JP4456931B2 - Chain inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain inspection device for inspecting the state of an escalator handrail chain or the like.

  As is well known, an escalator includes various chains such as a drive chain and a step chain that transmit a driving force to a step, and a handrail chain that transmits a driving force to a handrail. When these chains are replaced, it is necessary to adjust the tension of the chains to an appropriate value. This is because the chain is stretched if excessive tension is applied. Moreover, even if the tension is adjusted once, the chain is stretched over time, resulting in an inappropriate tension. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically inspect the chain tension and adjust the tension as necessary.

  Conventionally, the tension inspection of the chain has been performed by an operator pressurizing the chain by hand and visually checking the amount of touch (the amount of deflection) of the chain. However, in the pressurization by the operator's hand, it is difficult to accurately measure the tension because the applied pressure differs depending on the operator.

  Therefore, Patent Literatures 1 and 2 and Non-Patent Literature 1 disclose a chain tension inspection device provided with a pressure detection means. These are provided with a means for pressurizing the chain and a means for detecting the applied pressure when the chain is pressurized, so that a constant applied pressure can be applied to the chain.

JP 2000-155060 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-198573 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-297079

  Here, all of the inspection apparatuses of Patent Documents 1 and 2 and Non-Patent Document 1 present an applied pressure to the operator by reading a scale or the like indicating the applied pressure to the chain. Further, the scale is provided at a position relatively close to the chain. However, when the chain is in a place where it is difficult to see, such as a place where various devices that make up the escalator are intricate, it is difficult to read the scale indicating the applied pressure, and thus appropriate pressure can be applied. Can not.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain inspection apparatus that can inspect the state of an escalator chain more accurately.

The chain inspection device of the present invention is a chain inspection device that inspects the state of the chain of the escalator, and a pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the chain according to an operation by the operator, and a pressure applied to the chain is predetermined. When the pressure exceeds the specified value, a presentation unit that informs the operator by sound and a touch amount detection unit that detects the amount of touch of the chain when the chain is pressurized are provided. The quantity detection unit is a gauge unit that displays the wire connected to the part of the pressurizing unit that contacts the chain and the position of the other end of the wire, and can be attached to any position of the escalator by a magnetic force. A pressurizing unit, an elastic body having one end attached to the casing of the chain inspection device, and an arm whose posture changes in accordance with the pressure applied to the chain, and the casing at a predetermined fulcrum position Take And an arm having a rear end linked to an elastic body and an engaging portion provided at the tip of the arm and engaged with the chain. When it becomes above, it has one or more switches provided in the position which contact | abuts an arm, and the sound generator which generate | occur | produces a sound by ON operation of a switch, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

In another preferred aspect, the presenting unit includes: a pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to the chain; and a sound generation device that generates a sound when the pressure sensor detects a pressure greater than a predetermined specified value. Have . Nozomu Mashiku is touched amount detection unit that detect the amount touched the chain by detecting the displacement amount of the portion in contact with the chain of the pressing unit.

  According to the present invention, when the applied pressure exceeds a predetermined specified value, the fact is presented to the operator, so that the chain can always be pressurized with an appropriate applied pressure. Thereby, the state of the chain can be inspected more accurately.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a chain inspection apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the chain of the escalator extends in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. In the figure, a cross-sectional view of the chain is schematically shown.

  The chain inspection device 10 is used for tension inspection of an escalator handrail chain, for example. This is roughly classified into an operation unit 12 that pressurizes the chain 8 and a touch amount measurement unit 14 that measures the amount of touch (deflection) of the chain at that time.

  The operation unit 12 includes a pressurizing unit 16 that pressurizes the chain 8 and a presentation unit 18 that presents that the applied pressure has reached the regulation. The pressurizing unit 16 includes a substrate 20 that is a part of the casing of the chain inspection device 10, an arm 22 attached to the substrate 20, and a tension spring 24. The board | substrate 20 is a board | plate material which consists of rigid materials, such as steel, and functions as a housing | casing of the chain inspection apparatus 10 with the cover body which is not shown in figure.

  On the substrate 20, an arm 22 and a tension spring 24 are attached. The arm 22 is a rod-shaped member made of a rigid material such as steel, and an engagement portion 26 that engages with the chain 8 is formed at the tip thereof. The engaging portion 26 is a substantially U-shaped member in which an opening 26 a that is slightly larger than the chain 8 is formed. The engaging portion 26 is integrally formed with the arm 22. By inserting the engaging portion 26 from the side surface of the chain 8, the chain 8 fits into the opening 26 a of the engaging portion 26 and is engaged (hooked).

  The arm 22 is rotatably attached to the substrate 20 at an arm-side support portion 28 located in the middle thereof. The tension spring 24 is linked to a link at a coupling portion 30 located near the rear end of the arm 22.

  The tension spring 24 is a spring having a predetermined elastic restoring force (spring constant). The tension spring 24 is rotatably attached to the substrate 20 at a spring-side support portion 32 located near the rear end. In addition, the coupling portion 30 located near the tip is linked to the arm 22. The tension spring 24 is not elastically deformed when the spring side support portion 32, the coupling portion 30, and the arm side support portion 28 are arranged in a straight line.

  Here, the arm 22 is an arm-side support portion 28, and the tension spring 24 is a spring-side support portion 32 that is rotatably attached to the substrate 20. Further, the arm 22 and the tension spring 24 are rotatably attached to each other at the coupling portion 30. That is, the arm 22 and the tension spring 24 have a link structure with the arm side support portion 28 and the spring side support portion 32 as a reference. That is, if the position of the coupling portion 30 relative to the substrate 20 changes due to the inclination of the arm 22, the tension spring 24 linked to the arm 22 in the coupling portion 30 also tilts. At that time, the tension spring 24 expands by elastic deformation according to the degree of inclination. In other words, if a force that tilts the arm 22 acts against the elastic force of the tension spring 24, the tension spring 24 extends as it tilts.

  The presentation unit 18 includes two push button switches 34 and a buzzer device 36 electrically connected thereto. The two push button switches 34 are ON only while the switches are pressed, and are provided on the substrate 20 so as to be vertically symmetrical about the arm 22. More precisely, the two push button switches 34 are provided at positions where they come into contact with the arm 22 when 5 Kg which is a predetermined pressure is applied to the chain 8. That is, as described above, the arm 22 is inclined when a force against the elastic force of the tension spring 24 is applied. When a predetermined pressure is applied to the chain 8 engaged with the engaging portion 26, a force is also applied to the arm 22 formed integrally with the engaging portion 26. Therefore, when a predetermined pressure is applied to the chain 8, the arm 22 is inclined at a predetermined angle. The push button switch 34 is provided in a position where it is in contact with the arm 22 at this time and turned ON. In other words, it can be said that the two push button switches 34 are turned on when a force of 5 kg is applied to the chain 8.

  The buzzer device 36 is electrically connected to the two push button switches 34, and generates a buzzer sound when one of the two is turned on. This buzzer device 36 is also mounted on the substrate 20. However, the position does not contact the arm 22 even if the arm 22 is inclined. As described above, the push button switch 34 is turned on when the force on the arm 22 reaches the specified value (5 Kg). Therefore, when the buzzer sound is generated by the buzzer device 36, it can be said that the force on the chain 8 reaches the specified value (5 Kg). Therefore, the operator can know whether or not the force on the chain 8 has reached the specified value with or without the buzzer sound. The push button switch 34 and the buzzer device are supplied with power by a dry battery (not shown).

  Next, the touch amount measuring unit 14 that measures the touch amount of the chain 8 will be described. The touch amount measurement unit 14 is roughly divided into a wire 40 and a gauge unit 46 that displays the displacement of the rear end 42 of the wire 40.

  The wire 40 is a metal wire of about 1.6 m and is coated with a coating member 52 except for both end portions 42 and 44. The coating member 52 is a tubular member made of resin or the like, and the wire 40 can move inside the coating member 52. Further, the tip 44 of the wire 40 is detachable from the engaging portion 26. On the other hand, the rear end 42 of the wire 40 is inserted into an acrylic tube 48 that constitutes a gauge portion 46 described later. The rear end 42 of the wire 40 is provided with an indicating needle 56 for more clearly indicating the position of the rear end. Further, the collar portion 43 is fixed to the wire rear end 42 at a position away from the support tension 56.

  The gauge portion 46 is composed of a transparent acrylic tube 48 with a scale 50 attached thereto. A rear end 42 of the wire 40 is inserted into the acrylic tube 48. The acrylic tube 48 is fixed to the coating member 52 of the wire 40. On the other hand, since the wire 40 itself is not fixed, the wire 40 can move freely inside the acrylic tube 48.

  The acrylic tube 48 is appropriately provided with a spring 47 for returning the wire rear end 42 to the neutral position. One end of the spring 47 is connected to a flange 43 fixed to the rear end 42 of the wire. The other end is connected to a partition plate 49 fixed to the acrylic tube 48. If the position of the collar portion 43 is displaced with the displacement of the position of the rear end 42 of the wire, the spring 47 is elastically deformed. When the force related to the positional displacement of the wire rear end 42 is released, the position of the wire rear end 42 returns to the neutral position by the elastic force of the spring 47.

  A magnet 54 is attached to the coating member 52 and the acrylic tube 48. The magnet 54 is provided in the vicinity of the front end portion (engagement portion side) of the coating member 52, the vicinity of the rear end (acrylic tube side) of the coating member, the vicinity of the rear end of the acrylic tube 48, and the like. The magnet 54 is provided to attach the coating member 52 and the acrylic tube 48 to an escalator panel or the like. That is, by attaching the magnet 54 to an appropriate position such as an escalator panel, the coating member 52 and the acrylic tube 48 can be fixed at an appropriate position.

  Next, a chain inspection procedure using the chain inspection apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view in a state where an upward pressure is applied to the chain 8, and FIG. 3 is a schematic top view in a state where a downward pressure is applied.

  When the chain 8 is inspected, first, the gauge part 46 is pasted around a position to be inspected and easily visible (for example, the side surface of the escalator panel). This pasting is performed by the magnetic force of the magnet 54 attached to the gauge portion 46.

  Further, the operation unit 12 comes to almost the same height as the chain 8 to be inspected. Then, the chain 8 is inserted into the opening 26a of the engaging portion 26 and engaged. In this state, the tip 44 of the wire 40 (the side not inserted into the acrylic tube 48) is attached to the engaging portion 26. And the position of the wire rear end 42 at that time is confirmed. This is performed by visually reading the value of the scale 50 of the acrylic tube 48 indicated by the indicator needle 56. Normally, at this time, the indicator needle 56 is in a neutral position due to the elastic force of the spring 47.

  Next, an upward force is applied to the housing including the substrate 20 to move the substrate 20 upward. At this time, the engaging portion 26 provided at the tip of the arm 22 remains engaged with the chain 8. Therefore, the height of the engaging portion 26 does not change. On the other hand, if the force applied to the substrate 20 is larger than the elastic force of the tension spring 24, the substrate 20, and consequently the arm-side support portion 28 and the spring-side support portion 32 move upward. Then, the arm 22 and the tension spring 24 are inclined with the movement of the substrate 20 and are in the state shown in FIG.

  As the force on the substrate 20, and hence the applied pressure on the chain 8, increases, the inclination angle of the arm 22 increases. When the pressure applied to the chain 8 reaches a specified value (5 Kg), the arm 22 comes into contact with the lower push button switch 34a. When the push button switch 34a is pressed, the buzzer device 36 is driven and a buzzer sound is generated. When this buzzer sound is generated, the operator recognizes that the pressure applied to the chain 8 has reached a specified value.

  Here, the fact that the specified value has been reached is presented by a sound (buzzer sound). Therefore, it is possible to easily know that the specified value has been reached even if the chain 8 to be inspected is at a position that is difficult to see, such as a place where the equipment is deep. That is, conventionally, many proposed chain inspection apparatuses indicate the pressure applied to the chain 8 with a scale or the like. For this reason, it is difficult to confirm the pressure applied to the chain 8 in a place where it is difficult to see. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, it can be easily known that the applied pressure has reached the specified value even in a place where it is difficult to see because it is indicated by sound.

  If a buzzer sound is generated, the gauge part 46 is visually observed again in that state. Then, the position of the pointing needle 56 at the wire rear end 42 is confirmed. If the chain 8 is touched (deflected) due to the pressurization of the specified value, the engaging portion 26 changes in height. The change in height naturally affects the wire 40 having the tip 44 attached to the engaging portion 26. That is, if the height of the wire front end 44 attached to the engaging portion 26 changes, the position of the wire rear end 42 also changes following this. The change can be read as a change in the scale value indicated by the indicator needle 56 in the acrylic tube 48. That is, the operator can obtain the difference between the scale value indicated by the indicator needle 56 before pressurization and the scale value indicated by the indicator needle 56 after pressurization as the touch amount.

  At this time, since the gauge part 46 is affixed in the position where it is easy to see, the value of the scale 50 can be read easily. Further, in the present embodiment, the wire 40 detects a change in the height of the engaging portion 26 due to the touch (deflection) of the chain 8. By using the wire 40, the height change (touch of the chain 8) of the engaging portion 26 can be easily measured even with the gauge portion 46 located away from the actual measurement target. Therefore, the touch amount can always be confirmed at a position where it is easy to visually check.

  Thus, if the touch amount at the time of pressurization is measured in the upward direction, the touch amount at the time of pressurization is then measured in the downward direction. This is performed in substantially the same procedure as described above. That is, with the chain 8 engaged with the engaging portion 26, the operation portion 12 is brought to the same height as the chain 8. In this state, the position of the indicating needle 56 is read. Then, a downward force is applied to the housing including the substrate 20 to move the substrate 20 downward. This state is shown in FIG. When the downward force is applied, the arm 22 and the tension spring 24 are inclined. When the pressure applied to the chain 8 reaches a specified value, the upper pushbutton switch 34b is pressed by the inclined arm 22. If a buzzer sound is generated by pressing the push button switch 34b, the operator reads the value of the scale 50 indicated by the indicating needle 56, and touches the chain 8 with the difference between the value of the scale 50 read before pressurization. Get as a quantity. Then, if necessary, the tension of the chain 8 is readjusted according to the obtained touch amount.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even the chain 8 located at a position where it is difficult to see can be easily pressurized with a prescribed pressure. Moreover, the touch amount at that time can also be easily confirmed. Thereby, the whole chain inspection can be performed more simply.

  Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The chain inspection apparatus 10 includes two pressure sensors 60 and a control circuit 62 instead of the push button switch.

  The pressure sensor 60 is a sheet-like member and detects the pressure applied to the surface. The two pressure sensors 60 are provided on the upper surface and the bottom surface of the inner surface of the engaging portion 26, that is, at a position where the pressure sensor 60 contacts the chain 8 when the chain 8 is pressurized. Therefore, when pressure is applied to the chain 8, the applied pressure is detected by the two pressure sensors 60. The detected pressure value is output to the control circuit 62 via a cable (not shown).

  The control circuit 62 determines whether or not the detected pressure value is equal to or greater than a predetermined specified value (5 Kg). And when it is judged that it is more than a regulation value, the buzzer device 36 is driven and a buzzer sound is generated. That is, the pressure sensor 60 and the control circuit 62 can detect whether or not the pressure applied to the chain 8 has reached a specified value.

  When the tension of the chain 8 is inspected, the same procedure as in the above embodiment is performed. That is, an upward or downward force is applied to the housing (substrate 20) until a buzzer sound is generated, and the touch amount of the chain 8 is obtained from the value of the scale 50 indicated by the indicator needle 56 at that time.

  Even in the present embodiment, even the chain 8 at a position that is difficult to see can be easily inspected. Moreover, according to this Embodiment, since the pressure sensor 60 is used, a pressurizing force can be detected more correctly. Then, a more accurate tension inspection of the chain 8 becomes possible.

  Note that a stopper member 64 may be provided on the substrate 20 in order to prevent excessive pressurization of the chain 8, in other words, excessive inclination of the arm 22. This can be constituted by, for example, a standing member that comes into contact with the arm 22 at a position to be vertically moved around the arm 22.

  Further, when the pressure sensor 60 is used, the inclination of the arm 22 and the tension spring 24 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the tension spring 24 may be omitted and the arm 22 may be fixed to the substrate 20. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the size and weight, and thus it is possible to inspect more easily.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sound (buzzer sound) is used to indicate that the applied pressure has reached the specified value, but may be presented using other means. However, in that case, presentation by means that does not require visual observation, for example, a method such as vibration is desirable. In addition, even in the case of visual observation, it is desirable that the means can be confirmed even at a position away from the chain 8 to be inspected, for example, generating strong light.

  In addition, the numerical values, shapes, and the like used in the above description may be appropriately changed as long as the functions are not impaired.

It is a schematic top view of the chain inspection apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state which performed the upward pressurization with respect to the chain. It is a figure which shows the state which performed the downward pressurization with respect to the chain. It is a schematic top view of the chain inspection apparatus which is other embodiment. It is a schematic top view of the chain inspection apparatus which is other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  8 chain, 10 chain inspection device, 12 operation unit, 14 touch amount measurement unit, 16 pressurization unit, 18 presentation unit, 20 substrate, 22 arm, 24 tension spring, 26 engagement unit, 34 pushbutton switch, 36 buzzer device , 40 wire, 46 gauge part, 54 magnet, 60 pressure sensor, 62 control circuit.

Claims (3)

A chain inspection device for inspecting the state of an escalator chain,
A pressurizing unit that applies pressure to the chain according to the operation of the operator;
When the pressure applied to the chain is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, a presentation unit that informs the operator to that effect with sound,
A touch amount detection unit for detecting the amount of touch of the chain when the chain is pressurized;
Have
Touch amount detector
A wire having one end connected to a portion of the pressurizing portion that contacts the chain;
A gauge part for displaying the position of the other end of the wire, which can be attached to any position of the escalator by magnetic force;
Equipped with a,
Pressurizing part
An elastic body with one end attached to the casing of the chain inspection device;
An arm whose posture changes in response to a pressure applied to the chain, the arm being attached to the housing at a predetermined fulcrum position and having a rear end linked to an elastic body;
An engagement portion provided at the tip of the arm and engaged with the chain;
Have
The presentation part
One or more switches provided at positions that contact the arm when the pressure applied to the chain exceeds a predetermined specified value;
A sound generator that generates sound by turning on the switch;
Have
A chain inspection device characterized by that. The chain inspection device according to claim 1,
The presentation part
A pressure sensor for detecting the pressure applied to the chain;
A sound generator that generates a sound when a pressure sensor detects a pressure greater than a predetermined specified value; and
A chain inspection device characterized by comprising: The chain inspection device according to claim 1,
The chain inspection apparatus, wherein the touch amount detection unit detects the amount of touch of the chain by detecting a displacement amount of a portion of the pressurizing unit that contacts the chain.

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