JP2021156035A - Allocation system of electricity charging vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an allocation system of electricity charging vehicles in low cost, which can timely charge electricity to a battery-driven construction machine.SOLUTION: An allocation system (1) of electricity charging vehicles comprises: a plurality of battery-driven construction machines (2) working at a site; a vehicle allocation center (3) having a quick charging vehicle (3a) and a normal charging vehicle (3b) different in charging characteristics to each other and allocating the quick charging vehicle (3a) or the normal charging vehicle (3b) to the construction machines (2) to charge the construction machines (2); and a managing center (4) managing SOC of the construction machines (2) and instructing the managing center (3) to allocate vehicles, wherein each of the construction machines (2) sends its own operation information to the managing center (4), and the managing center (4) selects the charging vehicle to be allocated according to urgency determined through degree of charging emergency based on operation information sent from each of the construction machines (2) and a charging request received from an administrator of the construction machines (2).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a power supply vehicle dispatch system for charging a battery-powered construction machine.

It has been proposed that construction machinery such as excavators adopt a battery-driven type instead of the conventional engine-driven type from the viewpoints of problems such as exhaust gas and noise vibration and energy saving. A battery-powered construction machine is equipped with an electric motor and a battery, and drives an actuator directly or indirectly using a hydraulic system.

Such a battery-powered construction machine can reduce the cost by limiting the size and power capacity of the battery mounted on the vehicle body, but this also limits the continuous operation time. Therefore, in order to continue the work for a long time, the construction machine having a limited battery capacity needs to be supplied with electric power by battery replacement or charging work between the works.

For example, in Patent Document 1, when an operator of a construction machine requests power supply, a battery-equipped vehicle equipped with a charged battery is moved to a construction site, and the used battery and the charged battery are separated. The method of exchange is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, a transport vehicle pulls a towed vehicle equipped with a battery to move to a construction site, and the construction machine takes over the towing of the towed vehicle, so that the construction machine pulls a new battery. However, a method of continuing the work with the power of the battery is disclosed.

These power supply systems can force unplanned interruptions in the work of construction machinery if the arrival of charged batteries at the construction site is delayed. In addition, if the charged battery arrives at the construction site earlier than planned, the round-trip time of the battery-equipped vehicle may be longer than planned and the next power supply may be delayed. Therefore, it is important for the power supply system to allocate battery-equipped vehicles in a timely manner according to the operation schedule of construction machinery.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-69517 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-84633

However, in the conventional technique according to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to prepare many replacement batteries in advance, there is a possibility that the introduction cost will increase. Further, in the prior art according to Patent Document 2, since it is necessary to perform work while towing a towed vehicle equipped with a battery, work efficiency is lowered, and a plurality of towed vehicles and a plurality of transport vehicles are required. After all, there is a risk that the introduction cost will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply vehicle dispatch system capable of supplying power to a battery-powered construction machine in a timely manner at low cost. be.

<First aspect of the present invention>
The first aspect of the present invention is to have a plurality of battery-powered construction machines that perform work at a construction site and a plurality of power supply vehicles having different charging performances, and the power supply vehicles are dispatched to the construction machines. Each of the construction machines is provided with a vehicle dispatch center for charging the construction machine and a management center for managing the charging state of the construction machine and instructing the vehicle dispatch center to dispatch the power supply vehicle. The management center sets the urgency of charging based on the operation information transmitted from each of the construction machines and the power supply request received from the manager of the construction machine, and dispatches the vehicle. This is a power supply vehicle dispatch system that selects the power supply vehicle according to the degree of urgency.

<Second aspect of the present invention>
In the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention described above, the management center includes a database for storing past work information at the construction site, and the past work information and the current operation. This is a power supply vehicle dispatch system that sets the urgency level based on information.

<Third aspect of the present invention>
A third aspect of the present invention is, in the first or second aspect of the present invention described above, the operational information includes the SOC remaining amount of the construction machine, the position information of the construction machine, and the charging time of the construction machine. It is a power supply vehicle dispatch system including.

<Fourth aspect of the present invention>
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the management center inquires the manager of the construction machine about the power supply request, and the urgency of charging set based on the operation information. Is a power supply vehicle dispatch system that is set by correcting based on the power supply request received from the administrator.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power supply vehicle dispatch system capable of supplying power to a battery-powered construction machine in a timely manner at low cost.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the power supply vehicle dispatch system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of charge request in a construction machine. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the power supply vehicle dispatch control in a management center. It is a figure which shows an example of the management table for performing the battery management of a construction machine.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the contents described below, and can be arbitrarily modified and implemented without changing the gist thereof. In addition, the drawings used for explaining the embodiments are all schematically showing the components, and are partially emphasized, enlarged, reduced, or omitted in order to deepen the understanding of the components. It may not accurately represent the scale or shape.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a power supply vehicle dispatch system 1 according to the present invention. The power supply vehicle dispatch system 1 is a system for supplying power to a plurality of construction machines 2 working at a construction site in a timely manner with a small number of power supply vehicles. And an administrator terminal 5.

The construction machine 2 is, for example, a battery-powered hydraulic excavator driven by a mounted battery, and includes the first excavator 2a to the fifth excavator 2e in the present embodiment. In addition to communicating with the management center 4 described later, each construction machine 2 acquires its own position information by mounting, for example, a GPS terminal. Here, the construction machine 2 is not limited to the excavator and may be another work machine. Further, the number of construction machines 2 can be appropriately changed as needed.

Further, in the construction machine 2, in the present embodiment, the first excavator 2a, the second excavator 2b, and the third excavator 2c work at the first construction site Site 1, and the fourth excavator 2d and the fifth excavator 2e It is assumed that the work is being carried out at the second construction site Site2. The construction site may be one place or three or more places. Further, each construction machine 2 may have a work period of, for example, several days to several months, and the work may be performed at different construction sites depending on the day.

The vehicle dispatch center 3 has a plurality of power supply vehicles having different charging performances, and when it becomes necessary to charge the construction machine 2, the power supply vehicle is sent to the construction site based on an instruction from the management center 4 described later. Dispatch the train. The vehicle allocation center 3 according to the present embodiment includes a quick power supply vehicle 3a capable of quick charging, a normal power supply vehicle 3b capable of normal charging, and a charging facility 3c.

Each of the rapid power supply vehicle 3a and the normal power supply vehicle 3b is equipped with a power supply battery and is assigned to the construction machine 2 in which the state of charge (SOC) of the battery is lowered, so that the charging cable can be used at the construction site. It is connected to the construction machine 2 and charges the battery mounted on the construction machine 2.

The charging equipment 3c prepares for the next vehicle allocation by converting the electric power supplied from the commercial power supply CPS into a voltage suitable for charging and charging the power supply batteries of the rapid power supply vehicle 3a and the normal power supply vehicle 3b returned from the vehicle allocation. ..

Here, the plurality of power supply vehicles included in the vehicle allocation center 3 is not limited to two, and the power capacity that can be supplied may be different as the charging performance. That is, the vehicle allocation center 3 is supplied by efficiently operating a relatively small number of power supply vehicles having variations in charging performance without deploying a considerable number of power supply vehicles that have a relatively large power capacity and can be charged quickly. Suppress the introduction cost and operation cost of the train dispatch system 1.

The management center 4 is a management terminal system composed of a computer, includes a construction machine management unit 4a and a database 4b, and controls the entire power supply vehicle dispatch system 1 by communicating with each component of the power supply vehicle dispatch system 1. to manage. For example, the construction machine management unit 4a manages the work status including the charge state of the battery mounted on each construction machine 2 by communicating with each construction machine 2, and requires charging. Instruct the vehicle dispatch center 3 to select and dispatch an appropriate power supply vehicle to the construction machine 2. Further, the database 4b stores the past work information at each construction site and reflects it in the operation management particularly related to the battery consumption of the construction machine 2. Further, the management center 4 can also make an inquiry to the manager of the construction machine 2 when selecting a power feeding vehicle. The details of the procedure for dispatching the power supply vehicle performed by the management center 4 will be described later.

The administrator terminal 5 is, for example, a mobile terminal or a personal computer, and is a communication device for the management center 4 to contact the administrator of the construction machine 2. The manager responds to the inquiry from the management center 4 with the manager terminal 5 with a request regarding charging of the construction machine 2. Information may be sent and received between the management center 4 and the administrator terminal 5 by using e-mail or on a dedicated application.

Then, the charging state of each construction machine 2 is grasped by the above-mentioned power supply vehicle dispatch system 1, and the power supply vehicle is arranged for the construction machine 2 in a timely manner. At this time, each construction machine 2 transmits its own operation information to the management center 4, and as a charge request to the management center 4 before the remaining SOC of the mounted battery falls below the SOC lower limit required for driving. Notice.

Next, a procedure for the construction machine 2 to send a charging request to the management center 4 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for requesting charging in the construction machine 2. Each construction machine 2 starts executing the procedure according to the flowchart of FIG. 2 by operating the main switch to be turned on at the start of work.

When the procedure is started, the construction machine 2 reads the remaining SOC by measuring the terminal voltage of the mounted battery before starting the work (step S1). Further, the construction machine 2 confirms whether the SOC value is equal to or less than the SOC lower limit value specified for the battery (step S2). Here, the SOC lower limit value means the minimum SOC remaining amount required to operate the construction machine 2, and is an SOC threshold value set for each battery.

Then, when the SOC of the battery is equal to or less than the lower limit of the SOC (Yes in step S2), the construction machine 2 prohibits its own operation in order to protect the mounted battery from damage due to over-discharging (step S3). .. Further, the construction machine 2 transmits operational information including the status of the battery and the like to the management center 4, that is, an emergency alarm related to SOC in this case to the management center 4 (step S4), and performs a charging request procedure. finish.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2 that the SOC remaining amount is higher than the SOC lower limit value (No in step S2), the construction machine 2 can be operated depending on the battery remaining amount. Is started (step S5).

Further, the construction machine 2 counts the elapsed time Tw from the start of the work, and determines whether or not the predetermined set time Ts has elapsed (step S6). Here, the predetermined set time Ts is a work period arbitrarily set in advance in order to grasp a change in the SOC remaining amount reduced by the work of the construction machine 2 for a certain period of time. For example, the excavator in the present embodiment. In this case, the cycle consisting of excavation, boom raising, 90 ° turning, and soil release can be set as a time repeated 10 to 15 times. That is, the construction machine 2 continues counting the elapsed time Tw during the work until the elapsed time Tw exceeds the set time Ts (No in step S6).

Then, when the elapsed time Tw exceeds the set time Ts (Yes in step S6), the construction machine 2 reads the SOC at that time, and the battery consumption per hour at the set time Ts is determined by the difference from the SOC at the start of work. Is calculated (step S7). As a result, the construction machine 2 can calculate the workable time based on the remaining amount of SOC at that time based on the pace of decrease in SOC (step S8).

Further, the construction machine 2 needs to supply power before the remaining SOC of the battery drops below the above-mentioned lower limit of SOC by transmitting the operation information including the calculated workable time to the management center 4. It can be a power supply request. In this case, the construction machine 2 has SOC remaining amount, position information, and charge required time when the battery is expected to run out, as well as vehicle body environment data related to battery consumption, that is, motor rotation speed, outside air temperature, hydraulic pressure and flow rate. The operation information including the above is transmitted to the management center 4.

Subsequently, the procedure for dispatching the power supply vehicle performed by the management center 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of power supply vehicle allocation control in the management center 4. The management center 4 starts the procedure shown in FIG. 3 prior to the operation of all the construction machines 2. The management center 4 prepares for battery management of the construction machine 2 in steps S10 to S13, and executes battery management of the construction machine 2 in the subsequent steps.

First, the management center 4 creates a management table for managing the battery of the construction machine 2 in the construction machine management unit 4a (step S10). Here, in the management table, for example, for a plurality of construction machines 2 to be managed, information such as ID, battery type, battery capacity, work place where the construction machine 2 works on the day, and work contents are individually summarized.

Further, the management center 4 acquires advance information about the workload received by the construction machine 2 at each construction site by reading the database 4b that stores the past work information at each construction site (step S11).

Further, the construction machine management unit 4a calculates for each construction machine 2 to be managed, using the estimated time until charging is required as the base time (step S12). That is, the base time is an estimated value of the workable time at the time of full charge predicted for each construction machine 2 based on the information acquired in advance in the management center 4. Here, the base time is a predicted value in the present embodiment assuming that the battery of the construction machine 2 is fully charged. For example, the SOC remaining amount is managed at the time when the previous work of the construction machine 2 is completed. When it is transmitted to the center 4, it may be an estimated value of the workable time based on the SOC remaining amount.

Then, the management center 4 considers that the preparation for battery management of the construction machine 2 is completed by reflecting the above base time in the created management table, and the operation information from each construction machine 2, that is, power supply. Acceptance of the request is started (step S13).

Further, the management center 4 constantly confirms whether or not the operation information from each construction machine 2 has been received (step S14), and waits until it is received (No in step S14). Then, when the management center 4 receives the operation information from the construction machine 2 as described above (Yes in step S14), the management center 4 refers to the construction machine 2 based on the base time in the management table and the operation information. The urgency (priority) of charging is set (step S15).

More specifically, the management center 4 corrects the base time in which the past work information already recorded in the management table is reflected by using the current operation information received from the construction machine 2. Battery management that reflects actual data at the construction site becomes possible. The management center 4 can update the work information about the construction site by recording the received operation information in the database 4b.

Here, the operation information transmitted by the construction machine 2 includes the SOC remaining amount of the construction machine 2, the position information, and the charging time. For example, when a plurality of construction machines 2 request power supply, the management center 4 makes a correction to increase the urgency of the construction machine 2 having a relatively small SOC remaining amount, and is based on the position information. For the construction machine 2 whose distance between the construction machine 2 and the vehicle allocation center 3 is relatively short, the correction is made to reduce the urgency, and the charging time calculated from the remaining SOC of the battery is used for each. Change the urgency of construction machine 2 in the above as necessary.

Further, the management center 4 makes an inquiry to the manager of the construction machine 2 regarding the power supply request by transmitting the request confirmation information to the manager terminal 5 after setting the urgency level (step S16). More specifically, the management center 4 transmits information such as the ID of the construction machine 2 that needs to be charged, the SOC remaining amount of the construction machine 2, the scheduled power supply time to the construction machine 2, and the like, respectively. Confirm the request regarding the charging method of 2.

On the other hand, the administrator requests the necessity of charging for each construction machine 2, the desired charging time, the charging amount, the charging speed (selection of the rapid feeding vehicle 3a or the normal feeding vehicle 3b), and the like. Reply to the management center 4 via.

As a result, the management center 4 corrects the above-mentioned urgency by incorporating the power supply request received from the administrator (step S17). For example, even if the construction machine 2 has a low SOC remaining amount and a relatively high degree of urgency is set, the frequency of use of the power supply vehicle is used when the work on the construction machine 2 is completed earlier than the schedule. It is possible to make changes that lower the priority so that power is supplied at night.

Then, the management center 4 selects a power supply vehicle necessary for supplying power to the construction machine 2 based on the urgency corrected by the power supply request, and instructs the vehicle allocation center 3 to allocate the power supply vehicle (step S18). ). As a result, the vehicle dispatch center 3 allocates the rapid power supply vehicle 3a to the construction machine 2 having a relatively high urgency, and allocates the normal power supply vehicle 3b to the construction machine 2 having a relatively low urgency. Alternatively, scheduling such as suspending vehicle allocation can be performed.

Here, in the present embodiment, the mode in which the management center 4 directly selects the power supply vehicle is illustrated, but the vehicle allocation center 3 is supplied by transmitting the required power supply specification from the management center 4 to the vehicle allocation center 3. You may choose the train.

When the management of all the construction machines 2 is completed, the management center 4 ends a series of power supply vehicle dispatch procedures (Yes in step S19), and continues the power supply requests from each construction machine 2 in sequence until then. (No in step S19).

Next, a management table for each construction machine 2 managed by the management center 4 will be illustrated. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a management table for managing the battery of the construction machine 2.

As described above, the management center 4 creates a management table that individually summarizes information about the plurality of construction machines 2 to be managed, that is, the first excavator 2a to the fifth excavator 2e, and the past work information read from the database 4b. By reflecting the above, the base time is calculated and, for example, a table as shown in FIG. 4 (A) is created. Here, it is assumed that a part of the individual information is illustrated, and the description of the information such as the battery type and the battery capacity is omitted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the management center 4 reflects the operation information of the construction machine 2 that has transmitted the power supply request among the construction machines 2 in the management table. Here, the state in which the operation information is received from the first excavator 2a, the second excavator 2b, and the fourth excavator 2d is shown, and up to the vehicle allocation center 3 calculated from the SOC remaining amount and the position information of these construction machines 2. The distance and the time when charging is required are described. Then, the management center 4 sets the urgency (priority) of charging based on the above-mentioned base time and these operational information.

For example, in FIG. 4B, the first excavator 2a, which has a relatively low SOC remaining amount and is expected to run out of battery after 2 hours, is set as the highest priority power supply target candidate. Further, the fourth excavator 2d, which is expected to run out of battery next, is set as the second power supply target candidate.

Further, the management center 4 inquires the managers of the three construction machines 2 about the power supply request, and corrects the urgency as shown in FIG. 4C, for example. Here, as an example, an example of inquiring only the necessity of priority charging is shown. Then, the management center 4 makes a correction to reduce the urgency when receiving a reply that priority charging is unnecessary even for the first excavator 2a set as the highest priority power supply target candidate. Second, the urgency of the 4th excavator 2d, which was the second candidate for power supply, is relatively raised.

For this reason, the management center 4 determines the demand and timing of power supply with high accuracy through the advance information in the database, the setting of the urgency based on the operation information, and the inquiry of the power supply request, and efficiently operates a small number of power supply vehicles. As a result, the introduction cost and operation cost of the entire power supply system are suppressed. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power supply vehicle dispatch system 1 capable of supplying power to the battery-powered construction machine 2 in a timely manner at low cost.

1 Power supply vehicle dispatch system 2 Construction machinery 2a to 2e 1st excavator to 5th excavator 3 Vehicle dispatch center 3a Rapid power supply vehicle 3b Normal power supply vehicle 4 Management center 4a Construction machinery management department 4b Database 5 Administrator terminal
Site1, Site2 1st construction site, 2nd construction site

Claims (4)

Multiple battery-powered construction machines working at the construction site,
A vehicle dispatch center that has a plurality of power supply vehicles having different charging performances and allocates the power supply vehicle to the construction machine to charge the construction machine.
It is provided with a management center that manages the charging state of the construction machine and instructs the dispatch center to dispatch the power supply vehicle.
Each of the construction machines transmits its own operation information to the management center,
The management center sets the urgency of charging based on the operation information transmitted from each of the construction machines and the power supply request received from the manager of the construction machine, and dispatches the power supply vehicle to the emergency. A power supply vehicle dispatch system that is selected according to the degree. The power supply vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the management center includes a database that stores past work information at the construction site, and sets the urgency level based on the past work information and the current operation information. Vehicle dispatch system. The power supply vehicle dispatch system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation information includes the SOC remaining amount of the construction machine, the position information of the construction machine, and the charging time of the construction machine. The management center inquires of the manager of the construction machine for a power supply request, and sets the urgency of charging set based on the operation information by correcting the power supply request received from the manager. Item 1. The power supply vehicle dispatch system according to item 1.

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