JP5758342B2 - Construction machine inspection device and inspection method using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection device used when performing an inspection operation or the like of a construction machine, and a method for inspecting a construction machine using the inspection apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a construction machine inspection apparatus that enables one person to perform an inspection operation through an image on a display while performing an arbitrary load operation from the cab to the construction machine as necessary. The present invention relates to a method for inspecting used construction machines.

Construction machinery such as the hydraulic excavator as shown in Fig. 1 must be regularly inspected in order to carry out stable work during operation, and to find and maintain problems in the engine, pressure system, etc. in advance. There is. Here, the engine refers to an engine that generates mechanical energy, and includes an electric motor including an internal combustion engine represented by the engine. In addition, the pressure system includes water pressure or air pressure, but in the following description, the description will focus on a hydraulic system that is mainly used in the case of construction machinery. Generally, a construction machine has a special system in which a large number of hydraulic systems are connected in a complicated manner. Therefore, a specialized maintenance worker is in charge of inspection.
Specific inspections include visual inspections of whether there is a problem such as oil leakage in the construction machinery engine, and whether there are oil leaks or jets in the piping, hydraulic hoses, valves, etc. when the hydraulic system is pressurized. If such a problem is found, it will be repaired.
Here, taking the hydraulic excavator 11 of FIG. 1 as an example, in the hydraulic excavator, the large engine room 13 is present behind the cab 12 corresponding to the rear part of the upper swing body. When inspecting, it is necessary to inspect the inside by opening the engine hood as shown by a dotted line, but the details in the engine room 13 cannot be visually observed from the cab 12.
In addition, since many hydraulic systems are complicatedly arranged at various locations in the construction machine and there are many movable parts including the arm 15 based on the operation of the hydraulic system, at least one person is in the cab 12. There is a problem that is difficult to discover unless you are seated on the machine and actually operating the construction machine.

  Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, when inspecting a construction machine, the inspection is carried out by sharing it with at least two maintenance workers, one who actually operates in the cab and one who visually confirms the malfunction. It was made.

  However, as described above, one construction machine cannot be inspected by only one maintenance worker, and since it is necessary to share and cooperate with at least two people, the number of inspection work increases, As a result, the time required for the inspection increased and the labor cost was increased accordingly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the prior art as described above. That is, the present invention relates to an inspection device for enabling a single maintenance worker in a cab to confirm a failure of a construction machine in an inspection operation of the construction machine, and an inspection using the inspection device. It aims to provide a method.

According to the present invention, in the construction machine inspection apparatus for inspecting the state of equipment in the engine room of the construction machine,
An inspection camera,
A pan head having a mounting portion for detachably mounting to a vehicle body of the construction machine and the driving mechanism for changing the photographing direction of the inspection camera and a support portion for supporting the inspection camera,
An operating device for operating and controlling the drive mechanism wirelessly;
A back monitor display that is provided in a cab of the construction machine and displays a video image of the back monitor camera ;
A set of repeaters provided in the middle of a video signal line connecting the back monitor camera and the back monitor display, or a switching circuit, and sending the video signal of the inspection camera to one of the repeaters Or a signal input means for inputting to the back monitor display via the switching circuit ,
At the time of inspection work in the engine room, the pan head is mounted on the periphery of the engine room, and the video signal line of the inspection camera is replaced with the video signal line of the back monitor camera and is provided in the cab. An inspection location connected to a monitor display, where a maintenance worker operates the controller from the cab to adjust the shooting direction of the inspection camera supported by the camera platform, and is taken by the inspection camera. Is displayed on the back monitor display.
According to the construction machine inspection device of the present invention, it is possible to perform operation of the construction machine and confirmation of defects by one maintenance worker in the cab in the inspection work of the construction machine.

  According to the construction machine inspection apparatus and the inspection method using the apparatus according to the present invention, in the construction machine inspection work, a failure of the construction machine can be confirmed by one maintenance worker in the cab. This makes it possible to reduce the number of man-hours required for inspection work, shorten the time, and reduce the number of personnel. Further, since the display device for the back monitor can be used, the entire inspection device can be configured at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydraulic excavator that is an example of a construction machine. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a photographing apparatus constituting a part of the inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an operating device that wirelessly controls a drive mechanism included in a pan head unit of an imaging apparatus that constitutes a part of an inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cab of the construction machine from the viewpoint of the driver. FIG. 5a is a diagram showing a signal input unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5b is a diagram illustrating a signal input unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5c is a diagram illustrating a signal input unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5d is a diagram showing a signal input unit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which an imaging device constituting a part of the inspection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in the engine room in order to inspect the construction machine.

Hereinafter, a construction machine inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent.
In this specification, the operation of the construction machine is not the actual running of the construction machine, but the movable part such as the arm of the construction machine is moved by operating the pressure system, and the engine speed is increased. Means the operation. In addition, in this specification, the inspection or the inspection work is not limited to an operation for confirming problems such as oil leakage, contact between wires, and rubbing, but also maintenance such as numerical confirmation of gauges in the engine room or temporarily provided. Means general work.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a photographing apparatus 21 that constitutes a part of an inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention that is used, for example, for inspecting the excavator 11 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an operating device 31 for wirelessly controlling the drive mechanism provided in the pan head unit of the photographing apparatus 21 shown in FIG. 2 from the inside of the cab 12 of the excavator 11. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cab of the construction machine from the viewpoint of the driver. FIGS. 5a to 5d are diagrams showing various signal input means of the imaging apparatus constituting a part of the inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which an imaging device constituting a part of the inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed at an end portion in the engine room in order to perform inspection work in the engine room. is there.

  First, the configuration of the imaging device 21 that captures an image of a site to be inspected in a construction machine will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device 21 includes a pan head unit 22 and an inspection camera 28. The pan head unit 22 includes a drive box 23 having a drive mechanism for changing the shooting direction of the camera 28, a pan head base 24 that is a base of the pan head unit 22, and a magnet fixed to the bottom surface of the pan head base 24. A base 25, an L-shaped member 26 serving as a support for supporting the camera 28, a fixing screw 27 for installing the camera 28, and an antenna (not shown).

  The drive box 23 includes a mechanism for panning and tilting driving the camera 28 and a wireless receiving circuit for receiving a control signal from the operating device 31, and a servo according to the signal from the operating device 31. The motor is driven. Specifically, when the camera 28 is pan-driven, the drive box 23 itself is rotated at a relatively low speed with respect to the pan base 24, while when the camera 28 is tilt-driven, the L-shaped member 26 is It rotates at a relatively low speed with respect to the drive box 23 around the mounting shaft. The pan driving and tilt driving can be controlled separately, and can be simultaneously driven.

  The power source of the imaging device 21 can be selected as appropriate. However, in consideration of the ease and portability when the pan head unit 22 is installed on the construction machine, a dry battery or a secondary battery is installed inside the pan head base 24. The structure provided is suitable.

  The pan head base 24 supports the drive box 23 as a base of the pan head unit 22. As described above, when the camera 28 is pan-driven, the drive box 23 is configured to rotate with respect to the camera platform base 24. Therefore, the drive box 23 and the camera platform base 24 are connected by a rotatable shaft. .

  A magnet base 25 serving as a mounting portion is fixed to the bottom surface of the pan head base 24, so that the pan head unit 22 can be easily attached to and detached from the metal portion of the construction machine. Here, since the magnet base 25 is disposed so that the pan head unit 22 can be easily installed on the body of the construction machine, the magnet base 25 does not necessarily have to be disposed on the entire bottom surface of the pan head base 24. The size and the like can be changed as appropriate. Further, when a magnet cannot be used, such as an engine hood made of an FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) material, for example, a sucker member mounting portion can be used instead of the magnet base 25.

  The L-shaped member 26 to which the inspection camera 28 is attached is attached to the drive box 23 so that the L-shaped member 26 can be rotated about one axis, and is provided in the drive box 23 when the camera 28 is tilt-driven. The drive mechanism is configured to rotate the L-shaped member 26 around the axis. The fixing screw 27 is a screw for fixing the camera 28 to the L-shaped member 26, and corresponds to a mounting female screw provided in advance on the bottom surface of a general digital camera or the like. The L-shaped member 26 is provided with a long groove through which the fixing screw 27 can move, and the mounting position can be adjusted according to the size of the camera 28 and the like.

  The camera 28 is for photographing the inspection target portion, and can be arbitrarily selected from a general video camera, a small CCD camera, and the like. Further, if the back monitor camera can be easily removed from the construction machine, it is possible to temporarily substitute the removed camera as the inspection camera during the inspection work. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a form in which the bottom surface of the camera 28 is fixed to the L-shaped member 26. However, for example, when a camera having a female screw on the side surface is used, the L-shaped member 26 is used instead of the U-shaped member 26. By using a letter-shaped member and providing a long groove in the piece facing the piece attached to the drive box 23, the camera is placed inside the two opposed pieces or outside the piece facing the piece attached to the drive box 23. Can also be fixed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an operating device 31 that remotely controls the drive mechanism of the pan head unit 22 by radio will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operating device 31 includes a main body 32, a tilt control dial 33, a pan control dial 34, an antenna 35, and a power switch (not shown). By rotating the tilt control dial 33, the camera 28 is tilt-driven in a predetermined range, for example, ± 45 degrees, and on the other hand, by rotating the pan control dial 34, the camera 28 is moved in a predetermined range, for example, ± 45 degrees. The pan is driven. The tilt operation and the pan operation can be operated separately or simultaneously. The tilt operation and pan operation are automatically reset at the same time when the power switch of the remote controller 31 is turned off, so that the shooting direction of the camera can be returned to the initial position of 0 degrees.

  The power source of the operating device 31 can also be appropriately selected from those of the prior art. However, in consideration of the operability and portability in the cab 12, a configuration in which a dry battery or a secondary battery is provided inside the main body 32 is preferable. It is. In the case of a secondary battery, it is preferable to charge together with the secondary battery of the imaging device 21 prior to the inspection work.

  In FIG. 3, the antenna 35 is shown as a general rod antenna in order to conceptually indicate that it is wireless control. However, the distance from the imaging device 21 may be as short as about 10 m at the maximum. In addition, it is easy to use a very short flexible antenna that does not protrude so much from the main body, or to incorporate the entire antenna in the main body 32.

  FIG. 3 shows a form in which two dials are employed as operation parts for performing pan control and tilt control. However, the shape of the operation parts is not limited to this. For example, four independent push button switches are provided. May be used, and a joystick may also be used.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a display that displays an image of an imaging device that forms part of the inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a display 42 is provided in the cab 12 of the construction machine. The display 42 is used for the purpose of confirming safety behind the construction machine by displaying an image of a camera (back monitor camera 63) provided at the rear when the construction machine is in operation. When the construction machine 11 is inspected using the image 21, the image signal of the camera 28 is input by the image signal being input to the display 42 through a signal input means (to be described later) provided in the inspection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Is displayed. The display 42 may be already provided for the back monitor camera in the construction machine to be inspected, and does not need to be newly provided. A liquid crystal screen is optimal as the display 42.

  What is indicated by reference numeral 44 on the left side of the display 42 is an external recording medium such as a card memory or a USB memory for recording the state of the inspection work displayed on the display 42 as a still image or a moving image as necessary. is there.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 5 a to 5 d, the present invention for inputting the video signal of the inspection camera 28 to the display 42 instead of the video signal from the back monitor camera 63 during the inspection of the construction machine. The signal input means of the inspection apparatus according to an embodiment will be described.

  The signal input means of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a is a pair of plug-jack type repeaters 52 and 53 provided in the middle of the video signal line 51 connecting the back monitor camera 63 and the display 42. Composed. The repeaters 52 and 53 are provided in the construction machine 11 at a place where the hand is easily accessible as shown in FIG. The construction machine is normally connected to repeaters 52 and 53, and operates as a back monitor system. When the construction machine is inspected, as shown in FIG. 6, the connection of the repeaters 52 and 53 is once released, and the plug terminal provided at the terminal of the video signal line 29 of the inspection camera 28 of the present invention. 54 is connected to the repeater 53 on the display side. By doing so, an image of the inspection location in the engine room 62 taken by the camera 28 is displayed on the display 42.

  The signal input means of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5B is a simpler switching from the video signal of the back monitor camera 63 to the video signal of the inspection camera 28. In the case of this embodiment, there is no need to change the connection as in the embodiment of FIG. 5 a, and the plug terminal 54 of the video signal line 29 of the inspection camera 28 is simply inserted into the inspection camera terminal 56 of the switching device 55. The changeover switch 57 may be manually switched from the back monitor camera side 57a to the inspection camera side 57b. By doing so, the image of the inspection location in the engine room photographed by the inspection camera 28 is displayed on the display 42 as in the first embodiment. Note that the switching device 55 is provided in the engine room of the construction machine 11 at a place where maintenance personnel can easily access, like the relays 52 and 53 of the first embodiment.

  The signal input means of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5c is an automatic switching operation that was manually performed in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, a video signal detection circuit 58 is further provided in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5B. In this embodiment, when the plug terminal 54 of the video signal line 29 of the inspection camera 28 is inserted into the inspection camera terminal 56 and the inspection camera 28 starts to operate, the video signal is detected by the video signal detection circuit 58. Then, the contact of the changeover switch 57 is automatically switched to the inspection camera 28 side. That is, in the case of this embodiment, when the plug terminal 54 of the signal line terminal of the inspection camera 28 of the present invention is inserted into the signal input means and the operation of the inspection camera 28 is detected, as in the above embodiment, An image of the inspection location in the engine room captured by the inspection camera 28 is displayed on the display 42. In addition, when the inspection work is completed and the plug terminal 54 is pulled out from the signal input means, the video image of the back monitor camera 63 is automatically restored.

Furthermore, as another embodiment of the signal input means, a configuration of a wireless format shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5d, a switching device 55 that wirelessly receives the video signal of the inspection camera 28 may be used. The inspection camera 28 is provided with a transmission circuit 28X that transmits a video signal, and the switching device 55 is provided with a reception circuit 55R that receives a video signal emitted from the transmitter 28X. The feature of this embodiment is that the video signal is sent wirelessly instead of being sent to the switching device 55, that is, the signal input circuit as in the above embodiment. Similar to the above-described embodiment, the video signal is switched to the video image taken by the inspection camera 28 simultaneously with the reception of the video signal from the camera 28 for inspection, and the video image taken by the back monitor camera 63 is restored simultaneously with the operation of the inspection camera 28 being stopped. It is.
According to the present embodiment, there is no wiring coming out from the inspection photographing device, and the installation work of the photographing device in the engine room becomes extremely safe and easy.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, an example in which an imaging device constituting a part of the inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used for inspection work in the engine room will be described.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the engine hood 61 of the construction machine is opened and the inside of the engine room 62 is viewed obliquely from the rear.
As shown in FIG. 6, the photographing device 21 is installed in the periphery of the engine room 62. Here, since the peripheral part of the engine room 62 is made of a steel plate, the photographing device 21 including the magnet base 25 can be easily attached and detached. The captured image of the camera 28 is displayed on the display 42 in the cab 12 of the construction machine by being input to the display 42 through the signal input means provided in the imaging device 21 shown in various embodiments with reference to FIG. Is done. As a result, the maintenance worker in the cab 12 of the construction machine can easily carry out the inspection work while operating the construction machine by confirming the captured image of the camera 28 displayed on the display 42. .
Furthermore, by operating the operating device 31 in the cab 12, even when the inspection location covers a wide range, or when the parts at the inspection location move with the operation of the construction machine, the operator can stay in the cab 12. By changing and adjusting the shooting direction of the camera 28, the inspection work can be performed quickly.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the construction machine inspection device according to the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and Needless to say, it can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea defined by the scope.
For example, since the vehicle body of the construction machine on which the camera platform unit 22 is installed is not necessarily a metal part, in such a case, a part of the vehicle body is sandwiched in place of the mounting part including the magnet base 25 and the camera platform is held. A clamp for fixing the unit 22 may be employed as the mounting portion.

  Using an inspection camera having a zoom function that can be remotely operated, the remote operation can also be performed by the operation device of the present invention, and in addition to the tilt drive and pan drive described above, operations such as zooming up can be performed. More detailed inspection of the inspection location becomes possible.

  In the present specification, although only one inspection camera is used for illustration and description, the number of inspection cameras is not necessarily limited to one, and a plurality of inspection cameras may be used. For example, in FIG. 6, another inspection camera can be attached to the lower side of the opened engine room, and the inspection location can be photographed from two directions. When a plurality of cameras are used, the display on the display can be arbitrarily selected, such as simultaneous display of screen division and switching display. When multiple cameras are used, the same inspection location can be photographed and displayed simultaneously from multiple directions, which cannot be done by a single maintenance worker outside, and inspections at different remote locations that are mutually related. The location can be displayed at the same time, which greatly improves the efficiency of inspection work.

  It is also possible to use a video camera as the inspection camera and display the video signal on the back monitor display. By doing so, it is possible to record the video of the inspection target part during the inspection work in real time on the back monitor display in real time at the same time, and to change the time and place later. The content can be reconfirmed.

  Finally, it supplements about the vocabulary used by the above-mentioned embodiment and Example. For example, the back monitor camera 63 has been described as taking a picture of the rear of the construction machine 11, but the back monitor camera 63 is intended to ensure the safety of the driver's blind spot. Therefore, the direction in which the back monitor camera 63 captures images does not necessarily have to be behind the construction machine, but is provided for photographing the upper side and side, which may be a blind spot of the driver, and further the lower side of the construction machine. It may be.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The construction machine inspection device according to the present invention is useful for safely and efficiently carrying out maintenance inspection work for construction machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Construction machine 12 Driver's cab 13 Engine room 15 Arm 21 Image pick-up device 22 Head unit 23 Drive box 24 Head base 25 Magnet base 26 L-shaped member 27 Fixing screw 28 Inspection camera 31 Operation machine 32 Main body 33 Tilt control dial 34 Pan Control dial 35 Antenna 42 Display 51 Video signal line 52, 53 Repeater 54 Terminal 55 Switching device 56 Inspection camera terminal 57 Changeover switch 58 Video signal detection circuit 61 Engine hood 62 Engine room 63 Back monitor camera

Claims (1)

In a construction machine inspection device that checks the state of equipment in the engine room of a construction machine,
An inspection camera,
A pan head having a mounting portion for detachably mounting to a vehicle body of the construction machine and the driving mechanism for changing the photographing direction of the inspection camera and a support portion for supporting the inspection camera,
An operating device for operating and controlling the drive mechanism wirelessly;
A back monitor display that is provided in a cab of the construction machine and displays a video image of the back monitor camera ;
A set of repeaters provided in the middle of a video signal line connecting the back monitor camera and the back monitor display, or a switching circuit, and sending the video signal of the inspection camera to one of the repeaters Or a signal input means for inputting to the back monitor display via the switching circuit ,
At the time of inspection work in the engine room, the pan head is mounted on the periphery of the engine room, and the video signal line of the inspection camera is replaced with the video signal line of the back monitor camera and is provided in the cab. An inspection location connected to a monitor display, where a maintenance worker operates the controller from the cab to adjust the shooting direction of the inspection camera supported by the camera platform, and is taken by the inspection camera. The construction machine inspection device is characterized in that the above image is displayed on the back monitor display.