JP2008138770A - Spring return type electric flow rate regulating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically report replacement timing of a return spring without manual and visual check of spring return operation by a worker. <P>SOLUTION: An operation position of a drive shaft 1 is moved to an initial position θST for confirming return operation (for example, a full open position θ100) with receiving spring return operation confirmation order, and an electromagnetic clutch 4 is turned off under a condition where the operation position of the drive shaft 1 is moved to the initial position θST for confirming return operation. Then, time until the operation position of the drive shaft 1 reaches a return operation completion position θSR from turn-off of the electromagnetic clutch 4 is automatically measured as spring return operation time TS. Normality/abnormality of the spring return operation is judged based on the measured spring return operation time TS. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device having a function of forcibly returning an operation position of a drive shaft to a predetermined return operation end position by a return force of a return spring.

  Conventionally, as this type of spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device, an electric flow rate adjusting device such as a valve for flow rate control or a damper for air volume control has been used. In this spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device, torque is increased by transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the drive shaft via an electromagnetic clutch and a speed reduction mechanism, thereby controlling the opening degree of a flow rate regulating mechanism such as a valve or a damper. Do. The drive shaft is provided with a return spring. When the power to the electric flow control device is cut off due to a power failure, the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged, and the return force of the return spring forcibly drives the flow control mechanism. Closed or fully open.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a conventional spring return type electric valve (spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the figure, 1 is a drive shaft, 2 is a return spring attached to the drive shaft 1, 3 is a speed reduction mechanism, 4 is an electromagnetic clutch, 5 is a motor, 6 'is a control unit, and 7 is an operating position of the drive shaft 1. Accordingly, a valve body (flow rate regulating mechanism) that regulates the flow rate of the fluid, and 8 is an opening degree sensor that detects the operating position of the drive shaft 1 as the current opening degree θpv of the valve body 7.

  In the spring return type motor operated valve 100 ′, the control unit 6 ′ operates by receiving a power supply (for example, AC 24 V) and sends a forward rotation command and a reverse rotation command to the motor 5. In addition, the electromagnetic clutch 4 is constantly supplied with power branched to the control unit 6 ′, is in clutch engagement, and the output shaft of the motor 5 is always rotationally coupled to the drive shaft 1 via the speed reduction mechanism 3.

  Thereby, the rotational force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the drive shaft 1 via the electromagnetic clutch 4 and the speed reduction mechanism 3, and the opening degree control of the valve body 7 is performed. In this case, the control unit 6 ′ sends a forward rotation command and a reverse rotation command to the motor 5 so that the current opening degree θpv of the valve body 7 matches the target opening degree θsp. When the motor 5 stops after receiving a forward rotation command or a reverse rotation command, the drive shaft 1 maintains the current operating position by the holding torque of the motor 5.

When the supply of power to the spring return type electric valve 100 ′ is interrupted due to a power failure or the like, the power to the electromagnetic clutch 4 is also cut off. For this reason, the electromagnetic clutch 4 is disconnected, the torque of the motor 5 is not transmitted to the drive shaft 1, the drive shaft 1 operates in the closing direction or the opening direction (fail-safe direction) by the return force of the return spring 2, and the valve body 7 is forcibly fully closed (θ0 ) Or fully open (θ100). This function is called a spring return function.

  In this spring return type motor operated valve 100 ', an operator confirms whether or not the spring return function works normally at the time of installation at the site or during periodic inspection. The operation confirmation of the spring return function (confirmation of the spring return operation) is performed by intentionally shutting off the power supply to the spring return type motor operated valve 100 'or a confirmation button attached to the spring return type motor operated valve 100' (see FIG. By pressing (not shown). When the confirmation button is pressed, the control unit 6 ′ receives a signal indicating that the confirmation button has been pressed as an operation confirmation command (spring return operation confirmation command) for the return spring 2, and disconnects the electromagnetic clutch 4. .

  In this spring return type motor operated valve 100 ′, the return spring 2 gradually gets tired and deteriorated every time the spring return operation is performed. Therefore, the manufacturer of the spring return type electric valve 100 'recommends that the upper limit value of the number of spring return operations be determined and that the return spring 2 be replaced when the upper limit value is exceeded.

JP 2002-174269 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-332040 (Japanese Patent No. 3129677)

However, the drive from the initial position for confirming the return operation to the return operation end position after the electromagnetic clutch 4 is disengaged due to fatigue and deterioration of the return spring 2 before reaching the upper limit value of the number of spring return operations. The arrival time of the operation position of the shaft (referred to as spring return operation time) deviates from a predetermined allowable time range. In that case, even before reaching the upper limit value of the number of spring return operations, deterioration that cannot be ignored has occurred, and this opportunity has been overlooked even though the return spring 2 needs to be replaced.
Conventionally, the operator manually and visually confirms the spring return operation, which is cumbersome and has an operation error and an operation count error. In addition, there are cases in which the operation cannot be confirmed because it is installed in a place where an operator cannot easily approach it.

  In Patent Document 2, a detection body that transmits a position detection signal when the drive shaft rotates to the fully closed position and the fully open position of the valve body is provided, and the number of transmissions of the position detection signal of these detection bodies is integrated and displayed. Thus, the time for replacing the valve body and the seat ring is notified.

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the position detection signal is only transmitted when the drive shaft rotates to the fully closed position and the fully open position of the valve body, for example, the fail-safe direction is set to the fully closed direction. In this case, the number of transmissions is integrated without distinguishing between when the drive shaft is rotated to the fully closed position by normal opening control and when the drive shaft is rotated to the fully closed position by the spring return operation. For this reason, it is impossible to accurately count the number of times the spring return operation is performed, and determination of whether the return spring is normal or abnormal has to rely on the operator's visual confirmation as before. Further, it is not considered to cope with the above-described spring return operation time deviating from a predetermined allowable time range.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the object of the present invention is to automatically change the return spring replacement time without manually checking the spring return operation manually or visually. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spring return type electric flow control device that can be known.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a motor that rotates upon receiving power supply, a drive shaft connected to an output shaft of the motor via an electromagnetic clutch and a speed reduction mechanism, and an operation of the drive shaft. A flow rate regulating mechanism that regulates the flow rate of fluid according to the position, a control unit that gives an instruction to the motor to control the opening degree of the flow rate regulating mechanism, and a predetermined operating position of the drive shaft when the electromagnetic clutch is disconnected In a spring return type electric flow control device having a return spring that returns to the return operation end point position, an operation confirmation command for the return spring is received, and an operation position of the drive shaft is determined in advance as an initial position for confirming the return operation The clutch disengagement means that disengages the electromagnetic clutch and the return operation end position that detects the arrival of the drive shaft operation position at the return operation end position The time from when the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged by the detecting means and the clutch disengaging means until the arrival of the operating position of the drive shaft from the initial position for return operation confirmation to the return operation end position is detected. And a spring return operation time measuring means for measuring as follows.

  According to the present invention, when an operation confirmation command for the return spring (spring return operation confirmation command) is received, the operation position of the drive shaft moves to the initial position for confirming the return operation (for example, the fully open position). The electromagnetic clutch is disengaged when the operating position of the drive shaft has moved to the initial position. When the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged, the operating position of the drive shaft is returned to the return operation end position (for example, a position below the fully closed position) by the return force of the return spring, and the drive shaft to this return operation end position is returned. The return operation end position detecting means detects the arrival of the operation position. At this time, the spring return operation time measuring means measures the time from when the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged until the operation position of the drive shaft reaches the return operation end position as the spring return operation time. As a result, the spring return operation time is automatically measured without using human hands, and it is possible to determine whether the spring return operation is normal or abnormal from the spring return operation time.

  For example, in the present invention, every time the spring return operation time is measured, the measured spring return operation time is compared with a predetermined allowable time range. Here, if the measured spring return operation time is within the allowable time range, it is determined as normal, and if it is not within the allowable time range, it is determined as abnormal, and the determination result of normality / abnormality of the determined spring return operation time is notified.

  Further, in the present invention, every time the spring return operation time is measured, the measured spring return operation time is stored in a non-volatile memory in time series. The spring return operation time stored in the non-volatile memory is not lost even if a power failure occurs. This makes it possible to know changes over time in the spring return operation time if necessary, and to know early deterioration of the spring return operation from this change over time in the spring return operation, which can be used for decision making for maintenance. It becomes.

  According to the present invention, upon receiving an operation confirmation command for the return spring, the operation position of the drive shaft is moved to the initial position for confirming the return operation, and then the clutch disengaging means for disengaging the electromagnetic clutch and the return operation end position. The return operation end position detecting means for detecting the arrival of the operating position of the drive shaft and the arrival of the operating position of the drive shaft to the return operation end position after the electromagnetic clutch is disconnected by the clutch disengaging means Spring return operation time measurement means that measures time as the spring return operation time is provided, so the spring return operation time is automatically measured without using human hands, and the spring return operation time is normal or abnormal. The operator can check the spring return operation manually and visually. Rukoto not, it becomes possible to know the replacement timing of the return spring automatically.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a spring return operation confirmation system including an embodiment of a spring return type motor operated valve (spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device) according to the present invention. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 denote the same or equivalent components as those described with reference to FIG. 5, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 6 of the spring return type motor operated valve 100 is partially different in function from the control unit 6 ′ of the conventional spring return type motor operated valve 100 ′ shown in FIG. It has a communication function with the remote monitoring device 300 connected via the network.

  In this embodiment, the normal opening control range of the valve body (flow rate regulating mechanism) 7 of the spring return type motor operated valve 100 is an opening range from fully closed (θ0) to fully open (θ100). A return operation end position θSR is defined outside the opening range. In this example, the fail safe direction is the fully closed direction, and the return operation end point position θSR is set at a position lower than the fully closed position θ0.

  That is, when the electromagnetic clutch 4 is disengaged, the drive shaft 1 is moved in the closing direction by the return force of the return spring 2 and the valve body 7 is forcibly fully closed. Even after the fully closed state, the drive shaft 1 rotates and stops at the return operation end point position θSR defined at a position lower than the fully closed position θ0.

  When the fail-safe direction is the fully open direction, the return operation end position θSR is determined at a position higher than the fully open position θ100.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of a hardware configuration of the control unit 6 in the spring return type electric valve 100. In the figure, 6-1 is a CPU, 6-2 is a RAM, 6-3 is a ROM, 6-4 is an AC / DC converter, 6-5 to 6-8 is an interface, and 6-9 is an EEPROM. This is a writable nonvolatile memory. The AC / DC converter 6-4 receives the power supply (AC 24V) to the electromagnetic clutch 4 and the motor 5 as a branch input, converts this power supply into a DC voltage, and converts the CPU 6-1, RAM 6-2, ROM 6-3, and interface. 6-5 to 6-8 and supplied to the non-volatile memory 6-9.

  The CPU 6-1 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 6-3 while accessing the RAM 6-2 and the nonvolatile memory 6-9, sends a forward rotation command and a reverse rotation command to the motor 5, and turns on the electromagnetic clutch 4. Send commands and OFF commands. The ROM 6-3 stores a spring return operation confirmation program as a program unique to the present embodiment.

[Normal mode]
In the normal mode in which the spring return operation confirmation command is not received from the remote monitoring device 300, the CPU 6-1 of the control unit 6 sends an ON command to the electromagnetic clutch 4 so that the electromagnetic clutch 4 is in a clutch engaged state. Further, a forward rotation command and a reverse rotation command are sent to the motor 5 so that the current opening degree θpv of the valve body 7 matches the target opening degree θsp.

  As a result, the output shaft of the motor 5 is always rotationally coupled to the drive shaft 1 via the speed reduction mechanism 3, and the rotational force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the drive shaft 1 via the electromagnetic clutch 4 and the speed reduction mechanism 3. The opening degree control is performed. When the motor 5 stops after receiving a forward rotation command or a reverse rotation command, the drive shaft 1 maintains the current operating position by the holding torque of the motor 5.

[Confirmation of spring return operation]
When the administrator wants to confirm the spring return operation of the spring return type electric valve 100, the administrator sends a spring return operation confirmation command from the remote monitoring device 300 to the spring return type electric valve 100 via the network 200. Upon receiving this spring return operation confirmation command (YES in step 101 shown in FIG. 3), the CPU 6-1 of the control unit 6 sets the fully opened position θ100 as the initial position θST for confirming the return operation, and the initial for confirming this return operation. A drive command is sent to the motor 5 so as to move the operating position of the drive shaft 1 to the position θST (step 102).

  As a result, the operation position of the drive shaft 1 starts to move to the initial position θST for confirming the return operation, and when the operation position of the drive shaft 1 reaches the initial position θST for confirming the return operation (YES in step 103), the CPU 6− 1 sends an OFF command to the electromagnetic clutch 4 (step 104). Thereby, the power supply to the electromagnetic clutch 4 is cut off, the electromagnetic clutch 4 is cut off, and the torque of the motor 5 is not transmitted to the drive shaft 1.

  Further, the CPU 6-1 sends an OFF command to the electromagnetic clutch 4 and simultaneously starts a timer for measuring the spring return operation time TS (step 105). As a result, the timer starts measuring the time since the electromagnetic clutch 4 was disengaged.

  In this case, if the spring return function works normally, the drive shaft 1 operates in the closing direction by the return force of the return spring 2, and the valve body 7 is forcibly closed. At this time, the operation position of the drive shaft 1 is returned to the return operation end position θSR which is set at a position lower than the fully closed position θ0. Thereby, the opening value θpv sent from the opening sensor 8 to the control unit 6 becomes θSR, and it is confirmed in the CPU 6-1 that the operating position of the drive shaft 1 has been returned to the return operation end position θSR.

  When the CPU 6-1 confirms that the operation position of the drive shaft 1 has been returned to the return operation end position θSR (YES in step 106), the CPU 6-1 stops the operation of the timer started in step 105 (step 107). The time measured by the timer at this time is set as the spring return operation time TS, and this spring return operation time TS is stored in the nonvolatile memory 6-9 with the time at that time (step 108).

  Next, the CPU 6-1 checks whether or not the spring return operation time TS is within a predetermined allowable time range Tmin to Tmax (Tmin <Tmax) (step 109). If it is within the allowable time range Tmin to Tmax, the determination result that the spring return operation time TS is normal is notified to the remote monitoring device 300 via the interface 6-8 via the network 200 (step 110). .

  On the other hand, if the spring return operation time TS is not within the allowable time range Tmin to Tmax, the spring return operation time TS is abnormal together with information on whether TS is shorter than Tmin or longer than Tmax. Is sent to the remote monitoring apparatus 300 via the interface 6-8 and the network 200 (step 111).

  The CPU 6-1 repeats the above processing operation every time it receives a spring return operation confirmation command. By repeating this processing operation, every time the spring return operation time TS is measured, the measured spring return operation time TS is stored in the non-volatile memory 6-9 in time series. The spring return operation time TS stored in the nonvolatile memory 6-9 is not lost even if a power failure occurs.

[Checking the history of spring return operation time]
When the administrator wants to confirm the history of the spring return operation time, the administrator sends a history check command of the spring return operation time from the remote monitoring device 300 to the spring return type motor operated valve 100 via the network 200. Upon receiving this spring return operation time history confirmation command (YES in step 201 shown in FIG. 4), the CPU 6-1 of the control unit 6 performs a predetermined operation from the current time stored in the nonvolatile memory 6-9. The spring return operation time TS up to the number of times before is read, and the read spring return operation time TS is notified to the remote monitoring apparatus 300 via the interface 6-8 and the network 200 (step 202).

  As a result, the administrator can know the change over time of the spring return operation time TS as necessary, and the deterioration of the spring return operation of the spring return type motor operated valve 100 can be quickly detected from the change over time of the spring return operation time TS. Can be used to make maintenance decisions.

  In the above-described embodiment, the spring return type motor operated valve 100 is connected to the remote monitoring device 300 via the network 200. However, the spring return type motor operated valve 100 alone performs a spring return operation confirmation test. It is good. In this case, the spring return type motor operated valve 100 may be provided with a display section for notifying normality / abnormality of the spring return operation time TS, the spring return operation time TS, and the temporal change of the spring return operation time TS.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operating position of the drive shaft 1 is the return operation end position θSR based on information from the opening sensor 8 that detects the operating position of the drive shaft 1 as the current opening θpv of the valve body 7. In addition to the opening degree sensor 8, a sensor (for example, a limit switch) for detecting that the operation position of the drive shaft 1 has been returned to the return operation end position θSR is provided. You may make it give the information from this sensor to CPU6-1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fully open position θ100 of the valve body 7 is set as the initial position θST for confirming the return operation. However, the fully open position θ100 does not necessarily have to be set as the initial position θST for confirming the return operation. Arbitrary positions such as% position and 90% position may be used as the initial position θST for return operation confirmation.

It is a figure showing the outline of the spring return operation check system containing one embodiment of the spring return type electric valve concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the hardware constitutions of the control part of the spring return type motor operated valve in this spring return operation confirmation system. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in a control part at the time of receiving the spring return operation confirmation command in this spring return type motor operated valve. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in a control part at the time of receiving the log | history confirmation instruction | command of a spring return operation time in this spring return type motor operated valve. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional spring return type motor operated valve.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Drive shaft, 2 ... Return spring, 3 ... Deceleration mechanism, 4 ... Electromagnetic clutch, 5 ... Motor, 6 ... Control part, 6-1 ... CPU, 6-2 ... RAM, 6-3 ... ROM, 6-4 ... AC / DC converter, 6-5 to 6-8 ... interface, 6-9 ... nonvolatile memory, 7 ... valve, 8 ... opening sensor, 100 ... spring return type motor operated valve, 200 ... network, 300 ... remote monitoring device.

Claims (3)

A motor that rotates in response to power supply, a drive shaft connected to the output shaft of the motor via an electromagnetic clutch and a speed reduction mechanism, and a flow rate regulating mechanism that regulates the flow rate of fluid according to the operating position of the drive shaft A control unit that gives a command to the motor to control the opening of the flow rate regulating mechanism, and a return spring that returns the operating position of the drive shaft to a predetermined return operation end position when the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged In the spring return type electric flow control device with
Clutch disengaging means for disengaging the electromagnetic clutch after receiving an operation confirmation command for the return spring, moving the operation position of the drive shaft to a predetermined initial position for confirming return operation;
Return operation end position detecting means for detecting arrival of the operation position of the drive shaft at the return operation end position;
The time from when the electromagnetic clutch is disengaged by the clutch disengaging means until the arrival of the operation position of the drive shaft from the initial position for confirming return operation to the return operation end position is detected. A spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device comprising: a spring return operation time measuring means for measuring time. In the spring return type electric flow control device according to claim 1,
Each time the spring return operation time is measured, the measured spring return operation time is compared with a predetermined allowable time range to determine whether the measured spring return operation time is normal or abnormal. Action judging means;
A spring return type electric flow rate adjusting device comprising: a determination result notifying unit for notifying a normal / abnormal determination result of the spring return operation time determined by the spring return operation determining unit. In the spring return type electric flow control device according to claim 1,
Spring return type electric flow rate adjustment means comprising spring return operation time storage means for storing the measured spring return operation time in a non-volatile memory in time series each time the spring return operation time is measured apparatus.

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