FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM, AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY, MONITORING
DEVICE, AND DATA COLLECTING METHOD;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM, AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY, MONITORING
DEVICE, AND DATA COLLECTING METHOD
5
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a data
collection system, an auxiliary power supply, a monitoring
device, and a data collecting method, which are to be
10 provided to a railroad car.
Background
[0002] Conventionally, periodic maintenance of railroad
cars has been performed to prevent failure so that any
15 failure would not occur during operation of the cars.
Various devices, however, are installed in the railroad
cars, and large amounts of labor and cost are needed for
periodic inspection of the devices. There have therefore
been demands for measuring and recording operation states
20 of the devices in the railroad cars in the process of
operation of the cars, so as to reduce a possible burden
caused when the periodic inspection is performed. Patent
Literature 1 discloses a technique for reading and
recording signals containing operation statuses of railroad
25 cars in predetermined periods. A recording device
described in Patent Literature 1 can perform stable
recording by recording the signal using a device provided
with a battery even under an unstable condition such as a
situation of power-on, which is difficult to grasp.
30
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
3
Laid-open No. 2012-101602
Summary
Technical Problem
5 [0004] According to the aforementioned prior art
technique, however, the state of a device operating under a
specific operation condition such as a situation in which a
railroad car is powered on can be recorded, but the state
of a device that is not operating at this time cannot be
10 recorded. There has therefore been a problem in that
recording of an operation state is confined to only some of
the devices.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of
the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to
15 provide a data collection system capable of recording the
state of an in-vehicle device installed in a railroad car
at desired timing.
Solution to Problem
20 [0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems
and achieve the object, the present invention provides a
data collection system comprising: a monitoring device to
sequentially instruct two or more in-vehicle devices
installed in a railroad car to start operating and to stop
25 operating; and an auxiliary power supply to sequentially
measure an output voltage and an output current while the
in-vehicle devices operate in turns in accordance with an
instruction from the monitoring device, and record
measurement results.
30
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] According to the present invention, the data
collection system produces an advantageous effect that it
4
can record the state of an in-vehicle device installed in a
railroad car at a desired timing.
Brief Description of Drawings
5 [0008]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
configuration of a train including auxiliary power supplies
and monitoring devices according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of
10 configurations of the auxiliary power supply and the
monitoring device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the
monitoring device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the
15 auxiliary power supply according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case
where a processing circuit included in the auxiliary power
supply according to the first embodiment is implemented by
a processor and a memory.
20 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case
where the processing circuit included in the auxiliary
power supply according to the first embodiment is
configured by dedicated hardware.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an
25 auxiliary power supply according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a
monitoring device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a
monitoring device according to a third embodiment.
30 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an
auxiliary power supply according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a
monitoring device according to the fourth embodiment.
5
Description of Embodiments
[0009] A data collection system, an auxiliary power
supply, a monitoring device, and a data collecting method
5 according to embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Note that the invention is not necessarily limited by these
embodiments.
[0010] First Embodiment.
10 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
configuration of a train 7 having therein auxiliary power
supplies 1a and 1b and monitoring devices 2a and 2b
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The train 7 is constituted by railroad cars 6a to 6f.
15 [0011] The monitoring device 2a, a brake compressor 3a,
and an air conditioner 4a are installed in the railroad car
6a. The auxiliary power supply 1a, a brake compressor 3b,
and an air conditioner 4b are installed in the railroad car
6b. A brake compressor 3c and an air conditioner 4c are
20 installed in the railroad car 6c. A brake compressor 3d
and an air conditioner 4d are installed in the railroad car
6d. The auxiliary power supply 1b, a brake compressor 3e,
and an air conditioner 4e are installed in the railroad car
6e. The monitoring device 2b, a brake compressor 3f, and
25 an air conditioner 4f are installed in the railroad car 6f.
Note that, in FIG. 1, the brake compressor is notated as
“CP”. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in-vehicle devices such as
the auxiliary power supplies 1a and 1b, the monitoring
devices 2a and 2b, the brake compressors 3a to 3f, and the
30 air conditioners 4a to 4f are connected to each other by
communication lines 5, and can communicate with the other
in-vehicle devices via the communication lines 5.
[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the train 7 has a
6
redundant configuration including two auxiliary power
supplies 1a and 1b and two monitoring devices 2a and 2b.
For the train 7 that is in the process of operation, it is
sufficient that at least one of the two auxiliary power
5 supplies 1a and 1b works, and at least one of the two
monitoring devices 2a and 2b works.
[0013] In the following description, the auxiliary power
supplies 1a and 1b may be referred to as auxiliary power
supply or supplies 1 when they are not distinguished from
10 each other, case by case and the monitoring devices 2a and
2b may be referred to as monitoring device or devices 2
when they are not distinguished from each other, case by
case. In addition, in the following description, the brake
compressors 3a to 3f may be referred to as brake compressor
15 or compressors 3 when they are not distinguished from each
other, case by case and the air conditioners 4a to 4f may
be referred to as air conditioner or conditioners 4 when
they are not distinguished from each other, case by case,
while the railroad cars 6a to 6f may be referred to as
20 railroad car or cars 6 when they are not distinguished from
each other, case by case. Note that any in-vehicle devices
other than the brake compressors 3 and the air conditioners
4 may be installed in the railroad cars 6 of the train 7.
In addition, although the train 7 is constituted by six
25 cars in the example of FIG. 1, this is merely one form and
the invention is not limited to this form. The train 7 may
be constituted by five or less cars, or seven or more cars.
[0014] In the present embodiment, the auxiliary power
supply 1 operates in cooperation with the monitoring device
30 2 to measure and record, at a prescribed timing or at a
timing specified by a user, an output voltage and an output
current from the auxiliary power supply 1 when each invehicle device is operated. Note that the auxiliary power
7
supply 1 may measure the temperature around the auxiliary
power supply 1 using a thermistor (not illustrated) or the
like in addition to measuring the output voltage and the
output current. In this case, the auxiliary power supply 1
5 records the temperature in association with the output
voltage and the output current. The monitoring device 2
sequentially instructs a plurality of in-vehicle devices
installed in the railroad cars 6 to start operating and to
stop operating. The auxiliary power supply 1 sequentially
10 measures the output voltage and the output current while
in-vehicle devices operate in turns in response to
instructions from the monitoring device 2, and records
measurement results that are results of the measurements.
Specific configurations and operations of the auxiliary
15 power supply 1 and the monitoring device 2 will be
described.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of
configurations of the auxiliary power supply 1 and the
monitoring device 2 according to the first embodiment. In
20 the train 7, the auxiliary power supplies 1 and the
monitoring devices 2 constitute a data collection system 8.
[0016] First, the configuration of the auxiliary power
supply 1 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
auxiliary power supply 1 includes a communication unit 11,
25 a recording unit 12, a control unit 13, a power supplying
unit 14, and a measurement unit 15.
[0017] The communication unit 11 communicates with the
monitoring device 2 via the communication lines 5. As a
method of communication via the communication lines 5, any
30 existing communication method used in common railroad cars
can be adopted.
[0018] In the recording unit 12, measurement results,
which are results of measurement performed by the
8
measurement unit 15, and information on the instruction
order in which the monitoring device 2 instructs the invehicle devices are recorded. The information on the
instruction order is set by a user or the like and recorded
5 in advance in the recording unit 12.
[0019] The control unit 13 instructs the measurement
unit 15 on a measurement timing for measurement, and
records results of measurement of the measurement unit 15
in the recording unit 12 on the basis of the information on
10 the instruction order.
[0020] The power supplying unit 14 supplies power to the
in-vehicle devices. In practice, the power supplying unit
14 converts electric power taken from an overhead line,
which is not illustrated, via a pantograph into electric
15 power that can be used by two or more in-vehicle devices,
and supplies the electric power to the in-vehicle devices.
[0021] The measurement unit 15 sequentially measures the
output voltage and the output current from the power
supplying unit 14 in a situation where in-vehicle devices
20 operate in turns in accordance with the instruction from
the monitoring device 2.
[0022] Next, a configuration of the monitoring device 2
will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
monitoring device 2 includes a communication unit 21, a
25 recording unit 22, a control unit 23, an operation unit 24,
and a display unit 25.
[0023] The communication unit 21 communicates with the
auxiliary power supplies 1 and two or more in-vehicle
devices via the communication lines 5.
30 [0024] In the recording unit 22, information on the
instruction order in which the in-vehicle devices installed
in the railroad cars 6 are instructed to start operating
and to stop operating is recorded. The information on the
9
instruction order is set by a user or the like and recorded
in advance in the recording unit 22.
[0025] The control unit 23 sequentially instructs the
in-vehicle devices to start operating and to stop operating
5 on the basis of the information on the instruction order
recorded in the recording unit 22.
[0026] The operation unit 24 receives an operation
performed by a user, that is, specifically, an instruction
to each of the in-vehicle devices to start measurement.
10 [0027] The display unit 25 displays operation states of
the in-vehicle devices. In addition, the display unit 25
displays a measurement result acquired from the auxiliary
power supply 1.
[0028] Next, description is given for an operation of
15 the auxiliary power supply 1 measuring the output voltage
and the output current from the power supplying unit 14
when the monitoring device 2 has caused the in-vehicle
devices to operate in the train 7.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
20 of the monitoring device 2 according to the first
embodiment. In the monitoring device 2, when a prescribed
event has occurred, when an instruction from a user has
been received, or when an instruction from the auxiliary
power supply 1 has been received, the control unit 23
25 starts instruction to the in-vehicle devices (step S101).
A prescribed event corresponds to a case where the railroad
cars 6 are powered on, a case where the railroad cars 6 are
stored, or a case where an operation condition of the invehicle device to be measured meets a prescribed operation
30 condition during operation of the railroad cars 6. A
prescribed event to be targeted by the monitoring device 2
may also be referred to as a first event.
[0030] The case where the railroad cars 6 are powered on
10
means the time of start of operation of the railroad cars 6,
that is, the train 7. The case where the railroad cars 6
are stored is a case where the railroad cars 6, that is,
the train 7 is temporarily stored on a storage track or the
5 like after the start of operation of the train 7 and before
the operation of the day is completed. The case where an
operation condition of the in-vehicle device to be measured
meets a prescribed operation condition during operation of
the railroad cars 6 corresponds to, for example, a case
10 where the temperature of the railroad cars 6, that is, the
train 7 during the operation thereof is equal to or lower
than a temperature set for grasping the operation state at
a significantly low temperature or equal to or higher than
a temperature set for grasping the operation state at a
15 significantly high temperature. A prescribed operation
condition may be set in association with a travel point
such as a sharp curve or a steep slope along which the
train 7 runs, for example.
[0031] When starting instruction to the in-vehicle
20 devices, the control unit 23 notifies the auxiliary power
supplies 1 via the communication unit 21 that instructions
to the in-vehicle devices are to be started (step S102).
[0032] The control unit 23 selects each in-vehicle
device in the instruction order on the basis of the
25 information on the instruction order which is recorded in
the recording unit 22, the information on the instruction
order indicating what order to instruct the in-vehicle
devices installed in the railroad cars 6 to start operating
and to stop operating (step S103). In the case of the
30 train 7 illustrated in FIG. 1, the information on the
instruction order is as follow, for example: the air
conditioner 4a → the air conditioner 4b → the air
conditioner 4c → the air conditioner 4d → the air
11
conditioner 4e → the air conditioner 4f → the brake
compressor 3a → the brake compressor 3b → the brake
compressor 3c → the brake compressor 3d → the brake
compressor 3e → the brake compressor 3f. The control unit
5 23 selects one in-vehicle device at a time starting from
the air conditioner 4a.
[0033] The control unit 23 instructs, via the
communication unit 21, the selected in-vehicle device to
start operating (step S104). In the example described
10 above, the control unit 23 first instructs the air
conditioner 4a to start operating. After a lapse of a
prescribed period of time, that is, after the selected invehicle device has been operated for a predetermined period
of time, the control unit 23 instructs, via the
15 communication unit 21, the selected in-vehicle device to
stop operating (step S105). The control unit 23 receives,
via the communication unit 21, results of measurement of
the output voltage and the output current with respect to
the power outputted by the auxiliary power supply 1 during
20 operation of the selected in-vehicle device, from the
auxiliary power supply 1 (step S106). If all of the invehicle devices have not been selected (step S107: No), the
control unit 23 selects a next in-vehicle device in
accordance with the information on the instruction order
25 (step S103). Subsequent operations are as described above.
[0034] If all the in-vehicle devices have been selected
(step S107: Yes), that is, if selection of from the first
selected one to the brake compressor 3f has been completed
in the example described above, the control unit 23 outputs
30 the received measurement results (step S108). For example,
the control unit 23 may display the measurement results on
the display unit 25 or may transmit the measurement results
to a ground device which is not illustrated. In addition,
12
the control unit 23 may record the measurement results in
the recording unit 22, in order for a user to be able to
read the measurement results from the recording unit 22 via
a storage medium which is not illustrated. Thus, the
5 control unit 23 performs at least one of the operations:
recording the measurement results in the recording unit 22;
displaying the measurement results on the display unit 25;
and transmitting the measurement results to the ground
device. In this process, the control unit 23 may also
10 record in the recording unit 22, may display on the display
unit 25, or may transmit to the ground device, information
on the travel position of the train 7, the ambient
temperature of the train 7, or the like in addition to the
measurement results. Alternatively, the monitoring device
15 2 may collectively receive the measurement results from the
auxiliary power supply 1 in the case of Yes in step S107
without receiving the measurement result from the auxiliary
power supply 1 each time the operation for one in-vehicle
device is completed.
20 [0035] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of an auxiliary power supply 1 according to the first
embodiment. In the auxiliary power supply 1, upon
acquiring notification of starting instructions to the invehicle devices from a monitoring device 2 via the
25 communication unit 11 (step S201), the control unit 13
reads, from the recording unit 12, the information of the
instruction order in which the in-vehicle devices installed
in the railroad cars 6 are sequentially instructed to start
operating and stop operating. The control unit 13 controls
30 the operation of the measurement unit 15 on the basis of
the information on the instruction order. The measurement
unit 15 measures an output voltage and an output current of
the power outputted from the power supplying unit 14 in the
13
process of operation of the in-vehicle device selected by
the monitoring device 2, on the basis of the control
performed by the control unit 13 (step S202). The control
unit 13 records the measurement results of the output
5 voltage and the output current measured by the measurement
unit 15 in the recording unit 12 (step S203). The control
unit 13 transmits the measurement results of the output
voltage and the output current that have been measured by
the measurement unit 15 and recorded in the recording unit
10 12, to the monitoring device 2 via the communication unit
11 (step S204). The signal format used for transmitting
the measurement results from the auxiliary power supply 1
to the monitoring device 2 is set in advance in the
auxiliary power supply 1 and the monitoring device 2 by a
15 user or the like. Note that, when transmitting the
measurement results to the monitoring device 2, the control
unit 13 may perform control to transmit the measurement
results to a ground device which is not illustrated. If
the measurement has not completed for all the in-vehicle
20 devices (step S205: No), the control unit 13 performs
control to measure an output voltage and an output current
of the power outputted from the power supplying unit 14 for
the next in-vehicle device in accordance with the
information on the instruction order (step S202).
25 Subsequent operations are as described above.
[0036] If the measurement has been completed for all the
in-vehicle devices (step S205: Yes), the control unit 13
terminates the operations. Alternatively, the auxiliary
power supply 1 may collectively transmit the measurement
30 results to the monitoring device 2 in the case of Yes in
step S205 without transmitting the measurement result each
time the measurement for one in-vehicle device is completed.
[0037] The auxiliary power supply 1 performs the
14
measurement for two or more in-vehicle devices at the time
of start of operation of the railroad cars 6, that is, the
train 7, thereby making it possible to grasp the states of
the individual in-vehicle devices immediately before the
5 start of operation, and to reduce the possibility of
failure of the in-vehicle device during the operation.
[0038] In addition, the auxiliary power supply 1
performs measurement for two or more in-vehicle devices
when the railroad cars 6, that is, the train 7 is stored,
10 thereby making it possible to acquired information for
reference to be taken into account for maintenance menus
for each in-vehicle device, and to achieve labor-saving of
the maintenance.
[0039] In addition, the auxiliary power supply 1
15 performs measurement for two or more in-vehicle devices
when the operation condition of the in-vehicle device to be
measured meets a prescribed operation condition during
operation of the railroad cars 6, thereby making it
possible to perform the measurement under the condition of
20 actual operation. The auxiliary power supply 1 cooperates
with the monitoring device 2 to perform measurement when
the in-vehicle device is in a specific state, or to perform
measurement under a condition of a higher failurepossibility such as a specific air temperature, or the like,
25 so as to intensively monitor some specific in-vehicle
devices or device, thereby making it possible to collect
information depending on the needs of the operator. Note
that the auxiliary power supply 1 may perform measurement
only for a specific in-vehicle device in a case where the
30 operation condition of the in-vehicle device to be measured
meets a prescribed operation condition during operation of
the railroad cars 6. In this case, even if measured values
have a different tendency from previously measured values,
15
the auxiliary power supply 1 cannot identify which of the
in-vehicle devices has an anomaly. Nevertheless, the
auxiliary power supply 1 can detect that an anomaly has
occurred in any of the in-vehicle devices, so that the
5 supply 1 can issue an alert informing the user or the like
of a sign of failure. The user who has noticed the alert
can examine the train 7 in detail.
[0040] As described above, since the auxiliary power
supply 1 and the monitoring device 2 cooperate with each
10 other, the data collection system 8 can grasp the states of
the in-vehicle devices installed in the railroad cars 6
more actively than a case where measurement is periodically
performed at regular intervals. Note that, because the
operation states of the train 7 differ from each other in
15 the three patterns of the cases where the auxiliary power
supply 1 performs measurements, the measurement results of
the auxiliary power supply 1 may vary depending on the
patterns. In such a case, it is sufficient that the user
conduct operation to determine whether or not an anomaly
20 has occurred in the train 7 on the basis of a measured
value that is farthest from a measured value obtained in a
normal state.
[0041] Next, a hardware configuration of the auxiliary
power supply 1 will be described. In the auxiliary power
25 supply 1, the communication unit 11 is a communicator. The
recording unit 12 is a memory. The power supplying unit 14
is a power conversion circuit. The measurement unit 15 is
a measuring instrument capable of measuring an electric
voltage and an electric current. The control unit 13 is
30 implemented by a processing circuit. The processing
circuit may be constituted by a processor that is
configured to execute programs stored in a memory and that
memory, or by dedicated hardware.
16
[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
case where the processing circuit with which the auxiliary
power supply 1 according to the first embodiment is
provided is implemented by a processor and a memory. In
5 the case where the processing circuit is constituted by a
processor 91 and a memory 92, the functions of the
processing circuit of the auxiliary power supply 1 are
implemented by software, firmware, or any combination of
software and firmware. The software or firmware is
10 described in their respective forms of programs and stored
in the memory 92. The processing circuit implements the
functions by reading and executing the programs stored in
the memory 92 by the processor 91. Specifically, the
processing circuit includes the memory 92 for storing
15 programs based on which processes of the auxiliary power
supply 1 are to be executed as a result. In other words,
these programs cause a computer to execute the procedures
and the methods of the auxiliary power supply 1.
[0043] Note that the processor 91 may be based on a
20 central processing unit (CPU), a processing device, a
computing device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a
digital signal processor (DSP), or the like. In addition,
the memory 92 may correspond to a nonvolatile or volatile
semiconductor memory such as a random access memory (RAM),
25 a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable
programmable ROM (EPROM), or an electrically EPROM (EEPROM:
registered trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an
optical disk, a compact disc, a mini disc, a digital
versatile disc (DVD) or the like, for example.
30 [0044] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
case where the processing circuit included in the auxiliary
power supply 1 according to the first embodiment is
configured by dedicated hardware. In the case where the
17
processing circuit is configured by dedicated hardware, a
processing circuitry or circuit 93 illustrated in FIG. 6
corresponds to a single circuit, a composite circuit, a
programmed processor, a parallel-programmed processor, an
5 application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field
programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof,
for example. The functions of the auxiliary power supply 1
may be implemented separately by the processing circuit 93
function by function, or may be implemented collectively by
10 the processing circuit 93.
[0045] Note that some of the functions of the auxiliary
power supply 1 may be implemented by dedicated hardware,
and the remainder thereof may be implemented by software or
firmware. In such a manner, the processing circuit is
15 capable of implementing the above-described functions by
dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or any combination
thereof.
[0046] A hardware configuration of the monitoring device
2 will be described. In the monitoring device 2, the
20 communication unit 21 is a communicator. The recording
unit 22 is a memory. The operation unit 24 is an input
interface such as a switch and/or a keyboard. The display
unit 25 is a display exemplified by a liquid crystal
display (LCD) or the like. The control unit 23 is
25 implemented by a processing circuit. In a manner similar
to the case of the auxiliary power supply 1, the processing
circuit may be based on a processor that executes programs
stored in a memory and the memory, or may be based on a
dedicated hardware set.
30 [0047] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, when a prescribed event has occurred in the
train 7, the monitoring device 2 causes the in-vehicle
devices to sequentially operate, and the auxiliary power
18
supply 1 measures and records an output voltage and an
output current from the auxiliary power supply 1 during
operation of each of the in-vehicle devices. This enables
the auxiliary power supply 1 to automatically record, at a
5 desired timing, the state of the in-vehicle device
installed in the railroad car 6. Furthermore, the
monitoring device 2 receives an operation performed by the
user, that is, specifically, an instruction to start
measurement for each in-vehicle device, and in response to
10 this reception the auxiliary power supply 1 can
automatically record the states of the in-vehicle devices
installed in the railroad cars 6 at a timing or timings
desired by the user. In addition, the monitoring device 2
displays the measurement results of the auxiliary power
15 supply 1, and by virtue of this displaying the user can
monitor the states of the in-vehicle devices installed in
the train 7 in real time.
[0048] Second Embodiment.
In the first embodiment, the description has been
20 given for a case where the auxiliary power supply 1
performs measurement using the monitoring device 2 as a
starting point. In a second embodiment, description will
be given for a case where measurement is performed using
the auxiliary power supply 1 as a starting point.
25 [0049] In the second embodiment, the configuration of
the train 7 is similar to that in the first embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the configuration of
the data collection system 8 is similar to the
configuration in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.
30 [0050] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of an auxiliary power supply 1 according to the second
embodiment. In the auxiliary power supply 1, when a
prescribed event has occurred, the control unit 13
19
determines to start measurement for the in-vehicle devices
(step S211). The prescribed event is a case where the
railroad cars 6 are powered on or a case where the railroad
cars 6 are stored. A prescribed event targeted by the
5 auxiliary power supply 1 may also be referred to as a
second event. The control unit 13 notifies the monitoring
device 2 of an instruction to start measurement for the invehicle devices via the communication unit 11 (step S212).
The operations in subsequent steps S202 to S205 are similar
10 to the operations in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 4.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of the monitoring device 2 according to the second
embodiment. In the monitoring device 2, the control unit
15 23 acquires a notification that starting measurement for
the in-vehicle devices has been determined, from an
auxiliary power supply 1 via the communication unit 21
(step S111). The operations in subsequent steps S103 to
S108 are similar to those in the first embodiment
20 illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0052] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the configuration is made such that the
auxiliary power supply 1 initiates the measurement of the
output voltage and the output current. In this case as
25 well, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can
be produced.
[0053] Third Embodiment.
In a third embodiment, the monitoring device 2
determines whether or not a measurement result obtained
30 from the auxiliary power supply 1 is within a prescribed
range. The description will be made using the first
embodiment as an example, but is also applicable to the
second embodiment.
20
[0054] In the third embodiment, the configuration of the
train 7 is similar to the configuration in the first
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the
configuration of the data collection system 8 is similar to
5 the configuration in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0055] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of a monitoring device 2 according to the third embodiment.
The operations from step S101 to step S107 are similar to
10 those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. In
the monitoring device 2, the control unit 23 determines
whether or not the measurement result received from the
auxiliary power supply 1 is within the prescribed range
(step S121). As described above, the auxiliary power
15 supply 1 measures an output voltage and an output current
while the brake compressors 3 and the air conditioners 4
installed in the railroad cars 6, that is, the train 7 are
currently operating. For the brake compressors 3 and the
air conditioners 4, the ranges of the output voltage and
20 the output current of power outputted from the auxiliary
power supply 1 during normal operation can be defined. For
this reason, the monitoring device 2 records in advance
information on the ranges of output voltage and output
current of the auxiliary power supply 1 expected during
25 normal operation of the brake compressor 3 and the ranges
of output voltage and output current of the auxiliary power
supply 1 expected during normal operation of the air
conditioner 4, in the recording unit 22.
[0056] The control unit 23 outputs the received
30 measurement results, and determination results that are
results of the determination (step S122). The control unit
23 may display the measurement results and the
determination results on the display unit 25 or may
21
transmit the measurement results and the determination
results to a ground device, which is not illustrated, for
example. In addition, the control unit 23 may record the
measurement results and the determination results in the
5 recording unit 22, so as to enable a user to read the
measurement results and the determination results from the
recording unit 22 via a recording medium, which is not
illustrated. Specifically, the control unit 23 performs at
least one of the operations: recording the measurement
10 results and the determination results in the recording unit
22; displaying the measurement results and the
determination results on the display unit 25; and
transmitting the measurement results and the determination
results to a ground device.
15 [0057] Note that, in the third embodiment, the
operations of the auxiliary power supply 1 are similar to
those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0058] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the monitoring device 2 is configured to
20 determine whether or not the measurement result received
from the auxiliary power supply 1 is one in a good state,
that is, whether or not it is within the preset range.
This enables the monitoring device 2 to readily display the
states of the in-vehicle devices installed in the train 7
25 for the user. Note that the method for determination of a
measurement result performed in the control unit 23 of the
monitoring device 2 may be based on a method other than
determination of whether the measurement result is within
the prescribed range, that is comparison between the
30 measurement result and a threshold. The control unit 23 of
the monitoring device 2 may perform determination on the
measurement results on the basis of the shapes of waves
expressing the output voltage and the output current on a
22
time series basis, may perform determination on the
measurement results on the basis of distributions of
singular values calculated using previous measurement
results of the output voltage and the output current, or
5 may perform determination on the measurement results on the
basis of the gradients of increase or decrease of the
measurement results on a time series basis, for example.
[0059] Fourth Embodiment.
In a fourth embodiment, the auxiliary power supply 1
10 determines whether or not the measurement result is within
the prescribed range. The description will be made using
the first embodiment as an example, but is also applicable
to the second embodiment.
[0060] In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of
15 the train 7 is similar to the configuration in the first
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the
configuration of the data collection system 8 is similar to
the configuration in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 2.
20 [0061] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of an auxiliary power supply 1 according to the fourth
embodiment. The operations of from step S201 to step S203
are similar to those in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 4. In the auxiliary power supply 1, the control unit
25 13 determines whether or not the measurement result is
within a prescribed range (step S231). The method for
determination performed by the control unit 13 is similar
to the method for determination performed by the control
unit 23 of the monitoring device 2 in the third embodiment
30 described above. The control unit 13 records the
determination results that are results of determination, in
the recording unit 12 (step S232). The control unit 13
transmits the measurement results of the output voltage and
23
the output current measured by the measurement unit 15 and
the determination results to the monitoring device 2 via
the communication unit 11 (step S233). The signal format
used for transmitting the measurement results and the
5 determination results from the auxiliary power supply 1 to
the monitoring device 2 is set in advance in the auxiliary
power supply 1 and the monitoring device 2 by a user or the
like. Note that, when transmitting the measurement results
and the determination results to the monitoring device 2,
10 the control unit 13 may transmit the measurement results
and the determination results to a ground device, which is
not illustrated. The determination result can be expressed
by information of OK or NG in one-bit information, that is,
“0” or “1”. The operation in subsequent step S205 is
15 similar to the operation in the first embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0062] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation
of the monitoring device 2 according to the fourth
embodiment. The operations of from step S101 to step S105
20 are similar to those in the first embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 3. The control unit 23 receives, via the
communication unit 21, from the auxiliary power supply 1,
results of measurement of the output voltage and the output
current with respect to the power outputted by the
25 auxiliary power supply 1 during operation of the selected
in-vehicle device and results of determination on whether
or not the measurement results are respectively within the
prescribed ranges (step S131). If all of the in-vehicle
devices have not been selected (step S107: No), the control
30 unit 23 selects the next one of the in-vehicle devices in
accordance with the information on the instruction order
(step S103). Subsequent operations are as described above.
If all the in-vehicle devices have been selected (step
24
S107: Yes), that is, if selection of from the first
selected one to the brake compressor 3f has been completed
in the example described above, the control unit 23 outputs
the received measurement results and the determination
5 results (step S132). The control unit 23 may display the
measurement results and the determination results on the
display unit 25 or may transmit the measurement results and
the determination results to a ground device, which is not
illustrated, for example. In addition, the control unit 23
10 may record the measurement results and the determination
results in the recording unit 22, so as to enable a user to
read the measurement results and the determination results
from the recording unit 22 via a recording medium, which is
not illustrated. Specifically, the control unit 23 is
15 configured to perform at least one of the operations:
recording the measurement results and the determination
results in the recording unit 22; displaying the
measurement results and the determination results on the
display unit 25; and transmitting the measurement results
20 and the determination results to the ground device. In
this process, the control unit 23 may also record in the
recording unit 22, display on the display unit 25, and
transmit to the ground device, information on the travel
position of the train 7, the ambient temperature of the
25 train 7, and so on in addition to the measurement results
and the determination results.
[0063] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the auxiliary power supply 1 determines whether
or not the measurement results are those in good states,
30 that is, each of them is within a prescribed range, and
transmits the thus-obtained determination results to the
monitoring device 2. In this case as well, the same
effects as those in the third embodiment can be produced.
25
[0064] The configurations presented in the above
embodiments play a role of examples of contents of the
present invention, and can each be combined with other
publicly known techniques and partly omitted and/or
5 modified without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
Reference Signs List
[0065] 1, 1a, 1b auxiliary power supply; 2, 2a, 2b
10 monitoring device; 3a to 3f brake compressor; 4a to 4f
air conditioner; 5 communication line; 6a to 6f railroad
car; 7 train; 8 data collection system; 11, 21
communication unit; 12, 22 recording unit; 13, 23 control
unit; 14 power supplying unit; 15 measurement unit; 24
15 operation unit; 25 display unit.

We Claim :
1. A data collection system comprising:
a monitoring device to sequentially instruct two or
5 more in-vehicle devices installed in a railroad car to
start operating and to stop operating; and
an auxiliary power supply to sequentially measure an
output voltage and an output current while the in-vehicle
devices operate in turns in accordance with an instruction
10 from the monitoring device, and record measurement results.
2. The data collection system according to claim 1,
wherein
when a first event prescribed has occurred, when an
15 instruction from a user has been received, or when an
instruction from the auxiliary power supply has been
received, the monitoring device starts instruction to the
in-vehicle devices.
20 3. The data collection system according to claim 2,
wherein
the first event is a case where the railroad car is
powered on, a case where the railroad car is stored, or a
case where an operation condition of an in-vehicle device
25 to be measured meets a prescribed operation condition
during operation of the railroad car.
4. The data collection system according to claim 1,
wherein
30 when a second event prescribed has occurred, the
auxiliary power supply instructs the monitoring device to
start instruction to the in-vehicle devices.
27
5. The data collection system according to claim 4,
wherein
the second event is a case where the railroad car is
powered on or a case where the railroad car is stored.
5
6. The data collection system according to any one of
claims 1 to 5, wherein
the auxiliary power supply transmits the measurement
results to the monitoring device, and
10 the monitoring device accordingly performs at least
one of an operation of recording the measurement results,
an operation of displaying the measurement results, and an
operation of transmitting the measurement results to a
ground device.
15
7. The data collection system according to claim 6,
wherein
the monitoring device determines whether or not the
measurement result is within a prescribed range, and
20 accordingly performs at least one of an operation of
recording determination results, an operation of displaying
the determination results, and an operation of transmitting
the determination results to a ground device.
25 8. The data collection system according to claim 6,
wherein
the auxiliary power supply determines whether or not
the measurement result is within a prescribed range, and
transmits determination results to the monitoring device,
30 and
the monitoring device accordingly performs at least
one of an operation of recording the determination results,
an operation of displaying the determination results, and
28
an operation of transmitting the determination results to a
ground device.
9. An auxiliary power supply comprising:
5 a communication unit to communicate with a monitoring
device that sequentially instructs two or more in-vehicle
devices installed in a railroad car to start operating and
stop operating;
a power supplying unit to supply power to the in10 vehicle devices;
a measurement unit to sequentially measure an output
voltage and an output current from the power supplying unit
while the in-vehicle devices operate in turns in accordance
with an instruction from the monitoring device;
15 a recording unit to record measurement results that
are results of measurement performed by the measurement
unit, and information on an instruction order in which the
monitoring device instructs the in-vehicle devices; and
a control unit to instruct the measurement unit on a
20 measurement timing, and record the measurement results
measured by the measurement unit in the recording unit on
the basis of the information on the instruction order.
10. The auxiliary power supply according to claim 9,
25 wherein
when a prescribed event has occurred, the control unit
instructs the monitoring device to start instruction to the
in-vehicle devices.
30 11. The auxiliary power supply according to claim 10,
wherein
the event is a case where the railroad car is powered
on or a case where the railroad car is stored.
29
12. The auxiliary power supply according to any one of
claims 9 to 11, wherein
the control unit transmits the measurement results
recorded in the recording unit to the monitoring device via
5 the communication unit.
13. The auxiliary power supply according to claim 12,
wherein
the control unit determines whether or not the
10 measurement result is within a prescribed range, and
transmits determination results to the monitoring device
via the communication unit.
14. A monitoring device comprising:
15 a recording unit in which information on an
instruction order is recorded, the information indicating
an order in which two or more in-vehicle devices installed
in a railroad car are sequentially instructed to start
operating and to stop operating;
20 a control unit to sequentially instruct the in-vehicle
devices to start operating and to stop operating on the
basis of the information on the instruction order; and
a communication unit to communicate with an auxiliary
power supply that sequentially measures an output voltage
25 and an output current while the in-vehicle devices operate
in turns and records measurement results.
15. The monitoring device according to claim 14, wherein
when a prescribed event has occurred, when an
30 instruction from a user has been received, or when an
instruction from the auxiliary power supply has been
received, the control unit starts instruction to the invehicle devices.
30
16. The monitoring device according to claim 15, wherein
the event is a case where the railroad car is powered
on, a case where the railroad car is stored, or a case
where an operation condition of an in-vehicle device to be
5 measured meets a prescribed operation condition during
operation of the railroad car.
17. The monitoring device according to any one of claims
14 to 16, wherein
10 the control unit receives the measurement results from
the auxiliary power supply via the communication unit, and
accordingly performs at least one of an operation of
recording the measurement results in the recording unit, an
operation of displaying the measurement results on a
15 display unit, and an operation of transmitting the
measurement results to a ground device.
18. The monitoring device according to claim 17, wherein
the control unit determines whether or not the
20 measurement result is within a prescribed range, and
accordingly performs at least one of an operation of
recording determination results in the recording unit, an
operation of displaying the determination results on a
display unit, and an operation of transmitting the
25 determination results to a ground device.
19. The monitoring device according to claim 17, wherein
the control unit receives determination results of
determination on whether or not the measurement result is
30 within a prescribed range from the auxiliary power supply
via the communication unit, and accordingly performs at
least one of an operation of recording the determination
results in the recording unit, an operation of displaying
31
the determination results on a display unit, and an
operation of transmitting the determination results to a
ground device.
5 20. A data collecting method comprising:
an instructing step of sequentially instructing, by a
monitoring device, two or more in-vehicle devices installed
in a railroad car to start operating and to stop operating;
and
10 a measuring step of sequentially measuring, by an
auxiliary power supply, an output voltage and an output
current while the in-vehicle devices operate in turns in
accordance with an instruction from the monitoring device,
and recording measurement results.