Gateway device comprising a hydraulic pressure release function

Inventors: Thomas Schaefer (Trier, DE); Peter Bauer (Morbach, DE)

Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB

H04L12/66 E02F9/2025 E02F9/205 E02F9/22 E02F9/26 G05B19/042 G07C3/02 H04L12/4625 G07C5/008

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12689542
App. No.: 18/276,671
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A data communication gateway for a construction machine communication system, the gateway comprising including a first, a second, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU, wherein the first interface is arranged to be connected to a private network of a construction machine, the second interface is arranged to be connected to an attachment network, and the third interface is arranged to be connected to an auxiliary network, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for hydraulic pressure release on the second interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic pressure release signal on the first interface.

Claims (27)

1 . A data communication gateway for a construction machine communication system, the construction machine using a hydraulic system to power an attachment via an intermediary attachment device, wherein to release the attachment from the intermediary attachment device, the pressure in the hydraulic feed must first be released, the data communication gateway comprising a first data interface, a second data interface, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected by a mutual interconnect, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU,

wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic pressure release signal on the first data interface, wherein, in response thereto, the construction machine controls the hydraulic feed pressure in response to the request in order to facilitate attachment assembly, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to be connected to a hydraulic pressure sensor, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to transmit an acknowledgement signal indicating hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface in response to detecting a pressure drop by the hydraulic pressure sensor.

2 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive an acknowledgement signal on the first data interface in response to the hydraulic pressure release signal, and to forward the acknowledgement signal on the second data interface.

3 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for a specified hydraulic pressure on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic pressure request signal on the first data interface.

4 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for a specified hydraulic flow on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic flow request signal on the first data interface.

5 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to perform an authentication procedure in response to a device connecting to one of the first data interface, the second data interface, and the third data interface.

6 . The data communication gateway according to claim 5 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to forward the hydraulic pressure release signal on the first data interface only in case the authentication procedure has been successfully completed.

7 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to forward a request for adjustment of hydraulic system pressure or flow received on the second data interface on the first data interface as a command to a control unit arranged to control a hydraulic pump comprised in the construction machine.

8 . The data communication gateway according to claim 7 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to perform an authentication procedure in response to a device connecting to one of the first data interface, the second data interface, and the third data interface, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to forward the request for adjustment of hydraulic system pressure or flow only in case the authentication procedure has been successfully completed.

9 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to identify an attachment type of an attachment connected to the second data interface, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to configure one or more hydraulic system parameters of the construction machine in dependence of the identified attachment type.

10 . The data communication gateway according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first data interface, the second data interface, and the third data interface is a controller area network, CAN, bus interface.

11 . A construction machine comprising a data communication gateway, the construction machine using a hydraulic system to power an attachment via an intermediary attachment device, wherein to release the attachment from the intermediary attachment device, the pressure in the hydraulic feed must first be released, the data communication gateway comprising a first data interface, a second data interface, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected by a mutual interconnect, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU,

wherein the first data interface is arranged to be connected to a private network of the construction machine, the second data interface is arranged to be connected to an attachment network, and the third data interface is arranged to be connected to an auxiliary network, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic pressure release signal on the first data interface, wherein, in response thereto, the construction machine controls the hydraulic feed pressure in response to the request in order to facilitate attachment assembly, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to be connected to a hydraulic pressure sensor, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to transmit an acknowledgement signal indicating hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface in response to detecting a pressure drop by the hydraulic pressure sensor.

12 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to identify an attachment type of an attachment connected to the second data interface, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to configure one or more hydraulic system parameters of the construction machine in dependence of the identified attachment type.

13 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to perform an authentication procedure in response to a device connecting to one of the first data interface, the second data interface, and the third data interface, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to forward a request for adjustment of hydraulic system pressure or flow received on the second data interface on the first data interface as a command to a control unit arranged to control a hydraulic pump comprised in the construction machine only in case the authentication procedure has been successfully completed.

14 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for a specified hydraulic flow on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic flow request signal on the first data interface.

15 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive a request for a specified hydraulic pressure on the second data interface and to forward the request as a hydraulic pressure request signal on the first data interface.

16 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to be connected to a hydraulic pressure sensor, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to transmit an acknowledgement signal indicating hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface in response to detecting a pressure drop by the hydraulic pressure sensor.

17 . The construction machine according to claim 11 , wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to receive an acknowledgement signal on the first data interface in response to the hydraulic pressure release signal, and to forward the acknowledgement signal on the second data interface.

18 . A method performed by a data communication gateway comprised in a construction machine communication system, the construction machine using a hydraulic system to power an attachment via an intermediary attachment device, wherein to release the attachment from the intermediary attachment device, the pressure in the hydraulic feed must first be released, the gateway comprising a first data interface, a second data interface, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to be connected to a hydraulic pressure sensor, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU, wherein the first data interface is arranged to be connected to a private network of the construction machine, the second data interface is arranged to be connected to an attachment network, and the third data interface is arranged to be connected to an auxiliary network, the method comprising

receiving, by the gateway ECU, a request for hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface and

transmitting an acknowledgement signal indicating hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface in response to detecting a pressure drop by the hydraulic pressure sensor.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code for performing a method performed by a data communication gateway comprised in a construction machine communication system, the construction machine using a hydraulic system to power an attachment via an intermediary attachment device, wherein to release the attachment from the intermediary attachment device, the pressure in the hydraulic feed must first be released, the gateway comprising a first data interface, a second data interface, and a third data interface arranged to be mutually interconnected, where the mutual interconnect is controlled by a gateway electronic control unit, ECU; the method comprising

receiving, by the gateway ECU, a request for hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface and

forwarding the request as a hydraulic pressure release signal on the first data interface, wherein, in response thereto, the construction machine controls the hydraulic feed pressure in response to the request in order to facilitate attachment assembly, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to be connected to a hydraulic pressure sensor, wherein the gateway ECU is arranged to transmit an acknowledgement signal indicating hydraulic pressure release on the second data interface in response to detecting a pressure drop by the hydraulic pressure sensor.