JP6709824B2 - Surveillance equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a monitoring instrument for monitoring the state of a monitoring target, and more particularly to a monitoring instrument for monitoring the state of a signaling device in which a plurality of light emitting units are arranged along the length direction.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a signal column (signal tower, signal device) for indicating an operating state of a machine as described in Patent Document 1 may be provided in equipment in a factory or the like. The signal column has a plurality of light emitting parts (in many cases, three or four) such as LEDs, and each light emitting part emits light of a different color. This signal column is connected to a machine in the equipment, and the operating state of the machine is indicated by the light of the light emitting section.

As an example, when the three light emitting parts respectively emit light in red, yellow, and green, typically, red indicates a dangerous state, yellow indicates a caution state, and green indicates a normal state. That is, if the red light emitting portion is lit, it means that the machine has an urgent abnormality and the operation of the machine should be stopped immediately. If the yellow light emitting part is lit, the machine is less urgent, but some abnormality has occurred, indicating that the machine should be inspected after the operation is completed. A glowing green light indicates the machine is okay and operation may continue.

If such a signal pole is connected to the machine, a worker who is within the range where the light of the light emitting part can be visually confirmed in the equipment can check the condition of the machine even if the operator is not located near the machine. it can.

Furthermore, in the signal column described in Patent Document 1, a wireless module is provided in addition to the light emitting unit (signal element). The wireless module uses the control signal generated by the machine controller for the signal pole to generate a wireless signal and sends the wireless signal to the receiver. If the receiver is installed away from the signal pole, the operator can check the state of the machine using the receiver even from the outside of the visible range of the light of the light emitting unit.

JP, 2005-346697, A

However, since the wireless module of the signal column described in Patent Document 1 uses the control signal generated by the control device of the machine, the wireless module unless the person who is familiar with the internal structure of the machine, such as the manufacturer of the machine. Can not be prepared. That is, when the manufacturer of the machine and the signal pole does not previously provide the wireless module, it is difficult for the user to add the wireless module that uses the control signal of the machine to the signal pole afterward.

Therefore, when a wireless module is not provided in advance on the signal pole, a monitoring instrument 90 as shown in FIG. 5 is used as an instrument for confirming the state of the machine at a place away from the signal pole. There is.

The monitoring instrument 90 of FIG. 5 is attached to the signal tower 80 (signal pole). The signal tower 80 is connected to a machine (not shown), and any one of the red light emitting portion 84a, the yellow light emitting portion 84b, and the green light emitting portion 84c emits light depending on the state of the machine.

The monitoring instrument 90 is provided with three optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c. These optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c detect which of the light emitting units 84a, 84b, 84c of the signal tower 80 is emitting light, and the detection result is sent to a receiver outside (at a place away from the signal tower 80). Sent. By using this monitoring instrument 90, the operator can confirm which light emitting section 84a, 84b, 84c is emitting light from the outside. Therefore, even if the manufacturer of the signal tower 80 does not provide the signal tower 80 with a wireless module in advance, by attaching the monitoring instrument 90 to the signal tower 80, the target machine to which the signal tower 80 is connected is The operator can check the state of the machine from the outside without directly using the control signal. The monitoring instrument 90 may be manufactured by the manufacturer of the signal tower 80, and in this case, a mechanism for attaching the monitoring instrument 90 to the signal tower 80 is prepared. For example, a cap attached to the tip of the signal tower 80 is removable, and instead of a cap as a mere cover, a device having a function of detecting a light emitting state of the light emitting units 84a, 84b, 84c and a function of transmitting a signal to the outside is provided. It may be possible to install it.

However, it is difficult for an operator to attach the monitoring instrument 90 as shown in FIG. 5 to the signal tower 80. Since the monitoring instrument 90 of FIG. 5 is not an instrument prepared by the manufacturer of the signal tower 80, the signal tower 80 is not provided with a mechanism for attaching the monitoring instrument 90. Therefore, in order to attach the monitoring instrument 90 to the signal tower 80, as shown in FIG. 5, an operator must wind the plurality of binding bands 98 over both the monitoring instrument 90 and the signal tower 80. Further, the optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c are embedded in the elongated sensor cover 96, but the operator aligns the length direction of the sensor cover 96 and the length direction of the signal tower 80 in parallel. Further, the binding bands 98 must be wound after the optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c are aligned so as to face the light emitting portions 84a, 84b, 84c, respectively. If the alignment is insufficient, a gap is created between the optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c and the light emitting units 84a, 84b, 84c, and the optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c are not supposed to be detected. There is a possibility that the light emission of a different portion is detected (the light emission of the uppermost light emitting portion 84a is detected by the second light emitting portion 84b from the top, etc.). Further, when detaching the monitoring instrument 90 from the signal tower 80, the operator must cut the binding band 98, and the detaching operation becomes a laborious task. As a method of attaching the monitoring instrument 90 to the signal tower 80, in addition to the method of using the binding band 98, there is also a method in which an operator attaches the monitoring instrument 90 to the outer surface of the signal tower 80 using a double-sided tape. However, even with this method, the worker has to accurately align the optical sensors 94a, 94b, and 94c with the light emitting units 84a, 84b, and 84c and perform the attachment, which makes the attachment work difficult. Further, in order for the operator to remove the monitoring instrument 90 attached with the double-sided tape, the monitoring instrument 90 must be peeled off against the adhesive force of the double-sided tape, which makes removal work difficult. Further, if the adhesive strength of the double-sided tape is too strong, the signal tower 80 may be damaged during the detaching work, or fragments of the double-sided tape may remain on the outer surface of the signal tower 80.

Further, since the three photosensors 94a, 94b, 94c provided in the monitoring instrument 90 shown in FIG. 5 have a fixed distance from each other, depending on the size of the signal tower 80 to be attached, the light emitting unit may be provided. When the distance between 84a, 84b and 84c is different from the distance between the optical sensors 94a, 94b and 94c, it becomes difficult to perform the alignment, or even when the alignment is performed, the optical sensors 94a, 94b and 94c respectively emit light. It may not be possible to face the parts 84a, 84b, 84c. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated monitoring instrument 90 for each type of the signal tower 80 to be attached, which increases the manufacturing cost of the monitoring instrument 90. Further, in the conventional monitoring instrument 90 shown in FIG. 5, a transmitter/receiver for transmitting the detection results of the optical sensors 94a, 94b, 94c to an external receiver and a battery for operating the transmitter/receiver are provided above the monitoring instrument 90. Although housed in the battery housing 92, the battery housing 90 is large in size for housing the battery, and the monitoring device 90 is attached to the signal tower 80 in an environment where sufficient space cannot be secured above the signal tower 80. I can't.

Therefore, the present invention provides a monitoring instrument for monitoring the state of a signal device such as a signal tower, which can be easily attached to the signal device and can be attached regardless of the size of the signal device. It is an issue.

In order to solve the above problems, a monitoring instrument according to the present invention is a monitoring instrument for monitoring a state of a signal device in which a plurality of light emitting units are arranged along a length direction, and the monitoring instrument is a cover. A housing and a plurality of optical sensors are provided, and the coated housing has a transparent portion at least a part of which is transparent, and the transparent portion is arranged at an outer periphery of the signal device and has at least the plurality of transparent portions. The light sensor has a shape surrounding the light emitting portion, the plurality of optical sensors are attached to the light transmitting portion, and are movable with respect to the light transmitting portion. It is possible to move to a position facing each of the plurality of light-emitting units by moving with respect to.

Also preferably, in the monitoring instrument of the present invention, a plurality of sensor support rods extending from the outside of the light transmitting portion toward the light emitting portion in a width direction intersecting the length direction of the signal device are provided. The optical sensor is attached to an optical part, and the optical sensor is provided at an end of the sensor support rod on the side of the light emitting part, and an end of the sensor support rod on the side of the light emitting part is the signal device. It is preferable that the position of the optical sensor in the width direction can be changed by moving in the width direction.

Further preferably, in the monitoring instrument of the present invention, the sensor support rod is movable in the length direction of the signal device with respect to the light transmitting portion while maintaining the posture in the width direction. It is preferable that the position of the optical sensor in the length direction can be changed by moving in the length direction.

Further preferably, in the monitoring instrument of the present invention, a light-shielding skirt is arranged at an end of the sensor support rod on which the optical sensor is provided so as to surround the optical sensor, and the light-shielding skirt is It is preferable that only the light incident on the optical sensor from the width direction is allowed to pass through.

Further preferably, in the monitoring instrument of the present invention, a plurality of notch grooves extending along the length direction of the signal device are provided on the surface of the light transmitting portion, and the plurality of sensor support rods are respectively the above-mentioned. The sensor support rod is inserted into the notch groove, and the sensor support rod moves with respect to the notch groove toward the entrance side toward the light emitting portion side or the exit side away from the light emitting portion, thereby the above-mentioned The position in the width direction can be changed, and the position in the length direction of the optical sensor can be changed by moving the sensor support rod along the cutout groove in the length direction. It is preferable that a fixing operation part is provided in the position of the sensor support rod, and the position of the sensor support rod with respect to the cutout groove is fixed by operating the fixing operation part.

According to the monitoring instrument of the present invention, the operator can attach the monitoring instrument to the signal device only by covering the signal device with the covering housing so that the light-transmitting portion surrounds the light emitting portion, and therefore the worker can easily attach the monitoring device. Further, since each of the light sensors attached to the light-transmitting portion is movable with respect to the light-transmitting portion, the worker can individually move the light sensor to a position facing the light-emitting portion. Easy position adjustment. Further, since the position of the optical sensor can be changed according to the size of the signal device, specifically, the distance between the light emitting units, the monitoring instrument of the present invention can be used for signal devices of various sizes.

The perspective view which shows an example of embodiment of the monitoring instrument which concerns on this invention. AA sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2. The block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring instrument of FIG. 1 roughly. The perspective view which shows the conventional monitoring instrument.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of a monitoring instrument 10 according to the present invention and a signaling device 20 to be monitored by the monitoring instrument 10. The signal device 20 is in the form of a so-called signal tower, and is connected to another machine (not shown) via a connection part 22 provided below the signal device 20 to indicate the state of the connected machine by the light emitting part 24a. , 24b, and 24c have a function of visually displaying the colors.

The signal device 20 of the present embodiment has a columnar shape above the connection portion 22, and three light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c are arranged along the length direction L of the columnar shape. These light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c can emit light of different colors, and here, it is assumed that the light emitting portion 24a emits red light, the light emitting portion 24b emits yellow light, and the light emitting portion 24c emits green light in order from the upper side. As a specific example of the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c, the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c can be configured by a light emitting diode (LED) as a light emitting body and a transparent resin surrounding the LED.

The monitoring instrument 10 is attached to the columnar signal device 20. The monitoring instrument 10 includes a cover housing 11 that covers a signal device, optical sensors 34a, 34b, and 34c corresponding to the light emitting units 24a, 24b, and 24c, and a circuit unit 40 that performs data processing and communication with the outside. .. The covering housing 11 is a translucent part that abuts on a tip (an upper end in the figure) of the signal device 20, and a light transmissive part that extends downward from the lid part 14 and surrounds the light emitting parts 24a, 24b, and 24c. 12 and 12. Here, the translucent portion 12 extends along the length direction L and has a cylindrical shape whose radius is slightly larger than the cylindrical shape of the signal device 20. The light-transmitting portion 12 is formed of a dimensionally stable and transparent material such as polycarbonate. Even if the light-transmitting portion 12 surrounds the light-emitting portions 24a, 24b, and 24c, the operator does not The emission colors of the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c can be visually recognized from the outside.

Here, the shape of the lid portion 14 is a disk shape in which the radii of the top surface and the bottom surface are larger than the tip surface of the signal device 20 and the cylinder of the light transmitting portion 12. The overall shape of the covering housing 11 including the translucent portion 12 and the lid portion 14 is a cylindrical shape with a lid, and an operator only needs to cover the signaling device 20 with the cylinder so that the monitoring device 10 can be mounted on the signaling device 20. Can be attached to.

Then, three light sensors 34a, 34b, and 34c (the same as the number of light emitting units 24a, 24b, and 24c) are attached to the light transmitting unit 12. Specifically, three cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c extending along the length direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the light transmitting section 12, and the sensor support is provided in each of the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c. The rods 30a, 30b, 30c are inserted, and the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c are arranged at the tip ends of the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c (on the side of the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c). As will be described later in detail, the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c have a dimension in the lengthwise direction L that is shorter (thinner) than the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c, and the lengthwise direction in the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c. It can be slid to L. In addition, the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c maintain the posture in the width direction W (radial direction of the cylinder of the covering housing 11) (horizontal posture in this case) intersecting the length direction L, and the length direction L Can be slid onto. By arranging the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c on the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c, the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c are movable in the length direction L and the width direction W, respectively. The operator can easily move the respective optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c to the positions facing the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c, respectively.

A cable cover 18 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the translucent portion 12 near the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c and extending to the lid portion 14 along the length direction L. The cable cover 18 is for covering the communication cable 41 not shown in FIG. When the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c detect the light emission of the light emitting portions 24a, 24b, 24c, the detection signal is wired along the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c (or the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c). Embedded in the communication cable 41). The communication cable 41 passes through the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c, is drawn out to the outside of the light transmitting portion 12, passes through the inside of the cable cover 18, and is guided to the circuit portion 40 embedded in the lid portion 14. The circuit unit 40 processes data such as a detection signal transmitted through the communication cable 41, and transmits the processed data to the outside.

A power supply device 16 is installed on the top surface of the lid portion 14 as a power source for operating the circuit portion 40. The power supply device 16 shown here has a solar power generation function by a solar panel or the like, and can operate the circuit section 40 semipermanently as long as sufficient sunlight or illumination is obtained.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The AA cross section is a surface that passes through the central axis of the column of the signal device 20 and does not pass through the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, and 13c. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c are not in direct contact with the light emitting parts 24a, 24b, 24c, but are in direct contact with the light emitting parts 24a, 24b, 24c. These are light-shielding skirts 38a, 38b, 38c provided at the tips of the support bars 30a, 30b, 30c.

Hereinafter, for simplification of description, only the uppermost sensor support rod 30a and the optical sensor 34a will be described unless otherwise specified. However, the other sensor support rods 30b and 30c and the optical sensors 34b and 34c have the same structure.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, an end portion of the sensor support rod 30a on the light emitting portion 24a side is a rectangular sensor base 36a, and an optical sensor 34a is provided on the sensor base 36a. Further, a light shielding skirt 38a is attached on the surface of the sensor base 36a.

Further, FIG. 3 shows a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. The BB cross section is a surface orthogonal to the length direction L and along the sensor support rod 30a at the top in the drawing. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the communication cable 41 described above extends from the optical sensor 34a to the outside of the translucent portion 12 along the sensor support rod 30a and is guided upward through the cable cover 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, the structure of the light shielding skirt 38a has a shape that surrounds the optical sensor 34a and forms a cavity in the region between the optical sensor 34a and the signal device 20. Here, the sensor base 36a has a rectangular tube shape along the outer peripheral edge thereof. The material of the light shielding skirt 38a is a material such as rubber and high density sponge that has a light shielding property that does not allow light to pass through and also has elasticity. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the light shielding skirt 38a is in contact with (the light emitting portion 24a of) the signal device 20, the end of the light shielding skirt 38a on the signal device 20 side follows the outer shape of the signal device 20. It is deformed into a shape and is optically blocked so that light does not enter the region between the optical sensor 34a and the signal device 20 from a direction other than the width direction W. That is, the light-shielding skirt 38a allows only the light incident on the optical sensor 34a in the width direction W to pass therethrough.

Since the light-shielding skirt 38a is provided, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 34a is invisible from the outside of the light-shielding skirt 38a, that is, is not optically exposed. For this reason, light other than the light emitting portion 24a exposed by the optical sensor 34a does not enter the optical sensor 34a. That is, even if the other light emitting units 24b and 24c emit light, the optical sensor 34a does not detect the light emission of the other light emitting units 24b and 24c. Further, even if strong illumination is used in the environment where the signal device 20 is installed, the light of the illumination is not detected by the optical sensor 34a.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the monitoring instrument 10 of this embodiment. The operation of the monitoring instrument 10 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the optical sensors 34a, 34b, and 34c detect the states of the light emitting units 24a, 24b, and 24c, that is, whether they are emitting light (light emitting state) or not emitting light (light off state), respectively. For simplification of the description below, only the optical sensor 34a will be described, but the other optical sensors 34b and 34c also operate in the same manner. As described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, since the light shielding skirts 38a, 38b, and 38c are provided, the optical sensors 34a, 34b, and 34c detect light from other than the corresponding light emitting units 24a, 24b, and 24c. There is nothing to do.

The optical sensor 34a in FIG. 4 transmits a signal indicating the detected state of the light emitting unit 24a to the data processor 42 (processor or the like) included in the circuit unit 40 via the communication cable 41. The data processor 42 processes the received signal (data) and converts it into data that can be transmitted to the outside. As a specific example, what kind of state change has occurred (whether the light emitting state has changed to the light extinguishing state or has changed from the light extinguishing state to the light emitting state), and which of the light emitting units 24a, 24b, 24c has changed. Then, a process for adding information such as when the state change occurs (this time is determined based on the internal timer included in the data processor 42) is performed. The data processed in this way is transmitted to the external device 50 via the transmitter/receiver 44 included in the circuit unit 40. The external device 50 is, for example, a device existing outside the equipment in which the signal device 20 is provided. As a specific example, a computer existing in a control center provided by a manager of the equipment in a place different from the equipment is a computer. Can be mentioned. The operating power of the data processor 42 and the transceiver 44 of the circuit unit 40 is supplied from the power supply device 16 of the management device 10 (here, a power generation device having a solar power generation function).

Data transmission from the monitoring instrument 10 to the external device 50 may be performed by wireless communication, or if the monitoring instrument 10 and the external device 50 are directly connected by a cable, data transmission is performed by wire communication. Good. Alternatively, the monitoring instrument 10 may directly transmit a wireless signal, and in the process of transmitting the data to the external device 50, a wireless communication and a wired communication may be used in combination, such as an internet connection being relayed.

The monitoring instrument 10 may continuously send the state of the light emitting unit 24a to the external device 50, but for example, when the state changes, that is, when the light emitting unit 24a in the off state is switched to the light emitting state, or the light emitting state. If the communication is performed only when the light emitting unit 24a of the above is switched to the off state, the communication frequency can be minimized. If the external device 50 can send an operation command to the monitoring instrument 10, the state of the light emitting unit 24a is detected only when the external device 50 requests the data browsing. May be.

Next, a procedure for the operator to adjust the position of the optical sensor 34a will be described. Also here, unless otherwise specified, only the uppermost sensor support rod 30a and the optical sensor 34a will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor support rod 30a extends in the width direction W (radial direction of the cylinder of the cover housing 11) orthogonal to the length direction L. The sensor support rod 30a is slidable in the length direction L and the width direction W with respect to the cutout groove 13a. When the sensor support rod 30a slides in the width direction W, the position of the optical sensor 34a provided on the tip side in the width direction W changes. At the time when the operator covers the signal housing 20 with the covering housing 11, the sensor supporting rod 30a is slid as far as possible (the exit side away from the light emitting portion 24a) so that the sensor supporting rod 30a does not collide with the signal device 20. It's good to leave.

After covering the signal device 20 with the covering housing 11, the worker pushes the sensor support rod 30a inward in the width direction W, that is, toward the signal device 20 side (the entry side toward the light emitting portion 24a side), and the light shielding skirt 30a. Contact the outer surface of the signaling device 20. Here, if the lengthwise L position of the tip of the sensor support rod 30a does not coincide with the light emitting portion 24a, the operator adjusts the lengthwise L position of the optical sensor 34a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dimension of the sensor support rod 30a along the length direction L is shorter (thinner) than the cutout groove 13a, and the sensor support rod 30a slides in the cutout groove 13a in the lengthwise direction L (transparent direction). It is possible to move in translation with respect to the light unit 12. When the sensor support rod 30a slides in the length direction L, the angle of the sensor support rod 30a with respect to the width direction W does not change and remains horizontal, that is, the posture of the sensor support rod 30a in the width direction W is maintained. Is desirable. For that purpose, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a slide plate 35a is attached to the cutout groove 13a, and the sensor support rod 30a may be inserted into the cutout groove 13a via the slide plate 35a.

Here, the sensor support rod 30a has a constant cross-sectional shape in the width direction W, and the slide plate 35a is provided with a through hole having the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the sensor support rod 30a. The sensor support rod 30a is inserted into this through hole. Further, although not shown in the drawing, on the surface of the slide plate 35a on the side of the cutout groove 13a, the dimension of the cutout groove 13a is almost the same as the size of the cutout groove 13a in the direction intersecting the length direction L and the width direction W (circumferential direction). A rubber bush having the same (slightly smaller) size is provided, and the rubber bush closes the circumferential distance between the inner surface of the cutout groove 13a (the wall thickness of the light transmitting portion 12) and the sensor support rod 30a. Therefore, the movement of the sensor support rod 30a is limited to slide (translate) in the length direction L together with the slide plate 35a or slide (translate) in the width direction W through the through hole of the slide plate 35a. The sensor support rod 30a is restrained from swinging or rotating in the notch groove 13a.

The operator slides the sensor support rod 30a in the length direction L while keeping the posture in the width direction W, so that the optical sensor 34a arranged on the tip side of the sensor support rod 30a faces the corresponding light emitting portion 24a. Move to.

In this way, when the worker adjusts the positions of the sensor support rod 30a and the optical sensor 34a in the width direction W and the position in the length direction L to appropriate positions, the worker next moves the position of the sensor support rod 30a. Fix it. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c are provided with lock levers 32a, 32b, 32c (fixing operation parts), respectively. When the lock levers 32a, 32b, 32c are operated, the positions of the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c in the width direction W and the positions in the length direction L (positions with respect to the cutout grooves 13a, 13b, 13c) are fixed. It As a specific example, it is possible to use a structure in which the rubber bush of the slide plate 35a and the lock lever 32a are interlocked with each other, and the rubber bush expands in the circumferential direction when the lock lever 32a is operated. When the rubber bush expands in the circumferential direction due to the operation of the lock lever 32a, the rubber bush is stretched by the elastic force between the sensor support rod 30a and the inner surface of the notch groove 13a, and the sensor support rod 30a extends in the longitudinal direction L and Sliding in the width direction W is also restricted. Therefore, the sensor support rod 30a cannot move unless the operation of the lock lever 32a is released, and the position of the sensor support rod 30a with respect to the cutout groove is fixed.

Here, as described above, the light shielding skirt 38a shown in FIG. 2 is formed of an elastic material, and the position of the sensor support rod 30a is fixed while the light shielding skirt 38a is in contact with the outer surface of the signal device 20. Then, the sensor support rod 30a is stretched between the signal device 20 and the translucent portion 12. Then, the light transmitting portion 12 is in a state in which it cannot be moved in the length direction L or the width direction W. In addition, it becomes impossible to move the light transmissive portion (rotate around a cylindrical axis) in the circumferential direction that intersects the length direction L and the width direction W. Therefore, by fixing the position of the sensor support rod 30a, the position of the light transmitting portion 12, and thus the monitoring instrument 10, with respect to the signal device 20 is fixed.

As described above, according to the monitoring device 10 of the present embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the worker can attach the monitoring device 10 to the signal device 20 only by covering the signal device 20 with the covering housing 11. Even when the monitoring instrument 10 is fixed to the signal device 20, it is sufficient to push the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c toward the signal device 20 side and then operate the lock levers 32a, 32b, 32c. There is no need to perform a troublesome work such as wrapping a binding band around, and the attachment is easy. Also, when the monitoring instrument 10 is detached from the signal device 20, it is sufficient to release the operation of the lock levers 32a, 32b, 32c and then lift the covering housing 11 upward, and to cut the binding band as in the conventional case. There is no need to perform troublesome work.

Further, according to the monitoring instrument 10 of the present embodiment, the worker moves the sensor support rods 30a, 30b, 30c in the length direction L and the width direction W to move the optical sensors 34a, 34b, 34c, respectively, in the length direction L. Since it can be moved in the width direction W, one type of the monitoring instrument 10 can be used for the interval (size in the length direction L) or the radius (size in the width direction W) between the light emitting parts 24a, 24b, 24c. Can be used for a plurality of signaling devices 20 of various types. Further, even the signal device 20 having a complicated shape in which the radius is different for each light emitting portion can be used without any problem. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare many types of the monitoring instrument 10, and the manufacturing cost of the monitoring instrument 10 can be kept low.

Further, since the monitoring instrument 10 of the present embodiment has the power supply device 16 having a solar power generation function, it has a large-capacity battery that can withstand long-term operation and a large-sized battery housing that houses the battery as in the conventional case. It does not require a body and can be operated in a small space. In particular, the monitoring instrument 10 can be used even in an environment where a sufficient space above the signal device 20 cannot be secured.

In the present embodiment, the signal device 20 is described as a column type, and the monitoring instrument 10 is described as a cylindrical type, but the shapes of the signal device 20 and the monitoring instrument 10 are not limited to this. The signaling device 20 may have a shape in which a plurality of light emitting portions are arranged in a certain direction, and the monitoring instrument 10 may have a shape having a light transmitting portion surrounding the light emitting portion of the signaling device 20. For example, the signaling device 20 may have a prismatic shape, and the monitoring instrument 10 may have a prismatic shape. Further, since it is sufficient that the light transmitting portion of the monitoring device 10 can surround the light emitting portion of the signal device 20, it is not necessary that the monitoring device 10 and the signal device 20 have similar shapes. A cylindrical monitoring device 10 may be arranged.

Further, in the present embodiment, the entire light-transmitting portion 12 is described as transparent, but it is sufficient that the operator can visually recognize the light emission of the light-emitting portion 24a even after the monitoring instrument 10 is attached. The part 12 may be partially opaque.

Further, in the present embodiment, the structure in which the sensor support rod 30a is inserted into the cutout groove 13a via the slide plate 35a and the rubber bush is provided in the slide plate 35a has been described. The structure is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the position of the sensor support rod 30a with respect to the cutout groove 13a can be fixed by a simple operation. For example, a clip mechanism is provided around the sensor support rod 30a, and when the lock lever 32a is operated, the clip mechanism sandwiches the wall of the light transmitting portion 12 to fix the position of the sensor support rod 30a. May be. Further, as described above, the translucent portion 12 may be partially opaque, so that even if the periphery of the cutout groove 13a is made of metal and the sensor support rod 30a is fixed by using a magnet. Good.

Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the optical sensor 34a moves by moving the entire sensor support rod 30a in the length direction L and the width direction W has been described, but the structure for moving the optical sensor 34a is not limited to this. The position of the optical sensor 34a is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the position of the optical sensor 34a can be easily changed. For example, the sensor support rod 30a may be expanded and contracted, and the width direction W position of the optical sensor 34a may be changed by the expansion and contraction of the sensor support rod 30a. Further, the position of the optical sensor 34a can be operated from the outside of the translucent portion 12 by using, for example, a magnet, and the optical sensor 34a may be moved without using the sensor support rod 30a. ..

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Monitoring instrument 11 Covered housing 12 Light transmission part 20 Signal device 24a Light emission part 24b Light emission part 24c Light emission part 30a Sensor support rod 30b Sensor support rod 30c Sensor support rod 34a Optical sensor 34b Optical sensor 34c Optical sensor 38a Light-shielding skirt 38b Light-shielding skirt 38c Light-shielding skirt 40 Circuit part 41 Communication cable 50 External device 80 Signal tower 84a Light emitting part 84b Light emitting part 84c Light emitting part 90 Monitoring instrument 94a Optical sensor 94b Optical sensor 94c Optical sensor

Claims (5)

A monitoring instrument for monitoring the state of a signal device in which a plurality of light emitting units are arranged along the length direction,
The monitoring instrument includes a coated housing and a plurality of optical sensors,
At least a part of the covering housing has a transparent light-transmitting portion, and the light-transmitting portion is arranged on the outer periphery of the signal device and surrounds at least the plurality of light-emitting portions,
Each of the plurality of optical sensors is attached to the translucent portion, and is movable with respect to the translucent portion,
A monitoring instrument characterized by being able to move to a position facing each of the plurality of light emitting units by moving the plurality of optical sensors with respect to the light transmitting unit. From the outer side of the light transmitting portion toward the light emitting portion, a plurality of sensor support rods extending in a width direction intersecting the length direction of the signal device are attached to the light transmitting portion,
The optical sensor is provided at the end of the sensor support rod on the side of the light emitting unit, and the end of the sensor support rod on the side of the light emitting unit moves in the width direction of the signal device, The monitoring instrument according to claim 1, wherein the position of the optical sensor in the width direction is changeable. The sensor support rod is movable in the length direction of the signal device with respect to the translucent portion while maintaining the posture in the width direction,
The monitoring instrument according to claim 2, wherein the position of the optical sensor in the length direction can be changed by moving the sensor support rod in the length direction. A light-shielding skirt is arranged at an end of the sensor support rod provided with the optical sensor so as to surround the optical sensor,
The monitoring device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the light-shielding skirt allows only light incident on the optical sensor from the width direction to pass therethrough. A plurality of notch grooves extending along the length direction of the signal device are provided on the surface of the light transmitting portion,
The plurality of sensor support rods are respectively inserted into the cutout grooves,
With respect to the notch groove, the sensor support rod is moved to the entrance side toward the light emitting portion side or the exit side away from the light emitting portion, whereby the width direction position of the optical sensor can be changed,
By moving the sensor support rod in the lengthwise direction along the cutout groove, the lengthwise position of the optical sensor can be changed,
3. The sensor support rod is provided with a fixing operation portion, and the position of the sensor support rod with respect to the notch groove is fixed by operating the fixing operation portion. The monitoring instrument according to claim 4.

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