JPS6142153B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a valve opening indicator.

Many of the displays that indicate the opening degree of a valve depend on its mechanical configuration. Mechanical methods are accurate, but because they use gears and the like, they are complicated and inevitably lead to high costs.

The present invention uses a photoelectric detection system and electronic circuitry.

Detection systems using a lamp, a light emitting diode, a laser, etc. as a light emitter and a CdS photoconductive cell, a photodiode, a phototransistor, a phototube, a photomultiplier tube, etc. as a light receiver are known.

In many cases, these are used to distinguish between the presence and absence of light. However, it has not been easy to detect the position of the object. This is because one light receiver is not enough to know the location of an object.

To detect the location of a cell, the region of existence is usually divided into a matrix, and one photodetector is placed in each cell. This is a surefire method. However, it requires a large number of receivers, making it significantly more expensive. It is not suitable for displaying the opening degree of valves, etc.

Recently, photoconductive cells made of CdS, CdSe, etc. that change the irradiation position resistance rather than the illuminance vs. resistance characteristics have become commercially available.

For example, a photoconductive cell called Fotensiomatic® from Moririca is suitable. Since it seems that this element has not yet become a widely known element, it will be explained using the cross-sectional view of FIG.

This element has an elongated shape and has a metal film resistor of 3
A triple layer of 0, a photoconductor 31, and a transparent electrode 32 is formed in the longitudinal direction.

Two terminals 37, 3 are connected to both ends of the metal film resistor 30.
8, intermediate terminals 36 are welded to the transparent electrodes 32, respectively. The resistance of the transparent electrode 32 and the resistance of the photoconductor 31 during irradiation are almost zero.

This element can be used in the same way as a potentiometer. First, a constant voltage V is applied to the two terminals 37 and 38.

When any position of the photoconductor 31 is irradiated, the photoconductor 31 becomes conductive at the irradiated position. Appears at the electrical electrode 32 of the metal film resistor 30 at that location. In other words, a voltage V ₁ is generated at the intermediate terminal 36 that corresponds to an internal division ratio of the photoconductor 31 depending on the irradiated position.

In other words, depending on the irradiation position, the voltage at the intermediate terminal V ₁
changes monotonically. When the irradiation position is moved from one end to the other, the intermediate terminal voltage V ₁ changes almost linearly. With such an element, it is possible to easily know the irradiated position.

The present invention uses a photoconductive cell whose irradiation position vs. resistance characteristic changes as described above as a light receiver. The vertical movement of the valve stem is detected by a photoconductive cell, and the opening degree of the valve is digitally displayed.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to drawings showing examples.

FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal front view of a valve equipped with an opening indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG.
The figure shows an example electrical circuit.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a valve box, which has entrances and exits on the left and right sides, a valve hole in the center, and a valve seat (not shown).

Reference numeral 5 denotes a valve stem, which is supported by the valve body 6 at the threaded portion 18. A valve body (not shown) is fixed to the lower end of the valve stem 5, and a handle 7 is fixed to the upper end.

The valve stem 5 is raised and lowered by turning the handle 7. Therefore, the degree of opening of the valve can be defined by the lift distance of the valve.

Next, the opening degree indicator will be explained.

A base plate 9 having a hole that fits into the central thread of the valve box is fixed to the valve box with a nut 19.

On the base plate 9, a light receiver 2 and a light emitter 3 are vertically provided facing each other. A computing device 1 is further mounted on the base plate 9. This drives the light receiver 2 and the light emitter 3. The upper surface of the arithmetic device 1 serves as a display board 10.

The light emitter 3 is vertical and includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 1.
4 and 14 are arranged vertically in parallel.

As explained above, the photoreceiver 2 is a CdS photoconductive cell whose resistance characteristics change monotonically in the vertical direction depending on the irradiation position. The voltage at the intermediate terminal changes in proportion to the irradiation position. The voltage is largely independent of the intensity of the light source.

On the other hand, the valve stem 5 is equipped with an L-shaped lifting rod 4 via a bearing 8. The lower end of the vertical plate portion 16 of the lifting rod 4 is loosely fitted into a rotation stopper hole 11 formed in the base plate 9.

Due to the action of the bearing 8 and the anti-rotation through hole 11, the lifting rod 4
follows the vertical movement of the valve stem 5. But it doesn't rotate.

The vertical plate portion 16 of the lifting rod 4 blocks the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 2 from each other. A transmission window 12 is bored at an appropriate position in the vertical plate portion 16. Therefore, receiver 2
Only the immediate area of the transparent window 12 is irradiated by the light emitter 3.

The rotation prevention of the lifting rod 4 is not limited to the through hole 11 bored in the base plate 9. It is also possible to use a member protruding from the light receiver 2 or the light emitter 3 to sandwich an appropriate portion of the vertical plate portion 16 to prevent it from rotating.

Instead of the bearing 8, the lifting rod 4 may be brought into sliding contact with the valve stem, and vertical movement may be restricted by a pin or the like. Lifting rod 4
It is sufficient if the valve moves up and down following the valve stem.

In FIG. 3, a battery 20, an analog/digital converter 13, a transistor 21, a resistor, etc. are all built into the arithmetic unit 1.

The battery 20 is the light emitting diode 14,1 of the light emitter 3.
4. Drive... Both terminals of the light receiver 2 are connected to a battery 20. The intermediate terminal of the photoreceiver 2 produces a voltage V ₁ corresponding to the illuminated position of the photoreceiver 2 .

For example, when the transmission window 12 is at the lowest point (fully closed), the voltage V ₁ is the minimum, and when it is at the highest point (fully open), the voltage
V ₁ should be maximized. When the valve stem rises, the L-shaped lifting rod 4 rises and the transmission window 12 also rises, so the irradiated position also rises and the voltage _V1 increases.

The voltage V ₁ at the intermediate terminal of the photoreceiver 2 is current amplified by the transistor 21 and the resistor 22,
24.

The analog-to-digital converter 13 converts the voltage signal into a digital value. Furthermore, it is desirable that the display panel 10 can be directly driven by a decoder suitable for 7-segment display.

The display panel 10 may be a liquid crystal (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), a Nixie tube, or the like. When using a liquid crystal or a light emitting diode, for example, Intersil's
A C-MOS IC such as ICL7106 or ICL7107 is suitable.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained.

Assume that it is initially in a fully closed state. The transmission window 12 is at the lowest point, and the light receiver 2 is illuminated only at the lowest point.
The intermediate terminal voltage V ₁ is the lowest value. Adjust the offset so that the display ``00'' appears on the display board 10.

Turn the handle to the left to raise the valve stem 5. Since the lifting rod also moves accordingly, the transmission window 12 rises at the same speed. The irradiated position of the light receiver 2 rises, and the terminal voltage _V1 increases. The display on the display board 10 also increases.

Eventually it will be fully opened. The display shows the maximum value.
If it is 2 digits, it can be set to "99". You can use a 21/2 digit display and set full throttle to "100".

Alternatively, a 3-digit or 31/2-digit display board may be used.

The present invention does not include mechanical components such as gears, links, cams, etc., and is easy to manufacture. The position is detected using a photoelectric detection system, and only one light receiver is sufficient. It is simple and inexpensive because it does not require a large number of light receivers. Since it is a digital display, it is easy to observe.
Accurate and easy to remember.

In this way, it is an excellent and useful invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal front view of an opening indicator and valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a calculation device, 2 is a light receiver, 3 is a light emitter, 4 is a lifting rod, 5 is a valve stem, 6 is a valve box, 7 is a handle, 8
1 is a bearing, 9 is a base plate, 10 is a display board, 11 is a rotation stopper hole, 12 is a transmission window, 13 is an analog/digital converter, 14 is a light emitting diode, and 16 is a vertical plate portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light receiver 2 whose irradiated position resistance characteristic changes monotonically in the vertical direction is mounted on a base plate 9 fixed to the valve box 6, a light emitter 3 facing the light receiver 2, and a light emitter 3 for driving the light receiver 2 and the light emitter 3. L is equipped with an arithmetic unit 1 and is supported via a rotation support mechanism so as to follow the rise and fall of the valve stem 5, and has a transparent window 12 bored in its vertical plate part 16.
The mold lifting rod 4 is prevented from rotating so that its vertical plate portion 16 blocks the space between the light emitter 3 and the light receiver 2, and the light emitter 3
The light passes through the transmission window 12 and illuminates the light receiver 2, and the terminal voltage appearing on the light receiver 2 is converted into a digital value by an analog-to-digital converter, and the number is displayed on the display board 10. A valve opening indicator featuring: