Sensor device provided with strap hole function on magnet pedestal

Abstract

Provided is a sensor device comprising: a magnet pedestal that is fixed to a magnetic object to be measured by magnetic force; a sensor that is fixed to the magnet pedestal and detects the state of the object to be measured; a plate that is sandwiched between the magnet pedestal and the object to be measured or the sensor; and a strap attachment member that extends from the plate and to which a strap can be attached.

Description

Sensor device having a strap hole function on a magnet base

[0001] The present invention relates to a sensor device having a strap hole function on a magnet base.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes: "An article fixing fixture 10 with a vibration sensor that prevents a cart 90 with casters from tipping over or moving includes: a base portion 11, one surface (lower surface) of which is fixed to a ground contact surface; an opening 12 provided in a part of the base portion 11; ... a vibration sensor portion 50 disposed on an upper surface of the base portion 11, which regulates the connection between a lock arm 30 and a set arm 40 by connecting with the set arm 40 to bring the lock arm 30 into a state capable of advancing and retracting, and which connects the lock arm 30 and the set arm 40 by releasing the connection with the set arm 40 upon sensing vibration such as an earthquake to bring the lock arm 30 into a fixed state, and this is the general configuration thereof." (Paragraph 0032 of Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes: "As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, an inertial sensor unit 100 includes, for example, a first substrate 10, a magnet 20, an adjustment plate 30, an outer case 40, a sensor case 70, and an inertial sensor 80", (Paragraph 0027 of Patent Document 2), and "a steel column 4 and a second substrate 42 of the outer case 40 are connected by a string 112" (Paragraph 0070 of Patent Document 2). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-164189 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-067330 General Disclosure

[0004] (1) A sensor device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a magnet base fixed to a magnetic object to be measured by magnetic force; a sensor fixed to the magnet base and configured to detect a state of the object to be measured; a plate sandwiched between the magnet base and the object to be measured or between the magnet base and the sensor; and a strap attachment member extending from the plate and capable of having a strap attached thereto. The sensor device may further include a sensor base or a cap nut that mediates fixation between the magnet base and the sensor.

[0005] (2) In the sensor device described in (1) above, the plate may be magnetic. The plate may be a hard magnetic material such as a magnet, or a soft magnetic material such as iron or nickel.

[0006] (3) In the sensor device of (1) or (2) above, the plate is sandwiched between the magnet base and the object to be measured, and the strap attachment member may extend from the attachment surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured in a direction away from the object to be measured.

[0007] (4) In any of the sensor devices described in (1) to (3) above, the height from the mounting surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured to the strap hole on the strap attachment member for attaching the strap may be lower than the height from the mounting surface to the mounting surface of the sensor on the magnet base.

[0008] (5) In any of the sensor devices described in (1) to (4) above, the height from the mounting surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured to the strap hole on the strap attachment member for attaching the strap may be lower than the height from the mounting surface to the cable connection position to the sensor.

[0009] (6) In any of the sensor devices described in (1) to (6) above, the sensor may be fixed to the magnet base by at least one of the following: screwing, adhesive, welding, or magnetic force.

[0010] (7) In any of the sensor devices described in (1) to (6) above, the plate is sandwiched between the magnet base and the sensor, the plate has through holes through which stud bolts pass, and the magnet base and the sensor may be fixed by the stud bolts.

[0011] (8) In any of the sensor devices described in (1) to (7) above, the sensor may have a sensor element and a case that covers the sensor element with at least one of metal or resin.

[0012] (9) A sensor device according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a magnetic base fixed by magnetic force to a magnetic object to be measured; a sensor fixed to the magnetic base for detecting the state of the object to be measured; a plate sandwiched between a first member on the object side and a second member on the sensor side of the magnetic base; and a strap attachment member extending from the plate to which a strap can be attached.

[0013] (10) In the sensor device described in (9) above, the plate may have magnetic properties.

[0014] The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all of its features. Subcombinations of these features may also constitute an invention.

[0015] The configuration of the sensor device 100 according to this embodiment is shown. The configuration of the sensor device 200 according to the first modification of this embodiment is shown. The configuration of the sensor device 300 according to the second modification of this embodiment is shown. The configuration of the sensor device 400 according to the third modification of this embodiment is shown.

[0016] The following embodiments are not intended to limit the claims of the invention. Not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0017] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the sensor device 100 according to this embodiment. The sensor device 100 is attached to the object to be measured and measures the state of the object 102.

[0018] The sensor device 100 may be installed in facilities such as plants. Plants in which the sensor device 100 is installed may include, for example, factories for producing various industrial products, chemical or metalworking industrial plants, plants for managing and controlling wellheads and surrounding areas of gas or oil fields, plants for managing and controlling hydroelectric, thermal, or nuclear power generation, plants for managing and controlling environmental power generation such as solar or wind power, and plants for managing and controlling water supply and sewage systems or dams. The sensor device 100 may also be installed in buildings or transportation facilities that have one or more facilities to be controlled and monitored.

[0019] The sensor device 100 may be a field device installed in a plant or other facility. Such field devices include, for example, sensor devices such as vibration sensors, inertial sensors, pressure gauges, flow meters, and temperature sensors; imaging devices such as cameras and video cameras that photograph conditions or objects within a plant; acoustic devices such as microphones and speakers that collect abnormal noises or emit alarm sounds within a plant or other facility; position detection devices that output position information of each device; or other devices.

[0020] The sensor device 100 may be an Operational Technology (OT) sensor used for monitoring and controlling equipment such as a plant. In this case, the sensor device 100 measures and monitors processes performed in the equipment such as a plant. The processes performed in the equipment such as a plant may be controlled using the measurement results of the sensor device 100. Alternatively, the sensor device 100 may be an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor or an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensor that monitors the state of the plant outside the OT region.

[0021] The object to be measured 102 is an object whose state is measured by the sensor device 100. For example, the object to be measured 102 may be a pipe that carries fluid in a plant or other facility. In this case, the sensor device 100 may be a vibration sensor that measures the vibration of the pipe, a flow meter that measures the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the pipe or the fluid in the pipe, etc. As another example, the object to be measured 102 may be a motor in a plant or other facility. In this case, the sensor device 100 may be a vibration sensor that measures the vibration of the motor, an inertia sensor that measures the angular velocity or acceleration when the motor is driven, a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the motor, etc.

[0022] The sensor device 100 comprises a magnetic base 104, a sensor base 106, a sensor 108, a plate 110, and a strap attachment member 114.

[0023] The magnetic base 104 is a component for fixing the sensor device 100 to the object to be measured 102. The magnetic base 104 is fixed to the magnetic object to be measured 102 by magnetic force. Here, the part of the object to be measured 102 to which the magnetic base 104 is fixed may be made of a magnetic material. Such a magnetic material may be, for example, a hard magnetic material such as a magnet, or a soft magnetic material such as iron or nickel.

[0024] The sensor base 106 is a component in the sensor device 100 that mediates the fixing of the magnet base 104 and the sensor 108. The magnet base 104 and the sensor base 106 may be fixed together by inserting stud bolts 116 into screw holes provided on the surface of the sensor base 106 that contacts the magnet base 104 and screw holes provided on the surface of the magnet base 104 that contacts the sensor base 106. The sensor base 106 may be fixed to the sensor 108 by at least one of the following: screwing, adhesive, welding, or magnetic force.

[0025] Sensor 108 is the sensor body portion of the sensor device 100 for detecting the state of the object to be measured 102. In the example shown in the figure, sensor 108 may not have cables and may be able to transmit measurement results by wireless communication, or may be able to store measurement results internally. Alternatively, sensor 108 may have cables and be able to transmit measurement results to a connected device via the cables. Sensor 108 may be fixed to a magnetic base 104 and detect the state of the object to be measured 102. Sensor 108 may also be fixed to the magnetic base 104 without going through the sensor base 106. Sensor 108 may be fixed to the magnetic base 104 by at least one of screws, adhesive, welding, or magnetic force.

[0026] The sensor 108 may have a sensor element 122 and a case 124. The sensor element 122 is a component in the sensor 108 that detects information such as physical quantities indicating the state of the object to be measured 102 and converts it into an electrical signal. The sensor element 122 may, for example, be a component that detects vibration in a vibration sensor, a component that detects angular velocity or acceleration in an inertial sensor, a component that detects pressure in a pressure gauge, a component that detects flow rate in a flow meter, or a component that detects temperature in a temperature sensor. The case 124 may be a case that covers the sensor element 122 with at least one of metal or resin. The case 124 may be for protecting the sensor element 122 from damage or deterioration.

[0027] The plate 110 is sandwiched between the magnet base 104 and the object to be measured 102, and is a component for attaching the strap 112 to the sensor device 100 via the strap attachment member 114. The plate 110 may be made of a magnetic material. Such a magnetic material may be, for example, a hard magnetic material such as a magnet, or a soft magnetic material such as iron or nickel. The plate 110 may also be joined to the magnet base 104 by a magnetic adhesive or welding. Because the plate 110 is magnetic, the object to be measured 102 and the magnet base 104 can be firmly joined by magnetic force.

[0028] The strap attachment member 114 extends from the plate 110 and is a member to which the strap 112 can be attached. The strap attachment member 114 may be configured as an integral part of the plate 110. The strap attachment member 114 may extend from the mounting surface of the sensor device 100 to the object to be measured 102 in a direction away from the object to be measured 102. This allows the strap 112 to be attached to the strap attachment member 114 without interference from the object to be measured 102. As an example, the plate 110 may be formed by cutting a single metal plate or the like and bending the plate portion of the plate 110 corresponding to the strap attachment member 114 relative to the plate portion other than the strap attachment member 114.

[0029] The strap attachment member 114 may have a strap hole 118 for attaching the strap 112 to the strap attachment member 114. The strap hole 118 may penetrate from the surface of the strap attachment member 114 on the sensor 108 side to the surface on the object to be measured 102 side. One end of the strap 112 may be annular, clip-shaped, or hook-shaped. The strap 112 may be fixed to the strap attachment member 114 by connecting one end of the strap 112 to the strap hole 118. The other end of the strap 112 is fixed to the strap attachment point 120. The strap attachment point 120 may be a structure such as a wall or column of equipment such as a plant that uses the sensor device 100, or an article that can support the sensor device 100. By fixing the strap 112 to the strap attachment member 114 and the strap attachment point 120, the sensor device 100 can be prevented from falling if the object to be measured 102 and the plate 110 become separated.

[0030] The height from the mounting surface of the sensor device 100 to the object to be measured 102 to the strap hole 118 on the strap attachment member 114 for attaching the strap 112 may be lower than the height from the mounting surface to the mounting surface of the sensor 108 on the magnet base 104. This reduces the possibility that the shape of the sensor 108 may be restricted by interference from the strap 112 or the strap attachment member 114.

[0031] As described above, with the sensor device 100, the strap attachment member 114 is independent of the sensor 108, and there is no need to add a structure for attaching the strap 112 to the sensor 108, thus the sensor 108 can be made smaller. Also, since the strap attachment member 114 is located below the sensor 108, the sensor device 100 can have a lower center of gravity. Furthermore, there is no need to provide a strap hole in the case 124, and even if the case 124 is manufactured by resin molding, the case 124 can be easily removed from the mold after it has been formed.

[0032] Figure 2 shows the configuration of a sensor device 200 according to the first modified example of this embodiment. In this figure, the same reference numerals are used for components having the same function and configuration as in Figure 1, and descriptions are omitted below except for differences. The sensor device 200 may be installed in a plant or the like, similar to the sensor device 100.

[0033] The magnetic base 202 is a component for fixing the sensor device 200 and the object to be measured 102. Similar to the magnetic base 104 in Figure 1, the magnetic base 202 is fixed to the magnetic object to be measured 102 by magnetic force. The magnetic base 202 in this modified example may have screw threads on its side for fixing to a cap nut 212.

[0034] Sensor 204 is the sensor body portion of the sensor device 200 for detecting the state of the object to be measured 102. In the example shown in this figure, sensor 204 may have a cable 206 and be able to transmit measurement results to a connected device via the cable 206. Alternatively, sensor 204 may not have a cable and be able to transmit measurement results by wireless communication, or it may be able to store measurement results internally.

[0035] The sensor 204 may have a sensor element 208 and a case 210. The sensor element 208 may be the same as the sensor element 122 in Figure 1, and details of the similarities with the sensor element 122 will be omitted. The case 210 may be the same as the case 124 in Figure 1, and details of the similarities with the case 124 will be omitted.

[0036] The cap nut 212 is used to secure the magnet base 202 and the sensor 204. The magnet base 202 and the cap nut 212 may be secured by the engagement of the threads on the side of the magnet base 202 with the threads on the inner surface of the cap nut 212. Alternatively, the cap nut 212 may be secured to the magnet base 202 by at least one of adhesive, welding, or magnetic force. The sensor 204 and the cap nut 212 may also be constructed as a single integrated component.

[0037] The plate 110 in this modified example is sandwiched between the magnet base 104 and the object to be measured 102, similar to the plate 110 in Figure 1. The height from the mounting surface of the sensor device 200 to the object to be measured 102 to the strap hole 118 on the strap attachment member 114 of the plate 110 to which the strap 112 is attached may be lower than the height from the mounting surface to the connection position of the cable 206 to the sensor 204. This reduces the influence of the strap 112 on the routing of the cable 206 compared to the case 210 which has a strap attachment member.

[0038] According to the sensor device 200 described above, since the strap attachment member 114 is independent of the sensor 204, there is no need to add a structure for attaching the strap 112 to the sensor 204, and the sensor 204 can be miniaturized. In addition, there is no need to provide a strap hole in the case 210, and even if the case 210 is manufactured by resin molding, the case 210 can be easily removed from the mold after it has been formed.

[0039] Figure 3 shows the configuration of a sensor device 300 according to a second modification of this embodiment. In this figure, the same reference numerals are used for components having the same function and configuration as in Figure 1, and descriptions are omitted below except for differences. The sensor device 300 may be installed in a plant or the like, similar to the sensor device 100.

[0040] The plate 302 is a component for attaching the strap 112 to the sensor device 300 via the strap attachment member 304. The plate 302 may be sandwiched between the magnet base 104 and the sensor base 106. Alternatively, the plate 302 may be sandwiched between the magnet base 104 and the sensor 108 without going through the sensor base 106.

[0041] The plate 302 in this modified example may be the same as the plate 110 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and details of the similarities with plate 110 will be omitted. The plate 302 may be made of a magnetic material. Alternatively, the plate 302 may be made of a non-magnetic material. The plate 302 has through holes for the stud bolts 116 to pass through, and may be fixed together with the magnet base 104 and the sensor base 106 by the stud bolts 116. Alternatively, the plate 302 and the magnet base 104 may be fixed to the sensor 108 by the stud bolts 116 without going through the sensor base 106.

[0042] The strap attachment member 304 is a member that extends from the plate 302 and to which the strap 112 can be attached. The strap attachment member 304 in this modified example may be the same as the strap attachment member 114 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and the explanation of the points that are the same as the strap attachment member 114 will be omitted. The strap attachment member 304 may extend from the mounting surface of the magnet base 104 to the strap attachment member 304 in a direction away from the magnet base 104. Alternatively, the strap attachment member 304 may extend from the mounting surface of the magnet base 104 to the strap attachment member 304 in a direction away from the sensor 108. As a result, the strap 112 can be attached to the strap attachment member 304 without interference from the sensor 108. The strap attachment member 304 may also extend in a horizontal direction parallel to the mounting surface of the magnet base 104 to the plate 302. As a result, the strap 112 is attached to the strap attachment member 304 without interference from the object to be measured 102 and the sensor 108.

[0043] The strap attachment member 304 may have a strap hole 306 for attaching the strap 112 to the strap attachment member 304. The strap hole 306 in this modified example may be the same as the strap hole 118 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and the same aspects as the strap hole 118 will not be explained.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a sensor device 400 according to a third modification of the present embodiment. In this figure, members having the same functions and configurations as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted except for differences hereinafter. Similarly to the sensor device 100, the sensor device 400 may be installed in a plant or the like. The magnet base according to the third modification includes a first member 402 and a second member 404.

[0045] The first member 402 is a member on the side of the object to be measured 102 in the magnet base that fixes the sensor device 400 and the object to be measured 102. The first member 402 is fixed to the magnetic object to be measured 102 by magnetic force. Here, the portion for fixing the first member 402 on the object to be measured 102 that is the target to which the first member 402 is fixed may be formed of a magnetic material.

[0046] The second member 404 is a member on the sensor 108 side in the magnet base that fixes the sensor device 400 and the object to be measured 102. The second member 404 may be fixed to the sensor 108 via the sensor base 106. The second member 404 and the sensor base 106 may be fixed by inserting a stud bolt 116 into a screw hole provided on a surface of the sensor base 106 in contact with the second member 404 and a screw hole provided on a surface of the second member 404 in contact with the sensor base 106. Alternatively, the second member 404 may be fixed to the sensor 108 without the intervention of the sensor base 106. The second member 404 may be fixed to the sensor base 106 or the sensor 108 by at least one of screwing, adhesion, welding, or magnetic force.

[0047] A plate 406 according to the present modification is a member for attaching a strap 112 to the sensor device 400 via a strap attachment member 408. The plate 406 may be sandwiched between the first member 402 and the second member 404.

[0048] Plate 406 may be the same as plate 110 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and details of similarities with plate 110 will be omitted. Plate 406 may be made of a magnetic material. Plate 406 may also be joined to the first member 402 and the second member 404 of the magnet base by magnetic adhesive or welding. Because plate 406 is magnetic, the first member 402 and the second member 404 and plate 406 can be firmly joined by magnetic force. Alternatively, plate 406 may be made of a non-magnetic material.

[0049] The plate 406 may be provided with a strap attachment member 408 extending from the plate 406 to which the strap 112 can be attached. The strap attachment member 408 in this modified example may be the same as the strap attachment member 114 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, or the strap attachment member 304 in Figure 3, and details similar to those of the strap attachment member 114 or the strap attachment member 304 will be omitted. The strap attachment member 408 may have a strap hole 410 for attaching the strap 112 to the strap attachment member 408. The strap hole 410 in this modified example may be the same as the strap hole 118 in Figure 1 or Figure 2, and details similar to those of the strap hole 118 will be omitted.

[0050] Although the invention has been described using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiments above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiments described above. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0051] It should be noted that the execution order of operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not explicitly stated as "before" or "prior to," and can be implemented in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operation flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using phrases such as "first," "next," etc., for convenience, this does not mean that it is mandatory to perform the operations in that order.

[0052] 100 Sensor device 102 Object to be measured 104 Magnetic base 106 Sensor base 108 Sensor 110 Plate 112 Strap 114 Strap attachment member 116 Stud bolt 118 Strap hole 120 Strap attachment point 122 Sensor element 124 Case 200 Sensor device 202 Magnetic base 204 Sensor 206 Cable 208 Sensor element 210 Case 212 Cap nut 300 Sensor device 302 Plate 304 Strap attachment member 306 Strap hole 400 Sensor device 402 First member 404 Second member 406 Plate 408 Strap attachment member 410 Strap hole

Claims

1. A sensor device comprising: a magnetic base fixed to a magnetic object to be measured by magnetic force; a sensor fixed to the magnetic base for detecting the state of the object to be measured; a plate sandwiched between the magnetic base and the object to be measured or the sensor; and a strap attachment member extending from the plate to which a strap can be attached.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the plate is magnetic.

3. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein the plate is sandwiched between the magnetic base and the object to be measured, and the strap attachment member extends from the attachment surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured in a direction away from the object to be measured.

4. The sensor device according to claim 3, wherein the height from the mounting surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured to the strap hole for attaching the strap on the strap attachment member is lower than the height from the mounting surface to the mounting surface of the sensor on the magnet base.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the height from the mounting surface of the sensor device to the object to be measured to the strap hole for attaching the strap in the strap attachment member is lower than the height from the mounting surface to the cable connection position to the sensor.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is fixed to the magnetic base by at least one of the following: screwing, adhesive, welding, or magnetic force.

7. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the plate is sandwiched between the magnet base and the sensor, the plate has a through hole through which a stud bolt passes, and the magnet base and the sensor are fixed by the stud bolt.

8. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor element and a case that covers the sensor element with at least one of metal or resin.

9. A sensor device comprising: a magnetic base fixed to a magnetic object to be measured by magnetic force; a sensor fixed to the magnetic base for detecting the state of the object to be measured; a plate sandwiched between a first member on the object side and a second member on the sensor side of the magnetic base; and a strap attachment member extending from the plate to which a strap can be attached.

10. The sensor device according to claim 9, wherein the plate is magnetic.

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