JPH1121841A - Snow melting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent the useless operation by forgetting the stop of a boiler additionally operated without constraining an operator to a snow melting side by operating the boiler to heat a snow melting object when snow is detected by a snow sensor, and additionally operating the boiler for a prescribed time after the stop of the boiler. SOLUTION: When a snow sensor 1 detects snow, operation of a boiler 2 is started. When no snow is detected thereafter, the boiler 2 is stopped after the lapse of a delay operation time T1. When an additional operation switch is then ON after the stop of the boiler 2, the additional operation of the boiler 2 is started, and the boiler 2 is stopped after the lapse of an additional operation time T2. When the additional operation switch is ON during the delay operation of the boiler 2, the delay operation time T1 is changed to the length of the sum of the initial set time and the additional operation time T2, and after the lapse of the resulting delay operation time T1, the boiler 2 is stopped. At that time, the residual time of the delay operation time T1 and the additional operation time T2 is displayed on a display part 3d.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a snow melting apparatus for removing snow accumulated on a road or the like in a snowfall area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a snow melting apparatus installed on a road in a snowfall area, for example, includes a hot water pipe buried on a road surface, a boiler for flowing hot water through the hot water pipe, and a snowfall sensor for detecting snowfall. When the snowfall sensor detects snowfall, the boiler is driven, and when the snowfall sensor no longer detects snowfall, the boiler is stopped.
In this case, after the snowfall is no longer detected by the snowfall sensor, the boiler is operated by delaying for a predetermined time,
I try to remove the remaining snow.

[0003]

However, since the delayed operation of the boiler is set to a fixed time, when the amount of snow accumulated is large, it may not be possible to completely melt the snow even by the delayed operation of the boiler. In this case, the boiler is forcibly operated until the snow melting is completed.However, in the forced operation, the boiler has to be stopped artificially, so that the operator forgets to stop and the boiler is operated wastefully, Alternatively, there is a problem in that the operator is restrained at the snow melting site in order to prevent forgetting to stop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a snow melting apparatus that can reliably prevent a heating unit from being forgotten to stop.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the present invention comprises a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall and a heating means for heating an object to be melted by snow. In a snow melting apparatus configured to operate the heating means when snowfall is detected, the snow melting apparatus further includes a control means for arbitrarily operating the heating means for a predetermined length of additional operation time after the heating means is stopped. Thus, since the heating means is arbitrarily operated for the additional operation time of a predetermined length, there is no need to artificially stop the additionally operated heating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, and a heating means for heating a snowmelt object,
When snowfall is detected by the snowfall detection means, the operation of the heating means is started, and after a delay operation time of a predetermined length elapses after snowfall is no longer detected by the snowfall detection means, the heating means is stopped. The snow melting apparatus includes a control means for arbitrarily operating the heating means for a predetermined length of additional operation time during the delayed operation or after the heating means is stopped. Thus, since the heating means is arbitrarily operated for the additional operation time of a predetermined length, there is no need to artificially stop the additionally operated heating means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the snow melting apparatus according to the second aspect, further comprising a delay operation time setting means capable of setting the delay operation time to an arbitrary length. This allows
In addition to the function of claim 2, the delay operation time of the heating means can be set to an arbitrary length according to snowfall conditions and the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the snow melting apparatus according to the second or third aspect, an additional operation time setting means capable of setting the additional operation time to an arbitrary length is provided. Thereby, in addition to the effect of the second or third aspect, the additional operation time of the heating means can be set to an arbitrary length according to snowfall conditions and the like.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the snow melting apparatus according to the fourth aspect, when the delayed operation time is set, the additional operation time setting means for setting the additional operation time to a time corresponding to the set time of the delayed operation. Have. Thereby, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, since the additional operation time is set according to the set time of the delayed operation, the additional operation time is always automatically set to an appropriate time.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the snow melting apparatus according to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, further comprising a display means for displaying the delay operation time and the remaining time of the additional operation time. Thus, in addition to the operation of the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the remaining time of the delayed operation time and the additional operation time is displayed, so that the operator can easily confirm the remaining time of the heating means.

[0011]

1 to 5 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a snow melting apparatus, FIG. 2 is a front view of an operation panel, and FIG. 3 is an operation of a control unit. 4 and 5 are time charts showing the operation of the snow melting apparatus.

This snow melting apparatus includes a snowfall sensor 1 for detecting snowfall, a boiler 2 for heating an object to be melted, an operation panel 3 for operating the boiler 2, and a control unit 4 for controlling the operation of the boiler 2. It is composed of

The snowfall sensor 1 has a well-known structure for detecting snowfall based on the moisture attached to a snow plate (not shown) and the outside air temperature, and is installed near a snowmelt target.

The boiler 2 is connected to, for example, a hot water pipe buried in a road as a snow melting object, and heats the snow melting object by flowing hot water through the hot water pipe. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a hot water boiler is used as the heating means. However, the heating means may be a heater such as a heating wire.

The operation panel 3 includes a delay time setting switch 3a for setting a delay operation time of the boiler 2, an additional operation switch 3b for performing an additional operation of the boiler 2, and an additional time setting switch for setting an additional operation time of the boiler 2. 3c and a display unit 3d for displaying the set time. The delay time setting switch 3a switches the delay time stepwise to a plurality of set times, and the set time at the time of operation is displayed on the display unit 3d. The additional operation switch 3b is turned ON by a pressing operation, and can be operated after the boiler 2 is stopped or during the delayed operation. The additional time setting switch 3c allows the setting time to be changed by a single pressing operation. The time displayed on the display unit 3d can be changed to an arbitrary time by the change button 3e, and the new setting can be performed by pressing again. The time is fixed. The display unit 3d is linked to a timer (not shown) and displays the remaining time of the delay time and the additional time. The change of the set time by the additional time setting switch 3c can be performed in a manner similar to that of the delay time setting switch 3a, such that the time is switched stepwise to a plurality of predetermined set times or the switch is pressed a plurality of times. Alternatively, the prescribed set time may be multiplied by the number of times of pressing.

The control unit 4 comprises a microcomputer stored in the operation panel 3, and is connected to the snowfall sensor 1, the boiler 2, the delay time setting switch 3a, the additional operation switch 3b, the additional time setting switch 3c, and the display unit 3d. I have.

In the snow melting apparatus configured as described above, the operation of the boiler 2 is controlled by the control unit 4 as follows. That is, the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in the time chart, when snowfall is detected by the snowfall sensor 1 (S1), the operation of the boiler 2 is started (S2). Thereafter, if snowfall is no longer detected (S3), after the delay operation time T1 has elapsed (S4),
The boiler 2 is stopped (S5). Here, as shown in FIG. 4, when the additional operation switch is turned on after the boiler 2 is stopped (S6), the additional operation of the boiler 2 is started (S7), and after the additional operation time T2 has elapsed (S8). Then, the boiler 2 is stopped (S9). When the additional operation switch is turned on during the delayed operation of the boiler 2 as shown in FIG.
0), the delay operation time T1 is changed to a length obtained by adding the additional operation time T2 to the initial set time (S11), and after the delay operation time T1 has elapsed (S4), the boiler 2 is stopped (S11).
5). At this time, the delay operation time T1 and the additional operation time T2
Is displayed on the display unit 3d.
The remaining operation time of the boiler 2 is easily confirmed by the operator.

As described above, according to the snow melting apparatus of the present embodiment, the additional operation switch is turned on after the boiler 2 is stopped or during the delayed operation, so that the additional operation of the boiler 2 is performed for a predetermined time. In addition, it is not necessary to stop the additionally operated boiler 2 artificially, and wasteful operation due to forgetting to stop the boiler 2 can be reliably prevented. Also,
Delay time setting switch 3a and additional time setting switch 3
The length of the delayed operation time and the length of the additional operation time can be arbitrarily changed by the operation of c. Therefore, even when the amount of snowfall varies depending on the season or region, the delay operation and the additional operation of the boiler 2 are performed according to the snowfall conditions. Can always be performed accurately. In addition, since the remaining operation time of the delay operation time and the additional operation time are displayed, the remaining operation time of the boiler 2 can be easily grasped. For example, the operator can determine the amount of remaining snow and the remaining operation time. By performing the comparison, the additional operation time can always be set accurately.

In the above embodiment, the additional operation time can be arbitrarily set by the additional time setting switch 3c. However, if the delay operation time is set by the delay time setting switch 3a, for example, 設定 is set to the set time. By setting the additional operation time according to the set time of the delay operation, such as setting the multiplied time as the additional operation time,
The additional operation time may always be automatically set to an appropriate time.

[0020]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is not necessary to artificially stop the additionally operated heating means, so that the heating operation can be performed without restraining the operator at the snow melting site. It is possible to reliably prevent useless operation due to forgetting to stop the means.

According to the snow melting apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the delayed operation time of the heating means can be set to an arbitrary length. Even in this case, the delayed operation of the heating means can always be performed accurately in accordance with the snowfall conditions.

According to the snow melting apparatus of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the second or third aspect, the additional operation time of the heating means can be set to an arbitrary length, so that the amount of snowfall depends on the season or region. Even in the case of different, the additional operation of the heating means can always be accurately performed according to the snowfall condition.

According to the snow melting apparatus of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect, the additional operation time can be automatically set to an appropriate time at all times in accordance with the set time of the delayed operation. Can be easily and reliably performed.

According to the snow melting apparatus of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effects of the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the remaining operation time of the heating means can be easily confirmed. By comparing the amount of remaining snow with the remaining driving time, the additional driving time can always be set accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a snow melting apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the snow melting device;

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the snow melting device;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Snowfall sensor, 2 ... Boiler, 3d ... Display part, 4 ... Control part.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Mutsumi Murakami, Sanden Stock Company, 20 Kotobukicho, Isesaki-shi, Gunma

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A snow melting apparatus comprising: a snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall; and a heating means for heating a snowmelting object, wherein when the snowfall detecting means detects snowfall, the heating means is operated. A snow melting apparatus comprising: a control unit for arbitrarily operating the heating unit for a predetermined length of additional operation time after the heating unit is stopped. 2. A snowfall detecting means for detecting snowfall, and a heating means for heating a snow-melting object, wherein when snowfall is detected by the snowfall detecting means, the operation of the heating means is started,
In a snow melting apparatus configured to stop a heating unit after a delay operation time of a predetermined length has elapsed after snowfall is no longer detected by the snowfall detection unit, the heating unit is controlled to a predetermined time during the delay operation or after the heating unit is stopped. A snow melting apparatus comprising a control means for arbitrarily operating the vehicle for an additional operating time of a length. 3. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a delay operation time setting means capable of setting the delay operation time to an arbitrary length. 4. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an additional operation time setting means capable of setting the additional operation time to an arbitrary length. 5. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an additional operation time setting means for setting the additional operation time to a time corresponding to the set time of the delay operation when the delayed operation time is set. . 6. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying the remaining time of the delayed operation time and the additional operation time.