JP7569041B2 - Cement remaining amount detection device, cement remaining amount detection system, cement silo and cement ordering system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the amount of cement remaining stored in a cement silo having a hopper, a cement remaining amount detection system, a cement silo that can detect the amount of cement remaining stored, and a cement ordering system that orders cement according to the detected amount remaining.

Traditionally, cement silos are installed at ready-mix concrete manufacturing plants and at construction sites for buildings, roads, etc. A cement silo is a tower-shaped building several meters high in which cement, the raw material used to manufacture ready-mix concrete, is stored. A cement silo usually stores several tons of cement, but the amount of cement stored there cannot be confirmed from outside the silo. For this reason, the remaining amount has been confirmed and grasped manually, such as by opening the opening hatch on the top cover of the cement silo and checking visually, or by tapping on the side and checking the reverberation.

However, manual methods left unresolved issues such as ensuring worker safety and reducing labor, so a technology was previously known that could determine the remaining amount of cement in storage without manual methods.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a level meter for detecting the remaining amount is provided inside a cement silo, and the detection signal of the level meter is input to a cement inventory monitoring device to detect the remaining amount. Patent Document 2 discloses that in a cement silo, the inventory amount is derived by subtracting the amount of cement used from the amount delivered. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses that in a double-structure cement silo having a cylindrical outer container and an inner container contained inside it, a load cell for measuring the load of the inner container is provided at the bottom of the inner container between the inner container and the outer container, and the remaining amount of cement contained in the inner container is detected by the load cell.

JP 2001-318966 A JP 2008-19082 A Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-30736 JP 2003-141207 A

The above-mentioned conventional technology makes it possible to grasp the remaining amount of stored cement without manual intervention.

However, none of the above conventional technologies were able to accurately detect the remaining amount of cement. In the conventional technology of Patent Document 1, level gauges are placed at regular intervals along the height direction inside the cement silo, so the cement surface is only detected at intervals, and if the cement surface is aligned with the level gauge, the stock amount can be detected, but if it is not, the stock amount cannot be detected accurately. In addition, in the conventional technology of Patent Document 2, the cement stored in the cement silo is not detected and weighed, but the stock is grasped by a method such as subtracting the amount used from the amount delivered, so there is a risk that the stock amount will not reflect the cement actually stored.

On the other hand, there are two types of cement silos: a hopper type, in which a hopper for collecting cement is installed at the bottom, and a flat-bottom type without a hopper. However, the structure of installing a load cell at the bottom of the inner container, as in Patent Document 3, cannot be applied to the hopper type.

Patent document 4 also discloses that an ultrasonic level meter is installed on the ceiling of the tank to continuously detect the inventory level of the admixture in the tank. If this point is applied to Patent document 1, it is believed that the inventory amount can be accurately detected by continuously detecting the cement surface.

However, in a cement silo, the surface of the cement stored is not necessarily flat. In a hopper-type cement silo, as the amount of stored cement decreases, a cone-shaped depression along the inner inclined surface of the hopper forms on the cement surface. When this happens, the amount of cement missing corresponds to the cone-shaped depression, so even if the cement surface is continuously calculated, the detected inventory amount is not accurate.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to accurately detect the remaining amount of cement stored in a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the remaining amount of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper, a cement remaining amount detection system, a cement silo that can detect the remaining amount of stored cement, and a cement ordering system that orders cement according to the detected remaining amount.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the amount of remaining cement, the device comprising: a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the cement silo, the cement surface data including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement, the distance data being detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data indicating the angle of the cement surface ; a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data inputted by the cement surface data input means; and a volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, from an initial volume which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. and a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is the volume of cement stored, by subtracting the recessed portion volume calculated by the distance detection device from the recessed portion volume calculated by the distance detection device and the central axis of the cement silo, wherein the cement surface angle is the angle between the line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and the central axis of the cement silo, and when calculating the recessed portion volume using maximum distance data which indicates the largest distance value among the cement surface data and minimum distance data which indicates the smallest distance value, the recessed portion volume calculation means calculates an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter which indicates the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data which corresponds to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recessed portion volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recessed portion remains on only a part of the cement surface .

It is also preferable that the device further comprises a gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance between an initial cement surface in an initial state among the cement surfaces and the outermost part of the cement surface that is located at the outermost part of the moving cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device, and further comprises a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume that is the volume between the initial cement surface and the moving cement surface using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means.

Furthermore, the remaining volume calculation means can calculate the remaining volume by subtracting the recess volume and the void volume from the initial volume.

The recess volume calculation means can also calculate the recess volume using the recess depth calculated by subtracting the initial distance, which is the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces, from the maximum distance data.

The recess volume calculation means can also calculate the recess volume using the recess depth calculated by subtracting the initial distance, which is the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces, and the gap distance from the maximum distance data.

Furthermore, it is preferable to have a cement remaining amount calculation means that calculates the product of the remaining volume and the specific gravity of the cement as the remaining amount of cement.

The present invention further provides a cement remaining amount detection device for detecting the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the amount of cement remaining, the device comprising: cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the cement silo, the cement surface including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement, the distance detected by the distance detection device; recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data inputted by the cement surface data input means; and remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume which is the volume of the stored cement by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. the gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance, which is the distance between an initial cement surface in an initial state among the cement surfaces, and the outermost part of a moved cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces, and a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume, which is the volume between the initial cement surface and the moved cement surface, using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means, and the cement surface determination means for determining whether or not the cement surface is the initial cement surface based on whether the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the entrance orthogonal plane that passes through the entrance of the funnel-shaped recess and is perpendicular to the central axis of the cement silo matches the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface, and a volume calculation control means for operating the gap volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface.
It is preferable that the recess volume calculation means calculates the recess volume using maximum distance data indicating the largest distance value and minimum distance data indicating the smallest distance value among the cement surface data.

The present invention further provides a powder remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of powder stored in a powder silo having a hopper as the powder remaining amount, comprising: powder surface data input means for inputting powder surface data from a distance detection device fixed to an upper lid of the powder silo, the surface distance data being indicative of the distance from the distance detection device to the powder surface which is the upper surface of the powder , and the surface angle data being indicative of the powder surface angle; a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume being the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the powder surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper using the powder surface data inputted by the powder surface data input means; and an initial volume being the volume of powder in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the powder surface, the recess volume calculation means calculating a recess volume being the volume of the powder in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the powder surface. and a remaining volume calculation means for calculating the remaining volume, which is the volume of the stored powder , by subtracting the volume of the recessed portion formed by the distance detection device from the distance detection device to each point on the powder surface, the powder surface angle being the angle between the line from the distance detection device to each point on the powder surface and the central axis of the powder silo, and when calculating the recessed portion volume using maximum distance data which indicates the largest distance value among the powder surface data and minimum distance data which indicates the smallest value, the recessed portion volume calculation means calculates an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter which indicates the shortest distance from the central axis of the powder silo to the inner side surface of the powder silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data which corresponds to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and uses the calculated inner diameter to calculate the recessed portion volume even when the funnel-shaped recessed portion remains on only a portion of the powder surface .

The present invention also provides a cement remaining amount detection system having a cement remaining amount detection device which detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the cement remaining amount, and a distance detection device fixed to the top cover of the cement silo, the cement remaining amount detection device including: cement surface data input means for inputting, from the distance detection device, cement surface data including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to a cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement detected by the distance detection device and surface angle data indicating the cement surface angle; a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means; and a volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. and a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is the volume of cement stored, by subtracting the recessed portion volume calculated by the recessed portion volume calculation means from the initial volume measured by the distance detection device, the cement surface angle being the angle between the central axis of the cement silo and the line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface, and the recessed portion volume calculation means, when calculating the recessed portion volume using maximum distance data which indicates the largest distance value among the cement surface data and minimum distance data which indicates the smallest distance value, calculates an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter which indicates the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data which corresponds to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and uses the calculated inner diameter to calculate the recessed portion volume even when the funnel-shaped recessed portion remains on only a part of the cement surface .

The present invention provides a cement remaining amount detection system having a cement remaining amount detection device which detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the remaining amount of cement, and a distance detection device fixed to the top cover of the cement silo, the cement remaining amount detection device comprising: cement surface data input means for inputting, from the distance detection device , cement surface data including surface distance data showing the distance from the distance detection device detected by the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement; recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data inputted by the cement surface data input means; and a remaining volume which is the volume of stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. the gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance, which is the distance between an initial cement surface in an initial state of the cement surface and the outermost part of the moved cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device, and a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume, which is the volume between the initial cement surface and the moved cement surface, using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means, and the cement surface determination means for determining whether the cement surface is the initial cement surface or not based on whether the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the entrance orthogonal plane that passes through the entrance of the funnel-shaped recess and is orthogonal to the central axis of the cement silo matches the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface, and a volume calculation control means for operating the void volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface .

The present invention relates to a cement silo having a hopper, the cement silo comprising a top lid, a cement remaining amount detection device which detects the weight of stored cement as the amount of remaining cement, and a distance detection device fixed to the top lid, the cement remaining amount detection device comprising: cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from the distance detection device, the cement surface data including surface distance data which indicates the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data which indicates the cement surface angle; a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means; and an initial cement volume calculation means which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. and a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is the volume of cement stored, by subtracting the recessed portion volume calculated by the recessed portion volume calculation means from the initial volume, wherein the cement surface angle is the angle between the line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and the central axis of the cement silo, and the recessed portion volume calculation means, when calculating the recessed portion volume using maximum distance data which indicates the largest distance value among the cement surface data and minimum distance data which indicates the smallest distance value, calculates an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter which indicates the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data which corresponds to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and uses the calculated inner diameter to calculate the recessed portion volume even when the funnel-shaped recessed portion remains on only a part of the cement surface.

The present invention also relates to a cement silo having a hopper, the cement silo comprising a top lid, a cement remaining amount detection device which detects the weight of stored cement as a remaining amount of cement, and a distance detection device fixed to the top lid, the cement remaining amount detection device comprising: cement surface data input means for inputting, from the distance detection device, cement surface data including surface distance data which indicates the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device; recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means; and a residual volume which is the volume of stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface. the gap distance calculation means calculating a gap distance which is the distance between an initial cement surface in an initial state among the cement surfaces and the outermost part of a moved cement surface which has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces and which is located at the outermost position; and the gap volume calculation means calculating a gap volume which is the volume between the initial cement surface and the moved cement surface using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means. The cement silo further includes a cement surface determination means for determining whether or not the cement surface is the initial cement surface based on whether or not the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the entrance orthogonal plane which passes through the entrance of the funnel-shaped recess and is orthogonal to the central axis of the cement silo matches the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface, and a volume calculation control means for operating the void volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface .

The present invention further provides a cement ordering system having a cement remaining amount detection device which detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as a remaining amount of cement, and a cement ordering processing device which generates cement ordering data in accordance with the remaining amount of cement detected by the cement remaining amount detection device, the cement remaining amount detection device comprising: cement surface data input means which inputs cement surface data from a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the cement silo, the cement surface including surface distance data which indicates the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface which is the upper surface of the cement, and surface angle data which indicates the cement surface angle ; recessed portion volume calculation means which uses the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means to calculate a recessed portion volume which is the volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface in accordance with the inner inclined surface of the hopper; remaining volume calculation means which calculates a remaining volume which is the volume of stored cement by subtracting the recessed portion volume calculated by the recessed portion volume calculation means from an initial volume which is the volume of cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface; and and a cement remaining amount calculation means for calculating the product of the calculated remaining volume and the specific gravity of the cement as the cement remaining amount , wherein the cement surface angle is the angle between the central axis of the cement silo and a line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface, and wherein the recessed portion volume calculation means, when calculating the recessed portion volume using maximum distance data indicating the largest value of distance among the cement surface data and minimum distance data indicating the smallest value, calculates an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter indicating the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data corresponding to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recessed portion volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the cone-shaped recess remains on only a part of the cement surface, and wherein the cement ordering processing device has an inventory determination means for determining whether the cement remaining amount calculated by the cement remaining amount calculation means is less than a lower limit inventory amount set as a lower limit of the cement inventory amount, and an order data generation means for generating cement ordering data when the inventory determination means determines that the cement remaining amount is less than the lower limit inventory amount.

As described above in detail, the present invention makes it possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper, a cement remaining amount detection system, a cement silo capable of detecting the remaining amount of stored cement, and a cement ordering system that orders cement according to the detected remaining amount.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a cement silo and a mixer facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cement silo of FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an example of a facility equipped with a cement ordering system. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a cement ordering system. A block diagram showing the internal configuration of a cement remaining amount detection system and a cement remaining amount detection device, as well as a cement ordering processing device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a cement ordering processing device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a distance detection device. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a remaining amount management process. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a remaining amount calculation process. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section along the central axis inside a cement silo when some of the stored cement has been used. 10A shows a main part of a cross section similar to that of FIG. 10 when more cement has been used than that of FIG. 10, and FIG. 10B shows a main part of a cross section similar to that of FIG. 10 when more cement has been used. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a main part of a cross section in the state of FIG. 10(A) together with a formula for calculating the remaining amount of cement. 11(B) shows a cross section similar to that of FIG. 10 when more cement has been used than in FIG. 11(B). 13 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of cement ordering processing. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 10 of a liquid silo according to a modified example.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

First, a cement silo 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a cement silo 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and an example of a mixer facility 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cement silo 1.

(Configuration of cement silo 1, configuration of cement ordering system 101)
The cement silo 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a tower-shaped building several meters in height in which cement is stored, and has a cylindrical main body 2 with a bottom, a top cover 3, and a hopper 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the top cover 3 is provided with an inspection opening/closing hatch 4 and a protective fence 6 formed on the periphery. A distance detector 50, which will be described later, is fixed to the top cover 3. The distance detector 50 is fixed to a position along the central axis Ax of the cement silo 1 together with a discharge port 5b, which will be described later. A cement remaining amount detector 30, which will be described later, is fixed to the lower side of the outer surface of the main body 2 (at a height of about 1 m from the ground). The cement remaining amount detector 30 and the distance detector 50 are connected by a wired connection cord (e.g., a USB cable) 9. The cement remaining amount detector 30 and the distance detector 50 are connected by a wired connection cord 9 to constitute a cement remaining amount detection system 99 according to the present invention (see FIG. 5). The hopper 5 is provided at the lower inside of the main body 2. The hopper 5 has an inner inclined surface 5a that is shaped like a mortar (inverted cone) narrowing from the top to the bottom, and a discharge port 5b is provided on the central axis Ax at the lower end. The discharge port 5b is connected to a cement discharge pipe (not shown). The cement discharge pipe is connected to a mixer equipment 21 (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, a mixer facility 21 is provided next to the cement silo 1. The mixer facility 21 is a building with a height corresponding to the cement silo 1, and is equipped with equipment as a batcher plant, namely, measuring devices 21a for aggregate, cement, and water admixture, a mixer 21b for the aggregate, cement, and water admixture, and a loading hopper 21c. The mixer facility 21 also has a number of loading sections 22 for mixer trucks. The manufactured ready-mix concrete is loaded into a mixer truck (not shown) brought into each of the loading sections 22 by the operation of the loading hopper 21c.

Next, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, a cement ordering system (hereinafter also referred to as "ordering system") 101 configured with the cement remaining amount detection device 30 of the cement silo 1 will be described. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of equipment equipped with the ordering system 101, and Figure 4 is a system configuration diagram of the ordering system 101.

The ordering system 101 includes a cement remaining amount detection device 30 provided in the cement silo 1 described above, and a cement ordering processing device (hereinafter also referred to as "ordering processing device") 10 (10A, 10B). The ordering processing devices 10A and 10B have a common configuration and are provided in the management office 25 and the station 26, respectively. The ordering processing devices 10A and 10B each perform data communication with the cement remaining amount detection device 30 via wireless LAN.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ordering system 101 includes a cement order receiving server 100 along with the order processing devices 10A and 10B and the cement remaining amount detection device 30. The cement order receiving server 100 is connected to the order processing devices 10 (10A and 10B) via the Internet N1. The cement order receiving server 100 executes cement order receiving processing by receiving cement order data from the order processing device 10A, etc.

Next, the cement remaining amount detection device 30, the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B), and the distance detection device 50 will be described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7. Here, Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the cement remaining amount detection system 99 and the cement remaining amount detection device 30, as well as the order processing device 10 (10A), and Figure 6 is a block diagram mainly showing the internal configuration of the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B). Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the distance detection device 50.

(Cement remaining amount detection device)
The cement remaining amount detection device 30 detects the weight of the cement 70 stored in the cement silo 1 as the amount of cement remaining. The cement remaining amount detection device 30 detects the volume (volume) of the stored cement 70 instead of the weight of the cement silo 1, and detects the amount of cement remaining by calculating a value obtained by multiplying the volume by the specific gravity of the cement.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cement remaining amount detection device 30 can communicate with the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B) via a wireless LAN. In the following description, a tablet-type terminal device is assumed as the cement remaining amount detection device 30, but a notebook-type personal computer may also be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cement remaining amount detection device 30 has a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a data storage unit 34, and a liquid crystal display unit 35. The cement remaining amount detection device 30 also has a voice conversion processing unit 36, a communication control unit 37, a communication processing unit 38a, a wireless communication unit 38b, a speaker 39, and a microphone 40.

The CPU 31 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 32 and controls the operation of the entire cement remaining amount detection device 30. The ROM 32 stores the control program executed by the CPU 31. The RAM 33 stores a communication control program for data communication, data necessary for the CPU 31 to execute the program, etc.

The data storage unit 34 stores various data, a cement remaining amount management program described below, other application programs, detected remaining amount data, and the like. The data storage unit 34 is, for example, configured with an SSD (Solid State Drive). The liquid crystal display unit 35 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and its drive unit, and is an image display means for displaying images such as characters, figures, and symbols.

The liquid crystal display unit 35 is configured to be detachable from the main body in which the other components (CPU 31, ROM 32, data storage unit 34, etc.) are housed. The liquid crystal display unit 35 has a touch panel function, and inputs data input by finger operation to the CPU 31, while also having a display function of displaying remaining amount data, etc. detected in the remaining amount detection process described below, according to instructions from the CPU 31.

The voice conversion processing unit 36 expands the voice data and outputs it to the speaker 39, while converting and compressing the analog voice signal input from the microphone 40 into digital voice data and inputting it to the communication processing unit 38a. The communication control unit 37 operates upon instruction from the CPU 31 and controls the connection and disconnection of the line for data communication. The communication processing unit 38a operates according to the instruction from the communication control unit 37 and executes data transmission and reception via a wired LAN cable (not shown). The wireless communication unit 38b is a wireless communication means that transmits and receives data wirelessly according to the control of the communication control unit 37, and executes data communication with the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B) via wireless LAN. The speaker 39 is a voice output means that outputs voice, and the microphone 40 inputs voice such as the contents of the user's conversation and converts it into an electrical signal. Furthermore, the connection cord 9 is connected to the connection connector 41.

(Order processing device)
As shown in FIG. 6, the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B) has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13. The CPU 11 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 12, and inputs input data obtained by operating a keyboard 19 or a mouse 20 via a KBC (Keyboard Controller) 17 through a main bus 19A, while inputting and outputting signals with other components, and controls the operation of the entire order processing device 10. The CPU 11 executes a cement order processing according to an order processing program, which will be described later. The ROM 12 stores a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), a control program, and permanent data. The RAM 13 stores data and programs used when the CPU 11 operates.

In addition, the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B) has a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, a communication control unit 15, a communication processing unit 16, and a video controller 18.

The hard disk drive 14 stores middleware such as an OS (operating system), a DBMS (database management system), and a web server program. The hard disk drive 14 also stores programs such as an order processing program, various storage units or DBs (databases) required for the execution of these programs, and other storage units, DBs, and files.

The communication control unit 15 operates according to instructions from the CPU 11 to control the connection and disconnection of lines for communication with the cement remaining amount detection device 30, etc. The communication processing unit 16 operates according to instructions from the communication control unit 15 to execute communication processing such as sending cement ordering data to the cement order receiving server 100 via the Internet N1.

The video controller 18 controls the image display on a display device (not shown) to display screens used for various settings, etc.

(Distance detection device)
7, the distance detection device 50 has a unit box 51 and a millimeter wave radar module 52 housed therein. The unit box 51 is a box-shaped member made of metal or resin and houses the millimeter wave radar module 52, and is fixed to the top lid 3 (the outer or inner surface) of the cement silo 1.

The distance detection device 50 uses millimeter wave radar module 52 to detect the distance and angle of the object being inspected using millimeter wave (wavelength: 1 mm to 10 mm) radio waves. Millimeter wave radar is not affected by rain or fog, so it can detect distance and angle without being affected by dust from cement 70 floating inside the cement silo 1.

The millimeter wave radar module 52 has a signal processing unit 53 that has a synthesizer that processes the transmitted radio waves and a CPU that processes the received signals, an antenna unit 54 that has a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, and an interface (I/F) 55.

In the distance detection device 50, the millimeter wave radar module 52 transmits radio waves (millimeter waves) processed by the synthesizer of the signal processing unit 53 from the transmitting antenna of the antenna unit 54, irradiates the cement (see FIG. 10, cement 70 described later) stored in the cement silo 1 as the inspection target, and receives the radio waves (millimeter waves) reflected from the cement 70 (more specifically, the cement surfaces 70a and 70b, which are the upper surfaces) by the receiving antenna of the antenna unit 54. The CPU of the signal processing unit 53 processes the radio waves (millimeter waves) to detect the distance and angle to the cement 70 as the inspection target. In addition, the data indicating the detected distance and data indicating the angle are output to the cement remaining amount detection device 30 via the interface (I/F) 55 and the connection cord 9 as the cement surface data according to the present invention. The antenna unit 54 is provided with multiple receiving antennas, and angle detection is performed by detecting the phase difference between each antenna. Note that cement surface 70a is the cement surface in the initial state when cement 70 is stored in cement silo 1 to a specified position ("full" will be explained later) and there is no decrease due to use, and cement surface 70b is the cement surface (moving cement surface) after cement 70 has been used and moved downward from cement surface 70a.

The distance detection device 50 executes the detection process periodically or upon receiving an instruction from the cement remaining amount detection device 30. When the distance detection device 50 starts the detection process, it irradiates millimeter waves toward the cement 70 stored in the cement silo 1, and detects the distance from the distance detection device 50 to each point (the part irradiated with millimeter waves, also called the irradiation point) on the cement surface 70a, which is the upper surface of the cement 70 (the distance from the distance detection device 50 to the cement surface is also called the "cement surface distance") and the irradiation angle to each irradiation point (the angle between the irradiation line of the millimeter waves to that point and the central axis Ax of the cement silo 1, also called the "cement surface angle"). The detection result is output to the cement remaining amount detection device 30 as cement surface data. The cement surface data includes surface distance data indicating the cement surface distance to each irradiation point and surface angle data indicating the cement surface angle to each irradiation point. For example, if the distance detection device 50 is equipped with a 79 GHz millimeter wave radar module 52, the distance resolution is about 3.75 cm, so the distance detection device 50 can set the irradiation point to units of several centimeters.

Next, referring to Figures 8 and 9, the cement remaining amount management process (hereinafter also referred to as "remaining amount management process") executed by the cement remaining amount detection device 30 will be described. The cement remaining amount detection device 30 executes the remaining amount management process according to a cement remaining amount management program. The cement remaining amount management program includes a cement remaining amount detection process. Therefore, when the remaining amount management process is executed, the remaining amount of cement stored in the cement silo 1 is detected.

When the remaining amount management process is executed, the CPU 31 accesses the data storage unit 34 and the like, and operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 to execute operations as the cement surface data input means, recess volume calculation means, remaining volume calculation means, etc., which will be described later. Note that in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, etc., "S" is an abbreviation for step.

When the CPU 31 starts the remaining amount management process, in FIG. 8, the operation proceeds to step 1, where it determines whether the remaining amount detection condition is met (e.g., whether the time provided by the system is a specified time, or whether instruction data for detecting the remaining amount has been input via the LCD display unit 35), and if the remaining amount detection condition is met, the operation proceeds to step 2, but if not, it returns to step 1 and waits until the remaining amount detection condition is met.

When the operation proceeds to step 2, the CPU 31 executes the remaining amount detection process described later in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, and then the CPU 31 proceeds to step 3. In step 3, the CPU 31 displays the remaining amount data obtained by executing step 2 on the liquid crystal display unit 35, and stores and saves it in the data storage unit 34. The CPU 31 then proceeds to step 4, where it transmits the remaining amount data obtained by executing step 2 to the order processing device 10 (10A, 10B). The CPU 31 then proceeds to step 5, where it determines whether the end condition is met (for example, when the cement silo 1 is fully filled with cement), and if the end condition is not met, it returns to step 1, but if the end condition is met, the remaining amount management process ends.

(Remaining amount detection process)
The remaining amount detection process in step 2 will be described as follows. When the CPU 31 starts the remaining amount detection process, it advances the process to step 10 in Fig. 9, where it inputs cement surface data output from the distance detection device 50 and including surface distance data and surface angle data, and stores the input cement surface data in the cement surface data storage section of the data storage section 34 (a database that stores distance and angle data for each irradiation point together with the detection date and time). In step 2, the CPU 31 operates as cement surface data input means according to the present invention.

Next, the CPU 31 advances the process to step 11, and detects the surface distance data (maximum distance data, also called "Dmax") having the largest numerical value indicating the cement surface distance, and the surface distance data (minimum distance data, also called "Dmin") having the smallest numerical value indicating the cement surface distance, among the surface distance data of the cement surface data. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the stored cement is taken out of the cement silo 1, a mortar-shaped recess 71 is formed on the cement surface 70a. The mortar-shaped recess 71 has a mortar-shaped recessed shape according to the inner inclined surface 5a of the hopper 5 of the cement silo 1. In the case shown in FIG. 10, "Dmax" indicates the distance to the bottom Bt of the mortar-shaped recess 71, and "Dmin" indicates the distance to the entrance Bu of the mortar-shaped recess 71. However, when the amount of cement used is small and the mortar-shaped recess 71 is small (the bottom is shallow), the distance to the bottom Bt may not be "Dmax". Therefore, the surface distance data to the irradiation point where the cement surface angle θ is 0 (vertical direction from the distance detection device 50) may be set as "Dmax."

In the next step 12, the cement surface angle θ is detected for the entrance Bu to which "Dmin" is given from the cement surface data. In the next step 13, Dc (=Dmin x Cosθ), which indicates the product of "Dmin" and the cosine of the cement surface angle θ, is calculated, and the process proceeds to the next step 14. The calculated Dc corresponds to the shortest distance from the distance detection device 50 to the entrance orthogonal plane (cement surface 70a in FIG. 10). The entrance orthogonal plane means the top of the cement surface, a plane that passes through the entrance Bu of the mortar-shaped recess 71 and is perpendicular to the central axis Ax of the cement silo 1. FIG. 10 shows a case in which a certain amount of cement 70 has been used from the initial state in which a predetermined amount of cement 70 was stored in the cement silo 1, but the mortar-shaped recess 71 remains as a part of the cement surface 70a. The cement surface in the initial state when a predetermined amount of cement 70 is stored in the cement silo 1 (before the mortar-shaped recess 71 is formed) is called the initial cement surface, and the cement surface 70a in FIG. 10 corresponds to the initial cement surface. Note that the state in which the cement 70 is stored up to the cement surface 70a without the mortar-shaped recess 71 being formed is also called full. It is preferable that a line marking corresponding to the cement surface 70a is formed on the inner wall surface of the cement silo 1.

Next, when the process proceeds to step 14, it is determined whether the shortest distance Dc coincides with _D0 . If the shortest distance Dc coincides with _D0 , the process proceeds to step 15. If the shortest distance Dc does not coincide with D0, the process proceeds to step 17. Here, _D0 corresponds to the shortest distance to the initial cement surface (hereinafter also referred to as the "initial distance"). The fact that the shortest distance Dc coincides with the initial distance _D0 means that, as shown in FIG. 10, a certain amount of cement has been used from the initial state, but the cone-shaped recess 71 has not spread to the entire cement surface 70a and remains in a part of it, so that a partial cement surface 70a remains in the initial full position. In this case, the volume of the cone-shaped recess 71 (hereinafter also referred to as the "recess volume") is calculated, and the volume of the stored cement (hereinafter also referred to as the "remaining volume") can be calculated by subtracting it from the volume of the cement in the initial state when the cement is stored full (hereinafter also referred to as the "initial volume") (details will be described later). In step 14, it is determined whether the cement surface is an initial cement surface (cement surface 70a) depending on whether the shortest distance Dc coincides with the initial distance _D0 , and in step 14, the CPU 31 operates as a cement surface determination means.

In step 15, the void volume _V2 is set to "0", and the difference between Dmax and the initial distance _D0 (=Dmax- _D0 ) is set to the recess depth _D1 . The void volume, which will be described in detail later, is the volume of the void portion (the void portion up to the upper cover 3) formed outside the cone-shaped recess 71 when the cement use progresses from the case shown in FIG. 10 and the cement surface moves away from the initial cement surface 70a. Step 15 is executed when the shortest distance Dc is equal to the initial distance _D0 , that is, when no void portion is formed, so the void volume is set to "0". The recess depth _D1 is the depth of the cone-shaped recess 71, and when the shortest distance Dc is equal to the initial distance _D0 , the difference between "Dmax" and the initial distance _D0 corresponds to _D1 as shown in FIG. 12.

When the process proceeds to step 16 following step 15, the recess volume _V1 is calculated. As described above, the recess volume means the volume of the cone-shaped recess 71 (the volume of the void portion where no cement is present in the portion formed in a cone shape). The cone-shaped recess 71 is formed in a cone shape (inverted cone shape) along the inner inclined surface 5a of the hopper 5 as the cement is taken out from the hopper 5, so the recess volume _V1 is found by calculating the volume of the cone. In step 16, the CPU 31 operates as a recess volume calculation means.

In this case, the inlet portion of the cone-shaped recess 71 is formed in a circular shape, and its radius (the radius of the bottom surface of the cone corresponding to the cone-shaped recess 71) R corresponds to the product of Dmin and the sine of the cement surface angle θ (=Dmin×Sinθ). Therefore, _V1 is calculated by the following formula 1.
Formula 1: V ₁ = π x R ² x D ₁ x (1/3) (R = Dmin x Sinθ)

Then, when the process proceeds to step 17, the gap distance is calculated. In the following step 18, the gap volume is calculated, and Dmax and the difference between the initial distance _D0 and the gap distance _D2 (=Dmax-( _D0 + _D2 )) are set as the recess depth _D1 . In step 17, the CPU 31 operates as a gap distance calculation means, and in step 18, the CPU 31 operates as a gap volume calculation means. With regard to steps 17 and 18, when it is determined in step 14 that the shortest distance Dc does not match the initial distance _D0 , that is, when it is determined that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface, the CPU 31 operates as a volume calculation control means so that steps 17 and 18 are executed (the gap volume calculation means is operated).

As the cement is used from the state shown in FIG. 10, the depth of the cone-shaped recess 71 gradually deepens as shown in FIG. 11(A), and the bottom Bt deepens accordingly, increasing "Dmax". As the cement is further used, the cone-shaped recess 71 becomes larger as shown in FIG. 11(B), the bottom Bt becomes even deeper, and the entrance Bu spreads further outward until it reaches the inner side of the cement silo 1. As the cement continues to be used, the cone-shaped recess 71 spreads over the entire cement silo 1, and the cement surface moves downward away from the initial cement surface 70a, becoming the cement surface 70b (the cement surface that has moved downward, also called the moving cement surface 70b).

At this time, as shown in Fig. 13, a gap is formed between the outermost part 70be at the top end of the moving cement surface 70b and the initial cement surface 70a. The volume of this gap is the gap volume _V2 , and the shortest distance between the initial cement surface 70a and the outermost part 70be corresponds to the gap distance _D2 . The gap volume _V2 is calculated by the following formula 2 using the radius of the initial cement surface 70a (the inner radius of the cement silo 1, the silo radius _R0 ) and the gap distance _D2 .
Formula 2: V ₂ = π x R ₀ ² x D ₂

When the moved cement surface 70b is formed, the initial cement surface 70a has moved by a distance corresponding to the gap distance _D2 compared to before the moved cement surface 70b was formed, so that the recess depth _D1 is calculated by subtracting the initial distance and the gap distance from Dmax. In step 18, the value thus calculated is set as the recess depth _D1 .

In step 19 following step 16, the remaining volume is calculated. The remaining volume is the volume of cement stored in the cement silo 1, and is calculated by subtracting the recessed volume (the recessed volume and void volume if the moving cement surface 70b is formed) from the initial volume. That is, if the initial volume is _V0 , the remaining volume Vr is calculated by the following formula 3.
Equation 3: Vr = V ₀ - (V ₁ + V ₂ )

Here, when the moving cement surface 70b has not been formed, the void volume _V2 is set to 0 in step 15, so that the formula 3 coincides with _V0 - _V1 . In step 19, the CPU 31 operates as a remaining volume calculation means.

Then, when the process proceeds to FIG. 20, the CPU 31 executes a cement remaining amount calculation process. Then, the remaining amount of cement is calculated as the weight of the stored cement. Since the weight of cement is calculated as the product of the volume of the cement and the specific gravity (Sg) of the cement, the remaining amount of cement Wr is calculated by the following equation 4. In addition, remaining amount data indicating the calculated remaining amount of cement is generated. When step 20 is completed, the remaining amount detection process is completed, and the process proceeds to step 3 in FIG. 8. In step 20, the CPU 31 operates as a cement remaining amount calculation means.
Formula 4: Wr = Vr × Sg

(Cement ordering process)
Meanwhile, in the order processing device 10A, cement ordering processing is executed according to the flowchart shown in Fig. 14. The CPU 11 of the order processing device 10A operates according to the order processing program, thereby executing the cement ordering processing. The order processing program uses the remaining amount data generated by the cement remaining amount detection device 30.

When the CPU 11 starts the cement ordering process, it proceeds to step 30, where it determines whether or not it has received remaining amount data from the cement remaining amount detection device 30. If it has received remaining amount data, it proceeds to step 31, but if it has not received remaining amount data, it returns to step 30 and waits until it receives remaining amount data.

In step 31, it is determined whether the remaining amount of cement indicated by the remaining amount data received in step 30 is less than the lower limit stock amount. If it is determined that the remaining amount of cement is less than the lower limit stock amount, the process proceeds to step 32, but if not, the process proceeds to step 34. In the order processing device 10A, the remaining amount of cement stored in the cement silo 1 is grasped as the stock amount, and the stock amount set as the lower limit value corresponds to the lower limit stock amount. If the remaining amount of cement stored in the cement silo 1 falls below the lower limit stock amount, there is a risk that it will affect subsequent cement production. Therefore, in the order processing device 10A, cement order data is generated to replenish cement. In step 30, the CPU 11 operates as a stock determination means.

When the process proceeds to step 32, the CPU 11 generates cement ordering data and proceeds to the next step 33. In step 33, the CPU 11 instructs the communication control unit 15 to operate the communication processing unit 16 and transmit the cement ordering data to the order receiving server 100. In step 32, the CPU 11 operates as an ordering data generating means.

In the next step 34, the CPU 11 determines whether the termination condition is met, and if the termination condition is met, the cement ordering process is terminated, but if not, the process returns to step 30.

As described above, according to the present invention, the distance to the cement surface (cement surface distance) is detected by the distance detection device 50 fixed to the top cover 3 of the cement silo 1, and the remaining amount of cement is detected using the result. The cement surface distance detected by the distance detection device 50 is not discrete as in the case of using level meters arranged at a predetermined interval, but can continuously detect the distance to the cement surface, so the remaining amount of cement is continuously detected by the cement remaining amount detection device 30.

In addition, since the cement silo 1 has a hopper 5, a cone-shaped recess 71 corresponding to the hopper 5 is formed on the cement surface. In detection using a conventional level meter, even if the cone-shaped recess 71 is formed, the cement surface on its outside (or the outermost part of the cone-shaped recess 71) is higher than the inside of the cone-shaped recess 71 (the cement surface distance is shorter), so the inventory amount corresponding to that higher position does not reflect the lack of cement corresponding to the cone-shaped recess 71, and therefore the inventory amount is not accurate. As a result, there are cases where a shortage of cement occurs during construction on site, forcing the work on site to be suspended.

In this regard, in the cement silo 1, the volume of the cone-shaped recess 71 is calculated and the remaining amount of cement is detected in a manner that reflects this, so the detected remaining amount of cement is accurate (reflecting the amount of cement missing due to the cone-shaped recess 71). Therefore, there is no risk of a shortage of cement occurring during construction, and work is not interrupted due to a shortage of cement.

In addition to calculating the volume of the cone-shaped recess 71, the volume when the cement surface becomes a moving cement surface and voids are generated is calculated and reflected in the remaining cement amount, so that the remaining cement amount can be accurately detected even when voids are generated in the cement silo 1. Moreover, it is determined whether the cement surface is the initial cement surface (whether the shortest distance Dc coincides with _D0 ) (step 14), and depending on the result, the process is branched and calculation processing is performed according to each of them (steps 15 to 19). Therefore, regardless of the state of the decrease in cement, the remaining cement amount can be accurately detected.

The cement remaining amount detection system 99, which has a cement remaining amount detection device 30 and a distance detection device 50, automatically detects the remaining amount of cement, thereby reducing the labor required at the construction site. Furthermore, the order processing device 10 (10A) of the cement ordering system 101 automatically generates cement ordering data (without human labor) based on the exact remaining amount of cement detected. This reduces the burden of managing cement inventory and further promotes work efficiency.

(Variation 1)
In the above description, cement is stored in the cement silo 1, but a powder other than cement may be stored in the silo 1. In this case, the cement silo 1 may be a powder silo (not shown). In addition, the cement remaining amount detection device 30 is fixed to the main body 2 of the cement silo 1, but the cement remaining amount detection device 30 may be a powder remaining amount detection device (not shown). In the cement remaining amount detection device 30, the CPU 31 executes operations as a cement surface data input means, a recess volume calculation means, a remaining volume calculation means, etc., while in the powder remaining amount detection device, the CPU 31 executes operations as a powder surface data input means, a recess volume calculation means, a remaining volume calculation means, etc. At this time, in the above-mentioned step 10, the CPU 31 inputs powder surface data including surface distance data and surface angle data indicating the distance to the powder surface and executes operations as a powder surface data input means. In addition, in the above-mentioned step 16, the CPU 31 executes operations as a recess volume calculation means by calculating the recess volume using the powder surface data. Furthermore, in step 19 described above, the CPU 31 performs the operation as a remaining volume calculation means by calculating the remaining volume, which is the volume of the stored powder, by subtracting the recess volume from the initial volume, which is the volume of the powder in the initial state.

(Variation 2)
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 10 of a liquid silo 111 according to a modified example. Water and other liquids are stored in the liquid silo 111. The liquid silo 111 differs from the cement silo 1 in that liquid 170 is stored instead of cement 70, and that the liquid remaining amount detection device 30A is provided instead of the cement remaining amount detection device 30, and that the liquid remaining amount detection device 30A has a liquid surface data input means and a liquid remaining amount calculation means instead of the cement surface data input means, the recessed portion volume calculation means and the remaining volume calculation means.

The liquid level data input means inputs liquid level data including liquid level distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device 50 to the liquid level 170a, which is the upper surface of the liquid 170, from the distance detection device 50. The liquid level data input means is realized by the CPU 31, similar to the cement level data input means.

The liquid remaining amount calculation means calculates the remaining amount of stored liquid by subtracting the void volume Vg from the initial liquid volume. The initial liquid volume is the volume of the liquid 170 when the liquid surface 170a is in contact with the top cover 3, and is the volume of the liquid 170 when the liquid silo 111 is fully stored. The void volume Vg is calculated by the product of the minimum distance data (the data of the shortest distance Dc in FIG. 15) that indicates the smallest value among the liquid surface distance data, and the cross-sectional area of the liquid silo 111 (the cross-sectional area in the direction perpendicular to the central axis Ax (not shown in FIG. 15)). In the liquid silo 111, since liquid is stored, the cone-shaped recess 71 like that of the cement silo 1 is not formed on the liquid surface 170a (except when the liquid 170 is being discharged). Therefore, the liquid remaining amount calculation means calculates the remaining amount of stored liquid by subtracting the void volume Vg from the initial liquid volume. The remaining liquid amount calculation means, like the remaining volume calculation means, is realized by the CPU 31.

The above explanation is an explanation of the embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the device and method of the present invention, and various modified examples can be easily implemented. Furthermore, the present invention also includes devices or methods that are configured by appropriately combining the components, functions, features, or method steps in each embodiment.

By applying this invention, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of cement stored in a cement silo with a hopper, and to order cement according to the accurately detected remaining amount. The present invention can be used in the fields of a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the remaining amount of cement stored in a cement silo with a hopper, a cement remaining amount detection system, a cement silo that can detect the remaining amount of stored cement, and a cement ordering system that orders cement according to the detected remaining amount.

1...cement silo, 2, 112...inner chamber, 3...top lid, 5...hopper, 5a...inner inclined surface, 10, 10A, 10B...order processing device, 11, 31...CPU, 30...cement remaining amount detection device, 30A...liquid remaining amount detection device, 50...distance detection device, 70...cement, 70a...(initial) cement surface, 70b...moving cement surface, 71...cone-shaped recess, 99...cement remaining amount detection system, 101...cement ordering system, 111...liquid silo, _V0 ...initial volume, _V1 ...recess volume, _V2 ...void volume, Vr...remaining volume, Wr...cement remaining amount, _D0 ...initial distance, Dc...shortest distance, _D1 ...recess depth, _D2 ...gap distance, Dmax...maximum distance data, Dmin...minimum distance data.

Claims (14)

A cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the remaining amount of cement,
a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data including surface distance data indicating a distance from a distance detection device fixed to the top cover of the cement silo to a cement surface which is an upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data indicating an angle of the cement surface , from the distance detection device;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is the volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is the volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
The cement surface angle is an angle between a line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and a central axis of the cement silo,
The cement remaining amount detection device, when calculating the recess volume using maximum distance data indicating the largest value of the distance among the cement surface data and minimum distance data indicating the smallest value, calculates an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter indicating the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data corresponding to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recess volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recess remains on only a portion of the cement surface . Further, the present invention has a gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance between an initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces and an outermost part of a moving cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces,
2. The cement remaining amount detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume, which is the volume between the initial cement surface and the moving cement surface, using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means. 3. The cement remaining amount detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the remaining volume calculation means calculates the remaining volume by subtracting the volume of the recessed portion and the volume of the void from the initial volume. The cement remaining amount detection device of claim 1, wherein the recess volume calculation means calculates the recess volume using a recess depth calculated by subtracting an initial distance, which is the shortest distance from the distance detection device to an initial cement surface in the initial state of the cement surface , from the maximum distance data. The cement remaining amount detection device of claim 2, wherein the recess volume calculation means calculates the recess volume using an initial distance, which is the shortest distance from the distance detection device to an initial cement surface in the initial state of the cement surface, and a recess depth calculated by subtracting the gap distance from the maximum distance data. 2. The cement remaining amount detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a cement remaining amount calculation means for calculating the product of the remaining volume and the specific gravity of the cement as the remaining amount of cement. A cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the remaining amount of cement,
a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data including surface distance data indicating a distance from a distance detection device fixed to the top cover of the cement silo to a cement surface which is an upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is a volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
A gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance between an initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces and an outermost part of a moving cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces;
The method further includes a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume between the initial cement surface and the moving cement surface using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means,
a cement surface determination means for determining whether the cement surface is the initial cement surface based on whether the shortest distance from the distance detection device to an entrance orthogonal plane that passes through the entrance of the mortar-shaped recess and is perpendicular to the central axis of the cement silo coincides with the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface;
The cement remaining amount detection device further comprises volume calculation control means for operating the void volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface. The cement remaining amount detection device according to claim 7, wherein the recess volume calculation means calculates the recess volume using maximum distance data in which the distance is the largest value among the cement surface data, and minimum distance data in which the distance is the smallest value among the cement surface data. A powder remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of powder stored in a powder silo having a hopper as the remaining amount of powder,
a powder surface data input means for inputting powder surface data including surface distance data, which indicates a distance from a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the powder silo to a powder surface that is an upper surface of the powder, detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data, which indicates a powder surface angle , from the distance detection device;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the powder surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the powder surface data input by the powder surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is a volume of the stored powder, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the powder in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the powder surface,
The powder surface angle is an angle between a line from the distance detection device to each point on the powder surface and a central axis of the powder silo,
The powder remaining amount detection device, when calculating the recess volume using the maximum distance data in the powder surface data which indicates the largest value of the distance and the minimum distance data which indicates the smallest value, calculates an inner diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter which indicates the shortest distance from the central axis of the powder silo to the inner side surface of the powder silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data in the surface angle data which corresponds to the minimum distance data, and calculates the recess volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recess remains in only a portion of the powder surface . A cement remaining amount detection system comprising a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the cement remaining amount, and a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the cement silo,
The cement remaining amount detection device has a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from the distance detection device , the cement surface data including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface, which is the upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data indicating the cement surface angle ;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is a volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
The cement surface angle is an angle between a line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and a central axis of the cement silo,
The cement remaining amount detection system, when calculating the recess volume using maximum distance data indicating the largest value of the distance among the cement surface data and minimum distance data indicating the smallest value, calculates an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter indicating the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data corresponding to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recess volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recess remains only in a portion of the cement surface . A cement remaining amount detection system comprising a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as the cement remaining amount, and a distance detection device fixed to an upper cover of the cement silo,
The cement remaining amount detection device includes a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from the distance detection device, the cement surface data including surface distance data indicating a distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface, which is the upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is a volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
A gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance between an initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces and an outermost part of a moving cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces;
The method further includes a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume between the initial cement surface and the moving cement surface using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means,
a cement surface determination means for determining whether the cement surface is the initial cement surface based on whether the shortest distance from the distance detection device to an entrance orthogonal plane that passes through the entrance of the mortar-shaped recess and is perpendicular to the central axis of the cement silo coincides with the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface;
The cement remaining amount detection system further comprises a volume calculation control means for operating the void volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface . A cement silo having a hopper, the cement silo comprising: a top cover; a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of stored cement as the remaining amount of cement; and a distance detection device fixed to the top cover;
The cement remaining amount detection device includes a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from the distance detection device , the cement surface data including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface, which is the upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device, and surface angle data indicating the cement surface angle ;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is a volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
The cement surface angle is an angle between a line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and a central axis of the cement silo,
When calculating the recess volume using maximum distance data indicating the largest value of the distance among the cement surface data and minimum distance data indicating the smallest value, the recess volume calculation means calculates an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter indicating the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to the inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data corresponding to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recess volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recess remains only in a portion of the cement surface . A cement silo having a hopper, the cement silo comprising: a top cover; a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of stored cement as a remaining amount of cement; and a distance detection device fixed to the top cover;
The cement remaining amount detection device includes a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from the distance detection device, the cement surface data including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface, which is the upper surface of the cement, detected by the distance detection device;
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a remaining volume calculation means for calculating a remaining volume, which is the volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is the volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
a gap distance calculation means for calculating a gap distance between an initial cement surface in the initial state among the cement surfaces and an outermost part of a moving cement surface that has moved in a direction away from the distance detection device among the cement surfaces;
The method further includes a gap volume calculation means for calculating a gap volume between the initial cement surface and the moving cement surface by using the gap distance calculated by the gap distance calculation means,
a cement surface determination means for determining whether the cement surface is the initial cement surface based on whether the shortest distance from the distance detection device to an entrance orthogonal plane that passes through the entrance of the mortar-shaped recess and is perpendicular to the central axis of the cement silo coincides with the shortest distance from the distance detection device to the initial cement surface;
The cement silo further comprises a volume calculation control means for operating the void volume calculation means when the cement surface determination means determines that the cement surface is not the initial cement surface. A cement ordering system comprising: a cement remaining amount detection device that detects the weight of cement stored in a cement silo having a hopper as a remaining amount of cement; and a cement ordering processing device that generates cement ordering data in accordance with the remaining amount of cement detected by the cement remaining amount detection device,
The cement remaining amount detection device includes a cement surface data input means for inputting cement surface data from a distance detection device fixed to the top cover of the cement silo, the cement surface being the upper surface of the cement , including surface distance data indicating the distance from the distance detection device to the cement surface, which is the upper surface of the cement, and surface angle data indicating the cement surface angle,
a recess volume calculation means for calculating a recess volume, which is a volume of a cone-shaped recess formed on the cement surface according to the inner inclined surface of the hopper, using the cement surface data input by the cement surface data input means;
a residual volume calculation means for calculating a residual volume, which is a volume of the stored cement, by subtracting the recess volume calculated by the recess volume calculation means from an initial volume, which is a volume of the cement in an initial state before the cone-shaped recess is formed on the cement surface;
a cement remaining amount calculation means for calculating the product of the remaining volume calculated by the remaining volume calculation means and the specific gravity of the cement as the remaining amount of cement,
The cement surface angle is an angle between a line from the distance detection device to each point on the cement surface and a central axis of the cement silo,
the recess volume calculation means, when calculating the recess volume using maximum distance data showing the largest value of the distance among the cement surface data and minimum distance data showing the smallest value, calculates an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter showing the shortest distance from the central axis of the cement silo to an inner side surface of the cement silo using the minimum distance data and corresponding angle data corresponding to the minimum distance data among the surface angle data, and calculates the recess volume using the calculated inner diameter even when the funnel-shaped recess remains on a part of the cement surface;
The cement ordering processing device includes an inventory determination means for determining whether the remaining amount of cement calculated by the remaining amount of cement calculation means is less than a lower limit inventory amount set as a lower limit of the inventory amount of the cement;
and an order data generating means for generating the cement ordering data when the inventory determining means determines that the remaining amount of cement is less than the lower limit inventory amount.

Images