Cylindrical body and method for forming cylindrical body

Abstract

Provided is a cylindrical body comprising a plurality of circumferential surface plate parts arranged in the circumferential direction, the cylindrical body further comprising a plurality of holding parts for holding the plurality of circumferential surface plate parts in positions adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction. The circumferential surface plate parts each have engagement portions formed by extending opposite end portions thereof in the predetermined direction. The holding parts each have a pair of contact surfaces that can come into contact with the engagement portions. The contact surfaces can guide displacement of the circumferential surface plate parts in the insertion direction and restrict displacement of the circumferential surface plate parts in the circumferential direction, making it easy to access the inside of the cylindrical body with a simple structure.

Description

Cylindrical body and method for forming the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a cylindrical body and a method for forming a cylindrical body.

[0002] A toxic target elimination device is known that has a cylindrical portion having an internal flow path through which a fluid passes, and an ultraviolet light emitting portion having a long tubular shape, and that uses ultraviolet light to negate toxic targets such as viruses (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a toxic target elimination device, the ultraviolet light emitting portion is positioned inside the cylindrical portion (within the flow path) with its longitudinal direction aligned with the axial direction of the cylindrical portion, and irradiates ultraviolet light directly onto the fluid passing through the flow path.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-057632

[0004] In the toxicity target elimination device described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the cylindrical portion has a continuous peripheral surface in the circumferential direction so as to form a ring, so that the interior cannot be accessed from the radial direction, and when performing work such as replacing the ultraviolet emitting portion, the ultraviolet emitting portion must be pulled out along the axial direction of the cylindrical portion and removed to the outside. In particular, the longer the cylindrical portion is in the axial direction, the larger the working space required, making it difficult to pull out the ultraviolet emitting portion, and there is a problem that workability is reduced.

[0005] The present invention was made through extensive research by the inventors in view of the above problems, and has an object to provide a means for facilitating access to the inside of a cylindrical body with a simple structure.

[0006] The cylindrical body of the present invention is a cylindrical body having a plurality of peripheral plate portions arranged in a circumferential direction, and is equipped with a plurality of holding portions that hold the plurality of peripheral plate portions adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction, the peripheral plate portions have engaging portions whose both ends extend in a predetermined direction, and the holding portions have a pair of contact surfaces that can come into contact with the engaging portions, and the contact surfaces can guide the displacement of the peripheral plate portions in the insertion direction and regulate the circumferential displacement of the peripheral plate portions.

[0007] The cylindrical body of the present invention is characterized in that the engaging portions at both ends of the peripheral plate portion are arranged in a direction parallel to each other or in a direction inclined outward in the circumferential direction.

[0008] The cylindrical body of the present invention is characterized in that the engaging portion extends substantially parallel to a normal direction at a circumferential center portion of the peripheral plate portion.

[0009] The cylindrical body of the present invention is also characterized in that the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces is an obtuse angle.

[0010] The cylindrical body of the present invention is also characterized in that the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces is a right angle or an acute angle.

[0011] The cylindrical body of the present invention is also characterized in that the retaining portion has a support portion that includes a pair of the contact surfaces and that can contact the engaging portion and engage in the circumferential direction, and an engaging portion that is fitted into the support portion and can engage with the peripheral plate portion in the mounting direction.

[0012] The cylindrical body of the present invention is characterized in that the inward surface of the peripheral plate portion of the cylindrical body has reflectivity that reflects electromagnetic waves.

[0013] The cylindrical body of the present invention is characterized in that the electromagnetic waves are ultraviolet rays.

[0014] The method for forming a cylindrical body of the present invention is a method for forming a cylindrical body in which a plurality of peripheral plate portions arranged circumferentially are held by a holding portion, and is characterized by having the steps of: guiding the mounting direction of the peripheral plate portions by a plurality of support portions arranged circumferentially and forming at least a part of a frame; mounting the peripheral plate portions between the support portions; and fitting an attachment portion into the support portion having the peripheral plate portions arranged on both sides.

[0015] According to the present invention, the inside of the cylindrical body can be easily accessed with a simple structure.

[0016] 1 is a perspective view showing a cylindrical body according to the present embodiment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a frame arrangement; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the frame; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contact surfaces of adjacent columnar portions that are spaced apart; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a peripheral reflector; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a peripheral reflector; FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a fitting portion; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for attaching a peripheral reflector between columnar portions; FIG. 9 is a diagram showing peripheral reflectors attached between all columnar portions; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cylindrical body with fitting portions fitted into columnar portions; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of an engagement portion.

[0017] An embodiment of a cylindrical body of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a cylindrical body 1 according to this embodiment. Here, the cylindrical body 1 is a member having a structure that amplifies ultraviolet light as electromagnetic waves, and includes a frame 2, a plurality of peripheral reflectors 4 (peripheral plate portions) that are detachable from the frame 2, and fitting portions 6 that are fitted to the frame 2 to fix the peripheral reflectors 4 to the frame 2.

[0018] The cylindrical body 1 also contains an ultraviolet light source 10 (electromagnetic wave emission source) disposed inside the frame 2 and is surrounded by a peripheral reflector 4. Here, the description is given assuming that the ultraviolet light is amplified, but the cylindrical body 1 may also reflect and / or amplify electromagnetic waves other than ultraviolet light and / or transmit electromagnetic waves of a specific wavelength range, in which case an electromagnetic wave emission source capable of emitting electromagnetic waves of other wavelengths may be provided in place of the ultraviolet light source 10.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the frame 2, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the frame 2. The frame 2 comprises a pair of frame support members 20 arranged opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 1, and a plurality of pillars 22 (supporting portions) that bridge the pair of frame support members 20. The plurality of pillars 22 extend along the axial direction of the cylindrical body 1 and are arranged at approximately equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 1.

[0020] The frame support member 20 is a member with a substantially circular cross section that forms the axial end of the cylindrical body 1, and has one or more through holes through which fluids such as gas, liquid, and granular materials can pass. The frame support member 20 also has a restricting portion 20a that restricts the radial position of the peripheral reflector 4 attached to the frame 2. The restricting portion 20a can be positioned on the peripheral edge and / or outer circumferential surface of the frame support member 20.

[0021] The columnar portions 22 have an elongated shape extending in the axial direction, and in this embodiment, are provided radially outward from the restricting portion 20a at three locations along the circumferential direction. That is, the columnar portions 22 are arranged approximately every 120° on the outer periphery of the end face portion 20. The number of columnar portions 22 is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, the columnar portion 22 has a pair of contact surfaces 24. The pair of contact surfaces 24 form a corner when one end of each contact surface 24 intersects with each other, and the corner is formed radially inward of the cylindrical body 1, faces the axis of the cylindrical body 1, and forms a ridge line that extends linearly in the axial direction. The angle of the corner, i.e., the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces 24, can be set to be an obtuse angle.

[0023] Furthermore, the opposing contact surfaces 24 of the columnar portions 22 that are spaced apart and adjacent in the circumferential direction can be configured to form a plane that is approximately parallel to a line that connects the midpoint of an imaginary line segment connecting the columnar portions 22 and the axis of the cylindrical body 1. In other words, the contact surfaces 24 form a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the imaginary line segment connecting the columnar portions 22.

[0024] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contact surfaces 24a, 24b of adjacent, spaced-apart columnar portions 22, and the orientations of the opposing contact surfaces 24a, 24b of adjacent columnar portions 22 are determined so that the contact surface 24a of one columnar portion 22 and the contact surface 24b of the other columnar portion 22 form parallel surfaces as shown in Fig. 4. These opposing, spaced-apart contact surfaces 24a, 24b, etc. function to guide the peripheral reflector 4 as it is attached to the frame 2 along the attachment direction, and to restrict the peripheral reflector 4 from being displaced in the circumferential direction.

[0025] It goes without saying that the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces 24 of the columnar portion 22 is not limited to an obtuse angle, but may be a right angle or an acute angle. In that case, the adjacent contact surfaces 24a, 24b, etc., which are spaced apart from each other, are naturally non-parallel to each other.

[0026] The columnar portion 22 is disposed radially outward relative to the restricting portion 20a in order to achieve a positional relationship in which the peripheral reflectors 4 are disposed with almost no gaps between them, sandwiching the columnar portion 22. As a result, when the peripheral reflectors 4 are disposed to a position restricted by the restricting portion 20a (described later), the peripheral reflectors 4 disposed on either side of the columnar portion 22 can be displaced radially inward to a position where they reach the corners of the columnar portion 22, and can be disposed close enough to butt the ends of the reflectors 12 together.

[0027] Next, the peripheral reflector 4 will be described. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the peripheral reflector 4, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the peripheral reflector 4. The peripheral reflector 4 is a plate-like member extending in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the cylindrical body 1, and has a reflecting portion 12 whose cross-sectional shape is curved into a substantially arc shape, an engaging portion 14, etc.

[0028] The curved concave side of the reflecting portion 12 becomes the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 1, and a reflective surface with high reflectivity to ultraviolet rays is formed on that surface. Therefore, the convex side of the reflecting portion 12 on the peripheral reflector 4 faces outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical body 1. It is also possible to configure the cylindrical body 2 so that a separate exterior member is arranged on the outside of the peripheral reflector 4, surrounding the frame 2 and the peripheral reflector 4.

[0029] The reflective surface of the reflective portion 12 can be formed by providing a reflective layer or the like that reflects ultraviolet light with a high reflectance, preferably a reflectance of 95% or more, more preferably a reflectance of 97% or more. Such a reflective layer can be made of a high refractive index material, such as one or a combination of materials selected from zirconium oxide, tantalum pentoxide, titanium oxide, hafnium oxide, yttrium oxide, zinc oxide, niobium pentoxide, chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, etc.

[0030] The reflective surface of the reflecting portion 12 can be formed by any suitable method, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods such as vacuum deposition, ion plating, and sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods such as thermal CVD and plasma CVD, powder coating, solvent coating, printing, electroplating, electroless plating, electrodeposition coating, water-based coating, etc. For coating, an ultraviolet-reflective paint (e.g., a paint containing particulate silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), etc.) can be used.

[0031] The reflecting surface can also be constructed by stacking multiple layers of high refractive index materials, in which case each layer can be made of the same material, different materials, or different materials stacked alternately.

[0032] The engaging portions 14 are provided at both ends of the reflecting portion 12 and are formed so as to be in close contact, abutment, or sliding contact with the contact surfaces 24. The engaging portions 14 can be provided, for example, by bending the ends of the peripheral reflector 4, with their tips pointing radially outward. The engaging portions 14 may also be joined to both ends of the reflecting portion 12 by welding, bonding with an adhesive, fastening with a fastening member, or the like.

[0033] Here, since the engaging portions 14 are in surface contact with the contact surfaces 24, they can also be configured to have flat portions that can engage with the contact surfaces 24 in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the flat portions form a surface that is approximately parallel to the normal (dotted line a shown in FIG. 6 ) at the circumferential center of the reflecting portion 12. Furthermore, the spacing between the engaging portions 14 is set to be approximately the same as or greater than the spacing between the contact surfaces of the adjacent columnar portions 22 described above. Therefore, when the peripheral reflector 4 is attached between the columnar portions 22, the engaging plate portions 14 are in surface contact or line contact with the contact surfaces 24.

[0034] The fitting portion 6 has a shape that allows it to be attached to and detached from the columnar portion 22. Figure 7 is a plan view showing the fitting portion 6, which has a generally U-shaped cross section so that it can be fixed to the radially outer side of the columnar portion 22, and is provided at both ends with claw-fitting engaging portions 16 that can engage with each contact surface 24 of the columnar portion 22. The fitting portion 6 can be attached to the columnar portion 22 by partially or entirely bending, which can expand the spacing between the engaging portions 16.

[0035] When the fitting portion 6 is attached to the columnar portion 22 with the peripheral reflectors 4 already arranged on both sides of the columnar portion 22, the fitting portion 6 can function as a holding portion for fixing and holding the peripheral reflector 4 together with the columnar portion 22 to the frame 2. The total length of the fitting portion 6 along the axial direction of the cylindrical body 1 is not particularly limited, but here it is set to a length equivalent to the longitudinal length of the peripheral reflector 4. Of course, it can also be set to be shorter than the longitudinal length of the peripheral reflector 4.

[0036] Next, an example of a procedure for mounting the peripheral reflector 4 between the columnar portions 22 will be described. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure for mounting the peripheral reflector 4 between the columnar portions 22. The peripheral reflector 4 is mounted on the frame 2 by inserting the peripheral reflector 4 from the outside of the frame 2 inward in the radial direction as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8(a) . When the peripheral reflector 4 is inserted into the space between the columnar portions 22 as shown in Figure 8(b) , the engagement plate portion 14 comes into surface contact with the contact surface 24, and the columnar portions 22 restrict circumferential displacement of the peripheral reflector 4.

[0037] Using the same method as above, peripheral reflectors 4 are inserted into the spaces between all of the columnar portions 22, as shown in Fig. 9. Next, the fitting portions 6 are fitted into the columnar portions 22. When the engaging portions 14 are in contact with both contact surfaces 24 of the columnar portions 22, as shown in Fig. 10, the fitting portions 6 are fitted onto the outside of the columnar portions 22, so that both ends of the fitting portions 6 come into contact with the tips of the engaging portions 14 and engage with the engaging portions 14 in the installation direction. Therefore, the fitting portions 6 restrict displacement of the peripheral reflectors 4 in the installation direction.

[0038] Therefore, the peripheral reflector 4 is attached to the frame 2 to form the cylindrical body 1, with its radial displacement restricted by the end surface portion 20 and the fitting portion 6, and its circumferential displacement restricted by the columnar portion 22.

[0039] As described above, the cylindrical body 1 can be easily formed by simply fitting the fitting portion 6 to the columnar portion 22 after the peripheral reflector 4 is attached to the frame 2. When replacing the ultraviolet light source 10 inside the cylindrical body 1, it is possible to access the inside of the cylindrical body 1 from the radial direction and remove the ultraviolet light source 10 from a direction other than the axial direction, thereby improving workability.

[0040] Furthermore, the columnar portion 22 is provided with a pair of contact surfaces 24 that intersect at one end, so that adjacent peripheral reflectors 4 sandwiching the columnar portion 22 can be positioned close to each other with almost no gaps between them, thereby allowing ultraviolet rays to be reflected over almost the entire inner circumference of the cylindrical body 1, and ensuring that ultraviolet rays can be amplified inside the cylindrical body 1.

[0041] Furthermore, the columnar portion 22 has a corner where a pair of contact surfaces 24 intersect at one end, and the corner is configured to face radially inward, thereby maximizing the proportion of the reflective portion 12 relative to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 1. In other words, by arranging the peripheral reflectors 4 with almost no gap between them, the reflective portion 12 can be configured to cover almost the entire inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 1. In contrast, if the cross-sectional shape of the columnar portion 22 were approximately rectangular, such that the pair of contact surfaces 24 did not intersect at one end, the frame surface of the columnar portion 22 facing the center of the cylindrical body 1 would be exposed as the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 1. However, because the columnar portion 22 does not have a UV-reflective surface, the frame surface would be a non-reflective area for UV rays within the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 1. In order to compensate for the reflectivity of this non-reflective area, it is possible to arrange a separate reflector on the frame surface, but by providing a columnar portion 22 having a pair of contact surfaces 24 that intersect at one end, the peripheral reflectors 4 can be arranged with almost no gaps between them, which is preferable as it maximizes the proportion of the reflective portion 12 on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 1 at low cost.

[0042] While the engaging portions 14 have been described as being parallel to each other, this is not limiting and they may be tilted outward to expand outward. Figure 10 illustrates another example of the engaging portions 30. When the engaging portions 30 are shaped to open outward in the circumferential direction, the base ends of the engaging portions 30 are formed to be elastically deformable. When the engaging portions 30 are arranged between the columnar portions 22 as shown in Figure 11(a), even if they interfere with the columnar portions 22, the base ends of the engaging portions 30 can bend and enter between the columnar portions 22. That is, as shown in Figure 11(b), the base ends of the engaging portions 30 bend, and the engaging portions 30 press against the contact surfaces 24, sliding against the contact surfaces 24, while the peripheral reflector 4 enters between the engaging portions 30. When the engaging portions 14 are outward-facing, the shape of the columnar portions 22 may be set to have contact surfaces 24 corresponding to the engaging portions 14. That is, the shape of the columnar portion 22 may be set so that the contact surface 24 forms a parallel surface with the engaging portion 14 when the peripheral reflector 4 is attached, and so that it can be in close contact, abutment, or sliding contact with the engaging portion 14.

[0043] Furthermore, the cylindrical body 1 of the present invention may be provided with a grip, a handle, a crank, a knob, or the like on the frame support member 20, etc. In this way, for example, when the cylindrical body 1 is housed in a separate exterior part for use, the cylindrical body 1 can be easily handled when housed in the exterior part or when removed from the exterior part, improving convenience.

[0044] 1... cylindrical body, 2... frame, 4... peripheral reflector, 6... fitting portion, 10... ultraviolet light source, 14, 30... engaging portion, 20... frame support member, 22... columnar portion, 24... contact surface

Claims

1. A cylindrical body having a plurality of peripheral plate portions arranged in a circumferential direction, comprising a plurality of holding portions which hold the plurality of peripheral plate portions adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction, the peripheral plate portions having engagement portions whose both ends extend in a predetermined direction, the holding portions having a pair of contact surfaces which can come into contact with the engagement portions, the contact surfaces guiding the displacement of the peripheral plate portions in the insertion direction and regulating the displacement of the peripheral plate portions in the circumferential direction.

2. A cylindrical body according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging portions at both ends of the peripheral plate portion are arranged in a parallel orientation or inclined outwardly in the circumferential direction relative to each other.

3. A cylindrical body according to claim 1, characterized in that said engaging portion extends approximately parallel to a normal direction at the circumferential center of said peripheral plate portion.

4. A cylindrical body according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces is an obtuse angle.

5. The cylindrical body according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the pair of contact surfaces is a right angle or an acute angle.

6. A cylindrical body as described in claim 1, characterized in that the retaining portion has a support portion including a pair of the contact surfaces, which is capable of contacting the engaging portion and engaging in a circumferential direction, and an engagement portion which is fitted into the support portion and is capable of engaging with the peripheral plate portion in the mounting direction.

7. A cylindrical body as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the peripheral plate portion has a reflective property that reflects electromagnetic waves on the inward surface of the cylindrical body.

8. The cylindrical body according to claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic waves are ultraviolet rays.

9. A method for forming a cylindrical body comprising a plurality of peripheral plate sections arranged in the circumferential direction and held by a holding portion, the method comprising the steps of: guiding the mounting direction of the peripheral plate sections by a plurality of support sections arranged in the circumferential direction and forming at least a part of a frame; mounting the peripheral plate sections between the support sections; and fitting an engagement portion into the support section having the peripheral plate sections arranged on both sides.

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