Electric wire theft prevention method and electric wire theft prevention device

Abstract

To prevent the theft of electric wires, which has become rampant in recent years at solar panel power generation facilities, and provide a technology that can take effective measures without incurring large costs.SOLUTION: A method or a device for preventing theft of electric wires, uses a cable cover for inserting electric wires, a fixture for fixing the electric wires, cement hydrate, and a foam material for blocking the water-cement hydrate, in which an opening is formed, in the cable cover, for pouring the cement hydrate and for attaching the fixture, and the cement hydrate is poured into the cable cover while the electric wires to be inserted into the cable cover are fixed with the fixture, and the cement hydrate is hardened into a hardened cement body to prevent the electric wires from being pulled out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for preventing the extraction of wires when installing or after installing solar power generation equipment, and more specifically to a technology for preventing widespread wire theft by fixing the wires with fixing devices and pouring cement hydrate into a cable cover through which the wires are inserted to harden them. [Background technology]

[0002] After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, the Japanese government implemented policies to ensure energy self-sufficiency and realize a low-carbon society, and began promoting an energy mix that does not rely too heavily on fossil fuels and nuclear power. This led to the implementation of a surplus electricity purchase system (feed-in tariff system) and various subsidies from the national and local governments, and a surge in new solar power generation businesses. In the solar power generation field, an increasing number of people are installing solar panels on the roofs of their homes, not just businesses but also individuals, and the number of mega solar power plants is also on the rise in Japan.

[0003] However, this has led to a series of thefts of the electric wires used to transmit solar power. These are the result of unscrupulous dealers who have set their sights on the copper and aluminum used in the wires, which can be sold at high prices to industrial waste disposal companies.

[0004] For example, on May 16, 2017, an electrical contractor was arrested for stealing power transmission cables from several solar power plants in Hyogo Prefecture. The damage amounted to 50 cases, totaling approximately 91 million yen. Power plants in out-of-the-way locations, such as mountainous areas, where security is weak, are targeted, and depending on the situation, significant costs can be incurred for security measures.

[0005] As a result, the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association has posted a notice on its website warning people about how to deal with cable theft from solar power generation facilities. Examples of operational considerations and measures include requesting that operators detect abnormalities in cable theft and respond to emergencies, cooperate with neighbors and power plants in crime prevention, establish crime prevention systems by promoting community coexistence, strengthen crime prevention measures by utilizing security companies, and take out property insurance and business interruption insurance to prevent damage.

[0006] In view of these problems, various technical proposals have been made to solve them. For example, one invention is titled "Method for detecting theft of a power conditioner and a cable connected thereto" (see Patent Document 1), which specifically addresses the problem of "reliably and quickly detecting theft of a power transmission cable of a photovoltaic power generation system in a power conditioner," and its solution is described as "a power conditioner having a solar panel connected to its DC input side via a cable, a power grid connected to its AC output side, and an inverter that converts DC power input from the DC input side into AC power, the power conditioner comprising: a voltage application means that applies a DC voltage to a DC side circuit including the cable; a current detector that measures the current flowing in the DC side circuit; and a wire break detection processing unit that detects a wire break in the cable based on the DC current value measured by the current detector. The wire break detection signal makes it possible to detect theft of a cable connected to the power conditioner." However, the invention of Patent Document 1 includes a disconnection detection processing unit that detects a cable disconnection based on the capacitance and the DC current value, and detects theft of the cable connected to the power conditioner by a disconnection detection signal, and by the time the disconnection detection signal is input, the cable has been cut and the damage has become severe.Furthermore, it does not adopt a configuration that prevents the electric wire from being physically pulled out, as in the present invention.

[0007] Also, a technology entitled "Method for detecting theft of a power conditioner and a cable connected thereto" (Patent Document 2) specifically addresses the problem of "reliably and quickly detecting theft of a power transmission cable of a photovoltaic power generation system in a power conditioner," and discloses the following technology as a solution: "A power conditioner having a solar panel connected to its DC input side via a cable, a power grid connected to its AC output side, and an inverter that converts DC power input from the DC input side into AC power, the power conditioner including a capacitance measurement circuit that measures capacitance between the DC input terminal and a ground terminal, and a wire break detection processing unit that detects a wire break in the cable based on the capacitance value measured by the capacitance measurement circuit. The wire break detection signal can detect theft of a cable connected to the power conditioner" (see Patent Document 2). However, the invention described in Patent Document 2 detects theft of a cable connected to a power conditioner by detecting a wire break in the cable based on the capacitance value measured by the capacitance measurement circuit, and as with Patent Document 1, by the time a detection signal due to a wire break is input, the cable is severed and damage is already severed. Furthermore, it does not employ a structure in which the electric wire cannot be physically pulled out, as in the present invention.

[0008] Furthermore, a technology entitled "Power Conversion Device and Its Theft Prevention Method" (Patent Document 3) specifically addresses the problem that "As the range of applications of photovoltaic power generation systems expands, there is a need to install many relatively small and lightweight inverters outdoors, but the inverters are not equipped with any theft prevention measures." As a solution, a technology is disclosed that "upon receiving a state change signal for the theft prevention function (S1), the state of the theft prevention function is switched (S2). Then, in the alert state (S3), when the output signal of the connection detection unit indicates that the power supply or load is disconnected (S4), an alarm signal is output (S5)" (see Patent Document 3). However, the invention described in Patent Document 3 outputs an alarm signal when the output signal of the connection detection unit detects that the power supply or load is disconnected. As with Patent Documents 1 and 2, by the time the alarm signal is input, the cable is severed and damage is already severed. Furthermore, unlike the present invention, it does not employ a configuration that physically prevents the electric wire from being pulled out. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2017-169264 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2017-169263 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2002-142462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention aims to prevent the theft of electric wires, which has become rampant in solar panel power generation facilities in recent years, and aims to provide a technology that can take effective measures without incurring large costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention is a method for preventing theft of electric wires that utilizes a cable cover for placing electric wires, a fixture for fixing the electric wires, cement hydrate, and a foam material for blocking the cement hydrate. The method comprises forming an opening in the cable cover for pouring the cement hydrate and for attaching the fixture, and, while the electric wires that are inserted into the cable cover are fixed with the fixture, pouring the cement hydrate into the cable cover and hardening it into a hardened cement body, thereby preventing the electric wires from being pulled out.

[0012] The present invention may also employ a configuration in which an adhesive filler is filled into the gap formed in the opening.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention may employ a configuration in which the opening is covered with a cover body.

[0014] The present invention can also be applied to an anti-theft device for electric wires, which uses a cable cover for inserting electric wires, a fixture for fixing the electric wires, cement hydrate, and a foam material for blocking the water-cement hydrate, and which has an opening formed in the cable cover for pouring the cement hydrate and for attaching the fixture, and which is configured so that the electric wires inserted into the cable cover are fixed with the fixture, and the cement hydrate is poured into the cable cover and hardened into a hardened cement body, preventing the electric wires from being pulled out.

[0015] The present invention may also be directed to an anti-theft device for electric wires, in which the gap formed in the opening is filled with an adhesive filler.

[0016] The present invention may also be directed to an electric wire theft prevention device having a configuration in which the opening is covered with a cover body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] With conventional security equipment that uses motion sensors and camera footage, it was difficult to identify the culprit after the fact, but the electric wire theft prevention method and electric wire theft prevention device of the present invention have the excellent effect of enabling the culprit to sense that it will be difficult to pull out the electric wire, thereby preventing theft before it occurs.

[0018] Furthermore, the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention have the excellent effect of making it impossible to pull out the electric wire from the cover.

[0019] Furthermore, the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention have the excellent effect of preventing electric wire theft without incurring large costs.

[0020] Furthermore, the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention exhibit the excellent effect of preventing the theft of electric wires without requiring any large-scale work process.

[0021] Furthermore, in the electric wire theft prevention method and device according to the present invention, when a configuration in which the opening is covered is adopted, it is possible to exhibit the excellent effect of preventing adverse effects such as electric leakage due to water intrusion.

[0022] Furthermore, the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention have the excellent effect of preventing secondary damage, such as the inability to generate electricity during the repair period due to theft of electric wires. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a basic configuration of a method for preventing theft of an electric wire according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic configuration of an electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the implementation state of each step in the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention; [Figure 4]1 is a diagram illustrating a usage state of the electric wire theft prevention method and the electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention provides a method or device for preventing theft of electric wires, which uses a cable cover for containing electric wires, a fixture for fixing the electric wires, cement hydrate, and a foam material for blocking the cement hydrate. The method or device has the following major feature: An opening is formed in the cable cover for pouring the cement hydrate and for attaching the fixture; the electric wires inserted into the cable cover are fixed with the fixture; the cement hydrate is poured into the cable cover; the cement hydrate hardens into a hardened cement body; and the electric wires cannot be pulled out. The following description is based on the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the shapes and configurations shown in the drawings, and modifications can be made within the scope of the effects achieved by the creation of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the basic configuration of the electric wire theft prevention method according to the present invention.

[0026] The electric wire theft prevention method 1 according to the present invention comprises a cutting step A, a clamping step B, a foam filling step C, a hydrate filling step D, and an opening closing step E, and optionally a covering step F. Each step will be described in detail below.

[0027] The cutting step A is a step of cutting the cable cover 20 using a cutting tool or the like to open a part of the cable cover 20 through which the electric wires 10 are inserted.

[0028] The clamping step B is a step of fixing one or more electric wires 10 using a fixing tool 30 so as to bundle them together.

[0029] The foam filling step C is a step in which foam material is placed at a predetermined interval so as to sandwich the clamped portion fixed in the clamping step B from both sides. The foaming agent is filled and foamed, and the foam material 50 formed by the foaming acts as a plug to block the cement hydrate 40 to be filled in the next hydrate filling step D.

[0030] The hydrate filling process D is a process in which mortar made by mixing cement with water and sand, or concrete made by further mixing gravel, etc. is filled through the opening 21 of the opened cable cover 20. By absorbing water into the cement, the gaps between the cement particles are filled and hardened over time to form a hardened cement body 41.

[0031] The opening closing process E is a process for closing the opening 21 opened in the cable cover 20 filled in the hydrate filling process D, in which the opened opening 21 is returned to its original state and the cut portion formed during cutting is filled with a filler such as an adhesive filler.

[0032] The covering step F is not an essential step, but it is desirable to include a step of covering the opening 21 after burying the opening 21 in the opening closing step E, using a cover body 70 to cover the opening 21 and prevent leakage, water ingress, etc.

[0033] 2 is a diagram illustrating the basic configuration of an electric wire theft prevention device according to the present invention. Each component will be described in detail below.

[0034] The electric wire theft prevention method 1 is a method for preventing theft of an electric wire 10 that utilizes a cable cover 20 for placing the electric wire 10 therein, a fixture 30 for fixing the electric wire 10, cement hydrate 40, and a foam material 50 for blocking the cement hydrate 40. The method includes forming an opening 21 in the cable cover 20 for pouring the cement hydrate 40 and for attaching the fixture 30, and while the electric wire 10 to be inserted into the cable cover 20 is fixed by the fixture 30, pouring the cement hydrate 40 into the cable cover 20 and hardening it into a hardened cement body 41, thereby preventing the electric wire 10 from being pulled out.

[0035] The electric wire theft prevention device 2 is a device for preventing theft of an electric wire 10, which uses a cable cover 20 for placing the electric wire 10 therein, a fixture 30 for fixing the electric wire 10, cement hydrate 40, and a foam material 50 for blocking the cement hydrate 40. The device has an opening 21 formed in the cable cover 20 for pouring the cement hydrate 40 and for attaching the fixture 30, and the electric wire 10 to be inserted into the cable cover 20 is fixed with the fixture 30, and the cement hydrate 40 is poured into the cable cover 20 and hardened into a hardened cement body 41, making it impossible for the electric wire 10 to be pulled out.

[0036] The electric wire 10 is a wire for conducting electricity, a linear component for transmitting electricity. The main materials used are good conductors such as copper, copper alloys, and aluminum. Electric wires can be broadly classified into power cables for transporting electricity, communication cables for transmitting electrical signals, and coiled wires used for energy conversion inside motors and generators. In the present invention, the term refers primarily to copper or aluminum wires for conducting electricity generated by solar panel power generation facilities.

[0037] The cable cover 20 is a cover for covering the electric wires 10, and in terms of material, shape, and composition, it is a flexible bellows-shaped piping material made of rigid polyvinyl chloride. Alternatively, flame-retardant polypropylene or heat-resistant nylon is also suitable. However, the material is not limited to these, and any material that is corrosion-resistant, durable, lightweight, and capable of functioning as a protective cover for covering the electric wires 10 may be used.

[0038] The opening 21 is opened in order to fix the electric wires 10 inserted through the cable cover 20 with the fixing device 30 and to fill with the cement hydrate 40. Specifically, the opening is made by cutting the cable cover 20 into a roughly U-shape with a cutting tool such as a sander and then turning it up.

[0039] The gap 22 is a gap that is created when a cut is made with a cutting tool or the like to provide the opening 21 in the cable cover 20.

[0040] The fixture 30 is a metal fitting for securing the electric wires 10 so that they will not be pulled out, and it creates a protrusion on the electric wires 10 to prevent movement with hardened cement. The fixture 30 shown in the figure is an example of a U-bolt, but it is not limited to this and may be any general wiring bundling member as long as it can firmly bind the electric wires 10 and can form a protrusion facing outward on the electric wires 10 after bundling.

[0041] Cement hydrate 40 is formed by adding water to cement, which then fills the gaps between cement particles through a chemical reaction over time and hardens. Examples of such a cement hydrate include mortar made by mixing cement with water and sand, and concrete made by further mixing gravel.

[0042] The hardened cement paste 41 is a hardened product that has hardened over time from mortar, which is made by mixing cement with water and sand, or concrete, which is made by mixing gravel with it. It is generally said that it takes about 24 hours for the surface to harden, and it takes about three days to a week for the paste to harden completely.

[0043] The foam material 50 is a plug for blocking the cement hydrate 40 inside the cable cover 20, and is provided so as to sandwich the fixing device 30 at a predetermined distance. There are no particular limitations on the material, and it may be made of foamed resin such as urethane foam, expanded polystyrene, expanded polypropylene, or expanded polyethylene.

[0044] The adhesive filler 60 is used to fill the gap created at the cut to close the opening 21 after the fixing device 30 and cement material have been filled through the opening 21 provided in the cable cover 20.

[0045] The cover body 70 is used to cover the opening 21 provided in the cable cover 20 and to prevent water from entering.

[0046] Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the implementation state of each step in the electric wire theft prevention method and electric wire theft prevention device 1 according to the present invention, in which Fig. 3(a) shows the implementation state in the cutting step A, Fig. 3(b) shows the implementation state in the clamping step B, Fig. 3(c) shows the implementation state in the foam material filling step C, Fig. 3(d) shows the implementation state in the hydrate filling step D, and Fig. 3(e) shows the implementation state in the opening closing step E. Fig. 3(f) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the opening 21 is covered in the covering step F; this step is not an essential requirement, but it is desirable to include this step.

[0047] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the use of the wire theft prevention method 1 and wire theft prevention device 2 according to the present invention. This diagram illustrates the use of expensive copper or aluminum wires 10 in a power generation facility, etc., to prevent thieves from extracting electricity generated by solar panels M (modules) from sunlight through a junction box / current collection box S to a power conditioner P, and also the AC wires from the power conditioner P to a distribution board H, a watt-hour meter J, or a power grid. As shown in FIG. 4 , each solar cell module is connected to another solar power generation facility using a single-core cable with a dedicated connector, such as a cross-linked polyethylene insulated heat-resistant vinyl sheath cable (HCV), a cross-linked polyethylene insulated heat-resistant polyethylene sheath cable (EM CE / F), or a 1500V DC cable for solar power generation facilities. A similar cable is also used between the solar cell modules M and the junction box. Furthermore, CV cables or SOLAR-CQ, similar to those used in general electrical equipment, are used between the junction box and the power conditioner P. However, because it is DC wiring, a two-core cable or a single-core two-twisted cable is used. To protect the cable, it is often laid underground or in an above-ground rack. However, because the current flows from the power conditioner P onwards, CV cables are used. Each of the wirings shown in Figure 4 shows a state in which theft prevention is possible by installing multiple electric wire theft prevention devices 2 according to the present invention.

[0048] Module M is a panel made up of multiple cells (cells are the basic components of a solar cell, also known as "solar cell elements"; they are the smallest units and cannot be disassembled further; they are typically around 150mm to 200mm square, with a low power generation capacity of 3.5W to 4W per cell, producing only a small amount of power. Therefore, solar cells are formed by combining multiple cells to generate the necessary power.) Also known as a solar panel, it can be thought of as the panel that typically comes to mind when thinking of solar cells. The cells are coated to protect them, ensuring the durability required for outdoor installation. The power generation capacity per module is approximately 170W to 325W, and this varies greatly depending on the product, so care must be taken when selecting cables. While the diagram shows a small-scale power plant, compatible cables are also used for large-scale solar power plants (mega solar).

[0049] A junction box / current collector box S is one of the devices used in solar power generation. Solar power generation generates electricity when light hits a module M (photovoltaic cell / substitute battery module), and the junction box collects this generated electricity and sends it to a power conditioner P. A current collector box is a device that collects the output from a junction box or power conditioner P, and is required when multiple junction boxes or power conditioners P are used in a system. There are two types of current collector boxes: DC current collector boxes and AC current collector boxes, and each has different uses.

[0050] A power conditioner P is a device that converts the electricity generated by a solar power generation system or a home fuel cell so that it can be used in a home or other environment, and is a type of inverter. The electricity flowing from modules M used in solar panels is usually "direct current," but by converting this to "alternating current," which is used in ordinary Japanese homes, it can become electricity that can be used normally. In other countries, it is also called an inverter or line conditioner.

[0051] The distribution panel H is installed between the power source and the load, and is a device for opening and closing circuits, raising and lowering the power source voltage, and switching electrical systems. It is equipped with various circuit breakers, protective relays, meters, etc.

[0052] The electricity meter J that is installed before solar power generation is installed is a meter that measures the amount of "purchased electricity." Once solar power generation is installed, another electricity meter is installed to measure the amount of "sold electricity." In some cases, a third total power generation meter is installed to measure the amount of electricity generated by solar power generation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The electric wire theft prevention method and electric wire theft prevention device of the present invention are believed to have high industrial applicability because they can prevent the theft of electric wires, which is rampant at solar panel power plants that are widely installed throughout Japan. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. How to prevent theft of electrical wires 2. Anti-theft devices for electric wires 10 Electric wire 20 Cable cover 21 Opening 22 Gap 30 Fixtures 40 Cement Hydrate 41 Hardened cement 50 Foam 60 Adhesive Filler 70 Cover body Cutting process A Clamping process B Foam filling process C Hydrate filling process D Opening closing process E Coating process F M Module S Junction box / current collector box P Power conditioner H Switchboard J Electric energy meter

Claims

1. a cable cover (20) for containing the electric wires (10); a fixture (30) for fixing the electric wire (10); Cement hydrate (40), and a foam material (50) that blocks the water cement hydrate (40). A method for preventing theft of an electric wire (10), comprising: An opening (21) is formed in the cable cover (20) for pouring the cement hydrate (40) and for attaching a fixture (30); The electric wire (10) inserted into the cable cover (20) is fixed by the fixing device (30), and the cement hydrate (40) is poured into the cable cover (20) and hardened into a cement hardened body (41); This is a wire theft prevention method (1) that prevents the wire (10) from being pulled out.

2. 2. The method (1) for preventing theft of electric wires according to claim 1, wherein the gap (22) formed in the opening (21) is filled with an adhesive filler (60).

3. The wire theft prevention method (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening (21) is covered with a cover body (70) for covering the opening.

4. a cable cover (20) for containing the electric wires (10); a fixture (30) for fixing the electric wire (10); Cement hydrate (40), and a foam material (50) that blocks the water cement hydrate (40). A device for preventing theft of an electric wire (10), comprising: An opening (21) is formed in the cable cover (20) for pouring the cement hydrate (40) and for attaching a fixture (30); The electric wire (10) inserted into the cable cover (20) is fixed by the fixing device (30), and the cement hydrate (40) is poured into the cable cover (20) and hardened into a cement hardened body (41); The wire theft prevention device (2) is characterized in that the wire (10) cannot be pulled out.

5. 5. The wire theft prevention device (2) according to claim 4, wherein the gap (22) formed in the opening (21) is filled with an adhesive filler (60).

6. 6. The electric wire theft prevention device (2) according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that the opening (21) is covered with a cover body (70) for covering the opening.

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