Water flow detection device

Abstract

To provide a water flow detection device that can reliably operate in the event of a fire or other emergency. [Solution] A flow detection device 1A comprising a valve body 2, a valve stem 3 to which the valve body 2 is connected, and a detection mechanism 4A, wherein the detection mechanism 4A comprises a detection means 8, an operating means 9A provided for operating the detection means 8 and rotatably supported, a rotation transmission means 10 provided for transmitting the rotation of the valve stem 3 to the operating means 9A, and a rotation delay means 11 connected to the operating means 9A, wherein the valve stem 2 and the shaft supporting the operating means 9A are spaced apart, the rotation transmission means 10 constitutes at least a part of the rotation delay means 11, and the rotation delay means 11 is configured such that the rotation of the operating means 9A is delayed compared to the rotation of the valve body 2, regardless of the direction in which the operating means 9A rotates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a running water detection device, and more particularly to a running water detection device provided with a detection mechanism.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a running water detection device used in sprinkler fire-fighting equipment or the like. The running water detection device includes a valve body, a rubber pin connected to the valve body, and an air damper. The air damper has a plunger biased by air pressure. The plunger is normally pressed by the rubber pin in a form that resists the air pressure (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] When, for example, a closed sprinkler is opened and fire extinguishing water flows in the pipe, a part of the running water opens the valve body, thereby releasing the pressing of the plunger by the rubber pin. When the plunger moves up and down by air pressure, the microswitch is pressed, and thereby, the running water can be detected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the conventional running water detection device, an air supply path is indispensable for operating the air damper. Dust may enter the supply path, and the entry of the dust may hinder the operation of the air damper. Therefore, the conventional running water detection device may have a risk of not operating during a fire.

[0006] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a water flow detection device that can be reliably operated in the event of a fire or other emergency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a flow detection device comprising a valve body, a valve shaft to which the valve body is connected, and a detection mechanism, wherein the detection mechanism comprises a detection means, an operating means provided for operating the detection means and rotatably supported, a rotational transmission means provided for transmitting the rotation of the valve shaft to the operating means, and a rotational delay means connected to the operating means, wherein the valve shaft and the shaft supporting the operating means are spaced apart, the rotational transmission means constitutes at least a part of the rotational delay means, and the rotational delay means is configured such that the rotation of the operating means is delayed compared to the rotation of the valve body, regardless of the direction in which the operating means rotates.

[0008] Furthermore, in this invention, the rotational transmission means can be formed from a biasing member. In addition, in this invention, the biasing member can be a torsion coil spring. Furthermore, in this invention, the actuation means can be pivotally supported by a rotary damper, and the rotary damper can constitute the rotational delay means together with the rotational transmission means. Furthermore, in this invention, the valve shaft and the shaft supporting the actuation means can be arranged side by side on substantially the same axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The present invention provides a water flow detection device that can be operated more reliably in the event of a fire, etc., by providing a rotation transmission means for transmitting the rotation of the valve shaft to the actuation means and a rotation delay means connected to the actuation means. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows a reference embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the detection mechanism on the front side. [Figure 3] This figure shows a reference embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged perspective view of the main part on the rear side of the detection mechanism. [Figure 4] This figure shows a reference embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the left side of the detection mechanism. [Figure 5] This figure shows a reference embodiment of the present invention and is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the right side of the detection mechanism. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. The flow detection device 1A is installed, for example, on a flow path from a water source (not shown) of a wet sprinkler system to a sprinkler pipe (not shown), and comprises a valve body 2, a valve stem 3, and a detection mechanism 4A.

[0012] The valve body 2 is pivotally supported on the valve shaft 3 via a hinge 5 so as to be able to open and close. Normally, the water pressure on the secondary side of the flow path closes the flow path, and in the event of a fire, a closed-type sprinkler (not shown) connected to the sprinkler piping is opened, which reduces the water pressure on the secondary side and opens the flow path.

[0013] The valve stem 3 rotatably supports the valve body 2 and is connected to the detection mechanism 4A. In this embodiment, the valve stem 3 is supported by a bearing 6 and is installed through the valve body 7, and a torsion coil spring 11a, which is a type of rotation transmission means 10 and rotation delay means 11 described later, is attached to the outer end of the valve body 7.

[0014] The detection mechanism 4A is a mechanism for detecting flowing water and includes a detection means 8, an operating means 9A, a rotational transmission means 10, and a rotational delay means 11. The detection means 8 is a means for detecting flowing water and is provided, for example, as a limit switch. In this embodiment, the detection means 8 detects flowing water when a switch part 8a is pressed by a cam provided as the operating means 9A, although this will be described in detail later.

[0015] The actuation means 9A is provided to actuate the detection means 8, is rotatably supported, and is connected to the rotation delay means 11. The shaft supporting the actuation means 9A is spaced apart from the valve stem 3. In this embodiment, the valve stem 3 and the shaft supporting the actuation means 9A are arranged in parallel on substantially the same axis. The actuation means 9A is provided as a cam and is supported by a rotary damper 11b provided as the rotation delay means 11.

[0016] The rotation transmission means 10 is provided to transmit the rotation of the valve stem 3 to the actuation means 9A and constitutes at least a part of the rotation delay means 11. In this embodiment, the rotation transmission means 10 is formed of a biasing member, for example, a torsion coil spring 11a, with one end inserted into a cam provided as the actuation means 9A, and the other end inserted into a pin portion 3a inserted into the valve stem 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the detection mechanism 4A is directly connected to the valve stem 3.

[0017] The rotation delay means 11 is provided to cause the detection means 8 to act with a delay in response to the rotation of the valve stem 3. The rotation delay means 11 is configured such that the rotation of the actuation means 9A is delayed compared to the rotation of the valve body 2, regardless of which direction (in this embodiment, the opening direction A1 and the closing direction A2) the actuation means 9A rotates. In this embodiment, the opening direction A1 refers to the direction of rotation when the valve body 2 opens, and the closing direction A2 refers to the direction of rotation when the valve body 2 closes.

[0018] By delaying the rotation of the operating means 9A in the opening direction A1, it is possible to prevent the operating means 9A from rotating even if the valve body 2 opens instantaneously without being affected by the flow of water, thereby avoiding false detection.

[0019] In addition, although the valve body 2 may instantaneously close due to chattering or the like even after being opened by flowing water, by delaying the rotation of the operating means 9A with respect to the closing direction A2, during the period from when the operating means 9A starts rotating in the opening direction A1 until the detecting means 8 detects flowing water, each time chattering or the like occurs, the rotation delay means 11 is reset, and it is possible to prevent the operating means 9A from returning to its original position. Further, when the valve body 2 is reopened after being closed due to chattering or the like, it becomes possible to restart from the middle of the rotational position of the operating means 9A. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the detection of flowing water from being delayed or the flowing water from not being detected at all.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the rotation delay means 11 is constituted by a torsion coil spring 11a and a rotary damper 11b, and due to the elasticity of the torsion coil spring 11a and the viscosity of the rotary damper 11b, the detecting means 8 operates with a delay with respect to the rotation of the valve shaft 3.

[0021] In the flowing water detection device 1A, when the water pressure on the secondary side decreases, the valve body 2 is opened, and the valve shaft 3 rotates together with the valve body 2, so that the torsion coil spring 11a, which is the rotation transmission means 10, rotates together with the valve shaft 3, and the rotation of the valve shaft 3 is transmitted to the cam, which is the operating means 9A. At this time, the cam rotates with a delay with respect to the rotation of the valve shaft 3 due to the elasticity of the torsion coil spring 11a and the viscosity of the rotary damper 11b, which are the rotation delay means 11. Then, when the cam rotates, the switch portion 8a of the limit switch, which is the detecting means 8, is pushed, so that the limit switch operates and flowing water is detected.

[0022] Therefore, in the flowing water detection device 1A of the present embodiment, by providing such a rotation transmission means 10 and a rotation delay means 11, it is not necessary to provide a path for supplying air, which is required in a conventional flowing water detection device, and it can be surely operated during a fire or the like.

[0023] As a secondary effect of this embodiment, by transmitting the rotation of the valve stem 3 to the actuation means 9A via the rotation transmission means 10, the dependence of the actuation means 9A's rotation detection mechanism 4A on the installation direction is eliminated or reduced, making it possible to design the water flow detection device with relative freedom.

[0024] A reference embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. Components indicated by the same reference numerals as in the above embodiments are the same as in those embodiments and will therefore not be described.

[0025] The flow detection device 1B in this reference embodiment is installed, for example, on a flow path from a water source (not shown) of a wet sprinkler system to a sprinkler pipe (not shown), and comprises a valve body 2, a valve stem 3, and a detection mechanism 4B. In this reference embodiment, a rotation delay means 11 is further provided. In addition, in this reference embodiment, the outer end of the valve stem 3 is connected to the large gear portion 13a of the rotation amplification means 13, which will be described later.

[0026] The detection mechanism 4B includes a detection means 8, an operating means 9B, a rotation restricting means 12, and a rotation amplification means 13. The operating means 9B is provided to operate the detection means 8 and is rotatably supported. The shaft supporting the operating means 9B is spaced apart from the valve shaft 3 and the shaft supporting the rotation restricting means 12 (shaft 15 in this reference embodiment).

[0027] In this reference embodiment, the actuation mechanism 9B is provided to be rotatable by its own weight in one direction (in this reference embodiment, the direction of the detection mechanism 8, i.e., the opening direction A1). More specifically, the actuation mechanism 9B is provided as a rotor and is pivotally supported by a rotary damper 11b provided as a rotation delay mechanism 11. Furthermore, the actuation mechanism 9B pushes the switch part 8a via a push fitting 14 attached to the detection mechanism 8.

[0028] The rotation restricting means 12 is provided to restrict the rotation of the actuari 9B in the aforementioned one direction and is rotatably supported. In this reference embodiment, the rotation restricting means 12 is provided as a spring stopper and is axially supported on the shaft 15. As the small gear portion 13b rotates, the spring stopper disengages, releasing the restriction on the rotation of the actuari 9B, and the rotor, which is the actuari 9B, rotates under its own weight. The shaft 15 is axially supported by a bearing 16 so as to pass through the valve body 7.

[0029] The rotation amplification means 13 is configured to amplify the rotation of the valve stem 3 and transmit it to the shaft 15 that supports the rotation restricting means 12. In this reference embodiment, the rotation amplification means 13 has a large gear portion 13a provided on the valve stem 3 side and a small gear portion 13b provided on the shaft 15 that supports the rotation restricting means 12, and the large gear portion 13a and the small gear portion 13b are provided so as to be able to mesh. In this reference embodiment, the large gear portion 13a is supported on the valve stem 3, and the small gear portion 13b is supported on the shaft 15 that supports the rotation restricting means 12.

[0030] Even if the rotation of the large gear portion 13a is small, the small gear portion 13b that meshes with it will rotate more because it has a smaller diameter than the large gear portion 13a. As a result, the rotation of the valve shaft 3 is amplified and transmitted to the shaft 15 that supports the rotation restricting means 12.

[0031] The rotation delay means 11 is provided in the same manner as the rotation delay means 11 in the above embodiment, so that the detection means 8 is activated with a delay in response to the rotation of the valve stem 3. The rotation delay means 11 is configured such that the rotation of the actuating means 9B is delayed compared to the rotation of the valve body 2, regardless of which direction (in this reference embodiment, the opening direction A1 and the closing direction A2) the actuating means 9B rotates. In this reference embodiment, the rotation delay means 2 is a rotary damper 11b, and its viscosity is configured to delay the rotation of the actuating means 9B compared to the rotation of the valve body 2.

[0032] In the flow detection device 1B, when the water pressure on the secondary side decreases, the valve body 2 opens, and the valve shaft 3 rotates together with the valve body 2. As a result, the large gear section 13a, which is the rotation amplification means 13, rotates together with the valve shaft 3, and the small gear section 13b, which is meshed with the large gear section 13a, also rotates. When the small gear section 13b rotates, the spring stopper, which is the rotation restricting means 12, is released, and the rotor, which is the operating means 9B, rotates by its own weight in the direction of the limit switch, which is the detection means 8. When the operating means 9B presses the switch section 8a of the limit switch, the flow of water is detected.

[0033] Therefore, in the flow detection device 1B of this reference form, by providing such rotation amplification means 13 and rotation restricting means 12, it is no longer necessary to provide an air supply path that was required in conventional flow detection devices, and it can be operated more reliably in the event of a fire, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, as a secondary effect of providing the operating means 9B to be rotatable by its own weight, as in this reference embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced, thereby cutting costs. In addition, by adjusting the position of the rotation restricting means 12, the installation direction of the detection means 2 can be changed, making it possible to design the water flow detection device with relative freedom.

[0035] Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the invention.

[0036] (1) The above embodiment may be combined with the above reference embodiment as appropriate.

[0037] (2) In the above embodiment, the detection means 8 is activated to detect the flowing water. However, it is also possible to keep the detection means 8 constantly activated by the actuation means 9A, and to separate the actuation means 9A from the detection means when the valve shaft 3 rotates. In this case, the movement of the detection mechanism 4A will be the opposite of that in the above embodiment, and the fluid detection device 1A will detect the fluid when the detection means 8 is deactivated. The same applies to the flowing water detection device 1B of the above reference embodiment.

[0038] (3) In the above reference embodiment, the actuation means 9B is made to rotate by its own weight, but a weight may be attached to the actuation means 9B so that it rotates by the weight of the weight. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1A Flow detection device 1B Flow detection device 2 Valve body 3 Valve shaft 3a Pin portion 4A Detection mechanism 4B Detection mechanism 5 Hinge 6 Bearing 7 Valve body 8 Detection means 8a Switch unit 9A Actuator 9B Actuator 10 Rotational transmission means 11 Rotation delay mechanism 11a Torsion coil spring 11b Rotary damper 12 Rotation restricting means 13 Rotation amplification means 13a Large gear section 13b Small gear section 14 Push fitting 15 Shaft 16 Bearing A1 Open direction A2 Closed direction

Claims

1. A water flow detection device comprising a valve body, a valve stem to which the valve body is connected, and a detection mechanism, The detection mechanism is, Detection means and An actuating means provided for activating the detection means and rotatably supported, A rotational transmission means provided to transmit the rotation of the valve shaft to the actuation means, It has a rotational delay means connected to the actuation means, The valve shaft and the shaft supporting the actuation mechanism are provided at a distance from each other. The rotational transmission means constitutes at least a part of the rotational delay means, The flow detection device is characterized in that the rotation delay means is configured such that the rotation of the actuating means is delayed compared to the rotation of the valve body, regardless of the direction in which the actuating means rotates.

2. The flow detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation transmission means is formed of a biasing member.

3. The flow detection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the biasing member is a torsion coil spring.

4. The aforementioned operating means is pivotally supported by a rotary damper. The flow detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotary damper, together with the rotational transmission means, constitutes the rotational delay means.

5. The water flow detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the valve shaft and the shaft supporting the operating means are arranged side by side on substantially the same axis.

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