JP2003035380A - Valve operating machine with opening detecting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve operating mechanism having an opening detecting form in which the RFID(Radio Frequency-IDentification) tag is disposed in the valve and which can simply add and modify information together with valve opening/closing operation. SOLUTION: An operation machine 21 conducts opening and closing operation of a valve 1 in which the RFID tag capable of reading and writing information with no contact is disposed. A boss part 23 fitted to an operation cap 5 of a valve rod 2 is provided on one end side of a shaft 22. An operation handle 24 is installed on the other end side of the shaft 22. An antenna 25 is arranged adjacent to the RFID tag in the boss part 23. The main body device 26 which executes information reading/writing operation through the antenna 25 is provided to the other end side of the shaft 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve operating device having an opening detection function, and a technique for opening / closing a valve for underground burial installed in a water pipe network, a sluice valve such as a soft seal sluice valve, and a gas valve. It is related to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are gate valves, butterfly valves and the like as valves buried underground in a water pipe network, and most of them are manually operated.

These valves are premised to be used in a fully closed or fully opened state, and are generally not provided with an opening scale, but the internal screw type sluice valve is in a fully closed or fully opened state. In addition, there are more and more cases in which the one with a position gauge is used because it cannot be judged from the appearance.

By the way, the valves arranged in the water distribution network play an important role in the maintenance of the network or in the event of an emergency disaster, and each valve has its own information such as a valve management number, It has product name, model, nominal diameter, opening / closing direction, shut-off speed, shut-off torque, etc. These pieces of information are written on acrylic, aluminum material, or a laminate-coated tag, and it is attached where it can be seen from the ground.

[0005]

However, the method of writing information on the tag attached to the valve cannot cope with an increase in the amount of information because the space for writing the information is limited. Especially when it is necessary to add or change information, it is physically impossible because the work cannot be performed easily in the field. Also, when visually observing the opening scale of the underground buried valve from the operation port on the ground, it is difficult to see if the opening scale is dirty due to dirt or if it is seen through a small operation port. In many cases, if the opening / closing direction is mistaken, the operator actually operates in the closing direction while intending to open it.

Further, the valve requires a required shutoff torque in order to generate a predetermined sealing surface pressure in the fully closed state. However, the shutoff torque differs depending on the diameter, and the operator himself / herself responds to the different shutoff torque depending on the diameter. Has to adjust the force input, and excessive torque is apt to damage the valve when targeting a valve with a small diameter, and tightening with an excessive torque when targeting a valve with a large diameter. There was a problem that it became insufficient and leakage was likely to occur.

By the way, as a medium capable of reading and writing information in a contactless manner, RFID (Radio Freq
uency-IDentification) tags have become popular in recent years.
The valve opening can be detected by mounting this RFID tag on a valve and recording the information necessary for opening and closing the valve on the RFID tag.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an RFID (Radio Frequency-IDentification) tag arranged on a valve, and has an opening detection function capable of easily adding or changing information together with the opening / closing operation of the valve. The purpose is to provide a valve operating machine.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a valve operating machine having an opening detection function of the present invention according to claim 1 can read and write information without contact.
An operating device for opening and closing a valve having an FID tag, which has a boss portion at one end side of a shaft that fits into an operation cap of a valve rod and an operation handle at the other end side of the shaft. An antenna arranged near the RFID tag is provided, and a main body device for reading / writing information through the antenna is provided on the other end side of the shaft.

With the above structure, for example, an RFID tag is arranged in the vicinity of a valve rod in a valve to be buried underground.
Information such as valve opening, opening / closing direction (rotational direction of valve rod required for operation), rotation speed, deadline torque, etc., as unique information of the valve in the D tag, front and rear pipe line information, surrounding buried object information, or past The work history, etc. of are also recorded as data.

When opening and closing this valve, the operating device is inserted from the ground toward the valve, and the boss is fitted to the operating cap of the valve rod. In this state, the information recorded in the RFID tag is read out to the main body device through the antenna and the information is displayed to the operator. The operator opens the valve according to the displayed information,
Recognize the opening / closing direction, rotation speed, deadline torque, etc. Therefore, it is not necessary to visually check the opening of the underground buried valve from the operation port on the ground, and the valve opening can be reliably detected without being obstructed by mud or insufficient lighting.

Next, the operator performs the opening / closing operation of the valve by turning the operating handle to rotate the valve rod under appropriate judgment based on the displayed information. After the operation, new valve opening data is recorded from the main unit to the RFID tag through the antenna,
Pull out the operating device to complete the work. Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the valve and the detection operation of the valve opening can be performed as a series of operations, and it is not necessary to move the antenna in and out by a separate operation to read / write information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve operating device having an opening detection function, which is an operating device for opening and closing a valve provided with an RFID tag capable of reading and writing information in a non-contact manner. An operation handle is provided on the main body device with a built-in motor, a boss portion that fits into the operation cap of the valve rod is provided at one end of the shaft, and the other end of the shaft is connected to the motor of the main body device and placed so as to cover the shaft. A protective cover is provided at one end of the protective tube, the other end of the protective tube is fixed to the main unit, and an antenna is provided on the protective cover in the vicinity of the RFID tag. Instructing switch for instructing, instructing switch for instructing valve closing operation, and reading / writing information through the antenna, and instructing opening and closing It is obtained by a controller for controlling the driving of the motor based on the information retrieved and indicated value of switch.

With the above-mentioned structure, for example, an RFID tag is arranged in the vicinity of the valve rod in a valve to be buried underground.
Information such as valve opening, opening / closing direction (rotational direction of valve rod required for operation), rotation speed, deadline torque, etc., as unique information of the valve in the D tag, front and rear pipe line information, surrounding buried object information, or past The work history, etc. of are also recorded as data.

When this valve is opened and closed, the operating device is inserted from the ground toward the valve, and the boss portion is fitted to the operating cap of the valve rod. In this state, the information recorded in the RFID tag is read out to the main body device through the antenna and the information is displayed to the operator. The operator recognizes the valve opening degree, the opening / closing direction, the rotation speed, the shutoff torque, and the like based on the displayed information. Therefore, it is not necessary to visually check the opening of the underground buried valve from the operation port on the ground, and the valve opening can be reliably detected without being obstructed by mud or insufficient lighting.

Next, the operator turns on the opening instruction switch or the closing instruction switch under appropriate judgment based on the displayed information. The control device of the main unit controls the drive of the motor based on the read value and the read value of the opening instruction switch and the closing instruction switch, rotates the valve stem to open and close the valve, and changes with the operation. When the operator turns off the opening instruction switch or the closing instruction switch at a desired valve opening degree, the motor is stopped at either the fully closed position or the fully opened position. After the operation, new valve opening data is recorded on the RFID tag from the main unit through the antenna, and the operation device is pulled out to complete the work.

Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the valve and the detection operation of the valve opening can be performed as a series of operations, and it is not necessary to move the antenna in and out by a separate operation to read / write information.

Further, since the control device judges the opening / closing direction based on the read information and performs the opening / closing operation, the operator may need to judge the direction of rotation of the valve rod necessary for the opening / closing operation or may make a misunderstanding. The desired opening / closing operation can be reliably performed by simply turning on the cap opening instruction switch or the cap closing instruction switch.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The valve to be operated is, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, the screw type sluice valve 1 is buried underground, and the valve element 3 is moved between the fully open position and the fully closed position by the rotation operation of the valve rod 2.

An opening degree meter 4 is mounted on the valve rod 2 of the screw type sluice valve 1, and the opening degree meter 4 is disposed so as to penetrate the upper end portion of the valve stem 2 and the screw type sluice valve 1 and the operating cap are provided. It is set by sandwiching it between 5 and.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 7, the opening meter 4 is connected to the gear case 6 fixed to the main body of the sluice valve, and the valve rod 2 and the operation cap 5 by fitting the operation cap 5 with the projection 7a. A rotating shaft 7 that rotates integrally, and a fixed large gear 8 that is fixedly mounted on the gear case 6 by being fitted into the protrusion 6a of the gear case 6,
A movable large gear that meshes with the fixed large gear 8 via an O-ring 9 arranged between the gear case 6 and the fixed large gear 8 and a small gear 10 mounted on the rotating shaft 7 and provided on the rotating shaft 7. 11
And the RFID storage plate 1 that rotates integrally with the movable gear 11
2 and a plurality of RFIDs attached to the RFID storage plate 12
Gear case 6 with tags 13, 14, 15 and screws 16
A cover 17 made of a transparent resin that is fixed to the
O-ring 18 arranged between the cover 17 and the gear case 6
And a masking plate 19 which is affixed to the lower surface of the cover 17 and serves as a shielding plate made of a magnetic material such as iron.

Each RF placed below the masking plate 19
The ID tags 13, 14, and 15 are arranged at appropriate intervals along the relative movement direction with respect to the masking plate 19, and the RFID tags 13, 14, and 15 within a predetermined range are exposed on the masking plate 19 as the relative movement occurs. The opening 20 is formed. The shape of the opening 20 is, as shown in FIG.
RFID tag 13 on one side and intermediate RFI in the fully open position
The D tag 14 is exposed at the same time, and as shown in FIG.
Only the intermediate RFID tag 14 is exposed in the intermediate position, and the RFID tag 1 on the other side is exposed in the fully closed position as shown in FIG.
5 and the intermediate RFID tag 14 are exposed at the same time.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operating device 21 has a boss portion 23 fitted to the operating cap 5 of the valve rod 2 on one end side of the shaft 22 and on the other end side of the shaft 22. An operation handle 24 is provided.

The boss 23 has RFID tags 13, 14,
An antenna 25 is provided in the vicinity of 15, and a main body device 26 for reading / writing information through the antenna 25 is provided at the other end of the shaft 22.

The main body device 26 includes RFID tags 13, 14,
The communication unit 15 communicates with the device 15 to read / write information, and has a liquid crystal display 27 arranged on the top surface, a reading circuit 28, a writing circuit 29, and an operation unit 30 composed of a keyboard arranged so as to be swingable back and forth. , An external communication circuit 31.

The data read from the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 includes an identification number for identifying the screw type sluice valve 1, a name, a model, a diameter, an operating direction, a shutoff rotation speed, a shutoff torque, a valve opening degree, and a front. There are operation days, special notes, special notes, etc., and the data to be written include the identification number, valve opening,
There is a valve operation date and special notes. RFID tags 13, 1
The methods 4 and 15 include an electromagnetic coupling method, an electromagnetic induction method, a microwave method, an optical method, and the like, and the electromagnetic induction method is used in the present embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. First, the principle of detection will be described with reference to FIG. With the antenna 25 brought close to the opening meter 4, the main unit 26
When you turn on the power and perform the reading operation, the antenna 25
Electromagnetic waves are emitted from the opening gauge 4 toward the opening degree meter 4, electric power is generated in the coils inside the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 by electromagnetic induction, and the generated electric power causes the RFID tags 13, 1,
The information stored in 4 and 15 is transmitted. RFID tag 1
Information transmitted from 3, 14, 15 such as valve management number,
Data such as valve name, model, caliber, maker name, operating direction, shut-off speed, shut-off torque, valve opening, last operation date, last special note are sent to the main unit 26 through the antenna 25 and displayed on the display 27. To be done.

Next, the operation of the opening meter 4 will be described. When the rotating shaft 7 rotates, the opening degree meter 4 revolves around the axis of the rotating shaft 7 while rotating the small gear 10 meshing with the fixed large gear 8 to rotate the movable large gear 11. The movable large gear 11 has a difference in the number of teeth from the fixed large gear 8, and when the movable large gear 11 rotates by this difference and the rotary shaft 7 rotates 15 times, the RFI
D Osamu O (fully open) on the scale written on the storage plate 12 to S
(Fully closed) or rotate from S to O.

The rotation of the RFID storage plate 12 causes RF
The ID tag 13, 14, 15 and the masking plate 19 are the valve body 3
When the valve body 3 is fully closed, the valve body 3 rotates relative to the fully closed position and when the valve body 3 is fully opened, the fully open position.

As shown in FIG. 5, in an actual operation, the operating device 21 is inserted from the operation port on the ground surface toward the screw type sluice valve 1, and the boss portion 23 is fitted to the operating cap 5 of the valve rod 2. ,
The antenna 25 is arranged close to the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 and the information recorded in the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 is read out to the reading circuit 28 of the main body device 26 through the antenna 25 and the information is displayed on the display 27. .

At this time, assuming that the valve body 3 is at the intermediate opening degree, the relationship between the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 and the masking plate 19 is in the state shown in FIG. 6b. When the antenna 25 is applied from above in this state, the magnetic lines of force generated from the antenna 25 act on the RFID tag 14 exposed in the opening 20, but the right and left R shielded by the masking plate 19.
It does not act on the FID tag 13 and the RFID tag 15.
That is, the RFID tag 14 is detected, but the RFID tags 13 and 15 are not detected.

When the valve body 3 is in the fully closed position, the state shown in FIG. 6C is reached, and the RFID tags 14 and 15 are detected, but the RFID tag 13 is not detected. When the valve body 3 is at the fully open position, the state shown in FIG. 6A is established, the RFID tag 14 and the RFID tag 13 are detected, and the RFID tag 15 is detected.
Will not be detected.

Therefore, the RFID tags 13, 1 to be detected
The position (opening) of the valve can be read logically by the combination of 4 and 15 as follows. 1. RFID tag 15 detection AND RFID tag 14
Detected AND RFID tag 13 not detected → fully closed position 2. RFID tag 15 undetected AND RFID tag 1
4 detection AND RFID tag 13 not detected → intermediate position 3. RFID tag 15 undetected AND RFID tag 1
4 detection AND RFID tag 13 detection → fully open position The RFID tag 15 records the information of fully closed,
The RFID tag 13 records the information that it is fully opened.
The main body device 26 receives this information as a signal via the antenna 25 and recognizes it. The RFID tag 14 is always attached to a position where it can be detected. In the present embodiment, the RFID tag 14 is provided at an intermediate position between the left and right RFID tags 13 and 15, and the ID information of the valve and, for example, a pipe line or a buried object around the valve are attached to this. By recording this information, it is possible to read effective information before and after the valve operation at the same time as the opening degree detection operation.

At the same time that the valve opening is detected by reading out this information, information such as the opening / closing direction, the number of rotations, and the shutoff torque required for the operation is disclosed to the operator. Therefore, the opening of the valve buried underground can be operated on the ground. There is no need to visually check from the mouth,
The valve opening can be reliably detected without being hindered by mud and insufficient lighting.

Under proper judgment based on the displayed information, the operator turns the operation handle 24 to rotate the valve rod 2 to open and close the valve. After the operation, new valve opening data is input in the operation unit 30, and the RFID tag 13, 1 is input from the writing circuit 29 of the main body device 26 through the antenna 25.
Record in Nos. 4 and 15, and pull out the operating device 21 to complete the work. The information can be transmitted to the central database in real time through a communication mobile phone or the like through the external communication circuit 31.

Therefore, the opening / closing operation of the valve and the detection operation of the valve opening can be performed as a series of work by one instrument,
It is not necessary to move the antenna 25 in and out by a separate operation in order to read and write information.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. For the valves that are the target of the operating device of the present embodiment, refer to FIGS. 11 to 12 described above. 8 to 10, the operating device 51 is a main device 52.
An operation handle 53 is provided in the main body device 52, and a motor 54 having a torque sensor (not shown) is incorporated in the main body device 52. The shaft 55 has a boss portion 56 fitted to the operation cap 5 of the valve rod 2 at one end, and the other end of the shaft 55 is connected to the motor 54 of the main body device 52.

Protective tube 57 placed over shaft 55
Has a protective cover 58 at one end, and the other end of the protective tube 57 is fixed to the main body device 52. The protective cover 58 is arranged so as to cover the boss portion 56, and has an RFI at the lower end.
Antenna 5 placed close to D-tags 13, 14 and 15
9 is provided.

The main body device 52 has an opening instruction switch 60 for instructing the valve opening operation on the top surface, a closing instruction switch 61 for instructing the valve closing operation, and a liquid crystal display 62. It has an operation unit 63 composed of a keyboard that can be rocked back and forth on the front surface, and performs reading and writing operations of information through an antenna 59 inside and reading and reading the instruction values of the opening instruction switch 60 and the closing instruction switch 61. And a control device 64 for controlling the drive of the motor 54 based on the information. The control device 64 includes a reading circuit 65, a writing circuit 66, an external communication circuit 67, a motor control circuit 68, and an arithmetic circuit 69. There is.

The data read from the RFID tags 13, 14 and 15 includes an identification number for identifying the screw sluice valve 1, a name, a model, a diameter, an operating direction, a shutoff rotation speed, a shutoff torque, a valve opening degree, and a front. There are operation days, special notes, special notes, etc., and the data to be written include the identification number, valve opening,
There is a valve operation date and special notes.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. Since the principle of detection is the same as that described above, the description is omitted. At the time of operation, the operation device 51 is inserted from the operation port on the ground surface toward the screw type sluice valve 1, the boss portion 56 is fitted into the operation cap 5 of the valve rod 2, and the antenna 59 is attached to the RFI.
The information is recorded in the RFID tags 13, 14, 15 through the antenna 59 and is read out to the readout circuit 65 of the main body device 52 to display the information on the display 62. The information to be displayed includes, for example, a valve management number, a valve name, a model, a diameter, a manufacturer name, an operation direction, a cutoff rotation speed, a cutoff torque, a valve opening degree, a previous operation date, a previous special note, and the like. As a result, the operator does not need to visually check the opening of the valve buried underground from the operation port on the ground, and the valve opening can be reliably detected without being obstructed by mud or insufficient lighting.

Next, the operator turns on the opening instruction switch 60 or the closing instruction switch 61 under appropriate judgment based on the displayed information. Control device 64 for main device 52
The arithmetic circuit 69 determines the instruction values of the opening instruction switch 60 and the closing instruction switch 61 and the read information, and controls the drive of the motor 54 through the motor control circuit 68 based on the result.

For example, at the time of the opening operation, the opening instruction switch 6
When 0 is input and a cap opening instruction is given, the control device 64 refers to the operation direction, the closing torque, the valve opening degree, and the closing speed of the read information, rotates the valve rod 2 in the opening direction, and opens the valve fully. The required number of rotations until reaching the state is given to the valve rod 2, the valve opening degree that changes with the operation is displayed on the display 62, and the motor 54 is stopped at the fully open position unless a new instruction is given on the way.

The operator visually recognizes the valve opening displayed on the display 62, and when he / she wants to stop the valve at the desired valve opening, he turns off the opening instruction switch 60 at that point. The control device 64 receives the OFF signal of the opening instruction switch 60 and receives the motor 54.
To stop. Alternatively, after the opening instruction switch 60 is turned on, it is possible to input the set valve opening degree from the operation unit 63 and stop the valve at the desired valve opening degree.

The capping operation can be performed in the same manner.
In the capping operation, the drive of the motor 54 is controlled based on the shutoff torque value of the information read out by the control device 64, and the valve is capped until the predetermined sealing surface pressure is generated.

After the operation, new valve opening data is transferred to the main unit 5
The RFID tag is recorded from 2 through the antenna 59 and the operation device 51 is pulled out to complete the work.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information recorded in the RFID tag is read out to the main body device through the antenna by inserting the operating device when opening and closing the valve, and the information is displayed to the operator. Since it is not necessary to visually check the opening of the valve buried underground from the operation port on the ground, the valve opening can be reliably detected without being obstructed by mud or insufficient lighting, and the operator can display it. It is possible to open and close the valve under appropriate judgment based on the information, and after the operation, new valve opening data is sent from the main unit to the RFID through the antenna.
Since it is recorded on the tag and the operation device is pulled out to complete the work, it is possible to perform the opening and closing operation of the valve and the detection operation of the valve opening degree as a series of operations with one instrument, and to read and write information There is no need to move the antenna in and out by a separate operation.

Since the control device determines the opening / closing direction based on the read information to perform the opening / closing operation, the operator does not need to judge the direction of rotation of the valve rod necessary for the opening / closing operation or cause misjudgment thereof. The intended opening / closing operation can be reliably performed only by turning on the opening / closing instruction switch.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the configuration of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operating device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a main body device of the operating device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a principle of detection of the operating device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between an RFID tag and a masking plate according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an opening degree meter according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing the configuration of the operating device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the operating device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a main body device of the operating device.

FIG. 11 is a front half sectional view showing a screw type sluice valve.

FIG. 12 is a side half sectional view showing a screw type sluice valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 screw type sluice valve 2 valve rod 3 valve body 4 Position gauge 5 Operation cap 6 gear case 7 rotation axis 7a protrusion 8 fixed gears 9 O-ring 10 small gears 11 large gears 12 RFID storage board 13, 14, 15 RFID tags 16 screws 17 cover 18 O-ring 19 Masking board 20 openings 21, 51 control unit 22, 55 shaft 23, 56 Boss 24, 53 operation handle 25, 59 antennas 26, 52 Main unit 27,62 Indicator 28,65 readout circuit 29, 66 write circuit 30, 63 Operation part 31 External communication circuit 54 motor 57 Protection tube 58 protective cover 60 Opening instruction switch 61 Closing instruction switch 64 control device 67 External communication circuit 68 Motor control circuit 69 arithmetic circuit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazushige Ikeda             2-35 Jimmucho, Yabu City, Osaka Prefecture             Bota Kyuhoji Factory (72) Inventor Yuuji Watanabe             2-35 Jimmucho, Yabu City, Osaka Prefecture             Bota Kyuhoji Factory F-term (reference) 3H062 AA02 AA03 AA05 BB09 CC17                       CC24 FF13 HH03                 3H063 AA06 BB47 DA02 DB02 GG03                       GG06 GG12                 3H065 AA05 BA01 BA05 BB11 BC02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An operating machine for opening and closing a valve in which an RFID tag capable of reading and writing information in a contactless manner is arranged, and a boss portion fitted to an operation cap of a valve rod is provided on one end side of a shaft. An operation handle is provided on the other end of the shaft, an antenna is provided on the boss portion in the vicinity of the RFID tag, and a main unit for reading / writing information through the antenna is provided on the other end of the shaft. A valve operating machine having an opening detection function characterized by the above. 2. An operating machine for opening and closing a valve in which a RFID tag capable of reading and writing information in a contactless manner is arranged, wherein an operating handle is provided in a main body device having a motor, and the valve is provided at one end of a shaft. A boss that fits into the rod operation cap is provided, the other end of the shaft is connected to the motor of the main unit, and a protective cover is provided at one end of the protective tube that is placed to cover the shaft. The main unit is fixed to the main unit, and the protective cover is provided with an antenna arranged close to the RFID tag. The main unit is a cap opening instruction switch for instructing the valve opening operation and a cap closing instruction for instructing the valve closing operation. Information is read / written through the switch and the antenna, and the motor's value is read based on the read values and the readings of the cap opening and closing cap switches. The valve operating device having a opening detection function, characterized in that a control device for controlling the movement.