FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
VEHICLE-MOUNTED DEVICE;
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle-mounted device.
5 Background Art
[0002] Housings of vehicle-mounted devices installed in vehicles accommodate
electronic equipment including power converters, circuit breakers, and transformers, for
example. These housings are provided with openings that allow inspection and
maintenance of the internal electronic equipment. The openings are covered with
10 covers that can be opened and closed so as to inhibit dust, water drops, and the like, from
entering the housings. A typical example of these types of vehicle-mounted devices is
disclosed in Patent Literature 1.
Citation List
Patent Literature
15 [0003] Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication
No. 2014-8802
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004] The control device for a railway vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1
20 includes a housing that accommodates an inverter unit and a control unit, for example.
The housing has an opening for maintenance covered with an attachable and detachable
cover. The opening may be provided with a sealing member therearound in order to
improve the dust resistance and waterproofness of the vehicle-mounted device. The
sealing member is sandwiched between the cover and the housing while the cover is
25 closed, and thereby inhibits dust, water drops, and the like, from entering the housing
through the opening. Unfortunately, when the resilience of the sealing member
decreases due to degradation with age, for example, a gap is formed between the sealing
3
member and the cover or the housing while the cover is closed, thereby impairing the
waterproofness and dust resistance of the vehicle-mounted device.
[0005] An objective of the present disclosure, which has been accomplished in
view of the above situations, is to provide a vehicle-mounted device that can maintain the
5 waterproofness and dust resistance.
Solution to Problem
[0006] In order to achieve the above objective, a vehicle-mounted device according
to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, a cover, a sealing member, a
pressure sensor, and a degradation determination device. The housing has an opening.
10 The cover covers the opening and is openable and closable. The sealing member is
fixed to the housing or the cover, and is sandwiched between the housing and the cover
while surrounding the opening when the cover is closed. The pressure sensor is fixed to
at least one of the cover, the housing, or the sealing member at a position such that the
pressure sensor is in contact with the sealing member while the cover is closed. The
15 pressure sensor measures a pressing force received at the sealing member sandwiched
between the housing and the cover while the cover is closed. The degradation
determination device determines whether any degradation occurs in the sealing member
on the basis of the pressing force measured at the pressure sensor while the cover is
closed.
20 Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] The vehicle-mounted device according to one aspect of the present
disclosure includes the pressure sensor fixed to at least one of the cover, the housing, or
the sealing member at a position such that the pressure sensor is in contact with the
sealing member while the cover is closed, and configured to measure the pressing force
25 received at the sealing member sandwiched between the housing and the cover while the
cover is closed. The vehicle-mounted device according to this aspect of the present
disclosure can therefore maintain the waterproofness and dust resistance.
4
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle-mounted device according to
5 Embodiment 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover according to Embodiment 1;
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 1;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the vehicle-mounted device according to Embodiment
10 1;
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary hardware configuration of the vehicle-mounted
device according to Embodiment 1;
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary operation of determining
degradation executed in the vehicle-mounted device according to Embodiment 1;
15 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cover according to Embodiment 2;
FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 2;
20 FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cover according to Embodiment 3;
FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the vehicle-mounted device according to
Embodiment 3; and
25 FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of an exemplary operation of
determining degradation executed in the vehicle-mounted device according to the
embodiments.
5
Description of Embodiments
[0009] A vehicle-mounted device according to embodiments of the present
disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
the drawings, the components identical or corresponding to each other are provided with
5 the same reference symbol.
[0010] Embodiment 1
A typical example of a vehicle-mounted device installed in a vehicle is a control
device for a railway vehicle including a power converter, a circuit breaker, and a
transformer, for example. A vehicle-mounted device 1 according to Embodiment 1 is
10 described below focusing on an exemplary control device installed under the floor of a
railway vehicle. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle-mounted device 1 includes
a housing 10 fixed under the floor of the railway vehicle with fitting members, which are
not illustrated, an openable and closable cover 11 covering an opening 10a provided in
the housing 10 and the circumference of the opening 10a, and support members 12 and
15 15 to support the cover 11. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the Z axis indicates the vertical direction,
the Y axis indicates the direction in which the opening 10a extends through the housing
10, and the X axis extends in the horizontal direction along the surface provided with the
opening 10a of the housing 10. The X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other.
[0011] The vehicle-mounted device 1 further includes a sealing member 17 that
20 surrounds the opening 10a, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The vehicle-mounted device 1 also
includes a pressure sensor 18 fixed to an inner surface 11b of the cover 11 at a position
such that the pressure sensor 18 is in contact with the sealing member 17 while the cover
11 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pressure sensor 18 measures a pressing force
received at the sealing member 17 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11
25 while the cover 11 is closed.
[0012] When the sealing member 17 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the
cover 11 receives a sufficiently large pressing force while the cover 11 is closed, the
6
sealing member 17 can prevent the cover 11 and the housing 10 from forming a gap
therebetween. This configuration can thus inhibit dust, water drops, and the like, from
entering the housing 10 through the opening 10a. Unfortunately, when the resilience of
the sealing member 17 decreases due to degradation with age, for example, a reduction
5 occurs in the pressing force received at the sealing member 17 sandwiched between the
housing 10 and the cover 11 while the cover 11 is closed, resulting in formation of a gap
between the cover 11 and the housing 10. This gap may allow dust, water drops, and
the like, to enter the housing 10 through the opening 10a. In order to solve this problem,
the vehicle-mounted device 1 according to Embodiment 1 further includes a degradation
10 determination device 30 to determine whether any degradation occurs in the sealing
member 17 on the basis of the pressing force measured at the pressure sensor 18 while
the cover 11 is closed.
[0013] The components of the vehicle-mounted device 1 are described in detail
below.
15 The housing 10 accommodates electronic equipment 41 including a power
converter, a circuit breaker, and a transformer, for example. The housing 10 has the
opening 10a, as described above, and this opening 10a allows maintenance of the
electronic equipment 41 accommodated in the housing 10. On the surface of the
housing 10 provided with the opening 10a, the support members 12, which are described
20 below, are fixed with fastening members 13. The surface of the housing 10 provided
with the opening 10a has holes 16 to engage with the support members 15, which are
described below.
[0014] The cover 11 has an outer surface 11a which faces the outside of the
housing 10 and on which the support members 12 are fixed with fastening members 14.
25 The cover 11 supported by the support members 12 is rotatable about a rotational axis
AX and thus openable and closable, as is described in detail below. In FIG. 1, the
rotational axis AX is represented by the dashed-dotted line. The rotational axis AX
7
extends in the Z-axis direction in Embodiment 1.
[0015] The support members 12 are each fixed to both of the housing 10 and the
outer surface 11a of the cover 11, and have a hinge structure that supports the cover 11
such that the cover 11 is rotatable about the rotational axis AX relative to the housing 10.
5 The sections of the support members 12 fixed to the outer surface 11a are rotatable about
the rotational axis AX. This structure enables the cover 11 to rotate about the rotational
axis AX, as described above. The vehicle-mounted device 1 includes two support
members 12 having the identical structure in Embodiment 1.
[0016] The support members 15, which serve to support the cover 11 together with
10 the support members 12, have a protruding shape and are fixed to the inner surface 11b of
the cover 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. A closing operation of the cover 11 as illustrated
in FIG. 1 causes the support members 15 to be inserted into the respective holes 16 and
engage with the holes 16. The support members 15 thus support the cover 11 while the
cover 11 is closed, and can reduce backlash of the cover 11 caused by vibration during
15 running of the vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device 1 is installed, for example.
The vehicle-mounted device 1 includes two support members 15 having the identical
structure in Embodiment 1.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 4, which is a partial sectional view taken along the line
A-A of FIG. 1, the sealing member 17 has a groove 17a to engage with an edge 10b of
20 the opening 10a. The engagement of the groove 17a with the edge 10b of the opening
10a causes the sealing member 17 to be fixed to the housing 10 while surrounding the
opening 10a. While the cover 11 is closed, the sealing member 17 is sandwiched
between the housing 10 and the cover 11, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0018] When being pressed, the pressure sensor 18 outputs a voltage value
25 depending on the pressing force. In other words, the value measured at the pressure
sensor 18 is the voltage value depending on the pressing force. The pressure sensor 18
is connected to a cable 19. The pressure sensor 18 is supplied with electric power and
8
transmits the measured value to a degradation determination device 30 via the cable 19.
The pressure sensor 18 is preferably supplied with electric power from the electronic
equipment 41, such as the power converter, accommodated in the housing 10.
[0019] When the sealing member 17 is degraded, the sealing member 17 receives a
5 reduced pressing force from the cover 11 while the cover 11 is closed. This force
further decreases as the position becomes more distant from the support members 12 and
15. Accordingly, the pressure sensor 18 is preferably fixed to the housing 10 at the
position most distant from the support members 12 and 15 while the cover 11 is closed.
In Embodiment 1, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to the inner surface 11b of the cover 11
10 at a position such that the pressure sensor 18 is in contact with the center portion of the
sealing member 17 in the X-axis direction in the lower part of the opening 10a in the
vertical direction.
[0020] The degradation determination device 30 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a
determiner 31 to determine whether any degradation occurs in the sealing member 17 on
15 the basis of the value measured at the pressure sensor 18, and a notifier 32 to output a
result of determination at the determiner 31. The degradation determination device 30 is
accommodated in the housing 10 in Embodiment 1.
[0021] The determiner 31 determines whether the voltage value measured at the
pressure sensor 18 is at least a threshold voltage. A voltage value acquired from the
20 pressure sensor 18 of at least the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that the sealing
member 17 receives a sufficiently large pressing force from the cover 11, and no
degradation occurs in the sealing member 17. In contrast, a voltage value acquired from
the pressure sensor 18 lower than the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that a
reduction occurs in the pressing force received at the sealing member 17 from the cover
25 11 due to degradation of the sealing member 17. The threshold voltage is defined on the
basis of the voltage value measured at the pressure sensor 18 in the case where the cover
11 is considered to be certainly closed depending on the air tightness necessary for the
9
vehicle-mounted device 1, the material of the sealing member 17, and the materials of the
housing 10 and the cover 11, for example.
[0022] The notifier 32 outputs a result of determination at the determiner 31 to, for
example, an external apparatus including a display 42 provided in the cab of the railway
5 vehicle in which the vehicle-mounted device 1 is installed. In detail, the notifier 32
provides the display 42 with a notification indicating whether any degradation occurs in
the sealing member 17 and causes the display 42 to display the result.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the degradation determination device 30 is achieved
by a processor 51, a memory 52, and an interface 53. The processor 51, the memory 52,
10 and the interface 53 are connected to each other via buses 50. The processor 51 is
connected to both of the pressure sensor 18 and the display 42 via the buses 50 and the
interface 53. A process of determining degradation executed at the degradation
determination device 30 is performed by execution of a program stored in the memory 52
at the processor 51. The interface 53 serves to connect the degradation determination
15 device 30 to both of the pressure sensor 18 and the display 42 and establish
communication. The interface 53 may include multiple types of interfaces, as required.
Although FIG. 6 illustrates an example in which the degradation determination device 30
includes a single processor 51 and a single memory 52, the degradation determination
device 30 may also include multiple processors 51 and multiple memories 52.
20 [0024] An operation of the degradation determination device 30 is described below
with reference to FIG. 7, focusing on an example in which the degradation determination
device 30 operates on the electric power supplied from the electronic equipment 41 and
repeats the process of determining degradation during operation. In this case, an
interlock mechanism is preferably provided, for example, so that the electronic equipment
25 41 accommodated in the housing 10 is electrically connected to the power source only
when the cover 11 is closed.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the determiner 31 acquires a measured value from
10
the pressure sensor 18 (Step S1). The determiner 31 then determines whether the
voltage value measured at and output from the pressure sensor 18 is at least the threshold
voltage (Step S2). When the determiner 31 determines that the voltage value acquired
from the pressure sensor 18 is at least the threshold voltage (Step S2; Yes), the
5 above-described steps are repeated from Step S1.
[0026] In contrast, when the determiner 31 determines that the voltage value
acquired from the pressure sensor 18 is lower than the threshold voltage (Step S2; No),
the notifier 32 outputs a result of determination at the determiner 31 to any external
apparatus (Step S3). After Step S3, the above-described steps are repeated from Step
10 S1.
[0027] As described above, the vehicle-mounted device 1 according to
Embodiment 1 includes the pressure sensor 18 fixed to the cover 11 at a position such
that the pressure sensor 18 is in contact with the sealing member 17 while the cover 11 is
closed. The pressure sensor 18 outputs a voltage value depending on the pressing force
15 received at the sealing member 17 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11
while the cover 11 is closed. The degradation determination device 30 then determines
whether the voltage value is at least the threshold voltage and outputs a determination
result. A voltage value of at least the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that the
sealing member 17 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a
20 sufficiently large pressing force, and no degradation occurs in the sealing member 17.
In contrast, a voltage value lower than the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that the
sealing member 17 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a small
pressing force, and any degradation occurs in the sealing member 17. The
vehicle-mounted device 1 can thus determine degradation of the sealing member 17 on
25 the basis of the value measured at the pressure sensor 18. The vehicle-mounted device 1
can therefore maintain the waterproofness and dust resistance. In detail, the
determination of degradation of the sealing member 17 can lead to facilitation of a
11
maintenance operation including replacement of the sealing member 17 in the case of
degradation of the sealing member 17, and prevention of the degraded sealing member 17
from allowing dust, water drops, and the like, to enter the vehicle-mounted device 1.
[0028] Since the threshold voltage is defined as a voltage value that can achieve the
5 air tightness necessary for the housing 10 of the vehicle-mounted device 1, degradation of
the sealing member 17 can be determined at the stage before the housing 10 loses the
required air tightness. This configuration can thus facilitate a maintenance operation
including replacement of the sealing member 17 before the housing 10 loses the required
air tightness.
10 [0029] Embodiment 2
The sealing member 17 may also be fixed to the cover 11. Embodiment 2 is
directed to a vehicle-mounted device 2 including a sealing member 21 fixed to the cover
11.
The vehicle-mounted device 2 illustrated in FIG. 8 differs from the
15 vehicle-mounted device 1 according to Embodiment 1, in that the vehicle-mounted
device 2 includes a first protruding member 20 that surrounds the opening 10a of the
housing 10 and extends toward the outside of the housing 10, and the sealing member 21
fixed to the inner surface 11b of the cover 11 at a position such that the sealing member
21 is in contact with the first protruding member 20 while the cover 11 is closed, as
20 illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, the first protruding member 20 is made of a
member having a shape of bent plate. The first protruding member 20 is fixed around
the opening 10a of the housing 10 with fastening members, which are not illustrated, and
extends in the direction apart from the housing 10, that is, toward the negative side in the
25 Y-axis direction.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the sealing member 21 is fixed to the inner surface
11b of the cover 11 with an adhesive, for example. The sealing member 21 is fixed to
12
the inner surface 11b of the cover 11 at a position such that the sealing member 21 is in
contact with the first protruding member 20 while the cover 11 is closed, as illustrated in
FIG. 10.
[0032] In the vehicle-mounted device 2, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to at least
5 one of the inner surface 11b or the sealing member 21 at a position such that the pressure
sensor 18 faces a part of the first protruding member 20 with the sealing member 21
arranged therebetween while the cover 11 is closed. The pressure sensor 18 measures a
pressing force received at the sealing member 21 sandwiched between the housing 10
and the cover 11, as in Embodiment 1. In detail, the pressure sensor 18 measures a
10 pressing force applied to the sealing member 21 sandwiched between the first protruding
member 20 fixed to the housing 10 and the cover 11.
[0033] As in Embodiment 1, when the sealing member 21 is degraded, the sealing
member 21 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a reduced
pressing force while the cover 11 is closed. This force further decreases as the position
15 becomes more distant from the support members 12 and 15. Accordingly, the pressure
sensor 18 is preferably fixed to at least one of the cover 11 or the sealing member 21 at
the position most distant from the support members 12 and 15 while the cover 11 is
closed. In Embodiment 2, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to at least one of the inner
surface 11b of the cover 11 or the sealing member 21 at a position such that the pressure
20 sensor 18 is in contact with the center portion of the sealing member 21 in the X-axis
direction in the lower portion of the cover 11 in the vertical direction.
[0034] The degradation determination device 30 according to Embodiment 2 has
the structure and operation identical to those in Embodiment 1. The degradation
determination device 30 according to Embodiment 2 can determine whether any
25 degradation occurs in the sealing member 21 on the basis of the value measured at the
pressure sensor 18.
[0035] As described above, the vehicle-mounted device 2 according to
13
Embodiment 2 includes the pressure sensor 18 fixed to at least one of the cover 11 or the
sealing member 21 at a position such that the pressure sensor 18 faces the first protruding
member 20 fixed to the housing 10 with the sealing member 21 arranged therebetween
while the cover 11 is closed. The pressure sensor 18 outputs a voltage value depending
5 on the pressing force received at the sealing member 21 sandwiched between the housing
10 and the cover 11. The degradation determination device 30 then determines whether
the voltage value is at least the threshold voltage and outputs a determination result. A
voltage value of at least the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that the sealing member
21 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a sufficiently large
10 pressing force, and no degradation occurs in the sealing member 21. In contrast, a
voltage value lower than the threshold voltage is deemed to mean that the sealing
member 21 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a small
pressing force, and any degradation occurs in the sealing member 21. The
vehicle-mounted device 2 can thus determine degradation of the sealing member 21 on
15 the basis of the value measured at the pressure sensor 18. The vehicle-mounted device 2
can therefore maintain the waterproofness and dust resistance.
[0036] Embodiment 3
The pressure sensor 18 may also be fixed to the housing 10. Embodiment 3 is
directed to a vehicle-mounted device 3 including the pressure sensor 18 fixed to the
20 housing 10.
The vehicle-mounted device 3 illustrated in FIG. 11 differs from the
vehicle-mounted device 1 according to Embodiment 1, in that the vehicle-mounted
device 3 includes a sealing member 22 held by a retainer 23 provided to the housing 10,
and a second protruding member 24 fixed to the inner surface 11b of the cover 11 at a
25 position such that the second protruding member 24 is in contact with the sealing member
22 while the cover 11 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the sealing member 22 is held by the retainer 23
14
provided around the opening 10a of the housing 10 and is fixed to the housing 10.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the retainer 23 extends in the direction apart from the
housing 10 and holds the sealing member 22 therein. In detail, the retainer 23 surrounds
the opening 10a and is made of two plate segments spaced from each other.
5 [0038] The second protruding member 24 is made of a member having a shape of
bent plate, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The second protruding member 24 is fixed
to the inner surface 11b of the cover 11 with fastening members, which are not illustrated,
and extends in the direction apart from the inner surface 11b.
[0039] In the vehicle-mounted device 3, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to at least
10 one of the housing 10 or the sealing member 22 at a position such that the pressure sensor
18 faces a part of the second protruding member 24 with the sealing member 22 arranged
therebetween while the cover 11 is closed. In detail, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to at
least one of the housing 10 or the sealing member 22 at a position such that the pressure
sensor 18 is held by the retainer 23. The pressure sensor 18 measures a pressing force
15 received at the sealing member 22 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11,
as in Embodiments 1 and 2. In detail, the pressure sensor 18 measures a pressing force
applied to the sealing member 22 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the second
protruding member 24 fixed to the cover 11.
[0040] As in Embodiments 1 and 2, when the sealing member 22 is degraded, the
20 sealing member 22 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11 receives a
reduced pressing force while the cover 11 is closed. This force further decreases as the
position becomes more distant from the support members 12 and 15. Accordingly, the
pressure sensor 18 is preferably fixed to at least one of the housing 10 or the sealing
member 22 at the position most distant from the support members 12 and 15 while the
25 cover 11 is closed. In Embodiment 3, the pressure sensor 18 is fixed to at least one of
the housing 10 or the sealing member 22 at a position such that the pressure sensor 18 is
in contact with the center portion of the sealing member 22 in the X-axis direction in the
15
lower portion of the opening 10a in the vertical direction.
[0041] The degradation determination device 30 according to Embodiment 3 has
the structure and operation identical to those in Embodiment 1. The degradation
determination device 30 according to Embodiment 3 can determine whether any
5 deterioration occurs in the sealing member 22 on the basis of the value measured at the
pressure sensor 18.
[0042] As described above, the vehicle-mounted device 3 according to
Embodiment 3 includes the pressure sensor 18 fixed to at least one of the housing 10 or
the sealing member 22 at a position such that the pressure sensor 18 faces the second
10 protruding member 24 fixed to the cover 11 with the sealing member 22 arranged
therebetween while the cover 11 is closed. The pressure sensor 18 outputs a voltage
value depending on the pressing force received at the sealing member 22 sandwiched
between the housing 10 and the cover 11. The degradation determination device 30
then determines whether the voltage value is at least the threshold voltage and outputs a
15 determination result. A voltage value of at least the threshold voltage is deemed to
mean that the sealing member 22 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11
receives a sufficiently large pressing force, and no degradation occurs in the sealing
member 22. In contrast, a voltage value lower than the threshold voltage is deemed to
mean that the sealing member 22 sandwiched between the housing 10 and the cover 11
20 receives a small pressing force, and any degradation occurs in the sealing member 22.
The vehicle-mounted device 3 can thus determine degradation of the sealing member 22
on the basis of the value measured at the pressure sensor 18. The vehicle-mounted
device 3 can therefore maintain the waterproofness and dust resistance.
[0043] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are not intended
25 to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The above-described hardware
configurations and flowchart are mere examples and may be arbitrarily varied and
modified.
16
[0044] The operation of the degradation determination device 30 in the
above-described embodiments is a mere example. In the case where any of the
vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 is installed in a railway vehicle, the pressing force applied
to the pressure sensor 18 fluctuates, for example, while the railway vehicle is running
5 through a tunnel or passing by another railway vehicle. In order to inhibit this
fluctuation from leading to an error in determination of deterioration of the sealing
member 17, 21, or 22, the degradation determination device 30 included in any of the
vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 may determine whether the period during which the value
measured at the pressure sensor 18 has been lower than the threshold value is equal to or
10 longer than a predetermined period. The predetermined period is a period long enough
not to mistake the above-described fluctuation of the pressing force for degradation of the
sealing member 17, 21, or 22. For example, the predetermined period has a duration of
approximately several tens of seconds.
[0045] A modification of the operation of the degradation determination device 30
15 designed so as not to mistake the fluctuation of the pressing force for degradation of the
sealing member 17, 21, or 22, as described above, is described below with reference to
FIG. 14. Steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 14 correspond to Steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 7.
[0046] When the determiner 31 determines that the voltage value acquired from the
pressure sensor 18 is lower than the threshold voltage (Step S2; No), the notifier 32
20 determines whether the period during which the determiner 31 has been determining the
voltage value to be lower than the threshold voltage is equal to or longer than the
predetermined period (Step S21). In detail, the notifier 32 acquires a determination
result from the determiner 31, and causes the result to be stored into a memory, which is
not illustrated, in association with a time acquired from a timer. On the basis of the
25 determination results that have been stored into the memory for the latest predetermined
period, the notifier 32 determines whether the period during which the determiner 31 has
been determining the voltage value to be lower than the threshold voltage is equal to or
17
longer than the predetermined period. The predetermined period is a period long
enough not to mistake the fluctuation of the pressing force for degradation of the sealing
member 17, 21, or 22, as described above.
[0047] When the notifier 32 determines that the period during which the determiner
5 31 has been determining the voltage value to be lower than the threshold voltage is
shorter than the predetermined period (Step S21; No), the above-described steps are
repeated from Step S1. When the period during which the determiner 31 has been
determining the voltage value to be lower than the threshold voltage is shorter than the
predetermined period, this situation is deemed to mean that the fluctuation of the value
10 measured at the pressure sensor 18 is just a temporary variation, and no degradation
occurs in the sealing member 17, 21, or 22. In detail, when at least one of the
determination results that have been stored into the memory for the latest predetermined
period indicates a voltage value of at least the threshold voltage, the period during which
the determiner 31 has been determining the voltage value to be lower than the threshold
15 voltage is considered to be shorter than the predetermined period.
[0048] In contrast, when the notifier 32 determines that the period during which the
determiner 31 has been determining the voltage value to be lower than the threshold
voltage is equal to or longer than the predetermined period (Step S21; No), the notifier 32
outputs a result of determination at the determiner 31 to the display 42 (Step S3). In
20 detail, when all the determination results that have been stored into the memory for the
latest predetermined period indicate voltage values lower than the threshold voltage, the
period during which the determiner 31 has been determining the voltage value to be
lower than the threshold voltage is considered to be equal to or longer than the
predetermined period. Step S3 corresponds to Step S3 in FIG. 7.
25 [0049] As described above, the degradation determination device 30 provides a
notification indicating occurrence of degradation of the sealing member 17, 21, or 22
when the period during which the value measured at the pressure sensor 18 has been
18
lower than the threshold voltage is equal to or longer than the predetermined period.
This configuration can improve the accuracy of determination of degradation of the
sealing member 17, 21, or 22.
[0050] Any of the vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 may include multiple pressure
5 sensors 18 disposed at mutually different positions. In this case, the determiner 31 may
determine whether each of the voltage values measured at the individual pressure sensors
18 is at least a threshold voltage. The voltage values measured at the pressure sensors
18 may be compared with the same threshold voltage or mutually different threshold
voltages. In the case of different threshold voltages for the individual pressure sensors
10 18, these threshold voltages may be defined depending on the positions of the individual
pressure sensors 18, for example. In detail, the threshold voltages for the individual
pressure sensors 18 may be defined depending on the distances from the support
members 12 and 15 to the individual pressure sensors 18. When the determiner 31
determines that a voltage value measured at at least one of the multiple pressure sensors
15 18 is lower than the threshold voltage, the notifier 32 may output a result of determination
at the determiner 31 to the display 42.
[0051] The numbers and positions of the support members 12 and 15 included in
any of the vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 may be arbitrarily defined depending on the
properties, such as material and weight, of the cover 11. For example, the support
20 members 12 may be fixed to both of the housing 10 and the cover 11 such that the
rotational axis AX extends in the X-axis direction. In this case, parts of the support
members 12 may be fixed to the upper portion of the opening 10a in the Z-axis direction,
while the other parts of the support members 12 may be fixed to the outer surface 11a of
the cover 11.
25 [0052] The opening 10a may also be provided in the upper or lower surface of the
housing 10 in the vertical direction, as well as the side surface of the housing 10.
[0053] The support members 12 may also be fixed by any means, as well as being
19
fixed with the fastening members 13 and 14. For example, the support members 12
may be fixed to both of the housing 10 and the cover 11 with an adhesive or by welding.
[0054] The support members 12 may also have any structure for supporting the
cover 11 such that the cover 11 is rotatable about the rotational axis AX, as well as the
5 hinge structure.
[0055] The support members 15 may also have any shape provided that the support
members 15 can support the cover 11 while the cover 11 is closed and reduce backlash of
the cover 11 caused by vibration during running of the vehicle in which any of the
vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 is installed, as well as the shape of protrusion provided on
10 the inner surface 11b of the cover 11. For example, the support members 15 may also
be protrusions provided on the housing 10. In this case, the cover 11 may be provided
with members to engage with the support members 15.
The support members 15 may be fabricated separately from the cover 11, fixed to
the cover 11, or integrated with the cover 11.
15 [0056] The pressure sensor 18 may be supplied with electric power from the
electronic equipment accommodated in the housing 10 as in Embodiments 1 to 3
described above, or may include an internal power source.
[0057] The first protruding member 20 may also be fixed to the housing 10 by any
means, and the second protruding member 24 may also be fixed to the cover 11 by any
20 means, as well as being fixed with the fastening members. For example, the first
protruding member 20 may be fixed to the housing 10 and the second protruding member
24 may be fixed to the cover 11 with an adhesive or by welding. The first protruding
member 20 may also be integrated with the cover 11. The second protruding member
24 may also be integrated with the housing 10.
25 [0058] The degradation determination device 30 may be provided outside the
housing 10. In this case, the degradation determination device 30 may determine
whether the vehicle is running on the basis of information from an activation switch or a
20
control system for the vehicle, for example, and then determine whether the voltage value
acquired from the pressure sensor 18 is at least the threshold voltage during running of
the vehicle.
[0059] The degradation determination device 30 is not required to be provided in
5 the vehicle in which any of the vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 is installed. In this case,
the degradation determination device 30 may acquire a value measured at the pressure
sensor 18 via a network inside the vehicle and a network for connecting devices inside
the vehicle to devices outside the vehicle. The degradation determination device 30
may also be achieved in the form of a function of the control system for the vehicle.
10 [0060] The vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 may also be installed in other vehicles,
such as automobiles, marine vessels, and aircrafts, as well as railway vehicles. The
vehicle-mounted devices 1 to 3 may also be provided at any site, such as on the floor or
on the roof, as well as under the floor.
[0061] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatory
15 purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific embodiments,
persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive
sense. This detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the
20 scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims, along with the full range of
equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
Reference Signs List
[0062] 1, 2, 3 Vehicle-mounted device
10 Housing
25 10a Opening
10b Edge
11 Cover
21
11a Outer surface
11b Inner surface
12, 15Support member
13, 14Fastening member
5 16 Hole
17, 21, 22 Sealing member
17a Groove
18 Pressure sensor
19 Cable
10 20 First protruding member
23 Retainer
24 Second protruding member
30 Degradation determination device
31 Determiner
15 32 Notifier
41 Electronic equipment
42 Display
50 Bus
51 Processor
20 52 Memory
53 Interface
AX Rotational axis
22
WE CLAIM:
1. A vehicle-mounted device, comprising:
a housing having an opening;
a cover covering the opening, the cover being openable and closable;
5 a sealing member fixed to the housing or the cover, the sealing member being
sandwiched between the housing and the cover while surrounding the opening when the
cover is closed;
a pressure sensor fixed to at least one of the cover, the housing, or the sealing
member at a position such that the pressure sensor is in contact with the sealing member
10 while the cover is closed, the pressure sensor being configured to measure a pressing
force received at the sealing member sandwiched between the housing and the cover
while the cover is closed; and
a degradation determination device to determine whether any degradation occurs
in the sealing member based on the pressing force measured at the pressure sensor while
15 the cover is closed.
2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a support member to support the cover, wherein
the pressure sensor is fixed to at least one of the cover, the housing, or the sealing
20 member at a position most distant from the support member while the cover is closed.
3. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the sealing member has a groove to engage with an edge of the opening, the
sealing member being fixed around the opening by engagement of the groove with the
25 edge of the opening, and
the pressure sensor is fixed to an inner surface of the cover at a position such that
the pressure sensor is in contact with the sealing member while the cover is closed.
23
4. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the sealing member is fixed to an inner surface of the cover, and
the pressure sensor is fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the cover or the
5 sealing member at a position such that the pressure sensor is sandwiched between the
cover and the sealing member.
5. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 4, further comprising:
a first protruding member fixed around the opening, surrounding the opening, and
10 extending toward an outside of the housing, wherein
the sealing member is in contact with the first protruding member while the cover
is closed, and
the pressure sensor is fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the cover or the
sealing member at a position such that the pressure sensor faces a part of the first
15 protruding member with the sealing member arranged therebetween while the cover is
closed.
6. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the sealing member is fixed to the housing around the opening, and
20 the pressure sensor is fixed to at least one of an outer surface of the housing or the
sealing member at a position such that the pressure sensor is sandwiched between the
housing and the sealing member.
7. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 6, further comprising:
25 a second protruding member fixed to an inner surface of the cover at a position
such that the second protruding member is in contact with the sealing member while the
cover is closed, the second protruding member extending toward the housing, wherein
24
the pressure sensor is fixed to at least one of the outer surface of the housing or the
sealing member at a position such that the pressure sensor faces a part of the second
protruding member with the sealing member arranged therebetween while the cover is
closed.
8. The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the pressure sensor outputs a voltage value depending on the pressing force, and
the degradation determination device comprises:
a determiner to determine whether the voltage value output from the
10 pressure sensor is lower than a threshold voltage; and
a notifier to provide a notification indicating occurrence of degradation of
the sealing member when the determiner determines the voltage value to be lower than
the threshold voltage.
9. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 8, wherein the notifier
provides the notification indicating occurrence of degradation of the sealing member
when a period during which the determiner has been determining the voltage value to be
lower than the threshold voltage is equal to or longer than a predetermined period.
10. The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
the pressure sensor operates on electric power supplied from electronic equipment
accommodated in the housing and thus measures the pressing force.