IP Library Granted Patent US 11,674,285
Granted Patent B2
US 11,674,285 · App. 17/023,673 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Wheel loader and method for controlling wheel loader

Inventor: Toru Naito (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F3/431B60Q5/005B60Q9/008E02F3/34E02F3/422E02F3/434E02F9/0858E02F9/2004E02F9/2033E02F9/24E02F9/262E02F9/265
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,674,285
App. No.
17/023,673
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wheel loader includes: a front frame; a bucket; a boom having a distal end connected to bucket, and a proximal end rotatably supported by front frame; a sensor configured to measure a distance between boom and a loading target; and a controller configured to control an action of wheel loader. The controller causes wheel loader to perform a predetermined action for collision avoidance on condition that a distance to be measured by sensor when wheel loader travels takes a value less than or equal to a threshold value.

Claims (33)

1. A wheel loader comprising:

a main body including a wheel;

a work implement attached to the main body;

a first sensor that measures a distance between the wheel loader and a loading target onto which an excavated object excavated by the work implement is to be loaded; and

a controller that controls an action of the work implement and the wheel based on a traveling direction of the wheel loader and the distance, wherein

based on the traveling direction of the wheel loader and the distance, the controller determines whether or not the excavated object is loadable onto the loading target, and

when the wheel loader is traveling forward, the controller determines that the work implement has reached a loading position based on the distance and controls the traveling.

2. The wheel loader according to claim 1 , wherein the work implement includes a boom, and

the wheel loader further comprising:

a second sensor that detects an angle of the boom with respect to the main body, wherein

based on the distance and the angle of the boom, the controller controls the action of the work implement, and

based on the traveling direction of the wheel loader, the distance and the angle of the boom, the controller determines whether or not the excavated object is loadable onto the loading target.

3. The wheel loader according to claim 2 , wherein the loading target is a vessel of a dump truck.

4. The wheel loader according to claim 3 , wherein

when it is determined that the excavated object is loadable onto the loading target, the controller enables an operation by an operator for causing the wheel loader to travel in a direction of the dump truck while raising the boom.

5. The wheel loader according to claim 2 , wherein

the first sensor measures a distance between the loading target and the boom.

6. The wheel loader according to claim 2 , wherein

the work implement further includes a bucket connected to the boom, and

the second sensor further detects an angle of the bucket with respect to the boom.

7. The wheel loader according to claim 2 , wherein based on a height of the work implement, the controller determines whether or not the excavated object is loadable onto the loading target.

8. The wheel loader according to claim 7 , wherein

the height of the work implement is a height when the angle of the boom with respect to the main body is maximum.

9. The wheel loader according to claim 2 , wherein

when it is determined that the excavated object is not loadable onto the loading target, the controller stops traveling of the wheel loader.

10. The wheel loader according to claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a laser sensor.

11. The wheel loader according to claim 1 , further comprising an output device, wherein

when it is determined that the excavated object is not loadable onto the loading target, the controller performs control to output a warning from the output device.

12. A method for controlling a wheel loader, the method comprising:

measuring a distance between the wheel loader and a loading target onto which an excavated object excavated by a work implement of the wheel loader is to be loaded, the wheel loader having a main body that includes a wheel;

controlling an action of the work implement and wheel based on a traveling direction of the wheel loader and the distance; and

based on the traveling direction of the wheel loader and the distance, determining whether or not the excavated object is loadable onto the loading target, wherein

in the controlling of the action of the work implement, when the wheel loader is traveling forward, determining that the work implement has reached a loading position based on the distance and controlling the traveling.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2020
From: NAITO, TORU
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 053802/0644 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-169498 · Aug 31, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16082284
Related Publication 20210032837A1 · Feb 4, 2021