Diagnosis apparatus for self-propelled vehicle

• US 6,321,178 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Sugano, Yukio, Hasegawa, Nobuki, Watanabe, Genichirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/194,731
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/184, 177/141, 364/442, 556/1, 701/35
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/08 responsive to conditions relating to the cargo, e.g. overload
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/142 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/41 Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/412 Excavators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1002 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/501 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/023 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a diagnosis apparatus which can plan a maintenance plan, a renewal plan, and the like of a self-propelled vehicle, by detecting a work load in addition to an engine condition. Accordingly, there is provided: engine rotating speed detecting means (11), for detecting a rotating speed N of the engine; fuel injection amount detecting means, for detecting a fuel injection amount q per rotation of the engine; loaded weight detecting means, for detecting the weight W of the loaded material; vehicle speed detecting means (14), for detecting the vehicle speed V; and trigger signal oscillating means (82), for oscillating a trigger signal d per predetermined time period t_o. Further, there is provided calculating means (83a), which receives each of the signals, which calculates a time period t for which both the rotating speed N having substantially the same value and the fuel injection amount q substantially the same value are maintained on the basis of the number n of the trigger signal d, which calculates an accumulative total fuel injection amount Q, and which successively calculates at least one of a fuel injection amount q1 per unit time and a conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount.

Claims

1. A diagnosis apparatus suitable for use on a vehicle which has an engine mounted thereon and which can convey a loaded material, said diagnosis apparatus comprising:

engine rotating speed detecting means, for detecting a rotating speed N of the engine;

fuel injection amount detecting means, for detecting a fuel injection amount q per rotation of the engine;

loaded weight detecting means, for detecting a weight W of the loaded material;

vehicle speed detecting means, for detecting a speed V of the vehicle;

trigger signal oscillating means, for oscillating a trigger signal d per predetermined time period t_o; and

calculating means, which receives a detected rotating speed N from said engine rotating speed detecting means, a thus detected fuel injection amount q from the fuel injection amount detecting means, a thus detected weight W from the loaded weight detecting means, a thus detected vehicle speed V from the vehicle speed detecting means, and a trigger signal d from the trigger signal oscillating means;

which calculates a time period t (=n·

t_o) for which the rotating speed N and the fuel injection amount q are maintained substantially at their same values on a basis of a number n of the trigger signal d;

which calculates an accumulative total fuel injection amount Q (=Σ

q·

N·

t); and

which calculates at least one of a fuel injection amount q1 (=Q/Σ

t) per unit time and a conveying amount w1 (=Σ

W·

V·

t/Q) per unit fuel injection amount.

2. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an output means, for receiving from said calculating means at least one of said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time and said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount, and for outputting a thus received amount to a display apparatus.

3. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said display apparatus is located in a building.

4. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said display apparatus is located outside of the vehicle.

5. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said calculating means calculates said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time, and said output means outputs to said display apparatus a thus calculated fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.

6. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount, and said output means outputs to said display apparatus a thus calculated conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount.

7. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said calculating means calculates said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.

8. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount.

9. A diagnosis apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount and said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.

10. Apparatus comprising:

a vehicle which has an engine mounted thereon and which can convey a loaded material;

engine rotating speed detecting means, for detecting a rotating speed N of the engine;

fuel injection amount detecting means, for detecting a fuel injection amount q per rotation of the engine;

loaded weight detecting means, for detecting a weight W of the loaded material;

vehicle speed detecting means, for detecting a speed V of the vehicle;

trigger signal oscillating means, for oscillating a trigger signal d per predetermined time period t_o; and

calculating means, which receives a detected rotating speed N from said engine rotating speed detecting means, a thus detected fuel injection amount q from the fuel injection amount detecting means, a thus detected weight W from the loaded weight detecting means, a thus detected vehicle speed V from the vehicle speed detecting means, and a trigger signal d from the trigger signal oscillating means;

which calculates a time period t (=n·

t_o) for which the rotating speed N and the fuel injection amount q are maintained substantially at their same values on a basis of a number n of the trigger signal d;

which calculates an accumulative total fuel injection amount Q (=Σ

q·

N·

t); and

which calculates at least one of a fuel injection amount q1 (=Q/Σ

t) per unit time and a conveying amount w1 (=Σ

W·

V·

t/Q) per unit fuel injection amount.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a display apparatus; and

an output means, for receiving from said calculating means at least one of said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time and said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount, and for outputting a thus received amount to the display apparatus.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said output means comprises a magnetic card.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said display apparatus is located in a building.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said display apparatus is located outside of the vehicle.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said calculating means calculates said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time, and said output means outputs to said display apparatus a thus calculated fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount, and said output means outputs to said display apparatus a thus calculated conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said calculating means calculates said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said calculating means calculates said conveying amount w1 per unit fuel injection amount and said fuel injection amount q1 per unit time.