JP2018146117A - Valve opening meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a valve opening meter with a simple structure, capable of being easily mounted on an existing valve.SOLUTION: A valve opening meter 1 is configured to display opening or an open/closed state of a valve 12 having a handle 11 for opening/closing. The valve opening meter 1 includes: a body 28 attached to the handle 11 or a portion rotating integrally with the handle 11; a rotational angle sensor 34 configured to acquire information equivalent to a rotational angle of the handle 11; and an opening output unit 35 configured to output opening data of the valve 12, based on the information equivalent to the rotational angle of the handle 11 detected by the rotational angle sensor 34 following rotation of the handle 11. The rotational angle 34 and the opening output unit 35 are attached to the body 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a valve opening meter for displaying the opening / closing state or opening of a valve.

  For example, many valves are installed in various plants such as a power plant. Of these valves, many of the electric valves that are driven to open and close by an electric motor and the large-diameter manual valves include an opening meter for displaying the valve opening. However, many small-diameter manual valves are not provided with an opening meter. In these small-diameter manual valves, it is often difficult to determine the open / closed state from the appearance.

  Such a small-diameter valve is adapted to hang a display plate indicating opening or closing after the opening / closing operation. However, this method has a problem of forgetting to change the display plate or misrecognizing the open / closed state of the valve. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the change in the open / close state of the valve due to an erroneous operation of the open / close valve may not be noticed.

  As valve opening display devices, those proposed in JP2013-024402A, JP2013-210038A, and the like are known. However, for example, if these conventional opening degree display devices are to be installed on existing valves, modification of the valve to be attached is required, or the open / close display device itself becomes a large-scale device.

JP 2013-024402 A JP 2013-210038 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described present situation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve opening meter that has a simple structure and can be easily installed not only on a newly manufactured valve but also on an existing valve. It is aimed.

The valve opening meter according to the present invention is:
A valve opening meter for displaying an opening degree or an opening / closing state of a valve having a handle for opening and closing;
A main body attached to the handle or a portion rotating integrally with the handle;
A rotation angle sensor for acquiring information corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle;
Based on information corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle detected by the rotation angle sensor in accordance with the rotation operation of the handle, an opening output unit that outputs valve opening data;
Based on the output of the opening output unit, an opening display unit that displays the opening or open / closed state of the valve,
The rotation angle sensor, the opening output unit and the opening display unit are attached to the main body,
The rotation angle sensor includes at least one of a magnetic sensor and an acceleration sensor.

  Preferably, the opening degree output unit has a microcomputer for calculating a valve opening degree according to the rotation angle of the handle. Moreover, it is also preferable that the opening degree display unit has a plurality of light emitters having different emission colors that can emit light according to the rotation angle of the handle.

Preferably, it includes a trigger portion attached to the main body,
This trigger part has an illuminance sensor,
The rotation angle sensor, the opening degree output unit, and the opening degree display unit are activated when the illuminance sensor receives external light irradiation.

Preferably, it comprises a data communication unit attached to the main body,
This data communication part is comprised so that the data of the valve opening degree which the opening degree output part output can be transmitted to an external receiving part.

Preferably, the main body has a mounting nut portion,
The mounting nut portion is configured to be screwed onto the valve stem instead of a fixing nut for fixing the handle of the manual valve to the valve stem.

  The valve according to the present invention includes a handle for opening and closing, and a valve opening meter attached to the handle or a portion that rotates integrally with the handle. It consists of a valve opening meter.

  According to the present invention, the valve opening degree meter has a simple structure, and can be easily attached to an existing valve.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing an example of a small-diameter manual valve to which a valve opening meter according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the valve of FIG. 1 taken along line II-II. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing an opening meter attached to the valve of FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a graph for explaining a method for detecting the opening degree of a valve using a magnetic sensor, and FIG. 4B shows a method for detecting the opening degree of a valve using an acceleration sensor. It is a graph for demonstrating.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a manual valve (also simply referred to as a valve) 2 in which an opening meter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be installed. FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view of the valve 2, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the valve 2. FIG. 1 shows a valve 2 with an opening meter 1 attached to the upper end. The valve 2 includes a valve box 3, a cylindrical bonnet (lid member) 4 fixed to the valve box 3, a yoke 5 screwed to the bonnet 4, a valve rod 6 inserted into the bonnet 4, and a valve rod 6 A packing presser plate 10 for pressing the packing presser 9 downward by means of a valve stem guide 7, a gland packing 8 and a packing presser 9, an eyebolt 22 and a nut 24 (FIG. 2) which are externally fitted to the bonnet 4 in order. In addition, an operation handle 11 is provided near the upper end of the valve stem 6. The bonnet 4 is screwed onto the female screw 3a of the valve box 3, and is fixed to the valve box 3 by welding. The vicinity of the lower end of the valve stem 6 constitutes a valve body 12.

  Inside the valve box 3, a flow path 16 is formed from the fluid inlet 13 through the valve seat 14 to the outlet 15. The inner diameter of the valve seat 14 is smaller than the outer diameter of the valve body 12. When the valve body 12 is pressed against the valve seat 14, the flow path 16 is closed. FIG. 1 shows the valve 2 in a fully closed state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of bolt support portions 21 project from the outer periphery of the lower portion of the yoke 5 at intervals of 180 °. An eye bolt 22 is pivotally supported by the bolt support portion 21 by a pin 23. The eyebolt 22 is inserted into the U-shaped notch opening 10 a of the packing holding plate 10. A nut 24 is screwed onto the eyebolt 22. By tightening the nut 24, the packing retainer 9 is pushed downward via the packing retainer plate 10. Thereby, the gland packing 8 is pressed and the inside and outside of the valve 2 can be sealed in a liquid-tight and air-tight manner.

  The valve stem guide 7 is screwed onto the female screw 4 a of the bonnet 4. A sleeve 17 is fixed to the upper end of the yoke 5. A male screw 6 a formed on the upper portion of the valve stem 6 is screwed into a female screw 17 a of the sleeve 17. Therefore, when the handle 11 is rotated, the valve stem 6 moves up and down while rotating integrally with the handle 11. A step 7 a is formed on the inner diameter side of the valve stem guide 7. A step 6 b is also formed near the lower end of the valve stem 6. When the valve stem 6 is raised, the steps 6b and 7a come into contact with each other, and the valve 2 is fully opened (not shown). Conversely, when the valve stem 6 is lowered, the valve body 12 comes into contact with the valve seat 14 and the valve 2 is fully closed. From fully closed to fully open, it is called the lift of the valve 2 (symbol L in FIG. 1).

  In the vicinity of the upper end of the valve stem 6, an engaging portion 18 having a square cross section is formed. A rectangular through hole 19 a is formed in the central boss portion 19 of the handle 11. When the engaging portion 18 of the valve stem 6 is inserted into the through hole 19a of the handle 11, the both 6 and 11 can rotate together. As shown in FIG. 2, a male screw 6 c is formed at the upper end of the valve stem 6, and the handle 11 is fixed to the valve stem 6 by a nut 20 being screwed onto the male screw 6 c. As shown in the drawing, the nut 20 can be removed and the opening meter 1 can be attached to the male screw 6c of the valve stem 6 (FIG. 1). The opening meter 1 attached to the male screw 6 c can rotate integrally with the handle 11 and the valve stem 6. It is not necessary to add a slight modification to the valve 2 in order to install the opening meter 1.

  FIG. 3 shows the opening meter 1. The opening meter 1 includes a main body 28 and a mounting nut 29. The attachment nut 29 is for attaching the main body 28 to the male screw 6c of the valve stem 6 of the valve 2 to be attached. The mounting nut 29 is formed with a female screw 29a that can be screwed into the male screw at the upper end of the valve stem 6 described above. The main body 28 includes a main body container 30 for housing functional components described later. The main body container 30 includes a pedestal portion 31 that constitutes a bottom portion thereof and is connected to the mounting nut 29.

  The main body container 30 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape. The main body container 30 has a waterproof structure that is liquid-tightly sealed. The main body container 30 is formed of a transparent or translucent material. On the lower surface of the pedestal portion 31, a connecting convex portion 32 in which a male screw 32 a is formed protrudes. The connecting projection 32 can be screwed onto the female thread 29a of the mounting nut 29 described above. By this screwing, the main body container 30 is integrated with the mounting nut 29.

  In the present embodiment, the female thread 29 a of the mounting nut 29 and the male thread 32 a of the connecting projection 32 are the same size as the male thread 6 c at the upper end of the valve stem 6 of the target valve 2. However, the size of the male screw 32 a of the connecting convex portion 32 may be constant regardless of the size of the male screw 6 c of the valve stem 6 of the target valve 2. In this case, the female thread 29a of the mounting nut 29 may need to have different sizes on the upper and lower sides on the same axis. For example, when the size of the male thread 32a of the connecting convex part 32 is made constant at M8 and attached to a valve stem having an M12 male thread, the female thread 29a of the mounting nut 29 is M8 in the upper 40% range and the lower part 60. % Can be M12.

  The functional components are a rotation angle sensor 34, an opening output unit 35, an opening display unit 36, a data communication unit 37, a trigger unit 38, and a power source 39. The rotation angle sensor 34 detects information corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle 11. The opening degree output unit 35 calculates the rotation angle of the handle 11 and the opening degree of the valve based on this information detected by the rotation angle sensor 34 and outputs it. Based on the output of the valve opening by the opening output unit 35, the opening / closing state of the valve 2 is displayed on the main body container 30 by the opening display unit 36. Further, the opening degree data output from the opening degree output unit 35 is wirelessly transmitted by the data communication unit 37 to a personal computer or the like as an external receiving unit. The trigger unit 38 activates the functional component by an external signal. This is because the power supply 39 for each functional component is normally turned off for the purpose of power saving. The power source 39 is a drive power source that supplies necessary power to the functional components.

  As the rotation angle sensor 34, at least one of the magnetic sensor 40 and the acceleration sensor 41 can be employed. As these sensors 40 and 41, for example, a commercially available electronic compass, a triaxial magnetic sensor, a triaxial acceleration sensor, or the like can be employed. The magnetic sensor 40 can detect the magnetic intensity in time series. The acceleration sensor 41 can detect the gravitational acceleration in time series. The strength and direction of geomagnetism and the magnitude and direction of gravitational acceleration are all constant. The direction of geomagnetism and the direction of gravitational acceleration are different from each other. The direction of gravity acceleration is a vertical direction, and the direction of geomagnetism is a direction inclined with respect to the vertical. When the detection part of the magnetic sensor 40 is comprised from a Hall element, a Hall element produces the electricity (elementary quantity) according to the magnitude | size of the magnetic flux which passes there. The detection surface of the magnetic sensor 40 continuously traverses the geomagnetism as it rotates. Thereby, the magnitude of the measured geomagnetism changes in a constant cycle according to the change in the inclination of the detection surface across the geomagnetism. When the detection unit of the acceleration sensor 41 is composed of a piezoelectric element and a weight, the piezoelectric element generates electricity (elementary quantity) proportional to the gravity of the weight applied thereto. The acceleration sensor 41 continuously crosses the gravity as its detection surface rotates. Thereby, the magnitude of the measured gravitational acceleration changes in a constant cycle in accordance with the change in the inclination of the detection surface across the gravity.

  When one of the magnetic sensor 40 and the acceleration sensor 41 is employed, the magnetic sensor 40 is preferably selected. This is because it is difficult for the acceleration sensor 41 to exert its function with a valve installed so that the axis of the valve stem faces vertically. This is because gravity acts in the vertical direction, but the valve is often installed so that its valve stem faces vertically. Therefore, in the acceleration sensor 41 that rotates around the vertical axis, the detected value of the gravitational acceleration does not change. On the other hand, in the case of the magnetic sensor 40, even if the valve is installed so that the axis of the valve stem is oriented vertically, the detected value of the geomagnetism detected with the rotation changes.

  On the other hand, in the case of a valve installed so that the axis of the valve stem faces the direction of geomagnetism, it is difficult for the magnetic sensor 40 to perform its function. However, it is rare that the valve is installed in such a posture. Even if the valve is in such a posture, if it is the acceleration sensor 41, the magnitude of the acceleration to be detected changes with rotation. As described above, it can be said that the magnetic sensor 40 and the acceleration sensor 41 complement each other's dead band. When the installation posture of the valve is determined, a sensor to be adopted may be determined according to this posture. In this case, one of the sensors is sufficient. In the opening degree meter 1 of the present embodiment, both the magnetic sensor 40 and the acceleration sensor 41 are installed for safety.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the opening meter 1 rotates around the axis of the valve stem 6 as the handle 11 rotates, the detected value of the geomagnetism by the magnetic sensor 40 is periodically sinusoidally every 360 ° rotation. (FIG. 4A). The detected value of the gravitational acceleration by the acceleration sensor 41 also changes periodically every 360 ° rotation (FIG. 4B). The horizontal axis of the graph of FIG. 4 represents the rotation angle, and the vertical axis represents the detected value of geomagnetism (FIG. 4A) and the detected value of gravitational acceleration (FIG. 4B). The rotation angle and the number of rotations of the handle 11 are obtained by the periodic change of the detected value. From the rotation angle and rotation speed of the handle 11, the moving distance of the valve rod 6, that is, the opening degree of the valve 2 can be obtained. By rotating the handle from fully closed to fully open in advance, the relationship between the rotation angle of the handle and the detected value of geomagnetism or acceleration, the rotation angle difference between the fully closed position and the fully open position, and the geomagnetism at each of the fully closed position and the fully open position. Alternatively, the detected acceleration value is recorded. The details of how to obtain the relationship between the detected value of geomagnetism or the detected value of acceleration and the valve opening are as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, based on the fully closed time of the valve 2, the rotation angle at the fully closed time is determined to be 0 °. From the fully closed time point, the magnetic strength is measured while rotating the handle 11 in the valve opening direction (counterclockwise). From the fully closed position to the fully open position of the valve 2, the measured value of the magnetic strength is recorded in time series in correspondence with the rotation angle of the handle 11. The detected value (initial value) T0 of the geomagnetism at the fully closed time is associated with the rotation angle = 0 °.

  From the above preliminary measurement results, the following can be understood. The detected value of geomagnetism at an arbitrary rotation angle θ1 from the fully closed time point is T1. From this detection value T1, the rotation angle θ1 in the valve opening direction can be specified. If the handle 11 is rotated from the position of the rotation angle θ1 and the detected value increases from T1, it can be seen that the handle 11 is rotated in the valve opening direction. Conversely, if the detected value decreases from T1, it can be seen that the handle 11 is rotated in the valve closing direction. At any position from fully closed to fully open, the rotation direction of the handle 11 can be identified by the change in the detected value of geomagnetism. Then, from the detection value T2 when the handle is rotated by an arbitrary angle in the valve opening direction from the position of the detection value T1, the rotation angle θ2 from the fully closed state can be specified. According to the time-series correspondence data between the rotation angle from fully closed to fully open and the geomagnetism, the valve opening degree, that is, the ratio of the opening degree to the fully open lift L (1 / 4L, 1 / 16L) from the detected magnitude of geomagnetism. Etc.) can be grasped. In addition, since the thread pitch of the male thread 6a of the valve stem 6 is also known, the rotation angle of the handle 11 can be associated with the moving distance (for example, in mm) of the valve stem 6 also from this data. In the case of using the acceleration sensor 41, the same result as above can be obtained. Therefore, description of the opening degree detection based on the detected values G0, G1, and G2 by the acceleration sensor 41 is omitted.

  As the opening degree output unit 35, a microcomputer 42 including a CPU, a memory and the like can be adopted. The microcomputer 42 calculates the opening degree of the valve 2 as described above based on each time series of geomagnetism and / or gravity acceleration detected by the magnetic sensor 40 and / or the acceleration sensor 41. In the microcomputer 42, the relationship between each magnitude of geomagnetism and / or gravitational acceleration and the valve opening is obtained from the fully closed state to the fully opened state of the valve 2. Therefore, it is possible to output quantitative opening degree information from fully closed to fully open.

  As the opening degree display unit 36 that performs output display based on the output of the opening degree output unit 35, a plurality of light emitters (LEDs) 43 having different emission colors may be employed. The plurality of LEDs 43 can emit light having different colors and / or different luminances according to the valve opening information output from the microcomputer 42. For example, a blue LED may be lit when fully open, a red LED may be lit when fully closed, and a white LED may be lit when the intermediate opening is other than full open and fully closed. Further, full open, intermediate opening, and full close may be displayed in the same color with different luminance. Or you may display each of full open, intermediate | middle opening degree, and full close by the combination of the brightness | luminance and color of light. As the opening degree display unit 36, an electric light display plate that quantitatively indicates the opening degree may be used instead of the LED.

  As the data communication unit 37, for example, a commercially available wireless communication module can be adopted. The data communication unit 37 transmits the valve opening information by the opening output unit 35 to an external personal computer (not shown). The valve opening information in this case is quantitative opening degree data from fully closed to fully opened calculated by the microcomputer 42. The external computer calculates the percentage of the opening, the travel distance of the valve stem 6 from the fully closed position to the fully opened direction, etc. from the opening data, and has three types of states: fully open, intermediate opening, and fully closed. Can be distinguished. Or, from the microcomputer 42, three kinds of signals indicating the states of full opening, intermediate opening, and full closing, percentage display of the opening, and a signal indicating the movement distance of the valve stem 6 in the fully opening direction from the fully closed time. It is also possible to output.

  As the power source 39, a commercially available small button-type alkaline battery, lithium battery, silver oxide battery, or the like can be used. By using semiconductor parts for this battery, a power saving effect can be expected. For further power saving, it is also possible to keep the power supply 39 off at all times. In this case, in order to start the opening meter 1 prior to the handle operation, the following trigger unit 38 is required.

  As the trigger unit 38, an illuminance sensor 44 including a semiconductor such as a photodiode can be employed. The illuminance sensor 44 is energized to generate a detection signal when it detects an illuminance of a predetermined value or more, which is a signal from the outside. By this detection signal, the magnetic sensor 40, the acceleration sensor 41, the microcomputer 42, and the LED 43 are activated. It is possible to adjust the predetermined illuminance (reference illuminance). As an external signal, irradiation light from a laser pointer, an LED lamp, or the like corresponds. When the user takes an activation action of irradiating light to the opening meter 1 with a laser pointer, an LED lamp or the like, the opening meter 1 is activated.

  The opening meter 1 preferably has an alarm function. As described above, when the handle 11 is rotated, it is important that the opening meter 1 is activated. This is because the microcomputer 42 always needs to store the current opening degree information associated with the rotation. Therefore, if the steering wheel is operated without taking a starting action by a laser pointer, an LED lamp or the like, the opening meter 1 displays an alarm. Specifically, the opening meter 1 is equipped with a motion sensor 45 that is a kind of acceleration sensor. This motion sensor 45 detects the rotation of the handle 11. Based on the detection signal of the motion sensor 45, the microcomputer 42 instructs the LED 43 to emit light different from the light indicating the above-described three stages of opening (fully opened, fully closed, intermediate opening). For example, blinking red light, blinking light of three colors, and the like. This motion sensor 45 has a feature of extremely low power consumption and is always energized, but there is no possibility of consuming the button-type battery 39.

  The opening meter 1 may be capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from an external personal computer or the like through the data communication unit 37. With the IC tag function, ID management of each valve 2 becomes possible, and cooperation with a valve opening degree monitoring system constructed in an external personal computer or information terminal becomes possible. As a result, it can contribute to the improvement of the reliability of plant operation and the reduction of the labor of the plant management work of the operator.

  In the present embodiment, the opening degree meter 1 is attached to the valve rod 6 of the valve 2. However, the mounting target of the opening meter is not limited to the valve stem 6. The opening meter may be attached to the handle 11. Such an opening meter preferably includes a clamp that firmly holds the handle 11 instead of the mounting nut 29 described above. A handle-mounted opening degree meter is suitable for a valve whose valve stem does not rotate integrally with the handle. Such a valve is a valve in which a sleeve rotates integrally with the handle and cannot move up and down with respect to the yoke. In such a valve, the valve stem moves up and down without rotating due to the rotating operation of the handle.

  The valve opening meter described above is useful for confirming the open / close state of the manual valve.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Opening meter 2 ... Manual valve 3 ... Valve box 4 ... Bonnet 5 ... Yoke 6 ... Valve rod 7 ... Valve rod guide 8 ... Gland packing 9. .... Packing retainer 10 ... Packing retainer plate 11 ... Handle 12 ... Valve element 13 ... Fluid inlet 14 ... Valve seat 15 ... Fluid outlet 16 ... Flow path 17 ... Sleeve 18 ... engagement part of valve stem 19 ... boss part of handle 20 ... nut 21 ... bolt support part 22 ... eye bolt 23 ... pin 24 ... nut 28 ... Main body 29 ... Mounting nut 30 ... Main body container 31 ... Base part 32 ... Connection convex part 34 ... Rotation angle sensor 35 ... Opening output part 36 ... -Opening display unit 37 ... Data communication device 38 ... Trigger unit 39 ... Power supply 0 ... magnetic sensor 41 ... acceleration sensor 42 ... microcomputer 43 ... LED
44 ... Illuminance sensor 45 ... Motion sensor L ... (Valve) lift

Claims (3)

A valve opening meter for displaying an opening degree or an opening / closing state of a valve having a handle for opening and closing;
A body attached to the handle or a part that rotates integrally with the handle;
A rotation angle sensor for acquiring information corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle;
An opening output unit that outputs opening data of the valve based on information corresponding to the rotation angle of the handle detected by the rotation angle sensor in association with the rotation operation of the handle;
A valve opening meter in which the rotation angle sensor and the opening output unit are attached to the main body. Based on the output of the opening output unit, an opening display unit that displays the opening or open / close state of the valve is provided
The valve opening degree meter according to claim 1, wherein the opening degree display unit is attached to the main body. A data communication unit attached to the main body,
The valve opening degree meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the data communication unit is configured to be able to transmit the valve opening degree data output from the opening degree output unit to an external receiving unit.

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