KR20230136840A - Forklift management system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a forklift management system comprises: a hydraulic sensor monitoring a dangerous load; a warning device providing a warning function when the dangerous load occurs; a stop device stopping operation of the working device of a forklift when the dangerous load occurs; a terminal installed to monitor the dangerous load and enable calculation of vibration and speed, thereby enabling monitoring of an amount of impact on and the dangerous speed of equipment; and a system installed on the forklift to enable a login function using short-distance communication between the terminal that collects information and a smartphone carried by a driver, transmit data to a server through the modem of the smartphone, and identify the transmitted data through a PC-based web and a smartphone-based application, thereby providing analysis of the work efficiency and safety information of the equipment. Therefore, the forklift management system enables efficient use of the forklift, can actively response to an increase in accidents, and enables collection of comprehensive data on operating a plurality of forklifts to thus provide the management system based on statistical techniques, thereby enabling the forklifts, which are important as basic equipment used throughout the primary to tertiary industries, to be used safely and more efficiently.

Description

Forklift management system and method {FORKLIFT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to an integrated system of a hazardous load monitoring system to prevent overturning for the safety of forklifts and a control system function to maximize the operating effectiveness of forklifts. More specifically, hazardous load monitoring is applied using a hydraulic sensor method rather than a load cell method. Through this, the status and number of loading and unloading of the forklift are monitored, and when a hazardous load occurs, a warning function is provided through a device (alarm, indicator light) installed together and the operation of the work equipment is automatically stopped, and a terminal for hazardous load monitoring is provided. It relates to a forklift management system and method that enables monitoring of the amount of impact and dangerous speed on the equipment by installing an acceleration sensor within it to calculate vibration and speed.

Forklifts are basic equipment used across primary to tertiary industries. It is necessary to utilize these forklifts efficiently, and safety accidents may occur, so it is necessary to analyze the status of major disasters in forklifts and develop related safety measures.

Forklifts used in actual fields are often not equipped with safety systems to prevent rollover accidents due to overload, so in case of having a large forklift, management and monitoring of the overall forklift use, including forklift usage history and driver management, is required. Demand is currently increasing.

The space provided in a forklift is too small to use multiple products with separate functions such as weight measurement, control system, and safety devices, and it is not easy to operate them, so forklifts are equipped with a 'hazardous load monitoring system' to prevent tipping over for safety. There is a need to configure an integrated system of 'control system' functions for the operational effectiveness of forklifts.

Korean Patent No. 10-1869480 (registration date: 2018.06.14) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0108732 (Publication Date: 2021.09.03)

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic sensor to monitor the status and number of loading and unloading of a forklift, provide a warning function through a device installed together when a hazardous load occurs, and automatically stop the operation of the work equipment, and provide an acceleration sensor for monitoring the hazardous load. By installing a vibration and speed calculation, it is possible to monitor the amount of impact and dangerous speed on the equipment, and a login function is provided through short-distance communication between the terminal installed on the forklift to collect information and the smartphone carried by the driver. Data can be transmitted to the server through the smartphone's modem, and the transmitted data can be checked through PC-based web and smartphone-based apps. These programs can be used to analyze equipment through statistical analysis techniques. It provides a system that provides analysis of work efficiency, safety issues, etc.

In order to achieve this purpose, the forklift management system and method according to the present invention include a hydraulic sensor that monitors a dangerous load, a warning device that provides a warning function when the dangerous load occurs, and a working device of the forklift when the dangerous load occurs. A stopping device that stops operation, a terminal installed to monitor the dangerous load and enables calculation of vibration and speed to monitor the amount of impact and dangerous speed to the equipment, and a terminal installed on the forklift to collect information. It enables the login function through short-distance communication between the terminal and the smartphone owned by the driver, transmits data to the server through the modem of the smartphone, and sends the transmitted data to the PC-based web and smartphone-based apps. It can be confirmed through the system, and it consists of a system that provides analysis of the equipment's work efficiency, safety issues, etc.

The forklift management system and method according to the present invention enables efficient use of forklifts and active response to the increase in safety accidents, and enables the collection of comprehensive data when operating multiple forklifts, through which By providing a management system based on statistical techniques, it has the effect of enabling safer and more efficient use of forklifts, which are important as basic equipment used across primary to tertiary industries.

1 is a diagram showing a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a hazardous load monitoring system in a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing vehicle login usage rate in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram presenting a vehicle operation distribution diagram in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram presenting dangerous load records in a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing vibration (impact amount) recording in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing equipment operation time efficiency in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing vehicle and driver management in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing safety analysis in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a schematic diagram schematically presenting the configuration of a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a hydraulic system in a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a diagram schematically showing the electrical/electronic system in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a diagram schematically showing a display unit in a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. Additionally, in describing embodiments of the present invention, specific numbers are merely examples.

Figure 1 schematically presents a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. To implement the hazardous load monitoring system and control system of the forklift, forklift and IoT & ICT (sensor, controller, judgment algorithm, network communication, telematics, web/app) technology based on traditional mechanical and hydraulic technology are applied.

Figure 2 schematically presents a hazardous load monitoring system that constitutes a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It provides weight measurement through hydraulic sensor input, weight and information display through the display in the terminal, dangerous load warning buzzer sound, and work device blocking function.

It operates in the following way:

a) Hydraulic pressure is measured through a hydraulic sensor connected to the lifting hydraulic circuit of the forklift, and the weight is calculated based on the cross-sectional area of the set hydraulic cylinder.

B) The calculated weight is displayed on the display of the terminal, and if the set weight is exceeded, an operation signal is sent to the alarm and hydraulic circuit blocking solenoid valve through the output terminal of the terminal to activate the function.

c) Addition of a calibration method to set accurate weight measurement by applying the law of proportion by inputting the pressure calculated based on the actual load

3 to 9 schematically present the functions provided by the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This management system includes vehicle login, usage information recording and statistics functions, login and information transfer functions through short-distance communication between terminals and smartphones, vehicle information management and search functions, driver information management and search functions, vehicle efficiency analysis functions, vehicle and It includes a function to monitor and analyze driver safety issues (impact amount, speed, etc.) and display steel grade information on the web or app.

In Figure 3, the vehicle login usage rate is presented, and can be presented in a way that shows the real-time starting/non-starting (starting means pressing the start driving button on the app) quantity among registered vehicles today by dividing it into a graph. (Example: circular graph)

In Figure 4, a vehicle operation diagram is presented, which can be presented in a way that shows the real-time starting equipment quantity for each time zone during the day (00:00 to 24:00). (Example: bar graph or line graph)

In Figure 5, the dangerous load record is presented, and the UI that can set and display the "risk level" into 2 levels (danger, caution) based on the "load weight" uploaded from the terminal and the corresponding data uploaded from the terminal It is possible to present a function that detects the occurrence of a risk level and displays the occurrence time, etc. in a real-time list.

In Figure 6, the vibration (impact amount) record is presented, and the "vibration severity" can be set and displayed in 2 levels (danger, caution) based on the "front and rear acceleration" and "left and rear acceleration" that come from the terminal as the vibration grade. It can be configured with a function that displays the time, driver, size, etc. when the severity of the risk and caution level occurred in a list in real time using the relevant data uploaded from the UI and terminal.

In Figure 7, an equipment operation time efficiency report is presented, where the operation time (hour) refers to the time from “operation start” to “operation end”, and the loading and unloading time (hour) refers to the “load weight” uploaded from the terminal. This means judging “loading” and “unloading” based on “loading” and “unloading” and calculating and displaying the “loading” to “unloading” time, and the work rate (%) is calculated as (sum of loading and unloading time)/(sum of operating time). It can be expressed.

In Figure 8, vehicle and driver management is provided, and newly added vehicles/drivers, vehicle model addition, vehicle/driver search, vehicle/driver list, vehicle/driver information, etc. can be presented.

In FIG. 9, safety analysis is provided, which can be provided by graphically displaying the number of mild/moderate vibrations for each driver during a selected period.

A method of operating a forklift according to an embodiment of the present invention may be presented as follows.

A) The login function is implemented through short-range communication (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) between the terminal mounted on the forklift and the smartphone owned by the driver.

B) Forklift control information (login, usage time, sensor data), etc. is transmitted to the server and stored as data through short-distance communication with the driver's smartphone and modem.

c) Stored data can be checked through the computer's web or smartphone app, and forklift and driver usage information can be checked through a program that applies statistical techniques.

In Figure 10, in the forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the components of the system that specifically implement the system are roughly disclosed.

FMS system components can largely be composed of a hydraulic system and an electrical/electronic system.

A) Entire system configuration

▷ FMS terminal

▷ Manifold equipped with solenoid on/off valve

▷ Hydraulic sensor

▷ Fork up/down operation detection sensor

▷ Component connection wiring

▷ Existing forklift components (hydraulic tank/hydraulic pump/mast operating valve, etc.)

▷ Optional components (indicator/warning light/speaker, etc.)

Figure 11 is a diagram schematically showing a hydraulic system in a forklift management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to operate the forklift mast, this hydraulic system is operated by operating the forklift lever connected to the mast operating valve through a hydraulic pump from the hydraulic tank. To detect the load, a hydraulic sensor is installed between the mast operating valve and the mast's lift cylinder, and the measured pressure value is transmitted to the FMS terminal.

To block hydraulic pressure during hazardous loads, a manifold valve equipped with a solenoid valve with a hydraulic blocking function is installed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic valve.

In Figure 12, an electrical/electronic system according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented as follows.

The power input line to operate the FMS terminal is configured and can be connected to the terminal through the forklift battery and key switch. When the forklift key is turned on, the terminal detects the status, and the actual time it takes for the forklift to move is measured through the acceleration sensor installed in the terminal. can be measured separately.

It is configured to receive pressure data for the load from a hydraulic sensor and displays it as a load value through logic within the terminal. It is a sensor that can detect the up/down movement of the mast's fork and can be applied in various ways, including a limit switch, The up/down movement of the fork is checked through proximity sensors, magnet sensors, etc., and within the terminal, the presence/absence of the actual load (cargo) is checked by using the data value of the hydraulic sensor to count the up/down movement of the fork. It can be calculated.

Additionally, it is possible to install an indicator through a light, and the FMS terminal sends signals to the indicator according to various modes such as forklift key-on status, actual driving status, and fork up/down operation status, so that the forklift's FMS can be monitored from the outside. It is possible to check the presence/absence of system login, type of operating status, etc. Additionally, warning lights/speakers, etc. can be installed to provide external warning of dangerous conditions, and it is possible to transmit related signals from the FMS terminal.

In Figure 13, a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is presented. In an operating state, the LED provided next to the ST may flash red for a dangerous load, yellow for a weight measurement, and green for an appropriate load.

In the driver recognition state, the LED next to Dr lights up in blue when the driver connects to the terminal and starts driving.

In the equipment check state, the LED next to Ch lights up in blue when the driver performs an equipment check at the start of driving.

In addition, the LED provided next to Pw lights up when power is input.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a forklift management system may be configured as follows.

Additionally, the connection between hydraulic lines and electric lines in the forklift management system can be configured as follows.

As described above, the present invention has been described with specific details such as specific components and limited embodiments and drawings, but this is only provided to facilitate a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. , those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from this description.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and the scope of the patent claims described below as well as all things that are equivalent or equivalent to the scope of the claims will be said to fall within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. .

Claims (5)

It includes an FMS terminal, a manifold with solenoid on/off valve, hydraulic pressure sensor, and fork up/down operation detection sensor.
A forklift management system that uses the hydraulic sensor to evaluate the risk of a forklift tipping over and provides an alert regarding this.
According to clause 1,
A forklift management system further comprising a terminal that provides operation information of the forklift when operating the forklift.
According to clause 2,
The operation information is any one of the forklift login usage rate, the forklift operation distribution, the dangerous load record of the forklift, the vibration record of the forklift, the operation time efficiency of the forklift, the newly added forklift and driver information, and safety analysis information. In, forklift management system According to clause 1,
A forklift management system further comprising an alarm device consisting of one of a warning light, a speaker, and an indicator.
According to clause 1,
A forklift management system that stops operation of the forklift when the risk of falling occurs.