JPH09171084A - Method and device for weather detection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable surely discriminating between raining state and snowing state from the beginning of snowfall by heating an insulator of one pair of detectors close to each other to a specific temperature higher than the ice point and cooling an insulator of the other pair of detectors to a specific temperature lower than the ice point and comparing the two measured resistance values. SOLUTION: A heater 3c is arranged at the lower part of an insulation base of the first detector 3 and by sending electric current to this, the insulation base is heated to a specific temperature higher than the ice point. A thermoelectric cooling element 4c is arranged at the lower part of an insulation base of the other second detector 4 and by sending electric current to this, the insulation base is cooled to a specific temperature lower than the ice point. The electric currents flowing between both pairs of electrodes of the detectors are taken out as measured resistance values by way of a converter 5b, both of which are supplied to a processor 5c to compare. By this, whether the weather is state of no rain and no snow, raining state, snowing state or in the state rain or snow stopped to fall, can be exactly discriminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting whether the weather is raining, snowing, or neither rain nor snow, for example, For operation control of load heating device,
The present invention relates to a weather detection method and device useful for road information of mountainous highways and maintenance of mountain overhead power transmission lines.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are roughly two methods for automatically detecting weather information such as rainfall and snowfall. One is an electrode method that uses fluctuations in resistance between electrodes, and the other is radiation of light. -It is an optical system that uses reflection. FIG. 3 shows an example of the electrode type weather detecting device. This device is composed of a pair of comb-shaped electrodes 30b, 30b, an electrode section 20 in which pair insulation is performed with an insulating material 30a such as epoxy resin, an outside air temperature sensor 6, and a control section 7. Then, the electrode unit 20 is installed outdoors, and whether or not water adheres to the electrode unit 20 is detected by a change in electric resistance between the electrodes 30b and 30b, and rain or snow is taken into consideration by taking temperature information from the outside air temperature sensor 6 into consideration. It is to determine whether or not. Further, FIG. 4 shows an example of the above-mentioned optical weather detection device. This apparatus includes a probe unit 8 including a radiation unit 8a that emits light such as an infrared beam and a light receiving unit 8b that receives the reflected light.
And a control unit 9. Then, the probe unit 8 is installed outdoors, and whether or not the light emitted from the radiation unit 8a is reflected by the presence of rain or snow and detected by the light receiving unit 8b, that is, the presence or absence of reflected light and further reflection It also decides whether it is rain or snow, taking into consideration the intensity of light.

However, in the above-mentioned electrode type, there are cases in which it is not possible to detect the rainfall state or the snowfall state very accurately. That is, whether the electrode unit 30 is wet or not and the temperature information of the outside air temperature sensor 6 are used to determine whether the rainfall is snowing or not. It makes a wrong decision whether it is snow or snow. Further, the above-mentioned optical system has a drawback that it basically becomes expensive because it employs a light emitting and receiving mechanism for light, and it also reacts to floating objects such as dust because it uses reflection of light. There is a drawback that it malfunctions by doing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can reliably detect a snowfall state from the beginning of snowfall, and can accurately determine whether it is raining or snowing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a weather detection method and an apparatus therefor capable of performing the above-mentioned operation and determining whether it is not raining or snowing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weather detecting method in which two detectors each having an electrode pair partially exposed at an upper portion and an insulator between the electrodes are arranged close to each other. In addition to heating the inter-insulator of the detector to a specified temperature higher than the freezing point, cool the inter-insulator of the other detector to a specified temperature below the freezing point and measure the resistance between the electrodes of both detectors. This is a method of detecting the weather by comparing both measured resistance values. The weather detection device according to claim 2 has an electrode pair, a part of which is exposed at the upper part, and an inter-pair insulator thereof, and a heating means for heating the inter-pair insulator to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point. A second detector having a first detector, an electrode pair partially exposed on the ground surface, and an insulator between the electrodes, and a cooling means for cooling the insulator between the electrodes to a predetermined temperature below freezing point.
And a processing means for measuring the resistance between the electrodes of both detectors and comparing the measured resistance values to detect the weather.

According to the method of detecting the weather of the first aspect, two detectors each having an electrode pair partially exposed on the upper side and an insulator between the pair are arranged close to each other, and one of the detectors is The pair insulation is heated to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point, and the pair insulation of the other detector is cooled to a predetermined temperature below the freezing point, and the resistance between the electrodes of both detectors is measured. Since the road surface condition is detected by comparing the values, the snow on the inter-insulator of the other detector is prevented from melting at the beginning of snowfall, and the snow on the inter-insulator of one detector is prevented. Since it melts, it can be accurately detected with almost no time delay that the snowfall state is present based on the resistance values measured by both detectors. Further, at the time of rainfall, the rainwater does not freeze because it flows on the pair of insulators of the other detector. Of course, there is no risk of freezing rainwater on the pair of insulators of one detector. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the rainfall state based on the resistance values measured by the two detectors. Furthermore, when there is neither rain nor snow, there is no water on the inter-insulator of both detectors, so it is possible to confirm that neither rain nor snow is present based on the resistance value measured by both detectors. It can be detected accurately. As a result, rainfall and snowfall can be detected accurately at an early stage, which is effective for energy-saving control of road heating, and snowmelt at the time of snowfall can be started early. If the weather detection device according to claim 2, the first
The pair-wise insulator of the detector is heated to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point by the heating means, and the pair-wise insulator of the second detector is cooled to the predetermined temperature below the freezing point by the cooling means. Then, the processing means measures the inter-electrode resistance of both detectors and compares the measured resistance values to detect the weather. Therefore, at the beginning of snowfall, the snow on the pair of insulators of the other detector is prevented from melting, and the snow on the pair of insulators of one detector is melted. It is possible to accurately detect a snowfall state with almost no time delay. In addition, at the time of rainfall, rainwater is flowing on the paired insulator of the other detector,
This rainwater does not freeze. Of course, there is no risk of freezing rainwater on the pair of insulators of one detector. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the rainfall state based on the resistance values measured by the two detectors. Furthermore, when there is neither rain nor snow, there is no water on the inter-insulator of both detectors, so it is possible to confirm that neither rain nor snow is present based on the resistance value measured by both detectors. It can be detected accurately. As a result, rainfall and snowfall can be detected accurately at an early stage, which is effective for energy-saving control of road heating, and snowmelt at the time of snowfall can be started early.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the weather detecting device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. In this weather detecting device, a first detector 3 and a second detector 4 are arranged on each inclined surface of a mountain-shaped cover member 2 which is arranged on a road surface or the like via a pillar member (not shown). The first detector 3 includes a pair of electrodes 3 having an appropriate shape such as a comb tooth on an insulating substrate 3a made of epoxy resin or the like.
b and 3b are formed so as to face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, and a heater 3c having an appropriate shape such as a flat plate is arranged below the insulating substrate 3a, and the heater 3c is energized by a heater power source 3d. At least electrode 3
a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point of the insulating substrate 3a between b and 3b,
For example, it can be heated to + 5 ° C to + 10 ° C. The second detector 4 is provided with a pair of electrodes 4b, 4b having an appropriate shape such as a comb tooth on an insulating substrate 4a made of epoxy resin or the like.
Are arranged to face each other at a predetermined distance, and a thermoelectric cooling element (for example, a Peltier effect element module) 4c having an appropriate shape such as a flat plate is arranged below the insulating substrate 4a, and a cooling element power source 4d is provided. By energizing the thermoelectric cooling element 4c by means of at least the electrode 4
The insulating substrate 4a between b and 4b can be cooled to a predetermined temperature below the freezing point, for example, 0 ° C to -5 ° C. Further, a radiator 4e such as a stack fin is arranged so as to contact the lower surface of the thermoelectric cooling element 4c. Also, AC power supply 5a
AC voltage from the pair of electrodes 3b, 3 via the converter 5b
b, 4b, 4b applied to both electrode pairs 3b, 3b, 4
By extracting the current flowing between b and 4b as a measured resistance value via the converter 5b and supplying both measured resistance values to the processing unit 5c, it is determined whether the weather is not raining or snowing, or a raining state. It outputs a signal indicating whether it is snowing, or when it is raining or snow has stopped. Specifically, when both measured resistance values are in the order of MΩ, a signal indicating that neither rain nor snow is falling is output, and when both measured resistance values are in the order of KΩ, it is in the rainy state. And outputs a signal indicating that the snow is falling when the resistance measured by the first detector 3 is in the order of KΩ and the resistance measured by the second detector 4 is in the order of MΩ, When the resistance value measured by the first detector 3 is in the order of MΩ and the resistance value measured by the second detector 4 is in the order of KΩ, a signal indicating that rain or snow has stopped is output. The determination of KΩ order or MΩ order can be easily achieved based on, for example, whether the measured resistance value is 200 KΩ or less. Therefore, the AC power supply 5a, the converter 5b, and the processing unit 5c constitute a processing means. Electrode 3 of first detector 3
The pair of insulators (corresponding part of the insulating substrate 3a) between b and 3b are heated to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point, and the pair of insulators (electrodes of the insulating substrate 4a) between the electrodes 4b and 4b of the second detector 4 are heated. (Applicable part)
Is cooled to a predetermined temperature below the freezing point, and in this state, an AC voltage is applied between the electrodes 3b, 3b, 4b, 4b of the two detectors 3, 4 by the AC power source 5a and the converter 5b to generate the electrodes 3b, 3b, 4b. , 4b is output through the converter 5b and supplied to the processing unit 5c. Therefore, when the weather is neither rain nor snow, the electrodes 3b, 3b, 4b, 4b of both detectors 3, 4 are also in a dry state, and the measured resistance values are both on the order of MΩ. When it is raining, the electrodes 3b, 3b, 4 of both detectors 3, 4 are
Water is present between b and 4b, and the measured resistance values are both on the order of KΩ. In the case of a snowfall, since the water is present between the electrodes 3b and 3b of the first detector 3, the measured resistance value is on the order of KΩ and the electrode 4 of the second detector 4
Since snow does not melt between b and 4b, the measured resistance value is on the order of MΩ. When the rain or snow has stopped, the electrodes 3b and 3b of the first detector 3 are in a dry state, so that the measured resistance value is on the order of MΩ, and the electrodes 4b and 4b of the second detector 4 are connected to each other. Since water is present, the measured resistance value is on the order of KΩ. Therefore, in the processing unit 5c, the resistance value measured by both detectors 3 and 4 is MΩ.
It is possible to determine whether it is the order or the KΩ order and output the corresponding signal. As a result, it can be accurately discriminated whether it is rainfall, snowfall, or fine weather. For example, the road heating system can be operated only when necessary, and energy saving and effective road surface heating can be achieved. Especially when detecting snowfall,
Since the presence of snow is allowed from the beginning in the detector 4 without fear of melting, it is possible to obtain a measured resistance value corresponding to the snowfall state, and it is possible to quickly detect the snowfall state after the start of snowfall. As a result, the road heating system can heat the road surface from the beginning of snowfall, and the road heating system can effectively melt snow. In addition, accurate snowfall information can be provided to mountainous highways and the like, and it becomes possible to estimate the snow accretion state on the mountainous overhead power transmission line. In order to further improve the detection information of the weather detection device described above, the polarity conversion relay 40 that can reverse the power supply polarity to the thermoelectric cooling element (Peltier element module) 4c built in the second detector 4 is provided as a cooling element. It is preferably provided in the circuit of the power supply 4d. By reversing the polarity, the cooling surface can be switched to the heating surface, which is advantageous when the surface of the second detector 4 is quickly dried. For example, when snowing is over, the space between the electrodes 3b, 3b of the first detector 3 is quickly dried by the heater 3c, but the second detector 4
Since the electrodes 4b and 4b are cooled surfaces, high speed drying cannot be performed. If the electrodes 4b, 4b are wet, the next snowfall may not be accurately detected. Therefore, the first detector 3
When the end of snowfall is detected by the processing unit 5c, a signal is issued from the processing unit 5c to operate the polarity conversion relay 40, the cooling surface of the cooling element 4c is inverted to the heating surface, and the electrodes 4b and 4b of the second detector 4 are activated.
The spaces are quickly dried to prepare for the next snowfall. After the drying between the electrodes 4b, 4b is completed (which can be found from the resistance between the electrodes), the relay 40 is operated again to restore the polarity to restore the temperature between the electrodes 4b, 4b to a predetermined temperature below the freezing point. Is. In addition, although the case where the cover member 2 is arranged in a state of being floated from the ground surface by the pillar member has been described above, it goes without saying that the cover member 2 may be directly arranged on the ground surface.

According to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to prevent the snow on the paired insulator of the other detector from melting at the beginning of snowfall, and to melt the snow on the paired insulator of one of the detectors. In addition to being able to accurately detect a snowfall state based on the resistance values measured by both detectors with almost no time delay, it is also possible to accurately detect whether it is raining or not raining or snowing. It has the unique effect of being able to do it. The invention of claim 2 prevents the snow on the pair of insulators of the other detector from melting at the beginning of snowfall, and melts the snow on the pair of insulators of one of the detectors, so that both detectors The unique effect of being able to accurately detect that it is snowing based on the measured resistance value with almost no time delay, and also to accurately detect whether it is raining or not raining or snowing. Play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a weather detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of an electrode type weather detection device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of an optical weather detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 1st detector 4 2nd detector 3a, 4a Insulation board 3b, 4b Electrode 3c Heater 4c Thermoelectric cooling element 5a AC power supply 5b Converter 5c Processing part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electrode pair (3b), a part of which is exposed at the top.
(3b) (4b) (4b) and its pair insulator (3
a) Two detectors (3) and (4) having (4a) are arranged in close proximity to each other, and the pair insulator (3a) of one of the detectors (3) is heated to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point. While heating, the paired insulator (4a) of the other detector (4) is cooled to a predetermined temperature below the freezing point, the interelectrode resistance of both detectors (3) and (4) is measured, and both measured resistances are measured. A weather detection method characterized by detecting the weather by comparing values. 2. An electrode pair (3b), a part of which is exposed at the top.
A first detector (3b) and its paired insulator (3a), and a heating means (3c) for heating the paired insulator (3a) to a predetermined temperature higher than the freezing point (3c). 3) and a pair of electrodes (4b) (4b) partially exposed at the top and an insulator (4a) between the electrodes, and the insulator (4a) between the electrodes.
The inter-electrode resistances of the second detector (4) and the second detector (3) (4) having a cooling means (4c) for cooling the above to a predetermined temperature below freezing point are measured, and both measured resistance values are compared. A weather detecting device comprising processing means (5a) (5b) (5c) for detecting the weather accordingly.