FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
STATE-MONITORING DEVICE AND MAINTENANCE WORK ASSISTANCE
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
5 DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a state-monitoring device of an instrument
mounted on a train and a maintenance work assistance method.
10 BACKGROUND ART
[0002] For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a database in which a device name, a
model name, a component lifetime, a lifetime operation count, and a lifetime operation
time of a life-limited component or a consumable component in an electric car are
registered, and a device that records the number of times of operations and an operation
15 time of the life-limited component or the consumable component as a cumulative count,
and when a cumulative count value of the number of times of operations or the
operation time reaches a replacement reference value obtained from the lifetime, the
lifetime operation count, or the operation time registered in the database, notifies that
the corresponding component is to be replaced, using a display device.
20
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE
[0003] Patent Literature 1: JP 2018-29110 A
25 SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0004] However, since a large number of instruments are mounted on a train, there is a
problem that it takes a large amount of labor to inspect a life-limited component or a
consumable component used for the instrument.
3
5 [0005] The present disclosure solves the above problem, and an object thereof is to
obtain a state-monitoring device and a maintenance work assistance method capable of
reducing labor required for maintenance work of an instrument mounted on a train.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
10 [0006] A state-monitoring device according to the present disclosure includes: a state
estimating unit to estimate a state of an instrument using operation information of a
train on which the instrument is mounted; an instrument arrangement storing unit to
store instrument arrangement information indicating arrangement of the instrument in
the train; and a work plan output unit to extract an instrument to be maintained that
15 requires inspection or component replacement on a basis of a state estimation value of
the instrument, and output information regarding maintenance work in which the
instrument to be maintained and the instrument arrangement information are associated
with each other.
20 ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0007] According to the present disclosure, an instrument to be maintained that
requires inspection or component replacement is extracted from instruments mounted
on a train on the basis of a state estimation value of the instrument, and information
regarding maintenance work in which the extracted instrument to be maintained and
25 instrument arrangement information indicating arrangement of the instruments in the
train are associated with each other is output. Since the instrument to be maintained
can be easily discriminated by referring to the instrument arrangement information, the
maintenance work can be efficiently performed. As a result, the state-monitoring
device according to the present disclosure can reduce labor required for maintenance
4
5 work of the instrument mounted on the train.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device according to a first embodiment.
10 FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating state estimation processing in the first
embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating work plan output processing in the first
embodiment.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a first example of instrument arrangement
15 information, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an example of information in which
an instrument to be maintained and the first example of the instrument arrangement
information are associated with each other.
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a second example of the instrument
arrangement information, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an example of work plan
20 information in which the instrument to be maintained and the second example of the
instrument arrangement information are associated with each other.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of information in which instruments
to be maintained are arranged in order along an inspection route.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between operation
25 information and a state estimation value.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a modification of the
state-monitoring device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9A is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration for
implementing the functions of the state-monitoring device according to the first
5
5 embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration for
executing software for implementing the functions of the state-monitoring device
according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of work plan information
according to the first embodiment.
10 FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third example of the instrument arrangement
information.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of work plan information in which
an instrument to be maintained and the third example of instrument arrangement
information are associated with each other.
15 FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating input processing of a maintenance work
result.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example 1 of a maintenance work
20 result.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display example 2 of the maintenance work
result.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device according to a third embodiment.
25 FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating correction processing of a state estimation
model.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0009] First Embodiment.
6
5 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device 10 according to a first embodiment. The state-monitoring device 10
monitors states of a plurality of instruments mounted on the train, and outputs
information regarding maintenance work of the instruments on the basis of a monitoring
result of the states of the instruments. The instruments of the state-monitoring target
10 are instruments affected by the operation of the train, and are, for example, brake
devices having a brake controlling shoe as a component.
[0010] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the state-monitoring device 10 includes an on-board
device 20 mounted on a train and a ground device 30 disposed in a maintenance work
office or carried by a maintenance worker. The on-board device 20 is a computer
15 including a processing device, a storage device, and an input and output device.
Similarly to the on-board device 20, the ground device 30 is a computer including a
processing device, a storage device, and an input and output device. For example, the
ground device 30 may be an office computer including a display device, a keyboard, a
mouse, and a printer, or may be a portable tablet computer.
20 [0011] Although FIG. 1 illustrates the state-monitoring device 10 in which the onboard device 20 and the ground device 30 are connected on a one-to-one basis, the
ground device 30 may be connected to a plurality of on-board devices 20 mounted on a
plurality of cars, respectively, via a network. Further, in consideration that a plurality
of maintenance workers use the state-monitoring device 10, the state-monitoring device
25 10 may have a configuration in which a plurality of on-board devices 20 and a plurality
of ground devices 30 are connected.
[0012] The on-board device 20 includes an operation information acquiring unit 21, a
state estimation model 22, a state estimation value storing unit 23, and a state estimating
unit 24. The ground device 30 includes an instrument arrangement storing unit 31 and
7
5 a work plan output unit 32.
[0013] The operation information acquiring unit 21 acquires operation information of
a train on which instruments are mounted. For example, the operation information
acquiring unit 21 acquires operation information at any time or at regular intervals
through an in-train network. The train operation information is information indicating
10 an operation state of the train. The operation information includes, for example,
information indicating the driving operation of the train, the speed of the car, and the
braking force at each time. The information indicating the driving operation includes a
notch position of the train and the like.
[0014] The state estimation model 22 determines a function for estimating a state of an
15 instrument using operation information of the train and information indicating a past
state of the instrument mounted on the train. For example, the state estimation model
22 calculates, using the operation information at each time for estimating the state of the
instrument, a change amount of the state estimation value of the instrument at preceding
and subsequent times and calculates the state estimation value of the instrument at the
20 estimation target time using the calculated change amount. The instrument state
estimation processing is processing that is repeatedly and automatically executed during
operation of the train and estimates the state of the instrument at the time of execution.
[0015] The state estimation value storing unit 23 is a storage unit that stores the state
estimation value of the instrument estimated by the state estimating unit 24. Note that
25 numerical representation of the state of the instrument is a state value, and estimation of
the state value is a state estimation value. The state estimation value of the instrument
is obtained by quantifying the degree of change in the state of the instrument with the
lapse of time, and the value at the time when the instrument is subjected to component
replacement is "0". For example, since the brake controlling shoe is gradually worn by
8
5 the operation of the train, the wear amount of the brake controlling shoe over time
expressed in millimeters can be defined as the state value of the brake device. In
addition, a replacement reference value is set for each instrument. When the state
value of the instrument reaches the replacement reference value, it is determined that the
component of the instrument is at end of life and needs to be replaced.
10 [0016] The state estimating unit 24 estimates the state of the instrument mounted on
the train using the operation information of the train acquired by the operation
information acquiring unit 21, and outputs the state estimation value to the state
estimation value storing unit 23. For example, the state estimating unit 24 calculates
the state estimation value of the instrument using the operation information of the train
15 and the state estimation model 22. The state estimation processing is periodically
performed once a day, once a week, or the like. The state estimation processing may
be performed in conjunction with occurrence of a specific event such as a brake
operation.
[0017] In a case where a time at which a component is replaced last time is t0 and the
20 state estimation value of the instrument including the component at the time t0 is x0, a
state estimation value xi (i = 0,..., n) of the instrument at a time ti (i = 1,..., n) at which
the state estimation processing of the instrument is performed is expressed by the
following Formula (1). In the following Formula (1), Δxi is a change amount of the
state estimation value of the instrument from the time ti -1 to the time ti
.
25
[0018] The state estimation model 22 inputs the state xi -1 of the instrument at the time
ti -1 and the operation information Ti of the train from the time ti -1 to the time ti
, and
calculates the change amount Δxi using the function shown in the following Formula (2).
9
5
[0019] The following Formula (3) is derived from the above Formula (1) and the
above Formula (2). The state estimating unit 24 calculates the state estimation value xi
of the instrument at the time ti by using the following Formula (3).
10 [0020] The instrument arrangement storing unit 31 is a storage unit that stores
instrument arrangement information indicating arrangement of instruments in the cars
of the train. The instrument arrangement information is information in a graphic form
or a table form in which arrangement of instruments in the car can be visually
recognized, and is, for example, information indicating arrangement positions of a
15 plurality of instruments.
[0021] On the basis of the state estimation value of the instrument stored in the state
estimation value storing unit 23, the work plan output unit 32 extracts an instrument to
be maintained that requires inspection or component replacement from a plurality of
instruments mounted on the train, and outputs information regarding maintenance work
20 in which the instrument to be maintained and the instrument arrangement information
are associated with each other. The work plan output unit 32 outputs information
regarding the maintenance work to, for example, a display device or a printer. The
information regarding the maintenance work is displayed on the screen of the display
device and printed by the printer. The information regarding the maintenance work is
25 information in a graphic form or a table form in which the instrument to be maintained
in the car and the arrangement position thereof can be visually recognized.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the state estimation processing in the first
10
5 embodiment, and illustrates the state estimation processing of calculating the state
estimation value xi of the instrument at the time ti
. The operation information
acquiring unit 21 acquires operation information of the train through the in-train
network (step ST1). For example, the operation information acquiring unit 21 acquires
operation information indicating the driving operation, the speed, and the braking force
of the train from the time ti -1 to the time ti 10 , and outputs the operation information to the
state estimating unit 24.
[0023] The state estimating unit 24 acquires the past state estimation value of the
instrument stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 (step ST2). For example,
the state estimating unit 24 reads and acquires the state estimation value xi -1 of the
15 instrument at the time ti -1 stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23.
[0024] Next, the state estimating unit 24 calculates a state estimation value of the
instrument using the state estimation model 22 (step ST3). When the operation
information Ti from the time ti -1 to the time ti is input, the state estimation model 22
calculates the change amount Δxi from the time ti -1 to the time ti in accordance with the
20 above Formula (2). The state estimating unit 24 calculates the state estimation value xi
by adding the change amount Δxi to the state estimation value xi -1 at the time ti -1 in
accordance with the above Formula (1).
[0025] The state estimating unit 24 updates the state estimation value xi -1 at the time ti
-1 stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 with the state estimation value xi
25 calculated this time (step ST4). As a result, the newly estimated state estimation
values are sequentially stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23.
[0026] For example, in a case where the instrument of the state estimation target is a
brake device, the brake controlling shoe included in the brake device is gradually worn
every time the brake operation of the car is performed. Therefore, when the brake
11
5 controlling shoe is worn by a certain amount or more, it is necessary to replace the
brake controlling shoe with a new brake controlling shoe. Here, a difference in
thickness between a new brake controlling shoe and a worn brake controlling shoe is
defined as a wear amount, and it is assumed that this wear amount is a state value of the
brake device.
10 [0027] The state estimation model 22 estimates the change amount of the state value
of the brake device on the basis of the operation information. It is assumed that the
wear amount of the brake controlling shoe is proportional to a load amount (hereinafter,
referred to as a brake load amount) applied to the brake controlling shoe by the brake
operation. The state estimation model 22 calculates a change amount Δxi in
15 accordance with a function shown in the following Formula (4). In the following
Formula (4), “a” is a parameter determined for each state estimation model 22, and Ti is
operation information from the time ti -1 to the time ti
. In addition, the brake load
amount is acquired as the operation information Ti
. The brake load amount can be
calculated, for example, by integrating the product of a brake pressure and a car speed.
20
[0028] The following Formula (5) is derived from the above Formula (3) and the
above Formula (4). The state estimating unit 24 calculates a state estimation value
(wear amount) xi at the time ti in accordance with the following Formula (5) using the
operation information Ti
. In order to estimate the wear amount xi
, it is necessary to
25 appropriately determine the parameter a.
12
5 [0029] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating work plan output processing in the first
embodiment, which is processing before periodic maintenance work is performed on an
instrument. On the basis of the state estimation value of the instrument stored in the
state estimation value storing unit 23, the work plan output unit 32 extracts an
instrument to be maintained that requires inspection or component replacement from a
10 plurality of instruments mounted on the train (step ST1a). For example, in a case
where the state estimation value of the instrument is x, the replacement reference value
set for the instrument is xe, and the error between the state value of the instrument and
the state estimation value is m, if the state estimation value x exceeds a value obtained
by subtracting the error m from the replacement reference value xe, the state value may
15 exceed the replacement reference value xe. The inspection reference value xc, which is
a criterion for determining whether or not inspection of the instrument is necessary, is
calculated in accordance with the following Formula (6).
[0030] Next, the work plan output unit 32 classifies each of the instruments mounted
20 on the train as “inspection unnecessary”, “inspection necessary”, or “replacement
necessary” on the basis of the comparison result between the state estimation value x,
the replacement reference value xe, and the inspection reference value xc. When the
state estimation value x of the instrument is equal to or less than the inspection
reference value xc, the instrument does not need to be inspected, and thus is classified
25 into a group (A). When the state estimation value x of the instrument is equal to or
more than the inspection reference value xc, the inspection is necessary. However,
when the state estimation value x is less than the replacement reference value xe, there is
a high possibility that the replacement of the component is unnecessary. Therefore, the
13
5 instrument satisfying this condition is classified into a group (B). When the state
estimation value x of the instrument is equal to or more than the replacement reference
value xe, there is a high possibility that the instrument is an instrument that requires
inspection and component replacement, and thus the instrument satisfying this condition
is classified into a group (C). The work plan output unit 32 extracts the instrument
10 classified into the groups (B) and (C) as the instrument to be maintained.
(A) Inspection unnecessary x ≤ xc
(B) Inspection necessary xc ≤ x < xe
(C) Replacement necessary xe ≤ x
[0031] The work plan output unit 32 associates the instrument to be maintained that
15 has been extracted in step ST1a with the instrument arrangement information stored in
the instrument arrangement storing unit 31 (step ST2a). FIG. 4A is a diagram
illustrating a first example of the instrument arrangement information, and FIG. 4B is a
diagram illustrating an example of the work plan information in which the instrument to
be maintained is associated with the first example of the instrument arrangement
20 information. The instrument arrangement storing unit 31 stores instrument
arrangement information visually recognizable in a graphic form or a table form.
[0032] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating the first example of the instrument
arrangement information, and illustrates the instrument arrangement information
expressed in a plan view. The instrument arrangement information of FIG. 4A
25 indicates that four instruments 1A to 1D and four instruments 2A to 2D to be maintained
are arranged in each car of a two-car train. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an
example of work plan information in which the instruments 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D are
associated with the instrument arrangement information of FIG. 4A.
[0033] The work plan output unit 32 extracts, for example, the instrument 1A, the
14
5 instrument 2A, and the instrument 2D as instruments that require inspection from the
instruments 1A to 1D arranged in the car 1 and the instruments 2A to 2D arranged in the
car 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the work plan output unit 32 associates the instrument
1A, the instrument 2A, and the instrument 2D to be inspected with the instrument
arrangement information of FIG. 4A by generating the display information illustrated in
10 FIG. 4B in which the colors of the symbols of the instrument 1A, the instrument 2A,
and the instrument 2D in the instrument arrangement information illustrated in FIG. 4A
are changed.
[0034] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a second example of the instrument
arrangement information, and illustrates the instrument arrangement information
15 expressed in a table format. The instrument arrangement information of FIG. 5A
indicates that eight instruments 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D to be inspected are arranged in
the order along the inspection route in the car. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating an
example of information in which the instruments 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D are associated
with the instrument arrangement information of FIG. 5A. As in the case of FIG. 4B,
20 the work plan output unit 32 extracts the instrument 1A, the instrument 2A, and the
instrument 2D as instruments that require inspection.
[0035] The work plan output unit 32 provides, for example, a setting entry named
"Necessity of Inspection" for setting necessity of inspection of an instrument for table
data indicated by the instrument arrangement information in FIG. 5A. The work plan
25 output unit 32 associates the instrument 1A, the instrument 2A, and the instrument 2D
to be inspected with the instrument arrangement information of FIG. 5A by generating
information in which a circle symbol indicating that the instrument needs to be
inspected is set for portions corresponding to the instrument 1A, the instrument 2A, and
the instrument 2D in the setting entry.
15
5 [0036] Next, the work plan output unit 32 causes the display device to display
information in which the instrument to be maintained is associated with the instrument
arrangement information as work plan information (step ST3a). For example, the
work plan output unit 32 outputs the information in a graphic form illustrated in FIG.
4B or the information in a table form illustrated in FIG. 5B to the display device. The
10 display device displays the information in a graphic form illustrated in FIG. 4B or the
information in a table form illustrated in FIG. 5B on the screen. These pieces of
information may be printed using a printer.
[0037] For example, the maintenance worker can easily specify the instrument to be
inspected from the plurality of instruments arranged in the car by referring to the
15 symbol whose color has been changed in the information in the graphic form illustrated
in FIG. 4B. In addition, the maintenance worker can easily specify the instrument to
be inspected from the plurality of instruments arranged in the car by referring to the
portion in which the circle symbol is set in the information in the table form illustrated
in FIG. 5B.
20 [0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the work plan information in
which the instruments 1A to 1D and 2A to 2D are arranged in the order along the
inspection route, and represents, in a graphic form, information in which the instruments
1A to 1D and 2A to 2D are associated with the instrument arrangement information of
FIG. 5A. The work plan output unit 32 generates the work plan information illustrated
25 in FIG. 6 and outputs the work plan information to the display device. In the work
plan information illustrated in FIG. 6, the instruments to be inspected are displayed in
the order along the inspection route. The maintenance worker can reliably inspect the
instruments to be inspected by performing the inspection work along the inspection
route indicated by the work plan information.
16
5 [0039] Although the work plan information illustrated in FIG. 6 illustrates a case
where the inspection route is fixed regardless of the arrangement of the instruments to
be inspected, the work plan output unit 32 may change the existing inspection route
depending on the arrangement of the instruments to be inspected. For example, when
the arrangement position of the instruments to be inspected is specified on the basis of
10 the instrument arrangement information, the work plan output unit 32 searches for an
inspection route on which maintenance work can be most efficiently performed on the
instruments to be inspected, and changes the inspection route to the route of the search
result in a case where the route of the search result is different from the existing route.
As an inspection route on which maintenance work can be most efficiently performed
15 on the instruments to be inspected, there is a route that reaches the instrument to be
inspected by the shortest distance or in the shortest time. The work plan output unit 32
generates work plan information in which the instruments to be inspected are arranged
in the order along the changed inspection route, and displays the work plan information
on the display device.
20 [0040] A method of sequentially executing the processing illustrated in FIG. 2 and the
processing illustrated in FIG. 3 and outputting the work plan information is a
maintenance work assistance method according to the first embodiment. The
maintenance worker can discriminate the instrument to be maintained on the basis of the
instrument arrangement information by referring to the work plan information output by
25 the maintenance work assistance method according to the first embodiment. As a
result, it is possible to reduce labor required for maintenance work of the instruments
mounted on the train.
[0041] The function M (xi -1, Ti) of the state estimation model 22 needs to be
appropriately determined before the operation of the state-monitoring device 10 is
17
5 started. This processing is called construction of a state estimation model. The state
estimation model 22 is constructed by determining the parameter a in M (xi -1, Ti) = aTi
which is the function expressed in the above Formula (4). Two methods are
conceivable as a method of constructing the state estimation model 22.
[0042] A first method is a method of constructing the state estimation model 22 on the
10 basis of the physical law indicating the relationship between the operation information
of the train and the state change of the instrument. For example, when a physical law
regarding the relationship between the brake load amount and the wear amount of the
brake controlling shoe is known, the parameter a in the above Formula (4) can be
determined using this physical law.
15 [0043] A second method is a method of collecting actual measurement data indicating
a relationship between operation information of a train and a state change of an
instrument and constructing the state estimation model 22 on the basis of the collected
data. For example, the train on which the on-board device 20 is mounted is caused to
travel while recording the time-series data of the brake pressure and the car speed as the
20 operation information. The brake load amount that changes from moment to moment
is calculated on the basis of the time-series data of the brake pressure and the car speed.
Furthermore, by measuring the thickness of the brake controlling shoe every several
weeks, it is possible to record the difference in thickness from the time when the brake
controlling shoe is new as the wear amount.
25 [0044] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the
operation information and the state estimation value, and illustrates the relationship
between the brake load amount as the operation information and the state estimation
value x obtained by estimating the wear amount of the brake controlling shoe. The
value of the parameter a can be determined by the least squares method using the data
18
5 illustrated in FIG. 7. By using the state estimation model 22 defining the value of the
parameter a, the state estimation value (wear amount) xi at the time ti can be estimated
in accordance with the above Formula (5).
[0045] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a state-monitoring
device 10A which is a modification of the state-monitoring device 10. The state10 monitoring device 10A includes an on-board device 20A mounted on a train and a
ground device 30A disposed in a maintenance work office or carried by a maintenance
worker. Note that although FIG. 8 illustrates the state-monitoring device 10A in which
the on-board device 20A and the ground device 30A are connected on a one-to-one basis,
the ground device 30A may be connected to a plurality of on-board devices 20A
15 mounted on a plurality of cars, respectively, via a network. Furthermore, considering
that a plurality of maintenance workers simultaneously use the state-monitoring device
10A, the state-monitoring device 10A may have a configuration in which a plurality of
on-board devices 20A and a plurality of ground devices 30A are connected.
[0046] In the state-monitoring device 10A, the on-board device 20A includes an
20 operation information acquiring unit 21. The ground device 30A includes a state
estimation model 22, a state estimation value storing unit 23, a state estimating unit 24,
an instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and a work plan output unit 32. The
operation information acquiring unit 21 provided for each car acquires operation
information for each car and outputs the operation information to the ground device
25 30A. The state estimation model 22 is constructed for each car and each instrument.
On the basis of the state estimation value of the instrument stored in the state estimation
value storing unit 23, the work plan output unit 32 extracts an instrument to be
maintained that requires inspection or component replacement from a plurality of
instruments mounted on the train, and outputs information regarding maintenance work
19
5 in which the instrument to be maintained and the instrument arrangement information
are associated with each other. As a result, the state-monitoring device 10A makes it
possible to reduce labor required for maintenance work of the instruments mounted on
the train.
[0047] FIG. 9A is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration for
10 implementing the functions of the state-monitoring device 10, and FIG. 9B is a block
diagram illustrating a hardware configuration for executing software for implementing
the functions of the state-monitoring device 10. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, an input
interface 100 is, for example, an interface that relays operation information acquired
from the car by the operation information acquiring unit 21. An output interface 101 is,
15 for example, an interface that relays the work plan information output from the work
plan output unit 32 to the display device.
[0048] The functions of the operation information acquiring unit 21, the state
estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit 23, the state estimating unit
24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the work plan output unit 32 in the
20 state-monitoring device 10 are implemented by a processing circuit. That is, the statemonitoring device 10 includes a processing circuit for executing each processing
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware or a
central processing unit (CPU) that executes a program stored in a memory.
[0049] In a case where the processing circuit is a processing circuit 102 of dedicated
25 hardware shown in FIG. 9A, the processing circuit 102 corresponds, for example, to a
single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel-programmed
processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate
array (FPGA), or a combination thereof. The functions of the operation information
acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit
20
5 23, the state estimating unit 24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the
work plan output unit 32 in the state-monitoring device 10 may be implemented by
separate processing circuits, or these functions may be collectively implemented by one
processing circuit.
[0050] When the processing circuit is a processor 103 illustrated in FIG. 9B, the
10 functions of the operation information acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22,
the state estimation value storing unit 23, the state estimating unit 24, the instrument
arrangement storing unit 31, and the work plan output unit 32 in the state-monitoring
device 10 are implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and
firmware. Note that, software or firmware is written as a program and stored in a
15 memory 104.
[0051] The processor 103 reads and executes the program stored in the memory 104,
thereby implementing the functions of the operation information acquiring unit 21, the
state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit 23, the state estimating
unit 24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the work plan output unit 32 in
20 the state-monitoring device 10. For example, the state-monitoring device 10 includes
the memory 104 that stores a program that, when executed by the processor 103, results
in execution of each processing illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. These programs cause a
computer to execute procedures or methods performed by the operation information
acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit
25 23, the state estimating unit 24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the
work plan output unit 32. The memory 104 may be a computer-readable storage
medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as the operation
information acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value
storing unit 23, the state estimating unit 24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31,
21
5 and the work plan output unit 32.
[0052] Examples of the memory 104 correspond to a nonvolatile or volatile
semiconductor memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory
(ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or an
electrically-EPROM (EEPROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a
10 compact disk, a mini disk, and a DVD.
[0053] A part of the functions of the operation information acquiring unit 21, the state
estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit 23, the state estimating unit
24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the work plan output unit 32 in the
state-monitoring device 10 may be implemented by dedicated hardware, and a part
15 thereof may be implemented by software or firmware. For example, the operation
information acquiring unit 21 implements functions by the processing circuit 102 that is
dedicated hardware, and the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing
unit 23, the state estimating unit 24, the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, and the
work plan output unit 32 implement functions by the processor 103 reading and
20 executing programs stored in the memory 104. Thus, the processing circuit can
implement the above functions by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination
thereof.
[0054] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of work plan information
according to the first embodiment, and illustrates work plan information in which the
25 number of components to be replaced predicted for an instrument that requires
component replacement is aggregated for each area in which the instrument is disposed.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a third example of the instrument arrangement
information. The work plan information illustrated in FIG. 10 describes that three
instruments are arranged in each car of a four-car train. The inspection place is
22
5 divided into an area 1 and an area 2, and each area is provided with a component storage
place (a component storage place 1 and a component storage place 2) in which a
replacement component is disposed.
[0055] In the instrument arrangement storing unit 31, for example, as illustrated in
FIG. 11, instrument arrangement information in a table format is stored. In the
10 instrument arrangement information, in which of the area 1 or the area 2 the instruments
A to L are arranged and on which of the cars 1 to 4 the instruments A to L are mounted
are set. The work plan output unit 32 classifies each of the instruments A to L
mounted on the cars 1 to 4 as “inspection unnecessary”, “inspection necessary”, or
“replacement necessary” on the basis of the comparison result between the state
15 estimation value x of the instrument, the replacement reference value xe, and the
inspection reference value xc.
[0056] The work plan output unit 32 extracts an instrument that requires component
replacement from the instruments classified as “inspection necessary”, or “replacement
necessary”, and predicts the number of instruments that require component replacement
20 for each area. The instrument that requires component replacement in the area 1 is the
instrument C, and the instruments that require component replacement in the area 2 are
the instrument H, the instrument J, and the instrument L. The work plan output unit 32
predicts that the number of instruments estimated to require component replacement on
the basis of the state estimation value x is one in the area 1 and is three in the area 2.
25 [0057] Subsequently, the work plan output unit 32 generates work plan information in
a graphic form illustrated in FIG. 10 by associating the predicted number of instruments
with the instrument arrangement information. The work plan information generated
by the work plan output unit 32 is displayed on a screen by a display device or output in
the form of paper by a printer. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
23
5 work plan information in which the instrument to be maintained is associated with the
third example of the instrument arrangement information. The work plan information
in the table form illustrated in FIG. 12 is information in which the necessity of
inspection or component replacement of the instrument and a predicted value for each
area of the number of instruments that require component replacement are associated
10 with the instrument arrangement information illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0058] The work plan output unit 32 provides a first setting entry named "Necessity of
Inspection and Replacement" for setting necessity of inspection of an instrument and
component replacement with respect to table data indicated by the instrument
arrangement information of FIG. 10, and further provides a second setting entry for
15 setting a predicted value for each area of the number of instruments that require
component replacement. The work plan output unit 32 sets a circle symbol indicating
that the instrument needs to be inspected for portions corresponding to the instrument A,
the instrument D, the instrument F, and the instrument I that require inspection in the
first setting entry, sets a double circle symbol indicating that the instrument needs
20 component replacement for portions corresponding to the instrument C, the instrument
H, the instrument J, and the instrument L that require component replacement in the first
setting entry, and generates work plan information in which the number of instruments
that require component replacement is set for each area in the second setting entry.
The work plan information generated by the work plan output unit 32 is displayed on a
25 screen by a display device or output in the form of paper by a printer.
[0059] Since the work plan information illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12 describes the
predicted value for each area of the number of instruments that require component
replacement, the maintenance worker can dispose the replacement component in the
component storage place of each area. When there is no prediction information on the
24
5 number of instruments that require component replacement, a larger number of
replacement components are arranged in the component storage place, or replacement
components are carried into the component storage place at a time point when it is
determined that the component replacement is necessary by inspecting the instruments.
On the other hand, when there is prediction information of the number of instruments
10 that require component replacement, it is possible to arrange a number of replacement
components close to the required number in the component storage place before starting
the inspection. As a result, the number of components excessively transported from
the warehouse to the component storage place can be reduced. Furthermore, the
frequency of transporting the components from the warehouse after the start of the
15 inspection is reduced, and the time required for the transportation work is shortened.
Furthermore, it is possible to dispose a replacement component in a component storage
place in the vicinity of an instrument that requires component replacement among a
plurality of component storage places, and a moving time between the component
storage place and the work site is shortened.
20 [0060] As described above, in the state-monitoring device 10 or 10A according to the
first embodiment, the work plan output unit 32 extracts an instrument to be maintained
that requires inspection or component replacement from instruments mounted on the
train on the basis of the state estimation value of the instruments, and outputs
information regarding maintenance work in which the extracted instrument to be
25 maintained is associated with instrument arrangement information indicating
arrangement of instruments in the train. Since the instrument to be maintained can be
easily discriminated by referring to the instrument arrangement information, the
maintenance work can be efficiently performed. As a result, the state-monitoring
device 10 or 10A can reduce labor required for maintenance work of instruments
25
5 mounted on the train.
[0061] In the maintenance work of the instrument, an ideal time for component
replacement of the instrument is immediately before the end of the life of the
component. If the component replacement can be performed immediately before the
end of the life of the component, the use period of the component can be lengthened as
10 much as possible while avoiding defects due to time degradation of the component. In
order to determine that a component included in an instrument is in a state immediately
before the end of its life, it is necessary to repeatedly inspect the instrument at short
intervals. However, since many instruments are mounted on a train, it takes a lot of
labor to repeatedly inspect all the instruments at short intervals. On the other hand,
15 since the state-monitoring device 10 or 10A can easily discriminate the instrument to be
maintained by referring to the instrument arrangement information, it is possible to
repeatedly perform the maintenance work of all the instruments at short intervals.
[0062] In addition, in the state-monitoring device 10 or 10A according to the first
embodiment, the work plan output unit 32 outputs display information in which the
20 instruments to be maintained are arranged in the order along the inspection route on the
basis of the instrument arrangement information. The instruments to be inspected can
be reliably inspected by performing the inspection work along the inspection route
indicated by the work plan information.
[0063] Furthermore, in the state-monitoring device 10 or 10A according to the first
25 embodiment, the work plan output unit 32 predicts the number of instruments that
require component replacement for each area in which the instruments are arranged, and
outputs information including the predicted number of instruments for each area. It is
possible to dispose a replacement component in advance in the vicinity of an instrument
that requires component replacement, and it is possible to reduce man-hours of
26
5 maintenance work.
[0064] Second Embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device 10B according to the second embodiment. The state-monitoring
device 10B reduces an error of the state estimation value by reflecting, in the state
10 estimation value of the instrument, the work result information obtained by performing
the maintenance work on the instrument to be maintained. As illustrated in FIG. 13,
the state-monitoring device 10B includes an on-board device 20B and a ground device
30B. Note that although FIG. 13 illustrates the state-monitoring device 10B in which
the on-board device 20B and the ground device 30B are connected on a one-to-one basis,
15 the ground device 30B may be connected to a plurality of on-board devices 20B
mounted on each of a plurality of cars via a network. Further, in consideration that a
plurality of maintenance workers use the state-monitoring device 10B, the statemonitoring device 10B may have a configuration in which a plurality of on-board
devices 20B and a plurality of ground devices 30B are connected.
20 [0065] The on-board device 20B includes an operation information acquiring unit 21,
a state estimation model 22, a state estimation value storing unit 23, a state estimating
unit 24, and a state estimation value correcting unit 25. The operation information
acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit
23, and the state estimating unit 24 function similarly to those of the state-monitoring
25 device 10 or 10A according to the first embodiment.
[0066] The state estimation value correcting unit 25 corrects the state estimation value
stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 on the basis of the work result
information whose input has been received by a work result input unit 33. The state
estimating unit 24 estimates the state of the instrument on the basis of the operation
27
5 information acquired by the operation information acquiring unit 21 and the past state
estimation value of the instrument stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23
and corrected by the state estimation value correcting unit 25 in a procedure similar to
that of the first embodiment.
[0067] The ground device 30B includes an instrument arrangement storing unit 31, a
10 work plan output unit 32, and a work result input unit 33. The instrument arrangement
storing unit 31 and the work plan output unit 32 function similarly to those of the statemonitoring device 10 or 10A according to the first embodiment. The work result input
unit 33 receives input of work result information indicating a maintenance work result
for the instrument to be maintained.
15 [0068] After completion of the work, the maintenance worker inputs the work result
using an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, or inputs the work result at the
work site using a touch panel included in the tablet computer. The input of the work
result information input by the input device is received by the work result input unit 33.
The work result information received by the work result input unit 33 is output to the
20 state estimation value correcting unit 25.
[0069] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating input processing of a maintenance work
result, and illustrates a series of processing that is started by the maintenance worker
after work or during work.
The work result input unit 33 receives an input of work result information from
25 the maintenance worker (step ST1b). The work result information is information
indicating whether or not the maintenance work of the instrument has been performed in
accordance with the work plan. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example 1
of the maintenance work result, which is displayed on the display device as an input
screen of the maintenance work result by the work result input unit 33, for example.
28
5 In the display example 1 of the maintenance work result, an input field named
"Inspection and Replacement result" is added to the information in a table form
illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0070] The maintenance worker refers to the setting entry named "Necessity of
Inspection and Replacement" in the information in a table form illustrated in FIG. 15,
10 and sequentially inspects the instrument for which the circle symbol is set and the
instrument for which the double circle symbol is set. In the maintenance work, the
maintenance worker performs the component replacement for the instrument that has
been estimated not to require component replacement but is actually determined to be in
a state requiring the component replacement. On the contrary, the component
15 replacement is not performed for an instrument that has been estimated to require
component replacement, but is actually determined to be in a state not requiring the
component replacement.
[0071] In a case where the maintenance work is performed in accordance with the
work plan, for example, in FIG. 15, in a case where it is not necessary to perform
20 component replacement also in the work result for the instrument for which the circle
symbol is set in the setting entry of the "Necessity of Inspection and Replacement", the
maintenance worker sets an arrow symbol in the input field of the "Inspection and
Replacement result". Similarly, in a case where the component replacement is
performed for an instrument for which a double circle symbol is set in the setting entry
25 of "Necessity of Inspection and Replacement", the maintenance worker sets an arrow
symbol in the input field of "Inspection and Replacement result".
[0072] In addition, when the maintenance work is not in the work plan, for example, in
FIG. 15, in a case where it has been necessary to perform component replacement in the
work result for the instrument for which a circle symbol has been set in the setting entry
29
5 of "Necessity of Inspection and Replacement", the maintenance worker sets a double
circle symbol indicating that the component has been replaced in the input field of
"Inspection and Replacement result". When the component replacement has not been
performed on the instrument for which a double circle symbol has been set in the setting
entry of "Necessity of Inspection and Replacement", the maintenance worker sets a
10 circle symbol indicating that only an inspection has been performed in the input field of
"Inspection and Replacement result". In FIG. 15, the instrument C has been planned to
perform component replacement, but the component replacement is not actually
performed, and the instrument D has been planned not to perform component
replacement, but the component replacement is actually performed. Maintenance work
15 is performed on each of the instrument B, the instrument F, the instrument G, the
instrument H, the instrument I, and the instrument L as planned.
[0073] Next, the state estimation value correcting unit 25 corrects the state estimation
value stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 on the basis of the work result
information received by the work result input unit 33 (step ST2b). For example, the
20 state estimation value correcting unit 25 refers to the work result information illustrated
in FIG. 15 to specify the instrument D, the instrument H, the instrument J, and the
instrument L in which the component replacement is actually performed, and resets the
state estimation value of the specified instrument to zero among the state estimation
values stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23. In addition, the state
25 estimation value correcting unit 25 refers to the work result information illustrated in
FIG. 15 to specify the instrument C for which it has been estimated that it has been
necessary to perform component replacement in the work plan, but the component
replacement is not actually performed, and returns the state estimation value x of the
instrument C to the replacement reference value xe.
30
5 [0074] By the work result input unit 33 receiving the input of the work result from the
maintenance worker, the state estimation value correcting unit 25 can reset only the
state estimation value of the instrument in which the component replacement is actually
performed among the state estimation values stored in the state estimation value storing
unit 23. As a result, the actual work result can be reflected in the state estimation
10 value of the instrument.
[0075] In a case where the state of the instrument can be measured in the maintenance
work, the maintenance worker inputs the measurement result to the ground device 30B.
The measurement result is received by the work result input unit 33. The state
estimation value correcting unit 25 corrects the state estimation value stored in the state
15 estimation value storing unit 23 depending on the measurement result received by the
work result input unit 33. For example, the wear amount of the brake controlling shoe
can be measured at the time of inspection of the brake device. The result of actually
measuring the state of the instrument is a “state measurement value”.
[0076] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display example 2 of the maintenance work
20 result, which is displayed on the display device as an input screen of the maintenance
work result by the work result input unit 33, for example. The display example 2 of
the maintenance work result is obtained by adding an input field named "Inspection and
Replacement result", a display field named "state estimation value", and an input field
named "state measurement value" to the information in the table form illustrated in FIG.
25 12.
[0077] The maintenance worker refers to the setting entry named "Necessity of
Inspection and Replacement" in the information in a table form illustrated in FIG. 16,
and sequentially inspects the instruments for which the circle symbol is set and the
instrument for which the double circle symbol is set. In the maintenance work, the
31
5 maintenance worker obtains the state measurement value of the instrument by
measuring the state of the instrument to be maintained using the measuring device.
The maintenance worker compares the state measurement value with the replacement
reference value to determine whether or not it is necessary to perform component
replacement. When the state measurement value of the instrument is equal to or more
10 than the replacement reference value, the maintenance worker performs component
replacement of the instrument. The state measurement value is set in an input field of
"state measurement value" in the information in a table form illustrated in FIG. 16.
When the state measurement value set in the input field is received by the work result
input unit 33, the state measurement value is output to the state estimation value
15 correcting unit 25.
[0078] The state estimation value correcting unit 25 corrects the state estimation value
of each instrument stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 on the basis of, for
example, the maintenance work result information illustrated in FIG. 16. For example,
the state estimation value correcting unit 25 replaces the state estimation value of the
20 instrument stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 with the state
measurement value for the instrument to which the state measurement value is input.
Note that, since the component replacement is actually performed for the instrument D,
the instrument H, the instrument J, and the instrument L, the state estimation value is
reset to zero.
25 [0079] When the state of the instrument is actually measured in the maintenance work,
the error of the state estimation value of the instrument is reduced by reflecting the
measurement result in the state estimation value. The inspection reference value can
be brought close to the replacement reference value. When the inspection reference
value becomes a value close to the replacement reference value, it is suppressed that an
32
5 instrument that should be determined not to require inspection in consideration of the
life of the instrument is estimated to require inspection, and thus the number of
instruments that require inspection can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reduce
labor required for maintenance work of the instruments mounted on the train.
[0080] Note that the maintenance work result information illustrated in FIG. 16
10 illustrates a case where the state estimation values of all the instruments to be
maintained are replaced with the state measurement values. However, the state
estimation value correcting unit 25 does not necessarily need to correct the state
estimation values of all the instruments. For example, it is conceivable that a
difference between the state estimation value and the state measurement value is large in
15 the instrument on which unplanned maintenance work is performed. Therefore, the
state estimation value correcting unit 25 may replace the state estimation value of only
the instrument on which unplanned maintenance work has been performed with the
state measurement value.
[0081] As described above, the state-monitoring device 10B according to the second
20 embodiment further includes the work result input unit 33 and the state estimation value
correcting unit 25. The state estimation value correcting unit 25 corrects the state
estimation value stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 on the basis of the
work result information received by the work result input unit 33. The state estimating
unit 24 estimates the state of the instrument on the basis of the operation information
25 acquired by the operation information acquiring unit 21 and the state estimation value
stored in the state estimation value storing unit 23 and corrected by the state estimation
value correcting unit 25. As a result, the actual work result can be reflected in the state
estimation value of the instrument.
[0082] In the state-monitoring device 10B according to the second embodiment, the
33
5 work result input unit 33 outputs information indicating whether or not component
replacement is required in the instrument to be maintained, and receives input of work
result information indicating the instrument for which component replacement has been
required but is not required in the maintenance work or the instrument for which
component replacement has not been required but is required in the maintenance work.
10 As a result, the actual work result can be reflected in the state estimation value of the
instrument.
[0083] In the state-monitoring device 10B according to the second embodiment, the
work result input unit 33 receives an input of a measurement result of the state of the
instrument measured in the maintenance work. The state estimation value correcting
15 unit 25 corrects the state estimation value stored in the state estimation value storing
unit 23 depending on the measurement result received by the work result input unit 33.
As a result, an error between the state estimation value and the state measurement value
of the instrument is reduced.
[0084] Third Embodiment.
20 FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a statemonitoring device 10C according to the third embodiment. The state-monitoring
device 10C corrects the state estimation model 22 using the work result information of
the maintenance work performed on the instrument, thereby reducing the error of the
state estimation value. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the state-monitoring device 10C
25 includes an on-board device 20C and a ground device 30C. Note that although FIG.
17 illustrates the state-monitoring device 10C in which the on-board device 20C and the
ground device 30C are connected on a one-to-one basis, the ground device 30C may be
connected to a plurality of on-board devices 20C mounted on each of a plurality of cars
via a network. Further, in consideration that a plurality of maintenance workers use
34
5 the state-monitoring device 10C, the state-monitoring device 10C may have a
configuration in which a plurality of on-board devices 20C and a plurality of ground
devices 30C are connected.
[0085] The on-board device 20C includes an operation information acquiring unit 21,
a state estimation model 22, a state estimation value storing unit 23, a state estimating
10 unit 24, and a state estimation model correcting unit 26. The operation information
acquiring unit 21, the state estimation model 22, the state estimation value storing unit
23, and the state estimating unit 24 function similarly to those of the state-monitoring
device 10 or 10A according to the first embodiment.
[0086] The state estimation model correcting unit 26 corrects the state estimation
15 model 22 on the basis of the work result information whose input has been received by
the work result input unit 33. The state estimating unit 24 estimates the state of the
instrument using the operation information acquired by the operation information
acquiring unit 21, the past state estimation value of the instrument stored in the state
estimation value storing unit 23, and the state estimation model 22 corrected by the state
20 estimation model correcting unit 26 in a procedure similar to that of the first
embodiment.
[0087] The ground device 30C includes an instrument arrangement storing unit 31, a
work plan output unit 32, and a work result input unit 33. The instrument arrangement
storing unit 31 and the work plan output unit 32 function similarly to those of the state25 monitoring device 10 or 10A according to the first embodiment. The work result input
unit 33 receives input of work result information indicating a maintenance work result
for the instrument to be maintained.
[0088] After completion of the work, the maintenance worker inputs the work result
using an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, or inputs the work result at the
35
5 work site using a touch panel included in the tablet computer. The input of the work
result information input by the input device is received by the work result input unit 33.
The work result information received by the work result input unit 33 is output to the
state estimation model correcting unit 26.
[0089] If the error of the state estimation value estimated by the state estimation model
10 22 is small, the inspection reference value can be set to a value close to the replacement
reference value. As a result, it is possible to reliably extract an instrument that requires
component replacement. However, the change tendency of the state of the instrument
gradually changes corresponding to the change in the environment in which the
instrument is placed. Therefore, in order to maintain the accuracy of the state
15 estimation model 22, it is necessary to correct the state estimation model 22 during the
operation of the state-monitoring device 10C.
[0090] In the creation stage of the work plan information before the maintenance work
is performed, the state estimating unit 24 estimates the state estimation value x of the
instrument by using the operation information T and the state estimation model 22 after
20 the last component replacement in a procedure similar to that in the first embodiment.
When the state estimation value x reaches the replacement reference value, it is
estimated that the instrument requires component replacement. If the state
measurement value x 'of the instrument measured during the maintenance work does not
reach the replacement reference value, the component replacement of the instrument is
25 not performed. In this case, since the state estimation model 22 is considered to
excessively estimate the state estimation value x, the state estimation model correcting
unit 26 corrects the state estimation model 22 so that the error x-x' of the state
estimation value becomes small.
[0091] Generally, there is a variation in the error of the state estimation. Therefore, if
36
5 the state estimation model 22 is corrected using only the result of the state estimation
performed once, the accuracy of the state estimation model 22 may decrease.
Therefore, the state estimation model correcting unit 26 corrects the state estimation
model 22 so as to output an intermediate value between the state estimation value x and
the state measurement value x' by using the state estimation model 22 after correction
10 and the operation information T used for calculating the state estimation value x by the
model before correction.
[0092] The function of the state estimation model 22 after the correction is expressed
by the following Formula (7). When the instrument to be subjected to the state
estimation is a brake device including a brake controlling shoe, the state estimation
15 value x can be expressed by the following Formula (8) using the parameter a.
[0093] The parameter a' after the state estimation model 22 is corrected can be
calculated from the following Formula (10) using the following Formula (9). The state
estimation model correcting unit 26 can correct the state estimation model 22 in a
20 direction in which accuracy is improved by determining the value of the parameter a'
satisfying the following Formula (10).
[0094] FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating correction processing of the state estimation
model 22, and is repeatedly executed when the state estimation value is corrected by the
37
5 work result information received by the work result input unit 33. As a result, it can be
expected that the output of the state estimation model 22 gradually approaches the
actual state value. The work result input unit 33 receives an input of a work result
indicating that the maintenance work of the instrument has been performed on the basis
of the state measurement value x' measured during the maintenance work instead of the
10 state estimation value x of the instrument (step ST1c).
[0095] The state estimation model correcting unit 26 specifies an instrument on which
unplanned maintenance work has been performed on the basis of the work result
received by the work result input unit 33, and acquires the operation information T
when the state estimation value of the instrument has been calculated and the parameter
15 that defines the function of the state estimation model 22 before correction. This
parameter is the parameter a in the above Formula (8) when the instrument is the brake
device. The state estimation model correcting unit 26 corrects the function of the state
estimation model 22 to be M(T) = (x + x')/2 shown in the above Formula (7) in
accordance with the above Formula (10) (step ST2c). For example, when the
20 instrument is a brake device, the parameter a is replaced with (x + x')/2T in accordance
with the above Formula (10).
[0096] As described above, the state-monitoring device 10C according to the third
embodiment includes the state estimation model correcting unit 26 that corrects the state
estimation model 22 on the basis of the work result information whose input has been
25 received by the work result input unit 33. The state estimating unit 24 estimates the
state of the instrument using the operation information and the state estimation model
22 corrected by the state estimation model correcting unit 26. As a result, the statemonitoring device 10C can accurately estimate the state of the instrument. That is,
since the error of the state estimation value of the instrument is reduced, the inspection
38
5 reference value can be brought close to the replacement reference value. When the
inspection reference value becomes a value close to the replacement reference value, it
is suppressed that an instrument that should be determined not to require inspection in
consideration of the life of the instrument is estimated to require inspection, and thus the
number of instruments that require inspection can be reduced. As a result, it is
10 possible to reduce labor required for maintenance work of the instruments mounted on
the train.
[0097] Note that combinations of each embodiments, modifications of any
components of each of the embodiments, or omissions of any components in each of the
embodiments are possible.
15
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0098] The state-monitoring device according to the present disclosure can be used as,
for example, an assistance device that assists maintenance work of a plurality of
instruments mounted on a train.
20
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0099]
1, 2, 3, 4: car, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D: instrument, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C: statemonitoring device, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C: on-board device, 21: operation information
25 acquiring unit, 22: state estimation model, 23: state estimation value storing unit, 24:
state estimating unit, 25: state estimation value correcting unit, 26: state estimation
model correcting unit, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C: ground device, 31: instrument arrangement
storing unit, 32: work plan output unit, 33: work result input unit, 100: input interface,
101: output interface, 102: processing circuit, 103: processor, 104: memory
30
39
5 WE CLAIM:
1. A state-monitoring device comprising:
a state estimating unit to estimate a state of an instrument using operation
information of a train on which the instrument is mounted;
an instrument arrangement storing unit to store instrument arrangement
10 information indicating arrangement of the instrument in the train; and
a work plan output unit to extract the instrument to be maintained that requires
inspection or component replacement on a basis of a state estimation value of the
instrument, and output information regarding maintenance work in which the instrument
to be maintained and the instrument arrangement information are associated with each
15 other.
2. The state-monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the work plan
output unit outputs display information in which the instruments to be maintained are
arranged in order along an inspection route on a basis of the instrument arrangement
20 information.
3. The state-monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the work plan
output unit predicts the number of instruments that require component replacement for
each of areas in which the instruments are arranged, and outputs information including
25 the number of instruments predicted for each of the areas.
4. The state-monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further
comprising:
a state estimation value storing unit to store a state estimation value
40
5 representing a state of the instrument at a numerical value;
a work result input unit to receive an input of work result information
indicating a maintenance work result of the instrument; and
a state estimation value correcting unit to correct the state estimation value
stored in the state estimation value storing unit on a basis of the work result information
10 whose input has been received by the work result input unit,
wherein the state estimating unit estimates the state of the instrument on a basis
of the operation information and the state estimation value stored in the state estimation
value storing unit.
15 5. The state-monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the work result
input unit outputs information indicating whether or not component replacement is
required in the instrument to be maintained, and receives input of work result
information indicating the instrument for which component replacement has been
required but is not required in maintenance work or the instrument for which component
20 replacement has not been required but is required in maintenance work.
6. The state-monitoring device according to claim 4,
wherein the work result input unit receives an input of a measurement result of
the state of the instrument measured in the maintenance work, and
25 the state estimation value correcting unit corrects the state estimation value
stored in the state estimation value storing unit depending on the measurement result
whose input has been received by the work result input unit.
7. The state-monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising:
41
5 a state estimation model to determine a function for estimating a state of the
instrument on a basis of the operation information;
a work result input unit to receive an input of work result information
indicating a maintenance work result of the instrument; and
a state estimation model correcting unit to correct the state estimation model on
10 a basis of the work result information whose input has been received by the work result
input unit,
wherein the state estimating unit estimates the state of the instrument using the
operation information and the state estimation model corrected by the state estimation
model correcting unit.
15
8. The state-monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a state
estimation value storing unit to store a state estimation value representing a state of the
instrument at a numerical value,
wherein the state estimation value storing unit stores a corrected state
20 estimation value of the instrument on a basis of work result information indicating a
maintenance work result of the instrument, and
the state estimating unit estimates the state of the instrument on a basis of the
operation information and the corrected state estimation value stored in the state
estimation value storing unit.
25
9. The state-monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a state estimation model to determine a function for estimating a state of the
instrument using the operation information and a past state of the instrument;
a state estimation model correcting unit to correct the state estimation model on

5 a basis of work result information indicating a maintenance work result of the
instrument; and
a state estimation value storing unit to store a state estimation value
representing the state of the instrument at a numerical value;
wherein the state estimating unit estimates the state of the instrument using the
10 operation information, a past state estimation value of the instrument, and the state
estimation model corrected by the state estimation model correcting unit.
10. A maintenance work assistance method comprising:
estimating, by a state estimating unit, a state of an instrument using operation
15 information of a train on which the instrument is mounted;
extracting, by a work plan output unit, the instrument to be maintained that
requires inspection or component replacement on a basis of a state estimation value of
the instrument; and
outputting information regarding maintenance work in which the instrument to
20 be maintained and instrument arrangement information indicating arrangement of the
instrument stored in an instrument arrangement storing unit are associated with each
other.