JP2007205708A - Clean space forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clean space forming apparatus capable of keeping the surface of a surveillance camera lens, etc., clean over a long time by a simple and robust structure even if the surveillance camera is installed in a polluted environment. <P>SOLUTION: This clean space forming apparatus 10 has: a first pillar space 1; a second space 2 disposed around the outer side face of the first space; partitions 3 for dividing the first and second spaces; an end wall 5 for closing one of both end openings of the first space; an outer wall 4 for closing the second space to surround it; and a gas supply means 6 for supplying gas to the second space closed by the outer wall; wherein at least a part of the partition is formed from an infiltration part for equally passing the gas from the second space to the first space. The clean space forming apparatus is attached to the wall surface of a facility 22, 32, 40 or 50 having a polluted environment space DA therein, and is arranged such that the end wall of the clean space forming apparatus faces the outside of the facility, and the first space communicates with the polluted environment space. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a clean space forming apparatus in a polluted environment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a clean space forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of turbulent flow in a space and keeping the surface of a television camera lens or the like facing a polluted environment clean for a long period of time.

  In polluted environment facilities that generate a lot of dust, such as continuous annealing furnaces and continuous molten zinc plating lines (CGL), they are installed on the wall surface to accurately grasp the internal conditions and reflect them in operation management. It has been widely practiced to monitor the internal state of a polluted environment facility using visual observation or a monitoring camera while irradiating illumination from the monitoring window.

  However, because the interior of the polluted environment facility is in a multi-dust atmosphere, even if these dusts adhere to the glass inner surface of the monitoring window and illuminate the interior in a relatively short time from the start of observation, monitoring and monitoring It becomes impossible to monitor the inside of this polluted environment facility using a camera or the like in a short period of time (for example, several days of operation).

  In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 1 generates an airflow directed obliquely forward from the vicinity of the front end of the camera case and an airflow directed from the front surface of the transparent plate provided in the camera case toward the center. Thus, a configuration is disclosed in which the airflow prevents dust from being trapped by air and prevents dust from entering the air purge hood.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, air is blown into the camera housing from an opening at the rear of the camera disposed in the camera housing, and this airflow is discharged to the outside through a hood extending further forward from the opening at the front of the camera. A method for preventing dust from adhering to the camera lens by the structure is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a structure that prevents dust from adhering to the transmission / reception surface of an ultrasonic sensor by attaching a double hood to the ultrasonic sensor and continuously ejecting a purge gas from the inside to the center of the hood. Has been.

  In Patent Document 4, purified gas is fed to a nozzle adjacent to the optical plane by a first gas feeding means to generate a first purified gas flow in the nozzle, and first purified by a second gas feeding means. A configuration has been proposed in which the inside of the monitoring window is purged by putting the gas of the gas flow on the second purified gas flow and drawing it forward through the nozzle.

  Further, in Patent Document 5, a slit that is provided on the side wall of the snout of the plating bath and that allows the first gas to flow in the snout is provided on the back side of the monitoring window for observing the inside of the snout. A plating bath snout with a monitoring window for supplying a second gas during the period has been proposed.

Further, Patent Document 6 has an air passage formed so as to surround a predetermined surface of the transparent plate, an air intake port for supplying air into the air passage, and an air discharge port for discharging the air in the air passage. The air discharge port is provided so as to surround the predetermined surface at a position close to a plane including the predetermined surface, and the air discharged from the air discharge port is along the predetermined surface. An air purge hood has been proposed that is directed toward the center.
JP 2001-108880 A JP-A-6-167670 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-30548 JP-A-8-234134 JP-A-11-302808 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-72541

  However, any of the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 4 or Patent Document 5 needs to supply two gases in different systems. For this reason, the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated, and if the pressures of these two gases are not properly adjusted, a vortex is generated, and there is a high possibility that the field of view cannot be sufficiently secured over a long period of time.

  On the other hand, in the inventions disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 and 6, although one gas is used, if the shape of the air discharge port is not accurate, a vortex flow is generated in the hood, and the field of view is sufficiently extended over a long period of time. There is a high possibility that it cannot be secured.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a clean space forming apparatus that can keep the surface of a monitoring camera lens and the like clean for a long time even in a polluted environment with a simple and robust structure.

  As described above, in order to prevent, for example, dust, smoke, water vapor, and Zn fume, etc., in a conventional pollution environment facility from adhering to the surveillance camera lens surface, etc. In other words, an air purge method has been used in which a polluted atmosphere gas containing dust is blocked from flowing into the visual field space by generating an air flow having a large flow velocity.

  However, with this air purge method, the field of view cannot be sufficiently ensured over a long period of time reliably and inexpensively, and as a result of intensive studies, the inventors of the present application have used polluted atmosphere gas by using the airflow generated in the field of view. Rather than blocking the inflow, the above problem is solved by supplying a gentle gas flow by supplying the gas very slowly and uniformly so that almost no turbulent flow is generated in the visual field space. As a result, the present invention was completed. The present invention will be specifically described below. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a columnar first space (1), a second space (2) disposed around the outer surface of the first space, a partition wall (3) that partitions the first space and the second space. And an end wall (5a) for closing one of the opening portions at both ends of the first space, an outer wall (4) for closing the second space so as to wrap the second space from the outside, and a gas for supplying gas to the second space closed by the outer wall And a supply means (6), wherein at least a part of the partition wall is a clean space forming device formed by a permeation section for uniformly flowing gas from the second space to the first space.

  In the clean space forming apparatus according to the first aspect, first, gas is supplied to the second space, which is a closed space, by the gas supply means. As a result, the internal pressure of the second space is increased and a differential pressure is generated between the second space and the first space. Then, since at least a part of the partition wall that partitions the first space and the second space is configured by a permeation portion that can circulate gas, the gas supplied to the second space flows from the permeation portion to the first space. It is distributed to. Here, since the gas flow through the permeation part is uniform, partial turbulence due to the gas flow from the second space to the first space hardly occurs. In addition, since one end face of the first space is opened, the gas circulated from the second space to the first space is slowly and without delay discharged outside through the entire opening. In this way, the first space is kept slightly higher than the external pressure, and dust or the like is not easily trapped in the first space due to the generation of turbulent flow. Inflow into one space can be prevented.

  In the above aspect, the shape of the permeation portion may be a cylindrical shape.

  In this way, since a uniform gas flow is ensured in the diametrical direction over the entire circumference with respect to the circular cross-sectional shape, turbulence is further less likely to occur. Moreover, it becomes easy to keep the mechanical strength of the permeation part high.

When configured as described above, when the length of the permeation portion is L and the diameter is D,
L> D between L and D
You may comprise so that the relationship which may be materialized.

  In such a configuration, there is a case in which the flow of external gas becomes strong and contaminants such as dust existing in the external space flow into the first space from the opening of the first space. However, the influence can be limited to a part of the vicinity of the opening, and the proportion of the first space contaminated with the pollutant can be kept low.

  In the said aspect, you may comprise the whole partition (3) by the osmosis | permeation part.

  When configured in this manner, the area in which uniform gas flow is performed from the second space to the first space is increased, so that the generation of turbulent flow can be further suppressed.

  Moreover, in the said aspect, the osmosis | permeation part is good also as being formed with the porous material.

  If it does in this way, gas will distribute | circulate uniformly from 2nd space to 1st space through many holes of an infiltration part, and generation | occurrence | production of a turbulent flow is suppressed.

  Further, in the above aspect, the permeation part may be formed of a filter medium. The “filter” here refers to a filter for the purpose of filtering a fluid such as liquid or gas, and does not include a filter that selectively transmits sound, light, electromagnetics, or the like.

  When configured in this way, the filter medium available in the city, for example, can be used as the material for the infiltration part, so that it is not necessary to prepare the material for the infiltration part in particular, and the material is easy to obtain. is there. In addition, since the filter medium of the filter is formed to be porous, gas is uniformly circulated from the second space to the first space through many holes, and the occurrence of turbulence is suppressed. Furthermore, since the holes inside the filter medium of the filter are oriented in a random direction, the direction of the portion where these holes open to the first space side is also random. Therefore, since the discharge direction of the gas permeated from the second space through the filter medium from each hole to the first space is random, it is offset in the diametrical direction, and the generation of turbulence is further suppressed.

  When configured as described above, the filter medium of the filter may be further composed of sintered metal.

  If comprised in this way, it is rich in heat resistance, and can comprise the penetration part with high rigidity. Moreover, since joining of a sintered metal and another metal is easy, the clean space formation apparatus which is easy to manufacture can be comprised. The filter material of the sintered metal filter is obtained by sintering a metal such as powder, mesh, or fiber, and any of these can be used in the present invention. As the type of metal, stainless steel, bronze and the like can be easily obtained in the market, but the present invention is not limited to these. However, when used in a corrosive atmosphere, it is preferable to use a stainless steel sintered metal filter.

  Moreover, you may comprise the filter medium of a filter with a ceramic.

  When comprised in this way, the penetration part with high corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and rigidity can be comprised. In addition, cylindrical sintered metal filters and ceramic filters of various sizes (inner diameter, outer diameter, and length) are easily available in the market, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of manufacturing.

  Furthermore, you may comprise the filter medium of a filter with either paper, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, or glass fiber.

  If it does in this way, a penetration part can be constituted with material which is comparatively easy to obtain and cheap and lightweight. Moreover, when the non-woven fabric and woven fabric of the filter medium are composed of synthetic fibers and glass fibers, it is possible to configure a permeation portion having low reactivity and high corrosion resistance. In addition, when using these materials as a filter medium, in order to ensure uniform filtration in the surface direction and to improve the filtration accuracy, it is desirable to use a stack of sheets of each material.

When the permeation part is composed of a filter medium as described above, the average filtration ratio (β value) of JIS B 8356-8 (2002) (ISO 16889 (1999) multipath test method) as a liquid filter of the filter medium Is β50 ≧ 75
It is good also as being.

  The β value indicates that an object to be filtered having a diameter of 50 μm is filtered by 75% or more by passing through the filter. Accordingly, gas is uniformly circulated from the second space to the first space through the permeation portion composed of a fine porous filter medium having such filtration accuracy. Generation of flow is prevented.

  When the permeation part is composed of a filter medium as described above, the filtration accuracy of the filter medium as a gas filter may be a nominal value of 20 μm or less.

  Even if comprised in this way, since gas distribute | circulates uniformly from 2nd space to 1st space through the permeation | transmission part comprised with the fine porous filter medium, a turbulent flow generate | occur | produces in 1st space. Is prevented.

In the above aspects, the differential pressure ΔP between the first space (1) and the second space (2) separated by the partition wall (3) is
ΔP ≦ 1 × 10 ⁵ Pa
The gas supply means (6) may be provided so that it can be set in the above range.

  When configured in this manner, the differential pressure between the two spaces does not increase beyond a predetermined value, so that the gas flow rate from the second space to the first space is kept low, and a gentle gas flow is ensured. The occurrence of turbulent flow in the first space is prevented. Such gas supply means can be realized by an apparatus including an air compressor and a pressure regulating valve, for example.

  In the above aspects, a hood (4c) may be provided in the opening (11) on the open side of the first space (1).

  In this way, even if the flow of external gas becomes strong and contaminants such as dust existing in the external space from the opening of the hood may flow into the hood, the effect will be reduced. It is possible to prevent the inside of the first space from being contaminated by the pollutant.

  In the above aspect, the outer wall (4) may be provided with cooling means and / or heating means.

  If comprised in this way, even if the exterior is a high temperature or low temperature environment, it becomes possible to keep the temperature in 1st space at the appropriate temperature of a predetermined range, for example, detectors, such as a sensor, in 1st space When a predetermined measurement is performed while housing the measurement, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of measurement errors due to the influence of temperature.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the clean space forming apparatus (10) according to the first aspect (each modification) is provided on the wall surface of the facility (22, 32, 40, 50) having a polluted environment space (DA) inside. And the end wall (5a) of the clean space forming device faces the outside of the facility and the first space (1) communicates with the polluted environment space. A view securing device (20).

  Here, the “polluted environment space” is a member of a material that transmits light to ensure visibility, such as a glass surface, where fine substances such as dust and metal fume float or settle at a minute speed. When attached to the surface, it means an environmental space with an atmosphere that causes poor visibility. The “polluted environment facility” refers to a facility having the polluted environment space inside or in and around the inside. Furthermore, “attached to the wall surface” means not only the case where it is directly attached to the wall surface, but also the case where it is attached to the wall surface via a flange or the case where it is attached to the wall surface via a flange that protrudes from the wall surface. It is a concept that also includes Since the clean space forming apparatus prevents such a floating pollutant from entering the first space, the visual field inside the visual field securing apparatus according to the second embodiment is secured.

  In this second aspect, as a configuration of the field of view securing device attached to the facility, the first space and the polluted environment space only need to be a continuous space, and the field of view securing device is provided projecting to the inside of the facility. Alternatively, it may be provided so as to protrude outside the facility.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to configure a facility monitoring device having a polluted environment space in which a television camera (23) and / or a light source (25) is arranged in the vicinity of the outside of the end wall of the visibility securing device.

  In this case, the end wall surface of the clean space securing device is formed of a transparent glass or a synthetic resin (acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc.) plate. When configured in this way, the end wall surface of the clean space securing device facing the polluted environment facility is kept clean, so the inside of the facility is monitored by the TV camera via the end wall surface, and the end portion Light can be projected through the wall surface into the facility and monitored visually. Such a monitoring device is disposed in the vicinity of the snout zinc bath surface and is preferably used for monitoring the zinc bath surface in the continuous molten zinc plating device snout. In this case, since dirt can be prevented from adhering to the end wall surface, the zinc bath surface in the snout can be observed for a long time with a television camera in a maintenance-free manner. Moreover, it arrange | positions at the heating zone furnace top vicinity, and is used suitably for the meandering monitoring of the running zone in a continuous annealing furnace. In this case as well, the position (displacement) of the steel sheet traveling in the continuous annealing furnace over a long period can be monitored without polluting the end wall surface.

  The third aspect of the present invention is provided in the polluted environment space (DA), and in the first space (1) of the clean space forming apparatus (10) according to the first aspect (including each modification). And a detector (100, 100a, 100b, 110, 120, 130) in a polluted environment provided with detectors (90, 101a, 101b, 111, 121, 131). You may provide this detection apparatus in the pollution environment space of pollution environment equipment.

  According to the detection device of this third aspect, since the detector is provided inside the clean space forming device, the entire detection device can be made compact. Moreover, since the detector and the clean space forming apparatus are integrated, and no particular attachment is required, it can be freely moved and moved within the contaminated environment space.

  In the above aspect, any one of a television camera, a radiation thermometer, a photo sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor may be used as the detector.

  In the detection device of the third aspect, the space where the detector is located and the polluted environment space are continuous spaces, and there is no such thing as a glass plate that partitions the detector and the polluted environment space. Therefore, it is possible to directly detect information from the detection target with the detector. In addition to television cameras, radiation thermometers, transmissive and reflective photosensors, ultrasonic sensors, etc. that could not be measured if there was a glass plate between them and non-detected objects, or that accurate measurements could not be obtained. Can be placed in the first space to perform predetermined observation and measurement in the polluted environment facility.

  As a specific aspect of the detection apparatus according to the third aspect, the pollution environment equipment is a continuous molten zinc plating apparatus (CGL), and the detector is a monitoring television camera for the snout zinc bath surface of the continuous molten zinc plating apparatus. You may comprise as.

  In this way, the snout zinc bath surface of the continuous molten zinc plating apparatus can be observed with a television camera for a long time without staining the camera.

  As another specific aspect of the detection device according to the third aspect, the pollution environment facility may be configured as a continuous annealing furnace, and the detector may be configured as a steel plate position sensor at the top of the heating zone of the annealing furnace.

  If it does in this way, the shift | offset | difference of the position of the steel plate in the heating zone furnace top of a continuous annealing furnace can be monitored over a long period, without polluting a sensor.

  Furthermore, it is also possible to configure equipment incorporating such a detection device. For example, a clean space forming apparatus and a television camera disposed inside the first space of the clean space forming apparatus can be configured as a continuous molten zinc plating apparatus provided near the snout zinc bath surface.

  Moreover, it can also comprise as a continuous annealing furnace provided with the clean space formation apparatus and the position sensor arrange | positioned inside the 1st space of this clean space formation apparatus near the board | substrate traveling part.

  According to the clean space forming apparatus of the present invention, gas movement from the second space to the first space is performed through the porous infiltration portion, so that the gas flow is performed uniformly and gently. Therefore, generation | occurrence | production of a turbulent flow can be suppressed in 1st space, and it can prevent that the dust etc. which exist in pollution environment space penetrate | invade in 1st space. As a result, maintenance-free monitoring can be performed over a long period of time.

  Such an operation and gain of the present invention will be clarified from the embodiments described below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a clean space forming apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the clean space forming apparatus 10 includes a columnar first space 1, a second space 2 disposed around an outer surface of the first space, the first space 1 and the second space 2. A partition wall 3, an end wall 5 a that closes one of the openings at both ends of the first space 1, and a cylindrical shape that shares an axis with the partition wall 3 and is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the second space 2. The outer peripheral wall 4a, the first ring portion 5b extending in the outer peripheral direction of the end wall 5a and reaching the end face of the outer peripheral wall 4a (on the left side in the figure), and the other end side (right side in the figure) of the outer peripheral wall 4a 2nd ring part 4b extended in the diameter direction inward, and the gas supply means 6 which supplies gas to the said 2nd space 2 are provided. The outer peripheral wall 4 a, the first ring portion 5 b, and the second ring portion 4 b form the outer wall 4 of the second space 2 and close the second space 2 when combined with the partition wall 3.

  When the end wall 5a is expressed accurately, it means only a portion that closes the end face of the first space 1, but the first ring portion 5b is extended on the outer peripheral portion thereof. Since both are integrally formed, in the following description, both will be described as the end wall 5 for convenience. In addition, although not shown in figure, between the partition 3 and the outer wall 4, between the partition 3 and the end wall 5, and between the outer wall 4 and the end wall 5, it is appropriate in order to ensure airtightness. Packing or the like is interposed. An opening 11 provided on the opposite side of the end wall 5 of the first space 1 is open to the outside. The outer peripheral wall 4a is formed approximately the same length as the partition wall 3, and a hood 4c is attached to the opening 11 side.

  Below, each member which comprises the clean space formation apparatus 10 is demonstrated.

(Partition 3)
The partition wall 3 has a purpose of circulating the gas supplied from the gas supply means 6 to the second space 2 to the first space 1. At this time, a porous filter medium is used so that turbulent flow is not generated in the first space 1 due to the gas flowing. Specifically, in the following embodiments, EB manufactured by SMC Corporation (nominal filtration accuracy: 10 μm, material: bronze) is used as the sintered metal filter.

  Fine holes are formed in random directions in the sintered metal filter. Therefore, an infinite number of openings that can be said to be innumerable are formed in a random direction from the inside of the sintered metal filter to the inner peripheral surface side of the sintered metal filter.

  When a sintered metal is used as a filter medium for a filter, the material of the metal is not particularly limited. However, in the city, those made of copper-based metal or stainless steel are relatively easily available. When the gas to be used is reactive or when the use environment contains a corrosive substance, it is desirable to use a filter medium made of a sintered stainless steel metal. In any case, if sintered metal is used as a filter medium, a partition wall having high rigidity and high heat resistance can be formed.

  Sintered metal includes those obtained by sintering metal powder by applying temperature and pressure, or those obtained by previously laminating sheets that have been processed into a mesh shape under pressure. Even things can be used.

  As a filter medium, in addition to sintered metal, a ceramic filter medium can be preferably used from the viewpoint of rigidity, heat resistance, and the like. Moreover, paper, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, glass fiber, etc. can be used. Among these, it is desirable to use a ceramic filter for use in high temperatures, corrosive environments, and the like. Glass fibers and synthetic resin fibers are recommended for use in highly reactive gases and in corrosive environments. In addition, when paper, non-woven fabric, woven fabric or the like is used as a filter medium, there is an advantage that the entire weight of the clean space forming apparatus 10 can be reduced.

When the permeation part is composed of a filter medium as described above, the average filtration ratio (β value) of JIS B 8356-8 (2002) (ISO 16889 (1999) multipass test method) as a liquid filter of the filter medium is β50 ≧ 75, more preferably β25 ≧ 75
It is desirable that The filtration accuracy of the filter medium as a gas filter is preferably a nominal value of 20 μm or less, and preferably about 10 μm. Turbulence is generated in the first space because the gas is uniformly circulated from the second space to the first space through the permeation portion composed of a fine porous filter medium having such filtration accuracy. Is prevented.

  In addition, it is preferable to form the whole partition 3 with a filter medium from a viewpoint of ensuring a uniform gas flow. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the filter medium may be a part of the partition wall 3 as long as a uniform gas flow can be secured. For example, the filter medium may be formed in a number of strips and arranged so as to surround the cylinder, or a plurality of ring-shaped members having a width may be arranged in the length direction of the partition wall 3. You may arrange | position to the whole surface of the partition 3 in a mark shape, and may arrange | position to a spiral band shape further.

  From the viewpoint of making the gas flow in the radial direction of the first space 1 uniform, the shape of the partition wall 3 is basically cylindrical. As described above, when a sintered metal filter or a ceramic filter is used as the partition wall 3, cylindrical filters having various sizes (inner diameter, outer diameter, length) and various filtration accuracy are easily obtained from the market. This is also preferable from the viewpoint of manufacturability. In the case of a cylindrical shape, the length of the partition wall 3 may be set larger than its diameter. In this way, even if the gas flow outside the clean space forming apparatus 10 becomes strong, contaminants such as dust existing in the external space flow into the first space 1 from the opening 11 of the first space 1. Even if it happens, the influence can be limited to a part near the opening 11, and the inside of the first space 1 can be reduced from being polluted with the pollutant. The shape of the partition wall 3 may be a triangular cylindrical shape, a rectangular cylindrical shape, or a polygonal cylindrical shape having five or more sides according to the environment in which the clean space forming device 10 is arranged. Further, the shape of the partition wall 3 can be a semi-conical cylindrical shape. In this way, there is an advantage that the change in the flow velocity in the length direction can be reduced. Further, the partition wall 3 may be extended to the front side of the opening portion 11 to thereby configure the hood 4c.

(Outer wall 4)
The role of the outer wall 4 in the present invention is to close the second space 2 together with the partition wall 3 and to have sufficient strength as an exterior body of the clean space forming apparatus 10. The shape of the outer wall 4 can be freely selected from the partition walls 3 within such a range. In the following embodiment, the outer wall 4 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 4a that shares an axis with the cylinder of the partition 3, and two ring portions 5b that connect the outer peripheral wall 4a and the partition 3 with respect to the cylindrical partition 3. 4b. As described above, the hood 4 c may be attached to the opening 11. By providing a hood in the opening 11, it becomes possible to make the influence of outside air smaller.

  In the following embodiments, stainless steel is used as the material of the outer wall 4, but in addition to metals such as titanium, copper, brass, cast iron, steel, aluminum, etc., in consideration of the temperature conditions of the environment used, Plastic, glass and ceramics can also be used. Further, when the environment where the clean space forming apparatus 10 is placed is at a high temperature, a water jacket is provided on the outer wall 4 and the inside of the clean space forming apparatus 10, particularly the first space 1 is brought to a predetermined temperature (range) by water cooling. You may make it keep. Furthermore, when the environment where the clean space forming apparatus 10 is placed is extremely low temperature and there is a possibility that the function of the sensor or the like disposed in the first space may be deteriorated, the outer wall 4 is provided with a heating means such as a heating wire. One space 1 may be maintained at a predetermined temperature (range).

(End wall 5)
As described above, the end wall is a member that closes one opening of the partition wall 3 indicated by reference numeral 5a, but is formed integrally with the first ring portion 5b on the outer periphery thereof, It is more convenient for manufacturing reasons that the first space and the second space are closed by the integrally formed member (end wall 5). Therefore, here, the end wall 5a and the first ring portion 5b are treated as the end wall 5 as a unit.

  The end wall 5 has a role of closing the first space 1 and the second space 2 from the end face side in the clean space forming apparatus 10 of the present invention. In the following embodiment, since the partition wall 3 and the outer peripheral wall 4a of the outer wall are formed in a cylindrical shape, the end wall 5 is formed in a disk shape.

  As will be described in detail in each embodiment, when there is a surveillance TV camera, a light source, and an observation point outside the end wall 5, it is necessary to perform observation through the end wall 5. Or a synthetic resin such as acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate, or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). On the other hand, when the configuration in which the TV camera and the sensors are arranged in the first space 1 is adopted, the material of the end wall 5 is stainless steel, titanium, copper, brass, In addition to metals such as cast iron, steel, and aluminum, plastics and ceramics can be used in consideration of the temperature conditions of the environment in which they are used.

  When a light source is arranged inside the first space 1, the side of the end wall 5 facing the first space 1 may be a mirror surface in order to increase the light emission efficiency of the light source. Further, when the internal light source is a point light source, the end wall 5 is formed as a paraboloid, and if the inner surface is a mirror surface and the light source is appropriately arranged, light that is highly linear is supplied. Is also possible.

(Gas supply means 6)
The gas supply means 6 supplies a predetermined type of gas (air, nitrogen gas (N ₂ ), etc. in the following embodiments) to the second space 2, and between the second space 2 and the first space 1. The purpose is to generate a predetermined differential pressure.

  The gas supply means 6 includes a gas compression means 7 such as a compressor, a pressure adjusting valve 8, a pressure gauge 18, and a pipe 9 that connects these to the clean space forming apparatus 10. In the subsequent drawings, the gas supply means 6 may be omitted, but the clean space forming apparatus 10 is necessarily provided with the gas supply means 6.

(Function)
In this clean space forming apparatus 10, first, compressed air is formed by the compressor 7 of the gas supply means 6, and the compressed air is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure adjusting valve 8 and is a closed space. 2 space 2 is supplied. As a result, the internal pressure of the second space is increased to the predetermined pressure, and a differential pressure ΔP is generated between the second space 2 and the first space 1. Then, since the partition 3 which partitions the 1st space 1 and the 2nd space 2 is formed with the sintered metal which can distribute | circulate air, the air supplied to the 2nd space 2 is the sintered metal which is a filter medium It is distributed to the first space 1 via. Here, since the sintered metal is formed with a large number of fine holes in a random and random direction so as to be said to be innumerable, the air circulation inside the sintered metal as a filter medium becomes uniform. A very large number of openings, which can be said to be countless, are formed in a random direction from the inside of the sintered metal to the filter inner peripheral surface side, that is, the first space 1 side.

Therefore, partial turbulence due to the movement of air from the second space 2 to the first space 1 is unlikely to occur. Further, since the first space 1 has one end face as an opening 11, the air circulated from the second space 2 to the first space 1 gradually and outwardly through the opening 11. It is discharged without delay. In this manner, the first space 1 is kept slightly higher than the external pressure, and the phenomenon of dust and the like in the first space 1 due to the occurrence of turbulent flow is unlikely to occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent contaminants such as dust existing in the external space from flowing into the first space 1.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the visual field securing device according to the first embodiment. The visual field securing device 20 is configured by attaching the opening 11 side of the clean space forming device 10 to a wall surface 21 of a facility 22 having a polluted environment space DA inside. Therefore, most of the clean space forming apparatus 10 is disposed so as to protrude from the wall surface 21 of the facility 22 to the outside of the facility. The first space 1 of the clean space forming apparatus 10 communicates with the polluted environment space DA. The end wall 5a of the clean space forming apparatus 10 is formed of a transparent material, for example, glass. A TV camera 23 is disposed further outside the end wall 5a, and an illumination 25 is disposed behind the TV camera 23. By taking such a configuration, the inside of the facility 22 having the polluted space DA can be monitored by the television camera 23. Since the transparent glass wall 5a and the polluted environment space DA are separated from each other by the first space 1 as a clean space, the glass wall 5a is not contaminated by dust or the like floating in the polluted space, and the TV camera 23 Monitoring can be performed maintenance-free for a long time. The same effect can be obtained even when only the light source (illumination) is arranged without arranging the TV camera 23 and the inside of the facility 22 is observed with the naked eye.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another visual field securing device according to the first embodiment. The visual field securing device 30 is configured such that the end wall 5a side of the clean space forming device 10 is attached to the wall surface 31 of the facility 32 having the polluted environment space DA inside (the portion with smudged in FIG. 3). Represents the polluted environment space DA.) Therefore, most of the clean space forming apparatus 10 is disposed so as to protrude from the wall surface 31 of the facility 32 into the facility. Also in this visual field securing device 30, the first space 1 of the clean space forming device 10 communicates with the polluted environment space DA. The end wall 5a of the clean space forming apparatus 10 is formed of a transparent material, for example, glass. A TV camera 23 is disposed further outward from the end wall 5a, and a lighting device 25 is disposed behind the TV camera 23. By taking such a configuration, the inside of the facility 32 having the polluted space DA can be monitored by the television camera 23. Since the transparent glass wall 5a and the polluted environment space DA are separated from each other by the first space 1 as a clean space, the glass wall 5a is not contaminated by dust or the like floating in the polluted space, and the TV camera 23 Monitoring can be performed maintenance-free for a long time. It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained even when the illumination device 25 is disposed directly at the position facing the end wall 5a without arranging the television camera 23 and the inside of the facility 32 is observed with the naked eye.

(Example 1-1)
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the visual field securing device according to the first embodiment applied to the snout of the continuous molten zinc plating apparatus. The visual field securing devices 42a and 42b according to the present invention are attached to two locations on the wall surface 41 of the snout 40. In the present embodiment, the end walls 55 a and 55 b are formed of transparent glass so that the inside can be seen from the outside of the snout 40. Television cameras 44a and 44b are arranged behind the visual field securing devices 42a and 42b, respectively, and illuminations 43a and 43b are provided behind them. In the snout 40, the steel plate S is driven from above by being driven by the sink roll 49 or the like. A plating tank 45 filled with molten zinc is provided below the snout 40. In the vicinity of the molten zinc liquid surface 46 in the plating tank 45, suction ports 48a and 48b of suction pipes 47a and 47b for sucking out scum, noro, etc. that adversely affect the surface properties of the steel sheet to be plated out are provided. ing.

  The television cameras 44a and 44b monitor the molten zinc liquid surface 46 and the steel sheet S traveling in the vicinity thereof so that scum or the like does not adhere to the steel sheet surface. The inside of the snout 40 of the continuous molten zinc plating apparatus having such a structure is a polluted space referred to in the present application that is heavily contaminated with zinc fume and the like. However, since the glass surfaces of the end walls 55a and 55b are kept clean by the visual field securing devices 42a and 42b according to the present invention, the television cameras 44a and 44b are not affected by the contaminants in the snout 40 over a long period of time. It is possible to continue monitoring in the snout 40.

In the visual field securing devices 42a and 42b, the differential pressure between the first space 1 and the second space 2 is preferably 2 × 10 ⁵ Pa or less, and more preferably 1 × 10 ⁵ Pa or less.

In addition, the actual pressure value of each part of the present embodiment in the actual machine,
Second space: atmospheric pressure + 2.2 × 10 ⁴ Pa
First space: atmospheric pressure +0.6 to 0.7 × 10 ⁴ Pa
Inside the snout: atmospheric pressure + 0.05 × 10 ⁴ Pa
Met.

  According to the present embodiment, as described above, the first space 1 can be kept clean, so that the end walls 55a and 55b can be prevented from being soiled for a long period (for example, about 6 months). The transparent glass surface of the inner surfaces of the end walls 55a and 55b can be maintained in a clean state for a long period of time, and the visual field of the television cameras 44a and 44b can be secured.

(Example 1-2)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a part of the situation in which the visual field securing device 51 is configured by applying the clean space forming device 10 according to the present invention to the continuous annealing furnace 50. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the visual field securing device 51 in FIG. Further, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion VII indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the clean air supplied from the air supply means to the second space and the first space is represented by a large number of “points” in order to emphasize the flow of clean air. On the other hand, in FIG. 6, dust and the like in the contaminated space are represented by a number of “small pieces”.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the clean space forming apparatus 10 is attached to the furnace wall of the continuous annealing furnace 50 with a flange. As shown in detail in FIG. 7, a second ring portion 4b is provided on the distal end side (right side in the drawing) of the second space 2, and a packing 70 is provided on the outer side of the second ring portion 4b. Is provided. A flange 71 is provided on the outer side of the packing 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the flange 71 is in contact with a flange 72 provided on the furnace wall surface of the continuous annealing furnace 50, and is fixed by a fastening bolt 73.

  Further, a flange 74 is provided on the outer surface end (left side in the figure) of the partition wall 3 on the continuous annealing furnace 50 side, and an end wall 76 made of glass is formed on the inner surface of the partition wall 3 provided with the flange 74. It is fixed. Thereby, one opening part of the 1st space 1 and the 2nd space 2 is block | closed by the glass-made end wall 76 in the sealing state.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a flange 75 provided at the front end portion of the photographing optical system of the optical photographing device 79 such as a camera is fastened and fixed to the outer surface of the flange 74 via an end wall 76. ing. An illumination device 78 is disposed behind the optical photographing device 79 such as a camera.

  An air supply hole 77 connected to the pipe 9 of the gas supply means 6 is provided on the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 4a covering the second space. In addition, the length in the extending direction of each of the outer peripheral wall 4a and the partition wall 3 depends on the size (weight) and amount of dust and the like existing in the continuous annealing furnace 50, the flow rate of the base gas flowing inside, and the like. What is necessary is just to set suitably. For example, when the amount of dust or the like is large, the length in the extending direction of each of the outer peripheral wall 4a and the partition wall 3 may be set appropriately long.

  In addition, the end wall 76 seals one side of the opening of both ends of the partition wall 3 and the outer peripheral wall 4a in a sealed state by interposing the packing 70.

  The opening 11 at the end of the partition wall 3 on the side where the end wall 76 is not provided is directed to the inside of the continuous annealing furnace 50 and communicates with the inside.

  Unlike the present embodiment, the end wall 76 is constituted by a lens of the photographing optical system of the optical photographing apparatus, in other words, the respective ends of the partition wall 3 and the outer peripheral wall 4a via the packing 70. The lens of the photographing optical system of the optical photographing apparatus may be directly fixed to the part.

  Thus, by applying the clean space forming apparatus 10 to the continuous annealing furnace 50, a clean first space 1 for monitoring the inside of the continuous annealing furnace 50 from the outside can be secured, thereby Thus, it is possible to prevent dirt from entering the first space 1 over a long period of time.

  According to the visual field securing devices 42a, 42b, and 51 of Examples 1-1 and 1-2, the air that has oozed out from the entire inner peripheral surface of the partition wall 3 from the inside of the first space 1 into the snout 40 or the continuous annealing furnace 50 A gentle airflow is formed in the polluted environmental space DA, and the entrainment of the airflow that causes the dirt adhering to the glass end walls 55a, 55b, 76 can be prevented. Therefore, the end walls 55a, 55b, 76 prevents dirt and dust from entering. As a result, it is possible to reliably secure a clear and cloudless visual field space continuously over a long period of time.

  In addition, the visual field securing devices 42a, 42b, and 51 of Examples 1-1 and 1-2 have a simple mechanism, have a small number of parts, are inexpensive, and require little running cost. In particular, since it is a simple and robust structure, there are few failures. For this reason, it is easy to secure a large-diameter field of view and the adaptability to industrial instruments is extremely high.

  Furthermore, since the visual field securing devices 42a, 42b and 51 of Examples 1-1 and 1-2 can be installed outside the furnace of the snout 40 or the continuous annealing furnace 50, particularly when used at low and medium heat. There is no need to provide a special cooling mechanism. When used in a high temperature atmosphere, for example, a double-pipe structure in which a third side wall member (not shown) is provided outside the outer peripheral wall 4a is sufficient to maintain a simple structure. It is easy to give a good cooling performance.

(Example 1-3)
FIG. 8A is a horizontal sectional view showing an example in which an oval viewing window is formed by arranging three small-diameter viewing windows side by side. FIG. 8B is a schematic perspective view showing the arrangement of the viewing windows. In the examples shown in these figures, three small-diameter circular partition walls 83 are juxtaposed in the horizontal (or vertical) direction, and these are covered by an outer wall 84, and the three partition walls 83 and one side of the outer wall 84 are arranged on one side. The opening is closed by the end wall 86 in a sealed state. Air is supplied from the air supply hole 87 to the second space in the system. Thus, by arranging three small-diameter observation windows 85a, 85b, and 85c in parallel, an oval observation window can be formed and a wider field of view is secured.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a detection device according to the second embodiment. This detection device 100 is provided in the polluted environment space DA (in FIG. 9, the portion to which smudging is applied represents the polluted environment space DA). The first space 1 of the clean space forming device 10 constituting a part of the detection device 100 is communicated with the polluted environment space DA. A detector 90 such as a television camera or a sensor is accommodated in the clean space forming apparatus 10. Clean air is supplied to the second space 2 through the pipe 99 from a gas compression means and a pressure adjusting valve (both not shown) outside the contaminated environment space DA. By adopting such a configuration, the inside of the polluted space DA can be monitored by a television camera, or a predetermined event can be detected by a sensor. Since the detector 90 is accommodated in the first space 1 as a clean space, the surface of the detector 90 is not contaminated by dust or the like floating in the contaminated space (dust or the like adheres to the surface of the detector 90). It is possible to perform predetermined detection without maintenance for a long time. In addition, it is also possible to arrange a light source instead of the detector 90 and configure as a projector in the polluted environment space. When a detector such as a TV camera or a light source is accommodated in the first space, it is not necessary to make the end wall transparent. Therefore, the end wall can be made of a metal such as stainless steel like the outer wall. In this case, the detector and the light source can be easily attached to the end wall.
(Example 2-1)
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a transmission sensor is configured as an object detector as an example of a detection device according to the second embodiment. This detection device is arranged in the polluted environment space DA such that the detection devices 100a and 100b face each other. A light emitting element 101a is arranged inside the detection apparatus 100a, and a light receiving element 101b is arranged inside the detection apparatus 100b, and a transmissive photosensor is constituted by these both elements. When the detection objects 102a to 102c cross between the detection devices 100a and 100b, the light emitted from the light emitting element 101a and sensed by the light receiving element 101b is blocked, so that the detection objects 102a to 102c pass through. Can be detected.
(Example 2-2)
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a case where a reflective sensor is configured as an object detector as another example of the detection device according to the second embodiment. In this detection device, the opening of the detection device 110 is arranged in the polluted environment space DA toward the object to be detected. A reflection type sensor 111 (for example, having a structure for transmitting light and ultrasonic waves and receiving reflected waves) is accommodated in the detection device 110. When the objects to be detected 112a to 112c cross the front of the detection device 110, light or the like transmitted from the sensor is reflected by the surfaces of the objects to be detected 112a to 112c and reaches the sensor again to pass through the objects to be detected 112a to 112c. Can be detected.

  Furthermore, instead of the reflective sensor 111, a television camera may be housed inside the detection device 110 and configured as a monitoring device in the polluted environment space DA. Further, instead of the reflection type sensor 111, a radiation type thermometer can be accommodated in the detection device 110 and configured as a temperature sensor of a specific part in the polluted environment space DA.

In any case, since the interior of the detector is kept in a clean space, the reflective sensor, TV camera, and radiation thermometer are not contaminated by dust in the polluted environment space, allowing maintenance-free observation over a long period of time. Can be performed.
(Example 2-3)
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image analysis video detector configured as still another example of the detection device according to the second embodiment. In this image analysis video detector, the detection device 120 is disposed downward and a television camera 121 is accommodated therein. The television camera 121 is usually composed of a solid-state imaging device (CCD) camera, and takes in the shape of an article placed below as an image for analysis. Such an image analysis video detector is used for the purpose of, for example, imaging the product 122 in a product production line and inspecting whether or not a predetermined part is correctly attached to the product at a predetermined position. Further, for example, the management number printed on the surface of the product is imaged and read, and is used for performing predetermined processing.
(Example 2-4)
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outdoor monitoring camera configured as still another example of the detection device according to the second embodiment. This embodiment relates to the case where the open space forms the polluted environment space, not the polluted environment space inside the facility. A television camera 131 is housed inside the detection device 130 in the open polluted environment space. Examples of such open pollution environment spaces include outdoor parking lots, heavy traffic intersections, steel mill raw material yards, coal yards, blast furnaces, converters, rolling mills, various handling facilities for cement and grain, The vicinity of volcanic craters and the like can be mentioned, and in these places, the present detection device can be suitably used for the purpose of monitoring, risk prediction and the like. In this case as well, dust or the like can be prevented from adhering to the lens surface of the TV camera 131, and it can be used maintenance-free for a long time.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the clean space formation apparatus concerning this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the visual field ensuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other visual field ensuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the visual field ensuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment applied to the snout of the sub-continuous molten zinc plating apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the monitoring apparatus comprised by applying the visual field ensuring apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment to the heating zone furnace top of a continuous annealing furnace. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the longitudinal axis of the monitoring device in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of VII indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6. It is a vertical sectional view showing an example in which an oval viewing window is formed by arranging three small-diameter viewing windows side by side. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the detection apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the case where the transmission type sensor is comprised as an object detector as an example of the detection apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the case where a reflection type sensor is comprised as an object detector as another example of the detection apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the image analysis video detector comprised as another example of the detection apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the outdoor surveillance camera comprised as another example of the detection apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DA polluted environment space 1 first space 2 second space 3 partition 4 outer wall 4c hood 5 end wall 6 gas supply means 10 clean space forming device 11 opening 20, 30, 51 visual field securing device 23 TV camera 25 illumination device (light source) )
32, 50 facilities (50: continuous annealing furnace)
90 Detector 100, 100a, 100b, 110, 120, 130 Detector 101a Light emitting element (detector)
101b Light receiving element (detector)
111 Reflective sensor (detector)
121, 131 TV camera (detector)

Claims (4)

One of a columnar first space, a second space arranged around the outer surface of the first space, a partition wall that partitions the first space and the second space, and one of both end openings of the first space are closed. At least a part of the partition wall, and an end wall that closes the second space so as to wrap the second space from the outside, and a gas supply means that supplies gas to the second space closed by the outer wall. Is a clean space forming device formed by a permeation part that uniformly distributes gas from the second space to the first space, and is attached to a wall surface of a facility having a polluted environment space inside. A field-of-view securing device, wherein the end wall faces the outside of the facility and the first space is arranged to communicate with the polluted environment space. The facility monitoring apparatus having a polluted environment space in which a television camera and / or a light source is arranged in the vicinity of the outside of the end wall of the visual field securing device according to claim 1. A continuous molten zinc plating apparatus comprising the monitoring device according to claim 2 in the vicinity of a snout zinc bath surface. A continuous annealing apparatus comprising the monitoring device according to claim 2 in the vicinity of the top of the heating zone furnace.

Images