Remote automatic water gate opening / closing device and water gate opening / closing system

Abstract

To provide a remote automatic water gate opening / closing device which dispenses with large-scale construction work, which can be installed and utilized by being retrofitted to various existing water gates, and which can be introduced at low cost.SOLUTION: A remote automatic water gate opening and closing device that automatically opens and closes a water gate 500 that is opened and closed by rotating a handle 510 having a handle spoke 510a includes a device main body 110 that is detachably connected to the handle 510 and rotates the handle 510 to open and close the water gate 500, and a server device 11 that is configured to be communicable with the server device 1 and receives a water gate opening and closing command transmitted from the server device 11. And a communication / power source part 150 for controlling the operation of the device body according to the received opening / closing instruction, and when a fastener 140 is inserted into a through-hole of a locking piece 111a part of a rotary disk 111 at one end of the device body 110, the fastener 140 is locked to a handle spoke 110a part, and the device body 110 is connected to the handle 510.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device and a water gate opening and closing system, and more particularly to a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device and a water gate opening and closing system that are installed in water gate facilities arranged in various waterways such as agricultural waterways. [Background technology]

[0002] Waterways used for agricultural purposes throughout the country have water gates (water gate facilities) installed in appropriate locations to distribute water. These water gates are opened and closed as needed by land improvement districts, water users' associations, or local residents and farmers to manage and operate irrigation. In this situation, due to the recent declining birthrate and aging population, there are an increasing number of areas where it is becoming difficult to maintain floodgates, making maintaining waterways an urgent issue.

[0003] Furthermore, when it comes to managing the floodgates, many are located in remote mountainous areas, or are so stiff that it takes a considerable amount of force to turn them manually, which has been a chronic burden on managers. Furthermore, recent climate change has led to sudden heavy rains, placing a heavy burden on floodgate managers, who must go to close the floodgates in the heavy rain to protect local farmland and urban areas. In the worst cases, there have been a number of accidents in which people have slipped and been swept away into the waterways, resulting in loss of life.

[0004] In light of the above-mentioned problems, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of a water gate opening and closing device that opens and closes a water gate in response to a control signal from a remote controller. This water gate opening and closing device driving device is adapted to be attached to a water gate opening and closing device that opens and closes a water gate by forward and reverse rotation of an operating shaft.

[0005] Specifically, the drive device for a floodgate opening and closing device described in Patent Document 1 has a drive unit equipped with an electric motor, a motor input shaft connected to the electric motor on one side and a direct-mount output shaft connected to an operating shaft on one or the other side, and a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the electric motor to the operating shaft, a remote controller that transmits control signals to operate the drive unit remotely, and a control unit that receives control signals transmitted from the remote controller and controls the operation of the drive unit. The rotation transmission mechanism also includes a clutch attached to the other side of the motor input shaft, an external input shaft connected to the other side of the motor input shaft via the clutch, a first gear attached to the external input shaft, a second gear attached to the direct-mount output shaft and connected to the first gear directly or via an intermediate gear mechanism, and a handle attachment portion provided on one or the other side of the direct-mount output shaft to which the manual handle or another manual handle can be attached. The rotation transmission mechanism transmits the rotation of the motor input shaft to the external input shaft via a clutch only when driven by the electric motor, and rotates the operating shaft by interlocking with the direct-mount output shaft. Also, when driven by the manual handle, the rotation transmission mechanism disconnects the motor input shaft from the external input shaft via a clutch so that the rotation of the external input shaft is not transmitted to the motor input shaft. The configuration of the watergate opening and closing device drive device described in Patent Document 1 is also disclosed on a web page (Non-Patent Document 1) of the website provided by the patentee. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7362126 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] J-Fills Corporation website, "Web page presenting the Rakusho S Rakusho Smart remote control floodgate," [Retrieved June 20, 2024], Internet<URL https: / / www.jfils.jp / products / sluice_s / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in the drive device for a floodgate opening and closing device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the rotation transmission mechanism of the drive unit has a complex structure that includes "a clutch attached to the other side of the motor input shaft, an external input shaft connected to the other side of the motor input shaft via the clutch, a first gear attached to the external input shaft, and a second gear attached to a direct-mount output shaft and connected to the first gear directly or via an intermediate gear mechanism," which poses the problem of high costs for the device itself and high maintenance costs. Furthermore, as shown in Non-Patent Document 1, the above-mentioned drive device for a floodgate opening and closing device requires the installation of a large control panel in close proximity to the floodgate (floodgate opening and closing device) to control the operation of the drive device for a floodgate opening and closing device, which makes the installation work large-scale and expensive. Furthermore, the drive device for a watergate opening and closing device described in Patent Document 1 above requires work to remove the handle attached to the existing watergate, which is a labor-intensive construction.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device that can be retrofitted to various existing water gates without the need for large-scale construction work, and that can be introduced at low cost, as well as a water gate opening and closing system equipped with said remote automatic water gate opening and closing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, is a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device for automatically opening and closing a water gate that opens and closes by rotating a handle having handle spokes, comprising: a device main body that is detachably connected to the handle and opens and closes the water gate by rotating the handle; a communication and power supply unit that is configured to be able to communicate with a server device via a network and supplies power to the device main body, receives water gate opening and closing commands transmitted from the server device, and controls the operation of the device main body in accordance with the received opening and closing commands; and a support unit that supports the device main body and the communication and power supply unit, wherein the device main body comprises a motor that is controlled by the communication and power supply unit to rotate a rotating shaft, a drive gear inserted into the rotating shaft of the motor, a driven gear that is meshed with the drive gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear, and a drive gear that is rotated by the rotation of the drive gear. The device has a turntable that is fixed and rotates as the driven gear rotates, and an approximately plate-shaped locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the turntable, and the locking piece has a through hole for inserting a fastener that can be attached and detached.The device main body is supported on the support part with the turntable, which forms one end face, facing one end of the handle and positioned at a predetermined distance from one end of the handle.When the fastener is inserted into the through hole of the locking piece, the fastener engages with the handle spokes, connecting the device main body to the handle.In this state, when the rotating shaft of the motor rotates, the turntable rotates, and the handle spokes receive a load in the rotational direction due to the fastener inserted into the locking piece of the turntable, causing the handle to rotate together with the turntable, thereby opening and closing the floodgate.

[0011] In this invention, the device body constituting the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device is supported on a support part with the rotating disk, which is one end face of the device body, facing one end of the handle of the floodgate and positioned at a predetermined distance from the one end of the handle. In other words, the device body is supported on the support part in a floating state (a state separated) from the handle of the floodgate. When a fastener is inserted into the through-hole of the locking piece provided on the turntable, the fastener is locked onto the handle spoke of the handle of the floodgate, connecting the device body to the handle. In this way, with this invention, the device body of the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device and the handle of the floodgate (floodgate equipment) can be connected by the simple process of inserting a fastener into the locking piece of the turntable of the device body and engaging the fastener with the handle spoke of the floodgate handle. Therefore, with the configuration of this invention, as long as the floodgate (floodgate equipment) has a handle with handle spokes, it can be easily attached even to handles of various shapes. Furthermore, the present invention is configured so that a fastener is inserted into the device body, which is supported on a support part while floating from the floodgate handle, and the fastener is engaged with the handle spokes. This eliminates the need to remove the handle of the existing floodgate, and also eliminates the need to connect the floodgate rotating shaft for opening and closing the floodgate to a device with a complex mechanical configuration. In other words, according to the present invention, a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device can be provided at low cost, which can be retrofitted to various existing water gates without the need for large-scale construction work.

[0012] Furthermore, the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device of the present invention is configured to be able to communicate with a server device via a network, and has a communication and power supply unit that supplies power to the device body, receives opening and closing commands transmitted from the server device, and controls the operation of the device body in accordance with the received opening and closing commands. Therefore, a floodgate manager (user) can access the server device and issue a request to the server device to open or close the floodgate, thereby opening or closing the floodgate from a remote location. That is, according to the present invention, the opening and closing of the floodgate facility can be controlled from a remote location without the floodgate manager (user) having to travel to the floodgate, thereby reducing the labor required by the user to open and close the floodgate.

[0013] Furthermore, when the device body is connected to the handle by the fastener, it is desirable that the connection between the device body and the handle be released by pulling the fastener away from the handle.

[0014] Thus, according to the present invention, when the handle of the floodgate and the main body of the device are connected by a fastener, the connection between the handle of the floodgate and the main body of the device can be easily released by pulling the fastener away from the handle. Therefore, even in cases where a user wants to go to the site and operate the gate handle directly (for example, when the remote automatic gate opening and closing device breaks down and the user wants to open and close the gate without relying on the remote automatic gate opening and closing device), the opening and closing of the gate can be easily switched to manual operation.

[0015] Furthermore, it is desirable that the fastener is a U-bolt having a pair of legs, that the locking piece has a pair of through holes, that the pair of legs of the fastener be inserted into the through holes of the locking piece, and that the pair of legs of the fastener be positioned so as to sandwich the handle spokes from both sides, thereby locking the handle spokes with the fastener. In this way, in the present invention, a U-bolt, which is a general-purpose part, can be used as the fastener, which reduces the cost of the device itself and makes it possible to quickly obtain a replacement U-bolt if the fastener is lost.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention is a floodgate opening and closing system comprising a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device for automatically opening and closing a floodgate that opens and closes by rotating a handle having handle spokes, and a server device configured to be able to communicate with the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device via a network, wherein the server device is configured to be able to communicate with a user terminal of a user who manages the floodgate via the network, provides a web page for accepting floodgate opening and closing requests to the user terminal, accepts floodgate opening and closing requests from the user terminal on the web page, and transmits floodgate opening and closing commands corresponding to the accepted opening and closing requests to the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device via the network, and the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device comprises a device main body that is detachably connected to the handle and opens and closes the floodgate by rotating the handle, a communication and power supply unit configured to be able to communicate with the server device via the network, supplies power to the device main body, receives floodgate opening and closing commands sent from the server device, and controls the operation of the device main body in accordance with the received opening and closing commands, and and a support section for supporting a communication and power supply section, and the device main body has a motor that is controlled by the communication and power supply section to rotate a rotation shaft, a drive gear inserted into the rotation shaft of the motor, a driven gear that is engaged with the drive gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear, a turntable to which the driven gear is fixed and that rotates together with the rotation of the driven gear, and a substantially plate-shaped locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the turntable, and the locking piece is provided with a through hole for detachably inserting a fastener, and the turntable that forms one end face of the device main body is connected to one end of the handle. and the turntable is supported on the support part in a state where it is positioned at a predetermined distance from one end of the handle, and when the fastener is inserted into the through hole of the locking piece, the fastener is locked to the handle spoke and the device main body is connected to the handle, and when the rotating shaft of the motor rotates in this state, the turntable rotates, and the handle spoke receives a load in the rotational direction due to the fastener inserted into the locking piece of the turntable, causing the handle to rotate together with the turntable, and the floodgate opens and closes.

[0017] According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, a floodgate opening and closing system can be provided which includes a server device that accepts floodgate opening and closing requests from the user terminal of a user who manages the floodgate equipment and transmits floodgate opening and closing commands corresponding to the accepted opening and closing requests via a network to a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device, and a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device that operates in accordance with the opening and closing commands transmitted by the server device to open and close the floodgate. Furthermore, the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device that constitutes the floodgate opening and closing system of the second aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect described above, and therefore, like the first aspect, does not require large-scale construction work and can be retrofitted to various existing floodgates for installation and use.

[0018] It is also desirable that the device has a water level sensor unit that measures the water level of the waterway in which the sluice gate is installed, and the water level sensor unit has a water level sensor that measures the water level of the waterway near the sluice gate, and a communication processing unit that transmits water level information including the water level value measured by the water level sensor to the server device via the network, and that the server device receives the water level information transmitted by the water level sensor unit and provides the user terminal with a web page presenting the water level value contained in the water level information.

[0019] According to the present invention, a user can grasp the water level value of the waterway in which the floodgate is installed on a web page provided to the user terminal, without having to go to the floodgate, and can determine how the floodgate should be opened or closed.

[0020] It is also desirable that the device has a camera that photographs the waterway near the sluice gate, the camera having a communication processing unit that performs communication processing with the server device via the network, the server device providing the user terminal with a web page that accepts requests to photograph the waterway in which the sluice gate is installed, accepting requests to photograph the waterway from the user terminal on the web page, and sending a photographing command corresponding to the accepted photographing request to the camera via the network, the camera, upon receiving the photographing command sent from the server device, photographing the waterway near the sluice gate and sending image information including the image of the waterway obtained by photographing to the server device via the network, and the server device, upon receiving the image information sent from the camera, providing the user terminal with a web page via the network that presents the image of the waterway included in the image information.

[0021] According to the present invention, a user does not have to travel to the floodgate; whenever the user wishes, the user can view an image of the waterway in which the floodgate is installed on a web page provided to the user's terminal, check the condition of the waterway, and determine how the floodgate should be opened or closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device that can be retrofitted to various existing water gates without the need for large-scale construction work, and that can be introduced at low cost, as well as a water gate opening and closing system equipped with said remote automatic water gate opening and closing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a water gate opening and closing system equipped with a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the device main body in the configuration of a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection structure between the device main body and the handle of the floodgate equipment in the configuration of a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is an enlarged schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the device body in the configuration of a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a communication and power supply unit in a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a server device that constitutes a floodgate opening and closing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a watergate opening / closing device information database provided in a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure of a user information database provided in the server device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing other installation examples of a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device is installed on the handle of a floodgate that is in a tilted position, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing an example in which a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device is installed on the handle of a floodgate whose handle spokes are inclined. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the modified remote automatic water gate opening and closing device is installed on the handle of a vertical water gate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, a water gate opening / closing system equipped with a remote automatic water gate opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0025] First, the overall configuration of a water gate opening and closing system equipped with a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a water gate opening and closing system equipped with a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device of this embodiment.

[0026] <<Overall configuration of the floodgate opening and closing system>> As shown in the figure, the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment includes a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device (hereinafter simply referred to as the ``floodgate opening and closing device'') 100 for automatically opening and closing a floodgate facility (floodgate) 500 installed on a waterway such as an agricultural waterway from a remote location, a repeater 200 connected to a network NW such as the Internet and capable of communicating with the floodgate opening and closing device 100, and a server device (hereinafter referred to as the ``server'') 1 that sends control signals (opening and closing commands (open commands, close commands)) to the floodgate opening and closing device 100 via the network NW and the repeater 200 to instruct the opening and closing operation of the floodgate facility 500, and causes the floodgate opening and closing device 100 to control the opening and closing operation of the floodgate facility 500.

[0027] The water gate equipment 500 has a well-known configuration and includes a rotatable handle (water gate handle) 510 and a water gate opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the water gate by rotating the handle 510. In addition, the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 has a substantially annular rotating operating part 510a, a hub fixed to the floodgate rotation shaft 501 of the floodgate opening and closing mechanism, and multiple (e.g., four) handle spokes 510b connecting the rotating operating part 510a and the hub (see Figure 4).

[0028] In addition, the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment has a water level sensor unit 300 installed in the waterway in which the floodgate equipment 500 is installed, and a camera (remote shooting camera) 400 that photographs the state of the waterway.

[0029] The water level sensor unit 300 comprises a water level sensor that measures the water level of the waterway near the water gate facility 500, a communication processing unit (an LPWA communication module, described later) that processes communications with the server 1 via the network NW and the repeater 200, and a battery (power supply unit). The water level sensor unit 300 transmits "water level information" including the measured water level value to the server 1 via the repeater 200 and the network NW. This "water level information" includes a water level sensor ID that identifies the water level sensor unit 300, the measured water level value, and measurement date and time information. The water level sensor unit 300 measures the water level in the waterway, for example, at predetermined time intervals, and transmits "water level information" including the measured water level value. In addition, when the water level sensor unit 300 receives a measurement command from the server 1, it also measures the water level in the waterway and transmits "water level information" including the measured water level value.

[0030] The camera 400 includes a camera mechanism, an LTE communication module (communication processing unit) that performs communication processing with the server 1 via the network NW, and a battery (power supply unit). When the camera 400 receives a photographing command signal (photographing command) transmitted from the server 1, it photographs the waterway near the floodgate equipment 500 and transmits image information including the photographed image (the image of the waterway) to the server 1. This image information includes a camera ID for identifying the camera 400, the image obtained by photographing (an image of the waterway), and photographing date and time information.

[0031] The repeater 200 is configured to be able to communicate wirelessly with the water gate opening and closing device 100 and the water level sensor unit 300, and is also configured to be able to communicate with the server 1 via the network NW. Then, when the repeater 200 receives the “open / close command (open command, close command)” sent from the server 1, it transmits the received “open / close command (open command, close command)” to the watergate opening and closing device 100. Furthermore, when the repeater 200 receives the “water level information” sent from the water level sensor unit 300, it transmits the received “water level information” to the server 1.

[0032] Specifically, the repeater 200 is equipped with an LTE communication module (not shown) that communicates with the server 1 via LTE communication via the network NW, and an LPWA communication module (not shown) that exchanges data between the floodgate opening / closing device 100 and the water level sensor unit 300 via LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) communication (low power consumption wide area communication).

[0033] The LTE communication module (first communication processing unit) of the repeater 200 receives the "open / close command (open command, close command)" sent from the server 1. Furthermore, when the repeater 200 receives the "open / close command (open command, close command)" sent from the server 1 via LTE communication, the LPWA communication module (second communication processing unit) transmits the "open / close command (open command, close command)" to the corresponding watergate opening and closing device 100. In addition, the LPWA communication module (second communication processing unit) of the repeater 200 receives the "water level information" sent from the water level sensor unit 300. When the repeater 200 receives the "water level information", the LTE communication module (first communication processing unit) transmits the "water level information" to the server 1.

[0034] In the present embodiment, as an example, the case where the communication between the relay device 200 and the server 1 is LTE communication is described, but this is not particularly limited. The relay device 200 may communicate with the server 1 via a network (Internet). For example, the first communication processing unit may be a 3G communication module or a 5G communication module, or a WiFi connection module, instead of an LTE communication module.

[0035] 1, the repeater 200 of this embodiment is mounted on a mount 201 installed at a location approximately 1 to 2 km away from the water gate facility 500 (or at a location near the water gate facility 500). A solar panel 260 and a power supply unit (not shown) that stores the power generated by the solar panel 260 are mounted on this mount 201. Power is supplied to the repeater 200 from this power supply unit. The repeater 200 is a well-known technology and will not be described in detail here. In the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment, the repeater 200 may be, for example, an outdoor communication device manufactured and sold by the applicant, Farmo Corporation (https: / / farmo.info / blog / wp-content / uploads / 2023 / 04 / okugai_kumitate_202304.pdf).

[0036] The server 1 is configured to be able to communicate with the water gate opening and closing device 100 and the water level sensor unit 300 via the network NW and the repeater 200. The server 1 is also configured to be able to communicate with the camera 400 via the network NW. The server 1 is also configured to be able to communicate with user terminals 3a and 3b of users (water gate managers) who manage the water gate equipment 500 via the network NW. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the user terminal 3a is a smartphone and the user terminal 3b is a personal computer.

[0037] The server 1 provides a website for using the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment to the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) of the user (floodgate manager) who manages the floodgate facility 500 to which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 is attached. This website includes a web page that presents information indicating the open / close state (either open or closed) of the floodgate facility (floodgate) 500 to which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 is attached. On this web page, requests for opening and closing the floodgate facility 500 (open request, close request) can be received. The user then operates the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b) to check the open / closed status of the corresponding floodgate on the web page provided by the server 100, and makes an "open / close request (open request, close request)" for the floodgate facility 500 on the web page. As a result, the "open / close request (open request, close request)" for the floodgate facility 500 is sent from the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b) to the server 100.

[0038] In addition, when the server 1 receives an "opening / closing request" sent from the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b), it transmits an "opening / closing command signal (opening / closing command (either an open command or a close command))" corresponding to the received "opening / closing request" to the corresponding floodgate opening / closing device 100 via the network NW and the repeater 200. When the floodgate opening and closing device 100 receives an "opening / closing command (either an open command or a close command)" sent by the server 1 via the network NW and the repeater 200, it drives the motor 113 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100, which will be described later, and rotates the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment (floodgate) 500 in the direction corresponding to the "opening / closing command," thereby opening or closing the floodgate equipment 500.

[0039] The server 1 also provides the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b) with a web page that accepts instructions to photograph the waterway, and accepts instructions to photograph the waterway from the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b) on the web page. When the server 1 receives an instruction to photograph a waterway from the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b), it transmits a photographing command signal (photographing command) to the corresponding camera 400 via the network NW. When the camera 400 receives a photographing command from the server 1, it photographs the waterway and transmits image information including the photographed image (the photographed image of the waterway) via the network NW. When the server 1 receives the image information sent from the camera 400, it provides the user terminal 3a (or the user terminal 3b) with a web page presenting the image (image of the waterway) included in the image information.

[0040] In addition, the server 1 receives and stores water level information via the repeater 200 and the network NW, and provides a web page to the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) presenting water level information (water level value, measurement date and time information) in response to a request from the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b).

[0041] In this way, the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment allows the user (floodgate manager) to control the opening and closing of the floodgate facility 500 by operating the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) from a remote location, without having to travel to the floodgate facility 500. Therefore, the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment reduces the labor required by the user to perform maintenance work to open and close the floodgate. Furthermore, the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment allows the user to view an image of the waterway in which the floodgate equipment 500 is installed and check the water level of the waterway on the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) without having to travel to the floodgate equipment 500. Therefore, the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment allows the user to determine how to open or close the floodgate equipment 500 without having to travel to the floodgate equipment 500.

[0042] <Floodgate opening and closing device 100> Next, the configuration of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the above-mentioned FIG. 1 and FIGS. Here, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the remote automatic sluice gate opening and closing device of this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the device main body in the configuration of the remote automatic sluice gate opening and closing device of this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the connection structure between the device main body in the configuration of the remote automatic sluice gate opening and closing device of this embodiment and the handle of the sluice gate equipment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged internal configuration of the device main body in the configuration of the remote automatic sluice gate opening and closing device of this embodiment.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment has a device main body 110 that is detachably connected to a handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and opens and closes the floodgate by rotating the handle 510, a communication and power supply unit 150 that is configured to be able to communicate with the server 1 via the network NW, a solar panel 160, and a support unit S.

[0044] The support section S supports the device main body 110 , the communication and power supply section 150 and the solar panel 160 . The communication and power supply unit 150 supplies power to the device main body 110, receives an open / close command sent from the server 1, and controls the operation of the device main body 110 in accordance with the open / close command received. The solar panel 160 receives sunlight to generate electricity and supplies the generated electricity to the power supply unit 158 ​​(see FIG. 6) of the communication / power supply unit 150.

[0045] The device body 110 is supported by the support part S in a state where the turntable 111 constituting one end surface (lower surface) thereof faces the upper end (one end) of the handle 510, and the lower surface of the turntable 111 is located at a predetermined distance above the upper end of the handle 510 (upper side in the axial direction of the watergate rotation shaft 501) (see FIG. 2). In other words, the device body 110 is supported by the support part S in a state where it is floating above the handle 510, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2. Furthermore, a substantially plate-shaped locking piece 111a (see FIG. 4) is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating disk 111 that constitutes the device body 110. This locking piece 111a is provided with a through-hole for detachably inserting a fastener 140 therein.

[0046] When the fastener 140 is inserted into the through-hole of the locking piece 11 a, the fastener 140 is hooked onto the handle spokes 510 b, and the device main body 110 is connected to the handle 510 . In this state, when the motor 113 described later rotates, the turntable 111 rotates accordingly, and the handle spokes 510b receive a rotational load due to the fastener 140 inserted into the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111, causing the handle 510 to rotate together with the turntable 111, thereby opening and closing the floodgate.

[0047] The support unit S has a support pillar 101 that is erected horizontally with the watergate rotation axis 501 of the watergate equipment 500 on an installation surface 700 (such as the ground surface or the top plate of the watergate equipment 500) near the handle 510, and a support pipe 102 that extends from the side surface on the lower side of the support pillar 101 at a substantially right angle to the support pillar 101. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the support pipe 102 is supported perpendicular to the support pillar 101 via a connecting pipe 103 that is provided on the lower side of the support pillar 101. In addition, the position of the connecting pipe 103 in the vertical direction (Y direction shown in FIG. 2) along the support pillar 101 can be adjusted. In other words, the support unit S is configured so that the height position (position in the Y direction) of the support pipe 102 can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the connecting pipe 103. Furthermore, the device main body 110 is fixed and installed at the tip of the support pipe 102. Furthermore, a solar panel 160 and a communication / power supply unit 150 are fixed and installed above the support 101. 2 denotes a fixing member for fixing the support column 101.

[0048] <<Device body 110>> Next, the configuration of the device main body 110 of the water gate opening and closing device 100 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the device main body 110 has a motor 113 that is controlled by a communication / power supply unit 150 to rotate a motor rotating shaft (rotating shaft), a drive gear 114 inserted into the rotating shaft of the motor 113, a driven gear 112 that meshes with the drive gear 114 and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear 114, a turntable 111 to which the driven gear 112 is fixed and that rotates together with the rotation of the driven gear 112, and an approximately plate-shaped locking piece 111a provided on the outer periphery of the turntable 111.

[0049] The rotating disk 111 is formed in the shape of a substantially circular plate in plan view with a through-hole formed in the center, and is made of a metal such as iron. Further, the driven gear 112 has a through hole 112a formed in the center thereof (see FIG. 4). Further, the driven gear 112 is fixed to the upper surface of the rotating disk 111 by a fastener (for example, a fastener such as a bolt and a nut) 127 (see FIG. 5). A water gate rotation shaft 501 of the water gate opening / closing mechanism of the water gate facility 500 is inserted through the through hole 112 a of the driven gear 112 and the through hole of the rotating disk 11 .

[0050] The device body 110 also has a motor case 116 fixed to the tip of the support pipe 102 of the support portion S, and the motor case 116 houses a motor 113 . The motor case 116 is formed in a hollow box shape, and is held by the support part S by having its side surface fixed to the tip of the support pipe 102 of the support part S. Furthermore, a through-hole is formed in the bottom surface of the motor case 116, and the motor 13 is housed in the motor case 116 with the rotating shaft (motor rotating shaft) inserted through this through-hole. In other words, the rotating shaft of the motor 113 protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the motor case 116. The motor 113 is electrically connected to the communication and power supply unit 150 via a connection line 107 (see FIG. 2). The motor 113 is configured by, for example, a DC servo motor.

[0051] The device body 110 also has a cover body 115 that covers the top of the rotating disk 111 to which the driven gear 112 is fixed. The cover body 115 is fixed to a bearing 118 and a bearing base 119 by fasteners 117, and its upper surface is fixed to the lower end of the motor case 116. The driven gear 112 is supported in the direction of gravity by the bearing base 119 and is supported so as to be rotatable around the bearing 118 (see Figures 4 and 5). Furthermore, in the cover body 115, a portion facing the lower end of the motor case 116 is formed with a through-hole through which the "rotating shaft of the motor 113 and the drive gear 114" are inserted.

[0052] With the above configuration, the rotation of the rotary shaft of the motor 113 causes the drive gear 114 to rotate, and as a result, the driven gear 112 rotates, causing the turntable 111 fixed to the driven gear 112 to rotate together with the driven gear 112.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the rotating disk 111 has a substantially plate-shaped locking piece 111a that protrudes radially outward from the outer periphery of the rotating disk 111. As shown in FIG. The locking piece 11a is provided with a locking hole (a pair of locking holes) for inserting and fitting the fastener 140. In the drawing, an example is shown in which the fastener 140 is a "U-bolt" having a pair of legs 140a, 140a.

[0054] The handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 are connected by hooking the legs 140a, 140a of the fastener 140 inserted into the locking piece 11a onto the handle spokes 510b.

[0055] Specifically, the position of the handle spoke 510 b of the handle 510 of the water gate equipment 500 is adjusted so as to be located below the locking piece 111 a of the turntable 111 of the device main body 110 . Then, the pair of legs 140a, 140a of the fastener 140 are inserted into the locking holes (pair of locking holes) of the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111, and the pair of legs 140a, 140a of the fastener 140 are positioned so that they sandwich the handle spokes 510b of the handle 510 from both sides, and the handle spokes 510b are locked by the fastener 140 (see Figure 4).

[0056] Furthermore, when the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 are connected by the fastener 140, driving the motor 113 causes the turntable 111 to rotate. Furthermore, when the turntable 111 rotates, the fastener 140 inserted into the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111 causes the handle spokes 510b to receive a load in the rotational direction of the motor 113, causing the handle 510 to rotate together with the turntable 111, thereby opening and closing the floodgate.

[0057] In this manner, in this embodiment, the device main body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 and the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 can be connected by the simple process of inserting the fastener 140 into the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111 of the device main body 110 and locking the fastener 140 to the handle spokes 510b. Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, handlebars of various shapes can be easily attached as long as they have handlebar spokes. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 and the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 can be connected with a simple operation, thereby reducing the labor and cost of construction.

[0058] Communication and power supply unit 150 Next, the configuration of the communication and power supply unit 150 will be described with reference to the above-mentioned FIG. 2 and FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the communication and power supply unit in the remote automatic water gate opening and closing device of this embodiment.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the communication and power supply unit 150 has a hollow box-shaped case 150a, and a "communication control device 151 and a power supply unit 158" housed in the hollow box-shaped case 150a.

[0060] The power supply unit 158 ​​is electrically connected to the solar panel 160 , and stores the power generated by the solar panel 160 , and supplies power to the communication control device 151 and the motor 113 of the device main body 110 . The power supply unit 158 ​​is configured by, for example, a battery, and is connected to the solar panel 160 by a power line 106 (see FIG. 2).

[0061] The communication control device 151 is configured to be able to communicate with the server 1 via the network NW and the repeater 200, and also controls the operation of the motor 113 of the device main body 110. Specifically, the communication control device 151 has a control processing unit 152, a communication processing unit 153, a storage unit 154, and an operation unit (not shown) that accepts various operations from a user. The storage unit 154 also stores a device ID that identifies the watergate opening and closing device 100. The device ID is stored in the storage unit 154 by an operation of the manufacturer (or user) when the product is shipped (manufactured) or when the floodgate opening and closing device 100 is installed.

[0062] The control processing unit 152 accepts settings for the communication control device 20 through operation of an operation unit (not shown). In addition, the control processing unit 152 exchanges various information with the server 1 via the communication processing unit 153, and controls the operation of the motor 113 of the device main body 110, rotating the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 to open or close the floodgate.

[0063] Specifically, the control processing unit 152 receives an “open / close command (open command, close command)” transmitted from the server 1 via the communication processing unit 153. When the "open / close command" sent from the server 1 is a "command to close the floodgate," the control processing unit 152 sends a control signal to the motor 113 of the device main body 110 to close the floodgate (a control signal to rotate the rotating shaft of the motor 113 a predetermined number of rotations in the "first direction (clockwise)"), and by rotating the motor 113, the turntable 111 is rotated, and in response to this, the handle 510 is rotated, thereby closing the floodgate equipment 500 (closing the floodgate).

[0064] When the "open / close command" sent from the server 1 is a "command to open the floodgate," the control processing unit 152 sends a control signal to the motor 113 of the device main body 110 to open the floodgate (a control signal to rotate the rotating shaft of the motor 113 a predetermined number of rotations in the "second direction (counterclockwise)"), and by rotating the motor 113, the turntable 111 is rotated, and by rotating the handle 510, the floodgate equipment 500 is opened (the floodgate is opened).

[0065] Furthermore, when the opening / closing operation of the floodgate is completed, the control processing unit 152 generates "operation completion information" in which "floodgate status information indicating the status of the floodgate" is associated with the "device ID" stored in the storage unit 154. Furthermore, the control processing unit 152 transmits the "operation completion information" to the server 1 via the communication processing unit 153. The floodgate state information is information indicating whether the floodgate is in an "open state" or a "closed state." When the control processing unit 152 transmits a "control signal for closing the floodgate" to the motor 113, it generates "operation completion information" in which the "closed state" is associated with the "device ID." When the control processing unit 152 transmits a "control signal for opening the floodgate" to the motor 113, it generates "operation completion information" in which the "open state" is associated with the "device ID."

[0066] The communication processing unit 153 receives an "open / close command (open command, close command)" sent from the server 1 via the repeater 20, and transmits the received "open / close command (open command, close command)" to the control processing unit 152. Furthermore, the communication processing unit 153 transmits the “operation completion state information” generated by the control processing unit 152 to the server 1 via the relay 20.

[0067] In this embodiment, the communication processing unit 152 is capable of transmitting "operation completion information" wirelessly (LPWA communication) to the repeater 20 installed at a location approximately 1 to 2 km away from the floodgate opening / closing device 100, and receiving "opening / closing commands (open command, close command)" transmitted by the repeater 20.

[0068] Furthermore, the hardware configuration of the communication control device 151 is not particularly limited. For example, the communication control device 151 can be an information processing device having an operation unit such as a CPU, a main memory device, an auxiliary memory device, an I / O interface, a communication interface, a wireless circuit, an antenna, and operation buttons. In this case, a program for realizing the functions of the control processing unit 152 and the communication processing unit 153 is stored in the auxiliary memory device. A predetermined area of ​​the auxiliary memory device serves as the storage unit 154. The functions of the control processing unit 152 and the communication processing unit 153 are realized by the CPU loading the program stored in the auxiliary memory device into the main memory device and executing it.

[0069] Server 1 Next, the configuration of the server 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a server device that constitutes the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the data configuration of a floodgate opening / closing device information database provided in the server device of this embodiment. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the data configuration of a user information database provided in the server device of this embodiment.

[0070] 7, the server 1 has an information provider unit 10 that provides various information to the user terminals 3a and 3b and accepts inputs and requests for various information from the user terminals 3a and 3b, a floodgate opening and closing device control unit 11 that controls the operation of the floodgate opening and closing device 100, a water level sensor control unit 12 that manages water level information measured by the water level sensor 300, a camera control unit 13 that controls the operation of the camera 400, and a memory unit 20. The memory unit 20 stores a floodgate opening and closing device information database 21, a user information database 22, a camera image database 23, and a water level information database 24.

[0071] Note that there are no particular limitations on the hardware configuration of the server 100. For example, the server 100 is configured by a computer (one or more computers) having a CPU, a main memory, an auxiliary memory, an I / O interface, and a communication interface. In this case, the auxiliary memory stores programs for realizing the functions of each unit (information providing unit 10, floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11, water level sensor control unit 12, and camera control unit 13). A predetermined area of ​​the auxiliary memory serves as the memory unit 20. The functions of each unit (information providing unit 10, floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11, water level sensor control unit 12, and camera control unit 13) are realized by the CPU loading the programs stored in the auxiliary memory into the main memory and executing them.

[0072] Next, the watergate opening / closing device information database 21 stored in the storage unit 130, which is part of the configuration of the server 1, will be described.

[0073] The floodgate opening / closing device information database 21 is a database that stores, for each floodgate opening / closing device 100, a device ID that identifies the floodgate opening / closing device 100, a repeater ID that identifies the repeater 200 that relays communication with the floodgate opening / closing device 100, floodgate location information of the floodgate equipment 500 in which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 is installed, and the floodgate opening / closing state of the floodgate equipment 500 in which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 is installed (information indicating either an ``open state'' or a ``closed state'').

[0074] Specifically, as shown in Figure 8, the floodgate opening / closing device database 210 is composed of a record (multiple records) having a field 21a for registering an device ID that identifies the floodgate opening / closing device 100, a field 21b for registering a repeater ID that identifies the repeater 200 that relays communication with the floodgate opening / closing device 100 identified by the device ID registered in field 21a, a field 21c for registering floodgate location information that indicates the location of the floodgate equipment 500 in which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 identified by the device ID registered in field 21a is installed, and a field 21d for registering the floodgate open / closed status of the floodgate equipment 500 in which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 identified by the device ID registered in field 21a is installed.

[0075] The device ID registered in the field 21a is information for identifying the watergate opening and closing device 100, and is made up of uniquely assigned alphanumeric characters or other information. The repeater ID registered in field 21b is information for identifying the repeater 200, and is made up of uniquely assigned alphanumeric characters or other information. The water gate position information registered in the field 21c is position information such as "latitude and longitude" of the water gate facility 500 to which the water gate opening and closing device 100 is attached (any information that can be displayed on a map application).

[0076] As shown in Figure 9, the user information database 22 is composed of records (multiple records) having a field 22a for registering a user ID, a field 22b for registering a device ID, a field 22c for registering a water level sensor ID, a field 22d for registering a camera ID, and a field 22e for registering user information.

[0077] The user ID registered in the field 22a is unique information for identifying the user (water gate manager) of the water gate facility 500 to which the water gate opening and closing device 100 is attached, and is composed of alphanumeric characters, symbols, and the like. The device ID registered in the field 22b is the same as that registered in the field 21a of the watergate opening / closing device information database 21. The water level sensor ID registered in field 22c is information that identifies the water level sensor unit 300 installed in a waterway near the watergate equipment 500 in which the watergate opening and closing device 110 of the device ID registered in field 22b is installed, and uniquely assigned information such as alphanumeric characters is used. The camera ID registered in field 22d is information that identifies the camera 400 installed in the vicinity of the floodgate equipment 500 in which the floodgate opening / closing device 110 of the device ID registered in field 22b is installed, and uniquely assigned information such as alphanumeric characters is used. The user information registered in the field 22e includes the user's name, contact information, and the like.

[0078] The camera image database 23 is a database for storing images of a waterway in which a watergate facility 500 to which the watergate opening and closing device 100 is attached is installed. Specifically, the camera image database 23 is a database that stores a camera ID, an image of the waterway in the vicinity of the water gate facility 500 taken by the camera 400, and information on the date and time of the image, in association with each other.

[0079] The water level information database 24 is a database for storing values ​​of the water level of the waterway measured by the water level sensor unit 300 installed in the waterway of the watergate facility 500 to which the watergate opening and closing device 100 is attached. Specifically, the water level information database 24 is a database that stores the water level sensor ID, the water level value of the waterway measured by the water level sensor unit 300, and the measurement date and time information in association with each other.

[0080] Returning to FIG. 7, the configuration of each functional unit (information providing unit 10, water gate opening / closing device control unit 11, water level sensor control unit 12, and camera control unit 13) of the server 1 will be described.

[0081] In response to requests from user terminals 3a and 3b, the information provider 10 provides the user terminals 3a and 3b with a website for using the floodgate opening and closing system, and provides various information regarding the floodgate equipment 500 managed by the user on the web pages that make up the website, and accepts various requests from the user terminals 3a and 3b.

[0082] For example, the information provider 10 uses information registered in the floodgate opening / closing device database 210 and the user information database 22 to provide, on a web page, to the user terminals 3a and 3b, information indicating the open / close state (either an open state or a closed state) of the floodgate equipment 500 to which the floodgate opening / closing device 100 managed by the user is attached. The information provider 10 also provides, on the user terminals 3a and 3b, a web page that accepts requests to open or close the floodgate equipment 500 managed by the user, and accepts, on the provided web page, an "opening / closing request (open request, close request)" for the floodgate equipment 500 from the user terminals 3a and 3b. When the information provider 10 accepts an "opening / closing request (open request, close request)" for the floodgate equipment 500 from the user terminals 3a and 3b, it requests the floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11 to control the opening and closing of the floodgate equipment 500 managed by the user.

[0083] The above website also includes a web page that accepts requests to photograph a waterway in which a watergate facility 500 is installed, to which a watergate opening / closing device 100 managed by the user is attached (for example, a waterway near the watergate facility 500). The information providing unit 10 accepts requests to photograph a waterway from the user terminals 3a and 3b on the web page that accepts requests to photograph a waterway. When the information providing unit 10 accepts a request to photograph a waterway from the user terminals 3a and 3b, it requests the camera control unit 13 to photograph the waterway in which the watergate facility 500 managed by the user is installed. In addition, when the information providing unit 10 acquires an image of a waterway in which a floodgate facility 500 managed by a user is installed from the camera control unit 13, it generates a web page presenting the image of the waterway and provides the generated web page to the user terminals 3a and 3b.

[0084] The above website also includes a web page that accepts a request for presentation of water level information for a waterway in which a floodgate facility 500 is installed, to which a floodgate opening / closing device 100 managed by the user is attached. The information provider 10 accepts the request for presentation of water level information from the user terminals 3a and 3b on the web page that accepts the request for presentation of water level information. When the information providing unit 10 receives a request for presentation of water level information from the user terminals 3a and 3b, it accesses the user information database and the water level information database 24, reads out the water level information of the waterway in which the floodgate equipment 500 managed by the corresponding user is installed, generates a web page presenting the water level information, and provides the generated web page to the user terminals 3a and 3b.

[0085] The watergate opening and closing device control unit 11 receives an "opening and closing request (open request, close request)" for the watergate equipment 500 from the user terminals 3a and 3b via the information provider unit 10. When the watergate opening and closing device control unit 11 receives the above-mentioned "opening and closing request (open request, close request)", it generates a corresponding "opening and closing command (open command, close command)" and transmits the generated "opening and closing command (open command, close command)" to the communication and power supply unit 150 of the corresponding watergate opening and closing device 100 via the network NW and the repeater 200.

[0086] When the floodgate opening / closing device 100 receives an "opening / closing command (open command, close command)" from the floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11, it rotates the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 (operates the floodgate to open or close) according to the content of the "opening / closing command (open command, close command)" to open (or close) the floodgate. Furthermore, when the floodgate opening / closing device 100 completes the opening / closing operation of the floodgate, it generates "operation completion information" that associates "floodgate status information indicating the status of the floodgate" with the "device ID" stored in the memory unit 154. Furthermore, the floodgate opening / closing device 110 transmits the "operation completion information" to the floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11 of the server 1 via the repeater 200 and the network NW.

[0087] When the floodgate opening / closing device control unit 11 receives "operation completion information" from the floodgate opening / closing device 100, it accesses the floodgate opening / closing device information database 21 and updates the floodgate open / close status in field 21d of the record in which the "device ID" included in the "operation completion information" is registered to the floodgate status information included in the "operation completion information" (information indicating either "open state" or "closed state").

[0088] The water level sensor control unit 12 receives water level information (water level sensor ID, measured water level value, and measurement date and time information) transmitted by the water level sensor unit 300. The water level sensor control unit 12 also registers the received water level information in the water level information database 24.

[0089] The camera control unit 13 receives a request to photograph a waterway from the user terminals 3a and 3b via the information providing unit 10. When the camera control unit 13 receives a request to photograph a waterway from the user terminals 3a and 3b, it transmits a photographing command (photographing command signal) to the corresponding camera 400 via the network NW.

[0090] When the camera 400 receives the above-mentioned photographing command signal, it photographs the waterway and transmits image information (camera ID, photographed image, photographed date and time information) including the photographed image (image of the waterway) to the camera control unit 13 of the server 1 via the network NW.

[0091] When the camera control unit 13 receives the image information transmitted from the camera 400, it registers the received image information in the camera image database . In addition, when the camera control unit 13 receives image information, the information providing unit 10 generates a web page including the "image obtained by shooting and shooting date and time information" from the received image information, and provides the generated web page to the user terminals 3a and 3b.

[0092] <<Installation example of the floodgate opening / closing device 100>> Next, an example of installation of the watergate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the above-mentioned FIGS. 2, 4 and 10. FIG. Here, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing another installation example of the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device of this embodiment, where (a) is a schematic diagram showing an example of installing the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device on the handle of a floodgate that is in a tilted position, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing an example of installing the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device on the handle of a floodgate whose handle spokes are inclined.

[0093] First, the user (or installer) installs the support unit S on an installation surface (such as the ground surface or the top plate of the watergate equipment 500) 700 near the watergate equipment 500. Specifically, the lower end of the support pillar 101 of the support unit S is fixed to the installation surface 700 so that it is parallel to the watergate rotation axis 501 of the watergate equipment 500. In addition, the communication / power supply unit 150 and the solar panel 160 are fixed to the upper side of the pillar 101. In addition, the water gate rotation shaft 501 of the water gate opening and closing mechanism of the water gate equipment 500 is inserted through the through hole of the turntable 11 of the device main body 110 and the through hole 12a of the driven gear 112 fixed to the turntable 11, and the device main body 110 is fixed to the tip of the support pipe 102 of the support part S.

[0094] Next, the user (or installer) adjusts the height position (position in the Y direction) of the connecting pipe 103 of the support part S so that the lower end surface (one end surface) of the turntable 111 of the device main body 110 fixed to the tip of the connecting pipe 102 of the support part S faces the upper end (one end) of the handle 510, and so that the lower end surface (one end surface) of the turntable 111 is positioned a predetermined distance above (upper in the axial direction of the sluice gate rotation axis 501) the upper end (one end) of the handle 510. As a result, the underside of the device main body 110 faces the upper end of the handle 510, and the device main body 110 is fixed to the support part S while floating above the upper end of the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500.

[0095] Next, the user (or installer) rotates the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 to adjust the position of the handle spoke 510b so that the position of the handle spoke 510b is positioned below the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111 of the device main body 110.

[0096] Then, the user (or installer) inserts the pair of legs 140a, 140a of the fastener 140 into the locking holes (pair of locking holes) of the locking piece 111a of the turntable 111, positions the pair of legs 140a, 140a of the fastener 140 so that they sandwich the handle spokes 510b of the handle 510 from both sides, and locks the handle spokes 510b with the fastener 140 (see FIG. 4). As a result of this work, the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 are connected by the fastener 140.

[0097] As described above, according to this embodiment, the turntable 111 constituting the lower end surface of the device main body 110 faces the upper end of the handle 510, and is supported by the support part S in a state in which the turntable 111 constituting the lower end surface of the device main body 110 is spaced apart from the upper end of the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500. In this state, the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device main body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 can be connected by the simple steps of rotating the handle 510 to adjust the position of the handle spokes 510b, inserting the legs 140a of the fasteners 140 into the locking pieces 111a of the turntable 111, and arranging the legs 140a of the fasteners 140 in a position that sandwiches the handle spokes 510b from both sides. After achieving this state, the user can access the server 1, for example, from a remote location using a user terminal 3a such as a smartphone, and input a request to open or close the floodgate on a web page provided by the server 1, thereby automatically controlling the open / close state of the floodgate equipment 500.

[0098] Furthermore, when the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 are connected by the fastener 140, the connection between the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 and the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 can be easily released by pulling the fastener 140 upward (away from the handle 510) and removing it. Therefore, even in cases where a user wants to go to the site and operate the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 directly (for example, when the floodgate opening and closing device 100 breaks down and the user wants to open and close the floodgate equipment 500 without relying on this system), the floodgate opening and closing can be easily switched to manual operation.

[0099] Furthermore, the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment is fixed to the support part S in a state where one end face (lower face) of the device body 110 faces the upper end of the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500, and the device body 110 is spaced apart from the upper end of the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the above state, the handle 510 and the device body 110 are connected by inserting a fastener 140 into the locking piece 11a of the turntable 111. Therefore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, as long as the handle has handle spokes, it can be easily attached to handles of various shapes and conditions.

[0100] For example, the watergate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment can also be attached to a distorted handle 510 as shown in FIG. 10(a). In addition, the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment can also be attached to a handle 510 in which the handle spokes 510b connecting the approximately annular rotation operating part 510a and the hub fixed to the floodgate rotation shaft 501 are inclined at an angle, as shown in Figure 10(b).

[0101] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fastener 140 is inserted into the device main body 110, which is supported by the support part S while floating above the handle 510, and the fastener 140 is engaged with the handle spokes 510b. Therefore, according to this embodiment, there is no need to perform work such as removing the handle of the existing floodgate equipment, and there is also no need to perform work such as connecting the floodgate rotation shaft 501 for opening and closing the floodgate to a device with a complex mechanical configuration. That is, the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment can be installed and used by being retrofitted to various existing floodgates without requiring large-scale construction work, and can be introduced at low cost.

[0102] Furthermore, the floodgate opening and closing system equipped with the floodgate opening and closing device 100 of this embodiment allows the floodgate manager (user) to control the opening and closing of the floodgate facility 500 by operating the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) from a remote location, without having to travel to the floodgate facility 500. Therefore, the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment reduces the labor required by the user to perform maintenance work to open and close the floodgate.

[0103] Furthermore, the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment allows the user to view photographed images of the waterway in which the floodgate equipment 500 is installed and check the water level of the waterway at any time on the user terminal 3a (or user terminal 3b) without having to travel to the floodgate equipment 500. Therefore, according to the floodgate opening / closing system of this embodiment, the user can determine how to open or close the floodgate equipment 500 without having to travel to the floodgate equipment 500.

[0104] In other words, according to this embodiment, floodgate managers (users) such as land improvement districts can open and close floodgates remotely without having to go to the site where the floodgate equipment 500 is located, thereby achieving significant labor savings and risk avoidance. Furthermore, the floodgate opening and closing system of this embodiment can be easily installed and introduced at low cost without the need for large-scale construction work, which not only reduces the burden on floodgate managers but also rapidly advances the social implementation of ICT in irrigation equipment, which has not been widely adopted until now, and is expected to play a role in strengthening the nation's resilience in disaster prevention measures against issues such as aging, water resource management, climate change, and floods, thereby contributing to the development of society.

[0105] <<Modification of the watergate opening and closing device 100>> Next, the configuration of a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to a modified example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a remote automatic water gate opening and closing device according to a modified example of this embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the modified remote automatic water gate opening and closing device is installed on the handle of a vertical water gate. In the modified example of this embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0106] When installing a watergate opening and closing device 100 according to a modified example of this embodiment in a watergate facility 800 equipped with a vertical handle 510 as shown in the figure, the components of the watergate opening and closing device 100 are arranged, for example, as follows.

[0107] Specifically, first, one end of the support pillar 101 of the support part S is fixed to the side surface of the handle support pillar part 801 of the water gate equipment 800 so as to be parallel to the water gate rotation axis 501 of the water gate equipment 800. In addition, one side of the turntable 111 of the device main body 110, which is fixed to the tip of the support pipe 102 extending perpendicular to the support pillar 101, is positioned opposite one end of the handle 510 and at a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the sluice gate rotation shaft 501 from one end of the handle 510.

[0108] As in the above-described embodiment, the connection between the device main body 110 and the handle 510 is achieved by inserting the legs 140a-140a of the fastener 140 into the locking pieces 111a of the turntable 111 and positioning the legs 140a-140a of the fastener 140 in a position that sandwiches the handle spokes 510b from both sides, thereby connecting the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 800 to the device main body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100.

[0109] In addition, in this modified example, instead of attaching the solar panel 160 and the communication / power supply unit 150 to the support pole 101, a support tube 302 is fixed to the rotating shaft housing 802 that houses the watergate rotating shaft 501 of the watergate equipment 800, and the solar panel 160 and the communication / power supply unit 150 are attached to this support tube 302.

[0110] Thus, according to this modified example, the floodgate opening and closing device 100 and floodgate opening and closing system of the present invention can be applied to a floodgate equipment 800 equipped with a vertical floodgate handle 510, and the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained.

[0111] As described above, according to this embodiment and this modified example, it is possible to provide a floodgate opening and closing device 100 and a floodgate opening and closing system equipped with the floodgate opening and closing device 100 that can be installed and used by retrofitting to various existing floodgates without the need for large-scale construction work and can be introduced at low cost.

[0112] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0113] For example, in the above-described embodiment and modified examples, a "U-bolt" is used as the fastener 140, but this is not particularly limited to this. The fastener 140 may be a U-bolt instead of a "U-bolt." Alternatively, the fastener 140 may be a metal bolt or a band.

[0114] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the server 1 communicates with the floodgate opening and closing device 100 (or the water level sensor unit 300) via the network NW and the repeater 200, but this is not particularly limited to this. The floodgate opening / closing device 100 (or the water level sensor unit 300) may be provided with a communication processing unit (e.g., an LTE communication module) that performs communication processing with the server 1 via the network NW, so that the server 1 communicates with the floodgate opening / closing device 100 (or the water level sensor unit 300) via the network NW without providing a repeater 200.

[0115] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the handle 510 of the floodgate equipment 500 and the device body 110 of the floodgate opening and closing device 100 are connected by one fastener 140, but this is not particularly limited to this. For example, locking pieces 111a may be provided at multiple locations on the outer periphery of the turntable 111, and multiple fasteners 140 may be inserted into the multiple locking pieces 111a, respectively, so that each fastener 140 engages with the corresponding handle spoke 510b. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] NW...Network 1...Server 10…Information Department 11...Water gate opening / closing device control unit 12...Water level sensor control unit 13...Camera control unit 20...Storage section 21...Water gate opening and closing device information database 22...User information database 23...Camera image database 24...Water level information database 3a, 3b...User terminal 100...Remote automatic gate opening and closing device (gate opening and closing device) S...Support part 101...Strut (support part S) 102...Support tube (support part S) 103...Connecting pipe (support part S) 105...Fixing member (support part S) 106…Power line 107...connecting line 110...Device body 111...Turntable 111a...locking piece 112...Driven gear 112a...Through hole 113...Motor 114...Drive gear 115...Case body 116...Motor case 117, 127...Fasteners 118...Bearing 119...Bearing base 140...fastener 140a…legs 150...Communication and power supply section 151...Communication control device 152...control processing unit 153...Communication processing unit 154...Storage section 158...Power supply section 160...Solar panel 302…Support pipe 200...Repeater 201... Mounting stand 206...Solar panel 300...Water level sensor unit 400...Camera (remote camera) 500, 800...Floodgate facilities (floodgates) 501...Water gate rotation axis 510...Handle 510a...Rotation operation unit 510b...Handlebar spokes 801...Handle support column 802...Rotating shaft housing

Claims

1. A remote automatic water gate opening and closing device for automatically opening and closing a water gate that opens and closes by rotating a handle having handle spokes, a device body that is detachably connected to the handle and that opens and closes the floodgate by rotating the handle; a communication and power supply unit configured to be able to communicate with a server device via a network, supplying power to the device body, receiving commands to open or close the floodgate transmitted from the server device, and controlling the operation of the device body in accordance with the received commands; a support section for supporting the device main body and the communication and power supply section; The device body includes: a motor that is controlled by the communication and power supply unit to rotate a rotary shaft; a drive gear inserted onto a rotation shaft of the motor; a driven gear that is in mesh with the drive gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear; a rotating disk to which the driven gear is fixed and which rotates together with the rotation of the driven gear; a substantially plate-shaped locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the rotating disk, The locking piece is provided with a through hole for detachably inserting a fastener thereinto, the device body is supported by the support part in a state in which the rotating disk, which is one end surface of the device body, faces one end of the handle and is disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the one end of the handle, A remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device characterized in that when the fastener is inserted into the through hole of the locking piece, the fastener engages with the handle spoke, connecting the device main body to the handle, and when the motor's rotating shaft rotates in this state, the turntable rotates, and the handle spokes receive a rotational load due to the fastener inserted into the locking piece of the turntable, causing the handle to rotate together with the turntable, thereby opening and closing the floodgate.

2. A remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the device main body is connected to the handle by the fastener, the connection between the device main body and the handle can be released by pulling the fastener away from the handle.

3. The fastener is a U-bolt having a pair of legs, A pair of through holes is provided in the locking piece, A remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pair of legs of the fastener are inserted into the through hole of the locking piece, and the pair of legs of the fastener are positioned so that they sandwich the handle spokes from both sides, thereby locking the handle spokes with the fastener.

4. A floodgate opening and closing system comprising a remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device for automatically opening and closing a floodgate that opens and closes by rotating a handle having a handle spoke, and a server device configured to be able to communicate with the remote automatic floodgate opening and closing device via a network, The server device is configured to be able to communicate with a user terminal of a user who manages the water gate via the network, to provide the user terminal with a web page that accepts requests to open or close the water gate, to accept requests to open or close the water gate from the user terminal on the web page, and to transmit a command to open or close the water gate corresponding to the accepted opening or closing request to the remote automatic water gate opening and closing device via the network, The remote automatic water gate opening and closing device is a device body that is detachably connected to the handle and that opens and closes the floodgate by rotating the handle; a communication and power supply unit configured to be able to communicate with a server device via the network, supplying power to the device body, receiving a command to open or close the water gate transmitted from the server device, and controlling the operation of the device body in accordance with the received command; a support section for supporting the device main body and the communication and power supply section; The device body includes: a motor that is controlled by the communication and power supply unit to rotate a rotary shaft; a drive gear inserted onto a rotation shaft of the motor; a driven gear that is in mesh with the drive gear and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear; a rotating disk to which the driven gear is fixed and which rotates together with the rotation of the driven gear; a substantially plate-shaped locking piece provided on the outer periphery of the rotating disk, The locking piece is provided with a through hole for detachably inserting a fastener thereinto, the device body is supported by the support part in a state in which the rotating disk, which is one end surface of the device body, faces one end of the handle and is disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the one end of the handle, A floodgate opening and closing system characterized in that when the fastener is inserted into the through hole of the locking piece, the fastener engages with the handle spoke, connecting the device main body to the handle; when the motor's rotating shaft rotates in this state, the turntable rotates, and the handle spokes receive a rotational load due to the fastener inserted into the locking piece of the turntable, causing the handle to rotate together with the turntable, thereby opening and closing the floodgate.

5. a water level sensor unit for measuring the water level of the waterway in which the water gate is installed; The water level sensor unit includes: a water level sensor that measures the water level of the waterway near the water gate; a communication processing unit that transmits water level information including the value of the water level measured by the water level sensor to the server device via the network, The floodgate opening and closing system described in claim 4, characterized in that the server device receives the water level information transmitted by the water level sensor unit and provides the user terminal with a web page presenting the water level value contained in the water level information.

6. a camera for photographing the waterway in the vicinity of the water gate; the camera has a communication processing unit that performs communication processing with the server device via the network, The server device provides the user terminal with a web page that accepts requests to photograph the waterway in which the watergate is installed, accepts the request to photograph the waterway from the user terminal on the web page, and transmits a photographing command corresponding to the accepted photographing request to the camera via the network; When the camera receives the photographing command transmitted from the server device, it photographs the waterway near the water gate and transmits image information including the photographed image of the waterway to the server device via the network; The floodgate opening and closing system described in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that when the server device receives image information transmitted from the camera, it provides a web page to the user terminal via the network, presenting an image of the waterway contained in the image information.

Images