JP6920732B2 - Gas switching device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gas switching device that switches a plurality of different types of gas flow paths and sends them to a gas consuming device, and more particularly to a device provided with a mechanism for preventing erroneous operation when switching the flow paths.

For example, when the supply of city gas (12A, 13A, etc.) is temporarily stopped in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or at night construction of city gas piping, the city is mixed with raw gas such as propane and air. A gas supply system that supplies mixed gas with combustion characteristics (Wotsube index, combustion rate) equivalent to gas to gas consuming equipment such as a power generator may be adopted. Conventionally, this gas supply system was generally handled by city gas companies based on the Gas Business Law, but it is normal for end users such as hospitals, welfare facilities, and local governments based on the High Pressure Gas Safety Act. It is expected that it will be permanently installed from time to time. Then, in the event of a disaster or the like, the end user can switch the gas by operating the gas switching device provided in this system that switches the supply of city gas or mixed gas to the gas consuming device. ing.

As this gas switching device, for example, there is a three-way valve 100 shown in FIG. The valve box 101 of the three-way valve 100 has three connection ends, a first flow path 102 through which city gas flows at the first connection end, and a mixed gas flow through the second connection end. A gas supply flow path (not shown because it is on the back side of the valve box 101) for supplying city gas or mixed gas to the gas consuming device is connected to the second flow path 103 at the third connection end. Further, in order to switch the valve box 101 to either a flow path between the first connection end and the third connection end or a flow path between the second connection end and the third connection end. The switching handle 104 is provided.

A first valve 105 is provided in the first flow path 102. The first valve 105 includes a first handle 106 for opening and closing the first valve 105. A second valve 107 is provided in the second flow path 103. The second valve 107 includes a second handle 108 for opening and closing the valve 107.

As shown in FIG. 8, while the first handle 106 and the second handle 108 are in the closed state, the first handle 106 is opened as shown in FIG. 9 with the switching handle 104 facing the first flow path 102 side. In this state, city gas is supplied to the gas consuming device through the first flow path 102. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the switching handle 104 is directed toward the second flow path 103 and the second handle 108 is opened, the mixed gas passes through the second flow path 103. Supplied to consumer equipment. In the normal state, the handles 106 and 108 are in the positions shown in FIG. 9, and city gas is supplied to the gas consuming device.

Since the switching of the handles 106 and 108 is performed by an end user who does not have expertise in gas appliances, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, an erroneous operation occurs in which both the first handle 106 and the second handle 108 are opened. obtain. Due to such an erroneous operation, the mixed gas may flow into the first flow path 102 side through which the city gas flows, which poses a problem in terms of ensuring the quality of the city gas.

In order to prevent erroneous operation during gas switching, for example, the valve with an erroneous operation prevention mechanism shown in Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which holes are formed in the handle and casing of the valve. Then, by fitting a pin into the hole in the fully closed state of the valve, erroneous operation from the fully closed state of the valve is prevented (see paragraph 0019 of Patent Document 1, FIG. 1 and the like). Further, in the valve with a locking mechanism shown in Patent Document 2, a notched step surface is formed on a part of the outer periphery of the valve body, and a locking plate material having a locking hole is provided in the notched step surface. The configuration is adopted. Then, when the valve is rotated to either the fully closed position or the fully opened position, the locking hole is made to face the upper surface region of the valve body so that the valve can be locked (see paragraph 0023 of Patent Document 1, FIG. 2 and the like). ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-207487 JP-A-2017-2923

In the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, each valve is individually provided with an erroneous operation prevention mechanism (locking mechanism). Therefore, the user may accidentally release the erroneous operation prevention mechanism (locking mechanism) itself, and the released valve may be further erroneously operated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to surely prevent erroneous valve operation at the time of gas switching.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a first valve connected to a gas supply flow path for supplying gas to a gas consuming device and provided in the first flow path through which the first gas flows, and the gas supply flow path. It is provided with a second valve connected to a road and provided in a second flow path through which a second gas flows, and a lock member for preventing the first valve and the second valve from being opened at the same time. A gas switching device was configured.

By doing so, it is possible to surely prevent an erroneous operation of opening the first valve and the second valve at the same time, and prevent the first gas and the second gas from mixing with each other and deteriorating the quality of the gas. can do.

In the configuration, the first valve includes a first handle that opens and closes the first valve, and the second valve includes a second handle that opens and closes the second valve. A first engaging portion with which the first handle engages in the closed state and a second engaging portion with which the second handle engages in the closed state are formed on the member, respectively, and the first handle is formed. And at least one of the second handles are preferably engaged with the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion so that the first handle or the second handle is locked.

In this way, by engaging and locking the handle provided on each valve and the engaging portion formed on the locking member, the locking function of the locking member can be easily and surely exerted. ..

In the configuration including the first handle and the second handle, the lock member is arranged on a straight line connecting the first handle and the second handle, and the lock member is slid along the straight line. Thereby, it is preferable that the first handle and the second handle are locked.

In this way, the first handle and the second handle can be smoothly locked and unlocked only by sliding the lock member, and the locking function can be exerted with a simple configuration.

In the configuration in which the lock member is slid, when one of the first handle or the second handle is in the open state, the lock member comes into contact with the one side to prevent the slide, and the first handle or the first handle or the said. It is preferable that the other locked state of the second handle is maintained.

In this way, when one handle is in the open state, the locked state of the other handle cannot be released, so that the locked state of the other handle can be reliably maintained.

In the present invention, by providing a lock member for each of the valves provided in the first flow path and the second flow path connected to the gas supply flow path, both valves are prevented from being opened at the same time. .. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the first gas and the second gas from mixing with each other and deteriorating the quality of the gas due to an erroneous operation of opening the first valve and the second valve at the same time.

Front view showing the open state of the first handle of the first embodiment of the gas switching device according to the present invention. Front view showing the closed state of the first handle of the gas switching device shown in FIG. Front view showing a state in the middle of switching the flow path of the gas switching device shown in FIG. 1 (before operating the switching handle). Front view showing a state (after operating the switching handle) in the middle of switching the flow path of the gas switching device shown in FIG. Front view showing the open state of the second handle of the gas switching device shown in FIG. Front view showing the open state of the first handle of the gas switching device shown in FIG. 1 (the state in which the lock of the second handle is maintained). Front view showing the open state of the first handle of the second embodiment of the gas switching device according to the present invention. Front view showing the closed state of the first handle and the second handle of a general three-way valve Front view showing the open state of the first handle of the three-way valve shown in FIG. Front view showing the open state of the second handle of the three-way valve shown in FIG. Front view showing the open state of the first handle and the second handle of the three-way valve shown in FIG.

The first embodiment of the gas switching device 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. This gas switching device 10 uses raw material gas such as propane and air when the supply of city gas (12A, 13A, etc.) is temporarily stopped in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake or at night construction of city gas piping. It is used in gas supply systems that supply mixed gas with combustion characteristics (Wotsube index, combustion rate) equivalent to city gas to gas consuming equipment such as air conditioning equipment, cooking equipment, and cogeneration systems. Based on the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, this mixed gas production device is permanently installed on the end user side of hospitals, welfare facilities, local governments, etc. from normal times, and is not a city gas company in the event of a disaster. It is assumed that the end user will operate it by himself. The set of the gas switching device 10 is housed in a storage box 11 with a door, and by closing the door, a person other than the person in charge cannot carelessly operate the gas switching device 10.

In the gas switching device 10, a three-way valve in which three connection ends are formed in the valve box 12 is used. The first flow path 13 through which the first gas flows is at the first connection end, the second flow path 14 through which the second gas flows is at the second connection end, and the gas consuming device is at the third connection end. Gas supply channels (not shown because they are on the back side of the valve box 12) for supplying the first gas or the second gas are connected to each other. Further, in order to switch the valve box 12 to either a flow path between the first connection end and the third connection end or a flow path between the second connection end and the third connection end. The switching handle 15 is provided. In the gas switching device according to this embodiment, city gas is adopted as the first gas and mixed gas is adopted as the second gas.

A first valve 16 is provided in the first flow path 13. The first valve 16 includes a first handle 17 for opening and closing the first valve 16. A second valve 18 is provided in the second flow path 14. The second valve 18 includes a second handle 19 for opening and closing the second valve 18. When the longitudinal directions of the handles 17 and 19 provided on the valves 16 and 18 are oriented along the gas flow path, the valves 16 and 18 are opened and the longitudinal directions of the handles 17 and 19 are changed. The valves 16 and 18 are closed when the valve is oriented so as to be orthogonal to the gas flow path.

A holding plate 20 is fixed to the first flow path 13 and the second flow path 14. The lock member 21 is held by the holding plate 20. The lock member 21 is arranged on a straight line connecting the first handle 17 and the second handle 19. The holding plate 20 is provided with a guide member 22 that slides the lock member 21 along the straight line.

A slit-shaped first engaging portion 23 facing the first handle 17 is provided at one end of the lock member 21 in the sliding direction, and a slit-shaped second engaging portion facing the second handle 19 is provided at the other end in the sliding direction. Each joint 24 is formed. When the lock member 21 is slid toward the first handle 17 after the first handle 17 is closed, the first handle 17 and the first engaging portion 23 are engaged and the first handle 17 is locked. Can be. On the other hand, when the lock member 21 is slid toward the second handle 19 after the second handle 19 is closed, the second handle 19 and the second engaging portion 24 are engaged with each other, and the second handle 19 is engaged. 19 can be locked.

The gas switching operation by the gas switching device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

When supplying city gas to the gas consuming device, as shown in FIG. 1, a state in which the switching handle 15 is directed toward the first flow path 13 side while the first handle 17 is in the open state and the second handle 19 is in the closed state. And. Then, the lock member 21 is slid toward the second handle 19 to engage the second handle 19 with the second engaging portion 24 to lock the second handle 19. As a result, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of opening the second handle 19 of the second valve 18 through which the mixed gas flows during the supply of city gas.

For example, when the supply of city gas is temporarily cut off in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake, the first handle 17 is closed while the second handle 19 is locked, as shown in FIG. The length L1 from the end of the lock member 21 that locks the second handle 19 facing the first handle 17 to the bottom of the second engaging portion 24 is both when both handles 17 and 19 are closed. It is shorter than the gap L2 between the handles 17 and 19. Therefore, in a state where the second handle 19 is engaged by the second engaging portion 24, the first handle 17 and the end portion of the lock member 21 facing the first handle 17 do not interfere with each other, and the second handle 19 The first handle 17 can be operated smoothly in the locked state.

Moreover, the total length L3 of the lock member 21 in the sliding direction is longer than the gap L2 between both handles 17 and 19 when both handles 17 and 19 are closed. Therefore, when one of the handles 17 and 19 is not in the locked state, the other handles 17 and 19 are surely in the locked state, and both handles 17 and 19 are in the unlocked state at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent erroneous operation from occurring.

When the first handle 17 is closed, as shown in FIG. 3, the lock member 21 is slid toward the first handle 17, and the first handle 17 and the first engaging portion 23 are engaged with each other to engage the first handle. 17 is locked. At this time, the engagement between the second handle 19 and the second engaging portion 24 is released, and the locked state of the second handle 19 is released.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching handle 15 is in a state of facing the second flow path 14 side, and as shown in FIG. 5, the second handle 19 is in an open state. As a result, the mixed gas can be supplied to the gas consuming device through the second flow path 14 while preventing an erroneous operation of opening the first handle 17.

As shown in FIG. 6, the overall length L3 of the lock member 21 in the sliding direction is a gap between both handles 17 and 19 when one of the first handle 17 or the second handle 19 is in the closed state and the other is in the open state. It is larger than L4. Therefore, for example, even if the lock member 21 is to be slid toward the first handle 17 while the first handle 17 is in the open state, the first handle 17 comes into contact with the first handle side end of the lock member 21. Further slides are blocked. At this time, since the locked state of the second handle 19 is maintained, the second handle 19 cannot be opened. Therefore, when one of the first handle 17 or the second handle 19 is in the open state, it is possible to reliably prevent an erroneous operation of opening the other.

A second embodiment of the gas switching device 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The basic configuration of the gas switching device 10 is the same as that of the gas switching device 10 according to the first embodiment, but the first engaging portion 23 or the second engaging portion 23 formed on the lock member 21 is formed on both handles 17 and 19. It differs in that an engaging projection 25 that engages with the joint portion 24 is formed. By engaging the engaging protrusion 25 formed on the first handle 17 or the second handle 19 with the first engaging portion 23 or the second engaging portion 24 in this way, the handles 17 and 19 are ensured. Can be locked.

The gas switching device described in each of the above embodiments is merely an example, and the handles 17, 19, and locks are as long as the problem of the present invention of reliably preventing valve erroneous operation during gas switching can be solved. The shape and number of the constituent members such as the member 21, the engaging portions 23, and 24 can be changed as appropriate.

10 Gas switching device 11 Storage box 12 Valve box 13 First flow path 14 Second flow path 15 Switching handle 16 First valve 17 First handle 18 Second valve 19 Second handle 20 Holding plate 21 Lock member 22 Guide member 23 First Engagement part 24 Second engagement part 25 Engagement protrusion

Claims (1)

A first valve (16) connected to a gas supply flow path that supplies gas to a gas consuming device and provided in a first flow path (13) through which the first gas flows.
A second valve (18) connected to the gas supply flow path and provided in the second flow path (14) through which the second gas flows,
A locking member (21) that prevents the first valve (16) and the second valve (18) from being opened at the same time,
Equipped with a,
The first valve (16) includes a first handle (17) for opening and closing the first valve (16), and the second valve (18) opens and closes the second valve (18). A slit-shaped first engaging portion (23) that includes a second handle (19) and that the first handle (17) engages with the lock member (21) in the closed state, and the second handle (23). A slit-shaped second engaging portion (24) with which the handle (19) engages in the closed state is formed, and at least one of the first handle (17) and the second handle (19) is said. The first handle (17) or the second handle (19) is locked by engaging with the first engaging portion (23) or the second engaging portion (24).
The lock member (21) is arranged on a straight line connecting the first handle (17) and the second handle (19), and by sliding the lock member (21) along this straight line. , The first handle (17) and the second handle (19) are locked.
When one of the first handle (17) and the second handle (19) is in the open state, the lock member (21) comes into contact with the one side to prevent the slide, and the first handle (17) Alternatively, the other locked state of the second handle (19) is maintained, and the locked state is maintained.
Each handle (in the engaged portion) between the first handle (17) or the second handle (19) in the closed state and the first engaging portion (23) or the second engaging portion (24). A gas switching device in which the rotation directions of 17 and 19) are orthogonal to the slidable direction of the lock member (21).

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