Technical Field
The present invention relates to a test system for testing, in addition to a moving
body itself such as a vehicle, ship, or airplane, a component used for the moving body, such
5 as an internal combustion engine.
Background Art
Conventionally, as a vehicle test system, for example, there is known a test system
10 that is adapted to connect a plurality of measuring devices to one measurement management
apparatus, and make the measurement management apparatus collectively manage the
measuring devices. Further, as disclosed in Patent literature 1, there is also a system that is
adapted to provide an automatic test management apparatus above the management apparatus,
and make the automatic test management apparatus determine a test schedule.
15
Citation List
Patent Literature
[Patent literature 11 JPA 2005-49353
20
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
However, freely and simply determining timing to make the management apparatus
25 manage the measuring devices, i.e., determining a management start point and a management
end point, on the management apparatus side is not taken into account at all.
Therefore, a request to almost simultaneously start to manage the measuring devices,
or a request to suspend the management of some of the measuring devices at a desired time
point, and operate another measuring device to smoothly shift to the management of it cannot
5 be met.
Such a problem is common to testing devices including the measuring devices.
The present invention is made in consideration of such a problem, and a main
, intended object thereof is to enable connecting states of one or more measuring devices to be
10 freely controlled only by operations on the management apparatus side to thereby more
0 flexibly and more easily perform a test.
Also, each of the measuring devices should be regularly inspected, calibrated, and
maintained because the use thereof causes a reduction in performance to make it impossible
15 to ensure reliability of measuring accuracy. Times of such an inspection and the like may
I
be provided for in test regulations.
However, aside from a rigid system in which a measuring device is constantly
connected with the same device management apparatus, in the case of configuring a flexible
@ 20 system that enables a measuring device to be moved to another test room, and connected to
another device management apparatus, device state information such as past inspection and
calibration histories of the measuring device cannot be inherited when the measuring device
is connected to the another management device, but is reset, and an appropriate inspection
time, an appropriate maintenance time, and the like may be missed.
25
Such a problem is, without limitation to the measuring device, common to various
testing devices.
The present invention is made in consideration of such a problem, and a main
intended object thereof is to provide a test system that is adapted to be able to, no matter
5 which device management apparatus any testing device is connected to, appropriately and
surely manage inspection, maintenance, and the like of each testing device by a
corresponding device management apparatus, and can be more flexibly operated.
Solution to Problem
10
That is, a test system according to the present invention is one that is, with a moving
body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an airplane, or a device used for the moving body being set
as an object, intended to perform a test of the object, and the test system is provided with: one
or more testing devices used for the test; a device management apparatus that is
15 communicably connected to the testing devices to manage the testing devices; and an
automatic test management apparatus that, for example, sets a schedule of the test, and on the
basis of the schedule, performs operation such as issuing a command to the device
management apparatus, wherein the device management apparatus is provided with: a
disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part that senses that a disconnecting/connecting
20 operation for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices has been performed; and
a management main body part that, in the case where the disconnecting/connecting operation
sensing part detects a connecting operation, starts a predetermined connecting protocol for
establishing a connecting state and starts management of the testing device, as well as in the
case where the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects a disconnecting
25 operation, canceling the connection to terminate the management of the testing device.
Note that the "connecting operation" includes not only a connecting operation with a
mouse or a key board on a console but also, for example, an operation for connecting a
communication cable to a connector.
5 If so, connecting states of one or more measuring devices can be fieely controlled by
the disconnecting/connecting operation performed by an operator on the management
apparatus side. Accordingly, the test can be more flexibly and more easily performed.
In order to make the disconnecting/connecting operation intuitively understandable
10 and convenient for the operator, preferably, the device management apparatus is further
provided with a display part that displays a device mark indicating a preliminarily registered
testing device, and a disconnecting/connecting operation button provided so as to correspond
to the device mark; and the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects an
operation on the disconnecting/connecting operation button.
15
As specific embodiments include one in which the testing devices are desirably
measuring devices that measure state quantities of the object, and more specifically, the
measuring devices are ones used to measure exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine.
• 20 Also, a test system according to the present invention is one that is, with a moving
body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an airplane, or a device used for the moving body being set
as an object, intended to perform a test of the object, and the test system is provided with: one
or more testing devices used for the test; and a device management apparatus that is
communicably connected to the testing devices to manage the testing devices, wherein the
25 device management apparatus is provided with: an operation sensing part that senses that a
disconnecting/connecting operation for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices
has been performed; and a device state information obtaining part that, with detection of a
connecting operation in the operation sensing part as a start, obtains device state information
indicating a present or past state of a corresponding testing device.
5 If so, no matter which device management apparatus any testing device is connected
to, present or past device state information (such as past inspection dateltime and items, or
present performance state) on the connected testing device is recognized by the device
management apparatus at the time, and therefore management such as automatically notifying
an operator of a coming inspection dateltime, maintenance datahime, inspection and
10 maintenance items, and the like of each connected measuring device can be made in the
device management apparatus. Also, as a result, a measuring device and a device
management apparatus can be easily connected without selecting connecting destinations,
and therefore the test system can be more flexibly operated such as being able to easily
replace a testing device.
1 15
More specific examples of a system architecture that can more easily realize the
present invention can include one that the device state information is accumulated in a local
accumulation part provided in the testing device, and the device state information obtaining
part accesses the local accumulation part to obtain the device state information on the testing
20 device.
In addition, for example, an embodiment in which a storage device that stores piece
of device state information on respective connectable testing devices in common is provided,
and when any of the testing devices is subjected to the connecting operation, the device
25 management apparatus accesses the storage device to obtain device state information on the
testing device is also possible. Note that, in this case, it is necessary to consider a handling
way in case such as network construction, or use of any of the testing devices outside a
network.
In order to enable an operator to recognize a time-dependent change in state of a
5 testing device, or a tendency of the change to more accurately handle the testing device,
preferably, the test system is further provided with a management main body part that
recognizably displays a chronological change in the device state information on a screen, as
well as in the case where a value of the device state information exceeds a predetermined
threshold value, notifying of this.
As specific device state information, in the case where the testing device is a pump,
pump pressure information that is information indicating suction pressure by the pump, or in
the case where the testing device is a measuring device, function information that is
information on a function of the measuring device, accumulated operating time information
15 indicating an accumulated operating time of the testing device, or inspection dateltime
specifjing information that is information for specifying a preset inspection dateltime of the
testing device can be cited.
Specific embodiments include one in which the testing devices are desirably
20 measuring devices that measure state quantities of the object, and more specifically, the
measuring devices are devices that are provided in an exhaust path of an internal combustion
engine and measure exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust path.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
25
According to the present invention configured as described, the connecting states of
7
the one or more measuring devices can be freely controlled by the disconnecting/connecting
operation performed by the operator on the management apparatus side. Accordingly, the
test can be more flexibly and more easily performed.
1 5 Also, according to the present invention configured as described, no matter which
I
device management apparatus any testing device is connected to, present or past device state
I information (such as past inspection dateltime and items, or present performance state) on the
connected testing device is recognized by the device management apparatus at the time, and
therefore management such as automatically notifLing an operator of a coming inspection
10 dateltime, maintenance datahime, inspection and maintenance items, and the like of each a connected measuring device can be made in the device management apparatus. Also, as a
result, a measuring device and a device management apparatus can be easily connected
without selecting connecting destinations, and therefore the test system can be more flexibly
operated.
15
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle performance test system
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
20 FIG. 2 is a fluid circuit diagram simply illustrating gas flow paths in the first
embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a fbnctional block diagram of a measuring device and a device
management apparatus in the first embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating a plug-in screen in the first
25 embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an operating situation of a
device state history screen in the first embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle performance test system
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a fluid circuit diagram simply illustrating gas flow paths in the second
i
I 5 embodiment;
I
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a measuring device and a device
management apparatus in the second embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating a plug-in screen in the second
embodiment;
10 FIG. 10 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an operating situation of a
device state history screen in the second embodiment; and
FIG. 11 is a screen configuration diagram illustrating an operating situation of
another device state history screen in the second embodiment.
15 Description of Embodiments
In the following, a first embodiment of the present invention is described referring to
the drawings.
• 20 FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the whole of a vehicle performance test
system 1 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle performance test system 1 is
one that is, as illustrated in the diagram, provided with a chassis dynamometer 2, an
automatic driving apparatus 3, an automatic test management apparatus 6, a plurality of
testing devices (exhaust gas measuring devices) 4, a device management apparatus 7, and the
25 like, and can bring a vehicle VH into a pseudo-running state on the chassis dynamometer 2,
and measure a fuel consumption, exhaust gas components, and the like of the vehicle VH to
test vehicle performance. In addition, the vehicle performance test system 1 can also test an
engine as a single body.
The respective parts are described.
5 The chassis dynamometer 2 is one that is provided with: a rotating drum; a motor or
a flywheel (not illustrated) that applies a load to the rotating drum; and a dynamometer
control device 22 that controls them. The rotating drum and the motor or flywheel are
placed in a test room 10, and the chassis dynamometer 2 is configured such that by setting up
driving wheels of the vehicle VH in a test location located directly on a top part of the
10 rotating drum. the vehicle VH can run in a state similar to that at the time of an actual run.
The dynamometer control device 22 is contained in, for example, a measurement room that is
provided adjacent to the test room 10. In addition, the test room 10 and the measurement
room (or in addition to them, a pit) are collectively referred to as a so-called cell or lab.
15 The automatic driving apparatus 3 is one that is provided with: a driving robot (not
illustrated) that is mounted in a driver's cab of the vehicle VH and drives an accelerator,
brakes, clutch, and the like; and a robot control device 31 that is connected to the driving
robot to control the driving robot, and adapted to be able to, by providing various command
signals to the robot control device 3 1, control the driving robot to perform a performance test
20 of the vehicle VH or the engine according to, for example, any of various standardized
regulations (such as CFR and TRIAS). The robot control device 31 is contained in, for
example, the measurement room.
The automatic test management apparatus 6 is one that, although detailed description
25 thereof is omitted, has a basic fbnction of setting a running test schedule. Setting the
running test schedule includes, for example, setting a regulation and a test date, and in
addition, may include more minutely setting behavior of the vehicle VH, such as a vehicle
speed and an engine rotational speed, and setting a measurement object, measurement timing,
and the like. The automatic test management apparatus 6 is provided with a communication
port, and mutually communicably connected with the measuring devices 4, chassis
5 dynamometer 2, automatic driving apparatus 3, and the like by wire or wireless means.
When such schedule settings are made by an operator, the automatic test
management apparatus 6 transmits a command according to a set schedule to the chassis
dynamometer 2, automatic driving apparatus 3, device management apparatus 7, and the like
10 to control them such that a test according to the schedule is automatically performed.
Note that in FIG. 1, the one automatic test management apparatus 6 is connected
with the one device management apparatus 7; however, the one automatic test management
apparatus 6 may be connected with a plurality of device management apparatuses 7. The
15 automatic test management apparatus 6 can perform scheduling independently for each of the
device management apparatuses 7.
As the exhaust gas measuring devices 4 (hereinafter also simply referred to as
measuring devices 4), in the present embodiment, for example, one that measures HC, NOx,
20 CO, C02, and the like in exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust path of the internal
combustion engine, and one that performs preprocessing for measuring the exhaust gas
components, such as CVS are prepared. Each of the measuring devices 4 is configured to
integrate one or more units as unit devices, such as a gas analyzing unit 9 and another
operation unit; however, the units are not always physically integrated. For example,
25 referring to the whole of a plurality of separated configurations, it is called one measuring
device, and a plurality of measuring devices may be provided in one housing. In addition,
the gas analyzing unit 9 refers to, for example, FID for measuring THC, CLD for measuring
NO,, NDIR for measuring CO and COz, or the like.
The measuring devices 4 are also set as management units in an after-mentioned
5 storage part 75 of the device management apparatus 7 or in a database shared thereby. To
describe data structure inside the storage part 75 in detail, the storage part 75 stores
hierarchical structure data having tree structure in which as a lower layer of a device
hierarchy to which the measuring devices 4 belong to, a group hierarchy to which groups
belong to is formed, and further, under the group hierarchy, a unit hierarchy to which
10 analyzing units and the like belong to * is formed.
Each of the groups is provided for as, for example, a set of one or more gas
analyzing units 9 that operate for a common purpose. The common purpose refers to, for
example, exhaust gas component analysis at a predetermined sampling point in an intake and
15 exhaust path LG, or measurement of predetermined performance (such as an EGR rate or an
exhaust gas flow rate) of the internal combustion engine EG.
Note that the present embodiment is configured to be able to perform a change
operation on the storage part 75, such as upgrading a group to a measuring device, or
20 changing an analyzing unit belonging to a group, and subject to the condition that each of the
groups and devices is physically configured to be able to independently operate by itself
(such as being provided with a pump to be able to independently sample gas).
Exemplifications of the plurality of types of measuring devices 4 in the present
25 embodiment include, for example, a first measuring device 401 provided with: measuring
groups G1 to G3 each configured to have a plurality of gas analyzing units 9 respectively
having different measurement principles; and an EGR rate measuring device G4, a second
measuring device 402 configured to have a fixed capacity sampling device, a third measuring
device 403 configured to have a measuring group Gn including an EGR rate measuring
device, and other devices.
5
Each of the measuring devices 4 has a local computer, and is provided with: a device
main body part 4a that controls operating modes (such as a measurement mode, calibration
mode, and purge mode) and state modes (such as a sleep mode and a stand-by mode) of the
measuring device 4; and a communication part 4b that receives a command signal from the
10 device management apparatus 7 as well as transmitting operating situation information to the
0 device management apparatus 7.
The measuring devices 4 measure amounts of the respective components associated
with sampled gas, such as HC, NO,, CO, and COz, and from corresponding measured values,
15 can also calculate performance values such as the fuel consumption and an EGR rate of
devices constituting the vehicle VH, such as the engine and a catalyst.
For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the measuring devices 4 has the
local computer.
2o The local computer is one that is physically provided with a CPU, a memory, an AD
converter, a communication interface, and the like, and fulfills function as: an operation part
41 that performs correction or calibration on output values from sensors 4% which detect the
predetermined components of the exhaust gas, to calculate measured values indicating the
respective component amounts as well as from the measured values, calculating the device
25 performance values; and a communication part 42 that transmits the measured values, device
performance values, and the like calculated by the operation part 41 to the device
management apparatus 7 according to a predetermined protocol.
Also, the local computer is further provided with: a control part 43 that receives a
command signal from the device management apparatus 7 to control a valve V, temperature
5 control mechanism 4b, pump 4c, or the like, and controls the operating modes (such as a
measurement mode, calibration mode, and purge mode) and the state modes (such as a sleep
mode and a stand-by mode) of a corresponding one of the exhaust gas measuring devices 4; a
calibration part 44 that calibrates the sensors 4a; a local accumulation part 45 that
successively obtains and accumulates pieces of device state information of the measuring
10 device 4 over a range from the past to the present and is provided in a predetermined area of
the memory; and the like.
The device state information includes, for example, pump pressure information
indicating suction pressure by the built-in pump 4c, sensitivity information that is information
15 on sensitivity of each of the sensors 4% accumulated operating time information indicating an
accumulated operating time of each part, and inspection dataltime specifying information that
is information for specifying a preset inspection dateltime of the measuring device 4. The
device state information also includes information obtained from results of calibration (zero
point correction, span correction, conversion expression correction), quality check (function
20 check of each part of each analyzing unit, pipe leak check, pump performance check, and the
like), and the like performed on the measuring device 4.
The device management apparatus 7 is one that is configured by, for example,
installing a predetermined program in a general-purpose computer, and physically provided
25 with a CPU, memory, display, input means (such as a keyboard and a mouse),
communication interface, and the like. Also, the CPU and its peripheral devices cooperate
according to a program stored in the memory, and thereby the device management apparatus
7 fhlfills functions as, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a disconnecting/connecting operation sensing
part 71, display part 72, management main body part 73, communication part 74, and the like.
The device management apparatus 7 is provided with a communication port, and the
5 measuring devices 4 are mutually communicably connected to the device management
apparatus 7 by wire or wireless means.
Next, operation of the device management apparatus 7 is described, which doubles
as description of the respective parts of the device management apparatus 7.
10 First, an operator performs various types of work (such as piping) associated with
the measuring devices 4, and then physically connects the measuring devices 4 to the device
management apparatus 7 through connector cables.
On the display 7a of the device management apparatus 7, as an initial screen, a
15 screen (hereinafter also referred to as a plug-in screen) 8A as illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed
by a function of the display part 72. On the plug-in screen 8A, a plurality of device marks
81 indicating preliminarily registered measuring devices 4 are arranged without overlapping
one another. Each of the device marks 81 is formed in a rectangular shape, and provided
with, in addition to a schematic diagram representing a corresponding one of the measuring
@ 20 devices 4, a connecting button 82 for connecting to the measuring device 4, a disconnecting
button 83 for disconnecting the measuring device 4; and a connection state display area 84
indicating a connecting state.
When on the plug-in screen 8A, the operator clicks, for example, a connecting button
25 82, the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part 71 detects the click operation as a
connecting operation. Then, the communication part 74 starts to communicate with a
communication part 42 of a corresponding one of the measuring devices 4, and when a
predetermined connecting protocol normally terminates to establish a mutually
communicable connecting state (hereinafter also simply referred to as a connecting state), a
display "Connected" indicating a state of being communicably connected is displayed in the
5 connecting state display area 84 in the device mark. In addition, until the mutual
communication is established, a display "Initialization" indicating a state of being in
I
preparation for connection is displayed in the connecting state display area 84.
1 On the other hand, when the disconnecting button 83 is clicked in this connecting
10 state, the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part 71 detects the click operation I as a 1 disconnecting operation. Then, the communication part 74 blocks the communication with
1 the communication part 42 of the measuring device 4, and a display "Stopped" indicating a
1 i
1 state where the connection is cancelled is displayed in the connecting state display area 84.
I 15 In addition, if the connecting button 82 is clicked in a state where a connector cable
I
is unplugged, or the connector cable is unplugged during the connecting state, the
disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part 71 senses this, and a display "Configuration
Mismatch" indicating a state of failing in connection is displayed in the connecting state
display area 84.
Also, in the connecting state, a reconnecting button (restart button) 85 is newly
displayed, and when the reconnecting button 85 is clicked, the communication part 74 restarts
the connecting protocol to make reconnection.
25 Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, in the connecting protocol, a step of taking
pieces of device state information on the respective measuring devices 4 into the device
management apparatus 7 is automatically performed.
To describe in detail, when any of the connecting buttons 82 or reconnecting buttons
85 is clicked, the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part 71 detects the click
5 operation, on the basis of which the management main body part 73 accesses a local
accumulation part 45 of a corresponding one of the measuring devices 4 through the
communication parts 42 and 74 to automatically obtain pieces of device state information on
the measuring device 4 over a range fiom the past to the present, which are accumulated in
the local accumulation part 45.
Also, afier the connection, too, the management main body part 73 successively
accesses the local accumulation part 45 of the measuring device 4 to additionally obtain
device state information. In addition, the management main body part 73 also performs
other management operations such as issuing a command for an operation mode or the like to
15 the measuring device 4, and obtaining measured values and function performance values
fiom the measuring device 4.
The pieces of device state information can be displayed on a screen in chronological
order.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the display screen (hereinafter also referred to as a
device state history screen). On the screen, changes in sensitivity and drifi of a gas
analyzing unit selected by the operator are displayed as graphs 86 and 87 with horizontal axes
representing time. The sensitivity of the analyzing unit refers to a primary output value of a
25 corresponding sensor 4a at the time of sensing span gas having a predetermined concentration,
and a decrease in this value indicates a reduction in sensor sensitivity. The drift refers to a
primary output value of a corresponding sensor 4a at the time of sensing zero gas (gas having
a concentration of zero), and an increase in this value indicates an increase in offset of the
sensor 4a. Amounts of the sensitivity and drift are measured at the time of calibrating a
corresponding measuring device 4, and therefore every time the measurement is performed,
5 additionally recorded in the local accumulation part 4 of the measuring device 4.
Also, in the case where the device state information exceeds (or falls below) a
predetermined threshold value, the management main body part 73 of the device management
apparatus 7 issues an alarm indicating the need for maintenance or replacement. As the
10 threshold value, for the drift or sensitivity amount, a first threshold value for issuing a final a alarm, and a second threshold value for issuing an alarm indicating being in a stage prior to
the final alarm are provided. According to each of the alarms, the operator can readjust a
corresponding analyzing unit.
15 According to the first embodiment configured as described above, the connecting
states of the plurality of measuring devices 4 can be freely controlled by the
disconnecting/connecting operation performed by the operator on the device management
apparatus 7 side. Accordingly, a test can be more flexibly and more easily performed.
20 Also, each connectable measuring device 4 can be preliminarily registered in a
plurality of device management apparatuses 7 in common in a standardized form, i.e., as the
device mark 81, and therefore only by physically connecting some measuring device 4 to
another device management apparatus 7 in another cell and performing the connecting
operation in the same manner, the device management apparatus 7 can be made to easily
25 recognize the measuring device 4.
In addition, at the time, the measuring device 4 accumulates pieces of device state
information on the measuring device 4 itself, and at the time of the connection, the pieces of
device state information are automatically taken in by the device management apparatus 7, so
that even in the case of replacing a device management apparatus 7, the pieces of device state
5 information can be inherited without leaking, and therefore compliance of regulations, and
maintenance of the measuring device 4 can be surely performed.
In particular, in the first embodiment, in a state where, in device state information,
for example, changes in sensitivity and drift of an analyzing unit are displayed on the screen
10 in chronological order, if a value of the sensitivity or drift exceeds any of the threshold values, a a corresponding alarm is issued. That is, the alarm is issued to the operator such that the
operator can determine a tendency of the change in sensitivity or drift of the analyzing unit,
and therefore as compared with the case of simply issuing the alarm without displaying the
tendency, the operator can accurately determine a cause of the alarm. For example, in the
15 case of an alarm that is outputted when the value deviates from the tendency and suddenly
rises or falls, the operator can determine that the alarm is caused by a measurement error, a
calibration error, or the like, and therefore the number of times of unnecessary maintenance
can be reduced.
• 20 Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described referring to the
drawings.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the whole of a vehicle performance test
system 100 according to the second embodiment. The vehicle performance test system 100
25 is one that is, as illustrated in the diagram, provided with a chassis dynamometer 102, an
automatic driving apparatus 103, an automatic test management apparatus 106, a plurality of
testing devices (exhaust gas measuring devices) 104, a device management apparatus 107,
and the like, and can bring a vehicle VH1 into a pseudo running state on the chassis
dynamometer 102, and measure a he1 consumption, exhaust gas components, and the like of
the vehicle VHl to test vehicle performance. In addition, the test system 100 can also be
5 used to test an engine as a single body.
The respective parts are described.
The chassis dynamometer 102 is one that is provided with: a rotating drum; a motor
or a flywheel (not illustrated) that applies a load to the rotating drum; and a dynamometer
10 control device 122 that controls them. The rotating drum and the motor or flywheel are
placed in a test room 110, and the chassis dynamometer 102 is configured such that by setting
up driving wheels of the vehicle VHl in a test location located directly on a top part of the
rotating drum, the vehicle VH1 can run in a state similar to that at the time of an actual run.
The dynamometer control device 122 is contained in, for example, a measurement room that
15 is provided adjacent to the test room 110. In addition, the test room 110 and the
measurement room (or in addition to them, a pit) are collectively referred to as a so-called
cell or lab.
The automatic driving apparatus 103 is one that is provided with: a driving robot
20 (not illustrated) that is mounted in a driver's cab of the vehicle VHl and drives an accelerator,
brakes, clutch, and the like; and a robot control device 103 that is connected to the driving
robot to control the driving robot, and adapted to be able to, by providing various command
signals to the robot control device 131, control the driving robot to perform a performance
test of the vehicle VHl or the engine according to, for example, any of various standardized
25 regulations (such as CFR1065 and 10-mode). The robot control device 103 is contained in,
for example, the measurement room.
The automatic test management apparatus 106 is one that, although detailed
description thereof is omitted, has a basic function of setting a running test schedule.
Setting the running test schedule includes, for example, setting a regulation and a test date,
5 and in addition, may include more minutely setting behavior of the vehicle VH1, such as a
vehicle speed and an engine rotational speed, and setting a measurement object, measurement
timing, and the like. The automatic test management apparatus 106 is provided with a
communication port, and mutually communicably connected with the measuring devices 104,
chassis dynamometer 102, automatic driving apparatus 103, and the like by wire or wireless
10 means.
When such schedule settings are made by an operator, the automatic test
management apparatus 106 transmits a command according to a set schedule to the chassis
dynamometer 102, automatic driving apparatus 103, device management apparatus 107, and
15 the like to control them such that a test according to the schedule is automatically performed.
Note that in FIG. 6, the one automatic test management apparatus 106 is connected
with the one device management apparatus 107; however, the one automatic test management
apparatus 106 may be connected with a plurality of device management apparatuses 107.
20 The automatic test management apparatus 106 can perform scheduling independently for
each of the device management apparatuses 107.
As the exhaust gas measuring devices 104 (hereinafter also simply referred to as
measuring devices 104), in the present embodiment, for example, one that measures HC, NO,
25 CO, COz, and the like in exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust path of the internal
combustion engine, and one that performs preprocessing for measuring the exhaust gas
components, such as CVS, are prepared. Each of the measuring devices 104 is configured
to integrate one or more units as unit devices, such as a gas analyzing unit 109 and another
operation unit; however, the units are not always physically integrated. For example,
referring to the whole of a plurality of separated configurations, it is called one measuring
5 device, and a plurality of measuring devices may be provided in one housing. In addition,
the gas analyzing unit 109 refers to, for example, FID for measuring THC, CLD for
measuring NO, NDIR for measuring CO and COz, or the like.
The measuring devices 104 are also set as management units in an after-mentioned
10 storage part 176 of the device management apparatus 107 or in a database shared thereby. a To describe data structure inside the storage part 176 in detail, the storage part 176 stores
hierarchical structure data having tree structure in which as a lower layer of a device
hierarchy to which the measuring devices 104 belong to, a group hierarchy to which groups
belong to is formed, and further, under the group hierarchy, a unit hierarchy to which
15 analyzing units and the like belong to is formed.
Each of the groups is provided for as, for example, a set of one or more analyzing
units 109 that operate for a common purpose. The common purpose refers to, for example,
exhaust gas component analysis at a predetermined sampling point in an intake and exhaust
20 path LG, or measurement of predetermined performance (such as an EGR rate or an exhaust
gas flow rate) of the internal combustion engine EG.
Note that the present embodiment is configured to be able to perform a change
operation on the storage part 176 such as upgrading a group to a measuring device, or
25 changing an analyzing unit belonging to a group, and subject to the condition that each of the
groups and devices is physically configured to be able to independently operate by itself
(such as being provided with a pump to be able to independently sample gas).
Exemplifications of the plurality of types of measuring devices 104 in the present
embodiment include, for example, a first measuring device 1401 provided with: measuring
5 groups GI0 to GI3 each configured to have a plurality of gas analyzing units 109
respectively having different measurement principles; and an EGR rate measuring device
G14, a second measuring device 1402 configured to have a fixed capacity sampling device, a
third measuring device 1403 configured to have a measuring group Gnl including an EGR
rate measuring device, and other devices.
Each of the measuring devices 104 has a local computer, and is provided with: a
device main body part 14a that controls operating modes (such as a measurement mode,
calibration mode, and purge mode) and state modes (such as a sleep mode and a stand-by
mode) of the measuring device 104; and a communication part 14b that receives a command
15 signal from the device management apparatus 107 as well as transmitting operating situation
information to the device management apparatus 107.
Each of the measuring devices 104 is, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 7,
connected to a sampling pipe LD1 for sampling intake gas or exhaust gas from the intake and
20 exhaust path LGl of the engine. In addition, in FIG. 7, a symbol LSl represents a span gas
introduction pipe for introducing span gas for calibration, a symbol LZ1 represents a zero gas
introduction pipe for introducing zero gas for calibration, and a symbol V1 represents a valve
for switching.
25 Each of the measuring devices 104 measures amounts of the respective components
associated with the gas sampled through the sampling pipe LD1, such as HC, NO, CO, and
COz, and from corresponding measured values, can also calculate performance values such as
the fuel consumption and an EGR rate of devices constituting the vehicle VH1, such as the
engine and a catalyst.
5 For this purpose, as illustrated in FIG. 8, each of the measuring devices 104 has the
local computer, in addition to sensors 14a that are provided for each analyzing unit, and for
measurement use.
The local computer is one that is physically provided with a CPU, a memory, an A/D
10 converter. a communication interface. and the like. and fulfills function as: an operation part
141 that performs correction or calibration on output values fiom the sensors 14a to calculate
measured values indicating the respective component amounts as well as from the measured
valued, calculating the device performance values; and a communication part 142 that
transmits the measured values, device performance values, and the like calculated by the
15 operation part 141 to the device management apparatus 107 according to a predetermined
protocol.
Also, the local computer is further provided with: a control part 143 that receives a
command signal from the device management apparatus 107 to control a valve V,
20 temperature control mechanism 14b, pump 14c, or the like, and controls the operating modes
(such as a measurement mode, calibration mode, and purge mode) and the state modes (such
as a sleep mode and a stand-by mode) of a corresponding one of the exhaust gas measuring
devices 104; a calibration part 144 that calibrates the sensors 14a; a local accumulation part
145 that successively obtains and accumulates pieces of device state information on the
25 measuring device 104 over a range fiom the past to the present and is provided in a
predetermined area of the memory; and the like.
The device state information refers to information indicating a state of the measuring
device 104, an analyzing unit of the measuring device 104, a further inner device, or a related
device, and includes, for example, pump pressure information indicating suction pressure by
5 the built-in pump 14c, function information that is information on a function (e.g., sensitivity)
of each of the sensors 14% accumulated operating time information indicating an
accumulated operating time of each part, inspection datahime specifying information that is
information for specifying a preset inspection datehime of the measuring device 104, and the
like. The device state information also includes information obtained from results of
10 calibration (zero point correction, span correction, conversion expression correction), quality
check (function check of each part of each analyzing unit, pipe leak check, pump
performance check, and the like), and the like performed on the measuring device 104.
The device management apparatus 107 is one that is configured by, for example,
15 installing a predetermined program in a general-purpose computer, and physically provided
with a CPU, memory, display, input means (such as a keyboard and a mouse),
communication interface, and the like. Also, the CPU and its peripheral devices cooperate
according to a program stored in the memory, and thereby the device management apparatus
107 fulfills functions as, as illustrated in FIG. 8, an operation sensing part 171, display part
20 172, management main body part 173, communication part 174, device information obtaining
part 175, storage part 176, and the like. The device management apparatus 107 is provided
with a communication port, and the measuring devices 104 are mutually communicably
connected to the device management apparatus 107 by wire or wireless means.
25 Next, operation of the device management apparatus 107 is described, which
doubles as description of the respective parts of the device management apparatus 107.
First, an operator performs various types of work (such as piping) associated with
the measuring devices 104, and then physically connects the measuring devices 104 to the
device management apparatus 107 through connector cables.
5
On the display 17a of the device management apparatus 107, as an initial screen, a
screen (hereinafter also referred to as a plug-in screen) 18A as illustrated in FIG. 9 is
displayed by a function of the display part 172. On the plug-in screen 18A, a plurality of
device marks 181 indicating preliminarily registered measuring devices 104 are arranged
10 without overlapping one another. Each of the device marks 181 is formed in a rectangular
shape, and provided with, in addition to a schematic diagram representing a corresponding
one of the measuring devices 104, a connecting button 182 for connecting to the measuring
device 104, a disconnecting button 183 for disconnecting the measuring device 104; and a
connecting state display area 184 indicating a connection state.
15
When on the plug-in screen 18A, the operator clicks, for example, a connecting
button 182, the operation sensing part 171 detects the click operation as a connecting
operation. With this as a start, the communication part 174 starts to communicate with a
communication part 142 of a corresponding one of the measuring devices 104, and when a
20 predetermined connecting protocol normally terminates to establish a mutually
communicable connecting state (hereinafter also simply referred to as a connecting state), a
display "Connected" indicating a state of being communicably connected is displayed in the
connecting state display area 184 in the device mark. In addition, until the mutual
communication is established, a display "Initialization" indicating a state of being in
25 preparation for connection is displayed in the connecting state display area 184.
On the other hand, when the disconnecting button 183 is clicked in this connecting
state, the operation sensing part 171 detects the click operation as a disconnecting operation.
Then, the communication part 174 blocks the communication with the communication part
142 of the measuring device 104, and a display "Stopped" indicating a state where the
5 connection is cancelled is displayed in the connecting state display area 184.
In addition, if the connecting button 182 is clicked in a state where a connector cable
is unplugged, or the connector cable is unplugged during the connecting state, the operation
sensing part 171 senses this, and a display "Configuration Mismatch" indicating a state of
10 failing in connection is displayed in the connecting state display area 184. e
Also, in the connecting state, a reconnecting button (restart button) 185 is newly
displayed, and when the reconnecting button 185 is clicked, the communication part 174
restarts the connecting protocol to make reconnection.
15
Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, in the connecting protocol, a step of taking
pieces of device state information on the respective measuring devices 104 into the device
management apparatus 107 is automatically performed.
20 To describe in detail, when any of the connecting buttons 182 or reconnecting
buttons 185 is clicked, the operation sensing part 171 detects the click operation, on the basis
of which the device information obtaining part 175 accesses a local accumulation part 145 of
a corresponding one of the measuring devices 104 through the communication parts 142 and
174 to automatically obtain pieces of device state information on the measuring device 104
25 over a range from the past to the present, which are accumulated in the local accumulation
part 145.
Also, after the connection, too, the device information obtaining part 175
successively accesses the local accumulation part 145 of the measuring device 104 to
additionally obtain device state information.
5
In addition, the management main body part 173 performs various management
operations such as issuing a command for an operation mode or the like to the measuring
device 4, and obtaining measured values and hnction performance values from the
measuring device 104.
10
The pieces of device state information obtained in such a manner are managed in the
management main body part 173, and also can be displayed on a screen in chronological
order.
15 FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the display screen (hereinafter also referred to as a
device state history screen). On the screen 18B, time-dependent changes in sensitivity and
drift of a gas analyzing unit selected by the operator are displayed as graphs 186 and 187 with
horizontal axes representing time, and as a list 188. The sensitivity of the analyzing unit
refers to a primary output value of a corresponding sensor 14a at the time of sensing the span
20 gas having a predetermined concentration, and a decrease in this value indicates a reduction
in sensor sensitivity. The drift refers to a primary output value of a corresponding sensor
14a at the time of sensing the zero gas (gas having a concentration of zero), and an increase
in this value indicates an increase in offset of the sensor 14a. Amounts of the sensitivity and
drift are measured at the time of calibrating a corresponding measuring device 104, and
25 therefore every time the measurement is performed, additionally recorded in the local
accumulation part 145 of the measuring device 104.
Also, in the case where the device state information exceeds (or falls below) a
predetermined threshold value, the management main body part 173 of the device
management apparatus 107 notifies of the need for maintenance or replacement. As the
5 threshold value, for the drift or sensitivity amount, a first threshold value for issuing a final
alarm, and a second threshold value for notifying of being in a stage prior to the final alarm
are provided. As an example of the notification, in the present embodiment, in the case of
exceeding the first threshold value, on the same screen 18B, a relevant column of the list is
changed so as to be displayed in another display mode such as red. The same holds true for
10 the second threshold value, and in the present embodiment, in order to be able to distinguish e from the case of exceeding the first threshold value, a relevant column is changed so as to be
displayed in, for example, orange.
According to each of the notification alarms, the operator can readjust a
15 corresponding analyzing unit.
Also, a display example of another device state history screen is illustrated in FIG.
11. On this screen, a chronological change in pressure of a vacuum pump provided in a
CLD as an analyzing unit is displayed as a list 189 and a graph 810. On the screen, as
20 notification operation in the case of exceeding the threshold values, in addition to the display
as the list as in FIG. 10, the first threshold value and the second threshold value are displayed
as line segments in the graph 8 10.
According to the present embodiment configured as described, any of the measuring
25 devices 104 accumulates pieces of device state information on itself, and at the time of
connection, the pieces of device state information are automatically taken in by the device
management apparatus 107, so that even in the case of replacing the device management
apparatus 107, the pieces of device state information is inherited without leaking, and
therefore compliance of regulations, and maintenance of the measuring device 4 can be surely
performed.
5
Accordingly, management such as automatically notifying the operator of a coming
inspection dateltime, maintenance dataltime, inspection and maintenance items, and the like
of each connected measuring device 104 can be surely made in the device management
apparatus 107.
10
In particular, in the present embodiment, the connecting states of the plurality of
measuring devices 104 can be freely controlled by the disconnecting/connecting operation
performed by the operator on the device management apparatus 107 side, and also each
connectable measuring device 104 can be preliminarily registered in a plurality of device
15 management apparatuses 107 in common in a standardized format, i.e., as the device mark
181, so that only by physically connecting some measuring device 104 to another device
management apparatus 107 in another cell to perform the connecting operation in the same
manner, the device management apparatus 107 can be easily made to recognize the
measuring device 104.
Also, as described, a measuring device 104 and a device management apparatus 107
can be easily connected without selecting connecting destinations, and therefore the test
system can be more flexibly operated.
25 Further, with the time-dependent change and tendency in device state information
being displayed on the screen, notification is made on the same screen when a value of the
device state information exceeds any of the threshold values, and therefore as compared with
the case of simply issuing an alarm without displaying the change tendency, the operator can
more accurately determine a cause of the notification or alarm. For example, in the case of
an alarm that is outputted when the value deviates from the tendency, and suddenly rises or
5 falls, the operator can determine that the alarm is caused by a measurement error, a
calibration error, or the like, and therefore the number of times of unnecessary maintenance
can be reduced.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
6 10 For example, the present invention can also be applied to a test of the engine as a single body,
or used for a test of an airplane or a ship, or any device of the airplane or ship.
The testing devices also include, without limitation to the exhaust gas measuring
device, a device used to test a moving body such as a ship or an airplane, or to test a
15 component of the moving body, for example, an automatic driving apparatus such as a
dynamometer or a robot. The device management apparatus includes, besides an apparatus
directly managing testing devices, an apparatus indirectly managing them, such as the
automatic test management apparatus in the above-described embodiment.
20 Reference Signs List
1 : Vehicle performance test system
4: Measuring device
7: Device management apparatus
25 7 1 : Disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part
72: Display part
73: Management main body part
81 : Device mark
82: Disconnecting/connecting operation button (connecting button)
83: Disconnecting/connecting operation button (disconnecting button)
5 VH: Moving body (vehicle)
100: Vehicle performance test system
104: Measuring device
107: Device management apparatus
1 7 1 : Operation sensing part
10 172: Display part
173: Management main body part
18 1 : Device mark
182: Disconnecting/connecting operation button (connecting button)
183: Disconnecting/connecting operation button (disconnecting button)
15 VH1: Moving body (vehicle)

CLAIMS
WE CLAIM:
1. A test system ( I ) that is, with a moving body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an airplane,
5 or a device used for the moving body being set as an object, intended to perform a test of the
object, the test system comprising:
one or more testing devices used for the test; and a device management apparatus (7)
that is communicably connected to the testing devices to manage the testing devices, wherein
the device management apparatus comprises:
10 a disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part (71) that senses that a
0 disconnecting/connecting operation for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices
has been performed; and
a management main body part (73) that, in a case where the
disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects a connecting operation, starts a
15 predetermined connecting protocol for establishing a connecting state and starts management
of the testing device, as well as in a case where the disconnecting/connecting operation
sensing part detects a disconnecting operation, canceling the connection to terminate the
management of the testing device.
20 2. The test system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the device management apparatus comprises a display part (72) that displays a
device mark (81) indicating a preliminarily registered testing device, and a
disconnecting/connecting operation button (82, 83) provided so as to correspond to the device
mark; and
25 the disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects an operation on the
disconnecting/connecting operation button.
3. The test system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the testing devices are measuring devices used to measure exhaust gas of an internal
combustion engine.
5
4. A device management apparatus that is communicably connected to one or more
testing devices for testing a moving body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an airplane, or a device
used for the moving body, the device management apparatus comprising:
a disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part (7 1) that senses that a
10 disconnecting/connecting operation for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices 0 has been performed; and
a management main body part (73) that, in a case where the
disconnecting/connecting operation sensing part detects a connecting operation, starts a
predetermined connecting protocol for establishing a connecting state and starts management
15 of the testing device, as well as in a case where the disconnecting/connecting operation
sensing part detects a disconnecting operation, canceling the connection to terminate the
management of the testing device.
5. A test system (100) that is, with a moving body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an
@ 20 airplane, or a device used for the moving body being set as an object, intended to perform a
test of the object, the test system comprising:
one or more testing devices used for the test; and a device management apparatus
(107) that is communicably connected to the testing devices to manage the testing devices,
wherein
25 the device management apparatus comprises:
an operation sensing part (1 7 1) that senses that a disconnecting/connecting operation
for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices has been performed; and
a device state information obtaining part (175) that, with detection of a connecting
operation as a start, obtains device state information indicating a present or past state of a
corresponding testing device, the detection being performed by the operation sensing part.
5
6. The test system as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the device state information is accumulated in a local accumulation part provided in
the testing device, and the device state information obtaining part accesses the local
accumulation part to obtain the device state information on the testing device.
10
7. The test system as claimed in claim 5, comprising
a management main body part (1 73) that recognizably displays a chronological
change in value of the device state information on a screen, as well as in a case where the
value of the device state information exceeds a predetermined threshold value, notifying of
15 this.
8. The test system as claimed in claim 5, wherein
the device state information is, in a case where the testing device is a pump, pump
pressure information that is information indicating suction pressure by the pump, or in a case
20 where the testing device is a measuring device, function information that is information on a
function of the measuring device, accumulated operating time information indicating an
accumulated operating time of the testing device, or inspection dateltime specifying
information that is information for specifying a preset inspection dateltime of the testing
device.
25
9. The test system as claimed in claim 7, wherein
the testing devices are devices that are provided in an exhaust path of an internal
combustion engine and measure exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust path.
10. A device management apparatus (107) that is communicably connected to one or
5 more testing devices for testing a moving body such as a vehicle, a ship, or an airplane, or a
device used for the moving body, the device management apparatus comprising:
an operation sensing part (1 71) that senses that a disconnecting/connecting operation
for connecting or disconnecting any of the testing devices has been performed; and
a device state information obtaining part (175) that, with detection of a connecting
e 10 operation in the operation sensing part as a start, obtains device state information indicating a
present or past state of a corresponding testing device.