Management system for construction machines

• US 6,614,361 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Kinugawa, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/386,169
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.16, 340/988, 340/686.1, 701/14
• US Class Current: 340/870.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/20 Drives; Control devices gearings in general F16H; controlling in general G05; electric multi-motor drives H02K, H02P
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

To enable positive management of construction machines in a management center. There comprises an construction machine 1, and a management apparatus 20 for carrying out the transmission and reception of information with the construction machine 1 through a communication satellite 30 and a base station 32. The construction machine 1 comprises a memory 124 for storing operating information, information amount discrimination means 127 to discriminate if the operating information stored in the memory 124 reaches a fixed amount, information readout means 128 for reading out the operating information when the operating information stored in the memory 12 reaches the fixed amount, and a transmission section 184 for transmitting the operating information read out. The management apparatus 20 comprises a reception section 214 for receiving the operating information transmitted from the construction machine 1, a memory 208 for storing the operating information received, and data processing means 211 for carrying out data processing relative to the operating information.

Claims

1. A management system for construction machines, comprising:

a construction machine comprising memory means for storing management information;

a management center comprising management means for managing said construction machine using said management information;

communication means installed in the construction machine and the management center respectively, for carrying out transmission and reception of said management information through a communication satellite,

wherein said management information is operating information, of the construction machine, the construction machine comprises read-out means for reading out the operating information stored in the memory means for the purpose of transmitting it to the management center, and said management means can manage the operation of the construction machine using the operating information; and

a discrimination means for discriminating if the said read-out means fulfills the readable conditions of the operating information stored in the memory means,

wherein the read-out means reads out the operating information when the discrimination means discriminates that said read-out means fulfills the readable conditions.

2. The management system for construction machines according to claim 1,

wherein said readable conditions means that said operating information stored in the memory means assumes a fixed amount.

3. The management system for construction machines according to claim 1,

wherein said readable conditions assume the fixed time.

4. The management system for construction machines according to claim 1,

wherein said readable conditions means that the communication means of the construction machine receives command information transmitted from said management center.

5. The control system for construction machines according to claim 1,

wherein the construction machine comprises anti-theft device, said control information is an operation stop signal transmitted from the management center, and the anti-theft device is operating in case it receives an operation stop signal transmitted from the management center.

6. The management system for construction machines according to claim 5,

wherein a work area of the construction machine is set in advance, the position of the construction machine is measured using a GPS, and when the measured position of the construction machine is outside the work area, the operation stop signal is transmitted to the construction machine.

7. The management system for construction machines according to claim 5,

wherein said anti-theft device cuts off a power circuit to a starter motor and also cuts off a circuit for the supply of pressure oil to a hydraulic actuator.

8. The management system for construction machines according to claim 5,

wherein said anti-theft device cuts off a power circuit to a starter motor and also cuts off a circuit for the supply of fuel to an engine.

9. A management system for construction machines, comprising:

a construction machine comprising memory means for storing management formation;

a management center comprising management means for managing said construction machine using said management information;

communication means installed in the construction machine and the management center respectively, for carrying out transmission and reception of said management information through a communication satellite, wherein said management information is the control information and the construction machine comprises updating means for receiving control information from the management center by the reception means to thereby update the control information stored in the memory means; and

discrimination means for discriminating if the operating section is in a stop state,

wherein the management center is transmitting the control information to the construction machine in case said discrimination means discriminate that the operating section is in a stop state and the updating means updating the control information when the operating section is in a stop state, and wherein said management means comprises inquiry means for inquiring about the version number of control information stored in the construction machine, and if it is not the latest version number, said control information is transmitted by said transmit means.

10. A management system for a construction machine, comprising:

memory means on the construction machine for storing management information, said management information including information representative of an elapsed time of an operation of the construction machine;

a management center comprising management means for managing the construction machine using said management information; and

communication means installed in the construction machine and the management center respectively, for carrying out transmission and reception of said management information through a communication satellite.

11. The management system according to claim 10, further comprising:

read-out means for reading out the operating information stored in the memory means for the purpose of transmitting it to the management center; and

discrimination means for discriminating if the said read-out means fulfills the readable conditions of the operating information stored in the memory means;

wherein the read-out means reads out the operating information when the discrimination means discriminates that said read-out means fulfills the readable conditions.

12. The management system recited in claim 10, wherein said management information includes date and time for the start of the construction machine and date and time for the stop of the construction machine.