Title of Invention

MAINTENANCE HISTORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINE

Abstract The present invention provides a maintenance history information management system for a construction machine that is capable of enhancing the reliability of temporal information about maintenance history data. The maintenance history information management system comprises a data recording device 30 and a mobile terminal 34. The data recording device 30 is incorporated in a hydraulic excavator 1 or other construction machine to process operating time or date and time. The mobile terminal 34 includes a CPU 36 for displaying construction machine maintenance items on a monitor 38, a tablet 41 into which a worker can input data for the maintenance items displayed on the monitor 38, and a storage device 35 for storing the input data as the maintenance history data. The mobile terminal 34 inputs the operating time or date and time from the data recording device 30 via first communication means (either a communication cable 33A and a communication connector 32A or a communication cable 33B and a plurality of communication connectors 32B, 32C) and stores the input operating time or date and time in the storage device 35 in association with the maintenance history data.
Full Text DESCRIPTION
MAINTENANCE HISTORY INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR
CONSTRUCTION MACHINE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a construction
machine maintenance history information management system
that is suitable for managing the maintenance history
information about hydraulic excavators and other
construction machines.
Background Art
When a hydraulic excavator or other construction
machine was to be inspected in the past, a worker, who
belonged, for instance, to a construction machine
manufacturer or servicing company, visited a work site with
having a maintenance form (checklist) and wrote maintenance
results into the maintenance form. Then, the worker brought
the maintenance form back and typed the maintenance results
by use of a terminal to enter them into a management server.
The maintenance result input process was not efficiently
performed because it took a lot of trouble to write the
maintenance results into the maintenance form and to type
them by use of the terminal. To solve such a problem, a
maintenance information transmission/reception system is
proposed, for instance, by Patent Document 1. This
maintenance information transmission/reception system
1

includes a cellular phone, which allows the user to enter,
for instance, hydraulic excavator maintenance results and
transmit the entered information, and a management server,
which is installed, for instance, at a manufacturer's
facility or at a servicing company to transmit information
to and receive information from the cellular phone.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-325060
Disclosure of Invention
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
For example, a large-size hydraulic excavator for use
in soil/stone excavation at a large work site is generally
operated continuously for productivity improvement purposes.
If, for instance, an abnormality occurs in the hydraulic
excavator, it is necessary to stop its operation for a long
period of time and to change the execution of a production
plan depending on the severity of the abnormality. A known
technology for handling such a situation is used to furnish
the hydraulic excavator, for instance, with a plurality of
sensors and a data control device that processes and stores
detected data fed from the sensors. With the known
technology, fault diagnostics can be performed by
referencing the detected data stored in the data control
device, and the hydraulic excavator downtime can be reduced.
Further, some hydraulic excavator faults and abnormalities
are detected only through visual inspection, and it is
desired that such faults and abnormalities be detected
before the hydraulic excavator malfunctions. For such a
2

reason, hydraulic excavator maintenance is regarded as
important, and the number of maintenance items and the
frequency of maintenance have relatively increased.
Furthermore, fault diagnostics can be performed in
accordance with the temporal relationship between
maintenance history data and the data detected from an
abnormal hydraulic excavator. More specifically, if, for
instance, an overheat or other similar abnormality is
encountered in a situation where the normality of a radiator
is indicated by the maintenance history data obtained from a
radiator maintenance performed immediately before the
occurrence of such an abnormality, it can be judged that the
abnormality is highly attributable to a device other than
the radiator. Fault diagnostics can then be performed by
referencing the detected data related to devices other than
the radiator. Consequently, fault diagnostics can be
carried out more rapidly with increased precision.
However, the above-mentioned conventional technology
does not propose a definite method for acquiring temporal
information about the maintenance history data. Therefore,
there is room for improvement. If, for instance, the date
and time of the hydraulic excavator disagrees with the date
and time of the cellular phone for some reason in a
situation where the maintenance history data is generated
with reference to the date and time of the cellular phone,
it may be impossible to accurately determine the temporal
relationship between the maintenance history data and the
occurrence of a hydraulic excavator abnormality. Further,
3

if the maintenance history data is generated, for instance,
by entering the operating time indicated by an indicator on
the hydraulic excavator, it is probable that incorrect data
may be entered and that the entered data may vary from one
person to another. This again may make it impossible to
accurately determine the temporal relationship between the
maintenance history data and the occurrence of a hydraulic
excavator abnormality.
A first object of the present invention is to provide
a construction machine maintenance history information
management system that is capable of enhancing the
reliability of temporal information about maintenance
history data.
A second object of the present invention is to
provide a construction machine history information
management system for generating maintenance history data
that can be used to accurately determine the temporal
relationship between the maintenance history data and the
occurrence of a construction machine abnormality.
Means for Solving the Problem
(1) In accomplishing the above objects, according to
one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
maintenance history information management system for a
construction machine, comprising: a data control device
being incorporated to process operating time or date and
time; and a mobile terminal including control means for
displaying construction machine maintenance items on display
means, input means for enabling a worker to enter data for
4

the maintenance items displayed on the display means, and
storage means for storing the data entered through the input
means as maintenance history data; wherein the mobile
terminal inputs the operating time or date and time from the
data control device via first communication means and stores
the maintenance history data in the storage means in
association with the input operating time or date and time.
In the present invention, the construction machine
includes the data control device that processes the
operating time or date and time. When, for instance, the
construction machine is to be inspected, the mobile terminal
is communication-connected to the data control device via
the first communication means so that the data control
device inputs the operating time or date and time into the
mobile terminal. When the worker uses the input means to
enter data (e.g., the data about maintenance execution,
maintenance results, countermeasure, or
replenishment/replacement amount of oil or the like) for the
maintenance items displayed on the display means of the
mobile terminal, the entered data is handled as the
maintenance history data, associated with the construction
machine operating time or date and time, and stored in the
storage means. The worker displays the maintenance history
data stored in the storage means of the mobile terminal, for
instance, on the display means, or outputs it to a
management server via second communication means.
In the present invention, the mobile terminal can
acquire temporal information, such as the operating time or
5

date and time, from the data control device of the
construction machine and store the acquired temporal
information about the construction machine in association
with the maintenance history data, as described above. As a
result, the reliability of the temporal information about
the maintenance history data is higher than when, for
instance, the temporal information is manually entered into
the mobile terminal. Further, since the construction
machine's temporal information is used as the reference, the
temporal relationship between the maintenance history data
and the occurrence of a construction machine abnormality can
be determined with increased precision. This makes it
possible to perform fault diagnostics more rapidly with
increased accuracy.
(2) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the data control device stores machine information
such as the model name and serial number of the construction
machine; and the mobile terminal acquires the machine
information from the data control device via the first
communication means and stores the acquired machine
information in the storage means in association with the
maintenance history data.
(3) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal causes the
6

display means to display the maintenance history data stored
in the storage means in accordance with an instruction
entered by the worker.
(4) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
further comprising: a management server being positioned far
away from the construction machine to input the maintenance
history data from the mobile terminal via second
communication means and record the input maintenance history
data.
(5) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the first communication means includes a plurality
of communication connectors being provided for maintenance
targets of the construction machine and communication-
connected to the data control device, and a communication
cable for enabling to connect to and disconnect from the
communication connectors.
Conseguently, it is possible that the mobile terminal
is carried in accordance with a maintenance target of the
construction machine and connected to the communication
connector via the communication cable and received the
operating time, date and time, or other similar data from
the data control device. Therefore, the data can be entered
into the mobile terminal near a maintenance target that is
accessed for maintenance purposes. This makes it possible
7

to increase working efficiency.
(6) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal classifies
the maintenance items by maintenance intervals and causes
the display means to display maintenance items that
correspond to maintenance intervals entered by the worker.
(7) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal classifies
the maintenance items by maintenance type and causes the
display means to display maintenance items that correspond
to a maintenance type selectively entered by the worker.
(8) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal classifies
the maintenance items by maintenance target and causes the
display means to display maintenance items that correspond
to a maintenance target selectively entered by the worker.
(9) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the input means inputs the data on maintenance
execution, maintenance results, countermeasure, or
replenishment/replacement amount of oil or the like for the
8

maintenance items as the maintenance history data.
(10) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (9) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal has a
function of extracting maintenance items, which were found
to be nonconforming but are still not remedied or are due
for maintenance but have not been inspected, and causing the
display means to display the extracted maintenance items
(11) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (10) above,
wherein the mobile terminal includes maintenance interval
change means for changing maintenance interval settings for
the maintenance items.
(12) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (11) above,
wherein the maintenance interval change means inputs a basic
unit for maintenance intervals and changes the maintenance
interval setting to a multiple of the input basic unit that
is close to predefined recommended maintenance intervals for
a maintenance item.
(13) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal reads the
last maintenance history data stored in the storage means
9

and displays data input fields for the maintenance items and
the associated last maintenance history data within the same
screen.
(14) According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided the maintenance history
information management system as described in (1) above,
wherein the control means of the mobile terminal causes the
display means to open a screen into which findings other
than predetermined maintenance items can be entered; and the
storage means handles data input by the input means into the
screen opened by the display means as findings data and
stores the findings data in association with the operating
time or date and time, which is input from the data control
device via the first communication means.
(15) In accomplishing the above objects, according to
still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a maintenance history information management system
for a construction machine that manages the history
information about visual inspection of the construction
machine having a plurality of zoned maintenance areas
accessible to a worker, the maintenance history information
management system comprising: a data control device being
incorporated in the construction machine to process
operating time or date and time; and a mobile terminal
including control means for displaying construction machine
maintenance items on display means, input means for enabling
the worker to enter data for the maintenance items displayed
on the display means, and storage means for storing the data
10

entered through the input means as maintenance history data;
wherein the mobile terminal inputs the operating time or
date and time from the data control device via first
communication means in accordance with a communication
instruction from the worker and stores the maintenance
history data, which is later input through the input means,
in the storage means in association with the input operating
time or date and time.
Advantages of the Invention
The present invention can enhance the reliability of
temporal information about the maintenance history data and
determine the temporal relationship between the maintenance
history data and the occurrence of a construction machine
abnormality with increased precision.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the overall
structure of a huge hydraulic excavator to which a
construction machine maintenance history information
management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention is applied.
Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the device layout
of a hydraulic excavator swing body to which the
construction machine maintenance history information
management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention is applied.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram that illustrates the
construction machine maintenance history information
11

management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention while depicting the configuration of a hydraulic
excavator controller network.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional
configuration of a mobile terminal that is a part of the
construction machine maintenance history information
management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 5A shows the transition of a main screen that is
displayed on a monitor when a maintenance input program is
started in the mobile terminal.
Fig. 5B shows the transition of a main screen that is
displayed on the monitor when the maintenance input program
is started in the mobile terminal.
Fig. 6 shows a keyboard dialog screen for input that
is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 7A shows the transition of a daily maintenance
input screen that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile
terminal.
Fig. 7B shows a weekly maintenance input screen that
is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 7C shows a replenishment/replacement amount
input screen that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile
terminal.
Fig. 8 shows a countermeasure input screen that is
displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 9 shows a numeric keypad dialog screen for input
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.

Fig. 10A shows the transition of a monthly
maintenance input screen that is displayed on the monitor of
the mobile terminal.
Fig. 10B shows a monthly maintenance input screen
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 11 shows an outstanding maintenance input screen
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing control procedure of
an extraction process that is performed on maintenance items
to be displayed in the outstanding maintenance input screen.
Fig. 13 shows a replenishment amount input screen
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 14 shows a machine information screen that is
displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 15 shows a main screen that is displayed on the
monitor when a maintenance history display program is
started in the mobile terminal.
Fig. 16A shows the transition of a daily maintenance
history screen that is displayed on the monitor of the
mobile terminal.
Fig. 16B shows a weekly maintenance history screen
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 16C shows a replenishment/replacement amount
screen that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile
terminal.
Fig. 17 shows the transition of a monthly maintenance
history screen that is displayed on the monitor of the
mobile terminal.
13

Fig. 18 shows a replenishment amount input screen
that is displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 19 shows the transition of a screen that is
displayed on the monitor when a maintenance interval setup
program is started in the mobile terminal.
Fig. 20 shows a screen that is displayed on the
monitor when an option setup program is started in the
mobile terminal.
Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram exemplifying the
configuration of an information network that is a part of
the construction machine maintenance history information
management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 22 is a findings input screen that is displayed
on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 23 shows a position input list that is displayed
on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 24 shows a target input list that is displayed
on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Fig. 25 shows a requested action input screen that is
displayed on the monitor of the mobile terminal.
Description of Reference Numerals
1: Hydraulic excavator
30: Data recording device (data control device)
32A, 32B, 32C: Communication connector (first communication
means)
33A, 33B: Communication cable (first communication means)
34: Mobile terminal
14

35: Storage device (storage means)
36: CPU (control means)
38: Monitor (display means)
41: Tablet (input means)
43: Management server
99: Communication cable (second communication means)
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
One embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the overall
structure of a huge hydraulic excavator to which a
construction machine maintenance history information
management system according to one embodiment of the present
invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating
the device layout of a hydraulic excavator swing body.
Controller network devices, which will be described later,
are hatched in Fig. 2.
The hydraulic excavator 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a
huge two-engine excavator that weighs several hundred tons
and is frequently used, for instance, at an overseas mine.
This excavator 1 comprises a track body 3 including left-
and right-side caterpillar belts (crawlers) 2, a swing body
4 mounted on the track body 3 in a swingable manner, a front
operating mechanism (excavation device) 5 mounted to the
front center portion of the swing body 4 in a vertically
angularly movable manner, housings 6A, 6B provided in the
left and right portions of the swing body 4 to house various
15

devices (described in detail later) , a cab 7 positioned to
the front upper side of the left-side housing 6A, and a
counterweight 8 attached in the rear portion of the swing
body 4.
The track body 3 comprises a track frame 9
substantially shaped in the H form, left- and right-side
drive wheels 10 which are rotatably supported near the left-
and light-side rear ends of the track frame 9, left- and
right-side track hydraulic motors (not shown) for driving
the drive wheels 10 and left- and right-side idlers 11 which
are rotatably supported near the left- and right-side front
ends of the track frame 9 and are rotated by driving forces
of the drive wheels 10 through the caterpillar belts 2.
A swing wheel (swing body bearing) 12 is disposed
between the track body 3 and swing body 4. A swing
hydraulic motor (not shown) is disposed toward the inner
circumference of the swing wheel 12. The swing hydraulic
motor is driven so that the swing body 4 swings relative to
the track body 3.
The front operating mechanism 5 is, for instance, of
a loader type. It comprises a boom 13 turnably mounted on
the swing body 3, an arm 14 turnably mounted on the leading
end of the boom 13, and a bucket 15 turnably mounted on the
leading end of the arm 14. The boom 13, arm 14, and bucket
15 are operated respectively by telescopic motions of boom
hydraulic cylinders 16, arm hydraulic cylinders 17, and
bucket hydraulic cylinders 18.
The housings 6A, 6B house engines 19, radiators 20
16

positioned behind the engines 19, and hydraulic pumps 21
positioned in front of the engines 19. The hydraulic pumps
21 are driven by the engines 19 to supply hydraulic oil to a
plurality of hydraulic actuators (e.g., the aforementioned
track hydraulic motors, swing hydraulic motor, boom
hydraulic cylinders 16, arm hydraulic cylinders 17, and
bucket hydraulic cylinders 18).
A fuel tank 22 for storing fuel for the engines 19
and a hydraulic oil tank 23 for storing hydraulic oil for
the hydraulic pumps 21 are positioned between the housings
6A, 6B. A plurality of control valves 24 are positioned in
front of the hydraulic oil tank 23 to control the hydraulic
oil flow from the hydraulic pumps 21 to the aforementioned
hydraulic actuators in accordance with the operation of
control levers (not shown) in the cab 7. oil coolers 25 for
and a lubricator (not shown) are positioned in front area of
the right-side housing 6B. The oil coolers 25 cool the
fluid that returns from the hydraulic actuators. The
lubricator supplies lubricating oil, for instance, to the
swing wheel 12 and the movable sections of the front
operating mechanism 5.
In the hydraulic excavator 1 configured as described
above, there is mounted a controller network 26 for
collecting operation data, which is the data about the
operating status of each maintenance target. Fig. 3 is a
schematic diagram that illustrates the configuration of the
controller network 26 while depicting one embodiment of the
construction machine maintenance history information
17

management system according to the present invention.
Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 2, the controller
network 26 comprises a first network 28A connected to engine
monitoring devices 27A, 27B or the like, a second network
28B connected to a vehicle body control device 29 or the
like, and a data recording device (data control device) 30
connected to these networks 28A, 28B.
The engine monitoring devices 27A, 27B are connected
respectively to engine control devices 31A, 31B for
controlling the two engines 19. Although the details of the
engine control devices 31A, 31B are not depicted, the engine
control devices 31A, 31B input, for instance, the engine
speeds detected by revolution speed sensors and the governor
rack positions detected by position sensors, and control
fuel injection devices to regulate the fuel injection
amounts of the engines 19. Although the details of the
engine monitoring devices 27A, 27B are not depicted, the
engine monitoring devices 27A, 27B input, for instance, the
blow-by pressures of the engines 19 detected by pressure
sensors and the cooling water temperatures of the radiators
20 detected by temperature sensors. The operation data
about the operating status of the engines 19 (hereinafter
referred to as the engine-related data), which is input into
the engine control devices 31A, 31B and engine monitoring
devices 27A, 27B, is output to the data recording device 30
through the first network 28A.
The vehicle body control device 29 controls the
vehicle body of the hydraulic excavator 1 and detects the
18

operation data about the vehicle body. Although the details
of the vehicle body control device 29 are not depicted, the
vehicle body control device 29 exercises so-called total
horsepower control by inputting the engine speeds detected
by the revolution speed sensors and controlling the delivery
rate of the hydraulic pumps 21 in accordance with the engine
speeds to ensure that the total input torque of the
hydraulic pump 21 is not greater than the engine output
torque. Further, the vehicle body control device 29 inputs
the hydraulic oil temperature detected by a oil temperature
sensor and controls cooling fan motors for the oil coolers
25 to ensure that the hydraulic oil temperature is constant.
Furthermore, the vehicle body control device 29 inputs, for
instance, the ON/OFF signal of a key switch (not shown) that
operates to drive the engines 19. The operation data about
the vehicle body of the hydraulic excavator 1 (hereinafter
referred to as the vehicle body related data), which is
input into the vehicle body control device 29, etc., is
output to the data recording device 30 through the second
network 28B.
The data recording device 30 inputs and records the
aforementioned engine related data and vehicle body related
data. Further, the data recording device 30 judges whether
the engines 19 are running (e.g., the data recording device
30 may read the engine speed related data and judge whether
the read engine speeds are higher than a predetermined
engine speed or read key switch ON/OFF data and judge
whether the key switch is ON), and computes the operating
19

time (hour meter) of the engines 19 by making use of the
temporal information of a timer, and records the computed
operating time in association with the date and time
(international standard time) that is constantly corrected
based on the time indicated by a GPS device (not shown). It
should be noted that the data recording device 30 records an
operating time initial value that prevails when the
hydraulic excavator 1 is delivered.
The controller network 26 also comprises a plurality
of communication connectors 32A, 32B, 32C. The
communication connector 32A is connected to the data
recording device 30 and positioned within the cab together
with the data control device 30. The plurality of
communication connectors 32B (eight connectors in Fig. 2)
are connected to the first network 28A and positioned in
engine chambers within the housings 6A, 6B together with the
engine monitoring devices 27A, 27B. The plurality of
communication connectors 32C (four connectors in Fig. 2) are
connected to the second network 28B and positioned in pump
chambers within the housings 6A, 6B together with the
vehicle body control device 29. A mobile terminal 34 is
included as a major feature of the present embodiment. The
mobile terminal 34 can be communication-connected via a
communication cable 33A for connecting to and disconnecting
from the communication connector 32A, or a communication
cable 33B for connecting to and disconnecting from the
plurality of communication connectors 32B, 32C. The mobile
terminal 34 mainly inputs data (e.g., the data about
20

maintenance execution, maintenance results, countermeasure,
or replenishment/replacement amount of oil or the like) on a
plurality of maintenance items for the hydraulic excavator 1
and creates maintenance history data.
The functions of the mobile terminal 34, which is an
essential part of the present embodiment, will now be
described in detail. Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating
the functional configuration of the mobile terminal 34.
Referring to Fig. 4, the mobile terminal 34 is, for
instance, a tablet personal computer. The mobile terminal
34 comprises a storage device 35 (storage means) for storing
control programs and maintenance history data, etc., a CPU
36 (control means) for performing arithmetic processing in
accordance with the control programs stored in the storage
device 35, a RAM 37 for temporarily storing data that is
arithmetically processed by the CPU 36, a monitor 38
(display means), a display interface 39 for outputting a
display signal to the monitor 38, a tablet 41 (input means)
provided in front face of the monitor 38 to detect the
contact of a pen 40 manipulated by a worker, a communication
interface 42 for inputting data from the data recording
device 30 via the communication cables 33, and a
communication interface 44 for performing data input/output
operations in relation, for instance, to a management server
43 (see Fig. 21) as described later.
The storage device 35 of the mobile terminal 34 has a
program storage area 35a and a data storage area 35b. The
program storage area 35a stores the control programs (e.g.,
21

maintenance input program, maintenance history display
program, maintenance interval setup program, and option
setup program). The data storage area 35b stores, for
instance, the maintenance history data (e.g., daily
maintenance history, weekly maintenance history, monthly
maintenance history, requested action history,
countermeasure history, oil replenishment/replacement
history, and findings) created by the maintenance input
program and setup data that is set by the maintenance
interval setup program and option setup program. In the
present embodiment, the maintenance input program can be
started only by a worker who performs maintenance tasks.
The maintenance interval setup program and option setup
program can be started only an administrator who is
privileged, for instance, to change the settings. The
maintenance history display program can be started by the
worker and administrator. The control process performed by
each control program will be described in detail below.
(1) Maintenance input
Figs. 5A and 5B show the transitions of a main screen
that is displayed on the monitor 38 when the maintenance
input program is started.
When the maintenance input program starts, a
communication condition input screen 45 is displayed on the
monitor 38 as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B. The communication
condition input screen 4 5 has a communication port input
field 45a, a communication baud rate input field 45b, a
resume button 45c, a communication button 45d, and an exit
22

button 45e.
List display buttons 45f, 45g are positioned to the
right of the communication port input field 45a and
communication baud rate input field 45b. When the worker
operates the list display button (45f or 45g) (by bringing
the pen 40 into contact with the associated display area),
an input list (not shown), which lists a plurality of input
terms, appears. More specifically, when the worker operates
the list display button 45f, an input list (not shown)
appears to list, for instance, "COM1", "COM2", and so on.
When the worker selects, for instance, "COM1" from the input
list, the input list closes, and "COM1" is entered into the
communication port input field 45a. When the worker
operates the input list display button 45g, an input list
(not shown) appears to list, for instance, "14,400 bps",
"28,800 bps", and so on. When the worker selects, for
instance, "14,400 bps" from the input list, the input list
closes, and "14,400 bps" is entered into the communication
baud rate input field 45b.
When the worker operates the communication button 4 5d
in the communication condition input screen 45, the
communication between the data recording device 30 and
mobile terminal 34 starts under the communication conditions
entered in the communication port input field 45a and
communication baud rate input field 45b, and the displayed
screen is changed to a machine information input screen 46.
In this instance, data such as the model name and serial
number of the hydraulic excavator 1, the operating time
23

initial value prevailing at the time of delivery, and the
operating time and date/time (international standard time)
acquired at the beginning of communication is input from the
data recording device 30 to the mobile terminal 34. If the
communication between the data recording device 30 and
mobile terminal 34 cannot be established for some reason,
the worker can operate the resume button 45c in the
communication condition input screen 45 to change the
displayed screen in a state where the communication is not
established. Operating the exit button 45e in the
communication condition input screen 45 terminates the
maintenance input program.
The machine information input screen 4 6 has a
customer code input field 46a, a hydraulic excavator model
name display field 4 6b, a hydraulic excavator serial number
display field 46c, a hydraulic excavator operating time
display field 46d, a front operating mechanism type input
field 46e, engine identification number input fields 46f,
46g, a hydraulic excavator delivery date input field 46h,
and an execution button 46i. The data (the model name and
serial number of the hydraulic excavator 1 and the operating
time prevailing at the beginning of communication) acquired
from the data recording device 30 is displayed in the model
name display field 46b, serial number display field 46c, and
operating time display field 46d.
A list display button 46j is positioned to the right
of the front operating mechanism type input field 4 6e. When
the worker operates the list display button 46j, an input
24

list (not shown) appears to list, for instance, "loader",
"backhoe", and so on. When the worker selects, for instance,
"loader" from the input list, the input list closes, and
"loader" is entered into the front operating mechanism type
input field 46e.
keyboard display buttons 46k are positioned to the
right of the customer code input field 46a and engine
identification number input fields 46f, 46g. When the
worker operates the keyboard display button 4 6k, a keyboard
dialog screen 47 shown in Fig. 6 appears. The keyboard
dialog screen 47 has, for instance, a plurality of input
buttons 47a (e.g., "0" to "9" and "A" to "Z"), a display
field 47b for displaying characters entered through the
input buttons 47a, a clear button 47c for deleting all the
characters displayed in the display field 47b, a backspace
button 47d for deleting the last character, and an execution
button 47e. When the worker displays input characters in
the display field 47b by operating the input buttons 47a in
the keyboard dialog screen 47 and then operates the
execution button 47e, the keyboard dialog screen 47 closes,
and text data is entered into the customer code input field
46a or engine identification number input fields 46f, 46g.
A calendar display button 461 is positioned to the
right of the delivery date input field 46h. When the worker
operates the calendar display button 461, a calendar dialog
screen (not shown) appears. The calendar dialog screen
lists the days of a month and allows the worker to switch
the list from one month to another. When the worker selects
25

a particular date from the calendar dialog screen, the
calendar dialog screen closes, and date data (e.g., in
year/month/day format) is entered into the delivery date
input field 46h.
When the worker operates the execution button 46i in
the machine information input screen 46, the storage device
35 stores machine data (the aforementioned customer code,
hydraulic excavator model name and serial number, operating
time initial value prevailing at the time of delivery, type
of the front operating mechanism 5, identification numbers
of the engines 19, and delivery date), and the displayed
screen is changed to a maintenance information input screen
48. After the machine data is stored in the storage device
35, the machine information input screen 46 is skipped.
More specifically, when the worker operates the
communication button 45d in the communication condition
input screen 45, a check is performed to determine whether
the serial number acquired from the data recording device 30
is included in the machine data stored in the storage device
35. If the associated machine data is found, the data is
read, and the displayed screen is changed to the maintenance
information input screen 48.
The maintenance information input screen 4 8 has a
customer code display field 48a, a model name display field
48b, a serial number display field 48c, an operating time
display field 48d, a maintenance date/time display field 48e,
a name input field 48f for entering the name of the
maintenance personnel, and an execution button 48g. The
26

customer code display field 48a, model name display field
48b, serial number display field 48c, and operating time
display field 48d display some of the machine data stored in
the storage device 35 (customer code and hydraulic excavator
model name and serial number) and the operating time
prevailing at the beginning of communication. The
maintenance date/time display field 48e displays local time
(described in detail later in conjunction with the option
setup program) that is obtained by converting the date/time
(international standard time) prevailing at the beginning of
communication, which is acquired from the data recording
device 30.
A keyboard display button 48h and a list display
button 48i are positioned to the right of the name input
field 48f. When the worker operates the keyboard display
button 48h, the keyboard dialog screen 47 appears. A name
is input into the name input field 48f when the keyboard
dialog screen 47 is operated as described above. On the
other hand, when the worker operates the list display button
48i, an input list (not shown) appears to list a plurality
of names (e.g., preselected or previously stored names).
When the worker selects a name from the input list, the
input list closes, and the selected name is entered into the
name input field 48f.
When the worker operates the execution button 48g in
the maintenance information input screen 48, the storage
device 35 stores maintenance data (the aforementioned
operating time and date/time (international standard time)
27

prevailing at the beginning of communication and the name of
the maintenance personnel), and the displayed screen is
changed to a maintenance input main menu screen 49.
The maintenance input main menu screen 4 9 has a basic
information display area 50 and a menu display area 51. The
basic information display area 50 has a customer code
display field 50a, a model information display field 50b, a
serial number display field 50c, an operating time display
field 50d, a maintenance date/time display field 50e, and a
name display field 50f, and displays some of the
aforementioned machine data as well as the maintenance data.
The menu display area 51 has a machine information button
51a, a daily/weekly maintenance button 51b, a monthly
maintenance button 51c, an outstanding maintenance button
5Id, a replenishment button 51e, a requested action button
51g, and an exit button 51f.
When the daily/weekly maintenance button 51a in the
maintenance input main menu screen 4 9 is operated, the
displayed screen is changed to a daily/weekly maintenance
input menu screen 52 shown in Fig. 7A. The daily/weekly
maintenance input menu screen 52 has the basic information
display area 50 and a menu display area 53. The menu
display area 53 has a daily maintenance button 53a, a weekly
maintenance button 53b, a replenishment/replacement amount
button 53c, a new findings button 53e, and a main menu
button 53d.
When the worker operates the daily maintenance button
53a in the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52,
28

the displayed screen is changed to a daily maintenance input
screen 54. The daily maintenance input screen 54 has the
basic information display area 50, a maintenance input area
55, an execution button 54a, and a new findings button 54b.
The maintenance input area 55 displays maintenance tasks
that are to be performed daily (e.g., at intervals of 10
operating hours of the hydraulic excavator 1, that is, each
time the hydraulic excavator operator changes).
When the worker operates the weekly maintenance
button 53b in the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen
52, the displayed screen is changed to a weekly maintenance
input screen 56 (see Fig. 7B). The weekly maintenance input
screen 56 has the basic information display area 50, a
maintenance input area 57, an execution button 56a, and a
new findings button 56b. The maintenance input area 57
displays maintenance tasks that are to be performed weekly
(e.g., at intervals of 50 operating hours of the hydraulic
excavator 1).
The maintenance input area 55 of the daily
maintenance input screen 54 and the maintenance input area
57 of the weekly maintenance input screen 56 both have a
plurality of sheets 58 that displays a list of maintenance
items classified by maintenance type (cleaning, oil draining,
greasing, level inspection, visual inspection, etc.). When
the tab 58a of a sheet 58 indicating a maintenance type is
operated, the corresponding sheet 58 is selected and
displayed. The sheet 58 has an item number button 58b, an
item description display field 58c, a data input field 58d,
29

and a previous data display field 58e for each maintenance
item. When the worker operates the item number button 58b,
the associated maintenance target display screen (e.g., the
overall view or enlarged detail view (not shown) of the
hydraulic excavator 1, which indicates a maintenance target)
appears. This enables the worker to perform a maintenance
task while confirming a maintenance target.
The worker can enter data into the data input field
58d while viewing the previous data display field 58e. A
"YES" button 58f is provided for a maintenance item (e.g., a
maintenance item related to cleaning) which only maintenance
execution data is input to. When the worker operates the
"YES" button 58f, the word "YES" is entered into the data
input field 58d to indicate that a maintenance task is
performed. An "OK" button 58g, an "NG" button 58h, and an
"ACT" button 58i are provided for a maintenance item (e.g.,
a maintenance item related to level inspection) which a
maintenance result or the like is input. When the worker
operates the "OK" button 58g, the word "OK" is entered into
the data input field 58d to indicate that an acceptable
maintenance result is obtained. On the other hand, when the
worker operates the "NG" button 58h, the word "NG" is
entered into the data input field 58d to indicate that an
unacceptable maintenance result is obtained (a problem is
encountered and not corrected). If the worker operates the
"ACT" button 58i when any remedial action is taken after an
unacceptable maintenance result is obtained, a
countermeasure input screen 59 shown in Fig. 8 appears.
30

The countermeasure input screen 59 has a
countermeasure input field 59a and an execution button 59b.
A keyboard display button 59c and a list display button 59d
are positioned to the right of the countermeasure input
field 59a. When the worker operates the keyboard display
button 59c, the keyboard dialog screen 47 appears. A
countermeasure is input into the countermeasure input field
59a when the keyboard dialog screen 47 is operated as
described above. On the other hand, when the worker
operates the list display button 59d, an input list (not
shown) appears to list, for instance, "ADJUSTED", "REPAIRED",
"REPLACED", "REFILLED", or other countermeasure. When the
worker selects a countermeasure from the input list, the
input list closes, and the selected countermeasure is
entered into the countermeasure input field 59a. When the
worker subsequently operates the execution button 59b in the
countermeasure input screen 59, a combination of the
maintenance item and the countermeasure input in the
countermeasure input field 59a is handled as countermeasure
history data and stored in the storage device 35 in
association with the machine data and maintenance data.
Further, the countermeasure input screen 59 closes, and the
word "ACT" is entered into the data input field 58d to
indicate that remedial action is taken. If the data input
field 58d is blank, it means that no maintenance has been
performed.
When the worker operates the execution button 54a in
the daily maintenance input screen 54, a combination of the
31

maintenance item in the daily maintenance input screen 54
and the data input in the data input field 58d is handled as
daily maintenance history data and stored in the storage
device 35 in association with the machine data and
maintenance data. Further, the displayed screen is returned
to the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52.
Similarly, when the worker operates the execution button 56a
in the weekly maintenance input screen 56, a combination of
the maintenance item in the weekly maintenance input screen
56 and the data input in the data input field 58d is handled
as weekly maintenance history data and stored in the storage
device 35 in association with the machine data and
maintenance data. Further, the displayed screen is returned
to the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52.
When the worker operates the
replenishment/replacement amount button 53c in the
daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52, the displayed
screen is changed to a replenishment/replacement amount
input screen 60 (see Fig. 7C). The
replenishment/replacement amount input screen 60 has the
basic information display area 50, a
replenishment/replacement amount input area 61, an amount
unit display field 60a, and an execution button 60b. The
amount unit display field 60a shows a unit that is selected
by the option setup program as described later. The
replenishment/replacement amount input area 61 displays a
plurality of oil items (engine oil, gear oil, hydraulic oil,
water, grease, fuel, etc.) that is to be replenished and
32

replaced. A name display field 61a, a data input field 61b,
and a previous data display field 61c are provided for each
oil item.
The worker can enter data into the data input field
61b while viewing the previous data display field 61c A
numeric keypad display button 61d is positioned to the right
of the data input field 61b. When the worker operates the
numeric keypad display button 61d, a numeric keypad dialog
screen 62 shown in Fig. 9 appears. The numeric keypad
dialog screen 62 has a plurality of input buttons 62a (e g
"0" to "9"), a display field 62b for displaying a numerical
value input through the input buttons 62a, a clear button
62c for deleting all numerals displayed in the display field
62b, a backspace button 62d for deleting the last numeral
and an execution button 62e. When the worker operates the
execution button 62e after operating the input buttons 62a
in the numeric keypad dialog screen 62 to display an input
numerical value in the display field 62b, the numeric keypad
dialog screen 62 closes, and the numerical value is entered
into the data input field 61b.
When the worker operates the execution button 60b in
the replenishment/replacement amount input screen 60 a
combination of the oil item and the numerical value input in
the data input field 61b (and the unit displayed in the
amount unit display field 60a) is handled as
replenishment/replacement history data and stored in the
storage device 35 in association with the machine data and
maintenance data. Further, the displayed screen is returned
33

to the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52.
Furthermore, when the main menu button 53d in the
daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52 is operated,
the displayed screen is returned to the maintenance input
main menu screen 49.
When the worker operates the new findings button 53e
in the daily/weekly maintenance input menu screen 52, the
new findings button 54b in the daily maintenance input
screen 54, or the new findings button 56b in the weekly
maintenance input screen 56, the displayed screen is changed
to a new findings input screen 103 shown in Fig. 22. Also,
when the worker operates a new findings button 64c in a
monthly maintenance input menu screen 63 (see Fig. 10A), a
new findings button 65b in a monthly maintenance input
screen 65A, 65B (see Figs. 10A and 10B), or a new findings
button 68b in an outstanding maintenance input screen 68
(see Fig. 11), which will be described later, the displayed
screen is changed to the new findings input screen 103. The
new findings input screen 103 has the basic information
display area 50, a new findings input area 104, a back
button 103a, and a main menu button 103b. The new findings
input area 104 has a location input field 104a, a part input
field 104b, a symptom input field 104c, a damage level input
field 104d, a picture input field 104e, a countermeasure
input field 104f, a replacement part input field 104g, a
comment input field 104h, a save button 104i, a recall
button 104j r a clear button 104k, and a submit button 1041.
A list display button 104m and a picture display
34

button 104n are positioned to the right of the location
input field 104a. When the worker operates the list display
button 104m, a first input list appears, for instance, to
list the locations of first items shown in Fig. 23. When
the worker selects a location from the first input list, a
second input list appears to list the detailed locations
(second item locations) of the selected first item location.
When the worker selects a location from the second input
list, the second input list closes, and the location
selected from the first and second item listings is entered
into the location input field 104a. On the other hand, when
the worker operates the picture display button 104n, the
overall view (not shown) of the hydraulic excavator appears.
When the worker selects the location of a first item, which
is described above, from the overall view of the hydraulic
excavator, an enlarged detail view representing the selected
location appears. When the worker selects a detailed
location (the location of a second item as described above)
from the enlarged detail view, the enlarged detail view
disappears, and the selected location is entered into the
location input field 104a.
A list display button 104o is positioned to the right
of the part input field 104b. When the worker operates the
list display button 104o, a first input list appears, for
instance, to list categories of the first item shown in Fig
24. When the worker selects one of the categories (e.g.,
electrical part, component, or others) in the first input
list, a second input list appears to list parts belonging to
35

the selected category. When the worker selects one of the
parts in the second input list, the second input list closes,
and the part selected from the second item is entered into
the part input field 104b. If the worker selects and
operates a category (e.g., hose, frame, welded portion, or
wire) of the first item not corresponding to the second item
in the first input list, the transition to the second input
list is not performed. In addition, the first input list
closes, and the category selected from the first item is
entered into the part input field 104b.
A list display button 104p is positioned to the right
of the symptom input field 104c. When the worker operates
the list display button 104p, an input list appears to list
various symptoms such as a scratch, crack, leak, clog, burst,
looseness, malfunction, short circuit, and open circuit.
When the worker selects a symptom from the input list, the
input list closes, and the selected symptom is entered into
the symptom input field 104b.
In the damage level input field 104d, selectable
levels such as "Heavy", "Light", "Fair", and "Information
Only" are displayed together with check boxes, and one of
the check boxes can be selected.
A picture input button 104q is positioned above the
picture input field 104e. When the worker operates the
picture input button 104q, a screen (not shown) for
selecting picture data stored in the storage device 35
appears. When picture data is selected from the screen, the
selected picture is displayed in the input field 104e.
36

A countermeasure input button 104r is positioned to
the right of the countermeasure input field 104f. When the
worker operates the countermeasure input button 104r, the
countermeasure input screen 59 appears. When the worker
operates the execution button 59b after entering a
countermeasure in the countermeasure input field 59a in the
countermeasure input screen 59, the countermeasure input
screen 59 closes, and the countermeasure is entered into the
countermeasure input field 104f. If, in this instance,
"REPLACED" is entered into the countermeasure input field
104f, the keyboard dialog screen 47 appears. A number is
then entered in the replacement part input field 104g when
the keyboard dialog screen 47 is operated as described above.
A keyboard display button 104s is positioned to the
right of the comment input field 104h. When the worker
operates the keyboard display button 104s, the keyboard
dialog screen 47 appears. Text data is then entered into
the comment input field 104h when the keyboard dialog screen
47 is operated as described above.
When the worker operates the save button 104i, the
data entered in the input fields 104a-104h is handled as new
findings data and temporarily stored in the storage device
35 in association with the machine data and maintenance data
(it should be noted that the temporarily stored new findings
data cannot be output, for instance, to the management
server 43). When the worker subsequently operates the
recall button 104j, the temporarily stored new findings data
is read and entered into the input fields 104a-104h. If the
37

worker operates the clear button 104k, the input fields
104a-104h become blank. If the worker operates the submit
button 1041, the data entered in the input fields 104a-104h
is handled as new findings data and stored in the storage
device 35 in association with the machine data and
maintenance data (the stored new findings data can be output,
for instance, to the management server 43).
When the worker operates the back button 103a in the
new findings input screen 103, the displayed screen is
returned to the previous screen. When the main menu button
103b in the new findings input screen 103, the displayed
screen is returned to the maintenance input main menu screen
49.
Returning to Fig. 5B, if the worker operates the
monthly maintenance button 51c in the maintenance input main
menu screen 49, the displayed screen is changed to the
monthly maintenance input menu screen 63 shown in Fig. 10A.
The monthly maintenance input menu screen 63 has the basic
information display area 50 and a menu display area 64. The
menu display area 64 has, for instance, five maintenance
type buttons 64a (parts replacement button, oil draining
button, cleaning button, visual inspection button, and
greasing button in Fig. 10A), the aforementioned new
findings button 64c, and a main menu button 64b. When the
worker operates a maintenance type button 64a, the displayed
screen is changed to the monthly maintenance input screen
(the screens 65A and 65B are representatively shown in Figs.
10A and 10B), which displays maintenance items that fall
38

under the category indicated by the operated maintenance
type button.
The monthly maintenance input screen (e.g., 65A or
65B) has the basic information display area 50, a
maintenance input area 66, an execution button 65a, and the
new findings button 65b. The maintenance input area 66
displays maintenance tasks that are to be performed monthly
(e.g., at intervals of 250 operating hours or multiples of
250 operating hours). The maintenance input area 66 has a
plurality of sheets 67 that displays a list of maintenance
items classified by maintenance target (engines, engine oil,
gear oil, drive system, hydraulic system, etc.). When the
tab 67a of a sheet 67 indicating a maintenance target is
operated, the corresponding sheet 67 is selected and
displayed. The sheet 67 has an item number button 67b, an
item description display field 67c, a data input field 67d,
and a previous data display field 67e for each maintenance
item. When the worker operates the item number button 67b,
the associated maintenance target display screen (not shown)
appears. This enables the worker to perform a maintenance
task while confirming a maintenance target.
The worker can enter data into the data input field
67d while viewing the previous data display field 67e. A
"YES" button 67f is provided for a maintenance item, for
instance, in the monthly maintenance input screen 65A that
appears when the parts replacement button 64a is operated,
that is, a maintenance item which only maintenance execution
data is input to. When the worker operates the "YES" button
39

67f, the word "YES" is entered into the data input field 67d.
An "OK" button 67g, an "NG" button 67h, and an "ACT" button
67i are provided for a maintenance item, for instance, in
the monthly maintenance input screen 65B that appears when
the visual inspection button 64a is operated, that is, a
maintenance item which a maintenance result or the like is
input to. When the worker operates the "OK" button 67g, the
word "OK" is entered into the data input field 67d. When
the worker operates the "NG" button 67h, the word "NG" is
entered into the data input field 67d. If the worker
operates the "ACT" button 67i when any remedial action is
taken after an unacceptable maintenance result is obtained,
the countermeasure input screen 59 described above appears.
When the worker operates the execution button 59b
after entering countermeasure data in the countermeasure
input field 59a in the countermeasure input screen 59, a
combination of the maintenance item and the data input in
the countermeasure input field 59a is handled as
countermeasure history data and stored in the storage device
35 in association with the machine data and maintenance data.
Further, the countermeasure input screen 59 closes, and the
word "ACT" is entered in the data input field 67d.
When the worker operates the execution button 65a in
the monthly maintenance input screen (e.g., 65A or 65B), a
combination of the maintenance item and the data entered in
the data input field 67c is handled as monthly maintenance
history data and stored in the storage device 35 in
association with the machine data and maintenance data.
40

Further, the displayed screen is returned to the monthly
maintenance input menu screen 63. Furthermore, when the
main menu button 64b in the monthly maintenance input menu
screen 63 is operated, the displayed screen is returned to
the maintenance input main menu screen 49.
Returning to Fig. 5B, if the worker operates the
outstanding maintenance button 51d in the maintenance input
main menu screen 49, the displayed screen is changed to the
outstanding maintenance input screen 68 (see Fig. 11), which
displays outstanding maintenance items extracted from
maintenance items, for instance, in the daily maintenance
input screen 54, weekly maintenance input screen 56, and
monthly maintenance input screens 67A, 67B. Fig. 12 is a
flowchart showing control procedure of an outstanding
maintenance item extraction process.
Referring to Fig. 12, step 100 is performed first to
determine whether the data input field 58d (or 67d) for each
maintenance item is blank. If "YES", "OK", "NG", or "ACT"
is input in the data input field 58d (or 67d), the
determination of step 100 is not satisfied and processing
proceeds to step 110. In step 110, the associated
maintenance item is set in the un-indication state.
On the other hand, if the data input field 58d (or
67d) is blank in step 100, the determination is satisfied
and processing proceeds to step 120. Step 120 is performed
to determine whether "NG" is input in the previous data
display field 58e (or 67e) for each maintenance item. If
"NG" is input in the previous data display field 58e (or
41

67e), the determination of step 120 is satisfied and
processing proceeds to step 130. In step 130, the
associated maintenance item is set in the indication state.
In other words, an outstanding maintenance item is extracted.
On the other hand, if the previous data display field
58e (or 67e) is "YES", "OK", "ACT", or blank in step 120,
the determination is not satisfied and processing proceeds
to step 140. In step 140, the actual operating time is
calculated by determining the difference between the
operating time prevailing at the beginning of communication
and the operating time initial value prevailing at the time
of delivery which are acquired from the data recording
device 30. Next, step 150 is performed to read maintenance
interval data (operating time standard, which will be
described in detail later in conjunction with the
maintenance interval setup program) from the storage device
35 in accordance with the model name of the hydraulic
excavator 1 acquired from the data recording device 30, and
to determine whether the actual operating time is not
shorter than the maintenance interval. If the actual
operating time is shorter than the maintenance interval, the
determination of step 150 is not satisfied and processing
proceeds to step 110. The associated maintenance item is
set in the un-indication state in step 110.
On the other hand, if the actual operating time is
not shorter than the maintenance interval in step 150, the
determination is satisfied and processing proceeds to step
160. Step 160 is performed to determine whether maintenance
42

has been performed at the maintenance interval (actually
within a predefined permissible maintenance period that is
based on specified maintenance interval) in accordance with
the previous maintenance history data stored in the storage
device 38. If maintenance has been performed at the
maintenance interval, the determination of step 160 is
satisfied and processing proceeds to step 110. The
associated maintenance item is set in the un-indication
state in step 110. On the other hand, if maintenance has
not been performed at the maintenance interval, the
determination of step 160 is not satisfied and processing
proceeds to step 130. The associated maintenance item is
set in the indication state in step 130. In other words, an
outstanding maintenance item is extracted.
The outstanding maintenance item extraction process
described above may be performed when the worker operates
the execution button 48g in the maintenance information
input screen 48. Further, if there is any outstanding
maintenance item, the displayed screen may be changed to the
outstanding maintenance input screen 68, and if there is no
outstanding maintenance item, the displayed screen may be
changed to the maintenance input main menu screen 49.
Furthermore, it is preferable that outstanding maintenance
items be extracted just before a point of maintenance
recommendation time. Therefore, step 150 may be performed
to judge whether the actual operating time is not shorter
than the maintenance interval minus a predetermined period.
Returning to Fig. 11, the outstanding maintenance
4 3

input screen 68 has the basic information display area 50, a
maintenance input area 69, an execution button 68a, and the
new findings button 68b. The maintenance input area 69
displays outstanding maintenance items extracted as
described above. The maintenance input area 69 has a
plurality of sheets 70 that displays a list of maintenance
items classified by maintenance type (parts replacement, oil
draining, cleaning, appearance inspection, greasing, level
inspection, visual inspection, etc.). When the tab 70a of a
sheet 70 indicating a maintenance type is operated, the
corresponding sheet 70 is selected and displayed. The
configuration of the sheet 70 is not described here because
it is the same as for the aforementioned sheets 58, 67.
When the execution button 68a in the outstanding
maintenance input screen 68 is operated, the associated
maintenance history data (daily maintenance history data,
weekly maintenance history data, and monthly maintenance
history data) is stored in the storage device 35 in
association with the machine data and maintenance data.
Further, the displayed screen is returned to the maintenance
input main menu screen 49.
Returning to Fig. 5B, if the worker operates the
replenishment button 51e in the maintenance input main menu
screen 49, the displayed screen is changed to a
replenishment amount input screen 71 shown in Fig. 13. The
replenishment amount input screen 71 is used to enter a
replenishment amount for a replenishment operation in the
case that there is a person who periodically effects
44

replenishment in addition to a person who performs
maintenance (replenishment and replacement tasks included).
The replenishment amount input screen 71 has a basic
information display area 50A (this area is obtained by
removing the maintenance date/time display field 50e from
the basic information display area 50), a date input field
71a for entering a replenishment date, a time input field
71b for entering replenishment time, a replenishment item
input field 71c, a replenishment amount input field 7Id, an
amount unit display field 71e, and an execution button 71f.
The amount unit display field lie displays a unit that is
selected by the option setup program as described later.
numeric keypad display buttons 71g for enabling to
open the numeric keypad dialog screen 62 are positioned to
the right of the date input field 71a, time input field 71b,
and replenishment amount input field 71d. A replenishment
date, time, and amount is input into the date input field
71a, time input field 71b, and replenishment amount input
field 71d when the numeric keypad dialog screen 62 is
operated as described above. A list display button 71h is
positioned to the right of the replenishment item input
field 71c. When the worker operates the list display button
71h, an input list (not shown) appears to list, for instance,
"ENGINE OIL", "GEAR OIL", and so on. When the worker
selects, for instance, "ENGINE OIL" from the input list, the
input list closes, and "ENGINE OIL" is entered in the
replenishment item input field 46e.
When the execution button 71f in the replenishment
45

amount input screen 71 is operated, the replenishment date
and time (local time) entered in the date input field 71a
and time input field 71b is converted to international
standard time. Further, the converted date and time
(international standard time), the operating time indicated
in the operating time display field 50d of the basic
information display area 50A, and the maintenance personnel
name indicated in the name display field 50f are stored in
the storage device 35 as replenishment data. In addition, a
combination of the replenishment item entered in the
replenishment item input field 71c, the amount entered in
the replenishment amount input field 7Id, and the unit
indicated in the amount unit display field lie is handled as
replenishment history data and stored in the storage device
35 in association with the machine data and replenishment
data. Furthermore, the displayed screen is returned to the
maintenance input main menu screen 49.
Returning to Fig. 5B, if the worker operates the
requested action button 51g in the maintenance input main
menu screen 49, the displayed screen is changed to a
requested action input screen 105 (see Fig. 25) that
displays additionally set maintenance items. The requested
action input screen 105 has the basic information display
area 50, a maintenance input area 106, and an execution
button 105a. The maintenance input area 106 has an item
number button 106a, an item description display field 106b,
a replacement parts display field 106c, and a data input
field 106d for each maintenance item. When the worker
16

operates the item number button 106a, the associated
maintenance target display screen (not shown) appears. This
enables the worker to perform a maintenance task while
confirming a maintenance target. If a parts replacement
task is indicated in the item description display field 106b,
the associated replacement part number is indicated in the
replacement parts display field 106c.
An "OK" button 106e, an "NG" button 106f, and an
"ACT" button 106g are provided for a maintenance item which
a maintenance result or other similar data is input to.
When the worker operates the "OK" button 106e, the word "OK"
is entered into the data input field 106d to indicate that
an acceptable maintenance result is obtained. When the
worker operates the "NG" button 106f, the word "NG" is
entered into the data input field 106d to indicate that an
unacceptable maintenance result is obtained (a problem is
encountered and not corrected). If the worker operates the
"ACT" button 106g when any remedial action is taken after an
unacceptable maintenance result is obtained, the
countermeasure input screen 59 described above appears.
When the worker operates the execution button 59b
after entering countermeasure data in the countermeasure
input field 59a of the countermeasure input screen 59, a
combination of the maintenance item and the data entered in
the countermeasure input field 59a is handled as
countermeasure history data and stored in the storage device
35 in association with the machine data and maintenance data.
Further, the countermeasure input screen 59 closes, and the
47

word "ACT" is entered into the data input field 106d.
When the worker operates the execution button 105a in
the requested action input screen 105, a combination of the
maintenance item and the data entered in the data input
field 106d is handled as requested action history data and
stored in the storage device 35 in association with the
machine data and maintenance data. Further, the displayed
screen is returned to the maintenance input main menu screen
49.
Returning to Fig. 5B, if the worker operates the
machine information button 51a in the maintenance input main
menu screen 49, the displayed screen is changed to a machine
information display screen 72 shown in Fig. 14. The machine
information display screen 72 has the basic information
display area 50, a front operating mechanism type display
field 72a, engine identification number display fields 72b,
72c, a delivery date display field 72d, and an execution
button 72e. The front operating mechanism type display
field 72a, engine identification number display fields 72b,
72c, and delivery date display field 72d display some of the
machine data stored in the storage device 35 (the type of
the front operating mechanism 5, the identification numbers
of the engines 19, and the delivery date). When the worker
operates the execution button 72e in the machine information
display screen 72, the displayed screen is changed to the
maintenance input main menu screen 49. Operating the exit
button 51f in the maintenance input main menu screen 49
terminates a maintenance program.

(2) Maintenance history display
Fig. 15 shows a main screen that is displayed on the
monitor 38 when the maintenance history display program is
started.
When the maintenance history display program starts,
a maintenance history display main menu screen 73 is
displayed as shown in Fig. 15. The maintenance history
display main menu screen 73 has a customer code input field
73a, a daily/weekly maintenance button 73b, a monthly
maintenance button 73c, a replenishment button 73d, and an
exit button 73e.
A list display button 73f is positioned to the right
of the customer code input field 73a. When the worker or
administrator (the term "administrator" will be hereinafter
abbreviated) operates the list display button 73f, an input
list (not shown) appears to list customer codes that are
contained in the machine data stored in the storage device
35. When the worker selects a customer code from the input
list, the input list closes, and the selected customer code
is entered into the customer code input field 73a. When the
worker operates the daily/weekly maintenance button 73b in
the maintenance history display main menu screen 73, the
displayed screen is changed to a daily/weekly maintenance
history display menu screen 74 shown in Fig. 16A.
The daily/weekly maintenance history display menu
screen 74 has a customer code display field 74a, a model
name input field 74b for entering the model name of the
hydraulic excavator 1, a serial number input field 74c for
49

entering the serial number of the hydraulic excavator 1, a
maintenance date/time range display field 74d for
maintenance results indication, and a menu display area 75.
The customer code display field 74a displays a customer code
entered in the customer code input field 73a of the
maintenance history display main menu screen 73.
List display buttons 74e, 74f are positioned to the
right of the model name input field 74b and serial number
input field 74c. When the worker operates the list display
button 74e, an input list appears to list model names that
are stored in the storage device 35 and associated with the
customer code displayed in the customer code display field
74a. When the worker selects a model name from the input
list, the input list closes, and the selected model name is
entered into the model name input field 74b. When the
worker operates the list display button 74f subsequently, an
input list appears to list serial numbers that are stored in
the storage device 35 and associated with the customer code
displayed in the customer code display field 74a and the
model name entered in the model name input field 74b. When
the worker selects a serial number from the input list, the
input list closes, and the selected serial number is entered
into the serial number input field 74b. The maintenance
data, that is associated with machine data containing the
customer code displayed in the customer code display field
74a and the model name and serial number entered in the
model name input field 74b and serial number input field 74c,
is then read from the storage device 35, and the range of
50

the date/time (converted to the local time) contained in the
maintenance data is displayed in the maintenance date/time
range display field 74d.
The menu display area 75 has a daily maintenance
button 75a, a weekly maintenance button 75b, a
replenishment/replacement amount button 75c, and a main menu
button 75d. When the worker operates the daily maintenance
button 75a in the daily/weekly maintenance history display
menu screen 74, the daily maintenance history data
associated with the aforementioned machine data and
maintenance data is extracted and read from the storage
device 35. Further, the displayed screen is changed to a
daily maintenance history display screen 76.
The daily maintenance history display screen 76 has a
basic information display area 77, a maintenance history
display area 78, and a submenu button 76a. The basic
information display area 77 has a customer code display
field 77a, a model name display field 77b, a serial number
display field 77c, and a maintenance date/time range display
field 77d, and displays some of the machine data (customer
code, and model name and serial number of hydraulic
excavator 1) and the date/time range included in the
maintenance data.
The maintenance history display area 78 has a
plurality of sheets 79 that displays a list of maintenance
items classified by maintenance type (cleaning, oil draining,
greasing, level inspection, visual inspection, etc.). When
the tab 79a of a sheet 79 indicating a maintenance type is
51

operated, the corresponding sheet 79 is selected and
displayed. The sheet 79 has a date display field 79b for
displaying a maintenance date, a time display field 79c for
displaying maintenance time, an operating time display field
79d, an item description display field 79e for describing
each maintenance item, and a data display field 79f. The
date display field 79b and time display field 79c display
maintenance date/time (international standard time), which
is part of the maintenance data read from the storage device
35 and converted to the local time. The operating time
display field 79d displays operating time, which is part of
the maintenance data read from the storage device 35. The
data display field 79f for each maintenance item displays
daily maintenance history data read from the storage device
35. The date display field 79b, time display field 79c,
operating time display field 79d, and data display field 79f
that are related to each other are positioned in the same
column. If there is a plurality of related data, a
plurality of columns is arranged. When the worker operates
the submenu button 76a in the daily maintenance history
display screen 76, the displayed screen is returned to the
daily/weekly maintenance history display menu screen 74.
When the worker operates the weekly maintenance
button 75b in the daily/weekly maintenance history display
menu screen 74, the weekly maintenance history data
associated with the aforementioned machine data and
maintenance data is extracted and read from the storage
device 35, and the displayed screen is to a weekly
52

maintenance history display screen 80 (see Fig. 16B).
The weekly maintenance history display screen 80 has
the basic information display area 77, a maintenance history
display area 81, and a submenu button 80a. The maintenance
history display area 81 has a plurality of sheets 79 that
displays a list of maintenance items classified by
maintenance type. When the tab 79a of a sheet 79 indicating
a maintenance type is operated, the corresponding sheet 79
is selected and displayed. The data display field 79f for
each maintenance item on the selected sheet 79 displays
weekly maintenance history data read from the storage device
35. When the worker operates the submenu button 80a in the
weekly maintenance history display screen 80, the displayed
screen is returned to the daily/weekly maintenance history
display menu screen 74.
When the worker operates the
replenishment/replacement amount button 75c in the
daily/weekly maintenance history display menu screen 74, the
replenishment/replacement history data associated with the
aforementioned machine data and maintenance data is
extracted and read from the storage device 35, and the
displayed screen is changed to a replenishment/replacement
amount display screen 82 (see Fig. 16C).
The replenishment/replacement amount display screen
82 has the basic information display area 77, a
replenishment/replacement amount display area 83, an amount
unit display field 82a, and a submenu button 82b. The
replenishment/replacement amount display area 83 has a date
53

display field 83a for indicating a maintenance execution
date, a time display field 83b for indicating maintenance
time, an operating time display field 83c, and a name
display field 83d for each oil item (e.g., engine oil, gear
oil, hydraulic oil, water, grease, or fuel), and data
display field 83e. The date display field 83a and time
display field 83b display maintenance date/time
(international standard time), which is part of the
maintenance data read from the storage device 35 and
converted to the local time. The operating time display
field 83c displays operating time, which is part of the
maintenance data read from the storage device 35. The data
display field 83e for each maintenance item and the amount
unit display field 82a display replenishment/replacement
history data read from the storage device 35. The date
display field 83a, time display field 83b, operating time
display field 83c, and data display field 83e that are
related to each other are positioned in the same column. If
there is a plurality of related data, a plurality of columns
is arranged.
When the worker operates the submenu button 82b in
the replenishment/replacement amount display screen 82, the
displayed screen is returned to the daily/weekly maintenance
history display menu screen 74. Further, when the main menu
button 75d in the daily/weekly maintenance history display
menu screen 74 is operated, the displayed screen is returned
to the maintenance history display main menu screen 73.
Returning to Fig. 15, if the worker operates the
54

monthly maintenance button 73c in the maintenance history
display main menu screen 73, the displayed screen is changed
to a monthly maintenance history display menu screen 84
shown in Fig. 17. The monthly maintenance history display
menu screen 84 has the basic information display area 77 and
a menu display area 85. The menu display area 85 has a
plurality of maintenance type buttons 85a (parts replacement
button, oil draining button, cleaning button, visual
inspection button, and greasing button in Fig. 17) and a
main menu button 85b. When the worker operates one of the
plurality of maintenance type buttons 85a, the displayed
screen is changed to the monthly maintenance input screen
(the screen 86A is representatively shown in Fig. 17), which
displays maintenance items that fall under the category
indicated by the operated maintenance type button.
The monthly maintenance display screen (e.g., 86A)
has the basic information display area 77, a maintenance
history display area 87, and a submenu button 86a. The
maintenance history display area 87 has a plurality of
sheets 88 that displays a list of maintenance items
classified by maintenance target (e.g., engine system,
engine oil, gear oil, drive system, or hydraulic system).
When the tab 88a of a sheet 88 indicating a maintenance
target is operated, the corresponding sheet 88 is selected
and displayed. The sheet 88 has a date display field 88b
for displaying a maintenance date, a time display field 88c
for displaying maintenance time, an operating time display
field 88d, an item description display field 88e for
55

describing each maintenance item, and a data display field
88f. The date display field 88b and time display field 88c
display maintenance date/time (international standard time),
which is part of the maintenance data read from the storage
device 35 and converted to the local time. The operating
time display field 88d displays operating time, which is
part of the maintenance data read from the storage device 35
The data display field 88f for each maintenance item
displays monthly maintenance history data read from the
storage device 35. The date display field 88b, time display
field 88c, operating time display field 88d, and data
display field 88f that are related to each other are
positioned in the same column. If there is a plurality of
related data, a plurality of columns is arranged.
When the worker operates the submenu button 8 6a in
the monthly maintenance history display screen (e.g., 86A),
the displayed screen is returned to the monthly maintenance
history display menu screen 84. Further, when the main menu
button 85b in the monthly maintenance history display menu
screen 84 is operated, the displayed screen is returned to
the maintenance history display main menu screen 73.
Returning to Fig. 15, if the worker operates the
replenishment button 73d in the maintenance history display
main menu screen 73, the displayed screen is changed to a
replenishment amount input screen 8 9 shown in Fig. 18. The
replenishment amount input screen 89 is used to enter a
replenishment amount for a replenishment operation, in the
case that there is a person who periodically effects
56

replenishment in addition to a person who performs
maintenance (replenishment and replacement tasks included).
The replenishment amount input screen 89 has a basic
information display area 77A (this area is obtained by
removing the maintenance date/time range display field 77d
from the basic information display area 77), a date input
field 89a for entering a replenishment date, a time input
field 89b for entering replenishment time, an operating time
input field 89c for entering the operating time of the
hydraulic excavator 1, a name input field 89d for entering
the name of the replenishment personnel, a replenishment
item input field 89e, a replenishment amount input field 89f,
an amount unit display field 89g, and a submenu button 89h.
The amount unit display field 89g displays a unit that is
selected by the option setup program as described later.
numeric keypad display buttons 89i for enabling to
open the numeric keypad dialog screen 62 are positioned to
the right of the date input field 89a, time input field 89b,
operating time input field 89c, and replenishment amount
input field 89f. A replenishment date, replenishment time,
operating time, and replenishment amount is entered into the
date input field 89a, time input field 89b, operating time
input field 89c, and replenishment amount input field 89f
when the numeric keypad dialog screen 62 is operated as
described above.
A keyboard display button 89j and a list display
button 89k are positioned to the right of the name input
field 89d. When the worker operates the keyboard display
57

button 89j, the keyboard dialog screen 4 7 appears. A name
is then entered into the name input field 89d when the
keyboard dialog screen 47 is operated as described above.
On the other hand, when the worker operates the list display
button 89k, an input list (not shown) appears to list a
plurality of names (e.g., preselected or previously stored
names). When the worker selects a name from the input list,
the input list closes, and the selected name is entered into
the name input field 8 9d.
A list display button 891 is positioned to the right
of the replenishment item input field 89e. When the worker
operates the list display button 891, an input list (not
shown) appears to list, for instance, "ENGINE OIL", "GEAR
OIL", and so on. When the worker selects, for instance,
"ENGINE OIL" from the input list, the input list closes, and
"ENGINE OIL" is entered into the replenishment item input
field 89e.
When the worker operates the submenu button 89h in
the replenishment amount input screen 89, the replenishment
date/time (local time) entered in the date input field 89a
and time input field 89b is converted to the international
standard time. Further, the converted date/time
(international standard time), the operating time entered in
the operating time input field 89c, and the replenishment
personnel name entered in the name input field 8 9d are
stored in the storage device 35 as replenishment data.
Furthermore, a combination of the replenishment item entered
in the replenishment item input field 89e and the
58

replenishment amount entered in the replenishment amount
input field 89f (plus the unit displayed in the amount unit
display field 89g) is handled as replenishment history data
and stored in the storage device 35 in association with the
machine data and replenishment data. Moreover, the
displayed screen is returned to the maintenance history
display main menu screen 73. Operating the exit button 73e
in the maintenance history display main menu screen 73
terminates the maintenance history display program.
(3) Maintenance interval setup
Fig. 19 shows the transition of a screen that is
displayed on the monitor 38 when the maintenance interval
setup program is started. The present embodiment can change
the maintenance intervals variously for all monthly
maintenance items.
When the maintenance interval setup program starts,
an interval setup menu screen 90 is displayed as shown Fig.
19. The interval setup menu screen 90 has a model name
input field 90a for entering the model name of the hydraulic
excavator 1, a plurality of maintenance type buttons 90b
(parts replacement button, oil draining button, cleaning
button, visual inspection button, and greasing button in Fig
19), and an exit button 90c. A list display button 90d is
positioned to the right of the model name input field 90a.
When the administrator operates the list display button 90d,
an input list (not shown) appears to list various hydraulic
excavator model names (prestored model names or model names
input and stored from the data recording device 30). When
59

the administrator selects a model name from the input list,
the input list closes, and the selected model name is
entered in the model name input field 90a.
When the administrator operates one of the plurality
of maintenance type buttons 90b, the displayed screen is
changed to an interval setting input screen (the screen 91A
is representatively shown in Fig. 19), which displays
maintenance items that fall under the category indicated by
the operated maintenance type button.
The interval setting input screen (e.g., 91A) has a
model name display field 91a, an interval setting input area
92, a default button 91b, and an execution button 91c. The
model name display field 91a displays a model name entered
in the model name input field 90a of the interval setup menu
screen 90. The interval setting input area 92 has a
plurality of sheets 93 that display a list of maintenance
items classified by maintenance target (e.g., engine system,
engine oil, gear oil, drive system, or hydraulic system).
When the tab 93a of a sheet 93 indicating a maintenance
target is operated, the corresponding sheet 93 is selected
and displayed. The sheet 93 has an item description display
field 93b and an interval input field 93c for each
maintenance item. A list display button 93d is positioned
to the right of the interval input field 93c. When the
administrator operates the list display button 93d, an input
list (not shown) appears to list, for instance, a plurality
of minimum interval units (basic units). When the
administrator selects a minimum interval unit from the input
60

list, the input list closes, and the selected minimum
interval unit is entered into the interval input field 93c.
If the administrator operates the default button 91c, ail
the interval input fields 93c of a displayed sheet 93 revert
to an initial value (e.g., "250").
When the administrator operates the execution button
91c in the interval setting input screen (e.g., 91A), a
combination of the maintenance item and the minimum interval
unit entered in the interval input field 93b is handled as
basic interval data for the model indicated in the model
name display field 91a and stored in the storage device 35.
Further, the displayed screen is returned to the interval
setup menu screen 90.
The CPU 36 in the mobile terminal 34 computes the
maintenance interval for each maintenance item in accordance
with the basic interval data stored in the storage device 35,
and stores the computed maintenance intervals in the storage
device 35 as maintenance interval setting data. More
specifically, recommended maintenance interval data for
various hydraulic excavator models (e.g., manufacturer-
recommended maintenance intervals for each maintenance item)
are prestored in the storage device 35, and a multiple of
the minimum interval unit for each maintenance item that is
closest to a recommended interval value is selected as an
interval setting. If, for instance, the minimum interval
unit is 300 hours in a situation where the recommended
interval value is 4000 hours, 3900 hours and 4200 hours,
which are multiples of 300 hours, are compared. Since 3900
61

hours is closer to the recommended interval value (4000
hours) than 4200 hours, an interval setting of 3900 hours is
selected. The aforementioned process for extracting
outstanding maintenance items is performed in accordance
with the maintenance interval setting data described above.
An alternative would be to display the aforementioned
interval setting for each maintenance item and allow the
administrator to change the interval setting without
exceeding the recommended interval value although such an
alternative is not indicated in the drawings or the like.
(4) Option setup
Fig. 20 shows a screen that is displayed on the
monitor 38 when the option setup program is started.
When the option setup program starts, an option setup
screen 94 is displayed as shown in Fig. 20. The option
setup screen 94 has a country/region input field 94a, an
amount unit input field 94b, an update button 94c, and an
exit button 94d. List display buttons 94e, 94f are
positioned to the right of the country/region input field
94a and amount unit input field 94b. When the administrator
operates the list display button 94e, an input list (not
shown) appears to list a plurality of countries/regions (and
the time differences from the international standard time).
When the administrator selects a country/region from the
input list, the input list closes, and the selected
country/region is entered into the country/region input
field 94a. On the other hand, when the administrator
operates the list display button 94f, an input list (not
62

shown) appears to list, for instance, "gallon", "Liter", and
so on. When the administrator selects, for instance,
"gallon" from the input list, the input list closes, and
"gallon" is entered into the amount unit input field 94b.
When the administrator operates the update button 94c
in the option setup screen 94, the data entered in the
country/region input field 94a and amount unit input field
94b are stored in the storage device 35 as option setting
data, and the option setup program terminates. If the
administrator operates the exit button 94d in the option
setup screen 94, the option setup program terminates
immediately.
In accordance with the time difference from the
international standard time included in the option setting
data, the date/time (international standard time) acquired
from the data recording device 30 (or stored in the storage
device 35) and the date/time (local time) to be displayed on
screen are converted as described above. Further, the unit
included in the option setting data is displayed in the
aforementioned amount unit display fields 60a, 71e, 89g.
The operations and advantages of the present
embodiment will now be described.
When, for instance, the engine system 19 is to be
inspected for monthly maintenance purposes, the worker moves
into the engine chamber in the housing 6A (or 6B) of the
hydraulic excavator 1, and connects the mobile terminal 34
to the communication connector 32B through the communication
cable 33B, and operates the mobile terminal 34 to enter the
63

operating time and date/time from the data control device 30
to the mobile terminal 34. Further, the worker operates the
mobile terminal 34 to display engine system maintenance
items on the monitor 38, and performs maintenance as
specified, and operates the mobile terminal 34 to enter-
maintenance result data for the purpose of indicating
whether acceptable maintenance results are obtained. The
mobile terminal 34 handles the input data for maintenance
items as maintenance history data and stores it in
association with the operating time and date/time of the
hydraulic excavator 1. The worker causes the monitor 38 to
display the maintenance history data stored in the mobile
terminal 34.
The worker may output the maintenance history data
stored in the mobile terminal 34, for instance, to the
management server 43. Fig. 21 is a schematic diagram
exemplifying the configuration of an information network
including the management server 43.
As shown in Fig. 21, the information network 95
comprises a customer network 96 and a manufacturer network
98. The customer network 96 is positioned, for instance, in
an office near the work site for the hydraulic excavator 1.
The manufacturer network 98 is connected to the customer
network 96 via a communication link 97 (e.g., the Internet
based on a public circuit). The customer network 96
comprises the management server 43 and an information
terminal 100. The management server 43 inputs the
maintenance history data from the mobile terminal 34, which
64

is communication-connected through the communication cable
99 or the like (or via a wireless communication link), and
stores the input maintenance history data. The information
terminal 100 is connected to the management server 43. The
manufacturer network 98 comprises a management server 101
and an information terminal 102. The management server 101
checks whether the maintenance history data in the
management server 43 of the customer network 96 is updated.
If the maintenance history data is updated, the management
server 101 performs a download automatically or with a
customer's approval. The aforementioned maintenance history
display program is installed on the information terminals
100, 102. In the information terminals 100, 102, the
maintenance history data stored in the management servers 43,
101 is displayed on the monitor in accordance with the
operation.
As described above, the present embodiment enables
the mobile terminal 34 to acquire the operating time and
date/time from the data recording device 30 of the hydraulic
excavator 1 and store the acquired temporal information
about the hydraulic excavator 1 in association with the
maintenance history data. Consequently, the reliability of
the temporal information about the maintenance history data
can be made higher than when, for instance, the temporal
information is manually entered into the mobile terminal 34.
Further, since the temporal information about the hydraulic
excavator 1 is used as the reference, the temporal
relationship between the maintenance history data and the
65

occurrence of a hydraulic excavator abnormality can be
determined with increased precision. This makes it possible
to perform fault diagnostics on the hydraulic excavator 1
more rapidly with increased accuracy.
Further, the present embodiment makes it possible to
carry the mobile terminal 34 in accordance with a
maintenance target of the hydraulic excavator, and to
connect the mobile terminal 34 to the communication
connector 32B or 32C via the communication cable 33B (or
connect the mobile terminal 34 to the communication
connector 32A via the communication cable 33A), and to enter
the operating time, date/time, and other data from the data
recording device 30 into the mobile terminal 34. Therefore,
the data can be entered into the mobile terminal 34 near a
maintenance target that is accessed for maintenance purposes.
This makes it possible to increase operating efficiency.
The data recording device 30 may alternatively be
communication-connected to the mobile terminal 34 via a
wireless communication link or the like instead of the
communication connectors 33A, 33B, 33c and communication
cables 32A, 32B. Such a modified embodiment also provides
the same advantages as the present embodiment described
above.
Furthermore, the mobile terminal 34 according to the
present embodiment opens the daily maintenance input screen
54, weekly maintenance input screen 56, and monthly
maintenance input screen (e.g., 65A or 65B), which
respectively display maintenance items that are classified
66

by maintenance intervals (daily, weekly, and monthly
maintenance intervals). The daily maintenance input screen
54 and weekly maintenance input screen 56 have the plurality
of sheets 58 that displays maintenance items classified by
maintenance type, and selectively display one of the
plurality of sheets 58. The monthly maintenance input
screens (e.g., 65A or 65B) display maintenance items
classified according to maintenance type, and have a
plurality of sheets 67 that display maintenance items
classified by maintenance target, and selectively displays
one of the plurality of sheets 67. The use of the above
screen configuration increases maintenance efficiency. The
method for displaying the maintenance items is not limited
to the one described above. The maintenance items to be
displayed may alternatively be classified by maintenance
intervals, maintenance type, maintenance target, or a
combination of these. Such a modified embodiment also
provides the same advantages as the present embodiment
described above.
Moreover, the mobile terminal 34 opens the
outstanding maintenance input screen 68, which extracts and
displays outstanding maintenance items automatically or in
accordance with the worker's operation. This permits the
worker to readily confirm maintenance items that are still
not remedied although they are found to be nonconforming or
have not been inspected although they are due for
maintenance. The outstanding maintenance items may
alternatively be displayed in a different manner (e.g.,
67

displayed against a different background color or within a
frame) within, for instance, the daily maintenance input
screen 54, weekly maintenance input screen 56, and monthly
maintenance input screen (e.g., 65A, or 65B) instead of
opening the outstanding maintenance input screen 68. Such a
modified embodiment also provides the same advantages as the
present embodiment described above.
The present embodiment described above assumes that
the tablet mobile terminal 34 is used. Alternatively,
however, a mobile terminal equipped, for instance, with a
keyboard may be used. The use of such an alternative mobile
terminal also provides the same advantages as the present
embodiment. Further, the present embodiment assumes that
the present invention is applied to a huge hydraulic
excavator 1. However, the present invention is not limited
to the use of a huge hydraulic excavator. For example, the
present invention may also be applied to large- or medium-
size excavators for use at various construction work sites
and small-size excavators for use at small-scale work sites.
Further, the present invention is also applicable to cranes
and other machines in addition to hydraulic excavators. The
present invention provides the same advantages even when it
is applied to machines other than huge hydraulic excavators.
68

CLAIMS
1. A maintenance history information
management system for a construction machine, comprising-:
a data control device being incorporated in the
construction machine to store machine information including
a model name and a serial number and to process operating
time or date and time;
a mobile terminal including control means for
displaying construction machine maintenance items on display
means, input means for enabling a worker to enter data for
the maintenance items displayed on said display means, and
storage means for storing the data entered through said
input means as maintenance history data;
a plurality of communication connectors being
provided for maintenance targets of the construction machine
and communication-connected to said data control device; and
a communication cable for enabling to connect said
mobile terminal to said communication connector;
wherein said mobile terminal inputs the machine
information and operating time or date and time from said
data control device via said communication cable and said
communication connector and stores the maintenance history
data in said storage means in association with the input
machine information and operating time or date and time.
6 9

2. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal causes said display means to display
the maintenance history data stored in said storage means in
accordance with an instruction entered by the worker.
3 The maintenance history information
management system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a management server being positioned far away from
the construction machine to input the maintenance history
data from said mobile terminal via communication means and
record the input maintenance history data.
4. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal classifies the maintenance items by
maintenance intervals and causes said display means to
display maintenance items that correspond to maintenance
intervals entered by the worker.
5 The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal classifies the maintenance items by
maintenance type and causes said display means to display
maintenance items that correspond to a maintenance type
sencetively entereci by the worker.
70

6. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal classifies the maintenance items by
maintenance target and causes said display means to display
maintenance items that correspond to a maintenance target
selectively entered by the worker.
7. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said input means inputs
the data on maintenance execution, maintenance results,
countermeasure, or replenishment/replacement amount of oil
or the like for the maintenance items as the maintenance
history data.
8. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim S, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal has a function of extracting
maintenance items, which were found to be nonconforming but
are still not remedied or are due for maintenance but have
not been inspected, and causing said display means to
display the extracted maintenance items.
9. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 8, wherein said mobile terminal
includes maintenance interval change means for changing
maintenance interval settings for the maintenance items.
71

10. The maintenance history information
management system according to claim 9, wherein said
maintenance interval change means changes the maintenance
interval setting to a multiple of a basic unit for input
maintenance intervals that is close to predefined
recommended maintenance intervals for a maintenance item.
11. The maintenance history information management
system according to claim 1, wherein said control means of
said mobile terminal reads the last maintenance history data
stored in said storage means and displays data input fields
for the maintenance items and the associated last
maintenance history data within the same screen.
12. The maintenance history information
management system according to claim 1, wherein said control
means of said mobile terminal causes said display means to
open a screen into which findings other than predetermined
maintenance items can be entered; and said storage means
handles data input through said input means into the screen
opened by said display means as findings data and stores the
findings data in association with the machine information
and operating time or date and time, which are input from
said data control device via said communication cable and
said communication connectors.
13. A maintenance history information
management, system for a construction machine that manager
7 1

the history information about visual inspection of the
construction machine having a plurality of zoned maintenance
areas accessible to a worker, the maintenance history
information management system comprising:
a data control device being incorporated in the
construction machine to store machine information including
a model name and a serial number and to process operating
time or date and time;
a mobile terminal including control means for
displaying construction machine maintenance items on display
means, input means for enabling the worker to enter data for
the maintenance items displayed on said display means, and
storage means for storing the data entered through said
input means as maintenance history data;
a plurality of communication connectors being
provided for maintenance targets of the construction machine
and communication-connected to said data control device; and
a communication cable for enabling to connect said
mobile terminal to said communication connector;
wherein said mobile terminal inputs the machine
information and operating, time or date and time from said
data control device via said communication cable and said
communication connector and stores the maintenance history
data in said storage means in association with the input
machine information and operating time or date and time.

The present invention provides a maintenance history
information management system for a construction machine
that is capable of enhancing the reliability of temporal
information about maintenance history data. The maintenance
history information management system comprises a data
recording device 30 and a mobile terminal 34. The data
recording device 30 is incorporated in a hydraulic excavator
1 or other construction machine to process operating time or
date and time. The mobile terminal 34 includes a CPU 36 for
displaying construction machine maintenance items on a
monitor 38, a tablet 41 into which a worker can input data
for the maintenance items displayed on the monitor 38, and a
storage device 35 for storing the input data as the
maintenance history data. The mobile terminal 34 inputs the
operating time or date and time from the data recording
device 30 via first communication means (either a
communication cable 33A and a communication connector 32A or
a communication cable 33B and a plurality of communication
connectors 32B, 32C) and stores the input operating time or
date and time in the storage device 35 in association with
the maintenance history data.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=v1OD7gbP04t/D+3TWNE7LA==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==


Patent Number 279742
Indian Patent Application Number 1264/KOLNP/2008
PG Journal Number 05/2017
Publication Date 03-Feb-2017
Grant Date 30-Jan-2017
Date of Filing 28-Mar-2008
Name of Patentee HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Applicant Address 5-1, KORAKU 2-CHOME, BUNKYO-KU, TOKYO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 YOSHINORI FURUNO C/O HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD., TSUCHIURA WORKS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT, 650, KANDATSUMACHI, TSUCHIURA-SHI, IBARAKI 300-0013
PCT International Classification Number E02F 9/20, E02F 9/26
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2007/050047
PCT International Filing date 2007-01-05
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 2006-004873 2006-01-12 Japan