Irradiation device

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a plurality of flexible substrates 10 which are arranged at equal intervals in a spiral on a cylinder surface and in which a plurality of light sources are disposed; and the same number of flexible substrates 20 which are arranged in a reverse spiral shape. The two substrates are arranged such that respective one end parts thereof intersect and respective other end parts thereof each intersect with a corresponding other end part in accordance with the spiral shape. The two substrates are rotatably connected at intersection positions at both ends thereof and at other intersection positions that intersect in accordance with the spiral shape.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an irradiation device that is disposed inside a cylinder and irradiates light onto the inner wall of the cylinder. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to rehabilitate cylindrical main pipes such as those used in sewage systems, a pipe lining material is used, which is made of a tubular flexible resin absorbent material impregnated with a curable resin. The pipe lining material is transported into the main pipe by inversion or pulling, and the curable resin is cured while the pipe lining material is in close contact with the inner surface of the main pipe to line the inner surface. The curable resin may be a thermosetting resin, a photocurable resin, or a combination of both, and the photocurable resin is cured by ultraviolet light emitted from an ultraviolet light source.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a curing device having multiple ultraviolet light sources arranged in the circumferential direction is attached to a light source wagon, and the light source wagon is moved inside the pipe to cure the photocurable resin impregnated in the pipe lining material.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which a light train is formed by connecting a plurality of ultraviolet lamps, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated onto a pipe lining material to cure the photocurable resin.

[0005] Patent document 3 describes a configuration in which multiple LEDs that emit ultraviolet light are arranged on the surface of a cylinder, and the cylinder is moved inside a pipe to cure a photocurable resin impregnated into the pipe lining material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-57851 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-198230 [Patent Document 3] JP 2008-142996 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The irradiation devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are all configured such that an ultraviolet light source or a cylinder in which an ultraviolet light source is arranged is placed at the center of a pipe, and the pipe lining material is relatively uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet light.

[0008] However, when there is a distance between the light source and the tube wall, there is a problem in that in order to ensure the integrated illuminance, it is necessary to use a higher output light source or to slow down the pulling speed to extend the irradiation time.

[0009] In addition, when the tube diameter is constant, a relatively uniform illumination can be obtained, but when the tube diameter differs, the radial distance from the light emission center of the light source differs between the top and bottom, so uniform illumination cannot be obtained. Therefore, there is a problem that a complex mechanism is required to adjust the height of the illumination device according to the tube diameter.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an irradiation device that can uniformly irradiate the inner wall surface of a tube with a light beam even if the tube diameter changes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention (claim 1) is An irradiation device that is disposed inside a cylinder and irradiates an inner wall of the cylinder with light, A plurality of flexible, long first substrates on which a plurality of light sources are arranged at equal intervals in a spiral shape on a cylindrical surface; a second substrate, which is elongated and flexible and has the same number as the first substrates and is disposed on the opposite side to the surface of the first substrate on which the light sources are disposed, and is arranged in a reverse spiral shape relative to the first substrates; the first and second substrates are arranged such that one end of each intersects with another end of the corresponding one of the first and second substrates in a spiral shape; The first and second substrates are rotatably connected at intersections at both ends of each of the first and second substrates and at other intersections where the first and second substrates intersect according to a spiral shape. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, since the substrate on which the multiple light sources are arranged is arranged in a spiral shape, even if the diameter of the irradiation device is expanded or contracted, uniform irradiation without bias in the circumferential direction is possible. Also, even if the diameter of the cylinder on which the irradiation device is arranged changes, the irradiation device expands or contracts according to the diameter, so that the irradiation distance from the inner wall of the cylinder becomes constant, and uniform irradiation without unevenness in the amount of light is possible. Also, even if the diameter of the cylinder changes, each light source is located near the inner wall surface, so efficient irradiation is possible even with a low-output light source. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top view of a first substrate on which a plurality of LED light sources are arranged. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a side view of the first substrate. [Diagram 3] 4 is a top view of a second substrate disposed inside the first substrate and rotatably connected to the first substrate. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light source assembly in which first and second substrates are crossed and arranged in a grid pattern. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a development view of a portion of the light source assembly. [Figure 6] 13 is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism for expanding or contracting the diameter of the light source assembly. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of a mounting plate to which an intersection point of a first substrate and a second substrate is attached. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a side view of the drive mechanism with the mounting plate in the uppermost position. [Figure 11]FIG. 13 is a side view of the drive mechanism with the mounting plate in the lower position. [Figure 12a] FIG. 13 is a front view of a movable disk that moves the mounting plate. [Figure 12b] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the movable disk. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of the first and second substrates when the light source assembly is expanded or contracted in diameter. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a plurality of irradiation devices with expanded diameters are connected inside a tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The present invention is used to irradiate light onto a lining material applied to the inner wall of a sewer or other pipe, thereby hardening the hardening resin impregnated in the lining material, but is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an embodiment in which the device is placed inside a cylinder and light is irradiated onto the inner wall of the cylinder.

[0015] 1 and 2 show a long, flexible, springy, thin metal substrate 10 (first substrate). A plurality of light sources (12 in this embodiment) are arranged at equal intervals on the substrate 10. The light source is, for example, an LED 11 that emits any one of ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light, or a combination of LEDs that emit these rays.

[0016] The LEDs 11 are connected in series with lead wires (not shown) wired along the grooves 12, and are supplied with power via a connector 13 to emit the above-mentioned light beam. In Fig. 1, a plurality of circular holes 14 (five in this embodiment) are formed through which connecting pins 15 (Fig. 4) pass for rotatably (rotatably) connecting to a substrate 20 (second substrate) described later.

[0017] 3 shows a substrate 20 arranged to intersect with substrate 10. Substrates 20 are the same in number, shape and length as substrate 10, and are made of the same or a different material as substrate 10, which is a long, flexible, springy, thin metal substrate. Circular holes 21 are formed in substrate 20 at positions corresponding to circular holes 14 in substrate 10, through which connecting pins 15 pass, and openings 22 are formed between circular holes 21. When substrates 10 and 20 are made of different materials or thicknesses, openings 22 have the function of making substrates 10 and 20 bend to the same degree.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, substrate 10 is arranged in a spiral shape at equal intervals t1 on a cylindrical surface, and substrate 20 is arranged on the opposite side of the surface of substrate 10 on which LEDs 11 are arranged, in a reverse spiral shape with a winding direction opposite to that of substrate 10, and at equal intervals t1.

[0019] The substrates 10 and 20 are crossed with their respective one ends 10a, 20a aligned with the circular holes 14, 21, and the connecting pin 15 is inserted into the circular holes 14, 21. As shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 4, one end 15a of the connecting pin 15 is larger than the diameter of the circular hole 14, and the other end 15b is a crimped end. When the other end 15b is crimped, the substrates 10 and 20 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the connecting pin 15 as an axis.

[0020] The other ends 10b, 20b of substrate 10 and substrate 20 intersect with the other ends 10b, 20b of different substrates 10 and 20 according to the spiral shape, and are similarly rotatably connected by connecting pin 15 by aligning circular holes 14, 21. Substrates 10 and 20 intersect at multiple locations (three locations in this embodiment) according to the spiral shape in addition to both ends, and these intersecting locations are also rotatably connected by connecting pin 15. End 15b of connecting pin 15 may be fastened with an extra low head screw, E-ring, or the like instead of being crimped.

[0021] In this way, the substrates 10 and 20 are rotatably connected at the intersections of both ends of each substrate and at other intersections where they intersect according to the spiral shape, and are arranged in a lattice shape to assemble a light source assembly 30 that functions as a cylindrical irradiation device as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows a part of the light source assembly 30 developed on a plane. The number of substrates 10 and 20 used varies depending on the required irradiation intensity and the tube diameter in which the irradiation device is arranged, but is preferably about 10 to 30, and in this embodiment, an example in which 20 substrates 10 and 20 are used is shown.

[0022] Since the substrates 10 and 20 are rotatably connected at the intersection, when a force that expands or contracts the diameter of the light source assembly 30 is applied, the substrates 10 and 20 rotate at the intersection, and the light source assembly 30 expands or contracts accordingly in the extending direction (length direction). On the other hand, when a force that expands or contracts the light source assembly 30 in the length direction is applied, the substrates 10 and 20 similarly rotate at the intersection, and the light source assembly 30 expands or contracts in diameter.

[0023] 6 shows a driving mechanism 40 disposed inside the light source assembly 30 and expanding or contracting the diameter of the light source assembly 30. The driving mechanism 40 has a plurality of (four in this embodiment) metal mounting plates 41 to which the intersections of the substrate 10 and the substrate 20 are attached. The mounting plates 41 extend parallel to the cylindrical axis of the light source assembly 30 and are disposed at predetermined intervals (equally spaced in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction of the cylinder as shown in FIG. 7. The mounting plates 41 stabilize the shape of the light source assembly 30 and facilitate expansion or contraction of the diameter, so the more mounting plates there are, the more preferable. However, the more mounting plates there are, the more complex the structure of the driving function becomes, so three to six are preferable.

[0024] 5, 8 and 9, the mounting plate 41 has a flat portion 41a with a length t3 longer than the cylindrical length t2 of the light source assembly 30, and curved protruding portions 41b and 41c of the same length that protrude radially outward from the plane of the flat portion 41a by a distance h1. A circular hole 41d is formed in the center of the flat portion 41a for mounting the intersection of the substrate 10 and the substrate 20.

[0025] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the mounting plate 41 is disposed so that both ends where the substrate 10 and the substrate 20 intersect are located on the mounting plate 41, and one intersection point between both ends where the substrate 10 and the substrate 20 intersect is attached to the mounting plate 41. Since the substrate 10 and the substrate 20 intersect at the middle part of the mounting plate 41, the intersection point is rotatably attached to the mounting plate 41 by the connecting pin 15 aligned with the circular hole 41d of the mounting plate 41. Since 20 pieces are provided for each of the substrate 10 and the substrate 20, and 4 pieces are provided for the mounting plate 41, the intermediate intersection point is also attached to the mounting plate 41 at the point indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. By attaching the mounting plate 41 and the intersection point in this way, the diameter of the light source assembly 30 can be easily and reliably expanded or contracted without deforming the light source assembly 30.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 10, the drive mechanism 40 has support legs 42 and 43 of the same length, which are rotatably connected in an X-shape by a joint 44. One end 42a of the support leg 42 is rotatably connected to a mount 45 fixed to one end of the mounting plate 41, and the other end 42b is attached to a movable disk 50. One end 43a of the support leg 43 is rotatably connected to a mount 47 which moves along a rail 46 fixed to the other end of the mounting plate 41, and the other end 43b is rotatably attached to a fixed disk 60 fixed to a housing 61.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 12a, the movable disk 50 has grooves 50a (four in this embodiment) formed on its periphery corresponding to the number of mounting plates 41, and the other end 42b of the support leg 42 is rotatably connected to the movable disk 50 at the groove 50a by a joint consisting of a bolt 51, a nut 52, and a circular tube 53.

[0028] The fixed disk 60 has the same shape and structure as the movable disk 50 and has a groove similar to that of the movable disk 50, and the other end 43b of the support leg 43 is rotatably connected to the fixed disk 60 at the groove by a similar joint.

[0029] The support legs 42, 43 are provided in a number corresponding to the number of mounting plates 41, and the other support legs are similarly attached to the movable disk 50 and the fixed disk 60 so as to be rotatable therewith.

[0030] The driving mechanism 40 is provided with a driving motor 62 configured as a DD (Direct Drive) motor fixed to a housing 61 for moving the movable disk 50. A rotating shaft 62a of the driving motor 62 passes through a circular hole 50b provided in the center of the movable disk 50, and the circular hole 50b is formed with a screw that meshes with a screw formed on the rotating shaft 62a of the driving motor 62.

[0031] Between the cylinders 64 and 65 (FIG. 6) of the driving device 40, four guide rods 63 are arranged which pass between the grooves 50a of the movable disc 50 and guide the movement of the movable disc 50 (FIG. 12a). When the driving motor 62 rotates, the movable disc 50 also tries to rotate, but the rotation is prevented by the guide rods 63, so the movable disc 50 moves parallel to the guide rods 63.

[0032] In this configuration, when the drive motor 62 is driven, the movable disc 50 moves left and right according to the rotation direction of the drive motor 62, as shown by the double arrow in Fig. 10. As the movable disc 50 moves, one end 43a of the support leg 43 moves along the rail 46, and each mounting plate 41 moves in the radial direction. Fig. 11 shows a state in which the mounting plate 41 moves in a direction in which the radial distance is shortened.

[0033] Each mounting plate 41 is attached to the point where the substrates 10 and 20 intersect, so that the substrates 10 and 20 rotate and change the intersection angle in response to the expansion or contraction of the radial distance of each mounting plate 41, and the light source assembly 30 expands or contracts in diameter.

[0034] The upper part of Figure 13 shows the state in which the radial distance of the mounting plate 41 is increased, causing the light source assembly 30 to expand in diameter and shorten in the length direction, as shown in a flat developed state, and the lower part shows the state in which the radial distance of the mounting plate 41 is decreased, causing the light source assembly 30 to contract in diameter and extend in the length direction.

[0035] Since the substrate 10 on which the LEDs 11 of the light source assembly 30 are mounted is arranged in a spiral shape, uniform illumination in the circumferential direction is possible even if the diameter of the light source assembly 30 is expanded or contracted, as is clear from Fig. 13. Furthermore, since the light source assembly 30 is connected to the drive mechanism 40 via the mounting plate 41, the diameter of the light source assembly 30 can be expanded or contracted reliably and easily in response to the radial movement of the mounting plate 41.

[0036] A male coupling 70 is attached to the cylindrical body 65 of the driving mechanism 40 so that a plurality of driving mechanisms 40 can be connected, and a female coupling 71 is attached to the cylindrical body 64 via a multi-core cable 72 .

[0037] 14 shows a state in which a plurality of drive mechanisms 40 are connected by couplings 70, 71 inside a tube 81 covered with a lining material 80 impregnated with a photocurable resin or a thermoplastic resin in addition to the photocurable resin. Since showing the light source assembly 30 in detail would result in a complicated drawing, the substrate 10 is merely shown roughly with a thick line.

[0038] The drive mechanisms 40, while connected, are pulled by a towing rope (not shown) and move in the direction indicated by the arrow. By driving the drive motor 62, the mounting plates 41 are moved in the radial direction until the curved portions 41b, 41c of each mounting plate 41 come into contact with the pipe wall. The light source assembly 30 expands in diameter in response to the movement of the mounting plates 41, and the curable resin impregnated in the lining material 80 is irradiated with light emitted from the light source assembly 30 and hardens. A camera unit 83 is attached to the rearmost drive mechanism 40 via a coupling 70, and the hardened state of the lining material 80 can be observed.

[0039] As shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 14, even if the tube diameter changes, the curved parts 41b and 41c of each mounting plate 41 come into contact with the tube wall, so the distance to the tube wall of each LED 11 can be kept constant, and the amount of irradiation onto the tube wall can be made uniform. Furthermore, even if the tube diameter changes, each LED 11 is located near the inner wall surface of the tube, so efficient irradiation is possible even with a low-output light source.

[0040] The connectors 13 of each board 10 are connected in parallel. Each LED 11 of the board 10 is led to the connector 13 on the board 10, and the connectors 13 are connected in parallel. Therefore, even if one LED 11 breaks down, the board 10 on which it is mounted will simply malfunction, and the LEDs 11 of the other boards 10 will light up, allowing effective irradiation. The connection lines are led to a power source located inside or outside the irradiation device, although this is not shown in FIG. 14 etc. to avoid complicating the diagram. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 10 Substrate 11 LED 13 Connectors 15 Connecting pin 20 Substrate 22 Opening 30 Light source assembly 40 Drive mechanism 41 Mounting plate 42, 43 Support legs 50 Moving Disc 60 Fixed Disk 61 Case 62 Drive motor 63 Guide Rod 64, 65 Cylinder 70, 71 Coupling 80 Lining material 81 tube 83 Camera Unit

Claims

1. An irradiation device that is disposed inside a cylinder and irradiates an inner wall of the cylinder with light, A plurality of flexible, long first substrates on which a plurality of light sources are arranged at equal intervals in a spiral shape on a cylindrical surface; a second substrate, which is elongated and flexible and has the same number as the first substrates and is disposed on the opposite side to the surface of the first substrate on which the light sources are disposed, and is arranged in a reverse spiral shape relative to the first substrates; the first and second substrates are arranged such that one end of each intersects with another end of the corresponding one of the first and second substrates according to a spiral shape; An irradiation device characterized in that the first and second substrates are rotatably connected at intersection points at both ends of each of the first and second substrates and at other intersection points where the first and second substrates intersect according to a spiral shape.

2. The irradiation device according to claim 1, characterized in that a drive mechanism is provided for radially moving a plurality of long mounting plates, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and to which the intersections of the first and second substrates are attached, and the first and second substrates move radially in response to the radial movement of the mounting plates.

3. 3. The irradiation device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting plate has curved protrusions at both ends thereof, the curved protrusions protruding radially outward from a surface of the mounting plate.

4. The irradiation device according to claim 2, wherein the mounting plate is arranged so that both ends where the first and second substrates intersect are located on the mounting plate surface, and the points where the first and second substrates intersect between the both ends are attached to the mounting plate.

5. 2. The irradiation device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED that emits any one of ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light, or a combination of LEDs that emit these light rays.

6. 2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources arranged on each of the first substrates are connected in series and led to a connector provided on the first substrate, and the connectors on each of the first substrates are connected in parallel.

7. 3. The irradiation device according to claim 2, wherein couplings are attached to the front and rear of the driving mechanism, and a plurality of driving mechanisms are connected via the couplings.

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