Data processing unit for construction machine

• US 6,334,085 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawamura, Koichi, Haga, Seiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US09/557,415
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 701/30, 701/33, 701/35, 701/102, 701/115, 731/173, 340/457.4
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1015 Engines misfires
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/046 by monitoring revolutions for detecting misfire G01M15/11

Abstract

A data processing unit for a construction machine, the unit being capable of storing the load condition of an engine independently of variations in engine output torque without entailing increases in cost due to additional installation of sensors. This data processing unit is designed such that the rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed thereon and the actual rotational speed of the engine are detected; combinations of first parameter values and second parameter values are divided into a plurality of regions thereby setting a load map, the first parameter values being the values of the rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed thereon while the second parameter values are the values of the difference between the rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed thereon and the actual speed of the engine; detecting time of the first parameter value and the second parameter value of each region in the load map until a certain time elapses is accumulated; and the result of the accumulation for each region of the load map is stored.

Claims

1. A data processing unit for a construction machine, which collects and processes data on the load condition of an engine of the construction machine, the unit comprising:

(a) detecting means for detecting a rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed on the engine;

(b) detecting means for detecting an actual rotational speed of the engine;

(c) load map setting means for setting a load map based on the rotational speed when no load is imposed and the actual rotational speed which have been detected by the detecting means, by dividing combinations of first parameter values and second parameter values into a plurality of regions, the first parameter values being the values of the rotational speed when no load is imposed while the second parameter values being the values of the difference between the rotational speed when no load is imposed and the actual rotational speed; and

(d) calculating and storing means for accumulating the time of detecting the first parameter value and second parameter value of each region in the load map set by the load map setting means until a certain time elapses and for storing the result of the accumulation for each region in the load map.

2. The data processing unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) damage amount calculating means for weighting, for each region in the load map, the accumulated time calculated by the calculating and storing means and for calculating the actual amount of damage sustained by the engine until the certain time elapses, based on the weighted, accumulated time;

(b) relationship setting means for presetting the relationship between the degree of damage and the life of the engine; and

(c) life estimating means for estimating the life of the engine corresponding to the actual amount of damage calculated by the damage amount calculating means, based on the relationship set by the relationship setting means.

3. The data processing unit for a construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein data stored in the calculating and storing means can be read out from outside.

4. The data processing unit for a construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

(a) first transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving data stored in the calculating and storing means;

(b) second transmitting and receiving means located at a position away from the first transmitting and receiving means, for transmitting and receiving data to and from the first transmitting and receiving means;

(c) data processing means for processing the data received by the second transmitting and receiving means; and

(d) displaying means for displaying the data processed by the data processing means.

5. The data processing unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects the rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed on the engine by detecting the angle of rotation of a motor for driving a governor for a fuel injection pump.

6. The data processing unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects the rotational speed of the engine when no load is imposed on the engine by detecting the actual rotational speed of the engine when an operation lever is in its neutral position.