Working machine, trouble diagnosis system of working machine, and maintenance system of working machine

• US 20040186687A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ogura, Hiroshi, Watanabe, Hiroshi, Shibata, Koichi, Karasawa, Hideo, Ochiai, Yasushi, Sugiyama, Genroku, Adachi, Hiroyuki, Miura, Shuichi, Ono, Kiyoshi, Tomikawa, Osamu, Umeno, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,079,982 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/185
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31454 Keep track of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33284 Remote diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45012 Excavator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0267 Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A working machine failure diagnosis method for performing a failure diagnosis by transmitting and receiving signals through communication devices provided at a working machine and at an information management center, according to the present invention, includes: a first step in which a first signal related to a failure of the working machine is generated at the working machine and the first signal is transmitted to the information management center from the working machine via the communication devices; a second step in which, after the first signal is transmitted, the information management center generates a second signal for identifying a location of the failure based upon the first signal and the second signal is then transmitted from the information management center to the working machine via the communication devices; and a third step in which failure information corresponding to the first signal and the second signal is provided to an operator.

Claims

1. A working machine failure diagnosis method for performing a failure diagnosis by transmitting and receiving signals through communication devices provided at a working machine and at an information management center comprising:

a first step in which a first signal related to a failure of the working machine is generated at the working machine and the first signal is transmitted to the information management center from the working machine via the communication devices;

a second step in which, after the first signal is transmitted, the information management center generates a second signal for identifying a location of the failure based upon the first signal and the second signal is then transmitted from the information management center to the working machine via the communication devices; and

a third step in which failure information corresponding to the first signal and the second signal is provided to an operator.

2. A working machine failure diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first step starts upon a detection of an abnormal state at the working machine.

3. A working machine failure diagnosis method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first step starts as an abnormality occurrence signal is input at the working machine when an abnormality has occurred at the working machine.

4. A working machine failure diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth step in which a signal related to a service request for the identified failure location is transmitted from the working machine to the information management center; and

a fifth step in which a servicing cost and a length of servicing time are calculated at the information management center based upon the signal related to the service request and information indicating the cost and the length of time is transmitted to the working machine.

5. A working machine failure diagnosis method according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth step in which a signal related to a service request for the identified failure location is transmitted from the working machine to the information management center; and

a fifth step in which a time point at which a service person is expected to arrive at a site is calculated at the information management center based upon the signal related to the service request and information indicating the time point is transmitted to the working machine.

6. A working machine failure diagnosis system comprising:

a first signal generating device that generates at a working machine a first signal related to a failure of the working machine;

a first transmission device that transmits the first signal from the working machine to an information management center;

a second signal generating device that generates at the information management center a second signal for identifying a location of the failure based upon the first signal after the first signal is transmitted thereto;

a second transmission device that transmits the second signal from the information management center to the working machine; and

an informing device that provides an operator with failure information corresponding to the first signal and the second signal.

7. A working machine failure diagnosis system according to claim 6, wherein:

the working machine includes a detection device that detects an abnormal state therein; and

when an abnormal state is detected by the detection device, the first signal generating device generates the first signal based upon detection results.

8. A working machine failure diagnosis system according to claim 6, wherein:

the working machine includes an operating unit that is operated when an abnormality occurs therein; and

when an abnormality occurrence signal is input through the operating unit, the first signal generating device generates the first signal based upon the abnormality concurrence signal.

9. A working machine failure diagnosis system according to claim 6, wherein:

the second signal contains information for identifying the failure location; and

the informing device informs the operator of the identified failure location.

10. A working machine failure diagnosis system according to claim 9, wherein:

the information management center includes a service management device that calculates a servicing cost and a length of servicing time after a signal related to a service request is transmitted from the working machine following identification of the failure location; and

the second signal generating device generates the second signal that contains information indicating the servicing cost and length of servicing time.

11. A working machine failure diagnosis system according to claim 9, wherein:

the information management center includes a schedule management device that calculates a time point at which a service person is expected to arrive at a site after a signal related to a service request is transmitted from the working machine following identification of the failure location; and

the second signal generating device generates the second signal that contains information indicating the arrival time point.

12. A working machine comprising:

a signal generating device that generates a signal related to failure information;

a transmission device that transmits the signal which has been generated to an information management center;

a reception device that receives a signal related to a failure diagnosis returned from the information management center in response to the signal transmitted via the transmission device; and

an informing device that provides failure information based upon the signal that has been received.

13. A working machine according to claim 12, further comprising:

an automatic abnormality detection device that automatically detects an abnormal state in the working machine; and

the signal generating process generates the signal related to the failure information when the abnormal state is detected by the automatic abnormality detection device.

14. A working machine according to claim 12, further comprising:

an input device through which a failure diagnosis instruction is received from an operator; and

an abnormality detection device that detects whether or not an abnormal state is present in the working machine when the failure diagnosis instruction is received through the input device, wherein;

the signal generating process generates the signal related to the failure information when the abnormal state is detected by the abnormality detection device.

15. A working machine according to claim 12, wherein:

the signal generating device also generates a signal related to a service request for an identified failure location;

the transmission device transmits the signal related to the service request to the information management center;

the reception device receives a signal related to a servicing cost and a length of servicing time generated at the information management center based upon the signal related to the service request; and

the informing device provides information related to the servicing cost and the length of servicing time based upon the signal related to the cost and the length of time which has been received.

16. A working machine according to claim 12, wherein:

the signal generating device further generates a signal related to a service request for an identified failure location;

the transmission device transmits the signal related to the service request to the information management center;

the reception device receives a signal related to a time point at which a service person is expected to arrive at a site generated at the information management center based upon the signal related to the service request; and

the informing device provides information related to the time point at which the service person is expected to arrive at the site based upon the signal related to the arrival time point which has been received.

17. A computer program product that can be read by a computer installed in a working machine, containing a working machine failure diagnosis program, the working machine failure diagnosis program comprising:

a signal generation instruction code for generating a signal related to failure information;

a transmission instruction code for transmitting the generated signal to an information management center;

a reception instruction code for receiving a signal related to a failure diagnosis returned from the information management center in response to the signal transmitted in conformance to the transmission instruction code; and

an informing instruction code for providing failure information based upon the received signal.

18. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the computer program product is a recording medium having the working machine failure diagnosis program recorded therein.

19. A computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the computer program product is a carrier wave on which the working machine failure diagnosis program is embodied as a data signal.

20. An information management center that exchanges signals with a working machine comprising:

a reception device that receives a signal related to failure information transmitted from the working machine;

a signal generating device that generates a response signal related to a failure diagnosis in response to the signal; and

a transmission device that transmits the response signal to the working machine.

21. A computer program product that can be read by a computer installed at an information management center engaged in signal exchange with a working machine, containing a working machine failure diagnosis program, the working machine failure diagnosis program comprising:

a reception instruction code for receiving a signal related to failure information transmitted from the working machine;

a signal generating instruction code for generating a response signal related to a failure diagnosis in response to the signal; and

a transmission instruction code for transmitting the response signal to the working machine.

22. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the computer program product is a recording medium having the working machine failure diagnosis program recorded therein.

23. A computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the computer program product is a carrier wave on which the working machine failure diagnosis program is embodied as a data signal.

24. A working machine maintenance system comprising:

a plurality of working machines; and

a center server that manages maintenance on the plurality of working machines by engaging in data exchange through bidirectional communication with each of the plurality of working machines via a communication line, wherein;

the working machines each include an operation data storage device that stores operation data and maintenance data, an operation device operated to enter a maintenance work completion, a data transmission device that transmits the operation data, maintenance work completion data provided through the operation device and the maintenance data to the center server, a data reception device that receives data related to maintenance information transmitted from the center server and a display device at which the maintenance information is displayed; and

the center server includes a data reception device that receives the operation data, the maintenance work completion data and the maintenance data that have been transmitted, an operation database in which the operation data are stored, a maintenance database in which the maintenance data are stored, a calculation device that calculates maintenance timing based upon the operation data stored in the operation database and the maintenance data stored in the maintenance database and a data transmission device that transmits data related to the maintenance information including the maintenance timing to a working machine.

25. A working machine maintenance system according to claim 24, wherein:

maintenance work, a completion of which is signaled through an input operation at the operation device, includes failure repair work; and

the maintenance data include failure location data indicating a failure location at the working machine.

26. A working machine comprising:

a communication device that exchanges information via a communication line through bidirectional communication with a center server managing maintenance on a plurality of working machines;

an operation device at which an input operation signaling a maintenance work completion is received;

a storage device in which maintenance completion information related to the maintenance work completion is stored; and

a control device that transmits the maintenance completion information stored in the storage device to the center server via the communication device when the input operation signaling the maintenance work completion is received at the operation device.

27. A working machine according to claim 26, further comprising:

a display device, wherein;

the control device receives maintenance instruction information related to a maintenance instruction transmitted from the center server via the communication line and displays the maintenance instruction information that has been received at the display device.

28. A working machine according to claim 27, wherein:

operation information related to an operation of the working machine is stored in the storage device; and

the control device transmits the operation information stored in the storage device to the center server via the communication device with predetermined timing.

29. A computer program product that can be read by a computer installed at a working machine, containing a working machine maintenance program, the working machine maintenance program comprising;

an operation instruction code for receiving an input operation signaling a maintenance work completion at the working machine via an input device;

a storage instruction code for storing maintenance completion information related to the maintenance work completion at the working machine into a storage device; and

a transmission instruction code for transmitting the maintenance completion information stored in the storage device via a communication device to a center server managing maintenance on a plurality of working machines upon receiving the input operation signaling the maintenance work completion.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the computer program product is a recording medium having the working machine maintenance program recorded therein.

31. A computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the computer program product is a carrier wave on which the working machine maintenance program is embodied as a data signal.

32. A center server that manages maintenance on a working machine, comprising:

a communication device that exchanges information with a working machine via a communication line through bidirectional communication;

a maintenance database in which information related to the maintenance on the working machine is stored; and

a control device that receives maintenance completion information related to a maintenance work completion at the working machine transmitted from the working machine via the communication device and stores the received maintenance completion information into the maintenance database.

33. A center server according to claim 32, further comprising:

an operation database in which operation information related to an operation of the working machine is stored, wherein;

the control device receives the operation information transmitted from the working machine via the communication line and stores the received operation information into the operation database.

34. A center server according to claim 33, wherein:

the control device generates maintenance instruction information related to a maintenance instruction for the working machine based upon the information related to the maintenance on the working machine stored in the maintenance database and the operation information related to the operation of the working machine stored in the operation database and transmits the maintenance instruction information that has been generated to the working machine via the communication device.

35. A computer program product that can be read by a center server managing maintenance on a working machine, containing a working machine maintenance management program, the working machine maintenance management program comprising:

a reception instruction code for receiving maintenance completion information related to a maintenance work completion at the working machine transmitted from the working machine via a communication device; and

a storage instruction code for storing the maintenance completion information that has been received into a maintenance database.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the computer program product is a recording medium having the working machine maintenance program recorded therein.

37. A computer program product according to claim 35, wherein the computer program product is a carrier wave on which the working machine maintenance program is embodied as a data signal.