Management system and method for pneumatic fender

Abstract

To provide a management system and method for a pneumatic fender, which can suppress uneven area wear on the fender due to contact with a ship and enable more effective use of the fender.SOLUTION: A pneumatic fender 11A is installed on a quay 10 while restricting rotation about a cylindrical axis CL. Passive IC tags 2 are installed at positions facing each other with intervals in the circumferential direction of a fender main body 12. A communication device 7 capable of wireless communication with each IC tag 2 is disposed outside the pneumatic fender 11A. The identification information of each IC tag 2, the circumferential installation position of each IC tag 2 on the fender main body 12, and the circumferential arrangement position of each IC tag 2 on the quay 10 are grasped as advance information. A calculation device 8 identifies a position fixing period in the circumferential direction of the fender main body 12 on the quay 10 based on the identification information of the IC tag 2 acquired by the communication device 7 using wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag 2 on the quay 10 at the time the identification information was acquired, and the advance information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system and method for an air fender, and more particularly, to a management system and method for an air fender that can suppress uneven wear of the fender due to contact with a ship and use the fender more effectively.

Background Art

[0002] Among air fenders, there is a vertical air fender that is used with a weight connected to the lower side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vertical air fender is often installed at a place of use such as a quay wall with the rotation of the cylindrical fender body around the cylinder axis being restricted. In the fender installed in this way, the ship repeatedly contacts and wears the same range of the fender body.

[0003] Therefore, unless the fender body is appropriately shifted in the circumferential direction around the cylinder axis and reinstalled, a specific range in the circumferential direction of the fender body will be significantly worn. Even if most of the fender body is sound, if a specific range is significantly worn, the fender must be replaced, resulting in the problem that the fender cannot be used effectively. Even in a so-called horizontal air fender, the rotation of the fender body around the cylinder axis may be restricted and installed, and the same problem as described above occurs in this case as well. Therefore, there is room for improvement in suppressing uneven wear of the fender due to contact with the ship and using the fender more effectively.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a management system and method for an air fender that can suppress uneven wear of the fender due to contact with a ship and use the fender more effectively.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a management system for an air fender of the present invention has a fender main body in which bowl-shaped ends are connected to both sides in the cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body, and the air fender is installed at a use location with rotation about the cylinder axis restricted. In the management system for an air fender that grasps the state of the air fender, a passive type IC tag installed at positions facing each other with an interval in the circumferential direction of the fender main body, a communication device arranged outside the air fender and capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags, and an arithmetic device are provided. The identification information of each of the IC tags, the circumferential installation position of each of the IC tags on the fender main body, and the circumferential arrangement position of each of the IC tags at the use location are grasped as prior information. Based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag at the use location when the identification information is acquired, and the prior information, the arithmetic device specifies a position fixing period regarding the circumferential direction of the fender main body at the use location.

[0007] The management method of the pneumatic fender of the present invention has a fender body in which bowl-shaped ends are connected to both sides in the cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body, and in the management method of the pneumatic fender for grasping the state of the pneumatic fender in which the rotation of the pneumatic fender around the cylinder axis is restricted and installed at the usage location, passive type IC tags are installed at positions facing each other with an interval in the circumferential direction of the fender body, and communicators capable of wireless communication with the respective IC tags are arranged outside the pneumatic fender, and the identification information of the respective IC tags, the circumferential installation position of the respective IC tags on the fender body, and the circumferential arrangement position of the respective IC tags at the usage location are grasped in advance as prior information, and based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communicator using the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag at the usage location when the identification information is acquired, and the prior information, a calculation device specifies the position fixing period regarding the circumferential direction of the fender body at the usage location.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communicator through the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag at the usage location when the identification information is acquired, and the prior information, the period (the position fixing period) during which the fender body is installed at the usage location without changing the circumferential position is specified by the calculation device. Therefore, using the specified position fixing period as an index, it becomes possible to timely shift the fender body in the circumferential direction around the cylinder axis and reinstall the pneumatic fender at the usage location. As a result, uneven wear in a biased range of the pneumatic fender due to contact with the ship is suppressed, which is advantageous for more effectively using the pneumatic fender.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, a management system and method for an air fender of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0011] The embodiment of the air fender management system 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is used to grasp the state of the air fender 11A at the quay wall 10 which is the place of use. In this embodiment, the object to be managed is the vertical air fender 11A (hereinafter referred to as the fender 11A).

[0012] This management system 1 includes passive IC tags 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) installed on the fender 11A, a communication device 7, and an arithmetic unit 8. The communication device 7 is arranged outside the fender 11A and communicates wirelessly with each IC tag 2. The communication device 7 and the arithmetic unit 8 are communicably connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0013] The fender 11A has a fender main body 12 in which bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b are connected to both sides in the cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body 13. A weight 16 is connected to one bowl-shaped end 14a via a chain 17. The other bowl-shaped end 14b has a base portion 15 where valves are installed. The two-dot chain line in the figure indicates the boundary line between the body 13 and the respective bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b, but this boundary line does not exist in the actual fender main body 12. The one-dot chain line CL in the figure indicates the cylinder axis of the body 13 (fender 11A). The cylinder axis CL extends through the cross-sectional centers of the body 13 and the respective bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b. The direction in which the cylinder axis CL extends is the cylinder axis direction.

[0014] To describe the structure of the fender main body 12 in detail, the body 13 is composed of a plurality of reinforcing layers laminated between an inner rubber layer and an outer rubber layer. Each reinforcing layer is a cord layer formed by aligning a large number of cords in parallel. The body 13 has a bias structure in which the cords of adjacent laminated reinforcing layers cross each other, and each cord is arranged at a predetermined cord angle with respect to the cylinder axis CL.

[0015] Each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b is composed of a plurality of reinforcing layers laminated between an inner rubber layer and an outer rubber layer. These plurality of reinforcing layers are alternately laminated with a reinforcing layer formed by cords extending radially around the bowl apexes of the bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b and a reinforcing layer formed by cords extending in the circumferential direction, and each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b has a so-called radial structure. The specifications of the cords of the bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b are basically the same as those of the cords of the reinforcing layer of the body 13.

[0016] As illustrated in FIG. 4, air a and a predetermined amount of ballast water W are accommodated in the internal space of the fender main body 12. The regulated internal pressure of the internal space when the fender main body 12 is in use is, for example, about 50 kPa or more and 100 kPa or less. A vertically downward force is applied to the fender main body 12 by the ballast water W and the weight 16, and this vertically downward force and the buoyancy acting on the fender main body 12 are balanced, so that one bowl-shaped end portion 14a is at the lower end of the fender main body 12 and the other bowl-shaped end portion 14b is at the upper end of the fender main body 12.

[0017] The plurality of fenders 11A are arranged at intervals from each other on the quay wall 10 while maintaining the extending direction of the cylinder axis CL in the vertical direction. A plurality of fixing ropes 18 having one end fixed to the quay wall 10 are connected to the base portion 15 of each fender 11A. And each fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10 with its rotation about the cylinder axis CL restricted. Therefore, each fender 11A is fixed to the quay wall 10 with almost no deviation in the circumferential direction about the cylinder axis CL. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a ship 19 moored to the quay wall 10 approaches and then contacts each fender 11A.

[0018] The IC tags 2 are installed at positions facing each other with an interval in the circumferential direction of the fender main body 12. In this embodiment, four IC tags 2 are arranged at positions equally spaced (90°) in the circumferential direction about the cylinder axis CL on the upper bowl-shaped end portion 14b. Each IC tag 2 is arranged at a position above water. The number of IC tags 2 is not limited to four, and for example, two IC tags 2 can be arranged at positions equally spaced (180°) in the circumferential direction.

[0019] On the outer surface of the fender body 12, there is a display S indicating the circumferential position where each IC tag 2 is arranged. In this embodiment, four displays S extending in the vertical direction are attached to the upper bowl-shaped end portion 14b at positions equally spaced (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylinder axis CL. And one IC tag 2 is arranged in the range between each adjacent display S in the circumferential direction. The display S can be formed by joining rubber pieces (for example, white rubber pieces) of a color different from the surface color (black color) of the fender body 12, or by applying paint or the like.

[0020] Specifically, each display S extends from the vertical center portion of the upper bowl-shaped end portion 14b to the upper end portion of the body portion 13. One IC tag 2 is arranged near the intermediate position of the circumferential interval between each adjacent display S in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the adjacent displays S in the circumferential direction indicate that the IC tag 2 is arranged at the circumferential position between these displays S.

[0021] As long as the display S can indicate the circumferential position where each IC tag 2 is arranged from the appearance of the fender 11A, other forms can also be adopted. For example, it can also be in a form in which the display S is attached to the outer surface of the fender body 12 at a position corresponding to the circumferential position where each IC tag 2 is arranged. In order to avoid abrasion due to contact with the quay wall 10 or the ship 19, it is preferable to attach the display S at least to the outer surface of the upper bowl-shaped end portion 14b.

[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the IC tag 2 has an IC chip 3 and an antenna portion 4 connected to the IC chip 3. In this embodiment, the IC tag 2 equipped with the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b integrated is used. The pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b can optionally be provided in the IC tag 2. In the fender 11A, neither or either one of the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b may be installed. An independent pressure sensor 6a or temperature sensor 6b may be connected to the IC tag 2 in which the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b are not integrated.

[0023] The size of the IC chip 3 is very small. For example, the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension are each 50 mm or less (equivalent to an outer diameter of 50 mm or less), and the thickness is 5 mm or less. The size of the antenna portion 4 is also very small. In this embodiment, the antenna portion 4 employs a dipole type composed of a single metal wire extending symmetrically from the IC chip 3. The length of each single metal wire is about 10 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

[0024] The IC chip 3 can arbitrarily store tag-specific information such as the identification number A of the IC tag 2 and other necessary information. A generally circulated specification is adopted for the IC tag 2, and for example, an RFID tag can be used.

[0025] The IC chip 3 is disposed on the surface of the substrate 5. The pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b connected to the IC chip 3 are disposed on the back surface of the substrate 5. The antenna portion 4 (single metal wire) protrudes from the substrate 5 and extends. Note that the antenna portion 4 is not limited to the dipole type, and various known types can be adopted. For example, a ceramic antenna formed on the substrate 5 can also be adopted.

[0026] The IC tag 2 is covered by an insulating layer 5a, and the whole of the IC tag 2 is electrically insulated from the outside. However, the detection portions of the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b are not covered by the insulating layer 5a and are exposed from the surface of the insulating layer 5a. As the insulating layer 5a, resins such as ABS, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyimide, and epoxy can be used. Polyvinyl chloride is very suitable for covering the long-extending antenna portion 4 (single metal wire) because of its excellent flexibility.

[0027] In this embodiment, the IC tag 2 is embedded in the inner rubber of the fender body 12. The IC tag 2 can also be attached by bonding it to the inner surface of the fender body 12 and covering its surface with a rubber member. In the IC tag 2 installed on the fender body 12, only the detection parts of the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b are exposed in the internal space of the fender 11A.

[0028] In the fender body 12, the bowl-shaped end portion 14b has little deformation and is not easily subjected to external forces, so it is preferable to install the IC tag 2 at the bowl-shaped end portion 14b. Also, since the dipole-type antenna portion 4 made of a single metal wire has excellent bending durability, it is advantageous for avoiding damage caused by repeated deformation of the fender body 12.

[0029] The pressure sensor 6a detects the internal pressure of the fender 11A. The pressure sensor 6a can adopt various known types as long as it can be equipped on the IC tag 2. The detection data D1 detected by the pressure sensor 6a is transmitted from the IC tag 2 to the communication device 7.

[0030] The temperature sensor 6b detects the temperature of the internal space of the fender 11A. The temperature sensor 6b can adopt various known types as long as it can be equipped on the IC tag 2. The detection data D2 detected by the temperature sensor 6b is transmitted from the IC tag 2 to the communication device 7.

[0031] The communication device 7 communicates wirelessly with each IC tag 2. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the communication device 7 includes a radio wave transmitting unit 7a and a radio wave receiving unit 7b. A transmission radio wave R1 is transmitted from the radio wave transmitting unit 7a to the IC tag 2. Due to the transmission radio wave R1 received by the antenna unit 4, power is generated in the IC tag 2 and the IC tag 2 is activated. The activated IC tag 2 transmits a reply radio wave R2 through the antenna unit 4 by this power, and this reply radio wave R2 is received by the radio wave receiving unit 7b. In this way, by transmitting the reply radio wave R2 in response to the transmission radio wave R1, wireless communication is performed between the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7. Through this wireless communication (reply radio wave R2), identification information A, detection data D1, D2, etc. are transmitted from the IC tag 2 to the communication device 7 and acquired.

[0032] As the communication device 7, a generally circulated specification that can perform wireless communication with a passive type IC tag 2 (RFID tag) is adopted. Thereby, the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7 constitute an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system. In this embodiment, a portable hand-held type communication device 7 is used. Since a passive type IC tag 2 is used, the upper limit of the communication distance between the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7 is about 1 m, for example.

[0033] The identification information A, detection data D1, D2, etc. acquired by the communication device 7 are input to the arithmetic unit 8. The arithmetic unit 8 performs various arithmetic processes using the input data. As the arithmetic unit 8, a known computer is used. In this embodiment, the communication device 7 and the arithmetic unit 8 are separate, but it is also possible to omit the independent arithmetic unit 8 by configuring the communication device 7 to have the function of the arithmetic unit 8.

[0034] Hereinafter, an example of the procedure for grasping the state of the fender 11A using this management system 1 will be described.

[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10 while restricting rotation about the cylinder axis CL. In this embodiment, the fender body 12 is arranged such that the side on which the IC tag 2a of the fender body 12 is arranged in the top view illustrated in FIG. 2 contacts the quay wall 10. On the side where the IC tag 2c facing the IC tag 2a of the fender body 12 in the top view is arranged, the ship 19 moored to the quay wall 10 will come into contact.

[0036] First, as pre-information, grasp the identification information A of each IC tag 2, the circumferential installation position of each IC tag 2 on the fender body 12, and the circumferential arrangement position of each IC tag 2 on the quay wall 10 at the place of use, and input and store them in the arithmetic unit 8. In the fender 11A of FIG. 2, the identification information A of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is stored in the arithmetic unit 8. Also, as the circumferential installation positions of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12, the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are arranged at equal intervals (90°) in the circumferential direction, and position data indicating how much they are displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the display S is stored in the arithmetic unit 8. For example, set one display S as a reference, and store in the arithmetic unit 8 the position data indicating the circumferential positions of the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d with respect to the reference display S. With this position data, if the fender 11A is visually inspected to confirm the reference display S, the circumferential installation positions of the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12 can be grasped.

[0037] Then, grasp the circumferential arrangement positions of the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d with respect to the quay wall 10 in the state where the fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10. This circumferential arrangement position can be grasped based on the circumferential installation positions of the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12 described above and the position of the display S serving as a reference confirmed by visually observing the fender 11A. Specifically, in FIG. 2, the IC tag 2a is arranged adjacent to the quay wall 10, the IC tag 2c is arranged on the side opposite to the quay wall 10, the IC tag 2b is arranged on the clockwise side with respect to the IC tag 2a between the IC tag 2a and the IC tag 2c, and the IC tag 2d is arranged on the counterclockwise side with respect to the IC tag 2a between the IC tag 2a and the IC tag 2c. Thus, the circumferential arrangement positions of the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the quay wall 10 are stored in the arithmetic unit 8. Alternatively, in the state where the fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10, the communication device 7 on the quay wall 10 and the IC tag 2 arranged adjacent to the quay wall 10 are wirelessly communicated to obtain the identification information A of the IC tag 2. It is determined from the obtained identification information A that the IC tag 2 arranged adjacent to the quay wall 10 is the IC tag 2a. And since the circumferential installation positions of the respective IC tags 2 on the fender body 12 are grasped, the circumferential arrangement positions of the other IC tags 2b, 2c, and 2d on the quay wall 10 can be grasped.

[0038] The management work of grasping the state of the fender 11A is started after grasping the prior information as described above in advance. For each fender 11A, at regular intervals or every time a regular period elapses, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the communication device 7 on the quay wall 10 and the IC tag 2 arranged adjacent to the quay wall 10 are wirelessly communicated to obtain the identification information A of the IC tag 2, and the result is stored in the arithmetic unit 8. For example, this wireless communication is performed every week or every month, and the IC tag 2 arranged adjacent to the quay wall 10 for each fender 11A is grasped in time series.

[0039] If there is no change in the identification information A obtained through this wireless communication, since the position of the IC tag 2 located adjacent to the quay wall 10 remains unchanged, it can be determined that the fender body 12 of the fender 11A was installed on the quay wall 10 without changing its circumferential position. Therefore, the period during which there is no change in the identification information A of the IC tag 2 acquired in time series is specified by the arithmetic unit 8 as the period (position-fixed period X) during which the fender body 12 was installed on the quay wall 10 without changing its circumferential position.

[0040] In the installation state of the fender 11A illustrated in FIG. 2, since the ship 19 moored to the quay wall 10 frequently contacts the side of the fender body 12 where the IC tag 2c is disposed, the contact portion is locally worn. If the position-fixed period X is too long, the wear of the contact portion becomes large, so an upper limit value of the position-fixed period X is set.

[0041] When the position-fixed period X exceeds the upper limit value, the fender body 12 is shifted circumferentially about the cylinder axis CL and reinstalled on the quay wall 10. Thereby, the fender 11A in the installation state of FIG. 2 is changed to the installation state illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0042] The fender 11A illustrated in FIG. 8 is reinstalled by shifting the fender body 12 90° clockwise about the cylinder axis CL from the installation state of FIG. 2. Since the indications S are provided at 90° intervals on the outer surface of the upper bowl-shaped end portion 14b, the fender body 12 can be set at a position shifted 90° clockwise with reference to this indication S.

[0043] When the fender body 12 is shifted circumferentially around the cylinder axis CL and the fender 11A is reinstalled on the quay wall 10, the fact that it has been reinstalled is stored in the arithmetic unit 8. The circumferential arrangement positions of the respective IC tags 2 on the quay wall 10 are updated and stored in the arithmetic unit 8. And in this reinstalled state, a new management operation for grasping the state of the fender 11A is started. The new management operation is the same as the management operation in the case of the installation state shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, similarly, by shifting the fender body 12 90° clockwise around the cylinder axis CL and reinstalling the fender 11A, the sides on which the respective IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d of the fender body 12 are arranged are rotated so as to contact the ship 19, and the fender 11A is used.

[0044] According to this management system 1, it becomes possible to timely shift the fender body 12 circumferentially around the cylinder axis CL and reinstall it on the quay wall 10 using the position fixing period X specified as described above as an index. Thereby, uneven wear in the fender 11A due to contact with the ship 19 is suppressed. As a result, a situation where it is necessary to replace the fender 11A because most of the fender body 12 is sound but a part is severely worn can be avoided, which is advantageous for more effectively using the fender 11A.

[0045] In addition, when the position fixing period X exceeds the upper limit value, it is also possible to shift the fender body 12 180° circumferentially around the cylinder axis CL and reinstall the fender 11A, or to shift the fender 11A 90° counterclockwise and reinstall it. The amount and direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the circumferential shift of the fender body 12 around the cylinder axis CL can be set as appropriate, but rotation is performed to shift the fender body 12 circumferentially around the cylinder axis CL so as to suppress the uneven wear caused by contact with the ship 19 in the circumferential direction of the fender body 12.

[0046] In this embodiment, each time wireless communication is performed between the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7, the detection data D1 and D2 by the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b can also be acquired. That is, by performing wireless communication with the IC tag 2 using the communication device 7, the internal pressure and the internal temperature of the fender 11A can be easily grasped. Therefore, it is advantageous for more detailed grasping of the state (such as the presence or absence of abnormality) of the fender 11A based on the change in the internal pressure and the change in the internal temperature of the fender 11A over time.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the management system 1 may be configured such that the arithmetic device 8 is connected to a desired terminal device 9 via a communication network such as the Internet. For example, desired information (installation state, internal pressure data, internal temperature data, etc.) is transmitted from the arithmetic device 8 to the terminal devices 9 of related parties such as the management room of the operating company (user) of the fender 11A located at a remote location with respect to the installation location of the fender 11A, the sales company of the fender 11A, and the manufacturing company. According to this configuration, the related parties having these terminal devices 9 can grasp and manage the state of the fender 11A while being located at a remote location with respect to the installation location of the fender 11A.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, this management system 1 can also be applied to a so-called horizontal pneumatic fender 11B (hereinafter referred to as the fender 11B). The fender 11B is installed on the quay wall 10 in a lying-down state with one bowl-shaped end 14a on the left side and the other bowl-shaped end 14b on the right side. A fixed rope 18 having one end fixed to the quay wall 10 is connected to the base portion 15 at each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a and 14b. And the fender 11B is installed on the quay wall 10 with its rotation about the cylinder axis CL restricted.

[0049] Four IC tags 2 are arranged at positions equally spaced (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylinder axis CL at the right bowl-shaped end 14b. Further, four indicators S extending in the left-right direction are attached to the right bowl-shaped end 14b at positions equally spaced (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylinder axis CL. And one IC tag 2 is arranged between each adjacent pair of the indicators S in the circumferential direction.

[0050] In this embodiment, the fender body 12 is arranged such that the side on which the IC tag 2d of the fender body 12 is arranged in the side view illustrated in FIG. 11 contacts the quay wall 10. The ship 19 will contact the side on which the IC tag 2b facing the IC tag 2d of the fender body 12 in the side view is arranged.

[0051] When applying the management system 1 to this fender 11B, the same management operations as those for the fender 11A described above are performed. Also when applying the management system 1 to this fender 11B, various arrangements described in the case of the fender 11A can be made.

Explanation of Signs

[0052] 1 Management system 2 IC tag 3 IC chip 4 Antenna section 5 Substrate 5a Insulation layer 6a Pressure sensor 6b Temperature sensor 7 Communication device 7a Radio wave transmitting section 7b Radio wave receiving section 8 Arithmetic unit 9 Terminal device 10 Quay wall 11A, 11B Pneumatic fender 12 Fender body 13 Hull 14a, 14b Bowl-shaped end 15 Base section 16 Weight 17 Chain 18 Fixed rope 19 Ship W Ballast water A Identification information D1, D2 Detection data S Display

Claims

1. An air fender management system having a fender body with bowl-shaped ends connected to both sides in the cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body, and the air fender is installed at a use location with rotation about the cylinder axis restricted, and grasping the state of the air fender, It is provided with passive IC tags installed at positions facing each other at intervals in the circumferential direction of the fender body, a communication device arranged outside the air fender and capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags, and an arithmetic unit, The identification information of each of the IC tags, the circumferential installation position of each of the IC tags on the fender body, and the circumferential arrangement position of each of the IC tags at the use location are grasped as prior information, Based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag at the use location when the identification information is acquired, and the prior information, the arithmetic unit determines the position fixing period regarding the circumferential direction of the fender body at the use location. An air fender management system.

2. The air fender management system according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor for detecting the air pressure of the fender body, and detection data from the pressure sensor is acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication and input to the arithmetic unit.

3. The air fender management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air fender has a weight connected to one of the bowl-shaped ends, one of the bowl-shaped ends is the lower end of the fender body, and the other bowl-shaped end is the upper end of the fender body, and it is a vertical air fender installed at the use location.

4. The air fender management system according to claim 3, wherein each of the IC tags is arranged at one of the bowl-shaped ends.

5. The management system for the pneumatic fender according to claim 4, wherein a display indicating the circumferential position where each of the IC tags is disposed is attached to the outer surface of one of the bowl-shaped ends.

6. In a method for managing a pneumatic fender for grasping the state of a pneumatic fender having a fender body in which bowl-shaped ends are connected to both sides in the cylinder axis direction of a cylindrical body, and the pneumatic fender is installed at a use location with rotation about the cylinder axis restricted, Passive IC tags are installed at positions facing each other with an interval in the circumferential direction of the fender body, and communicators capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags are arranged outside the pneumatic fender. The identification information of each of the IC tags, the circumferential installation position of each of the IC tags on the fender body, and the circumferential arrangement position of each of the IC tags at the use location are grasped in advance as advance information. Based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communicator using the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of the IC tag at the use location when the identification information is acquired, and the advance information, a method for managing a pneumatic fender for specifying a position fixing period regarding the circumferential direction of the fender body at the use location by an arithmetic unit.

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