JPH04248302A - Monorail type inspection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Object of the invention]

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a monorail type inspection device in which an inspection vehicle equipped with a sensor runs on a track installed along an inspection route.

0003

[Prior Art] For example, in places where humans cannot directly approach the site, such as an operating nuclear power plant, and where patrols are normally required to be carried out by patrollers, there is a need to reduce the burden on the patrollers. Monorail-type inspection equipment, in which an inspection vehicle moves by itself on a track set along an inspection route, is widely used in places where inspections are carried out.

Conventionally, in the above-mentioned monorail type inspection device, power supply to the moving inspection vehicle and signal transmission such as sensor output and control signals are carried out between a contact wire placed on the track and a collector attached to the inspection vehicle. This was done by direct contact with the In addition, the inspection vehicle was generally equipped with a DC-DC converter that converts a power supply voltage into a predetermined voltage by a switching operation, corresponding to various uses.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, signal transmission with the inspection vehicle and power supply to the inspection vehicle were performed by mechanically contacting the contact wire and the current collector. Poor contact is likely to occur between the wire and the collector, and if poor contact occurs, there is a risk of missing sensor information, malfunction due to disturbance of control signals, and malfunction. There is a problem in that it becomes susceptible to the effects of noise generated by the switching operation of the DC-DC converter of the power supply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle capable of running an inspection vehicle and transmitting signals to and from the inspection vehicle without using a contact wire or a current collector. [Structure of the invention]

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an inspection device according to the present invention is a monorail type inspection device in which an inspection vehicle equipped with a sensor runs on a track installed along an inspection route. In the inspection device, a transmitter/receiver and a storage battery are respectively mounted on the inspection vehicle, a power supply device for charging the storage battery is disposed on a part of the track, fixed transmitters/receivers are arranged at a plurality of locations along the track, and the It is equipped with a control device that controls the inspection vehicle and the power supply device.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention configured as described above, the storage battery of the inspection vehicle is charged by the power supply device installed on a part of the track, and the energy of this storage battery is used to travel on the track and to be mounted on the inspection vehicle. Control signals from the control device during inspection and signals from sensors mounted on the inspection vehicle are received and transmitted through the fixed transceiver and the fixed transceiver placed along the track. The inspection vehicle can run and signals can be transmitted with the inspection vehicle without using a collector.

[0009]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of this embodiment. A track 1 installed along an inspection route is equipped with an inspection vehicle 2 that runs on the track 1. A power supply device 3 is installed at a home position P1 (see FIG. 4). Further, a plurality of fixed transceivers (fixed stations) 4a, 4b, etc. are arranged along the track 1, and a control device 5 for controlling the inspection vehicle 2 and the power supply device 3 and processing data is provided. There is.

The inspection vehicle 2 includes a sensor 6 such as a TV camera, a pan head 7 for moving the sensor 6, a traveling mechanism consisting of a motor, gears, gears, etc., a motor drive circuit, a sensor amplifier modulator/demodulator, etc. (not shown), a transmitter/receiver 8 and a storage battery 9 are mounted thereon, and a coupling section 11 provided with two electrodes 10 for coupling with the power supply device 3 is provided.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned power supply device 3 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
As shown in detail in , two electrodes 12 are arranged at positions corresponding to the two electrodes 10 provided on the inspection vehicle 1,
Furthermore, an electromagnetic plunger 13 for moving the electrode 12 back and forth is provided.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be further explained with reference to FIG.

[0014] The inspection vehicle 2 first moves to the home position P1.
At this time, the storage battery 9 mounted on the inspection vehicle 2 is charged by the power supply device 3 via a signal from the control device 5. That is, the electromagnetic plunger 1 of the power supply device 3
3 is in an extended state, and as a result, the electrode 10 of the inspection vehicle 2 and the electrode 12 of the power supply device 3 come into contact, and the storage battery 9
Charging is performed.

Next, in response to a command from the control device 5, the electromagnetic plunger 13 is retracted, the electrodes 10 and 12 are separated, and the inspection vehicle 2 is ready to travel on the track 1.

When the driving command from the control device 5 is sent from the fixed transmitter/receiver 4a to the transmitter/receiver 8 of the inspection vehicle 2, the inspection vehicle 2 starts traveling using the energy of the storage battery 9. Then, the inspection vehicle 2 travels while transmitting the signal from the sensor 6 from the transceiver 8 to the fixed transceiver 4a, and reaches the point P.
2 to P3, other fixed transceivers 4
Communicate sequentially with b to 4c.

In this way, the inspection vehicle 2 sequentially communicates with each fixed transmitter/receiver 4a, 4b, etc. via the receiver/transmitter 8, and moves to P1, P2, etc., and performs the inspection, and when the inspection is completed, , returns to home position P1 again.

Then, at the home position P1, the electromagnetic plunger 13 of the power supply device 3 is operated again to start charging and prepare for the next inspection.

With this configuration, the inspection vehicle 2 can be run along the track 1 without using a contact wire or a current collector, and the signals from the sensor 6 can be transmitted. Therefore, there is no need to use a contact wire and a collector, and stop accidents due to poor contact between the contact wire and the collector, as in the conventional example, and erroneous transmission of sensor signals can be completely prevented.

In addition, in this embodiment, the storage battery 9 is used as a driving power source, and D is likely to cause noise in the inspection vehicle.
Since there is no need to mount a C-DC converter, malfunctions due to noise and deterioration of sensor signals can be prevented.

[0021] In the above embodiment, the power supply device 3
Although an example is shown in which an electrode plunger 13 is used to move the electrode 12, a pneumatic piston or an electric motor may be used instead of the electrode plunger 13.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Since it is possible to supply power to the inspection vehicle and transmit signals to and from the inspection vehicle without using contact wires and current collectors, it not only improves reliability as an inspection device but also prevents the influence of noise. This has the effect of improving the quality of sensor signals.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view showing an outline of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the power supply device.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Orbit 2 Inspection vehicle 3 Power supply device 4a, 4b Fixed transceiver 5 Control device 6 Sensor 8 Transmitter/receiver 9 Storage battery 10 Electrode 12 Electrode

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A monorail inspection device in which an inspection vehicle equipped with a sensor runs on a track installed along an inspection route, wherein the inspection vehicle is equipped with a transmitter/receiver and a storage battery, respectively. A monorail characterized in that a power supply device for charging the storage battery is arranged in a part of the track, fixed transceivers are arranged at a plurality of locations along the track, and a control device is further provided to control the inspection vehicle and the power supply device. Type inspection device.