Soil discharge system and method for measuring number of times soil is discharged

Abstract

To provide a soil discharge system capable of accurately calculating the amount of soil to be put into a soil hopper.SOLUTION: A soil discharge system 1 comprises a soil hopper 10, a bucket 20, a bucket detection sensor 70 that detects the tilting of the bucket 20, soil height detection means 51 that detects a height of soil in the soil hopper 10, and soil discharge measurement means 52 that measures the number of times the bucket 20 has been discharged. The soil discharge measurement means 52 increments the number of times the bucket 20 has been discharged by one when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 and the fluctuation value of the height of soil in the soil hopper 10 detected by the soil height detection means 51 becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an earth removal system and an earth removal count measurement method. [Background technology]

[0002] In excavation work such as caisson and shield tunneling, excavated soil is dumped into a soil hopper installed on the ground, where it is temporarily stored, and then discharged into the loading section of a dump truck located below the soil hopper. One method of dumping soil into a soil hopper involves lifting a bucket loaded with soil using a crane or the like, and tilting the bucket above the soil hopper's inlet to dump the soil into the soil hopper (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7191427 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional method for dumping soil into a soil hopper described above, the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper is calculated based on the number of times the bucket is tilted. The number of times the bucket is tilted is measured using a sensor that detects the tilting of the bucket. However, when the bucket is shaken by the influence of wind or the like, the sensor may erroneously detect the tilting of the bucket, which reduces the accuracy of the calculation of the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a soil discharge system and a method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped, which can accurately calculate the amount of soil dumped into a soil hopper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a first invention is a soil discharge system comprising a soil hopper capable of storing soil and discharging the soil downward, a bucket for transporting the soil, a bucket detection sensor for detecting the tilting of the bucket, a soil height detection means for detecting the height of the soil in the soil hopper, and a soil discharge measurement means for measuring the number of times the bucket has been discharged. The system is configured such that the soil in the bucket is discharged into the soil hopper by tilting the bucket above the inlet of the soil hopper. The soil discharge measurement means increments the number of times the bucket has been discharged when the bucket detection sensor detects the tilting of the bucket and the fluctuation value of the height of the soil in the soil hopper detected by the soil height detection means becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value. In the soil discharge system of the present invention, the number of times the bucket has discharged soil is incremented when soil is dumped into the soil hopper and the height of the soil in the soil hopper changes. This makes it possible to accurately measure the number of times soil has been dumped into the soil hopper, and to accurately calculate the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper.

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the second invention is a method for measuring the number of times soil is discharged using the above-mentioned soil discharge system, and includes a bucket detection process for detecting tilting of the bucket by the bucket detection sensor, a soil discharge process for tilting the bucket above the soil hopper's inlet and discharging the soil in the bucket into the soil hopper, a soil height detection process for detecting the height of the soil in the soil hopper, and a soil discharge count measurement process for incrementing the number of times the bucket is discharged by one when the bucket detection sensor detects tilting of the bucket and the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper detected by the soil height detection means becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value. In the method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped into the soil hopper according to the present invention, the number of times the bucket is tilted is incremented when the height of the soil in the soil hopper changes. This makes it possible to accurately measure the number of times soil is dumped into the soil hopper, and to accurately calculate the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper.

[0007] In the above-mentioned soil discharge system, it is preferable that the soil discharge measurement means stops incrementing the number of soil discharges of the bucket for a predetermined time period after incrementing the number of soil discharges of the bucket once. With this configuration, when the empty bucket is returned to the loading position for soil and sand after the soil and sand has been discharged, it is possible to prevent the bucket detection sensor from erroneously detecting the tilting of the bucket.

[0008] In the above-mentioned soil discharge system, it is preferable that the soil height detection means includes a distance measuring sensor installed above the inlet of the soil hopper, and detects the height of the soil in the soil hopper based on the distance from the distance measuring sensor to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper. In this configuration, the height of the soil in the soil hopper is detected using a distance measuring sensor, which makes the structure simple, reduces costs, and can be easily applied to existing soil hoppers.

[0009] In the above-described soil discharge system, it is preferable that the soil hopper stops discharging soil after the bucket detection sensor detects the tilting of the bucket until the soil discharge measurement means increments the number of soil discharges of the bucket by one. When the tilting of the bucket is detected, and the soil is discharged from the soil hopper, the soil height may decrease, and the fluctuation value of the soil height may not exceed the threshold value. In this case, the number of times the bucket has been discharged is not added up. On the other hand, in the above-mentioned configuration, since soil is not discharged from the soil hopper until the number of times the bucket has been discharged is incremented, the number of times soil has been put into the soil hopper can be accurately counted. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The soil discharge system and method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped into the soil hopper of the present invention can accurately measure the number of times soil is dumped into the soil hopper based on the fluctuation of the height of the soil in the soil hopper, and can accurately calculate the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper. By knowing the amount of soil stored in the soil hopper based on the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper, the soil removal work can be accurately planned. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an earth removal system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a soil hopper of the soil discharge system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a bucket of the soil removal system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an earth removal system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1 is a flowchart of a method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an earth removal system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an earth removal system 1 applied to the pneumatic caisson construction method will be described. In the earth removal work in the pneumatic caisson construction method, as shown in Fig. 1, excavated earth and sand are loaded into a bucket 20, and the earth and sand are transported by the bucket 20 and dumped from the bucket 20 into an earth and sand hopper 10. Furthermore, the earth and sand stored in the earth and sand hopper 10 is discharged into the loading section of a dump truck T arranged below the earth and sand hopper 10, and the earth and sand are transported by the dump truck T.

[0013] The soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of soil hoppers 10 and a bucket 20 provided for each soil hopper 10. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing the soil removal system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the soil removal system 1 includes a bucket detection sensor 70 that detects the tilting of the bucket 20, a plurality of distance measuring sensors 40 installed above the soil hopper 10, a soil dumping management device 50 that manages the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper 10, and a display means 60 that displays the amount of soil stored in the soil hopper 10.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a soil hopper of the soil discharge system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the soil hopper 10 is a funnel-shaped container whose lower end is smaller than its upper end, and which is capable of storing soil and discharging the stored soil downward. The soil hopper 10 has an inlet 11 at its upper end surface, and an openable and closable outlet 12 at its lower end surface. In the soil hopper 10, soil is stored inside with the discharge outlet 12 closed, and the soil is discharged downward by opening the discharge outlet 12. The soil hopper 10 is supported at a predetermined height by a number of legs, as shown in Fig. 1. A space capable of parking a dump truck T is provided directly below the discharge port 12 of the soil hopper 10. The soil hopper 10 is also disposed inside the lower part of a tower-shaped support body 30.

[0015] 2, the distance measurement sensor 40 is installed directly above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10. In this embodiment, three distance measurement sensors 40 are arranged at intervals in the horizontal direction, but the number of distance measurement sensors 40 is not limited. The distance measuring sensor 40 is a known sensor of an optical type, a radio wave type, etc. The distance measuring sensor 40 outputs electromagnetic waves such as laser light or millimeter waves toward the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, and measures the distance from the distance measuring sensor 40 to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper 10 by receiving and analyzing the electromagnetic waves reflected by the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper 10.

[0016] 1, bucket 20 is a cylindrical container with a bottom capable of carrying earth and sand. Bucket 20 is suspended by a wire 33 of a conveying device 32 provided on an arm 31 extending laterally from the upper part of support body 30. Conveying device 32 is provided on arm 31 extending laterally from the upper part of support body 30. The bucket 20 can be moved laterally along the arm 31 by the transport device 32, and can be raised and lowered by letting out or reeling in the wire 33 by the transport device 32. The bucket 20 can be moved between the excavation site and directly above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a bucket of the soil removal system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3, an engagement portion 21 is suspended from the lower end of the bucket 20. The engagement portion 21 in this embodiment is formed by attaching a weight to the lower end of a chain. In the soil removal system 1 of this embodiment, a tilting member 22 is provided in the movement path of the bucket 20 above the soil hopper 10. When the bucket 20 is moved toward directly above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, the engagement portion 21 of the bucket 20 is hooked into a recessed portion of the tilting member 22 just before the inlet 11. With the engaging portion 21 of the bucket 20 engaged with the tilting member 22, when the bucket 20 is further moved toward directly above the feed opening 11 while the wire 33 is let out to lower the upper portion of the bucket 20, the bucket 20 tilts around the engaging portion 21 so that the upper portion of the bucket 20 lowers. As a result, the opening on the top surface of the bucket 20 faces downward, and the soil in the bucket 20 is dumped into the soil hopper 10 through the feed opening 11.

[0018] The bucket detection sensor 70 is a non-contact sensor that uses light or a laser. When the bucket 20 tilts, a part of the bucket 20 enters a detection area of ​​the bucket detection sensor 70, and the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilt of the bucket 20. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the bucket 20 when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the bucket 20 is smaller than the inclination angle of the bucket 20 when soil begins to be discharged from the bucket 20. In other words, the bucket detection sensor 70 is set to detect the tilting of the bucket 20 before the soil in the bucket 20 is dumped into the soil hopper 10.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4, the soil dumping management device 50 is equipped with a soil height detection means 51 for detecting the height of soil in the soil hopper 10, a soil discharge measurement means 52 for measuring the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil, a dumping amount calculation means 53 for calculating the total amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper 10, and a memory means 54.

[0020] The soil dumping management device 50 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), I / F (Interface), etc. Each means of the soil dumping management device 50 is realized by the CPU executing a predetermined control program stored in storage means 54 such as a ROM or HDD.

[0021] The soil level detection means 51 calculates the level of the soil in the soil hopper 10 based on the distance from the distance measuring sensor 40 to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper 10 . The storage means 54 prestores soil height data that defines the relationship between the distance from the distance measuring sensor 40 to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper 10 and the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10. The soil level detection means 51 calculates the soil level in the soil hopper 10 by selecting the soil level corresponding to the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor 40 from the soil level data.

[0022] The soil discharge measurement means 52 measures the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil based on the detection result of the tilting of the bucket 20 by the bucket detection sensor 70 and the height of soil in the soil hopper 10 calculated by the soil level detection means 51. The memory means 54 pre-stores the time required from when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 to when the dumping of soil from the bucket 20 into the soil hopper 10 is completed (hereinafter referred to as the "dumping time"). The memory means 54 also stores a threshold value for the fluctuation value of the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 when soil is normally dumped from the bucket 20 into the soil hopper 10 . The threshold value of the fluctuation value of the soil height is a boundary value for judging whether soil has been normally loaded into the soil hopper 10. If the fluctuation value of the soil height is smaller than the threshold value, it indicates that no soil has been loaded into the soil hopper 10 or that very little soil has been loaded into the soil hopper 10.

[0023] The soil discharge measurement means 52 compares the height of soil in the soil hopper 10 when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 with the height of soil in the soil hopper 10 when the dumping time has elapsed since the bucket detection sensor 70 detected the tilting of the bucket 20, and calculates the fluctuation value of the height of soil in the soil hopper 10. In the soil discharge measuring means 52, when the fluctuation value of the height of soil in the soil hopper 10 is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil is incremented by one. Moreover, the soil discharge measuring means 52 is configured to stop adding up the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 for a predetermined time period after the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 has been added up once. The specified time at which the soil discharge measurement means 52 stops counting the number of soil discharges by the bucket 20 is the time required from when the bucket 20 discharges soil to when the bucket 20 moves out of the detection range of the bucket detection sensor 70, and is pre-stored in the memory means 54.

[0024] The soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment is provided with a discharge stop function for stopping the discharge of soil from the soil hopper 10. The discharge stop function operates after the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 until the soil discharge measurement means 52 increments the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 by one. When the discharge stop function is activated, the discharge outlet 12 of the soil hopper 10 is closed and the mechanism for opening the discharge outlet 12 is electrically or mechanically locked. Instead of the discharge stop function, an alarm may be issued after the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20, so as to prevent the operation of opening the discharge port 12 of the soil hopper 10 from being performed, until the soil discharge measurement means 52 increments the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 by one. The alarm may be, for example, an electronic sign, a warning light, or a warning sound that clearly indicates that soil discharge from the soil hopper 10 is to be stopped.

[0025] The dumping amount calculation means 53 calculates the total amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper 10 based on the number of times the bucket 20 has dumped soil calculated by the soil discharge measurement means 52 . The memory means 54 prestores the amount of soil to be dumped into the soil hopper 10 when the bucket 20 is tilted once. The display means 60 displays the amount of soil stored in the soil hopper 10 calculated by the soil dumping management device 50 so that the driver of the dump truck T (see FIG. 1) can confirm it. The display means 60 may be configured, for example, to display the amount of stored soil in stages using different colors on a bulletin board (such as an electric bulletin board or a monitor) provided on the support 30 (see FIG. 1). The display means 60 may also be configured to display the amount of stored soil on the screen of a mobile communication terminal such as a tablet installed in the driver's seat of the dump truck T (see FIG. 1).

[0026] A method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped using the soil dumping system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the following description will refer to the flowchart of FIG. 5 as appropriate. [Bucket detection process] As shown in FIG. 3, the bucket 20 loaded with soil is moved directly above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, and when the bucket 20 begins to tilt by the tilting member 22, the tilting of the bucket 20 is detected by the bucket detection sensor 70 (step S1). At the point in time when bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of bucket 20, soil has not been discharged from bucket 20. [First soil height detection process] When the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20, a first soil height detection process is performed. In the first soil height detection process, the soil height detection means 51 of the soil input management device 50 shown in Fig. 4 calculates the soil height in the soil hopper 10 based on the distances to the soil in the soil hopper 10 measured by each distance measuring sensor 40 (step S2). This allows the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 before the soil is dumped from the bucket 20 into the soil hopper 10 to be calculated.

[0027] [Soil dumping process] As shown in FIG. 3, when the bucket 20 tilts until the opening of the bucket 20 faces downward, the soil within the bucket 20 is dumped into the soil hopper 10 (step S3). [Second soil height detection process] A second soil height detection process is performed when the dumping time has elapsed since the bucket detection sensor 70 detected the tilting of the bucket 20. In the second soil height detection process, the soil height detection means 51 of the soil dumping management device 50 shown in Fig. 4 calculates the soil height in the soil hopper 10 based on the distances to the soil in the soil hopper 10 measured by each distance measuring sensor 40 (step S4). This allows the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 after the soil has been dumped from the bucket 20 into the soil hopper 10 to be calculated.

[0028] [Soil discharge count measurement process] The discharged soil measurement means 52 of the soil dumping management device 50 compares the soil height in the soil hopper 10 when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 with the soil height in the soil hopper 10 when the dumping time has elapsed since the bucket detection sensor 70 detected the tilting of the bucket 20, and calculates the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper 10 (step S5). In other words, the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper 10 before and after the soil is dumped from the bucket 20 into the soil hopper 10 is calculated. When the fluctuation value of the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 is equal to or greater than the threshold value (YES in step S6), the soil discharge measurement means 52 increments the number of times the soil is discharged by the bucket 20 by one (step S7).

[0029] The soil discharge measurement means 52 stops counting the number of times the soil has been discharged by the bucket 20 for a predetermined time after having counted the number of times the soil has been discharged by the bucket 20 once (step S8).Then, the process returns to the bucket detection step (step S1). After the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20, the discharge of soil from the soil hopper 10 is stopped until the soil discharge measurement means 52 increments the number of soil discharges by the bucket 20 by one (from step S1 to step S7). On the other hand, if the fluctuation value of the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 is smaller than the threshold value (NO in step S6), the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil is not incremented once, and the process returns to the bucket detection step (step S1).

[0030] In the soil discharge system 1 as described above, soil is dumped into the soil hopper 10 shown in FIG. 4, and when the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 changes, the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil is incremented. If the number of earth discharges of the bucket 20 is incremented simply by detecting the tilting of the bucket 20, there is a risk that the number of earth discharges of the bucket 20 will be incremented even when the tilting of an empty bucket 20 is detected. Also, if the number of earth discharges is incremented simply by detecting a change in the height of the earth in the earth hopper 10, there is a risk that the number of earth discharges will be incremented excessively if the earth in the bucket 20 is dumped in multiple batches. In the soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment, when the bucket detection sensor 70 detects the tilting of the bucket 20 and the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper 10 detected by the soil height detection means 51 becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value, the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil is incremented by one, so that the number of times soil has been dumped into the soil hopper 10 can be accurately measured and the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper 10 can be accurately calculated. In the soil removal system 1 of this embodiment, the amount of soil stored in the soil hopper 10 is determined based on the amount of soil dumped into the soil hopper 10, so that soil removal work can be planned with high accuracy. Furthermore, in the soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment, the incrementing of the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 is stopped for a predetermined time after the number of soil discharges of the bucket 20 has been incremented once, thereby preventing the bucket detection sensor 70 from erroneously detecting the tilting of the bucket 20 when the empty bucket 20 after discharging soil is returned to the soil loading position. In addition, in the soil removal system 1 of this embodiment, the height of the soil in the soil hopper 10 is detected using a distance measuring sensor 40 installed above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, which makes the structure simple, reduces costs, and can be easily applied to existing soil hoppers 10. Furthermore, in the soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment, soil is not discharged from the soil hopper 10 until the number of times the bucket 20 has discharged soil is incremented, so that the number of times soil has been put into the soil hopper 10 can be accurately measured.

[0031] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the soil discharge system 1 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, multiple distance measuring sensors 40 are arranged directly above the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, but the arrangement of the distance measuring sensors 40 is not limited. For example, the distance measuring sensor 40 may be arranged above and outside the inlet 11 of the soil hopper 10, and light or radio waves may be output diagonally downward toward the inlet 11 to measure the distance to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1 Soil removal system 10. Dirt Hopper 11 Inlet 12 Outlet 20 Buckets 21 Engagement part 22 Tilting member 30 Support 31 Arm 32 Transport equipment 33 Wire 40 Distance sensor 50 Soil input management device 51 Means for detecting soil height 52 Soil discharge measurement means 53 Input amount calculation means 54 Memory means 60 Display means 70 Bucket detection sensor T Dump Truck

Claims

1. A soil hopper capable of storing soil and discharging the soil downward; A bucket for transporting soil and sand; a bucket detection sensor that detects the tilting of the bucket; a soil level detection means for detecting the soil level in the soil hopper; and a soil discharge measuring means for measuring the number of soil discharges of the bucket. The bucket is tilted above the inlet of the soil hopper so that the soil in the bucket is poured into the soil hopper, The soil discharge system is characterized in that the soil discharge measurement means increments the number of soil discharges of the bucket by one when the bucket detection sensor detects the tilting of the bucket and the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper detected by the soil height detection means becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value.

2. 2. The soil discharge system according to claim 1, wherein the soil discharge measuring means stops incrementing the number of times the soil is discharged by the bucket for a predetermined period of time after incrementing the number of times the soil is discharged by the bucket once.

3. The soil height detection means is A distance measuring sensor is provided above the inlet of the soil hopper, 2. The soil removal system according to claim 1, wherein the height of the soil in the soil hopper is detected based on the distance from the distance measuring sensor to the top surface of the soil in the soil hopper.

4. The soil hopper is The soil discharge system according to claim 1, characterized in that after the bucket detection sensor detects the tilting of the bucket, the soil discharge measurement means stops discharging soil until the number of soil discharges of the bucket is incremented by one.

5. A method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped using the soil dumping system according to claim 1, a bucket detection step of detecting a tilting movement of the bucket by the bucket detection sensor; a soil injection process of tilting the bucket above an inlet of the soil hopper to inject the soil in the bucket into the soil hopper; a soil height detection step of detecting a soil height in the soil hopper; a soil discharge count counting step in which the soil discharge counting means increments the number of soil discharges of the bucket by one when the bucket detection sensor detects the tilting of the bucket and the fluctuation value of the soil height in the soil hopper detected by the soil height detection means becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value; A method for measuring the number of times soil is dumped, comprising:

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