JP2005247274A - Monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring device capable of collecting data related to alignment of braking by a brake of each of a tractor and a trailer at an optional time also in a remote place. <P>SOLUTION: The monitoring device 10 comprises pressure sensors 50a, 50b, 50d and 50e, a programmable controller (PC) 56a, and a radio communication device 60. Pressure sensors 50a and 50b measure a pressure value of the air pressure supplied to a brake chamber of the tractor. The pressure sensors 50a and 50b measure a pressure value of the air pressure supplied to a brake chamber of the trailer. Data including information related to the pressure values measured by the pressure sensors 50a, 50b, 50d and 50e is accumulated in the PC 56a, and is transmitted by the radio communication device 60. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring device for diagnosing a brake in a vehicle including a trailer and a tractor.

In order to detect an abnormality in the brake of the vehicle, there is a device that detects the wear of the brake line. According to this device, it is possible to always detect an abnormality in the brake by mounting it on a vehicle (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-9310

  By the way, in the vehicle comprised by a tractor and a trailer, matching of the braking force of the brake provided in each of a tractor and a trailer needs to be measured. If this alignment is not achieved, one of the trailer and tractor linings is subject to wear. Therefore, in order to prevent brake failure such as line wear, it is required to be able to acquire data relating to braking alignment by brakes provided on each of the tractor and trailer. In addition, it is required that the above data is always acquired while the vehicle is traveling normally, and that the data can be acquired even at a remote place at an arbitrary time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device that can collect data on braking matching by brakes of each tractor and trailer even at a remote location at an arbitrary time.

  In order to solve the above problems, a monitoring device of the present invention is a monitoring device that is mounted on a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer, and monitors a first brake that the tractor has and a second brake that the trailer has. A first pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of a medium supplied to operate one brake, and a second pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of a medium supplied to operate the second brake; , A storage means for storing data including information on the pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and a wireless transmission means for transmitting the data stored in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, since the monitoring device is mounted on the vehicle, it is possible to always detect the pressure applied to each of the first brake of the tractor and the second brake of the trailer. Therefore, it is possible to detect a pressure mismatch between the first brake and the second brake while the vehicle is in a normal operation state. Moreover, since the data including the information on the pressure value can be transmitted by the wireless communication means, the data can be collected at an arbitrary time by a center computer or the like provided at a remote place. This eliminates the need for the operator to perform a brake test on the vehicle, thereby reducing the operator's work.

  In the present invention, the data accumulated by the accumulation means is obtained by integrating the pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor in a predetermined period between starting and stopping of the brake. It is preferable that the integrated value is included.

  According to the present invention, since the pressure-related information is an integrated value of the pressure value, the data is compared with the data volume when all the pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second sensor are transmitted. Capacity is reduced. Therefore, data can be easily transmitted even in wireless communication with a narrow communication band.

  In the present invention described above, the data accumulated by the accumulation means are the maximum value of the pressure value measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor during a predetermined period between the start and stop of the brake. It is preferable that the maximum value of the pressure value measured by is included.

  Also according to the present invention, the data capacity is reduced as compared with the data capacity when all the pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second sensor are transmitted. Therefore, data can be easily transmitted even in wireless communication with a narrow communication band.

  The monitoring device of the present invention preferably further includes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the second brake, and the data stored by the storage means further includes information on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. According to this invention, it is also possible to detect an abnormal temperature generated in the brake drum.

  The monitoring device of the present invention also includes a first signal output means for outputting a signal at the start of the braking stop operation of the second brake, and a second brake chamber after the braking stop operation has returned to a predetermined position. Second signal output means for outputting a signal, and the data stored by the storage means is the time when the signal is output from each of the first signal output means and the second signal output means, or the first It is preferable to further include a time difference between times when signals are output from the signal output means and the second signal output means. According to the present invention, the response delay of the brake can be known from the time after the braking stop operation and the time when the second brake chamber returns.

  According to the present invention, since data including information on the pressure value measured by the first pressure sensor and the pressure value measured by the second pressure sensor is accumulated, braking by the brakes of each of the tractor and the trailer is performed. Data on alignment can be obtained. In addition, according to the present invention, since the above data can be transmitted by the wireless transmission means, the data can be collected even at a remote place at an arbitrary time.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with piping relating to a vehicle brake including a tractor and a trailer. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the monitoring device 10 is mounted on a vehicle 12 including a tractor 12a and a trailer 12b. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 according to the present embodiment employs a pneumatic brake system. The tractor 12a includes two tractor front brake chambers 14a and two tractor rear brake chambers 14b. Is provided.

  On the tractor 12 a side, the tractor front brake chamber 14 a is connected to the brake valve 18, and the brake valve 18 is connected to the main air tank 20 and the air tank 22. The main air tank 20 is filled with compressed air via a regulator 24, an air compressor 26 and a water trap 28. The air tank 22 is also filled with compressed air via a check valve 29. As described above, air pressure is supplied to the tractor front brake chamber 14 a connected to the brake valve 18 by operating the brake pedal 18 a provided on the brake valve 18.

  Further, on the tractor 12 a side, the tractor rear brake chamber 14 b is connected to the brake valve 18 via the relay valve 30 and is also connected to the air tank 22. The relay valve 30 is opened according to the air pressure supplied to the relay valve 30 by the operation of the brake pedal 18a, whereby the air pressure is sent from the air tank 22 to the tractor rear brake chamber 14b.

  One system of output from the brake valve 18 is connected via a trailer brake handle 32 to a service line (signal line) 34 connected to a relay emergency valve 36 on the trailer 12b side. The other system of the output from the brake valve 18 is directly connected to the service line 34.

  One system of output from the main air tank 20 is connected to a relay emergency valve 36 via an emergency line 38, and air from the main air tank 20 is supplied to the relay emergency valve 36. . The air from the main air tank 20 supplied to the relay emergency valve 36 is accumulated in the trailer air tank 40.

  The relay emergency valve 36 is connected to two trailer brake chambers 42 for front and rear. When the signal air pressure is supplied from the service line 34 to the relay emergency valve 36 by the operation of the brake pedal 18a provided in the tractor 12a, the relay emergency valve 36 is opened, whereby the air pressure from the trailer air tank 40 is changed to each air pressure. The brake chamber 42 is supplied.

  The monitoring device 10 includes pressure sensors 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e, four limit switches (second signal output means) 52, two temperature sensors 54, a control box 56, a joint box 58, a wireless communication terminal (wireless). Communication means) 60.

  The pressure sensor 50a is connected to a conduit that supplies air pressure to the tractor front brake chamber 14a, and measures the pressure value of the air pressure supplied to the tractor front brake chamber 14a. The pressure sensor 50b is connected to a conduit that supplies air pressure to the tractor rear brake chamber 14b, and measures the pressure value of the air pressure supplied to the tractor rear brake chamber 14b. The pressure sensor 50 c is connected to the service line 34 and measures the pressure value of the air pressure in the service line 34. The pressure sensor 50d is connected to a conduit that supplies air pressure to the front trailer brake chamber 42, and measures the pressure value of the air pressure supplied to the front trailer brake chamber 42. The pressure sensor 50e is connected to a conduit that supplies air pressure to the rear trailer brake chamber 42, and measures the pressure value of the air pressure supplied to the rear trailer brake chamber 42.

  The pressure sensors 50 a and 50 b are connected to the control box 56, and the pressure values measured by the pressure sensors 50 a and 50 b are output to the control box 56. The pressure sensors 50c, 50d, and 50e are connected to the control box 56 via the joint box 58, and the pressure values measured by the pressure sensors 50c, 50d, and 50e are also output to the control box 56. ing.

  The limit switches 52 are provided at predetermined positions of the trailer brake chamber 42, respectively. For example, the limit switch 52 outputs a signal when the push rod that moves according to the air pressure and operates the brake main body is in the predetermined position. The limit switch 52 is connected to the control box 56 via the joint box 58 and outputs its signal to the control box 56.

  The temperature sensor 54 measures the temperature of the brake body of each of the front wheels 12c and the rear wheels 12d of the trailer 12b. The temperature sensor 54 can be installed, for example, in a predetermined position near the brake shoe connected to the push rod of the trailer brake chamber 42 or in the drum. The temperature sensor 54 is connected to the control box 56 via the joint box 58, and outputs the measured temperature to the control box 56.

  A brake lamp (first signal output means) 62 is connected to the control box 56. The brake lamp 62 outputs a signal to the control box 56 when it is turned on and off.

  The control box 56 includes a programmable controller (storage means, hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 56a. The PC 56a stores data based on signals from the pressure sensors 50a to 50e, the limit switch 52, the temperature sensor 54, and the brake lamp 62.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the programmable controller. In FIG. 3, the numbers in the first row represent item numbers of information included in the data stored in the PC 56a. Item number 1 is an item number relating to the time when the stoplight is extinguished. Item numbers 2 to 6 are item numbers relating to the maximum pressure values from the pressure sensors 50a to 50e, respectively, from when the stoplight is turned on until it is turned off. Item numbers 7 to 10 are item numbers related to the times when signals from the four limit switches 52 are output. Item numbers 11 and 12 are item numbers relating to the temperature when the stop light is extinguished from the temperature sensor 54 provided in the brake body of the front wheel 12c and the temperature sensor 54 provided in the brake body of the rear wheel 12d, respectively. Item numbers 13 to 17 are item numbers relating to integrated values of pressure values from the pressure sensors 50a to 50e, respectively, from when the stoplight is turned on until it is turned off. Note that each of the pressure sensors 50a to 50e can output a pressure value, for example, every 0.1 second.

  As described above, data as shown in FIG. 3 is acquired from the start of braking to the end of braking, and data is accumulated in the PC 56a every time the brake is operated. The data stored in the PC 56 a is transmitted to the remote center computer 64 via the wireless communication device 60. The timing for transmitting data can be arbitrary. For example, the wireless communication device 60 may periodically transmit data at a predetermined time interval, or in response to an inquiry from the center computer 64, the wireless communication device Data may be transmitted from 60.

  According to the monitoring apparatus 10 described above, data including information on the pressure value of the air pressure supplied to each of the brake chambers 14a and 14b of the tractor 12a and the brake chamber 42 of the trailer 12b is accumulated in the PC 56a. Since the relationship between the pressure value and the braking force of the brake is uniquely determined, according to the monitoring device 10, the braking force of the tractor 12a and the trailer 12b during the braking of the vehicle 12 is mismatched from the pressure value. Information to know is provided.

  Further, according to the monitoring device 10, the time from the start of the braking stop operation to the return of the push rod of the brake chamber 42 can be obtained from the brake lamp extinguishing time and the signal output time of the limit switch 52. Furthermore, according to the monitoring device 10, the temperature of the brake body when the stoplight is extinguished can be obtained. Therefore, the causal relationship between the heat generation of the brake body in the trailer 12b and the response delay of the brake can be known from the correspondence between the position information of the chamber and the above temperature.

  Further, according to the monitoring device 10, since the data accumulated in the PC 56a can be transmitted at any time by the wireless communication device 60, it is not necessary for the operator to perform a brake test on the vehicle, and the operator's work Is reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the monitoring device 10, since a large number of pressure values acquired during one braking are included in the data as their maximum values or integrated values, the data transmitted by the wireless communication device 60 Capacity is reduced. That is, the data transmitted by the monitoring device 10 is data suitable for wireless communication with a narrow band. Therefore, the monitoring device 10 can easily transmit data.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with piping relating to a vehicle brake including a tractor and a trailer. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the monitoring device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle including a tractor and a trailer. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of data stored in the programmable controller.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Monitoring apparatus, 12a ... Tractor, 12b ... Trailer, 14a ... Tractor front brake chamber, 14b ... Tractor rear brake chamber, 42 ... Trailer brake chamber, 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e ... Pressure sensor, 52 ... Limit switch 54 ... Temperature sensor, 56 ... Control box, 56a ... Programmable controller (PC), 58 ... Joint box, 60 ... Wireless communication device.

Claims (5)

A monitoring device that is mounted on a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer, and that monitors the first brake that the tractor has and the second brake that the trailer has,
A first pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of a medium supplied to operate the first brake;
A second pressure sensor for measuring a pressure value of a medium supplied to operate the second brake;
Accumulation means for accumulating data including information on pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor;
Wireless communication means for transmitting data stored in the storage means;
A monitoring device comprising: The data accumulated by the accumulation means includes an integrated value obtained by integrating each of the pressure values measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor in a predetermined period between the start and stop of the brake. Item 2. The monitoring device according to Item 1. The data accumulated by the accumulation means are the maximum value of the pressure value measured by the first pressure sensor and the pressure value measured by the second pressure sensor in a predetermined period between the start and stop of the brake. The monitoring device according to claim 1, comprising a maximum value of. A temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the second brake;
The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data accumulated by the accumulation unit further includes information related to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. First signal output means for outputting a signal at the start of the braking stop operation of the second brake;
A second signal output means for outputting a signal when the chamber of the second brake returns to a predetermined position after a braking stop operation;
Further comprising
The data stored by the storage means is the time when the signals are output from the first signal output means and the second signal output means, respectively, or the first signal output means and the second signal output. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a time difference between times when signals are output from the means.

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