Opening / closing mechanism

Abstract

The objective is to provide an opening / closing device that prevents situations where the opening / closing mechanism cannot be opened or closed during an earthquake, thus preventing people from exiting through the opening, and that allows entry and exit through the opening after an earthquake. [Solution] The problem was solved by an opening / closing device characterized by comprising an opening / closing means provided on the periphery of an opening in a structural frame, an opening / closing device for electrically operating the opening / closing means, an opening / closing device control means for driving the opening / closing device and outputting a control signal for electrically controlling the operation of the opening / closing means, and the opening / closing device control means receiving an earthquake detection signal output from an earthquake detector and outputting a control signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an opening / closing body device configured to partition an opening of a structure body including buildings such as houses, buildings, factories, structures, and garages using an opening / closing body such as a shutter.

Background Art

[0002] An opening / closing body device such as a shutter curtain is installed at an entrance / exit of a structure body including buildings such as houses, buildings, factories, structures, and garages, or an opening such as an internal passage or space, and the opening is opened and closed by moving the opening / closing body. This opening / closing body device is configured to close the entire opening by feeding out and lowering an opening / closing body such as a slat curtain composed of a large number of strip-shaped slat materials, a pipe grill curtain formed by connecting a large number of pipe materials with link materials or the like, a panel curtain composed of a single or a large number of connected panel materials, a net curtain composed of a net material, a sheet curtain composed of a synthetic resin or cloth fiber sheet material, or a composite curtain composed of these composite members from the upper part of the opening. Such an opening / closing body device often performs the opening / closing operation of the opening / closing body electrically (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Regarding such an opening / closing body device, particularly when a robust opening / closing body is used at the entrance / exit of a building, in the event of a large-scale earthquake, if the power supply is lost or deformation or failure of the components constituting the opening / closing body occurs, the opening / closing body may become unable to be opened / closed, and there is a possibility of falling into a situation where it is impossible to exit to the outside from the opening.

[0005] One of the problems addressed by this invention is to prevent situations where the opening and closing mechanism cannot be opened or closed during an earthquake, preventing people from exiting through the opening, and to provide an opening and closing mechanism that allows entry and exit through the opening after an earthquake. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve this objective, the technical means according to the present invention comprises at least the following configurations.

[0007] An opening / closing device comprising: an opening / closing means provided on the periphery of an opening in a structural frame; an opening / closing device for electrically operating the opening / closing means; an opening / closing device control means for driving the opening / closing device and outputting a control signal for electrically controlling the operation of the opening / closing means; and the opening / closing device control means receiving an earthquake detection signal output from an earthquake detector and outputting a control signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Having these characteristics, the present invention provides the following effects. This device prevents situations where the opening cannot be opened or closed during an earthquake, preventing people from exiting through the opening, and instead provides an opening / closing mechanism that allows entry and exit through the opening after an earthquake. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shutter device, which is an opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows the control operation of the opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the opening and closing device according to the present invention, particularly an example of a shutter device equipped with a shutter curtain that opens and closes vertically as the opening and closing means, will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The following drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and in order to make them easier to understand, some components that are not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Also, for illustrative purposes, some components may be intentionally enlarged or reduced in size, and the drawings do not represent an accurate scale.

[0011] (Configuration of the opening / closing mechanism) Figure 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shutter device, which is an opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, the opening / closing device 10 is a shutter device that opens and closes the opening of an entrance / exit of a structure vertically.

[0012] The opening / closing device 10 is installed in an opening in a structure and basically consists of a shutter case 11, a shutter curtain 12, a left guide rail 13, a right guide rail 14, a winding shaft 15, a chain 16, a motor 17, a position detection device (not shown), a control device 18, an obstacle detector 185, an operation switch 19, and an earthquake detector 20. Normally, the opening / closing device 10 controls opening and closing by driving the motor 17, which is the opening / closing mechanism, in response to the operation of the operation switch 19. In this opening / closing device 10, the open state in which the shutter curtain 12 is wound onto the winding shaft 15 is maintained by a mechanical holding mechanism (not shown). If an emergency signal BS indicating the occurrence of a fire or the like is input to the control device 18 from the outside while the opening state is maintained, the holding mechanism releases the open state, and the shutter curtain 12 descends naturally under its own weight, automatically closing the opening. Furthermore, the opening / closing device 10 is configured to receive various detection signals output from the earthquake detector 20 and to perform specific control appropriate for the occurrence of an earthquake.

[0013] The left guide rail 13 and the right guide rail 14 are installed on both ends of the building opening so as to be in contact with both ends of the shutter curtain 12, and are made of a metal member or equivalent member having a U-shaped guide groove in cross-section that extends from the lintel to the floor. The shutter curtain 12 moves up and down along the guide grooves of the left guide rail 13 and the right guide rail 14 to open and close the opening.

[0014] The winding shaft 15 is rotatably mounted on both ends of the shutter case 11 and winds up and unwinds the shutter curtain 12. The chain 16 connects a driving sprocket mounted on the rotating shaft of the motor 17 to a driven sprocket mounted on the rotating shaft of the winding shaft 15. Therefore, the rotational driving force of the motor 17 is transmitted to the winding shaft 15 side via the chain 16, and when the motor 17 rotates, the winding shaft 15 rotates via the chain 16, thereby controlling the opening and closing operation of the shutter curtain 12.

[0015] The motor 17 is equipped with a position detection device (not shown) for detecting its rotational position, i.e., the open / closed position and state of the shutter curtain 12. This position detection device consists of a pulse-generating rotary encoder or the like. A pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of the motor 17 is output to the control device 18, so the rotational position of the motor 17 and the position of the closed end of the shutter curtain 12 at the opening are calculated by the control device 18 based on the generation of these pulses.

[0016] Furthermore, the position detection device (not shown) also acts as an upper and lower limit switch, detecting when the lower end of the shutter curtain 12 reaches the upper limit position for winding, and when the lower end of the shutter curtain 12 reaches the lower limit position for unwinding.

[0017] The control device 18 is a microcomputer and is supplied with commercial power from the AC power line via a power supply device (not shown). The control device 18 controls the rotation of the motor 17 based on control signals corresponding to the operation status of each operation button on the operation switch 19, signals from a position detection device (not shown) provided on the motor 17, and signals from a protector, and releases the holding mechanism based on the emergency signal BS. The control device 18 also controls the rotation and stopping of the motor 17 based on control signals corresponding to the earthquake detection signal from the earthquake detector 20.

[0018] The operation switch 19 has control switches corresponding to the opening and closing operations: an up (open) button 19A, a stop (stop) button 19B, and a down (close) button 19C. It outputs control signals to the control device 18 according to the operation status of each of these buttons. Although not shown in Figure 1, the control device 18 can also be operated by a wireless remote control device.

[0019] The emergency signal BS is a 24V signal supplied from an external control room or similar location in the event of an emergency such as a fire, and is input to a safety interlock relay (not shown) in the control device 18. In addition to or instead of the input of the emergency signal BS from the outside, a temperature sensor or the like may be installed inside the shutter case 11, near the opening of the lintel, i.e., in the area where the shutter curtain 12 moves up and down. This temperature sensor may consist of a high-temperature bimetallic thermostat with an automatic reset B contact that is normally ON and turns OFF when the contact reaches a predetermined temperature (any temperature in the range of 100 to 300 degrees Celsius), and when the contact opens, it may output a signal equivalent to the emergency signal BS indicating that a fire or other emergency has occurred.

[0020] The obstacle sensor 185 is disposed at the lower end (seat plate) of the shutter curtain 12. When an obstacle is detected, it transmits a detection signal corresponding to the movement of the built-in seat plate switch to the control device 18. Also, when the seat plate switch moves back due to the subsequent removal of the obstacle, it transmits a return signal. The transmission of signals from the obstacle sensor 185 to the control device 18 is not limited to the wired method as shown in the figure, and may also be a wireless method that operates using a battery as a power source. Further, a seat plate switch that moves when an obstacle contacts the lower end of the shutter curtain 12 may be provided to press a tape switch provided along the height direction of the left guide rail 13 and the right guide rail 14 by the moving force of the seat plate when the obstacle contacts, or a configuration may be adopted in which a detection signal is wired-output from the tape switch to the control device 18. In addition, a light-receiving and transmitting sensor such as a phototube or an LED may be provided at the opening, and a configuration may be adopted in which an obstacle is detected non-contact by image recognition or the like.

[0021] The earthquake detector 20 is for detecting an earthquake early in order to perform emergency control when an earthquake occurs. The earthquake detector 20 is an electronic earthquake sensor that can detect not only the S wave (main motion) but also the P wave (initial micro motion), and performs earthquake detection using a capacitance sensor. In this embodiment, in order to perform emergency control when an earthquake of a certain magnitude occurs, a P wave detection signal is output when an acceleration of 10 Gal (10 cm / s 2 ) is detected as the P wave, and an S wave detection signal is output to the outside when an acceleration of 100 Gal (100 cm / s2) is detected as the P wave. This is to ensure that emergency control works during an earthquake of a certain magnitude and to avoid the shutter curtain 12 accidentally opening during a small earthquake. However, depending on the nature and frequency of people entering and leaving the structure, the set acceleration may be appropriately adopted by considering the safety against earthquakes and the safety against the intrusion of suspicious persons in comparison. Further, even if the earthquake detector 20 is not of a type that can detect both S-waves and P-waves, an earthquake detector for detecting P-waves and an earthquake detector for detecting S-waves may be provided respectively, and regarding the installation position, it is also possible to install either one at a position away from the opening / closing body device 10. Furthermore, it is also effective to provide a plurality of earthquake detectors for detecting P-waves. Specifically, a plurality of earthquake detectors for detecting P-waves are installed at different positions respectively, and when P-waves are detected by a predetermined number or more of earthquake detectors, it is configured to determine that the original P-waves have been detected and output an opening control signal. By configuring in this way, it is possible to prevent a situation where another vibration not caused by P-waves is misjudged as an earthquake and the shutter is unnecessarily opened. Conversely, from the perspective of taking a higher safety factor, other information or signals other than the P-wave detection signal may be used. For example, earthquake prediction information provided by the Meteorological Agency may be used.

[0022] For such an earthquake detector 20, the control device 18 is configured to receive a P-wave detection signal output from the earthquake detector 20 and output an opening control signal for the opening / closing means, and the control device 18 is also configured to receive an S-wave detection signal output from the earthquake detector 20 and output a stop control signal for the opening / closing means. When a large-scale earthquake occurs, there is a possibility that the power supply is lost, or deformation or failure of the components constituting the opening / closing body occurs, etc., and the opening / closing of the opening / closing body becomes impossible and it becomes impossible to get out to the outside from the opening. To prevent this, in the embodiment of the present invention, by using the time difference from the arrival of the P-wave (initial tremor) of the earthquake to the arrival of the S-wave (main shock, main motion), the initial tremor is detected and the shutter curtain 12 is lifted before the main shock arrives and the opening / closing operation of the shutter curtain 12 becomes impossible. However, when the main shock arrives, if the lifting operation is continued, there is a possibility that danger may occur instead, so the shutter curtain 12 is configured to stop. Also, thereafter, until an operation for recovery is performed, the shutter curtain 12 is made not to accept either an opening operation or a closing operation. Furthermore, the opening control signal can be used not only to control the opening of the opening mechanism, but also to provide a control command to switch to the opening operation after stopping the closing mechanism in the closing operation, in order to respond when the opening mechanism is in the closing operation. In addition, if the amount of opening of the opening mechanism is sufficient to allow evacuation through the opening when a P wave is detected, a decision process may be provided to not perform shutter opening control based on P wave detection. Moreover, after detecting a P wave, the control may be configured to automatically stop the opening mechanism after a predetermined time, regardless of whether an S wave is detected or not, and without waiting until it reaches the fully open position. These embodiments are based on the idea that it is not necessary for the opening to be fully open in order to secure an opening for emergency evacuation.

[0023] As a countermeasure against earthquakes using earthquake detectors, for example, there is a known example of using a mechanical earthquake sensor that detects earthquakes using magnetism and does not require a power source to prevent people from being trapped inside elevators. However, this type of earthquake detector detects S-waves (main tremors) and cannot usually detect P-waves (initial tremors). Furthermore, the measure aims to prevent entrapment by making an emergency stop of the moving elevator at the nearest floor, and there is no idea of ​​deliberately starting a stationary elevator. The opening and closing device according to the embodiment of the present invention utilizes an earthquake detector in order to perform earthquake response control specific to shutter devices, which have different behaviors and characteristics from elevators.

[0024] (Example of control operation of an opening / closing device) Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of a switchgear according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of the control operation of a switchgear will be explained using Figure 2.

[0025] In step ST1, when the seismic detector 20 detects a P-wave (initial tremor), it outputs a P-wave detection signal. Upon receiving the P-wave detection signal, the control device 18 sends an open signal to the motor 17 in step ST2, causing the shutter curtain 12 to begin rising.

[0026] In step ST3, the device monitors whether or not an S-wave (main wave) has been detected. If it has not been detected, the control device 18 continues the opening operation until the shutter curtain 12 reaches its upper limit (step ST4).

[0027] In step ST3, when an S-wave (main wave) is detected, the seismograph 20 outputs an S-wave detection signal. Upon receiving the S-wave detection signal, the control device 18 sends a stop signal to the motor 17 in step ST5, and the shutter curtain 12 stops. Subsequently, even if the operation switch 19 is operated to try to open or close the shutter curtain 12, the opener (motor 17) will not be driven, thus prohibiting operation on the shutter curtain 12. As an exception, if there is insufficient time to open the shutter between P-wave detection and S-wave detection, a delay process may be implemented to delay the stopping timing so that the opening operation continues for a predetermined time. As another modification, the detected S-wave acceleration may be divided into N stages, and the control may be configured to have multi-stage case-based control from the first stage, where the opening stops immediately after S-wave detection, to the Nth stage, where the opening stops after a predetermined time has elapsed after S-wave detection, depending on the detected S-wave acceleration. In this configuration, S-wave detection signals, which are distinguished into multiple stages based on the S-wave detection level, will be input to the control device 18.

[0028] In step ST6, it is monitored whether or not an operation for restoration has been accepted. If the operation is accepted, the shutter curtain 12 is restored in step ST7. That is, in response to the operation of the operation switch 19, the opening / closing mechanism (motor 17) is driven and opening / closing control is prohibited. The prohibition of opening / closing control may also include opening control in response to P-wave detection. That is, assuming that earthquakes occur in succession, after stopping due to S-wave detection, opening control may be prohibited even if P-waves are detected again until an operation for restoration is accepted.

[0029] According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the opening and closing mechanism cannot be opened or closed during an earthquake, preventing people from exiting through the opening, and to provide an opening and closing mechanism that allows entry and exit through the opening after an earthquake.

[0030] The opening and closing device of the present invention can be applied to, for example, shutter devices, window shutter devices, blind devices, roller screen devices, curtain devices, movable partition devices, sliding door devices, hinged door devices, folding door devices, gate devices, awning devices, waterproof plate devices, and the like. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the earthquake detector 20 was configured to be located outside the control device 18, but a smaller version may be configured to be located inside the control panel (not shown) where the control device 18 is located.

[0031] <Summary> As described above, the above embodiment discloses the following invention. (1) An opening / closing device (see Figure 1) characterized by comprising: an opening / closing means provided on the periphery of an opening in a structural frame; an opening / closing device for electrically operating the opening / closing means; an opening / closing device control means for driving the opening / closing device and outputting a control signal for electrically controlling the operation of the opening / closing means; and the opening / closing device control means receiving an earthquake detection signal output from an earthquake detector and outputting a control signal. (2) The switchgear control means is characterized in that it receives a P-wave detection signal output from the earthquake detector and outputs an opening control signal for the switchgear (see Figures 1 and 2) as described in (1). (3) The switchgear control means is characterized by receiving an S-wave detection signal output from an earthquake detector and outputting a stop control signal for the switchgear (see Figures 1 and 2) as described in (1) or (2). (4) The switchgear control means is characterized in that, after receiving an S-wave detection signal and outputting a stop control signal, it does not output a control signal until a reset operation is accepted, as described in (3) (see Figure 2). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 10…Opening / closing mechanism 11… Shutter case 12... Shutter Curtain 13... Left guide rail 14... Right guide rail 15... Winding shaft 16... Chain 17… Motor 18... Control device 185... Obstacle detector 19…Operation switch 19A... Up (Open) button 19B... Stop button 19C... Down (close) button 20... Earthquake detector

Claims

1. An opening and closing mechanism provided on the periphery of an opening in the structural frame, An opening / closing mechanism for electrically operating the opening / closing means, A switch control means that drives the switch and outputs a control signal for electrically controlling the operation of the switch means, The aforementioned switch control means receives an earthquake detection signal output from the earthquake detector and outputs a control signal. An opening and closing device characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned switch control means receives a P-wave detection signal output from the earthquake detector and outputs an opening control signal for the switch. The opening and closing device according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned switch control means receives an S-wave detection signal output from the earthquake detector and outputs a stop control signal for the switch. The opening / closing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The aforementioned switch control means, after receiving an S-wave detection signal and outputting a stop control signal, does not output any control signals until a reset operation is accepted. The opening and closing device according to feature 3.

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