Box device and opening restriction device

Abstract

To provide a box device and an opening regulation implement that can prevent an opening part of a box body from being opened in an unintended state due to flooding inside the box body.SOLUTION: A box device comprises an opening regulation implement 7 that normally allows both opening and closing operation of a cover body 3, but when flooded, regulates opening operation of the cover body 3. The opening regulation implement 7 enters a regulated state in which the cover body 3 is difficult to open through operation that a body member 30 moves from a position (first position) where the cover body 3 can be easily opened, i.e., an inclined position to a position (second position) where an engaging recess part 34 of the body member 30 engages a lower part of a cover receiving part 13 as a water level inside a box body 2 rises.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a box device for storing a water meter or the like and an opening restrictor attached to the box device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a box device (meter box) for storing a water meter or the like has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This box device includes a box body for storing an object to be stored such as a water meter, and a lid body for opening and closing an opening of the box body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a box device such as that of Patent Document 1, for example, when the inside of the box body is flooded due to concentrated heavy rain such as guerrilla heavy rain, the opening of the box body may open due to water pressure or buoyancy, and there is a risk of an unexpected accident occurring.

[0005] The present invention has been made by paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a box device and an opening restrictor that can prevent the opening of the box body from opening unintentionally due to flooding inside the box body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the box device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a box device including a box body having an opening on an upper surface and a lid body capable of opening and closing the opening, operably provided on one of the lid and the box body according to the water level in the box body, in response to an increase in the water level inside the box body and not engaging with the other of the lid and the box body from a first state in which the lid body is easily opened and engaging with the other of the lid and the box body,Comprising a release restrictor that operates in a second state where it is difficult to open the lid It is characterized by this. According to this feature, An opening restricting device operably provided on one of the lid and the box body according to the water level in the box body, In response to the rise in the water level inside the box and not engaging with the other of the lid and the box body From the first state where it is easy to open the lid and engaging with the other of the lid and the box body, It operates to the second state where it is difficult to open the lid, so it is possible to prevent the opening of the box from opening unintentionally due to flooding inside the box.

[0007] The release restrictor according to claim 2 of the present invention is A release restrictor that restricts the opening of an openable lid provided at the upper opening of the box, is attachable to one of the lid and the box body operably according to the water level in the box body, In response to the rise in the water level inside the box and not engaging with the other of the lid and the box body From the first state where it is easy to open the lid and engaging with the other of the lid and the box body, It operates to the second state where it is difficult to open the lid It is characterized by this. According to this feature, An opening restricting device attachable to one of the lid and the box body operably according to the water level in the box body, In response to the rise in the water level inside the box and not engaging with the other of the lid and the box body From the first state where it is easy to open the lid and engaging with the other of the lid and the box body, It operates to the second state where it is difficult to open the lid, so it is possible to prevent the opening of the box from opening unintentionally due to flooding inside the box.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] [Mode 1] Mode 1 is a box device including a box body having an opening on the upper surface and a lid body capable of opening and closing the opening, and includes an opening restricting tool that operates from a first state in which the lid body is easily opened to a second state in which the lid body is difficult to open in response to an increase in the water level inside the box body. It is characterized by this. According to this feature, since it operates from a first state in which the lid body is easily opened to a second state in which the lid body is difficult to open in response to an increase in the water level inside the box body, it is possible to prevent the opening of the opening of the box body in an unintended state due to flooding inside the box body.

[0010] [Mode 2] Mode 2 is an opening restricting tool that restricts the opening of an openable and closable lid body provided at the upper opening of the box body, and operates from a first state in which the lid body is easily opened to a second state in which the lid body is difficult to open in response to an increase in the water level inside the box body. It is characterized by this. According to this feature, as the water level in the box rises, it operates from the first state where it is easy to open the lid to the second state where it is difficult to open the lid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the opening of the box from opening unintentionally due to waterlogging in the box.

[0011] [Embodiment 3] Embodiment 3 is the box device described in Embodiment 1 and the opening restricting device described in Embodiment 2, wherein the opening restricting device includes a floating body portion and a restricting portion and is characterized by this. According to this feature, the floating body portion operates in response to the water level in the box, and the restricting portion restricts the opening of the lid by this operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the opening of the box from opening unintentionally due to waterlogging in the box.

[0012] [Embodiment 4] Embodiment 4 is the box device or the opening restricting device described in any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the opening restricting device moves from a first position where it is easy to open the lid to a second position where it is difficult to open the lid in response to the rise in the water level in the box and is characterized by this According to this feature, with a simple operation of just moving from the first position where it is easy to open the lid to the second position where it is difficult to open the lid in response to the rise in the water level in the box, it becomes the second state where it is difficult to open the lid.

[0013] [Embodiment 5] Embodiment 5 is the box device or the opening restricting device described in any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the opening restricting device is attached to the lid, and the second state is a state where the opening restricting device is engaged with the box and is characterized by this According to this feature, by the state where the opening restricting device attached to the lid is engaged with the box in response to the rise in the water level in the box, it is possible to prevent the opening of the box from opening during waterlogging.

[0014] [Embodiment 6] Aspect 6 is the box device or the opening restrictor described in Aspect 5, wherein the opening restrictor is composed of a main body member and a fixing member, the fixing member is attached to the back surface of the lid, the main body member is operably engaged with the fixing member in the first state and the second state, and is characterized by this. According to this feature, since only the main body member operates with respect to the fixing member, the opening restrictor can be attached without performing special processing for operating the opening restrictor on the back surface of the lid.

[0015] [Aspect 7] Aspect 7 is the box device or the opening restrictor described in any one of Aspects 1 to 4, wherein the opening restrictor is attached to the box body, the second state is a state in which the opening restrictor is engaged with the lid, and is characterized by this. According to this feature, by the state in which the opening restrictor attached to the box body engages with the lid in response to the rise of the water level in the box body, it is possible to prevent the opening of the box body from opening during flooding.

[0016] [Aspect 8] Aspect 8 is the box device or the opening restrictor described in Aspect 7, wherein the opening restrictor is composed of a main body member and a fixing member, the fixing member is attached to the inner surface of the box body, the main body member is operably engaged with the fixing member in the first state and the second state, and is characterized by this. According to this feature, since only the main body member operates with respect to the fixing member, the opening restrictor can be attached without performing special processing for operating the opening restrictor on the inner surface of the box body.

[0017] [Aspect 9] Aspect 9 is the box device or the opening restrictor described in Aspect 6 or 8, wherein The main body member includes a buoyancy material, and operates from the first state to the second state by the buoyancy of the buoyancy material. This is the characteristic. According to this characteristic, the main body member can be reliably operated from the first state to the second state in response to the rise in the water level.

[0018] [Form 10] Form 10 is the box device or the opening restricting tool described in Form 9, wherein a housing portion for housing the buoyancy material is formed in the main body member. This is the characteristic. According to this characteristic, the buoyancy material can be housed at an appropriate position with respect to the main body member.

[0019] [Form 11] Form 11 is the box device or the opening restricting tool described in any one of Forms 6, 9, or 10, wherein the main body member moves from a first position where it does not engage with the box body or the lid body to a second position where it engages with the box body or the lid body in response to the rise in the water level in the box body, and rotates from the first position to a third position which is a position between the first position and the second position, and then moves upward from the third position to the second position. This is the characteristic. According to this characteristic, by rotating the main body member from the first position to the intermediate third position and then moving upward from the third position to the second position, the main body member can be firmly engaged with the box body or the lid body at the second position.

[0020] [Form 12] Form 12 is the box device or the opening restricting tool described in any one of Forms 6, 9 to 11, wherein the main body member moves from a first position where it does not engage with the box body or the lid body to a second position where it engages with the box body or the lid body in response to the rise in the water level in the box body, and when the main body member is in the second position, a movement restricting portion for restricting the movement of the main body member to the first position is provided. It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, when the main body member moves to the second position where it engages with the box body or the lid due to flooding, its return from the second position to the first position is restricted, making it difficult to release the engagement.

[0021] [Form 13] Form 13 is the box device or the opening restrictor described in any one of Forms 6, 9 to 12, wherein the main body member moves from a first position where it does not engage with the box body or the lid according to the rise in the water level in the box body to a second position where it engages with the box body or the lid, and the opening restrictor is attached to a position where it can contact the main body member from the front side of the lid in a state where the main body member has moved to the second position It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, even when the main body member is in a state where it is difficult to operate in the second position, it is possible to contact the main body member from the front side of the lid and release the engagement between the main body member and the box body or the lid.

[0022] [Form 14] Form 14 is an opening restrictor that restricts the opening of an openable lid provided at the upper opening of a box body, comprising a floating body part and a restricting part It is characterized by the following. According to this feature, the floating body part operates in response to the water level in the box body, and the restricting part restricts the opening of the lid by this operation, so it is possible to prevent the opening of the opening of the box body in an unintended state due to flooding in the box body.

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the box device and the opening restrictor according to the present invention will be described below based on examples.

Example

[0024] The box device and the opening restrictor of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0025] Reference numeral 1 in the figure is a water meter box (meter box) made of, for example, synthetic resin. This water meter box 1 is buried in the ground of a residential area and used.

[0026] [Regarding the water meter box] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water meter box 1 has an upper opening 5 on its upper surface, and a bottomed box body 2 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view for housing articles to be housed (for example, a water meter and a stop valve) not shown inside, and two support shaft portions 4 that are symmetric left and right with respect to the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 are provided so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around the support shaft portions 4, and a rectangular plate-shaped lid body 3 that opens and closes the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 by its rotation. Hereinafter, the side facing the support shaft portion 4 of the lid body 3 of the water meter box 1 across the upper opening 5 will be referred to as the front, the side of the support shaft portion 4 of the lid body 3 will be referred to as the rear, the left side when viewed from the front will be referred to as the left, and the right side will be referred to as the right for explanation.

[0027] The upper surface of the box body 2 and the upper surface of the lid body 3 in the closed state are located substantially on the same plane as the ground surface of a residential area or the like. The box body 2 and the lid body 3 are made of, for example, synthetic resin, but may also be made of metal such as a casting.

[0028] Further, the water meter box 1 is provided with an opening restriction tool 7 that allows the opening and closing operation (upward rotation and downward rotation) of the lid body 3 during normal times, but restricts the opening operation (upward rotation) of the lid body 3 by engagement with the box body 2 during flooding.

[0029] [Regarding the box body] The box body 2 is a bottomed cylindrical shape with an upper and lower divided structure composed of a cylindrical upper box body 2a having an upper opening 5 opening on its upper surface and a lower opening 6 opening on its lower surface, and a dish-shaped lower box body 2b that closes the lower opening 6 of the upper box body 2a.

[0030] The upper box body 2a and the lower box body 2b each have four side plate parts 11a and 11b on the front, rear, left, and right. At the lower ends of the left and right side plate parts 11a among the four side plate parts 11a of the upper box body 2a, U-shaped notches 12a are formed facing upward. At the upper ends of the left and right side plate parts 11b among the four side plate parts 11b of the lower box body 2b, U-shaped notches 12b are formed facing downward so as to communicate with the notches 12a. When the lower opening 6 of the upper box body 2a is closed by the lower box body 2b, insertion holes 12 through which a water pipe (not shown), which is a pipe, is inserted are formed by the notches 12a and 12b of the left and right side plate parts 11a and 11b. In addition, a water meter and a stopcock are connected to the portion of the water pipe located inside the box body 2. Further, for example, without using the lower box body 2b constituting the box body 2, only the upper box body 2a may be buried in the ground of the lot and used. In this case, the notch 12a may be used as an insertion hole through which a water pipe (not shown) is inserted.

[0031] The upper box body 2a has an annular (including a substantially annular) lid receiving portion 13 that extends inside the four side plate parts 11a and receives the peripheral edge of the lid body 3 in a closed state from below when the upper opening 5 is closed.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the left and right support shaft parts 4 that are the rotation centers of the lid body 3 project substantially horizontally from a predetermined portion of the standing part 16 of the upper box body 2a. However, for example, a configuration in which they project from a predetermined portion of the side plate part 11a may also be acceptable. Further, the lid receiving portion 13 is not limited to an annular shape. For example, it may be one that receives only the front end portion of the lid body 3, or one that receives the front end portion and the left and right end portions (excluding the rear end portion) of the lid body 3.

[0033] A plurality of drain holes (not shown) that penetrate vertically are formed in the bottom plate of the lower box body 2b to drain the water that has entered the inside of the box body 2.

[0034] [Regarding the lid body] The lid 3 assumes an open state in which it stands upright in a substantially vertical direction by rotating upward about the pivot portion 4 of the upper box body 2a to open the upper opening 5 of the upper box body 2a, and assumes a closed state in which it lies flat in a substantially horizontal direction by rotating downward about the pivot portion 4 of the upper box body 2a to close the upper opening 5 of the upper box body 2a. Further, the lid 3 can be removed from the pivot portion 4 in a fully open state, while it is locked to the pivot portion 4 by rotating the lid 3 and cannot be removed from the pivot portion 4, so that the lid 3 does not separate from the box body 2 in the closed state.

[0035] The lid 3 has a concave bearing portion 21 detachably attached to the pivot portion 4 of the upper box body 2a, and a hooking opening portion 10 for an operator (an operator performing operations such as needle inspection) to insert a finger or a predetermined jig and hook it when rotating the lid 3 with respect to the upper box body 2a. The bearing portions 21 are respectively formed in a concave shape at both ends in the left-right direction at the rear end portion of the lid 3. The hooking opening portion 10 is formed in a notch shape so as to penetrate the upper and lower surfaces of the lid 3 at the center in the left-right direction at the front end portion of the lid 3.

[0036] The lid 3 has a plate-shaped lid main body portion 22 having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a plate-shaped and lattice-shaped rib portion 23 protruding from substantially the entire lower surface (back surface) of the lid main body portion 22 in the closed state. As shown in FIG. 3, the rib portion 23 has a plate portion 10a forming a notch of the hooking opening portion 10, an opposing plate 25 spaced apart from the plate portion 10a in the front-rear direction by a predetermined distance, and a mounting plate 26 located between the plate portion 10a and the opposing plate 25 and extending in the front-rear direction. In the closed state of the lid 3, the lower surface of the mounting plate 26 is located above the lower surface of the opposing plate 25 (see FIG. 8). And an opening restricting tool 7 described later is attached to the opposing plate 25 and the mounting plate 26 of the rib portion 23.

[0037] Further, a plurality of lower surface side space portions 27 having a downward opening shape are formed on the lower surface side (back surface side) of the lid 3. Each lower surface side space portion 27 is a space partitioned by the rib portion 23. Thus, since the rib portion 23 is provided on the lower surface side (back surface side) of the lid 3, the structural strength such as load resistance is enhanced.

[0038] When the inside of the box body 2 is flooded due to a large amount of water accumulation caused by heavy rainstorms or the like, air is likely to accumulate in the lower surface side space portion 27. Moreover, since the lid body 3 is made of synthetic resin and has a specific gravity lighter than that of water, there is a risk that the lid body 3 will be unexpectedly opened due to the flooding inside the box body 2. Also, in the case of sudden flooding, there is a risk that the lid body 3 will be unexpectedly opened due to the air pressure or water pressure inside the box body 2.

[0039] [Regarding the opening restricting device] The opening restricting device 7 allows the lid body 3 to rotate upward and downward with respect to the box body 2 under normal conditions, but restricts the upward rotation of the lid body 3 with respect to the box body 2 by engaging with the lid receiving portion 13 of the box body 2 during flooding to maintain the closed state of the lid body 3.

[0040] The number of the opening restricting devices 7 is, for example, one, and this one opening restricting device 7 is attached to one location in the vicinity of the hooking opening 10 on the lower surface side of the lid body 3. Specifically, the opening restricting device 7 is attached to, for example, the opposing plate 25 and the mounting plate 26 of the rib portion 23 on the lower surface side of the lid body 3. And the opening restricting device 7 is visible from the outside through the open hooking opening 10 of the lid body 3 in the closed state even when the upper opening 5 is closed, and can be contacted using a tool such as a minus driver.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and the like, the opening restricting device 7 is composed of a main body member 30, a buoyancy material 40 as a floating body portion, and a fixing member 50.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the main body member 30 integrally includes a main body portion 31 having an H-shaped upper surface with cutouts 32 and 33 formed in the front and rear, two engaging recesses 34 formed at the front end of the main body portion 31 as regulating portions that can be detachably engaged with the lower portion of the lid receiving portion 13 of the box body 2 during waterlogging, and two attachment portions 35 provided on the left and right so as to project upward at the rear end of the main body portion 31 and operably attached to the fixing member 50, and is formed of resin or the like. Near the cutout 32 in the upper portion of the main body portion 31, when the upper opening 5 is closed and a tool or the like is inserted through the hook-shaped opening 10 of the closed lid 3, a tool receiving portion 38 for receiving the tip of the tool is recessed. In this embodiment, a cutout 32 is formed at the front portion of the main body portion 31 and two engaging recesses 34 are provided symmetrically left and right. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cutout 32 may not be provided, one engaging recess 34 may be formed, and the configuration may be such that it engages with the lower portion of the lid receiving portion 13 only at one location. Alternatively, a plurality of cutouts 32 may be formed at the front portion of the main body portion 31, three or more engaging recesses 34 may be formed, and the configuration may be such that it engages with the lower portion of the lid receiving portion 13 at three or more locations.

[0043] Guide holes 36 that engage with guide shafts 53 of the fixing member 50, which will be described later, are formed through the left and right attachment portions 35 in the left and right directions. The guide hole 36 has a bent shape in a side view, including a first hole portion 36a extending obliquely forward and obliquely downward from above and a second hole portion 36b extending vertically downward continuously from the end of the first hole portion 36a. Further, a housing portion 37 for housing the buoyancy material 40 is formed on the lower surface of the main body portion 31.

[0044] The buoyancy material 40 is made of a material such as foamed resin having a specific gravity smaller than that of the main body member 30, that is, generating a large buoyancy, and its upper portion has a shape that can be housed in the housing portion 37 of the main body member 30. The buoyancy material 40 is integrally attached to the main body member 30 by being press-fitted into the housing portion 37 from below. Note that the buoyancy material 40 is not limited to being made of a material such as foamed resin, and for example, a synthetic resin material may be used and the inside may be formed hollow to obtain buoyancy.

[0045] The fixing member 50 is made of metal and, as shown in Fig. 7, is formed in an upward-facing U shape in front view with an open top, consisting of left and right side plates 51 and a bottom plate 52 that connects these side plates 51 to each other. Guide shafts 53 are welded to penetrate the left and right side plates 51 in the lateral direction at approximately the central portions thereof, and the ends of the guide shafts 53 protrude outside the left and right side plates 51, respectively. Further, clamping portions 54 that are bent inward are formed at the upper portions of the left and right side plates 51. Further, behind the fixing member 50, a horizontal plate portion 55 that extends rearward from a position above the bottom plate 52 and a vertical plate portion 56 that extends upward from the rear end of the horizontal plate portion 55 are formed by a metal plate extending from the bottom plate 52. Note that although the fixing member 50 is made of metal, it may be formed of, for example, synthetic resin.

[0046] The main body member 30 is elastically deformed outwardly at the left and right attachment portions 35, and the both ends of the guide shafts 53 protruding outside the left and right side plates 51 of the fixing member 50 are inserted into the guide holes 36 of the attachment portions 35, whereby the main body member 30 is engaged with the fixing member 50 and the main body member 30 is attached to the fixing member 50.

[0047] The fixing member 50 is attached to the lid body 3 by sandwiching the attachment plate 26 among the rib portions 23 provided on the back surface of the lid body 3 between the left and right side plates 51. The separation width between the left and right side plates 51 is substantially the same width as or slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the attachment plate 26, and the side surface of the attachment plate 26 is sandwiched between the clamping portions 54 bent inward on the inner sides of the left and right side plates 51, whereby the fixing member 50 is attached to the attachment plate 26 in a fixed state. Further, the separation width between the front surface of the vertical plate portion 56 and the rear end of the side plate 51 is substantially the same width as or slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the opposing plate 25 of the rib portion 23, and when sandwiching the attachment plate 26 between the left and right side plates 51, the opposing plate 25 is sandwiched between the vertical plate portion 56 and the side plate 51, so that the front and rear fixing positions become appropriate positions, facilitating the front and rear alignment when attaching the fixing member 50 to the lid body 3. Further, when sandwiching the attachment plate 26 between the left and right side plates 51, by pushing it in until the lower surface of the opposing plate 25 abuts against the upper surface of the horizontal plate portion 55, the upper and lower fixing positions become appropriate positions, facilitating the upper and lower alignment when attaching the fixing member 50 to the lid body 3.

[0048] [Operation of the opening restrictor] Next, the operation of the opening restrictor 7, particularly the main body member 30, will be described with reference to FIG. 8. First, as shown in FIG. 8(a), in the normal state, the upper end of the guide hole 36 formed in the mounting portion 35 on the rear end side of the main body member 30 is in contact with the guide shaft 53 of the fixing member 50, that is, the opening restrictor 7 is suspended by the guide shaft 53, and the front end side is drooped due to its own weight, and it is in a permitted state (first state) with a front-low and rear-high inclination.

[0049] When the water level in the water gauge box 1 rises and the water level in the box body 2 rises above the lower end of the main body member 30 in this permitted state, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the front end side of the main body member 30 is pushed up by the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 40, and the main body member 30 rotates from the inclined position (first position) with the rear end side as the fulcrum to the horizontal position (third position). At this time, the guide hole 36 is guided by the guide shaft 53, so that the main body member 30 moves to the connection point of the first hole portion 36a and the second hole portion 36b of the guide shaft 53, and the engaging recess 34 of the main body member 30 is located below the lid receiving portion 13. Also, when the main body member 30 becomes horizontal, the second hole portion 36b becomes vertical.

[0050] After that, when the water level in the box body 2 further rises, as shown in FIG. 8(c), the entire main body member 30 is pushed up along with the rising water level by the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 40, and the vertical second hole portion 36b of the guide hole 36 is guided by the guide shaft 53, so that the main body member 30 moves vertically upward while maintaining this horizontal state from the horizontal position (third position). Before the inside of the box body 2 is completely flooded, the engaging recess 34 of the main body member 30 reaches the position (second position) where it engages with the lower part of the lid receiving portion 13, and a restricted state is entered. As a result, when the water gauge box 1 is flooded, the upward rotation of the lid 3 is restricted, so the closed state of the lid 3 is maintained. Also, in the closed state, since the lid 3 does not separate from the box body 2, the operation of the main body member 30 to enter the restricted state also restricts the separation of the lid 3 from the box body 2.

[0051] Further, when the main body member 30 moves vertically upward, the front surface (movement restricting portion) of the side plate 51 of the fixing member 50 abuts against the notch 33 formed behind the main body member 30, so that the front end side of the main body member 30 is restricted from rotating downward with the rear end side of the main body member 30 as a fulcrum. Therefore, it is difficult to release the engagement between the engagement recess 34 and the lid receiving portion 13.

[0052] On the other hand, when the water in the box body 2 drains through the insertion hole 12 or the drain hole and the water level drops, the main body member 30 moves vertically downward while maintaining a horizontal state. When the main body member 30 moves to the connection point of the first hole portion 36a and the second hole portion 36b by the guide shaft 53, the notch 33 is not in contact with the front surface of the side plate 51, and the front end side of the main body member 30 can rotate downward with the rear end side of the main body member 30 as a fulcrum.

[0053] After that, when the water level further drops, the main body member 30 rotates downward from the position where the main body member 30 is horizontal to the position where it tilts under its own weight with the rear end side of the main body member 30 as a fulcrum, and becomes an allowable state again, and the lid 3 can be opened.

[0054] [Regarding the effects] Next, the effects of the water measuring box 1 will be described.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 9, normally, the main body member 30 of the opening restrictor 7 is in an inclined allowable state (hanging inclined state) with respect to the lid 3. Therefore, the main body member 30 in this allowable state does not contact or engage with the lid receiving portion 13 of the box body 2. Therefore, for example, during needle inspection or full inspection, the operator can rotate the lid 3 up and down with respect to the box body 2 without any trouble.

[0056] On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 10, when the water level of the rainwater that has entered the box body 2 rises, the main body member 30 of the opening restrictor 7 is pushed upward and rotates, and at the same time, moves upward. As a result, the main body member 30 enters a restricted state, and the engagement recess 34 of the main body member 30 engages with the lower part of the lid receiving portion 13.

[0057] Therefore, even if air accumulates in the lower surface side space portion 27 of the lid body 3 due to further rising of the water surface and the lid body 3 is pushed upward and tries to rotate upward, the upward rotation of the lid body 3 is restricted by the engagement between the engagement recess 34 of the main body member 30 in the restricted state and the lid receiving portion 13. Thus, the closed state of the lid body 3 is maintained, and the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 remains closed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 from opening unintentionally due to the flooding of the water gauge box 1.

[0058] In addition, for example, when the rain stops and the water accumulated in the box body 2 drains out through the insertion hole 12 or the drain hole, the main body member 30 rotates downward by its own weight and returns to the inclined allowable state. However, if the sediment or the like that has entered the box body 2 due to flooding becomes clogged and the main body member 30 cannot return to the allowable state by its own weight, a tool or the like is inserted into the box body 2 through the hooking opening 10 of the lid body 3, and the main body member 30 is pushed by the tip of the inserted member, so that the main body member 30 can be forcibly returned to the allowable state.

[0059] And according to the water gauge box 1 described above, although both the opening operation and the closing operation of the lid body 3 are allowed during normal times, since it is provided with the opening restriction tool 7 that restricts the opening operation of the lid body 3 during flooding, unlike the conventional products, it is possible to appropriately prevent the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 from opening during flooding. Therefore, for example, there is no risk that a person will trip and fall over the box body 2 that is in an open state during flooding. In addition, not only is the opening of the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 restricted during flooding, but also the separation of the lid body 3 from the box body 2 is restricted by restricting the opening operation of the lid body 3, so that it is possible to prevent the lid body 3 from coming off the box body 2 and being washed away during flooding.

[0060] In addition, the opening restriction tool 7 changes from the position where the main body member 30 is in a position where it is easy to open the lid body 3, that is, an inclined position (the first position), in response to the rise of the water level in the box body 2, to a position where the engagement recess 34 of the main body member 30 engages with the lower part of the lid receiving portion 13 (the second position) with a simple movement that only moves, and the opening of the lid body 3 becomes difficult and enters a restricted state.

[0061] Further, the opening restrictor 7 is composed of a main body member 30 and a fixing member 50. The fixing member 50 is attached to the back surface of the lid body 3. The main body member 30 is operably engaged with the fixing member 50 in an allowable state and a restricted state. Since only the main body member 30 operates with respect to the fixing member 50, the opening restrictor 7 can be attached without performing special processing for operating the opening restrictor 7 on the back surface of the lid body 3, and it is also possible to attach it later to the installed box body 2.

[0062] In addition, by providing an engaging portion for operably engaging the main body member 30 with the back surface of the lid body 3 or by processing the back surface of the lid body 3, the main body member 30 may be directly attached to the back surface of the lid body 3 without passing through the fixing member 50.

[0063] Further, the main body member 30 is provided with a buoyancy material 40. Since the main body member 30 operates from the allowable state to the restricted state due to the buoyancy of the buoyancy material 40, the main body member 30 can be reliably operated from the allowable state to the restricted state in response to the rise in the water level.

[0064] In addition, since the main body member 30 is formed with a housing portion 37 for housing the buoyancy material 40, the buoyancy material 40 can be housed at an appropriate position with respect to the main body member 30, and the main body member 30 can be smoothly operated from the allowable state to the restricted state in response to the rise in the water level.

[0065] Note that the position where the buoyancy material 40 is attached to the main body member 30 is not limited to below the main body member 30. For example, it may be provided above or on the side of the main body member 30. Also, the number of buoyancy materials is not limited to one. For example, a configuration with a plurality of buoyancy materials may be adopted. Further, when the specific gravity of the main body member 30 is sufficiently lighter than water and has sufficient buoyancy, or when an air pocket is formed in the main body member 30 and buoyancy is obtained by the air in the air pocket, a configuration without providing the buoyancy material 40 may be adopted.

[0066] Further, as the water level in the box body 2 rises, the main body member 30 rotates from an inclined position (the first position) with the rear end side of the main body member 30 as a fulcrum to a horizontal position (the third position), and then the main body member 30 moves vertically upward from the horizontal position (the third position) to a position (the second position) where the engaging concave portion 34 of the main body member 30 engages with the lower portion of the lid receiving portion 13. Therefore, the main body member 30 can be firmly engaged with the box body 2.

[0067] Also, when the main body member 30 moves vertically upward from the horizontal position (the third position), the front surface of the side plate 51 of the fixing member 50 abuts against the notch 33 formed on the rear side of the main body member 30, restricting the front end side of the main body member 30 from rotating downward with the rear end side of the main body member 30 as a fulcrum, and restricting the rotational movement of the main body member 30 from returning to the allowed state. Therefore, the engagement between the engaging concave portion 34 and the lid receiving portion 13 is difficult to be released.

[0068] In addition, since the opening restricting tool 7 is provided near the hooking opening 10 of the lid body 3, even if the main body member 30 does not return to its original allowed state due to, for example, sediment or the like that has entered and clogged the box body 2, the main body member 30 can be forcibly returned to the allowed state by inserting a tool or the like into the box body 2 through the hooking opening 10. At this time, since a tool receiving portion 38 for receiving the tip of the tool is recessed in the upper portion of the main body portion 31 of the main body member 30, the tip of the tool or the like can surely push down the main body member 30 without slipping.

[0069] In particular, since the opening restricting tool 7 is attached by sandwiching the mounting plate 26 on the back surface of the lid body 3 between the left and right side plates 51 of the fixing member 50, even when there is a large amount of sediment or the like that has entered the box body 2 and the main body member 30 does not return to the allowed state, the entire opening restricting tool 7 can be removed from the lid body 3 by pushing down the opening restricting tool 7 together with the tool or the like to release the sandwiching of the mounting plate 26, thereby opening the lid body 3. After that, it is also possible to remove the sediment or the like in the box body 2 again and attach the opening restricting tool 7 to the back surface of the lid body 3.

[0070] Further, the opening restrictor 7 is not limited to a configuration provided at a position near the hooking opening 10 (such as one mounting position that can be pushed by a tool or the like). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a configuration in which one opening restrictor 7 is provided at a position on the lower surface side of the lid body 3 at the right side of the front end (the left side is also acceptable) (mounting position 1) is also acceptable, and a configuration provided at a position on the end side in the left-right direction (mounting position 2 or mounting position 3) is also acceptable.

[0071] Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, even when one of the two support shaft portions 4 is damaged, a configuration may be adopted in which the upper opening 5 of the box body 2 can be prevented from opening by the other non-damaged support shaft portion 4 and a plurality of, for example, two opening restrictors 7. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the two opening restrictors 7 are provided at a plurality of positions separated from each other, that is, for example, at mounting positions A and B, respectively. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the two opening restrictors 7 are provided at a plurality of positions separated from each other, that is, for example, at mounting positions a and b, respectively. Although not shown in the figure, for example, a configuration in which three or more opening restrictors are provided so as to be separated from each other may also be acceptable.

[0072] Also, the opening restrictor is not limited to a configuration provided only on the lid body. For example, the opening restrictor may be provided only on the box body, or the opening restrictor may be provided on both the box body and the lid body.

[0073] Also, the opening restrictor is not limited to a configuration in which a restricting portion that restricts the opening of the lid body 3 by engaging with the lid body 3 or the box body 2 is integrally provided on a main body member that operates in response to an increase in the water level. The main body member (floating body portion) and the restricting portion may be provided separately, and a configuration in which a main body member (floating body portion) that operates in response to an increase in the water level and a restricting portion that operates to a restricted state in conjunction with the operation of the main body member are provided separately may also be acceptable.

[0074] Furthermore, the opening restrictor is not limited to a configuration indirectly provided on the lid body or the box body. For example, the opening restrictor may be directly provided on the lid body or the box body.

[0075] Further, the opening restrictor is not limited to being operated by buoyancy. For example, it may be configured to operate such that the locking portion engages with the lid or the box body due to water pressure or air pressure caused by the rise of the water level in the box body, and the opening of the lid is restricted.

[0076] Also, when the water level in the box body reaches a predetermined level or higher in a state where the opening of the lid is permitted, it operates such that the locking portion engages with the lid or the box body by driving driving means such as a solenoid or a motor, and the opening of the lid is restricted. When the water level in the box body falls below the predetermined level in a state where the opening of the lid is restricted, it operates to release the engagement between the locking portion and the lid or the box body by driving the driving means, and the opening of the lid is permitted. Such a configuration is also acceptable. In such a configuration, it is preferable to drive the driving means with a battery, whereby it can also be used for a water meter box installed in an environment where it is difficult to secure a power supply from the outside.

[0077] Also, the box device may be, for example, a valve box for housing a valve, a sprinkler box for housing a sprinkler head, etc., in addition to the water meter box for housing the water meter.

[0078] Furthermore, the box body (housing) is not limited to a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom plate portion. For example, it may be a box shape without a bottom, or may be composed of a single member.

[0079] Also, the rotation direction of the main body member constituting the opening restrictor is not limited to a configuration that rotates in the vertical direction. For example, it may rotate in the horizontal direction, and its design may be modified so as to be caught by a part of the box body and a part of the lid.

[0080] [Regarding the modification example] Next, the modification example will be described.

[0081] [Regarding Modification Example 1] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the opening restrictor 107 and the box body 102 of Modification Example 1. The opening restrictor 107 of Modification Example 1 is composed of a main body member 130, a buoyancy material 140, and a fixing member 150, similar to the opening restrictor 7.

[0082] At the front end of the main body member 130, a protruding portion 131 that protrudes upward is provided, and at the tip of the protruding portion 131, a locking portion 132 that protrudes rearward is formed.

[0083] In addition, as shown in FIG. 14(b), in the left and right mounting portions 135 provided at the rear end of the main body member 130, when the main body member 130 is in a horizontal state, a first hole portion 136a that extends forward and obliquely downward from above, and a second hole portion 136b that is continuous from the end of the first hole portion 136a and extends forward and obliquely downward with a gentler inclination than the first hole portion 136a are formed, and a guide hole 136 having a bent shape in a side view is formed.

[0084] In the lid receiving portion 113 of the box body 102, a locking recess 114 is recessed inwardly on the back side thereof.

[0085] Next, regarding the operation of the opening restricting tool 107, particularly the main body member 130, first, as shown in FIG. 14(a), in the normal state, the main body member 130 is in a state where the upper end of the guide hole 136 formed in the mounting portion 135 abuts against the guide shaft 153 of the fixing member 150, that is, the opening restricting tool 107 is suspended by the guide shaft 153, and the front end side droops due to its own weight and is in a permitted state (first state) with a front-low and rear-high inclination.

[0086] When the water level in the box body 102 rises and exceeds the lower end of the main body member 130 in this permitted state, as shown in FIG. 14(b), the front end side of the main body member 130 is pushed up by the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 140, and the main body member 130 rotates from an inclined position (first position) with the rear end side as a fulcrum to a horizontal position (third position). At this time, as the guide hole 136 is guided by the guide shaft 153, the main body member 130 moves until the guide shaft 153 reaches the connection point of the first hole portion 136a and the second hole portion 136b, and the protruding portion 131 of the main body member 130 enters the back side of the lid receiving portion 113. Further, when the main body member 30 becomes horizontal, the second hole portion 136b has a gentle inclination forward and obliquely downward.

[0087] After that, when the water level in the box body 102 further rises, as shown in FIG. 14(c), the entire main body member 130 is pushed up as the water level rises due to the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 140, and the second hole portion 136b of the guide hole 136, which has a gentle inclination forward and obliquely downward, is guided by the guide shaft 53, so that the main body member 130 moves obliquely with a gentle inclination backward and upward. Before the inside of the box body 102 is completely flooded, the locking portion 132 of the main body member 130 reaches a position (second position) where it engages with the locking recess 114 on the back side of the lid receiving portion 113, entering a restricted state. As a result, when the water measuring box 1 is in a state of water overflow, the upward rotation of the lid body 3 is restricted, so the closed state of the lid body 3 is maintained. At this time, the locking portion 132 of the main body member 130 engages with the locking recess 114 (movement restricting portion) on the back side of the lid receiving portion 113, restricting the downward rotation of the front end side of the main body member 130 with the rear end side of the main body member 130 as a fulcrum, making it difficult to release the engagement between the main body member 130 and the lid receiving portion 113.

[0088] [Regarding Modification 2] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the opening restrictor 207, box body 202, and lid body 203 of Modification 2. Similar to the opening restrictor 7, the opening restrictor 207 of Modification 2 is composed of a main body member 230, a buoyancy material 240, and a fixing member 250.

[0089] Unlike the opening restrictor 7, the fixing member 250 of the opening restrictor 207 of Modification 2 is attached to the box body 202 with fixing screws 204.

[0090] A protruding portion 231 that protrudes upward is provided at the rear end portion of the main body member 230, and a locking portion 232 that protrudes forward is formed at the tip of the protruding portion 231.

[0091] In addition, as shown in Fig. 15(b), on the left and right mounting portions 235 provided at the front end of the main body member 230, when the main body member 230 is in a horizontal state, a first hole portion 236a extending rearward and obliquely downward from above and a second hole portion 236b extending continuously from the end of the first hole portion 236a and extending rearward and obliquely downward with a gentler inclination than the first hole portion 236a are formed, and a guide hole 236 having a bent shape in side view is formed.

[0092] At the lower end of a rib 223 provided so as to protrude downward on the back surface of the lid body 203, an engaging portion 224 protruding rearward is formed.

[0093] Next, regarding the operation of the opening restrictor 207, particularly the main body member 230, first, as shown in Fig. 15(a), in the normal state, the main body member 230 is in a state where the upper end of the guide hole 236 formed in the mounting portion 235 abuts against the guide shaft 253 of the fixing member 250, that is, the opening restrictor 207 is suspended by the guide shaft 353, and the rear end side droops due to its own weight and is in a permitted state (first state) with a rear-low and front-high inclination.

[0094] When the water level in the box body 202 rises and exceeds the lower end of the main body member 230 in this permitted state, as shown in Fig. 15(b), the rear end side of the main body member 230 is pushed up by the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 240, and the main body member 230 rotates from an inclined position (first position) with the front end side as a fulcrum to a horizontal position (third position). At this time, as the guide hole 236 is guided by the guide shaft 253, the main body member 230 moves until the guide shaft 253 reaches the connection point of the first hole portion 236a and the second hole portion 236b, and the protruding portion 231 of the main body member 230 enters the rear side of the rib 223 of the lid body 203. Further, when the main body member 230 becomes horizontal, the second hole portion 236b has a gentle inclination rearward and obliquely downward.

[0095] After that, when the water level in the box body 202 further rises, as shown in FIG. 15(c), the entire main body member 230 is pushed up as the water level rises due to the buoyancy generated in the buoyancy material 240. At the same time, the second hole portion 236b of the guide hole 236, which has a gentle inclination toward the rear and obliquely downward, is guided by the guide shaft 253, so that the main body member 230 moves obliquely with a gentle inclination toward the front and upward. Before the inside of the box body 202 is completely flooded, the locking portion 232 of the main body member 230 reaches a position (second position) where it engages with the engaging portion 224 of the rib 223 of the lid body 203, entering a restricted state. As a result, when the water gauge box 1 is in a state of being flooded, the upward rotation of the lid body 203 is restricted, so that the closed state of the lid body 203 is maintained. At this time, the locking portion 232 of the main body member 230 engages with the engaging portion 224 (movement restricting portion) of the rib 223 of the lid body 203, restricting the downward rotation of the rear end side of the main body member 230 with the front end side of the main body member 230 as a fulcrum, making it difficult to release the engagement between the main body member 230 and the lid body 203.

[0096] [Regarding Modification Example 3] FIG. 16 is a view showing the fixing member 350 of Modification Example 3. The fixing member 350 is made of metal and is a member for attaching the main body member constituting the opening restricting tool to the ribs formed on the lid body 3 or the box body 2. Although the fixing member 350 is made of metal, it may be formed by molding synthetic resin, for example.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 16, the fixing member 350 is composed of a first member 350a including a side plate 351a and a bottom plate 352a extending rightward from the lower end of the side plate 351a, and a second member 350b including a side plate 351b and a bottom plate 352b extending leftward from the lower end of the side plate 351b. Further, on the upper portions of the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b, sandwiching portions 354a and 354b that are bent inward are respectively formed.

[0098] The first member 350a and the second member 350b are arranged to face each other such that the lower surface of the bottom plate 352b abuts against the upper surface of the bottom plate 352a. A guide shaft 353 is welded to penetrate the substantially central portion of the side plate 351b in the left-right direction, and the ends of the guide shaft 53 protrude from the sides of the side plate 351b to the left and right. The end of the guide shaft 53 protrudes longitudinally more to the left than to the right side of the side plate 351b. An insertion hole 355 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the guide shaft 353 is formed in the substantially central portion of the side plate 351a. When the first member 350a and the second member 350b are arranged to face each other, the guide shaft 353 is inserted into the insertion hole 355, and the end of the guide shaft 53 protrudes from the right side of the side plate 351a.

[0099] Insertion holes 356a and 356b are respectively formed in the lower portions of the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b. A nut 357 is welded to the position on the outer surface of the side plate 351b where the insertion hole 356b is formed. By screwing the adjustment bolt 358 from the outer surface side of the side plate 351 through the insertion holes 356a and 356b into the nut 357 on the side plate 351b side, the first member 350a and the second member 350b are integrated.

[0100] Also, between the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b, compression springs 359 and 360 that are biased toward both ends are respectively wound around the guide shaft 353 and the adjustment bolt 358 as axes. The side plate 351a and the side plate 351b are in a state of being biased outward. By rotating the adjustment knob 358a of the adjustment bolt 358 in the screwing-out direction, the distance between the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b increases, while by rotating the adjustment knob 358a of the adjustment bolt 358 in the screwing-in direction, the distance between the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b decreases, so that the distance between the side plate 351a and the side plate 351b can be adjusted.

[0101] In this way, in the fixing member 350, the distance between the side plates 351a and 351b can be adjusted according to the thickness of a rib or the like to which the fixing member 350 is attached. Even when the thicknesses of ribs or the like at the attachment position are different, the opening restrictor can be attached to the box body or the lid body. Therefore, it is possible to attach the opening restrictor without using a plurality of types of fixing members having different distances between the side plates with respect to the position where the opening restrictor is attached and the thickness of the rib.

[0102] Note that the mechanism for adjusting the distance between the side plates of the fixing member is not limited to the above, and for example, those having other distance adjustment mechanisms may be used. Also, the structure may be such that the tips of both side plates of the fixing member are biased inward, and the opening restrictor is attached to the box body or the lid body by sandwiching a rib or the like between the side plates. Even with such a structure, the opening restrictor can be attached to ribs or the like having different thicknesses.

[0103] Although some embodiments of the present invention and their modifications have been described, it is also possible to appropriately combine each embodiment and each modification without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0104] 1 Water measuring box 2 Box body 3 Lid body 5 Upper opening 7 Opening restrictor 30 Main body member 40 Buoyancy material 50 Fixing member

Claims

1. A box device including a box body having an opening on an upper surface and a lid body capable of opening and closing the opening, An opening restriction device is provided on one of the lid body and the box body so as to be operable in response to the water level inside the box body, and is adapted to move from a first state in which the lid body is easily opened without engaging with the other of the lid body and the box body to a second state in which the lid body is difficult to open by engaging with the other of the lid body and the box body in response to a rise in the water level inside the box body. A box device characterized by:

2. An opening restriction device that restricts the opening of an openable / closable lid provided at an upper opening of a box body, The water level detecting device is attachable to one of the lid and the box so as to be operable in response to the water level inside the box, and operates in response to a rise in the water level inside the box, from a first state in which the lid is easily opened without engaging with the other of the lid and the box, to a second state in which the lid is difficult to open by engaging with the other of the lid and the box. An opening restriction device characterized by the above.

Images