JP2006023882A - Monitoring system for steel-making facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system for steel-making facilities that is excellent in maintainability and reliability and capable of precisely determining the time to replace the battery of a battery power supply, thereby enabling battery replacement work to be carried out at the best timing. <P>SOLUTION: Slave units 1-5 capable of radio communication with a master unit are each provided with a battery power supply 35 comprising a battery forming a slave unit power supply; a detection part (detection means) 33a for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery power supply 35; and a sending/receiving module (sending means) for sending the result of the detection by the detection part to the master unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring system that includes a parent device and a child device capable of wireless communication and monitors steel facilities.

Steel facilities installed at steelmakers' steelworks, etc. are connected to continuous casting machines and drive motors that produce cast semi-finished products such as slabs by flowing pig iron slabs from a steelmaking furnace between a pair of rollers. A large-scale machine / device such as a rolling mill that has a pair of rolling rollers that are rotated by a driving shaft and performs rolling processing on the cast semi-finished product by the rolling rollers is provided.
In steel facilities such as those described above, the quality of steel products produced in such facilities is greatly affected by the operating state of the components included in the machine, etc., and the fatigue (aging) state associated with use. For example, in the above continuous casting machine, it is proposed to monitor the state of occurrence of abnormality by installing a sensor and a determination device for each bearing device that rotatably supports each roller (for example, the following) (See Patent Document 1).

However, the slab is a high temperature of 800 ° C. or more, and vibrations generated when the slab passes between rollers, vibrations generated by the rolling mill disposed in the vicinity of the continuous casting machine, etc. As a result, a contact failure or the like may occur in the signal line connecting the sensor and the determination device, and disconnection may occur. Thus, for example, Patent Document 2 below discloses a monitoring system in which a wireless transmitter is installed for each sensor and the detection data of each sensor is transmitted to the monitoring device by wireless radio waves from the corresponding transmitter. .
Also in the rolling mill, since the operating state of the drive shaft is directly linked to the quality of the steel material to be rolled, it is desired to construct a monitoring system for monitoring the drive shaft. Since it is difficult to use a wired transmitter for rotating operation, monitoring the drive shaft in a system including the wireless transmitter as described above has been studied.

JP 2002-71519 A (6th page, FIG. 1) JP 2002-5156 A (page 4, FIG. 2)

By the way, in the conventional example like the said patent document 2, the battery power supply which consists of a battery is used as a power source of a sensor and a transmitter, and in the power line connected between each of this power supply and a sensor and a transmitter These power sources, sensors, and transmitters are unitized as slave units and provided in all the bearing devices included in the continuous casting machine so that the occurrence of disconnection due to vibration or the like can be suppressed as much as possible. And the operation state of each bearing apparatus was monitored with the monitoring apparatus by transmitting the detection data of the sensor which each subunit | mobile_unit respond | corresponds with respect to the main | base station provided in the said monitoring apparatus side.
However, the transmitter as described above includes an electronic component such as an amplifier that amplifies the sensor output. In this conventional example, the sensor is always detected and the detected data is continuously transmitted to the monitoring device side. The power consumption in each slave unit was large. For this reason, in this conventional example, it is difficult to suppress the battery consumption of each battery power source, and depending on the battery capacity or the like, it is necessary to replace the battery with a new one in 1 to 2 days. It took a lot of work and time.
In addition, if the battery voltage of the battery power supply decreases, the sensor will not operate normally or an error will occur in the data transmission from the transmitter to the master unit, and accurate detection data will be sent from the slave unit to the master unit. I was unable to communicate. As a result, the operating state of the bearing device cannot be accurately monitored, and the reliability of the system is significantly reduced.

  In view of the conventional problems as described above, the present invention can accurately grasp the battery replacement time of the battery power supply, and thus can perform the battery replacement work at an optimal timing, and can maintain the workability and reliability. The object is to provide an excellent monitoring system for steel facilities.

The present invention is a monitoring system having a slave unit provided on the steel facility side and a master unit capable of wireless communication with the slave unit, and monitoring the steel facility based on a transmission signal from the slave unit. There,
The slave unit constitutes a power source of the slave unit, and includes a battery power source having a battery, a detection unit that detects a remaining amount of the battery power source, and a transmission that transmits a detection result of the detection unit to the master unit Means.

  In the slave unit in the steel equipment monitoring system configured as described above, the detection unit detects the remaining amount of battery power, and the transmission unit transmits the detection result of the detection unit to the master unit. It is possible to accurately grasp the battery replacement time of the battery power supply while monitoring and managing the voltage drop accompanying the use of the power supply of the slave unit on the machine side.

Further, in the steel facility monitoring system, the transmission means is connected to the battery power source and connected to a monitoring means that is provided in a structural member of the steel equipment and monitors an operation state of the structural member. At the same time, it is preferable that the transmission unit transmits the monitoring result of the monitoring unit together with the detection result of the detection unit to the parent device.
In this case, the battery power remaining amount that is the detection result and the operation status of the component member that is the monitoring result are simultaneously transmitted to the parent device, so that the battery power remaining amount confirmation can be surely performed on the parent device side. In addition, the master unit can immediately determine whether or not there is a malfunction due to the voltage drop of the power source.

In the steel equipment monitoring system, the monitoring unit may include a sensor unit that is provided on a drive shaft that drives the rolling roller and detects a physical quantity that changes due to damage to the drive shaft. .
In this case, since the sensor detection result indicating the damaged state of the drive shaft is transmitted from the sensor means to the master unit side via the transmission unit, while detecting the operation state of the drive shaft including the damaged state on the master unit side, The drive shaft can be monitored.

In the steel facility monitoring system, the slave unit is provided with a receiving unit that receives an instruction signal from the master unit, and the detection unit is configured to receive the battery according to the instruction signal received by the receiving unit. It is preferable to detect the remaining amount of power.
In this case, since the master unit outputs an instruction signal to the detection unit via the receiving unit, the remaining amount of the battery power is detected, so the master unit can immediately grasp the remaining amount of the battery power. It becomes possible to quickly determine whether or not the battery of the power source needs to be replaced.

Further, in the steel facility monitoring system, the steel facility side is provided with a plurality of slave units assigned with different identifiers, and the transmission means provided in each of the plurality of slave units includes the detection When transmitting the detection result of the means to the parent device, it is preferable to transmit the identifier given to the child device to the parent device together with the detection result.
In this case, since the identifier assigned to each slave unit is transmitted to the master unit together with the detection result, even if a plurality of slave units are provided in the monitoring system, the slave unit that requires battery replacement on the master unit side is required. The machine can be specified, and the battery replacement work, and thus the maintenance work of the system can be simplified.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately grasp the battery replacement time of the battery power source on the base unit side, so that the battery replacement operation of the battery power source can be performed at an optimal timing, and the maintenance work can be easily performed. A monitoring system with excellent workability can be constructed. In addition, the base unit can monitor and manage the voltage drop associated with the use of the power source (battery power) of the handset. This voltage drop causes malfunctions and abnormal transmissions in each part of the handset. It can be prevented from occurring, and the reliability of the monitoring system can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a monitoring system for steel facilities according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the following description, the case where this invention is applied to the drive shaft of the rolling mill provided in the steel equipment is illustrated and demonstrated.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a drive shaft used in a rolling mill of a steel manufacturer, and FIG. 2 is a view of a main part of a cross joint from the axial direction of the drive shaft (including a partial cross section). . In the figure, a cross joint 11 is used in the vicinity of both ends of the drive shaft 10, and a drive motor and steel, not shown, are provided on one end side and the other end side of the drive shaft 10 with the joint 11 interposed. Each rolling roller is connected. That is, in addition to the intermediate shaft portion (first shaft portion) 10a disposed between the two cross joints 11, the drive shaft 10 includes a drive shaft portion (second shaft) connected to the motor and the roller side, respectively. (Shaft portion) 10b and driven shaft portion (third shaft portion) 10c are provided, and the intermediate shaft portion 10a and the drive shaft portion 10b are connected by one cross shaft joint 11, and the other cross shaft joint 11 is connected. The intermediate shaft portion 10a and the driven shaft portion 10c are coupled (see FIG. 1). Further, in the rolling mill, two drive shafts 10 are arranged in parallel to each other, and a steel material subjected to a rolling process is manufactured by passing a slab or the like between the two rollers connected to each drive shaft 10. Is configured to do. Further, during this rolling process, the drive shaft 10 rotates in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 1 while being allowed to tilt from the axial direction by each cross joint 11, thereby rolling the rotational force of the drive motor. Transmit to the roller. Furthermore, in this rolling mill, the operating state of each drive shaft 10 is monitored by the monitoring system of the present invention, and the degree of progress of damage accompanying the operating time is determined.

The cross shaft joint 11 includes a cross shaft 12 and four bearing cups 13, and each of the four shafts of the cross shaft 12 so that the bearing cup 13 covers a portion around the cross shaft 12 in the axial direction. 12a is swingably mounted. Each bearing cup 13 includes a cup portion 131 and a plurality of rollers 132 that are held inside and are in rolling contact with the shaft 12a. The inner peripheral surface of the cup portion 131 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 12a are respectively provided. Outer ring track and inner ring track. In addition, the pair of upper and lower bearing cups 13 in FIG. 2 are arranged on the shaft portion of the drive shaft 10 on one side in the axial direction when viewed from the cross joint 11 (for example, the drive shaft portion 10b). It is connected to a shaft portion (for example, the intermediate shaft portion 10a) of the drive shaft 10 on the other side in the direction.
At the center in the circumferential direction of the cup portion 131, a hole 131a for injecting grease is formed. A hole 12b is formed around the central axis of the shaft 12a coaxially with the hole 131a. The support member 14 is attached to the hole 131a of the cup part 131 by screwing. The support member 14 has a flat bottom saddle-shaped attachment portion 14a and a round bar-like support portion 14b extending from the bottom portion in the axial direction of the shaft 12a. The support portion 14b is inserted into the hole 12b. Yes. For example, an eddy current displacement sensor 151 is attached near the tip of the inserted support portion 14b so as to face the wall surface of the hole 12b.

A slave 1 capable of wireless data transmission / reception is attached in the attachment portion 14a. The slave sensor 1 is connected to the displacement sensor 151 by a cable 16 that passes through a groove provided in or on the surface of the support member 14. The displacement sensor 151 is attached to a predetermined reference position and detects a change in the distance of the hole 12b from the wall surface, thereby increasing according to the degree of damage such as surface peeling occurring on the shaft 12a and the bearing. A displacement signal indicating relative displacement (positional deviation) with respect to the cup 13 is output to the child device 1.
Similarly, support members 14 (not shown), displacement sensors 152, 153, and 154 and slave units 2, 3, and 4 are provided for the other three shafts 12a. Displacement signal data can be transmitted from 2, 3, 4 respectively. Further, the slave units 1 to 4 do not always transmit the displacement signal data, but form a handshake type data communication channel that transmits the signal data only when a request is received from the master unit described later. Has been.

In addition, a vibration sensor 17 using, for example, a piezoelectric acceleration pickup is attached to the concave portion at the center of the cross shaft 12 so as to face the surface of the concave portion. It connects with the subunit | mobile_unit 5 attached to the side surface of the cup 13 (left). The vibration sensor 17 detects the vibration of the cross shaft 12 that increases in accordance with the degree of damage such as surface peeling occurring on the shaft 12 a and outputs the vibration signal to the slave unit 5. Moreover, this subunit | mobile_unit 5 has the function similar to the said subunit | mobile_unit 1-4, and transmits the vibration signal data from the vibration sensor 17 according to the request | requirement from a main | base station.
Moreover, the said subunit | mobile_units 1-5, the displacement sensors 151-154 directly connected to these, and the vibration sensor 17 are contained in the said monitoring system, respectively, and each subunit | mobile_unit 1-5 is each as an identifier. ID numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 of consecutive integers are assigned. And each subunit | mobile_unit 1-5, the displacement sensors 151-154, and the vibration sensor 17 can be specified within the monitoring system for drive shafts. In addition, by assigning different ID numbers to each of the slave units 1 to 5 in this way, even if the sensor connected to the slave unit is changed, the trouble of changing the ID number of the slave unit can be omitted. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the monitoring system T includes the above-described sensors (displacement sensors 151 to 154 and vibration sensor 17), slave devices 1 to 5, and wireless communication between these slave devices 1 to 5. And a single parent device 6 capable of communication. A panel computer 8 disposed in the steel facility is connected to the parent device 6 via a communication line 7a compliant with, for example, RS232C. Further, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”) 9 installed in a monitoring room away from the steel facility is connected to the panel computer 8 via a LAN 7b using, for example, a 10Base-T line. The PC 9 is configured to be connectable to an information processing terminal 21 such as a manufacturer of the cruciform joint 11 or its maintenance company via a communication network 20 such as the Internet. In the monitoring system T, the slave units 1 to 5 are mounted on each of the four cross joints 11 assembled to the two drive shafts 10, and the master unit 6 is included in the system T. Data communication is individually performed with all the slave units so that the drive shaft 10 can be monitored in units of the cross joint 11. However, in the following description, for simplification of description, the slave units 1 to 5 provided in one cross shaft joint 11 as illustrated in FIG. 3 will be described.

  Each of the above slave units 1 to 5 is a transceiver type wireless transceiver in which the same constituent members are unitized. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the slave unit 1 is connected to the connected displacement sensor 151. A preamplifier 31 that amplifies the analog detection signal, an A / D converter 32 that converts the detection signal for one cycle amplified by the preamplifier 31 into, for example, 12-bit detection data, and the A / D converter 32 A sequentially connected PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) 33 and a transmission / reception module 34 are provided. As will be described in detail later, the transmission / reception module 34 transmits a detection (monitoring) result of the displacement sensor 151 as a sensor unit (monitoring unit) and a detection result of a detection unit described later to the base unit 6. , And receiving means for receiving an instruction signal from the parent device 6 are integrally configured.

  Moreover, the subunit | mobile_unit 1 comprises the electric power source of the said subunit | mobile_unit 1, and the battery power supply which has a battery (for example, two AA batteries (rated voltage; 3.0V (= 1.5V * 2))) 35 and a DC-DC converter 36 connected to the battery power source 35. The battery power source 35 is connected to each part of the slave unit 1 and the displacement sensor 151 via a power line indicated by a thick arrow in FIG. Power supply. That is, the A / D converter 32, the PIC 33, the transmission / reception module 34, the timer circuit 37, and the displacement sensor 151 are directly connected to the battery power source 35 as shown in FIG. It is like that. Further, since the preamplifier 31 is required to apply, for example, a voltage of ± 2.5 V as its power supply voltage, the battery power supply voltage is converted into the above voltage by the DC-DC converter 36 and then applied to the amplifier 31. Given. However, the preamplifier 31, A / D converter 32, PIC 33, transmission / reception module 34, and DC-DC converter 36 other than the timer circuit 37 are always set in a standby (sleep) state. The 35 batteries are not consumed as much as possible (details will be described later).

  The PIC 33 constitutes a control unit that controls each part of the slave unit, and is constituted by a one-chip microcomputer. The PIC 33 is connected to a timer circuit 37 that defines the time of the operation state (ON state). The timer circuit 37 is configured to output a start signal for starting the PIC 33 to the PIC 33 at a predetermined cycle (for example, 10 seconds). In the PIC 33, when the start signal is input, It will be in an ON state for a predetermined time (for example, 10 msec) from the sleep state. When the PIC 33 is turned on, the PIC 33 immediately outputs an ON signal for switching from the sleep state to the on state to the transmission / reception module 34. In each of the slave units, power supply from the battery power source 35 is allowed. , Transition to an operable state.

In the ON state period of the predetermined time, the PIC 33 receives the transmission wave from the base unit 6 by the transmission / reception module 34 and requests the detection result of the displacement sensor 151 from the base unit 6 included in the transmission wave. Only when a request signal is input, the PIC 33 outputs an ON signal for switching from the sleep state to the on state to the A / D converter 32 and the DC-DC converter 36, whereby the displacement sensor 151 operates, The sensing data (sensor detection data) is transmitted from the transmission / reception module 34 to the parent device 6.
In addition, when the on-state period elapses without the request signal from the base unit 6 being input, the PIC 33 switches the A / D converter 32, the transmission / reception module 34, and the DC-DC converter 36 from the on-state. By outputting an OFF signal for switching to the sleep state, the power supply from the battery power source 33 is cut off, and each part of the slave unit and the displacement sensor 151 are made inoperable. Furthermore, the PIC 33 itself shifts from the on state to the sleep state. The displacement sensor 151 is supplied with electric power from the preamplifier 31 via a cable when the preamplifier 31 interlocked with the on / off state of the DC-DC converter 36 is on. The on / off state switches in conjunction with the off state.

  In addition, the sleep state in each part of the slave unit such as the PIC 33 and the displacement sensor 151 is a sleep state in which current consumption is 0.1 mA or less. As described above, the timer circuit 37 activates the PIC 33, and the PIC 33 When the handset 33 activates each part of the handset and the displacement sensor 151, the handset 1 is configured to suppress the power consumption of the battery power source 35 as much as possible. That is, in the slave unit 1, only the timer circuit 37 including the IC that consumes very little power, including the connected displacement sensor 151, always operates, and the PIC 33 is connected to the master unit 6. Only when the above request signal is confirmed, the battery power source 35 is used and the sensor detection data of the displacement sensor 151 is transmitted to the base unit 6. As a result, it is possible to suppress the consumption of the battery of the battery power source 35 as much as possible, thereby extending the battery life of the battery power source 35 and extending the replacement time.

The PIC 33 is functionally provided with a detection unit 33a as detection means for detecting the remaining battery capacity of the battery power source 35 by software, and the detection unit 33a is a voltage of the battery power source 35 at the present time. Is configured to detect. The detection process in the detection unit 33a is performed when the PIC 33 receives the request signal. The PIC 33, together with the sensor detection data, detects the remaining battery level (detected by the detection unit 33a). Detection voltage) data is transmitted to the base unit 6. When the detection unit 33a determines that the current battery power supply voltage is a predetermined voltage (for example, 2.7 V) or less, the PIC 33 requests the parent device 6 to replace the battery of the battery power supply 35. The battery replacement signal to be generated is generated and transmitted in the battery remaining amount data.
In addition, an ID setting unit 38 configured by, for example, a DIP switch is connected to the PIC 33, and the number set by the ID setting unit 38 is registered in the PIC 33 as an ID number assigned to the slave unit 1 ( Recognized).
In addition to the above description, the function of the A / D converter 32 may be included in the PIC 33 so that the installation of the converter 32 is omitted and the preamplifier 31 is connected to the PIC 33.

  The transmission / reception module 34 includes an oscillator that oscillates a transmission wave (carrier wave) having a predetermined frequency, a modulator that modulates sensor detection data to be transmitted on the transmission wave, and a demodulator that demodulates the transmission wave from the base unit 6. It is provided and performs two-way wireless communication with the parent device 6 via the connected antenna 39. The transmission / reception module 34 is configured to selectively select a transmission mode or a reception mode in accordance with an instruction signal from the PIC 33, and has a predetermined number of bits for each transmission cycle (one period of the carrier wave). A data block is transmitted. Further, when transmitting / receiving the sensor detection data and the battery remaining amount data, the transmission / reception module 34 includes an ID code indicating an ID number assigned to the slave unit 1 in the header portion of the transmission block. Is serially transmitted to the base unit 6.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the base unit 6 controls a transmission / reception module 41 that performs wireless communication using a frequency common to the transmission / reception modules 34 of the slave units 1 to 5 and each part of the base unit. A PIC 42 constituting a control unit to be performed and an RS232C driver 43 connected to the panel computer 8 (FIG. 3) are provided. The master unit 6 constitutes a transceiver-type wireless transceiver similar to the slave units 1 to 5, and includes a battery power source as a power source thereof. The battery power supply voltage is constantly monitored by a detection unit (not shown) provided in the PIC 42 as in the case of the slave units 1 to 5, and the detected voltage value (current battery power supply voltage value) is displayed on the panel. While being notified to the computer 8 side, a battery replacement signal is output to the computer 8 side when the detected voltage value falls below a predetermined voltage. Similarly to the transmission / reception module 34, the transmission / reception module 41 includes an oscillator, a modulator, and a demodulator, and alternatively selects a transmission mode or a reception mode according to an instruction signal from the PIC 42. A data block having a predetermined number of bits is transmitted from the antenna 40 every transmission cycle.

In addition, according to an instruction (request signal) from the panel computer 8 side, the base unit 6 requests to transmit the detection data of the sensor corresponding to each handset 1 to 5 and receives from each handset 1 to 5 The sensor detection data and the remaining battery data are transferred to the panel computer 8 side. Further, when the master unit 6 requests a single slave unit to transmit the detection data of the sensor connected to the slave unit, the master unit 6 creates a request signal including the identifier of the slave unit, and the created signal The data block containing is transmitted.
Instead of the PICs 33 and 42, the control units of the slave unit and the master unit can be configured using a DSP, for example.

The panel computer 8 has, as its computer function, the degree of damage on the corresponding shaft 12a (drive shaft 10) based on the sensor detection data from each of the sensors (displacement sensors 151 to 154 and vibration sensor 17) ( A discrimination / diagnosis function for the degree of progress) is provided. The computer 8 includes a monitoring function for displaying predetermined history information such as a waveform of each detection data and a change in the degree of progress on a display, a start of sensing to each sensor, and the slave units 1 to 5 and the master unit 6. An operation instruction function for confirming the remaining battery level of each battery power source is provided by software.
Further, in addition to the above computer functions of the panel computer 8, the PC 9 stores input detection data and data such as damage diagnosis results based on the data, or stores the above stored data in another information processing terminal 21. A server function that works as a Web server that provides the service is provided.

Here, the operation of the monitoring system T configured as described above will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. In the following description, for example, the operation in the slave unit 1 (FIG. 4) will be mainly described.
As shown in step S1 of FIG. 6, the slave unit 1 is set to the reception mode. In this reception mode, the PIC 33 (FIG. 4) is activated by an activation signal output every 10 seconds from the timer circuit 37 (FIG. 4), and from the battery power source 35 (FIG. 4) during the ON state period of 10 msec. The power supply to each unit and the displacement sensor 151 (FIG. 4) is allowed, and each unit and the displacement sensor 151 are turned on. And the subunit | mobile_unit 1 performs the confirmation operation | movement about whether the request signal of the detection data was received from the main | base station 6 (step S2). At this time, if the handset 1 does not confirm reception of the request signal, the handset 1 proceeds to step S11 described later.
Further, when the base unit 6 transmits a request signal to the handset side, the base unit 6 sends the same request signal for the data request destination handset to the cycle of the on-state period of the PIC 33 (slave unit 1) (activation signal). The output signal is repeatedly transmitted to the slave unit for a time longer than the output cycle (for example, 20 seconds) so that the request signal can be reliably received by the slave unit that can operate only for 10 msec every 10 seconds. It has become.

When the handset 1 confirms reception of the transmission wave from the base unit 6 in step S2, the handset 1 determines that the transmission destination of the transmission wave is based on the ID code included in the received transmission wave. Whether it is 1 is determined (step S3). And when it is discriminated that it is a transmission wave to different subunit | mobile_units 2-5, the subunit | mobile_unit 1 progresses to said step S11.
In step S3, when the ID code matches the ID number of handset 1, it is determined that handset 1 has been called from base unit 6 in handset 1, and the transmission mode is set. The request signal received via the transmission / reception module 34 (FIG. 4) is accepted (step S4). Thereafter, in the PIC 33, the detection unit 33a (FIG. 4) detects the current voltage value of the battery power supply 35, and the PIC 33 determines whether or not the battery power supply voltage is 2.7 V or less (step S5). If the power supply voltage exceeds 2.7 V, the PIC 33 determines that it is not necessary to replace the battery of the battery power supply 35, and proceeds to the following step S7. Further, the battery power supply voltage value detected in step S5 is held in the PIC 33 as the battery remaining amount data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the battery power supply voltage is 2.7 V or less, the PIC 33 determines that the battery power supply 35 needs to be replaced, and generates the battery replacement signal. (Step S6). Specifically, the PIC 33 adds a predetermined data value (for example, “0”) to the data portion of the battery replacement signal set in, for example, the header portion of the transmission block transmitted to the base unit 6 to replace the battery. Turn on the signal flag.
After that, the slave unit 1 performs A / D conversion on the displacement signal input from the displacement sensor 151 to generate displacement signal data (step S7), and then the slave unit 1 detects the displacement signal data, the battery remaining amount data, Is converted into a predetermined transmission data block, and a transmission wave addressed to base unit 6 is transmitted (step S8).

Subsequently, the slave unit 1 determines whether or not a predetermined time T1 seconds have elapsed after data transmission to the master unit 6 (step S9). If T1 seconds have not elapsed, the slave unit 1 determines whether or not the above-described step S4. Returning to, the transmission wave is repeatedly transmitted, and the slave unit 1 prevents the transmission error of the data to the master unit 6 from occurring.
When the slave unit 1 determines that T1 seconds have elapsed in step S9, the slave unit 1 is set to the reception mode (step S10), and power to each part of the slave unit other than the timer circuit 37 and the displacement sensor 151 is set. Supply is cut off and the machine enters a standby state.

If reception of a transmission wave from the parent device 6 is not confirmed in step S2, or if it is determined in step S3 that the transmission wave is to a different child device 2-5, FIG. As shown in step S11, in the handset 1, the PIC 33 outputs an OFF signal to the transmission / reception module 34 to put the module 34 in a sleep state.
Subsequently, the PIC 33 puts the displacement sensor 151, the preamplifier 31 (FIG. 4), and the DC-DC converter 36 (FIG. 4) into a sleep state (step S12), and the PIC 33 also sleeps the A / D converter 32. A state is set (step S13). Thereafter, the PIC 33 itself shifts to the sleep state (step S14), and the handset 1 waits in the reception mode until the PIC 33 inputs the activation signal (steps S15 and S16).

  In the monitoring system T of the present embodiment configured as described above, a detection unit (detection means) 33a is provided in the PIC 33 of each of the slave units 1 to 5, and the battery power source 35 serving as a slave unit power source is provided by the detection unit 33a. The current voltage is detected. When the PIC 33 determines that the detected battery power supply voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, the PIC 33 generates a battery replacement signal and transmits the battery replacement signal from the transmission / reception module (transmission means) 34 to the base unit 6. As a result, the parent device side such as the parent device 6 and the panel computer 8 connected thereto can accurately grasp the battery replacement time of each battery power source 35 of the child devices 1 to 5. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, the battery replacement work can be performed at an optimal timing, and the maintenance work can be easily performed. Further, since the transmission / reception module 34 of each of the slave units 1 to 5 transmits the battery power voltage at the present time to the master unit 6 as remaining battery power data, the master unit side uses the battery power sources 35 of the slave units 1 to 5. It is possible to monitor and manage the voltage drop caused by the use. As a result, it is possible to prevent malfunctions and transmission abnormalities in each part of the slave unit from occurring due to the voltage drop, and a highly reliable monitoring system T can be constructed.

Further, in this embodiment, when the PIC 33 receives the request signal from the parent device 6, the transmission / reception module 34 sends the detection data of the corresponding sensor and the battery remaining amount data to the parent device side. The remaining amount of the battery power supply 35 can be reliably confirmed on the base unit side. In addition, since the remaining amount can be checked on the parent device side in this way, is a malfunction (due to monitoring / sensor means) connected to each of the child devices 1 to 5 caused by a decrease in the battery power supply voltage occurring? It is possible to immediately determine whether or not the base unit side, and it is also possible to immediately determine the reliability of the sensor detection data sent this time.
Further, since the transmission / reception module 34 adds the ID code unique to the slave unit to the transmission data including the detection data and the battery remaining amount data and transmits the transmission data to the master unit side, the slave unit requiring battery replacement on the master unit side Can be specified, and battery replacement work, and thus maintenance work of the system can be simplified.

Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the subunit | mobile_unit 1-4 and the displacement sensors 151-154 are each arrange | positioned inside the four bearing cups 13 of the cross joint 11, and also the said joint 11 and The slave unit 5 and the vibration sensor 17 are arranged in an empty space with the shaft end portion of the drive shaft 10, and based on the sensor detection data sent from each of the slave units 1 to 5 on the master unit side, The degree of surface peeling is determined and monitored. That is, in this embodiment, it is difficult to secure the installation location of the sensor, and it is possible to accurately grasp the degree of damage (progression degree) of the rotating drive shaft 10, such as the cross joint 11. It becomes possible to accurately determine when the replacement work is necessary.
The number of installed sensors and the type (type) of the sensor are not limited to those in the above embodiment. In other words, the sensor only needs to detect a physical quantity that changes due to damage to the drive shaft, and may acquire detection data such as force and temperature. However, as described above, the case where a plurality of types of sensors having different sensor types is installed is preferable because the degree of damage to the drive shaft 10 can be detected with higher accuracy.

In the above description, the case where it is applied to the drive shaft of a rolling mill has been described, but the present invention is a slave unit provided on the steel equipment side, a battery power source comprising a battery constituting a power source of the slave unit, and It suffices to have a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery power supply and a transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the detection result of the detection means to the parent device. However, the present invention can be applied to the monitoring of various machines, devices, apparatuses, etc. included in the equipment that are operated under severe environments such as high temperature, high humidity, high vibration, and high noise. More specifically, the present invention can be applied to a system for monitoring an operating state of a bearing device that rotatably supports a roller for flowing a slab in a continuous casting machine of a steel facility.
In the above description, the configuration has been described in which the detection data of the sensor means (displacement sensor and vibration sensor) that detects physical quantities that change due to damage to the drive shaft is transmitted from the slave unit side to the master unit side. The monitoring system of the present invention is not limited to this, and any monitoring system may be used as long as it transmits the result data of the monitoring means for monitoring the operation state of the monitoring object including the sensor means to the parent device side.

In the above description, the case where the detection unit (detection unit) is functionally provided in the PIC has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the detection unit including hardware such as a voltmeter is provided. The structure provided independently of PIC may be sufficient.
In the above description, the configuration has been described in which the battery level detection is performed when the PIC receives the sensor detection data request signal from the base unit side. However, the base unit side performs only the battery level detection process. The instruction signal to be received may be received by a transmission / reception module as a receiving unit of each slave unit and the result may be returned. However, as described above, the case where the battery remaining amount detection process is performed when the PIC receives the request signal is preferable in that the current battery power supply voltage is automatically notified and recognized.

In the above description, as shown in step S5 of FIG. 6, the configuration for determining whether or not the battery needs to be replaced on the PIC (child device) side has been described. However, it is sent from the child device side on the parent device side. It may be determined whether or not battery replacement is necessary based on the remaining battery level data.
In the above description, the case where the base unit and the panel computer are separately configured has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the panel computer is equipped with a transmission / reception module to be the same as the base unit. It may be configured integrally with a computer.

It is a perspective view which shows the drive shaft used for the rolling mill of a steel manufacturer. It is the figure which looked at the principal part of the cross shaft coupling from the axial direction of the drive shaft (including a partial cross section). It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the monitoring system for steel facilities which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the subunit | mobile_unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the parent device shown in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in the subunit | mobile_unit of the said drive shaft monitoring system. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in the subunit | mobile_unit between the branch points A and B shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 to 5 Slave unit 6 Master unit 10 Drive shaft 17 Vibration sensor (monitoring means / sensor means)
33 PIC
33a Detection unit (detection means)
34 Transmission / reception module (transmission means / reception means)
151-154 Displacement sensor (monitoring means / sensor means)
T Steel system monitoring system

Claims (5)

It has a slave unit provided on the steel equipment side, a master unit capable of wireless communication with the slave unit, and a monitoring system for monitoring the steel facility based on a transmission signal from the slave unit,
The slave unit constitutes a power source of the slave unit, and a battery power source having a battery;
Detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery power;
A steel facility monitoring system, comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit a detection result of the detection unit to the master unit. The transmission means is connected to the battery power source and connected to a monitoring means that is provided in a structural member of the steel facility and monitors an operating state of the structural member.
The said transmission means transmits the monitoring result of the said monitoring means with the detection result of the said detection means with respect to the said main | base station, The monitoring system for steel facilities of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The said monitoring means is provided in the drive shaft which drives a rolling roller, The sensor means which detects the physical quantity which changes due to the damage of this drive shaft is included. Monitoring system for steel facilities. The slave unit is provided with receiving means for receiving an instruction signal from the master unit,
The steel system monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detecting means detects the remaining amount of the battery power supply in accordance with the instruction signal received by the receiving means. The steel equipment side is provided with a plurality of the slave units given different identifiers,
When the transmission means provided in each of the plurality of slave units transmits the detection result of the detection unit to the master unit, the identifier assigned to the slave unit is transmitted to the master unit together with the detection result. The monitoring system for steel facilities according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images