JPH0569618U - Inclination detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] It is an object of the present invention to provide a tilt detecting device capable of accurately detecting a tilt angle in an arbitrary direction. [Structure] Sphere 1 whose surface is made of a magnetic material that reflects light
And a container 5 in which the sphere is stored and a magnet 3 is fixed to the lower center, and an optical sensor 4 which is solidified on the upper part of the container 5, and the magnet 3 corresponds to the inclination of the container 5
Is held at a predetermined position, and the optical sensor 4 generates a constant output voltage according to the position of the sphere 1.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a tilt detecting device for detecting a tilt of a certain member or structure when it is tilted from a horizontal state by a certain angle or more. Such an inclination detecting device is used, for example, when a warning is issued when a work vehicle tilts at an angle of 3 ° or more or a construction work vehicle tilts at an angle of 10 ° or more.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As this type of conventional inclination detecting device, ones shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 7 (b) are known. The inclination detecting device shown in FIG. 5 is a mercury switch in which a mercury 02 and terminals 03 and 04 are enclosed in a sealed container 01. This mercury switch is off in the horizontal state shown in FIG. 5 (a), but is turned on when the mercury 02 is connected between the terminals 03 and 04 in the downward tilted state shown in FIG. 5 (b). Therefore, it is possible to detect when the vehicle tilts downward to the left by a predetermined angle or more.

The inclination detecting device shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) includes a reed switch 05, a magnetic fluid 07 enclosed in a container 06, and a magnet 08 suspended in the magnetic fluid 07. It is configured. In a state in which the member supporting the inclination detecting device is horizontal (see FIG. 6 (a)), the reed switch 05 is on because the magnet 08 is in the approaching state, but in the inclined state (see FIG. 6 (b)). In the reference), the reed switch 05 is off because the magnet 08 is at a remote position apart from it. In the inclination detecting device shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), a slit 011 having a predetermined shape is formed in a pendulum 010 supported so as to be swingable around a rotation shaft 09, and this slit 011 is formed. A light emitting element 012 and a light receiving element 013 are arranged to face each other with 011 in between. In the tilt detecting device shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), when the pendulum 010 rotates about the rotation axis 09 by a predetermined angle or more, the light receiving element 013 does not receive the light of the light emitting element 012.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the tilt detecting device shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), there is a large variation in products, and it is difficult to fix the product at a constant tilt angle (attach it to the vehicle body or the like). In addition, it can detect only one direction of inclination, which may cause pollution by mercury.

Further, in the inclination detecting device using the magnetic fluid shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the reed switch has a large variation in sensitivity, and the reed switch is turned on and off. The hysteresis of the operation timing is also large. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately detect a small tilt angle. Further, since the magnetic fluid has poor temperature characteristics, when the temperature changes, the ON / OFF timing changes.

Further, the tilt detecting device shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) can detect the tilt angle around the rotation axis that supports the pendulum, but tilts around the axis perpendicular to the rotation axis. Has the problem that it cannot be detected.

The present invention was devised to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inclination detection device capable of accurately detecting the inclination angle in the entire circumferential direction.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the inclination detecting device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, it has a spherical body made of a magnetic material whose surface reflects light, a container in which the spherical body is housed and a magnet is fixed in the lower central part, and an optical sensor which is solidified in the upper part of the container. The sphere is held at a predetermined position in accordance with the inclination of the sphere, and the optical sensor generates a constant output voltage according to the position of the sphere.

[0009]

The tilt detecting device of the present invention having the above-described structure is used by fixing the container to a structure such as a vehicle body of a construction vehicle. When horizontal, the sphere is in the center of the container as it is attracted by the magnet below the container. The optical sensor is fixed to the upper part of the container, and at this time, the distance from the sphere is the shortest. When the container tilts together with the vehicle body or the like, the sphere tends to roll in the tilting direction, but since it is attracted to the center of the container by the magnet, it moves only to the point where the forces are balanced. At this time, the relative positional relationship between the sphere and the optical sensor changes, and the detection signal of the optical sensor changes. The change in the detection signal detects the tilt of the vehicle body or the like to which the container is fixed.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 (a) shows a case where the inclination detecting device is in a horizontal state, and FIG. 1 (b) shows a sectional view taken along the line AA at this time. Further, FIG. 2 shows a case where the inclination detecting device is in an inclined state. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is an iron ball whose surface is polished to reflect light to some extent, 2 is an inner container in which the iron ball 1 is rotatably accommodated, 5 is an iron outer container, and 3 is contents A cylindrical permanent magnet embedded in the lower central part of the container 2 and having the lower part in contact with the outer container 5 is an optical sensor fixed to the upper central part of the inner container 2 in contact with the convex part of the outer container 5. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the photosensor 4 is composed of a light emitting circuit 4a, a photodetecting circuit 4b, and light emitting circuit 4a and optical lenses 4c, 4d provided on the photodetecting circuit 4b, respectively. FIG. 4 shows a specific circuit configuration of the light emitting circuit 4a and the photodetection circuit 4b which constitute the optical sensor 4. As shown in the figure, the light emitting circuit 4a is composed of a resistor and a light emitting diode, and emits light to the outside when a predetermined current flows through the light emitting diode. The photodetector circuit 4b includes a resistor and a phototransistor, and changes the voltage generated at the output end according to the amount of light incident on the phototransistor. In this embodiment, the outer container 5 is used by being fixed to a vehicle or the like not shown.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a vehicle (not shown) tilts, the outer container 5 tilts as shown in FIG. 2 and the iron ball 1 tries to roll in the tilting direction, but the magnet attracts the iron ball 1 to the center of the container, so that the iron ball 1 is eventually drawn. Will move to the point where gravity and magnetic attraction force balance. Since this balance point moves away from the center of the container in proportion to the inclination, the relative positional relationship between the iron ball 1 and the optical sensor 4 also changes in proportion to the inclination. On the other hand, the light emitted from the light emitting circuit 4a passes through the lens 4c, strikes the reflecting surface of the iron ball 1, is reflected, and passes through the lens 4d and is incident on the light detecting circuit 4b. 4 varies depending on the relative positional relationship. That is, when the iron ball 1 is directly under the optical sensor 4, the amount of light incident on the optical sensor is large, and as the iron ball 1 is farther from the optical sensor 4, the amount of incident light is smaller. In such a case, by using the photodetector circuit 4b configured as shown in FIG. 4, it becomes possible to extract a voltage according to the amount of incident light, that is, according to the position of the iron ball.

When the tilt detector of this embodiment is used as a tilt detector that is turned on when tilted by a certain set angle or more, the circuit configuration is such that the output voltage of the photodetector circuit 4b is set to a certain set voltage. A comparison circuit for comparison may be provided so that the output from the comparison circuit is turned on when the output voltage of the photodetector circuit 4b becomes lower than the set voltage.

Although the light emitting diode is used as the light emitting circuit in the above embodiment, the light emitting diode is not limited to the light emitting diode, and any light emitting device such as a laser may be used. For applications where the iron ball 1 is too sensitive to sudden vibrations, etc., fill the space in which the iron ball 1 moves with a fluid such as silicone oil to have a damper effect. good.

Furthermore, although a permanent magnet is used in this embodiment, an electromagnet may be used as the magnet, and the sphere may be formed of a magnet.

[0015]

【effect】

 The inclination detecting device of the present invention has the following effects. 1. Since there is no ON / OFF operation due to contact with a reed switch, the operation is accurate and the hysteresis is small. 2. One optical sensor can detect the tilt in all directions. 3. Since light is used to detect the inclination, there is no fear of pollution and the temperature characteristics are good. 4. The simple structure makes it easy to produce and inexpensive. 5. Since there is no complicated joining mechanism such as bearings between the sphere and the container, the sphere moves smoothly and there is little hysteresis in ON / OFF operation timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the inclination detecting device of the present invention,
(A) is a longitudinal sectional view in the horizontal state, and (b) is an AA sectional view in (a).

FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a tilt detecting device of the present invention, showing a state of tilting to the left.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an optical sensor that outputs different detection signals depending on the position of a sphere.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a light emitting circuit and a photodetector circuit which form an optical sensor.

5A and 5B show a conventional inclination detection device using a mercury switch, FIG. 5A is a vertical sectional view in a horizontal state, and FIG. 5B is a vertical sectional view in a inclined state.

6A and 6B show a conventional inclination detecting device using a reed switch and a magnetic fluid, where FIG. 6A is a vertical sectional view in a horizontal state thereof, and FIG. 6B is a vertical sectional view when inclined by θ.

7A and 7B show a conventional inclination detecting device using a pendulum, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element. FIG. 7A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 7B is a side view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Iron ball 2: Inner container 3: Permanent magnet 4: Optical sensor 5: Outer container

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A spherical body made of a magnetic material whose surface reflects light, a container in which the spherical body is housed and a magnet is fixed to the lower central part, and a detection signal which is fixed to the upper part of the container and varies depending on the position of the spherical body. An inclination detecting device comprising an optical sensor for outputting.