Air pressure adjusting device

Abstract

To provide an air pressure adjusting device for urging a user of the air pressure adjusting device to use an air supply source having sufficient air supply capacity.SOLUTION: An air pressure adjusting device according to one solving means of the present invention is an air pressure adjusting device that is connected to an air supply source, fills an object to be filled with air supplied from the air supply source, and adjusts an air pressure of the object to be filled, the air pressure adjusting device including a pressure sensor, a notification unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, the pressure sensor being provided in a flow path of the air supplied from the air supply source, the storage unit stores a pressure threshold value, the control unit determines whether or not the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold value, the notification unit notifies that the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold value when the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold value, and the control unit decreases the pressure threshold value and determines again whether or not the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air pressure adjusting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an air pressure adjusting device that is equipped with an air supply source and an air supply hose and is capable of filling air into automobile tires. Patent Document 1 also describes that the proper air pressure for automobile tires is usually 1.5 to 2.2 kg / cm for passenger cars. 2 (approximately 147kPa to 215kPa), and for large trucks and buses it is 6 to 8kg / cm 2 (approximately 588kPa to 785kPa). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-114145 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the air supply pressure of the air supply source connected to the air pressure adjusting device is low, it may not be possible to inflate the tire to the proper air pressure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an air pressure regulator that encourages users of the air pressure regulator to use an air supply source that has sufficient air supply capacity.

[0006] An air pressure regulating device according to one solution of the present invention is an air pressure regulating device that is connected to an air supply source, fills an object to be filled with air supplied from the air supply source, and adjusts the air pressure of the object to be filled, and has one feature that the pressure sensor is provided in a flow path for air supplied from the air supply source, the memory unit stores a pressure threshold, the control unit determines whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold, and if the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold, the notification unit notifies that the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold, and the control unit reduces the pressure threshold and re-determines whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the air pressure adjusting device according to one solution of the present invention, the user of the air pressure adjusting device can be encouraged to use an air supply source with sufficient air supply capacity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an air pressure adjusting device 10. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a piping diagram of the air pressure adjusting device 10. [Figure 3] 1 is a system configuration diagram of an air pressure adjusting device 10. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the air pressure adjustment process of the air pressure adjusting device 10. FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of an air supply pressure check process of the air pressure adjusting device 10. FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] In the following embodiments of the present invention, the description will be divided into multiple sections, etc., as necessary. In principle, these sections are not unrelated to one another, and one section is a partial or complete modification, detail, etc. of the other. For this reason, in all drawings, components having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description thereof will be omitted. Furthermore, the number of components (including the number, numerical value, amount, range, etc.) is not limited to a specific number unless otherwise specified or clearly limited to a specific number in principle, and may be greater than or less than the specific number. Furthermore, when referring to the shape of a component, etc., it is intended to include those that are substantially similar or approximate to that shape, etc., unless otherwise specified or clearly considered not to be the case in principle.

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air pressure adjusting device 10 according to this embodiment.

[0011] The air pressure adjusting device 10 has a main body 19. The main body 19 can be configured depending on the location where the air pressure adjusting device 10 is to be installed. In this embodiment, the main body 19 is described as having legs 11 and a housing 12. The legs 11 are installed upright on the ground G. The housing 12 is installed on top of the legs 11.

[0012] The main body 19 has a display unit 13 and an operation unit 14. The display unit 13 can be, for example, a 7-segment display. The display unit 13 displays various information under the control of a control unit 33, which will be described later. The operation unit 14 has input buttons and can send signals to the control unit 33.

[0013] The air pressure adjusting device 10 has a hose 15. One end of the hose 15 is connected to an air supply source C, and the other end is connected to the main body 19. The air pressure adjusting device 10 is connected to the air supply source C via the hose 15. An air compressor, for example, can be used as the air supply source C. Compressed air is supplied to the air pressure adjusting device 10 from the air supply source C via the hose 15.

[0014] The air pressure adjusting device 10 has a hose 16. The hose 16 has an air chuck 17 at one end. The hose 16 is connected to the tire T at the end having the air chuck 17, and is connected to a main body 19 at the other end. The air pressure adjusting device 10 is connected to the tire T via the hose 16. The air pressure adjusting device 10 supplies air supplied from an air supply source C to the tire T via the hose 16.

[0015] The air pressure adjusting device 10 has an alarm unit 18. The alarm unit 18 has a speaker and a buzzer, and can notify, alert, or warn the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 and people around the air pressure adjusting device 10 based on the control of the control unit 33, which will be described later.

[0016] 2 is a piping diagram of the air pressure regulator 10. The main body 19 has a pipe 21, an air filter 22, a regulator 23, a solenoid valve 24, a check valve 25, a pressure sensor 26, and a solenoid valve 27 inside.

[0017] The conduit 21 is a flow path for air supplied from an air supply source C. An air filter 22, a regulator 23, a solenoid valve 24, a check valve 25, a pressure sensor 26, and a solenoid valve 27 are provided on the conduit 21.

[0018] Solenoid valve 24 and solenoid valve 27 are opened and closed under the control of control unit 33. When solenoid valve 24 is in the open state, air from air supply source C is supplied to the downstream side (hose 16 side). For ease of explanation, the upstream side of solenoid valve 24 in conduit 21 (air supply source C side) will be referred to as conduit 28, and the downstream side of solenoid valve 24 will be referred to as conduit 29. In addition, solenoid valve 27 is an exhaust solenoid valve. When solenoid valve 27 is opened, the air in conduit 29 is exhausted.

[0019] The air filter 22 can remove foreign matter from the compressed air supplied from the air supply source C. The regulator 23 reduces the pressure of the air supplied from the air supply source C and prevents the air pressure regulating device 10 from breaking down due to, for example, an excessive increase in pressure. The check valve 25 can prevent air in the tire T from flowing into the regulator 23 when the hose 16 is connected to the tire T. The pressure sensor 26 is provided so as to be able to measure the air pressure in the conduit 21. In this embodiment, the pressure sensor 26 is described as being provided in the conduit 29.

[0020] 3 is a system configuration diagram showing the control system of the tire pressure adjusting device 10. The tire pressure adjusting device 10 has a memory unit 31 and a control unit 33.

[0021] The storage unit 31 is configured with, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 31 functions as, for example, a main storage device, an auxiliary storage device, or a cache memory. The storage unit 31 stores information used in the operation of the tire pressure adjusting device 10. The storage unit 31 stores, for example, system programs, application programs, databases, and the like.

[0022] The storage unit 31 also stores threshold information 32. The threshold information 32 is information including, for example, a threshold value for the air supply pressure required for the air supply source C. The threshold value may be determined based on, for example, the appropriate air pressure value for standard tires of large vehicles, or the air supply pressure value that can properly inflate such tires. For example, a value of 600 kPa or higher can be used as the threshold value for the air supply pressure that can properly inflate standard tires of large vehicles.

[0023] The control unit 33 is configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 33 is connected to the display unit 13, the operation unit 14, the notification unit 18, the solenoid valve 24, the pressure sensor 26, the solenoid valve 27, and the memory unit 31. The control unit 33 executes the program stored in the memory unit 31 and controls each of the connected components to realize the functions of the air pressure adjusting device 10.

[0024] (Air pressure adjustment process) The following describes the air pressure adjustment process of the air pressure adjusting device 10. FIG.

[0025] When adjusting the air pressure of the tire T using the air pressure adjusting device 10, the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 first connects the hose 15 to the air supply source C. Next, the user operates the operation unit 14 to input the appropriate air pressure for the tire T. After that, the hose 16 is connected to the tire T via the air chuck 17. When the hose 16 is connected to the tire T [1], the control unit 33 references the value of the pressure sensor 26 [2], and then opens the solenoid valve 24 and closes the solenoid valve 27 to start adjusting the air pressure of the tire T [3]. Note that the connection of the hose 16 to the tire T may be detected from a change in the value of the pressure sensor 26, or may be detected by other known means.

[0026] The control unit 33 monitors the pressure inside the pipe 29 by referring to the value of the pressure sensor 26. Furthermore, the control unit 33 controls the solenoid valves 24 and 27 according to the value of the pressure sensor 26 to adjust the air pressure of the tire T. When the solenoid valve 24 is open and the solenoid valve 27 is closed, the tire T is filled with air supplied from the air supply source C, and the tire T is pressurized. When the solenoid valve 24 is closed and the solenoid valve 27 is open, the air in the tire T is evacuated, and the tire T is depressurized. When the value of the pressure sensor 26 reaches the air pressure value set by the user [4], the air pressure of the connected tire T is deemed to be appropriate, and the control unit 33 closes the solenoid valves 24 and 27 to end the adjustment of the air pressure of the tire T [5].

[0027] When the adjustment of the air pressure of the tire T is completed, the control unit 33 notifies the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 of this by voice or buzzer sound. Finally, the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 removes the hose 16 from the tire T. This completes the air pressure adjustment process of the air pressure adjusting device 10 [6].

[0028] (Air supply pressure check process) If the air supply pressure of the air supply source C connected to the air pressure adjusting device 10 is low, it may not be possible to inflate the tire T to the air pressure input by the user during the air pressure adjustment process. Therefore, it is advisable to determine whether the air supply pressure of the air supply source C connected to the air pressure adjusting device 10 is sufficient. The air supply pressure check process of the air pressure adjusting device 10 will be described below. Figure 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of the air supply pressure check process of the air pressure adjusting device 10.

[0029] To perform the air supply pressure check process, the user of air pressure regulator 10 first connects hose 15 to air supply source C. Then, the user starts the air supply pressure check process by operating operation unit 14. When the air supply pressure check process starts, control unit 33 closes solenoid valve 24 and opens solenoid valve 27, opening conduit 29 to the atmosphere

[11] .

[0030] Next, the control unit 33 opens the solenoid valve 24 and closes the solenoid valve 27. This allows the pressure sensor 26 to measure the air supply pressure of the air supply source C

[12] .

[0031] The control unit 33 monitors the value of the pressure sensor 26 for a predetermined time. Here, the control unit 33 refers to the threshold information 32 and determines whether the value of the pressure sensor 26 exceeds a predetermined threshold

[13] . In this embodiment, the threshold for this determination is described as 600 kPa.

[0032] If the value of the pressure sensor 26 exceeds the threshold value of 600 kPa, it is determined that the air supply source C has the capacity to inflate the tires of a large vehicle. Then, the solenoid valve 24 is closed, and the air supply pressure check process ends.

[14] When the process ends, the user may be notified by voice or display that there is no problem with the air supply pressure of the air supply source C.

[0033] On the other hand, if a predetermined time has elapsed while the value of pressure sensor 26 does not exceed the threshold value of 600 kPa, control unit 33 notifies the user

[16] , reduces the threshold value for the air supply pressure check process by a predetermined value (e.g., 50 kPa)

[17] , and determines again whether the value of pressure sensor 26 exceeds the threshold value after the subtraction process

[13] . This process is repeated until the value of pressure sensor 26 exceeds the threshold value. If the value of pressure sensor 26 exceeds the threshold value, the air supply pressure check process of air pressure regulator 10 ends

[14] .

[0034] By performing such processing, if the air supply pressure from the air supply source C does not meet a certain level, the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 can be prompted to use an air supply source C with sufficient air supply capacity.

[0035] When the air pressure adjusting device 10 is installed at a gas station or the like, it can be used to inflate tires of both large vehicles and passenger vehicles. Generally, the proper air pressure for tires of large vehicles is higher than the proper air pressure for tires of passenger vehicles, so it is preferable that the air supply source C connected to the air pressure adjusting device 10 has an air supply pressure that can properly inflate tires of large vehicles. Therefore, it is preferable to store the air supply pressure threshold value that can properly inflate tires of large vehicles as threshold information 32 in the memory unit 31.

[0036] Furthermore, if air supply source C does not have the air supply capacity to meet the threshold, it is preferable to notify the user that air supply source C does not have sufficient air supply capacity by displaying a message on display unit 13 or by issuing a sound from notification means 17. This can prompt the user of air pressure adjusting device 10 to use an air supply source C that has sufficient air supply capacity.

[0037] According to well-known techniques, for example, it is conceivable to disable the air pressure regulator when the air supply pressure from the air supply source does not meet a certain level. However, it would be inconvenient if the air pressure regulator were disabled even in situations where that level of air supply pressure is not actually required. Therefore, if air supply source C does not have an air supply pressure that meets the threshold stored as threshold information 32, it is recommended to lower this threshold and check the air supply pressure of air supply source C again. Then, if the air supply pressure of air supply source C meets the lowered threshold, it is recommended to enable the air pressure regulator 10. By performing such processing, even if air supply source C does not have the air supply capacity to properly inflate tires of a large vehicle, for example, it is possible to adjust the air pressure of tires that do not require such a level of air supply capacity (e.g., tires of a passenger vehicle).

[0038] If the air supply pressure of air supply source C still does not meet the lowered threshold, the device may continue to lower the threshold and recheck the air supply pressure of air supply source C while notifying the user of this fact. The threshold may be lowered by a predetermined amount from the initial value, or may be lowered up to a predetermined value. For example, if the air supply pressure threshold is set to 600 kPa as threshold information 32, the threshold may be lowered by 50 kPa each time it is confirmed that the air supply pressure of air supply source C does not meet the threshold. The initial threshold value may be set to the appropriate air pressure for a specific tire size according to a specific standard, and each time it is confirmed that the air supply pressure of air supply source C does not meet the threshold, the threshold may be lowered to match the appropriate air pressure for a smaller tire size according to that standard. By performing such processing, air pressure adjusting device 10 can notify the user that air supply source C does not have the desired air supply capacity, while also adjusting the air pressure of tires of a type that can be inflated with air from that air supply source C.

[0039] Once the threshold has been lowered, the lowered threshold may be stored in the memory unit 31 as threshold information 32 and used as the initial threshold value the next time the air supply pressure check process is performed. Because it is unlikely that the air supply pressure of the air supply source C will recover significantly without maintenance or replacement, the time required for the process can be shortened by starting the air supply pressure check process from the previously lowered threshold value from the next time onward. This setting is suitable for frequently checking the air supply pressure, such as checking the air supply pressure of the air supply source C when the air pressure adjusting device 10 is turned on. It is also preferable that the adjusted threshold value can be reset to the initial setting by operating the operation unit 14, for example.

[0040] When the appropriate air pressure for the tire T is input in the air pressure adjustment process, the input value may be compared with the threshold value of the threshold value information 32. In particular, if the process of lowering the threshold value is being performed, it is possible that the air supply source C does not have the desired air supply capacity. Therefore, if the input appropriate air pressure is greater than the threshold value, the air pressure adjustment process may not be performed, and a notification may be issued that the air supply capacity of the air supply source C is insufficient.

[0041] For example, suppose the initial threshold stored as threshold information 32 is 600 kPa, but the threshold is lowered by 50 kPa each time the air supply pressure check process is performed, resulting in 450 kPa. In such a case, it is considered that air supply source C does not have an air supply pressure appropriate for tire T, for example, whose proper air pressure is 500 kPa. Therefore, if the user inputs 500 kPa as the proper air pressure for tire T during the air pressure adjustment process, the air pressure adjustment process may not be performed, and a message may be displayed indicating that the air supply capacity of air supply source C is insufficient. This can prompt the user of air pressure adjusting device 10 to use an air supply source C with sufficient air supply capacity.

[0042] If the air supply source C does not have a supply pressure sufficient to properly inflate passenger vehicle tires, the air pressure adjusting device 10 may be disabled from performing the air pressure adjustment process, since it will not be able to properly inflate many types of tires. That is, a lower limit may be set for the fluctuation range of the air supply pressure threshold, and the air pressure adjusting device 10 may be disabled from performing the air pressure adjustment process when the threshold reaches that lower limit. This allows the user of the air pressure adjusting device 10 to be prompted to use an air supply source C with sufficient air supply pressure.

[0043] Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0044] Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the case where air is filled into automobile tires, the air pressure adjusting device 10 to which the present invention is applied can also be used to fill other objects with air. For example, the air pressure adjusting device 10 may be used to fill bicycle tires with air. Alternatively, the air pressure adjusting device 10 may be used to fill an air tank with air. In this case, the threshold value information 32 may be a threshold value corresponding to the appropriate air pressure for the air tank.

[0045] Pressure sensor 26 may be provided in conduit 28, but is preferably provided in conduit 29. By providing pressure sensor 26 in conduit 29, pressure sensor 26 can be used both to check the air pressure of tire T in the air pressure adjustment process and to check the air supply pressure of air supply source C in the air supply pressure check process. Note that multiple pressure sensors 26 may be provided on conduit 21, and in that case, the value of a different pressure sensor 26 may be referenced for each process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Air pressure regulator 12. Case 21 Pipeline 26 Pressure Sensor 31 Storage section 32 Threshold Information 33 Control Unit C. Air supply source T Tire

Claims

1. An air pressure adjusting device that is connected to an air supply source, fills an object with air supplied from the air supply source, and adjusts the air pressure of the object, The device includes a pressure sensor, a notification unit, a storage unit, and a control unit, the pressure sensor is provided in a flow path of air supplied from the air supply source, the storage unit stores a pressure threshold value; the control unit determines whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold value; If the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold, the notification unit notifies that the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold, and the control unit decreases the pressure threshold and determines again whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold. An air pressure adjusting device characterized by:

2. the storage unit stores a lower limit value of the pressure threshold; When the internal pressure of the flow path does not satisfy the pressure threshold, the control unit reduces the pressure threshold by a predetermined value and repeats the process of determining again whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold until the pressure threshold is reduced to the lower limit value or the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold.

2. The air pressure adjusting device according to claim 1.

3. When the control unit decreases the pressure threshold and determines again whether the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold, When the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold, the pressure threshold at which the internal pressure of the flow path satisfies the pressure threshold is stored in the storage unit.

3. The air pressure adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The air pressure adjusting device has an input unit, The control unit compares a pressure value input by a user of the air pressure adjusting device with the pressure threshold when the air supplied from the air supply source is filled into the object to be filled, and if the input pressure value is greater than the pressure threshold, stops the air pressure adjustment process for the object to be filled.

4. The air pressure adjusting device according to claim 3.

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