Storage case for cable connection sensors

Abstract

By facilitating the unwinding and retrieval of the cable-connected sensor, a dedicated winding device is unnecessary. [Solution] In a storage case for a cable-connected sensor 6 in which multiple sensors 6a are connected, a cushioning material 3 formed in a cylindrical shape and having a recess 3a for storing the sensors 6a is provided, end caps 4 attached to both sides of the cushioning material 3, and bearing walls 5 attached to both sides of the end caps 4 and having bearings 5a into which the circumferential surface 4a of the end caps 4 are inserted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a storage case for a cable connection sensor.

Background Art

[0002] For a single control unit, multiple sensor units are connected in series (like a daisy chain) via communication or power supply cables, such as a human presence sensor or a current sensor, to perform measurements at multiple locations. This can achieve significant effects in system simplification and cost reduction. Such systems are widely available in the market.

[0003] The inclinometer in the ground is also an example. The inclination sensors are usually installed along a pipe buried in the ground at intervals of 1 - 2 m to measure the inclination angle of the pipe at each depth. The measured angle data is collected and stored in a control unit installed on the ground, and the deformation of the entire pipe is analyzed, thereby conducting a dynamic survey of the ground.

[0004] The dynamic survey of the ground is carried out for locations where landslides etc. are predicted from various pre - environmental surveys. After the survey for a certain period, the measurement system is recovered. Also, if the inclination sensor is damaged for some reason, the inclination sensor is pulled up and repaired or replaced. Moreover, the total length of the cable of the inclinometer in the ground may exceed 30 m, and it is desired to reduce the load during underground installation or renovation.

[0005] The following patent documents describe the lifting operation or measurement technology of an inclinometer using a winding pulley and a wire winding device. That is, in Patent Document 1, a winding reel for a suspension cable is fixed to a cylindrical body 3. After returning the position of the cylindrical body to its original position, the winding pulley is rotated, and the probe is guided to the measured pipe through an opening and an end, and then the sensor is used to measure the hole bend of the measured pipe while moving inside the measured pipe. A measurement system calibration device and a hole bend measurement method are disclosed.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses an inclination measuring device in which a wire rope and a cabtyre cable are unfurled from a wire winding device and a cabtyre cable winding device, and an inclinometer is lowered at an appropriate speed along a connecting steel plate and a water-stopping plate that serve as guide hardware. When the measuring instrument sensor part reaches the lowest point of the inclination measuring section, the wire winding device is reversed to wind up the wire rope and pull up the measuring instrument sensor part. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-313251 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-184717 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The technology disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document uses a single tilt sensor and a winding device to measure angles by placing the tilt sensor at various depths underground each time a measurement is taken, making the winding device essential. However, in a system where multiple tilt sensors are left underground for a certain period of time and angles are measured at each depth, a dedicated winding device becomes costly and has significant disadvantages. Furthermore, when moving the wound-up tilt sensors to a different measurement location, it is necessary to pull the tilt sensors out of the winding device and repackage them, which is time-consuming. In addition, when winding with a winding device, the sensors may overlap, making them bulky. Moreover, in the worst case, the tilt sensors may be damaged.

[0009] This disclosure provides a technology to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to eliminate the need for a dedicated winding device by facilitating the pulling out and retrieval of cable connection sensors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The cable-connected sensor housing case disclosed herein is for housing a cable-connected sensor in which multiple sensors are connected, The device includes a cushioning material formed in a cylindrical shape with a recess for housing the sensor, end caps attached to both sides of the cushioning material, and bearing walls attached to both sides of the end caps, each having a bearing into which the circumferential surface of the end cap is inserted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The cable connection sensor storage case of this disclosure makes it possible to easily pull out and retrieve the cable connection sensor, thereby eliminating the need for a dedicated winding device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the installation state of the underground inclinometer system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer casing of the storage case for the cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the core of the storage case for a cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the cushioning material in the storage case for the cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the cushioning material in the storage case for the cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the cushioning material in the storage case for the cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views showing a cylindrical cushioning material, core, and end cap according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 8] This is an exploded perspective view showing the bearing wall and cylindrical cushioning material housed in the outer casing according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 9] It is a completed perspective view showing a state in which a bearing wall and a cylindrical cushioning material are stored in an outer packing box according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 10] It is a perspective view showing an outer packing box in a state where a connection sensor according to Embodiment 1 is stored in the outer packing box. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing a storage process of a connection sensor according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view showing a state in which an inclination sensor is pulled out from an outer packing box or being recovered from a pipe according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 13] It is a perspective view showing an end cap in a storage case for a cable connection sensor according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 14] FIG. 14A is a perspective view showing the front surface of a drive gear, and FIG. 14B is a perspective view showing the back surface of the drive gear. [Figure 15] FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing an electric driver and a square bit, and FIG. 15B is a perspective view showing a state where the electric driver and the square bit are attached to a drive gear. [Figure 16] FIG. 16A is a perspective view seen from the front surface of a bearing wall, and FIG. 16B is a perspective view seen from the back surface of the bearing wall. [Figure 17] It is a perspective view showing a bearing wall and a cylindrical cushioning material part according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 18] It is a side view showing a bearing wall and a cylindrical cushioning material part according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 19] It is a plan sectional view showing a bearing wall and a cylindrical cushioning material part according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 20] It is a perspective view showing a fitting state of a drive gear and a driven gear according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 21] It is an enlarged sectional view showing part B of FIG. 19. [Figure 22] It is a perspective view showing an outer packing box according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 23] It is a perspective view showing a state of a winding-up operation of an inclination sensor connected to a cable using an electric driver and a square bit according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 24] This is an enlarged perspective view showing section C in Figure 23. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiment 1. The storage case for the cable connection sensor according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, we will use a ground tilt sensor as an example of a cable-connected sensor, but any sensor connected in series by a cable, such as a motion sensor, current sensor, or temperature sensor, may also be used. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the installation state of a ground inclinometer system, which is an example of an application target for the cable-connected sensor housing case according to this embodiment. In Figure 1, a cable-connected inclinometer sensor 6 is arranged along the inner wall of a pipe 8 buried in the ground 9, and a control unit 10 is installed above ground to supply power to the cable-connected inclinometer sensor 6 or to exchange signals with the cable-connected inclinometer sensor 6. Multiple individual inclinometer sensors 6a are connected to the cable-connected inclinometer sensor 6.

[0014] Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the outer box of the storage case for the cable-connected sensor according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2A is a perspective view showing the lid closed, and Figure 2B is a perspective view showing the lid open. The front of the outer box 1 has an openable and closable flap 1d. This flap 1d functions as a lid to prevent the entry of dirt or dust from the outside when closed during transport. Furthermore, by opening the flap 1d, it functions as an opening for pulling out the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 and for storing the cable-connected tilt sensor 6.

[0015] The lid 1e of the outer box 1 is also designed to be openable and closable, as shown in the diagram. Closing the lid 1e during transport prevents dust and debris from entering from the outside. Furthermore, as will be described later, when pulling out the cable-connected tilt sensor 6, the lid is opened to access the leading tilt sensor 6a to remove it from the cushioning material. Conversely, when retrieving the cable-connected tilt sensor 6, the lid is opened to access the tilt sensor 6a and other components to be inserted into the recesses in the cushioning material. However, the top cover 1e may be a removable top cover instead of a flap structure as shown in the figure. The outer box 1 has holes 1c on either the left or right side, or both sides, for use with the end caps described later. These holes 1c are also sealed during transport to prevent the entry of dirt or dust, and when winding work is required, the circular lid 1a is removed by cutting the perforations 1b on the outer circumference to form the holes 1c for use.

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the core of the storage case for the cable-connected sensor according to Embodiment 1, Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the cushioning material, and Figure 6 is a plan view showing the cushioning material. In the figures, the core 2 can be made of cardboard or plastic, and the cushioning material 3 can be made of HDPE (HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE), cardboard, expanded polystyrene, etc., and in any case, an appropriate material can be used depending on the application. The core 2 needs to have the necessary strength and hardness to hold the cushioning material 3 and the cable-connected tilt sensor 6, and to connect with the end cap 4 which will be described later. In addition, the cushioning material 3 needs to have interference performance that can protect the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 from vibrations or shocks expected during transportation, and also needs to have elasticity to hold the cable-connected tilt sensor 6.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the cushioning material 3 can be formed into a cylindrical shape and can also be manufactured with a recess 3a. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a flat cushioning material 3c without holes and a flat cushioning material 3b with a hole 3d for holding the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 can be alternately wrapped around the core 2 and then fixed by adhesive or mechanical means as shown in Figure 5. The bottom surface of the hole 3d has a flat cushioning material 3c, and when a G value is applied to the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 in the direction of the rotation axis, the flat cushioning material 3c absorbs it. A typical example of this is the recess 3a. When the number of units produced is small, it is common to form it by bonding flat cushioning material 3b and flat cushioning material 3c together. However, the indentations 3a of the cushioning material 3 are arranged in a spiral pattern on the cylindrical cushioning material 3 so that when the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 is attached, the units do not interfere with each other, the pitch between each unit is maintained, and the size of the outer box 1 is minimized. Furthermore, the indentations 3a are arranged in a zigzag pattern so that adjacent indentations 3a are staggered.

[0018] Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views showing a cylindrical cushioning material, core, and end cap according to Embodiment 1, with Figure 7A being an exploded perspective view and Figure 7B being a completed perspective view. The end cap 4 is bonded to the core 2 or mechanically fixed firmly and integrated with it. The circumferential surface 4a of the end cap 4 becomes the axis of rotation when inserted into the bearing 5a provided in the bearing wall 5, which will be described later. A knob 4b for rotating the cylindrical cushioning material 3 is attached to one or both sides of the end cap 4. Furthermore, since the inside of the core 2 is dead space, a recess 4c may be provided in the end cap 4, as shown in the figure, for storing a control unit or installation manual that would otherwise be difficult to house.

[0019] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the bearing wall and cylindrical cushioning material housed in the outer casing, and Figure 9 is a completed perspective view of the same. A cylindrical bearing 5a is located in the center of the bearing wall 5. By inserting the circumferential surface 4a of the end cap 4 into the bearing 5a, the cylindrical cushioning material 3 can be held and rotational movement can be enabled. The bearing wall 5 has a rectangular shape, and its external dimensions match the internal dimensions of the outer casing 1. Therefore, by inserting the cylindrical cushioning material to which the bearing wall 5 is attached into the outer casing 1, the cushioning material 3 is fixed in place, as shown in Figure 9.

[0020] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the outer casing with the connected sensors housed inside, and Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the process of housing the connected sensors. One tilt sensor 6a is lightly fitted into a spirally formed recess 3a in the cylindrical cushioning material 3, according to the measurement pitch of the cable-connected tilt sensor 6. This prevents the tilt sensors 6a from interfering with each other, allowing for a reduction in storage space. The control unit 10 is housed in the recess 4c of the end cap 4. The method for storing the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 involves attaching several tilt sensors 6a from the end of the cable to the recesses 3a of the cushioning material 3, ensuring they are securely in place. Then, while rotating the knob 4b attached to the end cap 4 in the winding direction, the tilt sensors 6a are attached to the recesses 3a one by one.

[0021] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 being pulled out of the outer box and placed into a pipe 8 that has been pre-installed underground 9, or being retrieved from the pipe 8. When pulling out the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 connected to the cable from the outer box 1, the tilt sensor 6a, which was fitted into the hole 3d of the cushioning material 3, will be sequentially released by pulling the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 directly by hand, allowing it to be pulled out.

[0022] The cable-connected tilt sensor 6 inserted into the pipe 8 descends by its own weight and is positioned at the desired depth according to the connection pitch of one tilt sensor 6a. A connection terminal for connecting to the control unit 10 is attached to the end of the cable-connected tilt sensor 6. By removing the control unit 10, which is housed in the recess 4c of the end cap 4, and connecting it, the tilt measurement system is installed, resulting in the state shown in Figure 1.

[0023] When returning the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 to the outer casing 1, from the state shown in Figure 1, the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 is removed from the control unit 10, multiple tilt sensors 6a are pulled up from the pipe 8, and then fixed in place in the recesses 3a of the cylindrical cushioning material 3. The knob 4b of the end cap 4 is then rotated in the retrieval direction, and each tilt sensor 6a is placed in the recesses 3a of the cushioning material 3 in the order in which it was pulled up, completing the retrieval process.

[0024] In the storage case according to this embodiment, by making the cushioning material for transporting cable-connected sensors rotatable, a dedicated cable winding machine for installing and retrieving sensors is not required, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, by arranging spiral-shaped indentations on the surface of the cushioning material to secure each sensor, it is possible to prevent the sensors from overlapping, saving space after winding up and preventing damage to the sensor unit. Furthermore, compared to methods using a dedicated winding device, it is possible to easily install and retrieve sensors connected to the cable. Furthermore, since the sensors can be attached to designated recesses in the cushioning material, the risk of damage due to contact between sensors is reduced, and retrieval work can be carried out smoothly.

[0025] Embodiment 2. Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the end cap of the cable connection sensor housing case according to Embodiment 2. A driven gear 42b is provided on the outer circumference of the end cap 42 alongside the rotating shaft surface 42a. The outermost diameter of the driven gear 42b is smaller than the diameter of the rotating shaft surface 42a, so that the driven gear 42b does not interfere with the bearing 52a shown in Figure 16, which will be described later.

[0026] Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the drive gear, Figure 14A is a perspective view showing the surface of the drive gear, and Figure 14B is a perspective view showing the back surface of the drive gear. Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the electric screwdriver and square bit for driving the drive gear 7, Figure 15A is a perspective view showing the electric screwdriver and square bit, and Figure 15B is a perspective view showing the electric screwdriver and square bit attached to the drive gear. The drive gear 7 has a shaft 7b for fixing and rotating the drive gear 7, a groove 7c for attaching the retaining ring 11 described later, and a hole 7d for fitting the square bit 13. The square bit 13 attached to the electric screwdriver 12 is inserted into this hole 7d, and the driving force is transmitted to the cylindrical cushioning material 3. The shape and size of this hole 7d are arbitrary, but for example, a square hole corresponding to a 9.5 mm square bit 13 can be used, and if a simple shape is used in accordance with general standards, it will be easier to procure sockets and will also be effective in maintaining the strength of the hole.

[0027] Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a bearing wall according to Embodiment 2, where Figure 16A is a perspective view of the bearing wall as seen from the surface, and Figure 16B is a perspective view of the bearing wall as seen from the back. The bearing wall 52 has a bearing 52a and a cylindrical bearing 52b that supports the shaft 7b of the drive gear 7. It also has a hole 52c to prevent interference with the drive gear 7.

[0028] Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the bearing wall and cylindrical cushioning material according to Embodiment 2, Figure 18 is a side view of the same, Figure 19 is a plan cross-sectional view of the same, Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the fitted state of the drive gear and the driven gear, and Figure 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing part B of Figure 19. In Figure 21, the shaft 7b of the drive gear 7 is inserted into the cylindrical bearing 52b of the bearing wall 52, and the retaining ring 11 is used to prevent it from coming loose. In this structure, the driving force transmitted from the electric screwdriver 12 is transmitted to the driven gear 42b provided on the end cap 42 that meshes with the gear portion 7a of the drive gear 7, and the cylindrical cushioning material 3 can be rotated.

[0029] As shown in Figure 21, the drive gear 7 passes through the hole 52c provided in the bearing 52a (see Figure 16A) and meshes with the driven gear 42b. The reduction ratio or winding torque can be adjusted by changing the diameter of the drive gear 7 or by adding more gears.

[0030] Figure 22 is a perspective view showing the outer casing according to Embodiment 2. The outer casing 112 is provided with a hole 12a at a position corresponding to the hole 7d of the drive gear 7 shown in Figure 14. The hand-tightening knob 4b provided on the side of the end cap 42 may be present as shown in Figure 22, or it may be omitted if it is not needed.

[0031] Figure 23 is a perspective view showing the winding operation of a cable-connected tilt sensor using an electric screwdriver and a square bit according to Embodiment 2, and Figure 24 is an enlarged perspective view showing part C in Figure 23. By inserting the square bit 13 attached to the electric screwdriver 12 into the hole 12a and rotating the drive gear 7, the load during winding of the cable-connected tilt sensor 6 can be reduced.

[0032] In this embodiment, since winding work can be performed using an electric screwdriver, the burden of retrieval work can be reduced, especially when the cable is long. Furthermore, the efficiency of the winding work can be improved.

[0033] While this disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments and examples, the various features, aspects, and functions described in one or more embodiments are not limited to the application of a particular embodiment, but are applicable individually or in various combinations to the embodiments. Accordingly, countless variations not illustrated are conceivable within the scope of the art disclosed in this specification. These include, for example, modifying, adding or omitting at least one component, or even extracting at least one component and combining it with components of other embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1,112 Outer box, 1a Circular lid, 1b Perforation, 1d Flap, 1e Top cover, 2 Core, 3 Cushioning material, 3a Indentation, 4 End cap, 4a Circumferential surface, 4b Knob, 4c Recess, 42b Driven Gear, 5 Bearing Wall, 5a Bearing, 52b Cylindrical bearing, 6 Cable-connected tilt sensor, 6a Tilt sensor, 7 Drive gear, 7a Gear section, 7b Shaft, 7d Hole, 8 Pipe, 9 Underground, 10 control units, 12 electric screwdrivers, 13 square bits.

Claims

1. A storage case for cable-connected sensors, which houses a cable-connected sensor with multiple sensors connected together, A storage case for a cable-connected sensor, comprising a cushioning material formed in a cylindrical shape and having a recess for housing the aforementioned sensor, end caps attached to both sides of the cushioning material, and bearing walls attached to both sides of the end caps and having bearings into which the circumferential surfaces of the end caps are inserted.

2. The storage case for a cable connection sensor according to claim 1, wherein the recess is arranged in a spiral shape relative to the cushioning material.

3. The cable connection sensor storage case according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a knob for rotating the cushioning material is attached to at least one side of the end cap.

4. A storage case for a cable connection sensor according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a driven gear is provided on the outer circumference of the end cap, and a drive gear that meshes with the driven gear is provided, and the driven gear is rotated by rotating the drive gear, thereby rotating the cushioning material.

5. The storage case for a cable connection sensor according to claim 4, wherein the drive gear is provided with a hole into which a square bit attached to an electric screwdriver is inserted, and the driving force transmitted from the electric screwdriver is transmitted to the driven gear that meshes with the drive gear, thereby rotating the cushioning material.

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