JP2017187056A - Valve opening display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve opening display device in which a visual acknowledgement of a valve opening is positively facilitated also from a view point where a valve rod is extended in a right opposite direction and further its fixing and removal can be easily carried out.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a valve opening display device [100] for displaying a valve opening of a valve [50] that comprises a worm wheel [61] engaged with a male thread [21] of a valve rod [20] by a worm and rotatably pivoted there; a display part including a unit [80] having display means [70] connected in a functional manner to the worm wheel [61] in order to display the valve opening on the basis of a rotational angle of the worm wheel [61]; a clamp [90] removably arranging these worm wheel [61] and the display part to the valve [50]. The display means [70] is arranged at a more outside position [W} than a handle [40] in such a way that the other end [23] of the valve rod [20] can be seen directly from a visual point [V] through a position extended in a right opposite direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve opening display device, and more particularly to a valve opening display device that is appropriately attached to a ball valve, a gate valve, a diaphragm valve, or the like.

  The valve opening degree of the ball valve (globe valve) and the gate valve (gate valve) can be confirmed to some extent from the outside by the amount of displacement of the valve stem and handle, but is not quantitative and accurate. Therefore, a valve with an indicator that displays the valve opening degree by raising and lowering the indicator member that follows the raising and lowering of the valve stem is commercially available.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a fluid controller capable of reading a valve opening without a valve opening indicator. This fluid controller can be appropriately provided with a valve opening indicator. That is, the stem (valve body, etc.) in this fluid controller has a valve opening indicator that displays the opening degree of the valve body or a lock nut that fixes the opening degree of the valve body between the ground nut and the handle. Any of the attached parts can be retrofitted.

  For example, in the fluid controller disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the valve is installed in the vertical orientation in which the valve rod is vertically installed, the valve opening can be easily viewed from a distance. On the other hand, when the valve stem is installed horizontally, the operator or the monitoring staff (hereinafter referred to simply as “worker”), whose viewpoint is the position where the valve stem, which is the central axis of the handle, is extended in the front direction, Since the valve opening indicator is hidden behind the handle, it is difficult to view it directly.

  In other words, in the valve opening adjustment work that is performed directly facing the handle, in order to visually check the valve opening with the valve with the valve opening indicator, the length of the valve stem exposed from the stem (valve body, etc.) is measured. There is a need to. Therefore, since the operator visually recognizes the valve stem from a right angle direction, it is necessary to look into the side of the handle.

  As a result, the worker is forced to take an unnatural posture every time the valve is operated or the valve opening degree is checked, and there is a problem that extra labor and time such as changing the position and orientation of the body are consumed. It was. In addition, an operator inadvertently inserting a head or face in a narrow place where piping and valves are densely packed in a factory or the like has another problem that is not only a waste of labor and time. More specifically, these problems are as follows.

  First, it is dangerous and causes injury. For example, in addition to a simple bruise, there is a possibility that the leaked liquid may be damaged by bringing the face close to the ground seal part. Second, there is a risk of equipment damage. For example, it is conceivable that a worker's head hits piping or the like.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an open / close valve with a valve opening indicator. Also in this valve, since the valve opening indicator is hidden behind the handle from the direction facing the handle, it is difficult to directly check the valve opening, the same problem as in Patent Document 1. There is.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a valve opening degree indicating device for a rotary valve. That is, in a rotary valve drive device, a magnet is fixed to a rotating body that rotates within a 90-degree angle range together with the valve shaft of the rotary valve, and close to a passage through which the magnet passes on a plane that extends parallel to the rotating body. One or two or more switches are attached, and the circuit is opened and closed in response to the magnets. The valve opening degree indication device for a rotary valve disclosed in Patent Document 3 is not a configuration in which the valve opening degree can be directly visually recognized from the direction facing the handle.

JP 2014-109340 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-37304 JP 2003-240156 A

  In a conventional valve opening indicator or the like, there is a problem that it is difficult to directly recognize the valve opening from the direction facing the handle. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to attach an external unit to an existing valve from the viewpoint of the position where the valve stem is extended in the front-facing direction. However, the present invention provides a valve opening degree display device that facilitates the visual recognition of the valve opening degree and is easy to attach and remove.

  A valve opening degree display device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a valve body, a valve rod that is engaged with one end of the valve body and has a male screw cut on an outer periphery thereof, and is screwed into the male screw of the valve rod. A female threaded support, and a handle fixedly attached to the other end of the valve stem so that the valve stem can be manually pivoted. A valve opening degree display device for displaying a valve opening degree of a valve, which is based on a worm wheel meshed with the male screw of the valve stem and pivotally supported so as to be rotatable, and a rotation angle of the worm wheel A display unit including a unit in which display means is functionally coupled to the worm wheel for displaying the valve opening, and a clamp for detachably attaching the worm wheel and the display unit to the valve. The display portion extends the other end of the valve stem in the facing direction. As it can be direct from the point of view according to the position, and configurations disposed outside position than the handle.

  Moreover, the valve opening degree display apparatus which concerns on 1 aspect of this invention WHEREIN: The said unit may have a some combination gearwheel.

  In the valve opening degree display device according to an aspect of the present invention, the display unit may include a conversion mechanism that converts the rotation angle of the worm wheel into a linear movement distance of the indicating member.

  In the valve opening display device according to one aspect of the present invention, the conversion mechanism includes a rack gear and a pinion gear, and the rotation angle of the worm wheel meshes with the pinion gear via the pinion gear. The indication member may be attached to the rack gear.

  In the valve opening degree display device according to an aspect of the present invention, the display unit may include an indication member whose indication angle changes in conjunction with the rotation angle of the worm wheel.

  Further, in the valve opening degree display device according to an aspect of the present invention, the display unit includes an encoder that converts a rotation angle of the worm wheel into an electric signal, and a display unit that displays the valve opening degree from the electric signal. , May be provided.

  In the valve opening degree display device according to one aspect of the present invention, the valve is preferably a ball valve or a gate valve.

  According to the present invention, by attaching an external unit to an existing valve, the valve opening can be easily visually confirmed even from the viewpoint of the position where the valve stem is extended in the facing direction, and attachment and removal are possible. An easy valve opening display device can be provided.

It is the front view which partially saw through the valve opening degree display apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the valve opening degree display apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ball valve used as the application object of the valve opening degree display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic top view of the valve-opening degree display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (A) A linear movement pointer | guide type | mold and (B) a rotation pointer | guide type | mold. In the display part of the valve opening degree display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, it is a schematic explanatory drawing explaining the display part of the valve opening degree which operate | moves based on the electrical signal which an encoder outputs.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential as means for solving the present invention. Not necessarily.

  FIG. 1 is a partially transparent front view of a valve opening degree display device (hereinafter also referred to as “this device”) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of this device. The apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 functions so as to be appropriately attached to an existing ball valve (hereinafter simply referred to as “valve”) 50 to display the valve opening X. Moreover, if the valve opening display function of this apparatus 100 becomes unnecessary, it can also be removed from the valve 50 and diverted to the same type valve. Throughout the drawings, parts having the same effect are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description.

  Generally, this type of valve 50 is fixed so that the support 30 is inserted into a pipe (not shown). In the apparatus 100, the unit 80, which is the main component, is bolted to the support 30 of the valve 50 using, for example, a bracket (clamp) 90. The unit 80 is configured to mesh a plurality of gears (hereinafter, also referred to as “conversion mechanism 60”) 61 to 65 inside the casing 82 to form the conversion mechanism 60 and cause the display unit 70 to perform a desired display. Has been.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 to be described later, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the bracket 90 that can be securely fixed is illustrated, but it may be fixed with a simpler clamp. According to these fixing means, in addition to the pre-installed valve 50 marketed as a finished product, the valve 50 already installed can be applied. Therefore, for the convenience of maintenance of the valve 50 and the like, it is easy to remove the apparatus 100 from the valve 50 and then attach it again, or to replace the apparatus 100 as appropriate.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a target valve to which the present apparatus is applied. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball-shaped valve 50 is configured by a support 30 fixed so as to allow fluid to flow freely in a pipe (not shown), and a movable portion supported by the support 30. Yes. The support 30 is mainly composed of a valve box 33 and a valve lid 32. The movable part is mainly composed of a valve body 10, a valve stem 20, and a handle 40.

  The valve stem 20 has a bolt shape with a male screw 21 cut on the outer periphery thereof, the valve body 10 is engaged with a lower end 22 through a swivel function, and a handle is attached to an upper end 23. 40 is fixed. The valve lid 32 is fixed so as to cover the valve box 33 and seals the valve box 33. The valve lid 32 has a nut-like function for rotatably supporting the valve stem 20 in a screwing range by a female screw 31 screwed to the male screw 21 of the valve stem 20. In other words, the ball valve 50 is configured such that the valve rod 20 is rotatably supported by the valve lid 32 and the valve body 10 connected to the valve rod 20 and accommodated in the valve box 33 can be operated by the handle 40 from the outside. It is configured.

  As described above, the unit 80 converts the valve opening X of the valve 50 to be attached into a desired display form by the conversion mechanism 60 disposed in the housing 82 and causes the display unit 70 to display the converted display form. The conversion mechanism 60 includes a worm wheel 61, relay gears 62 and 63 meshed therewith, a pinion gear 64 meshed therewith, and a rack gear 65 meshed therewith.

  The display means 70 is disposed at a position W on the outer side of the handle 40 so that the display means 70 can be directly viewed from the viewpoint V by the position where the other end 23 of the valve rod 20 is extended (see FIG. 3). In addition, an indication member (hereinafter also referred to as “pointer”) 74 is fixed to the rack gear 65. Behind the pointer 74 is a dial 76 in which “closed” and “open” or words, colorings, or the like having meanings corresponding thereto are clearly shown. The pointer 74 can instruct and display any displacement amount from “closed” to “open” on the dial 76.

  The worm wheel 61 is pivotally supported by a housing 82, and the housing 82 is detachably bolted to the support 30 of the valve 50 using a bracket (clamp) 90. Further, the worm wheel 61 is set in a positional relationship so as to mesh with the male screw 21 of the valve stem 20. The unit 80 is configured to functionally couple the worm wheel 61 and the display means 70 to the housing 82.

  Here, “functionally coupled” means a configuration in which the display unit 70 realizes a function of displaying the valve opening degree X based on the rotation angle θ1 of the worm wheel 61. That is, the valve stem 20 rotates with the handle 40 manually turned by the operator, and the male screw 21 cut on the outer periphery of the valve stem 20 moves up and down the valleys. As a result, the worm wheel 61 that meshes with the male screw 21 rotates by the rotation angle θ1 according to the amount of displacement by which the male screw 21 moves up and down.

  The unit 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. From the pinion gear 64 via the relay gear 62 that rotates coaxially with the worm wheel 61 and the next relay gear 63 meshed with the relay gear 62, the unit 80 meshes with it. The displacement amount is transmitted to the rack gear 65. As a result, the pointer 74 fixed to the rack gear 65 indicates any displacement amount from “closed” to “open” on the dial 76 fixed behind the rack gear 65. As described above, it is difficult to visually recognize the portion hidden behind the handle 40 from the front side of the handle 40. Therefore, the display means 70 is disposed at a position W outside the handle 40 so that the display means 70 can be directly viewed from the viewpoint V by the position where the other end 23 of the valve rod 20 is extended (FIGS. 1, 3, and 3). 4).

  4A and 4B are schematic plan views of the present apparatus, which are (A) a linear movement pointer type and (B) a rotation pointer type. The linear movement pointer type device 100 shown in FIG. 4A can set the valve opening X even from the viewpoint V (see FIGS. 1 and 3) based on the position where the valve rod 20 is extended to the front (front of the handle 40). Easy to see. Similarly, in the rotation pointer type device 200 shown in FIG. 4B, the valve opening X can be easily visually recognized from the viewpoint V by the position where the valve rod 20 is extended to the front.

  4B includes a unit 81 that displays the valve opening X based on the rotation angle θ1 of the worm wheel 61 as the indicated angle θ2 using the rotation pointer. ing. Unit 81 is configured to functionally couple worm wheel 61 and display means 71 to housing 82. The display means 71 is provided with an indicator member (hereinafter also referred to as “pointer”) 75 whose indicator angle θ2 changes so as to be proportional to the rotational angle θ1 of the worm wheel 61 corresponding to the valve opening X.

  The rotating pointer type device 200 (FIG. 4B) can realize the operation in which the pointer 75 changes to the indicated angle θ2 on the plane including the disk-like handle 40 as follows. That is, the gears other than the worm wheel 61 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the device 100 are not illustrated, but can be realized by a combination of a plurality of gears including a bevel gear that can change a gear ratio and a rotation direction. .

  Behind the pointer 75 is a dial 77 in which “closed” and “open” or words, colors, or the like having meanings corresponding thereto are clearly shown. On the dial 77, the pointer 75 can indicate and display any displacement amount from “closed” to “open”.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining a display portion of the valve opening degree X that operates based on an electric signal output from the encoder in the display portion of the present apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 72 of the apparatus 300 includes an encoder 78 that converts the rotation angle θ1 of the worm wheel 61 into an electric signal P, and display means (display) that displays the valve opening X from the electric signal P. 79) and a unit (not shown) in which the display means 79 is functionally coupled to the worm wheel 61.

  The display means 79 can express any amount of displacement from “closed” to “open” as desired based on a change in the signal according to the valve opening X included in the electric signal P. It is. Specifically, a change in ideographic characters such as “closed”, “medium”, “open”, etc., and a numerical value of 0 to 100% of the valve opening X may be displayed, or a blinking of a color-coded lamp may be simply used. For example, the digital display means 79 using a liquid crystal or LED can be installed by selecting an arbitrary position where the visibility is best. That is, there is no restriction on the installation location of the display means 79, and there is no need for the position close to the valve stem 20, the handle 40, or the like.

  Next, the encoder 78 is illustrated in a simplified manner while avoiding a detailed illustration. A configuration in which N and S magnetic poles are alternately or continuously magnetized or embedded in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the worm wheel 61, which is a rotating body, and a magnetic sensor (such as a Hall element) capable of detecting these magnetic poles is disposed on the fixed side. Conceivable. By using such an encoder 78, for example, when the valve opening X is fully closed or fully opened, the rotation angle (phase) θ1 of the worm wheel 61 displaced from the reference point is converted into an electric signal P and output. Is possible.

  The electric signal P may be transmitted to the central control unit 99 in addition to the display means (display) 79 as a change in voltage or frequency as a change amount according to the valve opening degree X. Then, even if the central control unit 99 is configured by a manual valve operation that is not fully automatic control, the valve operation history can be left as a management record. As a result, it is possible to enhance system management of a plant or the like. That is, although it is a manually operated valve, the valve opening X can be remotely monitored by a monitoring device such as a process computer. When the valve opening information is taken into the process computer, data processing and data analysis can also be performed.

A supplementary explanation will be given below. In the following description, reference numerals are omitted.
This device can be applied to a valve already installed as well as a pre-installed valve commercially available as a finished product. That is, the valve can be attached to almost any valve as long as the valve has an open / close structure capable of engaging the worm wheel from the outside with a male screw cut on the outer periphery of the valve stem. Then, the rotation of the valve stem can be detected by the worm wheel meshing with the thread of the valve stem, and the valve opening degree can be displayed based on the amount of displacement.

  That is, this device discloses that the present invention can be applied to a valve that adjusts the opening degree while raising and lowering the valve body by rotating the valve rod by the handle. More specifically, in order to raise and lower the valve body, it is a valve having a valve stem having a male thread on its outer periphery, that is, a ball valve, a gate valve, etc., and the worm wheel from the outside to the thread of the valve stem It can be applied to a valve having a structure capable of meshing.

  The diaphragm valve is also similar in structure to the above-described ball valve and gate valve, and is common in that the opening degree is adjusted by raising and lowering the diaphragm using a valve rod and a handle. Therefore, the present apparatus can be applied to the diaphragm valve in the same manner as the ball valve and the gate valve. In many cases, the diaphragm valve has a structure in which the male screw cut on the outer periphery of the valve rod is not exposed, but this does not exclude application of the present device.

  The display means of these valve opening degree display devices is installed, for example, on a plane including the handle and at a portion outside the handle. This is to ensure good visibility from the direction facing the handle of the valve so that the display means is not hidden behind the handle. The direction facing the handle means the direction in which the operator faces the most frequently in routine valve operation and valve opening confirmation work.

  Further, as an application target of this apparatus, a desired effect was obtained using a spherical valve (model: U10FG) manufactured by Hitachi Valve Co., Ltd. and having a diameter of 65A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and applicable valves can be easily and universally mounted. In other words, the same opening / closing indicator can be used if the valve has the same opening / closing stroke (movement distance of the valve stem) and the same shape and pitch of the male thread cut on the outer periphery of the valve stem. it can.

  The valve opening degree display device according to the present invention may be employed in order to appropriately attach a valve for manually controlling the flow rate, pressure and flow direction of the fluid so that the valve opening degree can be displayed. There is. In particular, there is a possibility that it is preferably employed in a ball valve, a gate valve or a diaphragm valve.

  Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described in detail as described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. It will be easy to understand. Therefore, all such modifications are included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, a term described with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning at least once in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings. Further, the configuration and operation of the valve opening display device are not limited to those described in the embodiments and examples of the present invention, and various modifications can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Valve body, 20 Valve rod, 21 Male screw, 30 Support body, 22 One end (of valve rod 20), 23 Other end (of valve rod 20), 30 Support body, 31 Female screw, 32 Valve lid, 33 Valve box , 40 handle, 50 (ball shape) valve, 60 conversion mechanism (a plurality of combination gears 61 to 65), 61 worm wheel, 62, 63 relay gear, 64 pinion gear, 65 rack gear, 70, 71, 79 display means, 72 Display unit, 74 (pointer attached to rack gear 65) indicating member, 75 (pointer that changes indicating angle θ2) indicating member, 76, 77 dial, 78 encoder, 80, 81 unit, 82 housing, 90 bracket ( Clamp), 99 Central control unit, 100, 200, 300 Valve opening display device, P electrical signal, V viewpoint, W position (outside handle 40), X valve Every time, the linear movement distance of the Y pointer member 74, .theta.1 (the worm wheel 61) rotation angle, .theta.2 (indication member 75) indicated angle

Claims (7)

A valve body, a valve rod that is engaged with one end of the valve body and is externally threaded, a support body that is female threaded to be screwed into the male thread of the valve rod, and the valve rod A valve opening display device for displaying the valve opening of the valve by being attached to a valve provided with a handle fixed to the other end of the valve and configured to manually rotate the valve stem. There,
A worm wheel that is pivotably supported while being worm-engaged with the male screw of the valve stem;
A display unit including a unit in which display means is functionally coupled to the worm wheel to display the valve opening based on the rotation angle of the worm wheel;
A clamp for detachably attaching the worm wheel and the display unit to the valve;
The valve opening display device disposed at a position outside the handle so that the display unit can be directly viewed from a viewpoint based on a position where the other end of the valve rod is extended in a facing direction.   The valve opening display device according to claim 1, wherein the unit includes a plurality of combination gears.   The valve opening degree display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a conversion mechanism that converts a rotation angle of the worm wheel into a linear movement distance of the indication member.   The conversion mechanism includes a rack gear and a pinion gear, and the rotation angle of the worm wheel is transmitted to the rack gear meshed with the pinion gear via the pinion gear, and the indication member is attached to the rack gear. Item 4. The valve opening degree display device according to Item 3.   The valve opening display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display unit includes an indication member whose indication angle changes in conjunction with a rotation angle of the worm wheel.   3. The valve opening display according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes an encoder that converts a rotation angle of the worm wheel into an electric signal, and a display unit that displays the valve opening from the electric signal. apparatus.   The valve opening display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the valve is a ball valve or a gate valve.

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