초록 ▼

A system is provided for controlling off-fall during trench excavation. The system includes a trench excavating assemblage. A mechanism moves the trench excavating assemblage from a position within a trench to be excavated to a position for dumping excavated material. A control system is configured

A system is provided for controlling off-fall during trench excavation. The system includes a trench excavating assemblage. A mechanism moves the trench excavating assemblage from a position within a trench to be excavated to a position for dumping excavated material. A control system is configured to operate the trench excavating assemblage in an automated off-fall control mode to remove and/or compact off-fall along at least one edge of the trench.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of controlling off-fall during a trenching operation of an excavation machine having an excavating assemblage including a boom, stick and bucket, comprising: positioning the machine and operating the excavating assemblage to excavate a trench having opposing first an

What is claimed is: 1. A method of controlling off-fall during a trenching operation of an excavation machine having an excavating assemblage including a boom, stick and bucket, comprising: positioning the machine and operating the excavating assemblage to excavate a trench having opposing first and second sidewalls, each sidewall having an upper edge including an off-fall; positioning the excavating assemblage over the trench to set a trench centerline; horizontally moving the excavating assemblage and positioning the bucket adjacent the off-fall of the first sidewall; providing an initiation signal to an electronic control module to initiate an automatic off-fall control mode; providing position signals indicative of the position of the boom, stick, and bucket to the electronic control module; and after the off-fall control mode has been initiated, providing control signals from the electronic control module for automatically operating the excavating assemblage to move the bucket along the off-fall substantially parallel to the trench centerline to remove or compact the off-fall. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising curling the bucket to position a heel of the bucket to contact the off-fall. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a velocity of the excavating assemblage for the off-fall control mode via an operator velocity signal. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the excavating assemblage is operated to move the bucket along the off-fall from a first extended position to a second position closely adjacent the machine. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adjusting the vertical position of the bucket via an operator assemblage control signal while the excavating assemblage is operated automatically to move the bucket along the off-fall. 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: horizontally moving the excavating assemblage and positioning the bucket adjacent the off-fall of the second sidewall and repeating the step of providing control signals from the electronic control module for operating the excavating assemblage to move the bucket along the off-fall substantially parallel to the trench centerline to remove or compact the off-fall of the second sidewall. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein horizontal movement of the excavating assemblage from the first to the second sidewall occurs automatically. 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating an offset distance of the bucket to the trench centerline. 9. A machine for excavating a trench and controlling off-fall positioned along upper edges of first and second side walls of the trench, comprising: a chassis; an excavating assemblage including a boom operatively connected to the chassis, a stick pivoted to the boom, and a bucket pivoted to the stick; a control module configured to receive a first signal indicative of a boom pivot angle, a second signal indicative of a stick pivot angle, a third signal indicative of a bucket pivot angle, and a fourth signal indicative of a horizontal position of the excavating assemblage, the control module further configured to operate in an automated off-fall control mode by automatically controlling the excavating assemblage to move the bucket along the off-fall of the upper edge of the first side wall of the trench. 10. The machine of claim 9, further comprising an operator control to initiate operation of the off-fall control mode. 11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the horizontal position of the excavating assemblage is achieved by pivoting the boom relative to the chassis. 12. The machine of claim 9, wherein the machine further includes a body configured for rotational movement relative to the chassis, wherein the boom is connected to body for pivotal movement in a vertical direction, and wherein the horizontal position of the excavating assemblage is achieved by rotational movement of the body. 13. The machine of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to automatically move the bucket along the off-fall from a first extended position to a second position closely adjacent the machine. 14. The machine of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate an offset distance of the bucket to a trench centerline. 15. The machine of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to move the bucket along the off-fall of the upper edge of the first side wall of the trench parallel to a centerline of the trench. 16. The machine of claim 9, further including an operator control device configured to provide a signal to control the vertical position of the bucket while the controller moves the bucket along the off-fall of the upper edge of the first side wall of the trench. 17. The machine of claim 9, wherein the machine is a backhoe-loader, the backhoe loader further comprising a pair of outriggers mounted adjacent a first end of the chassis. 18. A backhoe loader for excavating a trench and controlling off-fall positioned along upper edges of first and second side walls of the trench, comprising: a chassis having a first end and a second end; an operator's station supported by the chassis; a loader bucket operatively connected by a linkage to the first end of the chassis; an excavating assemblage including a boom having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally connected to the chassis and configured for pivotal movement in a horizontal and vertical direction, a stick having a first end pivotally connected to the second end of the boom, and a second end pivotally connected to a bucket; an operator control mechanism for manually controlling operation of the excavation assemblage; an off-fall control mode selector configured to provide an initiation signal to initiate an off-fall control mode; a control module configured to receive a first signal indicative of a vertical boom pivot angle, a second signal indicative of a stick pivot angle, a third signal indicative of a bucket pivot angle, and a fourth signal indicative of a horizontal boom pivot angle, the control module further configured to operate the off-fall control mode by automatically controlling the excavating assemblage to move the bucket along the off-fall of the upper edge of the first side wall of the trench from a first extended position to a second position closely adjacent the machine. 19. The backhoe loader of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to upon movement of the bucket to the second position, to automatically move the excavating assemblage to a second side wall of the trench and to position the bucket in a third extended position to repeat the process of off-fall control for the second side wall.