Locking device for solar power generation power distribution equipment

Abstract

The cover of the photovoltaic power distribution equipment is locked more firmly than before to prevent the disconnection of the wiring inside the distribution equipment. 【Solution means】A locking device 100 for locking the cover 202 of the photovoltaic power distribution equipment 200, comprising a movable member 30 for pressing the cover 202, and a pair of fixing members 10 and 20 for respectively fixing one end and the other end of the movable member 30. Further, a locking mechanism is provided at the connection portion between the movable member 30 and the fixing member 10. The locking mechanism includes a mounting portion for screws 34 that fixes the end portion of the movable member 30 to the fixing member 10, a cylindrical cover 13 that covers the periphery of the head of the screws 34, and a mounting portion 14 of a locking tool 300 provided on the cover 13 to avoid the removal of the screws 34 covered by the cover 13.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for solar power generation distribution equipment.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, many solar power plants have rapidly spread since around 2009. This is largely due to the start of the government's feed-in tariff (FIT) system for electricity.

[0003] In the construction of solar power plants, burying the power cables of solar panels over a long distance incurs a lot of costs. Therefore, in order to avoid the costly burying work, a construction method is often adopted in which the power cables are passed through protective pipes arranged directly on the ground. This is the so-called "rolling method". Currently, there are a very large number of such exposed solar power plants. At that time, the price of copper wire was still low, and it was not assumed that copper wire thefts would occur as frequently as they do today.

[0004] On the other hand, since around 2022, due to the impact of the Ukraine war and the rapid depreciation of the yen, the price of copper wire has skyrocketed. Since stolen copper wire is bought at a very high price, copper wire thefts have been seen in various facilities. Among them, solar power plants where thick cables are used over a long distance have become the best hunting grounds for copper wire thieves. Most solar power plants are often installed in remote rural areas or mountainous areas, making them easy targets for copper wire thieves. In recent years, the number of copper wire thefts in solar power plants has increased rapidly.

[0005] As described above, exposed solar power plants are mostly located in rural areas, and it is easy for wire thieves to break into the facilities without being noticed. Moreover, in the case of rolling wiring, it is possible to cut and take away the thick power cable at a desired location. For this reason, if targeted by thieves, the situation is hopeless.

[0006] Once damaged, not only is the wiring itself damaged, but recently, the theft of electric wires has increased so much that it has become normal for it to take several months to arrange for replacement wiring. The amount of power generation loss during that period has reached an enormous amount exceeding 10 million yen. Many solar power plants have theft insurance and are still able to receive some relief for the damage, but the damage to insurance companies is too much, and recently, theft insurance has also been suspended and cannot be subscribed. However, it is impossible to bury the current wiring again, and the owners of solar power plants are living in fear of wire theft and are extremely cautious every day.

[0007] The applicant of the present application has obtained a patent for an invention that covers the piping to prevent the electric wires from being easily cut in order to avoid wire theft (Patent Document 1). However, the theft group always finds and targets the weak points. For example, the rising part of the piping from underground. In order to connect the buried piping to the switchboard, there will inevitably be a part where the piping comes out of the ground and enters the switchboard from below. The criminal group targets this part and cuts and steals the electric wires inside the piping.

[0008] The part where the piping is exposed above the ground is easily targeted by criminals. Even if that exposed part is guarded, this time, the door of the power distribution equipment (such as connection boxes and collector boxes) can be opened, and the wiring inside the power distribution equipment can be cut. The power distribution equipment often has only a simple lock so that the chief engineer can easily open it for electrical inspections, etc. For this reason, most of them can be opened with the common keys often used by electrical engineers.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] The present invention aims to improve the disadvantages of the above prior art examples, and in particular, to prevent the disconnection of wiring inside the power distribution equipment by locking the lid of the solar power generation power distribution equipment more firmly than before.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a locking device for locking the lid of a solar power generation power distribution equipment, comprising a movable member for pressing the lid, and a pair of fixing members for respectively fixing one end and the other end of the movable member. Further, a locking mechanism is provided at the connection portion between the movable member and the fixing member. The locking mechanism includes a mounting portion for screws for fixing the end portion of the movable member to the fixing member, a cylindrical cover for covering the periphery of the head of the screws, and a mounting portion for a locking tool provided on the cover for preventing the removal of the screws covered by the cover.

[0012] When the locking tool is attached, the removal of the screws covered by the cover is prevented, so the screws cannot be removed and the connection between the fixing member and the movable member cannot be released, and thus the movable member pressing the lid cannot be removed. When opening the lid, remove the locking tool, insert a tool into the inside of the cover, and remove the screws. Thereby, the connection between the movable member and the fixing member is released, and it becomes possible to remove the movable member pressing the lid.

Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, by locking the lid of the solar power generation power distribution equipment more firmly than before, it is possible to prevent the disconnection of wiring inside the power distribution equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the configuration diagrams shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a left side view, FIG. 3 is a right side view, and FIG. 4 is a plan view. When referring to up, down, left, and right in the following description, it means up, down, left, and right toward the drawing.

[0016] The power collection box 200 as a photovoltaic power distribution device is a thin rectangular parallelepiped box type, and includes a box body 201 and a lid 202. The box body 201 houses wiring for photovoltaic power generation inside. The lid 202 is disposed in the front and closes the entire opening (not shown) in the front of the box body 201. The lid 202 has a vertical rotation axis (not shown) at the right end portion toward the front, and the left end portion rotates to open and close the opening of the box body 201 like a door.

[0017] The locking device 100 includes fixing members 10 and 20 respectively fixed to the right side surface and the left side surface of the power collection box 200. Further, the locking device 100 includes a movable member 30 spanned between the left and right fixing members 10 and 20 along the surface of the lid 202.

[0018] The fixing members 10 and 20 are formed in a rod shape by steel L-shaped angles. The fixing members 10 and 20 are horizontally fixed in the longitudinal direction from the back to the front, and the front end portions protrude forward from the power collection box 200. One of the surfaces on the convex side of the L-shaped angle of the fixing members 10 and 20 abuts against the box body 201, and the other surface is horizontally disposed at the upper part.

[0019] The fixing members 10 and 20 are fixed to the side surface of the box body 201 by two bolts 11 and nuts 12 respectively. The nut 12 is fixed to the fixing members 10 and 20 by welding. The bolt 11 is inserted from the inside to the outside of the hole opened in the box body 201 and is screwed into the nut 12 fixed to the fixing members 10 and 20. The left and right fixing members 10 and 20 are fixed at the same height.

[0020] The movable member 30 is also formed in a rod shape by a steel L-shaped angle. The movable member 30 is horizontally arranged left and right in the longitudinal direction, and both ends are hung over the upper parts of the fixing members 10 and 20. One of the convex side surfaces of the L-shaped angle of the movable member 30 abuts against the lid 202, and the other surface has both ends abutting against the upper surfaces of the left and right fixing members 10 and 20.

[0021] The right end of the movable member 30 overlaps with the protruding end on the front surface of the right fixing member 20. A hole penetrating the fixing member 20 and the movable member 30 is provided in this overlapping portion. A vertical rotating shaft composed of a bolt 31 and a nut 32 is provided in this hole. The movable member 30 spanned between the fixing members 10 and 20 can rotate horizontally around this rotating shaft. The bolt 31 and the nut 32 forming the rotating shaft are integrated by welding and cannot be separated. By rotating around the rotating shaft, the movable member 30 can continuously move back and forth between a position in contact with the lid 202 of the current collector box 200 and a position far away from the lid 202.

[0022] The left end of the movable member 30 overlaps with the protruding end on the front surface of the left fixing member 10. A hole (mounting portion for screws) penetrating the fixing member 10 and the movable member 30 is provided in this overlapping portion. The hole is arranged at a position penetrating the fixing member 10 and the movable member 30 when the movable member 30 is in contact with the lid 202. A nut 33 is welded above this hole of the movable member 30. The nut 33 is screwed with a bolt 34 inserted upward from below into the hole provided in the fixing member 10.

[0023] The movable member 30 has its left end fixed to the left fixed member 10 by screwing the bolt 34 into the nut 33 in a state where it overlaps with the fixed member 10. In this state, the movable member 30 cannot rotate and cannot move away from the state of abutting against the lid 202. In this state, the lid 202 is pressed by the movable member 30. In this state, the lid 202 is locked by the locking device 100. Since the movable member 30 presses the lid 202, the lid 202 of the current collector box 200 cannot be opened.

[0024] On the other hand, if the bolt 34 is loosened and removed below the fixed member 10, the fixing of the left end of the movable member 30 is released. As a result, the movable member 30 can rotate and can move away from the lid 202. The lid 202 can open and close the opening of the current collector box 200 by the suppression by the movable member 30 being released.

[0025] The periphery of the head of the bolt 34 is covered by a vertically long cylindrical cover 13. The cylindrical cover 13 is also made of steel, and its upper end is welded to the lower part of the horizontal plane of the fixed member 10. The central axis of the cylindrical cover 13 coincides with the central axis of the hole through which the bolt 34 passes. The cover 13 is also made of steel. Due to the presence of this cover 13, in order to remove the bolt 34, a socket wrench of an appropriate length for turning the bolt 34 from below the cylinder must be inserted. The diameter of the cylinder of the cover 13 is set to an appropriate diameter that allows the insertion of a socket wrench but does not allow the insertion of a spanner or pliers.

[0026] At the lower end of the cover 13, holes (locking holes 14) are opened at two positions on the diameter of the cylinder. The locking holes 14 (attachment parts for locking tools) are used for attaching security lock products. The security lock product is preferably a U-lock for motorcycles. The U-lock for motorcycles has a U-shaped sturdy rod-shaped shackle made of hard steel or the like.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the state where the shackle of the U-shaped lock 300 is inserted into the locking hole 14 and locked. When the U-shaped lock 300 is attached to the locking hole 14, it is also impossible to insert a socket wrench inside the cylindrical cover 13. The diameter of the cover 13 is set to have a gap such that a socket wrench cannot be inserted when a security lock product is attached to the locking hole 14. When the U-shaped lock 300 is attached, since a tool for turning the bolt 34 including the socket wrench cannot be inserted inside the cover 13, the bolt 34 cannot be removed.

[0028] When opening the lid 202, remove the U-shaped lock 300, insert a socket wrench inside the cover 13, and remove the bolt 34. As a result, the movable member 30 becomes rotatable away from the fixed member 10. If the movable member 30 is rotated in the direction away from the lid 202, the restraint by the movable member 30 is released, and the lid 202 can be opened. The state where the movable member 30 and the lid 202 are opened is shown in FIG. 5. The rotation axis of the movable member 30 is positioned so that the right end portion of the movable member 30 and the current collector box 200 do not interfere when the movable member 30 rotates.

[0029] According to the configuration described above, a thief who attempts to cut the wiring inside the current collector box 200 cannot remove the bolt 34 unless the U-shaped lock 300 is released or destroyed. Furthermore, in order to remove the bolt 34, a special socket wrench suitable for the bolt 34 is required. However, it is difficult to visually recognize the bolt 34 inside the cover 13 from the outside. Therefore, it is difficult to prepare in advance a tool having a diameter and length suitable for the bolt 34. Therefore, the thief cannot loosen the bolt 34. If the bolt 34 cannot be removed, the movable member 30 cannot be released. If the movable member 30 is not released, the lid 202 cannot be opened. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by locking the lid of the photovoltaic power distribution equipment more firmly than before, it is possible to prevent the wiring inside the distribution equipment from being cut. When the locking device 100 is locked, it becomes very difficult to steal the electric wire from inside the current collector box 200, and the crime prevention effect can be enhanced.

[0030] Here, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the bolts 11 and nuts 12 fixing the fixing members 10 and 20 may have opposite mounting positions. The bolt 11 may be inserted into a hole opened in the power collection box 200 from the outside of the fixing members 10 and 20, and the bolt 11 may be tightened from the inside of the power collection box 200. In this case, the head of the bolt 11 is welded to the fixing members 10 and 20. Also, the entire locking device 100 may be mounted upside down. In this case, the cylinder of the cover 13 faces upward.

[0031] Also, with the arrangement of the fixing members 10 and 20 and the movable member 30 remaining the same, the cylinder of the cover 13 may be provided in the opposite direction above the left end of the movable member 30. In this case, the bolt 34 is inserted downward into the cylinder from above the cylinder of the cover 13 and screwed into the nut 33 provided below the fixing member 10. In this case, the nut 33 is welded to the lower side of the fixing member 10. Also, it is conceivable to deform the fixing member 10 and the movable member 30 and arrange the contact surface between the fixing member 10 and the movable member 30 vertically instead of horizontally. In this case, the bolts 34 and the nuts 33 are arranged horizontally so as to sandwich the contact surface from the left and right. And the cover 13 is arranged on the side where the bolt 34 is arranged. The nut 33 is welded to the fixing member 10 or the movable member 30 on the arranged side.

[0032] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the fixing members 10 and 20 are fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the box body 201, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it is also possible to fix the fixing members 10 and 20 to the upper and lower surfaces of the box body 201 respectively and arrange the movable member 30 vertically along the surface of the lid 202. Also, while fixing one fixing member 10 to the side surface of the box body 201, fixing the other fixing member 20 to the upper or lower surface of the box body 201 and arranging the movable member 30 obliquely along the surface of the lid 202 between both fixing members 10 and 20 is also conceivable. Other design changes that can be made by those skilled in the art are included in the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0033] 10… Fixed member (left), 11… Bolt (for fixing), 12… Nut (for fixing), 13… Cover (cylinder), 14… Lock hole, 20… Fixed member (right), 30… Movable member, 31… Bolt (right), 32… Nut (right), 33… Nut (left), 34… Bolt (left), 100… Locking device, 200… Power collection box (power distribution equipment), 201… Box body (container), 202… Lid, 300… U-shaped lock (locking tool)

Claims

1. A locking device for locking a lid of a photovoltaic power generation distribution device including a container for storing a photovoltaic power generation electric wire and a lid for closing an opening of the container, A movable member that holds the lid; a pair of fixing members for fixing one end and the other end of the movable member, a locking mechanism is provided at a connection between the movable member and the fixed member; The locking mechanism is: a mounting portion for a screw or the like for fixing an end portion of the movable member to the fixed member; A cylindrical cover that covers the heads of the screws; and a locking device mounting portion provided on the cover to prevent the screws covered by the cover from being removed.

2. 2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is provided at one end of the movable member, the other end of the movable member has a pivot shaft that is permanently fixed to the fixed member, and when the locking mechanism is released, the movable member can be detached in a direction away from the lid, centered on the pivot shaft.

3. 2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is fixed by a bolt inserted from the inside of the container to the outside and a nut screwed onto the bolt, the nut being fixed to the fixing member.

4. 2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein said fixed member and said movable member are constructed of steel L-shaped angles.

5. 2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of fixed members are provided horizontally on the left and right sides of the container, and the movable member is bridged between the pair of fixed members along a surface of the lid.

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