JP4975545B2 - Detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a detection device that detects temperature fluctuations.

  In a factory for producing foods such as beverages, factory equipment such as tanks and pipes are sterilized with hot water. Hot water sterilization means sterilization using heated water (for example, water at 80 ° C. or higher). Chemicals that help sterilization may be added to the water. Here, it is necessary to confirm that heat has been applied to each part in order to ensure that the end of the long drawn pipe is completely sterilized with hot water. For this purpose, a temperature indicating tape can be used. When using a reversible temperature indicating tape as the temperature indicating tape, it is necessary for an operator to witness each part during hot water sterilization. On the other hand, when an irreversible temperature indicating tape is used as the temperature indicating tape, the temperature indicating tape needs to be replaced every time hot water sterilization is performed.

In Patent Document 1, a valve rod that is located at a normal position except during hot water sterilization, moves upward due to heat during hot water sterilization, and moves to an upper position when the valve rod moves upward. An operation confirmation device is described having a marker that remains in the upper position even if the bar moves downward.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-84082

  In Patent Document 1, there is no disclosure or suggestion of means for preventing the marker from moving downward when the valve stem moves downward. In addition, if an operator or the like accidentally touches the marker, the marker may move.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described problem recognition, and an object thereof is to provide a detection device having a function of preventing, for example, a marker indicating that heat has been applied from moving erroneously.

  The detection device of the present invention is a detection device that detects temperature fluctuations, and includes an operating portion, a first spring made of a shape memory alloy that presses the operating portion in a first direction, and the operating portion in the first direction. A second spring that presses in a second direction opposite to the first, a marker that moves from a first position to a second position in accordance with the movement of the operating part when the operating part moves in the first direction, and a bending Alternatively, a guide unit that guides the marker along a curved path is provided. In the path, the marker moves from the first position to the second position according to the movement of the operating part when the operating part moves in the first direction by heating the first spring. While the first spring is cooled, the marker is defined not to return to the first position even if the operating portion moves in the second direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the detection apparatus which has a function which prevents that the marker which shows that the heat | fever was added moves accidentally is provided, for example.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 3 are side views showing a configuration of a detection apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a detection apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1 to 4, the upper vertical direction is shown as the z-axis, and the xyz coordinate system is defined based on the z-axis.

  The detection device 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can be used to confirm that the tubes 70 and 80 have been sterilized with hot water, for example, in a manufacturing factory for food such as beverages. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the detection device 100 is disposed between the tube 70 and the tube 80. In addition, the detection apparatus 100 may be attached to facilities other than a pipe, for example, a tank. In that case, the shape can be changed according to the installation target equipment.

  When a facility in a factory is sterilized with hot water, the facility is subjected to a temperature cycle (temperature fluctuation) in which it is heated by heated water (for example, water of 80 ° C. or higher) and then cooled by natural cooling or the like. The detection device 100 allows the operator to confirm that the hot water sterilization has been properly performed even after the hot water sterilization of the facility has ended and the facility has cooled down.

  The detection device 100 is configured to detect temperature fluctuations, and includes an operating unit 10, a first spring 20 made of a shape memory alloy that presses the operating unit 10 in the first direction A, and the operating unit 10 in the first direction A. The second spring 30 that presses in the second direction B opposite to the first position, and the first position according to the movement of the operating unit 10 when the operating unit 10 moves in the first direction A (the position described as “SET”) ) 43 to a second position (position described as “OK”) 44 and a guide portion 50 for guiding the marker 40 along a bent or curved path.

  Here, as for the 1st spring 20 which consists of shape memory alloys, a spring constant changes with temperature. More specifically, the first spring 20 has a first spring constant at room temperature, and has a second spring constant larger than the first spring constant when a temperature higher than normal temperature and slightly lower than the temperature of hot water sterilization is exceeded. . As the second spring 30, a spring that has a substantially constant spring constant in the range from room temperature to the temperature of hot water sterilization, or that has a smaller fluctuation in spring constant than the first spring 20 is used.

  The operation unit 10 is disposed, for example, around the tube wall 90 of the detection device 100 and has, for example, a ring shape. The operating unit 10 is sandwiched between the first spring 20 and the second spring 30 and pressed from both sides. Therefore, the position of the operating portion 10 is determined by the restoring force received from the first spring 20 and the restoring force received from the second spring 30, in other words, the spring constant of the first spring 20 and the spring constant of the second spring 30. .

  At normal temperature, the operating unit 10 is positioned at a position determined by the first spring constant of the first spring 20 and the spring constant of the second spring 30. On the other hand, when hot water passes through a flow path constituted by the pipe 70, the pipe wall 90 of the detection device 100, and the pipe 80 for hot water sterilization, the detection device 100 is heated by the hot water. As a result, the spring constant of the first spring 20 made of the shape memory alloy changes from the first spring constant to the second spring constant. Therefore, during hot water sterilization, the operating unit 10 is positioned at a position determined by the second spring constant of the first spring 20 and the spring constant of the second spring 30.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the operation unit 10 is disposed so that the marker 40 can be moved only in the first direction A. The path along which the marker 40 moves is defined by the guide unit 50 as described above. In this path, when the operating unit 10 moves in the first direction A by heating the first spring 20, the marker 40 moves from the first position 42 to the second position 44 according to the movement of the operating unit 10. On the other hand, it is defined that the marker 40 does not return to the first position 42 even if the operating portion 10 moves in the second direction B by the first spring 20 being cooled.

  Specifically, the path along which the guide unit 50 guides the marker 40 may include a shape that protrudes vertically upward (the positive direction of the z axis). When the first spring 20 is heated by hot water sterilization and its spring constant changes from the first spring constant to the second spring constant, the operating unit 10 moves in the first direction A as shown in FIGS. In response to this, the marker 40 moves from the first position 42 to the second position while being guided by the guide portion 50.

  Thereafter, when the temperature of the first spring 20 decreases due to natural cooling or the like, the operating unit 10 moves in the second direction B as shown in FIG. However, the marker 40 is not affected by the movement of the operating unit 10 in the second direction B and remains at the second position 44. The marker 40 remains in the second position 44 until it is intentionally returned to the first position 42 by the operator.

  By providing the guide portion 50 that guides the marker 40 along the bent or curved path defined as described above, the marker 40 returns from the second position 44 to the first position 42 after the hot water sterilization is completed. Can be prevented. In particular, by making the guide path by the guide portion 50 convex upward, the marker 40 returns from the second position 44 to the first position 42 to the extent that the operator touches the marker 40 lightly. The possibility that it will end up can be significantly reduced.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the detection apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the detection apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the structure of the detection apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the detection apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Actuation part 20 1st spring 30 2nd spring 40 Marker 42 1st position 44 2nd position 50 Guide part 70, 80 Pipe 90 Pipe wall 100 Detection apparatus A 1st direction B 2nd direction

Claims (2)

A detection device for detecting temperature fluctuations,
An operating part;
A first spring made of a shape memory alloy that presses the operating portion in a first direction;
A second spring that presses the operating portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A marker that moves from a first position to a second position in accordance with the movement of the operating part when the operating part moves in the first direction;
A guide portion for guiding the marker along a bent or curved path,
In the path, the marker moves from the first position to the second position according to the movement of the operating part when the operating part moves in the first direction by heating the first spring. While the first spring is cooled, the marker is defined so that the marker does not return to the first position even if it moves in the second direction.
A detection device characterized by that.   The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the path includes a shape that protrudes vertically upward.

Images