JP3686616B2 - Rotary valve opening indicator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an opening degree indicating device for a rotary valve. More specifically, the present invention relates to an opening degree indicating device that reliably notifies that a valve element has reached a predetermined opening degree in a rotary valve such as a butterfly valve or a ball valve.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a rotary valve such as a butterfly valve or a ball valve is not of a torque seal structure, and the seal is not perfect as the valve body is tightened. In other words, the rotary valve has a position seal structure and is fully closed at one predetermined position and fully opened at another predetermined position. Therefore, when handling the rotary valve, it is necessary to accurately know the position where the valve element is fully closed or fully opened.
[0003]
Generally, the rotary valve is opened and closed only within an angle range of about 90 degrees. That is, the valve body of the rotary valve is fully opened when it is rotated by an angle of about 90 degrees from the fully closed position, and can be rotated from the fully closed position to the fully open position. It cannot be tightened or rotated further beyond the fully open position.
[0004]
In a rotary valve, in order to rotate a valve body within the above-mentioned angle range, a drive device is usually attached. And the opening degree indicator for confirming that the valve body reached full close and full open is attached to the drive device.
[0005]
The opening indicator is provided with a disk on the casing of the driving device, and the disk can be rotated together with the valve body and the valve shaft supporting the valve body. The opening degree of the valve body is determined by the rotation angle of the disk. Is to confirm. The disc is usually provided with a projection as an index, and when the valve element is fully open and fully closed, the point indicated by the index points to a display that means full open and fully closed, respectively. Have been to make sure. Such an opening indicator is shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No. 30545540, for example.
[0006]
In general, the rotary valve is often attached at a high place or a complicated place. For this reason, it is often difficult for an operator to approach the rotary valve. Therefore, it is not easy for the opening degree indicator as described above to confirm the opening degree of the valve body when viewed from a distance.
[0007]
Therefore, in order to be able to confirm without error that the valve body has reached the fully closed position and the fully open position, a limit switch is attached to the opening indicator. There are various types of driving devices, and FIG. 1 shows an example of an opening indicator with a limit switch when a driving method using a combination of a worm and a worm wheel is used.
[0008]
In FIG. 1, the opening degree indicator A includes a disc B, and the disc B rotates with a valve body (not shown). An indicator C is attached to the disc B, and rotating levers D and E are attached at positions where the tip of the indicator C touches. Thus, when the disk B rotates and the tip of the index C touches the rotary lever D or E, the limit switch F or G connected to the rotary lever D or E is activated to generate a signal. Fully closed or fully open can be confirmed by this signal.
[0009]
If the limit switch is used, the fully closed and fully opened positions can be confirmed without error. However, since the limit switch protrudes above the drive device, it hinders piping when installing the rotary valve, hinders operation when using the rotary valve, and further obstructs the entire opening indicator. Contains a problem. Therefore, the emergence of a valve body opening degree confirmation device instead of this has been required.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention was born in response to the above-mentioned demand. That is, according to the present invention, with a simple mechanism, the rotary valve can be fully closed and / or fully opened without error, and there is no hindrance in the piping of the rotary valve and in the subsequent operation. A degree indicating device is to be provided.
[0011]
[Means for solving problems]
The present inventor has found that it is suitable to use a combination of a magnet and a switch sensitive to the proximity of the magnet in order to solve the above-described problem. In addition, as a place where the magnet is attached, the inventor suitably uses a rotating body that is in a driving device and rotates within an angle range of 90 degrees together with the valve shaft and the valve body. I found out. Furthermore, the present inventor has found that it is possible to attach the switch not only to the outer surface of the driving device but also to the inner surface of the driving device, as described above. The present invention has been completed based on such knowledge.
[0012]
According to the present invention, in a rotary valve drive device, a magnet is fixed to a rotating body that rotates within an angle range of 90 degrees together with a valve shaft of the rotary valve, and a passage through which the magnet passes on a plane that extends parallel to the rotating body. Provided is an opening degree indicating device for a rotary valve, characterized in that one or two or more switches are provided close to each other and the circuit is opened and closed in response to the magnet. .
[0013]
According to the present invention, in the rotary valve drive device, the magnet is fixed to the rotating body that rotates within the angle range of 90 degrees together with the valve shaft of the rotary valve. There are various types of rotary valve drive devices, such as gear type and worm type, depending on the speed reduction method. However, the drive device usually always has a rotating body as described above. In the present invention, a magnet is fixed to such a rotating body. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to prepare a special one for fixing the magnet. For this reason, it is easy to attach a magnet. However, when there is no such rotating body, it is necessary to install the rotating body again.
[0014]
Taking a worm type driving device as an example, the inside of the driving device has a structure as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a part of the casing of the driving device is removed. In FIG. 2, 1 is a casing, 2 is a worm wheel, 3 is a worm, 4 is a handle shaft, 5 'is a stopper bolt, 6 is a handle wheel, and 7 is a valve shaft hole. Therefore, the worm wheel 2 rotates together with the valve shaft through the valve shaft hole 7.
[0015]
In this drive device, when the handle wheel 6 is rotated, the worm 3 is rotated and the worm 3 and the worm wheel 2 are engaged with each other, so that the worm wheel 2 is rotated. The worm wheel 2 of FIG. 2 cannot rotate further clockwise because the edge surface 21 collides with the stopper bolt 5 ′. Therefore, the worm wheel 2 rotates counterclockwise. However, if the worm wheel 2 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise, the edge surface 22 collides with the stopper bolt 5 and cannot rotate any more. Thus, the worm wheel 2 is a rotating body that rotates together with the valve shaft by an angle of 90 degrees.
[0016]
In the present invention, in the case of the driving device shown in FIG. 2, the magnet 8 is fixed on the plane of the worm wheel 2. The fixing position is preferably as close to the outer periphery of the worm wheel 2 as possible. The magnet may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. An adhesive is preferably used for fixing the magnet. When the worm wheel 2 is made of an iron-based metal, the magnet 8 is preferably surrounded and fixed by an aluminum-based metal.
[0017]
In the present invention, the switch is attached on a plane extending in parallel with the rotating body. In the worm type driving device, the plane is preferably the inner surface or the outer surface of the casing of the driving device. That is, in FIG. 2, it is preferable to use the inner surface or the outer surface of the removed casing. The switch is provided at a position close to the path drawn by the magnet when the rotating body rotates.
[0018]
When the switch is provided on the outer surface of the casing, the casing is preferably made of plastic or aluminum-based metal. This is because even if plastic or aluminum-based metal is interposed between the magnet and the switch, it does not weaken the magnetic force from the magnet and reaches the switch.
[0019]
When the rotating body is made of an iron-based metal, the magnet attached to the rotating body is preferably fixed on the rotating body by surrounding the periphery with a plastic or aluminum-based metal. Further, when the switch is attached on the casing, it is preferable that the switch is surrounded by plastic or aluminum-based metal.
[0020]
The switch sensitive to the magnet is in a state where the circuit is opened while the magnet is far away, but preferably has a structure that closes the circuit when the magnet approaches. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the ends of two lead wires made of a ferromagnetic material are placed in parallel at a distance, sealed with a glass tube, and filled with an inert gas. It has been.
[0021]
In the switch shown in FIG. 3, when there is no magnet nearby, as shown in FIG. 3A, the two lead wires X and Y are separated at the contact portion, and the circuit is in an open state. However, when the magnet 8 approaches the switch, the leads X and Y are magnetized as shown in (b), and the contact portions become poles different from each other. Therefore, the lead wires X and Y come into contact with each other at the contact portion, and the circuit is closed. Thus, the switch is opened and closed. Such switches are commercially available. In the present invention, such a commercially available switch can be used.
[0022]
Although the worm type driving device has been described above, the present invention can be similarly used for a gear type driving device.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the magnet is fixed to the rotating body that rotates within the angle range of 90 degrees together with the valve shaft of the rotary valve, the magnet rotates without changing the opening degree of the rotary valve. In addition, since the switch is provided close to the passage through which the magnet passes on a plane extending in parallel with the rotating body, the magnet always approaches the switch in the process of turning, and can effectively transmit the magnetic force to the switch. it can. Since the switch opens and closes the circuit in response to the magnet, the circuit is surely opened and closed by the proximity or separation of the magnet.
[0024]
Therefore, if a switch is attached at the position where the magnet comes when the rotary valve is fully closed or fully opened, and an appropriate signal is issued when the switch is opened and closed, the rotary valve has fully closed and fully opened. Can be known without error. In particular, the degree of opening can be known more reliably by flashing light, changing the color of the light, or generating a warning sound when a signal is generated.
[0025]
In addition, since the rotating body as described above is normally present in the drive device, it is not necessary to prepare a rotating body for fixing the magnet, and thus this device can be installed easily and easily. it can.
[0026]
When the drive device is based on meshing of the worm and the worm wheel, the conventional opening indicator is often overtightened or insufficiently tightened. Insufficient tightening can be resolved reliably. The present invention provides such benefits.
[0027]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as follows. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the magnet 8 is attached to the worm wheel 2 which is a rotating body in the worm type driving device as already described.
[0028]
FIG. 4 shows a state where the casing 11 is covered with the drive device shown in FIG. 2 and the switches 9 and 10 according to the present invention are attached on the casing 11. FIG. 4 also shows a conventional opening indicator A.
[0029]
When the drive device is in the state shown in FIG. 2, as already described, the worm wheel 2 cannot rotate further in the clockwise direction. At this time, the magnet 8 is located at the upper left end of the worm wheel 2. In FIG. 4, the magnet 8 is below the switch 9 at this time, and the switch 9 closes the circuit because the magnet 8 is close. Therefore, the switch 9 sends a signal to the switch box 12. From this signal, it can be confirmed that the rotary valve is fully closed. In this state, the indicator C of the opening indicator A indicates the display S in FIG. 4, indicating that the rotary valve is fully closed.
[0030]
When the handle wheel 6 is rotated from the state of FIG. 2 and the worm wheel 2 is rotated counterclockwise, the switch 9 opens the circuit because the magnet 8 moves away, and therefore no signal is generated. Thereby, it can be confirmed that the rotary valve is not fully closed.
[0031]
When the worm wheel 2 is further rotated counterclockwise and is rotated by 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 2, the worm wheel 2 cannot be rotated any further, and the magnet 8 is located directly below the switch 10 in FIG. Then, the switch 10 responds to the magnet 8 to close the circuit and issue a signal to inform that the rotary valve is fully opened. At this time, the indicator C of the opening degree indicator A indicates the display O, which indicates that the rotary valve is fully opened.
[0032]
In this way, the magnet 8 is fixed to the rotating body as shown in FIG. 2, and the switches 9 and 10 are attached to the outer surface of the driving device as shown in FIG. Can be surely known.
[0033]
In FIG. 4, the switches 9 and 10 are attached to the outer surface of the casing 11 of the driving device. However, the switches 9 and 10 are attached to the inner surface of the casing 11 so that the protrusions of the switches 9 and 10 are completely eliminated. You can also.
[0034]
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, another switch 13 is additionally provided between the switches 9 and 10 so that it can be surely known that the rotary valve is at an intermediate opening. The proximity of the magnet 8 to the switch 13 causes the switch 13 to close the circuit in response to the magnet and issue a signal to reliably notify that the rotary valve has reached an intermediate opening.
[0035]
In the conventional opening indicator, since it was difficult to install the limit switch between the fully closed position and the fully opened position, the intermediate opening degree could not be confirmed. However, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably know an arbitrary intermediate opening as described above. In this respect, the present invention provides great benefits.
[0036]
In the present invention, a switch in which various things are further incorporated in the switch shown in FIG. 3 can be used as the switch sensitive to the magnet. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a switch 9 to which a light emitting diode H and a Zener diode (constant voltage diode) J are added can be used. When the switch shown in FIG. 6 is used, the light emitting diode H emits light in red, green, yellow or the like simultaneously with the switch 9 closing the circuit. Therefore, it is possible to know more reliably that the rotary valve has reached a predetermined opening degree by this light emission. In addition, the code | symbol 12 in FIG. 6 has shown the switch box.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a rotary valve drive device provided with a conventional opening indicator.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of a rotary valve drive device provided with an opening degree indicating device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a switch that can be used in the present invention.
4 is a plan view of a rotary valve drive device provided with the opening degree indication device according to the present invention shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a rotary valve drive device provided with another opening degree indicating device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a structural diagram of another switch that can be used in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 Casing of driving device 2 Worm wheel 3 Worm 4 Handle shaft 5, 5 'Stopper bolt 6 Handle wheel 7 Valve shaft hole 8 Magnet 9, 10, 13 Switch 12 Switch box 21, 22 Edge A Conventional opening degree indication Device B Disk C Index D, E Rotation lever F, G Limit switch H Light emitting diode J Zener diode X, Y Lead wire

Claims (5)

A rotary valve drive device comprising a worm rotated by a handle wheel and a worm wheel meshing with the worm wheel and rotating the worm wheel together with a valve body of the rotary valve within an angle range of 90 degrees. The switch is attached to the inner surface or the outer surface of the casing of the drive device extending in parallel with the worm wheel so as to face the worm wheel. A rotary valve opening indication device characterized in that when the valve body of the rotary valve reaches a certain degree of opening due to the rotation of the handle wheel, the magnet closes the circuit of the switch and generates a signal. .   The opening degree indicating device for a rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein a magnet is fixed to the plane of the worm wheel with an adhesive.   3. The opening degree indication device for a rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the switch is fixed at a position close to a position occupied by the magnet when the rotary valve is fully closed and / or fully opened.   The fixed position of the switch is close to the position occupied by the magnet when the rotary valve is at a specific opening between fully closed and fully open. The opening degree indicating device of the rotary valve described.   The opening instruction device for a rotary valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a switch incorporating a light emitting diode is used.

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