Sluice gate opening and closing device

Abstract

The present invention provides a sluice gate opening and closing device capable of detecting abnormalities in the magnitude of the load generated on the linear member while the gate body is descending under its own weight. [Solution] A sluice gate opening and closing device 10 is provided in which a rotating body 13 to which a linear member 12 made of wire or chain that suspends a gate body 11 is locked rotates by the rotational force of a motor 15 transmitted via a power transmission mechanism 14, thereby winding up the linear member 12 and raising the gate body 11. The device includes a torque switch 20 that detects when the load generated in the detected part 22 of the power transmission mechanism 14 falls below an allowable lower limit, and a centrifugal brake 27 that applies a resistance force to the rotating body 13 through the power transmission mechanism 14 to resist the descent of the gate body 11 which descends due to its own weight. The detected part 22 is positioned between an input position 28 to which resistance force is input to the power transmission mechanism 14 and a connection position 29 of the power transmission mechanism 14 to the rotating body 13, in the direction in which the resistance force from the centrifugal brake 27 is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sluice gate opening and closing device that opens and closes a sluice gate by raising and lowering a door body.

Background Art

[0002] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sluice gate opening and closing device that suspends a door body by a wire or a chain (hereinafter, also referred to as a "linear member") opens the sluice gate by winding up the linear member with a motor or a manual handle to raise the door body. When closing the sluice gate, the door body is lowered by winding down the linear member with a motor or a manual handle, or by the weight of the door body.

[0003] An electromagnetic clutch for switching the connection or disconnection of the motor to the power transmission path is provided on the power transmission path (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "power transmission path") that transmits the rotational force of the motor to the door body. When operating the manual handle or lowering the door body by its own weight, the motor is disengaged from the power transmission path by the electromagnetic clutch. The lowering speed of the door body that descends by its own weight is adjusted by a centrifugal brake that resists the lowering of the door body when the lowering speed of the door body becomes a certain level or more.

[0004] When the door body is being raised and lowered by the motor, if a foreign object is caught between the gears on the power transmission path or an obstacle prevents the door body from rising, a load of a predetermined magnitude or more will occur in the power transmission path. In this regard, the sluice gate opening and closing device is provided with a torque switch that detects that the load generated in the power transmission path has reached a predetermined magnitude or more and stops the motor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, conventional sluice gate opening and closing devices, including the one described in Patent Document 1, have the problem that they cannot detect when the magnitude of the load on the linear member falls below a predetermined level due to obstruction of the descent of the gate body which is descending under its own weight. The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and aims to provide a sluice gate opening and closing device that can detect abnormalities in the magnitude of the load generated on a linear member while the gate body is descending under its own weight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A sluice gate opening and closing device according to the present invention, which serves the above purpose, is a sluice gate opening and closing device in which a rotating body to which a linear member consisting of a wire or chain from which a gate body is suspended is locked rotates by the rotational force of a motor transmitted via a power transmission mechanism, thereby winding up the linear member and raising the gate body, and comprises a torque switch that detects when the load generated in the detected part of the power transmission mechanism falls below an allowable lower limit, and a centrifugal brake that applies a resistance force to the rotating body through the power transmission mechanism to resist the descent of the gate body which descends due to its own weight, and the detected part is arranged between the input position to which the resistance force is input to the power transmission mechanism and the connection position of the power transmission mechanism to the rotating body, in the direction in which the resistance force from the centrifugal brake is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The sluice gate opening and closing device according to the present invention includes a torque switch that detects when the load on the detected part of the power transmission mechanism falls below an allowable lower limit, and a centrifugal brake that applies a resistance force to the rotating body through the power transmission mechanism to resist the descent of the gate body which descends under its own weight. The detected part is positioned between the input position where the resistance force from the centrifugal brake is input to the power transmission mechanism and the connection position of the power transmission mechanism to the rotating body, in the direction in which the resistance force from the centrifugal brake is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism, so that it is possible to detect abnormalities in the magnitude of the load on the linear member while the gate body is descending under its own weight. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram of a sluice gate opening and closing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the sluice gate opening and closing mechanism. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the rotational force of a motor is transmitted through a power transmission mechanism. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing how resistance force is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism as the door body descends under its own weight. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Next, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described to facilitate understanding of the invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sluice gate opening and closing device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a device in which a rotating body 13 to which a linear member 12 suspending a gate body 11 is locked rotates by the rotational force of a motor 15 transmitted via a power transmission mechanism 14, thereby winding up the linear member 12 and raising the gate body 11. A detailed explanation follows below.

[0011] The linear member 12 is made of (or composed of) a wire or chain. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the linear member 12 is a wire, and the rotating body 13 is a drum around which the wire is wound. As shown in Figure 2, one end of the linear member 12 is fixed to the rotating body 13, and the other end is fixed to the base part F to which the housing 16 that houses the power transmission mechanism 14 and the like is fixed. The linear member 12 is hung on a sheave 17 attached to the door body 11, and together with the sheave 17 the door body 11 is suspended.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the sluice gate opening and closing device 10 includes a rotating body 13 and a linear member 12, as well as a motor 15, a power transmission mechanism 14 that transmits the rotational force of the motor 15 to the rotating body 13, and a clutch 18 provided between the motor 15 and the power transmission mechanism 14. The power transmission mechanism 14 is composed of multiple components such as a rotating shaft and gears, with one component (the shaft in this embodiment) connected to the rotating body 13. The clutch 18 connects the motor 15 to the power transmission mechanism 14 when the motor 15 is operating (hereinafter referred to as "motor output"), and disconnects the motor 15 from the power transmission mechanism 14 during manual operation of the sluice gate opening and closing device 10 (for example, when raising the gate body 11 by operating the manual handle 25 described later).

[0013] The motor 15 can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. When the motor is outputting power, the rotational force generated by the forward rotation of the motor 15 is input to the power transmission mechanism 14 via the clutch 18, as shown in Figure 3. The rotational force of the motor 15 input to the power transmission mechanism 14 is transmitted to the rotating body 13 by the rotation of multiple components constituting the power transmission mechanism 14, causing the rotating body 13 to rotate in a direction that winds up the linear member 12. As a result, the gate body 11 rises and the sluice gate opens.

[0014] On the other hand, when the motor is outputting, if the motor 15 reverses direction (more precisely, reverses direction while applying a predetermined torque in the forward direction), the rotating body 13 rotates in a direction that retracts the linear member 12, causing the door body 11 to lower and the sluice gate to close. The motor 15 has a braking function. Therefore, when the motor 15 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 14, the door body 11, which is positioned in the raised position, is prevented from falling by the motor 15.

[0015] Furthermore, the power transmission mechanism 14 is connected via a predetermined member (for example, a shaft member) to a torque switch 20 capable of detecting when the load on the power transmission mechanism 14 reaches a predetermined magnitude, and a limit switch 21 capable of stopping the motor 15 when it detects that the rising or lowering door body 11 has been positioned at a predetermined height.

[0016] In the present embodiment, a detection target portion of the torque switch 20 in the power transmission mechanism 14 is defined as a detected portion 22. Two values, namely, a lower limit tolerance value and an upper limit tolerance value greater than the lower limit tolerance value, are set in advance in the torque switch 20 as magnitudes of loads to be detected. The torque switch 20 detects that the load generated in the detected portion 22 has become less than the lower limit tolerance value and that the load has exceeded the upper limit tolerance value.

[0017] When the door body 11 is rising due to the forward rotation of the motor 15, if the load generated in the detected portion 22 exceeds the upper limit tolerance value, the torque switch 20 detects this and stops the motor 15. For example, if a foreign object is caught between the members constituting the power transmission mechanism 14 or an obstacle prevents the upward movement of the door body 11 during the forward rotation of the motor 15, the load generated in the detected portion 22 exceeds the upper limit tolerance value. Therefore, the malfunction of the water gate opening and closing device 10 constituting the water gate and the equipment around it can be prevented by the function of the torque switch 20 described above.

[0018] When the door body 11 is descending due to the reverse rotation of the motor 15, if the load generated in the detected portion 22 becomes less than the lower limit tolerance value, the torque switch 20 detects this and stops the motor 15. For example, when an obstacle contacts the door body 11 and prevents the downward movement of the door body 11, the load generated in the detected portion 22 becomes less than the lower limit tolerance value.

[0019] A manual handle 25 is further connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 via a clutch 23 and a self-locking mechanism 24. The self-locking mechanism 24 is disengaged from the power transmission mechanism 14 by the clutch 23 during motor output, and during manual operation, the self-locking mechanism 24 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 by the clutch 23 together with the manual handle 25.

[0020] During manual operation, when a person rotates the manual handle 25, the rotational force is transmitted to the rotating body 13 via the self-locking mechanism 24, the clutch 23, and the power transmission mechanism 14. The rotating body 13 rotates when given the rotational force of the manual handle 25, raising or lowering the door body 11. During manual operation, since the self-locking mechanism 24 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 via the clutch 23, rotation of the rotating body 13 in the direction in which the door body 11 drops is prevented. Therefore, the door body 11 does not drop due to its own weight during manual operation.

[0021] A gravity descent lever 26 that is manually operated by a person is attached to the clutch 23. When the gravity descent lever 26 is manually operated, it disconnects the self-locking mechanism 24, which is connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 via the clutch 23, from the power transmission mechanism 14. When the clutch 18 disconnects the motor 15 from the power transmission mechanism 14 and the self-locking mechanism 24 is disconnected from the power transmission mechanism 14, the door body 11 drops due to its own weight to close the floodgate.

[0022] During motor output, the motor 15 connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 via the clutch 18 can be disconnected from the power transmission mechanism 14 by operating an operation unit (not shown). When the motor 15 is disconnected from the power transmission mechanism 14 during motor output, the door body 11 drops due to its own weight. Therefore, in this embodiment, by a predetermined operation, the door body 11 can be made to drop by its own weight both during motor output and during manual operation.

[0023] A centrifugal brake 27 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 14 via members such as gears. When the descent speed of the door body 11 dropping due to its own weight becomes a certain value or more, the centrifugal brake 27 applies a resistance force (hereinafter also simply referred to as "resistance force") against the descent of the door body 11 to act on the rotating body 13 through the power transmission mechanism 14, as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the door body 11 from dropping at a speed exceeding a predetermined speed.

[0024] In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 14 has an input position 28 at which resistance force is input and a connection position 29 at which it is connected to the rotating body 13. The detection unit 22 is positioned between the input position 28 and the connection position 29, in the direction in which the resistance force from the centrifugal brake 27 is transmitted through the power transmission mechanism 14. In this respect, the region of the power transmission mechanism 14 between the input position 28 and the connection position 29 is subjected to a load of a certain magnitude or greater when resistance force is acting on the rotating body 13.

[0025] Therefore, when a resistive force is acting on the rotating body 13, if an obstacle comes into contact with the gate body 11, preventing the gate body 11 from descending, or if an event occurs that reduces the load applied to the region between the input position 28 and the connection position 29 of the power transmission mechanism 14, and the load on the detected unit 22 falls below the allowable lower limit, the torque switch 20 can detect this. Thus, the sluice gate opening and closing device 10 can notify a person that the above event is occurring while the gate body 11 is descending due to its own weight.

[0026] In this embodiment, as described above, the torque switch 20 also detects when the load on the detected part 22 when the door body 11 is raised by the rotational force of the motor 15 exceeds the permissible upper limit. In other words, the torque switch 20 is used for both detecting abnormal loads when the door body 11 is descending due to its own weight and detecting abnormal loads when the door body 11 is being raised by the motor 15.

[0027] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described forms, and any changes to conditions that do not depart from the gist of the invention are all within the scope of application. For example, in addition to a torque switch that detects abnormal loads when the door is being raised by a motor, a separate torque switch may be provided to detect abnormal loads when the door is being lowered by its own weight. In this case, the detected part of the torque switch that detects abnormal loads when the door is being lowered by its own weight needs to be located between the input position and the connection position, but the torque switch that detects abnormal loads when the door is being raised by a motor does not need to be located between the input position and the connection position. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 10: Sluice gate opening / closing device, 11: Gate body, 12: Linear member, 13: Rotating body, 14: Power transmission mechanism, 15: Motor, 16: Housing, 17: Sheave, 18: Clutch, 19: Reduction mechanism, 20: Torque switch, 21: Limit switch, 22: Detected part, 23: Clutch, 24: Self-locking mechanism, 25: Manual handle, 26: Self-weight lowering lever, 27: Centrifugal brake, 28: Input position, 29: Coupling position, F: Base part

Claims

1. A sluice gate opening and closing device, in which a rotating body to which a linear member consisting of a wire or chain from which a gate body is suspended is locked rotates by the rotational force of a motor transmitted via a power transmission mechanism, thereby winding up the linear member and raising the gate body, A torque switch that detects when the load on the detected part of the power transmission mechanism falls below the allowable lower limit, The system includes a centrifugal brake that applies a resistive force to the rotating body through the power transmission mechanism to counteract the downward movement of the door body, which descends due to its own weight. The sluice gate opening and closing device is characterized in that the detected part is positioned between the input position where the resistance force from the centrifugal brake is input to the power transmission mechanism and the connection position of the power transmission mechanism to the rotating body, in the direction in which the resistance force from the centrifugal brake is transmitted to the power transmission mechanism.

2. The sluice gate opening and closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the torque switch also detects when the load generated in the detected part when the door body rises due to the rotational force of the motor exceeds an allowable upper limit.

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