JPH05123066A - Sensor valve unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the subject maintenance-free apparatus capable of automatically closing or opening a pipe line without using complicate electrical control by using a specific construction comprising a swellable material swelling by water-absorption and returning to the original shape by drying. CONSTITUTION:An opening of a casing 40 having plural small holes 48 on the wall is connected to a water-supply pipe 18. A non-water absorbing rubber 42 is attached to the opening and used as a part of the water-supply pipe 18. A swellable material 46 such as vulcanized rubber is filled in a space 44 surrounded by the non-water absorbing rubber 42 and the casing 40. When the swellable material 46 is in dry state, the water-supply pipe 18 is opened by the absence of the elastic deformation of the non-water absorbing rubber 46. The swellable material 46 is swollen to apply a pressure to the non-water absorbing rubber 42 when excessive water in the soil is intruded through the small holes 48 into the space 44 and the elastic deformation of the non-water absorbing rubber 42 takes place to close the water-supply pipe 18.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor valve unit for closing or opening a pipeline.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for automatic water supply to plants, a storage tank for storing water is provided, a pipe for sprinkling water on the plants is provided in the storage tank, and a valve is provided in the middle of the pipe. This valve is controlled to be opened and closed by the control device. The control device is equipped with a moisture detection sensor that detects moisture in the vicinity of the soil where the plants are planted. When the moisture detection sensor detects that the soil has reached a prescribed moisture level or less, the valve is opened and the storage tank The water is sprinkled.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the moisture detection sensor and the like must be installed, and the structure is complicated. Also, because it is an electrical control,
Wiring is also required, and there is a problem that breakdown or the like is likely to occur especially when used outdoors.

Further, when there are many water supply destinations, the structure in which a sensor and a valve are required respectively becomes more complicated.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a sensor valve unit that can automatically or maintenance-freely close or open a pipeline without requiring complicated electric control.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A sensor valve unit for closing or opening a pipeline, which is partially opened and has a wall surface provided with a plurality of small holes; and a case in which the opening of the casing is closed and a part of the pipeline is applied. A non-water-absorbing rubber to be filled, and the space surrounded by the casing and the non-water-absorbing rubber is expanded by water entering from the plurality of small holes and elastically deformed by applying pressure to the non-water-absorbing rubber. And a swelling material that closes the pipeline and returns to the original volume after drying to release the pressure on the non-water-absorbing rubber to open the pipeline.

[0007]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when the swelling material in the casing is dry, the non-water-supplying rubber is not elastically deformed, and therefore the pipe line is opened. Thereby, for example, the water in the pipeline can smoothly flow, and the water can be supplied to the soil or the like touched by the plant on the downstream side.

Here, if the casing is buried in the soil, excess water from the soil enters the voids through the small holes of the casing. The infiltration of water causes the swelling material to expand and applies pressure to the non-water-absorbent rubber. Due to this pressure, the non-water-absorbent rubber is elastically deformed to close the pipeline. As a result, the supply of unnecessary water is stopped.

When the swelling material is dried, the volume of the swelling material returns to its original value, so that the pressure on the non-water-absorbent rubber is also eliminated and the elastic deformation is released. Therefore, the pipeline is opened and water supply is restarted.

As described above, water may be caused to flow through the pipe and the swelling material may be expanded according to the amount of the flowed water, but the structure is such that the swelling material is expanded by a completely different route. May be.

Here, the present inventors investigated the properties of various materials in order to obtain the above-described swelling material that expands when it absorbs water and contracts when it dries.

First, the water-swellable rubber, which is often used for shield cement joints, is not applicable because it absorbs water and expands, but it does not return to its original state even when dried. Next, it was found that one of the reaction products (vulcanized rubber) of natural rubber and urethane resin has ideal properties.

As shown in FIG. 5, the volume change of the material due to the cycle of water absorption and drying is completely returned to the original volume after drying. That is, it can be considered to be a kind of so-called intelligent material that detects and responds to environmental conditions.

The results of a water supply experiment using this vulcanized rubber are shown below. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of (10) holes H are formed on the peripheral surface of the vinyl chloride pipe P having an outer diameter of 15 mm.
(Diameter 1 mm) was provided, and the vulcanized rubber G was filled in the vinyl chloride pipe P. Vulcanized rubber G is 2-5 mm
It is crushed into pieces.

A water pressure corresponding to a head of water of 1 m was applied to the vinyl chloride pipe P to test whether or not the outflow of water from the hole H was stopped.

As a result, immediately after the start of water supply, the water was vigorously flowing out from all the holes H, but after 10 minutes,
The expansion of the vulcanized rubber G almost stopped the outflow of water. Further, when the water supply was stopped and left for a predetermined time and then the water supply was started again, the outflow from the hole H was restarted.

As can be seen from the above experimental results and the like, by using this vulcanized rubber G as the swelling material of the present invention,
The present invention can be achieved.

[0018]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows a concrete 10 for greening foundation according to this example.

The concrete block 12 which is the main body of the greening base concrete 10 is made by mixing concrete paste (Portland cement), water and a saturated material in a predetermined ratio and kneading them, and using a formwork (not shown). Due to this, it is cured in a rectangular panel shape.

Here, in the concrete block 12,
A hollow portion 14 is provided. The hollow portion 14 is provided so as to communicate two opposite sides, and a plurality of hollow portions 14 are provided in each of the concrete blocks 12 (in the present embodiment, 4).
Hollow portions 14 are provided in parallel with each other. Further, the concrete block 12 has the hollow portion 14
A plurality of concrete blocks 12 are arranged so that the two sides that are the both ends thereof are vertical.

The hollow portion 14 is filled with a base material 16 for growing plants. This base material 16 is black soil,
Customer soil materials such as perlite are applied.

A water supply pipe 18 for supplying water to the base material 16 is provided in the hollow portion 14. The water supply pipe 18 is arranged in a substantially U-shape in each hollow portion 14. The water supply pipe 18 is provided with a plurality of holes (not shown) at the upper side after construction, so that the water in the water supply pipe 18 can flow out to replenish the base material 16. ..

Here, the weight increase due to the disposition of the base material 16 and the water supply pipe 18 is offset by the provision of the hollow portion 14 in the concrete block 12, and the weight of the entire greening base concrete 12 is almost the same. It does not increase.

A plurality of through holes 20 communicating with the hollow portion 14 are provided on the surface of the concrete block 12, and have a role of planting on the base material 16 and as a plant growing guideway. There is. Therefore, the plant germinated on the base material 16 has a stem extending from the through hole 20 and is grown on the surface of the concrete block 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the greening foundation concrete 10 of this embodiment is applied as an exterior material on the wall surface of a high-rise building 22, and as described above, both ends of the hollow portion 14 are in the horizontal direction. A plurality of concrete blocks 12 are arranged and constructed like a checkerboard.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back surface side of the concrete blocks 12 arranged on the wall surface of the high-rise building 22,
Water supply main 28 from roof 24 of high-rise building 22 to ground 26
Is hanging. The ground-side end of the water supply main 28 is closed.

The roof 24 side end of the water supply main building 28 is
It is connected to a water receiving tank 32 via a valve 30. Therefore, when the valve 30 is opened, the water in the water receiving tank 32 flows in the main water supply pipe 28 and flows out toward the ground 26.

A pipe 36 from a nutrient supply tank 34 is provided downstream of the valve 30 in the water supply main 28 of the roof 24.
Are communicated with each other, and when water flows out from the water receiving tank 32, nutrients are supplied and flowed as needed.

The water supply main pipe 28 that hangs down from the back side of the concrete block 12 communicates with one end of the water supply pipe 18 provided in each hollow portion 14. For this reason,
Water is supplied to each water supply pipe 18, and water can be supplied to the base material 16.

A sensor valve unit 38 is provided near the connecting portion of the water supply pipe 18 to the main water supply pipe.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor valve unit 38 is formed of a box-shaped casing 40, the opening of which communicates with the inside of the water supply pipe 18. A non-water-absorbing rubber 42 is arranged in this communication portion, and shields the void 44 in the casing 40 and the water supply pipe 18. The non-water-absorbent rubber 42 has a role of elastically deforming due to the pressure from the void portion 44 in the casing 40 and closing the conduit of the water supply pipe 18.

The cavities 44 of the casing 40 are filled with vulcanized rubber 46 as a water-swelling swelling material in a crushed state.

The vulcanized rubber 46 has a role as an intelligent material. That is, the vulcanized rubber 46 has the property of expanding in volume due to water absorption and returning to its original volume by drying.

On the other hand, the casing 40 has a plurality of holes 48.
Is provided so that the water that could not be completely absorbed by the base material 16 is infiltrated. Due to the infiltration of the water, the downstream rubber 46 expands and applies pressure to the non-water absorbent rubber 42. ing.

That is, when water is sufficiently supplied to the base material 16, the surplus portion expands the vulcanized rubber 46, and this expansion causes the non-water-absorbent rubber 42 to be pressed and elastically deformed. The pipeline is closed to prevent further water supply.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. Conclave block 1 used as an exterior material for skyscrapers 22
2 is formed in a panel shape by a predetermined mold. At this time, the hollow portion 14 is provided in the concrete block 12.
Since the hollow portion 14 is provided, the close block 12 is provided.
Will be lighter in weight.

Next, a plurality of through holes 20 communicating with the surface of the concrete block 12 and the hollow portion 14 are provided, and the hollow portion 14 is further provided with a water supply pipe 18 and filled with a base material 16, thereby A single concealment block 12 is completed.

Here, although the weight increases due to the installation of the base material 16 and the water supply pipe 18, the concrete block 12
Since the hollow portion 14 is provided in itself and the base material 16 and the water supply pipe 18 are installed in the hollow portion 14, the hollow portion 14 offsets the weight of the concrete block 1.
2 The total weight does not increase.

Before the concrete blocks 12 are attached to the wall surface of the high-rise building 22 by using a plurality of concrete blocks 12, the concrete blocks 12 are planted through the through holes 20 provided in the concrete blocks 12 so that the openings at both ends of the hollow portion 14 are in the horizontal direction. Install.

Here, the water supply mains 28 suspended along the wall surface of the high-rise building 22 are connected to the respective water supply pipes 18.

When the valve 30 installed on the rooftop 24 is opened, the water in the water receiving tank 32 flows in the water supply main pipe 28, and the water is supplied to each water supply pipe 18. Water flows out from the holes provided in the water supply pipe 18, and water is supplied to the base material 16 to grow plants. At this time, if necessary, the nutrient supply tank 3
By mixing the nutrients from No. 4 into water, the nutrients to the plants can be supplemented.

By the way, if the valve 30 on the rooftop 24 is left open, water is supplied more than necessary,
The water in the water receiving tank 32 is wasted. However, in the present embodiment, when the water is sufficiently supplied to the base material 16, the surplus portion of the sensor valve unit 38 penetrates into the inside through the hole 48 provided in the casing 40. The vulcanized rubber 46 expands due to the infiltration of water, and pressure is applied to the non-water-absorbent rubber 42. This pressure causes the non-water-absorbent rubber 42 to elastically deform,
The pipeline of the water supply pipe 18 is closed, and the supply of water to the water supply pipe 18 is suppressed.

When the vulcanized rubber 46 in the casing 40 is dried, the volume of the vulcanized rubber 46 returns to its original value, and the pressure on the non-water-absorbing rubber 42 disappears. Thereby, the blockage of the water supply pipe 18 by the non-water-absorbing rubber 42 is released, and the supply of water to the base material 16 is restarted.

As described above, since the water supply state can be controlled for each concrete block 12 by providing the sensor valve unit 38 in each water supply pipe 18, the opening degree of the valve 30 of the original rooftop 24 can be controlled. It is possible to replenish necessary and sufficient water as compared with the adjustment.

According to this embodiment, when the soil is formed on the wall surface of the high-rise building 22 to grow plants other than climbing plants, the base material 16 to be soil is used as the hollow portion 14 of the concrete block 12. Since it was filled in the base material 1
The weight increase by 6 can reduce the weight of the concrete block 12, and the soil can be formed without increasing the weight as a whole.

Therefore, plants other than climbing plants can be easily grown, which can contribute to the promotion of greening.

[0047]

Industrial Applicability As described above, the sensor valve unit according to the present invention has an excellent effect that a complicated electrical control is not required, and a pipeline can be closed or opened automatically and without maintenance. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of concrete for greening base.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a concrete block is installed in a high-rise building.

FIG. 3 is a water supply piping diagram viewed from the front of the concrete block.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of a sensor valve unit.

[Fig. 5] Intelligent material (reaction product of natural rubber and urethane resin)
It is a characteristic view showing the volume change rate of.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a device configuration for testing the characteristics of vulcanized rubber.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 Base Material 18 Water Supply Pipe 28 Water Supply Main 32 Water Receptacle 38 Sensor Valve Unit 40 Casing 42 Non-Water Absorbing Rubber 44 Void 46 Vulcanized Rubber (Swelling Material) 48 Holes

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kunio Yanagibashi 2-5-14 Minamisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo Inside the Takenaka Corporation Technical Research Institute (72) Inventor Takashi Miwa 2-chome, Minamisuna, Koto-ku, Tokyo No. 14 Stock Company Takenaka Corporation Technical Research Institute

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensor valve unit for closing or opening a pipeline, wherein a casing is partially opened and a wall surface is provided with a plurality of small holes, and the pipeline is closed and the pipeline is closed. A non-water-absorbing rubber applied as a part of the, the water is filled in the cavity surrounded by the casing and the non-water-absorbing rubber and expanded by water entering from the plurality of small holes to apply a pressure to the non-water-absorbing rubber. In addition, a swelling material that elastically deforms to close the pipe line and returns to the original volume after drying to release the pressure on the non-water-absorbing rubber to open the pipe line.