JPH03261304A - Abrasion detector for current collector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect abrasion accurately without causing noise by disposing an optical sensor oppositely to the moving area of a holder for a moving body, which energizes a current collector toward a feeder, thereby detecting displacement of the moving area of the holder due to abrasion of the current collector. CONSTITUTION:Upper and lower flanges 1a, 1b and a web 1c constitute an I-shaped rail 1. Power supply wires PW, speed signal wires SW and operation control wires CW for the motor 15 of a vehicle 2 are contained in a groove member 1d arranged on one side of the web 1c. Current collector 16 of the vehicle 2 slides on each feeder thus carrying the vehicle 2. The current collector 16 is fixed to a holder 18 arranged on the vehicle 2 and a cover 4 is applied thereon. A pair of photocouplers PH, arranged above and below a pair of holes 4a, 4b made in the upper and lower faces of the cover 4, are operated for every output from a timing sensor TS. When the holder 18 is displaced more than a predetermined amount. the PHs block the light beam.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Industrial Application The present invention mainly relates to a device for detecting wear of a current collector used in a transport device for a mole rail that runs along a track.

[Conventional technology]

In general, this type of mole rail type conveyor is widely used in the automobile assembly process, etc., and the conveyor is run along a track set high above the work floor, and the car body attached to the hanger of the conveyor is moved. By moving the parts, assembly can be performed sequentially in each assembly process. A motor is used as the power source for such a conveyance device, and the driving power, speed control signal, travel, stop command signal, etc. are received and received through power supply lines and signal lines arranged along the track.
This is done via the control lines and the current collector on the conveying device side that is in sliding contact with these lines.

However, as these collectors wear out as the distance traveled by the transport device increases, it is necessary to perform maintenance and inspection as appropriate and replace them, or it takes time to accurately detect the degree of wear on each of the many collectors. Furthermore, damage to or replacement of the collector during operation would seriously impede the progress of the work, so the collector must be replaced after a certain amount of time, resulting in a large amount of waste.

Conventionally, as a countermeasure against this problem, all collectors are biased toward the side of the power supply line, signal line, and control line that they slide into contact with, so as the wear progresses, the collector holder A device as shown in FIG. 9 has been proposed, focusing on the fact that the wire approaches the power supply line, signal line, and control line side.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional collector wear detection device, in which PW indicates a power line, 51 indicates a collector, and 52 indicates a holder. The collector 51 is supported by a vehicle (not shown) via an arm 53 having a parallel link structure while being held by a holder 52. By sliding the collector 51 into contact with the power supply line PW, electric power is supplied from the atomized cotton P1. The vehicle is driven by the supply of fuel. Then, the plunger 55 is installed so as to be able to move upwardly and upwardly so as to straddle the power line 4 via two pairs of kite members 54 and 54 at the appropriate places on the power line P-, and the touch rod of the limit switch LS is placed on the upper surface of the C plunger 55. Let's make contact.

In such a device, each time the vehicle passes this position, the holder 52 comes into contact with the plunger 55 and pushes it up. When the collector 51 is normal, the push-up dimension Δd is small, so the limit switch LS is not turned on. When the collector 51 wears out and reaches a state where it needs to be replaced, the push-up dimension Δd becomes large. When this occurs, the limit switch LS is turned on, and an alarm lamp or the like is used to inform the person in charge that the collector 51 needs to be replaced.

Separately, as a device for detecting the falling off of a current collector, a non-energized portion is formed partially in the power supply line along the track, and a pair of current collectors is provided in tandem at the front and rear of the vehicle. As a result, if either the front or rear collector falls off, if the other collector comes into contact with a non-traffic electrical part in this state, power will not be supplied and the vehicle will stop. Device for detecting electronic damage (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1983
．． 277002) and the like have been proposed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the former device, each time the vehicle passes the installation position of the plunger 55, the holder 52 comes into contact with the plunger 55, and an impact is applied to the current collector 51. However, there is a problem in that it inevitably causes noise generation and damage due to impact.

Furthermore, although the latter device can detect the falling off of the current collector, there is a problem in that it cannot detect the state of wear.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to accurately determine the wear state of the current collector in a non-contact manner, and to prevent noise generation, impact to the current collector, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide a wear detection device for a current collector that can eliminate the inconveniences.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A wear detection device for a current collector according to the present invention: A current collector is supported by a holder on a moving body, and is in sliding contact with a current-carrying wire (to conduct electricity between the current collector and the moving body). Example of current-carrying wire Q: In a device for detecting wear of a collector held in a biased direction, an optical sensor is provided facing the moving range of the holder to detect displacement of the moving range of the holder due to wear of the collector. It is characterized by:

Another current collector wear detection device according to the present invention is supported by a movable body using a holder, and is slidably contacted with each of a plurality of current-carrying wires and facing toward the current-carrying wire side in order to conduct current between the current-carrying body and the moving body. In a device for detecting wear of a plurality of biased collectors, one current-carrying wire is collected more than the other current-carrying wires over a predetermined length by shifting the positions in the laying direction of each of the current-carrying wires. An inspection area is set up with the position shifted toward the electronic sliding contact side, and the inspection area is placed facing the holder passing area of the collector that is in sliding contact with the current-carrying wire in the inspection area, to check the movement area of the holder due to collector wear. It is characterized by being equipped with an optical sensor that detects displacement.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, it is thereby possible to detect the wear state of each of a single current collector or a plurality of current collectors without contacting the current collector holder or the like.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a case in which the present invention is applied to a conveying device for Morrail II used in an automobile assembly line will be specifically explained.

[Example 1] Fig. 1 is a side view of a conveying device to which the current collector wear detection device according to the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the current collector part, and 1 in the figure is a track. , 2 indicates a vehicle serving as a transport device.

The track 1 is constructed by installing, for example, an H-shaped member made of aluminum with its web 1c oriented vertically, and has an upper flange 1a extending from the upper end side and the lower end side in the left-right direction orthogonal to the length direction of the track I. and a lower flange 1b.

The web 1c of the soft road 1 has a power line PW for supplying driving power to the motor 15 of the vehicle 2 and a speed control unit/\\ on one side thereof.
The signal line S- transmitting the set speed signal and the running of the vehicle 2;
A control line portion for transmitting a command signal for commanding a stop is provided along the length direction of the track l along the groove bottom of each insulating groove material 1d having a cross-sectional opening shape disposed along the web 1c. They are arranged together. These electric 1ii X-ray PW, signal line S-
A collector 16 provided on the vehicle 2 is in sliding contact with the control line CW, and is connected to the motor 15, speed control section, and drive MI control section CTR of the vehicle 2 via the collector 16. .

Vehicle 2 has drive wheels 14d and idler wheels 1 provided at the front and rear of the vehicle body.
4f is mounted on the track 1 so as to roll on the upper surface of the track l, and a plurality of pairs of guide wheels 12, 13 arranged near the drive wheel 14d and idler wheel 14f are attached to the upper and lower flanges la, lb. The drive wheel 14d is brought into contact with the side surface of the idler wheel 1.
This is to prevent 4f from coming off track 1. Drive wheel 1
4d is connected to the motor 15 via a reducer 22, and a hanger 3 for hanging the car body is provided below the car body.
is installed.

The vehicle 2 is supplied with driving power via the electric line a and the line P-,
When a travel command signal is given from the control unit 1gcwa, the motor 15 is driven and the drive wheels 14cl start rotating, and the trajectory i! is started based on the set speed. ! You will be traveling along 1.

FIG. 3(a) is a plan view of the current collector, and FIG. It is fitted and fixed to a holder 18 provided at the tip side of the parallel link mechanism 17 extending from the base, and a spring 17c passed between the links 17a and 17b forming the parallel link mechanism 17 applies appropriate pressure to the power supply line P-, etc. They are brought into sliding contact.

The other collectors 16 have a similar structure, and all the collectors 16 are arranged in a stacked manner at appropriate intervals in the upper and lower directions, and the periphery is covered with a collector cover 4. It is being said.

A light emitting device is disposed below the collector 16 across the moving range of the holder 18 as shown in FIG.
An optical sensor PH consisting of a light receiver arranged above is provided. The optical axis O of light traveling from the emitter to the receiver at the pH of the optical sensor is set to pass through a position that is separated by a predetermined distance a from the surface of the power line 4, etc., and when the vehicle 2 passes this position, The timing sensor TS is connected to vehicle 2.
is detected, the light emitter of the optical sensor PH emits light, and the light passes through the window 4a of the current collection box 4 and enters the light receiver.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the wear detection mode of the collector 16, from the power line P- to the holder 1 when the collector 16 is new.
If the dimension up to the rear surface of 8 is b, the dimension will be shortened as the wear of the collector progresses, but the dimension is shown in Fig. 4 (
As shown in al, when b≧a is larger than the dimension a from the power line P- to the optical axis 0 of the optical sensor PH, that is, when the current collector 16 is still normal, the light from the light emitter is blocked by the holder 17. The light does not reach the receiver, and no warning signal is output. On the other hand, when the wear of the collector 16 progresses to a state of +)<a as shown in FIG. It is detected that 16 needs to be replaced and the necessary indication is made on the vehicle or in the control room on the ground.

In the first embodiment, it is possible to know when to replace the current collector 16 by simply providing a single pH sensor.

Although the embodiment shows a case in which a plurality of collectors 16 are disposed in a stacked state in the upper and lower directions, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a case in which only a portion of the collectors 16 are provided.

Further, the window 4a provided in the current collector cover 4 may be a simple window hole, a window covered with a translucent material, or a window with an opening/closing structure that is opened by a vehicle detection signal from a timing sensor TS.

[Example 2] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of Example 2 of the present invention, in which each power supply line P
Parts of W, , PWZ, and PW3 are shifted in their respective extending directions to form current collectors 16a and 16b in the vehicle 2.
The installation positions were changed in the direction approaching the sliding contact side by dimension E so as to form a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view, respectively, and the inspection areas I,
112... are provided, and this inspection area L, Iz
... are arranged with optical sensors PH in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The timing sensor TS is an optical sensor 3 located near the striker 39a attached to the car @ 2 and each inspection area I, h... and facing the passage area of the striker 39a.
9b and 39c, and each time the striker 39a detects the optical sensors 39b+39cQ, light is emitted from the light emitting device of the optical sensor PH.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how the wear state of each of the two collectors is detected, and the two collectors 16a and 16b move in the direction of the arrow in sliding contact with the respective feeder lines PW, . This figure shows how the state of wear is detected.

Each power supply line PW, PH2 is shifted in the installation direction for a predetermined length, and the installation position of the power supply line PW, PH2 is brought closer to the sliding contact side of the collector 16 by a distance E, and the inspection area 1. , I2, and each inspection area 1.
．． 12, optical sensors pH and P are installed so that the optical axis O is located at a position a predetermined distance a from the power supply lines PWz and PWz, respectively.
H is arranged.

Therefore, in such a second embodiment, the current collector 16a16
b or each inspection area 1. ．． When passing through I2, the degree of wear is inspected for each.

That is, first the current collector 16b, then the current collector 16a, respectively. Inspection area I set to +ph, PW,
211, the current collector 1 as shown in FIG. 6(a)
6b is positioned higher in the inspection area 1□, and the collector 16a is positioned higher in front than other collectors in the inspection area 11, and each is detected by the timing sensor TS. As a result, light is emitted from the light emitter of the photosensor PH, and if the current collectors 16a and 16b are still normal, the dimensions from the power lines PWz, PW to the back of the holter 18 are the source lines PW, PW, and the dimension a up to the optical axis ○, the relationship b≧a is established as in the case of the first embodiment, so that none of the optical sensors PH is turned on and no alarm is issued.

On the other hand, if the collectors 16a and 16b are worn to such an extent that they require replacement, as shown in FIG. It will be emitted from each collector 16a.

16F], it is detected whether the individual Q is worn out and needs to be replaced.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of 1,000 inspections.
Collector to be inspected 16. ] or I1b or each inspection area! ,, When reaching I2, each timing sensor TS becomes operational (step S1), and the optical sensor PH becomes operational. Determine whether the light from the light emitter in the optical sensor PI is captured by the receiver, in other words, whether the light is blocked or not (Step S2). If the light is blocked, the collector is worn out and needs to be replaced. It is determined that this is a normal state in which there is no need for a
Step S4).

On the other hand, when the optical sensor PH is turned on in step S2, it is determined that the wear of the specific collector has progressed to the extent that it requires replacement (step S5), and a lamp is turned on to warn that the collector needs to be replaced. Turn on the light (Step S
6) At the same time, the vehicle 2 was transferred to the repair line (
In step S7), the collector 16 that is determined to need to be replaced is replaced.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, a large number of current collectors 16
Even when a collector is used, the state of wear is judged individually for each collector, and the collector that requires replacement can be identified, greatly simplifying maintenance and inspection work.

In addition, the setting of inspection area 1.12 is the power line pw,,ph
However, if it is not necessary to always set the inspection areas I and h, the groove material 1d can be bent using an actuator such as an air cylinder as needed. The inspection area may be set by moving the power line a certain distance from other power lines to the sliding contact side of the collector 16.

[Embodiment 3] In this embodiment 3, an optical sensor PH is attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 2, and the holder 18 and the collector 16 are directly detected at multiple locations in the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 within the inspection area I.
The degree of wear on the collector 16 can be detected.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a wear detection mode in Embodiment 3, in which the - power line PW is rubbed and tilted at a part of the sliding contact side S of the collector 16 more than the other power line PW2 laying position. In addition, a plurality of timing sensors TS, -TS are installed at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 within this inspection area I. The other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those in the second embodiment, and corresponding parts are given the same numbers and explanations will be omitted.

Timing sensors TS, ~TS having the same structure as that used in Example 2 are used.

Note that instead of installing multiple timing sensors, for example, only one timing sensor is installed at the entrance of the inspection area I, and thereafter the operation timing of the optical sensor PH is controlled at a predetermined timing based on the encoder pulse provided in the vehicle 2. It may also be set.

In the third embodiment, the collector 16 is inspected for its degree of wear in multiple stages (five stages in the embodiment), and the optical sensor at each inspection position is inspected depending on the progress of wear of the collector 16. Since the on and off states of PH are determined, the current collector 16 is determined based on these on and off patterns.
It is possible to know the degree of wear progress. When the optical sensor PH turns on at the final detection position, a warning is issued to the effect that the collector 16 needs to be replaced, and the vehicle 2 is sent to the repair line.

It should be noted that each of Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 described above is applied to a mole rail type transport device used in the assembly process of automobiles, etc., but is not particularly applicable to this, but is applicable to various types of current collectors. Of course, it is applicable to vehicles.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the device of the present invention, the degree of wear of the current collector can be measured in a non-contact manner by simply providing an optical sensor that detects the moving range of the current collector holder at a predetermined distance from each current-carrying line such as a power supply line. The current collector is not subjected to impact, and accurate wear detection without noise is possible. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to shift the laying position of the current-carrying wire from other current-carrying wires and detect the degree of wear of each of a plurality of current collectors in combination with an optical sensor. The present invention has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a conveying device to which the device of the present invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the collector in the conveyance device, FIG. 3 (aj is an enlarged plan view of the collector and its holder, FIG. 3 (1)) is a side view thereof, The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the wear detection mode of the collector, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of Example 2, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the collector wear detection mode, FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a manner of detecting wear of the current collector according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional device. 1... Track 1c... Web 1d... Groove material 2... Vehicle 3... Hanger 12, 13.
...Guide wheel 15...Motor 16.16a, 16
b...Collector 17...Parallel link mechanism 18...
・Holder 22...Reducer PW, PW,, PW
2...Power line S-...Signal line CW...Control y
AP) l... Optical sensor TS, TSI, TS2~TS
,... Timing sensor Figure 3 Paste Figure (8) 16 Figure (b) 6 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. To prevent wear of a current collector that is supported by a holder on a moving body and is held biased toward the current-carrying line so that it slides into contact with the current-carrying line and conducts electricity between the moving body and the current-carrying body. What is claimed is: 1. A wear detection device for a current collector, comprising: an optical sensor facing the moving range of the holder and detecting displacement of the moving range of the holder due to wear of the current collector. 2. Abrasion of each of the plurality of current collectors, each of which is supported by a moving body using a holder, and which is held biased toward the current-carrying line in order to slide into contact with each of the plurality of current-carrying lines and conduct electricity between the moving body and the current-carrying body. In the device for detecting, each of the current-carrying wires is laid at different positions in the laying direction, with one current-carrying wire being shifted in position toward the collector sliding contact side over a predetermined length. The present invention is characterized in that an optical sensor is provided to detect the displacement of the movement range of the holder due to wear of the collector, facing the holder passage area of the collector that is in sliding contact with the current-carrying wire in the inspection area. Collector wear detection device.