Icicle prevention device, icicle prevention structure

Abstract

To provide an ice pillar prevention device and an ice pillar prevention structure using the same, which are capable of efficiently suppressing a growth of an ice pillar.SOLUTION: Firstly, in a state in which a scraping unit 7 is positioned downward, a rotation shaft 5 does not rotate immediately even if a drive unit 9 is operated. When the drive unit 9 rotates further, a driving power transmission unit engages with a driving force receiver so that the rotation shaft 5 begins to rotate. Namely, the scraping unit 7 rotates upward. Moreover, when the rotation shaft 5 (scraping unit 7) rises, so that the scraping unit 7 passes the uppermost unit, just after, an elastic member causes the scraping unit 7 to rotate downward at a stroke. The scraping unit 7 can apply a strong impact to an ice pillar 23 from above to below (from the depth side to the front side) with respect to the ice pillar 23. As a result, the ice pillar 23 formed at a bottom front of an installation object 3 can be effectively removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an icicle prevention device capable of preventing the occurrence or growth of icicles, particularly in snowy regions. [Background technology]

[0002] In snowy regions, icicles may grow underneath outdoor structures. When these icicles grow to a certain size, they may fall and hit people or vehicles passing underneath. For this reason, it is desirable to remove the icicles before they grow.

[0003] As a measure against such icicles, for example, a method has been proposed in which the heat from the light bulb inside the signal light is dissipated to the outside of the light box, thereby preventing the formation of icicles due to the heat emitted from the light bulb (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-259027 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, although Patent Document 1 utilizes the heat from signal lights, the effect is small if the amount of heat generated is insufficient. In particular, in recent years, LEDs have been used in signal lights, and since the amount of heat generated itself is small, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient effect.

[0006] While this is acceptable in locations where light bulbs and other items that generate even a small amount of heat are located, such as traffic lights, it is not possible to have a heat source in all locations where it is desired to suppress the formation of icicles. Therefore, a method that can be applied in all locations and that can efficiently suppress the formation of icicles is desired.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and has an object to provide an icicle prevention device that can efficiently suppress the growth of icicles, and an icicle prevention structure using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first invention is an icicle prevention device capable of suppressing the growth of icicles, comprising a rotation axis, a scraping unit arranged approximately parallel to the rotation axis and rotatable together with the rotation axis, and a drive unit that rotates the rotation axis, and is characterized in that the icicle prevention device is arranged below an object to be installed and the drive unit rotates the scraping unit, so that when the scraping unit rotates, icicles or water droplets formed below the object to be installed can be removed.

[0009] The drive unit has a drive force transmission unit that transmits a drive force, and the rotating shaft has a drive force receiving unit that receives a drive force from the drive force transmission unit, and when the drive force receiving unit is in contact with the drive force transmission unit in the rotational direction, the force from the drive force transmission unit is transmitted to the drive force receiving unit, and the rotating shaft can be rotated by the drive unit, and when the drive force receiving unit is not in contact with the drive force transmission unit in the rotational direction, the rotating shaft can rotate freely, and an elastic member that expands and contracts in response to rotation is attached to the rotating shaft, and the elastic member applies a force to the rotating shaft in a direction such that the scraping part is always positioned downward, and when the scraping part moves from below to above, the rotating shaft rotates by the drive unit against the force of the elastic member, and when the scraping part reaches above, the rotating shaft can rotate downward by the force of the elastic member.

[0010] It is desirable that the rotation speed of the rotating shaft caused by the elastic member is sufficiently fast compared to the rotation speed of the rotating shaft caused by the driving unit, and that after the rotating shaft is rotated by the elastic member, a reciprocating rotational vibration can be imparted to the rotating shaft by the stretching and contracting vibration of the elastic member until the driving force transmission unit moves to the position of the driving force receiving unit.

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, by rotating a scraping unit that removes water droplets and icicles below the installation object, it is possible to efficiently remove icicles and the like and prevent the growth of icicles.

[0012] In addition, the rotation of the scraping part is performed by the drive part when moving upward, and by using an elastic member when rotating from top to bottom, so that the scraping part can rotate from top to bottom with force. This makes it possible to efficiently remove icicles and the like by striking them.

[0013] In addition, by leaving the scraping part free for a certain period of time after rotating it with the elastic member, it is possible to apply reciprocating rotational vibration for a while after the rotation, which makes it possible to more reliably remove water droplets and the like that have adhered to the scraping part by the vibration.

[0014] The second invention is an icicle prevention structure using the icicle prevention device of the first invention, characterized in that the icicle prevention device is fixed below the object to be installed, the rotation axis is positioned behind the front surface of the object to be installed, and when the scraping part moves from above to below, the tip of the scraping part protrudes toward the front surface of the object to be installed.

[0015] The object to be installed may be a display device.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention, by placing the scraper below the object to be installed and rotating the scraper, water droplets and icicles formed below the object to be installed can be removed.

[0017] Such an object may be a display device such as a traffic signal. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an icicle prevention device capable of efficiently suppressing the growth of icicles, and an icicle prevention structure using the same. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an icicle prevention structure 10. [Diagram 2] 1. (a) is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1, and (b) is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Diagram 3] 6(a) to 6(f) are diagrams showing the operation of the driving force transmission portion 13 and the driving force receiving portion 15. [Figure 4] 1(a) to 1(c) are diagrams showing the operation of the elastic member 11. [Diagram 5] 6(a) to 6(e) are diagrams showing the operation of the scraping unit 7. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the installation target 3 is inclined. [Figure 7] 13(a) and (b) are diagrams showing a configuration using a spring 27. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an icicle prevention structure 10 using an icicle prevention device 1. In the following explanation, an example will be described in which the installation object 3 to which the icicle prevention device 1 is attached is a display device such as a traffic light, but the installation object 3 is not limited to a display device and can be applied to any outdoor structure such as a part of a house, a sign, or other structures such as a tunnel.

[0021] The icicle prevention device 1 is fixed near an icicle generation part below the installation target 3. The icicle prevention device 1 is a device that can suppress the growth of icicles below the installation target 3. The icicle prevention device 1 is mainly composed of a rotating shaft 5, a scraping unit 7, a driving unit 9, an elastic member 11, etc.

[0022] A scraping unit 7 is fixed to the rotating shaft 5. The scraping unit 7 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the rotating shaft 5. For example, both ends of the scraping unit 7 are bent and fixed to the rotating shaft 5, and the scraping unit 7 and the rotating shaft 5 are disposed approximately parallel to each other. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 5 rotates, the scraping unit 7 rotates about the rotating shaft 5 as an axis.

[0023] Fig. 2(a) is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 1. The vicinity of both ends of the rotating shaft 5 is rotatably supported on the installation object 3 by supports 25. That is, the supports 25 serve as bearings. A driving unit 9 is fixed to the installation object 3. A driving force transmission unit 13 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the driving unit 9. That is, the driving unit 9 is capable of rotating the driving force transmission unit 13.

[0024] Further, a driving force receiving part 15 is fixed to the end part of the rotating shaft 5 on the driving unit 9 side. On the opposing surfaces of the driving force transmission part 13 and the driving force receiving part 15, protrusions 13a and protrusions 15a that can mesh with each other are formed, respectively. The protrusions 13a and the protrusions 15a are formed only on a part of the circumferential direction, and when they are in a state of meshing with each other, the driving force receiving part 15 receives a driving force from the driving force transmission part 13 and rotates together. That is, when the protrusions 15a of the driving force receiving part 15 are in contact with and mesh with the protrusions 13a of the driving force transmission part 13 in the rotational direction, the force from the driving force transmission part 13 is transmitted to the driving force receiving part 15, and the rotating shaft 5 can be rotated by the driving unit 9.

[0025] Fig. 2(b) is an enlarged view of part B in Fig. 1. An elastic member 11 and the like are disposed near the end of the rotating shaft 5 opposite the driving unit 9. As described above, the rotating shaft 5 is supported by a support unit 25, and a crank 17 is fixed near the end of the rotating shaft 5. The crank 17 is rotatable together with the rotating shaft 5. A fixing unit 21 is fixed near the end of the crank 17.

[0026] Moreover, a fixed part 19 is fixed to the installation object 3 above the crank 17. Both ends of the elastic member 11 are connected to the fixed part 19 and the fixed part 21. That is, the elastic member 11 connects the fixed part 19 and the fixed part 21.

[0027] Here, when the scraping part 7 is positioned downward, the end (fixed part 21) of the crank 17 is positioned upward. That is, when the scraping part 7 is positioned downward, the distance between the fixed part 21 fixed to the crank 17 and the fixed part 19 disposed above is the shortest. This state is called the normal state. That is, in the normal state, the elastic energy stored in the elastic member 11 (spring) is at a minimum.

[0028] 3(a) to 3(f) are diagrams illustrating the rotational movement of the rotating shaft 5 in detail. Each diagram is a view from the axial direction of the rotating shaft 5, and is a perspective view of a portion of the configuration. As described above, the rotating shaft 5 rotates when the driving force from the driving unit 9 is transmitted by the meshing of the driving force transmission unit 13 and the driving force receiving unit 15.

[0029] The state shown in Fig. 3(a) shows a state in which the protrusion 13a of the driving force transmission part 13 is located at the top, and the protrusion 15a (shown by a dotted line) of the driving force receiving part 15 is located at the bottom. Also, Fig. 4(a) shows the state of the elastic member 11 etc. in this state. Note that the scraping part 7 (not shown) is disposed in the circumferential direction in the same manner as the protrusion 15a. That is, in Figs. 3(a) and 4(a), the scraping part 7 is located at the bottom, and the fixing part 21 fixed to the crank 17 is located at the top.

[0030] When the drive unit 9 rotates, the driving force transmission unit 13 rotates (arrow C in the figure) as shown in Figures 3(a) to 3(c). At this time, since the protrusions 13a and 15a are separated in the circumferential direction, the driving force from the driving force transmission unit 13 is not transmitted to the driving force receiving unit 15. In other words, when the driving force receiving unit 15 is not in contact with the driving force transmission unit 13 in the rotation direction, the rotating shaft 5 is in a freely rotatable state without receiving a force from the driving force transmission unit 13, and the driving force receiving unit 15 and the rotating shaft 5 maintain this state without rotating.

[0031] 3(c) and 3(d), when protrusion 13a and protrusion 15a come into contact with each other, protrusion 15a of driving force receiving portion 15 comes into contact with protrusion 13a of driving force transmitting portion 13 in the rotation direction of protrusion 13a, and driving force receiving portion 15 rotates by driving force transmitting portion 13 (arrow D in the figure). In this way, when rotating shaft 5 is rotated by driving portion 9, crank 17 rotates together with rotating shaft 5.

[0032] Fig. 4(b) is a diagram showing the elastic member 11 in this state. When the rotating shaft 5 rotates, the crank 17 fixed to the rotating shaft 5 rotates, causing the distance between the fixed portion 21 and the fixed portion 19 to increase, and the elastic member 11 is stretched. In this way, the elastic member 11 attached to the rotating shaft 5 expands and contracts due to the rotation. In this state, the scraping portion 7 moves from below to above. In other words, the elastic member 11 applies a force to the rotating shaft 5 in a direction such that the scraping portion 7 (protrusion 15a) is always positioned below.

[0033] Fig. 3(e) is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating shaft 5 has further rotated, and shows a state immediately before the protrusion 15a reaches the uppermost position. Fig. 4(c) is a diagram showing the elastic member 11 in this state. In this way, when the scraping part 7 moves from below to above (Figs. 3(c) to 3(e)), the rotating shaft 5 is rotated by the driving part 9 against the force of the elastic member 11. That is, the rotating shaft 5 rotates with the protrusion 15a pressed against the protrusion 13a.

[0034] 3(f) shows the state immediately after the rotating shaft 5 rotates further from this state and the protrusion 15a (scraping part 7) reaches the uppermost position. When the protrusion 15a (scraping part 7) reaches the top, the rotating shaft 5 is rotated downwards in one go by the force stored in the elastic member 11 in the same rotation direction as the driving force transmission part 13. At this time, the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 5 caused by the elastic member 11 is sufficiently faster than the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 5 caused by the drive part 9. Therefore, the scraping part 7 can be rotated at high speed.

[0035] After the rotating shaft 5 (scraping part 7) has been rotated by the elastic member 11, the rotating shaft 5 is free to receive no force from the driving part 9 until the driving force transmission part 13 moves to the position of the driving force receiving part 15 (Figs. 3(a) to 3(c)). At this time, the elastic member 11 suddenly contracts from its extended state, and thereafter, for a predetermined period of time, the elastic member 11 repeats contraction and expansion vibration while attenuating. For this reason, the contraction and expansion vibration of the elastic member 11 can impart some reciprocating rotational vibration to the rotating shaft 5. The above is the operation of one rotation unit of the rotating shaft 5.

[0036] Next, the rotational movement of the scraping unit 7 accompanying the above operation will be described in detail. Fig. 5(a) to Fig. 5(e) are diagrams showing the operation of the scraping unit 7. As described above, the icicle prevention device 1 is installed below the installation target 3. In this case, the rotation shaft 5 is disposed on the back side (right side in the figure) of the front surface of the installation target 3 with respect to the front surface (left side in the figure) of the installation target 3. Usually, the water droplets that flow down the front surface of the installation target 3 and the icicles 23 that are generated by them are formed on the lower part of the front surface of the installation target 3. For this reason, the rotation shaft 5 is disposed on the back side of the icicles 23 formed on the lower part of the front surface.

[0037] First, the state shown in Fig. 5(a) is the state in which the scraping unit 7 is located downward (Figs. 3(a) to 3(c) and 4(a)). As described above, in this state, even if the driving unit 9 is operated, the rotating shaft 5 does not rotate immediately.

[0038] When the driving unit 9 rotates further, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the driving force transmitting unit 13 and the driving force receiving unit 15 mesh with each other, and the rotating shaft 5 starts to rotate (arrow F in the figure). That is, the scraping unit 7 rotates upward (Figs. 3(d) and 4(b)). The rotation direction of the scraping unit 7 is set so that the scraping unit 7 rises on the rear side (right side in the figure) relative to the front side of the installation target 3.

[0039] The rotating shaft 5 (scraping part 7) further rises, and as shown in Fig. 5(c), when the scraping part 7 rotates upward (Figs. 3(e) and 4(c)), the elastic member 11 reaches its most stretched state. As shown in Fig. 5(d), immediately after the scraping part 7 passes the top, the elastic member 11 causes the scraping part 7 to rotate downward in one go (Fig. 5(e)).

[0040] Here, the distance from the center of the rotating shaft 5 to the scraping part 7 is longer than the distance from the front surface of the installation target 3 to the rotating shaft 5 at the rear side (the distance in the left-right direction in the figure). Therefore, the tip of the scraping part 7 protrudes toward the front surface side of the installation target 3 while the scraping part 7 is rotating from above to below.

[0041] Also, as mentioned above, the rotation speed created by the elastic member 11 is sufficiently faster than the rotation caused by the drive unit 9. Therefore, the scraping unit 7 can deliver a strong blow to the icicle 23 from above downward (from the back side to the front side). This makes it possible to efficiently remove the icicle 23 that has formed on the lower part of the front surface of the installation object 3.

[0042] In this way, by disposing the icicle prevention device 1 below the installation target 3 and rotating the scraping unit 7 by the drive unit 9, it is possible to remove the icicles 23 or water droplets formed below the installation target 3 as the scraping unit 7 rotates from above to below the rotating shaft 5. As mentioned above, the scraping unit 7 rotates downward at high speed by the elastic member 11, and vibrates back and forth for a while due to its momentum (H in the figure). This makes it possible to shake off the water droplets and the like that have adhered to the scraping unit 7.

[0043] The driving unit 9 may rotate the rotating shaft 5 all the time, or may operate intermittently. For example, it may operate only at a specified time during the day or at night using a timer, or it may operate under specified conditions by detecting the temperature or weather using a sensor or the like. The presence of icicles 23 may also be detected by a sensor. The driving unit 9 may continue rotating for a specified time, or it may operate the rotating shaft 5 intermittently in units of one rotation.

[0044] It is preferable to provide a position sensor capable of detecting the rotational position of the rotating shaft 5, and to always stop the rotating shaft at a fixed position when the driving unit 9 stops. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the driving unit 9 is stopped in a state where the scraping unit 7 is positioned downward and the protrusions 13a and 15a are separated. In this way, it is possible to prevent a load from being applied to the elastic member 11 when the driving unit 9 stops, and also to prevent the protrusions 13a and 15a from becoming stuck due to ice or the like.

[0045] 6, the front surface of the installation object 3 may be inclined. In the illustrated example, the installation object 3 is disposed so that the upper portion thereof is inclined forward. In this way, water can be concentrated at the lower end of the front surface of the installation object.

[0046] Furthermore, the support portion 25 may be arranged at an angle to the bottom surface of the installation object 3 instead of being arranged perpendicularly. For example, it is desirable that the angle can be adjusted to an angle at which the icicle 23 can be effectively struck.

[0047] 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams showing another embodiment corresponding to Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b). In the example shown in Fig. 7, a spring 27 is disposed between the rotating shaft 5 and the scraping part 7. The spring 27 does not rigidly connect the rotating shaft 5 and the scraping part 7, but provides a degree of freedom for the movement of the scraping part 7.

[0048] By doing so, even if the scraping unit 7 strikes the icicle 23 and is unable to remove the icicle 23 in one strike, it is possible to prevent the scraping unit 7 from stopping its rotation. Therefore, it is possible to remove the icicle 23 by striking it multiple times. It is also possible to prevent the drive unit 9 from burning out or being damaged.

[0049] The spring 27 needs to have a spring force sufficient to apply a striking force to the icicle 27. For example, even when the scraping part 7 is rotated upward, the spring 27 only needs to have a spring force sufficient to be able to support the scraping part 7 above the rotating shaft 5 by itself. For icicles with high hardness, it is effective to increase the rotation speed of the drive, give the scraping part 7 a sharp edge, and introduce a member with bending and stretching motion, such as a chain, to connect the rotating shaft 5 and the scraping part 7.

[0050] As described above, according to this embodiment, icicles 23 and the like formed on the lower part of the installation object 3 can be easily removed by rotating the scraping part 7 below the installation object 3. In particular, by utilizing the elastic force of the elastic member 11 when rotating the scraping part 7 from above to below, it becomes possible to apply an impact force from the scraping part 7 to the icicles 23, and the icicles 23 can be removed efficiently.

[0051] In addition, after the scraping part 7 is rotated by the elastic member 11, the scraping part 7 can be vibrated back and forth by the stretching vibration of the elastic member 11. Therefore, water droplets and the like adhering to the scraping part 7 can be shaken off.

[0052] Moreover, by positioning the icicle prevention device 1 slightly recessed from the front surface of the installation target 3, it is possible to prevent water droplets and the like from reaching the icicle prevention device 1 side. Even in this case, by positioning the scraping part 7 so that it protrudes from the front surface side of the installation target 3 when rotating from above to below, it is possible to reliably remove icicles 23 and the like with the scraping part 7.

[0053] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the attached drawings, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can think of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Icicle prevention device 3. Installation object 5...Rotation axis 7: Scraping section 9...Drive section 10. Icicle prevention structure 11...Elastic member 13...Drive force transmission section 13a……protrusion 15... Driving force receiving part 15a……protrusion 17...Crank 19……Fixed part 21……Fixed part 23...Icicle 25......Support part 27………Spring

Claims

1. An icicle prevention device capable of suppressing the growth of icicles, A rotation axis; A scraping unit arranged substantially parallel to the rotation shaft and rotatable together with the rotation shaft; A drive unit that rotates the rotation shaft; Equipped with This icicle prevention device is characterized in that it is placed below an object to be installed and the scraping unit is rotated by the drive unit, thereby making it possible to remove icicles or water droplets formed below the object to be installed as the scraping unit rotates.

2. the driving unit has a driving force transmission unit that transmits a driving force, the rotating shaft has a driving force receiving unit that receives the driving force from the driving force transmission unit, In a state in which the driving force receiving portion is in contact with the driving force transmission portion in a rotational direction, the force from the driving force transmission portion can be transmitted to the driving force receiving portion, and the rotation shaft can be rotated by the driving portion, When the driving force receiving portion is not in contact with the driving force transmitting portion in the rotation direction, the rotating shaft is freely rotatable. An elastic member that expands and contracts in response to rotation is attached to the rotating shaft, and the elastic member applies a force to the rotating shaft in a direction in which the scraping portion is always positioned downward; When the scraping unit moves from below to above, the rotating shaft is rotated by the driving unit against the force of the elastic member, 2. The icicle prevention device according to claim 1, wherein when the scraping portion reaches an upper position, the rotating shaft is capable of rotating downward by the force of the elastic member.

3. The icicle prevention device described in claim 2, characterized in that the rotation speed of the rotating shaft caused by the elastic member is sufficiently faster than the rotation speed of the rotating shaft caused by the drive unit, and after the rotating shaft is rotated by the elastic member, until the drive force transmission unit moves to the position of the drive force receiving unit, it is possible to impart reciprocating rotational vibration to the rotating shaft by the stretching and contracting vibration of the elastic member.

4. An ice pillar prevention structure using the ice pillar prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The ice pillar prevention device is fixed below the object to be installed, This icicle prevention structure is characterized in that the rotating shaft is positioned further back than the front surface of the object to be installed, and when the scraping part moves from above to below, the tip of the scraping part protrudes toward the front surface of the object to be installed.

5. 5. The structure for preventing icicles according to claim 4, wherein the object to be installed is a display device.

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