JP6943805B2 - Manifold - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a manifold.

Conventionally, for example, the manifold described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-84011

In the conventional manifold, there is room for improvement in ensuring the airtightness inside.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manifold capable of ensuring internal airtightness.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The manifold according to the present invention includes a plurality of plate-shaped members laminated to each other and a gasket arranged between the plate-shaped members adjacent to each other, and air is supplied to the plurality of plate-shaped members. A first plate on which the first opening is formed, and a second plate on which a plurality of second openings connected to the openings of the housing in which the manifold is arranged are formed, and the first opening is provided. And the second opening communicate with each other through the inside of the manifold, and at least one of the plurality of plate-shaped members is formed with a rib that projects toward the gasket and seals the inside of the manifold. It is characterized by being.

According to the present invention, the airtightness inside can be ensured.

It is a top view of the plan view of the body support device provided with the manifold for the body support device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a manifold) according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the inside of the unit shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the manifold and the cover shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of the manifold shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the 1st plate shown in FIG. 4 from the air supply source side. It is a perspective view which looked at the 1st plate shown in FIG. 4 from the cover side. It is a perspective view of the intermediate plate shown in FIG. 4 as seen from the air supply source side. It is a perspective view of the intermediate plate shown in FIG. 4 as seen from the cover side. It is a perspective view of the 2nd plate shown in FIG. 4 as seen from the air supply source side. It is a perspective view which looked at the 2nd plate shown in FIG. 4 from the cover side. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state before stacking of the manifold shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state after stacking of the manifold shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the air flow inside the manifold shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the body support device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13 by taking the case where the body support device is the air mat device 1 as an example.
The air mat device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be used, for example, in a medical environment (including a nursing care environment).
In the following description, the direction along the body of the user who uses the air mat device 1 in the supine position in the top view is defined as the first direction X, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction X is defined as the second direction Y. Further, the direction orthogonal to each of the first direction X and the second direction Y is defined as the third direction Z (see FIG. 3). The third direction Z is parallel to the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air mat device 1 includes a mat portion 11 having a plurality of air cells 12 capable of accommodating air (fluid), and a unit 15 that supplies air to the air cells 12 and discharges air from the air cells 12. And have.
The mat portion 11 is supported by, for example, a known bed device (not shown). The bed device may be, for example, a device in which a panel member is divided into a plurality of parts in the first direction X, and the back-raising and leg-raising (knee-raising) operations can be performed by changing the angle of these panel members.

The air cells 12 are rod-shaped cells extending in the second direction Y, and a plurality of air cells 12 are arranged side by side in the first direction X. The shape of the air cell 12 is not limited to a rod shape, and may be, for example, a grid shape.
Each of the plurality of arranged air cells 12 is divided into a plurality of groups. Each air cell 12 is divided into, for example, three groups, and every two air cells 12 have the same flow path system. In this case, the air supply and discharge by the unit 15 are performed independently for each of the three flow path systems. It should be noted that each air cell is not limited to three groups, and may be divided into two or more arbitrary number groups.

As shown in FIG. 2, the unit 15 includes a case (housing) 16 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, an air supply source (pump) 17, a connector 18, a pressure sensor 19, and a manifold for a body support device (hereinafter referred to as a body support device). It has 20 (simply called a manifold).
The air supply source 17, the connector 18, the pressure sensor 19, and the manifold 20 are arranged in the case 16. The connector 18 and the pressure sensor 19 are arranged in the case 16 in a state of being attached to the substrate 9.
A cover 16A is attached to the case 16. A plurality of openings (openings of the housing) 16B are formed in the cover 16A. The manifold 20 is arranged between the cover 16A and the air supply source 17 in the first direction X.

A tube (not shown) leading to the air cell 12 is connected to the plurality of openings 16B via a coupler (not shown).
Air is supplied to each air cell 12 through the tube by the unit 15. A plurality of tubes (three in this embodiment) are provided corresponding to the above-mentioned flow path system, and air is supplied to the cells of each flow path system through each tube.

The air supply source 17 is arranged so as to be separated from the cover 16A in the first direction X. In the illustrated example, an air pump is used as the air supply source 17. The air supply source 17 may be, for example, an air blower.
The pressure sensor 19 is arranged in parallel with the air supply source 17 in the second direction Y. The pressure sensor 19 measures the air pressure in the manifold 20 and the air pressure in the air cell 12 of each system by measuring the pressure of the air flowing down from the connection port 21B described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manifold 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which two sides extend in the third direction Z and the remaining two sides extend in the second direction Y when viewed from the first direction X. I'm doing it. The size of the manifold 20 in the second direction Y is larger than the size of the third direction Z. The size of the manifold 20 in the third direction Z may be larger than the size in the second direction Y.

In the present embodiment, the state in which the manifold 20 is viewed from the first direction X is the front surface, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the manifold 20 may be configured so that the state viewed from the second direction Y or the third direction Z faces the front.
The manifold 20 includes a plurality of plate-shaped members 21, 22, and 23 laminated with each other. In the illustrated example, the manifold 20 is composed of three plate-shaped members 21, 22, and 23 whose front and back surfaces face the first direction X.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of plate-shaped members 21, 22, and 23 are arranged on the first plate 21 arranged on the air supply source 17 side in the first direction X and on the cover 16A side. It includes a second plate 22 and an intermediate plate 23 arranged between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22.

The first plate 21, the second plate 22, and the intermediate plate 23 have the same size and outer shape as each other, and are laminated with each other in the first direction X.
The first plate 21 is located closer to the air supply source 17 along the first direction X than the second plate 22. The second plate 22 is located closer to the cover 16A along the first direction X than the first plate 21.

(First plate)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the manifold 20 includes a first opening 21A to which air from the air supply source 17 is supplied.
The first opening 21A is formed in the first plate 21 and is formed by a cylindrical interior that projects toward the air supply source 17 side in the first direction X. The first opening 21A is arranged at one end of the first plate 21 in the second direction Y.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first tube 13 connected to the air supply source 17 is connected to the first opening 21A. Air from the air supply source 17 flows down through the tube 13 into the first opening 21A.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a connection port 21B is formed at the other end of the first plate 21 in the second direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 21B is connected to the pressure sensor 19 by the tube 14. The connection port 21B is formed by a cylindrical interior that projects toward the air supply source 17 side in the first direction X.
Further, the first plate 21 may be provided with an exhaust nozzle connected to the exhaust pump via a tube or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, a valve 24 is attached to the first plate 21. A plurality of attachment ports 21C to which the valve 24 is attached are formed on the upper end edge and the lower end edge of the first plate 21. The mounting port 21C penetrates the first plate 21 in the first direction X.
In the illustrated example, four attachment ports 21C are arranged on the upper end edge of the first plate 21 and five attachment ports 21C are arranged on the lower end edge.
A plurality of attachment ports 21C arranged on the upper end edge and the lower end edge of the first plate 21 are arranged side by side in the second direction Y.

The valve 24 is a solenoid valve having an electromagnet (solenoid) and a plunger. The valve 24 can move the plunger by using the magnetic force of the electromagnet.
In the illustrated example, the valves 24 are separately arranged in one mounting port 21C arranged at the upper end edge and five mounting ports 21C arranged at the lower end edge among the plurality of mounting ports 21C.

As shown in FIG. 6, of the first plate 21, a tubular portion 21D projecting inward is formed on the inner surface of the manifold 20 facing inward.
Two tubular portions 21D are arranged at intervals in the second direction Y. A female screw portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion 21D. A screw (not shown) for fixing a plurality of plate-shaped members is attached to the female screw portion.
The tubular portion 21D abuts on the inner surface of the second plate 22 facing the inside of the manifold 20 in a state where the plurality of plate-shaped members 21, 22, and 23 are laminated with each other.

(Second plate)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the portion of the second plate 22 that overlaps the mounting port 21C of the first plate 21 in a state of being laminated with the first plate 21 in front view is a mounting port. A first hole 22A communicating with the 21C is formed separately.
A plurality of the first holes 22A are arranged in the upper end edge and the lower end edge of the second plate 22 so as to be arranged in the second direction Y. The first hole 22A has a circular shape when viewed from the front.
The plurality of first holes 22A have the same shape and the same size as each other. The first hole 22A is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the manifold 20 also includes a second opening 22B connected to the opening 16B of the case 16 and an exhaust port 25 for discharging the air in the manifold 20 to the outside. A plurality of second openings 22B are formed in the second plate 22. The first opening 21A and the second opening 22B communicate with each other through the inside of the manifold 20.
One exhaust port 25 is formed on the second plate.

The second opening 22B is formed by a cylindrical interior that projects outward of the manifold 20. In the illustrated example, eight second openings 22B are arranged in two rows at intervals in the third direction Z in a state of being arranged in the second direction Y. The plurality of second openings 22B are separately connected to the openings 16B of the case 16.

As shown in FIG. 9, the manifold 20 also includes a plurality of flow paths 40 that connect and open / close the space 30 and the second opening 22B, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 9, the plurality of flow paths 40 are formed in the second plate 22.
The plurality of flow paths 40 separately connect the first hole 22A and the second opening 22B. The flow path 40 includes a portion extending in the third direction Z and a portion extending in the second direction Y when viewed from the front.

(Intermediate plate)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, in the intermediate plate 23, a portion of the intermediate plate 23 that overlaps with the mounting port 21C of the first plate 21 in a state of being laminated with the first plate 21 is provided with a mounting port 21C. Second holes 23B that communicate with each other are formed separately.
A plurality of the second holes 23B are arranged in the upper end edge and the lower end edge of the second plate 22 so as to be arranged in the second direction Y.
The second hole 23B has a circular shape when viewed from the front. The plurality of second holes 23B have the same shape and the same size as each other. A bottom is formed in the second hole 23B.

An intermediate path 41 is separately formed between the second hole 23B and the second space 32, which will be described later. The second hole 23B is located outside the third direction Z with respect to the second space 32.
The intermediate road 41 connects the second hole 23B and the second space 32, which will be described later, in the third direction Z. The bottoms of the second space 32, the intermediate path 41, and the second hole 23B are connected to each other in the third direction Z without a step.

As shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate plate 23 is formed with a third opening 23C that opens and closes the flow path 40. When the plunger of the valve 24 comes into contact with or separates from the intermediate plate 23, the third opening 23C is opened and closed.
The third opening 23C is formed at the bottom of the second hole 23B and penetrates the bottom of the second hole 23B in the first direction X. The third opening 23C has a smaller diameter than the second hole 23B and is arranged coaxially with the second hole 23B.

As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate plate 23 is formed with a first convex portion 23D that projects toward the first plate 21 and comes into contact with the first plate 21. In the illustrated example, the first convex portions 23D are arranged in the second direction Y with an interval, and are arranged in two rows with an interval in the third direction Z.
The first convex portion 23D passes through the third through hole 51C of the first gasket 51, which will be described later, and comes into contact with the inner surface of the first plate 21. The shape of the third through hole 51C is the same as the shape of the first convex portion 23D.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of second protrusions 23G protruding toward the second plate side are formed on the first surface of the intermediate plate 23 facing the second plate 22 side. The plurality of second protrusions 23G are arranged side by side in the second direction Y, and are arranged in two rows at intervals in the third direction Z.

The intermediate plate 23 is also formed with a second convex portion 23H that projects toward the second plate 22 and abuts on the second plate 22. In the illustrated example, two second convex portions 23H are arranged at intervals in the third direction Z.
The second convex portion 23H is formed on the surface of the second protrusion 23G facing the second plate 22 side.

(space)
As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 9, the manifold 20 also includes a space 30 that communicates with the first opening 21A. The space 30 is formed between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22.
The space 30 is composed of a first space 31 formed on the second plate 22 and a second space 32 formed on the intermediate plate 23. The first space 31 and the second space 32 communicate with each other.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first space 31 has a rectangular shape in which two sides extend in the third direction Z and the remaining two sides extend in the second direction Y when viewed from the front. The size of the second direction Y of the first space 31 is larger than that of the third direction Z.
At one end of the second direction Y in the front view of the first space 31, the size of the third direction Z is larger than that of the other parts.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the second space 32, two sides extend in the third direction Z and the remaining two sides extend in the second direction Y when viewed from the front. The size of the second direction Y of the second space 32 is larger than the size of the third direction Z.
The sizes of the third direction Z and the second direction Y of the second space 32 are larger than the sizes of the third direction Z and the second direction Y of the first space 31.

The intermediate plate 23 is formed with a first window 23A that penetrates the intermediate plate 23 in the first direction X. The first window 23A has the same shape and size as the first space 31 in the second plate 22.
The first window 23A is located in the intermediate plate 23 at a position equivalent to that of the first space 31 of the second plate 22 in a state of being laminated with the second plate 22. The first space 31 and the second space 32 are communicated with each other by the first window 23A.

(gasket)
As shown in FIG. 4, a gasket 50 is separately arranged between the first plate 21, the intermediate plate 23, and the second plate 22.
The gasket 50 includes a first gasket 51 arranged between the first plate 21 and the intermediate plate 23, and a second gasket 52 arranged between the intermediate plate 23 and the second plate 22. ing. The first gasket 51 and the second gasket 52 are made of a rubber material.

(1st gasket)
The first gasket 51 has the same shape as the first plate 21, and is formed smaller than the first plate 21.
As shown in FIG. 6, a first recess 21E in which the first gasket 51 is arranged is formed on the inner surface of the first plate 21. The first recess 21E is formed over the entire area inside the outer edge of the first plate 21.

A plurality of first protrusions 21F projecting inward are formed on the inner surface of the first plate 21. The plurality of first protrusions 21F are arranged side by side in the second direction Y, and are arranged in two rows at intervals in the third direction Z.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first gasket 51 is formed with a plurality of first through holes 51A that engage with the first protrusion 21F. By engaging the first protrusion 21F with the first through hole 51A, it is possible to prevent the first gasket 51 from being displaced in the first recess 21E.
Further, the first gasket 51 is formed with a second through hole 51B with which the tubular portion 21D is engaged and a third through hole 51C with which the first convex portion 23D, which will be described later, is engaged.

Further, the first gasket 51 is formed with a fourth through hole 51D that communicates the mounting port 21C and the second hole 23B. The fourth through hole 51D is separately formed in a portion of the first gasket 51 located between the mounting port 21C and the second hole 23B.
When the plunger of the valve 24 mounted on the mounting port 21C passes through the fourth through hole 51D, the plunger can be moved to the opening peripheral edge of the third opening 23C of the bottom of the second hole 23B in the intermediate plate 23. It is possible to contact with.

(2nd gasket)
As shown in FIG. 4, the second gasket 52 has the same shape as the second plate 22, and is formed smaller than the second plate 22.
As shown in FIG. 8, a second recess 23F in which the second gasket 52 is arranged is formed on the first surface of the intermediate plate 23 facing the second plate 22 side. The second recess 23F is formed over the entire area of the intermediate plate 23.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second gasket 52 is formed with a plurality of fifth through holes 52A that engage with the second protrusion 23G. By engaging the second protrusion 23G with the fifth through hole 52A, it is possible to prevent the second gasket 52 from being displaced in the second recess 23F.
Further, the second gasket 52 is formed with a second window 52B having the same shape as the first window 23A of the intermediate plate 23.

Further, the second gasket 52 is formed with a sixth through hole 52C that communicates the third opening 23C and the first hole 22A. Air from the third opening 23C flows down into the sixth through hole 52C toward the first hole 22A.
The sixth through hole 52C has a circular shape and has the same size as the third opening 23C.
The sixth through hole 52C is separately formed in a portion of the second gasket 52 located between the third opening 23C and the first hole 22A.

(rib)
As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate plate 23 is formed with a first rib 23E that projects toward the first gasket 51 and seals the inside of the manifold 20. The first rib 23E is continuously formed at the edges of the second space 32, the plurality of intermediate paths 41, and the plurality of second holes 23B.
As shown as a schematic view in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the first rib 23E abuts on the first gasket 51, the airtightness between the first gasket 51 and the portion surrounded by the first rib 23E is increased. Secured.

The second plate 22 is formed with a second rib 22C that projects toward the second gasket 52 and seals the inside of the manifold 20. The second rib 22C is continuously formed at the edge of the first space 31, the edge of the portion from the first hole 22A to the second opening 22B through the flow path 40, and the edge of the exhaust port 25.
As in the case shown as a schematic view in FIGS. 11 and 12, the second rib 22C comes into contact with the second gasket 52, so that the second gasket 52 and the portion surrounded by the second rib 22C are between the second rib 22C. Airtightness is ensured.

Next, the air flow in the manifold 20 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 13, the flow of air in the portion located on the lower side in the front view is not shown.
As shown in FIG. 13, the air supplied from the air supply source 17 to the first opening 21A enters the space 30. At this time, it stays in the first space 31 and the second space 32 in the space 30.
Then, the air that reaches the second hole 23B through the intermediate path 41 is opened by the valve 24, that is, the plunger is separated from the opening peripheral edge of the third opening 23C in the intermediate plate 23, and the third opening is opened. When the 23C is opened, it reaches the inside of the first hole 22A through the third opening 23C.

The air that has reached the inside of the first hole 22A reaches the second opening 22B through the flow path 40. Then, it is supplied to each air cell 12 through a tube connected from the second opening 22B to the opening 16B of the unit 15 via a coupler.
In this way, the air supplied from the air supply source 17 into the manifold 20 can be supplied to an arbitrary air cell 12 by opening and closing the plurality of valves 24.
Further, by opening the valve 24 corresponding to the exhaust port 25, the air in each air cell 12 can be discharged through the manifold 20.

As described above, according to the manifold 20 according to the present embodiment, the second rib 22C for sealing the inside is formed on the second plate 22 of the plurality of plate-shaped members 22 and 23. Further, among the plurality of plate-shaped members 21 and 23, a first rib 23E for sealing the inside is formed on the intermediate plate 23. As a result, the airtightness inside the manifold 20 can be reliably ensured.

Further, the intermediate plate 23 on which the first rib 23E is formed is formed with a first convex portion 23D that projects and abuts toward the first plate 21 on which the first concave portion 21E is formed.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first plate 21 on which the first recess 21E is formed from being deformed inward, and it is possible to prevent the airtightness of the manifold 20 from being hindered by such deformation.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the body support device is the air mat device 1, but the present invention is not limited to such a mode. The body support device does not have to be the air mat device 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the intermediate plate 23 is laminated between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22, but the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The intermediate plate 23 does not have to be laminated.

In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the embodiment with well-known components as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-mentioned modifications may be appropriately combined.

1 Air mat device 12 Air cell 17 Pump 20 Manifold 21 First plate 21E First recess (recess)
21A 1st opening 22 2nd plate 22B 2nd opening 22C 2nd rib (rib)
23D 1st convex part (convex part)
23E 1st rib (rib)
23F 2nd recess (recess)
23H 2nd convex part 24 valve

Claims (4)

Multiple plate-shaped members stacked on each other,
Gaskets arranged between the plate-shaped members adjacent to each other,
With;
The plurality of plate-shaped members
A first plate with a first opening to which air is supplied, and
A second plate formed with a plurality of second openings connected to the openings of the housing in which the manifold is arranged, and
With;
The first opening and all formed in the second plate said the second opening, is passed through mutually communicating through the inside of the manifold;
At least one of the plurality of plate-like member protrudes toward the gasket, ribs for sealing the interior of the manifold are formed;
Manifold characterized by that. A recess in which the gasket is housed is formed in the other of the plurality of plate-shaped members;
The plate-shaped member on which the rib is formed has a convex portion that protrudes toward the plate-shaped member on which the recess is formed and abuts on the plate-shaped member on which the recess is formed;
The manifold according to claim 1. The plurality of plate-shaped members are arranged between the first plate and the second plate, communicate with the first opening, and all the second plates formed in the second plate. It also includes an intermediate plate with a space that communicates with the opening;
The manifold according to claim 1 or 2. The second plate is formed with a plurality of flow paths individually connected to the plurality of second openings.
The first opening and each of the flow paths communicate with each other through the inside of the manifold.
The manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rib is formed at an edge of each of the flow paths.

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