Patent Grant
7456753
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-121821 filed on Apr. 20, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal pressure explosion-proof system, and some preferred embodiments relate to an internal pressure explosion-proof system preferably used as a robot system capable of detecting internal high pressure abnormality.
2. Description of Related Art
The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of related art and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art.
An internal pressure explosion-proof system equipped with an inactive-gas/air supplying portion and an inactive-gas/air discharging portion is known. See for example, Japanese Patent No. 2796482 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”). According to this known design, an internal pressure of an internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism is monitored by a pressure detector, and a signal is sent to a protection monitoring device. The protection monitoring device is connected to a control apparatus of an internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism. If the internal pressure of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism in normal operation becomes lower than a predetermined value, the pressure detector detects the pressure drop and sends a signal to the protection monitoring device, and the control apparatus shuts down the power supply to the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism upon receipt of the signal from the protection monitoring device.
On the other hand, in a purging work which should be done at the time of the startup of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, the pressure detector sends a signal to the protection monitoring device if the internal pressure of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism becomes higher than a predetermined value. In this protection monitoring device, a timer is activated upon receipt of the signal and counts a time period during which the inactive-gas/air supplying portion can send inactive-gas/air of 5 times or more of the internal volume of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism. The abnormal detection of the internal pressure at the time of the normal operation and the method of the purging work are disclosed in the column of the prior art of Patent Document 1. In the invention disclosed by this patent, especially, for the purpose of simplifying the structure of the inactive-gas/air supplying portion and the inactive-gas/air discharging portion, it is configured to excite the electromagnetic valve for discharging the inactive-gas/air by the electric power sent to the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism.
An internal pressure explosion-proof system equipped with an inactive-gas/air discharging portion is also known by Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-62787 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 2”). In this design, the inactive-gas/air discharging portion is provided with a main piping for releasing the inactive-gas/air discharged from the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, and the reserve piping formed in parallel with the main piping separately is formed. When the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism becomes abnormally high in internal pressure for some reasons, the inactive-gas/air is released from a valve provided to the reserve piping to decrease the pressure of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, to thereby to protect the inactive-gas/air discharging portion provided in the main piping.
The invention proposed by Patent Document 1 or the prior art technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 fail to disclose any means or solution to cope with the case in which the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism is increased in internal pressure due to, e.g., troubles of the inactive-gas/air supplying portion, etc., not during the purging operation but during the normal operation.
Furthermore, in the invention disclosed by Patent Document 2, although the inactive-gas/air is released automatically when the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism is increased in internal pressure and therefore the pressure of the reserve piping provided separately from the main piping becomes higher than a predetermined pressure, no means for warning a user the high-pressure abnormality is provided. In other words, in the invention disclosed by Patent document 2, a spare discharging piping is required apart from the main piping. Furthermore, the pressure in the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism is decreased automatically, and since no means for notifying it of a user, the user cannot recognize the abnormality. In other words, no means for urging the maintenance and/or repair check was available, causing unnecessary releasing of the inactive-gas/air, which in turn becomes loads to the supplying source (e.g., compressor) of the inactive-gas/air.
The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. Indeed, certain features of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages, while still retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been developed in view of the above-mentioned and/or other problems in the related art. The preferred embodiments of the present invention can significantly improve upon existing methods and/or apparatuses.
Among other potential advantages, some embodiments provide an internal pressure explosion-proof system capable of detecting high-pressure abnormality of an internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism and notifying a user of the detected high-pressure abnormality.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an internal pressure explosion-proof system includes an internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism to be installed in a hazardous atmosphere, wherein the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism has an internal pressure chamber to which inactive-gas/air is supplied. It also includes a control apparatus installed in a non-hazardous atmosphere to control the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, an inactive-gas/air supplying portion configured to supply inactive-gas/air to the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, an inactive-gas/air discharging portion configured to release the inactive-gas/air discharged from the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism, a high-pressure abnormality detector configured to send a signal to the control apparatus when an internal pressure of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism becomes higher than a predetermined pressure, and an alarm configured to give warning when the signal of the high-pressure abnormality of the high-pressure abnormality detector is received.
With this internal pressure explosion-proof system, for example, high-pressure abnormality of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism can be detected, and the high-pressure abnormality can be notified to a user. Furthermore, excessive internal pressure can be reduced by releasing the inactive-gas/air. This allows immediate recognition of the abnormality by the user, and results in a quick check of the inactive-gas/air apparatus, etc. Moreover, the inactive-gas/air apparatus and/or the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism can be prevented from being damaged by high pressure. Accordingly, stable operation of the internal pressure explosion-proof system can be realized.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the high-pressure abnormality detector can be provided in the discharging portion.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the alarm can be equipped in the control apparatus.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the high-pressure abnormality detector can be a pressure detector.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the high-pressure abnormality detector can be a flow detector.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the high-pressure abnormality detector can be a pressure regulating valve equipped with a switch which releases inactive-gas/air and sends a signal when detected pressure reaches a predetermined value or above.
Further, in the internal pressure explosion-proof system, it is preferable that the control apparatus makes the alarm generate a warning and also makes the inactive-gas/air discharging portion release inactive-gas/air in the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism when the control apparatus receives the signal of the high-pressure abnormality from the high-pressure abnormality detector.
In the internal pressure explosion-proof system, the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism can be a robot.
The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of various embodiments will be further appreciated in view of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Various embodiments can include and/or exclude different aspects, features and/or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments can combine one or more aspect or feature of other embodiments where applicable. The descriptions of aspects, features and/or advantages of particular embodiments should not be construed as limiting other embodiments or the claims.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures, in which:
In the following paragraphs, some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example and not limitation. It should be understood based on this disclosure that various other modifications can be made by those in the art based on these illustrated embodiments.
The manipulator 2 and the inactive-gas/air discharging portion 7 are installed in a hazardous atmosphere partitioned, for example, by a partition wall in which the control cable 4 and the inactive-gas/air piping 5 is penetrated. Other apparatuses other than the above, such as the control apparatus 1 and the inactive-gas/air supplying portion 3, are installed in a non-hazardous atmosphere.
In the above structure, the control apparatus 1 controls the manipulator 2 through the control cable 4.
To maintain a pressure of the internal pressure chamber in the manipulator 2 so as to be higher than the atmospheric pressure of the hazardous atmosphere, inactive-gas/air is introduced into the internal pressure chamber via the inactive-gas/air piping 5 from the inactive-gas/air supplying portion 3. The introduced inactive-gas/air is discharged from the inactive-gas/air discharging portion 7 to the atmosphere.
As shown in
The pressure of the inactive-gas/air introduced from the inactive-gas/air supply source is decompressed into a common pressure with the pressure regulator 32, and is decompressed into a purging pressure with the pressure regulator 33. Therefore, the inactive-gas/air to be supplied to the manipulator 2 is changed into a normal pressure and a purging pressure through the electromagnetic valve 35. The purging pressure is adjusted so as to be higher than the normal pressure. In the same manner, the pressure of the inactive-gas/air introduced from the inactive-gas/air supply source is decompressed with the pressure regulator 34 to a pressure which operates the open valve 73.
On the other hand, the inactive-gas/air discharging portion 7 is equipped with a pressure detector 71 in the middle portion of the inactive-gas/air piping 6 for introducing the inactive-gas/air discharged from the manipulator 2. Also equipped in the middle portion of the inactive-gas/air piping 6 are a pressure detector 72 portion which is a high-pressure abnormality detector and a pressure regulating valve 74. At the end of the piping 6, an open valve 73 is equipped. This open valve 73 is operated by the inactive-gas/air supplied by the inactive-gas/air piping 5.
The pressure detector 71 sends a signal to the control apparatus 1 when the pressure of the inactive-gas/air flowing through the inactive-gas/air piping 6 becomes lower than the set pressure. The set pressure of the pressure detector 71 is set to be slightly lower than a normal pressure. The pressure detector 72 sends a signal to the control apparatus 1 when the inactive-gas/air flowing through the inactive-gas/air piping 6 becomes higher than the set pressure. The set pressure of the pressure detector 72 is set to be slightly higher than the normal pressure. The pressure regulating valve 74 is opened automatically mechanically when the inactive-gas/air flowing through the inactive-gas/air piping 6 becomes higher than the set pressure to release the inactive-gas/air into the atmosphere. The set pressure for activating the pressure regulating valve 74 is set to be slightly higher than the set pressure of the pressure detector 72. The open valve 73 is activated when inactive-gas/air is supplied from the inactive-gas/air piping 6, to release the inactive-gas/air flowing through the inactive-gas/air piping 6 into the atmosphere.
The control apparatus 1 is equipped with at least an I/O unit 12 which receives the signal sent from the pressure detectors 71 and 72, a processing unit 11, such as a CPU, and an alarm 9. The I/O unit 12 is also connected to the electromagnetic valves 35 and 36 to control the operation thereof. The processing unit 11, or the CPU, is connected to the I/O unit 12 to exchange signals therebetween. The alarm 9 is, for example, a warning lamp or a buyer To notify the user of this system of abnormality in response to the signal of the high-pressure abnormality sent from the pressure detector 72, a warning lamp as the alarm 9, for example, is turned on through the I/O unit 12 and the processing unit 11. The alarm 9 is provided independently as mentioned above. Usually, a manual-operation system, such as a teaching pendant for manually operating the manipulator 2, is connected to the control apparatus 1. Thus, it can be considered that this warning is displayed on such a manual-operation system.
This embodiment is different from the previous system in that the pressure detector 72 is provided in the inactive-gas/air discharging portion 7 in addition to the pressure detector 71 and the alarm 9 is provided at the control apparatus 1 so as to notify a user of high-pressure abnormality by an abnormal signal from the pressure detector 72.
Now, the operation of the aforementioned system will be explained with reference to examples in the flowcharts shown in
First, an example of an operation in a purging mode is explained with reference to the flowchart shown in
Next, the operation mode example shown in
Next, an internal pressure abnormal mode is explained with reference to the flowchart shown in
Next, a warning mode example is explained with reference to the flowchart shown in
In each of the above embodiments, when a signal of the high-pressure abnormality detector is sent to the control apparatus 1, it can be configured such that the mode shifts to an internal pressure abnormal mode in place of the warning mode.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention is explained below. Since the structure is similar as in Example 1, the explanation is made with reference to
Here, for example, because the inactive-gas/air supplied to the manipulator 2 is discharged from the open valve 73, it can be configured such that the pressure regulating valve 74 is omitted. As the secondary effects, the space-saving and cost reduction of the air discharging portion 7 can be realized.
A fifth embodiment of the present invention is explained below. Since the structure is the same as in Example 2, the explanation is made with reference to
In operation, as shown in
A sixth embodiment of the present invention is explained below. Since the structure is the same as in Example 3, the explanation is made with reference to
In operation, as shown in
In the above embodiments 4, 5, and 6, for example, when the signal of the high-pressure abnormality detector is sent to the control apparatus 1 and shifts to a warning mode, it can be configured such that the mode shifts to a high pressure abnormal mode in place of the warning mode. The operation in the high pressure abnormality mode is shown, for example, in the flowchart of
Although the inactive-gas/air discharging portion 7 is installed in the hazardous atmosphere in the aforementioned six embodiments, it can be configured such that the discharging portion 7 can be installed in a non-hazardous atmosphere.
As explained above, in the aforementioned embodiments, it is configured such that the system can detect the occurrence of abnormality in the inactive-gas/air passages in the system and the excessive internal pressure of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism such as a manipulator and the excess of the internal pressure is outputted as information that a person can recognize. When abnormality of the inactive-gas/air apparatus occurs and the internal pressure chamber of the internal pressure explosion-proof mechanism becomes high in pressure, the information is sent to a user, which enables the user to perform the check of the inactive-gas/air apparatus assuredly. Moreover, as a result, it becomes possible to stably operate the robot system having an internal pressure explosion-proof structure.
Although the aforementioned embodiments are directed to a robot system, the present invention can be applied to any system having an internal pressure explosion-proof structure equipped with a means for releasing an excessive internal pressure to an atmosphere via an open valve.
While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein and/or illustrated herein.
While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferred embodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodiments having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the present disclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limited to.” In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited; and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are not recited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may be used as a reference to one or more aspect within the present disclosure. The language present invention or invention should not be improperly interpreted as an identification of criticality, should not be improperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments (i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a number of aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted as limiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment” can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, any combination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples, various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this case, the following abbreviated terminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example;” and “NB” which means “note well.”
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-121821 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |
| 2006-101374 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060250025 A1 | Nov 2006 | US |
