JPH04265830A - Control apparatus for pressure device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a control apparatus for a pressure device which is resistant to outside noises and to diagnose an abnormality of a photoelectric sensor by interposing an optical fiber cable in the photoelectric sensor of the control apparatus. CONSTITUTION:A photoelectric sensor 80 is provided with a light emitter 80D which forms an optical path in a gap part, and a light detector 80E which receives the light of the optical path. Optical fiber cables 80A, 80B are interposed between the gap part, and, the light emitter 80D and the light detector 80E. Therefore, the apparatus is hard to be influenced by the outside noises and operates without errors. There are provided a plurality of photoelectric sensors in this apparatus and the same number of notches or slits as that of the photoelectric sensors are formed in a shield plate. The pattern of the combination of the presence and absence of output signals from the photoelectric sensors is made different depending on the range of the sealing pressure of a pressure device. Accordingly, the range of the sealing pressure can be easily detected and the abnormality of the photoelectric sensors can be diagnosed.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device that detects the sealing pressure of pressure equipment such as hydraulic equipment and outputs a control signal to the pressure equipment. 2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional pressure equipment control device. A mechanism section 1 disposed within a container 9 is connected via a pipe 2 to a pressure equipment body (not shown). The mechanism section 1 includes a Bourdon tube (not shown) that is displaced in proportion to the pressure enclosed in the pressure device, and converts the pressure into a rotation angle of the pointer shaft 3. The pointer shaft 3 passes through a scale plate 4 and has a pointer 5 attached to its tip. The rotation angle (ie, pressure) of the pointer 5 can be read from the scale plate 4 through the transparent plate 6 from outside the container 9 . On the other hand, the pointer shaft 3 is provided with a light shielding plate 7, which rotates in conjunction with the pointer shaft 3. The container 9 is a light-shielding container, and a photoelectric sensor 8 is arranged inside. The photoelectric sensor 8 is located in a gap 8 formed in a U-shape.
A light emitter that forms an optical path in the gap 8C and a light receiver that receives the light from this optical path and outputs an electrical output signal 8S are built in the U-shaped parts on both sides of the gap 8C. has been done. Lead wires 8A and 8B are drawn out from the photoelectric sensor 8, pass through the container 9, and are connected to an external control section 10. The light shielding plate 7 has a fan shape or a circular shape with a part of the outer circumference cut out, and is configured such that the circumference is located in the gap 8C of the photoelectric sensor 8. The lead wire 8A of the photoelectric sensor 8 is a power supply wire, and the lead wire 8B is for transmitting an electrical output signal 8S to the control section 10. If the light shielding plate 7 is shaped so that a gap is formed in a predetermined pressure range where pressure control is desired and the optical path of the gap 8C is secured, the photoelectric sensor 8 will output an output signal 8S in the predetermined pressure range. do. The control unit 10 supplies power to the photoelectric sensor 8, and
It receives the output signal 8S of the photoelectric sensor 8 and outputs a control signal 10S to the pressure equipment. For example, if the pressure equipment is a hydraulic equipment, if the pressure decreases, a drive command signal is output to a motor for pressurizing operation, and if the pressure increases too much, a stop command signal is output to the motor. FIG. 4 shows a conventional pointer-type pressure gauge and a photoelectric sensor integrally constructed. As another configuration example, a microswitch whose contacts open and close when pressed instead of the photoelectric sensor method is provided, and although not shown, the microswitch detects the displacement of the Bourdon tube or bellows and outputs the contact signal. Some are configured to be received by the controller. [0005] However, the conventional devices as described above have problems in that they are susceptible to external noise or are susceptible to contact failure. The photoelectric sensor installed in the conventional device has a built-in amplifier and has lead wires connected to an external control section. This lead wire and amplifier are highly susceptible to external noise, which has the disadvantage that the photoelectric sensor is prone to malfunction. Additionally, there was no function to easily diagnose abnormalities in the photoelectric sensor from the outside. Even if a microswitch is used instead of a photoelectric sensor, since it is a mechanical contact, many problems occur due to contact failure, and the use of a non-contact sensor has been desired. Since defective contacts can be a problem, there is also a method of using a strain gauge or an analog pressure sensor that uses a piezo effect. However, since it is an analog sensor, if there is a failure in which the sensor does not change at a certain value, another sensor is used to determine whether the sensor is abnormal and is constantly compared. There was a need. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that is resistant to noise by interposing an optical fiber cable to a photoelectric sensor, and to enable easy diagnosis of abnormalities in the photoelectric sensor from the outside. [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for detecting the sealing pressure of a pressure device and outputting a control signal to the pressure device,
a photoelectric sensor comprising a mechanism section that converts pressure into a rotation angle of a pointer shaft, a light emitter that includes a gap and forms an optical path in the gap, and a light receiver that receives light from the optical path and outputs an electrical signal; A control section receives an output signal from the photoelectric sensor and outputs a control signal to the pressure equipment, and a light shielding plate rotates in conjunction with the pointer shaft and whose circumferential portion is interposed in the gap between the photoelectric sensors. The photoelectric sensor is configured such that the photoelectric sensor is provided with optical fiber cables interposed between the gap, the light emitter, and the light receiver, and in addition to this configuration, a plurality of photoelectric sensors are provided, and the photoelectric sensor and The same number of notches or slits are arranged around the circumference of the light shielding plate corresponding to each photoelectric sensor, and the combination pattern of the presence/absence of output signals from each photoelectric sensor can be applied to multiple pressure ranges of pressure equipment. The control unit detects the sealed pressure range of the pressure equipment from the combination pattern and outputs a control signal. Furthermore, in addition to the above configuration, when the control unit receives a signal other than the combination pattern of output signal presence/absence of the photoelectric sensor indicating the sealed pressure range of the pressure equipment, a signal is generated to notify that there is an abnormality in the photoelectric sensor. It shall be equipped with a diagnostic section that outputs. [0010]According to the structure of the present invention, the photoelectric sensor is provided with optical fiber cables interposed between the gap, the light emitter, and the light receiver, so that the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the photoelectric sensor are connected to each other. The control unit can be placed outside the container on the side of the control unit. Therefore, since the signal transmission path over a long distance from the control unit to the gap of the photoelectric sensor is optical transmission, it is less susceptible to external noise. In addition to the above configuration, a plurality of photoelectric sensors are provided, and the same number of notches or slits as the number of photoelectric sensors are formed in the circumferential portion of the light shielding plate, corresponding to each photoelectric sensor. This notch or slit is formed so that the combination pattern of presence/absence of output signals from each photoelectric sensor is different for each of the plurality of pressure ranges of the pressure equipment. Since the sealed pressure range of the pressure equipment can be known from the combination pattern of the presence/absence of output signals from the photoelectric sensor, the control unit outputs a control signal to the pressure equipment based on this information. Furthermore, in addition to the above configuration, when the control section receives a signal other than the combination pattern of output signal presence/absence of the photoelectric sensor indicating the sealed pressure range of the pressure equipment, it can be determined that the photoelectric sensor is malfunctioning. . Therefore, in that case, the diagnostic section outputs an alarm signal to notify that there is an abnormality in the photoelectric sensor. EXAMPLES The present invention will be explained below based on examples. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a control device for pressure equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The photoelectric sensor 80 is connected to the light shielding plate 7
, the optical fiber cables 80A and 80B, and the control section 13 outside the container 9.
A light emitter 80D and a light receiver 80E are arranged on the side and connected to the respective ends of optical fiber cables 80A and 80B.
It is composed of The light 80L from the light emitter 80D is transmitted through the optical fiber cable 80A and passes through the gap 80C.
The light enters the optical fiber cable 80B through the optical fiber cable 80B. The light receiver 80E receives the light 80L and outputs an electrical output signal 8.
0S, and the control unit 13 outputs this output signal 80.
Upon receiving S, it outputs a control signal 13S to the pressure equipment. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the conventional device shown in FIG. 4, so detailed explanations will be omitted by using the same reference numerals for the same parts. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the detailed structure around the photoelectric sensor gap shown in FIG. optical fiber cable 80
The ends of A and 80B are buried in a U-shaped support 83. Prisms 81A, 81B are arranged on the end faces of the optical fiber cables 80A, 80B, and transparent plates 82A, 82B are further arranged at the tips of the prisms 81A, 81B. Light 80L (dotted chain line) transmitted through the optical fiber cable 80A is bent at a right angle by a prism 81A and passes through a transparent plate 82.
An optical path is formed in the gap 80C through A. If there is no interference from the light shielding plate 7, the light 80L enters the optical fiber cable 80B through the transparent plate 82B and the prism 81B and is transmitted. [0015] By having the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
Even if the optical fiber cables 80A and 80B are wired for quite a long time, they will not be affected by external noise because they are optical transmissions. By arranging the light emitter 80D and the light receiver 80E near the control unit 13, the electrical wiring can be made as short as possible, thereby further reducing the influence of noise. Furthermore, even if electronic circuits such as amplifiers constituting the light emitter 80D and the light receiver 80E break down, they can be easily repaired because they are located outside the container 9. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of a pressure equipment control device according to a different embodiment of the present invention, with the pointer and scale plate removed and a light shielding plate 70 and four photoelectric sensors 21, 22, 23, 24 installed. FIG. 3 is a view of the pointer shaft 3 as seen in the axial direction. The light shielding plate 70 has circumferential notches 31 and 3
4 and fan-shaped slit portions 32 and 33. Photoelectric sensors 21, 22, 23, in FIG.
Although only a U-shaped support body 24 is shown, an optical fiber cable, a light emitter, and a light receiver (not shown) are provided corresponding to each of the photoelectric sensors. Photoelectric sensors 21, 22, 23, 24
correspond to the notches or slits 31, 32, 33, and 34, respectively. In other words, the position of the circle marked on each photoelectric sensor is the position of the optical path perpendicular to the plane of the paper in the gap, and the structure is such that this optical path is blocked or transmitted by the corresponding notch or slit. has been done. Although each photoelectric sensor in FIG. 3 is fixed, the light shielding plate 70 rotates in the F direction as the pressure inside the pressure equipment increases. Therefore, 31,
The notches or slits at 32, 33, and 34 are indicated by arrows 31F, 32F, 33F, and 34F, respectively.
The corresponding photoelectric sensors 21 and 22
, 23, 24 are reached. FIG. 3 shows a control device when the pressure equipment is a hydraulic device for operating a power circuit breaker. The main contact of the circuit breaker is 32
When opening and closing operations are performed using hydraulic power in the range from 35 MPa to 35 MPa, the required control signals for the hydraulic system are:
■Signal to drive the pressurizing motor when the pressure is 32 MPa or less, ■Signal to stop the pressurizing motor when the pressure is 35 MPa or more, ■Signal to stop the pressurizing motor when the pressure is 27 MPa or more.
There are four signals: (2) a signal that locks the main contact of the circuit breaker when the pressure drops below 25 MPa; and (2) a signal that locks the main contact of the circuit breaker when the pressure falls below 25 MPa. For this purpose, it is necessary to detect five pressure ranges bordering on the above four pressure values. In the configuration of FIG. 3, the photoelectric sensor 2
Table 1 shows the situation in which the optical paths 1, 22, 23, and 24 are transmitted or blocked in each pressure range. [Table 1] [0020] In Table 1, ◯ and × indicate the transmission state and light blocking state of the photoelectric sensor, respectively. The state of each photoelectric sensor as shown in Table 1 will be explained below using FIG. The state shown in FIG. 3 is a case where the pressure is 25 MPa or less. The photoelectric sensor 21 is in a transparent state due to the notch 34 . When the pressure increases, the edge 34B of the notch 34 moves toward the arrow 31F.
It rotates according to. When the pressure reaches 27 MPa, the edge 34B reaches the position of the photoelectric sensor 21, and the photoelectric sensor 21 enters the light-blocking state. When the pressure reaches 32 MPa, the edge 31A of the notch 31 reaches the position of the photoelectric sensor 21, and the photoelectric sensor 21 becomes transparent. Furthermore, when the pressure reaches 35 MPa, the edge 31B of the notch 31 reaches the position of the photoelectric sensor 21, and the photoelectric sensor 21 again enters the light-blocking state. The photoelectric sensor 22 is in a light-shielded state when the pressure is below 25 MPa, but when the pressure increases, the slit portion 32 rotates in accordance with the arrow 32F. pressure is 25
In the range from MPa to 32 MPa, since the photoelectric sensor 22 is between the edges 32A and 32B of the slit portion 32,
The photoelectric sensor 22 becomes transmissive. Furthermore, the pressure is 32
When the pressure exceeds MPa, the edge 32B is located at the position of the photoelectric sensor 22.
reaches, and the photoelectric sensor 22 enters the light-blocking state. The photoelectric sensor 23 is in a light-shielded state when the pressure is below 25 MPa, but when the pressure increases, the slit portion 33 rotates in accordance with the arrow 33F. pressure is 27
In the range from MPa to 35 MPa, the photoelectric sensor 23 is located between the edges 33A and 33B of the slit portion 33, so
The photoelectric sensor 23 becomes transmissive. Furthermore, the pressure is 35
When Mpa is exceeded, the edge 33B is located at the position of the photoelectric sensor 23.
reaches, and the photoelectric sensor 23 enters the light-blocking state. The photoelectric sensor 24 is in a light-shielded state when the pressure is 25 MPa or less. When the pressure increases, the notch 34
The edge 34A rotates in accordance with the arrow 34F. When the pressure reaches 25 MPa, the edge 34A reaches the position of the photoelectric sensor 24, so the photoelectric sensor 24 becomes transparent. Further, at pressures higher than that, the photoelectric sensor 24 is always in a transparent state. As can be seen from Table 1, the combination patterns of transmission and light blocking of the photoelectric sensor are different in each pressure range. Therefore, the combination pattern of presence/absence of output signals from the photoelectric sensor also differs in each pressure range. The control unit is configured to receive output signals from the photoelectric sensors 21, 22, 23, and 24. This control unit determines which pressure range the above pattern is in, for example, using a built-in programmable controller, and
Control signals can be selected and output to the circuit breaker's hydraulic system. Furthermore, a diagnostic section is added to the control section, and when a signal having a pattern not listed in Table 1 is obtained from the photoelectric sensor, it is possible to output a signal indicating that the photoelectric sensor is abnormal. In Table 1, when the pressure increases or decreases and moves to the next pressure range, the states of the two photoelectric sensors always change. Therefore, even if the pressure range changes and the state of only one photoelectric sensor changes, a notification signal can be output as an abnormality of the photoelectric sensor. Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention can reduce the influence of external noise by providing a photoelectric sensor with optical fiber cables interposed between the gap, the light emitter, and the light receiver. Therefore, it is possible to provide a device that is less susceptible to malfunctions. Furthermore, the light emitter and the light receiver can be placed near the control unit, making it easier to repair the electronic circuit components of these devices. In addition to the above configuration, a plurality of photoelectric sensors are provided, and the same number of notches or slits as the photoelectric sensors are formed in the light shielding plate, and the combination pattern of the presence and absence of output signals from the photoelectric sensors corresponds to the pressure range. Since the sealing pressure range of the pressure equipment can be easily detected. Furthermore, since the present invention is equipped with a diagnostic section that notifies that the photoelectric sensor is abnormal when the combination pattern of the presence and absence of output signals from the photoelectric sensor described above is other than that indicating the enclosed range of the pressure equipment, the photoelectric sensor Sensor abnormalities can now be easily detected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a control device for pressure equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Enlarged sectional view showing the detailed configuration around the photoelectric sensor gap in Fig. 1

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of a pressure equipment control device according to a different embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 4] A cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a conventional pressure equipment control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Mechanism section 2 Piping 3 Pointer axis 4 Scale plate 5. Guidelines 6 Transparent plate 7. Light shielding plate 70　　　　Light shielding plate 80 Photoelectric sensor 21 Photoelectric sensor 22 Photoelectric sensor 23 Photoelectric sensor 24 Photoelectric sensor 9 Container 80A optical fiber cable 80B optical fiber cable 80C Gap 80D light emitter 80E receiver 13 Control section 31 Notch part 34 Notch part 32 Slit part 33 Slit part

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: A device for detecting the sealed pressure of a pressure device and outputting a control signal to the pressure device, comprising a mechanism section for converting the pressure into a rotation angle of a pointer shaft, and a gap section. a photoelectric sensor comprising a light emitter that forms an optical path and a light receiver that receives the light from the optical path and outputs an electrical signal; a control unit that receives the output signal of the photoelectric sensor and outputs a control signal to the pressure equipment; The light shielding plate rotates in conjunction with the pointer shaft and has a circumferential portion interposed in the gap of the photoelectric sensor, and the photoelectric sensor is interposed between the gap and a light emitter and a light receiver, respectively. A control device for pressure equipment, characterized in that it is equipped with an optical fiber cable. 2. In the device according to claim 1, a plurality of photoelectric sensors are provided, and the same number of notches or slits as the number of photoelectric sensors are arranged on the circumference of the light shielding plate, corresponding to each photoelectric sensor. At the same time, the combination pattern of presence/absence of output signals from each photoelectric sensor is formed to be different for each of the plurality of pressure ranges of the pressure equipment, and the control unit detects the enclosed pressure range of the pressure equipment from the combination pattern. A control device for pressure equipment, characterized in that it outputs a control signal. 3. In the device according to claim 2, when the control unit receives a signal other than the combination pattern of output signal presence/absence of the photoelectric sensor indicating the sealed pressure range of the pressure equipment, there is an abnormality in the photoelectric sensor. 1. A control device for pressure equipment, comprising a diagnostic section that outputs a signal to notify of.