# US 10,501,911 B2 · Work equipment control device and work machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,911 B2 - Document ID: US10501911B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/534,707 - Filed: 2016-11-29 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-29 - Assignees: Komatsu Ltd. - Applicants: Komatsu Ltd. - Inventors: Toru Matsuyama; Jin Kitajima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501911B2 ## CPC - E02F 3/435: {for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like} - E02F 9/2033: {Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin (sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123)} - E02F 3/32: working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes - E02F 3/43: Control of dipper or bucket position; Control of sequence of drive operations - E02F 3/437: {providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. linear excavation, keeping dipper angle constant} - E02F 3/439: {Automatic repositioning of the implement, e.g. automatic dumping, auto-return (E02F3/438 takes precedence)} - E02F 9/2004: {Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G)} - E02F 9/262: {with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller} - E02F 9/265: {with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A control device includes a bucket control unit and a speed restricting unit. The bucket control unit calculates a control speed controlling a bucket so as to maintain an angle of the work equipment at a constant angle. The speed restricting unit reduces the control speed when the bucket is driven at the control speed calculated by the bucket control unit and when a direction in which the bucket is driven and a direction in which the arm is driven coincide with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A work equipment control device for controlling a work machine provided with work equipment including a bucket and an arm supporting the bucket, and provided with a work machine body supporting the work equipment, the work equipment control device comprising: a bucket controller configured to calculate a control speed for controlling the bucket so as to maintain an angle of the work equipment at a constant angle; and a speed restrictor configured to reduce the control speed when the bucket is driven at the control speed calculated by the bucket controller and when a driving direction of the bucket and a driving direction of the arm coincide with each other, wherein the speed restrictor determines whether the driving direction of the bucket and the driving direction of the arm coincide with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The work equipment control device according to claim 1, wherein the speed restrictor sets the control speed to zero when the direction in which the bucket is driven and the direction in which the arm is driven coincide with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The work equipment control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a work equipment state specifier configured to specify a state of the work equipment; a control reference specifier configured to specify a control reference of the work equipment; and a distance specifier configured to specify a distance between the work equipment and the control reference, wherein the bucket controller calculates the control speed when the distance between the work equipment and the control reference is less than a bucket control start threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The work equipment control device according to claim 3, further comprising: a work equipment controller configured to generate a control command restricting a speed of the work equipment such that the bucket is not intruded below the control reference when the distance between the work equipment and the control reference is less than a work equipment control threshold, wherein the bucket control start threshold is equal to or less than the work equipment control threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The work equipment control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a manipulation amount acquirer configured to acquire an amount of manipulation relating to control of the bucket, wherein the bucket controller calculates the control speed when the amount of manipulation relating to the control of the bucket is less than a given threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The work equipment control device according to claim 1, wherein the speed restrictor reduces the control speed when the bucket is driven at the control speed calculated by the bucket controller and when a driving direction of the bucket on the basis of a pin of the bucket and a driving direction of the arm on the basis of a pin of the arm coincide with each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A work machine comprising: work equipment including a bucket and an arm supporting the bucket; a work machine body supporting the work equipment; and the work equipment control device according to claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The work machine according to claim 7, further comprising: a manipulator configured to detect amounts of manipulation in the forward-backward direction and the leftward-rightward direction of a manipulation lever, and to output operation signals corresponding to the detected amounts of manipulation to the work equipment control device, a position detector configured to detect a position of the work machine body by receiving a positioning signal from an artificial satellite constituting a global navigation satellite system; a direction calculator configured to calculate a direction in which the excavator body is directed, by receiving the positioning signal from the artificial satellite constituting the global navigation satellite system; a slope detector configured to measure an acceleration and an angular velocity of the work vehicle body and configured to detect a slope of the work vehicle body on the basis of the measured results; a stroke detector configured to detect a stroke length of a boom cylinder, a stroke length of an arm cylinder, and a stroke length of a bucket cylinder; and a hydraulic system provided with a working fluid tank, a hydraulic pump, a flow control valve, and an electromagnetic proportional control valve, wherein the hydraulic pump supplies a working fluid to the boom cylinders, the arm cylinder, and the bucket cylinder via the flow control valve configured to control a flow rate of the working fluid, wherein the electromagnetic proportional control valve is configured to control a pilot hydraulic pressure supplied from the manipulator on the basis of a control command received from the work equipment control device, and wherein the work equipment control device is connected to and communicates signals with devices including the stroke detector, the manipulator, the position detector, the direction calculator, the slope detector, the electromagnetic proportional control valve of the hydraulic system.