1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT
GROUND SYSTEM;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED
2
DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance
5 management system for railroad cars and a maintenance
management ground system which is a ground system of the
maintenance management system.
Background
10 [0002] A railroad car is equipped with parts such as a
brake shoe, a bearing, a rubber packing, a filter, and an
insulator. These parts are consumable parts that cannot
deliver desired performance due to wear, deformation,
defacement, deterioration in insulation performance, or the
15 like according to aging or a travel distance. In order to
stably operate railroad cars, these parts are replaced
before the performance deteriorates.
[0003] Patent Literature 1 below discloses a maintenance
service system. The maintenance service system of Patent
20 Literature 1 determines whether operating time of a part or
the number of times the part has operated is within
guaranteed time or a guaranteed number of times,
respectively. When the part reaches a replacement
criterion level, the maintenance service system issues
25 instructions for taking the part out of storage and
conducting the replacement.
Citation List
Patent Literature
30 [0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2009-54190
3
Summary
Technical Problem
[0005] However, the degree of wear and tear or
deterioration of a part varies under various conditions
5 such as operating routes, environmental conditions, and
temperatures. In a case where the replacement criterion
level is uniformly determined, therefore, it is necessary
to adopt the strictest one of various conditions so as to
perform smooth maintenance service. Meanwhile, in a case
10 where a railroad car is operated under a relatively loose
condition, it is also conceivable that the degree of wear
and tear or deterioration of the part may be low even if
the part has reached the replacement criterion level. A
problem arising in such a case is that replacing the part
15 with a new replacement part increases the number of parts
used and the number of parts in stock, which leads to an
increase in maintenance cost.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of
the above, and an object of the present invention is to
20 obtain a maintenance management ground system capable of
performing smooth maintenance service while preventing an
increase in maintenance cost.
Solution to Problem
25 [0007] In order to solve the above-described problem and
achieve the object, a maintenance management ground system
according to the present invention comprises a data
management unit and a determination unit. The data
management unit holds and manages life information, the
30 life information being information on a life of a part to
be installed on a railroad car. The determination unit
determines whether it is necessary to replace a first part
with a new replacement part within a period in which a
4
periodic inspection of the railroad car is performed, on a
basis of the life information and carrying-in and carryingout
information, the carrying-in and carrying-out
information being information on a scheduled carrying-in
5 date and a scheduled carrying-out date, the scheduled
carrying-in date being a date on which the railroad car is
to be carried into an implementation site where the
periodic inspection is performed, the scheduled carryingout
date being a date on which the railroad car is to be
10 carried out of the implementation site, the first part
being expected to reach an end of life thereof after the
scheduled carrying-out date.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
15 [0008] The maintenance management ground system
according to the present invention has the effect of
enabling smooth maintenance service to be performed while
preventing an increase in maintenance cost.
20 Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train car system in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a maintenance management ground system in the
25 present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a
hardware configuration that implements a server apparatus
in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart to be used to describe operation
30 of a maintenance management system according to the present
embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram to be used to describe the
operation of the maintenance management system according to
5
the present embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
[0010] Hereinafter, a maintenance management system and
5 a maintenance management ground system according to an
embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note
that the present invention is not limited to the following
embodiment.
10 [0011] Embodiment.
First, a configuration of a maintenance management
system (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "maintenance
management system") for railroad cars according to the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
15 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration
example of a train car system 50 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of
a maintenance management ground system 100 in the present
embodiment. The maintenance management system according to
20 the present embodiment includes the train car system 50 and
the maintenance management ground system 100.
[0012] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the train car system 50
includes data processing units 2 and a transmission
processing unit 3. Each element of the train car system 50
25 is installed on a railroad car (hereinafter, simply
referred to as a "car") 5. A detector 1 is provided under
the floor of the car 5. The detector 1 is a device that
detects the degree of wear and tear on consumable parts
used in the car 5. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which
30 a single train set includes two cars 5, each of which is
equipped with a single detector 1. However, the
configuration of the present invention is not limited to
this example. Each car 5 may be equipped with two or more
6
detectors 1. In addition, a single train set may include a
single car, or may include three or more cars. Note that,
in the following description, a group of cars of a single
train set including a plurality of the cars 5 is referred
5 to as a "train" where appropriate.
[0013] Examples of the consumable parts include a brake
shoe, a rubber packing, a bearing, an air filter, an oil
filter, and various insulators. The detector 1 detects the
degree of wear and tear on the brake shoe, the degree of
10 deterioration of the rubber packing, the degree of wear on
the bearing, the degree of clogging or defacement of the
air filter and the oil filter, the degree of deterioration
of the insulator, and the like. Note that details of the
detection method will be described below with a brake shoe
15 as an example. In addition, the consumable parts described
herein are examples, and targets to be detected by the
detector 1 is not limited to these examples.
[0014] The result of detection performed by the detector
1 is transmitted to the data processing unit 2. On the
20 basis of the result of detection performed by the detector
1, the data processing unit 2 generates life information
that is information on the life of a part. Details of the
life information will be described below.
[0015] The life information is transmitted to the
25 transmission processing unit 3. The transmission
processing unit 3 aggregates the life information, and
transmits the aggregated life information to the
maintenance management ground system 100 that is a groundside
system of the maintenance management system.
30 [0016] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the maintenance
management ground system 100 is a computer system including
a server apparatus 10 and terminal devices 14, 15, and 16.
The server apparatus 10 includes a data management unit 11,
7
a determination unit 12, an order placement processing unit
13, a parts replacement instruction unit 20, and a stock
management unit 30.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the
5 maintenance management ground system 100 is used in three
departments, i.e., a management department 61, a materials
department 62, and a maintenance department 63.
Specifically, the server apparatus 10 and the terminal
device 14 are used in the management department 61. The
10 terminal device 15 is used in the materials department 62.
The terminal device 16 is used in the maintenance
department 63.
[0018] The management department 61 is a department that
manages maintenance of the car 5. FIG. 2 illustrates an
15 example in which the management department 61 also orders
parts. The materials department 62 is a department that
receives ordered parts. The received parts are stored in a
parts warehouse 31. The maintenance department 63 is a
department that performs parts replacement work. The parts
20 replacement work is performed using parts stored in the
parts warehouse 31. Detailed operation in each department
will be described below.
[0019] Note that the classification of departments and
the name of each department in FIG. 2 are examples, and the
25 classification of departments and the name of each
department are not limited to these examples. Other
departments or departments with other names may use the
maintenance management ground system 100. In addition,
although FIG. 2 illustrates each department having a single
30 terminal device, each department may have a plurality of
terminal devices. Alternatively, a plurality of
departments may share a single terminal device.
[0020] Next, hardware that implements the functions of
8
the server apparatus 10 will be described. FIG. 3 is a
diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration
that implements the server apparatus 10 in the present
embodiment.
5 [0021] Functions in the server apparatus 10 and data
transmission and data reception to be performed between the
train car system 50 and the terminal device 14 can be
implemented by, for example, an arithmetic device 101, a
storage device 102, a display device 103, an input device
10 104, and a communication interface 105 illustrated in FIG.
3.
[0022] The arithmetic device 101 is a central processing
unit (CPU). The arithmetic device 101 may be something
called a central processing unit, a processing unit, a
15 processor, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a digital
signal processor (DSP).
[0023] The storage device 102 is a nonvolatile or
volatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk, or the like.
Examples of the nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor
20 memory include a random access memory (RAM), a read only
memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read
only memory (EPROM), and an electrically erasable
programmable read only memory (EEPROM) (registered
trademark).
25 [0024] The display device 103 is a liquid crystal
monitor, a display, or the like. The input device 104 is a
keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The communication
interface 105 is, for example, a network interface card
(NIC).
30 [0025] The storage device 102 stores a program for
executing the functions of the server apparatus 10 in the
present embodiment, data generated by the server apparatus
10, and a database managed by the server apparatus 10. The
9
arithmetic device 101 executes the program stored in the
storage device 102. A result of calculation performed by
the arithmetic device 101 and information processed or
generated by the arithmetic device 101 are stored in the
5 storage device 102. The storage device 102 also holds
information received from the train car system 50 via the
communication interface 105, information exchanged with the
terminal devices 14, 15, and 16, and the like. The program
and data held in the server apparatus 10 are managed by an
10 administrator of the server apparatus 10 by use of the
display device 103 and the input device 104.
[0026] The terminal devices 14, 15, and 16 can also be
implemented by a hardware configuration similar to that in
FIG. 3. A user in each department can check or input
15 information and data necessary for operations of each
department by using each terminal device. Note that the
terminal devices 14, 15, and 16 need not be dedicated
devices, and may be general-purpose devices having a
wireless communication function, such as a personal
20 computer, a tablet terminal, and a smartphone.
[0027] Next, operation of the maintenance management
system according to the present embodiment will be
described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart to be used to describe
operation of the maintenance management system according to
25 the present embodiment. Note that, for easy understanding,
a brake shoe will be described as an example of a part in a
process to be performed by the train car system 50.
[0028] The brake shoe is an alloy formed of cast iron.
The brake shoe is a part that is pressed against a wheel
30 tread by air pressure and oil pressure. Alternatively, the
brake shoe is a part that generates a frictional force by
sandwiching a brake disc mechanically coupled to a wheel
and exerts a braking force on the car 5.
10
[0029] In many cases, the car 5 is equipped with a
regenerative brake separately from a brake mechanism using
a brake shoe. However, the performance of the regenerative
brake is not sufficient to rapidly decelerate the car from
5 high speed. For this reason, the brake mechanism using the
brake shoe is an essential element in the car 5. As
described above, the brake shoe is an important part that
gives sufficient braking force to the car 5 under
conditions where the regenerative brake does not
10 sufficiently function.
[0030] In principle, the brake shoe wears with use.
Specifically, the greater a frictional force to be
generated and the longer the time during which the
frictional force is generated, the larger the amount of
15 wear on the brake shoe. In other words, the greater a
brake force and the longer the time during which a brake is
applied, the larger the amount of wear on the brake shoe.
Meanwhile, the car 5 runs under various conditions. Thus,
there are cases where brakes are applied more frequently in,
20 for example, a local train that stops at every station and
a train running on a route with a gradient. In addition,
there are cases where brakes are applied less frequently in,
for example, a limited express train on a flat route.
Furthermore, some car 5 is equipped with a regenerative
25 brake, and some is not. The amount of wear on the brake
shoe therefore varies from car 5 to car 5. For these
reasons, the detector 1 collects information on the amount
of wear on the brake shoe for each car 5 or each wheel
(step S0).
30 [0031] Note that the amount of wear on the brake shoe
may be measured by use of a method of directly detecting
and outputting the thickness of the brake shoe.
Alternatively, it is also possible to use a method of
11
outputting an estimate of the amount of wear on the brake
shoe on the basis of the magnitude of air pressure and the
time during which the air pressure is applied. In addition,
other methods may be used.
5 [0032] The information on the amount of wear on the
brake shoe collected by the detector 1 is output to the
data processing unit 2 (step S1).
[0033] The data processing unit 2 generates life
information on the basis of the information from the
10 detector 1 (step S2). The life information is information
for estimating the state of deterioration of a part.
Specifically, an example of the life information is a ratio
of the thickness of the current brake shoe to the thickness
of a brand-new brake shoe. Instead of this, the thickness
15 itself of the current brake shoe may be used as the life
information. Another example of the life information is
the product of the magnitude of air pressure and the time
during which the air pressure is applied. Alternatively, a
ratio of the product of the magnitude of air pressure and
20 the time during which the air pressure is applied to a
comparison value, or the like may be used as the life
information. Note that in addition to these pieces of life
information, it is desirable that there be information
indicating a remaining life that represents the approximate
25 number of days for which the brake shoe can be used,
assuming that the brake shoe is continuously used. For
this reason, the data processing unit 2 calculates the
remaining life of the brake shoe by using the life
information (step S3). Note that, for ease of description,
30 the following description is based on the assumption that
the remaining life is included in the life information.
The data processing unit 2 outputs the life information to
the transmission processing unit 3 (step S4).
12
[0034] The transmission processing unit 3 aggregates the
life information on each part transmitted from a plurality
of the data processing units 2 in the cars or the train set
(step S5), and transmits the aggregated life information to
5 the maintenance management ground system 100 on the ground
side (step S6). Thereafter, the processing from step S1 to
step S6 is repeated. In addition, the processing of step
S7 and subsequent steps is performed simultaneously in
parallel to the processing of step 1 to step 6.
10 [0035] The life information transmitted from the train
car system 50 is input to and held in the data management
unit 11 of the maintenance management ground system 100.
Not only life information transmitted from the transmission
processing unit 3 of a single train set but also pieces of
15 life information transmitted from the transmission
processing units 3 of other train sets are input to the
data management unit 11. The data management unit 11
creates a database on the basis of the pieces of life
information from the plurality of train sets, and manages
20 the created data (step S7). The database preferably
includes a train number, a car number, reception time, a
device name, and a part name in addition to the life
information. Furthermore, the data management unit 11
calculates the average life of each part, and holds the
25 average life in the database (step S7). The average life
may be calculated when the life information is received, or
may be calculated when the reception processing is not
performed.
[0036] The data management unit 11 compares the received
30 life information with the average life held in the database.
When the difference therebetween is equal to or greater
than a determination value, the data management unit 11
generates difference information (step S7). The difference
13
information is information generated, for example, when
there is a difference between the amount of wear on a brake
shoe of a certain car and an average value as a result of
comparison, that is, when the difference between the amount
5 of wear and an average value for parts of the same type is
significant. This difference information can be seen using
the terminal devices 14, 15, and 16. When the difference
information is generated, the generated difference
information may be forcibly output to the terminal device
10 16 of the maintenance department. It is thus possible to
promptly inform a person in charge of maintenance that
there is an excessive amount of wear on the brake shoe. In
addition, the person in charge of maintenance can determine,
from the tendency of the difference information, that an
15 increase in the amount of wear on the brake shoe is due to
an anomaly in the car, such as excessive air pressure. As
a result, the person in charge of maintenance can quickly
take measures to reduce the amount of wear on the brake
shoe.
20 [0037] The life information received by the data
management unit 11 is output to the determination unit 12
in the subsequent stage (step S7). In addition to the life
information, carrying-in and carrying-out information is
input to the determination unit 12 (see FIG. 2). The
25 carrying-in and carrying-out information includes train
information, scheduled carrying-in date information,
scheduled carrying-out date information, return-tooperation
information, and the like. The train information
is information on a train number and a train set regarding
30 a train on which a periodic inspection is performed. The
scheduled carrying-in date information is information
regarding a scheduled date on which the train is to be
carried into an implementation site where the periodic
14
inspection is performed. The scheduled carrying-out date
information is information regarding a scheduled date on
which the train is to be carried out of the implementation
site where the periodic inspection is performed. The
5 return-to-operation information is information regarding a
scheduled date on which the train is to return to
commercial operation after the periodic inspection is
completed. The periodic inspection is performed in
accordance with a plan set in advance.
10 [0038] For easy understanding of the processing of step
S8 and subsequent steps in FIG. 4, description of FIG. 5
will be provided first. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram to be
used to describe the operation of the maintenance
management system according to the present embodiment. In
15 FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents time, and the
vertical axis represents action of maintenance work.
[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates the scheduling of periodic
inspections along the time axis. The "previous periodic
inspection" refers to a periodic inspection that has
20 already been performed. The “next periodic inspection”,
the “periodic inspection after next”, and the “third
periodic inspection” that follows the “periodic inspection
after next” are periodic inspections scheduled in the
future. The left end of each hatched rectangle represents
25 a scheduled carrying-in date, and the right end of each
hatched rectangle represents a scheduled carrying-out date.
In addition, assuming that the current time t is “t0”, the
determination unit 12 operates constantly at and after time
t0.
30 [0040] FIG. 5 illustrates a part A that is expected to
reach the end of its life before a scheduled carrying-in
date for the periodic inspection after next. When such a
part A exists, the determination unit 12 performs order
15
placement processing for the part A on the basis of an
estimated delivery time that spans a delivery time forward
from a deadline, so as to enable replacement work for the
part A to be performed at the time of the next periodic
5 inspection.
[0041] In addition, FIG. 5 illustrates a part B that is
expected to reach the end of its life before a scheduled
carrying-in date for the third periodic inspection. This
determination is also performed at time t0. When such a
10 part B exists, the determination unit 12 determines a
periodic inspection during which replacement work for the
part B is to be performed, taking an estimated delivery
time into consideration. In the example of FIG. 5, the
estimated delivery time for the part B is short. Therefore,
15 the replacement work can be performed during either the
next periodic inspection or the periodic inspection after
next. In such a case, order placement processing for the
part B is performed such that the replacement work is
performed at the time of the periodic inspection after next.
20 This enables the order placement processing for the part B
to be delayed, so that the current part B can be used for a
longer time within its lifetime. As a result, the overall
number of the parts B used can be reduced, and an increase
in maintenance cost can be prevented.
25 [0042] Reference is made back to FIG. 4. The
determination unit 12 determines whether there is any part
that will reach the end of its life before the scheduled
carrying-in date for the periodic inspection after next
(step S8). When there is no corresponding part (step S8,
30 No), the process proceeds to step S13. When there is a
corresponding part (step S8, Yes), the determination unit
12 extracts the part as a part to be replaced, and issues
an order instruction (step S9). Specifically, the
16
determination unit 12 transmits order instruction
information to the order placement processing unit 13.
After the processing of step S9, the processing of steps
S10 to S12 and the processing of step S13 and subsequent
5 steps are performed in parallel.
[0043] In addition to the order instruction information
transmitted from the determination unit 12, delivery time
information regarding the part is also input to the order
placement processing unit 13. The order placement
10 processing unit 13 performs processing of placing an order
for the part with a parts manufacturer on the basis of the
order instruction information and the delivery time
information (step S10). For example, assume that the part
will be delivered 30 days after. In this case, order
15 placement processing is performed at least 30 days before a
scheduled replacement date on which the part is to be
replaced during a period in which a periodic inspection is
performed, so as to enable the part to be delivered by the
data of the replacement of the part. The order placement
20 processing unit 13 outputs ordered parts information to the
terminal device 15 of the materials department 62. Note
that when performing order placement processing, the order
placement processing unit 13 may acquire stock information
regarding the ordered part from a stock list managed by the
25 stock management unit 30, and perform order placement
processing on the basis of the acquired stock information.
For example, if the parts in stock are not parts ordered
for replacement at the time of a periodic inspection, but
are parts acquired as spare parts, these spare parts in
30 stock may be utilized. This enables the parts in stock to
be effectively utilized.
[0044] When the parts are delivered from the parts
manufacturer, receiving work is performed in the materials
17
department 62 (step S11). The received parts are stored in
the parts warehouse 31. In addition, when the parts are
received, arrival information on the parts is input to the
terminal device 15, and an arrival number, which is the
5 number of the parts having arrived, is reflected in the
stock list (step S12).
[0045] After the processing in step S9, the
determination unit 12 determines whether a periodic
inspection is currently being performed (step S13). If no
10 periodic inspection is being performed (step S13, No), the
process returns to step S7, and the processing in and after
step S7 is repeated. Meanwhile, if a periodic inspection
is being performed (step S13, Yes), the determination unit
12 determines whether there is any part that will reach the
15 end of its life before a scheduled carrying-in date for the
next periodic inspection (step S14). When there is no
corresponding part (step S14, No), the process returns to
step S7, and the processing in and after step S7 is
repeated. Meanwhile, when there is a corresponding part
20 (step S14, Yes), the determination unit 12 issues a parts
replacement instruction to the parts replacement
instruction unit 20 so as to replace the part (step S15).
Specifically, the determination unit 12 outputs parts
replacement instruction information to the parts
25 replacement instruction unit 20. After the processing of
step S15, the processing of step S16 and the processing of
repeating the processing in and after step S7 are performed
in parallel to each other.
[0046] The parts replacement instruction unit 20 outputs,
30 to the terminal device 16 of the maintenance department 63,
replacement instruction information generated on the basis
of the parts replacement instruction information. The
replacement instruction information, which is information
18
necessary for parts replacement work, includes at least
information on a replacement part name, a device name, a
car number, a replacement date, and the number of parts.
The maintenance department 63 can obtain instruction and
5 information on parts replacement through the terminal
device 16. As a result, parts replacement work is
performed (step S16). When the replacement work is
completed, a work completion report is made using the
terminal device 16, and the number of parts used is
10 reflected in the stock list.
[0047] An example of the operation of the maintenance
management system according to the present embodiment has
been described above. In order to facilitate understanding,
a periodic inspection scheduled to be performed have been
15 described as being divided into three inspections, i.e.,
the “next periodic inspection”, the “periodic inspection
after next”, and the “third periodic inspection” in FIGS. 4
and 5. It is noted that dividing the scheduled periodic
inspection in this way is not essential. The following is
20 operation of the maintenance management system not based on
the scheduled periodic inspection divided in such a manner.
[0048] The determination unit 12 determines whether it
is necessary to replace a first part with a new replacement
part within a period in which a certain periodic inspection
25 is performed. The first part is expected to reach the end
of its life after a scheduled carrying-out date for the
certain periodic inspection. Assuming that the "certain
periodic inspection" mentioned here is the "next periodic
inspection" in FIG. 5, the "part A" in FIG. 5 is a part
30 expected to reach the end of its life after a scheduled
carrying-out date for the "next periodic inspection".
Therefore, the "first part" mentioned here is the "part A".
In addition, assuming that the "certain periodic
19
inspection" mentioned here is the "periodic inspection
after next" in FIG. 5, the "part B" in FIG. 5 is a part
expected to reach the end of its life after a scheduled
carrying-out date for the "periodic inspection after next".
5 Therefore, the "first part" mentioned here is the "part B".
[0049] Note that, in FIG. 5, in a case where an
estimated delivery time for the part A is long, it is
conceivable that there may be a case where even if an order
is placed at the time of determination, an ordered part is
10 not delivered in time for the next periodic inspection.
However, if the above-described maintenance management
system is continuously used, sufficient time is secured
before delivery of parts in most cases as in the order
placement processing for the parts A and B illustrated in
15 FIG. 5. Therefore, it can be considered that such a case
as failure to deliver an ordered part by the next periodic
inspection seldom arises. In addition, it goes without
saying that even in the case where an ordered part is not
delivered in time for the next periodic inspection, it is
20 possible to deal with such a case by carrying the part in
stock.
[0050] As described above, according to the present
embodiment, the determination unit determines whether it is
necessary to replace a first part with a new replacement
25 part within a period in which a periodic inspection is
performed, on the basis of the life information and the
carrying-in and carrying-out information. The first part
is expected to reach the end of its life after a scheduled
carrying-out date on which a train is to be carried out to
30 an implementation site where the periodic inspection is
performed. As a result, the first part can be used for a
longer time within its lifetime, so that the overall number
of the first parts used can be reduced. As a result, it is
20
possible to perform smooth maintenance service while
preventing an increase in maintenance cost.
[0051] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment,
the order placement processing unit further performs order
5 placement processing for a replacement part on the basis of
delivery time estimate information that estimates a
delivery time of the replacement part. In addition, the
order placement processing unit performs order placement
processing for a replacement part such that the first part
10 can be replaced with the replacement part at the time of
performing a periodic inspection that is performed before a
life prediction time point at which the first part is
expected to reach the end of its life. The processing
described above can reduce the number of parts in stock and
15 shorten a period of storage in the parts warehouse. As a
result, it is possible to surely perform smooth maintenance
service.
[0052] Moreover, according to the present embodiment,
when the replacement parts arrive at the implementation
20 site of the periodic inspection, the stock management unit
receives arrival information and the number of the
replacement parts having arrived, the arrival information
indicating arrival of the replacement parts, and reflects
the arrival information and the number in stock information
25 on the first part. In addition, when replacement work of
replacing the first part with the replacement part is
completed, the stock management unit receives completion
information and usage information on the first part, and
reflects the completion information and the usage
30 information in the stock information, the completion
information indicating completion of the replacement of the
first part with the replacement part. Furthermore, when
the determination unit determines that it is necessary to
21
replace the first part with the new replacement part within
the period in which the periodic inspection is performed,
the parts replacement instruction unit generates and
outputs instruction information for replacing the first
5 part with the replacement part. As a result of the
processing described above, it is possible to surely
perform smooth maintenance service.
[0053] In addition, according to the present embodiment,
the data management unit calculates the average life of a
10 plurality of the parts of the same type by using the life
information, and when there is a difference between a life
of the first part and the average life as a result of
comparison of the life of the first part with the average
life, the data management unit generates and outputs
15 difference information indicating the difference. As a
result, it is possible to determine an anomaly in a part
during regular work separated from inspection work, so that
it is possible to prevent an unexpected failure.
[0054] Note that the configuration illustrated in the
20 above embodiment shows an example of the subject matter of
the present invention, and it is possible to combine the
configuration with another technique that is publicly known,
and is also possible to omit or change part of the
configuration without departing from the scope of the
25 present invention.
[0055] For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, constituent
elements up to the data processing unit 2 are installed on
the car 5, and the data management unit 11 and the
subsequent units are placed in the maintenance management
30 ground system 100. However, the configuration of the
present invention is not limited to this configuration.
These components may be placed on either the car or the
ground as long as information can be exchanged.
22
[0056] In addition, the maintenance management system
for railroad cars has been described in the present
specification. However, it goes without saying that the
present invention can be applied not only to railroad cars,
5 but also to various related fields.
Reference Signs List
[0057] 1 detector; 2 data processing unit; 3
transmission processing unit; 5 car; 10 server apparatus;
10 11 data management unit; 12 determination unit; 13 order
placement processing unit; 14, 15, 16 terminal device; 20
parts replacement instruction unit; 30 stock management
unit; 31 parts warehouse; 50 train car system; 61
management department; 62 materials department; 63
15 maintenance department; 100 maintenance management ground
system; 101 arithmetic device; 102 storage device; 103
display device; 104 input device; 105 communication
interface.
We Claim:
1. A maintenance management ground system comprising:
5 a data management unit to hold and manage life
information, the life information being information on a
life of a part to be installed on a railroad car; and
a determination unit to determine whether it is
necessary to replace a first part with a new replacement
10 part within a period in which a periodic inspection of the
railroad car is performed, on a basis of the life
information and carrying-in and carrying-out information,
the carrying-in and carrying-out information being
information on a scheduled carrying-in date and a scheduled
carrying-out date, the scheduled carrying-in date being a
date on which the railroad car is to be carried into an
implementation site where the periodic inspection is
performed, the scheduled carrying-out date being a date on
which the railroad car is to be carried out of the
20 implementation site, the first part being expected to reach
an end of life thereof after the scheduled carrying-out
date.
2. The maintenance management ground system according to
25 claim 1, comprising: an order placement processing unit to
perform order placement processing for the replacement part
on the basis of a result of determination made by the
determination unit, the life information, and delivery time
estimate information, the delivery time estimate
30 information estimating a delivery time of the replacement
part.
3. The maintenance management ground system according to
claim 2, wherein
the order placement processing unit performs order
placement processing for the replacement part so as to
enable replacement of the first part with the replacement
5 part at a time of performing the periodic inspection that
is performed before a life prediction time point at which
the first part is expected to reach the end of life thereof.
4. The maintenance management ground system according to
10 claim 2 or 3, comprising: a stock management unit to
receive arrival information and a number of the replacement
parts having arrived, the arrival information indicating
arrival of the replacement parts, and reflect the arrival
information and the number in stock information on the
first part when the replacement parts arrive at the
implementation site.
5. The maintenance management ground system according to
claim 4, wherein
when replacement work of replacing the first part with
the replacement part is completed, the stock management
unit receives completion information and usage information
on the first part, and reflects the completion information
and the usage information in the stock information, the
completion information indicating completion of the
replacement of the first part with the replacement part.
6. The maintenance management ground system according to
any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: a parts replacement
instruction unit to generate and output instruction
information for replacing the first part with the
replacement part when the determination unit determines
that it is necessary to replace the first part with the new
replacement part within the period in which the periodic
inspection is performed.
7. The maintenance management ground system according to
any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the data management unit calculates an average life of
a plurality of parts of the same type as the part by using
the life information, and when there is a difference
between a life of the first part and the average life as a
result of comparison of the life of the first part with the
average life, the data management unit generates and
outputs difference information indicating the difference.
8. A maintenance management system comprising:
the maintenance management ground system according to
any one of claims 1 to 7; and
a train car system to transmit the life information to
the maintenance management ground system.
9. The maintenance management system according to claim 8,
wherein
the train car system transmits, as the life
information, information on an estimated life of the first
part to the maintenance management ground system.