Pneumatic fender management system and method

Abstract

Provided are a pneumatic fender management system and method which are capable of more effectively using a fender by suppressing uneven wear on a range of a fender caused by contact by a ship. A pneumatic fender 11A is installed on a quay 10 such that the rotation thereof about the cylindrical axial center CL is restrained. Passive type IC tags 2 are installed at opposing positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of a fender body 12. A communication apparatus 7 that is capable of wireless communication with the IC tags 2 is arranged outside of the pneumatic fender 11A. Identification information about the IC tags 2, the circumferential direction installation positions of the IC tags 2 in the fender body 12, and the circumferential direction arrangement positions of the IC tags 2 in the quay 10 are understood to serve as prior information. Additionally, a position fixation period related to the circumferential direction of the fender body 12 on the quay 10 is specified by a computation device 8 on the basis of the identification information about the IC tags 2 acquired by the communication apparatus 7 by using wireless communication, the circumferential direction arrangement positions of the IC tags 2 on the quay 10 when the identification information was acquired, and the prior information.

Description

Pneumatic fender management system and method

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for managing pneumatic fenders, and more particularly to a system and method for managing pneumatic fenders that can suppress uneven wear on the fenders due to contact with ships, thereby enabling more effective use of the fenders.

[0002] Pneumatic fenders include vertical pneumatic fenders that are used with a weight attached to the underside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Vertical pneumatic fenders are often installed at locations such as quays, with the cylindrical fender body restricted from rotating around its axis. Fenders installed in this manner are subject to wear and tear due to repeated contact by ships with the same area of ​​the fender body.

[0003] Therefore, unless the fender body is appropriately shifted circumferentially around the cylindrical axis and re-installed, specific areas of the fender body will be significantly worn. Even if most of the fender body is sound, if specific areas are significantly worn, the fender must be replaced, resulting in the problem of ineffective use of the fender. Even with so-called horizontal pneumatic fenders, the fender body is sometimes installed in a way that restricts its rotation around the cylindrical axis, which also results in the same problem as described above. Therefore, there is room for improvement in suppressing uneven wear on the fender due to contact with ships and enabling more effective use of the fender.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-117261

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a management system and method for pneumatic fenders that can suppress uneven wear on the fenders due to contact with ships and enable more effective use of the fenders.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the management system for pneumatic fenders of the present invention has a fender body with bowl-shaped ends connected to both sides of a cylindrical body in the axial direction, and the pneumatic fender is installed at a place of use with its rotation about the cylindrical axis restricted, and the management system for pneumatic fenders grasps the state of the pneumatic fenders, and comprises passive IC tags installed at positions facing each other with a gap in the circumferential direction of the fender body, communication devices arranged outside the pneumatic fenders and capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags, and a computing device, The identification information of the IC tags, the circumferential installation position of each of the IC tags on the fender body, and the circumferential placement position of each of the IC tags at the place of use are grasped as advance information, and the calculation device determines a period of fixed position in the circumferential direction of the fender body at the place of use based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication, the circumferential placement position of that IC tag at the place of use at the time the identification information was acquired, and the advance information.

[0007] The method for managing pneumatic fenders of the present invention is a method for understanding the condition of pneumatic fenders that have a fender main body with bowl-shaped ends connected to both sides of a cylindrical body in the axial direction, and that are installed at a location where they are used such that rotation about the cylindrical axis is restricted, and is characterized in that passive IC tags are installed at opposing positions circumferentially spaced apart on the fender main body, and communication devices capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags are installed outside the pneumatic fenders, so that 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 location of use are understood as advance information, and a calculation device is used to determine a period of time during which the fender main body is fixed in position in the circumferential direction based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device using wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of that IC tag at the location of use when the identification information was acquired, and the advance information.

[0008] According to the present invention, the calculation device determines the period during which the fender body was installed at the use location without changing its circumferential position (the fixed position period) based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device through the wireless communication, the circumferential position of that IC tag at the use location when the identification information was acquired, and the prior information. Therefore, using the determined fixed position period as an index, it is possible to timely shift the fender body circumferentially around the cylindrical axis center and reset the pneumatic fender to the use location. As a result, uneven wear of the pneumatic fender due to contact with a ship is suppressed, which is advantageous for more effective use of the pneumatic fender.

[0009] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of a management system for pneumatic fenders applied to vertical pneumatic fenders, as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the vertical pneumatic fender of FIG. 2, as viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is a bottom view illustrating the interior of the vertical pneumatic fender of FIG. 3, as viewed from the vertical side. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the IC tag of FIG. 4, as viewed from the top. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the IC tag of FIG. 5, as viewed from the front. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an enlarged view of wireless communication between the IC tag of FIG. 4 and a communication device. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the vertical pneumatic fender of FIG. 2, in which the circumferential position of the fender body has been shifted and the fender has been reinstalled at its usage location. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration of a management system in which a computing device and terminal devices are connected via a communication network. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of a management system applied to horizontal pneumatic fenders, as viewed from above. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the pneumatic fender of FIG. 10 as seen from the side.

[0010] Hereinafter, a system and method for managing pneumatic fenders according to the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0011] 1 to 4 is used to grasp the condition of a pneumatic fender 11A at the place of use, that is, a quay 10. In this embodiment, the object to be managed is a vertical pneumatic fender 11A (hereinafter, fender 11A).

[0012] This management system 1 comprises passive IC tags 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) attached to fenders 11A, a communication device 7, and a computing device 8. The communication device 7 is disposed outside the fenders 11A and communicates wirelessly with each of the IC tags 2. The communication device 7 and the computing device 8 are connected to each other via wire or wirelessly so that they can communicate with each other.

[0013] The fender 11A has a fender body 12 in which bowl-shaped ends 14a, 14b are connected to both sides of a cylindrical body 13 in the axial direction. One of the bowl-shaped ends 14a is connected to a weight 16 via a chain 17. The other bowl-shaped end 14b has a nozzle 15 equipped with valves. The two-dot chain lines in the figure indicate the boundary between the body 13 and each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a, 14b, but this boundary does not exist in the actual fender body 12. The dash-dotted line CL in the figure indicates the cylindrical axis of the body 13 (fender 11A). The cylindrical axis CL extends through the cross-sectional centers of the body 13 and each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a, 14b. The direction in which the cylindrical axis CL extends is the cylindrical axis direction.

[0014] To explain the structure of the fender body 12 in detail, the trunk 13 is constructed by laminating multiple reinforcing layers between an inner rubber layer and an outer rubber layer. Each reinforcing layer is a cord layer formed by drawing a large number of cords in parallel. The trunk 13 has a bias structure in which the cords of adjacent laminated reinforcing layers cross, and each cord is arranged at a specified cord angle with respect to the tube axis CL.

[0015] Each bowl-shaped end 14a, 14b is constructed by laminating multiple reinforcing layers between an inner rubber layer and an outer rubber layer. These multiple reinforcing layers are alternately laminated, with reinforcing layers formed of cords extending radially from the bowl apex of each bowl-shaped end 14a, 14b and reinforcing layers formed of cords extending in the circumferential direction, giving each bowl-shaped end 14a, 14b a so-called radial structure. The cord specifications of bowl-shaped end 14a, 14b are basically the same as those of the reinforcing layer of body 13.

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

[0017] The multiple fenders 11A are arranged at intervals on the quay wall 10, with the extension direction of their cylindrical axes CL maintained in the vertical direction. Multiple fixed ropes 18, one end of which is fixed to the quay wall 10, are connected to the mouthpiece 15 of each fender 11A. Each fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10 such that its rotation around the cylindrical axis CL is restricted. Therefore, each fender 11A is fixed to the quay wall 10 with almost no deviation in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis CL. As illustrated in Figure 1, a ship 19 moored to the quay wall 10 approaches each fender 11A and then comes into contact with it.

[0018] The IC tags 2 are installed at opposing positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the fender body 12. In this embodiment, four IC tags 2 are arranged at equal circumferential intervals (90°) on the upper bowl-shaped end 14b around the cylindrical axis CL. Each IC tag 2 is arranged above the water. The number of IC tags 2 is not limited to four, and for example, two IC tags 2 can be arranged at equal circumferential intervals (180°).

[0019] Marks S indicating the circumferential positions at which the respective IC tags 2 are disposed are provided on the outer surface of the fender body 12. In this embodiment, four marks S extending in the vertical direction are provided at equal intervals (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis CL on the upper bowl-shaped end 14b. One IC tag 2 is disposed in the range between each of the marks S adjacent in the circumferential direction. The marks S can be formed by joining a piece of rubber (for example, a white rubber piece) of a color different from the surface color (black) of the fender body 12, or by applying paint or the like.

[0020] More specifically, each marking S extends from the vertical center of the upper bowl-shaped end 14b to the upper end of the body 13. One IC tag 2 is disposed near the midpoint of the circumferential spacing between adjacent marks S in the circumferential direction. Therefore, adjacent marks S in the circumferential direction indicate that an IC tag 2 is disposed between these marks S in the circumferential direction.

[0021] The markings S may take other forms as long as they can indicate from the exterior of the fender 11A the circumferential positions at which the IC tags 2 are located. For example, the markings S may be attached to the outer surface of the fender body 12 at positions that coincide with the circumferential positions at which the IC tags 2 are located. To prevent wear and tear due to contact with the quay 10 or the ship 19, it is preferable that the markings S be attached to at least the outer surface of the upper bowl-shaped end 14b.

[0022] As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the IC tag 2 has an IC chip 3 and an antenna unit 4 connected to the IC chip 3. In this embodiment, an IC tag 2 is used that is equipped with an integrated pressure sensor 6a and a temperature sensor 6b. The pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b can be optionally provided in the IC tag 2. The fender 11A does not need to be equipped with either or both of the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b. An independent pressure sensor 6a and a temperature sensor 6b may be connected to an IC tag 2 that is not equipped with an integrated pressure sensor 6a and a temperature sensor 6b.

[0023] The size of the IC chip 3 is very small, for example, with a vertical and horizontal dimension of 50 mm or less (equivalent to an outer diameter of 50 mm or less) and a thickness of 5 mm or less. The size of the antenna unit 4 is also very small. In this embodiment, the antenna unit 4 is a dipole type antenna made of metal wires extending symmetrically from the IC chip 3. The length of each metal wire is approximately 10 mm to 200 mm.

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

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

[0026] The IC tag 2 is covered with an insulating layer 5a, and the entire IC tag 2 is electrically insulated from the outside. However, the detection sections 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. Resins such as ABS, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyimide, and epoxy can be used for the insulating layer 5a. Polyvinyl chloride is highly flexible and therefore very suitable for covering the long antenna section 4 (single metal wire).

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

[0028] Within the fender body 12, the bowl-shaped end 14b is less susceptible to deformation and is less susceptible to external forces, so it is preferable to install the IC tag 2 at the bowl-shaped end 14b. In addition, the dipole-type antenna part 4 made of a metal single wire has excellent bending durability, which is advantageous in avoiding damage caused by repeated deformation of the fender body 12.

[0029] The pressure sensor 6a detects the internal pressure of the fender 11A. Any known type of pressure sensor 6a can be used as long as it can be attached to the IC tag 2. 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. Any of various known types of temperature sensor 6b can be used as long as it can be attached to the IC tag 2. Detection data D2 detected by the temperature sensor 6b is transmitted from the IC tag 2 to the communication device 7.

[0031] The communicator 7 communicates wirelessly with each IC tag 2. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , the communicator 7 includes a radio wave transmitter 7a and a radio wave receiver 7b. The radio wave transmitter 7a transmits an outgoing radio wave R1 to the IC tag 2. The outgoing radio wave R1 received by the antenna unit 4 generates power in the IC tag 2, activating the IC tag 2. The activated IC tag 2 uses this power to transmit a reply radio wave R2 through the antenna unit 4, and this reply radio wave R2 is received by the radio wave receiver 7b. In this way, wireless communication is performed between the IC tag 2 and the communicator 7 by transmitting the reply radio wave R2 in response to the outgoing radio wave R1. Through this wireless communication (reply radio wave R2), the identification information A, detection data D1, D2, etc. are transmitted from the IC tag 2 to the communicator 7 and acquired.

[0032] The communication device 7 is of a generally available specification that allows wireless communication with a passive IC tag 2 (RFID tag). As a result, the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7 constitute an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system. In this embodiment, a portable, handheld communication device 7 is used. Because a passive IC tag 2 is used, the upper limit of the communication distance between the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7 is, for example, about 1 meter.

[0033] The identification information A and the detection data D1 and D2 acquired by the communication device 7 are input to the arithmetic device 8. The arithmetic device 8 performs various arithmetic processes using the input data. A known computer is used as the arithmetic device 8. In this embodiment, the communication device 7 and the arithmetic device 8 are separate entities, but the communication device 7 may be configured to have the functions of the arithmetic device 8, and the independent arithmetic device 8 may be omitted.

[0034] An example of a procedure for understanding the state of the fender 11A using this management system 1 will be described below.

[0035] 1 and 2, the fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10 with its rotation around the cylindrical axis CL restricted. In this embodiment, the fender body 12 is arranged so that the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tag 2a is arranged comes into contact with the quay wall 10 in the top view shown in Fig. 2. A ship 19 moored to the quay wall 10 will come into contact with the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tag 2c, which faces the IC tag 2a, is arranged in the top view.

[0036] First, as advance information, 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 10 where the IC tags 2 are to be used are grasped and input and stored in the calculation device 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 calculation device 8. Furthermore, as the circumferential installation positions of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12, the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are arranged at equal circumferential intervals (90°), and position data indicating how far they are circumferentially offset from the mark S is stored in the calculation device 8. For example, one mark S is set as a reference, and position data indicating the circumferential position of each IC tag 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d with respect to the reference mark S is stored in the calculation device 8. Using this position data, by visually checking the fender 11A and confirming the reference markings S, the circumferential installation positions of each of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12 can be ascertained.

[0037] Then, the circumferential positions of each of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d relative to the quay wall 10 when the fender 11A is installed on the quay wall 10 are determined. These circumferential positions can be determined based on the circumferential installation positions of each of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the fender body 12 and the position of the reference mark S confirmed visually by inspecting the fender 11A. Specifically, in Figure 2, the IC tag 2a is located adjacent to the quay wall 10, the IC tag 2c is located on the opposite side of the quay wall 10, the IC tag 2b is located clockwise from the IC tag 2a between the IC tags 2a and 2c, and the IC tag 2d is located counterclockwise from the IC tag 2a between the IC tags 2a and 2c, and the circumferential positions of each of the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d on the quay wall 10 are stored in the calculation device 8. Alternatively, with the fender 11A installed on the quay 10, wireless communication is established between the communication device 7 on the quay 10 and the IC tag 2 located in an installation position adjacent to the quay 10, thereby obtaining the identification information A of that IC tag 2. From the obtained identification information A, it is determined that the IC tag 2 located in an installation position adjacent to the quay 10 is IC tag 2a. Then, since the circumferential installation positions of each IC tag 2 on the fender main body 12 are known, the circumferential installation positions of the other IC tags 2b, 2c, and 2d on the quay 10 can be known.

[0038] After obtaining the preliminary information as described above, management work to grasp the status of the fenders 11A begins. For each fender 11A, at regular intervals or after each regular period, wireless communication is established between the communication device 7 on the quay 10 and the IC tag 2 located adjacent to the quay 10, as shown in Fig. 7, to obtain the identification information A of the IC tag 2, and the results are stored in the calculation device 8. For example, this wireless communication is performed once a week or once a month, and the IC tag 2 located adjacent to the quay 10 for each fender 11A is grasped in chronological order.

[0039] If there is no change in the identification information A acquired through this wireless communication, the position of the IC tag 2 located adjacent to the quay 10 remains unchanged, and so it can be determined that the fender body 12 of that fender 11A has been installed on the quay 10 without changing its circumferential position. Therefore, the calculation device 8 identifies the period during which there is no change in the identification information A of the IC tag 2 acquired in chronological order as the period during which the fender body 12 was installed on the quay 10 without changing its circumferential position (fixed position period X).

[0040] 2, ships 19 moored to the quay 10 frequently come into contact with the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tag 2c is located, causing localized wear to the contact area. If the position fixing period X is too long, the wear to the contact area will be significant, so an upper limit for the position fixing period X is set.

[0041] Then, when the position fixing period X exceeds the upper limit value, the fender body 12 is shifted in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis center CL and reinstalled on the quay wall 10. As a result, the fender 11A in the installed state in Figure 2 is brought into the installed state illustrated in Figure 8.

[0042] The fender 11A shown in Figure 8 has been reset by shifting the fender body 12 by 90° clockwise around the cylindrical axis CL from the installed state in Figure 2. Marks S are marked at 90° intervals on the outer surface of the upper bowl-shaped end 14b, so the fender body 12 can be set to a position shifted by 90° clockwise by referring to these marks S.

[0043] When the fender 11A is reinstalled on the quay 10 by shifting the fender body 12 circumferentially around the cylindrical axis CL, the fact that it has been reinstalled is stored in the computing device 8. The circumferential positions of each IC tag 2 on the quay 10 are updated and stored in the computing device 8. Then, in this reinstalled state, a new management operation is started to understand the state of the fender 11A. The new management operation is the same as the management operation for the installed state shown in Figure 2. Thereafter, by similarly resetting the fender 11A by shifting the fender body 12 by 90° clockwise around the cylindrical axis CL, the fender 11A is used by rotating it so that the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tags 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are located is in contact with the ship 19.

[0044] According to this management system 1, it is possible to reset the fender body 12 on the quay 10 by shifting it circumferentially around the cylindrical axis CL as needed, using the position fixing period X specified as above as an index. This prevents uneven wear on the fender 11A due to contact with the ship 19. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation where the fender 11A needs to be replaced because most of the fender body 12 is sound but one part is significantly worn, which is advantageous for more effective use of the fender 11A.

[0045] If the position fixing period X exceeds the upper limit, the fender 11A can be reset by shifting the fender body 12 circumferentially by 180° around the cylindrical axis CL, or by shifting it counterclockwise by 90°. The amount and direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the circumferential shift of the fender body 12 around the cylindrical axis CL can be determined as appropriate, but the fender body 12 is rotated by shifting it circumferentially around the cylindrical axis CL to suppress uneven wear in the circumferential direction of the fender body 12 due to contact with the ship 19.

[0046] In this embodiment, the detection data D1 and D2 from the pressure sensor 6a and the temperature sensor 6b can also be acquired each time wireless communication is established between the IC tag 2 and the communication device 7. That is, by using the communication device 7 to communicate wirelessly with the IC tag 2, the internal pressure and internal temperature of the fender 11A can be easily determined. This is therefore advantageous for determining the condition of the fender 11A (presence or absence of abnormalities, etc.) in more detail based on changes in the internal pressure and internal temperature of the fender 11A over time.

[0047] 9 , the management system 1 may be configured such that the calculation device 8 is connected to desired terminal devices 9 via a communication network such as the Internet. For example, desired information (installation status, internal pressure data, internal temperature data, etc.) is transmitted from the calculation device 8 to terminal devices 9 of relevant parties such as the control room of the operating company (user) of the fender 11A, the sales company of the fender 11A, and the manufacturer, which are located remotely from the location where the fender 11A is used. With this configuration, relevant parties who have these terminal devices 9 can grasp and manage the status of the fender 11A while being located remotely from the location where the fender 11A is used.

[0048] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, this management system 1 can also be applied to a so-called horizontal pneumatic fender 11B (hereinafter referred to as fender 11B). The fender 11B is installed on the quay wall 10 in a horizontal position 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, one end of which is fixed to the quay wall 10, is connected to the mouthpieces 15 at each of the bowl-shaped ends 14a, 14b. The fender 11B is installed on the quay wall 10 in such a way that its rotation about the cylindrical axis CL is restricted.

[0049] Four IC tags 2 are arranged at equal intervals (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis CL on the right bowl-shaped end 14b. Four marks S extending in the left-right direction are also attached to the right bowl-shaped end 14b at equal intervals (90°) in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical axis CL. One IC tag 2 is arranged between each of the marks S adjacent in the circumferential direction.

[0050] In this embodiment, the fender body 12 is arranged so that the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tag 2d is arranged comes into contact with the quay wall 10 in the side view shown in Fig. 11. In the side view, the ship 19 comes into contact with the side of the fender body 12 on which the IC tag 2b opposite to the IC tag 2d is arranged.

[0051] When applying the management system 1 to this fender 11B, the same management work as for the above-mentioned fender 11A is carried out. When applying the management system 1 to this fender 11B, the various arrangements described in the case of the fender 11A can also be made.

[0052] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 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 transmitter 7b Radio wave receiver 8 Calculation device 9 Terminal device 10 Quay 11A, 11B Pneumatic fender 12 Fender body 13 Body 14a, 14b Bowl-shaped end 15 Mouthpiece 16 Weight 17 Chain 18 Fixed rope 19 Ship W Ballast water A Identification information D1, D2 Detection data S Display

Claims

1. A management system for pneumatic fenders for grasping the state of a pneumatic fender having a fender body with bowl-shaped ends connected to both sides in the axial direction of a cylindrical body, the pneumatic fender being installed at a place of use with rotation about the axial center of the cylinder restricted, the management system comprising: passive IC tags installed at opposing positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the fender body; a communication device arranged outside the pneumatic fender and capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags; and a computing device; 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 place of use are grasped as advance information; A management system for pneumatic fenders in which the calculation device determines a period of fixed position in the circumferential direction of the fender body at the place of use based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication, the circumferential position of that IC tag at the place of use at the time the identification information was acquired, and the advance information.

2. A management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 1, which has a pressure sensor that detects the air pressure of the fender body, and the detection data by the pressure sensor is acquired by the communication device using the wireless communication and input to the computing device.

3. A management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pneumatic fender has a weight connected to one of the bowl-shaped ends, one of the bowl-shaped ends being the lower end of the fender body and the other bowl-shaped end being the upper end of the fender body, and the pneumatic fender is a vertical pneumatic fender installed at the location of use.

4. A management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 3, wherein each of said IC tags is disposed at the other bowl-shaped end.

5. A management system for pneumatic fenders as described in claim 4, in which a marking indicating the circumferential position at which each of the IC tags is located is affixed to the outer surface of the other bowl-shaped end.

6. A method for managing a pneumatic fender which has a fender body with bowl-shaped ends connected to both sides in the axial direction of a cylindrical trunk portion, the pneumatic fender being installed at a place of use with its rotation around the axial center restricted, and which grasps the condition of the pneumatic fender, comprising the steps of: installing passive IC tags at opposing positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the fender body; arranging a communication device capable of wireless communication with each of the IC tags outside the pneumatic fender; and grasping 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 place of use as advance information; and determining a period of fixed position in the circumferential direction of the fender body at the place of use by a computing device based on the identification information of at least one of the IC tags obtained by the communication device using the wireless communication, the circumferential arrangement position of that IC tag at the place of use at the time the identification information was obtained, and the advance information.

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