Patent Description:
PTL <NUM> discloses an electric facility temperature monitoring device. The electric facility temperature monitoring device includes two temperature detectors each disposed a cubicle in which an electric facility is housed. Each of the temperature detectors is held by a holding unit together with a lens.

PTL <NUM> discloses various techniques for monitoring electrical equipment. In some implementations, a monitoring system for a cabinet may include an infrared camera configured to capture thermal images of at least a portion of electrical equipment positioned in an interior cavity of the cabinet. The monitoring system may also include a communication interface configured to transmit the thermal images from the infrared camera for external viewing by a user. In some implementations, the thermal images may be provided through various wired and wireless communication techniques. In some implementations, the infrared camera may receive electrical power through a physical coupling to an electrical connector within the cabinet and/or through electromagnetic energy harvesting techniques.

PTL <NUM> discloses a thermal monitoring system including at least one of an infrared sensor and a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array. Each infrared sensor has a resolution including a plurality of pixels. A controller is configured to create a thermal image of an area to be monitored based at least in part on the plurality of pixels of each infrared sensor. A thermal monitoring assembly includes an electrical panel including a plurality of electrical components located within the electrical panel. The at least one of an infrared sensor and the plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array, either alone or in combination with additional sensors, are located inside the electrical panel. Methods of monitoring various parameters including a temperature of the plurality of electrical components located inside the electrical panel are also provided.

PTL <NUM> discloses thermographic imaging equipment incorporated directly into cabinets housing electrical switchgear to provide for dedicated, nearly continuous monitoring of the contained equipment. A mechanical scanning technique may allow low-cost sensors to provide essentially continuous thermographic monitoring. Dedicated thermal imaging equipment allows automatic analysis through predefined temperature threshold maps.

PTL <NUM> discloses an observation window, especially for checking the temperature of objects using infrared thermography, including a parallel-faced transparent insert made of a single crystal suitable for radiation to pass through without being substantially modified and/or attenuated, which radiation, whose wavelength may range from the visible to the relatively far infrared emanates from an object whose temperature is to be monitored, housed in a screened cabinet provided with a door or panel against which the window is arranged, wherein the insert is fitted into a support which surrounds it at its periphery and is immobilized with respect to the support, this support being applied in a sealed manner against an aperture made in the door and then locked in position by means which are only accessible from inside the cabinet, the support comprising an external protective cover capable of pivoting about a pin connecting it to this support, so as to reveal the insert and allow observation through it of the object to be monitored by an infrared camera.

In the electric facility temperature monitoring device, each temperature detector is connected in parallel to a controller. Therefore, with a structure where each temperature detector and the controller are connected by wiring, when a position where each temperature detector is disposed is away from the controller or a third temperature detector is added, the amount of wiring increases, and it may be difficult to reduce a size.

It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to provide a temperature abnormality detection device that is compact in size and is capable of detecting a temperature abnormality over a wide range.

A temperature abnormality detection device that detects a temperature abnormality in equipment disposed in a panel, includes:.

According to the temperature abnormality detection device, the plurality of infrared temperature sensors are connected to each other by the crossover wiring. With such a configuration, an amount of wiring in the panel can be reduces. Thus, it is possible to provide a temperature abnormality detection device that is compact in size and is capable of detecting a temperature abnormality over a wide range.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of an example of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, in the following description, terms representing specific directions or positions (for example, terms including "up", "down", "right", and "left") will be used as necessary, but the use of these terms is intended to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, and the technical scope of the present disclosure shall not be limited by the meanings of the terms. Further, the following description shows merely an example in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, applications of the present disclosure, or uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic drawings, and ratios between dimensions are not necessarily equal to the actual ratios.

A temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a panel <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the panel <NUM> includes a casing <NUM> having an opening <NUM>, a cover <NUM> capable of opening and closing the opening <NUM>, and equipment <NUM> disposed in the casing <NUM>. In <FIG>, the cover <NUM> and crossover wiring <NUM> to be described later are not shown.

As an example, the casing <NUM> has an approximately cuboid shape, and the opening <NUM> has an approximately rectangular shape. As shown in <FIG>, a housing part <NUM> is provided inside the casing <NUM>. The equipment <NUM> and the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> are housed in the housing part <NUM>. The casing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are made of a magnetic material, for example.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> includes a plurality of infrared temperature sensors (in this embodiment, a first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> and a second infrared temperature sensor <NUM>) and a device body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> is disposed to be capable of detecting temperature in a mutually different detection area <NUM>, <NUM> of the equipment <NUM>. The infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other by the crossover wiring <NUM>.

Specifically, the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> disposed near the device body <NUM> is attached to the casing <NUM> to be capable of detecting temperature of wiring <NUM> connecting components in the equipment <NUM>. The second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> disposed away from the device body <NUM> is attached to the cover <NUM> to be capable of detecting temperature of a surface of the equipment <NUM> facing the cover <NUM>. The first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> is connected to the device body <NUM> and a power supply <NUM> by the crossover wiring <NUM>. Further, the second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> is connected to the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> by the crossover wiring <NUM>.

Although not shown, each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> includes, as an example, a lens of an optical system, a temperature conversion element, an AD converter, a temperature correction unit, and a communication unit. The temperature conversion element converts an infrared ray emitted from the detection area through the lens into a temperature. The AD converter converts the converted temperature (analog signal) into a digital signal, and the correction unit corrects an error generated when the converted temperature is converted into the digital signal. One end of wiring is connected to the communication unit. The digital signal converted by the AD converter is output from the communication unit to the device body <NUM> through the wiring.

Each of the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> is preset depending on, for example, a design of the equipment <NUM>. According to this embodiment, as an example, the first detection area <NUM> of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> includes the wiring <NUM> connecting the components in the equipment <NUM>, and the second detection area <NUM> of the second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> includes a portion <NUM> of the surface of the equipment <NUM> facing the cover <NUM>.

As an example, the device body <NUM> includes a processor such as a CPU that performs computation and the like, a storage medium such as a ROM or a RAM that stores a program or data necessary for detecting a temperature abnormality in the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and a communication unit responsible for input and output of signals from and to a programmable logic controller (PLC) <NUM> and the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the device body <NUM> includes a temperature abnormality determination unit <NUM>. For example, the temperature abnormality determination unit <NUM> is a function implemented by the processor of the device body <NUM> executing a predetermined program.

The temperature abnormality determination unit <NUM> determines that the temperature in the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> is abnormal when the temperature in the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> detected by each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> is higher than a reference temperature. The reference temperature is preset depending on for example, the equipment <NUM> and the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM>. According to this embodiment, when it is determined that a temperature in each of the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> is abnormal, the temperature abnormality determination unit <NUM> outputs to the PLC <NUM> a temperature abnormality signal indicating that the temperature in each of the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> is abnormal.

A connection between the device body <NUM> and the PLC <NUM> may be radio connection or wire connection.

Each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>. The first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> and the second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> are identical to each other in size and shape. Therefore, a description of the second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> will be omitted by a support of the description of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM>, which has an approximately rectangular plate shape, includes a detection surface <NUM> on which a temperature detector <NUM> is provided, an attachment surface <NUM> attachable to and detachable from an inner surface of the panel <NUM> (that is, the casing <NUM> and the cover <NUM>), and a connection surface <NUM> to which the crossover wiring <NUM> is connected. The detection surface <NUM> and the attachment surface <NUM> are arranged side by side in a thickness direction of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM>. The connection surface <NUM> extends in a direction intersecting the detection surface <NUM> and the attachment surface <NUM>. The connection surface <NUM> is provided with a connection terminal <NUM> to which the crossover wiring <NUM> can be connected.

In the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM>, the attachment surface <NUM> of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> and the inner surface of the panel <NUM> are connected by an attachment fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In other words, the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> further includes the attachment fitting <NUM> that detachably attaches the attachment surface <NUM> of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> to the inner surface of the panel <NUM>.

The attachment fitting <NUM>, which has an approximately rectangular plate shape, includes a pair of rail portions <NUM> extending in parallel along a length direction of the attachment fitting <NUM>. The attachment surface <NUM> is provided with a rail attachment portion <NUM> to which the pair of rail portions <NUM> can be attached. The rail attachment portion <NUM> is configured by four locking portions <NUM> provided at four corners of the attachment surface <NUM>. Each of the locking portions <NUM> is disposed capable of insetting the attachment fitting <NUM> between the adjacent rail attachment portions <NUM> and disposed to provide a gap between the locking portions <NUM> and the attachment surface <NUM>. When the pair of rail portions <NUM> is disposed between each locking portion <NUM> and the attachment surface <NUM>, a part of the pair of rail portions <NUM> is locked in a direction intersecting the attachment surface <NUM> by each locking portion <NUM> to be attached to the rail attachment portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the attachment fitting <NUM> is attachable to the attachment surface <NUM> with its length direction extending in a width direction of the attachment surface <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the attachment surface <NUM> is also attachable with its length direction extending in a length direction of the attachment surface <NUM>.

A permanent magnet <NUM> is provided between the pair of rail portions <NUM>. The attachment fitting <NUM> is detachably attached to the inner surface of the panel <NUM> by the permanent magnet <NUM>.

In the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM>, the plurality of infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other by the crossover wiring <NUM>. With such a configuration, an amount of wiring in the panel <NUM> can be reduces. Thus, it is possible to realize the temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> that is compact in size and is capable of detecting a temperature abnormality over a wide range. With such a configuration, an infrared temperature sensor can be added easily.

The first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> includes the attachment surface <NUM> attachable to and detachable from the inner surface of the panel <NUM>, and the connection surface <NUM> that extends in a direction intersecting the attachment surface <NUM> and to which the crossover wiring <NUM> is connected. With such a configuration, a thickness of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> can be reduced. Accordingly, when the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> is attached to the inner surface of the panel <NUM>, a distance between the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> and the detection area <NUM> is secured , so that a range, where the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> can detect temperature, can be widened.

The temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> further includes the attachment fitting <NUM> that detachably attaches the attachment surface <NUM> of the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> to the inner surface of the panel <NUM>. The attachment fitting <NUM> includes the pair of rail portions <NUM> extending in parallel, and the attachment surface <NUM> includes the rail attachment portion <NUM> to which the pair of rail portions <NUM> is attachable. With such a configuration, a position where the attachment fitting <NUM> is attached to the attachment surface <NUM> can be easily changed depending on, for example, a place where the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> is disposed. Thus, the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> can be easily attached to the inner surface of the panel <NUM>.

The attachment fitting <NUM> further includes the permanent magnet <NUM> and is attached to the inner surface of the panel <NUM> by the permanent magnet <NUM>. With such a configuration, the first infrared temperature sensor <NUM> can be easily attached to even a position where, for example, mechanical fixing such as by a screw is difficult.

In alternatives to the claimed invention, as long as each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> can detect temperature in the mutually different detection area <NUM>, <NUM> of the equipment <NUM>, the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> can have any shape and structure. For example, each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may have a shape other than an approximately cuboid shape, and may be attached to the inner surface of the panel <NUM> by a fastening member such as an adhesive or a screw instead of the attachment fitting <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be disposed not only inside the panel <NUM> but also outside the panel <NUM>. The temperature abnormality detection device <NUM> shown in <FIG> is configured that the second infrared temperature sensor <NUM> detects the temperature in the second detection area <NUM> via a through hole <NUM> provided through the cover <NUM>. With such a configuration, each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> can be disposed at a position where a temperature abnormality in the detection area can be detected with higher reliability.

When each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> is positioned, a camera (not shown) may be used. In this case, for example, the camera is configured to image the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and includes the rail attachment portion <NUM> to which the attachment fitting <NUM> is attachable, as with the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. The positioning of each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> using the camera is made as follows. First, the attachment fitting <NUM> is attached to the camera. Then, the camera is moved to a detection position where the detection areas <NUM>, <NUM> for detecting temperature is included in an imaging area of the camera. When the camera is moved to the detection position, the camera is removed from the attachment fitting <NUM> without moving the attachment fitting <NUM> from the detection position, and each of the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> is attached to the attachment fitting <NUM>. As a result, each infrared temperature sensor <NUM> is positioned at the detection position. That is, the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> can be accurately positioned using the camera without using the infrared temperature sensors <NUM>, <NUM> having a camera built therein.

Claim 1:
A panel (<NUM>), comprising a casing (<NUM>), an equipment (<NUM>) disposed in the casing (<NUM>) and a temperature abnormality detection device (<NUM>) that detects a temperature abnormality in the equipment (<NUM>), the temperature abnormality detection device (<NUM>), comprising:
a plurality of infrared temperature sensors (<NUM>, <NUM>) each capable of detecting temperature in a mutually different detection area (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the equipment (<NUM>); and
a device body (<NUM>) including a temperature abnormality determination unit (<NUM>) that determines that the temperature in the detection area (<NUM>, <NUM>) detected by each of the plurality of infrared temperature sensors (<NUM>, <NUM>) is abnormal when the temperature in the detection area (<NUM>, <NUM>) is higher than a reference temperature, wherein
the plurality of infrared temperature sensors (<NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to each other by crossover wiring (<NUM>), characterized in that
the plurality of infrared temperature sensors (<NUM>, <NUM>) includes a first infrared temperature sensor (<NUM>) disposed in the panel (<NUM>) and capable of detecting the temperature in a first detection area (<NUM>),
the first infrared temperature sensor (<NUM>) includes an attachment surface (<NUM>) attachable to and detachable from an inner surface of the casing (<NUM>) and a connection surface (<NUM>) provided with a connection terminal (<NUM>) to which the crossover wiring (<NUM>) is connected, the connection surface (<NUM>) extending in a direction intersecting the attachment surface (<NUM>),
the temperature abnormality detection device (<NUM>) comprises an attachment fitting (<NUM>) configured to detachably attach the attachment surface (<NUM>) of the first infrared temperature sensor (<NUM>) to the inner surface of the casing (<NUM>),
the attachment fitting (<NUM>) includes a pair of rail portions (<NUM>) extending in parallel, and
the attachment surface (<NUM>) includes a rail attachment portion (<NUM>) to which the pair of rail portions (<NUM>) is attached.