Information management device for construction machinery

• US 6,349,252 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Imanishi, Kunihiko, Yogita, Jin, Hashimoto, Haruo, Saito, Hideaki, Nagata, Noritaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US09/549,688
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/33, 701/35, 701/50, 340/457.4
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division

Abstract

A plurality of on-board controllers are provided within a construction machine. The plurality of on-board controllers are connected with freedom to communicate with each other by means of a serial communications line allowing communications in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol. Also, an information management controller which manages information about the inside of the construction machine is provided. Further, a monitoring station which mmanages information relating to at least one construction machine including the construction machine is provided on the outside of the construction machine. Also, the serial communications line inside the construction machine and the monitoring station are connected with freedom to communicate with each other via the information management controller. Data acquired by the plurality of on-board controllers is gathered, processed and stored by the information management controller, and the stored data is sent to the monitoring station. In this way, detailed information obtained by collating data gathered by each of the different controllers in the construction machine can be easily acquired without the need for complicated communications processing.

Claims

1. An information management device for a construction machine, in which a plurality of on-board controllers in the construction machine are connected with freedom to communicate with each other by means of a serial communications line allowing communications in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol, and information relating to the construction machine is managed based on data acquired by each of the plurality of on-board controllers, wherein the information management device is arranged in such a way that

on an inside of the construction machine is provided an information management controller which manages information about the inside of the construction machine, and on an outside of the construction machine is provided a monitoring station which manages information relating to at least one construction machine including the construction machine;

the serial communications line within the construction machine and the monitoring station are connected with freedom to communicate with each other via the information management controller; and

the information management controller gathers, processes and stores data acquired by each of the plurality of on-board controllers, and sends the stored data to the monitoring station.

2. An information management device for a construction machine, in which a plurality of on-board controllers in the construction machine are connected with freedom to communicate with each other by means of a serial communications line allowing communications in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol, and information relating to the construction machine is managed based on data acquired by each of the plurality of on-board controllers, wherein the information management device is arranged in such a way that

on an inside of the construction machine is provided an information management controller which manages information about the inside of the construction machine, and on an outside of the construction machine is provided an information gathering means which gathers information about the inside of the construction machine and stores it on a storage medium;

the serial communications line within the construction machine and the information gathering means are connected with freedom to communicate with each other via the information management controller; and

the information management controller gathers, processes and stores data acquired by each of the plurality of on-board controllers, and collectively sends the stored data to the information gathering means.

3. An information management device for a construction machine, in which a plurality of on-board controllers in the construction machine are connected with freedom to communicate with each other by means of a first serial communications line allowing communications in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol, a frame signal is transmitted between the plurality of on-board controllers, data is sent and received between the plurality of on-board controllers, and data acquired by each of the plurality of on-board controllers is described in the frame signal, and information relating to the construction machine is gathered by reading the data described in the frame signal, wherein the information management device is arranged in such a way that

on an inside of the construction machine is provided an information management controller which manages information about the inside of the construction machine;

an on-board controller which differs from the plurality of on-board controllers is connected in a freely communicating fashion with a second serial communications line allowing communications in accordance with a communications protocol which differs from the predetermined communications protocol;

the serial communications lines in the construction machine are inter-connected with freedom to communicate with each other via the information management controller; and

the information management controller ensures that data is sent and received between an on-board controller connected to the second serial communication line and an on-board controller connected to the second serial communications line, and information relating to the construction machine is gathered by reading data respectively described in the frame signal transmitted over one of the serial communications lines and the frame signal transmitted over the other serial communications line.

4. An information management device for a construction machine, which gathers data about operating parameters with variable values during operation of an engine of the construction machine, and which computes a lifespan of each type of constituent part of the engine based on the data about operating parameters and manages information about the lifespan of each type of part so computed, wherein the information management device comprises

a load frequency integrating means which divides a torque of the engine or a rotational speed of the engine into various levels, and integrates frequencies with which values of the operating parameters fall into the various levels, for each level until a predetermined time has elapsed;

a rotational variation range frequency integrating means which divides a variation range of the rotational speed of the engine into various levels, and integrates the frequencies with which the values of the operating parameters fall into the various levels, for each level until a predetermined time has elapsed;

a variation locus frequency integrating means which classifies a variation locus of the torque of the engine or a variation locus of the rotational speed of the engine into various loci, and integrates a frequency with which values of the operating parameters vary along each locus, for each locus until a predetermined time has elapsed; and

a lifespan computing means which prearranges one of or a combination of two or more of the load frequency integrating means, the rotational variation range frequency integrating means and the variation locus frequency integrating means for each of types of part, and

computes the lifespan for each type of part based on the integrated value obtained from the corresponding one or more frequency integrating means.

5. An information management device for a construction machine, which gathers data about operating parameters with variable values during operation of an engine of the construction machine, and which computes a lifespan of a hydraulic pump or a hydraulic motor actuated in accordance with driving of the engine based on the data about operating parameters, and manages the lifespan of the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor so computed, wherein the information management device comprises

bearing-part lifespan computing means which successively measures loads imposed on the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor until a predetermined time has elapsed and, based on the measured successive load values, computes the lifespan of a bearing part comprised in the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor;

a hydraulic-sealing part lifespan computing means which successively measures a temperature of the discharge hydraulic oil of the hydraulic pump or of an activating oil of the hydraulic motor until a predetermined time has elapsed and, based on the measured successive temperature values, computes the lifespan of a hydraulic-sealing part comprised in the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor; and

a lifespan computing means which computes the lifespan of the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor based on various lifespan values obtained from the parts lifespan computing means.

6. An information management device for a construction machine, which computes a work volume of a construction machine comprising a working machine, and manages the computed work-volume information, wherein the information management device comprises

a timing means which measures a length of time over which the working machine operates;

and

a work-volume computing means which computes the work volume based on the time measured by the timing means and a planned operating time of the construction machine.

7. An information management device for a construction machine, which computes a work volume of a construction machine comprising a working machine, a swiveling body and a traveling body, and which manages data of the computed work-volume, wherein the information management device comprises

a working machine integrating means which integrates a frequency of operation or length of time of operation of the working machine, until a predetermined time has elapsed;

a swiveling-body integrating means which integrates a frequency of operation or length of time of operation of the swiveling body, until a predetermined time has elapsed;

a traveling-body integrating means which integrates a frequency of operation or length of time of operation of the traveling body, until a predetermined time has elapsed; and

a work-volume computing means which computes the work volume based on a ratio of the integrated working-machine value obtained by the integration using the working machine integrating means, the integrated swiveling-body value obtained by the integration using the swiveling-body integrating means, and the integrated traveling-body value obtained by the integration using the traveling-body integrating means.

8. An information management device for a construction machine, in which a power source is turned on in accordance with a switch means, and in which there is management of information about an operating state of the construction machine comprising a working machine activated using an engine as a power source, wherein the information management device comprises

a first timing means which measures a time during which the switch means is turned on;

a second timing means which measures a time during which the engine is operating;

a third timing means which measures a time during which the working machine is operating; and

an operating information gathering means which determines values of differences between the times measured by the first, second and third timing means, and gathers information about the operating state of the construction machine based on the difference values.