JP2002255494A - Clinometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clinometer capable of enlarging and displaying a limited area only by a mechanical means. SOLUTION: This clinometer 9 displays an inclination angle of an object 7. The clinometer body 13 comprises a display plate 16 with a scale; an indicator 17 indicating the inclination angle on the display plate 16; an indicator shaft 18 holding the indicator 17; and a mechanical indicator rotating mechanism 22 for mechanically rotating the indicator shaft 18. The mechanical indictor rotating mechanism 22 is provided with a display angle limiting mechanism 25 for limiting a display angle of the indicator 17 to a given range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inclinometer for displaying the angle of a fork of a forklift, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Forklifts are widely used as working vehicles for loading and unloading luggage. Such a forklift is provided with a structure capable of changing the angle of the fork together with the lifter in order to allow unloading even if the load is inclined. For example, the inclination angle of the lifter is set to 6 ° forward, 12 ° backward.

Accordingly, a forklift is provided with an inclinometer for displaying the angle of the lifter or fork. This inclinometer does not display the tilt angle of the lifter over the whole area in terms of visibility and operability.
A limited area limited to a range of ± 4 to 4 ° is enlarged and displayed.

Conventionally, an inclinometer for enlarging and displaying a limited area has conventionally been constructed using electrical means in terms of easiness of realization.

[0005]

However, in the conventional inclinometer using the electric means, an angle sensor for detecting the angle of the lifter, a movement for rotating the hands on the display plate, and an indication area for the hands are provided. Since a large number of expensive electric components such as restrictors are used, there is a problem that the cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inclinometer capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and enlarging and displaying a limited area only by mechanical means.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an inclinometer for displaying an inclination angle of an object, wherein the inclinometer main body has a scale. Plate, a pointer for indicating a tilt angle on the display plate,
A pointer shaft for holding the pointer, and a mechanical pointer rotation mechanism for mechanically rotating the pointer shaft, wherein the mechanical pointer rotation mechanism restricts the display angle of the pointer to a required range. It is characterized by having a limiting mechanism.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the limited area can be enlarged and displayed only by mechanical means by the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism having the display angle limiting mechanism. Become. Therefore, an inclinometer capable of enlarging and displaying the limited area can be obtained at low cost.

In the invention described in claim 2, the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism includes a pointer shaft gear provided on a pointer shaft,
A gear mechanism that drives the pointer shaft gear, a cord connected between the object and the gear mechanism, and a tension applying elastic body that applies a required tension to the cord. A gear mechanism, an input gear meshing with the pointer shaft gear, is loosely fitted coaxially with the input gear, and has the one end connected to the cord-like body, and the other end connected to the inclinometer main body. A rotating mechanism interposed with the tension applying elastic body, wherein the display angle limiting mechanism rotates the input gear by rotating the rotating mechanism in the cord pulling direction, and an interlocking mechanism. A stopper for restricting rotation of the rotator beyond a required range in a direction in which the cord is pulled, and restricting rotation of the input gear in a direction in which the cord is relaxed in a direction in which the cord is relaxed; and a gear mechanism. A tension-side dead zone bullet having a greater tension than the tension-providing elastic body interposed in the entrance portion of And body, is characterized in that a slack side deadband elastic member having a small initial tension than the tensioning elastic body interposed between the input gear and the turning member.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the rope is pulled, the rotator is rotated in the rope pulling direction, and the input gear is moved through the interlocking mechanism. It is rotated in the cord pulling direction. As a result, the pointer shaft gear,
The pointer rotates in the forward tilt instruction area via the pointer shaft.

When the rotator rotates to the limit within the forward tilt instruction area, the rotator contacts the stopper, restricting the rotation of the rotator and stopping the rotation of the input gear. Thus, it is possible to prevent the pointer from swinging beyond the forward tilt instruction area. That is, it is possible to mechanically create a dead zone. If the cord is further pulled in this state, the rotator does not move, and only the tension-side dead zone elastic body is extended. At this time, since the tension side dead band elastic body has a larger tension than the tension applying elastic body, it is not actuated until the rotator is restricted by the stopper, and the forward tilt instruction is given. It does not affect the movement of the pointer in the area.

On the other hand, when the cord is relaxed, the rotating element is rotated in the cord-relaxing direction by the action of the tension applying elastic body, and the input gear is cord-shaped by the relaxation side dead zone elastic body. It is rotated in the body relaxation direction. Thus, the pointer rotates in the backward tilt instruction area via the pointer shaft gear and the pointer shaft.

When the rotator rotates to the limit within the backward tilt instruction area, the input gear contacts the stopper, and the rotation of the input gear is restricted. Thus, the pointer can be prevented from swinging beyond the backward tilt instruction area. That is, it is possible to mechanically create a dead zone. If the cord is further relaxed in this state, the input gear does not move, and only the rotator is rotated in the cord relaxing direction against the elastic body for the relaxation side dead zone. At this time, the elastic body for the relaxation side dead zone
Since the input gear has an initial tension smaller than that of the tension applying elastic body, the input gear is reliably activated after being restricted by the stopper, thereby preventing the cable-shaped body from sagging.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the structure will be described. In FIG.
Denotes a forklift, and the forklift 1 includes a lifter 3 at a front portion of the traveling unit 2. The lifter 3 includes a substantially vertical mast 4 and an elevating body 5 that can move up and down along the mast 4. A fork 6 extends substantially horizontally forward from a lower portion of the elevating body 5.

The lower end of the mast 4 is pivotally supported by the elevating body 5 so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction.
A tilting device 7 such as a tilt cylinder capable of tilting the mast 4 back and forth is interposed between them. The inclination angle of the mast 4 is set, for example, to 6 ° forward, 12 ° backward.

An inclinometer 9 according to this embodiment is attached to the driver's seat 8 of the traveling section 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the inclinometer 9 is set so as to be able to enlarge and display a limited area 12 limited to, for example, a forward tilt instruction area 10 of 4 ° and a backward tilt instruction area 11 of 4 °. .
An area exceeding this range is set to be a dead zone.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inclinometer 9 includes an inclinometer main body 13 having a substantially cylindrical container shape. The inclinometer main body 13 has a cover 14 that can be opened. The cover surface of the cover 14 is made of a transparent glass 15. A display plate 16 having a scale is disposed in the inclinometer main body 13 substantially in parallel with the glass 15 at an interval. A display plate 16 is provided between the display plate 16 and the glass 15.
A pointer 17 for indicating the inclination angle is provided above. The pointer 17 is attached to a pointer shaft 18. The pointer shaft 18 penetrates the display plate 16 and the bottom 19 of the inclinometer main body 13.
And a support plate 21 attached to the bottom 19 via a support 20. A mechanical pointer rotating mechanism 22 that mechanically rotates the pointer shaft 18 is provided inside the inclinometer main body 13. The lid 14 has a positioning needle 2 coaxially arranged with the pointer 17.
An adjustment knob 24 that can adjust 3 is provided.

The mechanical pointer rotating mechanism 22 is provided with a display angle limiting mechanism 25 for limiting the display angle of the pointer 17 to a required range (limited area 12), as described later.

The mechanical pointer rotating mechanism 22 includes the pointer shaft 1.
8, a pointer gear 26, a gear mechanism 27 for driving the pointer shaft gear 26, a tilt device 7 (object) such as a tilt cylinder used as a reference for detecting the tilt of the mast 4, and a gear mechanism. 27, and a tensioning elastic body 29 such as a constant load spring for applying a required tension to the rope 28.

The gear mechanism 27 includes an input gear 30 such as a sector gear meshing with the pointer shaft gear 26 and an input gear 30.
And a rotator 32 loosely fitted on the same shaft 31. A cord 28 is connected to one end of the rotator 32 via a small link 33 and a pulley 34 for changing the direction. A tension applying elastic body 29 is interposed between the other end of the rotator 32 and the inclinometer main body 13.

The display angle limiting mechanism 25 includes a pivot 32
Is provided with an interlocking mechanism 36 for rotating the input gear 30 by rotation of the input gear 30 in the cord-like body pulling direction 35. The interlocking mechanism 36 has an arc-shaped elongated hole 37 formed around the shaft 31 formed in the rotor 32, a guide pin 38 inserted through the elongated hole and fixed at one end to the input gear 30. It has. In addition, the display angle limiting mechanism 25 restricts the rotation of the rotator 32 beyond the required range in the rope pulling direction 35 and rotates the input gear 30 in the rope relaxing direction 39 beyond the required range. A stopper 40 for regulating movement is provided. It should be noted that strikers 41 and 42 that come into contact with the stopper 40 are provided from the rotator 32 and the input gear 30. A tension-side dead zone elastic body 43 such as a constant load spring having a larger tension than the tension applying elastic body 29 is interposed in the entry portion of the gear mechanism 27, for example, in the middle of the cord 28. ing. Elastic body 4 for tension side dead zone
3 is a casing 4 attached to the bottom of the inclinometer main body 13.
5. Further, between the input gear 30 (the other end of the guide pin 38) and the rotator 32, a relaxation side dead zone elastic body 44 such as a tension spring (coil spring) having a smaller tension than the tension applying elastic body 29. Is interposed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the tilting device 7 such as a tilt cylinder is extended, the mast 4 of the forklift 1 tilts forward. Conversely, when the tilting device 7 such as a tilt cylinder contracts and moves, the mast 4 of the forklift 1 tilts backward. Thereby, the angle of the fork 6 can be changed.

When the mast 4 is tilted forward, the tilting device 7 such as a tilt cylinder is rotated downward, and the cord 28 such as a wire is pulled. Conversely, when the mast 4 is tilted backward, the tilting device 7 such as a tilt cylinder is rotated upward, and the cord 28 such as a wire is relaxed.

Here, when the cord 28 such as a wire is pulled, a constant load spring of the tension applying elastic body 29 is extended, and when the cord 28 such as a wire is relaxed, tension is applied. The constant load spring of the applying elastic body 29 is retracted, so that the rope 28
Is always kept at a substantially constant tension.

When the rope 28 such as a wire is pulled, the rotator 32 is rotated in the rope pulling direction 35, and the input gear 30 is moved in the rope pulling direction 35 via the interlocking mechanism 36. It is turned. Thus, the pointer 17 rotates in the forward tilt instruction area 10 via the pointer shaft gear 26 and the pointer shaft 18.

When the rotator 32 rotates to the limit within the forward tilt instruction area 10, the striker 41 of the rotator 32 contacts the stopper 40, and the rotation of the rotator 32 is restricted.
The rotation of the input gear 30 stops. Thereby, the pointer 17
Can be prevented from swinging beyond the forward tilt instruction area 10. That is, it is possible to mechanically create a dead zone. If the cord 28 such as a wire is further pulled in this state, only the tension-side dead zone elastic body 43 such as a constant-load spring is extended without moving the rotator 32. At this time, since the tension side dead zone elastic body 43 has a larger tension than the tension applying elastic body 29, the tension side dead band elastic body 43 is not actuated until the rotator 32 is restricted by the stopper 40. , Pointer 1 in forward leaning instruction area 10
7 does not affect the swing.

On the other hand, when the cord 28 such as a wire is relaxed, the rotator 32 is rotated in the cord member relaxing direction 39 by the action of the tension applying elastic body 29, and the elastic body for the relaxation side dead zone is provided. The input gear 30 is moved by the body 44 so that the cord-shaped body
Is rotated. Thereby, the pointer shaft gear 26, the pointer shaft 1
The pointer 17 rotates in the rearward tilt instruction area 11 via 8.

When the rotator 32 rotates to the limit in the rearward tilt instructing area 11, the striker 42 of the input gear 30 comes into contact with the stopper 40, and the rotation of the input gear 30 is restricted. Thereby, the pointer 17 can be prevented from swinging beyond the backward tilt instruction area 11. That is, it is possible to mechanically create a dead zone. If the cord 28 such as a wire is further relaxed in this state, the input gear 30 does not move, and only the rotator 32 acts against the relaxed-side dead zone elastic body 44 such as a tension spring (coil spring). The body is rotated in the body relaxing direction 39. At this time, since the relaxation side dead zone elastic body 44 has a smaller tension than the tension applying elastic body 29, the input gear 30 is surely activated after the input gear 30 is restricted by the stopper 40, and the wire gear or the like is formed. The body 28 is prevented from sagging.

According to this embodiment, the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism 22 having the display angle limiting mechanism 25 allows the limited area 12 to be enlarged and displayed only by mechanical means. Therefore, the inclinometer 9 that can enlarge and display the limited area 12 can be obtained at low cost.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Included in this invention.

For example, the device to which the inclinometer 9 is applied is not limited to the forklift 1, and the inclination angle of the lifter 3 is as follows.
The display area of the inclinometer 9 is not limited to the forward tilt 6 ° and the backward tilt 12 °, and the display area of the inclinometer 9 is not limited to the forward tilt 4 ° and the backward tilt 4 °.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the limited area can be enlarged and displayed only by mechanical means by the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism having the display angle limiting mechanism. Therefore, a practically useful effect that an inclinometer capable of enlarging and displaying the limited area can be obtained at low cost can be exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a forklift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the inclinometer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lower part of a display plate of the inclinometer of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view having a phase difference of 90 ° from FIG. 4 of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 Object (tilt device such as tilt cylinder) 9 Inclinometer 13 Inclinometer main body 16 Display plate 17 Pointer 18 Pointer shaft 22 Mechanical pointer rotating mechanism 25 Display angle limiting mechanism 26 Pointer shaft gear 27 Gear mechanism 28 Cable body 29 Elastic body for applying tension 30 Input gear 32 Rotator 36 Interlocking mechanism 39 Relaxing direction of cord-like body 40 Stopper 43 Elastic body for tension side dead zone 44 Elastic body for relaxation side dead zone

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akio Irzawa 1230 Kosari Shinjuku, Ina-machi, Kita-Adachi-gun, Saitama Prefecture Inside Nissei Engineering Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3F333 AA02 AB13 BB02 CA24 FA36 FD08 FG01

Claims (2)

[Claims] An inclinometer for displaying an inclination angle of an object, wherein the inclinometer main body has a display plate having a scale, a pointer for indicating the inclination angle on the display plate, and a pointer for holding the pointer. Axis and
A mechanical pointer rotating mechanism for mechanically rotating the pointer shaft, wherein the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism includes a display angle limiting mechanism for limiting a display angle of the pointer to a required range. Inclinometer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical pointer rotating mechanism includes a pointer shaft gear provided on the pointer shaft, a gear mechanism for driving the pointer shaft gear, and a cable connected between the object and the gear mechanism. And an input gear meshed with the pointer shaft gear, and a loose fit coaxially with the input gear. A rotatable member having the tension member elastic body interposed between the other end and the inclinometer main body, while the rope-shaped body is connected to one end side, and the display angle limiting mechanism is provided. An interlocking mechanism for rotating the input gear by rotating the rotatable member in the cord pulling direction,
A stopper that regulates rotation of the rotator beyond a required range in a direction in which the cord is pulled, and restricts rotation of the input gear in a direction in which the cord is relaxed in a direction in which the cord is relaxed; From the tension-side dead zone elastic body having a larger tension than the tension applying elastic body interposed on the entry side portion, and from the tension applying elastic body interposed between the input gear and the rotor. 2. The inclinometer according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic body for a relaxation side dead zone having a small initial tension.