# US 12,180,679 B2 · Shovel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,180,679 B2
- Document ID: US12180679B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/647,868
- Filed: 2022-01-13
- Published: 2022-05-05
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-29
- Assignees: Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Sumitomo Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Nobuyuki Ishii
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180679B2

## CPC

- E02F 3/435: {for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like}
- E02F 9/0866: {Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment}
- E02F 3/32: working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
- E02F 9/2004: {Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G)}
- E02F 9/205: {Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence)}
- E02F 9/2066: {of the type combustion engines}
- E02F 9/226: {Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating}
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)

## Abstract

A shovel includes an upper swing structure, a lower traveling structure, a first switch configured to stop an engine, and a hardware processor configured to control the engine. The hardware processor is configured to determine to start an automatic cooling operation in response to recognizing a predetermined operation and recognizing that an operation to stop the engine has been performed on the first switch.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shovel comprising:
an upper swing structure;
a lower traveling structure;
a first switch configured to stop an engine; and
a hardware processor configured to control the engine,
wherein the hardware processor is configured to determine to start an automatic cooling operation in response to recognizing that a predetermined operation to activate a function of the automatic cooling operation and an operation to stop the engine on the first switch have been simultaneously performed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is configured to determine not to start the automatic cooling operation in response to recognizing that the operation to stop the engine has been performed on the first switch without recognizing the predetermined operation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation is operating a second switch different from the first switch.

### Claim 4

A shovel comprising:
an upper swing structure;
a lower traveling structure;
a first switch configured to stop an engine; and
a hardware processor configured to control the engine,
wherein the hardware processor is configured to determine to start an automatic cooling operation in response to recognizing that a predetermined operation to activate a function of the automatic cooling operation and an operation to stop the engine on the first switch have been performed within a predetermined period of time,
the predetermined operation is operating a second switch different from the first switch, and
the second switch is a momentary action switch that turns on only while being pressed, the second switch being placed in a cabin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic cooling operation stops the engine after passage of a set time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The shovel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hardware processor is configured to set the set time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The shovel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the set time is changed based on a condition of the engine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a remote controller configured to perform a radio communication with the controller,
wherein the remote controller includes
an engine stop switch configured to stop the engine; and
a cooling operation switch configured to start the automatic cooling operation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation is performed via a display and input device placed in a cabin.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a screen recommending a cooling operation is displayed on a display and input device placed in a cabin.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The shovel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine is started in response to a command to start the engine being input to the controller after the engine is stopped, when a gate lock valve is in a locking state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The shovel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hardware processor is configured to determine to start the automatic cooling operation in response to recognizing that one of the predetermined operation or the operation to stop the engine on the first switch has been performed within the predetermined period of time after performance of the other of the predetermined operation or the operation to stop the engine on the first switch.