System for monitoring component of operating machine

• US 8,810,364 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsuda, Yukihiro, Koizumi, Hidenori, Komine, Atsutomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US12/308,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/426.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25296 Identification module, type connected I-O, device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25297 Identify controlled element, valve, and read characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A working machine is provided with a plurality of exchangeable components, and each component is provided with a wireless tag. A component ID is stored in advance in the wireless tag. When, on the side of the working machine, a component exchange timing or an engine starting timing is detected, the component ID stored in the wireless tag is acquired, and is transmitted to a working machine management device. The working machine management device checks the component ID which has been received from the working machine and a component ID which is stored in a component ID storage means against one another. And, if these two component IDs do not match one another, an abnormal state detection means outputs a warning signal.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a component which can be exchangeably mounted to a working machine, comprising a control device which is provided to said working machine, and a management device which is connected to said control device via a communication network so as to be capable of mutual communication therewith, wherein:

a wireless tag, in which first component identification information for identifying this component is stored, is provided in advance to said component, said first component identification information including a first product number and a first serial number;

said control device comprises;

a checking timing detection means for detecting whether or not a checking timing, which has been set in advance, has arrived; and

a component identification information acquisition means which, if said checking timing has arrived, acquires said first component identification information from said wireless tag via an information reading means, adds a first chassis number corresponding to said working machine to said first component identification information and transmits said first component identification information including a combination of said first product number, said first serial number and said first chassis number to said management device via said communication network;

and said management device comprises;

a component information management means for managing second component identification information related to genuine components, said second component identification information including a second product number and a second serial number together with a second chassis number corresponding to said second component identification information;

a component monitoring means for monitoring genuine components which decides;

whether said first product number which has been received from said control device and said second product number which is managed by said component information management means agree with one another or not, and

if said first product number and said second product number do not agree with one another, outputs a decision result to the effect of non-agreement,

whether said first serial number which has been received from said control device and said second serial number which is managed by said component information management means agree with one another or not, and

if said first serial number and said second serial number do not agree with one another, outputs another decision result to the effect of non-agreement,

whether said first chassis number which has been received from said control device and said second chassis number which is managed by said component information management means agree with one another or not, and

if said first chassis number and said second chassis number do not agree with one another, outputs a further decision result to the effect of non-agreement; and

if said first chassis number and said second chassis number agree with one another, terminates the monitoring of genuine components; and

an updating means which,

if it has been decided by said component monitoring means that said first serial number and said second serial number agree with one another, deletes the second serial number from said component information management means so that said second serial number, for which this agreement has been decided, is not re-used by said component monitoring means.

2. The system for monitoring a component according to claim 1, wherein said working machine is physically separated from said management device and said communication network is a wireless communication network.

3. A management device for a working machine which is connected via a communication network to a control device provided to said working machine so as to be capable of mutual communication therewith, comprising:

a wireless tag, in which is stored first component identification information for identifying a component which can be exchangeably mounted to said working machine, is provided in advance to this component, said first component identification information including a first product number and a first serial number;

said control device including a checking timing detection means for detecting whether or not said checking timing has arrived for deciding whether or not a component is a genuine component, and a component identification information acquisition means;

said component identification information acquisition means, after said checking timing has arrived, acquiring said first component identification information from said wireless tag via an information reading means, adding a first chassis number corresponding to said working machine to said first component identification information and transmitting said first component identification information including a combination of said first product number, said first serial number and said first chassis number to said management device via said communication network;

a component information management means for managing second component identification information related to genuine components, said second component identification information including a second product number and a second serial number together with a second chassis number corresponding to said second component identification information;

a component monitoring means for monitoring genuine components, which receives said first component identification information and said first chassis number transmitted by said control device and compares said first component identification information and first chassis number with said second component identification information and said second chassis number which is managed by said component information management means, and said component monitoring means;

if said first product number and said second product number do not agree with one another, outputs a warning signal of non-agreement,

if said first chassis number and said second chassis number do not agree with one another, outputs another warning signal of non-agreement; and

if said first chassis number and said second chassis number agree with one another, terminates the monitoring of genuine components; and

an updating means which, if said first serial number and said second serial number agree with one another based on the comparison by said component monitoring means, deletes the second serial number from said component information management means so that said second serial number is not re-used h said component monitoring means.

4. The system for monitoring a component according to claim 3, wherein said working machine is physically separated from said management device and said communication network is a wireless communication network.