Valve box

Abstract

The valve box (10) comprises a base part (12) and a cover part (38), and can accommodate a plurality of electromagnetic valves (56). A hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the lid portion on the base portion includes a hinge shaft (48) attached to one of the lid portion and the base portion, and a hinge hole (32) provided in the other of the lid portion and the base portion. A pressing and fixing mechanism for pressing and fixing the cover portion to the base portion includes a fixing member (50) attached to the cover portion and fixing holes (26, 28) provided in the base portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a valve box for accommodating a plurality of solenoid valves. Background Art

[0002] Description of related art:

[0003] In the past, a technique of arranging a plurality of solenoid valves in a single valve box has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-31930 discloses a manifold valve in which a multi-port valve composed of a plurality of solenoid valves is mounted on a manifold base in a side-by-side state, and a single top cover covering the multi-port valve is hermetically attached to the manifold base. This manifold valve is used in processing equipment that requires maintaining hygiene such as food-related applications and can withstand high-temperature and high-pressure steam jet cleaning.

[0004] For solenoid valves used in an environment where flammable gas or flammable dust exists, it is necessary to ensure explosion-proof performance. When a plurality of solenoid valves are arranged in a single valve box, it is preferable that the valve box has a closed structure. The above-mentioned manifold valve can also be said to be a structure suitable for use in an environment where flammable gas or flammable dust exists.

[0005] However, the above-mentioned manifold valve has a structure in which the top cover is detachably connected to the manifold base by a plurality of screws. Therefore, for example, when the manifold valve is installed at a high place, when performing maintenance on the manifold valve, when removing the plurality of screws, there is a problem that care must be taken to prevent the top cover from falling. In addition, there is also a problem that it is necessary to ensure a working space for removing the plurality of screws above the top cover. Summary of the Utility Model

[0006] The utility model aims to solve the above technical problems.

[0007] The valve box according to the utility model includes a base portion and a cover portion, and is capable of accommodating a plurality of solenoid valves. Specifically, it includes: a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the cover portion on the base portion; and a pressing and fixing mechanism that presses and fixes the cover portion to the base portion. The hinge mechanism includes: a hinge shaft that is installed on one of the cover portion and the base portion; and a hinge hole that is provided on the other of the cover portion and the base portion. The pressing and fixing mechanism includes: a fixing member that is installed on the cover portion; and a fixing hole that is provided on the base portion.

[0008] According to the above valve box, since the cover portion is rotatably supported on the base portion, during maintenance operations of the valve box and the like, the cover portion will not accidentally separate from the base portion and fall. In addition, since the cover portion is pressed and fixed to the base portion, it is easy to ensure the necessary explosion-proof performance.

[0009] The valve box of the present utility model has a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the lid portion on the base portion. Therefore, when performing operations such as maintenance of the valve box, the lid portion will not accidentally detach from the base portion and fall. In addition, since it has a pressing and fixing mechanism that presses and fixes the lid portion to the base portion, in a valve box that houses a plurality of solenoid valves, it is possible to easily ensure the necessary explosion-proof performance.

[0010] The above objects, features, and advantages will be easily understood from the description of the following embodiments described with reference to the drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0011] Figure 1 is an external view of the valve box according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0012] Figure 2 is when viewed from another angle Figure 1 of the valve box.

[0013] Figure 3 is a view showing the inside of the valve box Figure 1 in a state where the lid portion is opened relatively wide with respect to the base portion.

[0014] Figure 4 is for explaining the pressing and fixing mechanism in the valve box Figure 1 in a state where the lid portion is connected to the base portion.

[0015] Figure 5 is for explaining the pressing and fixing mechanism in the valve box Figure 1 in a state where the connection between the lid portion and the base portion is released. Detailed Embodiments

[0016] As Figures 1 to 3 shown, the valve box 10 according to an embodiment of the present utility model includes a base portion 12 and a lid portion 38, and can house a plurality of solenoid valves 56. The valve box 10 is provided with a "pressing and fixing mechanism" for pressing and fixing the lid portion 38 to the base portion 12 and a "hinge mechanism" for rotatably supporting the lid portion 38 on the base portion 12. The valve box 10 is used, for example, to control the regeneration of the filter of a dust collector.

[0017] As Figure 3 shown, the base portion 12 has a rectangular bottom wall 14, rectangular vertical walls 16 extending upward from the ends of the bottom wall 14, and a pair of right-angled triangular side walls 18 connecting the bottom wall 14 and the vertical walls 16. The pair of side walls 18 are located at both ends in the longitudinal direction (A direction) of the base portion 12. The base portion 12 has a strip-shaped joint surface 20 formed across the bottom wall 14, the vertical walls 16, and the pair of side walls 18. The joint surface 20 is a part of a plane including the contour line of the side wall 18 corresponding to the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle.

[0018] A plurality of solenoid valves 56 are arranged on the bottom wall 14 of the base portion 12. The solenoid valve 56 is configured as a pneumatic two-port solenoid valve, for example. In the present embodiment, a total of six solenoid valves 56 are arranged. In addition, in Figure 3 , components such as wiring connected to the solenoid valve 56 are omitted.

[0019] Each side wall 18 of the base portion 12 is provided with a base-side first connection block 22 and a base-side second connection block 24. The base-side first connection block 22 has a first fixing hole 26 penetrating through the base-side first connection block 22. The axis of the first fixing hole 26 is perpendicular to the wall surface of the vertical wall 16. The joint surface 20 of the base portion 12 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the first fixing hole 26.

[0020] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the first fixing hole 26 has: a base-side threaded hole portion 26a formed with an internal thread; and a diameter-expanded hole portion 26b connected to the base-side threaded hole portion 26a and having a diameter larger than that of the base-side threaded hole portion 26a. The base-side second connection block 24 has a second fixing hole 28 identical to the first fixing hole 26. The axis of the second fixing hole 28 is perpendicular to the wall surface of the vertical wall 16, and the second fixing hole 28 has a base-side threaded hole portion 28a and a diameter-expanded hole portion 28b.

[0021] The base portion 12 includes a pair of holding plates 30 provided outside the side wall 18 and the vertical wall 16. The holding plate 30 is composed of a first plate portion 30a located outside the side wall 18 and a second plate portion 30b located outside the vertical wall 16 (see Figure 2 ). The holding plate 30 is connected to the base portion 12 by screwing two connection bolts 36 inserted through the first plate portion 30a with the base-side first connection block 22 and the base-side second connection block 24.

[0022] The first plate portion 30a of the holding plate 30 has an L-shaped hinge hole 32 near the base-side first connection block 22. The hinge hole 32 has a first hole portion 32a extending in parallel with the axial direction of the first fixing hole 26 and a second hole portion 32b bent downward from the end of the first hole portion 32a. The valve box 10 is installed on a wall surface of a building or the like by using mounting holes 34 formed in the second plate portions 30b of the pair of holding plates 30.

[0023] The cover portion 38 is configured in a dome shape. The cover portion 38 has a belt-shaped joint surface 40 capable of abutting against the joint surface 20 of the base portion 12 in the entire circumferential range. A belt-shaped groove portion 40a is formed in the joint surface 40 of the cover portion 38, and an annular seal 42 is installed in the groove portion 40a. When the joint surface 40 of the cover portion 38 abuts against the joint surface 20 of the base portion 12 via the seal 42, the inside of the cover portion 38 and the base portion 12 is hermetically held.

[0024] One end and the other end in the longitudinal direction (A direction) of the cover portion 38 are provided with a cover-side first connecting block 44 and a cover-side second connecting block 46. The cover-side first connecting block 44 has a first abutting surface 44a capable of abutting against the surface where the first fixing hole 26 of the base-side first connecting block 22 opens and a second abutting surface 44b capable of abutting against the upper surface of the base-side first connecting block 22. The cover-side second connecting block 46 has an abutting surface 46a capable of abutting against the surface where the second fixing hole 28 of the base-side second connecting block 24 opens.

[0025] The hinge shaft 48 is installed on the cover-side first connecting block 44. The hinge shaft 48 is a bolt member having a head 48a. The hinge shaft 48 is inserted through and supported by the hinge hole 32 of the holding plate 30 in a state where the head 48a is located outside the holding plate 30. The cover portion 38 is supported so as to be rotatable about the axis of the pair of hinge shafts 48 with respect to the base portion 12.

[0026] The hinge shaft 48 can move along the shape of the L-shaped hinge hole 32. Therefore, the cover portion 38 can move relative to the base portion 12. The outer shape of the head 48a of the hinge shaft 48 is larger than the width of the hinge hole 32, and the hinge shaft 48 does not detach from the holding plate 30. In other words, the cover portion 38 does not detach from the base portion 12. The hinge shaft 48 and the hinge hole 32 of the holding plate 30 constitute the "hinge mechanism" of the present utility model.

[0027] The fixing member 50 is installed on the cover-side first connecting block 44 and the cover-side second connecting block 46. The fixing member 50 has a head 50a capable of being engaged by a tool, a threaded portion 50b formed with an external thread, and a shaft portion 50c connecting between the head 50a and the threaded portion 50b.

[0028] The cover-side first connecting block 44 is provided with a first mounting hole 52 penetrating the cover-side first connecting block 44. The first mounting hole 52 has a cover-side threaded hole portion 52a capable of being screwed with the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 and a large-diameter hole portion 52b having a diameter larger than that of the cover-side threaded hole portion 52a and capable of accommodating the head 50a of the fixing member 50. A stepped surface 52c capable of abutting against the head 50a of the fixing member 50 is formed between the cover-side threaded hole portion 52a and the large-diameter hole portion 52b. Similarly, the cover-side second connecting block 46 is provided with a second mounting hole 54 penetrating the cover-side second connecting block 46. The second mounting hole 54 has a cover-side threaded hole portion 54a and a large-diameter hole portion 54b, and a stepped surface 54c is formed between the cover-side threaded hole portion 54a and the large-diameter hole portion 54b.

[0029] The length of the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is the same as the length of the enlarged diameter hole portion 26b of the first fixing hole 26 of the first connecting block 22 on the base side, or slightly longer than the length of the enlarged diameter hole portion 26b. Similarly, the length of the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is the same as the length of the enlarged diameter hole portion 28b of the second fixing hole 28 of the second connecting block 24 on the base side, or slightly longer than the length of the enlarged diameter hole portion 28b. The first connecting block 44 on the cover side, the second connecting block 46 on the cover side, the first connecting block 22 on the base side, the second connecting block 24 on the base side, and the fixing member 50 constitute the "pressing and fixing mechanism" of the present utility model.

[0030] Figure 4 It shows the state of the "pressing and fixing mechanism" when the cover portion 38 is connected and fixed to the base portion 12. The threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is screwed into the base side threaded hole portion 26a of the first fixing hole 26 of the first connecting block 22 on the base side to a specified position, and the head portion 50a of the fixing member 50 abuts against the step surface 52c of the first mounting hole 52 of the first connecting block 44 on the cover side. Similarly, the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is screwed into the base side threaded hole portion 28a of the second fixing hole 28 of the second connecting block 24 on the base side to a specified position, and the head portion 50a of the fixing member 50 abuts against the step surface 54c of the second mounting hole 54 of the second connecting block 46 on the cover side.

[0031] Therefore, the first connecting block 44 on the cover side abuts against the first connecting block 22 on the base side with a specified force, and the second connecting block 46 on the cover side abuts against the second connecting block 24 on the base side with a specified force. The cover portion 38 is pressed against the base portion 12 in a direction parallel to the axes of the first fixing hole 26 and the second fixing hole 28. A specified component force of this pressing force acts as a force for pressing the joint surface 40 of the cover portion 38 against the joint surface 20 of the base portion 12 in a direction perpendicular to the two joint surfaces. Thereby, airtightness is maintained between the cover portion 38 and the base portion 12, ensuring the necessary explosion-proof property.

[0032] Figure 5 It shows the state of the "pressing and fixing mechanism" when the fixing of the cover portion 38 to the base portion 12 is released. The screwing of the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 with the base side threaded hole portion 26a of the first fixing hole 26 of the first connecting block 22 on the base side is completely released, and the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is located within the enlarged diameter hole portion 26b of the first fixing hole 26. Similarly, the screwing of the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 with the base side threaded hole portion 28a of the second fixing hole 28 of the second connecting block 24 on the base side is completely released, and the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 is located within the enlarged diameter hole portion 28b of the second fixing hole 28. In addition, in Figure 4 and Figure 5 The output pipe connected to the solenoid valve 56 is indicated by the reference symbol 58.

[0033] If the fixing of the cover portion 38 is released, then asFigure 3 As shown, the lid 38 can be opened wide enough to hang downward from the base 12. At this time, the hinge shafts 48 move along the first hole portion 32a of the hinge hole 32, and the lid 38 moves relative to the base 12. In other words, the lid 38 rotates about the axis of the pair of hinge shafts 48 while moving relative to the base 12.

[0034] The reason why the rotation and relative movement of the lid 38 relative to the base 12 occur simultaneously is that geometrically, as the lid 38 rotates, the distance from the opening surface of the first fixing hole 26 of the first connecting block 22 on the base side to the hinge shaft 48 increases. Due to the existence of the first hole portion 32a of the hinge hole 32, the lid 38 can rotate smoothly. In the state where the lid 38 hangs downward from the base 12, the hinge shafts 48 are located in the second hole portion 32b of the hinge hole 32. In addition, the operator can also consciously shift the lid 38 forward before rotating the lid 38.

[0035] Since the lid 38 is supported by the hinge mechanism on the base 12, when performing maintenance operations on the valve box 10, etc., the lid 38 will not accidentally detach from the base 12 and fall. In addition, as long as the fixing member 50 is not specially operated, the threaded portion 50b of the fixing member 50 will not fall off from the lid-side threaded hole portion 52a of the first mounting hole 52 and the lid-side threaded hole portion 54a of the second mounting hole 54. That is, the fixing member 50 is held by the lid-side first connecting block 44 and the lid-side second connecting block 46. Therefore, when performing maintenance operations on the valve box 10, etc., the fixing member 50 will not detach and be lost.

[0036] According to the valve box 10 of the present embodiment, since it is provided with a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the lid 38 on the base 12, when performing maintenance operations on the valve box 10, etc., the lid 38 will not accidentally detach from the base 12 and fall. In addition, since it has a pressing and fixing mechanism that presses and fixes the lid 38 to the base 12, in the valve box 10 that houses a plurality of solenoid valves 56, it is possible to easily ensure the necessary explosion protection performance.

[0037] In addition, the axes of the first fixing hole 26 and the second fixing hole 28 into which the fixing member 50 is screwed are perpendicular to the wall surface of the vertical wall 16 of the base 12, and the fixing member 50 can be operated from the side of the valve box 10. Therefore, even when the valve box 10 is arranged at a high place and there is only a narrow working space above the valve box 10, by using the space on the side of the valve box 10, it is possible to easily release the fixing of the lid 38.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the hinge shaft 48 is mounted on the lid-side first connecting block 44 that is part of the lid portion 38, and the hinge hole 32 is provided in the holding plate 30 that is part of the base portion 12. However, the hinge shaft 48 may also be mounted on the base portion 12, and the hinge hole 32 may also be provided in the lid portion 38.

[0039] In addition, the present utility model is not limited to the above disclosure, and various structures can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A valve box (10), comprising a base portion (12) and a cover portion (38), capable of accommodating a plurality of solenoid valves (56), characterized in that: include: a hinge mechanism that rotatably supports the cover portion on the base portion; as well as A pressing and fixing mechanism that presses and fixes the cover portion toward the base portion while pressing the cover portion. The hinge mechanism comprises: a hinge shaft (48) mounted on one of the cover portion and the base portion; and a hinge hole (32) provided on the other of the cover and the base, The pressing and fixing mechanism comprises: a fixing member (50) which is mounted on the cover portion; and a fixing hole (26, 28) which is arranged on the base portion.

2. The valve box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base portion and the cover portion have joint surfaces (20, 40) that can abut against each other, and the joint surface of the cover portion abuts against the joint surface of the base portion via a sealing member (42).

3. The valve box according to claim 2, characterized in that: The engagement surface of the base portion is inclined with respect to an axial direction of the fixing hole.

4. The valve box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cover portion has a cover-side connecting block (44, 46) for mounting the fixing member, and the base portion has a base-side connecting block (22, 24), wherein the base-side connecting block has the fixing hole into which the threaded portion (50b) of the fixing member can be screwed.

5. The valve box according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fixing hole comprises: a base-side threaded hole portion (26a, 28a) capable of being threadedly engaged with the threaded portion of the fixing member; and an enlarged diameter hole portion (26b, 28b) having a larger diameter than the base-side threaded hole portion. The cover-side connecting block has a mounting hole (52, 54), and the mounting hole has a cover-side threaded hole portion (52a, 54a) into which the threaded portion can be screwed.

6. The valve box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length of the threaded portion is the same as or slightly longer than the length of the expanded diameter hole portion.

7. The valve box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge hole is L-shaped and has a first hole portion (32a) extending parallel to the axial direction of the fixing hole and a second hole portion (32b) bent in a predetermined direction from an end of the first hole portion.

8. The valve box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The axis of the fixing hole is perpendicular to the wall surface of the vertical wall of the base portion.

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