Device for detecting internal pressure of air-filled gunwale protector

• US 6,448,903 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokohama Rubber Company Limited
• Inventors: Hattori, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/341,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.06, 340/870.07, 340/539, 340/870.11, 340/10.32, 340/10.34, 342/51, 342/42, 342/44, 114/219, 114/212, 441/211
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2059/025 pneumatic, e.g. inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/02 Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull; Rubbing-strakes fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/26 Fenders fenders for protecting offshore constructions E02B17/003; fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/086 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/12 in which the signal transmitted is frequency or phase of ac
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/30 in transportation, e.g. on roads, waterways or railways

Abstract

The present invention relates to an internal-pressure detection apparatus for a pneumatic fender that can reduce the labor of maintenance. The internal-pressure detection apparatus is configured of an internal-pressure detection unit 10 provided in a pneumatic fender that is fixed to an underwater structure such as a quay 2 and bridge pier 3 or floated and is used as cushioning material for a ship or the like, and a monitor unit 20 provided in an internal-pressure monitoring station 4 on land. The internal-pressure detection unit 10 is driven by the energy of an electromagnetic wave having a first frequency, and detects internal air pressure of the pneumatic fender 1; transmits this air pressure information by an electromagnetic wave having a second frequency. The monitor unit 20 not only transmits the electromagnetic wave, having the first frequency, at the time of internal air pressure detection, but also receives the electromagnetic wave having the second frequency, and obtains the air pressure information transmitted from the internal-pressure detection unit 10; informs a monitoring person of this air pressure information with displaying the air pressure information on a display unit or the like. Thereby, it is possible to easily install the internal-pressure detection apparatus and to reduce the labor of maintenance for battery change or the like.

Claims

1. An internal-pressure detection apparatus for a pneumatic fender that is fixed to an underwater structure or floated and is used as cushioning material for a ship or the like, comprising:

an internal-pressure detection unit provided in the pneumatic fender; and

a monitor unit installed in a predetermined internal-pressure monitoring station,

wherein the internal-pressure detection unit comprises;

a pneumatic sensor that detects air pressure inside the pneumatic fender and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a value of the air pressure;

means of reception for receiving an electromagnetic wave having a first frequency;

means of energy conversion for converting energy of the electromagnetic wave, received by the means of reception, into electric energy; and

means of transmission for operating by the converted electric energy, inputting an electric signal outputted from the pneumatic sensor, and transmitting a detection result of the internal air pressure by an electromagnetic wave having a second frequency;

means of identification-information memory for storing identification-information inherent in each internal-pressure detection unit;

means of identification-information extraction for extracting the identification-information included in a high-frequency signal received by the means of reception;

means of identification-information matching decision for deciding matching the identification-information, extracted by the means of identification-information extraction, to the identification-information stored in the means of identification-information memory;

means of transmission drive control for driving the means of transmission when matching according to the decision result;

means of instruction extraction for extracting an information-read instruction and an information-write instruction which are included in a high-frequency signal received by the means of reception;

means of information memory;

for storing information about the pneumatic fender

means of information write for writing information including updated information and additional information, which is an object to be written and follows the information-write instruction into the means of information memory when matching according to a decision result of means of the identification-information matching decision and receiving the information-write instruction;

the means of information read for reading information, which is stored in the means of information memory, when matching according to a decision result of means of the identification-information matching decision and receiving the information-read instruction; and

the means of transmission for transmitting the detection result of internal air pressure by the pneumatic sensor further comprising means for transmitting identification-information stored in the means of identification-information memory, and information which is read by the means of information read by the electromagnetic wave having the second frequency; and

wherein the monitor unit comprises;

means of transmission for transmitting the electromagnetic wave having the first frequency;

means of reception for receiving the electromagnetic wave having the second frequency and converting the electromagnetic wave into an electric signal;

means of detection result extraction for extracting a detection result of the internal air pressure, which is included in the electric signal outputted from the means of reception; and

means of information for informing of the detection result extracted by the means, of detection result extraction;

the means of memory for storing identification-information of the internal-pressure detection unit provided in the pneumatic fender that is an object to be detected;

means of instruction input for inputting an information-write instruction and information, which is an object to be written, to means of information memory in the internal-pressure detection unit, and an information-read instruction from the means of information memory;

means of transmission including means for transmitting, identification-information of the internal-pressure detection unit that is stored in the means of memory, and the instructions, which are inputted by the means of instruction input, and information that is an object to be written by the electromagnetic wave having the first frequency;

means of information extraction for extracting information that is stored in the internal-pressure detection unit and is included in an electric signal outputted from the means of reception;

the means of detection result extraction for extracting the detection result of internal air pressure including means for extracting identification-information from an electric signal outputted from the means of reception; and

the means of information for informing of a detection result, which is extracted by the means of detection result extraction including means for informing information, which is extracted by the means of information extraction, which are corresponding to identification-information extracted by the means of detection result extraction.

2. The internal-pressure detection apparatus for a pneumatic fender according to claim 1, wherein the means of information informs the identification-information and detection results that are extracted by the means of detection result extraction in a one-to-one correspondence between them.

3. The internal-pressure detection apparatus for a pneumatic fender according to claim 1, wherein the means of information memory contains maintenance history records of the pneumatic fender.