JP2005062050A - Tester for multicore cable for signal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To test or measure a multicore cable for signals laid along a railroad line by connecting testers to both ends of the cable and performing a switchover of core wires being test objects automatically, to shorten time required for cable test work and lighten the burden by the work, and to swiftly and accurately synchronize the switchover also by performing communication between the testers being separated on both sides, even if another communication means has not been provided. <P>SOLUTION: A communication circuit 13, a measuring circuit 16, and a switching circuit 14 are provided in a master device 10, and a communication circuit 23 and a switching circuit 24 are provided in a slave device 20. Selection of a pair of core wires from the cable 30 by cable communication through the medium of the cable 30 and measurement of the state of continuity of this pair of core wires are performed alternately. A conductor resistance value is also measured when a continuity test is performed, and an insulation resistance value is also measured when an insulation test is performed. Shift operations between them are also performed automatically. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a signal multicore cable tester for conducting a continuity test of a signal multicore cable installed along a railway.
In addition to continuity tests, it also relates to signal multi-core cable testers that perform insulation tests, and furthermore, multi-signal cable testers for signals that measure conductor resistance values during continuity tests, and measurement of insulation resistance values during insulation tests. It also relates to the signal multicore cable tester to be performed.

Along the railway line, a multi-core cable facility for signals is sent to send and receive the operation and safety conditions of the train, and thereby the signal conditions are exchanged. This signal multicore cable is provided with a connection box at a location where signal conditions are transmitted or received, and the like.
When such a cable facility is used, the cable is subject to pulling, bending, friction, etc., and there is a possibility that the core wire of the cable may be damaged, such as disconnection or a short circuit between the core wires.
Therefore, after the cable facility, workers are placed at both ends of the cable, and a continuity test and an insulation test are performed. At that time, the conductor resistance value and the insulation resistance value are also measured.

Conventionally, for continuity tests and conductor resistance measurement, workers are placed on both ends of the signal multicore cable, and wired communication using a separate communication cable or a wireless device that does not require a cable is used. With wireless communication, workers connected to both ends of the cable talk to each other to check each other's work progress, while connecting batteries and buzzers in series between the cable cores at one end of the cable, It was done by short-circuiting or releasing between the core wires on the end side.
For insulation testing and insulation resistance measurement, all the core wires are open (released) at the other end of the cable, and a pair of core wires is selected from one end of the cable to determine the insulation resistance value between the core wires. Was measured by measuring with a mega (mega ohm meter). Since this measurement is performed on all the pairs of core wires that can be selected and combined from any of the many core wires included in the signal multi-core cable, the longer the cable is, the longer the measurement takes. It was.

In addition, when installing signal multicore cables, calculate the approximate facility length, that is, the cable length in advance, and prepare the cable with sufficient length, but the facility route is complicated. In this case, there was an error between the calculated cable length and the actual cable length.
Further, when such a test or measurement is performed, at both ends of the signal multi-core cable, a coating is peeled off for each core wire and a voltage is applied, or the core wires are short-circuited or released. It took a long time to peel off the core end coating.
It is unknown in the railway field.

In this way, in the railway field, testing and measurement of signal multi-core cables are performed manually while the workers are signaling each other, so communication means can be used to exchange signals between workers separated at both ends of the cable. It is necessary to prepare separately, and since the work requiring attention takes a long time, not only the physical burden of the worker but also the mental burden is large.
Therefore, in order to shorten the work time and reduce the work load, a tester is connected to both ends of the installed signal multicore cable so that testing and measurement can be performed while automatically switching the target core wire, Even if a separate communication means is not prepared, it is a technical problem to communicate between testers divided at both ends so that switching can be synchronized quickly and accurately.

  The signal multi-core cable tester of the present invention (Solution 1) was created to solve such a problem, and is for conducting a continuity test of a signal multi-core cable installed along a railway. A signal multi-core cable tester comprising a master unit connected to one end side of the cable and a slave unit connected to the other end side of the cable, wherein the master unit includes the slave unit A communication circuit that performs wired communication with a cable, a measurement circuit that measures a conduction state of a pair of core wires, and any one of the communication circuit and the measurement circuit by selecting any one pair of core wires from the cable A switching circuit to be connected to the communication terminal, and the slave unit selects a pair of core wires from the cable and a communication circuit that performs wired communication with the master unit, and connects to the communication circuit of the own unit Or connect the selected core wires together A switching circuit that selectively performs any one of the above, and alternately selecting a pair of core wires from the cable by wire communication via the cable and measuring a conduction state of the pair of core wires. And

  Further, the signal multi-core cable tester of the present invention is (Solution means 2), that of Solution means 1, and further, the measurement circuit measures a conductor resistance value when measuring the conduction state, The master unit includes resistance value data per unit length set for each cable type, and calculation means for calculating the cable length from the resistance value data and the conductor resistance value measured by the measurement circuit. It is characterized by being.

  Furthermore, the signal multi-core cable tester according to the present invention is (Solution means 3), which is the solution means 1, and further, the measurement circuit is connected to means for measuring a low resistance conductor resistance value and high resistance insulation. Means for measuring a resistance value, and the master unit performs a continuity test by measuring a conductor resistance value in the measurement circuit, and further performs test contents to the slave unit by wired communication via the cable. The change is notified, and then the insulation resistance value is measured by the measurement circuit and an insulation test is performed.

  Further, the signal multi-core cable tester according to the present invention is (Solution means 4) or any one of Solution means 1 to 3, and further, in either one or both of the master unit and the slave unit, Conductive needle-like projections that can be pierced through the sheath of the cable connecting portion connected to the end portion of the cable core, and a movable member that advances and retracts this toward the attachment / detachment portion of the cable core wire It is characterized by comprising.

  In such a signal multi-core cable tester of the present invention (Solution 1), after the signal multi-core cable is installed along the railway, a master unit is connected to one end side of the test target cable. The slave unit is connected to the other end of the cable, and the continuity test of the cable is performed in this state. At that time, any one pair of core wires is selected for communication from the test target cable, and wired communication using each communication circuit and switching circuit and the previous selected communication core pair is performed by the parent device and the child device. . When a state capable of wired communication is established, a core pair to be subjected to a continuity test is selected from the cable by communication between the parent device and the child device using wired communication via the cable. Immediately after the selection, the core pair of the continuity test target is connected to the measurement circuit of the parent device by the switching circuit of each of the parent device and the child device, and the measurement of the conduction state is performed by the measurement circuit. When the continuity test for the pair of core wires is completed in this way, the continuity test target is changed one after another, and the continuity test for all the core wires of the cable proceeds. That is, selection of the core wire pair from the cable by wire communication via the test object cable and measurement of the conduction state of the core wire pair are alternately performed.

Thus, the target core wire is automatically switched by the testers at both ends of the signal multi-core cable, so that the continuity test can be performed quickly. Furthermore, since the switching is synchronized by communication, the target selection is appropriately performed even in the quick processing, and the continuity test is reliably performed. In addition, since communication between the test devices divided at both ends of the test object cable is performed using the cable, it is not necessary to prepare a communication means separate from the test object cable.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a signal multi-core cable tester that automatically and quickly and accurately performs a continuity test.

In the signal multicore cable tester according to the present invention (solution 2), the conductor resistance value is measured during the continuity test, and the cable length is calculated from this and the known resistance value data. This makes it easy to check the cable length.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a signal multi-core cable tester capable of automatically and quickly conducting a continuity test and easily confirming a cable length.

Furthermore, in the signal multi-core cable tester according to the present invention (solution 3), an insulation test is performed in addition to the continuity test. In addition, the transition from the continuity test to the insulation test is automatically performed using wired communication via the test object cable. Further, the conductor resistance value is measured along with the continuity test, and the insulation resistance value is measured along with the insulation test. As a result, a series of tests that can be said to be complete are automatically performed on the signal multicore cable for railways.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a signal multicore cable tester that automatically and quickly performs a series of tests.

In the signal multicore cable tester according to the present invention (solution 4), when connecting the end of the cable to be tested to the corresponding cable connection portion, the cable core wire is moved from the attachment / detachment portion to the movable member. Then, when the needle-like projection is advanced toward the attachment / detachment site, the needle-like projection penetrates the sheath of the cable core and penetrates. Since the needle-like projection is conductive, an electrical conduction state between the needle-like projection and the core wire is established. As a result, when connecting the cable end to the master unit and / or the slave unit, even if the core wire is inserted into the cable connecting portion without peeling off the core wire coating, the needle-like protrusion penetrates the core wire coating. Thus, the electrical connection is ensured, and the connection work is facilitated.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a signal multi-core cable tester that can perform a continuity test automatically and quickly and can be easily connected to a cable.

  An embodiment for implementing such a signal multicore cable tester of the present invention will be described. The signal multi-core cable tester of the present invention is a communication line by combining arbitrary core wires of a cable under test (test target cable, signal multi-core cable installed along a railway) and connected to both ends of the cable under test. Tests while conducting information communication between cable testers (between the master unit and slave units) using the communication circuit built into the cable tester (continuity test, insulation test, conductor resistance value measurement, insulation resistance value measurement) Is to advance. At that time, if the communication line using the cable core and the communication circuit continue to be connected, there will be an obstacle to the test of the cable core. After completing the communication for selecting the test core, connect the communication circuit to the cable core. A method in which the communication circuit is reconnected to the communication line using the cable core line after the cable core line is tested and the cable core line is tested is adopted in the present invention.

  The signal multicore cable used in the railway field has about 10 types of cable to be installed, and the standard conductor resistance value (resistance value data per unit length, Ω / cm) for each cable is determined for each cable. Yes. The signal multicore cable tester of the present invention stores and saves the standard conductor resistance value for each cable type in, for example, a memory in a tabular form, and sets the cable type before measuring the conductor resistance value of the cable core wire. The cable length actually constructed is calculated by dividing the measurement result of the conductor resistance value by the standard conductor resistance value. Since the conductor resistance value varies depending on the temperature, the coefficient corrected by the temperature may be stored in a memory or the like using a table or the like. Further, a thermometer may be built in or externally attached to the signal multicore cable tester so that the ambient temperature during the test can be measured.

The test result / measurement result is for each measurement item or measurement unit (for example, continuity / conductor resistance measurement: conductor resistance value between # 1 and # 2, where # denotes the core number). The data is stored in a memory in the processing circuit, added with a work name and a cable name separately input, and recorded in an external storage medium (for example, a memory card).
In order to increase the measurement efficiency, the connection ports of the paired wires are arranged in the vertical direction, and even if the core wire is inserted without peeling off the coating of the core wire, the needle-like protrusion penetrates the coating to ensure electrical connection An attachment (cable connection part) is provided.

Examples of the multicore cable tester for signal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples 1 and 2 below.
The embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 embodies the above-described solving means 1 to 3 (claims 1 to 3 as originally filed), and the embodiment 2 shown in FIG. Means 4 (claim 4 as originally filed) is embodied.
In the illustration, for the sake of simplicity, the casing, fasteners such as bolts, coupling tools such as hinges, and individual electronic parts are omitted from the illustration, and what is necessary or related to the explanation of the invention is not shown. Shown with blocks etc. centering on what to do.

  A specific configuration of the signal multicore cable tester according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure.

  This signal multicore cable tester includes a master unit 10 and a slave unit 20, and the master unit 10 is connected to one end 31 (one end side) of a signal multicore cable 30 (cable under test, test target cable). The slave unit 20 is connected to the other end 32 (the other end side) of the cable 30. A large number of core wires are accommodated in the cable 30 in a parallel running state. Each core wire is a good conductor such as a copper wire that is covered with an insulating coating with plastic or the like. In the railway field, the cable length is about 10 m to 1000 m, the number of core wires is about 2 to 100, and the resistance value per unit length of the core wire, that is, the standard conductor resistance value is determined for each cable type. It is about 63 to 29.0 Ω / km.

The base unit 10 is provided with a display / input unit 11 and a cable connection unit 15 on the outer surface of the casing, and a processing circuit 12, a communication circuit 13, a switching circuit 14, a measurement circuit 16, and a recording unit 17 are provided in the casing. It is a thing.
As long as the display / input unit 11 can perform display and input, the display unit and the input unit may be integrated like a touch panel, or a separate display unit and input unit may be provided in parallel. The display unit displays the measurement state, measurement data, and the like. When the menu method is adopted for instruction input, a menu, a cursor, etc. are also displayed. When the command method is adopted for instruction input, a prompt, status, etc. are also displayed. The input unit only needs to be able to input a test start instruction by manual operation as a minimum function. However, for example, a numeric key and a cursor movement key are provided so that resistance value data can be set and a cable type can be selected. Preferably, the resistance value data may be downloaded from a host computer or the like (not shown).

The processing circuit 12 includes a programmable microprocessor system, a sequencer, and the like, and controls the entire master device 10 by executing a program. Specifically, while giving instructions for connection and disconnection to the switching circuit 14, the communication circuit 13 is controlled to perform wired communication with the slave unit 20, the measurement circuit 16 is controlled to perform tests and measurements, Calculations such as cable length calculation, setting and holding of resistance value data, temporary storage of measurement data such as conductor resistance values and insulation resistance values, and the like are performed. A non-volatile memory and RAM for storing and holding setting data and measurement data are also incorporated in the processing circuit 12.
The communication circuit 13 is a circuit that is connected to the processing circuit 12 via a bus line or the like and exchanges messages under the control of the processing circuit 12. Specifically, it is also connected to the switching circuit 14 with a pair of signal lines, and when a message is passed from the processing circuit 12, it is converted into serial data and transmitted to the signal line pair on the switching circuit 14 side, Conversely, when a message is received as cylinder data from the signal line pair on the switching circuit 14 side, it is converted into parallel data and passed to the processing circuit 12. Since the communication is one-to-one, the message format may be a simple one including a command or response code, argument data, and error detection parity data.

  The switching circuit 14 is a circuit equivalent to, for example, four 1-to-N selectors and multiplexers juxtaposed, and is connected between the communication circuit 13 or the measurement circuit 16 and the cable connection unit 15 according to the control of the processing circuit 12. The state is switched. Specifically, as described above, the communication circuit 13 is connected by a pair of signal lines, and similarly, the measurement circuit 16 is also connected by a pair of signal lines. Assuming such peripheral connection, any one of the N signal lines on the cable connection unit 15 side, the signal line pair on the communication circuit 13 side, and the measurement circuit 16 side Any one of the signal line pairs is electrically connected, and any one of the N signal lines on the cable connection unit 15 side, the signal line pair on the communication circuit 13 side, and the measurement circuit 16 are connected. The signal line pair on the side is electrically connected to any other one.

  As described above, the cable connection portion 15 is permanently connected to the switching circuit 14 by N signal lines, but is detachably connected to the cable end 31. Specifically, the cable connection portion 15 is provided with N core wire insertion portions (core wire attachment / detachment portions), and when the core wire end portion 31a of the cable end 31 is inserted into any of the cable connection portions 15, the core wire is connected to the signal line N. Conductive connection is made to the corresponding line in the book. If this core wire connection operation is repeated n times for each of the core wire end portions 31a to 31n, that is, the number of core wires (n ≦ N), the connection between the master unit 10 and the cable end 31 necessary for a test such as a continuity test is established. Has come to be

  The measurement circuit 16 is a circuit that is connected to the processing circuit 12 through a bus line or the like and performs various tests and measurements on a pair of core wires under the control of the processing circuit 12. Specifically, a pair of signal lines are also connected to the switching circuit 14, and when an instruction is issued from the processing circuit 12, whether the signal line is in a conductive state or a non-conductive state, and the conductor resistance value is detected. Any one of measurement, detection of an insulation state or insulation failure state, and measurement of an insulation resistance value is performed according to an instruction. Therefore, the measurement circuit 16 includes a low resistance measurement circuit suitable for measuring a conductor resistance value at a low resistance of several hundred Ω or less, and an insulation resistance value at a high resistance of about several MΩ to several hundred MΩ. A high resistance measurement circuit suitable for performing measurement and a selection circuit for switching between them are provided.

  The recording unit 17 is a unit that records measurement data measured by the measurement circuit 16 and temporarily stored in the processing circuit 12 on the recording medium 40. The recording medium 40 is conveniently a small and easy-to-carry removable memory card, but may be another medium such as a disk or tape. The recorded information is all or selected part of the measurement data.For example, in the continuity test, the number of the pair of core wires that are the test target and the determination result whether or not continuity is obtained between the core wires and Is a set of data, and a large number of such set data are recorded. In the measurement of the conductor resistance value, the number of a pair of core wires as a measurement target and the resistance value measured between the core wires are set as one set of data, and a large number of such set data is recorded. In the insulation test, the number of the pair of core wires to be tested and the determination result as to whether or not the core wires are in an insulated state are set as a set of data, and a large number of such set data is recorded. In the measurement of the insulation resistance value, the number of a pair of core wires as a measurement target and the resistance value measured between the core wires are set as one set of data, and a lot of such set data is recorded.

The subunit | mobile_unit 20 is provided with the display part 21 and the cable connection part 25 in the outer surface of the housing | casing, and the processing circuit 22, the communication circuit 23, and the switching circuit 24 were provided in the housing | casing.
The display unit 21 only needs to have a display part of the display / input unit 11 described above, and the measurement state is displayed.
The processing circuit 22 is also composed of a microprocessor or the like, and manages the entire control in order to advance tests and measurements in cooperation with the parent device 10 by executing programs. Specifically, the switching circuit 24 is instructed to connect or disconnect, or the communication circuit 23 of the own device is controlled to perform wired communication.
The communication circuit 23 is a circuit similar to the communication circuit 13 described above, but is connected to the processing circuit 22 and the switching circuit 24 and supports wired serial communication on the handset 20 side.

  The switching circuit 24 is also a circuit similar to a selector or a multiplexer, and switches the connection state between the communication circuit 23 and the cable connection unit 25 under the control of the processing circuit 22. The switching circuit 24 is connected to the communication circuit 23 through a pair of signal lines, and is also connected to the cable connection unit 25 through N signal lines. Switching for connection, connection switching for continuity test and conductor resistance measurement, and connection switching for insulation test and insulation resistance measurement. Specifically, at the time of wired communication, one of the N signal lines on the cable connection unit 25 side is electrically connected to one of the signal line pair on the communication circuit 23 side, and the signal on the cable connection unit 25 side is connected. Any one of the N lines is electrically connected to the other of the signal line pair on the communication circuit 13 side. At the time of a continuity test or the like, any two of the N signal lines on the cable connection section 25 side are selected and short-circuited, and the other signal lines including the signal lines on the communication circuit 23 side are disconnected and released. . At the time of an insulation test or the like, all signal lines are opened.

  The cable connection unit 25 is the same as the cable connection unit 15 described above, but is used for detachably connecting the slave unit 20 to the cable end 32. Permanently connected by N signal lines. More specifically, the cable connection portion 25 is provided with N core wire insertion portions (core wire attaching / detaching portions), and when the core wire end portion 32a of the cable end 32 is inserted into any one of the cable connection portions 25, the core wire has N signal lines. Is connected to the corresponding line. If this core wire connection operation is repeated n times for each of the core wire end portions 32a to 32n, the connection between the handset 20 and the cable end 32 necessary for a test such as a continuity test is established.

  The use mode and operation of the signal multi-core cable tester of Example 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 is a group of block diagrams for explaining the operation state at the time of establishment of communication in time series, FIG. 3 is a group of block diagrams for explaining the operation state of the continuity test in time series, and FIG. 4 is an insulation test. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the operation state at the time.

In this signal multicore cable tester, connection to the cable 30 is performed manually, but subsequent communication establishment, continuity test, cable length calculation, and insulation test are performed automatically and continuously. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in the order.
After the signal multicore cable 30 is installed along the railway, for example, between stations or between the center and the station, the base unit 10 is brought into one end 31 side of the cable 30 and is connected to each core insertion site of the cable connection portion 15. The core end portions 31 a to 31 n of the cable end 31 are inserted one by one, and the parent device 10 is connected to the cable end 31. Further, the slave unit 20 is brought into the other end 32 side of the cable 30, and the core end portions 32 a to 32 n of the cable end 32 are inserted one by one into each core wire insertion site of the cable connection portion 25, so that the slave unit 20 is Connect to cable end 32. The core wire end portion 31a and the core wire end portion 32a are both ends of one core wire called core wire number # 1, and the core wire end portion 31n and the core wire end portion 32n are one other wire called core wire number #n. It is the both ends of a core wire. Thus, the signal multicore cable tester is connected to both ends of the cable 30 by the operator's manual work.

  When the connection is completed and the preparation for the test is completed, the power is turned on to operate the master unit 10 and the slave unit 20. The base unit 10 also designates the cable type of the cable 30 by operating the display / input unit 11. In response to this designation, the processing circuit 12 determines the standard conductor resistance value of the core wire of the cable 30. Then, when the test operation is started by operating the display / input unit 11 or the like, the process for establishing communication starts. Until the operation of the master unit 10 and the slave unit 20 is started, it is manual and the master unit 10 and the slave unit 20 are usually far away from each other. The communication is established after waiting for communication from the machine 10, and the test is started. Therefore, if the power is turned on or the test operation is started when the test preparation is completed on the master unit 10 and the slave unit 20 side, the test can be automatically started without synchronization between the two. Then, after that, the process automatically proceeds and the communication is established. When communication is established, a pair that can be used as a communication line is searched for from among a large number of core wires in the cable 30. This is because the order of searching for a core pair to be used for a communication line between the master unit 10 and the slave unit 20 is determined in advance, and the first core pair that can be appropriately communicated is set as a communication line for wired communication. The core wire pair is fixedly used for communication thereafter.

  For example, if it is decided to search for usable core wires in the order of core numbers # 1, # 2, # 3, # 4, and # 5, first, between the core wire of number # 1 and the core wire of number # 2 , Try to communicate. Specifically (see FIG. 2A), in the base unit 10, the switching circuit 14 connects one end 31a of the # 1 core wire and one end 31b of the # 2 core wire to the communication circuit 13. In the handset 20, the other end 32a of the # 1 core wire and the other end 32b of the # 2 core wire are connected to the communication circuit 23 by the switching circuit 24. In this state, a message for confirming communication is sent. It is transmitted from the master unit 10 to the slave unit 20. If the core wire of # 1 and the core wire of # 2 are conducting well, the message reaches the handset 20, and in response to this, a reply message is returned from the handset 20 to the base unit 10. In this example, it is assumed that communication is not successful.

  Then, communication is attempted between the core wire # 2 and the core wire # 3. The trial target core line is switched after waiting for a predetermined time of several seconds or more or several tens of seconds or more with a sufficient margin in consideration of the deviation of the operation start time. In this trial (see FIG. 2 (b)), in the base unit 10, one end 31a of the core wire # 1 is released by the switching circuit 14 and one end 31c of the core wire # 3 and # 2 One end portion 31b of the core wire is connected to the communication circuit 13, and in the slave unit 20, the other end portion 32a of the core wire # 1 is released by the switching circuit 24 and the other end portion 32c of the core wire # 3 is released. And the other end 32b of the core wire # 2 are connected to the communication circuit 23. In this state, a message for confirming communication is transmitted from the parent device 10 to the child device 20. If both the # 2 core wire and the # 3 core wire are conducting well, the message reaches the handset 20, and in response to this, a reply message is returned from the handset 20 to the base unit 10, In this example, it is assumed that the communication has again failed.

  If it does so, communication will be tried between the core wire of number # 3 and the core wire of number # 4 after waiting for progress of predetermined time again. In this trial (see FIG. 2C), in the base unit 10, one end 31b of the core wire # 2 is released by the switching circuit 14, and one end 31d of the core wire # 4 and # 3 One end portion 31c of the core wire is connected to the communication circuit 13, and in the slave unit 20, the other end portion 32b of the core wire # 2 is released by the switching circuit 24 and the other end portion 32d of the core wire # 4 is released. And the other end 32c of the core wire # 3 are connected to the communication circuit 23. In this state, a message for confirming communication is transmitted from the parent device 10 to the child device 20. It is assumed that the core wire # 3 and the core wire # 4 are now conducting well. Then, a confirmation message arrives at the child device 20, and a response message for the confirmation message is also returned from the child device 20 to the parent device 10. When wired communication can be performed between the parent device 10 and the child device 20, a pair of core wires at that time is selected for the communication line, and the numbers # 3 and # 4 are the processing circuits 12 and 22 of the parent device 10 and the child device 20, respectively. Stored in memory. In this way, communication is established, but it is rare that a communication failure state continues many times, so even if the time per trial is somewhat long, communication establishment is often completed quickly.

  After the communication is established, it automatically shifts to the continuity test. At the time of the continuity test, the order of the test and measurement is managed by the processing circuit 12 of the parent device 10. Specifically, the processing circuit 12 sequentially selects the core wires to be tested one by one, and one of the pair of core wires selected for the communication line is used as a common wire each time. The slave unit 20 is notified by wired communication. For example, when the common wire is the core wire of the number # 4 and the test object is the core wire of the number #n (see FIG. 3A), in the base unit 10, the switching circuit 14 causes the one end portion 31d of the core wire of the # 4 to One end portion 31n of the #n core wire is connected to the measurement circuit 16, and in the slave unit 20, the other end portion 32d of the # 4 core wire and the other end portion 32n of the #n core wire are connected by the switching circuit 24. In this state, the measurement circuit 16 measures the conductor resistance value between the core wire # 4 and the core wire #n, and the processing circuit 12 receiving the value conducts or is not conducting. The determination result, the conductor resistance value, and the set data of the core numbers # 4 and #n to be tested are stored in the memory.

  The continuity test for the #n core wire ends in a predetermined time, for example, about 0.2 seconds, and then returns to the state of wired communication. For this reason (see FIG. 3B), in the parent device 10, the switching circuit 14 connects one end 31d of the # 4 core wire and one end 31c of the # 3 core wire to the communication circuit 13, and the child device 20, the switching circuit 24 connects the other end 32 d of the # 4 core wire and the other end 32 c of the # 3 core wire to the communication circuit 23. In this state, information on the core wire selected for the next test by the processing circuit 12 is notified to the slave unit 20 by a message, and a response message is returned from the slave unit 20 to the master unit 10 for confirmation and synchronization. The This communication is completed in about 0.2 seconds, for example, and the next core wire continuity test is started.

  For example, when the test object is the core wire #m (see FIG. 3 (c)), the master unit 10 uses the switching circuit 14 to switch one end 31d of the core wire # 4 and one of the core wires #m. The end portion 31m is connected to the measurement circuit 16, and in the slave unit 20, the other end portion 32d of the # 4 core wire and the other end portion 32m of the #m core wire are shunted (short-circuited) by the switching circuit 24. In this state, the conductor resistance value between the # 4 core wire and the #m core wire is measured by the measurement circuit 16, and the processing circuit 12 receiving the value determines whether it is in a conductive state or a non-conductive state. The set data of the determination result, the conductor resistance value, and the test subject core wire numbers # 4 and #m are stored in the memory. The selection of the core wire pair by the wired communication and the measurement of the conduction state of the core wire pair are alternately repeated, and when all the core wires in the cable 30 are tested, the continuity test is completed.

  The cable length is automatically calculated after the continuity test. Specifically, the processing circuit 12 calculates an average value for the measured conductor resistance value of each core wire of the cable under test 30, and performs a division operation to divide the average resistance value by the standard conductor resistance value selected at the start of operation. Once done, the cable length of the installed cable 30 is determined. The calculated cable length is stored in the memory and displayed on the display / input unit 11.

  After calculating the cable length, it automatically shifts to the insulation test. At the time of the insulation test (see FIG. 4), in the slave unit 20, the end portions 32a to 32n are released from all the core wires by the switching circuit 24. In the base unit 10, a pair of core wires is selected as a test object by the switching circuit 14 and is connected to the measurement circuit 16 (in FIG. 4, the end portion 31 a of the # 1 core wire and the end portion 31 n of the #n core wire are connected to each other. In this state, the measurement circuit 16 measures the insulation resistance value between the core wire pair to be tested (the pair of core wires # 1 and #n in FIG. 4), and the processing circuit 12 receives the value. Thus, it is determined whether the state is an insulation state or an insulation failure state, and the set data of the determination result, the insulation resistance value, and the core number to be tested (# 1, #n in FIG. 4) is stored in the memory.

Such an insulation test and insulation resistance value measurement are executed in about 0.5 seconds, for example, and are repeated for all the core wires. Specifically, it is performed for all combinations in which any two core wires are selected from the n core wires. For example, when only the core wire numbers are indicated, # 1- # 2, # 1- # 3, # 1- # 4, ..., # 1- # n, # 2- # 3, # 2- # 4, ..., # 2- # n, # 3- # 4, # 3- # 5, ..., # 3- # n,..., # M- # n are sequentially selected. Since the insulation test is performed by the master unit 10 and no communication is performed during the insulation test, the prediction from the master unit 10 to the slave unit 20 until the completion of the insulation test / insulation resistance value measurement is performed prior to the insulation test. Time will be notified by telegram. In the cordless handset 20, when the electronic message is received, the core end portions 32a to 32n of the cable 30 are kept open for a specified time, and the display unit 21 indicates that the insulation test / insulation resistance value is being measured. Shown in
Thus, even if there is no communication means other than the cable 30 in this signal multi-core cable tester, the communication establishment, the continuity test, the cable length calculation, and the insulation test are automatically continued using the cable 30. Done.

A specific configuration of the signal multicore cable tester according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views of the cable connecting portion 15 in the base unit 10 of the signal multicore cable tester, in which FIG. 5A shows a disconnected state and FIG. 5B shows a connected state.
The cable connection portion 15 is configured to establish an electrical connection without stripping the covering of the core wire end portions 31a to 31n in order to efficiently perform the connection work of the cable end 31. Although illustrated is a cross-sectional view of two core wires, a large number of core wire insertion portions (core wire attaching / detaching portions) are formed in the actual cable connection portion 15, for example, on the back side (back side of the drawing) of the illustrated cross section. It is lined up. Here, the core wire attaching / detaching portions arranged two above and below will be described in detail.

  The cable connecting portion 15 is composed of an insulating block, a connector housing 15a in which a movable member storage space 15b, a core wire insertion hole 15h, a connection wire 15e lead-out hole, and a coil spring storage space are formed. An insulating movable member 15d housed in the movable member storage space 15b, a coil spring 15f (elastic body) housed in the coil spring storage space and biasing the movable member 15d upward, and an opening of the movable member storage space 15b are provided. The lever 15c is pivotally supported to stop the upward movement of the movable member 15d and changes its position according to a manual operation, and the needle-like protrusion 15g (contact member) mounted inside the movable member 15d. And has.

  The needle-like protrusion 15g is sharply formed at the tip so that it can be pierced through the sheath of the core wire of the cable 30, and is made of a conductive member so as to establish electrical conduction when pierced into the core wire. 15e (corresponding to one of the N signal lines connecting the cable connecting portion 15 and the switching circuit 14 in the first embodiment) is connected. The needle-like protrusion 15g has a base end fixed to a side wall (lower wall surface in the figure) of the movable member inner space 15i formed in the movable member 15d, and a tip projecting into the movable member inner space 15i (upward in the figure). Facing). The movable member inner space 15i communicates with the bottom of the core wire insertion hole 15h as if the core wire insertion hole 15h is extended. The movable member inner space 15i is an insertion / removal site for the core wire of the cable, and the core wire insertion hole 15h is a guide path there.

In this case, when the lever 15c is tilted (see FIG. 5 (a)), the movable member 15d descends in the movable member storage space 15b, and the acicular projection 15g is associated with the core wire insertion hole 15h extending position. Go down. In this state, the core wire end portions 31a and 31b are inserted into the upper and lower core wire insertion holes 15h and 15h, and both are pushed in to the back. Then, the lever 15c is raised. If it does so (refer FIG.5 (b)), it will be pushed up by the coil spring 15f, the movable member 15d will raise, and the acicular projection 15g will advance to the movable member internal space 15i in connection with this, and the acicular projection 15g will become a core wire. The end portions 31a and 31b are pierced, and the tip of the needle-like protrusion 15g penetrates the sheath of the core wire.
Thus, the base unit 10 can be easily connected to the cable end 31 without removing the coating of the core wire end portions 31a and 31b of the cable 30.

In addition, in this example, although the cable connection part 15 of the main | base station 10 was demonstrated, the thing of the same structure may be employ | adopted for the cable connection part 25 of the subunit | mobile_unit 20, and you may employ | adopt for both.
Also, in the multi-core cable for signal in the railroad field, the core wires are often paired with two core wires close to each other, so the core wire can be inserted to make it easy to connect cables that include many pairs of wires. Holes 15h and needle-like projections 15g (core wire attachment / detachment portions) are arranged in two upper and lower stages.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the multicore cable tester for signals about Example 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram group explaining the operation state at the time of communication establishment in time series. It is a block diagram group explaining the operation state at the time of a continuity test in time series. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the operation state at the time of an insulation test. About Example 2 of this invention, it is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable connection part in the main | base station of the signal multi-core cable tester, (a) shows a non-connection state, (b) shows a connection state.

Explanation of symbols

10 Master unit (One of the signal multi-core cable tester)
11 Display / input unit 12 Processing circuit (control unit, calculation unit, data holding unit)
13 Communication circuit (wired communication means of the master unit)
14 Switching circuit (selection switching means for core pair in the main unit)
15 Cable connection (cable core wire attachment / detachment means)
15a Connector housing (block)
15b Movable member storage space (advancing / retreating path)
15c lever (operation member, connection establishment release means)
15d Movable member (needle protrusion holding part, core wire restraint)
15e Connection line (connection line from connection to switching circuit)
15f coil spring (elastic body, biasing means)
15g Needle-like protrusion (contact member)
15h Core wire insertion hole (guideway)
15i Space inside movable member (core wire insertion / removal part)
16 Measurement circuit (Measurement of conductor resistance and insulation resistance)
17 Recording section (measurement result output means)
20 Slave unit (the other of signal multi-core cable tester)
21 Display unit 22 Processing circuit (control means, calculation means)
23 Communication circuit (wired communication means of handset)
24 switching circuit (selection switching means for core pair in slave unit)
25 Cable connection (cable core wire attachment / detachment means)
30 cable (signal multicore cable along the railway)
31 Cable end (one end side, main unit side end)
31a Core wire end (end of cable core on the main unit side)
31n core wire end (base end of cable core wire)
32 Cable end (other end side, slave unit side end)
32a Core wire end (end of cable core on the handset side)
32n core wire end (end of cable core on the handset side)

Claims (4)

  In order to conduct a continuity test of a signal multicore cable installed along a railway, a signal multi-purpose device comprising a master unit connected to one end of the cable and a slave unit connected to the other end of the cable A core cable tester, wherein the master unit includes a communication circuit for performing wired communication with the slave unit, a measurement circuit for measuring a conduction state with respect to a pair of core wires, and a pair of the cables. And a switching circuit for selecting one of the core wires to be connected to one of the communication circuit and the measurement circuit, and the slave unit includes a communication circuit for performing wired communication with the master unit, and any one of the cables. A switching circuit that selectively selects either a pair of core wires to be connected to the communication circuit of the own machine or to connect the selected core wires to each other, and the wired communication through the cable Core wire from cable Election and signal multicore cable tester, characterized in that the measurement of the conduction state of the wire pairs is performed alternately.   The measurement circuit measures a conductor resistance value when measuring a conduction state, and the master unit uses resistance value data per unit length set for each cable type, and the resistance value data and the measurement circuit. 2. The signal multicore cable tester according to claim 1, further comprising arithmetic means for calculating a cable length from the measured conductor resistance value.   The measurement circuit includes a means for measuring a low resistance conductor resistance value and a means for measuring a high resistance insulation resistance value, and the master unit causes the measurement circuit to measure a conductor resistance value. A continuity test is performed, and further, the change of the test contents is notified to the slave unit by wired communication via the cable, and then the insulation resistance value is measured by the measurement circuit, and the insulation test is performed. The signal multi-core cable tester according to claim 1.   A conductive needle-like protrusion that can be inserted into the cable core wire through a sheath of a cable connecting portion connected to an end portion of the cable in one or both of the master unit and the slave unit; 4. A signal multi-core cable tester according to claim 1, further comprising a movable member that advances and retracts the cable toward and from the attachment / detachment portion of the core wire of the cable. .

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