Operation number counting device

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of counting the number of times of conversion operation without requiring visual confirmation on site.SOLUTION: This number-of-operation counting device 10 includes a motor current measuring part 15 for measuring a motor current of a point machine, a changeover operation detecting part 371 for detecting that the changeover operation of the point machine is performed based on a motor current value by the motor current measuring part 15, and a counting part 375 for counting the number of times of the changeover operation based on a detecting result of the changeover operation detecting part 371.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a point operation counting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various methods have been developed for monitoring the switching operations of point machines, which are a type of railway equipment, to detect abnormalities and their signs, estimate replacement times (life spans), etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes the use of the number of switching operations (number of operations) as one of the indicators for determining abnormalities before a breakdown occurs. The number of switching operations has often been counted by a mechanical counter installed in the point machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 02-197460 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when counting is done using a mechanical counter, in order to grasp the number of switching operations for use in monitoring points, etc., it is necessary to go directly to the site and visually check the count value on the counter.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technique that can count the number of conversion operations without requiring on-site visual confirmation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first invention for solving the above problem is an operation number counting device including a motor current measuring unit that measures the motor current of a point machine, a switching operation detection unit that detects that a switching operation of the point machine has been performed based on the motor current value measured by the motor current measuring unit, and a counting unit that counts the number of switching operations based on the detection result of the switching operation detection unit.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect that a conversion operation has been performed based on the motor current value, and count the number of such detections as the number of conversion operations.

[0008] A second invention is an operation number counting device in the above invention, further comprising a relay current measuring unit that measures an operating current of a point control relay of the point machine, and a switching control detection unit that detects switching control based on the relay current value measured by the relay current measuring unit, wherein the counting unit counts the number of switching operations as the number of relay operations when switching control is detected by the switching control detection unit and switching operations are detected by the switching operation detection unit.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the number of switching operations performed as a result of the point control relay being operated can be counted as the number of relay operations.

[0010] The third invention is an operation counting device in which, in the above invention, the counting unit counts the number of conversion operations when conversion control is not detected by the conversion control detection unit but conversion operation is detected by the conversion operation detection unit as the number of maintenance operations.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of switching operations when a switching operation is detected but switching control is not detected can be counted as the number of maintenance operations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an application example of an operation counting device. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining counting the number of conversion operations. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is another diagram for explaining counting the number of conversion operations. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an operation counting device. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the operation number counting device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and the forms to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, in the description of the drawings, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

[0014] [Overall configuration] 1 is a diagram showing an application example of an operation counting device in this embodiment. The operation counting device 10 is a device that counts the number of switching operations at a point 1, and includes a motor current measuring unit 15 that measures the motor current of the point 1, a relay current measuring unit 17 that measures the operating current of the point control relay of the point 1, and a terminal device 30 associated with the point 1. In this embodiment, an operation counting device 10 is provided in each of the points 1 (1-1, 2, 3, ...) that are monitored by a central device 50. The central device 50 is connected to the terminal device 30 via a communication network N so as to be able to communicate with them.

[0015] The point machine 1 changes the opening direction of the switch in response to a switching command that instructs switching to the normal position or the opposite position, thereby switching the train's route. The point machine 1 has a built-in motor for switching the switch. The point machine 1 also has built-in point control relays (magnetic holding relays) that store the switching control direction, and a circuit controller that acquires the switch switching direction.

[0016] Switching control for switching a turnout is performed by applying a specified voltage to the point control relay via a pair of control circuits from the equipment room. At that time, the polarity of the voltage applied to the control circuit is reversed when switching to the normal position and when switching to the opposite position. In other words, the point control relay operates (reverses poles) according to the direction of the current (operating current) flowing through the control circuit, and memorizes the switching control direction. Note that there are cases where switching control is performed in the same direction as the point control relay's reversal direction, but in this case the point control relay does not operate (reverses poles) and the switching control direction is maintained. If the switching control direction indicated by the point control relay does not match the switch direction of the turnout indicated by the circuit controller, power is supplied to the motor to switch the turnout in the switching control direction, and if they match, the power is cut off.

[0017] For example, when a point is switched from reverse to normal, a voltage in the normal direction is applied to the point control relay, causing the point control relay to switch to normal. Since the switching direction indicated by the circuit controller is reverse, power is supplied to the motor so that the point switches to the normal direction, and the point switches from reverse to normal. When the switching is complete, the switching direction indicated by the circuit controller becomes normal, which matches the point control relay, so power to the motor is cut off and the switching is complete. The same is true when a point is switched from normal to reverse, and the point 1 performs the switching operation in accordance with the switching control to reverse.

[0018] The motor current measuring unit 15 is installed inside the housing of the point 1, measures the motor current of the point 1, and outputs the measured motor current value to the terminal device 30.

[0019] The relay current measuring unit 17 is installed inside the housing of the point 1, measures the operating current of the point control relay in the point 1, and outputs the measured relay current value to the terminal device 30.

[0020] The terminal device 30 is installed in an appropriate location, such as inside the housing of the corresponding point 1 or inside an adjacent tool box. The terminal device 30 acquires and uses the motor current value measured by the motor current measuring unit 15 in the corresponding point 1 and the relay current value measured by the relay current measuring unit 17 in the corresponding point 1, to count the number of switching operations of the point 1. The terminal device 30 then transmits (outputs) the counted number information to the central device 50 via the communication network N as needed.

[0021] The central device 50 is installed in a control center or the like. The central device 50 manages the number of times information received (input) from the terminal device 30 at any time for each point 1 (1-1, 2, 3, . . .) to be monitored, and monitors the number of switching operations at each point 1.

[0022] [detail] The operation of the operation counting device 10 will be described in detail. The terminal device 30 detects that a switching operation of the point 1 has been performed based on the motor current value. Specifically, for example, the terminal device 30 detects the start of switching when the motor current value becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined detection threshold, and detects the end of switching when the motor current value becomes less than the detection threshold, thereby detecting one switching operation.

[0023] Furthermore, the terminal device 30 detects the conversion control (conversion command) based on the relay current value. Specifically, for example, when the relay current value is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination threshold, the terminal device 30 detects the conversion control as the presence of a conversion command.

[0024] The terminal device 30 then counts the number of conversion operations based on a combination of the detection results of the conversion operations and the detection results of the conversion control. Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the counting of the number of conversion operations in this embodiment. Figure 2 shows two combinations of the detection results (pattern 1 and pattern 2). Figure 3 shows an example of counting the number of times according to each of patterns 1 and 2.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, pattern 1 is a case where a switching operation driven by a motor is detected and switching control is also detected. In the case of pattern 1, the terminal device 30 assumes that the detected switching operation is a switching operation by switching control, and updates the number of switching operations and the number of relay operations by incrementing them by 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The number of switching operations can be said to be the number of times the motor has operated for a switching operation. Furthermore, when both a switching operation and switching control are detected, it can be assumed that the point control relay has operated (polarity reversal), so the number of relay operations can be counted separately from the number of switching operations.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, pattern 2 is a case where a motor-driven switching operation is detected without detecting a switching control. During maintenance work, a handwheel is attached to the point machine 1 to manually perform the switching operation (handwheel). Attaching the handwheel cuts off the motor power, allowing the point machine 1 to be manually rotated. Removing the handwheel restores the motor power. If the switching control direction indicated by the point control relay does not match the switch direction indicated by the circuit controller, power is supplied to the motor to switch the point in the switching control direction, and the point switches in the switching control direction. This switching operation corresponds to pattern 2. In pattern 2, the terminal device 30 determines that the detected switching operation is a maintenance-related switching operation, and updates the number of switching operations and the number of maintenance operations by incrementing them by 1, as shown in FIG. 3. This allows the number of maintenance operations to be counted separately from the number of switching operations. The number of relay operations is not counted.

[0027] The counted number of switching operations, number of relay operations, and number of maintenance operations can be displayed on a display unit 330 (see FIG. 4) of the terminal device 30. When the terminal device 30 is installed inside the housing of the point machine 1, a display device separate from the terminal device 30 may be installed outside the housing of the point machine 1, and the terminal device 30 may display each number on the display device. Alternatively, each number may be displayed on a display device of a central device 50 installed in an appropriate location such as a control center.

[0028] If the combination of detection results is pattern 2, a log indicating that a changeover operation for maintenance has been performed may be recorded in association with date and time information.

[0029] [Function Configuration] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the operation counting device 10. In this embodiment, the operation counting device 10 is made up of a motor current measuring unit 15, a relay current measuring unit 17, and a terminal device 30. The terminal device 30 includes an operation unit 310, a display unit 330, a communication unit 350, a processing unit 370, and a storage unit 390.

[0030] The operation unit 310 is realized by an input device such as a button switch or a touch panel, and outputs an operation signal according to the operation input to the processing unit 370. The display unit 330 is realized by a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a touch panel, and performs various displays according to display signals from the processing unit 370. The communication unit 350 is realized by a wired or wireless communication device, and connects to a communication network N to communicate with an external device (e.g., the central unit 50).

[0031] The processing unit 370 is realized by, for example, an arithmetic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a control board including the arithmetic circuit, and performs various arithmetic processes based on programs, data, etc. stored in the storage unit 390 to control the operation of the terminal device 30. In this embodiment, the processing unit 370 includes a conversion operation detection unit 371, a conversion control detection unit 373, and a counting unit 375.

[0032] The switching operation detection unit 371 detects, based on the motor current value measured by the motor current measurement unit 15, that the switching operation of the point 1 has been performed.

[0033] The conversion control detection unit 373 detects conversion control based on the relay current value measured by the relay current measurement unit 17.

[0034] The counting unit 375 counts the number of switching operations based on the detection results of the switching operation detection unit 371 and the detection results of the switching control detection unit 373. In this embodiment, the counting unit 375 distinguishes between two patterns 1 and 2 from the combination of each detection result, and counts according to the distinguished pattern to count the number of switching operations, the number of relay operations, and the number of maintenance operations (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The number of switching operations counted here is stored in the memory unit 390 as the number of switching operations 391, the number of relay operations as the number of relay operations 393, and the number of maintenance operations as the number of maintenance operations 395.

[0035] The storage unit 390 is realized by a storage medium such as an IC memory or a hard disk. The storage unit 390 stores in advance or temporarily stores each time processing is performed programs for operating the terminal device 30 and realizing various functions of the terminal device 30, as well as data used during execution of the programs. In this embodiment, the storage unit 390 stores a switching operation count 391, a relay operation count 393, and a maintenance operation count 395.

[0036] [Processing flow] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the processing unit 370 in the terminal device 30. In this processing, the switching operation detection unit 371 detects the switching operation of the point machine 1 based on the motor current value of the point machine 1 measured at any time by the motor current measurement unit 15. In addition, the switching control detection unit 373 detects switching control based on the relay current value of the point control relay in the point machine 1 measured at any time by the relay current measurement unit 17.

[0037] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when a conversion operation is detected (step S1: YES) and when conversion control is detected (step S3: YES), the counting unit 375 updates the number of conversion operations 391 by +1 (step S5) and also updates the number of relay operations 393 by +1 (step S7).

[0038] On the other hand, if a conversion operation is detected (step S1: YES) but conversion control is not detected (step S3: NO), the counting unit 375 updates the number of conversion operations 391 by +1 (step S9) and also updates the number of maintenance operations 395 by +1 (step S11).

[0039] Thereafter, an end determination is made, and the process returns to step S1 until it is determined that the process has ended (step S13: NO).

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, the number of times the motor operates for a switching operation can be counted as the number of switching operations. Furthermore, the number of times that a switching control is detected along with a switching operation can be counted as the number of relay operations. Furthermore, the number of switching operations during maintenance work can be counted separately from the number of switching operations as the number of maintenance operations.

[0041] It is also possible to configure the system so that a maintenance judgment count is set in advance for each of the number of switching operations and the number of relay operations, and when each count reaches the corresponding judgment count, a warning is displayed to indicate that maintenance is necessary and to urge replacement, overhaul, etc. The warning display may be configured to be displayed on the display unit 330 of the terminal device 30, or may be configured to be displayed on a display device separate from the terminal device 30, or may be configured to be displayed on a display device of the central device 50.

[0042] In addition, when maintenance such as replacement or overhaul is actually performed, the counted number of conversion operations (number of conversion operations, number of relay operations, and number of maintenance operations) may be reset to 0, and each number 391, 393, 395 in the memory unit 390 may be updated.

[0043] Furthermore, the point machine 1 may be provided with a motor current measurement unit for normal positioning and a motor current measurement unit for reverse positioning, and the motor current measurement unit for normal positioning measures the motor current during a switching operation from reverse position to normal positioning, while the motor current measurement unit for reverse positioning measures the motor current during a switching operation from normal position to reverse positioning. In this case, the number of switching operations from reverse position to normal positioning detected based on the motor current value by the motor current measurement unit for normal positioning and the number of switching operations from normal position to reverse positioning detected based on the motor current value by the motor current measurement unit for reverse positioning may be counted and monitored separately.

[0044] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the terminal device 30 counts the number of switching operations (number of switching operations, number of relay operations, and number of maintenance operations), but the configuration may also be such that the central device 50 counts these operations. In that case, the terminal device 30 transmits the motor current value measured by the motor current measuring unit 15 and the relay current value measured by the relay current measuring unit 17 to the central device 50 as measurement information as needed. Then, the central device 50 counts the number of switching operations (number of switching operations, number of relay operations, and number of maintenance operations) for each point machine 1 to be monitored based on the measurement information received from the terminal device 30.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the start of conversion is determined when the motor current value exceeds a predetermined detection threshold, and the end of conversion is determined when the motor current value falls below the detection threshold, and a single conversion operation is detected. However, this configuration may be such that a conversion operation (referred to as a "normal conversion operation") is detected only when the time from when the motor current value exceeds the detection threshold to when it falls below the detection threshold is equal to or exceeds a predetermined time. In other words, if the time from when the motor current value exceeds the detection threshold to when it falls below the detection threshold does not reach the predetermined time, it is determined that the conversion operation is not a normal conversion operation. Furthermore, even if a conversion operation is determined not to be a normal conversion operation, if the combination of the detection result of the conversion operation and the detection result of the conversion control corresponds to pattern 2, such as that shown in FIG. 2, it may be determined that the conversion operation corresponds to a maintenance conversion operation, and the number of conversion operations and the number of maintenance operations may each be updated by +1.

[0046] The terminal device 30 may also be provided with the following function to be equipped with a function for monitoring the point machine 1. That is, the terminal device 30 is provided with a function for collecting various data including the motor current during switching operation from the start to the end of switching, the operating current of the point control relay, and the motor voltage as switching data for one switching operation, and monitoring the operating state during switching. The collected switching data is then compared with switching data under normal conditions to determine an abnormality. When the terminal device 30 is configured in this way, even if the collected switching data differs from the switching data under normal conditions, if the combination of the detection results of the switching operation and the detection results of the switching control corresponds to pattern 2, the terminal device 30 may be configured to exclude the collected switching data from being subject to abnormality determination if it is a switching operation during maintenance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 (1-1, 2, 3,...) point machine, 10 operation counting device, 15 motor current measuring unit, 17 relay current measuring unit, 30 terminal device, 370 processing unit, 371 switching operation detection unit, 373 switching control detection unit, 375 counting unit, 390 memory unit, 391 switching operation count, 393 relay operation count, 395 maintenance operation count, 50 central device, N communication network

Claims

1. a motor current measurement unit that measures a motor current of a point machine; a switching operation detection unit that detects that a switching operation of the point machine has been performed based on the motor current value measured by the motor current measurement unit; a counting unit that counts the number of times the turning action occurs based on a detection result of the turning action detection unit; An operation counting device equipped with the above.

2. a relay current measurement unit that measures an operating current of a point control relay of the point machine; a conversion control detection unit that detects conversion control based on the relay current value measured by the relay current measurement unit; Further provided with The counting unit counts the number of switching operations when the switching control detection unit detects switching control and the switching operation detection unit detects switching operations as the number of relay operations. The operation counting device according to claim 1 .

3. The counting unit counts the number of switching operations when the switching control detection unit does not detect the switching control and the switching operation detection unit detects the switching operation as the number of maintenance operations.

3. The operation counting device according to claim 2.

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