JP4600142B2 - Hardness measurement device on snow - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring hardness on a snow surface such as a snowy road surface, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for measuring hardness on snow that can continuously check changes in hardness on snow.

  For example, since the performance of a snow tire is affected by the hardness on snow, the hardness on snow on a snowy road surface is measured when performing a performance test. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for measuring the hardness on the snow surface, an apparatus using a hardness measuring member that expands in an arrowhead shape is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The hardness measurement member expanded in the shape of an arrowhead is pushed from above into the snow surface, and the hardness of the snow measurement member is determined by measuring the amount of subsidence that the hardness measurement member sinks onto the snow surface.

The measurement method described above is useful for measuring the hardness on snow at each point in the measurement area, but should be used when it is desired to examine how the hardness on snow continuously changes in the measurement area. I can't.
US Pat. No. 5,831,161

An object of the present invention is to provide a snow hardness measuring TeiSo location capable of examining the change in snow hardness continuously.

The on-snow hardness measuring device of the present invention that achieves the above object is an upper frame that connects upper ends of side plates that are erected on the front and rear sides of a pair of left and right side plates (31, 31) that can slide on a snow surface (7). Support members (35, 35) for supporting the hardness measuring member (3), which is a disk having a rectangular cross section, so that the center axis of rotation is in the horizontal direction are respectively hung on (33a, 33a). The upper support portion (35a) is fixed to the upper frame (33a) and extends vertically, and the upper support portion (35a) is always lowered by a spring (41). A lower support portion (35b) having a lower end supporting block (36) that is slidably inserted while being urged to the lower end and is connected to the rotation center shaft, and between the upper frames (33a, 33a) Above the center arranged in Non-contact sensors (43A, 43B) are respectively installed on the front and back of the lower surface of the frame (33b), and the non-contact sensors (43A) are placed on the upper frame (33a, 33a) and the central upper frame (33b). , 43B), and a calculation means (45) connected to the snow surface (7) detected by the non-contact sensor (43A) installed on the front side (m). And the distance (n) to the bottom surface (21a) of the ridge (21) formed after passing the hardness measuring member (3) detected by the non-contact sensor (43B) installed on the rear side. The difference (nm) is calculated, and the calculation result is converted into snow hardness and displayed on the display unit (47) .

  According to the present invention described above, the hardness measuring member supported so as to be movable up and down is pressed against the snow surface, the pressed hardness measuring member is continuously moved on the snow surface, and is continuously moved. Since the hardness measurement member measures the sinking amount that has sunk on the snow surface, it is possible to continuously check the change in hardness on the snow.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show a reference example of the on-snow hardness measuring apparatus of the present invention. This on-snow hardness measuring apparatus 1A includes a hardness measuring member 3 for measuring the hardness on snow, and the hardness measuring member 3. A supporting rod 5 for supporting and a pressing means 9 for pressing the hardness measuring member 3 against the snow surface 7 are provided.

  The hardness measuring member 3 is constituted by a disk having a rectangular cross section, and an outer peripheral surface 3 a thereof is a surface that comes into contact with and presses the snow surface 7. As an example of such a disk, for example, an outer diameter of 170 mm, a thickness (width of the outer peripheral surface 3a) of 5.5 mm, and a weight of 1.5 kg can be cited. The disk is not limited to a rectangular cross section, and may have another cross section. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, a disk having a hexagonal shape, a rhombus shape, an oval shape, or an oval shape in cross section can be preferably exemplified. It is better to select from these disks according to snow quality.

  A support rod 5 extends vertically, and a support block 11 is fixed to the lower end thereof. A hardness measuring member 3 is supported on the support block 11 via a bearing 13 so as to be rotatable with the rotation center axis x as a horizontal direction.

  A pressing means 9 is provided at the upper end of the support rod 5. The pressing means 9 includes a weight 9A, and the weight 9A is detachably attached to the upper end portion of the support rod 5. Due to the load of the weight 9A, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the hardness measuring member 3 can press the snow surface 7 with a predetermined pressure, so that the hardness measuring member 3 sinks to the snow surface 7 as shown in FIG. To do.

  A ring body 15 that supports the support rod 5 so as to be slidable up and down is installed at an intermediate portion of the support rod 5, and a gripping rod 19 having a gripping portion 17 that is gripped by a measurer is fixed to the ring body 15. ing. By attaching the support rod 5 to the ring body 15 slidably up and down, the hardness measuring member 3 supported on the lower end side of the support rod 5 can be moved up and down.

  Hereinafter, a method for measuring the hardness on snow using the above-described snow hardness measuring apparatus 1A will be described.

  First, the measurer holds the gripping part 17 and places the measuring device 1 </ b> A on the snow surface 7 so that the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the hardness measurement member 3 contacts the snow surface 7. At this time, under the load of the weight 9 </ b> A, the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the hardness measurement member 3 presses the snow surface 7, and the hardness measurement member 3 sinks into the snow surface 7.

  In this state, the measurer pulls the measuring device 1A and moves it on the snow surface 7. As a result, the hardness measuring member 3 pressing the snow surface 7 continuously moves on the snow surface 7 while rotating, and the hardness measuring member 3 sinks on the snow surface 7 by the rotational movement of the hardness measuring member 3. The ridges 21 (see FIG. 4) corresponding to the amount are continuously formed. By successively measuring the depth d of the ridges 21 that are continuously formed (for example, the measurer uses a measuring device), the hardness measuring member 3 that has moved continuously sinks to the snow surface 7. The amount of settlement is measured. The hardness on snow is obtained from the obtained amount of settlement using a correlation table between the amount of settlement and snow hardness prepared in advance.

  Accordingly, it is possible to continuously check the change in hardness on the snow surface 7. As a result, for example, there is an advantage that the hardness of the snow surface can be stabilized by feeding back the hardness information on the snow to the road surface maintenance vehicle that maintains the snow surface during the test of the snow tire.

Figure 5 shows an implementation form of snow hardness measuring apparatus of the present invention, the snow hardness measuring apparatus 1B includes a sled plate 31 capable sliding the left and right on the snow surface 7, the upper sled plate 31 of the right and left A frame 33 is erected. The left and right side plates 31 are detachably attached to the frame 33 so that the side plates 31 having dimensions according to the snow quality can be attached to the frame 33. Left and right support members 35 for rotatably supporting the hardness measuring member 3 are vertically provided from left and right upper frame portions 33a extending in front and rear of the frame 33.

  Each support member 35 has a cylindrical upper support portion 35a that is fixed to the upper frame portion 33a and extends vertically, and an upper portion is inserted into the upper support portion 35a so as to be slidable up and down, and extends vertically. It is comprised from the lower side support part 35b. Support blocks 36 are fixed to the lower ends of the lower support portions 35b of the left and right support members 35, respectively. A rotating shaft (not shown) is rotatably attached between bearings (not shown) fixed to the support block 36, and the hardness measuring member 3 described above is fixed to the rotating shaft.

  A spring (biasing means) 41 is installed between a flange 37 projecting from the lower end of the upper support portion 35a and a flange 39 projecting from an intermediate portion of the lower support portion 35b. The spring 41 can press the hardness measuring member 3 downward and press it against the snow surface 7. In this embodiment, the spring 41 constitutes the pressing means 9. From the viewpoint of cost, the spring 41 can be preferably used as the pressing means 9, but instead of the spring 41, the hardness measuring member 3 is urged downward by a fluid pressure such as hydraulic pressure or air pressure to be pressed against the snow surface 7. A cylinder-type structure made possible may be adopted.

  A central upper frame portion 33b disposed between the left and right upper frame portions 33a and positioned above the hardness measuring member 3 is configured to detect the amount of subsidence that the hardness measuring member 3 sinks to the snow surface 7. Contact sensors 43A and 43B are provided at the front and rear.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the non-contact sensor 43A installed on the front side of the central upper frame part 33b detects the distance m to the snow surface 7 before the hardness measuring member 3 passes, and the central upper frame A non-contact sensor 43B installed on the rear side of the portion 33b detects the distance n to the bottom surface 21a of the flange 21 to which the sinking hardness measuring member 3 has moved (passed). As the non-contact sensors 43A and 43B, any type such as an optical type, a radio wave type, and a sound wave type may be used as long as the distance can be detected.

  Arithmetic means 45 to which the non-contact sensors 43A and 43B are connected is provided on the upper frame portions 33a and 33b. The calculating means 45 calculates the difference (nm) in the distance using the detection signals from the non-contact sensors 43A and 43B. This difference is the depth d of the hail 21, that is, the sinking amount of the hardness measuring member 3 that sinks to the snow surface 7.

  Correlation data between the amount of settlement and the hardness on snow is input to the calculation means 45 in advance, and the obtained value of the amount of settlement is converted to a value of hardness on snow and displayed on the display unit 47. Also, the calculated subsidence value and snow hardness value are sequentially stored in a storage means (not shown).

  The on-snow hardness measuring apparatus 1B slides and moves on the snow surface 7 when the measurer presses the frame 33 fixed to the base plate 31, but may be configured to run on an engine.

  In the above-described snow hardness measuring apparatus 1B, when the apparatus is arranged on the snow surface 7, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the hardness measuring member 3 pressed by the spring 41 presses the snow surface 7, and the hardness measuring member 3 is the snow surface. Sink into 7. When the measurer pushes the frame 33 fixed to the base plate 31, the on-snow hardness measuring device 1 </ b> B moves, and the hardness measuring member 3 that presses the snow surface 7 thereby rotates continuously on the snow surface 7. Moving. Due to the rotational movement of the hardness measuring member 3, ridges 21 corresponding to the amount of the hardness measuring member 3 sunk on the snow surface 7 are continuously formed.

  The detection signal of the distance m from the non-contact type sensor 43A to the snow surface 7 where the hardness measuring member 3 does not move is the distance from the non-contact type sensor 43B to the bottom surface 21a of the kite 21 to which the sinking hardness measuring member 3 has moved. The n detection signals are sequentially input to the calculation means 45, and the sinking amount of the continuously moving hardness measuring member 3 and its hardness on snow are sequentially calculated. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously check the change in hardness on the snow surface 7.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when measuring the hardness on a snow surface 7 having a gradient, in the on-snow hardness measuring apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 1, the load of the weight 9A applied to the hardness measuring member 3 is flat. Since it is different from the measurement case, it is not possible to measure the snow hardness with high accuracy. However, in the snow hardness measuring apparatus 1A shown in FIG. Since the pressing force hardly changes even on the snow surface 7 having a gradient, the hardness can be measured with high accuracy even on the snow surface 7 having a gradient.

  When the inclination angle increases and the weight of the hardness measuring member 3 affects the measurement (the weight of the hardness measuring member 3 applied to the snow surface 7 decreases), the force of the spring 41 can be adjusted. It is good to configure. Preferably, an inclination angle measuring means for measuring the inclination angle of the snow surface 7 is installed, and the angle detected by the inclination angle measuring means is configured such that the force of the spring 41 can be automatically adjusted (the length of the spring 41 is automatically adjusted). It is preferable to calculate the correction value by the calculation means 45 based on the signal and automatically adjust the force of the spring 41 using the correction value. Accordingly, the hardness measurement member 3 can always press the snow surface 7 with a constant force F, whether it is a flat snow surface 7 or a snow surface 7 having a gradient.

  In the present invention, the hardness measuring member 3 can be preferably a disk as described above, but is not limited thereto, and a spherical or roller-shaped rotating body is used depending on the snow quality of the snow surface 7 to be measured. It is also possible to use rod-like bodies such as rods, round bars, and square bars.

It is a front view which shows the reference example of the hardness measurement apparatus on snow of this invention. It is a side view of the on-snow hardness measuring apparatus of FIG. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the disk used for the member for hardness measurement, respectively. It is sectional drawing of the cage | basket formed with the disk. The implementation form of snow hardness measuring apparatus of the present invention is a side view showing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the effect | action of a non-contact-type sensor. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the hardness is measured on a snow surface with a gradient in the on-snow hardness measuring apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B Snow hardness measuring device 3 Hardness measuring member 7 Snow surface 9 Pressing means 9A Weight 21 ４１ 41 Spring (pressing means)
41A, 43B Non-contact sensor 45 Calculation means d Depth

Claims (3)

Discs having a rectangular cross section on upper frames (33a, 33a) that connect upper ends of side plates erected on the front and rear sides of a pair of left and right side plates (31, 31) that can slide on the snow surface (7) Support members (35, 35) for supporting the hardness measuring member (3) consisting of:
The support member (35) is urged downward by a cylindrical upper support portion (35a) fixed to the upper frame (33a) and extending vertically, and a spring (41) on the upper support portion (35a). A lower support portion (35b) having a lower end of a support block (36) that is slidably inserted while being connected to the rotation center shaft,
Non-contact sensors (43A, 43B) are respectively installed before and after the lower surface of the central upper frame (33b) disposed between the upper frames (33a, 33a), and the upper frames (33a, 33a) and Arithmetic means (45) connected to the non-contact sensor (43A, 43B) is provided on the central upper frame (33b),
The calculation means (45) includes a distance (m) to the snow surface (7) detected by the non-contact sensor (43A) installed on the front side, and the non-contact sensor ( 43B) calculates the difference (n−m) from the distance (n) to the bottom surface (21a) of the ridge (21) formed after passing the hardness measuring member (3) detected by 43B). A device for measuring hardness on snow, which is converted into hardness on snow and displayed on the display unit (47) . The inclination angle measuring means for measuring the inclination angle of the snow surface (7) is provided, and the force of the spring (41) is adjusted based on the inclination angle detected by the inclination angle measuring means. Hardness measurement device on snow . The on-snow hardness measuring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the on-snow hardness measuring apparatus is self-propelled .

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