DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] A control device for a working machine of the present invention will be described according to a preferred embodiment in reference to the drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows the hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic control device as the control device of the present invention.

[0028] In the same figure, denoted at 1 is a hydraulic motor as one example of a hydraulic actuator, and 2 is a capacity variable hydraulic pump for supplying working oil to the actuator.

[0029] Denoted at 3 is a control valve for controlling the flow rate and direction of the working oil supplied to the motor 1 . When an operating lever 4 as the operating means is operated, pilot pressure P 1 (or P 2 ) derived from a remote control valve 5 acts on either one pilot port of the control valve 3 through a pilot line 6 a (or 6 b ) to switch the control valve 3 from a neutral position (a) to a position (b) or (c).

[0030] When the control valve 3 is switched to the b-position, the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 2 is supplied to the hydraulic motor 1 through one supply and discharge passage 7 a of a supply and discharge passage 7 , and return oil is returned to an oil tank 8 (hereinafter simply referred to as tank) through the other supply and return passage 7 b.

[0031] When the control valve 3 is switched to the c-position, the pressure oil is supplied to the hydraulic motor 1 conversely through the supply and discharge passage 7 b , and the return oil is returned to the tank 8 through the supply and discharge passage 7 a.

[0032] Denoted at 9 a and 9 b are port relief valves. Denoted at 10 a and 10 b are makeup check valves for preventing cavitation in a pipe when the pump flow rate is insufficient to the actuator flow rate consumption, and each valve functions as a brake valve as a whole.

[0033] Denoted at 11 is a back-pressure check valve provided in a return line (return pipeline) 12 in order to ensure back pressure for the makeup, 13 is an oil cooler, and 14 is a main relief valve for keeping the circuit pressure constant.

[0034] Various valves including the port relief valves 9 a , 9 b and the main relief valve 14 often collectively mean a pressure control valve.

[0035] Denoted at 15 a and 15 b are pressure sensors for detecting the pilot pressure of the pilot lines 6 a and 6 b . Pilot pressure signals PIa, PIb outputted from the pressure sensors 15 a , 15 b are given to a controller 16 .

[0036] The pressure sensors 15 a and 15 b often collectively mean a pressure sensor 15 .

[0037] The controller 16 controls the discharge amount Qp of the hydraulic pump 2 through a regulator (not shown) based on the pilot pressure signal PI outputted from the pressure sensor 15 .

[0038] An engine 17 as a driving source of the hydraulic pump 2 has a rotation speed sensor 18 for detecting a speed or a rotation speed of an engine 17 . Rotation speed signal S 1 outputted from the rotation speed sensor 18 is given to the controller 16 .

[0039] Further, each sensor mounted on a front attachment 22 of a construction machine 19 is also connected to the controller 16 . A hydraulic excavator 19 to which the hydraulic control device of this embodiment is applied comprises an upper rotating body 21 rotatably mounted on a lower traveling body 20 . The front attachment 22 is provided on the front part of the upper rotating body 21 .

[0040] The front attachment 22 comprises a boom 23 raised and lowered by the extension and contraction of a boom cylinder 23 a , an arm cylinder 24 longitudinally rotated by the expansion and contraction of an arm cylinder 24 a , and a bucket 25 longitudinally rotated by the expansion and contraction of a bucket cylinder 25 a . Denoted at 23 b is a boom cylinder stroke sensor provided on the boom cylinder 23 a , 23 c is a boom cylinder pressure sensor, 24 b is an arm cylinder stroke sensor provided on the arm cylinder 24 a , and 25 b is a bucket cylinder stroke sensor provided on the bucket cylinder 25 a . Each of the stroke sensors and pressure sensor functions as a detecting means for detecting position and work load of the front attachment 22 .

[0041] Signals S 2 -S 4 showing the position of the front attachment 22 and a signal S 5 showing the load of the front attachment 22 , each of which is outputted from each stroke sensor 23 b , 24 b , 25 b , are also given to the controller 16 .

[0042] The internal structure of the controller 16 is shown in FIG. 2 .

[0043] In the drawing, the controller 16 calculates, on receipt of the pilot pressure signals PIa, PIb outputted from the pressure sensors 15 a , 15 b , the relief valve flow rate in an operation amount given by the operating lever 4 by use of a hydraulic driving system emulation model 16 a preliminarily stored therein.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows the emulation model 16 a.

[0045] The emulation model 16 a shown in the drawing shows a drive system for a rotating system. This system mainly comprises a hydraulic pump 30 , a hydraulic motor 31 , a reduction gear 32 connected to the output shaft of the hydraulic motor 31 , a rotation inertial weight 33 connected to the rotating shaft of the reduction gear 32 , a control valve 34 for supplying the pressure oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 30 while controlling its flow rate and direction, a main relief valve 35 , port relief valves 36 a , 36 b , check valves 37 a , 37 b , and a bypass valve 38 .

[0046] Various valves including the port relief valves 36 a , 36 b and the main relief valve 35 often collectively mean a pressure control valve.

[0047] The control valve 34 comprises a bleed-off valve (B/O) 39 , a meter-in valve (M/I) 40 , and a meter-out (M/O) 41 . Denoted at 42 is a tank.

[0048] In this emulation model, the bleed-off opening (the curve shown by B/O in the figure) is throttled more as the pilot pressure PI becomes larger, as shown by the characteristic of nonlinear control valve opening area shown on the left side of the model. On the contrary, a meter-in opening (the curve shown by M/I in the figure) and a meter-out opening (the curve shown by M/O in the drawing) are opened. Consequently, the pressure oil flow rate to be supplied to the hydraulic motor 31 is increased.

[0049] The governing equations of the emulation model 16 a are described below.

J _L (2π/ qN ₂ )ω _a =P _mi −P _mo (1)

P _mi =K/V _mi ( Q _mi −Q _a −Q _r1 +Q _c1 ) (2)

P _mo =K/V _mo ( Q _a −Q _mo −Q _r2 +Q _c2 ) (3)

P _p =K/V _p ( Q _p −Q _bo −Q _mi −Q _rp ) (4)

A _bO =f _bO ( S ), A _mi =f _mi ( S ), A _bO =f _bO ( S ) (5)

Q _bo =CvA _bo {square root}(2 P _p /γ) (6)

Q _mi =CvA _ni {square root}(2( P _p −P _mi )/γ) (7)

Q _mo =CvA _no {square root}(2 P _mo /γ) (8)

Q _a =qNω _a /2π (9)

[0050] wherein JL: moment of inertia of load, P: pressure, Q: flow rate, K: oil volume elasticity, V: pipe inner capacity, A: area, L: length, CV: flow coefficient, γ: oil specific gravity, λ: friction coefficient of pipe, D: pipe diameter, S: control lever amount, N: reduction ratio, q: hydraulic motor capacity, and ω: rotation speed. As subscripts, bo: bleed-off, mi: meter-in, mo: meter-out, p: pump, a: hydraulic motor, c: check valve, r: port relief valve, rp: main relief valve, pi: pipe part, 1 : upstream side, and 2 : downstream side.

[0051] In the above equations, as the specification of the hydraulic pump 30 that is the hydraulic source, hydraulic pump flow rate Q _p is given to the equation (4).

[0052] As the characteristic of the actuator, hydraulic motor capacity q is given to the equation (1).

[0053] As the characteristic of the control valve 34 , the relation of each opening area Abo, Ami, Amo of the bleed-off valve 39 , meter-in valve 40 , and meter-out valve 41 respectively constituting the control valve 34 with the lever operation amount S is given to the equation (5).

[0054] When the rotation speed is changed, the hydraulic pump flow rate is changed. Therefore, the rotation speed signal S 1 outputted from the rotation speed sensor 18 mounted on the engine 17 is loaded to the controller 16 , and the hydraulic pump discharge flow rate of the emulation model 16 a is changed according to the loaded rotation speed.

[0055] The rotating moment of inertia of the upper rotating body 21 is changed according to the position or load of the front attachment 22 . Therefore, a control is carried out. Namely, each signal S 2 -S 5 outputted from the boom cylinder stroke sensor 23 b , the arm cylinder stroke sensor 24 b , the bucket cylinder stroke sensor 25 b and the boom cylinder pressure sensor 23 c respectively is detected. These signals are loaded to the controller 16 . The position and load of the front attachment 22 are calculated based on these signals, and the moment of inertia of JL of the emulation model 16 a is changed. According to this, the dynamic characteristic of a hydraulic driving device close to the actual working state can be simulated.

[0056] In the emulation model of this embodiment, a numerical integration method, for example, the Newmark-β method is applied to the system of these governing equations (controlling equations), whereby time history response operation is carried out.

[0057] The controlling operation of the controller 16 will be described.

[0058] The controller 16 estimates the relief flow rate Qr from the pump pressure measurement value PI by use of the emulation model 16 a.

[0059] A hydraulic pump flow control unit 16 b determines the pump flow rate according to the following equation by use of the above-mentioned relief flow rate estimation value.

Qp=Qpc−Qcut=Qpc−GxQr (10)

[0060] wherein Qpc is a pump flow rate without this control of this embodiment, and it is given as the characteristic C 1 shown in FIG. 4 according to the pilot pressure PI.

[0061] In the control according to this embodiment, as shown in the equation (10), the cutoff flow rate Qcut obtained by multiplying the relief flow rate estimation value Qr by a gain G is subtracted from Qpc, whereby the pump flow rate Qp is determined.

[0062] In the acceleration of the actuator, the actuator flow consumption Qa becomes smaller than the pump flow rate Qp due to the response delay by inertia or the like of the actuator to the pump flow rate Qp, generating an excessive flow rate Qex=Qp−Qa. In a half-lever area, the excessive flow rate is released to the tank 42 through the bleed-off valve 39 . When a full-lever acceleration is performed, the excessive flow rate Qex is released to the tank 42 through the main relief valve 35 since the bleed-off valve 39 is closed up (refer to FIG. 3 ).

[0063] The excessive flow rate is compared between the case with the control of this embodiment and the case without the control. The excessive flow rate Qex1 without this control is represented by the following equation (11).

Qex 1 =Qpc−Qa (11)

[0064] The excessive flow rate Qex2 with the control of this embodiment is represented by the following equation (12).

Qex 2 =Qpc−Qcut−Qa (12)

[0065] Accordingly, when the control of this embodiment is performed, the excessive flow rate released to the tank 26 through the relief valve 14 shown in FIG. 1 is reduced by the portion of Qex1−Qex2=Qcut, compared with the case without the control. If the excessive flow rate is reduced in this way, the pressure loss in the relief valve 14 is reduced, and the energy efficiency of the hydraulic circuit can be enhanced.

[0066] Further, in the control of this embodiment, the cutoff flow rate Qcut is determined, as shown in the equation (10), by multiplying the relief flow rate estimation value Qr by the proportional gain G. Therefore, the cutoff flow rate Qcut is increased and decreased according to the relief flow rate Qr. Since the cutoff flow rate Qcut is increased by this effect when the relief flow rate Qr is large, the improvement in energy efficiency can be enhanced.

[0067] When the relief flow rate Qr is small, the cutoff flow rate Qcut is minimized. Therefore, the problem that the pump flow rate is reduced more than necessary to deteriorate the responsiveness of the actuator as in a conventional control of equally suppressing the pump flow rate can be solved.

[0068] Although the cutoff flow rate Qcut is determined by using the method of multiplying the relief flow rate by the gain G or a proportional operation in the equation (10), an integrating operation or differential operation that is a conventional control method may be added. According to this method, steady deviation can be reduced, or the responsiveness can be improved.

[0069] The controlling operation of this embodiment will be described in reference to FIGS. 5A-5C .

[0070] As shown by characteristic C 2 of FIG. 5A , when the lever 4 (refer to FIG. 1 ) is suddenly full-operated from the neutral position, the response delay by inertia or the like of the actuator is generated to the pump flow rate Qp. Therefore, the actuator flow consumption Qa becomes smaller than the pump flow rate Qp, and the working oil is filled in the pump-side pipe. Consequently, since the pump pressure rises and exceeds the relief pressure Pr as shown by characteristic C 3 of FIG. 5B , the relief valve 14 is operated (opened).

[0071] When the gain G is large, the cutoff flow rate Qcut is increased as shown in the equation (10). Therefore, the pump flow rate Qp is suddenly reduced as shown by characteristic C 4 of FIG. 5C . The sudden reduction of the pump flow rate Qp can be solved, as shown by characteristic C 5 , by limiting the time change amount of the pump flow rate Qp. Further, the actuator is increased in speed with the time to increase the actuator flow rate, whereby the relief flow rate is reduced. Therefore, the cutoff flow rate Qcut is minimized with the time, and the pump flow rate is gently increased. Characteristic C 6 is a conventional pump flow rate characteristic shown for comparison.

[0072] FIGS. 6A-6D and FIGS. 7A-7D are graphs for describing the effects by the control of this embodiment.

[0073] FIGS. 6A-6D show the operation without the above control shown for comparison. When the operating lever 4 is suddenly full-operated from the neutral position, as shown by characteristic C 7 of FIG. 6A , the pump pressure rises and exceeds the relief pressure Pr as shown by characteristic C 8 of FIG. 6B , whereby the relief valve is operated, and most of the pump flow rate is released to the tank 26 through the relief valve 14 in spite of the supply of the pump flow rate (refer to characteristic C 9 of FIG. 6C ). Therefore, the pressure loss of the relief valve 14 is increased to deteriorate the energy efficiency (refer to characteristic C 10 of FIG. 6D ).

[0074] When the cutoff control according to this embodiment is performed the pump flow rate is suddenly reduced in the generation of the relief flow rate if the gain G of the equation (10) is large, and the pump pressure is reduced to the relief pressure or less. In this case, since the cutoff flow rate is zero, the pump flow rate is rapidly increased. Then, the pump pressure exceeds the relief pressure again to generate the relief flow rate, and the pump flow rate is cut off and rapidly reduced. When such a rapid fluctuation of pump flow rate and relief flow rate is repeated in a short time, a hunching state might be caused.

[0075] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the relief flow rate is generated as mentioned above, the pump flow rate is controlled to gently increase as shown by characteristic C 11 of FIG. 7C . Therefore, the relief flow rate is effectively reduced as shown by characteristic C 12 of FIG. 7D , compared with the relief flow rate without the control in FIG. 6D . Accordingly, the relief loss can be reduced to enhance the energy efficiency.

[0076] In this embodiment, the controller 16 can be constituted so as to limit the pump flow rate change per unit time to a fixed value or less to prevent the sudden change in the pump flow rate of the capacity variable pump. Concretely, the time change amount of a pump flow instruction value is limited, or a transitional response such as primary delay, moving average or rate limiter is given to the pump flow instruction value. According to this, even if a sudden lever operation is performed, the sudden reduction in pump flow rate can be suppressed although the relief flow rate is rapidly increased, and the hunching can be prevented.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of the hydraulic control device according to the present invention.

[0078] The same reference marks are given to the same components as in FIG. 1 to omit the descriptions therefor.

[0079] In FIG. 8 , aback-pressure check valve 11 and an oil cooler 13 are provided on the return pipe 12 communicating with the tank 26 . When a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) is further provided in addition to the hydraulic motor 1 as actuator, the working oil returned through the return pipe 12 or the return-side flow rate is increased by the area-size difference between the head side and rod side of the cylinder in the contracting directional use of the cylinder. Therefore, the pressure loss of the back-pressure check valve 11 and the oil cooler 13 may be increased to raise the pressure in the return pipe 12 .

[0080] In an excavating work, for example, the arm of the front attachment is operated in a releasing direction, whereby the arm cylinder is operated in the contracting direction.

[0081] In this case, the pressure of the return pipe 12 is measured by a pressure sensor 44 , and the measured pressure signal S 6 is given to the controller 16 . In the controller 16 , the pressure signal S 6 is made to work as the pressure of the back pressure-side pipe 43 of the relief valve 35 (refer to FIG. 3 ), whereby the relief flow rate Qr is estimated. Namely, the controller 16 may be constituted so as to correct the pump pressure of the hydraulic pump 2 in the emulation model based on the back pressure detected by the pressure sensor 44 , and to estimate the relief flow rate based on the corrected pump pressure and the flow characteristic of the relief valve 35 .

[0082] In this structure, even if the pressure in the return pipe 12 is raised by the increase of the return flow rate, the relief flow rate Qr is estimated considering the influence. Therefore, the precision of relief flow rate estimation can be improved, and the relief pressure loss can be effectively reduced to enhance the energy efficiency.

[0083] As the hydraulic actuator according to the present invention, a hydraulic motor of a rotating system is described as an example in the above embodiment. The actuator may be constituted as either of a winch motor as the driving source of a hoisting system and a traveling motor as the driving source of a traveling system, or the combination thereof.

[0084] Although the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments in the attached figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.