Work machine management device

• US 6,856,879 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Arakawa, Shuji, Kamada, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US10/350,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/29, 701/35, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to ensure that the amount of time a construction machine has been operated by each operator can be managed. A further object is to ensure that an administrator can learn without delay, in real time, and accurately that a service person has performed services on a construction machine, and to ensure that work instructions are imparted to a service person, and service person performance management and labor management are performed easily and accurately. Another object is to ensure that the attachment situation of a construction machine can be learned accurately and in real time such that customer requests can be dealt with promptly. Another object is to ensure that communication messages can be displayed on the limited space of a monitoring panel display screen together with information which is necessary for driving. When driver identification data (operator ID “010A”) for identifying a driver A is inputted at the operating start time of a work machine 31 (vehicle ID “CAR001”), the inputted driver identification data (operator ID “010A”), the operating time of the construction machine 31 (“2 hours and 15 minutes”), and the time and date (“6:00, May 21”) at which the driver identification data (operator ID “010A”) was inputted are transmitted from the work machine 31 to a terminal device 11. As a result, the amount of time the construction machine 31 was operated by the driver A is displayed on the terminal 11, and the work machine 31 can be managed on the basis of this display content.

Claims

1. A work machine managing system comprising:

a work machine to operated by a driver to perform a predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing the work machine; and

communication means provided in the work machine and the terminal device for transmitting information between the work machine and to the terminal device, such that the work machine is managed by the terminal device on the basis of information transmitted from the work machine to the terminal device,

wherein the work machine comprises;

driver identification data input means for inputting, at an operating start time of the work machine, driver identification data for identifying the driver;

operating time measuring means for measuring an amount of time the work machine has been operating as an operating time; and

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time, as timekeeping results, when the driver identification data are inputted,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display, and

wherein when the driver identification data inputted to the driver identification data input means, the operating time measured by the operating time measuring means, and the timekeeping results of the timekeeping means, are transmitted from the work machine to the terminal device, the driver identification data are displayed on the display of the terminal device in accordance with an operation time zone of which the work machine has been operated from the date and the time the driver identification data was inputted.

2. A work machine managing system comprising:

a work machine for performing a predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing work machine; and

communication means for transmitting information between the work machine the terminal device, such that the work machine is managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the work machine is transmitted from the work machine to the terminal device,

wherein the work machine comprises;

data input means for inputting, when maintenance has been performed on the work machine, service person identification data for identifying a service person who performed the maintenance; and

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time, as timekeeping results, when the service person identification data are inputted to the data input means; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the service person identification data inputted to the data input means and the timekeeping results of the timekeeping means at a time point when the service person identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means, and

wherein the terminal device manages the work machine on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

3. A work machine managing system comprising:

a work machine for performing a predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing the work machine; and

communication means for transmitting information between the work machine and the terminal device, such that the work machine is managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the work machine transmitted from the work machine to the terminal device,

wherein the work machine comprises;

data input means for inputting, when maintenance has been performed on the work machine, service person identification data for identifying a service person who performed the maintenance;

position detection means for detecting a position of the work machine when the service person identification data are inputted to the data input means;

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time at which the service person identification data are inputted to the data input means as timekeeping results; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the service person identification data inputted to the data input means, the position of the work machine detected by the position detection means and the timekeeping results of the time keeping means at a time point when the service person identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means, and

wherein the terminal device manages the work machine on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

4. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines adapted to have attachments attached thereto;

a terminal divice for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communication means for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the plurality of work machines transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises;

data input means for inputting attachment identification data to identify a type of attachment when an attachment is attached to the work machine; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the attachment identification data inputted to the data input means and work machine identification data for identifying a respective one of the plurality of work machines at a time point when the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means, and

wherein the terminal device manages the plurality of work machines on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

5. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines adapted to have attachments attached thereto;

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communication means from transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the plurality of work machines transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises;

data input means for inputting attachment identification data to identify a type of attachment when an attachment is attached to the work machine;

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time at which the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means as timekeeping results; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the attachment identification data inputted to the data input means, the timekeeping results of the timekeeping means and work machine identification data for identifying a respective one of the plurality of work machines at a time point when the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means, and

wherein the terminal device manages the plurality of work machines on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

6. A work machine managing device system comprising:

a plurality of work machines adapted to have attachments attached thereto;

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communications means for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the plurality of work machines transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises;

data input means for inputting attachment identification data to identify a type of attachment when an attachment is attached to the work machine;

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time at which the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means as timekeeping results; and

position detection means for detecting a position of the work machine when the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the attachment identification data inputted to the data input means, the timekeeping results of the timekeeping means, the position of the work machine detected by the position detection means and work machine identification data detected for identifying a respective one of the plurality of work machines at a time point when the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means, and

wherein the terminal device manages the plurality of work machines on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

7. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines adapted to have attachments attached thereto;

me

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines;

communication means for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the plurality of work machines transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises;

attachment identification data input means for inputting attachment identification data to identify a type of attachment when an attachment is attached to the work machine;

timekeeping means for noting a date and a time at which the attachment identification data are inputted to the attachment identification data input means as timekeeping results;

service person identification data input means for inputting service person identification data to identify a service person who attached the attachment to the work machine; and

automatic transmitting means for automatically transmitting, from the work machine to the terminal device, the attachment identification data inputted to the attachment identification data input means, the timekeeping results of the timekeeping means, the service person identification data inputted to the service person identification data input means and work machine identification data for identifying a respective one of the plurality of work machines at a time point when the attachment identification data are inputted to the data input means, via the communication means

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means; and

wherein the terminal device manages the plurality of work machines on the basis of the information transmitted by the automatic transmitting means.

8. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines to be operated by drivers to perform predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communication means for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information indicating a state of the plurality of work machines transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises a display for displaying information transmitted from the terminal device, and

wherein a communication message comprising an icon and at least one of one or more characters, one or more numbers, and one or more symbols is transmitted and received between the terminal device and the plurality of work machines, whereby the information transmitted from each of the plurality of work machines or the information received by each of the plurality of work machines is displayed on the display.

9. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines to be operated by drivers to perform predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communication means provided in the plurality of work machines and the terminal device for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises a display for displaying a communication message transmitted from the terminal device,

wherein the terminal device comprises;

a switch for designating an icon representing the communication message; and

input means for inputting at least one of one or more characters, one or more numbers, and one or more symbols representing the communication message, and

wherein, when the switch and the input means of the terminal device are operated, the communication message is transmitted to and received by the plurality of work machines, whereby the communication message comprising the icon and the at least one of the one or more characters, the one or more numbers, and the one or more symbols is displayed on the displays.

10. A work machine managing system comprising:

a plurality of work machines to be operated by drivers to perform predetermined work;

a terminal device for managing the plurality of work machines; and

communication means provided in the plurality of work machines and the terminal device for transmitting information between the plurality of work machines and the terminal device, such that the plurality of work machines are managed by the terminal device on the basis of information transmitted from the plurality of work machines to the terminal device,

wherein each of the plurality of work machines comprises;

a switch for designating an icon representing a communication message; and

communication message generating means for generating at least one of one or more characters, one or more numbers, and one or more symbols related to the icon designated by the switch, to generate the communication message together with the icon,

wherein the terminal device comprises a display for displaying the communication message, and

wherein, when the switch is operated and the communication message is generated by the communication message generating means, the communication message is transmitted from the respective work machine to the terminal device, whereby the communication message comprising the icon and the at least one of the one or more characters, the one or more numbers, and the one or more symbols is displayed on the display.

11. A work machine managing system as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication message generating means comprises:

a sensor provided in relation to the icon; and

converting means for converting data detected by the sensor into the at least one of the one or more characters, the one or more numbers, and the one or more symbols related to the icon.