Patent ID: 12203558

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention will be described below with reference toFIGS.1to8. Identical or similar components throughout all figures and embodiments, including those in the prior arts, are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The first embodiment of the casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS.1to4. A casing for a fluid controller1is configured to be dividable into a first part2to be fixed to a main body101of a fluid controller100, a second part4to be attached to the first part2, and a third part5to be removably arranged at the upper portion of the second part4.

The first part2is one part by longitudinally dividing the casing for a fluid controller1. The second part4and the third part5are parts by dividing the other part3of the casing for a fluid controller1, which was longitudinally divided by the first part2, into upper and lower portions. The third part5is arranged on top of the second part4.

In the fluid controller100, devices for fluid control such as a piezo actuator104, and pressure sensors106and108, are mounted on the main body101with a flow path102formed therein (referenceFIG.9), and covered by the casing for a fluid controller1. An adjustment cap-nut104cis screwed to an upper portion of the piezo actuator104. Since this type of fluid controller100is conventionally known as described above, a detailed description of the internal structure or the like will be mitted. A connector6is attached to the first part2for connecting electrical wirings of the piezo actuator104and the pressure sensors106,108. Only a part of the electrical wirings is shown, the remaining part is omitted.

The first part2is provided with a backplate2a, left and right side plates2b,2c, an upper stay2d, hook-shaped locked portions2e,2f,2g,2h, and a seat plate which configures a fixing portion2ifor being fixed to the main body101. The first part2is formed by cutting and bending a single metal plate such as aluminum. The fixing portion2iis formed to protrude at a right angle inwardly from the respective lower end of the left and right side plates2b,2c. The fixing portion2iis formed with a through-hole2jfor passing through a screw7(FIG.2). The seat plate configuring the fixed portion2iis mounted on the upper surface of the main body101. In this specification, “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” are used for convenience, and the front, back, left, and right may be either one.

A screw hole101ais formed on the upper surface of the main body101, at a position that matches a through-hole2j. The first part2may be mounted and secured on the main body101by the screw7as shown inFIG.2.

The second part4is provided with a lower front plate4a, left and right lower side plates4b,4c, and locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hprovided on each of the left and right lower side plates4b,4c. The second part4is formed by cutting and bending a single metal plate such as aluminum.

The third part5is provided with a top plate5a, an upper front plate5b, left and right upper side plates5c,5d, a lower protrusion piece5e, and side protrusion pieces5f,5g. The third part5is formed by cutting and bending a single metal plate such as aluminum.

By engaging the locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hwith the locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hrespectively, the second part4is detachably attached to the first part2.

The locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hof the first part2are provided in a plurality of stages spaced vertically (two stages in the illustrated embodiment). The locking portions4e,4f,4g,4h, corresponding to the locked portions2e,2f,2g,2h, are provided in a plurality of stages spaced vertically (two stages in the illustrated embodiment).

The locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hare protruding from the inside of each of the left and right side plates2b,2c, and formed in L-shape. The locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hare formed in inverted L-shape, and extend at right angles inwardly from the respective side edges of the left and right lower side plates4b,4c.

The locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hare bending formed such that outer surfaces of the locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hto be located on the same plane as the inner surface of the side plates2b,2c. The outer surfaces of the locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hare bending formed so as to be flush with side edges4b1,4c1of the lower side plates4b,4c.

The locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hare engaged by sliding the second part4downward along the first part2, and are disengaged by sliding the second part4upward along the first part2. The L-shaped locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hand the inverted L-shaped locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hhave the same plate thickness, and groove widths of recesses to be fitted to each other are substantially the same width as the plate thickness, thereby rattling is less likely to occur during engagement shown inFIG.3.

Referring toFIG.2, a width W1of the second part4and a width W2of the first part2are the same sizes. When the locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hare engaged with the locked portions2e,2f,2g,2hto attach the second part4to the first part2, the lower side plates4b,4cand the side plates2b,2cof the first part2coincide to the side edges4b1,4c1and side edges2b1,2c1facing each other, each side surfaces of the side plates2b,2cand the lower side plates4b,4care flush with each other as shown inFIGS.3and4.

The top plate5aof the third part5configures a top plate of the casing1. The top plate5ais mounted on a stay2dprovided at the upper portion of the first part2, and screwed by screws10as shown inFIG.4. The top plate5acan be mounted on the side plates2b,2cat the same time as being mounted in the stay2d. The third part5is attachable and detachable by attaching and detaching the screws10.

Referring toFIG.3, tapered holes Sal,5a2for passing the screws10are formed in the top plate5a, and screw holes2d1,2d2for screwing the screws10are formed in the stay2d. The stay2dis formed in a small area as compared with the top plate5a, thereby it is easy to access the inside of the casing when removing the third part5from the first part2. For example, a depth dimension W3(FIG.3) of the stay2dmay be less than half a depth dimension W4of the top plate5a.

A width W5of the upper front plate5bis the same dimension as the width W2of the first part2. Each of side edges5c1,5d1of the upper side plates5c,5dis formed to match the side edges2b1,2c1of the left and right side plates2b,2cof the first part2. In addition, a lower edge5b1of the third part5is shaped to match an upper edge4a1of the second part4.

The side protrusion pieces5f,5gare protruding from the sides of the third part5. The side protrusion pieces5f,5gare formed so as to protrude, parallel to the upper side plates5c,5d, from the inner surfaces of the upper side plates5c,5d. The side protrusion pieces5f,5gabut on the inner surface of each of the side plates2b,2cof the first part2, and may be guided. When attaching the third part5to the first part2, by abutting the side protrusion pieces5f,5gon the inner surfaces of each of the left and right side plates2b,2cof the first part2, the lateral positioning of the third part5becomes easier. It is also possible to provide only one of the side protrusion pieces5f,5g.

The lower protrusion piece5eis formed so as to protrude downward from the lower inner surface of the upper front plate5b. The lower protrusion piece5eabuts on the inner surface of the lower front plate4aof the second part4, which is attached to the first part2, and may be guided. When attaching the third part5to the first part2, by guiding the lower protrusion piece5eto the inner surface of the lower front plate4aof the second part4, the positioning in the front-back direction becomes easier, and the alignment of the lower edge5b1of the third part5and the upper edge4a1of the second part4in the front-back direction becomes easier. After attaching the second part4to the first part2by engaging the locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hto the locked portions2e,2f,2g,2h, if screwing the third part5to the first part2by screws10, the second part4is prevented from sliding upward by the third part5, the locking portions4e,4f,4g,4hof the second part4cannot be removed from the locked portion2e,2f,2g,2hof the first part2. Therefore, screwing operation of the second part4is not necessary, and the number of assembly steps may be reduced.

According to the casing for a fluid controller having the above described structure, by removing the third part5from the first part2, the tightness (screwing amount) of the piezo actuator104can be adjusted by accessing the adjustment cap-nut104cscrewed to the upper end portion of the piezo actuator104. The height dimensions of the third part5and the second part4may be appropriately designed according to the dimensions of the device, such as the piezo actuator104, mounted on the main body101.

For example, it is more preferable to set the height dimensions of the third part5and the second part4to the extent that the amount of tightness (the screwing amount) of the adjustment cap-nut104ccan be adjusted, by placing a tool such as a spanner on an outer peripheral portion104d, which has a non-circular cross-section, of the main body of the piezo actuator104(FIG.3), and placing a tool such as another spanner to the adjustment cap-nut104c. The maintenance operation can be performed more easily by making a height dimension H1of the second part4, for example, to ½ to ¼ of a height dimension H2of the first part2.

Further, even when the main body101of the fluid controller100is covered by a heat insulating material109(shown as a broken line inFIG.4), it is possible to perform equipment maintenance such as adjusting the tightness of the adjustment cap-nut104c(stroke adjustment) by removing only the third part5from the first part2, without removing the heat insulating material109. In addition, there is a case where an aluminum panel heater (not shown) is attached to the periphery of the main body101of the fluid controller100, and the aluminum panel heater is covered with the heat insulating material109.

Since only the third part5is removed from the first part2, and the entire casing for a fluid controller1does not need to be removed from the main body101, the adjustment of the amount of tightness of the adjustment cap-nut104cand other maintenance of the inside of the casing can be performed while maintaining the heat insulating state by the heat insulating material109and the like to some extent, so it is possible to perform the adjustment and other maintenance taking thermal characteristics under consideration.

FIG.5shows a second embodiment of the casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention. As shown inFIG.5, the casing for a fluid controller of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment by the feature that locking portions4e′,4f,4g′,4h′ are inverted L-shaped protruding from the lower side plates4b,4cand parallel to the lower side plates4b,4c, and locked portions2e′,2f,2g′,2h′ are in the form of pins protruding on the inner surfaces of the side plates2b,2c. Other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, a third embodiment of the casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIG.6. In the third embodiment, the part corresponding to the first part2of the first embodiment is configured to be dividable into upper and lower parts, which are a fourth part2D having a fixing portion2i, and a fifth part2U provided detachably on top of the fourth part2D.

In this case, each of locking portions2D1,2D2provided on the fourth part2D, is respectively engaged with locked portions2U1,2U2provided on the fifth part2U. The locking portions2D1,2D2are protruding upward from upper ends of the inner surfaces of left and right lower side plates2cD,2bD. The locked portions2U1,2U2are protruding inward at right angles from the lower ends of the inner surfaces of left and right upper side plates2cU,2bU. By placing and sliding the fifth part2U on the fourth part2D, it is possible to engage the locking portions2D1,2D2with the locked portions2U1,2U2. By engaging the locking portions2D1,2D2with the locked portions2U1,2U2, an upper back plate2a1is flush with a lower back plate2a2, and the lower side plates2cD,2bD are flush with the upper side plates2cU,2bU.

Further, locking portions4i,4jprovided on the lower side plates4b,4cof the lower front plate4and locked portions5p,5qprovided on the upper side plates5c,5dof the upper front plate5are engaged respectively. The locking portions4i,4jare protruding upward from the upper ends of the inner surfaces of the left and right lower side plates4b,4c. The locked portions5p,5qare protruding inward at right angles from the lower ends of the inner surfaces of the left and right upper side plates5c,5d. By placing and sliding the third part5on the second part4, it is possible to engage the locking portions4i,4jwith the locked portions5p,5q. By engaging the locking portions4i,4jwith the locked portions5p,5q, the lower front plate4ais flush with the upper front plate5b, and the lower side plates4b,4care also flush with the upper side plates5c,5d.

By configuring a height dimension H3of the third part5and a height dimension H4of the fifth part2U at different sizes, removing the third part5or removing the fifth part2U can be selected depending on the equipment that needs to be maintained. Height dimensions of the second part4and the forth part2D can be appropriately set depending on the device to be mounted on the fluid controller. The height dimension H3is set shorter than the height dimension H4.

In the third embodiment, the fixed portion2iof the fourth part2D is screwed to the main body101of the fluid controller. Then, by placing and sliding the fifth part2U on the fourth part2D to engage the locking portions2D1,2D2with the locked portions2U1,2U2, the fifth part2U is detachably joined with the fourth part2D. Next, by engaging the locking portions4g,4hof the second part4with the locked portions2g,2hof the fourth part2D, the second part4is detachably attached to the fourth part2D. Then, by placing and sliding the third part5on the second part4to engage the locking portions4i,4jwith the locked portions5p,5q, the third part5is joined with the second part4, and the third part5is abutted on the fifth part2U. In addition, the holes Sal,5a2overlap each other with the screw holes2d1,2d2and screwed by screws (not shown). By this screwing, the engagement between the locking portions2D1,2D2,4g,4h,4i,4jand the locked portions2U1,2U2,2g,2h,5p,5qis configured not to disengage. On the other hand, the fifth part2U or the third part5can be removed by unscrewing the screwed screws.

Next, a description will be given with reference toFIG.7for a fourth embodiment of the casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention. In the casing for a fluid controller1of the fourth embodiment, the first part2is a lower part when the casing1is dividable into upper and lower parts, the second part4and the third part5are parts by longitudinally dividing the upper part3of the casing1that is divided by the first part2.

Locking portions4m,4nare formed in the second part4. Locked portions2m,2n, which are engaged by locking portions4m,4n, are provided in the first part2. The locking portions4m,4nare engaged with the locked portions2m,2nby placing a lower edge4pof the second part4on an upper edge2pof the first part2and sliding the second part4.

On the third part5, lower protrusion pieces5l,5m,5nthat are protruding downward are formed respectively from each of side plates5h,5i, which are facing each other, and a side plates5kperpendicular to the side plates5h,5i. The lower protrusion pieces5l,5m,5nare guided to and abutted on the inner wall surface of the first part2. The lower protrusion pieces5l,5m,5nare also the positioning of the third part5with respect to the first part2. By joining the third part5to the second part4while the lower protrusion piece5lis in contact with the inner wall surface of the first part2, the sliding of the second part4is limited, the locking portions4m,4nof the second part4are prevented from disengaging from the locked portions2m,2nof the first part2. Although not shown, as the side protrusion piece5g,5fof the first embodiment, side protrusion pieces protruding from the side plates5h,5imay also be provided sideward.

When the third part5is thus joined with the first part2and the second part4, the holes5a1,5a2provided in the top plate5aand the screw holes2d1,2d2provided in the stay2doverlap each other, and screws (not shown) can be used to screw the third part5to the second part4. By this screwing, the second part4becomes unremovable from the first part2.

Dimensions such as a height dimension of the first part2and vertical/horizontal dimensions of the second part can be appropriately configured depending on the type and dimension of the device to be mounted on the fluid controller.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIG.8. The casing for a fluid controller1of the fifth embodiment is a modification of the fourth embodiment, in which the third part5is configured to be fixed to the first part2by screwing.

Referring toFIG.8, a hole2qfor passing a screw (not shown) is formed in a side surface of the first part2, and a screw hole5qis formed in a lower protrusion piece5nof the third part5. By placing and sliding the second part4on the first part2to engage the locking portions4m,4nof the second part4with the locked portions2m,2nof the first part2, placing the third part5on the first part2while joining the second part4, and screwing a screw (not shown) into the screw hole5qthrough the hole2q, the third part5is fixed by screwing to the first part2, sliding movement of the second part4is restricted, and the locking portions4m,4nbecomes unremovable from the locked portions2m,2n. By unscrewing the screw that fixing the third part5to the first part2, it is possible to perform maintenance for the inside of the casing by removing only the third part5from the first part2. A top plate4rof the second part4and the top plate5aof the third part5can be designed to be the same height at the time of assembly.

The casing for a fluid controller according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in order to configure so that the locking portions do not disengage from the locked portions by screwing the third part, the position providing the locking portions and the locked portions, the protrusion pieces, and the embodiment of the dividable portions can be changed as appropriate. Further, the above embodiments have exemplified a structure for locking by the locking portions, a structure for fixing by a fastening member such as a bolt is also possible.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1Casing for a fluid controller2First part2aBack plate2b,2cSide plate2dStay2e,2f,2g,2hLocking portion2e′,2f′,2g′,2h′ Locked portion2iFixing portion2D Fourth part2U Fifth part4Second part4aLower front plate4b,4cLower side plate4e,4f,4g,4hLocking portion4e′,4f′,4g′,4h′ Locked portion5Third part5aTop plate5bUpper front plate5c,5dUpper side plate5f,5gSide protrusion piece5eLower protrusion piece100Fluid controller101Main body104Piezo actuator104cAdjustment cap-nut