JP4874575B2 - tool - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tool used for maintenance of a vehicle, for example.

  In recent years, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)) (hereinafter referred to as “hybrid vehicle” as appropriate) that uses both an electric motor and an engine as a power source, and generation of electricity using a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen Development of an electric vehicle (FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle)) (hereinafter referred to as a fuel cell vehicle as appropriate) using a fuel cell as a power source is actively carried out. Some hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles have already been put to practical use, and trial running is also being carried out.

  Such hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles are expected to become widespread in the future from the viewpoint of responding to environmental problems such as global warming, air pollution, and depletion of petroleum resources.

  Hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles are equipped with a battery for supplying electric power for driving the motor. While this type of battery is becoming lighter and more compact, its efficiency is increased and a large current can be easily taken in and out. In hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, since electricity is used as a drive source, it is important to properly maintain batteries.

  By the way, tools called T-type wrench, spectacle wrench, spanner, and driver are conventionally known as tools used for vehicle maintenance. The base of these tools is generally made of a metal such as steel. If a metal tool is used for maintenance work of a member such as a battery that is applied with voltage, there is a risk that an electric shock may be accidentally generated during the work.

  In particular, a battery that supplies electric power for driving a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle uses a higher voltage than a battery provided in a conventional gasoline vehicle, and thus it is strongly required to ensure safety in maintenance work. For this reason, accidents such as electric shocks and short circuits are prevented in advance by, for example, forming an insulating resin layer on the surface of the tool or wearing insulating gloves to perform maintenance work.

  Patent Document 1 below describes an invention related to an insulating spanner having an insulating resin layer formed on the surface.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-131361

  Patent Document 2 listed below describes an invention related to an insulating socket for a fastening tool having an insulating coating layer formed on the surface thereof.

JP 2000-33578 A

  Overseas, in the EN standard, which is a unified standard in the EU (European Union) region, it is required that a voltage of 10,000 V (volts) be applied to a live work tool for 3 minutes without causing any abnormality. Maintenance tools based on EN standard safety requirements are also proposed and sold.

  However, the conventional techniques as described above have the following problems. For example, if it is necessary to wear insulating gloves during maintenance work, an accident such as an electric shock may occur if the user forgets to wear the insulating gloves and performs the work. Therefore, it is desirable that the tool used for the work is insulated in order to ensure the safety of the work.

  Since the EN standard requires the safety standards as described above, the insulating layer is inevitably thick. On the other hand, the maximum voltage of a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle varies depending on the vehicle or the like, but is in the range of 190V to 500V. When a tool that satisfies the EN standard is used for the maintenance of a battery such as a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle, for example, for attaching or detaching a bolt, there is a problem that the tightening operation cannot be performed due to the thickness of the insulating layer.

  In addition, in a tool or the like in which a single insulating resin layer is formed as in the insulating spanner described in Patent Document 1, for example, the number of years of use, the frequency of use, and the friction between the surface of the tool and the operating human hand There is a possibility that the insulating resin layer may be peeled off. The metal base of the tool is exposed by peeling off the insulating resin layer. If the user of the tool uses the tool without noticing the peeling of the insulating resin layer, an accident such as an electric shock may occur due to touching the exposed metal part.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tool capable of efficiently performing maintenance work on, for example, a hybrid vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle.

  Another object of the present invention is to make it possible for a tool user to visually recognize the wear of an insulating resin layer formed on the surface of a tool.

Formed in order to solve the above problems, the inventions includes a handle portion, from near the center in the longitudinal direction of the handle portion, and a bar portion extending in the longitudinal direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the end portion of the bar portion Of the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating resin layer, the first insulating resin layer has a handle that has a hollow fitting portion that is fitted to the bolts and has a different color or pattern. The second insulating resin layer is continuously formed from the surface of the handle portion to the front of the surface of the fitting portion on the surface of the bar portion, and from the surface of the handle portion to the surface of the fitting portion. a factory fixture is formed continuously to the surface.

  According to the present invention, for example, wear of an insulating resin layer formed on the surface of a tool used for maintenance such as a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle can be visually recognized by a tool user. Therefore, the user of the tool can recognize the wear of the insulating resin layer and thereby replace it with a new tool, thereby preventing an accident such as an electric shock due to the wear of the insulating resin layer.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a spanner will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a spanner 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The spanner 1 is made of, for example, a metal base such as steel. The spanner 1 includes an elongated gripping portion 2 having one rounded end.

  The other end of the grip 2 is provided with an action part 3 that fits a bolt, a screw, a nut (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as bolts) or the like and applies a predetermined action such as rotation to the bolts. As for the action part 3 in the spanner 1, the jaw part 4 and the jaw part 5 are opposed to each other, and the jaw part 4 and the jaw part 5 form an opening 6 corresponding to the shape of the bolts. Reference numeral 7 denotes a contact surface that is a portion that contacts the bolts in the jaw 4 and the jaw 5 when the spanner 1 is used.

  On the surface of the metal member excluding the contact surface 7 of the spanner 1, two insulating resin layers including a first insulating resin layer and a second insulating resin layer are laminated. The contact surface 7 is in contact with the bolts and does not need to be insulated because it is not touched by human hands during work. Therefore, an insulating resin layer is not formed on the contact surface 7.

  FIG. 2 shows a central section in the longitudinal direction of the spanner 1. A first insulating resin layer 12 and a second insulating resin layer 13 are sequentially laminated on the grip portion 2 of the spanner 1 and the outer surface of the action portion 3 from the steel base 11 side. The resin used for the insulating resin layer 12 and the resin used for the insulating resin layer 13 are colored in different colors. For example, the insulating resin layer 12 is colored red and the insulating resin layer 13 is colored yellow. The insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 may have different patterns.

  The insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 have different colors or patterns so that the user of the spanner 1 visually distinguishes between the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13. Can do. For example, when the spanner 1 is used, wear of the insulating resin layer 13 proceeds due to contact between the insulating resin layer 13 on the surface of the grip portion 2 and a human hand. As the wear progresses, the insulating resin layer 13 formed on the surface peels off and the insulating resin layer 12 is exposed. In the conventional insulating spanner, when the insulating resin layer formed on the surface is peeled off, the metal base is exposed. Therefore, an accident such as an electric shock may occur by touching the exposed substrate.

  However, in the spanner 1, the steel base 11 is not exposed even if the insulating resin layer 13 is peeled off. That is, even if the insulating resin layer 13 is peeled off, the insulating resin layer 12 is present, so that there is no possibility of accident such as electric shock even if the spanner 1 is used as it is.

  Furthermore, since the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 are colored in different colors, the user of the spanner 1 can visually recognize the wear of the insulating resin layer 13. When the insulating resin layer 13 peels and the insulating resin layer 12 is exposed, a part of the surface of the spanner 1 becomes red. The user of the spanner 1 can recognize that the insulating resin layer 13 has been peeled off by recognizing the red surface. For example, if the instruction manual of the spanner 1 states that “Please replace with a new spanner when part of the surface turns red”, the user replaces with a new spanner for safety. Can be.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a spanner capable of performing work safely as compared with the conventional spanner in which one insulating resin layer is formed.

  The insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 of the spanner 1 are formed by, for example, injection molding. A steel base 11 is fixed to a mold, and a molten resin of the material of the insulating resin layer 12 is injected around the base 11 into the mold. The molten resin is cooled and solidified to form the insulating resin layer 12.

  The base body 11 on which the insulating resin layer 12 is formed is fixed to another mold, and molten resin of the material of the insulating resin layer 13 is poured around the base 11. The molten resin is cooled and solidified to form the insulating resin layer 13. In this manner, the two insulating resin layers 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 are laminated.

  The materials used for the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 are required to have properties such as insulation, processability, acid resistance, and alkali resistance, and each material has a different melting temperature. Is needed. This is because, if the melting temperatures of the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 are the same, the insulating resin layer 12 that has already been formed melts during the injection molding of the insulating resin layer 13, and the insulating resin layer 13 This is because the molten resin of 12 and the molten resin of the insulating resin layer 13 are mixed. This is because if the molten resins are mixed, the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 cannot be distinguished from each other by color, for example, as described above.

As a result of considering these various characteristics, for example, high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) is used as the material of the insulating resin layer 12. High density means that the density is 942 kg / m ³ or more, for example.

  Further, as the material of the insulating resin layer 13, for example, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA (Ethylene-Vinylacetate copolymer)) is used. Both high-density polyethylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer have insulating properties and excellent resistance to acids and alkalis. In addition, the melting temperature of high-density polyethylene is around 120 ° C, and the melting temperature of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is around 90 ° C. Since the melting temperatures are different, the two insulating resins are melted together during injection molding. There is no risk of mixing.

  When the spanner 1 is used for maintenance of a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle, the thickness of each of the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 is, for example, in the range of about 1 mm to 2.5 mm. With the thickness within this range, any one insulating resin layer can maintain the insulating effect. In other words, even if the spanner 1 is mistakenly used after the insulating resin layer 13 is peeled off, there is no risk of an electric shock or the like due to the insulating effect of the insulating resin layer 12. Of course, an insulating effect can be obtained even with a thickness of 1 mm or less, for example, a thickness of an insulating resin layer of about 0.6 mm, but if the insulating resin layer is made too thin, the thickness of the insulating resin layer becomes uniform during injection molding. However, the thickness of the insulating resin layer in the above range is preferable.

  Further, the two insulating resin layers laminated by the insulating resin layer 12 and the insulating resin layer 13 may be partially different in thickness.

  Next explained is the second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a driver will be described.

  FIG. 3 shows a driver 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The driver 21 includes a handle 23. The handle 23 is made of resin, for example.

  For example, a part of a steel shaft 25 is inserted into the handle 23 via the connecting portion 24. An end portion of the shaft 25 opposite to the side inserted into the handle 23 is provided with an action portion 26 that contacts and engages with bolts. The shape of the action portion 26 is, for example, a shape corresponding to bolts such as a + type and a − type.

  Since the handle 23 and the connecting portion 24 are made of, for example, resin or plastic, there is no risk of electric shock or the like by touching the handle 23 or the connecting portion 24. The action portion 26 engages with bolts and does not need to be insulated because it is not touched by human hands during work. Therefore, in the shaft 25, it is necessary to insulate the exposed portion 27 that is an exposed portion excluding the action portion 26 that comes into contact with the bolts.

  Two insulating resin layers 28 are laminated on the exposed portion 27. A first insulating resin layer and a second insulating resin layer are sequentially stacked from the exposed portion 27 side. The two insulating resin layers are formed on the surface of the exposed portion 27 as follows, for example. A cylindrical and hollow heat-shrinkable tube (not shown) that forms the first insulating resin layer around the exposed portion 27 is attached.

  The heat-shrinkable tube attached around the exposed portion 27 is heated with hot air such as a dryer. The heat-shrinkable tube is heat-shrinked when heated, and a first insulating resin layer is formed around the exposed portion 27. Further, the second insulating resin layer is formed by repeating the same operation.

  In this way, two insulating resin layers are formed on the surface of the exposed portion 27. The heat-shrinkable tubes constituting the first and second insulating resin layers are colored in different colors or have different patterns so that they can be visually distinguished. Accordingly, the user of the driver 21 can visually recognize that the second insulating resin layer on the surface of the exposed portion 27 is peeled and the first insulating resin layer is exposed, and further, the wear of the insulating resin layer on the surface can be reduced. Because it is possible to know, it can be replaced with a new driver for safety.

  Next explained is the third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a T-type box wrench will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a T-type box wrench 31 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The T-type box wrench 31 is made of a steel base, and is composed of a gripping portion 32 and an action portion 33 that fits bolts. The grip portion 32 is configured such that a columnar handle portion 32a and a columnar bar portion 32b are substantially orthogonal and provided in a T shape. An action portion 33 is provided at the tip of the bar portion 32b. The action part 33 has a slightly larger cross-sectional diameter than the cross-sectional diameter of the bar part 32b in the short direction. Further, the action portion 33 is hollow and is fitted with bolts.

  The T-type box wrench 31 is a tool used for, for example, replacement work of a battery cell of a hybrid vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle. Specifically, it is used as follows. The action part 33 is fitted with bolts for fixing the cell. In this state, one hand is attached to the bar portion 32b so that the work can be stably performed, and the bolts are attached and detached by rotating the handle portion 32a with the other hand. Therefore, an insulating resin layer is formed on the outer surface of the T-type box wrench 31.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the T-type box wrench 31. A first insulating resin layer 42 and a second insulating resin layer 43 are laminated on the surface of the grip portion 32 from the steel base 41 side. The insulating resin layer 42 and the insulating resin layer 43 are formed by injection molding similarly to the spanner 1 described in the first embodiment, and have different colors or patterns.

  Since the insulating resin layer 42 is present even if the insulating resin layer 43 is peeled off by using the gripping portion 32 as the two insulating resin layers, there is a risk of electric shock or the like even if the T-type box wrench 31 is used continuously. Absent. Further, since the insulating resin layer 42 and the insulating resin layer 43 have different colors or patterns, it can be visually recognized that the insulating resin layer 43 is peeled and the insulating resin layer 42 is exposed. For this reason, the wear of the insulating resin layer 43 can be known, and a new T-type box wrench can be replaced for safety.

  The action portion 33 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the bolts. A portion indicated by reference numeral 44 on the inner surface of the action portion 33 is a contact surface that is a portion that contacts bolts. A magnet 46 is provided in the back of the recess 45 inside the action portion 33 so that the action portion 33 and the bolts can be easily fitted. Since the contact surface 44 around the recess 45 meshes with the bolts during operation, the insulating resin layer is not formed.

  For example, only one insulating resin layer 43 is formed on the outer surface of the action portion 33. The reason why only one insulating resin layer 43 is formed on the surface of the action portion 33 unlike the grip portion 32 will be described. The action part 33 is a part that fits with bolts, and the bar part 32b has a length of, for example, about several tens of centimeters. Therefore, the action part 33 is rarely actually touched by human hands. Therefore, the insulating resin layer 43 of one layer is hardly worn, and there is little need to insulate the grip portion 32.

  Further, the T-type box wrench 31 is also used for the work of attaching and detaching bolts held on the terminal block. At this time, if the insulating resin layer formed on the outer surface of the action part 33 is thickened, the action part 33 does not enter the hole around the bolts of the terminal block, and the bolts cannot be attached or detached. There is also a risk. Therefore, a single insulating resin layer is formed on the action portion 33.

  As described above, according to the T-type box wrench 31 to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to prevent accidents such as electric shock without restricting the function as a box wrench.

  The present invention can be variously modified and applied without departing from the gist of the present invention, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The two insulating resin layers stacked on the handle portion 32a and the bar portion 32b of the T-type box wrench 31 may have different thicknesses. For example, the thickness of each of the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating resin layer stacked on the handle 32a is set to about 2.5 mm, and the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating layer stacked on the bar portion 32b are arranged. The thickness of each insulating resin layer may be about 1.5 mm. Since the handle portion 32a can be touched more by human hands and may receive a strong force when the handle 32a rotates, the insulating resin layer laminated on the handle portion 32a is thickened for long-term use. T-type box wrench that can withstand

  The present invention can also be applied to tools other than spanners, drivers, and T-type box wrenches. For example, the present invention can be applied to a socket wrench, an extension bar, a ratchet wrench, a bit socket, and the like used in conjunction with a spectacle wrench and other tools.

  That is, the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating resin layer are laminated on the surface of the metal member excluding a portion that comes into contact with the bolts and a connecting portion for connecting with other tools.

  Further, in the above-described embodiments, the description has been given mainly using the tool used for the maintenance work of the hybrid vehicle and the fuel cell vehicle. The present invention can also be applied to a tool.

It is a basic diagram which shows the spanner in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the spanner in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the driver in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the T type box wrench in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the T-type box wrench in 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Spanner 2 Gripping part 3 Acting part 11 Base body 12 Insulating resin layer 13 Insulating resin layer 21 Driver 23 Handle 25 Shaft 26 Acting part 27 Exposed part 28 Insulating resin layer 31 T-type box wrench 32 Gripping part 33 Acting part 41 Base 42 Insulating resin Layer 43 Insulating resin layer

Claims (2)

A handle,
A bar portion extending from the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction of the handle portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;
Formed at the end of the bar portion, and a blank engaging portion in which fitted the bolt such,
Of the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating resin layer having different colors or patterns,
The first insulating resin layer is continuously formed from the surface of the handle portion to the front surface of the fitting portion on the surface of the bar portion,
The second insulating resin layer is a tool formed continuously from the surface of the handle part to the surface of the fitting part through the surface of the bar part. The thickness of the insulating resin layer formed by laminating the first insulating resin layer and the second insulating resin layer on the surface of the handle portion is such that the surface of the bar portion has the first insulating resin layer and The tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool is made larger than a thickness of an insulating resin layer formed by laminating the second insulating resin layer.

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