JPH0849800A - Alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an alarm device enabling a user to positively and rapidly notice the change of the working status such as the generation of abnormality to a machine, an instrument, or the like. CONSTITUTION:An operating lever 6 serving as an operating member gripped by a user at the time of using a machine, an instrument, or the like is provided with an alarm device W provided with a pin 10 serving as an informing means. This pin 10 protrudes from the surface of the operating lever 6 when some abnormality is generated to the machine, instrument, or the like. The tactile sensation of the operating lever 6 thereby changes, and the hand of a worker feels this change.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alarm device such as a machine or a device, and more particularly to an alarm device suitable for informing a driver of something abnormal such as a construction machine. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When operating a construction machine such as a power shovel or the like, an abnormality may occur in the machine itself or in a work process. At this time, the worker must immediately perceive the fact that the abnormality has occurred and take appropriate measures such as stopping the machine. Therefore, around the driver's seat of the construction machine, an alarm buzzer, an alarm lamp, etc. are generally provided as an alarm means. That is, the alarm buzzer perceives the fact of abnormality occurrence by appealing to the operator's hearing with sound, and the alarm lamp perceives the fact of abnormality occurrence by appealing to the operator's vision with light.

[0003]

However, since the worker who is operating the construction machine is mainly looking at the work object or the like, it becomes difficult for the light of the alarm lamp to enter the field of view, and he / she may notice the occurrence of abnormalities. I'll be late. Such a situation becomes more remarkable especially when the driver concentrates on the work and when the alarm lamp is provided at a position largely outside the sight of the worker.

Further, when operating this type of construction machine, noise (for example, engine sound or sound of work object) is generated, so that the sound of the alarm buzzer is inevitably difficult to hear. Therefore, in this case as well, it is delayed to notice the occurrence of the abnormality.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make a user surely and swiftly notice a change in a use condition such as occurrence of an abnormality in a machine or an instrument. It is to provide an alarm device that can

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 1, when a user uses a machine / appliance or the like, a user is allowed to contact a part of his / her body with a specific part. The gist is an alarm device provided with an informing means for changing the tactile sensation of the specific portion when the usage condition of a machine / appliance or the like changes.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operating member gripped by the user at the time of using the machine / appliance or the like is partially removed from the surface of the operating member when an abnormality occurs in the instrument / machine or the like. The gist thereof is an alarm device provided with an informing means for changing the tactile sensation of the operating member by projecting it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the informing means is a pin slidably provided in the cylindrical opening of the operation member, and a tip portion of the pin is the When the solenoid provided inside the operating member is excited, the solenoid projects from the surface of the operating member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, at least the color tone of the tip portion of the pin is more noticeable than the color tone of the operation member.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the tactile sensation of a specific portion is changed by the notification means, the change is sensed by the user through the tactile sensation of a part of the body in contact with the specific portion. It Then, the user can recognize that the usage situation has changed at this time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the tactile sensation of the operating member changes due to a part of the notifying means protruding, the change is pressed to the user through the tactile sensation of the hand holding the operating member. Perceived as a feeling. Then, the user can recognize that the usage situation has changed at this time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the solenoid is excited, the tip of the pin projects from the surface of the operating member to change the feel of the operating member. According to the invention described in claim 4, since the color tone of the tip portion of the pin is more noticeable than the color tone of the operation member, the user can visually perceive that the usage situation has changed.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an alarm device for a power shovel will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a driver's seat 4 of a power shovel having a seat portion 1, a backrest portion 2 and a headrest portion 3.
It is shown. Consoles 5 are arranged on both left and right sides of the seat portion 1 of the driver's seat 4. An operation lever 6 as an operation member is provided on the front side upper surface of the console 5 on the left side as viewed from the driver side. Operating lever 6
Is composed of a rod-shaped metal rod 8 and a hollow grip 7 made of synthetic resin, which is gripped by a driver. The operation lever 6 is tiltable in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction by a predetermined angle. Therefore,
When the driver tilts the operation lever 6, the supply state of hydraulic oil to a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) is switched accordingly. As a result, the vehicle turns and the arm that holds the shovel rotates.

Next, the alarm device W of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a cylindrical opening 9 having a substantially circular cross section is formed on the upper side surface of the grip 7. In the case of this embodiment, the cylindrical opening 9
Is located on the left side from the worker side. A cylindrical pin 10 as a notification means is slidably inserted into the cylindrical protruding portion 9. A stopper 11 having a brim shape is formed at the base end of the pin 10. A pin 10 is provided between the stopper 11 and the inner end of the cylindrical protrusion 9.
A cylindrical coil spring 12 is provided for urging the inner side of the grip 7.

Inside the grip 7, a solenoid 14 is arranged at a position below the pin 10 with the plunger 13 protruding upward. Plunger 1
3 is attracted to the solenoid 14 side (that is, downward) by exciting the solenoid 14 with a drive signal. A first actuator 15 is fixed to the tip of the plunger 13.

A second plate-shaped actuator 16 is provided at a position below the pin 10 and above the solenoid 14 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 17 as a fulcrum.
A pin side engaging portion 16a and a solenoid side engaging portion 16b are formed on one side surface of the second actuator 16. The base end portion (specifically, the stopper 11) of the pin 10 is in contact with the pin side engaging portion 16a. On the other hand, the engagement portion 15a of the first actuator 15 is in contact with the solenoid-side engagement portion 16b. That is, the pin 10 that is the notification means, and the solenoid 14 that drives the pin 10,
The plunger 13 and the first and second actuators 15,
The alarm device W is constituted by 16 or the like. A drive signal is output from the controller (not shown) to the plunger 13 via a lead wire 18 when an abnormality occurs. Here "abnormality"
The term "abnormality of pressure value of hydraulic oil", "abnormality of voltage value of battery", "abnormality of fuel consumption in vehicle", and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the tip of the pin 10 is colored red so as to be more visible than the surrounding members (black grip 7). . The operation of the alarm device W configured as above will be described.

When no abnormality has particularly occurred (that is, in a normal state), the drive signal is not output to the solenoid 14. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1A, the plunger 13 keeps projecting from the solenoid 14. Further, since the pin 10 is biased inward by the cylindrical coil spring 12, the tip end of the pin 10 is kept buried in the grip 7.

When an abnormality occurs, the solenoid 14
By outputting the drive signal to the
The plunger 13 is sucked downward as shown in FIG. Then, the engaging portion 15a of the first actuator 15
Presses the solenoid side engaging portion 16b to rotate the second actuator 16 around the shaft 17 in the clockwise direction. Then, the pin-side engaging portion 16a pushes the base end portion of the pin 10 outward with a force larger than the urging force of the cylindrical coil spring 12. As a result, the tip of the pin 10 projects from the surface of the grip 7 by a predetermined amount.

According to the alarm device W of this embodiment, the tactile sensation of the grip 7 changes as the tip of the pin 10, which is the notification means, projects from the surface of the grip 7.
In detail, in this case, since a protruding portion is formed on the surface of the grip 7, it becomes difficult for the driver to grip the grip 7. Then, such a change in tactile sensation is caused by the grip 7
The driver senses a pressing feeling through the tactile sensation of the hand (more specifically, the palm) holding the vehicle. As a result, the driver can recognize that some abnormality has occurred at this time. According to the present embodiment, unlike a conventional alarm device of a type that visually or audibly appeals, such as an alarm lamp or an alarm buzzer, a major feature is that an abnormality is mainly noticed by appealing to the tactile sense of a driver. In addition, the driver generally has a feature that he always holds the grip 7 during the work. Therefore, even if the alarm device W is present outside the field of view, the engine sound, the sound of the work object, or the like is loud, the driver can reliably and quickly notice the occurrence of the abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to promptly take appropriate measures such as stopping the machine.

Further, since the color tone of the tip of the pin 10 is more prominent red than the color tone of the operating member, the driver can detect the occurrence of the abnormality not only by touch but also by vision. Therefore, it is possible to be surely noticed by the occurrence of the abnormality. At the start of work (when the engine starts)
If an abnormality has already occurred in the vehicle, the driver can quickly recognize the fact by looking at the red color of the pin 10.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as follows, for example. (1) The pin 10 may be provided at two or more places in the grip 7. With this configuration, the tactile sensation of the grip 7 is significantly changed compared to the case where the number of the pins 10 is only one, so that the driver can surely perceive the occurrence of the abnormality. It is also possible to correspond to different types of abnormalities (for example, abnormalities in hydraulic pressure value and abnormalities in voltage value) for the individual pins 10.

(2) The pin 10 may be provided at a position different from that of the embodiment, that is, the right side surface, the front side surface, the rear side surface of the grip 7 as viewed from the driver side, and the upper surface of the grip 7. (3) Instead of the configuration of the embodiment, for example, a biasing means other than the cylindrical coil spring 12 may be used, or the cylindrical coil spring 12 itself may be omitted.
Further, the second actuator 16 is omitted, and
The first actuator 16 and the plunger 13 may be arranged in series, and the first actuator 15 may directly press the base end portion of the pin 10. In addition, pin 10
The protrusion may be replaced with the protrusion of the plunger 13 itself.
When such a configuration is adopted, there is an advantage that the number of parts is reduced.

In the case of adopting the structure of the embodiment, the solenoid 14 and the pin 10 do not have to be arranged in series, so that there is an advantage that they can be installed in a narrow space.

(4) By changing the position of the fulcrum of the second actuator 16 from the position of the embodiment, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the stroke and holding force of the pin 10.

(5) Instead of the solenoid 14 or the like, the pin 10 may be driven by a combination of a motor and a gear, for example. (6) The shape of the notification means does not necessarily have to be the pin shape as in the embodiment, and may be, for example, a plate shape or a disk shape.

(7) The timing at which the pin 10 as the notification means is projected is not limited to when the machine itself is abnormal as in the above embodiment. For example, the pin 10 may be projected when a person is behind the vehicle to notify that it is dangerous when the vehicle is backed.

(8) As another example shown in FIG. 3, the alarm device W of the present invention may be installed in something other than the operating lever 6 of the construction machine, for example, in the steering wheel 20 of a passenger car. The steering 20 includes a ring portion 21, a boss portion 22, and a spoke portion 23 that supports them at three locations. In the vicinity of two of the spoke portions 23, that is, in the portion gripped by the driver during driving,
A pin 10 that constitutes an alarm device W similar to that of the first embodiment is provided.

(9) The position where the alarm device W is installed is
The operation lever 6 is not limited to a portion gripped by the driver's hand. For example, it may be a portion with which the driver's body is constantly in contact during work, that is, the seat portion 1, the backrest portion 2, or the headrest portion 3 of the driver's seat 4. Therefore, if the pin 10 is provided in such a place, the pin 10
Can be sensed through tactile sensations on the thigh, buttocks, waist, back, occipital region, and the like. However, in view of the fact that the palm can sense a subtle change in tactile sensation as compared with the buttocks, the back, etc., it is more advantageous to install the alarm device W on the operation lever 6 as in the embodiment. I can say.

(10) Of course, the alarm device W of the embodiment may be provided together with the conventional alarm lamp and alarm buzzer.
If there are a plurality of types of alarm devices W, abnormalities can be reliably detected.
Further, even if the other alarm device does not operate for some reason, it is possible to recognize the abnormality if one of them operates.

(11) The tip of the pin 10 may be colored by using a color other than red, for example, yellow, orange, pink or the like. It should be noted that the red color as in the embodiment has an advantage that "abnormality occurrence" can be easily associated with the image of the color.

(12) Instead of the embodiment in which the pin 10 remains protruding when an abnormality occurs, the pin 1 is used when an abnormality occurs.
It is preferable that 0 appears and disappears in a predetermined cycle. With this configuration, the driver can more reliably sense the change in tactile sensation. At that time, the retracting operation of the pin 10 may be performed regularly or irregularly. In particular, if the appearing / disappearing operation is irregularly performed, the driver can more reliably sense the change in the tactile sensation.

(13) Instead of the method of the embodiment in which the pin 10 is projected from the surface of the grip 7, for example, a method of vibrating the entire grip 7 when an abnormality occurs may be adopted. Alternatively, a method may be used in which a plurality of electrodes are provided on the surface of the grip 7 and an electric shock is applied to the driver's hand by passing an electric current between the electrodes when an abnormality occurs. Further, a method in which a heater is provided in the grip 7 and the heater is heated when an abnormality occurs (that is, a change in tactile sensation due to temperature rise) is made difficult to operate. In addition, grip 7
It is also possible to provide a through-hole in the and to eject air from the through-hole when an abnormality occurs. The tactile sensation of the grip 7 is changed by the above-described methods, and this change is sensed by the user through the tactile sensation of the hand. When vibrating the entire grip 7, it is preferable to make the vibration irregular in order to distinguish it from external regular noise.

(14) The feel of the grip 7 is changed by turning the grip 7 around the rod 8, changing the thickness of the grip 7, changing the hardness of the grip 7, and making the surface of the grip 7 wrinkled. You may let me.

(15) The operating lever 6 of the construction machine shown in the embodiment and the steering wheel 20 of an automobile etc. shown in another example.
Besides, the alarm device W may be installed on the operation member of various machines such as a handle grip of a motorcycle or the like, a rudder of a ship or the like, a control wheel of an aircraft or a rocket, or the like. Further, the alarm device W may be installed not only in the above-mentioned large-scale devices but also in, for example, a medical auxiliary device for a physically handicapped person (for example, a walking machine, a wheelchair, a cane, etc.). When the tactile alarm device W is used as a medical auxiliary device, even if the user is a visually impaired person, a blind person, or a deaf person, a change in the situation (for example, the presence of an obstacle) can be surely made through the tactile sense. Can be sensed.

Here, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-mentioned embodiments will be listed below together with their effects. (1) The alarm device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of pins are provided. With this configuration, the user can be more surely aware of the occurrence of abnormalities such as machines and instruments.

(2) The alarm device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of pins are provided and each pin is associated with a different kind of abnormality. With this configuration, a plurality of types of abnormalities can be detected.

The technical terms used in this specification are defined as follows. "Operating member: A member that is gripped by the hand of a user who operates various machines and instruments during use, such as an operating lever, a steering wheel, a steering wheel, and a rudder."

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the inventions of claims 1 and 2, since the tactile sensation of a specific portion changes at a predetermined time, a situation of use such as occurrence of abnormalities in machinery, equipment, etc. It is possible to make the user surely and quickly notice the change in

According to the third aspect of the invention, the solenoid and the pin can be arranged in a non-series manner.
An alarm device can be installed in a narrow space. Claim 4
According to the invention described in (1), since it is possible to sense not only by the sense of touch but also by the visual sense, it is possible for the user to be more sure to notice the change in the usage situation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a normal state of an alarm device of an embodiment installed on an operation lever, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state when the abnormal state occurs.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a positional relationship between a driver's seat and an operation lever.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing another example of an alarm device installed on the steering of an automobile.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 ... Operation lever as a specific part (operation member), 9 ...
Cylindrical opening, 10 ... Pin as notification means, 14 ... Solenoid, 20 ... Steering as specific part (operating member), W ... Alarm device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B66F 9/24 Z 7515-3F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tactile sensation of a specific part where a user contacts a part of the body when using the machine / device when the usage condition of the machine / device changes. An alarm device provided with a notification means for changing. 2. An operation member to be gripped by a user when using a machine / appliance or the like so that a part of the operation member is projected from the surface of the operation member when an abnormality occurs in the equipment / machine or the like. An alarm device provided with a notification means for changing the tactile sensation of a member. 3. The informing means is a pin slidably provided in a cylindrical opening of the operation member, and a tip portion of the pin excites a solenoid provided inside the operation member. Sometimes, it protrudes from the surface of the operating member.
The alarm device according to item 1. 4. The alarm device according to claim 3, wherein at least the color tone of the tip portion of the pin is more noticeable than the color tone of the operation member.