JP2006044829A - Non-contact type transportation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-contact type transportation system capable of safely performing transportation when performing inspection along the predetermined transportation route and capable of using a relatively low-costed moving body. <P>SOLUTION: This non-contact type transportation system is structured of a tube body 1 arranged inside a tunnel, the moving body 2 arranged inside the tube body 1 freely to be moved in the tube axial direction by pneumatic transportation, a super-conductive magnet body 3 provided in the moving body 2, and a transporting body 4 provided with a permanent magnet 22 at a position corresponding to the super-conductive magnet 3 and floated in the outer surface of the tube body 1 by repulsion of both the magnet bodies 3 and 22 to each other and following movement of the moving body 2 with pin-up force thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-contact transfer system using magnetic force.

Conventionally, when inspecting the inner wall surface of a tunnel, for example, an inspection device for the inner wall surface of the tunnel is mounted on the loading platform of the traveling vehicle traveling in the tunnel, and the traveling vehicle is driven at a low speed, for example, an infrared camera or the like. The inner wall surface was inspected by the inspection device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 9-311029 A

  By the way, with regard to the inspection of the tunnel inner wall surface, it is not particularly necessary to consider the surrounding conditions. However, for example, when the inspection must be performed in a dangerous environment, some measures should be taken especially for traveling vehicles. It is necessary to take.

  For example, in an atmosphere where there is a risk of explosion, it is necessary to make the traveling vehicle explosion-proof, or it is necessary to mount a power source, etc., which increases the weight and size and increases the price of the traveling vehicle There's a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a non-contact type transfer system that can safely perform the inspection when performing inspection or the like along a predetermined transfer route and that can employ a relatively inexpensive vehicle. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a non-contact transfer system for an object according to the present invention includes a tube disposed along a transfer path, and is disposed in the tube and is movable in the tube axis direction by pneumatic transportation. A moving body, a superconducting magnet body provided on the moving body, a permanent magnet body provided at a position corresponding to the superconducting magnet body, and floating on the outer surface of the tube body due to the repulsive force between the two magnet bodies. And a transfer body adapted to follow the movement of the moving body by the pinning force.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-contact transfer system in which an inspection device is mounted on a transfer body in the transfer system according to the first aspect.

  As described above, since the moving body for moving the guide body is arranged in the pipe body, for example, even when the guide body side is in an atmosphere (environmental state) where there is a risk of explosion or the like, the moving body that is a drive source Is arranged in a pipe body separated from the atmosphere, the mobile body does not need to have a special specification, and therefore, an inexpensive one can be used.

  Moreover, the guide body is floated to the outside of the tube body by the repulsive force of the permanent magnet body due to the magnetic flux from the superconducting magnet body, and the guide body is made to follow the moving body side by the pinning force by the superconducting magnet body. In addition, a driving source for driving the guide body is not required, and since the moving body uses an air transportation method, it is not necessary to provide the driving source in the moving body itself. And weight reduction can be achieved.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a non-contact transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the non-contact transfer system according to this embodiment, for example, in order to inspect the inner wall surface of the tunnel, the inspection apparatus is described as being transferred along the inner wall surface. Therefore, it can also be called an in-tunnel inspection system. In addition, since this non-contact-type transfer system is designed to perform transfer using air pressure, as will be described later, it can also be referred to as an airflow-driven transfer system.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this non-contact transfer system is, for example, a synthesis of a non-magnetic material having a predetermined inner diameter (that is, a cylindrical shape) disposed over the entire length of the inspection range in the tunnel T. A tubular body 1 formed of resin, a movable body 2 disposed in the tubular body 1 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the pipe by pneumatic transportation, and a superconducting magnet body (superconducting body) mounted on the movable body 2 3) and a superconducting magnet that is levitated by a predetermined distance (predetermined gap) by the magnetic force (magnetic flux) from the superconducting magnet body 3 mounted on the movable body 2 and above the outer side of the tube body 1 The moving body 3, that is, the guide body (also referred to as the moving body) 4 that is moved along with the movement of the moving body 2, and the moving body by supplying air (which is compressed air) or sucking air into the tube body 1. An air supply / exhaust device 5 for moving 2 in the direction of the pipe axis; Are al configurations and inspection apparatus 6 of tunnel wall Ts to the guide member 4 is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the moving body 2 is elongated in the tube axis direction and filled with the liquid nitrogen 11 a, and the front and rear surfaces of the coolant container 11 are arranged in the tube axis direction. A projecting shaft body portion 12, a movable wheel 14 rotatably provided at the tip of a mounting bracket 13 projecting radially around the shaft body portion 12, and front and rear end surfaces of the coolant container 11 And an annular air receiving plate 15 for receiving air pressure. In addition, since the outer peripheral surface of the air receiving plate 15 moves in the tube body 1, a small gap is provided between the air receiving plate 15 and the inner wall surface 1 a of the tube body 1. Of course, in order to prevent the air from escaping, a sealing material may be attached to the air receiving plate 15 side.

  Further, the guide body 4 has a guide body 21 that has a bowl shape (a cross section is an arc shape) so as to cover the upper surface of the tube body 1, and a position corresponding to the guide body 21 and the superconducting magnet body 3. The inspection device 6 is mounted on the upper surface of the guide main body 21 via the mounting table 23.

  By the way, the superconducting magnet body 3 is also referred to as a superconducting bulk body, and is composed of yttrium, barium, copper, oxygen (also referred to as YBCO), and the like. Due to the effect and the pinning effect, the permanent magnet body 22 arranged opposite to the superconducting magnet body 3 is restrained in the guide direction (tube axis direction) together with the levitation force. Therefore, if the superconducting magnet body 3 is moved, it becomes permanent. The magnet body 22 follows the superconducting magnet body 3 in a floating state. That is, if the moving body 2 moves, the guide body 4 arranged outside the tubular body 1 moves following the moving body 2 in a state where it floats from the tubular body 1. Of course, the ultra-low temperature state of the superconducting magnet body 3 is maintained by the liquid nitrogen 11a sealed in the coolant container 11.

  When a superconducting bulk body placed in an external magnetic field at room temperature is cooled below the critical temperature, the magnetic flux repelled by the Meissner effect from the superconducting part is constrained to the part that is not superconducting such as lattice defects and impurities. . At this time, if an external force acts on the superconducting bulk body and attempts to change its position, a restoring force is generated to return to a space where the constrained magnetic flux distribution matches the pattern of the external magnetic field, which is called pinning force.

Next, the air supply / exhaust device 5 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply / exhaust device (also referred to as an air transport device) 5 is provided in the middle of the air pipe 31 connected to one end side (closed side) of the tube body 1 and the air pipe 31. The blower 32, the first bypass pipe 33 that connects the discharge-side air pipe 31a and the suction-side air pipe 31b of the blower 32, and the discharge-side air pipe 31a and the suction-side air pipe 31b of the blower 32 are also connected. Between the second bypass pipe 34, the first and second on-off valves 35, 36 provided in the middle of each of the bypass pipes 32, 33, and the connection portions of both bypass pipes 33, 34 in the air pipes 31 a, 31 b The third and fourth on-off valves 37 and 38 are provided. A silencer 39 is attached to the tip of the air pipe 31.

  Therefore, when the first and second on-off valves 35 and 36 are opened and the third and fourth on-off valves 37 and 38 are closed and the blower 32 is driven, air is introduced into the tube 1 as indicated by an arrow a. The supplied moving body 2 is moved in the arrow direction b.

Conversely, when the third and fourth on-off valves 37 and 38 are opened and the first and second on-off valves 35 and 36 are closed and the blower 32 is driven, as shown by the arrow c, the tube 1 Air is sucked and the moving body 2 is moved in the arrow direction d.
Next, the inspection work of the tunnel inner wall surface 1a configured as described above will be described.

  First, a magnetic force is applied to the superconducting magnet body 3 provided on the moving body 2 to generate a magnetic flux. Then, due to the magnetic flux from the superconducting magnet body 3, the guide body 4 arranged outside the tube body 1 is slightly lifted by the repulsive force of the permanent magnet body 22 provided in the guide body 21. Become.

  In this state, when the air blower 32 of the air supply / exhaust device 5 is driven to supply air into the pipe body 1, the moving body 2 moves in the arrow direction b, and the guide body 4 is driven by the pinning force of the superconducting magnet body 3. Since the permanent magnet body 22 provided on the side tends to be integrated with the moving superconducting magnet body 3, the guide body 4 follows the moving body 2 and moves along the tube body 1. That is, the guide body 4 is moved and guided outside the tubular body 1 in which the moving body 2 moves and in a non-contact manner with other members.

  Naturally, the inspection of the tunnel inner wall surface Ts is performed by the inspection device 6 mounted on the guide body 4. And about this test | inspection data, it sends to the data collection location 7 by wireless communication etc., for example. Of course, the inspection data may be held on the guide body 4 side and collected later.

  As described above, since the moving body 2 for moving the guide body 4 is arranged in the tube body 1, for example, even when the guide body 4 side is in an atmosphere (environmental state) where there is a risk of explosion or the like, the driving body 2 is driven. Since the moving body 2 which is a source is disposed in the tube body 1 separated from the atmosphere, the inside of the tunnel can be inspected safely.

  Moreover, with respect to the guide body 4, the guide body 4 is floated to the outside of the tube body 1 by the repulsive force of the permanent magnet body 22 due to the magnetic flux from the superconducting magnet body 3 and the guide body 4 is moved to the moving body 2 side by the pinning force of the superconducting magnet body 3. Therefore, a driving source for driving the guide body 4 is not required, and since the moving body 2 uses an air transportation system, the moving body 2 itself has a driving source. Therefore, the mobile body 2 itself can be reduced in size and weight.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the moving body is moved in the reciprocating direction by supplying and discharging air from one end side of the tubular body. For example, an air pipe is connected to both ends of the tubular body. In addition, the moving body may be moved in a predetermined direction (forward or backward direction) by supplying air into the pipe body from the end corresponding to the moving direction of the moving body.

  In the above embodiment, the tubular body is described as a cylindrical shape, that is, the cross-sectional shape is circular (annular). However, the cross-sectional shape may be other than a circular shape, for example, a rectangular shape such as a square or a rectangle. Also good.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the non-contact transfer system has been described as applied to the inspection of the inner wall surface of the tunnel. For example, an article transfer system in a clean room, an inspection system under a high radiation level. Or it can utilize also for the system for transfer. In some cases, it can also be used for underwater inspection systems or transfer systems.

It is sectional drawing which shows the schematic whole structure of the non-contact-type transfer system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the mobile body and transfer body in the conveyance system. It is a partially cutaway top view which shows the structure of the moving body and transfer body in the conveyance system. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tubing body 2 Moving body 3 Superconducting magnet body 4 Guide body 5 Supply / exhaust device 6 Inspection device 11 Coolant container 15 Air receiving plate 21 Guide body 22 Permanent magnet body 31 Air pipe 32 Blower 33 First bypass pipe 34 Second bypass pipe 35-38 On-off valve

Claims (2)

  A tube disposed along the transfer path, a movable body disposed in the tubular body and movable in the direction of the tube axis by pneumatic transportation, a superconducting magnet body provided on the movable body, A transfer in which a permanent magnet body is provided at a position corresponding to the superconducting magnet body and is floated on the outer surface of the tube body by the repulsive force between the two magnet bodies, and the movement of the moving body is followed by the pinning force. A non-contact transfer system comprising a body.   The non-contact transfer system according to claim 1, wherein an inspection device is mounted on the transfer body.

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