Wire extension auxiliary tool

Abstract

To provide a wire extension auxiliary tool mounted on a flying object and used for wire extension work of a wire body, the tool being able to detect a tension when the tension of a specified value or more is applied to the wire body.SOLUTION: A wire extension auxiliary tool mounted on a flying object and used for wire extension work of a wire body comprises: a torso suspended from the flying object; an arm, one end of which is rotatably attached to the torso around the horizontal axis; a connection part connected to the end part of the wire body arranged at the other end of the arm; and a detection part mounted on the torso. The detection part detects the angle of the arm rotating at a prescribed angle or more to the torso from a reference state when the reference state is a state of the torso and arm in which the wire body is not connected to the connection part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire-drawing aid that is attached to an aircraft and used for drawing a linear object. [Background technology]

[0002] The work of stretching electric wires between towers involves first stretching a thin rope called a pilot rope, then connecting a thicker rope to this pilot rope, and repeating this process until finally replacing it with the electric wire. The initial work of stretching the pilot rope has traditionally been done manually, but this requires a great deal of effort, as the terrain is often rugged. Another method has been to connect the pilot rope to a plastic bottle rocket and launch it, but this method has low reliability.

[0003] Therefore, in recent years, a method using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, also called a drone) has been implemented, as shown in Patent Document 1. By remotely flying an aerial vehicle connected to a pilot rope, the pilot rope can be tensioned more easily and reliably than with conventional methods.

[0004] When using an aircraft in this way, if the pilot rope gets caught in a tree, for example, and a large tension is applied, the aircraft's flight state may become unstable and it may crash. Therefore, the aircraft in Patent Document 1 has a mechanism that automatically detaches the rope from the aircraft when a tension greater than a predetermined value is applied, thereby preventing it from crashing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6576780 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when the rope is separated in this way, although the fall of the flying object is prevented, the extension work of the rope has to be done again from the beginning.

[0007] The present invention is in view of such circumstances, and is an extension assisting tool that is attached to a flying object and used for the extension work of a linear body, and an object thereof is to provide an extension assisting tool that can detect a tension of a predetermined value or more acting on the linear body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The extension assisting tool of the present invention is an extension assisting tool that is attached to a flying object and used for the extension work of a linear body, and includes a body portion suspended from the flying object, an arm portion having one end rotatably attached to the body portion around a horizontal axis, a connection portion provided at the other end of the arm portion and connected to an end of the linear body, and a detection portion provided on the body portion. The detection portion detects that the arm portion has rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the body portion from the reference state, with the body portion and the arm portion when the linear body is not connected to the connection portion as the reference state. When the linear body is not connected to the connection portion, the arm portion hangs downward from the body portion with its other end downward due to its own weight, and the body portion and the arm portion at this time are in the reference state.

[0009] The means by which the detection portion detects that the arm portion has rotated by a predetermined angle or more may be any means. For example, the detection portion may be composed of a switch such as a limit switch, and the on and off of the switch may be switched when the arm portion rotates by a predetermined angle or more. Various devices may be connected to this switch, and the operating state of the devices may be switched by the on and off of the switch. A signal transmitter may be connected to the switch, and a detection signal may be transmitted from the transmitter when the switch is turned on. The detection portion may be composed of various sensors, and a detection signal may be transmitted when the arm portion rotates by a predetermined angle or more. The detection signal may be transmitted by wire or wirelessly. The operating state of various devices may be switched in response to the received detection signal.

[0010] It may also have a weight attached at a position below the attachment position of the arm portion on the body portion.

[0011] It may also have a biasing member that biases the arm portion to the reference state.

[0012] It may also have a light emitting portion that emits light in response to the detection by the detection portion.

[0013] The flying object to which the above extension assisting tool is attached may hover in response to the detection by the detection portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the extension assisting tool of the present invention, when a linear body is connected to the connection portion, normally, the linear body hangs downward from the connection portion due to its own weight, so the arm portion is in a state where the other end faces downward, that is, it does not change from the reference state. When the linear body is caught by an obstacle or the like and the flying object tries to move, the linear body is pulled, and as it approaches the horizontal direction from the state of hanging downward, the arm portion also rotates so as to approach the horizontal direction. On the other hand, since the body portion tries to maintain its original posture due to its own weight, as a result, the arm portion rotates with respect to the body portion. When the angle of this rotation becomes a predetermined angle or more, that is, when a tension of a predetermined value or more acts on the linear body, the detection portion detects it. Then, by performing various operations in response to the detection, it is possible to prevent the flying object from falling, and at this time, the linear body can be maintained in a connected state.

[0015] If it has a weight attached to the body portion, the heavier the weight, the more difficult it is for the body portion to rotate due to its weight, and the easier it is for the arm portion to rotate with respect to the body portion. Therefore, by changing the weight of the weight, the detection threshold by the detection portion can be adjusted.

[0016] If it has a biasing member that biases the wrist to a reference state, the stronger the biasing force of the biasing member, the more difficult it is for the wrist to rotate relative to the body. Therefore, by changing the biasing force of the biasing member, the detection threshold by the detection unit can be adjusted.

[0017] If it has a light-emitting part that emits light upon receiving detection, the pilot of the flying object can visually recognize the light emission and recognize that a tension of a predetermined value or more is acting on the linear body. In response to this, the pilot can control the flying object so as not to crash.

[0018] If the flying object hovers upon receiving detection, regardless of the operation of the pilot of the flying object, it is possible to prevent the tension acting on the linear body from becoming larger than that, and prevent the crash.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, the specific content of the extension aid of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the flying object 300 to which this extension aid 100 is attached is used to first stretch the pilot rope 200, which is a linear body, in the extension work of stretching an electric wire between a plurality of iron towers 401 and 402. The details of the extension work will be described later. The flying object 300 can move in the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions, turn, hover (stationary in the air), etc.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the extension aid 100 includes a body portion 1, an arm portion 2, a connection portion 3, a detection portion 4, a weight 5, and a light emitting portion 6.

[0022] The body portion 1 has a body main body 11 made of a metal, vertically long elliptical plate material. At the upper end portion of the body main body 11, a through hole 12 penetrating in the thickness direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1) is formed. One end of a wire 13 is passed through and connected to the through hole 12. The other end of the wire 13 is connected to the flying object 300. That is, the body portion 1 is suspended from the flying object 300 by the wire 13.

[0023] The arm portion 2 has an arm main body 21 made of a metal bar. The length of the arm main body 21 is approximately 1 / 2 of the vertical length of the body main body 11. One end (base end) of the arm main body 21 is attached to the body main body 11 via a shaft portion 22 extending in the horizontal direction. The shaft portion 22 is attached to the center of one side surface of the body main body 11 made of an elliptical plate material. Thereby, the arm portion 2 (arm main body 21) is rotatable around a horizontal axis with respect to the body portion 1 (body main body 11). A cylindrical bearing case 23 is provided at the other end (tip end) of the arm main body 21. A bearing (not shown) is built in the bearing case 23.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting portion 3 has a base shaft portion 31, a hook portion 32, and a lock portion 33. The base shaft portion 31 is made of a metal round bar, and one end (base end) thereof is attached to the tip of the arm body 21 via a bearing. The central axis in the longitudinal direction of the base shaft portion 31 coincides with that of the arm body 21, and the base shaft portion 31 is rotatable around the central axis with respect to the arm body 21 by the bearing. The hook portion 32 is attached to the other end (tip) of the base shaft portion 31. The hook portion 32 is made of a wire material and has a hook body 321 extending in parallel with the central axis of the base shaft portion 31 in two rows, a return portion 322 formed at the tip of the hook body 321, and a mounting portion 323 formed at the base end of the hook body 321. The return portion 322 has a shape in which it is bent substantially in a U shape from the tip of each of the two hook bodies 321 and the tips thereof are connected. The mounting portion 323 has a shape bent from the base end of each of the two hook bodies 321 and is fixed to the tip of the base shaft portion 31. The lock portion 33 is made of metal and extends parallel to the central axis of the base shaft portion 31. It has a lock body 331 located between the two hook bodies 321, a closing portion 332 that bends from the tip of the lock body 331 and extends to the tip of the return portion 322, an operating portion 333 that bends from the base end of the lock body 331 and extends away from the central axis of the base shaft portion 31, a bearing portion 334 that protrudes from the base end of the lock body 331 toward the central axis side of the base shaft portion 31, and a shaft portion 335 that penetrates the bearing portion 334 and the tip of the base shaft portion 31. The lock portion 33 is rotatably attached to the base shaft portion 31 by the shaft portion 335. A torsion coil spring (not shown) is built into this attachment portion. The torsion coil spring biases the lock portion 33 so as to be in the above posture. That is, the lock body 331 is parallel to the central axis of the base shaft portion 31, and the closing portion 332 extends to the tip of the return portion 322. This state is defined as the locked state (FIG. 2(b)). Then, when the operator grips the operating portion 333 and rotates the lock portion 33 so that the operating portion 333 is parallel to the central axis of the base shaft portion 31 against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring, the tip of the closing portion 332 is separated from the tip of the return portion 322. This state is defined as the unlocked state (FIG. 2(c)).While the operator holds the operation unit 333, it is in the unlocked state, and when the operator releases the hand from the operation unit 333, it becomes the locked state. By making the locking part 33 in the unlocked state, it is possible to hook the end of the pilot rope 200 on the return part 322. And by making the locking part 33 in the locked state, it is possible to prevent the end of the pilot rope 200 hooked on the return part 322 from coming off. In this way, the end of the pilot rope 200 is connected to the connection part 3.

[0025] When the pilot rope 200 is not connected to the connection part 3, the arm body 21 of the arm part 2 hangs downward from the body main body 11 with its tip facing downward due to its own weight (including the connection part 3). Further, the body main body 11 is suspended by the wire 13 and assumes a posture in which the major axis of the ellipse is vertical. The body part 1 and the arm part 2 at this time are in the reference state. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the angle α formed by the major axis of the ellipse of the body main body 11 and the central axis of the arm body 21 is the rotation angle of the arm part 2 with respect to the body part 1.

[0026] The detection unit 4 is composed of a limit switch and is attached to one side surface of the body main body 11. The detection unit 4 has a case 41 and a head part 42. A switch (not shown) is built in the case 41, and when an external force acts on the head part 42 and the head part 42 moves, the on and off of the switch are switched. As shown in FIG. 1, the head part 42 of the detection unit 4 is arranged so as to overlap with the range in which the arm body 21 of the arm part 2 rotates. When the arm body 21 is in the state shown by the solid line, the arm body 21 is not in contact with the head part 42. And when the rotation angle of the arm part 2 with respect to the body part 1 becomes larger and the arm body 21 is in the state shown by the two-dot chain line, the arm body 21 comes into contact with the head part 42, the head part 42 moves, and the switch turns on. That is, the detection unit 4 detects that the arm part 2 has rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the body part 1.

[0027] The weight 5 is made of metal and is attached to a position below the lower end of the body main body 11, that is, a position below the attachment position of the arm part 2 (the center of the body main body 11 where the shaft part 22 is attached).

[0028] The light-emitting unit 6 includes an LED 61 that emits light and a battery 62 that serves as the power source for the LED 61. The light-emitting unit 6 is attached to the body main body 11. There may be a plurality of LEDs 61, or the LEDs 61 may be attached to both sides of the body main body 11. The light-emitting unit 6 is connected to the detection unit 4. When the detection unit 4 detects that the arm portion 2 has rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the body portion 1 (that is, when the switch of the detection unit 4 is turned on), the LED 61 of the light-emitting unit 6 emits light.

[0029] Next, the wire extension work performed using the extension aid 100 configured as described above will be explained. As shown in FIG. 4, in the wire extension work of stretching a wire between two towers 401 and 402, first, a pilot rope 200 is stretched. The pilot rope 200 is wound around a drum 201. The extension aid 100 is suspended from the flying object 300, and the end of the pilot rope 200 is connected to the connection part 3 of the extension aid 100. The flying object 300 is remotely controlled by an operator. First, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the flying object 300 is flown to the wire connection part C1 of the first tower 401 (here, the upper end part of the tower 401). An operator is waiting at the upper end part of the tower 401, and the operator engages the pilot rope 200 carried by the flying object 300 with the wire connection part C1 (for example, by passing through an annular part, etc., the pilot rope 200 is movable in the extending direction thereof, and the wire connection part C1 is set as the passing position of the pilot rope 200). Next, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the flying object 300 is flown from the wire connection part C1 of the first tower 401 to the wire connection part C2 of the second tower 402 (here, the upper end part of the tower 402). An operator is also waiting at the upper end part of the tower 402, and the operator engages the pilot rope 200 carried by the flying object 300 with the wire connection part C2 (for example, by passing through an annular part, etc., the pilot rope 200 is movable in the extending direction thereof, and the wire connection part C2 is set as the passing position of the pilot rope 200). Next, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the flying object 300 is landed. In this way, the work of stretching the pilot rope 200 between the two towers 401 and 402 is completed. At this time, both ends of the pilot rope 200 are located on the ground surface. And after stretching the pilot rope between the towers, a thick rope is connected to one end of the pilot rope, and the pilot rope is pulled from the other end to replace the pilot rope with the thick rope. This is repeated to make the rope thicker, and finally, it is replaced with a wire, and the wire extension work is completed.

[0030] In the extension work performed using the extension assist tool 100 of the first embodiment as described above, the operation of the extension assist tool 100 when the flying object 300 is flying with the pilot rope 200 connected to the connection part 3 of the extension assist tool 100 will be described. Normally, as shown in Fig. 3(a), since the pilot rope 200 hangs downward from the connection part 3 due to its own weight, the arm body 21 of the arm part 2 is in a state where the tip is directed downward. Also, the body main body 11 is suspended by a wire 13 passed through the through hole 12 at the upper end part, and since a downward force acts on the body main body 11 through the arm part 2 connected to the center, the body main body 11 assumes a posture in which the major axis of the ellipse is vertical. That is, the body part 1 and the arm part 2 are in a reference state, and the rotation angle α of the arm part 2 with respect to the body part 1 is 0°. On the other hand, when the pilot rope 200 gets caught on an obstacle such as a tree or there is a problem with the payout from the drum 201, when the flying object 300 tries to move, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the pilot rope 200 approaches horizontally from the state of hanging downward. Then, the arm body 21 also rotates so as to approach horizontally. On the other hand, the body main body 11 tries to maintain its original posture (the posture in which the major axis of the ellipse is vertical) due to its own weight and the weight of the weight 5. As a result, the arm body 21 rotates with respect to the body main body 11, and the rotation angle α > 0°. When this rotation angle α becomes a predetermined angle or more, that is, when a tension of a predetermined value or more acts on the pilot rope 200, the arm body 21 comes into contact with the head part 42 of the detection part 4, and the switch in the case 41 of the detection part 4 is turned on (the detection part 4 detects). Then, in response to the detection by the detection part 4, the LED 61 of the light emitting part 6 emits light.

[0031] Thus, according to the extension assist device 100 of the first embodiment, it is possible to detect that the rotation angle α of the arm main body 21 with respect to the body main body 11 has reached a predetermined angle or more (that a tension of a predetermined value or more has acted on the pilot rope 200). Then, in response to this detection, the LED 61 of the light emitting unit 6 emits light. The pilot of the aircraft 300 can recognize that a tension of a predetermined value or more has acted on the pilot rope 200 by visually recognizing the emission of the LED 61. If the flight of the aircraft 300 is continued as it is, the tension acting on the pilot rope 200 will become even greater, and that force will act on the aircraft 300, and there is a risk that the aircraft 300 will crash. The pilot can take measures such as stationary hovering or landing the aircraft 300 on the spot so that the aircraft 300 does not crash. At this time, since the pilot rope 200 can be maintained in a state of being connected to the connection part 3, if the factor causing a tension of a predetermined value or more to act on the pilot rope 200 is eliminated, it is possible to resume the extension work, and it is not necessary to start the extension work from the beginning.

[0032] Incidentally, the heavier the weight 5 attached to the body main body 11, the more difficult it is for the body main body 11 to rotate due to its weight, and the more likely the rotation angle α of the arm main body 21 with respect to the body main body 11 is to increase. That is, the detection threshold by the detection unit 4 will be lowered. Therefore, by changing the weight of the weight 5, the detection threshold by the detection unit 4 can be adjusted. Further, the base shaft portion 31 of the connection portion 3 is connected to the arm main body 21 via a bearing, and the connection portion 3 itself is rotatable with respect to the arm 2. Thereby, when the pilot rope 200 is likely to be twisted, the connection portion 3 rotates to absorb the twist, preventing the occurrence of a twist (kink) that could cause breakage. Also, since the locking portion 33 of the connection portion 3 is biased by a torsion coil spring to be in a locked state, the pilot rope connected during the flight of the aircraft 300 will not come off. And since the locking state and the non-locking state can be switched only by gripping the operation portion 333 of the locking portion 33, the workability is good.

[0033] Next, the extension assisting tool 100a of the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the extension assisting tool 100a of the second embodiment does not have the weight 5 as compared with the first embodiment, but has a coil spring 7 as a biasing member. The coil spring 7 is a tension coil spring, one end of which is connected to the body main body 11 and the other end of which is connected to the arm main body 21. As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the coil spring 7 is in the most contracted state, the arm main body 21 is in a state where the tip is directed downward, and the body main body 11 is in a posture where the major axis of the ellipse is vertical. That is, the body portion 1 and the arm portion 2 are in the reference state, and the rotation angle α = 0°. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the arm main body 21 rotates from the reference state and the rotation angle α> 0°, the coil spring 7 is stretched and a resistance force is generated. That is, the coil spring 7 is a biasing member that biases the arm portion 2 to the reference state.

[0034] According to the extension assisting tool 100a of the second embodiment, the stronger the biasing force of the coil spring 7 is, the more difficult it is for the arm main body 21 to rotate with respect to the body main body 11, and the more difficult it is for the rotation angle α of the arm main body 21 with respect to the body main body 11 to increase. That is, the detection threshold by the detection unit 4 will be higher. Therefore, the detection threshold by the detection unit 4 can be adjusted by changing the biasing force (spring constant) of the coil spring 7. In addition, the extension assisting tool 100a of the second embodiment has the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0035] Next, the extension line assist tool 100b of the third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the extension line assist tool 100b of the third embodiment does not have the light emitting part 6 as compared with the first embodiment, but has the transmission part 8. The transmission part 8 has a transmitter 81 that transmits a signal and a battery 82 that serves as the power source for the transmitter 81. The transmission part 8 is attached to the body main body 11. The transmission part 8 is connected to the detection part 4. When the detection part 4 detects that the arm part 2 has rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the body part 1 (that is, when the switch of the detection part 4 is turned on), the transmitter 81 of the transmission part 8 transmits a signal. Then, when a control device (not shown) of the flying object 300 receives the signal, the control device stops the movement of the flying object 300 and hovers in place. Note that the transmission part 8 and the control device of the flying object 300 may be connected by wire or wirelessly. Also, a signal transmitted from the transmitter 81 may be received by a control device held by the operator, and a command for hovering the flying object 300 may be transmitted from the control device to the control device of the flying object 300. Further, a signal transmitted from the transmitter 81 may be received by a control device held by the operator, and the operator may be made to recognize that the control device has received the signal by light, sound, or other display. Also, in addition to the transmission part 8, the extension line assist tool 100b may have a light emitting part similar to that of the first embodiment.

[0036] According to the extension line assist tool 100b of the third embodiment, since the flying object 300 automatically hovers in response to the detection by the detection part 4, it is possible to prevent the tension acting on the pilot rope 200 from becoming greater than necessary without depending on the operation of the operator of the flying object 300, and to prevent a fall. In addition, the extension line assist tool 100b of the third embodiment has the same operational effects as the first embodiment.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the shape and structure of each part can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the means for the detection unit to detect that the arm part has rotated by a predetermined angle or more can be any means. In addition to the one using a limit switch as in the above-described embodiment, the detection unit may be composed of various sensors and may emit a detection signal when the arm part rotates by a predetermined angle or more. Further, the operation of each part when receiving the detection by the detection unit may be any operation as long as it is for preventing the flying object from falling.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0038] 1 Body 2 Arm 3 Connection part 4 Detection unit 100 Extension aid 200 Pilot rope (linear body) 300 Flying object

Claims

【Claim 1】 An extension assisting tool that is attached to an aircraft and used for the extension work of a linear body, a body part suspended from the aircraft, an arm part with one end rotatably attached to the body part around a horizontal axis, a connection part provided at the other end of the arm part and connected to the end of the linear body, a detection part provided on the body part, wherein the detection part detects that the arm part has rotated by a predetermined angle or more with respect to the body part from a reference state, the reference state being the state of the body part and the arm part when the linear body is not connected to the connection part. The extension assisting tool is characterized by this.

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