JP3112271U - Snowfall sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To reduce the malfunction of a moisture detection type snowfall sensor, the snow on the snow receiving surface is immediately melted to become moisture when it snows, and the water on the snow receiving surface is quickly discharged when the snow stops. Provide an easy-to-install snow sensor.
When the outside air temperature falls below a certain temperature, the heater built in the snowfall sensor is energized so that the snow receiving surface is constantly kept at 0 ° C. or higher, and the snowfall sensor is attached to a wall of a building or the like in advance. Although it is fixed to the support bar, the snowfall sensor is fixed so as to be inclined approximately 15 ° when the support bar is positioned horizontally.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a snowfall detection device used in a technique for detecting snowfall and operating a snowmelt device to avoid snow damage.

  In recent years, various measures have been taken in snowy areas to prevent snow damage caused by snowfall. A system has also been proposed in which snowfall is detected by a snowfall sensor, combined with the outside air temperature and ground temperature, and the operation of the road heating and roof heating devices can be controlled. There are also various types of snowfall sensors, such as those that use infrared rays and those that detect moisture.

  In order to detect the presence or absence of snowfall by detecting the impedance change between a pair of electrodes installed on the snow receiving surface of a moisture detection type snowfall sensor, the snow melts at the snow receiving surface during snowfall and stops falling. In that case, it is necessary to lose the moisture. To that end, a heater was built in the box of the snowfall sensor, and when the outside air temperature fell below a certain temperature, an electric current was passed through the heater circuit to warm the snow receiving surface.

  In addition, there was a windshield projecting around the snow receiving surface to prevent the snow from being completely blown off from the snow receiving surface during strong winds, but heat was also transmitted to it and the snow was frozen on the windshield. Was preventing. Furthermore, the windshield was melted with the windshield only in three directions, with no windshield in one direction, and with the snowfall sensor box slightly tilted so that the side without the windshield was slightly lowered so that the melted water would not stay in the windshield. It had to be installed so that the water would run down.

  Based on the signal from the snowfall sensor, in order to issue a command to control “ON” and “OFF” of the operation power supply of the snow melting device, in order to issue a more accurate command, comprehensive judgment is made by taking in data such as the outside temperature and the ground temperature. In addition, the power supply circuit of the snow melting device is controlled “ON” and “OFF” via a delay timer, etc., but it is necessary to combine the connection with these peripheral sensors or to make the judgment into a single box to simplify the operation. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the snowfall sensor box is fixed to a pipe-shaped support bar so that the side without the windshield of the snowfall sensor box is slightly lowered, and the support bar A pedestal is connected to the other side so that it can be easily attached to a wall of a building or the like.

  An outside temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature is provided in the vicinity of the snowfall sensor, and the impedance between the electrodes of the snowfall sensor and the output value from the outside air temperature sensor are input via the moisture judgment circuit and the outside air temperature judgment circuit, respectively. A snow judgment circuit that outputs a snow signal of “Yes” and “No”, and a signal from the outside air temperature judgment circuit, and when the outside air temperature falls below a preset outside air temperature set temperature, A snow receiving surface heater control circuit that operates to “ON” the heater and maintain the snow receiving surface at the snow melting temperature is provided. It is also equipped with a ground temperature sensor that is buried near the surface of the ground near the controlled snow melting device, etc., and detects the surface temperature of the site where the snow melting device is installed. A signal from a ground temperature judgment circuit that outputs a ground temperature judgment signal and a signal through a delay timer circuit that allows a delay time to be variably set downstream of the snowfall judgment circuit are input to a power circuit of a snow melting device or the like. Put together a combination of circuits that issue “ON” and “OFF” control commands, put them in the control box, and connect them to the snowfall sensor with a cable.

  According to the above design, even if the outside air temperature falls, the snow receiving surface and windshield of the snowfall sensor are always kept at a temperature slightly higher than 0 ° C, so if snow falls on the snow receiving surface, the snow will immediately melt and become water. Then, the impedance between the electrodes is changed, and a signal that there is snowing is issued in conjunction with the outside temperature data. Moreover, since the snowfall sensor is tilted so that the side without the windshield is slightly lowered, the melted water will flow down one after another and will not accumulate on the snow receiving surface. Therefore, when the snow stops, the moisture disappears after a while and the impedance returns to its original state and no signal is given that there is snow.

  The snow receiving sensor has a flat snow receiving surface of about 5cm x 7cm, and a pair of electrodes facing each other in the shape of the surface is arranged to change the impedance between the electrodes of the snow receiving surface wetted by the snow. It is designed to detect the presence or absence of snowfall, and it has a built-in heater that generates heat when it is supplied with power when the outside air temperature falls below a preset outside air temperature. Further, it is closely attached to the back surface of the snow receiving surface via a heat conductive plate.

  Further, windshields projecting from the snow receiving surface by 1 to 10 mm are provided on three sides around the snow receiving surface so that heat is transmitted to the windshield. I try to keep the temperature a little higher. The box is fixed to a pipe-like support bar with a diameter of about 3 cm so that the side without the windshield is a little lower, and the support bar is fixed to a pedestal that can be attached to the wall. Has been. And it is convenient if the length of the support bar is adjustable.

  The snow sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment. A snow receiving surface 2 of 5 × 7 cm is provided on the upper part of the snow sensor box 1, and a pair of intricate shapes are formed on the surface. An electrode is attached. A windshield 3 having a thickness of 1 to 10 mm protrudes from the three surrounding areas, and there is no windshield on the moisture outflow side 4.

  The snowfall sensor box 1 is fixed to a support bar a5 made of a pipe having a diameter of about 3 cm, but when the support bar is placed horizontally, the snowfall sensor box 1 is slightly lowered so that the moisture outflow side 4 is slightly lowered. It is fixed at an angle of about 15 ° with respect to the support bar a5.

  The support rod a5 can be mounted on a slightly thicker support rod b6 so that the entire length of the support rod can be adjusted. When the support rod a5 is taken in and out to an appropriate length, a fixing screw is provided. Tighten 7 and fix. The length of the support bar can be adjusted in the range of 40 to 60 cm.

  Furthermore, the tip of the support bar b6 is connected to a base 8 attached to a wall such as a building. The outside air temperature sensor 9 is attached to the lower part of the support bar a, and the electric cable connecting them passes through the pipe of the support bar and comes out from under the pedestal, and is connected to the control box (not shown). ing.

    As explained above, the snowfall sensor of the present invention can be easily installed, and by connecting to the control box, a reliable “ON” and “OFF” command can be issued to the snow melting device, thus preventing damage due to snow accumulation. it can.

The perspective view which shows the embodiment of the snowfall sensor of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Snowfall sensor box 2 Snow receiving surface 3 Windshield 4 Moisture outflow side 5 Support rod a
6 Support rod b
7 Fixing screw 8 Pedestal 9 Outside air temperature sensor

Claims (3)

A flat snow receiving surface of about 5 cm x 7 cm is placed on the top, and a pair of electrodes facing each other in the shape of the surface are arranged to detect impedance changes between the electrodes of the snow receiving surface wetted by snowfall. A 4cm high box that detects the presence or absence of snow is equipped with a built-in heater that generates heat when the outside air temperature falls below a predetermined outside air temperature setting temperature. It is closely attached to the back surface of the snow receiving surface through a plate. Further, windshields projecting from the snow receiving surface by 1 to 10 mm are provided on three sides around the snow receiving surface so that heat is transmitted to the windshield. I try to keep the temperature a little higher. The box is fixed to a pipe-like support bar with a diameter of about 3 cm so that the side without the windshield is a little lower, and the support bar is fixed to a pedestal that can be attached to the wall. A snowfall sensor characterized by The support bar is made of two pipes with different diameters, one of which can be fitted inside the other, and the length can be adjusted by putting it in and out to change the range from approximately 40cm to 60cm. The snowfall sensor according to claim 1, wherein the snowfall sensor can be fixed with screws. An outside air temperature sensor for detecting an outside air temperature is provided in the vicinity of the snowfall sensor, and when the outside air temperature falls below a preset outside air temperature setting temperature via an outside air temperature determination circuit, the snowfall sensor It has a snow receiving surface heater control circuit that operates to keep the snow receiving surface at the melting temperature by turning on the heater in the box, and the impedance between the electrodes of the snowfall sensor is determined via the moisture determination circuit. Input the obtained signal and the signal from the outside air temperature judgment circuit, and have a snowfall judgment circuit that outputs a snowfall signal of “Yes” or “No” snowfall, and is embedded near the ground surface near the controlled snow melting device etc. A ground temperature sensor that detects the surface temperature of the installation site of the snow melting device, and inputs a signal from the ground temperature sensor to output a ground temperature determination signal compared with a preset ground temperature setting temperature value A signal from a constant circuit and a signal through a delay timer circuit that can be set to a variable delay time are input to the subsequent stage of the snowfall judgment circuit to control ON / OFF of a power circuit such as a snow melting device. The snowfall sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snowfall sensor is used in connection with a control system combined with a circuit for issuing a command.

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