Environmental testing equipment

Abstract

To provide an environmental testing device that can accurately evaluate the effects of electric fields under rainfall conditions. [Solution] An environmental testing apparatus 1 for performing electric field tests in an environment comprises a test chamber 2 having a test space S in which at least one object to be evaluated 10 is placed, at least one nozzle 40 for spraying liquid 5 into the test chamber 2, a supply pipe 45 for supplying liquid 5 to the nozzle 40, and a pair of electrode plates 30 connected to a power supply 3 and for applying voltage to the object to be evaluated 10, wherein the pair of electrode plates 30, 30 has an upper electrode plate 31 positioned on the ceiling surface 20T side of the test chamber 2 and a lower electrode plate 33 positioned on the floor surface 20B side of the test chamber 2, and the nozzle 40 and supply pipe 45 are positioned to the side of the test chamber 2. The environmental testing apparatus 1 has a grounded conductive plate 50 positioned between the object to be evaluated 10 and the lower electrode plate 33 inside the test chamber 2.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an environmental test apparatus that performs electric field tests.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventionally, an artificial weather chamber that performs environmental tests in a rainfall environment (for example, Patent Document 1) and an electromagnetic wave test apparatus that evaluates the influence of electromagnetic waves (for example, Patent Document 2) are known.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0003]

PATENT DOCUMENT 1

PATENT DOCUMENT 2

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0004] Meanwhile, the artificial weather chamber described in Patent Document 1 requires nozzles, rainfall members (including piping) and the like for supplying rainfall water to be provided on an object to be tested such as an automobile. However, when evaluating the influence of electromagnetic waves in a rainfall environment using the artificial weather chamber described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to install nozzles, rainfall members (supply pipes and the like) below the electrode plate, so there is a problem that the electric field from the electrode plate is absorbed by the nozzles, rainfall members and the like, making it difficult to apply the electric field required for evaluation to the object to be tested. In addition, since the sprayed water remains in the artificial weather chamber, a puddle storing electric charge is generated, which also causes a problem of electromagnetic noise. When such electromagnetic noise is generated, it becomes difficult to apply the target voltage, resulting in a problem that accurate measurement cannot be performed.

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an environmental test apparatus capable of accurately evaluating the influence of an electric field in a rainfall environment.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0006] (1) The present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, is an environmental testing apparatus for performing electric field tests in an environment, comprising: a test chamber having a test space in which at least one object to be evaluated is placed; at least one nozzle for spraying liquid into the test chamber; a supply pipe for supplying the liquid to the nozzle; and a pair of electrode plates connected to a power source and for applying a voltage to the object to be evaluated, wherein the pair of electrode plates comprises an upper electrode plate positioned on the ceiling side of the test chamber and a lower electrode plate positioned on the floor side of the test chamber, and the nozzle and the supply pipe are positioned to the side of the test chamber.

[0007] The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention has nozzles and supply pipes for spraying liquids such as water (hereinafter also referred to as "water, etc.") located on the side of the test chamber, so that the object under evaluation is not shielded by electric fields by the nozzles and supply pipes. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can stabilize the voltage applied between the upper electrode plate and the lower electrode plate regardless of the environment (especially rainy environments), so that accurate electric field tests can be performed. Here, the object under evaluation may be, for example, an electric field strength acquisition sensor, an EFM (Electrostatic Force Microscope), etc. As a result, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can perform accurate electric field tests while suppressing electrostatic shielding in various environments, including rainy environments. Furthermore, various liquids such as water corresponding to rainfall, salt water, and oil can be used as the liquid. In addition, the supply pipe may be configured to allow adjustment of the flow rate of the liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as "water, etc.") by providing a flow meter or the like as appropriate.

[0008] (2) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is preferably characterized in that the nozzle is configured to swing freely in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or both, and the spray angle and spray volume of the liquid sprayed into the test chamber can be changed.

[0009] The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention, configured as described in (2) above, can spray liquids such as water in various directions, thereby creating various rainfall and other environmental conditions. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can perform electric field tests under a wide variety of environmental conditions. Here, the nozzle may be, for example, a set of multiple types of nozzles with different shapes that can be replaced using threaded pipes or the like.

[0010] (3) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is characterized in that a grounded conductive plate is placed inside the test chamber between the object to be evaluated and the lower electrode plate, the conductive plate and the lower electrode plate are insulated by a resin material, and a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate toward the lower electrode plate.

[0011] The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention, configured as described in (3) above, can dissipate the electric charge accumulated in water, etc., that has accumulated on the floor surface (conductive plate) through the ground. In other words, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can reduce electromagnetic noise emitted by water that has accumulated due to rainfall and becomes charged. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can perform electric field tests with high accuracy even in rainy conditions. Here, the conductive plate may be provided in a removable manner, for example. This allows for electric field tests to be performed with the conductive plate in place when affected by water, such as in rainy conditions, and with the conductive plate removed when not affected by water, etc. (for example, in sunny conditions), thus enabling the implementation of appropriate electric field tests tailored to the environment.

[0012] (4) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is preferably characterized in that a drainage section is provided in the test chamber.

[0013] The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention, when configured as described in (4) above, can discharge charged liquids such as water to the outside of the test chamber via a discharge section. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can reduce electromagnetic noise generated by charged water, etc., and thus enable accurate electric field testing. Here, the drainage section should be positioned, for example, to discharge water, etc. that has accumulated on a conductive plate when a conductive plate is installed. As a result, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can suppress the accumulation of charged water, etc. on the floor surface of the test chamber, and thus effectively reduce electromagnetic noise.

[0014] (5) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is preferably characterized in that the pair of electrode plates are each covered with a non-conductive material.

[0015] By configuring the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention as described in (5) above, contact between the pair of electrode plates can be suppressed. Furthermore, by configuring the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention as described in (5) above, the influence of disturbances on electrolysis can be reduced, thereby enabling highly accurate electric field testing.

[0016] (6) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is preferably characterized in that the nozzle and the supply pipe are arranged between the pair of electrode plates in a region that is at least off from the vertical direction of the object to be evaluated.

[0017] By configuring the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention as described in (6) above, it is possible to suppress the position of an electric field shield between the pair of electrode plates to which voltage is applied. As a result, the environmental testing apparatus of the present invention can perform highly accurate electric field tests.

[0018] (7) The environmental testing apparatus of the present invention described above is preferably characterized in that a voltage is applied from the lower electrode plate toward the upper electrode plate.

[0019] The environmental test apparatus of the present invention can generate a voltage from the lower side toward the upper side of the test chamber, and thus can provide a wide variety of test environments. Therefore, the environmental test apparatus of the present invention can perform electric field tests under diverse environments.

[0020] (8) The above-described environmental test apparatus of the present invention is preferably characterized in that the pair of electrode plates are formed in a circular shape.

[0021] By configuring the environmental test apparatus of the present invention as described in (8) above, concentration of the electric field at the corners of the electrode plates can be suppressed, so that measurement errors due to variations in the electric field can be reduced.

[0022] (9) The above-described environmental test apparatus of the present invention is preferably characterized in that the test chamber is constituted by a non-conductive member.

[0023] By configuring the environmental test apparatus of the present invention as described in (9) above, the influence of disturbances can be reduced. Therefore, the environmental test apparatus of the present invention can perform highly accurate electric field tests. Effects of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an environmental test chamber that can accurately evaluate the influence of an electric field under a rainfall environment. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a schematic front view of an environmental test apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a schematic plan view of the environmental test apparatus of Fig. 1. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged view of relevant parts for explaining the wiring on the electrode plate of the environmental test apparatus of Fig. 1. [Figure 4] It is a graph showing an example of electric field measurement results in an environmental test apparatus according to a modification of the present invention. [Figure 5](a) is a flowchart for performing a normal electric field test, (b) is a flowchart for performing an electric field test in a water-filled environment (rainy environment), and (c) is a flowchart for performing an electric field test with the voltage applied in the reverse direction (upward). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] The following describes in detail an environmental testing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Please note that the figures are schematic representations for ease of understanding and may differ from the actual shape, size, and arrangement of components. Furthermore, in the following embodiment, the case in which water (hereinafter also referred to as water 5) is used as the liquid 5 will be described as an example.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention is used to perform electric field tests in the environment. Specifically, the environmental testing apparatus 1 measures the electric field strength of an object to be evaluated 10 (in this embodiment, an electric field strength acquisition sensor 10) in a test chamber 2. The environmental testing apparatus 1 includes a test chamber 2, a pair of electrode plates 30, 30, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of nozzles 40, a supply pipe 45, a conductive plate 50, etc.

[0028] Test chamber 2 is formed as a rectangular box-shaped test space S by assembling panels as non-conductive members 20 (in this embodiment, for example, resin members made of acrylic). Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, test chamber 2 has a ceiling surface 20T, a floor surface 20B, and four sides 20S (see Figure 2). The test space S is formed by being surrounded by non-conductive members 20 (ceiling surface 20T, floor surface 20B, and four sides 20S). Therefore, test chamber 2 is insulated from the outside, preventing leakage of current to the outside of test chamber 2 and reducing the influence of external disturbances. In addition, a plurality of legs 6 are provided below the floor surface 20B of test chamber 2, so that test chamber 2 is installed at a predetermined distance from the ground. A drainage section 4 is also provided in test chamber 2 close to the floor surface 20B. In this embodiment, a pair of electric field strength acquisition sensors 10, 10 are arranged in the test space S of test chamber 2.

[0029] The electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 is configured, for example, as a surface potential sensor (charge detector). The electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 is placed (and fixed if necessary) on the floor surface 20B. The electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 can detect the electric field strength by detecting the charge on its upper surface. In other words, the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 can acquire the electric field strength in the test chamber 2 (test space S). Note that an EFM (Electrostatic Force Microscope) or the like may be provided in the test chamber 2 together with the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10, or in place of the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10.

[0030] The pair of electrode plates 30, 30 consist of an upper electrode plate 31, one of which is positioned on the ceiling surface 20T side of the test chamber 2, and a lower electrode plate 33, the other of which is positioned on the floor surface 20B side of the test chamber 2. In this embodiment, each of the electrode plates 30, 30 is formed in a circular shape (see Figure 2).

[0031] The upper electrode plate 31 is sandwiched between a pair of rectangularly shaped non-conductive members 20, 20, thereby forming a ceiling surface 20T. Similarly, the lower electrode plate 33 is sandwiched between a pair of rectangularly shaped non-conductive members 20, 20, thereby forming a floor surface 20B. In other words, the upper electrode plate 31 and the lower electrode plate 33 are each covered by a pair of non-conductive members 20, 20. The upper electrode plate 31 and the lower electrode plate 33 are each connected to a power supply 3 (see Figure 2), and a voltage can be applied between the upper electrode plate 31 and the lower electrode plate 33. Note that whether the upper electrode plate 31 or the lower electrode plate 33 is positive or negative can be appropriately changed depending on the test environment.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, a conductive nut 35 is welded to the outer edge of the electrode plate 30 (upper electrode plate 31 in the illustration). A screw 38 is screwed into the nut 35 via a washer 36. Wiring 37 connected to the power supply 3 is connected between the screw 38 and the nut 35. Therefore, a voltage can be applied between the electrode plates 30, 30 by the power supply 3. The nut 35, washer 36, screw 38, etc. are insulated from the outside by being covered with a cover 39. Although not shown in the illustration, the lower electrode plate 33 is also connected to the power supply 3 in the same way as the upper electrode plate 31.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the conductive plate 50 is laid on the floor surface 20B inside the test chamber 2. The conductive plate 50 is formed in a rectangular shape and is sized to cover almost the entire area of ​​the floor surface 20B of the test chamber 2. The conductive plate 50 is also positioned between the electric field strength acquisition sensors 10, 10 and the lower electrode plate 33. Specifically, the conductive plate 50 is positioned on the underside of the electric field strength acquisition sensors 10, 10 so as to be in contact with them, and is also positioned on the lower electrode plate 33 via the non-conductive member 20 that constitutes the floor surface 20B. That is, the conductive plate 50 is in contact with the electric field strength acquisition sensors 10, 10 and is insulated from the lower electrode plate 33 by the non-conductive member 20. In addition, the upper side of the conductive plate 50 is exposed in the area other than the electric field strength acquisition sensors 10, 10, and water 5 sprayed from the nozzle 40 falls onto it.

[0034] Furthermore, an earth wire 51 is connected to the conductive plate 50. The earth wire 51 is led out to the outside of the test chamber 2 and grounded. Therefore, the water 5 that falls onto the conductive plate 50 is grounded through the conductive plate 50 and the earth wire 51. In other words, the charge of the water 5 accumulated on the conductive plate 50 is released through the conductive plate 50.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, multiple nozzles (four in this embodiment) 40 are arranged laterally in the test chamber 2. Specifically, the nozzles 40 are arranged on the upper central side of each of the four sides 20S of the test chamber 2. Since the multiple nozzles 40 have similar configurations, unless otherwise specified, only one nozzle 40 will be described. A supply pipe 45 is connected to the nozzle 40, and water 5 supplied by a supply pump (not shown) can be sprayed into the test chamber 2 (test space S). In the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention, the nozzles 40 and supply pipe 45 are arranged between the pair of electrode plates 30, 30, in an area that is at least out of the vertical direction of the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10. That is, in the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention, the nozzles 40 and supply pipe 45 that shield the electric field are not arranged above or below the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10.

[0036] Furthermore, the nozzle 40 is provided with a vertical and horizontal oscillation mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the nozzle 40 can oscillate in either the vertical or horizontal direction, or both. This allows the nozzle 40 to change the spray angle and spray water or other liquids in various directions. In addition, the nozzle 40 has a threaded portion (not shown) at the connection end to the supply pipe 45, for example, making it detachable from the supply pipe 45. Multiple nozzles 40 with different spray patterns and shapes are available, and the spray pattern can be changed by swapping them out.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the drain section 4 can discharge water or the like sprayed from the nozzle 40. In this embodiment, the drain section 4 is provided to open near the upper surface of the conductive plate 50, allowing water 5 accumulated on the conductive plate 50 to be discharged to the outside of the test chamber 2. The drain section 4 is connected to a drain tank (not shown) or the like as appropriate, and the discharged water 5 can be supplied back to the supply pipe 45. In order to improve the drainage performance of the drain section 4, the floor surface 20B (conductive plate 50) and the test chamber 2 may be inclined toward the drain section 4.

[0038] The supply pipe 45 is connected to the nozzle 40 and can supply water 5 stored in a water storage tank (not shown) or water from a water tap to the nozzle 40. The supply pipe 45 is equipped with a flow meter (not shown), and by controlling the flow rate of water supplied to the nozzle 40, the amount of water sprayed by the nozzle 40 can be changed. As described above, the supply pipe 45 is located in a region away from the vertical direction of the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10.

[0039] The above describes the configuration of one embodiment of the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Next, an example of evaluation results when using the environmental testing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Figure 4.

[0040] Figure 4 is a graph comparing the applied power supply voltage (set voltage) and the voltage acquired by the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 in the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention. The solid line shows the voltage applied to the electrode plates 30, 30 by the power supply 3, and the dashed line shows the measured voltage in an environment where water is sprayed (rainfall environment) in the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the generation of electric field noise due to the charging of water, etc. is greatly reduced in the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention, and it can be seen that a voltage approximately the same as the applied voltage is applied. Although not shown in the figure, in conventional testing apparatuses in which a nozzle 40 and a supply pipe 45 are placed between the electrode plates 30, 30, the detected voltage was unstable due to the influence of electric field noise and tended to be attenuated below the target voltage.

[0041] The above is an example of the evaluation results obtained in the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Next, an embodiment of how to use the environmental testing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Figure 5. In Figure 5, it is assumed that the environmental testing apparatus 1 is equipped with an EFM (not shown) and a target sensor (electric field strength acquisition sensor 10).

[0042] Figure 5(a) is a flowchart showing the procedure for evaluating the object to be evaluated 10 in an environment without rainfall (water spraying, etc.) (a sunny environment). First, in the environmental testing apparatus 1, the upper electrode plate 31 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 3, and the lower electrode plate 33 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 3 (step S1).

[0043] Next, a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate 31 to the lower electrode plate 33, and the operation of the EFM and the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 is confirmed (step S2). Subsequently, a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate 31 to the lower electrode plate 33, and measurements are taken by the EFM and the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 (step S3).

[0044] Next, based on Figure 5(b), the procedure for evaluating the object to be evaluated 10 in a rainfall environment where water or the like is sprayed will be explained. First, in the environmental test apparatus 1, the upper electrode plate 31 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 3, and the lower electrode plate 33 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 3 (step S10).

[0045] Next, the conductive plate 50 is placed on the floor surface 20B in the test chamber 2 and grounded (step S11). Subsequently, a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate 31 to the lower electrode plate 33, and the operation of the EFM and electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 is checked (step S12). Once the operation check in step S12 is completed, the flow rate is adjusted and water is sprayed from the nozzle 40 (step S13). Subsequently, a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate 31 to the lower electrode plate 33, and measurements are taken by the EFM and electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 (step S14).

[0046] Next, based on Figure 5(c), the procedure for evaluating the object to be evaluated 10 when a voltage is applied in the reverse direction from the bottom to the top will be explained. First, in the environmental test apparatus 1, the upper electrode plate 31 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply 3, and the lower electrode plate 33 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply 3 (step S20).

[0047] Next, a voltage is applied from the lower electrode plate 33 towards the upper electrode plate 31 to confirm the operation of the EFM and the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 (step S21). Subsequently, a voltage is applied from the lower electrode plate 33 towards the upper electrode plate 31, and measurements are taken by the EFM and the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 (step S22). Note that the reverse voltage application can be applied in both sunny and rainy conditions.

[0048] The above describes one embodiment of the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention. Next, the effects and benefits realized by the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described below.

[0049] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention described above has the following characteristic configurations: (a) and (b) to (i). Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention can achieve unique effects that cannot be achieved with prior art, as described below.

[0050] (a) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is an environmental testing apparatus 1 for performing an electric field test in an environment, and comprises a test chamber 2 having a test space S in which at least one object to be evaluated 10 is placed, at least one nozzle 40 for spraying liquid 5 into the test chamber 2, a supply pipe 45 for supplying liquid 5 to the nozzle 40, and a pair of electrode plates 30 connected to a power supply 3 and for applying a voltage to the object to be evaluated 10, wherein the pair of electrode plates 30, 30 has an upper electrode plate 31 positioned on the ceiling surface 20T side of the test chamber 2 and a lower electrode plate 33 positioned on the floor surface 20B side of the test chamber 2, and the nozzle 40 and the supply pipe 45 are positioned to the side of the test chamber 2.

[0051] In this embodiment, the environmental testing apparatus 1 has a nozzle 40 for spraying liquid 5 such as water (hereinafter also simply referred to as water 5) and a supply pipe 45 located to the side of the test chamber 2. This prevents the object to be evaluated 10 from being shielded by the electric field by the nozzle 40 and the supply pipe 45. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can stabilize the voltage applied between the upper electrode plate 31 and the lower electrode plate 33 regardless of the environment (especially rainy conditions), enabling accurate electric field testing. Here, the object to be evaluated 10 may be, for example, an electric field strength acquisition sensor 10, an EFM (Electrostatic Force Microscope), etc. This allows the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment to perform accurate electric field testing while suppressing electrostatic shielding in various environments, including rainy conditions. Furthermore, the liquid 5 can be various liquids such as water corresponding to rainfall, salt water, or oil. The supply pipe 45 may also be configured to allow adjustment of the flow rate of the liquid 5 by providing a flow meter or the like as appropriate.

[0052] (b) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that the nozzle 40 is configured to swing freely in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or both, and the spray angle and spray amount of liquid 5 sprayed into the test chamber 2 can be changed.

[0053] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when configured as described in (b) above, can spray the liquid 5 in various directions, thereby creating various rainfall and other environmental conditions. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform electric field tests under a wide variety of environmental conditions. Here, the nozzle 40 may be, for example, a set of multiple types of nozzles 40 with different shapes that can be replaced using a threaded tube or the like.

[0054] (c) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that a grounded conductive plate 50 is placed inside the test chamber 2 between the object to be evaluated 10 and the lower electrode plate 33, the conductive plate 50 and the lower electrode plate 33 are insulated by a non-conductive member 20, and a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate 31 toward the lower electrode plate 33.

[0055] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when configured as described in (c) above, can dissipate the electric charge accumulated in the water 5 accumulated on the floor surface 20B (conductive plate 50) through the ground. In other words, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can reduce electromagnetic noise emitted by water that has accumulated due to rainfall and is charged. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform electric field tests with high accuracy even in rainy conditions. Here, the conductive plate 50 may be provided in a detachable manner, for example. This allows the conductive plate 50 to be installed and the electric field test to be performed when the environment is affected by water 5, such as in rainy conditions, and the conductive plate 50 to be removed and the electric field test to be performed in an environment not affected by water 5 (for example, in a sunny environment), thus enabling the implementation of appropriate electric field tests that are suitable for the environment.

[0056] (d) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that a drainage section 4 is provided in the test chamber 2.

[0057] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when configured as described in (d) above, can discharge charged water 5 to the outside of the test chamber 2 via the drainage section 4. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can reduce electromagnetic noise generated by charged water 5, and thus enable accurate electric field testing. Here, the drainage section 4 should be positioned, for example, to discharge water 5 that has accumulated on the conductive plate 50 when a conductive plate 50 is installed. As a result, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can suppress the accumulation of charged water 5 on the floor surface 20B in the test chamber 2, and thus effectively reduce electromagnetic noise.

[0058] (e) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of the above embodiment is characterized in that a pair of electrode plates 30, 30 are each covered with a non-conductive member 20.

[0059] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when configured as described in (e) above, can suppress contact with the pair of electrode plates 30. Furthermore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when configured as described in (e) above, can reduce the influence of disturbances on electrolysis, thereby enabling highly accurate electric field testing.

[0060] (f) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that the nozzle 40 and the supply pipe 45 are arranged between the pair of electrode plates 30, 30 in an area that is at least off-center from the vertical direction of the object to be evaluated 10.

[0061] By configuring the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment as described in (f) above, it is possible to suppress the position of an electric field shield between the pair of electrode plates 30 to which voltage is applied. As a result, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform highly accurate electric field tests.

[0062] (g) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that a voltage is applied from the lower electrode plate 33 toward the upper electrode plate 31.

[0063] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can generate voltage from the lower side to the upper side of the test chamber 2, thus providing a wide variety of test environments. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform electric field tests under a variety of environmental conditions.

[0064] (h) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment described above is characterized in that the pair of electrode plates 30, 30 are formed in a circular shape.

[0065] By configuring the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment as described in (h) above, the concentration of the electric field at the corners of the electrode plate 30 can be suppressed, thereby reducing measurement errors due to variations in the electric field.

[0066] (i) The environmental testing apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment is characterized in that the test chamber 2 is made of a non-conductive member 20.

[0067] The environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can reduce the influence of disturbances by being configured as described in (i) above. Therefore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform highly accurate electric field tests.

[0068] The above describes the effects and advantages obtained by the environmental testing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. However, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention may be as described in (a) above, and can be formed in various shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the environmental testing apparatus 1 of the present invention may, for example, not have some or all of the components described in (b) to (i) above, or may have some or all of the components described in (b) to (i) above, and other components.

[0069] In this embodiment, the test chamber 2 (test space S) is formed in the shape of a rectangular box, but the test chamber 2 can be formed in various shapes and sizes. Also, in this embodiment, the nozzle 40 is configured to swing freely in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or both, but the nozzle 40 may have a fixed spray angle. Furthermore, the spray angle of the nozzle 40 can be changed in various directions, and the amount of liquid 5 sprayed can also be changed to various spray amounts. For example, the amount of liquid 5 sprayed may be changed according to the spray direction of the nozzle 40. Also, the nozzle 40 does not have to be detachable and replaceable, but may also be fixed. Furthermore, nozzles 40 of various shapes, sizes, and spray patterns can be used. Also, the supply pipe 45 can be piped in various shapes and routes. Furthermore, the arrangement of the nozzle 40 and the supply pipe 45 is not limited to the side of the test chamber 2, but can be arranged in various positions within a range that does not affect the evaluation of the object to be evaluated 10. Furthermore, although water such as rainwater is exemplified as liquid 5 in this embodiment, various other substances such as saltwater (seawater), water containing various impurities, water-soluble and oil-soluble liquids, and other oils can be used as liquid 5.

[0070] In this embodiment, a grounded conductive plate 50 is placed between the object to be evaluated 10 and the lower electrode plate 33. However, the conductive plate 50 may be provided only as needed, and the configuration can also be made without a conductive plate 50. Furthermore, when a conductive plate 50 is provided, it can be placed in various positions. In addition, the conductive plate 50 can be made of various shapes, sizes, and materials.

[0071] Furthermore, while this embodiment exemplified potential sensors and charge detectors as the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various types of sensors can be used for the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10. Also, the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10 can be of various shapes and sizes. The placement, size, and shape of the electrode plates 30 can be appropriately changed according to the shape, size, and configuration of the electric field strength acquisition sensor 10. Additionally, the direction of voltage application to the upper electrode plate 31 and the lower electrode plate 33 can be changed to various directions depending on the environment being tested and the arrangement of the nozzle 40, etc.

[0072] In this embodiment, a drainage section 4 is provided near the upper surface of the conductive plate 50 on the floor surface 20B. However, the drainage section 4 is not limited to this and can be arranged in various positions and quantities, and its shape, size, etc., can also be modified in various ways.

[0073] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the electrode plates 30, 30 are each covered with a non-conductive member 20, but the covering of the electrode plates 30, 30 with the non-conductive member 20 can be done as appropriate, and it is also possible to configure the electrode plates 30, 30 not to be covered with the non-conductive member 20.

[0074] Furthermore, although the electrode plates 30, 30 are formed in a circular shape in this embodiment, the electrode plates 30, 30 are not limited to this and can be formed in various shapes, sizes (including thickness), and materials. It is desirable that the electrode plates 30, 30 have a shape with few corners to prevent charge from concentrating in a particular area.

[0075] Furthermore, the test chamber 2 can be of various shapes, sizes, and materials capable of covering the object to be evaluated 10 and the electrode plates 30, 30. Also, the test chamber 2 may not only be installed on the ground via legs 6, but may also be directly grounded. In this embodiment, the test chamber 2 is covered with a non-conductive material 20 (such as acrylic resin), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the test chamber 2 can be made of various materials, both non-conductive and conductive. However, from the viewpoint of suppressing disturbances such as electric field noise and leakage current to the outside, it is desirable that the test chamber 2 be made of a non-conductive material. For example, the test chamber 2 may be made of a non-conductive metal, a non-conductive resin, glass, etc.

[0076] The above describes various embodiments and modifications of the environmental testing apparatus according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to those exemplified in the embodiments and modifications described above, and it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may exist in the spirit and nature of the teachings, without departing from the scope of the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0077] This invention can be used for various environmental assessments, including environmental evaluations of various automobiles and other goods, as well as electric field measurements in natural environments. It is particularly suitable for environmental assessments in rainfall environments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1: Environmental testing equipment 2: Examination Room 3: Power supply 4: Drainage section 5:Liquid (water) 10: Object to be evaluated (electric field strength acquisition sensor) 20: Non-conductive material 20B: Floor surface 20S: Side 20T: Ceiling surface 30: Electrode plate 31: Upper electrode plate 33: Lower electrode plate 40: Nozzle 45: Supply pipe 50: Conductive plate S: Test space

Claims

1. An environmental testing apparatus for conducting electric field tests in the environment, A test room having a test space in which at least one object to be evaluated is placed, At least one nozzle for spraying liquid into the test chamber, A supply pipe for supplying the liquid to the nozzle, A pair of electrode plates connected to a power supply and for applying voltage to the object to be evaluated, It has, The pair of electrode plates comprises an upper electrode plate positioned on the ceiling side of the test chamber and a lower electrode plate positioned on the floor side of the test chamber. The environmental testing apparatus is characterized in that the nozzle and the supply pipe are arranged to the side of the test chamber.

2. The environmental testing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle is configured to swing freely in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, or both, and the spray angle and spray volume for spraying the liquid into the test chamber can be changed.

3. Inside the test chamber, a grounded conductive plate is placed between the object to be evaluated and the lower electrode plate. The conductive plate and the lower electrode plate are insulated by a resin member. The environmental testing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a voltage is applied from the upper electrode plate toward the lower electrode plate.

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