Automatic opening and closing device

Abstract

To provide an automatic opening / closing device which can automatically move an opening / closing part while suppressing the increase in the whole device compared to a conventional device, and is suitable for an opening / closing device.SOLUTION: An opening / closing device includes a body part formed with an opening, an opening / closing part arranged so as to be slidably movable in a first direction to the body part, a spindle adjacent to the opening / closing part in the first direction, and a coupling mechanism for coupling the opening / closing part and the spindle, wherein the coupling mechanism couples the spindle to the opening / closing part so as to be relatively rotatable in a state of being linked thereto in the first direction, the opening / closing part has a recess, a projection, and a packing, the packing is compressively deformed between the body part and a closing part, the body part has a spacer, the spacer is positioned in the recess in a state in which the opening / closing part is at a close position, when the opening / closing part is moved in the first direction from the close position, the projection rides on the spacer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic opening and closing device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, an agricultural water supply and drainage system is equipped with an opening and closing device that opens and closes a waterway. There are several types of opening and closing devices, and one example is a gate-type opening and closing device that moves an opening and closing part that opens and closes the waterway in a radial direction (first direction) around the axis as viewed from the axial direction of the waterway.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a water control valve that opens and closes a waterway is opened and closed by transmitting power to a universal shaft connected to the water control valve. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, power is transmitted to the universal shaft via a flexible shaft connected to the output end of a bogie body equipped with a speed change mechanism and an engine, and the power is used to quickly open and close the water control valve. Patent Document 2 discloses a device in which a sluice gate that opens and closes a waterway is raised and lowered by a rack and pinion mechanism. In the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a programmable controller controls the drive of a motor connected to a pinion connected to the axis of the sluice gate, automatically controlling the opening and closing degree of the sluice gate. In addition to the devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, other known devices include a device in which the position of a spindle operating unit that rotates a spindle connected to an opening and closing unit and threadedly attached to the main body about its axis is fixed, and the spindle and opening and closing unit are movable radially of the opening and closing unit, and a device in which the spindle operating unit and opening and closing unit are movable radially of the opening and closing unit as the spindle operating unit rotates. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-19158 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-336057 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, an intermediate shaft is provided between the water control valve and the universal shaft, and the movable range of the water control valve is essentially limited to the length of the universal shaft. Furthermore, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the movable range of the floodgate is limited to the length of the portion of the end of the watergate shaft where the projections and recesses that fit into the pinion are formed. These devices are large in size because they require a mechanism for automatically controlling the operation of the water control valve, floodgate, and other opening / closing components in a direction intersecting the radial direction. To automatically move the opening / closing components without increasing the size of the device, it is preferable to provide a rotational drive unit (motor) on the end of the shaft member (spindle) connected to the opening / closing component, opposite the opening / closing component. However, in conventional gate-type opening / closing devices, the shaft member directly connected to the opening / closing component is not designed to rotate around its axis. As described above, it is difficult to utilize the entire length of the shaft member connected to the opening / closing component as the movable range of the opening / closing component. This makes it difficult to automatically move the opening / closing component while reducing the size of the opening / closing device.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a lifting mechanism and an automatic opening and closing device that are suitable for an automatic opening and closing device that can automatically move the opening and closing section while keeping the overall device size smaller than conventional devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The lifting mechanism of the present invention comprises a main body portion having an opening formed therein, an opening / closing portion that closes the opening and is arranged to be slidable in a first direction relative to the main body portion, a spindle that is screwed to the main body portion and is rotatable around an axis extending in the first direction and is movable back and forth in the first direction, the spindle being adjacent to the opening / closing portion in the first direction, and a coupling mechanism that couples the opening / closing portion to the spindle, wherein the coupling mechanism couples the spindle to the opening / closing portion so that the spindle is rotatable relative to the opening / closing portion and linked in the first direction. In the above-described lifting mechanism, the spindle is threadedly attached to the main body, and when the spindle rotates around its axis, it advances and retreats in a first direction relative to the main body. Here, a coupling mechanism couples the spindle to the opening / closing unit so that it can rotate freely relative to the opening / closing unit. Therefore, rotation of the spindle is not hindered. Additionally, the coupling mechanism links the spindle to the opening / closing unit in the first direction. In other words, the coupling mechanism couples the spindle and the opening / closing unit so that the opening / closing unit also moves in the first direction in conjunction with movement of the spindle in the first direction. Therefore, the opening / closing unit moves with the movement of the spindle, opening the opening. Then, when the spindle is rotated in the reverse direction, the spindle and the opening / closing unit move in the opposite direction to the first direction, and the opening that was opened is closed again by the opening / closing unit. According to the above-described lifting mechanism, even if, for example, a shaft is coupled to the end of the spindle opposite the opening / closing unit and the shaft is automatically rotated around its axis by a motor, the spindle advances and retreats in the first direction relative to the main body, and the opening / closing unit smoothly advances and retreats in the first direction in accordance with the movement of the spindle. Furthermore, with the above-described lifting mechanism, substantially the entire length of the spindle can be threadedly attached to the main body, which can be the movable range of the opening / closing unit. Therefore, by applying the above-described lifting mechanism to an automatic opening / closing device, it is possible to automatically and smoothly move the opening / closing unit along the first direction while suppressing an increase in the size of the entire device.

[0008] In the lifting mechanism of the present invention, the spindle may have a linking recess formed in the radial center of the spindle on the peripheral surface of one of its two end portions in the first direction that is adjacent to the opening / closing portion, and the coupling mechanism may include a connecting portion that connects to the end surface of the opening / closing portion that is adjacent to the spindle in the first direction, and a linking portion that is connected to the connecting portion and fits into the linking recess to link with it. In the above-described lifting mechanism, the coupling mechanism is connected to the opening / closing part by the connecting part, and is connected to the spindle by fitting the linking part into the linking recess. In other words, when fitted into the linking recess, the linking part does not hinder the rotation of the spindle about its axis, but causes the opening / closing part to follow the forward and backward movement of the spindle in the first direction, closely engaging the opening / closing part with the spindle.

[0009] An automatic opening / closing device according to the present invention includes the above-described lifting mechanism, a shaft body that is coaxially connected to the spindle and extends in the first direction, and a motor that rotates the shaft body about its axis. The automatic opening and closing device according to the present invention may further include a connecting member that connects the spindle and the shaft body. The above-described automatic opening / closing device includes the above-described lifting mechanism. When the shaft body is automatically rotated around its axis by the motor, the spindle moves forward and backward in a first direction relative to the main body, and the opening / closing unit moves smoothly forward and backward in the first direction in response to the movement of the spindle. Furthermore, in the above-described automatic opening / closing device, substantially the entire length of the spindle can be threadably attached to the main body, which can be within the range of movement of the opening / closing unit. Therefore, even if the shaft body and motor are provided at the end of the spindle opposite the opening / closing unit, the opening / closing unit can be automatically and smoothly moved along the first direction while preventing the overall device from becoming larger. Furthermore, because the motor and shaft body move vertically in response to the movement of the spindle, the motor and shaft body used can be made smaller. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lifting mechanism and an automatic opening / closing device suitable for an automatic opening / closing device that can automatically move an opening / closing section while suppressing an increase in the size of the entire device compared to conventional devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an automatic opening and closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the coupling mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the coupling mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a modified example of the coupling mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view of an automatic opening and closing device according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the main body shown in FIG. 7 as seen from the front. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. 7, seen from the front. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. 7 as seen from behind. [Figure 11] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. 7, and is a rear view showing a state in which the opening and closing section does not close the opening. [Figure 12] 12 is an enlarged side view of a main part of the automatic opening / closing device shown in FIG. 11. [Figure 13] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the automatic opening and closing device shown in FIG. 7, and is a rear view showing a state in which the opening and closing section closes the opening. [Figure 14] 14 is an enlarged side view of a main part of the automatic opening / closing device shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 14 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the XV-XV cross section shown in FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the lifting mechanism and automatic opening / closing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic opening / closing device 100 includes a lifting mechanism 10, a shaft 110, a connecting member 105, and a motor 120. The automatic opening / closing device 100 is provided, for example, on a water supply pipe 200 of a waterway connected to a farm field (not shown). An opening / closing unit 40 of the lifting mechanism 10 (described later) moves radially around the axis of the water supply pipe 200 as viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, thereby closing or opening the water supply pipe 200. The opening / closing unit 40 moves automatically by rotational driving of the motor 120. The opening / closing unit 40 moves along a vertical direction D1 that is substantially perpendicular to the ground (not shown). The vertical direction D1 is an example of the radial direction and first direction of the water supply pipe 200. In FIG. 1, only the outer peripheral edge of the water supply pipe 200 is indicated by a dashed line radially inside an opening 22 (described later).

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting mechanism 10 includes at least a main body 20, an opening / closing unit 40, a spindle 60, and a coupling mechanism 80. An opening 22 is formed in the main body 20. More specifically, the main body 20 includes a plate-shaped portion 24, a holding portion 26, and a support portion 111. The plate-shaped portion 24 extends in the up-down direction D1 from an area including the water supply pipe 200 and is formed in a plate shape. The front and back surfaces of the plate-shaped portion 24 face the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200. When viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, the plate-shaped portion 24 has an opening 22 formed therein, the opening 22 being centered on the axis of the water supply pipe 200. When viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, the shape of the opening 22 is circular to match the shape of the water supply pipe 200. The diameter of the opening 22 is equal to or greater than the diameter (i.e., inner diameter) of the hollow portion of the water supply pipe 200.

[0015] The retaining portion 26 includes two retaining walls 27, 28. When viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, the retaining walls 27, 28 are spaced apart in the left-right direction D2 of the plate-shaped portion 24 and extend in the up-down direction D1. The left-right direction D2 is perpendicular to both the axial direction and the up-down direction D1. The retaining wall 27 includes a side wall 31 extending from the surface 24c of the plate-shaped portion 24 in a depth direction D3 parallel to the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, and a retaining wall 32 extending in the left-right direction D2 from the tip of the side wall 31 toward the retaining wall 28. A plurality of screws 35 are provided on the retaining wall 32 at intervals in the up-down direction D1. The screws 35 overlap each other in the left-right direction D2. The retaining wall portion 28 has a side wall 33 extending in the depth direction D3 from the surface 24c of the plate-shaped portion 24, and a retaining wall 34 extending in the left-right direction D2 from the tip of the side wall 33 toward the retaining wall portion 27. The retaining wall 34 is provided with a plurality of screws 36 spaced apart from one another in the up-down direction D1. The plurality of screws 36 overlap one another in the left-right direction D2. The retaining walls 32, 34 extend from the respective side walls 31, 33 in directions approaching each other (i.e., inward in the left-right direction D2).

[0016] The support portion 111 includes a support plate 112 and two legs 113 and 114. The support plate 112 is provided at the upper end of the plate-shaped portion 24 and extends from the upper end of the plate-shaped portion 24 to both sides in the depth direction D3. The size of the support plate 112 in the left-right direction D2 is slightly larger than the size of the housing 150 (described later) in the left-right direction D2. Both ends of the support portion 111 in the left-right direction D2 are supported by legs 113 and 114 extending from both ends to the holding walls 32 and 34 and the plate-shaped portion 24. The support portion 111 is a base that supports the housing 150. A hole 115 that opens in the depth direction D3 is formed in the center of the support plate 112 in the left-right direction D2. A screw portion 130 is attached to the support plate 112 so as to penetrate the hole 115 in the up-down direction D1. A through hole 131 extending in the up-down direction D1 is formed in the radial center of the screw portion 130. An inner circumferential surface 134 of the screw portion 130 exposed to the through hole 131 is threaded. In other words, a female thread 132 is formed on the inner circumferential surface 134 of the screw portion 130.

[0017] The opening / closing part 40 is located between the plate-shaped part 24 and the two retaining walls 32, 34 in the depth direction D3, and between the plurality of screws 35 and the plurality of screws 36 in the left-right direction D2. In other words, movement of the opening / closing part 40 in the depth direction D3 is restricted by the plate-shaped part 24 and the two retaining walls 32, 34. Movement of the opening / closing part 40 in the left-right direction D2 is restricted by the plurality of screws 35 and the plurality of screws 36. When viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200, the opening / closing part 40 closes the opening 22 near the lower end of the plate-shaped part 24 in the up-down direction D1, as shown in FIG. 1 . The opening / closing part 40 is slidable in the up-down direction D1 between the vicinity of the lower end and the vicinity of the upper end of the plate-shaped part 24, while its movement range is restricted in both the left-right direction D2 and the depth direction D3 as described above.

[0018] The opening / closing portion 40 is formed in a plate shape and is rectangular when viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200. The size of the opening / closing portion 40 in the left-right direction D2 is larger than the size of the opening 22 in the left-right direction D2 and smaller than the distance between the screws 35, 36 in the left-right direction D2. The size of the opening / closing portion 40 in the up-down direction D1 is approximately the same as the size of the opening / closing portion 40 in the left-right direction D2.

[0019] The spindle 60 is a rod-shaped member extending in the up-down direction D1. The spindle 60 is located above the opening-closing unit 40 and at the center of the opening-closing unit 40 in both the left-right direction D2 and the depth direction D3, and is adjacent to the opening-closing unit 40 in the up-down direction D1. The circumferential surface 64 of the spindle 60 at its upper end and at an intermediate portion between the upper end and the lower end 60B is threaded. A male thread 62 is formed on the circumferential surface 64 at the intermediate portion of the spindle 60. The male thread 62 of the spindle 60 is threadably engageable with the female thread 130 of the threaded portion 130. When the spindle 60 rotates around its axis in a predetermined direction, the spindle 60 moves upward (in a first direction) relative to the threaded portion 130. When the spindle 60 rotates around its axis in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the spindle 60 moves downward (in a first direction) relative to the threaded portion 130. That is, the spindle 60 is rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction D1, and is also movable back and forth in the vertical direction D1.

[0020] Of the spindle 60's two longitudinal ends along the up-down direction D1, a linking recess 70 is formed in the circumferential surface 64 of the lower end (end) 60B adjacent to the opening / closing unit 40. The linking recess 70 is formed so as to recess from the circumferential surface 64 toward the radial center of the spindle 60, and is formed around the entire periphery of the circumferential surface 64. The radial depth of the linking recess 70 is, for example, 50% to 70% of the radius of the spindle 60. When the radial depth of the linking recess 70 is within the above-mentioned range, the opening / closing unit 40 and the spindle 60 are well linked together when a linking portion 86, described next, is inserted into the linking recess 70, and the strength of the lower end 60B of the spindle 60 is maintained. In other words, if the radial depth of the linking recess 70 is less than 50% of the radius of the spindle 60, the strength of the lower end 60B of the spindle 60 will be weakened, and if it exceeds 70%, the connection with the linking portion 86 will be reduced, making the coupling mechanism 80 more likely to come off the spindle 60.

[0021] The coupling mechanism 80 couples the opening-closing unit 40 and the spindle 60. As shown in each of FIGS. 3 to 5, the coupling mechanism 80 includes coupling portions 82A and 82B, a connecting portion 84, and a linking portion 86. The connecting portions 82A and 82B are two plate-shaped portions provided on both sides in the left-right direction D2, and are connected to the upper end surface 40a of the opening-closing unit 40 with a plurality of screws 42. The upper end surface 40a is an example of an end surface of the opening-closing unit 40 that is adjacent to the spindle 60 in the up-down direction D1. The connecting portion 84 is formed in an inverted U-shape. Both ends of the connecting portion 84 in the left-right direction D2 are connected to the connecting portions 82A and 82B. The connecting portions 84 are formed so as to rise upward from the end of the connecting portion 82A on the connecting portion 82B side in the left-right direction D2 and the end of the connecting portion 82B on the connecting portion 82A side in the left-right direction D2 while approaching each other in the left-right direction D2, and then join together. The rising height of the connecting portions 84 is approximately equal to the distance in the up-down direction D1 between the bottom end of the spindle 60 and the center of the linking recess 70 in the up-down direction D1 (i.e., the bottom of the linking recess 70).

[0022] A hole 90 is formed in the center of the connecting portion 84 in the left-right direction D2. The hole 90 opens to an end surface 84c that is away from the opening 22 in the depth direction D3 of the connecting portion 84 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). When viewed from the up-down direction D1, the hole 90 is U-shaped. The size of the hole 90 in the left-right direction D2 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the spindle 60 in the left-right direction D2 and larger than the minimum diameter of the spindle 60 at the lower end 60B in the left-right direction D2 (i.e., the diameter of the linking recess 70). As shown in FIG. 4, when viewed from the axial direction of the spindle 60 with the lower end 60B of the spindle 60, on which the linking recess 70 is formed, inserted into the hole 90, the portion of the connecting portion 84 that overlaps with the linking recess 70 is the linking portion 86. The linking portion 86 fits into the linking recess 70, thereby not interfering with the rotation of the spindle 60 about its axis and allowing the opening-closing unit 40 to follow the forward and backward movement of the spindle 60 in the up-down direction D1, thereby tightly engaging the opening-closing unit 40 and the spindle 60. In other words, by including the connecting portions 82A, 82B and the linking portion 86, the coupling mechanism 80 allows the spindle 60 to rotate freely relative to the opening-closing unit 40 and links them in the up-down direction D1. Note that, as described above, although the hole 90 is open at one end in the depth direction D3, movement of the opening-closing unit 40 in the depth direction D3 is restricted by the plate-shaped portion 24 and the two retaining walls 32, 34, so the linking portion 86 does not come off the linking recess 70, and the linked state between the opening-closing unit 40 and the spindle 60 is maintained.

[0023] 1 and 2, the insertion portion 140 is adjacent to the screw portion 130 from above. The insertion portion 140 sandwiches the support plate 112 and a bottom wall 153 of the housing 150 (described later) between the insertion portion 140 and the screw portion 130. A through hole 141 extending in the up-down direction D1 is formed in the radial center of the insertion portion 140. The through hole 141 of the insertion portion 140 and the through hole 131 of the screw portion 130 are coaxial with each other. The upper end of the spindle 60 protrudes upward from the through hole 141.

[0024] The shaft body 110 is connected to the spindle 60 in a coaxial arrangement with the spindle 60 . The shaft body 110 extends in the vertical direction D1. The connecting member 105 connects the upper end of the spindle 60 and the lower end of the shaft body 110 in the vertical direction D1. The spindle 60 and the shaft body 110 are coaxial with each other. The connecting member 105 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed from the axial direction of the spindle 60 and the shaft body 110. The shaft body 110 is adjacent to the spindle 60 in the vertical direction D1, and can rotate the spindle 60 about its own axis via the connecting member 105 as the shaft body 110 rotates about its own axis. In other words, relative rotation between the lower end of the connecting member 105 and the upper end of the spindle 60 is restricted. Furthermore, relative rotation between the upper end of the connecting member 105 and the lower end of the shaft body 110 is also restricted. Note that the mechanism for restricting rotation is not particularly limited. For example, it may be achieved by fitting a rectangular prism-shaped member into a rectangular cylindrical member. The connecting member 105 is supported from below by the spindle 60. In other words, the connecting member 105 is supported on the support plate 112 via the spindle 60 and the screw portion 130. That is, the connecting member 105 also functions as a stopper to prevent the shaft body 110 from falling below the insertion portion 140.

[0025] A housing 150 is provided on the upper surface of the support plate 112 of the support portion 111, with a reinforcing plate 144 sandwiched between them. To clearly explain the components inside the housing 150, FIG. 1 shows the housing 150 with a door 152 open and the interior of the housing 150, with the door 152 omitted. A support base 160 is provided on the upper end of the shaft body 110. That is, the shaft body 110 extends downward from the support base 160. A motor 120 is provided on the upper surface of the support base 160.

[0026] The motor 120 rotates the shaft body 110 about its axis. The motor 120 is provided coaxially with the shaft body 110 in the left-right direction D2 and at a different position from the shaft body 110 in the depth direction D3. The support base 160 includes, for example, a gearbox therein and is provided to transmit the output from the motor 120 to the shaft body 110 and rotate the shaft body 110 about its axis. When the motor 120 is operated, the shaft body 110 rotates about its axis, and the rotation of the shaft body 110 causes the spindle 60 to rotate about its axis. As the spindle 60 rotates about its axis, the spindle 60 moves in the up-down direction D1, and the opening / closing unit 40 moves in the up-down direction D1 accordingly. Note that a rotational force is applied to the support base 160 in a direction opposite to the predetermined rotational direction of the spindle 60 about the axis of the spindle 60, but the method of suppressing this rotational force is not particularly limited. For example, a support rod (not shown) may be placed along the side of the support base 160 to suppress the rotational force applied from the spindle 60 .

[0027] A control box 180, for example, is provided inside the housing 150. The control box 180 is semi-fixed in a position where it does not interfere with motor movement conductors (not shown) and is electrically connected to the motor 120 by electric wires (not shown) or the like. The timing at which the motor 120 starts to rotate, the timing at which the motor 120 stops to rotate, the rotation speed of the motor 120, and the like are automatically controlled by signals output from the control box 180. In other words, the timing and movement speed of the opening / closing unit 40 in the up-down direction D1 are automatically controlled by signals output from the control box 180. The control box 180 houses, for example, a program for automatically controlling the motor 120 as described above, a signal transmission mechanism for enabling the position of the automatic opening / closing device 100 to be determined by a GPS function or the like, a timer, and the like.

[0028] The lifting mechanism 10 of the present embodiment described above includes the main body 20, the opening / closing unit 40, the spindle 60, and the coupling mechanism 80. In the lifting mechanism 10, for example, the spindle 60 is threadedly attached to the main body 20. When the spindle 60 rotates about its axis, the spindle 60 moves forward and backward in the vertical direction D1 relative to the main body 20. The coupling mechanism 80 couples the spindle 60 to the opening / closing unit 40 so that the spindle 60 is rotatable relative to the opening / closing unit 40 and is linked to the vertical direction D1. Therefore, the rotation and movement of the spindle 60 in the vertical direction D1 are not hindered. The coupling mechanism 80 couples the spindle 60 to the opening / closing unit 40 so that the opening / closing unit 40 also moves in the vertical direction D1 in conjunction with the movement of the spindle 60 in the vertical direction D1. Therefore, the opening / closing unit 40 moves in conjunction with the movement of the spindle 60, and the opening 22 is opened. Thereafter, by rotating the spindle 60 in the reverse direction around the axis, the spindle 60 and the opening / closing unit 40 move in the opposite direction in the vertical direction D1, and the opening 22 that was open is closed again by the opening / closing unit 40. According to this lifting mechanism 10, the shaft 110 is coupled to the upper end of the spindle 60 opposite the opening / closing unit 40, and even when the shaft 110 is automatically rotated about its axis by the motor 120, the spindle 60 advances and retreats in the vertical direction D1 relative to the main body 20, and the opening / closing unit 40 advances and retreats smoothly in the vertical direction D1 as the spindle 60 moves. Furthermore, according to the lifting mechanism 10, substantially the entire length of the spindle 60 excluding the lower end 60B can be threadably attached to the main body 20, which can be within the movable range of the opening / closing unit 40. Therefore, by applying the lifting mechanism 10 to the automatic opening / closing device 100, the opening / closing unit 40 can be automatically and smoothly moved in the vertical direction D1 while preventing the entire device from becoming larger.

[0029] Furthermore, in the lifting mechanism 10 of this embodiment, a linking recess 70 is formed on the peripheral surface 64 of the lower end 60B of the spindle 60. The coupling mechanism 80 includes connecting portions 82A and 82B that can be connected to the upper end surface 40a of the opening / closing unit 40, and a linking portion 86 that can be connected to the linking recess 70. Therefore, the coupling mechanism 80 is connected to the opening / closing unit 40 via the connecting portions 82A and 82B, and is connected to the spindle 60 via the linking portion 86. According to the lifting mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the coupling mechanism 80 links the opening / closing unit 40 to the spindle 60, allowing the opening / closing unit 40 to follow the forward and backward movement of the spindle 60 in the up-down direction D1 without interfering with the rotation of the spindle 60 about its axis. Furthermore, the coupling mechanism 80, which has a U-shaped hole 90 when viewed from the axial direction of the spindle 60, is easy to install and can be easily fitted to and removed from the spindle 60. The connecting portions 82A, 82B can be attached to and detached from the opening / closing portion 40 by a plurality of screws 42, and the linkage between the linkage portion 86 and the linkage recess 70 can be easily performed and released simply by moving the linkage portion 86 in the radial direction of the spindle 60. Therefore, the connection and linkage between the opening / closing unit 40 and the spindle 60 and the disconnection thereof, as well as maintenance of the coupling mechanism 80 can be easily performed.

[0030] The automatic opening / closing device 100 of this embodiment also includes the above-mentioned lifting mechanism 10, a shaft 110 coaxially connected to the spindle 60, a motor 120 that rotates the shaft 110 about its axis, and a connecting member 105 that connects the spindle and the shaft. Because the automatic opening / closing device 100 includes the lifting mechanism 10, when the shaft 110 is automatically rotated about its axis by the motor 120, the spindle 60 advances and retreats in the vertical direction D1 relative to the main body 20 without being hindered from rotating about its own axis, and the opening / closing unit 40 smoothly advances and retreats in the vertical direction D1 in conjunction with the movement of the spindle 60. In the automatic opening / closing device 100 of this embodiment, substantially the entire length of the spindle 60 excluding the lower end 60B can be screwed into the main body 20, which can be within the movable range of the opening / closing unit 40. Therefore, even if the shaft body 110 and the motor 120 are provided at the upper end of the spindle 60, the opening / closing unit 40 can be moved automatically and smoothly in the vertical direction D1 while preventing the entire device from becoming large. As a result, water supply in the water supply pipe 200 can be started or stopped automatically and smoothly, and the space required to install the automatic opening / closing device 100 in a waterway of a farm field or the like can be reduced, thereby ensuring the effective area of ​​the farm field. Furthermore, considering that the motor 120 and the shaft body 110 move in the vertical direction D1 as the spindle 60 moves, the motor 120 and the shaft body 110 can be made smaller.

[0031] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified within the scope of the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0032] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing unit 40 moves in the vertical direction D1, which is substantially perpendicular to the ground (not shown). However, the first direction in which the opening / closing unit 40 moves is not limited to the vertical direction D1 and may be, for example, the horizontal direction D2, which is substantially horizontal to the ground, or any radial direction centered on the axis of the water supply pipe 200 as viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200. However, from the viewpoint of ease of maintenance and miniaturization of the entire device, it is preferable that the housing 150 is disposed on the ground. Therefore, it is preferable that the first direction in which the opening / closing unit 40 moves is a radial direction centered on the axis of the water supply pipe 200 and directed toward the ground from the axis as viewed from the axial direction of the water supply pipe 200. When the first direction in which the opening / closing unit 40 moves is changed from the vertical direction D1, the horizontal direction D2 in the above-described embodiment may be rotated to match the angle between the changed first direction and the vertical direction D1.

[0033] Furthermore, the water supply pipe 200 is not an essential component. For example, without installing the water supply pipe 200, water may be supplied directly from the water supply source to the paddy field at the position where the opening / closing unit 40 is installed in the water flow direction, or water may be drained directly from the paddy field to a drainage channel or the like. The cross-sectional shape of the water supply pipe 200 is not limited to a circle, and may be a rectangle or an inverted triangle.

[0034] Furthermore, the lifting mechanism 10 does not necessarily have to include the coupling mechanism 80, which is a separate member from the opening / closing unit 40, and the opening / closing unit 40 may have a hole 90 and a linking unit 86 formed at the upper end of the opening / closing unit 40. Even when the lifting mechanism 10 includes the coupling mechanism 80, the shape of the coupling mechanism 80 is not limited to the shapes described in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the coupling mechanism 80 may be composed of two connecting units 82A and 82B that can be arranged to sandwich the spindle 60 in the left-right direction D2. The two members 91, 92 may include connecting portions 82A, 82B and opposing portions 88A, 88B that rise upward from the ends of the connecting portions 82A, 82B adjacent to the spindle 60 in the left-right direction D2 and face the spindle 60. Holes 94A, 94B formed to match the shape of the linking recess 70 are provided in the opposing portions 88A, 88B at the ends opposite the connecting portions 82A, 82B in the left-right direction D2. The linking portions 86A, 86B are portions that form the peripheral walls of the holes 94A, 94B. The linking portions 86A, 86B are portions that overlap with the linking recess 70 at the opposing portions 88A, 88B when viewed from the axial direction of the spindle 60 while the lower end portion 60B of the spindle 60, on which the linking recess 70 is formed, is inserted into the holes 94A, 94B and sandwiched between the opposing portions 88A, 88B in the left-right direction D2.

[0035] The coupling mechanism of the lifting mechanism according to the present invention may have a structure that does not hinder the rotation of the spindle 60 about its axis, allows the spindle 60 to rotate freely, and allows it to move in the first direction. For example, the coupling mechanism may be configured with a bearing, or may be configured with a sphere that can be press-fitted into the linking recess 70.

[0036] Furthermore, the motor 120 may be fixed inside the housing 150 as long as it can rotate the spindle 60 about its axis via the shaft body 110. That is, the position of the motor 120 in the up-down direction D1 may be fixed. In this case, however, a mechanism that absorbs movement of the spindle 60 in the up-down direction D1 is provided. When the motor 120 moves in the up-down direction D1 in conjunction with the shaft body 110 and the spindle 60 as described in the above embodiment, an assisting mechanism or the like that is connected to the motor 120 and the support base 160 and assists in raising and lowering the motor 120 and the support base 160 may be provided in the housing 150.

[0037] The main body 20 and the opening / closing unit 40 are not limited to the configurations shown in the above embodiment. For example, the main body 20 and the opening / closing unit 40 may have the configurations of the automatic opening / closing device 100A according to the modified examples shown in Figs. 7 to 15.

[0038] 7 and 8, in this automatic opening / closing device 100A, the main body 20 further includes a spacer 44 in addition to the opening 22, the plate-like portion 24, and the holding portion 26. The spacer 44 adjusts the distance between the main body 20 and the opening / closing portion 40 in the depth direction D3. The spacer 44 protrudes from the plate-like portion 24 in the depth direction D3. The spacer 44 is disposed between the plate-like portion 24 and the opening / closing portion 40. The spacers 44 are longer in the vertical direction D1 than in the horizontal direction D2. The size (thickness) of the spacers 44 in the depth direction D3 is smaller than the size (thickness) of the plate-shaped portion 24 and the opening / closing portion 40 in the depth direction D3. The thickness of each spacer 44 is approximately the same over the entire length in the vertical direction D1 except for the lower end 44a. The thickness of the lower end 44a of each spacer 44 becomes thinner as it goes downward. The lower end 44a of each spacer 44 is tapered. The spacers 44 are provided in pairs spaced apart in the up-down direction D1. The spacing between the spacers 44 in the up-down direction D1 is smaller than the size of the opening-closing unit 40 in the up-down direction D1. Two pairs of spacers 44 are provided spaced apart in the left-right direction D2. The two sets of spacers 44 sandwich the opening 22 in the left-right direction D2. Of the spacers 44 in each set, the position of the lower spacer 44 in the up-down direction D1 is the same as the position of the opening 22 in the up-down direction D1.

[0039] 7, in the holding portion 26 of the main body 20, the holding walls 27, 28 are provided only on the lower portion of the plate-shaped portion 24. The position in the up-down direction D1 of each of the holding walls 27, 28 is the same as the position in the up-down direction D1 of the opening 22. Note that spacers (side walls 31, 33) may be provided to maintain a gap between the holding walls 27, 28 (holding walls 32, 34) and the plate-shaped portion 24.

[0040] 7 and 9, the holding portion 26 further includes a pressing member 46 in addition to the holding wall portions 27, 28. The pressing member 46 connects the ends of the holding wall portions 27, 28 in the up-down direction D1 in the left-right direction D2. Two pressing members 46 are provided spaced apart in the up-down direction D1. Each pressing member 46 is L-shaped in a side view seen from the left-right direction D2. Each pressing member 46 is a so-called L-shaped angle. Each pressing member 46 has a first surface 50 located on the holding walls 27, 28 and a second surface 52 extending from the upper end of the first surface 50 in the depth direction D3. The second surface 52 extends from the first surface 50 away from the main body 20. The corner connecting the first surface 50 and the second surface 52 has an R-shape (curved surface).

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the opening / closing part 40 is further provided with a packing 54, a recess 56 and a protrusion 58. As shown in FIG. 10 , the packing 54 is provided on the back surface of the opening / closing unit 40, which faces the main body 20, out of the two surfaces facing the depth direction D3. The packing 54 is formed in an annular shape with an inner diameter larger than the opening 22. The packing 54 is an elastic body such as rubber. The packing 54 elastically compresses and deforms between the main body 20 (plate-shaped portion 24) and ensures watertightness between the plate-shaped portion 24 and the opening / closing unit 40 (see FIG. 15 ). When the opening / closing unit 40 is positioned to close the opening 22 (hereinafter referred to as the closed position), the packing 54 covers the opening 22 from the radially outer side of the opening 22. At this time, the packing 54 prevents water from leaking from the opening 22 through the gap between the plate-shaped portion 24 and the opening / closing unit 40.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 10 , the recesses 56 are provided on the back surface of the opening / closing unit 40. The recesses 56 are arranged at both ends of the back surface in the left-right direction D2. Two recesses 56 are arranged with the packing 54 sandwiched between them in the left-right direction D2. The recesses 56 are so-called vertical grooves, and are larger in the up-down direction D1 than in the left-right direction D2. The size of the recesses 56 in the up-down direction D1 is larger than the size of the spacer 44 in the up-down direction D1. The size of the recesses 56 in the left-right direction D2 is larger than the size of the spacer 44 in the left-right direction D2. The recess 56 does not open to the end face of the opening-closing unit 40 in the up-down direction D1. In other words, the upper end of the recess 56 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the opening-closing unit 40, and a protrusion 57 is formed between the upper end of the recess 56 and the upper surface of the opening-closing unit 40. In addition, the lower end of the recess 56 is also spaced apart from the lower surface of the opening-closing unit 40, and a protrusion 57 is also formed between the lower end of the recess 56 and the lower surface of the opening-closing unit 40. In the illustrated example, the recess 56 opens to a side surface of the opening / closing unit 40 in the left-right direction D2. Furthermore, both upper and lower ends 56a of the recess 56 are larger in the left-right direction D2 than the center of the recess 56 in the up-down direction D1. In other words, both upper and lower ends 56a of the recess 56 protrude inward in the left-right direction D2 from the center of the recess 56 in the up-down direction D1. Such a protruding shape is generated, for example, when cutting the recess 56 on the back surface of the opening / closing unit 40 using a cutting tool, by inserting the cutting tool into the inside in the left-right direction D2 at both upper and lower ends 56a of the recess 56. Note that both upper and lower ends 56a are not necessarily provided.

[0043] As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the protrusions 58 are provided on one of the two surfaces of the opening / closing unit 40 facing the depth direction D3, which faces the opposite side of the main body unit 20. The protrusions 58 are provided in pairs spaced apart in the left-right direction D2. Two pairs of protrusions 58 are provided in two sets spaced apart in the up-down direction D1. The spacing between the two sets of protrusions 58 in the up-down direction D1 is the same as the spacing between the pressing members 46 in the up-down direction D1. Note that in the illustrated example, each protrusion 58 is formed by the head of a bolt, but the configuration of the protrusions 58 is not limited to this.

[0044] Next, a process for moving the opening / closing unit 40 in the automatic opening / closing device 100A according to this modified example will be described.

[0045] 11 and 12 , when the opening-closing unit 40 does not close the opening 22, that is, when the opening-closing unit 40 is positioned above the opening 22, the convex portion 57 on the back surface of the opening-closing unit 40 is in contact with the spacer 44. Specifically, of the two convex portions 57 in the up-down direction D1, the upper convex portion 57 is in contact with the upper spacer 44, and the lower convex portion 57 is in contact with the lower spacer 44. At this time, the packing 54 on the back surface of the opening-closing unit 40 is not in contact with the plate-shaped portion 24 and is floating relative to the plate-shaped portion 24. Therefore, the back surface of the opening-closing unit 40 slides on the surface of the spacer 44 in the up-down direction D1, causing the opening-closing unit 40 to move smoothly in the up-down direction D1.

[0046] As shown in Figures 13 to 15, when the opening / closing unit 40 moves to the closed position, the position of the convex portion 57 on the back surface of the opening / closing unit 40 is completely shifted in the vertical direction D1 relative to the spacer 44, causing the spacer 44 to enter the recessed portion 56. Furthermore, the protrusions 58 are pressed in the depth direction D3 by the pressing member 46. At this time, of the two sets of protrusions 58, the upper set of protrusions 58 is pressed by the upper pressing member 46, and the lower set of protrusions 58 is pressed by the lower pressing member 46. When the protrusions 58 are pressed in this manner, the opening / closing unit 40 itself approaches the main body 20 (plate-shaped portion 24). Then, as shown in FIG. 15 , the packing 54, which had been floating relative to the plate-shaped portion 24, is brought into close contact with the plate-shaped portion 24, and the packing 54 is compressed and deformed. This restricts water leakage from the opening 22.

[0047] When the protrusion 58 is pressed by the pressing member 46, the protrusion 58 first comes into contact with the rounded corner of the pressing member 46. Therefore, the movement of the opening / closing unit 40 is not hindered, and smooth movement is achieved. Furthermore, when the opening / closing unit 40 rises from the closed position, the convex portion 57 rides up onto the spacer 44 that was placed in the concave portion 56 on the back surface of the opening / closing unit 40. At this time, the tapered shape of the lower end 44a of the spacer 44 allows the convex portion 57 to ride up onto the spacer 44 smoothly.

[0048] According to the automatic opening / closing device 100A of this modified example, the packing 54 can ensure watertightness when the opening 22 is closed by the opening / closing unit 40. Furthermore, the convex portion 57, the concave portion 56, and the spacer 44 can achieve smooth movement of the opening / closing unit 40. Moreover, the pressing member 46 and the protrusion 58 can improve the adhesion between the packing 54 and the plate-like portion 24. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 Lifting mechanism 22 Aperture 20 Main body 40 Opening and Closing Section 60 spindles 60B Lower end (end) 64 Peripheral surface 70 Connection recess 80 Coupling mechanism 82A, 82B connection part 86, 86A, 86B linkage section 105 Connecting member 110 Shaft 120 motor D1 Vertical direction (first direction)

Claims

1. a main body portion having an opening formed therein; an opening / closing unit that closes the opening and is arranged to be slidable in a first direction relative to the main body unit; a spindle that is threadedly attached to the main body portion, that is rotatable about an axis extending in the first direction, that is movable forward and backward in the first direction, and that is adjacent to the opening / closing portion in the first direction; a coupling mechanism that couples the opening / closing unit and the spindle; Equipped with the coupling mechanism couples the spindle to the opening / closing unit in a relatively rotatable manner and in a linked state in the first direction; In the spindle, a linking recess is formed on a peripheral surface of an end portion adjacent to the opening / closing portion, of both end portions in the first direction, the linking recess being recessed toward the center in the radial direction of the spindle, the coupling mechanism includes a connecting portion that is connected to an end surface of the opening / closing portion that is adjacent to the spindle in the first direction, and a linking portion that is connected to the connecting portion and is fitted into the linking recess to link with the opening / closing portion, the opening / closing part has recesses at both ends in the left-right direction of a surface facing the main body part, and has protrusions at both ends in the left-right direction of the surface facing the main body part, which are offset in the first direction from the recesses, and has a packing between the two recesses in the left-right direction on the surface facing the main body part, the packing is formed in an annular shape with an inner diameter larger than the opening, and when the opening / closing part is disposed at a closed position to close the opening, the packing is elastically compressed and deformed between the main body part and the closing part, the main body part has a spacer that adjusts the distance between the main body part and the opening / closing part in a depth direction, the spacer is positioned in the recess when the opening / closing unit is in the closed position, and the protrusion rides up onto the spacer when the opening / closing unit moves in the first direction from the closed position; Automatic opening and closing device.

2. When compressing the packing, the opening / closing part has a protrusion on the surface opposite to the surface facing the main body and a pressing part attached to the main body, the protrusion and the pressing part are arranged at an interval in a first direction, and when the spacer is positioned in the recess of the opening / closing part, the spacer moves in the first direction to compress the packing. The automatic opening and closing device according to claim 1.

3. a shaft body coaxially connected to the spindle and extending in the first direction; a motor that rotates the shaft about its axis; Equipped with The automatic opening and closing device according to claim 1.

4. Further provided is a connecting member that connects the spindle and the shaft body. The automatic opening and closing device according to claim 3.

5. The automatic opening and closing device according to claim 3, wherein the motor and the shaft body move up and down in accordance with the movement of the spindle.

Images