Opening / closing assist jig

Abstract

To obtain an opening / closing assist jig 20 which enables improvement of operability of a switching lever 11 which opens or closes a ball valve 10.SOLUTION: An opening / closing assist jig 20 is used when a switching lever 11 which opens or closes a ball valve 10 is operated and includes: a rod-like body 21 which serves as an effort P1 during operation; a first engagement part 22 having a C shape which sandwiches the switching lever 11 and serving as a load P2 during the operation; and a first bending part 23 which connects the body 21 with the first engagement part 22 so as to form a first angle therebetween and serves as a fulcrum P3 during the operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an opening / closing assist tool used when operating a switching lever that opens and closes a ball valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, cultural properties such as shrines and temples have been equipped with water cannons as fire extinguishing equipment to extinguish fires (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Water cannons are not usually installed in an exposed state, taking into consideration the scenery of the cultural properties.

[0003] For example, a storage space is provided below ground, and a normally closed ball valve with its primary side connected to a water supply source is installed in the storage space. A plug-in water cannon stored in a storage box provided near the cultural property is connected to the ball valve during firefighting operations.

[0004] Specifically, in the event of a fire, firefighting operations are carried out in the following order: Step 1: Remove the plug-in water cannon from inside the storage box and carry the water cannon to the storage space. Step 2: Remove the cover on the ground and attach a plug-in water cannon to the ball valve in the storage space. Step 3: The ball valve is opened to supply water to the water cannon, which then sprays water to extinguish the fire at the cultural property. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5869938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When using a water cannon as disclosed in Patent Document 1 connected to a ball valve, it is necessary to open and close the ball valve using a switching lever. If the ball valve is installed in an underground storage space, the operator must crouch down to open and close the ball valve using a switching lever installed in the underground storage space, which poses a problem of poor operability.

[0007] In addition, when the water source on the primary side of the ball valve utilizes differential pressure, for example, if the water source is near the summit and a cultural property facility is located below the summit and a water cannon is installed to protect the facility, high water pressure due to the differential pressure from the summit is applied to the primary side of the ball valve.

[0008] For this reason, a strong force is required to turn the switch lever in order to change the valve body connected to the ball valve from the closed state to the open state. This also poses a problem of poor operability.

[0009] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an opening and closing assistance jig (tool) that can improve the operability of a switching lever that opens and closes a ball valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The opening and closing assistance jig of the present disclosure is an opening and closing assistance jig used when operating a switching lever to open and close a ball valve, and is equipped with a rod-shaped main body portion that serves as the force point during operation, a first locking portion that has a U-shape that clamps the switching lever and serves as the point of action during operation, and a first bent portion that connects the main body portion and the first locking portion at a first angle and serves as a fulcrum during operation. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, an opening / closing assistance tool can be obtained that can improve the operability of a switching lever that opens and closes a ball valve. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams showing an open state and a closed state of a ball valve for which the opening and closing assist tool according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is used. [Diagram 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of a ball valve for which an opening / closing assist jig according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is used; [Diagram 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram relating to a specific configuration of an opening and closing assist jig according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams showing an opening and closing assist jig according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure as plan views from two directions. [Diagram 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an opening / closing assist jig according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is set on a switching lever of a ball valve. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an actual photograph of a fire extinguishing facility that uses a ball valve, which is an object of the opening and closing assistance jig according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a specific configuration of the opening and closing assist jig according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a modified example of the configuration shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the opening and closing assist tool of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The opening / closing assistance tool of the present disclosure has a technical feature in that it connects a locking portion, which serves as the point of action, and a rod-shaped main body, which serves as the point of force, with a bent portion, which serves as the fulcrum, and clamps the switching lever with a U-shaped portion provided on the locking portion, and applies force to the main body using the principle of leverage, thereby improving operability compared to opening and closing operations that are performed by applying force directly to the switching lever without using an opening / closing assistance tool.

[0014] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the open and closed states of a ball valve which is an object of the opening / closing assist tool according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 1(A) shows a state in which the ball valve 10 is in a closed state and the fluid 1 does not flow to the secondary side. On the other hand, Fig. 1(B) shows a state in which the ball valve 10 is switched to an open state and the fluid flows from the primary side to the secondary side.

[0015] The ball valve 10 is equipped with a switching lever 11 for manually switching between an open state and a closed state. Normally, the ball valve 10 is in the closed state as shown in Fig. 1(A), but when water discharge work is to be performed, the switching lever 11 must be manually operated to switch the ball valve 10 to the open state as shown in Fig. 1(B).

[0016] That is, when the switching lever 11 is rotated, the ball valve 10 rotates accordingly. The rotation operation can be switched from the closed state to the open state by rotating the switching lever 11 by about 90 degrees.

[0017] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance of the ball valve 10 to which the opening / closing assist jig according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is applied. Note that Fig. 2 is quoted from the Plug-in Water Cannon on the Tachibori Seisakusho website (URL: https: / / www.itachibori.co.jp / wp-content / uploads / 2014 / 10 / 2019-_Part124.pdf).

[0018] Fig. 2(A) is a photographic three-dimensional view of the ball valve 10, and Fig. 2(B) is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of the ball valve 10. As shown in Fig. 2(A), the switching lever 11 is in a position at a 45-degree angle when closed, in other words, in the direction between 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the clock face, and to open it, it is turned 90 degrees, in the direction between 10 o'clock and 11 o'clock on the clock face.

[0019] The ball valve 10 includes a switching lever 11, as well as a base portion 12, a ball valve main body portion 13, a joint portion 14, a flange 15, and a connection portion 16. The base portion 12 corresponds to the primary side of the ball valve 10, and is connected to a pipe from a water supply source. The connection portion 16 corresponds to the secondary side of the ball valve 10, and is connected to a water cannon used for fire extinguishing.

[0020] The ball valve body 13 houses the valve element of the ball valve 10 which rotates to open and close the flow path as shown in Fig. 1. The joint part 14 is a part which connects the switching lever 11 and the ball valve body 13, and transmits a force for opening and closing the valve element of the ball valve 10 in response to the operation of the switching lever 11. The end of the switching lever 11 is provided with a spherical body which makes it easy to grip when the switching lever 11 is rotated.

[0021] As explained in the Background Art section, when a water cannon is used as fire extinguishing equipment for cultural properties such as shrines and temples, the ball valve 10 for connecting the water cannon is normally stored in a storage space below ground in the closed state as shown in FIG. 1(A) in consideration of the scenery, etc.

[0022] Furthermore, when a head pressure from a water source is applied, high water pressure is applied to the primary side of the closed ball valve 10. Note that water pressure may also be applied from the water source to the ball valve 10 via a pump (not shown).

[0023] In order to improve the operability of the switching lever 11 when the switching lever is below ground and is subjected to high water pressure, the present disclosure provides an opening / closing assist tool for operating the switching lever. The specific configuration and function of the opening / closing assist tool according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0024] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a specific configuration of the opening and closing assist jig according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The opening and closing assist jig 20 shown in Fig. 3 is configured to include a main body 21, a first locking portion 22, and a first bent portion 23. The main body 21 is a part that serves as a force point when the switching lever 11 is operated to open or close the valve body of the ball valve 10, and is configured as a rod-shaped member.

[0025] The first locking portion 22 has a U-shape that holds the switching lever 11 and is a point of application during operation. The U-shape is formed by a first arm 22a and a second arm 22b as shown in Fig. 3. The opening / closing assist jig 20 is set so that the switching lever 11 is held between the first arm 22a and the second arm 22b.

[0026] The first bent portion 23 connects the main body 21 and the first locking portion 22 to each other at a first angle, and serves as a fulcrum during operation. In FIG. 3, the first angle is set to about 90 degrees.

[0027] Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the opening / closing support jig 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure as plan views from two directions. Fig. 4(A) corresponds to a plan view of the opening / closing support jig 20 seen from the side, and Fig. 4(B) corresponds to a plan view of the opening / closing support jig 20 seen from the rear. Here, the rear direction refers to the direction from the bottom of the paper in the state of Fig. 3.

[0028] 4, the point of force is indicated as P1, the point of action as P2, and the fulcrum as P3, and the first arm 22a and the second arm 22b forming the U-shape are indicated by reference numerals. An operator wishing to open or close the ball valve 10 operates the end of the main body 21 as the point of force P1 by pinching the switching lever 11 between the first arm 22a and the second arm 22b included in the first engaging portion 22, which is the point of action P2, with the first bent portion 23 as the fulcrum P3.

[0029] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing assist jig 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is set on the switching lever 11 of the ball valve 10. The opening / closing assist jig 20 is set so that the switching lever 11 is sandwiched between the first arm 22a and the second arm 22b, and the fulcrum P3 is in contact with the upper surface of the joint portion 14 of the ball valve 10. In other words, the first bent portion 23 is in contact with a part of the ball valve 10, and thus acts as a fulcrum when the ball valve 10 is opened or closed.

[0030] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a photograph of an actual fire extinguishing facility using a ball valve 10 which is an object of the opening / closing support jig 20 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6(A) shows a state in which one end of a water cannon 30 is connected to the connection part 16 of the ball valve 10, and further, an extension nozzle 40 is connected to the other end of the water cannon 30. Fig. 6(A) also shows a state in which the opening / closing support jig 20 is set.

[0031] On the other hand, Fig. 6(B) is a close-up photograph of the opening / closing assist jig 20 set on the ball valve 10 with the switching lever 11 sandwiched between the first arm 22a and the second arm 22b. In Fig. 6(B), the first bent part 23, which serves as a fulcrum, is set on the upper surface of the joint part 14.

[0032] Therefore, in the set state as shown in Figures 5 and 6, an operator can easily operate the switching lever 11 stored in a storage space below the ground from the ground with less force than if the operator were to directly operate it manually, by moving the force point P1, which is the end of the main body 21, using the principle of leverage.

[0033] To explain this operation in more detail, in Fig. 6, by rotating the opening / closing assisting jig 20 towards you, the switching lever 11 in the underground space rotates in a direction that raises it up above ground, opening the ball valve 10. Note that by moving the opening / closing assisting jig 20 in the opposite direction, that is, by pushing the switching lever 11 into the underground space, the ball valve 10 can be closed without requiring a large force.

[0034] In addition, the opening and closing assist jig 20 shown in FIG. 3 has a first angle of approximately 90 degrees. Two methods for changing the first angle will be described below.

[0035] <Method 1: Bent portions having different angles are provided on both ends of the main body portion 21> FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram relating to a specific configuration of the opening and closing assist jig according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a diagram showing a modified example of the configuration shown in FIG.

[0036] The opening and closing assist jig 20a shown in Fig. 7 is configured to include a main body 21, a first locking portion 22, a first bent portion 23, and further includes a second locking portion 24 and a second bent portion 25. The opening and closing assist jig 20a shown in Fig. 7 is configured such that the first locking portion 22 is connected to one end of the main body 21 via the first bent portion 23, and the second locking portion 24 is connected to the other end of the main body 21 via the second bent portion 25.

[0037] The second locking portion 24, like the first locking portion 22, has a U-shape that sandwiches the switching lever 11 and is a portion that serves as a point of action during operation. The U-shape of the second locking portion 24 is formed by a first arm 24a and a second arm 24b, as shown in Fig. 7. The opening / closing assist jig 20a is set so that the switching lever 11 is sandwiched between the first arm 24a and the second arm 24b.

[0038] Similar to the first bent portion 23, the second bent portion 25 connects the main body portion 21 and the second locking portion 24 to have a second angle, and serves as a fulcrum during operation. Fig. 7 shows an example in which the first angle is about 90 degrees and the second angle is about 45 degrees.

[0039] In this way, by utilizing the opening / closing assistance jig 20a which has two different angles for the bending portion, the bending portion at one end having an angle which is easy to operate based on the installation situation of the ball valve 10 and the available space can be used as the point of action, and the bending portion at the other end can be used as the force point.

[0040] Here, we will refer to the angle that is easy to operate. As shown in Fig. 6(B), the ball valve 10 is installed in a limited space underground, and the switching lever 11 needs to be rotated within that space, so if the angle is large, such as an obtuse angle, the opening / closing support jig will hit the upper edge of the storage space above ground during the rotation operation, making it impossible to rotate sufficiently, so it is preferable that the angle of the bent part is an acute angle.

[0041] <Method 2: Using an elbow as the bent section> The opening / closing assist jig 20 shown in Fig. 3 is integrally constructed, and the first angle of the first bent portion 23 is fixed as an angle at the time of manufacture. Similarly, the opening / closing assist jig 20a shown in Fig. 7 is also integrally constructed, and the first angle of the first bent portion 23 and the second angle of the second bent portion 25 are fixed as angles at the time of manufacture.

[0042] In contrast, in method 2, the first bent portion 23 and the second bent portion 25 are configured as elbow portions using separate members. That is, the main body portion 21 is connected to one end of the elbow portion, and the first locking portion 22 is connected to the other end of the elbow portion, and the opening / closing assist jig 20 is configured as three parts. In such a case, elbow portions having various angles are manufactured, and the opening / closing assist jig 20 can be configured using an appropriate elbow portion depending on the storage situation of the ball valve 10.

[0043] As described above, according to the first embodiment, an opening and closing assist jig is realized that has a shape in which the locking part, which is the point of action, and the rod-shaped main body, which is the point of force, are connected by a bent part, which is the fulcrum. Specifically, the U-shaped part of the locking part holds the switching lever of the ball valve, and the main body is used as the point of force to open and close the ball valve.

[0044] In particular, even in a situation where the ball valve is stored in a limited storage space below ground and high water pressure is applied to the primary side when in the closed state, by using the opening / closing support jig of this embodiment 1, the opening and closing operations can be performed from the ground with less force than when opening and closing operations are performed by applying force directly to the switching lever without using the opening / closing support jig.

[0045] In addition, an opening / closing assist jig having a bent portion with an appropriate angle according to the installation environment can be used. In particular, by using the above-mentioned methods 1 and 2, it becomes possible to select a bent portion with a different angle.

[0046] As a result, an opening / closing assist tool can be obtained that can improve the operability of the switching lever that opens and closes the ball valve.

[0047] Finally, the size of each part of the opening / closing assistance tool 20, 20a will be mentioned here. The longer the length of the main body 21, the less force required to open and close the ball valve 10. It is preferable that the length is such that an operator can open and close the ball valve 10 without crouching down, and when the locking part of the switching lever 11 of the ball valve 10 is locked, the other end of the main body at least protrudes from the ground surface and is preferably located close to the plug-in water cannon connected to the connection part 16.

[0048] Specifically, the length of the main body 21 may be about 2 to 4 times the length of the switching lever.

[0049] The U-shaped first and second arms that form the locking portion need only have a gap large enough to sandwich the switching lever, and have a gap at least wider than the diameter of switching lever 11. In order to make it easier to lock switching lever 11, the lengths (protruding heights) of the first and second arms are made larger than the diameter of switching lever 11.

[0050] The longer the length of the main body 21, the first arm, and the second arm, the easier it is to open and close the ball valve 10 with less force, but there is a limit to this size. The opening and closing support jig is usually stored together with the water cannon in a storage box installed near the cultural property facility. For this reason, the size is limited to the size that can be stored in the storage box.

[0051] The opening and closing assistance jig of the present invention is used for opening and closing ball valves used in water cannons for cultural properties, but it can also be used for opening and closing ball valves installed in plants, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10 ball valve, 11 lever, 12 base portion, 13 ball valve main body portion, 14 joint portion, 15 flange, 16 connection portion, 20, 20a opening / closing support jig, 21 main body portion, 22 first locking portion, 22a first arm, 22b second arm, 23 first bent portion, 24 second locking portion, 24a first arm, 24b second arm, 25 second bent portion, 30 water cannon, 40 extension nozzle, P1 force point, P2 action point, P3 fulcrum.

Claims

1. An opening and closing assistance tool used when operating a switching lever for opening and closing a ball valve, A rod-shaped main body portion that serves as a force point during the operation; a first engaging portion having a U-shape that sandwiches the switching lever and serves as a point of action during the operation; a first bent portion that connects the main body portion and the first engaging portion to have a first angle and serves as a fulcrum during the operation; An opening and closing assistance jig comprising:

2. The first bent portion serves as the fulcrum when opening and closing the ball valve in a state where the first bent portion is in contact with a part of the ball valve during the operation. The opening and closing assist tool according to claim 1.

3. The length of the main body is about 2 to 4 times the length of the switching lever, and the first and second arms of the U-shape that form the first locking portion are spaced apart to sandwich the switching lever, and the lengths of the first and second arms are greater than the diameter of the switching lever. The opening and closing assist tool according to claim 2.

4. a second engaging portion having a U-shape that sandwiches the switching lever and serves as a point of action during the operation; a second bent portion that connects the main body portion and the second engaging portion to have a second angle and serves as a fulcrum during the operation; Further equipped with the first engaging portion is connected to one end of the main body portion via the first bent portion, the second engaging portion is connected to the other end of the main body portion via the second bent portion, The first angle and the second angle are different angles. The opening and closing assist jig according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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