CONCRETE VIBRATOR

A concrete vibrator (1) includes: a vibration generating member (4) that includes a rotating body (3) and generates vibration according to rotation of the rotating body (3); an electric motor (5) that applies a rotational driving force to the rotating body (3); a support member (7) that supports the electric motor (5); and a battery (8) that supplies electric power to the electric motor (5), wherein the battery (8) is disposed above the electric motor (5).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a concrete vibrator.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there is known a concrete vibrator for applying vibration to uncured concrete poured into the mold or the like thereby to remove bubbles from the concrete.

For example, JP2011-236667A discloses a concrete vibrator including a commutator motor (driving motor) and a gear box coupled to the output shaft of the commutator motor.

However, the above concrete vibrator is not provided with a battery for supplying electric power to the commutator motor. Therefore, to operate the commutator motor, it is necessary to supply electric power to the commutator motor from an outside, fixed power supply via a cable. As a result, the installation range of the concrete vibrator may be limited by the cable range.

Also, in the above concrete vibrator, the commutator motor and the gear box are arranged side-by-side in the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is difficult to dispose the concrete vibrator compactly in the horizontal direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present invention is to provide a concrete vibrator which has a high degree of freedom of the installation range and can be disposed compactly in the horizontal direction.

To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a concrete vibrator (1), comprising: a vibration generating member (4) that includes a rotating body (12) and generates vibration according to rotation of the rotating body; an electric motor (5) that applies a rotational driving force to the rotating body; a support member (7) that supports the electric motor; and a battery (8) that supplies electric power to the electric motor, wherein the battery is disposed above the electric motor.

According to this aspect, the concrete vibrator is provided with a battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor. Therefore, it is unnecessary to supply electric power to the electric motor from an outside, fixed power supply via a cable. Accordingly, the degree of freedom of the installation range of the concrete vibrator can be enhanced. Also, the battery is disposed above the electric motor. Therefore, the concrete vibrator can be disposed compactly in the horizontal direction.

In the above aspect, preferably, the electric motor has a motor shaft (22) extending in a horizontal direction, and the battery is disposed right above the motor shaft.

According to this aspect, members around the motor shaft (for example, the housing of the electric motor) can be pressed down by the battery. Thereby, the vibrations generated in the members around the motor shaft when the motor shaft is rotated can be suppressed.

In the above aspect, preferably, the concrete vibrator further comprises a transmission member (6) that transmits the rotational driving force of the electric motor to the rotating body, the electric motor has an output port (24) to which the transmission member is detachably connected, and the output port extends in a horizontal direction.

According to this aspect, interference between the battery disposed above the electric motor and the transmission member can be avoided.

In the above aspect, preferably, the battery comprises: a battery pack (61); and a battery case (62) detachably accommodating the battery pack.

According to this aspect, by attaching and detaching the battery pack to and from the battery case, it is possible to replace the power supply of the electric motor without moving the electric motor. Therefore, convenience is improved in a case where the concrete vibrator is used with the electric motor installed in a fixed position.

In the above aspect, preferably, the battery pack is disposed such that a length thereof in a vertical direction is shorter than a length thereof in a horizontal direction.

According to this aspect, the center of gravity of the concrete vibrator can be lowered. Accordingly, the stability of the concrete vibrator can be enhanced.

In the above aspect, preferably, the concrete vibrator further comprises a transmission member (6) that transmits the rotational driving force of the electric motor to the rotating body, wherein the electric motor includes an output port (24) to which the transmission member is detachably connected, and an attachment and detachment direction (D2) of the battery pack relative to the battery case coincides with an attachment and detachment direction (D1) of the transmission member relative to the output port.

According to this aspect, attachment and detachment of the battery pack can be performed by using a space for performing attachment and detachment of the transmission member. Thereby, interference between the battery pack and other components (for example, the support member) can be prevented.

In the above aspect, preferably, the electric motor has a motor shaft (22) extending in a horizontal direction, the support member includes a pair of side frames (51) which, as viewed in an axial direction of the motor shaft, are disposed on either side of the electric motor in the horizontal direction, and the battery is disposed between the pair of side frames as viewed in the axial direction of the motor shaft.

According to this aspect, the concrete vibrator can be disposed more compactly in the horizontal direction.

In the above aspect, preferably, the support member further comprises: a lower frame (52) connecting lower ends of the pair of side frames; and an upper frame (53) connecting upper ends of the pair of side frames, wherein the battery is disposed to be surrounded by the pair of side frames, the lower frame, and the upper frame as viewed in the axial direction of the motor shaft.

According to this aspect, the concrete vibrator can be disposed compactly not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction.

In the above aspect, the battery may be placed on the electric motor.

According to this aspect, the electric motor can be used as a support part for the battery. Therefore, the battery can be disposed above the electric motor without complicating the configuration of the support member.

In the above aspect, the battery may be disposed to be spaced from the electric motor in a vertical direction.

According to this aspect, heat transfer between the battery and the electric motor can be suppressed.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a concrete vibrator which has a high degree of freedom of the installation range and can be disposed compactly in the horizontal direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, a concrete vibrator1according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The concrete vibrator1is a device for applying vibration to uncured concrete C poured into a mold F or the like thereby to remove bubbles from the concrete C.

Referring toFIG.1, the concrete vibrator1includes a vibration generating member4that includes a rotating body3and generates vibration according to rotation of the rotating body3, an electric motor5that applies a rotational driving force to the rotating body3, a transmission member6that transmits the rotational driving force of the electric motor5to the rotating body3, a support member7that supports the electric motor5, and a battery8that supplies electric power to the electric motor5. In the following, these components of the concrete vibrator1will be described in order.

Referring toFIG.2, the vibration generating member4of the concrete vibrator1includes a vibrating case11and a rotating body3contained in the vibrating case11.

The vibrating case11is constituted of a bottomed cylinder elongated in a predetermined direction. The vibrating case11has an internal space14having an elongated hole shape. A pair of bearings15are disposed at respective end portions of the internal space14. In another embodiment, one bearing15may be disposed at only one end portion of the internal space14.

The rotating body3is mounted to the vibrating case11via the pair of bearings15. Thereby, the rotating body3is rotatable about a vibration axis X extending in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating case11. The rotating body3has a projection17that protrudes toward one side in the radial direction with the vibration axis X being the center. Therefore, the center of gravity3A of the rotating body3is out of alignment with the vibration axis X. In other words, the rotating body3is eccentric to the vibration axis X.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the electric motor5of the concrete vibrator1includes a housing21and a motor shaft22rotatably accommodated in the housing21.

An output port24protrudes from the front surface of the housing21. The output port24is cylindrical in shape and extends in the fore and aft direction. A power supply switch25is provided on a side surface of the housing21.

The motor shaft22extends in the fore and aft direction (horizontal direction). In other words, the axial direction of the motor shaft22coincides with the fore and aft direction. A tip end portion of the motor shaft22is inserted in the output port24. The tip end portion of the motor shaft22is provided with a non-circular fitting hole27.

In the following, recitation of “upstream-side” or “upstream end” refers to the upstream-side or the upstream end with respect to a rotation transmission direction Y (seeFIGS.1to3). Similarly, recitation of “downstream-side” or “downstream end” refers to the downstream-side or the downstream end with respect to the rotation transmission direction Y.

Referring toFIGS.1to3, the transmission member6of the concrete vibrator1includes a flexible hose31, an upstream-side joint32disposed on the upstream side of the flexible hose31, and a downstream-side joint33disposed on the downstream side of the flexible hose31.

The flexible hose31has flexibility. The flexible hose31includes a flexible shaft35and a flexible tube36that covers the outer circumference of the flexible shaft35. The flexible shaft35is configured by stacked multiple wires, for example.

Referring toFIG.3, the upstream-side joint32is detachably connected to the output port24of the electric motor5. The attachment and detachment direction D1 of the upstream-side joint32relative to the output port24is the fore and aft direction.

The upstream-side joint32includes an upstream-side shaft38and an upstream-side tube39that covers the outer circumference of the upstream-side shaft38. The upstream end of the upstream-side shaft38is provided with a non-circular fitting protrusion41. In a state in which the upstream-side joint32is connected to the output port24, the fitting protrusion41is fitted into the fitting hole27of the motor shaft22of the electric motor5. Thereby, the upstream-side shaft38is connected o the motor shaft22. The downstream end of the upstream-side shaft38is fixed to the upstream end of the flexible shaft35of the flexible hose31.

Referring toFIG.2, the downstream-side joint33includes a downstream-side shaft43and a downstream-side tube44that covers the outer circumference of the downstream-side shaft43. The upstream end of the downstream-side shaft43is fixed to the downstream end of the flexible shaft35of the flexible hose31. The downstream end of the downstream-side shaft43is fixed to the upstream end of the rotating body3of the vibration generating member4.

Referring toFIGS.3and4, the support member7of the concrete vibrator1is installed on the ground G (one example of an installation surface for the concrete vibrator1). The support member7includes a pair of side frames51, a pair of lower frames52connecting the lower ends of the pair of side frames51, an upper frame53connecting the upper ends of the pair of side frames51, and a fixed plate54extending between the pair of lower frames52.

The pair of side frames51forms an inverse U-shape as viewed in the lateral direction (namely, in side view). As viewed in the fore and aft direction (namely, in front view), the pair of side frames51are disposed on either lateral side (either horizontal side) of the electric motor5. Each side frame51includes a pair of extension parts56disposed to be spaced from each other in the fore and aft direction and extending in the vertical direction and a connecting portion57extending in the fore and aft direction to connect the upper ends of the pair of extension parts56.

The pair of lower frames52are in contact with the ground G. As viewed in the fore and aft direction, the pair of lower frames52are disposed below the electric motor5. The pair of lower frames52are disposed to be spaced from each other in the fore and aft direction. The front lower frame52connects the lower ends of the front extension parts56of the pair of side frames51. The rear lower frame52connects the lower ends of the rear extension parts56of the pair of side frames51.

The upper frame53forms an inverse U-shape as viewed in the fore and aft direction. The upper frame53connects the central parts in the fore and aft direction of the connecting portions57of the pair of side frames51. The upper frame53is a part to be grasped by a user when the user lifts the concrete vibrator1.

The fixed plate54has a horizontal flat plate shape. The fixed plate54is disposed to be slightly spaced from the ground G. The electric motor5is placed on and secured to the fixed plate54.

Referring toFIG.3andFIG.4, the battery8of the concrete vibrator1is disposed above the electric motor5. More specifically, the battery8is disposed right above the electric motor5. In another embodiment, the battery8may be disposed obliquely above the electric motor5. The battery8is placed on the electric motor5and is supported by the electric motor5.

The left end of the battery8is positioned more leftward than the left end of the electric motor5, and the right end of the battery8is positioned more rightward than the right end of the electric motor5. In other words, in the present embodiment, the electric motor5is contained within the lateral (horizontal) width W1 of the battery8as viewed in the fore and aft direction. In another embodiment, the electric motor5does not have to be contained within the lateral width W1 of the battery8.

The battery8is disposed between the pair of side frames51of the support member7as viewed in the fore and aft direction. The battery8is disposed to be surrounded by the pair of side frames51, the front lower frame52, and the upper frame53of the support member7as viewed in the fore and aft direction.

The battery8includes multiple battery packs61and a battery case62detachably accommodating the multiple battery packs61.

Each battery pack61is disposed such that the length thereof in the vertical direction is shorter than the length thereof in the fore and aft direction (the length thereof in the horizontal direction). In other words, the battery pack61is disposed horizontally. Note that in another embodiment, the battery pack61may be disposed such that the length thereof in the vertical direction is longer than the length thereof in the fore and aft direction.

The battery pack61is constituted of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, for example. The battery pack61is connected to the electric motor5via a cable (not shown in the drawings) and is configured to supply electric power to the electric motor5.

Referring toFIG.3, the attachment and detachment direction D2 of the battery pack61relative to the battery case62is the fore and aft direction. In other words, the attachment and detachment direction D2 of the battery pack61relative to the battery case62coincides with the attachment and detachment direction D1 of the upstream-side joint32of the transmission member6relative to the output port24of the electric motor5.

The front surface of the battery case62is provided with an opening65for attachment and detachment of the battery pack61. In another embodiment, the opening65may be provided in a surface of the battery case62other than the front surface (for example, the rear surface or the side surface). The opening65is covered by a cover66that can be opened and closed.

Next, bubble removing work using the above-described concrete vibrator1will be described. The bubble removing work is work for removing bubbles from uncured concrete C poured into the mold F or the like. The bubble removing work is performed in a state in which the electric motor5, the support member7, and the battery8are installed in fixed positions. In other words, the concrete vibrator1is an installation-type device.

When performing the bubble removing work, the user inserts the vibration generating member4into the concrete C and then turns the power supply switch25of the electric motor5from OFF to ON. Note that the user may turn the power supply switch25of the electric motor5from OFF to ON before inserting the vibration generating member4into the concrete C.

When the user turns the power supply switch25of the electric motor5from OFF to ON as described above, the electric motor5is put into operation and the motor shaft22of the electric motor5rotates. The rotation of the motor shaft22of the electric motor5is transmitted to the rotating body3of the vibration generating member4via the upstream-side shaft38, the flexible shaft35, and the downstream-side shaft43of the transmission member6. Thereby, the rotating body3rotates about the vibration axis X.

As described above, the rotating body3is eccentric to the vibration axis X. Therefore, when the rotating body3rotates about the vibration axis X, the vibration generating member4generates vibration. The vibration generated by the vibration generating member4is transmitted to the concrete C and the concrete C is vibrated. Thereby, bubbles are removed from the concrete C.

As described in the foregoing, the concrete vibrator1is provided with the battery8that supplies electric power to the electric motor5. Therefore, it is unnecessary to supply electric power to the electric motor5from an outside, fixed power supply via a cable. Accordingly, the degree of freedom of the installation range of the concrete vibrator1can be enhanced. Also, the battery8is disposed above the electric motor5. Therefore, the concrete vibrator1can be disposed compactly in the horizontal direction.

Incidentally, if during execution of the bubble removing work, the user inadvertently pulls the vibration generating member4in a direction opposite from the electric motor5while the transmission member6is fully stretched, the electric motor5may fall. However, in the present embodiment, since the battery8is disposed above the electric motor5, the battery8serves as a weight for the electric motor5and this improves the stability of the electric motor5. Therefore, even if the user inadvertently pulls the vibration generating member4in a direction opposite from the electric motor5while the transmission member6is fully stretched, the electric motor5is less likely to fall.

Also, by attaching and detaching each battery pack61to and from the battery case62, it is possible to replace the power supply of the electric motor5without moving the electric motor5. Therefore, convenience is improved in a case where the concrete vibrator1is used with the electric motor5installed in a fixed position. Further, when the concrete vibrator1is not in use, it is possible to remove one or more battery packs61from the battery case62and to use them in a work other than the bubble removing work (for example, another work included in the entire work including the bubble removing work). Thus, convenience of the battery packs61can be enhanced.

In the above embodiment, the battery8includes multiple battery packs61. In another embodiment, the battery8may include only one battery pack61, as shown inFIG.5.

In the above embodiment, the electric motor5is contained within the lateral width W1 of the battery8as viewed in the fore and aft direction. In another embodiment, the battery8may be contained within the lateral width W2 of the electric motor5as viewed in the fore and aft direction, as shown inFIG.5.

In the above embodiment, the battery8is placed on the upper surface of the electric motor5. In another embodiment, the battery8may be disposed to be spaced from the electric motor5in the vertical direction, as shown inFIG.5. In this case, the support member7may include a partition plate71that extends between the pair of side frames51so that the battery8is placed on the partition plate71.

Concrete embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and modification and may be modified or altered in various ways.