control panel

Abstract

To provide a control board that enables efficient installation work.SOLUTION: A control board according to an embodiment includes a bottom member having a first opening that is provided to be inserted into a pit provided at an installation location, and an upper housing that is provided on the bottom member, stores at least a control device therein, and can be closed from an external space. The bottom member includes a first member and a second member that is combined with the first member to form the first opening. The second member is detachable from the first member. When the second member is attached to the first member, the first opening is closed from the external space, and when the second member is removed from the first member, the first opening is connected to the external space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , , , , ,

[0005] , , ,

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control panel installed inside and outside a plant.

Background Art

[0002] In renewal engineering work for updating some or all of the devices, equipment, and various facilities in a plant, construction work to replace an existing control panel with a new one may be carried out.

[0003] In control panels for plants, the configuration of the control panel is often complex. In such a control panel, it is necessary to draw signals from devices, sensors, etc. installed in the plant and power supplies, etc. as outside lines into the control panel and switch the connections to controllers and various IO devices, etc. inside the control panel.

[0004] The outside lines in the plant are drawn into the control panel installed on the floor via channels and pits. In renewal engineering work for control panels for plants, replacement work is carried out with devices such as controllers installed inside both the old and new control panels. Therefore, the existing outside lines need to be temporarily stored in the pit under the floor, the existing control panel is removed, a new control panel is placed, the outside lines temporarily stored in the pit are drawn out again, and wiring work is carried out on the devices, etc. inside the new control panel.

[0005] In control panels for plants with a complex configuration, the number of outside lines is very large, it takes time to identify the outside lines, and there is a risk of accidents such as the loss of marking tubes for identification. Therefore, there is a problem that the renewal work becomes inefficient.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a control panel that allows for efficient installation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention include a bottom member having a first opening provided to pass through a pit provided at an installation location, and an upper housing provided on the bottom member, which houses at least control equipment inside and can be closed off from the external space. The upper housing has a door that opens and closes the internal space. The bottom member comprises a first member and a second member which, when combined with the first member, forms the first opening. The second member is It is provided in accordance with the position of the aforementioned door, The first member is detachable The bottom member is When the second member is attached to the first member, the first opening is closed from the external space, and when the second member is removed from the first member, The opening of the upper housing with the door open and the opening of the first member with the second member removed are made continuous, and the pit space, the space surrounded by the first member, and the space inside the upper housing with the door open Connecting it to the external space This allows the external wires that are drawn into the interior through the pit to be pulled out into the outside space through the opened door and the removed portion of the second member, and also allows the first member and the upper housing to be moved horizontally while the external wires are pulled out into the outside space. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one embodiment, a control panel is provided that allows for efficient installation work. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1(a) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 1(b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a bottom member, which is part of the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a schematic side view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 2(b) is a schematic bottom view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]Figure 3(a) is a schematic side view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 3(b) is a schematic bottom view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) is a schematic side view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 4(b) is a schematic bottom view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5(a) is a schematic side view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 5(b) is a schematic bottom view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6(a) is a schematic side view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 6(b) is a schematic bottom view illustrating the method of using the control panel according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a channel base, which is part of a control panel according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Please note that the drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationships between the thickness and width of each part, as well as the ratios of the sizes of the parts, are not necessarily identical to those of reality. Furthermore, even when representing the same part, the dimensions and ratios may differ between drawings. In this specification and in each figure, elements similar to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0012] (First embodiment) Figure 1(a) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a control panel according to the first embodiment. Figure 1(b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a bottom member, which is part of the control panel according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1(a), the control panel 10 according to the present embodiment includes an upper housing 20 and a bottom member 30. In Fig. 1(a), in order to show the installation state of the bottom member 30 in the control panel 10, the upper housing is shown by a two-dot chain line. Although not shown in Fig. 1(a), inside the control panel 10, a controller, a power supply device, various IO modules, a terminal block, etc. are housed and installed within the control panel 10. By connecting an external wire to the terminal block, IO module, etc. of the control panel 10, the installation work of the control panel 10 to the plant is carried out.

[0013] The upper housing 20 is provided on the bottom member 30 and fixed to the bottom member 30. An opening AP is provided in the bottom member 30. The opening AP is provided so as to penetrate a pit under the floor of the plant where the control panel 10 is installed. The external wire drawn out from the pit is drawn into the control panel 10 through the opening AP. After the installation work of the control panel 10, in order to prevent the spread of fire in case of an electrical fire, the opening AP may be closed with a fireproof member or the like.

[0014] Although not shown in Fig. 1(a) to avoid complexity in the illustration, at least one door is provided in the upper housing 20. When using the control panel 10 after installation, the door can be opened and closed to check the equipment etc. housed inside. For example, the opening member 34 of the bottom member 30 is provided in accordance with the position where the door of the upper housing 20 is provided.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1(b), the bottom member 30 includes a main member (first member) 32, an opening member (second member) 34, and a coupling member 36. The bottom member 30 is rectangular in plan view, and the outer edge of the rectangular steel plate member is bent upward. The main member 32 has a defect at the bending portion upward on one side of the rectangle of the bottom member 30. The main member 32 is a "U" - shaped member. The opening member 34 is connected to the defective portion of the main member 32 to form the opening AP. The opening member 34 is detachable from the main member 32. The attachment and detachment of the opening member 34 to the main member 32 are performed by the coupling member 36. The coupling member 36 is a fastening member such as a bolt, for example.

[0016] As will be described in detail later, when updating the control panel, the release member 34 is removed from the main member 32, the existing control panel is moved from the installation location, the new control panel in the state where the release member 34 is removed from the main member 32 is moved to the installation location, and after performing connection work such as for external lines, etc., the release member 34 is attached to the main member 32.

[0017] A method of using the control panel 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. Figs. 2(a) to 6(a) are schematic side views for explaining a method of using the control panel according to the present embodiment. Figs. 2(b) to 6(b) are schematic bottom views for explaining a method of using the control panel according to the embodiment.

[0018] Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) show that the existing control panel 10 is installed on the floor F1 of the plant. Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the existing control panel 10 is moved and removed, and the new control panel 10a is moved to and installed at the location where the existing control panel 10 was installed. The upper housing and the bottom member of the existing control panel 10 and the new control panel 10a have the same configuration. In order to distinguish between the existing and the new, the reference signs are changed. Note that the equipment, devices, etc. housed in the existing control panel 10 and the new control panel 10a are not necessarily the same, and depending on the content of the update, some or all of the equipment, etc. may be different.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the existing control panel 10 is installed on floor F1 of the plant. A pit P1 is provided in the area of ​​floor F1 where the control panel 10 is installed. In the plant, electrical wiring between the electrical room where control panels etc. are installed and the manufacturing site where electric motors, rollers that drive the lines etc. are installed is interconnected through underground conduits and under the floor provided within the plant. Electrical wiring is not limited to between the electrical room and the site, but is also connected between control panels installed in the same electrical room or other electrical rooms, or between the computer room and the office floor where computer terminals are installed, via under the floor, etc. In the following, the electrical wiring that is drawn from under the floor to the control panels 10 and 10a that are the target of the replacement work and connected to the equipment etc. inside the control panels 10 and 10a will be referred to as external wiring.

[0020] The external cable E1 is brought into the control panel 10 via pit P1. The cable is brought into the control panel 10 through an opening AP provided in the bottom member 30 of the control panel 10. The external cable E1 brought into the control panel 10 is connected to a terminal provided on a terminal block T1 installed inside the control panel 10.

[0021] Although not shown in the diagram, these external lines E1 are processed to identify them. For example, a mark tube is placed near the end of each external line E1 so that it can be identified. The mark tube is marked with the signal name, coordinates on the diagram, a symbol indicating the connection destination, etc. This identification information is not limited to text information, but is also attached using one-dimensional barcodes, two-dimensional barcodes, wireless tags, etc.

[0022] During the replacement of the control panel 10, the connection destination in the new control panel 10a is determined based on the information used to identify these external lines E1.

[0023] The existing control panel 10 houses, for example, an IO module IO and other control equipment and devices, and is electrically connected to the external line E1 via terminal block T1.

[0024] In this example, the control panel 10 has doors 22 and 24 on the front and rear of the upper housing 20. The opening member 34 of the bottom member 30 is installed at the position where the rear door 24 is located.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), when the replacement work begins, the external wire E1 that was routed into the existing control panel 10 is detached from the terminal block T1, and the end of the external wire E1 is pulled out to the outside of the control panel 10, for example, through the door 24. Before the external wire E1 is pulled out to the outside of the control panel 10, or after the external wire E1 has been pulled out to the outside of the control panel 10, the opening member 34 is removed from the main member 32. As a result, the pit P1 becomes continuous with the space outside the control panel 10.

[0026] Subsequently, the existing control panel 10 is moved from its original installation location and removed. Since the control panel 10 is often heavy, a roller or the like is used to move it, and the existing control panel 10 is moved almost horizontally relative to the floor F1 on which it was installed. In this case, the opening member 34 is removed from the main member 32, and the pit P1 becomes continuous with the space outside the control panel 10, so the control panel 10 can move freely forward.

[0027] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the extended external cable E1 can be placed on the floor while still extended from the pit P1.

[0028] The control panel 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with a bottom member 30 having a removable opening member 34, so that the following operations can be performed with the external cable E1 pulled out and placed on the floor. In conventional control panels that do not have a removable opening member 34, when moving an existing control panel horizontally on the floor, it is necessary to store the external cable that has been pulled out into the pit P1. When storing the external cable E1 into the pit P1 in this way, the mark tube or the like that identifies the external cable E1 may be lost in the pit P1 or the like.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 5(b), the newly installed control panel 10a is moved to the location where the existing control panel 10 was installed. The new control panel 10a is also moved horizontally on the floor using a roller or the like. In this example, the new control panel 10a is moved horizontally in the direction of the white arrow shown in the figure, towards the door 24 on the back of the control panel 10a.

[0030] In this case, the opening member 34a of the bottom member 30a of the control panel 10a is removed. Therefore, the control panel 10a can be moved horizontally and installed in the desired position without having to house the external wire E1 inside the pit P1.

[0031] As shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), after moving the newly installed control panel 10a to the desired position, the external wire E1 is brought into the control panel 10a and the necessary electrical connections are made via the terminal block T2.

[0032] After the external line E1 is brought into the control panel 10a, the opening member 34a is connected to the main member 32a of the bottom member 30a. Additionally, if necessary, the opening AP2 of the bottom member 30a may be covered with a fire-resistant material or the like.

[0033] In this way, the replacement work of the existing control panel 10 with the new control panel 10a can be carried out smoothly.

[0034] The effects of the control panel 10 according to this embodiment will be explained. The control panel 10 according to this embodiment includes a bottom member 30 having an opening AP and a removable opening member 34 attached to the main member 32. The opening member is positioned to match the position of the control panel 10's door, and by removing the opening member 34 from the main member 32, the space from the pit P1 under the floor where the control panel 10 is installed to the space outside the control panel 10 can be made continuous.

[0035] By creating a continuous space from the pit P1 under the floor to the space outside the control panel 10, in the case of an existing control panel 10, the control panel 10 can be moved horizontally while keeping the external wire E1 outside the pit P1.

[0036] Even when installing a newly installed control panel 10a in the same location where an existing control panel 10 was previously installed, the control panel 10a can be moved and installed in the desired position while the external line E1 remains connected.

[0037] When moving control panels 10 and 10a, it is not necessary to store the external wire E1 in pit P1, and it is possible to prevent in advance the difficulty in identifying the external wire E1 due to the detachment of mark tubes, etc., that would occur if the external wire E1 were stored in pit P1.

[0038] In the case of control panels for plant control, there are many objects to control, and in recent years, the number of external wires housed within the control panel has tended to increase due to the need for intelligent control, sometimes reaching several hundred or even over 1,000. To identify such a large number of external wires, the digitization of identification codes is progressing. On the other hand, if it is difficult to prevent such loss, the productivity of update work will not increase, which often becomes a problem.

[0039] As described above, the control panel 10 according to this embodiment can prevent the loss of mark tubes and the like in advance, thus contributing to improved productivity during the replacement work. Furthermore, the above-mentioned points can be applied not only to plant replacement engineering but also to the installation of new control panels in plants.

[0040] Furthermore, although the control panel 10 according to this embodiment was described above as being applied to an existing control panel, a conventional control panel having a bottom member without an opening member 34 may also be used. In that case, as explained in relation to Figure 3, instead of removing the opening member, the same effect as described above can be obtained by cutting the portion of the bottom member corresponding to the opening member.

[0041] (Second embodiment) When replacing an existing control panel with a new one, the new control panel is transported to the target plant with various equipment and devices housed inside and all possible wiring connections already made, and then moved and installed within the plant. Although omitted in the explanation above, channel bases are installed under the plant floor to support heavy objects such as control panels and to create space for laying external wiring. In the example shown in Figure 1, the channel base is pre-installed at the location of pit P1. On the other hand, in the case of control panel replacement work, the channel base may also be replaced.

[0042] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a channel base, which is part of a control panel according to the second embodiment. The control panel according to this embodiment further includes a channel base 50 in addition to the configuration shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 7, the channel base 50 includes a main member (third member) 52, an open member (fourth member) 54, and a connecting member 56. The channel base 50 is rectangular in plan view, and the outer edge of the rectangle is bent upward and downward to support a large weight. The main member 52 has a defect on one side of the rectangle of the channel base 50. The main member 52 is a "U" shaped member. The open member 54 is detachably positioned to cover the defect in the main member 52. The open member 54 is attached to and detached from the main member 52 by the connecting member 56. The connecting member 56 is, for example, a bolt.

[0043] The upper housing 20 and bottom member 30 shown in Figure 1 are mounted on the channel base 50. More specifically, the bottom member 30 is positioned on the channel base 50, and the upper housing 20 is positioned on the bottom member 30.

[0044] The opening member 54 of the channel base 50 is provided in the same position as the opening member 34 of the bottom member 30. In the process of replacing a control panel, when moving an existing control panel or a new control panel, the opening members 34 and 54 are removed to connect the opening AP of the bottom member 30 and the opening AP3 of the channel base 50 to the external space of the control panel. In this way, both the old and new control panels can be moved horizontally on the floor without having to house the external wires in a pit before removal and connection.

[0045] The control panel according to this embodiment has the same effects as the control panel 10 shown in Figure 1. In addition, since the channel base 50 is already provided in the control panel to be replaced, there is the advantage that the replacement process is simpler.

[0046] In this way, a control panel that allows for efficient installation work is realized.

[0047] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 10, 10a…Control panel, 20, 20a…Upper enclosure, 30, 30a…Bottom member, 32, 32a…Main member (for bottom member), 34, 34a…Open member (for bottom member), 36…Connecting member (for bottom member), 50…Channel base, 52…Main member (for channel base), 54…Open member (for channel base), 56…Connecting member (for channel base)

Claims

1. A bottom member having a first opening provided to pass through a pit provided at the installation site, An upper housing provided on the bottom member, which houses at least control equipment inside and can be closed off from the external space, Equipped with, The upper housing has a door that opens and closes the internal space, The bottom member comprises a first member and a second member which is combined with the first member to form the first opening. The second member is provided in accordance with the position of the door and is detachable from the first member. The bottom member closes the first opening from the external space when the second member is attached to the first member, and when the second member is removed from the first member, it connects the opening of the upper housing with the door open and the opening of the first member with the second member removed, thereby connecting the pit space, the space surrounded by the first member, and the internal space of the upper housing with the door open to the external space, thereby allowing the external wires drawn into the interior through the pit to be pulled out to the external space from the open door and the removed second member, and also allowing the first member and the upper housing to be moved horizontally while the external wires are pulled out to the external space.

2. The first member is a rectangle with one end open in a plan view. The control panel according to claim 1, wherein the second member is detachably attached to the open portion of the first member.

3. The plant is further equipped with a channel base installed beneath the floor, The bottom member is provided on the channel base, The channel base comprises a third member and a fourth member which, when combined with the third member, forms a second opening. The fourth member is detachably attached to the third member. The control panel according to claim 1, wherein when the second member is attached to the first member and the fourth member is attached to the third member, the first opening and the second opening are closed from the external space, and when the second member is removed from the first member and the fourth member is removed from the third member, the first opening and the second opening are connected to the external space.

Images