JP2008169615A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device capable of removing a substance adhered to a wall surface of a water channel in a hydraulic power station safely without stopping operation of the hydraulic power station. <P>SOLUTION: This cleaning device 1 for removing the substances such as aquatic organism and sludge or the like adhered to the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 in the hydraulic power station is provided with a self-propelled vehicle 2 capable of running by itself on a bottom part 24 of the water channel 23 along a grade of the water channel 23, a float 7 capable of floating on the surface of water flowing in the water channel 23, a connection means 16 connecting the float 7 with the self-propelled vehicle 2 to move the float 7 on the surface of water in the interlocking relationship with the self-propelled vehicle 2, a brush body 10 provided on the float 7 and having a brush 1 capable of abutting on the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23, and a driving source 13 provided on the float 7 to vibrate the brush 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device, and more particularly, to a cleaning device for removing deposits such as aquatic organisms and sludge attached to a wall surface of a water channel of a hydroelectric power plant.

  Generally, in a hydropower plant, water is taken into a water intake weir provided upstream of a river, etc., and this water is led from the intake of the water weir into a gently sloping waterway, and the water is flowed down to the downstream head tank. Electricity is generated by utilizing the difference between the head tank and the power plant.

  In such a hydroelectric power plant, in order to always obtain the maximum output, it is necessary to keep the wall surface of the waterway smooth and to be able to allow the maximum flow of water to flow down. However, due to the attachment of aquatic organisms and sludge to the wall surface of the water channel over time, the roughness of the water channel wall surface deteriorates, making it impossible to flow down the maximum flow rate. There is a problem that cannot be obtained.

  In order to cope with such a problem, various apparatuses and methods for removing deposits such as aquatic organisms and sludge attached to the wall surface of the water channel have been proposed. For example, a method for removing the deposit from the wall surface of the water channel by human power is proposed. It is taken.

  The method by human power is to stop the operation of the hydroelectric power plant, stop the supply of water to the power plant via the water channel, and remove the deposits attached to the wall surface of the water channel with a brush etc. in this state Therefore, there is a problem that the power plant must be stopped for a long time, and the sales by the hydroelectric power plant are greatly reduced. In addition, since a large amount of deposits are discharged as industrial waste, a great amount of labor and cost are required for the treatment.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes a cleaning device and a cleaning method using a robot. This cleaning device travels along the wall surface of the water channel integrally with the robot, scrapes off the adhering material adhering to the wall surface of the water channel by the rotation of the cutter of the cleaning device, and removes the adhering material scraped off to the robot's recovery container. The power is supplied to the robot and the cleaning device using a cable from the ground.
JP 2004-76403 A

  By the way, in the cleaning apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is not necessary to stop the power plant as described above. However, when the cable is cut for some reason during the cleaning operation, the cable is disconnected from the water channel. There is a risk that it will flow down to the power plant over the head tank, causing damage or damage to the water turbine of the power plant.

  The present invention has been made in view of the conventional problems as described above, and can easily remove the deposits attached to the wall surface of the water channel without stopping the power plant, and remove the deposits. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that does not cause a possibility of accidentally damaging or damaging a turbine or the like of a power plant during work.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
That is, the invention according to claim 1 is a cleaning device for removing deposits such as aquatic organisms and sludge adhering to the wall surface of the water channel of the hydroelectric power plant, and the bottom of the water channel is arranged along the gradient of the water channel. A self-propelled vehicle capable of self-propelling, a float capable of floating on the surface of the water flowing in the waterway, the float and the self-propelled vehicle are connected, and the float is linked to the self-propelled vehicle. A connecting means for moving on the water surface, a brush body provided on the float and having a brush capable of contacting the wall surface of the water channel, and a drive source provided on the float and vibrating the brush. It is characterized by.

  According to the cleaning device of the present invention, when the self-propelled vehicle travels along the bottom of the water channel, the float moves on the water surface of the water channel in conjunction with the self-propelled vehicle via the connecting means, and is provided on the float. The moving brush body moves along the wall surface of the water channel. In this case, the adhering matter adhering to the wall surface of the water channel is removed by vibrating the brush of the brush body by the drive source.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the float is urged toward the wall surface of the water channel and the brush is pressed against the wall surface of the water channel. A member is provided.

  According to the cleaning device of the present invention, the brush is pressed against the wall surface of the water channel by the spring member, so that the deposits attached to the wall surface of the water channel can be efficiently removed by the brush.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the float is brought into contact with a wall surface of the water channel on both sides of the float, and the float is guided to a predetermined position in the water channel. A guiding member is provided.

  According to the cleaning device of the present invention, since the float can be guided to a predetermined position in the water channel by the guide member, the brush of the brush body provided on the float is brought into contact with the plane of the water channel with a constant pressure contact force. Can do.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both ends of the connecting means are swingably connected to the self-propelled vehicle and the float, respectively. It is characterized by that.

  According to the cleaning device of the present invention, even if the movement of the self-propelled vehicle becomes unstable due to a step or bend at the bottom of the water channel, the movement can be absorbed by the swinging of both ends of the connecting means. Can be stably moved on the water surface of the water channel, and the brush of the brush body can be stably brought into contact with the wall surface of the water channel.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the brush of the brush body is configured to be capable of adjusting a position in a water depth direction in the water channel. Features.

  According to the cleaning device of the present invention, the position of the brush of the brush body is set so as to match the position of the maximum flow velocity in the water channel, for example, so that the maximum adhering amount on the wall surface of the water channel can be removed at a predetermined level. The flow rate can be secured, and the maximum output is easily obtained by the power plant.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the cleaning device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the connecting means is made of a material having a predetermined rigidity capable of self-maintaining the shape.

  According to the cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the connecting means is formed of a material having a predetermined rigidity capable of self-maintaining the shape, so that there is no risk of breakage and the self-propelled vehicle and the float are reliably connected. be able to.

As described above, according to the cleaning device of the present invention, the float-side brush is moved along the wall surface of the water channel by moving the float on the water surface in conjunction with the self-propelled vehicle traveling on the bottom of the water channel. It is possible to remove the adhering matter adhering to the wall surface by moving. In this case, since it is not necessary to supply power to the self-propelled vehicle from outside the waterway, the cable for supplying power is drawn into the waterway, the cable is cut for some reason, and the watermill of the power plant is damaged, There is no breakage, and the deposit removal operation can be performed safely. Also, since no cable is used to connect the self-propelled vehicle and the float, the water turbine of the power plant as described above is not damaged or damaged, and the self-propelled vehicle and the float are separated. Don't worry.
Furthermore, since the deposits on the wall surface of the waterway can be removed without stopping the power plant, sales will not be affected by the power plant being stopped.
Furthermore, since it is possible to remove deposits that adhere only to the maximum flow velocity on the wall surface of the channel, there is no need to remove a large amount of deposits, and the removed deposits can be combined with the water in the channel. The removal cost can be reduced without affecting the environment, power plant, etc.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show an embodiment of a cleaning device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an entire hydroelectric power plant to which the cleaning device according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. The schematic which shows the whole cleaning apparatus of invention, FIG. 3 is the side view of FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning device 1 of the present embodiment includes a water intake 22 of a water intake dam 21 provided on the upstream side of a river or the like of the hydroelectric power plant 20, and a head tank 26 provided on the downstream side. Self-propelled that is effective for cleaning the inside of the water channel 23 that connects between the two, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom 24 in the water channel 23 can be self-propelled along the gradient of the water channel 23. The vehicle 2, a float 7 that can float on the surface of the water flowing down in the water channel 23, a connecting means 16 that moves the float 7 on the surface of the water in conjunction with the self-propelled vehicle 2, and a brush body provided on the float 7 10.

The self-propelled vehicle 2 includes a box-shaped vehicle body 3, an axle 4 that is rotatably attached to the front and rear portions of the vehicle body 3, and wheels 5 that are rotatably attached to both ends of each axle 4 via bearings or the like. A battery 6 provided inside the vehicle main body 3, a drive motor (not shown) driven by the battery 6 and provided inside the vehicle main body 3, and provided inside the vehicle main body 3 and driven. Power transmission means (not shown) including gears, chains and the like for transmitting the driving force of the motor to each axle 4 is provided.
Guide rollers 3 a are rotatably provided at the upper four corners of the vehicle body 3 of the self-propelled vehicle 2, and the self-propelled vehicle 2 is displaced from the center of the bottom 24 of the water channel 23 toward the wall surface 25 due to some cause. When the wheel 5 comes into contact with the wall surface, the guide roller 3a comes into contact with the wall surface 25, so that the self-running vehicle 2 is secured.

  The self-propelled vehicle 2 is disposed in a state where it is submerged in the bottom 24 of the water channel 23, and the bottom 24 of the water channel 23 is moved along the gradient of the water channel 23 without being affected by the flow velocity of the water flowing down the water channel 23. The size, weight, position of the wheel 5 and the like are set so that the vehicle can run at a predetermined speed.

  The float 7 is not particularly limited as long as it can float on the water flowing down in the water channel 23, and is formed of a resin material such as foamed styrene resin. In the present embodiment, the two rectangular plate-like float portions 8 and 8 are combined side by side, and the float portions 8 and 8 are connected by a plate-like connecting portion 9 thinner than the float portions 8 and 8. A float 7 is configured. In this case, the connecting portion 9 may also be formed of the same material as the float portions 8 and 8.

  Guide members 19 are attached to both side portions of each float portion 8 of the float 7, and the front end of the guide member 19 is brought into contact with the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23, so that the float 7 is approximately at the center in the width direction in the water channel 23. Can be positioned. The guide member 19 is configured by, for example, a combination of a bearing capable of rolling the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 and a leg portion whose length is adjustable that supports the bearing on the float portion 8. In addition, the guide member 19 is not limited to the combination, and any guide member 19 may be used as long as the float 7 can be positioned at a substantially central portion in the width direction in the water channel 23.

  The brush body 10 includes a pair of arm portions 11 and 11 provided in a C shape so that a lower portion spreads outward at the center portion in the longitudinal direction of both side portions of each float portion 8 of the float 7, and each arm portion. 11 is composed of a support portion 12a that is swingably connected to a tip portion of the brush 11 via a hinge 11a, and a brush 12 formed of metal, resin, or the like that is implanted in the support portion 12a. The angles of the pair of arm portions 11 and 11 are adjusted such that the arm portion 11 and 11 are in contact with the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 stably.

  Each arm portion 11 of the brush body 10 is configured such that a rear end portion thereof is connected to a drive source 13 provided on the upper portion of each float portion 8 and vibrates in the downward direction of the water channel 23 by the operation of the drive source 13. ing. The drive source 13 includes a drive motor 14 and a conversion member (not shown) that converts the rotation of the drive motor 14 into vibration. The rotation of the drive motor 14 is converted by the conversion member and transmitted to each arm portion 11. Thereby, each arm part 11 vibrates in the flow-down direction of the water channel 23.

A spring member 15 that urges the arms 11, 11 in the direction of the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 is interposed between the rear end portions of the arms 11, 11 of the brush body 10. By urging both arms 11 and 11 toward the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23, the brushes 12 and 12 of both arms 11 and 11 are pressed against the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23. The spring member 15 is not particularly limited as long as both the arm portions 11 and 11 can be urged in the direction of the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23, and various springs can be used.
The spring member 15 is interposed between the float portions 8 and 8 so as to urge both arm portions 11 and 11 of the brush body 10 toward the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 via the float portions 8 and 8. It may be.

Each arm 11 of the brush body 10 is configured to be able to adjust the relative position in the vertical direction with respect to each float portion 8, and by adjusting the relative position in the vertical direction with respect to each float portion 8 of each arm portion 11, The distance from the water surface of each brush 12 can be adjusted, and each brush 12 can be brought into contact with a position away from the water surface of the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 by a predetermined distance.
As means for adjusting the relative position in the vertical direction of each arm 11 of the brush body 10 with respect to each float portion 8, a method of configuring the length of each arm 11 to be variable, and an attachment position of each arm 11 to each float portion 8. And a method of adjusting the relative position of each arm 11 in the vertical direction by adjusting the relative position of the pinion with respect to the rack.

  The connecting means 16 swings a tubular main body portion 17 formed of a pipe having a predetermined rigidity capable of self-maintaining the shape, and both ends of the main body portion 17 to the connecting portion 9 of the self-propelled vehicle 2 and the float 7. It is comprised from the hinge 18 connected so that it is possible. By the cooperation of the main body 17 and the hinge 18 of the connecting means 16, the float 7 moves on the water surface in conjunction with the traveling of the self-propelled vehicle 2, and both brushes 12 of the brush body 10 attached to the float 7, In the state where 12 is in contact with the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23, it moves on the wall surface 25 in the downward direction.

  By connecting both ends of the body portion 17 of the connecting means 16 to the connecting portion 9 of the self-propelled vehicle 2 and the float 7 via the hinge 18 so as to be swingable, the step of the bottom 24 of the water channel 23, the bending of the water channel 23, and so on. The brushes 12 and 12 of the brush body 10 on the float 7 side can be smoothly moved in the flow-down direction along the wall surface 25 while being in contact with the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 without being affected by the above.

In the present embodiment, each arm portion 12 of the brush body 10 is vertically oriented with respect to each float portion 8 so that the brush 12 is located at a depth of about 1/3 from the water surface flowing down in the water channel 23. The relative position of is adjusted.
That is, the flow velocity of the water flowing down in the water channel 23 is as follows: Reference (Basic Civil Engineering Complete Book 6 Hydrology I Higashi Ichiro Written by Morikita Publishing Co., Ltd., Chapter 3 Action of Viscosity and Turbulence ), It is known that the position at a depth of about 1/3 from the water surface is the maximum flow velocity, so that the brush 12 is brought into contact with the entire wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 to cause deposits. Even if it is not removed, the maximum flow velocity can be ensured at a predetermined level if the brush 12 is brought into contact only at a position of a depth of about ３ from the water surface and the deposits at that position are removed. It becomes easy to secure the maximum flow rate.

  Then, the cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above is inserted into the water channel 23 from the water intake port 22, and the self-propelled vehicle 2 is disposed in a state where it is submerged in the bottom 24 of the water channel 23. Is moved in the downward direction of the water channel 23, the float 7 moves in the downward direction of the water channel 23 in conjunction with the self-propelled vehicle 2 while floating on the water surface of the water channel 23. The brush body 10 is moved together with the float 7 in the flow-down direction.

In this case, each brush 12 of the brush body 10 is pressed against the wall surface of the water channel 23 by the urging force of the spring member 15 and is vibrated in the flow-down direction of the water channel 23 by the operation of the drive source 13. Adhesives such as aquatic organisms and sludge adhering to the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 are removed neatly by each brush 12 of the body 10.
The removed deposits are mixed into the water in the water channel 23 and flow down together with the water, but a large amount of deposits are not mixed into the water, destroying the natural environment. There is no adverse effect on the turbines of the power plant 27.

  Then, after the self-propelled vehicle 2 travels in the downward direction along the water channel 23 and removes the deposits on the wall surface 25 over the entire length of the water channel 23, the vehicle 2 is collected at the position of the head tank 26 provided downstream. Thus, the deposits on the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 connecting the intake port 22 and the head tank 26 can be removed over the entire length, and the maximum flow rate of the water channel 23 can be secured. Maximum output can be obtained.

  In the cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the wall surface in the water channel 23 without stopping the operation of the hydroelectric power plant 20 and without stopping the water flowing down in the water channel 23. Since the adhering matter adhering to 25 can be removed, the sales are not reduced by the operation stop of the entire hydroelectric power plant 20. Further, since the self-propelled vehicle 2 has the battery 6, the drive source, etc., it is not necessary to supply power to the self-propelled vehicle 2 from the outside of the water channel 23, and the cable is drawn into the water channel for supplying power. Since there is no need, it is possible to safely remove the deposits attached to the wall surface 25 of the water channel 23 without causing an accident such as damaging or damaging the water wheel by cutting the cable.

It is the schematic which showed the whole hydroelectric power plant to which the cleaning apparatus by this invention is applied. It is the schematic which showed the whole cleaning apparatus. It is a side view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 2 Self-propelled vehicle 3 Vehicle main body 3a Guide roller 4 Axle 5 Wheel 6 Battery 7 Float 8 Float part 9 Connection part 10 Brush body 11 Arm part 11a Hinge 12 Brush 12a Support part 13 Drive source 14 Drive motor 15 Spring member 16 Connecting means 17 Body portion 18 Hinge 19 Guide member 20 Hydroelectric power plant 21 Water intake dam 22 Water intake port 23 Water channel 24 Bottom portion 25 Wall surface 26 Head tank 27 Power plant

Claims (6)

A cleaning device for removing deposits such as aquatic organisms and sludge adhering to the wall surface of the waterway of a hydroelectric power plant,
A self-propelled vehicle capable of self-propelling along the slope of the waterway, a float capable of floating on the surface of the water flowing in the waterway, and connecting the float and the self-propelled vehicle; A connecting means for moving the float on the water surface in conjunction with the self-propelled vehicle, a brush body provided on the float and having a brush capable of contacting the wall surface of the water channel, and provided on the float A cleaning device comprising a drive source for vibrating the brush.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the float is provided with a spring member that urges the brush toward the wall surface of the water channel and presses the brush against the wall surface of the water channel.   The cleaning according to claim 1 or 2, wherein guide members are provided on both sides of the float so as to contact the wall surface of the water channel and guide the float to a predetermined position in the water channel. apparatus.   The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both ends of the connecting means are swingably connected to the self-propelled vehicle and the float, respectively.   5. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the brush of the brush body is configured to be capable of adjusting a position in a water depth direction in the water channel.   The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means is made of a material having a predetermined rigidity capable of self-maintaining the shape.

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