JP5517218B2 - Illumination device for gas meter return button - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device for clarifying the position of a return button of a gas meter.

  If an abnormality is detected during use of the microcomputer gas meter, the shut-off valve is automatically closed. At that time, the LED (light emitting diode) blinks to inform the user that the shut-off valve is closed.

  When the microcomputer gas meter is to be used again, it is necessary to perform a recovery operation to open the shut-off valve by pressing the return button. However, the person who performs the restoration work for the first time may not be able to determine which is the return button. For this reason, there is a case where an operation picture card showing a recovery procedure with pictures and characters is attached to the microcomputer gas meter.

  However, there are many places where microcomputer gas meters are generally difficult to see, and there are cases where no lighting is installed in such places. Therefore, after sunset, it is dark and it becomes difficult to see the operation picture card. In such a case, if the shut-off valve closes, you will call the gas company and be told the procedure of the recovery work. However, it is not easy to tell the exact position of the return button on the phone. Therefore, it is desirable to make the position of the return button easy to understand.

  6 and 7 show a conventional general microcomputer gas meter. In this example, the return button and the LED are arranged at a considerably separated position, and the LED and the return button are clearly partitioned by the gas meter main body.

In such an example, if the shut-off valve is closed and the LED is flashing, in the dark, the operator's attention is directed to the light-emitting LED and the presence of the return button is unaware.
Moreover, since the LED is small and blinks in consideration of battery consumption (it repeats lighting for a short time of several tens of milliseconds every few seconds), it is difficult to focus the eyes, and the sense of distance is difficult. It's hard to grab.
In the case of the above example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the light from the LED was only visible from a range of about 100 degrees in a plan view.

  In addition, as a patent application for the purpose of making the position of the return button easy to understand, for example, in order to light the return button itself, an illumination that integrates a switch that opens the shut-off valve and a display lamp that flashes when the valve is opened. There is a type switch fixed to a printed circuit board, and a push button key (return button) made of a translucent material is provided in front of the illuminated switch so as to be able to advance and retreat.

Japanese Patent No. 4354032

  However, since the patent application illuminates the return button itself, it is possible to find the return button in the dark. On the other hand, when the finger is put on the return button, it becomes dark. Normally, in the microcomputer gas meter, when the return button is operated, the display lamp is lit for a certain period of time, indicating that the return signal has been input. However, if it becomes dark in the meantime, it cannot be determined that it is lit, so it cannot be determined whether the return operation has been performed normally. Therefore, it is desirable that the state of the display lamp can be visually grasped even in such a case.

  The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to visually grasp the presence of a return button even while the return button is being operated.

The present invention is provided with a shut-off valve that shuts off the passage of gas inside the gas meter main body, a return button that opens the shut-off valve from the outside is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the gas meter main body, and the shut-off valve is closed In this case, it is assumed that the light source emits light inside the gas meter main body, and that the light from the light source transmits to the outside through the light transmitting member attached to the through hole of the gas meter main body.

In the present invention, the light transmitting member is a button case surrounding the return button, and the button case is a single part, and is a cylindrical guide that guides light from the light source toward the front, which is the front. And a light-emitting part that emits light with light guided to the front of the guide part and spreading outward over the entire circumference of the guide part when viewed from the front, with the rear part at the front part Compared to the outer casing of the stepped shape which has a large step over its entire length, its front part is fitted and positioned in the through hole of the gas meter body, and is arranged in front of the guide part. And a light diffusing part that diffuses light guided from the guide part forward and around, and an accommodation hole that accommodates the return button so that the return button can be advanced and retracted at a position outside the guide part when viewed from the front. Features.

Further, it is desirable that a concave portion as a light diffusion portion is formed on the front surface of the light emitting portion, and the center of the concave portion coincides with the center of the guide portion cylinder.

Moreover, it is desirable that the recess is recessed in a tapered shape so that the inner diameter becomes narrower toward the back.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the light emitting portion has a vertically long shape extending in the up-down direction, in which a concave portion is formed in the upper portion and a receiving hole is formed in the lower portion.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the light emitting portion has a horizontally long shape extending in the left-right direction, and a recess is formed in one of the left and right portions, and an accommodation hole is formed in the other portion.

  According to the present invention, since the return button is housed in the light transmissive member as the button case, light is emitted in a wider area than the return button, so even when the fingertip is applied to the return button, Does not darken, and the presence of the return button can be visually grasped even while the return button is being operated. In addition, since the button case emits light, it is easier to focus on the eyes than the conventional case, it is easier to grasp the sense of distance, and it is possible to view in a wide angle range.

  Furthermore, if the button case is a diffusing lens that allows the light from the light source to pass through the front of the gas meter main body and diffuses it to the surroundings, the button case itself has a portion where the lightness of the light is generated, and the light is diffused and dark. By the part, the button case is visually recognized so as to rise more.

It is a front view which shows an example of the illuminating device for return buttons of the microcomputer gas meter of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which decomposed | disassembled the main components of the illuminating device for return buttons. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the illuminating device for return buttons of the microcomputer gas meter of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a button case. It is a top view which partially cuts off an example of the illuminating device for return buttons of the microcomputer gas meter of the present invention. It is a front view which shows an example of the conventional microcomputer gas meter (film | membrane type). It is a front view which shows an example of the conventional microcomputer gas meter (ultrasonic type). It is a top view which shows an example of the conventional microcomputer gas meter (film | membrane type) partly notched. It is a top view which shows a part of example of the conventional microcomputer gas meter (ultrasonic type) by notching.

  1 to 4 show an embodiment of a lighting device for a return button of a gas meter according to the present invention. The illuminating device in this embodiment includes, as main components, a return button 12, a button case 13 that accommodates the return button 12 so as to be able to advance and retreat, a case packing 11 that prevents rainwater from entering the button case 13, and a position of the return button 12. A rubber cap 14 as an elastic member for maintaining the position in place, an LED 17 as a light source, a switch 18 for opening a shut-off valve, a spacer 15 for transmitting the deformation of the rubber cap 14 to the rear, and a button case 13 The presser plate 16 is provided to fix the to the front body 92. Hereinafter, the structure of these main parts and the connection structure between the parts will be described.

  The case packing 11 has a rectangular plate shape.

  The return button 12 is made of a synthetic resin opaque material that does not transmit light. The return button 12 includes a disk-shaped button main body 21 and a rod-shaped fixing portion 22 that protrudes rearward from the center of the button main body 21.

  The rubber cap 14 includes a bulging portion 41 that swells in a bowl shape toward the front, and a ring-shaped connecting portion 42 that protrudes outward over the entire length of the outer periphery of the bulging portion 41.

  The button case 13 is a single part, that is, an integrally molded product of synthetic resin, and is formed of a light transmitting material. That is, it is a light transmission member. The button case 13 includes a guide portion 31 that guides light from the LED 17 toward the front, and a light emitting portion 32 that emits light that is guided forward from the guide portion 31.

  The guide portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape (cylindrical shape) extending in the front-rear direction, and the light from the LED 17 travels straight through the guide portion 31.

The light emitting unit 32 has a thick plate shape, and has a shape that spreads outward (left and right and up and down) from the guide unit 31 when viewed from the front. And the outer periphery has a track shape.
The rear part of such a track-shaped light emitting part 32 is a stepped outer flange part 32a whose outer circumference is larger than the front part over its entire length. On the other hand, through holes 11 a and 92 a are formed through the case packing 11 and the front body 92 of the gas meter main body portion 91 in the front-rear direction so as to correspond to the shape of the front portion of the light emitting portion 32. Therefore, the case packing 11 and the button case 13 are positioned with respect to the front body 92 by fitting the front portion of the light emitting portion 32 into the through holes 92 a and 11 a of the front body 92 and the case packing 11. In addition, below the through-hole 92a of the front body 92, in order to visually recognize the presence of the return button 12, a "return switch" or an "open switch" is indicated.

Further, a concave portion 33 as a light diffusing portion is formed on the front upper portion of the light emitting portion 32. The center of the concave portion 33 coincides with the center of the cylinder of the guide portion 31. In addition, the concave portion 33 is tapered, and a part of the light emitted from the LED 17 goes straight through the central portion of the concave portion 33, and the rest of the light hits the outer peripheral portion of the concave portion 33 and is diffused outside the concave portion 33. Accordingly, the concave portion 33 is brightly shined, and the outer peripheral side is shined darker than the concave portion 33. Therefore, the button case 13 including the light emitting unit 32 is a light diffusion lens.
The concave portion 33 is transparent, and fine frosted glass-like irregularities are formed on the front portion (front surface) of the light emitting portion 32. Therefore, the light which hits the outer peripheral part of the recessed part 33 and was diffused outside the recessed part 33 is reflected on the fine concavo-convex shape of the ground glass, thereby increasing the effect of shining the button case 13.

  Further, an accommodation hole 34 for accommodating the return button 12 so as to be able to advance and retreat is formed in the lower front portion of the light emitting portion 32 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. The accommodation hole 34 has a circular shape when viewed from the front, and has a stepped shape in which the diameter of the rear portion is reduced inwardly by being smaller than the diameter of the front portion. That is, the rear portion of the accommodation hole 34 is narrowed by the circular inner flange portion 34a protruding inward. The front portion of the accommodation hole 34 having a stepped shape is slightly larger than the button main body portion 21 of the return button 12, and the rear portion of the accommodation hole 34 substantially matches the shape of the bulging portion 41 of the rubber cap 14. It is as a size.

  In addition, when the light emitting unit 32 is viewed from the back, a circular groove 35 that is continuous over the entire circumference of the accommodation hole 34 is formed on the rear surface. The outer peripheral portion of the groove portion 35 is formed deeper than the inner peripheral portion. A circular engaging portion 42 a corresponding to the outer peripheral portion of the groove portion 35 is formed so as to protrude forward from the outer peripheral portion of the connecting portion 42 of the rubber cap 14. The rubber cap 14 is positioned on the button case 13 by fitting the engaging portion 42a into the outer peripheral portion of the groove portion 35. At this time, the front portion of the bulging portion 41 of the rubber cap 14 protrudes ahead of the inner flange portion 34a. It becomes a state to do.

  The bulging portion 41 of the rubber cap 14 has a receiving hole 41a that is recessed in the center of the front surface thereof. On the other hand, the front part (rear part) of the fixing part 22 of the return button 12 is larger in diameter than the other part (front part), and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the receiving hole 41a. Therefore, the return button 12 and the rubber cap 14 are connected by accommodating the front portion of the fixing portion 22 in the receiving hole 41a.

  A gap is formed between the button main body portion 21 of the connected return button 12 and the inner collar portion 34a that forms the outer periphery of the inner portion of the accommodation hole 34, and this gap causes the return button 12 to move backward. This is the interval at which movement is possible. And the spacer 15 is arrange | positioned at the back surface side of the bulging part 41 (receiving hole 41a) of the rubber cap 14 to which the return button 12 is fixed.

  The spacer 15 is a circular block in front view, and has a shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than the thickness of the presser plate 16.

  The presser plate 16 is formed with a second hole 62 that accommodates the spacer 15 so as to be able to advance and retreat, penetrating in the front-rear direction. In order to stably receive the spacer 15, the presser plate 16 is formed with a thick portion at the portion formed around the second hole 62. The formation position of the second hole 62 is also a position facing the valve opening switch 18. The spacer 15 accommodated in the presser plate 16 usually has a front portion protruding forward from the presser plate 16 and moves backward correspondingly when the return button 12 is retracted.

  Further, the presser plate 16 is formed with a first hole 61 penetrating in the front-rear direction above the second hole 62. The first hole 61 is inserted through the guide portion 31 of the button case 13 and is formed at a position facing the LED 17.

  Such a presser plate 16 is fixed to the front body 92. For this reason, small holes 63 for screwing are formed in the four corners of the presser plate 16 having a square shape when viewed from the front, and a female screw hole (not shown) is formed at a corresponding position on the rear surface of the front body 92. Is formed. Cutout portions 11b and 32b for fastening screws are also formed at the four corners of the rectangular case packing 11 and corresponding portions of the light emitting portion 32 (outer collar portion 32a) of the button case 13. By screwing the presser plate 16 to the front body 92, the outer packing 32a of the case packing 11 and the button case 13 is sandwiched between the presser plate 16 and the front body 92, and these parts are positioned and held. Is done. Further, the rubber cap 14 is sandwiched between the presser plate 16 and the light emitting portion 32 of the button case 13.

  In this manner, the case packing 11, the button case 13, the rubber cap 14, and the spacer 15 are attached by attaching the presser plate 16 to the front body 92 of the gas meter main body 91 serving as a housing. On the other hand, the LED 17 and the valve opening switch 18 are attached to the substrate 90 that fixes a microcomputer or the like that controls the microcomputer gas meter at an interval when viewed from the front.

  The gas meter main body 91 has a piping gas inlet 93 and a gas outlet 94 protruding from the upper portion thereof, and a flow path (not shown) connecting the gas inlet 93 and the gas outlet 94 is formed inside. In addition, a shut-off valve (not shown) that can open and close this flow path is provided. Incidentally, a liquid crystal display unit 95 is provided at the center of the width of the upper portion of the front body 92, and a button case 13 and a return button 12 are provided on the left side of the width.

  The lighting device for the return button of the gas meter provided with the main components described above operates as follows. If an abnormality is detected during use of the microcomputer gas meter, the shut-off valve is automatically closed. Then, the LED 17 blinks. Strong light is emitted from the concave portion 33 of the light emitting unit 32, and weak light is emitted from portions other than the concave portion 33. Since the light is diffused by the recess 33, as shown in FIG. 5, when viewed in plan, the LED can be viewed in an angle range of about 160 degrees. Moreover, since the light emission part 32 of the button case 13 is formed so that the circumference | surroundings of the return button 12 may be enclosed, the brightness of the light of the button case 13 light-emitted by the light of LED17, and the return button 12 which does not let light pass. Due to the contrast effect, the return button 12 is visually recognized as floating in the LED 17.

  Even when the fingertip is applied to the return button 12 to open the shut-off valve, the light emitting part 32 of the button case 13 cannot be blocked at all. When the return button 12 is pushed in, the bulging portion 41 of the rubber cap 14 is recessed backward in conjunction with the movement, and the spacer 15 and the valve opening switch 18 that are sequentially arranged after the bulging portion 41 are pushed. In response to the valve opening signal from the valve opening switch 18, the microcomputer turns on the LED 17 for a predetermined time. Accordingly, the button case 13 emits light. Further, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the microcomputer outputs a valve opening signal to an actuator (not shown), and the actuator automatically opens the shut-off valve.

  When the pushed finger is removed from the return button 12, the tip of the valve opening switch 18 projects forward to the original shape, and the bulging portion 41 of the rubber cap 14 is restored by its elastic force, and the return button 12 is restored. Moves forward.

  The present invention is not limited to the above examples. For example, the light emitting portion 32 of the button case 13 has a vertically long track shape, but may have another shape such as a horizontally long shape. In addition, the return button is not limited to an opaque material that does not transmit light, and may be formed of a material having a light transmittance (lower) than that of the button case.

11 case packing 11a through hole 11b notch 12 return button 13 button case (light transmitting member)
14 Rubber cap (elastic member)
15 spacer 16 presser plate 17 LED (light source)
18 valve opening switch 21 button body portion 22 fixing portion 31 guide portion 32 light emitting portion 32a outer flange portion 32b cutout portion 33 recess (light diffusion portion)
34 receiving hole 34a inner flange 35 groove 41 bulging part 41a receiving hole 42 connecting part 42a locking part 61 first hole 62 second hole 63 small hole 90 substrate 91 gas meter main body 92 front body 92a through hole 93 gas Inlet 94 Gas outlet 95 Liquid crystal display

Claims (5)

A shut-off valve that shuts off the passage of gas is provided inside the gas meter main body, and a return button that opens the shut-off valve from the outside is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the gas meter main body. In the illumination device for the return button of the gas meter, the light source emits light inside the unit, and the light of the light source is transmitted to the outside through the light transmitting member attached to the through hole of the gas meter body.
Light transmitting member, Ri Oh buttons case surrounding the reset button,
The button case is a single component that guides light from the light source toward the front, which is the front, and a guide that extends outward from the guide when viewed from the front. A light emitting part that emits light with light guided to the front of the part,
The light emitting part has a rear part whose outer periphery is larger than the front part and has a stepped outer casing whose entire length is larger than that of the front part, and the front part is fitted into the through hole of the gas meter body part and positioned. And a light diffusing portion that is disposed in front of the guide portion and diffuses light guided from the guide portion to the front and surroundings, and a return button is housed in a position outside the guide portion in front view so as to be able to advance and retreat. An illuminating device for a return button of a gas meter, characterized by having an accommodation hole for the gas meter. 2. A lighting device for a return button of a gas meter according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion as a light diffusing portion is formed on the front surface of the light emitting portion, and the center of the concave portion coincides with the center of the tube of the guide portion. The illuminating device for a return button of a gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion is recessed in a tapered shape so that the inner diameter becomes narrower toward the back.   The illumination for a return button of a gas meter according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the light emitting portion has a vertically long shape extending in the vertical direction, and a concave portion is formed in an upper portion thereof, and a receiving hole is formed in the lower portion thereof. apparatus.   4. The gas meter according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting portion has a horizontally long shape extending in the left-right direction, a recess is formed in one of the left and right portions, and a receiving hole is formed in the other portion. Return button lighting device.

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