System for monitoring component of operating machine

• US 8,830,031 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Komine, Atsutomo, Tsuda, Yukihiro, Koizumi, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/456,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 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 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, associates said acquired first component identification information with identification information of said working machine, and transmits said acquired first component identification information and said identification information of said working machine 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;

a component monitoring means which decides whether said first component identification information which has been received from said control device and said second component identification information which is managed by said component information management means agree with one another or not, and which, if said first component identification information and said second component identification information agree with one another, decides whether said identification information of said working machine associated with said first component identification information is associated with said second component identification information and, if said first component identification information and said second component identification information do not agree with one another, outputs a decision result to the effect of non-agreement; and

an updating means which, if it has been decided by said component monitoring means that said first component identification information and said second component identification information agree with one another and it is decided that said second component identification information and said identification information of said working machine have not been associated, updates the contents stored in said component information management means so that said second component identification information, for which this agreement has been decided, is associated with said identification information of said working machine.

2. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises an abnormal state control means which acquires said decision result to the effect of non-agreement from said management device, and outputs abnormal state detection information on the basis of this decision result which has been acquired.

3. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein:

a product number information item for specifying the type of said component is included in said first and second component identification information; and

said component monitoring means checks the product number information item which is included in said first component identification information, and the product number information item which is included in said second component identification information.

4. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein:

a product number information item for specifying the type of said component, and a manufacturing serial number which is specific to said component, are included in said first and second component identification information; and

said component monitoring means checks the product number information item and the manufacturing serial number which are included in said first component identification information, and the product number information item and the manufacturing serial number which are included in said second component identification information.

5. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein:

in said first and second component identification information, there are included a product number information item for specifying the type of said component, and a manufacturing serial number which is specific to said component; and

said component identification information acquisition means transmits a chassis number for identifying said working machine to said management device in correspondence with said first component identification information; and

said component monitoring means transmits to said control device, if any of;

(1) said product number information item included in said first component identification information and said product number information item included in said second component identification information do not agree with one another;

or

(2) said manufacturing serial number included in said first component identification information and said manufacturing serial number included in said second component identification information do not agree with one another;

or

(3) if said component information management means is holding said chassis number in correspondence with said manufacturing serial number included in said second component identification information, if said chassis number which is held in correspondence with said manufacturing serial number included in said second component identification information and said chassis number corresponding to said first component identification information do not agree with one another.

6. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein:

said component is a component for an engine, which is used by said engine; and

said information reading means is provided in the vicinity of said component.

7. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein, when said component is supplied to said working machine, said updating means updates said second component identification information which is stored in said component information management means to its newest state by acquiring the newest second component identification information related to this component which is supplied.

8. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal state detection information is warning information.

9. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal state detection information is information for limiting the operation of said working machine.

10. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said abnormal state detection information is information for limiting the output of an engine of said working machine.

11. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said checking timing is detected upon starting of said engine.

12. The component monitoring system for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein said checking timing detection means detects said checking timing if either said component is exchanged, or starting of said engine is requested.

13. 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, wherein:

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; and

said first component identification information is acquired by said control device, said management device comprising;

a component information management means for managing second component identification information related to genuine components;

a component monitoring means which receives said first component identification information which has been acquired and transmitted by said control device after being associated with said identification information of said working machine based upon a detection by a checking timing detection means provided to the control device that a checking timing associated with an engine starting request has arrived, decides whether said second component identification information which is managed by said component information management means and said first component identification information agree with one another or not, and, if said first component identification information and said second component identification information agree with one another, decides whether or not said identification information of said working machine associated with said first component identification information is associated with said second component identification information and, if said first component identification information and said second component identification information do not agree with one another, outputs a decision result to the effect of non-agreement; and

an updating means which, if it has been decided by said component monitoring means that said first component identification information and said second component identification information agree with one another and it is decided that said second component identification information and said identification of said working machine has not been associated, updates the contents stored in said component information management means so that said second component identification information, for which this agreement has been decided, is associated with said identification information of said working machine.

14. The management device for a working machine according to claim 13, wherein said checking timing is detected upon starting of said engine.