, to again monitor the presence or absence of an input of the integration instruction. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined time has passed, the control proceeds to step S155 by skipping step S154.

In step S155, the load calculation section <NUM> resets the average load calculated in step S146, and the control returns to before step S140.

<FIG> is an external view of a display screen (output screen) of the display device 23A. Using <FIG>, a displaying method for load measurement results in the load measuring system according to the present embodiment and a method of instructing execution of integration in a case where an abnormality is present in the system will be described.

The display device 23A is configured by a touch panel. The display screen of the display device 23A includes: a target load display section <NUM> where to display a target loaded weight (target load value) on the dump truck <NUM>; an in-bucket load display section <NUM> where to display the load value (average load value of the instantaneous load Ml) of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> that is calculated in step S146 of <FIG>; a sum total load display section <NUM> where to display the integrated value of load value of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> that is calculated in step S154 (integrated load on the dump truck <NUM>); a remainder load display section <NUM> where to display the difference between the value (target loaded weight) displayed in the target load display section <NUM> and the value (integrated value of load value) displayed in the sum total load display section <NUM>; an integration bar display section <NUM> where to display the history of the load value of the object to be worked that is integrated in numerical values and a pile-up vertical bar graph (integration bar); and an inquiry display section <NUM> where to display an inquiry display (a display of inquiring of the operator whether integration is needed) in step S151.

The value in the in-bucket load display section <NUM> is updated to a newest value calculated in step S146 of <FIG>, and is updated to <NUM> when reset in step S155. The value in the sum total load display section <NUM> and the display in the integration bar display section <NUM> are updated to a newest value when step S154 is executed, and are updated to <NUM> when reset in step S141.

An inquiry display <NUM> of inquiring of the operator whether or not loading is needed in step S151 when a system abnormality is detected is displayed in the inquiry display section <NUM>. An integration instruction input section <NUM> as a button to be depressed in the case where the operator desires integration is displayed in the inquiry display section <NUM> together with the inquiry display <NUM>. When the integration instruction input section <NUM> is depressed, the load integration propriety determination section <NUM> determines that an integration instruction has been inputted in step S152. On the other hand, when the integration instruction input section <NUM> is not depressed, the integration in step S154 is not executed. Note that in the example of <FIG>, a configuration is adopted in which a remaining time (<NUM> seconds in <FIG>) from the timing of outputting of the warning display in step S151 until the predetermined time has passed in step S153 is displayed in the inquiry display section <NUM> together with the inquiry display <NUM>, and, when the remaining time is reduced to zero (that is, when the predetermined time in step S153 has been passed), the display in the inquiry display section <NUM> disappears.

An operation of the load measuring system configured as above will be described below. First, a case where normality determination (<FIG>: step S136) has been made by the abnormality determination section <NUM> of the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> will be described.

In the embodiment configured as above, when the dump truck <NUM> in an empty state stops for receiving the loading of the object to be worked by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, the loading work determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> changes the loading work determination from in non-loading work to in loading work (<FIG>: steps S102 and S103), and transmits this result to the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> (<FIG>: step S106).

The controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> having received the loading work determination result recognizes the change-over of the loading work determination result and resets the loaded weight (<FIG>: steps S140 and S141), and starts monitoring whether or not the hydraulic excavator <NUM> starts a conveying motion (<FIG>: step S142). When the hydraulic excavator <NUM> starts a crowding operation of the arm <NUM> for an excavating motion, the bottom pressure of the arm cylinder <NUM> exceeds threshold <NUM> due to load attendant on excavation, thereafter, when the excavating motion is finished and the load is lightened, the bottom pressure of the arm cylinder <NUM> decreased below threshold <NUM>. In this instance, the conveyance determination section <NUM> of the controller <NUM> outputs a determination indicative of that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has started the conveying motion (<FIG>: step S122).

When a conveying motion start determination is outputted from the conveyance determination section <NUM>, the load integration section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> repeatedly calculates and records the instantaneous load Ml of the object to be worked in the bucket <NUM> in a predetermined time, and causes an average load value of the instantaneous loads Ml calculated in the predetermined time to be a load value of the object to be worked (<FIG>: steps S143 to S146). In other words, the computation of the load value of the object to be worked is conducted during the conveying motion of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>.

The hydraulic excavator <NUM> having moved the bucket <NUM> to the upper side of the cargo bed of the dump truck <NUM> by the conveying motion starts a dumping operation of the bucket <NUM> for starting a loading operation. In this instance, the arm-bucket relative angle exceeds threshold <NUM>, and the conveyance determination section <NUM> in the controller <NUM> outputs a determination indicating that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has finished the conveying motion (<FIG>: step S124). That the conveying motion finish determination is outputted from the conveyance determination section <NUM> in this way indicates that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has started the loading operation, and indicates the object to be worked is soon going to be thrown onto the cargo bed <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>.

When the result of determination by the abnormality determination section <NUM> is normality determination, the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> starts monitoring whether or not loading determination is inputted from the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>, with the output of conveying motion finish determination from the conveyance determination section <NUM> as a trigger (<FIG>: step S149). When the dump truck <NUM> normally receives the loading of the object to be worked from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> by the loading operation of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, the pressures of the suspensions 38a to 38d of the dump truck <NUM> increase due to the load, and, as a result, the controller <NUM> transmits the loading determination to the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> (<FIG>: step S114).

Upon confirmation of the reception of the loading determination from the dump truck <NUM>, the controller <NUM> computes the loaded weight on the dump truck <NUM> by integrating the average load value of the instantaneous loads Ml previously calculated. The loaded weight at the time of first-time loading is an average load value. The computation result of the loaded weight is displayed in the sum total load display section <NUM> of the display device 23A of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> (<FIG>). For the second-time and latter loading operations, also, the same processing as above is repeated when the loading from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> onto the dump truck <NUM> is normally performed, and the load value of the object to be worked that is computed by the load calculation section <NUM> is integrated to the loaded weight.

ON the other hand, in a case where the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has conducted the loading operation but the cargo bed of the dump truck <NUM> is not present under the bucket <NUM> and the loading of the object to be worked onto the dump truck <NUM> is failed, the loading determination is not transmitted from the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> even when the predetermined time ΔT is passed from the conveying motion finish determination from the conveyance determination section <NUM>. In this case, the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> deems that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has conducted the loading operation but the loading onto the dump truck <NUM> has been failed for some reason, cancels the integration of the load value of the object to be worked attendant on the this-time loading operation, resets the load value of the object to be worked calculated during the conveying motion, and waits for an output of the next conveying motion start determination.

A case where abnormality determination (<FIG>: step S137) has been made in the abnormality determination section <NUM> of the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> will be described below. In this case, also, the flow of operations to the finish of the conveying motion of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> is the same as that in the case of normality determination, and, therefore, description of the same flow is omitted.

When the result of determination by the controller <NUM> (abnormality determination section <NUM>) of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> is abnormality determination, there is a possibility of an abnormality of communication between the two controllers <NUM> and <NUM>, an abnormality of the suspension pressure sensor <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>, or an abnormality of calculation of the load value. In this case, automatic integration of the load value of the object to be worked in the same manner as in the case of normality determination is impossible, and, therefore, a warning display and the inquiry display <NUM> are outputted to the display device 23A (<FIG>: step S151). As a result, the operator of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> can be made to recognize that an abnormality has been generated in the system and automatic computation of an integrated value of the load value of the object to be worked is impossible.

In this instance, the integration instruction input section <NUM> is displayed on the display device 23A together with the inquiry display <NUM>. When integration is desired, the operator of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> inputs an integration instruction to the controller <NUM> through the integration instruction input section <NUM>. When the integration instruction is inputted, the controller <NUM> computes the loaded weight on the dump truck <NUM> by integrating the average load value of the instantaneous load Ml previously calculated, in the same manner as in the case of normality determination. As a result, the loaded weight can be computed, even in the case where an abnormality in communication between the two controllers <NUM> and <NUM> or an abnormality in the suspension pressure sensor <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM> has occurred.

As aforementioned, in the present embodiment, the controller <NUM> (loading determination section <NUM>) of the dump truck <NUM> and the controller <NUM> (conveyance determination section <NUM>) of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> each determine whether or not the loading from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> onto the dump truck <NUM> has been conducted, the controller <NUM> (load integration propriety determination section <NUM>) of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> determines the integration propriety of the load value of the object to be worked in the bucket, based on the results of determination by both of the controllers, and, based on the result of this determination, the controller <NUM> (load integration section <NUM>) of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> integrates the load value. With the system configured in this way, the loading of the object to be worked from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> onto the dump truck <NUM> can be detected without error, and, therefore, the amount loaded onto the dump truck <NUM> (the loaded weight on the dump truck <NUM>) can be computed accurately.

In addition, in a case where it is not determined by the controller <NUM> (loading determination section <NUM>) of the dump truck <NUM> even when the predetermined time ΔT has passed from the determination, that loading has been conducted, by the controller <NUM> (conveyance determination section <NUM>) of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> deems that the hydraulic excavator <NUM> has conducted a loading operation but the loading onto the dump truck <NUM> has been failed for some reason, then cancels the integration of the load value of the object to be worked attendant on the loading operation, and waits for the next conveying motion of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> and the attendant load value calculation and loading operation. Therefore, even when the loading onto the dump truck <NUM> is failed, the load value integrating processing can be continued without inputting the failure into the controller <NUM> by the operator of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> or other person.

Besides, in a case where an abnormality is generated in the system, the inquiry display <NUM> is displayed on the display device 23A, whereby integration of the load value is manually instructed only in the case of system abnormality, and, therefore, the operational burden on the operator concerning the integration of the load value can be mitigated at normal time. In addition, such a configuration makes it possible to continue integration of the load value even in the case where an abnormality has been generated.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes various modifications made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, the present invention is not limited to the configuration that includes all the components described in the above embodiment, and includes configurations in which part of the components is eliminated. Besides, part of the components according to an embodiment may be added to or replaced by components according to another embodiment.

The determining method for the loading work of the dump truck <NUM> is not limited to the method depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are illustrations of a system that performs a determining method for the loading work of the dump truck <NUM>, different from that of the above-described embodiment. <FIG> depicts a system configuration of the load measuring system, and <FIG> is an illustration of the determining method for the loading work of the dump truck <NUM> by the system of <FIG>. The dump truck <NUM> includes a GPS antenna <NUM>, the controller <NUM> thereof is provided therein with a hauling machine position calculation section <NUM> that calculates an absolute position of the dump truck <NUM> based on an input signal from the GPS antenna <NUM>, and the position of the hauling machine itself computed by the hauling machine position calculation section <NUM> is transmitted to the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>. In addition, the hydraulic excavator <NUM> includes a GPS antenna <NUM>, the controller <NUM> thereof is provided therein with a loading machine position calculation section <NUM> that calculates an absolute position of the hydraulic excavator <NUM> based on an input signal from the GPS antenna <NUM>, and a loading work determination section <NUM> that determines a loading work status of the dump truck <NUM> based on the position information (relative distance) concerning the hydraulic excavator <NUM> and the dump truck <NUM> inputted from the loading machine position calculation section <NUM> and the hauling machine position calculation section <NUM>. When it is determined that the dump truck <NUM> is present at a position within a predetermined distance indicated by broken line from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> as illustrated in FIG. <NUM>, the loading work determination section <NUM> sets the loading work determination to in loading work. When it is determined that the dump truck <NUM> is present at a position spaced more from the hydraulic excavator <NUM> than the predetermined distance, the loading work determination section <NUM> sets the loading work determination to in non-loading work. Where the system is configured in this way, also, the same or similar effect to that of the above-described embodiment can be produced.

With respect to the flow chart of <FIG>, when determination in step S150 is YES, the control may proceed to step S151 in place of step S155. The processing steps subsequent to step S151 in this case is as depicted in <FIG>. When determination in step S150 is YES, it is considered that the loading onto the dump truck <NUM> has been failed. In view of this, a warning display and an inquiry display are made on the display device 23A, thereby prompting the operator to input an integration instruction after again performing loading by the hydraulic excavator <NUM>. Such a configuration ensures that the operator can be made to recognize that the integration is being interrupted due to failure in loading, and a state in which automatic integration is possible before failure in loading can be restored with the integration instruction as a trigger.

In regard of step S151 of <FIG>, upon abnormality determination the warning display and the inquiry display <NUM> are performed on the display device 23A independently of the cause of the abnormality determination, as described in the present embodiment; however, when abnormality is present in load computation by the controller <NUM> or the controller <NUM> (specifically, when determination in step S135 of <FIG> is NO), an error may exist in the load value of the object to be worked. Therefore, the system may be configured such as not to perform the inquiry display <NUM> but to perform only the abnormality display in this case, thereby preventing an erroneous load value from being integrated due to an operator's integration instruction.

While the abnormality determination section <NUM> is provided in the controller <NUM> on the hydraulic excavator <NUM> side in the above-described embodiment, this may be omitted. In the case where the abnormality determination section <NUM> is omitted, it is sufficient to configure the control system such as to proceed to step S149 when determination in step S148 in the flow chart of <FIG> is YES, and to return to step S149 when determination in step S150 is NO.

In addition, the configuration of the load measuring system of the present invention is not limited to the one depicted in FIG. For example, the loading determination section <NUM> may not necessarily be mounted in the controller <NUM> of the dump truck <NUM>, and the controller <NUM> may be configured such that signals from the suspension pressure sensors 39a to 39d are inputted to the transmission/reception section <NUM>, and may be transmitted from the wireless transceiver <NUM> directly to the hydraulic excavator <NUM>, whereby the processing corresponding to the calculation processing performed by the loading determination section <NUM> is executed by the controller <NUM> of the hydraulic excavator <NUM>.

The calculation of the instantaneous load Ml is not limited to the model depicted in <FIG>, but may be conducted using different formulas than those described above. For instance, the instantaneous load may be calculated using an equation of motion of the front work implement <NUM> including the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM> and the bucket <NUM>.

The computing method for the load value of the object to be worked is not limited to the technique depicted in <FIG>. For example, the period for averaging the load may be determined using the magnitude of the swing angular velocity and the position of the bucket <NUM>.

The loading determination concerning the dump truck <NUM> is not limited to the contents depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>. For instance, a configuration may be adopted in which an acceleration sensor is attached to the vessel <NUM> or the machine body, a variation in the acceleration in the vertical direction generated due to throwing of the object to be worked into the vessel <NUM> is detected by the acceleration sensor, and the loading determination is outputted.

The contents of display on the display device 23A are not limited to those depicted in <FIG>. For example, the proportion of the integrated load based on the dump truck capacity may be displayed in percent, and a part where to display a history of loaded amounts (loaded weights) in the past in an aligned manner may be provided on the display screen.

Claim 1:
A hydraulic excavator (<NUM>) comprising:
a hydraulic cylinder driven by a hydraulic fluid delivered from a hydraulic pump;
work implements including a bucket (<NUM>) driven by the hydraulic cylinder; and
a hydraulic excavator side controller (<NUM>) calculating a loaded weight of an object to be worked loaded onto a transporting machine by the work implement,
characterized in that
the hydraulic excavator side controller (<NUM>),
performs a first determination of determining whether or not the loading work of the object onto the transporting machine has been conducted by the hydraulic excavator (<NUM>), the first determination is performed based on posture of the work implement,
calculates a first load of the object in the bucket (<NUM>) based on a thrust force of the hydraulic cylinder and a determination result of the first determination,
receives a second determination of determining whether or not the load to be added to the total load of the transporting machine has been conducted by the hydraulic excavator (<NUM>), the second determination is transmitted from a transporting machine side controller (<NUM>) included in the transporting machine, and
calculates the loaded weight on the transporting machine by integrating the first load on the basis of the second determination received from the transporting machine side controller (<NUM>) and the first determination determined by the hydraulic excavator side controller (<NUM>).