JP7795437B2 - Field Water Management System - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act On September 15, 2020, Kubota Chemix Co., Ltd. installed the "Field Water Management System" invented by Iuchi Tomoaki, Hirao Kazuhiro, Yotsumoto Tomoharu, and Ujiie Mitsuharu in Asahimasa, Higashiasahikawa-cho, Asahikawa City, Hokkaido. On May 25, 2021, Kubota Chemix Co., Ltd. explained the "Field Water Management System" invented by Iuchi Tomoaki, Hirao Kazuhiro, Yotsumoto Tomoharu, and Ujiie Mitsuharu at an online briefing hosted by the Hokkaido Prefectural Agriculture Department.

This invention relates to a field water management system, and in particular to a field water management system that includes, for example, a water supply control device and an electric actuator that drives the device, and that manages water in a field.

An example of a conventional field water management system is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism of a water supply control device is installed on top of a water supply control device such as a water tap or a water outlet.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-103099

In the technology of Patent Document 1, the weight and height (vertical length) of the electric actuator are relatively large, so there is a need to improve the ease of installation when attaching it to the water supply control device. Furthermore, if the technology of Patent Document 1 is applied to areas with heavy snowfall (so-called heavy snow areas), there is a risk that the electric actuator will be damaged by the weight of the snow when the amount of snow increases. For this reason, the current solution is to remove the electric actuator from the water supply control device during periods such as fallow farming in winter. However, removing the electric actuator (and subsequent installation) is labor-intensive, and it is also necessary to secure indoor space to store the electric actuator.

Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel field water management system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a field water management system that reduces the labor required to attach and detach an electric actuator to a water supply control device.

A first invention is a field water management system that manages water in a field, and includes a water supply control device with a displacement mechanism that controls the supply of water to or drainage from the field, a manhole with a canopy and in which the water supply control device is provided, and an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device, and the electric actuator includes a drive unit having a drive section that drives the displacement mechanism and a first housing that houses the drive section, and a control device having a control section that controls the operation of the electric actuator and a second housing that houses the control section, the drive unit and the control device are separated and the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device so that the drive unit is located inside the manhole at a height position below the top surface of the manhole, and the drive unit is covered from above by a canopy .

In a first invention, the field water management system is a field facility that manages water in the field, and includes a water supply control device such as a water tap and a water outlet, a canopy-equipped manhole that houses the water supply control device, and an electric actuator. The electric actuator includes a drive device having a drive unit that drives the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device, and a control device having a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator. In this first invention, the drive device and control device of the electric actuator are separated and separate, and the drive device is attached to the water supply control device so that it fits inside the manhole.

According to the first invention, the drive unit and control unit of the electric actuator are separated, and only the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device. This allows for the attachment section to be made smaller and lighter, reducing the labor required for attaching and removing the water supply control device. Furthermore, by placing the drive unit within the manhole, damage to the drive unit can be prevented, eliminating the need to remove the drive unit during periods such as winter when the field is fallow.

The second invention is dependent on the first invention, and the manhole is provided on the ridge of the field to which the field water management system is applied.

The third invention is dependent on the second invention, and the upper surface of the manhole is located below the upper surface of the ridge on which the manhole is located or at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the ridge.

According to the third invention, the manholes do not protrude significantly from the top surface of the ridge, preventing accidents such as agricultural machinery such as tractors hitting the manholes.

A fourth invention is dependent on any one of the first to third inventions, and the control device is provided inside the manhole alongside the drive device.

A fifth invention is dependent on any one of the first to third inventions, and the control device is provided inside a second manhole provided separately from the manhole housing the water supply control device.

A sixth invention is dependent on any one of the first to third inventions, and the control device is provided on the outer surface of the manhole at a height position below the top surface of the manhole.

A seventh invention is according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the first housing includes a side wall and a top wall sealing an upper portion of the side wall, and the side wall and the top wall have an airtight structure.

According to the seventh aspect, even if water overflows into the manhole and the drive unit is submerged, water can be prevented from entering the drive unit's housing, thereby preventing components placed inside the housing from becoming wet.

The eighth invention is dependent on the fourth invention and further includes a partition plate provided between the drive unit and the control unit.

According to the eighth invention, it is possible to prevent water splashes from directly hitting the control device when, for example, water is supplied to the field from the water tap.

A ninth invention is dependent on the first invention, and the electric actuator includes a solar cell panel, the solar cell panel is provided inside the box, and the canopy has an opening formed in a position corresponding to the solar cell panel.

A tenth invention is dependent on the first invention, in which the electric actuator includes a solar panel, and the solar panel is mounted on the canopy.

An eleventh invention is dependent on the first invention, and the electric actuator includes a solar panel, which is provided outside the manhole.

A twelfth invention is dependent on the eleventh invention, in which the solar cell panel is mounted on the outer surface of the box at a height position below the top surface of the box.

The thirteenth invention is dependent on any one of the ninth to twelfth inventions, and the solar panel is mounted via a structure that can be sunk downward.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, even if the solar panel is run over by the tires of a tractor or the like, damage to the solar panel can be appropriately prevented.

A fourteenth invention is dependent on any one of the ninth to twelfth inventions, and the solar panel is provided so that at least one of the installation angle and installation direction can be adjusted.

According to the fourteenth invention, sunlight can be more appropriately irradiated onto the solar panel, and dust and other particles can be prevented from accumulating on the upper surface of the solar panel.

A fifteenth invention is dependent on the fourth invention, in which the control device includes an operation panel that accepts manual operation by a user, and the operation panel is arranged so that it can be raised from inside the manhole to a height position above the canopy.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the operability of the operation panel can be improved.

According to this invention, the drive unit and control unit of the electric actuator are separated, and only the drive unit is attached to the water supply control device. This allows for the attachment section to be made smaller and lighter, reducing the labor required for attaching and removing the water supply control device. Furthermore, by enclosing the drive unit within the manhole, damage to the drive unit can be prevented, eliminating the need to remove the drive unit during periods such as winter when farming is fallow.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments below, which proceeds with reference to the drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a field water management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of an electric actuator used in a field water management system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of a drive device provided in the electric actuator. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an adapter provided in the electric actuator. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a control device provided in the electric actuator. FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing the internal structure of the control device. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a solar panel provided on an electric actuator. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a solar cell panel. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electric actuator. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a water supply manhole in which an electric actuator is installed. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a water supply manhole in which an electric actuator is installed. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing a canopy provided on a water supply manhole. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a driving device for an electric actuator is attached to a water supply valve. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 15 is an illustrative view showing a state in which the solar cell panel of FIG. 14 is sunk into the water supply box. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 17 is an illustrative view showing a state in which the installation angle of the solar cell panel in FIG. 16 is changed. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 19 is an illustrative view showing a state in which the installation angle of the solar cell panel in FIG. 18 is changed. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 21 is an illustrative view showing a state in which the installation angle of the solar cell panel in FIG. 20 is changed. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 24 is an illustrative view showing a transparent cover provided on the upper surface of the solar cell panel of FIG. 23 . FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another example of the transparent cover. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing still another example of the transparent cover. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another example of an installation mode of the antenna. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing yet another example of an installation mode of the solar cell panel.

Referring to Figure 1, a field water management system 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "system 10") according to one embodiment of the present invention is a field facility that manages water in a field 100 by remote control or automatic control based on a pre-stored program. In this embodiment, the system includes a water supply faucet 12, which is an example of a water supply control device provided in the field 100, and a water outlet 14, which is another example of a water supply control device, and electric actuators 16 are attached to each of the water supply faucet 12 and the water outlet 14. Electric actuators 16 having the same structure are used to drive the displacement mechanisms of the water supply faucet 12 and the water outlet 14.

In this embodiment, the system 10 includes multiple cultivated areas separated by ridges 102. A water tap 12 and a water outlet 14 are installed in each cultivated area, and each electric actuator 16 attached to them is wirelessly connected to a repeater (parent unit) using a wireless communication method that complies with the specified low-power wireless standard (920 MHz band). Each electric actuator 16 is then wirelessly connected to a remote control device such as a user's smartphone, tablet, PDA, or PC via this repeater and a management server or the like installed on the network.

It is recommended that this wireless communication utilize cloud computing. For example, information acquired by each electric actuator 16 (information regarding the status of the water taps 12 and water outlets 14, such as the opening degree of the valve body 30 and the set position of the partition body 34, and sensor information such as the water level in the field 100 received from the sensor terminal 120) is transmitted as needed to and stored in a cloud server, which is an example of a management server. By accessing the cloud server from a remote control terminal, a user can check the information acquired by each electric actuator 16 and remotely operate each electric actuator 16 using the remote control terminal to manage the water in the field 100.

Although not shown in Figure 1, the field 100 is appropriately equipped with sensor terminals 120 (see Figure 9), such as water level sensors such as ultrasonic sensors that detect the field water level, temperature sensors that detect air and water temperatures, pressure sensors that detect air pressure, and soil moisture sensors that detect soil moisture. The sensor terminals 120 are connected to the electric actuator 16 via the third relay table 90 (described below) and other devices.

The water faucet 12 is a water supply device for controlling the water supply from the irrigation pipeline 106 to the cultivated area (field 100), and has a displacement mechanism including a valve stem and valve body. In this embodiment, a commonly used water faucet is used in which the valve stem and valve body move up and down as the valve stem rotates.

Briefly described with reference to Figures 1 and 13, the water faucet 12 comprises a cylindrical valve box 20. The upper half of the valve box 20 is covered by a dome-shaped splash guard cover 22, and multiple water outlets 24 are formed in a circumferential arrangement on the upper side wall of the valve box 20. A bearing 26 with an internal thread is provided at the upper end of the valve box 20. A valve stem 28 with an external thread is threadedly engaged with this bearing 26, passing through the splash guard cover 22. A disc-shaped valve element 30 with a water-stop rubber 30a on its underside is provided at the lower end of the valve stem 28. A valve seat 32 with a water passage port 32a is provided approximately in the center of the valve box 20. In this type of water faucet 12, when a rotational force about the axis is applied to the valve stem 28, the valve stem 28 and valve element 30 move up and down via a feed screw mechanism, opening and closing the water passage port 32a in the valve seat 32. That is, the water faucet 12 in this embodiment is equipped with a displacement mechanism including a valve body 30 that moves up and down as the valve stem 28 rotates.

As shown in Figure 1, this type of water faucet 12 is placed in a water supply manhole 104 (an example of a manhole) provided on the levee 102, and is attached to the downstream end of a branch pipe 108 that branches off from an irrigation pipeline 106 laid under the levee 102 (a farm road) and extends into the field 100. A drive unit 40 for the electric actuator 16 (described below) is attached above the water faucet 12, and the electric actuator 16 operates the displacement mechanism (valve stem 28 and valve body 30) of the water faucet 12.

On the other hand, the water outlet 14 is a drainage device for controlling drainage from the field 100, and has a displacement mechanism including a partition. In this embodiment, a water outlet 14 with a water level setting function is used. Simply put, the water outlet 14 has a cylindrical partition 34 whose upper opening functions as a drainage outlet, and by moving this partition 34 up and down, the drainage outlet can be adjusted to any height.

Such a water outlet 14 is placed in a drainage basin 110 (another example of a basin) provided on the levee 102, and is attached to the upstream end of a drainage pipe 114 that extends to the drainage channel 112. A drive unit 40 for an electric actuator 16 is attached to the water outlet 14, and the displacement mechanism (partition body 34) of the water outlet 14 is moved up and down by the electric actuator 16. However, when attaching the drive unit 40 for the electric actuator 16 to the water outlet 14, an adapter 36 is used that can convert the rotational force of the rotation shaft 60 (see Figure 3) of the drive unit 40 into a force in the vertical direction (axial direction) and transmit it to the partition body 34.

Next, the configuration of the electric actuator 16 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric actuator 16 includes a drive unit 40, a control unit 42, and a solar panel 44. In this embodiment, the drive unit 40 and the control unit 42 are separated and are electrically connected by a first relay cable 46, such as a flat cable. A mounting base 48 is connected to the lower end of the drive unit 40 for mounting the drive unit 40 to a water supply control device such as the water faucet 12. The height H (vertical length) of the drive unit 40, including the mounting base 48, is, for example, 289 mm.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 40 includes a first housing 52 (drive unit housing) that is cylindrical and made of synthetic resin, such as rigid polyvinyl chloride. In this embodiment, the first housing 52 includes a cylindrical side wall 52a and a disk-shaped top wall 52b that seals the upper end of the side wall 52a. The side wall 52a and the top wall 52b are fixed together by PVC welding, and the first housing 52 is formed so that the side wall 52a and the top wall 52b have an airtight structure. However, the side wall 52a and the top wall 52b can also be integrally molded to have an airtight structure by injection molding or the like. In this invention, "airtight" refers to maintaining airtightness and watertightness throughout the life of the first housing 52, to the extent that air does not leak from within the first housing 52 even if the first housing 52 is submerged in water.

To prevent water from entering the first housing 52, the entire first housing 52 needs to be airtight. However, as described below, the drive unit 40 includes a rotating shaft 60, and it is difficult to maintain an airtight structure over a long period of time at the portion (through portion) where a drive part such as the rotating shaft 60 protrudes from the first housing 52. Therefore, in this embodiment, the side wall 52a and the top wall 52b of the first housing 52 are configured to be airtight, and the rotating shaft 60 protrudes from the underside (bottom wall) of the first housing 52. As a result, even if the underside of the first housing 52 is not airtight, air cannot escape from the first housing 52 when water overflows into the water supply manhole 104 and the first housing 52 is submerged. This prevents water from entering the first housing 52 (i.e., air can be retained within the first housing 52). Therefore, even if water overflows into the water supply manhole 104 and the first housing 52 becomes submerged, the components placed inside the first housing 52 can be prevented from getting wet.

The first housing 52 houses a drive unit including a motor 54 and a main gear 56. These drive units are supported by a support frame 52c attached to the lower end of the side wall 52a. The motor 54 is driven by electricity stored in a storage battery 74 (described below). In this embodiment, a motor with an encoder is used as the motor 54. A small gear 58 is attached to the tip of the output shaft of the motor 54, and the main gear 56, coupled to this small gear 58, receives driving force from the motor 54 and rotates around its axis.

The main gear 56 is a double-boss gear, and a roughly cylindrical rotating shaft 60 is inserted into the shaft portion of the main gear 56. The lower end of this rotating shaft 60 is formed with a coupling portion 60a that connects to the upper end of the valve shaft 28 of the water supply valve 12. A key groove 56a extending along the axial direction is formed on the inner surface of the shaft portion of the main gear 56, and a sliding key 60b that fits into the key groove 56a is formed on the outer surface of the rotating shaft 60 so as to extend along the axial direction. This allows the rotating shaft 60 to rotate as the main gear 56 rotates, and is able to slide axially relative to the shaft portion of the main gear 56.

In addition, a first connection terminal 62 is provided at the lower end of the side wall 52a of the first housing 52 for connecting one end of the first relay cable 46 that is connected to the control device 42. This first connection terminal 62 is connected to the motor 54 via an internal cable 64 that includes a power line and a communication line.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the mounting base 48 includes a cylindrical portion 66 and a mounting portion 68 provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 66 and having a through hole 68a in the center. Although not shown, the cylindrical portion 66 has an inspection hatch formed therein for checking the operation of the rotating shaft 60 and other components and for performing maintenance work such as cleaning. The upper end of the cylindrical portion 66 also has a plurality of bolt holes 66a aligned circumferentially, which are used to bolt the mounting base 48 to the lower end of the first housing 52. The mounting portion 68 also has a plurality of bolt holes 68b aligned circumferentially and radially, which are used to bolt the mounting base 48 (and therefore the drive unit 40) to the top surface of the water faucet 12.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the control device 42 includes a waterproof and dustproof rectangular parallelepiped second housing 70 (control device housing) made of synthetic resin such as ABS. The second housing 70 includes a case body 70a in the shape of a rectangular cylinder with a bottom, and a lid portion 70b attached to the top of the case body 70a via a hinge portion 70c so as to be able to be opened and closed.

The second housing 70 houses an electronic board 72, a storage battery 74, an operation panel 76, an antenna 78, etc. The electronic board 72 is equipped with a control unit 80 including a CPU and memory, etc., and a wireless communication unit 82 including a wireless communication module, etc. (see Figure 9). The storage battery 74 stores power generated by the solar panel 44. The operation panel 76 is an input device that accepts manual operation by the user; that is, it allows the user to manually (electrically manual) operate the electric actuator 16. The operation panel 76 is appropriately equipped with a main power switch, an up button, a down button, and a selection button for switching the operating mode of the electric actuator 16 (remote mode, automatic mode, manual mode, etc.).

A second connection terminal 84 is provided on the side wall of the case body 70a of the second housing 70 for connecting the other end of the first relay cable 46 that is connected to the drive unit 40 (motor 54). A third connection terminal 88 is provided on the side wall of the case body 70a of the second housing 70 for connecting one end of the second relay cable 86 that is connected to the solar panel 44, and a fifth connection terminal 92 is provided on the side wall of the case body 70a of the second housing 70 for connecting one end of the third relay table 90 that is connected to a sensor terminal 120 such as a water level sensor.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 as well as Figure 2, the solar cell panel 44 is attached to the upper surface of the lid portion 70b of the second housing 70. The solar cell panel 44 is formed by packaging multiple solar cells using tempered glass, sealing material, etc. In this embodiment, the solar cell panel 44 is supported so that it extends horizontally by a rectangular frame-shaped metal mounting plate 94. In addition, a fourth connection terminal 96 is provided at the bottom of the solar cell panel 44 for connecting the other end of the second relay cable 86 that connects to the control device 42.

Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the electric actuator 16. As shown in Figure 9, the electric actuator 16 is equipped with a control unit 80 including a CPU, memory, etc. The control unit 80 is electrically connected to the motor 54, solar panel 44, storage battery 74, operation panel 76, wireless communication unit 82, sensor terminal 120, etc. The CPU of the control unit 80 is responsible for overall control of the electric actuator 16 and controls the drive of the motor 54, etc. Memory is a comprehensive term that refers to ROM, RAM, HDD, etc., and stores the control program that controls the operation of the electric actuator 16 and functions as a work area when the CPU is operating.

The wireless communication unit 82 is connected to the antenna 78 via an internal cable, and communicates wirelessly with external devices such as repeaters via this antenna 78. The sensor terminal 120 inputs detected sensor information such as field water level and air temperature to the control unit 80. The sensor terminal 120 may also be connected to the control unit 80 via the wireless communication unit 82.

The motor 54 is mechanically connected to the water supply control device, such as the faucet 12 and the water outlet 14, via a transmission mechanism consisting of a main gear 56, a small gear 58, and a rotating shaft 60. The CPU of the control unit 80 controls the operation of the water supply control device by controlling the drive of the motor 54. In this embodiment, a motor with an encoder is used as the motor 54, as described above. The encoder of the motor 54 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the direction and number of rotations of the output shaft 54a to the CPU of the control unit 80. The CPU of the control unit 80 calculates the position of the valve body 30 of the faucet 12 or the partition body 34 of the water outlet 14 based on the pulse signal input from the encoder, i.e., the direction and number of rotations of the output shaft 54a. However, the encoder does not necessarily have to be provided on the motor 54; it can be provided on the main gear 56, etc. Alternatively, position detection can be performed using a potentiometer or upper and lower limit switches without using an encoder.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the electric actuator 16 described above is housed inside each of the water supply manhole 104 and the water discharge manhole 110. In other words, in this embodiment of the system 10, the drive unit 40 and control unit 42 of the electric actuator 16 are separated and arranged side-by-side, making it possible to reduce the height of the electric actuator 16 (particularly the portion directly attached to the water supply control unit) and fit it into each manhole. Since the installation structure of the electric actuator 16 on the water supply side and the water discharge side is basically the same, the installation structure of the electric actuator 16 on the water supply side will be described below as a representative example.

As shown in Figures 10-12, the water supply manhole 104 has a rectangular cylindrical manhole body 130 and is installed on the levee 102 of the field 100 to which the system 10 is applied. An opening 132 for supplying irrigation water to the field 100 is formed in the side wall of the manhole body 130 facing the field 100, and a vertically movable weir board 134 is installed in this opening 132. In addition, a canopy 138 is detachably installed on the top of the manhole body 130 via a lid frame 136. Various types of covers can be used as the canopy 138, such as grating, FRP, and checkered steel plate, but in this embodiment, grating is used as the canopy 138. An opening 138a is formed in this canopy 138 at a position corresponding to the solar cell panel 44 to allow more sunlight to reach the solar cell panel 44. In addition, the top surface of the water supply manhole 104 (the top surfaces of the manhole body 130 and the canopy 138) is set flush with the top surface of the levee 102 so as not to interfere with agricultural machinery traveling on the levee 102.

A water faucet 12 is provided inside the water supply manhole 104. The drive unit 40 for the electric actuator 16 is removably mounted on top of the water faucet 12 so that it fits within the water supply manhole 104. As shown in FIG. 13 , when mounting the drive unit 40 on the water faucet 12, the drive unit 40 is placed on the splash guard cover 22 of the water faucet 12, and the splash guard cover 22, bearing 26, and mounting portion 68 of the mounting base 48 are bolted together. The upper end of the valve shaft 28 of the water faucet 12 is non-rotatably connected to the coupling portion 60a of the rotating shaft 60 of the electric actuator 16. In this case, the control device 42 and solar panel 44 are separated from the drive unit 40, and only the drive unit 40 is attached to the water faucet 12. This allows for a smaller and lighter mounting portion for the electric actuator 16. This improves workability when attaching (and removing) the electric actuator 16 to the water tap 12.

Returning to Figures 10 and 11, the control device 42 and solar cell panel 44 are supported by a support base 140 formed using L-shaped angle steel or the like, and are installed inside the water supply manhole 104 alongside the drive device 40. In this case, it is preferable that the control device 42 and solar cell panel 44 be installed as close as possible to the top surface of the water supply manhole 104 (i.e., at a high position). This is to prevent the control device 42 and solar cell panel 44 from being submerged when water accumulates inside the water supply manhole 104. It is also to allow more sunlight to reach the solar cell panel 44. In this embodiment, the solar cell panel 44 is fitted into the opening 138a of the canopy 138, and the top surface of the solar cell panel 44 is installed flush with the top surface of the water supply manhole 104.

In addition, a rectangular partition plate 142 is provided within the water supply manhole 104 to separate the drive unit 40 and the control unit 42. By providing the partition plate 142, water splashes are prevented from directly hitting the control unit 42 when water is supplied to the field 100 from the water supply tap 12.

In the system 10 described above, for example, a user accesses the management server using a remote control terminal and sends an operation instruction (control signal) to fully close, fully open, or open the water faucet 12 to a desired degree. The control signal corresponding to this operation instruction is then sent from the management server via a repeater to the electric actuator 16. The control unit 80 of the electric actuator 16 drives the motor 54 in response to the control signal received by the wireless communication unit 82. The driving force of this motor 54 is transmitted to the main gear 56, causing the rotating shaft 60 to rotate together with the main gear 56. This imparts a rotational force to the valve shaft 28 of the water faucet 12, which is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 60. The valve shaft 28 to which the rotational force is applied is moved up and down by the feed screw mechanism between the valve shaft 28 and the bearing 26, moving the valve element 30 to a fully open position, a fully closed position, or the like.

Similarly, when the user sends an operation command to set the outlet height of the water outlet 14 (height position of the partition body 34), the control unit 80 of the electric actuator 16 drives the motor 54 in response to the control signal to change the outlet height of the water outlet 14. In addition, information acquired by the electric actuator 16 (such as information on the status of the water tap 12 and water outlet 14, and sensor information received from the sensor terminal 120) is periodically transmitted from the wireless communication unit 82 of the electric actuator 16 to the management server via a repeater.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the drive unit 40 and control unit 42 of the electric actuator 16 are separated, and only the drive unit 40 is attached to the water supply control device, which makes it possible to reduce the size (profile) and weight of this attachment portion. This reduces the labor required to attach and detach the electric actuator 16 to the water supply control device. Furthermore, separating the drive unit 40 and control unit 42 makes it easier to transport and store each device.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the entire electric actuator 16, including the drive unit 40, control unit 42, and solar panel 44, is housed within the manhole, preventing the electric actuator 16 from being damaged by the weight of snow, etc., during periods when farming is fallow in winter. Furthermore, since there is no exposed portion above the manhole, accidents such as agricultural machinery colliding with the electric actuator 16 can be prevented, and the electric actuator 16 can be prevented from interfering with agricultural work. In particular, since damage to the drive unit 40 can be prevented by housing it within the manhole, it is not necessary to remove the drive unit 40 during periods when farming is fallow in winter, further reducing the amount of work required. Furthermore, flexible handling is possible, such as removing the control unit 42 from the manhole and storing it elsewhere during periods when farming is fallow in winter.

In the above-described embodiment, the upper surface of the water supply manhole 104 is flush with the upper surface of the ridge 102. However, the height position of the upper surface of a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104 can be changed as appropriate depending on the conditions of the field 100, and the manhole may be provided so that its upper end protrudes from the upper surface of the ridge 102. However, to prevent accidents such as agricultural machinery hitting the manhole, it is preferable that the upper surface of the manhole be provided at a height position below the upper surface of the ridge 102 on which the manhole is provided or at a height position approximately the same as the upper surface of the ridge 102. Among these, it is more preferable to make the top surface of the manhole flush with the top surface of the ridge 102, but for example, if there is a large difference in elevation between the field 100 and the top surface of the ridge 102 and the manhole is located partway up the slope (embankment) of the ridge 102, the top surface of the manhole can also be located at a position lower than the top surface of the ridge 102.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the solar cell panel 44 is fixed horizontally to the top surface of the control device 42 and is installed inside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, but the installation manner of the solar cell panel 44 can be changed as appropriate. For example, when attaching the solar cell panel 44 to the top surface of the control device 42, it is also possible to make at least one of the installation angle (tilt angle with respect to the horizontal plane) and installation direction (direction in which the top surface of the panel faces) of the solar cell panel 44 adjustable. This allows the solar cell panel 44 to be more appropriately irradiated with sunlight, and tilting the solar cell panel 44 can prevent debris and other particles from accumulating on its top surface.

Also, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the solar cell panel 44 can be mounted via a structure that allows it to sink downward. For example, an elastic member 146 such as a helical spring can be provided at the part where the control device 42 is fixed, so that when a load is applied from above to the solar cell panel 44, the solar cell panel 44 and control device 42 move downward and return to their original state when the load is released. This can appropriately prevent damage to the solar cell panel 44 even if the solar cell panel 44 is run over by a tire 148 of a tractor or the like. In particular, when the solar cell panel 44 is run over by the tire 148, the load of the tire 148 is supported by the edge of the opening 138a of the canopy 138, thereby reducing the load on the solar cell panel 44.

As another example of a configuration in which the solar cell panel 44 is mounted via a structure that allows it to sink downward, an elastic body such as a rubber plate may be placed between the solar cell panel 44 and its support frame (or the top surface of the control device 42 if the solar cell panel 44 is mounted on the control device 42). In this case, the solar cell panel 44 may be a film-type solar cell panel (perovskite solar cell), or another type of solar cell panel. The solar cell panel 44 may also be placed on the control device 42, on the drive device 40, or separately from the control device 42 and the drive device 40. Even with this structure, the load applied from the top surface of the solar cell panel 44 can be alleviated, appropriately suppressing or preventing damage to the solar cell panel 44.

Furthermore, the solar cell panel 44 can also be provided on the canopy 138. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the entire canopy 138 can be made into a solar cell panel 44, that is, the solar cell panel 44 can be used as the canopy 138. In this case, as shown in FIG. 17, at least one of the installation angle and installation direction of the solar cell panel 44 can be made adjustable using a spherical joint, hinge, or horizontal rotation. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, a portion of the canopy 138 can be made into a solar cell panel 44. In this case, as shown in FIG. 19, at least one of the installation angle and installation direction of the solar cell panel 44 can be made adjustable using a spherical joint, hinge, or horizontal rotation.

Furthermore, the solar panel 44 can also be installed outside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104. For example, as shown in Figure 20, a rod-shaped support member 150 can be erected in a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, and the solar panel 44 can be attached to the upper end of the support member 150. In this case, as shown in Figure 21, it is also preferable to make at least one of the installation angle and installation direction of the solar panel 44 adjustable. Furthermore, for example, the solar panel 44 can also be installed in a position close to the periphery of the manhole.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 22, for example, a solar cell panel 44 can be mounted on the outer surface of a manhole, such as a water supply manhole 104. In this case, the solar cell panel 44 is preferably mounted on the outer surface of the manhole facing the field 100, and its upper surface is preferably mounted at a height below the upper surface of the ridge 102. This is to prevent the solar cell panel 44 from being damaged by collision with agricultural machinery such as a tractor. Furthermore, when the solar cell panel 44 is mounted on the outer surface of the manhole, the solar cell panel 44 can be designed to be foldable toward the manhole via a support member 152. For example, folding the solar cell panel 44 toward the manhole when not in use, such as in winter, can serve as a countermeasure against snow accumulation, and when a load is applied to the solar cell panel 44, it can be folded back using a spring or the like to prevent damage.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 23, when the solar cell panel 44 is installed horizontally, a transparent cover 154 with an inclined upper surface can be provided to cover the upper surface of the solar cell panel 44. This prevents debris and other particles from accumulating on the upper surface of the solar cell panel 44. As shown in Figures 23 and 24, for example, a transparent cover 154 with one inclined surface that slopes downward from the manhole side toward the field 100 side can be used. Furthermore, for example, a transparent cover with two inclined surfaces facing two directions can be used as shown in Figure 25, or a transparent cover with four inclined surfaces facing four directions can be used as shown in Figure 26.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 27, when a solar panel 44 is mounted on the outer surface of a manhole such as a water supply manhole 104, the installation angle of the solar panel 44 can be adjusted using a hinge 156 or the like. Also, as shown in Figure 28, the direction in which the angle of the solar panel 44 is adjusted can be changed by changing the installation direction of the hinge 156.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the antenna 78 is provided inside the second housing 70 of the control device 42, but the installation location of the antenna 78 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the antenna 78 can be provided outside the second housing 70 inside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, or the antenna 78 can be provided outside the manhole as shown in FIG. 29. When the antenna 78 is provided outside the manhole, for example, the antenna 78 can be provided on a bendable support 158, which can prevent damage to the antenna 78 when a load is applied.

Furthermore, when the solar cell panel 44 is installed outside a manhole such as a water supply manhole 104, as shown in Figure 30, a protective fence 160 can be installed to surround the solar cell panel 44, or multiple protective stakes can be installed around the solar cell panel 44. This can reliably prevent agricultural machinery such as tractors from coming into contact with the solar cell panel 44 and damaging it.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 31, an extension section 130a that protrudes toward the field 100 can be provided on the manhole body 130 of a manhole such as a water supply manhole 104, and a solar cell panel 44 can be provided within this extension section 130a. In this case, by using a long and narrow panel as the solar cell panel 44, the extension width of the extension section 130a can be reduced.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the control device 42 for the electric actuator 16 is provided inside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, but the control device 42 can also be provided outside the manhole. In this case, it is preferable to house the control device 42 inside a second manhole provided separately from the manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, for example, inside a manhole dedicated to the control device 42 or a manhole for the sensor terminal 120. Furthermore, when the control device 42 is provided outside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, it is preferable that the control device 42 be provided on the outer surface of the manhole facing the field 100, and that its upper surface be provided at a height position lower than that of the upper surface of the control device 42.

Furthermore, when the control device 42 of the electric actuator 16 is installed inside a manhole such as the water supply manhole 104, the operation panel 76 can be installed so that it can be raised from inside the manhole to a height position higher than the canopy 138. In this case, the entire control device 42 can be raised out of the manhole, or the operation panel 76 can be pulled out from the control device 42, and only the operation panel 76 can be raised out of the manhole. This makes the operation panel 76 easier to operate, improving the operability of the operation panel 76.

In the above-described embodiment, the system 10 includes both the water supply faucet 12, which is an example of a water supply control device, and the water outlet 14, which is another example. However, it may also include only one of the water supply faucet 12 and the water outlet 14. Even if the system 10 includes both the water supply faucet 12 and the water outlet 14, the configuration in which the drive unit 40 and control unit 42 of the electric actuator 16 are separated and at least the drive unit 40 is installed in the manhole can be used for only one of the electric actuators 16 on either the water supply faucet 12 side or the water outlet 14 side.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the wireless communication unit 82 of the electric actuator 16 communicates wirelessly with a management server or the like via a repeater, but a repeater does not necessarily have to be installed. For example, the wireless communication unit 82 may communicate wirelessly with an external device such as a management server or remote control terminal without using a repeater, and receive a control signal for the electric actuator 16.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the electric actuator 16 is equipped with a solar panel 44, but if a large-capacity storage battery 74 is used, it is not necessarily required to have a solar panel 44. Furthermore, if the system 10 is applied to an environment where other power sources, such as commercial power, can be used, the electric actuator 16 does not necessarily need to have a solar panel 44 and a storage battery 74.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the motor 54 and other components of the drive unit 40 are supported by a support frame 52c fixed to the first housing 52, but this is not limited to this. For example, the support member supporting the motor 54 and other components can be provided on the first housing 52 so that it moves up and down in conjunction with the up and down movement of the rotation shaft 60. In this case, it is preferable to provide a guide member on the first housing 52 to guide the up and down movement of the support member.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 80 and wireless communication unit 82 in the control device 42 are arranged on a single electronic board 72, but this is not limited to this. For example, a main control unit (first control unit) including a CPU, memory, etc., and a sub-control unit (second control unit) including a motor drive circuit that controls the drive of the motor and a current detection circuit that detects the current supplied to the motor, etc., can be arranged on separate boards, and the main control unit and sub-control unit can be provided in separate housings. In other words, the control device 42 can be divided into two or more units. In this case, more flexible responses are possible, such as providing the main control unit outside the manhole where the water supply control device is installed and the sub-control unit inside the manhole. The main control unit and sub-control unit are electrically connected via wire or wirelessly.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the drive unit 40 is attached to the water faucet 12, the drive unit 40 is placed directly on the splash prevention cover 22 of the water faucet 12. However, depending on the type of water supply control device (valve), the drive unit 40 can also be supported by a support member (frame) attached to the water supply control device. In addition to the drive unit 40, this support member can also be equipped with a control device 42, a solar panel 44, etc.

In addition, in this invention, "solar panels 44, etc., being installed inside a manhole" means that the solar panels 44, etc. are installed without protruding from the top and outer surfaces of the manhole. However, "installation inside a manhole" also includes cases where the solar panels 44, etc. are displaced from their standard state (a state in which they do not protrude) after installation and are able to protrude outside the manhole.

Note that the specific numerical values and shapes of the dimensions listed above are merely examples and can be changed as needed depending on the product specifications, etc.

10... Field water management system 12... Water tap (water supply control device)
14... Water outlet (water supply control device)
16 ... Electric actuator 40 ... Drive device 42 ... Control device 44 ... Solar cell panel 52 ... First housing (housing of drive device)
54...Motor (drive unit)
56...Main gear (drive part)
70... Second housing (housing of control device)
74 ... storage battery 80 ... control unit 82 ... wireless communication unit 100 ... field 102 ... ridge 104 ... water supply pit 110 ... drainage pit

Claims (15)

A field water management system for managing water in a field,
a water supply control device including a displacement mechanism for controlling water supply to or drainage from the field;
a manhole having a canopy and in which the water supply control device is provided; and an electric actuator that drives the displacement mechanism of the water supply control device,
The electric actuator is
a drive device having a drive unit that drives the displacement mechanism and a first housing that houses the drive unit ; and a control device having a control unit that controls the operation of the electric actuator and a second housing that houses the control unit ,
The drive unit and the control unit are separated, and the drive unit is attached to the water supply control unit so that the drive unit is located at a height position below the upper surface of the manhole and fits inside the manhole ,
A field water management system, wherein the drive device is covered from above by the canopy . The field water management system according to claim 1, wherein the sump is provided on a levee of a field to which the field water management system is applied. A field water management system according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the manhole is located below the upper surface of the ridge on which the manhole is located or at a height approximately the same as the upper surface of the ridge. A field water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is provided inside the manhole alongside the drive device. A field water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is provided inside a second manhole provided separately from the manhole. A field water management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device is provided on the outer surface of the manhole at a height position below the top surface of the manhole. The field water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a side wall and a top wall that seals an upper portion of the side wall, and the side wall and the top wall have an airtight structure. The field water management system of claim 4, further comprising a partition plate provided between the drive device and the control device. the electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel;
The solar cell panel is provided inside the box,
The field water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the canopy has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the solar cell panel. the electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel;
The field water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the solar cell panel is provided on the canopy. the electric actuator is equipped with a solar panel;
The field water management system according to claim 1 , wherein the solar cell panel is provided outside the manhole. The field water management system according to claim 11, wherein the solar cell panel is mounted on the outer surface of the manhole at a height position below the top surface of the manhole. A field water management system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the solar panel is mounted via a structure that can be submerged downward. A field water management system according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the solar panel is configured so that at least one of the installation angle and installation direction can be adjusted. the control device includes an operation panel that accepts manual operations by a user;
The field water management system according to claim 4 , wherein the operation panel is provided so as to be able to be lifted up from inside the manhole to a height position above the canopy.