Field water management system

Abstract

To provide a farm field water management system that can improve workability while preventing flotation of a controller.SOLUTION: A farm field water management system 10 comprises: a water supply controller 12 equipped with a displacement mechanism; an inlet 104 in which the water supply controller is provided; and an electric actuator which drives the displacement mechanism. Further, a driving device 40 and a controller 42 of the electric actuator are divided, and the controller is mounted on a frame 150. Inside the inlet, a flotation prevention member 160 is provided which is capable of switching over between a flotation prevented state in which flotation of the controller when submerged under water is prevented and a non-flotation prevented state in which taking out of the controller to the outside of the inlet is possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a field water management system, and particularly, for example, to a field water management system that includes a water supply control device and an electric actuator that drives the water supply control device to perform field water management.

Background Art

[0002] An example of a conventional field water management system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technology of Patent Document 1, an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device is installed on the water supply control device such as a water faucet and a drain outlet. In the technology of Patent Document 1, the weight and height dimensions of the electric actuator are relatively large. Therefore, improvement in workability when attaching and detaching the electric actuator to and from the water supply control device has been demanded.

[0003] Therefore, the inventors of the present invention proposed in Patent Document 2 a field water management system that can reduce the labor required for the attachment work and detachment work of the electric actuator to the water supply control device. In the technology of Patent Document 2, the electric actuator is configured by dividing it into a driving device having a driving unit that drives the displacement mechanism and a control device having a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator. Then, the driving device is attached on the water supply control device, and the control device is provided inside a box side by side with the driving device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technology described in Patent Document 2, the control device is installed at a lower position, making it more likely to be submerged than with conventional electric actuators. Therefore, waterproof measures are taken for the control device, but if a waterproof control device is submerged, buoyancy will occur. Thus, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, the control device is fixed to the frame with bolts to prevent it from floating up. However, the control device is equipped with an operation panel for manual operation. In order to operate this operation panel, the worker needs to crouch down on the embankment and look into the basin, so further improvement in workability is required.

[0006] Therefore, the primary objective of this invention is to provide a novel field water management system.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a field water management system that can improve the workability of the control device while preventing the control device from floating up. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The first invention is a field water management system for managing water in a field, comprising: a water supply control device equipped with a displacement mechanism for controlling the supply of water to or drainage from the field; a box having an openable and closable canopy and in which the water supply control device is installed; a frame installed inside the box; and an electric actuator for driving the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device, wherein the electric actuator includes a drive unit having a drive part for driving the displacement mechanism and a control unit having a control unit for controlling the operation of the electric actuator, and the drive unit and the control unit are separated, with the drive unit attached to the water supply control device and the control unit mounted on the frame and further installed inside the box, By being secured to the canopy A float prevention state that prevents the control device from floating when submerged in water, When the canopy is opened and the locking mechanism of the canopy is released, This field water management system is equipped with a float prevention member that can be switched to a non-float prevention state, which allows the control unit's container to be removed from the outside.

[0009] In the first invention, the field water management system is a field facility for managing water in a field, comprising a water supply control device such as a water tap and a water outlet, a covered box housing the water supply control device, and an electric actuator. The electric actuator comprises a drive unit having a drive section that drives the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device, and a control unit having a control section that controls the operation of the electric actuator. In this electric actuator, the drive unit and the control unit are separated into different components, with the drive unit attached to the water supply control device and the control unit mounted on a stand. Furthermore, the field water management system comprises an anti-float member provided inside the box. This anti-float member is, By being secured to the canopy A float prevention state that prevents the control device from floating when submerged in water, When the canopy is opened and the locking mechanism of the canopy is released, The control unit is designed to be switchable between a non-float prevention state and a state where the control unit's enclosure can be removed from the outside.

[0010] According to the first invention, since a float prevention member is provided, the float of the control device when submerged can be properly prevented without fastening the control device of the electric actuator to the frame. Furthermore, by disabling the float prevention member, the control device can be easily removed from the outside of the manhole, thereby improving the workability of the control device.

[0011] The second invention is dependent on the first invention, and the anti-float member is formed in a bridge shape having support columns erected on a frame at positions on both sides of the control device, and beams connecting the upper ends of the support columns so as to extend along the upper surface of the control device.

[0012] The third invention is dependent on the second invention, wherein the electric actuator includes a solar panel installed inside the box, the canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, the anti-float member is detachably attached to the frame by the lower end of the support column being fitted into a fitting provided on the frame, the solar panel is attached to the beam portion of the anti-float member, the anti-float member is locked to the canopy to enter an anti-float state, and the anti-float state is returned to a non-float state by opening the canopy and removing the anti-float member together with the solar panel from the frame.

[0013] According to the third invention, the anti-float member is also used as the panel mounting frame, thus reducing the cost of the components.

[0014] The fourth invention is dependent on the second invention, wherein the electric actuator includes a solar panel installed inside the box, the canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, the anti-float member has a beam portion that can be opened and closed with respect to a support portion via a hinge, the solar panel is attached to the beam portion of the anti-float member, the anti-float member is in an anti-float state when locked to the canopy, and is in a non-float state when the canopy is opened and the beam portion is opened together with the solar panel.

[0015] According to the fourth invention, the anti-float member is also used as the panel mounting frame, thus reducing the cost of the components.

[0016] The fifth invention is A field water management system for managing water in a field, comprising a water supply control device equipped with a displacement mechanism for controlling the supply of water to or drainage from the field, a box having an openable and closable canopy and in which the water supply control device is installed, a frame installed inside the box, and an electric actuator for driving the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device, wherein the electric actuator includes a drive unit having a drive part for driving the displacement mechanism and a control unit having a control unit for controlling the operation of the electric actuator, wherein the drive unit and the control unit are separated, the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device, and the control unit is placed on the frame, and further comprising a float prevention member installed inside the box, which can switch between a float prevention state that prevents the control unit from floating when submerged and a non-float prevention state that allows the control unit to be removed from the box, wherein the float prevention member is formed in a bridge shape having support columns erected on the frame at positions on both sides of the control unit and beams connecting the upper ends of the support columns so as to extend along the upper surface of the control unit, The anti-float member is mounted on the frame so as to be rotatable between a first position in which the beam portion locks the control device and a second position in which the beam portion is released from locking to the control device. , a field water management system .

[0017] According to the fifth invention, since the control device can be held separately from the canopy, it is possible to more reliably prevent the control device from floating up when submerged in water.

[0018] The sixth invention is dependent on the first invention, wherein the electric actuator comprises a solar panel detachably attached to the upper surface of the control device via a magnetic member inside the box, the canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, and the anti-float member includes an overhanging member that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the solar panel, the anti-float state is achieved when the overhanging member is locked to the canopy, and the non-float state is achieved when the canopy is opened and the locking of the canopy to the overhanging member is released.

[0019] According to the sixth invention, since the panel mount for attaching the solar panel can be omitted, the member cost can be reduced and the workability when taking out the control device can be improved. Further, by connecting the solar panel to the control device via the magnet member, the solar panel can be easily attached to and detached from the control device.

[0020] The seventh invention is dependent on the first or second invention, and the mount includes a substantially L-shaped main frame having a vertical piece portion fixed to the inner surface of the box and a horizontal piece portion with a free end at the tip.

[0021] According to the seventh invention, even when a stepping load is applied to the mount, the spring effect can be exerted to relieve the load.

[0022] The eighth invention is dependent on the third or fourth invention, and a gap is formed between the beam portion of the anti-floating member and the upper surface of the control device.

[0023] According to the eighth invention, even if a stepping load is applied to the solar panel and the anti-floating member, the load is not transmitted to the control device, so damage to the control device can be prevented.

[0024] The ninth invention is dependent on the eighth invention, and the mount and the support column portion of the anti-floating member are connected via an elastic member.

[0025] According to the ninth invention, damage to the solar panel can be appropriately prevented.

[0026] The tenth invention is dependent on the first or second invention, and is provided on the mount and includes a guide portion that positions the control device and guides the vertical movement of the control device.

[0027] According to the tenth invention, the control device can be appropriately positioned with respect to the mount, and the vertical movement of the control device can be appropriately guided.

[0028] The eleventh invention is dependent on the first or second invention and comprises a waterproof cover that is formed in a top-cylindrical shape including cylindrical side walls and a top wall that seals the upper part of the side walls, and is provided to cover the control device.

[0029] According to the eleventh invention, water ingress into the control device can be prevented more reliably.

[0030] The twelfth invention is subordinate to the eleventh invention, and the water-preventing cover is locked in place by an anti-float member in an anti-float state, thereby restricting its floating when submerged. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to this invention, since a float prevention member is provided, the float of the control device when submerged can be properly prevented without fastening the control device of the electric actuator to the frame. Furthermore, by disengaging the float prevention member, the control device can be easily removed from the outside of the manhole, thereby improving the workability of the control device.

[0032] The aforementioned objectives, other objectives, features, and advantages of this invention will become even clearer from the detailed description of the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] This figure shows a field water management system, which is one embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows the external appearance of an electric actuator used in a field water management system. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the internal structure of the drive mechanism of an electric actuator. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the adapter of an electric actuator. [Figure 5] This figure shows the external appearance of the control device included in an electric actuator. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the internal structure of the control device. [Figure 7]This figure shows the solar panel installed in the electric actuator. [Figure 8] This is a plan view showing a solar panel. [Figure 9] This is a block section showing the electrical configuration of an electric actuator. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing a water supply manhole with an electric actuator installed. [Figure 11] This diagram shows the internal structure of a water supply manhole with an electric actuator installed. [Figure 12] This diagram shows the canopy that covers a water supply manhole. [Figure 13] This diagram shows the water supply valve with the drive mechanism attached. [Figure 14] This diagram shows the control device and solar panels mounted on the frame. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view showing the mounting frame and the mounting frame for the panels. [Figure 16] This is a front view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 16 is a plan view showing the installation configuration of the control device. [Figure 18] Figure 16 is a side view showing the installation configuration of the control device. [Figure 19] This is a front view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] Figure 19 is a side view showing the installation configuration of the control device. [Figure 21] This is a front view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] This is a side view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] Figure 22 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the area around the flood prevention cover of the field water management system. [Figure 24]This is a front view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] This is a front view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] This is a side view showing the installation configuration of a control device in a field water management system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Referring to Figure 1, a field water management system 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "System 10"), which is one embodiment of the present invention, is a field facility that manages the water of a field 100 by remote operation or automatic control based on a pre-stored program. In this embodiment, the field 100 is equipped with a water tap 12, which is an example of a water supply control device, and a water outlet 14, which is another example of a water supply control device, and electric actuators 16 are attached to both the water tap 12 and the water outlet 14. The same electric actuators 16 are used to drive the displacement mechanisms of the water tap 12 and the water outlet 14.

[0035] In this embodiment, the system 10 includes multiple cultivated plots demarcated by ridges 102. Each of the water taps 12 and water outlets 14 is installed in each cultivated plot, and each electric actuator 16 attached to them is wirelessly connected to a repeater (master unit) by a wireless communication method compliant with the specified low-power radio standard (920MHz band). Each electric actuator 16 is then wirelessly connected to a remote control terminal such as a smartphone, tablet, PDA, or PC owned by the user via this repeater and a management server etc. located on the network.

[0036] Furthermore, cloud computing is recommended for this wireless communication. For example, information acquired by each electric actuator 16 (information regarding the status of the water tap 12 and water outlet 14, such as the opening degree of the valve body 30 and the set position of the partition body 34, as described later, and sensor information such as the water level of the field 100 received from the sensor terminal 120) is transmitted in real time to a cloud server, which is an example of a management server, and stored therein. By accessing the cloud server from a remote control terminal, the user can check the information acquired by each electric actuator 16 and manage the water in the field 100 by remotely controlling each electric actuator 16 using the remote control terminal.

[0037] Furthermore, although not shown in Figure 1, the field 100 is appropriately equipped with sensor terminals 120 (see Figure 9), such as water level sensors including ultrasonic sensors for detecting the field water level, temperature sensors for detecting air temperature and water temperature, pressure sensors for detecting atmospheric pressure, and soil moisture sensors for detecting soil moisture. The sensor terminals 120 are connected to the electric actuator 16 via a third relay table 90 (described later) or wirelessly.

[0038] The water tap 12 is a water supply device for controlling the supply of water from the water pipeline 106 to the cultivated area (field 100), and has a displacement mechanism including a valve stem and valve body. In this embodiment, a water tap of the type in which the valve stem and valve body move up and down in accordance with the rotation of the valve stem, which is generally widely used, is used.

[0039] Referring to Figures 1 and 13, the water tap 12 includes a cylindrical valve body 20. The upper half of the valve body 20 is covered by a dome-shaped splash-proof cover 22, and multiple water outlets 24 are formed on the upper side wall of the valve body 20 so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction. A bearing 26 with an internal thread formed on its inner surface is provided at the upper end of the valve body 20, and a valve stem 28 with an external thread formed on its outer surface is screwed into this bearing 26 so as to penetrate the splash-proof cover 22. A disc-shaped valve body 30 with a water-sealing rubber 30a on its lower surface is provided at the lower end of the valve stem 28. A valve seat 32 with a water passage 32a is provided approximately in the center of the valve body 20. In such a water tap 12, when a rotational force is applied to the valve stem 28 around its axis, the valve stem 28 and valve body 30 move up and down by a feed screw mechanism, and the water passage 32a of the valve seat 32 opens and closes. In other words, the water tap 12 in this embodiment includes a displacement mechanism that includes a valve body 30 that moves up and down in accordance with the rotation of the valve shaft 28.

[0040] As shown in Figure 1, such a water tap 12 is placed inside a water supply box 104 (an example of a box) installed on the levee 102, and is attached to the downstream end of a branch pipe 108 that branches off from an irrigation pipeline 106 laid beneath the levee 102 (farm road) and extends into the field 100. A drive unit 40 for an electric actuator 16, which will be described later, is attached above the water tap 12, and the displacement mechanism (valve shaft 28 and valve body 30) of the water tap 12 is operated by the electric actuator 16.

[0041] On the other hand, the drain outlet 14 is a drainage device for controlling drainage from the field 100 and has a displacement mechanism including a partition. In this embodiment, a drain outlet 14 with a water level setting function is used. Briefly, the drain outlet 14 is equipped with a cylindrical partition 34 whose upper end opening functions as a drain outlet, and by moving this partition 34 up and down, the drain outlet can be adjusted to any height.

[0042] Such a water outlet 14 is placed inside a drainage basin 110 (another example of a basin) provided on the embankment 102 and attached to the upstream end of a drain pipe 114 that extends to a drainage channel 112. A drive unit 40 for an electric actuator 16 is attached to the water outlet 14, and the displacement mechanism (partition 34) of the water outlet 14 is moved up and down by the electric actuator 16. However, when attaching the drive unit 40 for the electric actuator 16 to the water outlet 14, an adapter 36 is used that can convert the rotational force of the rotating shaft 60 (see Figure 3) of the drive unit 40 into an up-and-down (axial) force and transmit it to the partition 34.

[0043] Next, the configuration of the electric actuator 16 will be described in detail. As shown in Figure 2, the electric actuator 16 includes a drive unit 40, a control device 42, and a solar panel 44, etc. In this embodiment, the drive unit 40, the control device 42, and the solar panel 44 are each separated and configured as separate components. The drive unit 40 and the control device 42 are electrically connected by a first relay cable 46 such as a flat cable, and the control device 42 and the solar panel 44 are electrically connected by a second relay cable 86. A mounting base 48 for attaching the drive unit 40 to a water supply control device such as a water tap 12 is connected to the lower end of the drive unit 40. The height dimension H (vertical length) of the drive unit 40 including the mounting base 48 is, for example, 289 mm.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, the drive unit 40 includes a top-cylindrical first housing 52 (housing of the drive unit) made of a synthetic resin such as rigid polyvinyl chloride. In this embodiment, the first housing 52 includes a cylindrical side wall 52a and a disc-shaped top wall 52b that seals the upper end of the side wall 52a. The side wall 52a and the top wall 52b are fixed together by PVC welding, and the first housing 52 is formed such that the side wall 52a and the top wall 52b have an airtight structure. However, "airtight" in this invention means that even if the first housing 52 is submerged in water, the airtightness and watertightness are maintained to the extent that air does not leak from the part of the first housing 52 during its service life.

[0045] In order to prevent water from entering the first housing 52, it would be sufficient if the entire first housing 52 could be formed to be airtight. However, as described later, the drive unit 40 is equipped with a rotating shaft 60, and it is difficult to make the part of the drive unit such as the rotating shaft 60 that protrudes from the first housing 52 (the penetrating part) airtight for a long period of time. Therefore, in this embodiment, the side walls 52a and the top wall 52b of the first housing 52 are configured to be airtight, and the rotating shaft 60 is made to protrude from the bottom side (bottom wall side) of the first housing 52. As a result, even if the bottom side of the first housing 52 is not airtight, when water overflows into the water supply box 104 and the first housing 52 is submerged, the air inside the first housing 52 cannot escape, thus preventing water from entering the first housing 52 (that is, air can be stored inside the first housing 52). Therefore, even if water overflows into the water supply box 104 and the first housing 52 is submerged, it is possible to prevent the components placed inside the first housing 52 from getting wet.

[0046] The first housing 52 houses a drive unit including a motor 54 and a main gear 56. This drive unit is supported by a support frame 52c provided at the lower end of the side wall 52a. The motor 54 is driven by electricity stored in a battery 74, which will be described later. In this embodiment, a motor with an encoder is used as the motor 54. A small gear 58 is provided at the tip of the output shaft of the motor 54, and the main gear 56 is connected to this small gear 58, thereby receiving the driving force from the motor 54 and rotating around its axis.

[0047] The main gear 56 is a double-boss type gear, and a substantially cylindrical rotating shaft 60 is inserted through the shaft of the main gear 56. A coupling portion 60a is formed at the lower end of this rotating shaft 60, which connects to the upper end of the valve stem 28 of the water tap 12. In addition, a keyway 56a extending along the axial direction is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the shaft of the main gear 56, and a sliding key 60b that fits into the keyway 56a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 60, extending along the axial direction. As a result, the rotating shaft 60 rotates together with the rotation of the main gear 56 and is also slidable in the axial direction relative to the shaft of the main gear 56.

[0048] Furthermore, a first connection terminal 62 is provided at the lower end of the side wall 52a of the first housing 52 for connecting one end of the first relay cable 46 that connects to the control device 42. This first connection terminal 62 is connected to the motor 54 via an internal cable 64 that includes power lines and communication lines.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the mounting base 48 includes a cylindrical portion 66 and a mounting portion 68 provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 66 and having a through hole 68a in its center. Although not shown in the figure, the cylindrical portion 66 has an inspection opening for checking the operation of the rotating shaft 60 and for maintenance work such as cleaning. In addition, a plurality of bolt holes 66a arranged in the circumferential direction are formed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 66, and the mounting base 48 is bolted to the lower end of the first housing 52 using these bolt holes 66a. Furthermore, a plurality of bolt holes 68b arranged in the circumferential and radial directions are formed in the mounting portion 68, and the mounting base 48 (and thus the drive device 40) is bolted to the upper surface of the water tap 12 using these bolt holes 68b.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the control device 42 includes a rectangular parallelepiped second housing 70 (the housing of the control device) made of synthetic resin such as ABS, which is waterproof and dustproof. The second housing 70 includes a bottomed rectangular tubular case body 70a and a lid portion 70b that is provided on the upper part of the case body 70a so as to be openable and closable via a hinge portion 70c. A water-sealing member (not shown), such as a rubber gasket, is provided between the case body 70a and the lid portion 70b (i.e., the opening and closing part of the second housing 70), and the second housing 70 is formed to have an airtight structure as a whole. As a result, even if water overflows into the water supply box 104 and the second housing 70 is submerged, the components placed inside the second housing 70 will not get wet.

[0051] The second enclosure 70 houses an electronic circuit board 72, a storage battery 74, an operation panel 76, and an antenna 78, among other things. The electronic circuit board 72 is equipped with a control unit 80 including a CPU and memory, and a wireless communication unit 82 including a wireless communication module, etc. (see Figure 9). The storage battery 74 stores the electricity generated by the solar panel 44. The operation panel 76 is an input device that accepts manual operation by the user, that is, for the user to operate the electric actuator 16 manually (electrically manually). The operation panel 76 is appropriately provided with a main power switch, an up button, a down button, and selection buttons for switching the operating mode of the electric actuator 16 (remote mode, automatic mode, or manual mode, etc.).

[0052] Furthermore, a second connection terminal 84 is provided on the side wall of the case body 70a of the second housing 70 for connecting the other end of the first relay cable 46 connected to the drive unit 40 (motor 54). Also, a third connection terminal 88 is provided on the side wall of the case body 70a of the second housing 70 for connecting one end of the second relay cable 86 connected to the solar panel 44, and a fifth connection terminal 92 is provided for connecting one end of the third relay table 90 connected to a sensor terminal 120 such as a water level sensor. Waterproof connection terminals (waterproof connectors) are used for these connection terminals 84, 88, and 92.

[0053] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the solar panel 44 is a package of multiple solar cells enclosed in tempered glass and a sealing material. In this embodiment, the solar panel 44 is supported by a rectangular metal mounting plate 94. A fourth connection terminal 96 is provided at the bottom of the solar panel 44 for connecting the other end of a second relay cable 86 that is connected to a control device 42.

[0054] Figure 9 shows a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the electric actuator 16. As shown in Figure 9, the electric actuator 16 includes a control unit 80 which contains a CPU and memory. The motor 54, solar panel 44, battery 74, operation panel 76, wireless communication unit 82, and sensor terminal 120 are electrically connected to the control unit 80. The CPU of the control unit 80 is responsible for the overall control of the electric actuator 16 and controls the driving of the motor 54 and other components. The memory comprehensively represents ROM, RAM, HDD, etc., and stores control programs that control the operation of the electric actuator 16, and also functions as a work area when the CPU is operating.

[0055] The wireless communication unit 82 is connected to the antenna 78 via an internal cable, and communicates wirelessly with external devices such as repeaters via the antenna 78. The sensor terminal 120 inputs sensor information such as detected field water level and temperature to the control unit 80. The sensor terminal 120 may also be connected to the control unit 80 via the wireless communication unit 82.

[0056] The motor 54 is mechanically connected to water supply control devices such as the water tap 12 and the water outlet 14 via a transmission mechanism consisting of a main gear 56, a small gear 58, and a rotating shaft 60. The CPU of the control unit 80 controls the operation of the water supply control devices by controlling the drive of the motor 54. In this embodiment, as described above, a motor with an encoder is used as the motor 54. The encoder of the motor 54 outputs a pulse signal to the CPU of the control unit 80 according to the rotation direction and rotation speed of the output shaft 54a. The CPU of the control unit 80 calculates the position of the valve body 30 of the water tap 12 or the partition body 34 of the water outlet 14 based on the pulse signal input from the encoder, i.e., the rotation direction and rotation speed of the output shaft 54a. However, the encoder does not necessarily have to be provided on the motor 54, and may be provided on the main gear 56, etc. Alternatively, position detection may be performed using a potentiometer or upper and lower limit switches instead of an encoder.

[0057] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the electric actuator 16 described above is housed inside the water supply manhole 104 and the drainage manhole 110, respectively. In this embodiment of system 10, the drive unit 40 and the control unit 42 of the electric actuator 16 are separated and arranged side by side, making it possible to reduce the height of the electric actuator 16 and fit it into each manhole. However, if the control unit 42 is placed inside the manhole, there is a risk that the control unit 42 will float when submerged, while at the same time it becomes difficult to operate the operation panel 76 provided on the control unit 42. Therefore, in this embodiment of system 10, an installation structure is adopted that prevents the control unit 42 from floating without using fastening means such as bolts, while also allowing the control unit 42 to be easily removed from inside the manhole. Note that the installation structure of the electric actuator 16 on the water supply side and the drainage side are basically the same, so below, the installation structure of the electric actuator 16 on the water supply side will be described as a representative example.

[0058] As shown in Figures 10-12, the water supply box 104 comprises a rectangular tubular box body 130 and is installed on the ridge 102 of the field 100 to which this system 10 is applied. An opening 132 for supplying water to the field 100 is formed in the side wall of the box body 130 on the field 100 side, and a weir plate 134 is provided in this opening 132 so as to be vertically movable. In addition, a canopy 138 is detachably provided on the top of the box body 130 via a cover frame 136. Various types of covers such as grating, FRP, and checkered steel plate can be used as the canopy 138, but in this embodiment, grating is used as the canopy 138. An opening 138a is formed in this canopy 138 at a position corresponding to the solar panel 44 in order to allow more sunlight to reach the solar panel 44. Furthermore, the upper surface of the water supply box 104 (the upper surface of the box body 130 and the canopy 138) is set flush with the upper surface of the levee 102 so as not to obstruct agricultural machinery or other vehicles traveling on the levee 102.

[0059] A water tap 12 is installed inside the water supply manhole 104. A drive unit 40 for an electric actuator 16 is detachably mounted on top of the water tap 12 so as to fit inside the water supply manhole 104. As shown in Figure 13, when mounting the drive unit 40 on top of the water tap 12, the drive unit 40 is placed on the splash-proof cover 22 of the water tap 12, and the splash-proof cover 22, the bearing 26, and the mounting portion 68 of the mounting base 48 are bolted together. In addition, the upper end of the valve stem 28 of the water tap 12 and the coupling portion 60a of the rotating shaft 60 of the electric actuator 16 are connected so as not to rotate. In this case, the control device 42 and the solar panel 44 are separated from the drive unit 40, and the part of the electric actuator 16 that is attached to the water tap 12 is made only of the drive unit 40, so the mounting part to the electric actuator 16 can be made smaller and lighter. Therefore, the workability when attaching (and removing) the electric actuator 16 to the water tap 12 can be improved.

[0060] Referring to Figures 14 and 15, along with Figures 10 and 11, the control device 42 is mounted on a frame 150 provided inside the water supply manhole 104, and is therefore installed inside the water supply manhole 104 alongside the drive unit 40.

[0061] The frame 150 includes a pair of main frames 152 and a pair of connecting plate sections 154, and is formed by connecting steel materials by welding or the like. The main frame 152 is formed in a substantially L-shape, having a vertical section 152a fixed to the inner surface of the water supply manhole 104, and a horizontal section 152b extending laterally from the lower end of the vertical section 152a, with its tip being a free end. The connecting plate section 154 is formed in a long plate shape and is provided to span between the pair of main frames 152. The upper surface of this connecting plate section 154 becomes the mounting surface on which the control device 42 is placed.

[0062] On the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 154, L-shaped guide portions 156 are provided at positions corresponding to the four corners of the control device 42. These guide portions 156 position the control device 42 in the front-rear, left-right, and right directions, and also guide its movement when it moves vertically, as will be described later. The vertical length of the guide portion 156 is set to be larger than the size of the gap 164, which will be described later.

[0063] Furthermore, four vertical cylindrical insertion parts 158 are provided on the horizontal portion 152b of the main frame 152, at positions on both sides of the control device 42. The lower end of the support column 160a of the panel stand 160, which will be described later, is fitted into each of these insertion parts 158 in a removable (slidable) manner.

[0064] Furthermore, the solar panels 44 are mounted on a pair of panel mounts 160 that are detachably attached to the mounting frame 150. These panel mounts 160 are also used as anti-float members that can be switched between an anti-float state, which prevents the control device 42 from floating when submerged in water, and a non-float state, which allows the control device 42 to be removed from the outside of the tank. In other words, in this embodiment, the anti-float member is also used as the panel mount 160. A detailed explanation follows below.

[0065] An example of an anti-float member, the panel support frame 160, is made of steel. This panel support frame 160 is formed in a bridge shape, having support columns 160a erected on the lateral pieces 152b of the support frame 150 at positions on both sides of the control device 42, and beams 160b that connect the upper ends of the support columns 160a so as to extend along the upper surface of the control device 42. The length of the beams 160b is set to be greater than the width of the opening 138a formed in the canopy 138 (the opening dimension in the direction in which the beams 160b extend).

[0066] Furthermore, a disc-shaped flange portion 160c is provided at the lower part of the support column portion 160a. In addition, a pair of elongated plate-shaped connecting members 162 are provided to bridge the beam portions 160b of the pair of panel mounting frames 160. The solar cell panel 44 is placed on the beam portion 160b and fixed to the panel mounting frame 160 by bolting the mounting plate 94 to the connecting members 162.

[0067] The panel mounting frame 160 and solar cell panel 44 are detachably attached to the mounting frame 150 by fitting the lower end of the support column 160a into the fitting portion 158 of the mounting frame 150. Furthermore, when the panel mounting frame 160 is attached to the mounting frame 150, a predetermined gap 164 is formed between the beam portion 160b and the upper surface of the control device 42, preventing direct contact between the panel mounting frame 160 and the control device 42. As a result, even if a stepping load is applied to the solar cell panel 44 (and consequently the panel mounting frame 160 and mounting frame 150), the load is not transmitted to the control device 42, thus preventing damage to the control device 42. In addition, as described above, since the main frame 152 of the mounting frame 150 is formed in an L-shape, even if a stepping load is applied to the solar cell panel 44, it can exert a spring effect to mitigate the load.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the frame 150 and the support column 160a of the panel frame 160 are connected via a coil spring 166, which is an example of an elastic member, and the panel frame 160 and the solar cell panel 44 are provided to be able to sink downward. That is, when a stepping load is applied to the solar cell panel 44, the solar cell panel 44 and the panel frame 160 move downward, and are configured to return to their original state when the load is released. Specifically, the upper end of the coil spring 166 is fitted into the fitting portion 158 of the frame 150 so as to protrude upward. Then, the lower end of the support column 160a is fitted into the fitting portion 158, and the flange portion 160c is locked by the upper surface of the coil spring 166, thereby supporting the panel frame 160 with the frame 150. Furthermore, when the panel mounting frame 160 is attached to the frame 150, the size of the gap 164 (height dimension) is set to be larger than the distance between the upper surface of the fitting portion 158 and the lower surface of the flange portion 160c (i.e., the maximum compression amount of the coil spring 166). By adopting such a connection structure, damage to the solar cell panel 44 can be prevented more effectively. In addition, even if the panel mounting frame 160 moves downward, the panel mounting frame 160 and the control device 42 do not come into contact, thus preventing damage to the control device 42.

[0069] Furthermore, when installing the control device 42 and the solar panel 44 inside the water supply basin 104, it is preferable to position them as close as possible to the top surface of the water supply basin 104 (i.e., at a high position). This is to prevent the control device 42 and the solar panel 44 from being submerged as much as possible when water accumulates inside the water supply basin 104. It is also to allow the control device 42 and the solar panel 44 to be easily removed from inside the water supply basin 104. Moreover, it is to allow more sunlight to reach the solar panel 44. In this embodiment, the solar panel 44 is fitted into the opening 138a of the canopy 138, and the top surface of the solar panel 44 is flush with the top surface of the water supply basin 104.

[0070] Although not shown in the diagram, a rectangular partition plate may be provided inside the water supply box 104 to separate the drive unit 40 from the control device 42. By providing the partition plate, when water is supplied from the water tap 12 to the field 100, water splashes will not directly hit the control device 42.

[0071] In the system 10 described above, for example, when a user accesses the management server using a remote control terminal and sends an operation instruction (control signal) to fully close, fully open, or open the water tap 12 to an arbitrary degree, a control signal corresponding to this operation instruction is sent from the management server to the electric actuator 16 via a relay. The control unit 80 of the electric actuator 16 drives the motor 54 in accordance with the control signal received by the wireless communication unit 82. The driving force of this motor 54 is transmitted to the main gear 56, and the rotating shaft 60 rotates together with the main gear 56. As a result, a rotational force is applied to the valve stem 28 of the water tap 12, which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 60. The valve stem 28, to which the rotational force is applied, moves up and down by a lead screw mechanism between itself and the bearing 26, and the valve body 30 moves to the fully open position, fully closed position, etc.

[0072] Similarly, when a user sends an operation instruction to set the drain height of the water outlet 14 (the height position of the partition 34), the control unit 80 of the electric actuator 16 drives the motor 54 in accordance with the control signal to change the drain height of the water outlet 14. In addition, information acquired by the electric actuator 16 (information regarding the status of the water tap 12 and the water outlet 14, and sensor information received from the sensor terminal 120, etc.) is periodically transmitted from the wireless communication unit 82 of the electric actuator 16 to the management server via a relay.

[0073] Furthermore, in the event of heavy rainfall or when watering the field 100, if the inside of the manhole is flooded and the control device 42 is submerged, the control device 42 will float slightly upwards, guided by the guide section 156, but will be prevented from floating by being locked in place by the beam section 160b of the panel mounting frame 160 (anti-float member). In addition, the upward movement (float) of the panel mounting frame 160 is restricted by the beam section 160b being locked to the canopy 138 either directly or via the mounting plate 94 of the solar panel 44. In other words, the panel mounting frame 160 is locked to the canopy 138, thereby preventing the control device 42 from floating when submerged. When the water inside the manhole is drained, the control device 42 will move downwards, guided by the guide section 156, and return to its original position. In this case, since the vertical length of the guide section 156 is greater than the size of the gap 164, the control device 42 returns to its original position without shifting forward, backward, left, or right, even if it floats up when submerged.

[0074] On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to manually operate the electric actuator 16, the worker can open (remove) the canopy 138 and remove the panel mounting frame 160 along with the solar panels 44 from the mounting frame 150. This makes it possible to remove the control device 42 from the outside of the box. In other words, by opening the canopy 138 and removing the panel mounting frame 160 along with the solar panels 44 from the mounting frame 150, the panel mounting frame 160 can be switched to a non-floating prevention state that allows the control device 42 to be removed from the outside of the box. By removing the control device 42 from the outside of the box, the worker can easily operate the operation panel 76 provided on the control device 42.

[0075] As described above, this embodiment includes a panel support frame 160 (anti-float member) that can be switched between an anti-float state and a non-float state. Therefore, the control device 42 of the electric actuator 16 does not need to be fastened to the support frame 150, and the control device 42 can be prevented from floating up when submerged. In addition, the control device 42 can be easily removed from the outside of the manhole, thus improving the workability of the control device 42.

[0076] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the anti-float member is also used as the panel mounting frame 160, thus reducing material costs. Also, since the panel mounting frame 160 and the control device 42 do not come into direct contact, even if a stepping load is applied to the solar cell panel 44, that load will not be transmitted to the control device 42. Therefore, damage to the control device 42 can be prevented.

[0077] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the drive unit 40 and the control unit 42 of the electric actuator 16 are separated, and only the drive unit 40 is attached to the water supply control device, thus enabling miniaturization (low profile) and weight reduction of this attachment part. Therefore, the labor required for attaching and detaching the electric actuator 16 to the water supply control device can be reduced. In addition, separating the drive unit 40 and the control unit 42 makes it easier to transport and store each device.

[0078] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the entire electric actuator 16, including the drive unit 40, control device 42, and solar panel 44, is housed inside the box, thus preventing damage to the electric actuator 16 from the weight of snow during the winter fallow period. Also, by eliminating any exposed parts from the top surface of the box, accidents such as agricultural machinery colliding with the electric actuator 16 can be prevented, and the electric actuator 16 can be prevented from interfering with agricultural work. In particular, since damage to the drive unit 40 can be prevented by housing it inside the box, it becomes unnecessary to remove the drive unit 40 during the winter fallow period, further reducing labor. In addition, flexible handling is possible, such as removing the control device 42 from inside the box and storing it elsewhere during the winter fallow period.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the canopy 138 is used to prevent the control device 42 from floating when submerged. However, if the material and structure of the canopy 138 result in insufficient weight to prevent floating, it is advisable to attach a weight (heavier element) to the canopy 138 to compensate for the insufficient weight. This also applies to the third and fourth embodiments described later.

[0080] Next, referring to Figures 16 to 18, a system 10 of another embodiment (second embodiment) of the present invention will be described. In this second embodiment, the configuration of the anti-float member differs from that of the embodiment described above (first embodiment). Other parts are the same, so the same reference numerals are used for parts common to the first embodiment described above, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified. The same omission of redundant explanations applies to other embodiments described later. Note that in Figures 16 to 18 (and also in Figure 24 described later), some parts of the panel mounting frame 160 and the solar cell panels 44 are omitted for clarity.

[0081] As shown in Figures 16 to 18, in this second embodiment, a pair of anti-float members 170 are provided separately from the panel frame 160. The anti-float members 170 are formed in a bridge shape, having support columns 170a erected on the lateral sections 152b of the frame 150 at positions on both sides of the control device 42, and beam sections 170b connecting the upper ends of the support columns 170a so as to extend along the upper surface of the control device 42. The support columns 170a are formed in a bent shape (roughly L-shape) including a lower section extending diagonally upward from the lateral section 152b of the frame 150 and an upper section extending vertically. The anti-float members 170 also have shaft sections 170c that protrude laterally from the lower end of the support columns 170a. By fitting this shaft portion 170c into the bearing portion 172 provided on the frame 150, the anti-float member 170 is rotatably attached to the frame 150 with the shaft portion 170c as the pivot point. Such an anti-float member 170 is rotatable between a first position in which the beam portion 170b locks the control device 42 and a second position in which the locking of the beam portion 170b to the control device 42 is released.

[0082] In such a system 10, when the control device 42 is submerged in water, the control device 42 is prevented from floating up by being locked in place by the beam portion 170b of the float prevention member 170 in the first position. In other words, when the float prevention member 170 is in the first position, it is in a float prevention state that prevents the control device 42 from floating up when submerged in water.

[0083] On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to manually operate the electric actuator 16, the worker should open the canopy 138 and remove the panel mounting frame 160 along with the solar panels 44 from the mounting frame 150, and then rotate (open) the anti-float member 170 to the second position. This makes it possible to remove the control device 42 from the box. In other words, by rotating the panel mounting frame 160 to the second position, it is switched to a non-float prevention state in which the control device 42 can be removed from the box.

[0084] According to this second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the control device 42 does not need to be fastened to the frame 150, and the ability to operate the control device 42 while preventing it from floating up when submerged is improved. Furthermore, since the control device 42 can be held separately from the canopy 138, although it requires the extra step of rotating the float prevention member 170, it is possible to more reliably prevent the control device 42 from floating up when submerged.

[0085] Next, with reference to Figures 19 and 20, a system 10 of yet another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present invention will be described. In this third embodiment, the configuration of the panel support frame 180 used as an anti-float member differs from that of the first embodiment described above.

[0086] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, in the third embodiment, a pair of panel mounts 180 for mounting the solar panels 44 are used as anti-float members. The panel mounts 180 are formed in a bridge shape, having support columns 180a erected on the lateral pieces 152b of the mount 150 at positions on both sides of the control device 42, and beams 180b that extend along the upper surface of the control device 42 and connect the upper ends of the support columns 180a. The beams 180b are provided to the support columns 180a so as to be openable and closable via hinges 180c. That is, one end of the beams 180b is connected to the upper end of one of the support columns 180a via hinges 180c, and the other end of the beams 180b is detachably connected (supported) to the upper end of the other support column 180a.

[0087] In such a system 10, when the control device 42 is submerged in water, the control device 42 floats slightly while being guided by the guide section 156, but is prevented from floating by being locked in place by the beam section 180b of the panel mounting frame 180 (anti-float member). Furthermore, the upward movement of the panel mounting frame 180 is restricted by the beam section 160b being locked to the canopy 138 either directly or via the mounting plate 94 of the solar panel 44. In other words, the panel mounting frame 180, when locked to the canopy 138, enters an anti-float state that prevents the control device 42 from floating when submerged in water.

[0088] On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to manually operate the electric actuator 16, the operator can open the canopy 138 and open (rotate) the panel mounting frame 180 together with the solar panels 44, thereby enabling the control device 42 to be removed from the box. In other words, the panel mounting frame 160 can be switched to a non-floating prevention state, which allows the control device 42 to be removed from the box, by opening the canopy 138 and opening the panel mounting frame 160 together with the solar panels 44.

[0089] According to this third embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the control device 42 does not need to be fastened to the frame 150, and the operability of the control device 42 can be improved while preventing the control device 42 from floating when submerged in water.

[0090] In the third embodiment described above, the panel frame 180 is in an anti-float state by locking the beam portion 160b of the panel frame 180, which is an example of an anti-float member, to the canopy 138, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, a locking mechanism (not shown) such as a fastener can be provided in the separation portion of the panel frame 160 (the connection portion between the beam portion 180b and the support portion 180a on the side opposite to where the hinge 180c is provided), and this locking mechanism can be used to switch the panel frame 180 between an anti-float state and a non-anti-float state.

[0091] Next, with reference to Figure 21, a system 10 of yet another embodiment (fourth embodiment) of the present invention will be described. In this fourth embodiment, the installation method of the solar cell panel 44 and the configuration of the anti-floating member differ from those of the first embodiment described above.

[0092] As shown in Figure 21, in the fourth embodiment, the solar cell panel 44 is attached to the upper surface of the control device 42. In this case, the solar cell panel 44 is detachably attached to the control device 42 via a magnetic member (not shown) (i.e., by magnetic coupling). In addition, an overhanging member 190, which is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate or flange and protrudes outward, is provided on the outer surface of the solar cell panel 44. In this fourth embodiment, this overhanging member 190 is used as an anti-float member.

[0093] In such a system 10, when the control device 42 is submerged in water, the upward movement of the control device 42 is restricted by the locking of the overhanging member 190 provided on the solar panel 44 to the canopy 138. In other words, the overhanging member 190 locking to the canopy 138 puts the control device 42 into an anti-float state, preventing it from floating up when submerged in water.

[0094] On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to manually operate the electric actuator 16, the worker can open the canopy 138 to remove the solar panel 44, or remove the control device 42 together with the solar panel 44, to the outside of the box. In other words, when the canopy 138 is opened and the locking of the canopy 138 to the overhanging member 190 is released, the overhanging member 190 is switched to a non-floating prevention state, which allows the control device 42 to be removed to the outside of the box.

[0095] According to this fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the control device 42 does not need to be fastened to the mounting frame 150, preventing the control device 42 from floating when submerged and improving workability with the control device 42. Furthermore, since the panel mounting frame for attaching the solar cell panel 44 can be omitted, material costs can be reduced, and workability when removing the control device 42 can be improved. In addition, by connecting the solar cell panel 44 to the control device 42 via a magnetic member, the solar cell panel 44 can be easily attached to and detached from the control device 42.

[0096] In the fourth embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 44 was attached to the control device 42 via a magnetic member, but the invention is not limited to this, and the solar cell panel 44 can also be fixed to the control device 42 using fastening members such as bolts.

[0097] Next, with reference to Figures 22 and 23, a system 10 of yet another embodiment (fifth embodiment) of the present invention will be described. This fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that it further includes a water-resistant cover 200.

[0098] As shown in Figures 22 and 23, the fifth embodiment includes a water-prevention cover 200 that covers the control device 42. As described above, the second housing 70 of the control device 42 is formed to have an airtight structure throughout, and basically, even if the second housing 70 is submerged in water, water will not enter the inside. However, repeated opening and closing of the lid 70b, deterioration of the water-stopping member provided between the case body 70a and the lid 70b (i.e., the opening and closing part of the second housing 70) due to aging, or foreign matter getting caught in this space may reduce the water-stopping effect. Therefore, in this fifth embodiment, a water-prevention cover 200 is provided to cover the control device 42, thereby more reliably preventing water from entering the control device 42 (inside the second housing 70). The configuration of the water-prevention cover 200 will be described below.

[0099] The water ingress prevention cover 200 is formed from a synthetic resin such as rigid polyvinyl chloride in a top-opening cylindrical shape. In this embodiment, the water ingress prevention cover 200 is formed in a top-opening rectangular cylindrical shape including a rectangular cylindrical side wall 200a and a rectangular plate-shaped top wall 200b that seals the upper end of the side wall 200a. The side wall 200a and the top wall 200b are integrated by PVC welding or the like, and the water ingress prevention cover 200 is formed such that the side wall 200a and the top wall 200b have an airtight structure.

[0100] By providing such a flood-prevention cover 200, even if water overflows into the water supply basin 104 during a flood and the control device 42 is about to be submerged, air can be stored inside the flood-prevention cover 200. In other words, water ingress into the flood-prevention cover 200 can be stopped at a certain flood level where the water pressure and the air pressure (internal pressure) inside the flood-prevention cover 200 are balanced, thus preventing the opening and closing part of the second housing 70 from being submerged in water. However, the flood-prevention cover 200 must be installed so that the opening and closing part of the second housing 70 is positioned above the expected flood level inside the flood-prevention cover 200 during a flood.

[0101] In the fifth embodiment, a water ingress prevention cover 200 is placed between the control device 42 and the panel frame 160 (anti-float member), and the water ingress prevention cover 200 is locked by the panel frame 160, which is in an anti-float state, thereby restricting it from floating when submerged. In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the water ingress prevention cover 200 is connected (fixed) to the panel frame 160 via a connecting member 162. For example, a female threaded member 202, such as a nut, is fixed to the upper surface of the top wall 200b of the water ingress prevention cover 200. The female threaded member 202 is then bolted to the connecting member 162, thereby connecting the water ingress prevention cover 200 to the panel frame 160. By connecting the flood-proof cover 200 to the panel support frame 160, when the panel support frame 160 is removed from the support frame 150 during operation of the control panel 76 on the control device 42, the flood-proof cover 200 is also removed, improving work efficiency. However, the flood-proof cover 200 does not necessarily need to be connected to and secured to the panel support frame 160; it may be secured only by the panel support frame 160. Furthermore, the flood-proof cover 200 may be held in place by other means.

[0102] Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, a buffer material 204 (filler) made of foamed resin or rubber is dispersed between the upper surface of the lid portion 70b of the second housing 70 (the upper surface of the control device 42) and the lower surface of the top wall 200b of the water-prevention cover 200. By providing the buffer material 204, the floating of the control device 42 in the event of submersion can be prevented. In addition, by using the buffer material 204 to form a space 206 between the second housing 70 and the water-prevention cover 200, a space volume (gap volume) inside the water-prevention cover 200 can be secured. As a result, the level of water ingress into the water-prevention cover 200 can be stopped at a lower level, thus more reliably preventing the opening and closing portion of the second housing 70 from being submerged in water.

[0103] According to the fifth embodiment, in addition to achieving the same effects as the first embodiment described above, the inclusion of a water-prevention cover 200 that covers the control device 42 makes it possible to more reliably prevent water from entering the control device 42 (the second housing 70).

[0104] In the fifth embodiment described above, the water ingress prevention cover 200 is provided on the inside of the panel support frame 160, but the water ingress prevention cover 200 may also be provided on the outside of the panel support frame 160. Alternatively, the panel support frame 160 can be formed in a top-open cylindrical shape, and this panel support frame 160 can also be used as the water ingress prevention cover 200. In this case, the water ingress prevention cover 200 also serves as a structure to prevent floating using the canopy 138.

[0105] Furthermore, while the fifth embodiment has a configuration in which a water-resistant cover 200 is added to the system 10 of the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 24-26, the water-resistant cover 200 can also be applied to the system 10 of other embodiments such as the second to fourth embodiments.

[0106] Figure 24 shows an example in which the flood-proof cover 200 is applied to the system 10 of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the flood-proof cover 200 is not connected to the float-prevention member 170, but is locked in place by the float-prevention member 170, which is in a float-prevention state, thereby restricting its floating when submerged. In addition, a buffer material 204 is provided between the upper surface of the control device 42 and the lower surface of the top wall 200b of the flood-proof cover 200.

[0107] Figure 25 also shows an example in which the flood prevention cover 200 is applied to the system 10 of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the flood prevention cover 200 is not connected to the panel support frame 180 (float prevention member), but is locked by the panel support frame 180, which is in a float prevention state, thereby restricting its floating when submerged. In this embodiment, a buffer material 204 is provided between the upper surface of the top wall 200b of the flood prevention cover 200 and the lower surface of the beam portion 180b of the panel support frame 180.

[0108] Furthermore, Figure 26 shows an embodiment in which the flood-proof cover 200 is applied to the system 10 of the fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, the flood-proof cover 200 is not connected to the overhanging member 190 (float prevention member), but is locked by the overhanging member 190 in the float prevention state, thereby restricting float when submerged. In addition, a buffer material 204 is provided between the upper surface of the control device 42 and the lower surface of the top wall 200b of the flood-proof cover 200. In this embodiment, the solar panel 44 is detachably attached to the flood-proof cover 200.

[0109] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the upper surface of the water supply box 104 was made flush with the upper surface of the levee 102. However, the height of the upper surface of boxes such as the water supply box 104 can be appropriately changed according to the characteristics of the field 100, and the box may be installed so that its upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the levee 102. However, in order to prevent accidents such as agricultural machinery hitting the box, it is preferable that the upper surface of the box be installed at a height below the upper surface of the levee 102 on which the box is installed, or at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the levee 102. Among these, it is more preferable to make the top surface of the manhole flush with the top surface of the levee 102. However, if, for example, there is a large difference in elevation between the field 100 and the top surface of the levee 102, and the manhole is installed in the middle of the slope (embankment) of the levee 102, the top surface of the manhole can be installed at a lower position than the top surface of the levee 102.

[0110] Furthermore, the installation configuration of the solar cell panel 44 is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, when attaching the solar cell panel 44 to a panel mounting frame 160 or the like, at least one of the installation angle (angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal plane) and installation direction (direction in which the top surface of the panel faces) of the solar cell panel 44 can be adjusted. This allows sunlight to be irradiated to the solar cell panel 44 more appropriately, and tilting the solar cell panel 44 prevents dust and other debris from accumulating on its top surface.

[0111] Furthermore, the installation location of the solar panel 44 is not limited to inside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104; the solar panel 44 can also be installed on, for example, the canopy 138, or outside the manhole such as the water supply manhole 104. Also, when a large-capacity battery 74 is used, the electric actuator 16 does not necessarily need to be equipped with a solar panel 44. In addition, when the system 10 is applied to an environment where other power sources such as commercial power can be used, the electric actuator 16 does not necessarily need to be equipped with a solar panel 44 and a battery 74.

[0112] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the antenna 78 is provided inside the second housing 70 of the control device 42, but the installation position of the antenna 78 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the antenna 78 can be provided outside the second housing 70 inside a manhole such as a water supply manhole 104, or it can be provided outside the manhole. If the antenna 78 is provided outside the manhole, for example, if the antenna 78 is provided on a bendable support column, damage to the antenna 78 when a load is applied can be prevented.

[0113] Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the system 10 includes both a water tap 12, which is one example of a water supply control device, and a water outlet 14, which is another example. However, it may also include only one of the water tap 12 or the water outlet 14. Also, even when the system 10 includes both a water tap 12 and a water outlet 14, the configuration in which the drive unit 40 and the control device 42 of the electric actuator 16 are installed separately can be applied to only one of the electric actuators 16, either the one on the water tap 12 side or the one on the water outlet 14 side.

[0114] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the wireless communication unit 82 of the electric actuator 16 communicates wirelessly with a management server or the like via a relay device, but the relay device does not necessarily need to be installed. For example, the wireless communication unit 82 may communicate wirelessly with an external device such as a management server or remote control terminal without using a relay device, and receive control signals for the electric actuator 16.

[0115] Furthermore, in this invention, when it is said that the solar cell panels 44 etc. are installed inside the manhole, it means that the solar cell panels 44 etc. are installed without protruding from the top surface and outer surface of the manhole. However, even when they are displaced from their standard state (non-protruding state) after installation and can protrude outside the manhole, this is also included in the definition of being installed inside the manhole.

[0116] Please note that the specific dimensions and shapes mentioned above are merely examples and can be modified as needed according to product specifications and other requirements. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 10. Field water management system 12. Water tap (water supply control device) 14. Water outlet (water supply control device) 16 ... Electric Actuator 40 ... Drive unit 42 ... control device 44... Solar panels 54 ...Motor (drive unit) 56... Main gear (drive unit) 74... Storage battery 80 ... Control Unit 82 ... Wireless Communication Section 100 ...field 102 …Round 104…Water tank 110 ... Drainage manhole 138... Canopy 150 ... mounting base 152 ... Mainframe 156 ... Guide section 158…Insertion part 160... Panel mounting frame (anti-floating component) 160a...Strut section 160b…beam part 170 ... Anti-float component 180 ... Panel mounting frame (anti-floating component) 190 ...Protruding member (anti-float member) 200... Flood prevention cover

Claims

1. A field water management system for managing water in a field, A water supply control device equipped with a displacement mechanism for controlling the supply of water to the field or the drainage of water from the field, A manhole having a retractable lid, in which the water supply control device is installed, A frame provided inside the aforementioned box, and The water supply control device is equipped with an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism, The aforementioned electric actuator is A drive device having a drive unit for driving the displacement mechanism, and The control device includes a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator, The drive unit and the control unit are separated, the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device, and the control unit is placed on the frame, and further A field water management system comprising a float prevention member provided inside the aforementioned box, which is locked to the canopy to prevent the control device from floating when submerged, and a non-float prevention state in which the canopy is opened and the locking by the canopy is released, allowing the control device to be removed from the box.

2. The field water management system according to claim 1, wherein the float prevention member is formed in a bridge shape having support columns erected on the frame at positions on both sides of the control device and beams connecting the upper ends of the support columns so as to extend along the upper surface of the control device.

3. The electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel installed inside the box. The canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, The anti-float member is detachably attached to the frame by fitting the lower end of the support column into a fitting provided on the frame. The solar panel is attached to the beam portion of the anti-float member. The field water management system according to claim 2, wherein the float prevention member is in a float prevention state when locked to the canopy, and the float prevention member is removed from the frame together with the solar panel when the canopy is opened.

4. The electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel installed inside the box. The canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, The anti-float member is provided such that the beam portion can be opened and closed relative to the support column portion via a hinge. The solar panel is attached to the beam portion of the anti-float member. The field water management system according to claim 2, wherein the float prevention member is locked to the canopy to achieve the float prevention state, and the non-float prevention state is achieved by opening the canopy and opening the beam section together with the solar panel.

5. A field water management system for managing water in a field, A water supply control device equipped with a displacement mechanism for controlling the supply of water to the field or the drainage of water from the field, A manhole having a retractable lid, in which the water supply control device is installed, A frame provided inside the aforementioned box, and The water supply control device is equipped with an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism, The aforementioned electric actuator is A drive device having a drive unit for driving the displacement mechanism, and The control device includes a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator, The drive unit and the control unit are separated, the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device, and the control unit is placed on the frame, and further The device is provided with a float prevention member located inside the box, which can be switched between a float prevention state that prevents the control device from floating when submerged and a non-float prevention state that allows the control device to be removed from the box. The anti-float member is formed in a bridge shape, having support columns erected on the frame at positions on both sides of the control device, and beams connecting the upper ends of the support columns so as to extend along the upper surface of the control device. A field water management system wherein the float prevention member is mounted on the frame so as to be rotatable between a first position in which the beam portion locks the control device and a second position in which the locking of the beam portion to the control device is released.

6. The electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel that is detachably attached to the upper surface of the control device via a magnetic member inside the box. The canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar panel, The field water management system according to claim 1, wherein the float prevention member includes an overhanging member that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the solar cell panel, the float prevention state is achieved when the overhanging member is locked to the canopy, and the non-float prevention state is achieved when the canopy is opened and the locking of the canopy to the overhanging member is released.

7. The field water management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame includes a substantially L-shaped main frame having a vertical piece fixed to the inner surface of the box and a horizontal piece whose tip is a free end.

8. A gap is formed between the beam portion of the float prevention member and the upper surface of the control device, according to claim 3 or 4.

9. The field water management system according to claim 8, wherein the frame and the support portion of the float prevention member are connected via an elastic member.

10. The field water management system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a guide section provided on the frame for positioning the control device and guiding the vertical movement of the control device.

11. A field water management system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a water-preventing cover formed in a top-tube shape including a cylindrical side wall and a top wall that seals the upper part of the side wall, and provided to cover the control device.

12. The field water management system according to claim 11, wherein the flood prevention cover is locked by the float prevention member in the float prevention state, thereby restricting its floating when submerged.

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