JPH0414759B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a snowfall sensor, and more particularly to a snowfall sensor provided to detect snowfall as distinct from rain.

[Conventional technology]

In areas with heavy snowfall, snow damage occurs, such as houses being crushed by the weight of the snow, or even if they are not crushed, the house is distorted and the door shoji cannot be moved.To prevent this, it is necessary to remove snow that has accumulated on the roof. Snow removal will be carried out to remove it. In the past, snow removal work had to be done manually, but in addition to being extremely hard work, the reality is that it cannot be done satisfactorily due to a lack of manpower. On the contrary,
In order to automatically remove snow, snow melting devices that use warm air, hot water, etc., electric heat pipes, electric heat sheets, mechanical snow removal devices, etc. have been proposed. It is arranged to operate the device.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned method, since humans are required to judge whether it is snowing and turn on the device, they must be constantly aware of the weather and it is troublesome to turn on the device. In addition, if you forget to turn the switch on or are away from home due to going on a trip, the above device will not be able to operate, causing problems such as damage to the house due to snow accumulation. There are problems.

The present invention is an attempt to improve the above-mentioned problems, and by automatically detecting snowfall, it is possible to protect houses from snow damage by operating a snow melting device, etc. There are problems that need to be solved in terms of That is, it is characterized by detecting snowfall using an ultrasonic sensor and an optical sensor, and its specific means and effects are as follows.

[Means for solving the problem] A main body case formed with an opening on the top surface is provided, a middle frame formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape is attached to the main body case along the opening,
A belt conveyor is provided along the bottom opening of the inner frame, and a snow discharge port is provided between the tip of the belt conveyor and the lower end of the inner frame.

Ultrasonic sensors that detect precipitation conditions such as rain and snow are mounted facing each other near the top of the middle frame, and a first optical sensor that detects snowfall conditions is mounted near the bottom of the middle frame. Install it facing the conveyor with a slight gap between it and the conveyor.

A second optical sensor that detects the amount of snow is installed behind the first optical sensor at a position near the lower end of the middle frame and slightly higher than the first optical sensor in conjunction with the belt conveyor.

[Effect]

When snow, rain, etc. fall within the opening of the main body case, a state is obtained in which the ultrasonic sensor detects the precipitation state.

Then, in a state where the ultrasonic sensor detects a precipitation state, a state is obtained in which the beam of the first optical sensor is blocked by snow falling on the belt conveyor. This provides the effect of determining that it is inside.

Further, by further thickening the snow on the belt conveyor, a state is obtained in which the beam of the second optical sensor is blocked, and thereby a certain amount of snow can be sensed. In this manner, when the second optical sensor detects the amount of snow, the belt conveyor operates to convey the snow on the belt toward the discharge port.

〔Example〕

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to illustrative drawings.

1 indicates a house, and 2 indicates the roof of the same house.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a main body case composing the snowfall sensor 4. The main case 3 is formed into a substantially rectangular frame shape, and support legs 5 extend downward from the four corners of the lower end of the main case 3. The snowfall sensor 4 is mounted on the roof 2 via the support legs 5.
The main body case 3 has a middle frame 7 formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape.
is attached downward so as to surround an opening 6 formed on its top surface. A pair of window holes 1 are provided at positions near the upper end of the middle frame 7 in correspondence with each other in the front and rear direction.
0 and 10 are opened, and a pair of ultrasonic sensors 11 and 11 are installed on the outside of the inner frame 7 facing each other through the same aperture holes 10 and 10, thereby sensing precipitation conditions such as rain and snow. It is set up so that it is possible to do so. Further, both lower ends of the middle frame 7 in the width direction are bent diagonally downward toward the outside, and a pair of left and right notches 12, 12 and 13, 13 are formed in the bent portions at different positions in the front and back direction. Each will be provided. Also, a pair of first optical sensors 14, 14 for sensing snowfall conditions are attached to the outside of the middle frame 7, facing each other via notches 12, 12 formed near the front end of the middle frame 7. On the other hand, a pair of second optical sensors 15, 15 for sensing the amount of snowfall are mounted facing each other via notches 13, 13 formed near the rear end of the middle frame 7. More specifically, the first optical sensor 14 is provided with a slight distance between it and the conveying surface 17 of a belt conveyor 16, which will be described later, while the second optical sensor 15 is provided with a certain distance between it and the conveying surface 17. They are provided with a slightly larger interval than the interval between the first optical sensors 14. That is, the second photosensor 15 is the first photosensor 1.
It is installed at a slightly higher position compared to 4.

16 is the aforementioned belt conveyor, and the belt conveyor 16 is provided along the bottom opening of the middle frame 7 so as to be able to interlock with the second optical sensor 15. The belt conveyor 16 is located between the tip of the belt conveyor 16 and the lower end of the middle frame 7.
A discharge port 18 is provided for discharging accumulated snow on the conveying surface 17 of the vehicle. Further, a snow shovel plate 19 is attached to the front position of the belt conveyor 16 in correspondence with the discharge port 18. Snow scraping board 19
Although not shown, a spring is interposed therein, and the tip end thereof is always brought into contact with the tip end of the belt conveyor 16 through the biasing action of the spring thread. Reference numeral 20 represents a drive motor for the belt conveyor 16, and reference numeral 21 represents a belt tension adjustment roller of the belt conveyor 16.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a water storage tank installed outside the house 1, and a through hole 26 is opened in the center of the ceiling surface of the water storage tank 22 for communication with a rain gutter 25, which will be described later. A wire mesh 27 is provided below the through hole 26 to remove leaves and the like.
Further, the top end of a water pipe 29 is provided on the ceiling surface of the water storage tank 22 through an electric valve 28 .
Furthermore, a level switch mounting rod 30 is installed in the water storage tank 22, and the electric valve 28 is opened and closed at the upper end and intermediate positions of the mounting rod 30 to maintain the water level within a certain range. A level switch 31 and a level switch 32 are respectively attached to the mounting rod 30, and a level switch 33 is attached near the lower end of the attachment rod 30 to stop a submersible pump 34, which will be described later, in the event of abnormal water loss. A drain pipe 35 for draining overflow water is erected near the mounting rod 30. That is, one end of the drain pipe 35 is provided at a slightly higher position than the level switch 31, while the other end is provided so as to pass through the bottom plate of the water storage tank 22 and reach the outside of the tank. Further, 36 represents a drain port.

The submersible pump 34 is placed on the bottom of the water storage tank 22, and the water intake port of the submersible pump 34 is connected to the level switch 33.
It is installed so that it is located below the installation position of. A pipe 37 extends upward from the submersible pump 34, and its tip is provided so as to reach the roof 2.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a water discharge pipe installed along the main ridge of the roof 2, and water discharge holes are drilled downward at regular intervals in the water discharge pipe 38. A relief valve (not shown) is attached to one end of the water discharge pipe 38, while the other end is connected to the pipe 37. Further, a wire heater 39 is wound along the outer peripheral surface of the water discharge pipe 38.

25 is the aforementioned rain gutter, and the rain gutter 25 is formed so that its diameter gradually increases from one end to the other end, and the large diameter end is connected to the pipe 4.
0 to the through hole 26. Further, a cover 41 is attached to the rain gutter 25 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction to prevent snow from accumulating inside the gutter.

42 is a controller attached to the outside wall of the house 1, and the controller 42 is connected to the snowfall sensor 4, the submersible pump 34, and the wire heater 39, respectively.

Next, its effect will be explained.

When there are no obstacles and the ultrasonic sensor 11 and the optical sensors 14 and 15 are set to OFF, snow, rain, etc.
By falling within the rain, a state is obtained in which the ultrasonic sensor 11 senses the precipitation state and turns on.

Then, when the ultrasonic sensor 11 is in the ON state, the beam of the first optical sensor 14 is blocked by snow falling on the belt conveyor 16, that is, the first optical sensor 14 is in the ON state.
The following state is obtained. These signals are sent to the controller 42, which determines that the falling object is snow and that it is snowing. In this way, when the controller 42 determines that it is snowing, a control signal is sent from the controller 42 to the submersible pump 34.
As a result, the submersible pump 34 is operated and the water in the water storage tank 22 is sent to the water discharge pipe 38, while the wire heater 39 is energized to melt the ice blocking the water discharge hole of the water discharge pipe 38. By sending water to the water discharge pipe 38 in this way, the water discharge pipe 38
8 onto the roof 2, which causes the roof 2 to
A state is obtained in which the snow on the top melts and the melted snow flows down toward the rain gutter 25. The melted snow water that has fallen into the rain gutter 25 in this way is returned to the water storage tank 22 through the pipe 40.

Further, as the snow accumulates even thicker on the belt conveyor 16, the beam of the second optical sensor 15 is blocked, that is, the second optical sensor 15
A state of ON is obtained. In this way, when the second optical sensor 15 is in the ON state, the signal is sent to the controller 42, which causes the belt conveyor 16 to operate in conjunction to convey the accumulated snow on the conveying surface 17 toward the discharge port 18. is obtained.
The snow thus conveyed to the discharge port 18 by the belt conveyor 16 is scraped off by the snow scraping board 19, while the scraped snow falls onto the roof 2 and is melted by the water spray. Then, the snow is conveyed by the belt conveyor 16 toward the discharge port 18, so that the belt conveyor 16
The conveying surface 17 with no snow cover is extended from the rear end, and thereby a state is obtained in which the light-blocking state of the second optical sensor 15 is released. In this way, by releasing the light shielding state of the second optical sensor 15 and turning it off, a state is obtained in which the belt conveyor 16 is stopped in conjunction with the second optical sensor 15. In such a state, the second optical sensor 14 is still in a light-blocking state, and the submersible pump 34 continues to supply water.

When the snow has stopped falling, the ultrasonic sensor 11 is turned off, and the submersible pump 34 stops supplying water. If it turns into rain during snowfall, the snow on the belt conveyor 16 will melt due to the rain, and the light-blocking state of the first optical sensor 14 will be released.
The submersible pump 34 is turned off and the water supply from the submersible pump 34 is stopped.

Note that in this embodiment, the ultrasonic sensor 11
Although the optical sensors 14 and 15 have been described as a pair, they are not limited to this, and an integrated type is also possible. Further, the snowfall sensor 4 according to the present invention is not limited to buildings such as houses,
It is also possible to install it in vehicles such as trains.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The present invention is constructed as described above, and includes:
As mentioned above, the middle frame formed into a substantially rectangular frame shape is attached along the opening formed on the top surface of the main body case, and a belt conveyor is provided along the bottom opening of the middle frame, while sensing the state of precipitation. ultrasonic sensor,
A first optical sensor for detecting the snowfall condition is installed near the upper end of the inner frame, and a first optical sensor is installed near the lower end of the inner frame, with a slight distance between it and the conveying surface of the belt conveyor. By attaching the sensors facing each other, it became possible to automatically detect snowfall and distinguish it from rain.

Further, according to the present invention, a snow discharge port is formed between the tip of the belt conveyor and the lower end of the middle frame, and a sensor for sensing the amount of snow is located behind the first optical sensor. The second optical sensor is installed at a slightly higher position than the first optical sensor, and by linking the second optical sensor with the belt conveyor, the first optical sensor can detect snowfall conditions. It has now become possible to quickly discharge the snow that has fallen on the conveyor surface of the belt conveyor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the snowfall sensor according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same side, Fig. 3 is an external perspective view showing the snowfall sensor installed on the roof, and Fig. 4 is a view of the water storage tank. Cross-sectional view, FIG. 5 represents a cross-sectional view of the rain gutter. 1...house, 2...roof, 3...main case,
4...Snowfall sensor, 5...Support leg, 6...Opening, 7...Inner frame, 10...Window hole, 11...Ultrasonic sensor, 12, 13...Notch, 14...No. First light sensor, 15...Second light sensor, 16
... Belt conveyor, 17 ... Conveyance surface, 18 ...
Discharge port, 19... Snow shovel, 20... Drive motor, 21... Belt tension adjustment roller, 22...
Water storage tank, 25... Rain gutter, 26... Through hole, 2
7...Wire mesh, 28...Electric valve, 29...Water pipe,
30...Mounting rod, 31, 32, 33...Level switch, 34...Submersible pump, 35...Drain pipe, 36...Drain port, 37...Pipe, 38...
Water pipe, 39... wire heater, 40... pipe, 41... cover, 42... controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A middle frame formed into a substantially rectangular frame shape is installed along the opening formed on the top surface of the main body case, a belt conveyor is provided along the bottom opening of the middle frame, and the tip of the belt conveyor and the middle A snow discharge outlet is formed between the frame and the bottom edge of the frame, while an ultrasonic sensor for detecting precipitation is installed opposite to the top of the frame, and placed near the bottom of the frame. A first optical sensor that detects the snowfall condition is installed facing the conveying surface of the belt conveyor with a slight gap, and a position behind the first optical sensor detects the amount of snowfall. This snowfall detector consists of a second optical sensor that detects snow, installed at a slightly higher position than the first optical sensor in conjunction with a belt conveyor.