JP2000112531A - Device for adjusting water level - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent water from rapidly flowing down at the time of discharging water by a water level adjusting device provided between tank bodies arranged so as to be vertically superposed for discharging water from the upper stage tank body for compensating the lowering of a water level in the lower stage tank body by moving a float vertically in accordance with the change of the water level in the lower stage tank body. SOLUTION: When a water level in a lower stage tank body 3 is low, water 4 in an upper stage tank body 2 is discharged through a water discharge pipe 6 to the lower stage tank body 3 as shown by (a). Then, when the water level in the lower stage tank body 3 rises, a main float 7 rises, and when the water level reaches a prescribed water level as shown by (b), a lower edge opening 6a of the water discharge pipe 6 is closed by the main float 7 so that water discharge can be stopped. After the state of (b) is obtained, when the water level in the lower stage tank body 3 lowers, the main float 7 lowers while the buoyancy of a sub-float 8 provided in the water discharge pipe 6 is received, and the lower opening part 6a of the water discharge pipe 6 is opened so that the water discharge can be started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water level adjusting device for raising and lowering a float in response to a change in the water level in a tank, and intermittently injecting water into the tank. The present invention relates to a water level adjusting device that is provided between bodies and that injects water from an upper tank to compensate for a decrease in water level in a lower tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a water level adjusting device using a float, for example, an irrigation water level adjusting valve described in JP-A-07-203780 is known. This device forms a valve seat 23 closed by a rising operation of a valve body 22 in a valve body 21 extending in a vertical direction as shown in FIG. 6, and arranges a float 24 below the valve body 21. The float 24 and the valve body 22 are integrally connected by a connecting member 25 so as to be able to move up and down. The upper end of the valve body 21 is connected to the bottom of the upper tank (not shown). When the water level in the lower tank 26 is low, the upper end of the valve body 21 as shown in FIG. Water 27 in the lower tank is injected into the lower tank 26 through the valve body 21. When the water level in the lower tank 26 rises due to this water injection, the float 24
As shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the water level reaches a predetermined level, the valve seat 23 is closed by the valve body 22 which has been raised together with the float 24, and the injection of water is stopped. According to this device, a sensor for detecting the water level in the tank body 26, a motor for operating the valve body 22, and a lower tank from the upper tank body without using any electric system such as an electromagnetic solenoid. Automatic water supply to the body 26 can be intermittently performed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional water level adjusting device has a valve body 22 and a connecting member 25 for supporting the valve body.
And one float 2 provided below the valve body 21.
Since only the buoyancy of 4 is used to raise the water against the water pressure in the upper tank, the float 24 must be enlarged to obtain a large buoyancy. Also, when the water level in the lower stage tank body 24 drops below a predetermined water level, the valve body 22 is pushed down by the water pressure in the upper stage tank body, and the valve seat 22 is opened at a stretch, and immediately upon that, Since the water flows down, a loud impact noise is generated, and the valve body 22 and the float 24
There is a problem such as damage. In addition, since the valve seat 23 is provided inside the valve body 21, not only the structure is complicated, but also dust, mud, precipitates, and the like are deposited on this portion, and clogging is likely to occur. Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology. That is, the present invention is provided between tank bodies arranged in a vertically overlapping manner, and raises and lowers the float according to a change in the water level in the lower tank body, thereby lowering the water level in the lower tank body. In a water level adjustment device that injects water from the upper tank to compensate for this, when the water is injected, it is necessary to prevent the water from suddenly flowing down and to simplify and reduce the size and structure of the device. It is in.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided between tanks which are vertically overlapped and arranged when the water level in the lower tank is lowered. In order to compensate for this, it is intended for a water level adjustment device that injects water from the upper tank, and connects to the bottom opening of the upper tank to guide the water in the upper tank to the lower tank A vertically extending cylindrical water injection pipe, a main float provided below the water injection pipe and moving up and down in accordance with a water level fluctuation in a lower tank body, and a sub-water supply pipe provided in the water injection pipe. A float, and a connecting member that connects the main float and the sub-float so as to be separated from each other so as to be able to move up and down integrally, and when the water level in the lower tank body rises to a predetermined water level, the main float Close the lower end opening of the water injection pipe, and When the water level in the tank falls below a predetermined level, the buoyancy of the sub-float is applied to the main float, and the main float is lowered to open the lower end opening of the water injection pipe. .

[0005] In the above water level adjusting device, it is preferable that a lower end portion of the water injection pipe is formed so as to receive an upper end portion of the main float and to be tightly engaged therewith. For example, if the shape of the main float is spherical or conical, the lower end of the water injection pipe is formed in an annular shape having a smaller diameter than the main float. It is more preferable that a seal member is provided at a lower end portion of the water injection pipe so as to border a contact portion with the main float. According to the present invention, the buoyancy of the main float floating on the water in the lower tank body and the buoyancy of the sub-float of the injection pipe are combined to withstand the water pressure in the upper tank body. Since the main float is raised, the main float can be downsized, and the sub-float is housed inside the water injection pipe.
This arrangement does not increase the size of the device. Further, when the water level in the lower stage tank body falls from a predetermined water level, the main float is lowered to open the lower end opening of the water injection pipe while applying the buoyancy of the sub-float to the main float. Because it was configured as
Water can be prevented from suddenly flowing down during water injection.

Further, no valve seat is provided inside the water injection pipe,
Because the lower end of the water injection pipe functioned as a valve seat and the main float itself functioned as a valve body,
The structure and configuration of the apparatus can be extremely simplified, and the water injection pipe is less likely to be clogged by dust, mud, precipitates and the like.
Furthermore, since the sub-float moves up and down to stir the inside of the water injection pipe, there is an advantage that the clogging of the water injection pipe is completely prevented. Here, “water” does not refer to water in a strictly chemical sense, but refers to a wide range of liquids in general, such as muddy water, sewage, sewage, agricultural water, cited water, and salt water. "Has the same meaning as" liquid level. "

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating an example of an embodiment of a water level adjusting device according to the present invention. The water level adjusting device 1 includes two tanks that are vertically overlapped with each other. It is provided between the bodies 2 and 3. Here, an appropriate amount of water is always maintained in the upper tank 2 by supplying water from a water supply source (not shown), and the water in the lower tank 3 is gradually evaporated by being heated by a heating means (not shown). Shall be The water level adjusting device 1 controls the upper tank 2 to guide the water 4 in the upper tank 2 into the lower tank 3.
And a water injection pipe 6 formed of a cylindrical straight pipe extending downward in the vertical direction connected to the bottom opening 5 of the water tank and moving up and down in accordance with a water level fluctuation in the lower tank body 3 provided below the water injection pipe 6. A substantially spherical main float 7, a substantially egg-shaped sub-float 8 provided in the water injection pipe 6, and the main float 7 and the sub-float 8 are connected to each other so as to be able to ascend and descend integrally with each other. When the water level in the lower tank body 3 rises to a predetermined level, the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 is closed by the main float 7 as shown in FIG. 1B. ing. At the lower end of the water injection pipe 6,
An annular packing (seal member) 10 made of a resin such as rubber or plastic is attached so as to border a contact portion with the main float 7. According to the water level adjusting device 1, when the water level in the lower tank body 3 is low, the water 4 in the upper tank body 2 is filled with the injection pipe 6 as shown in FIG.
And water is injected into the lower tank body 3. When the water level in the lower tank body 3 rises due to this water injection, the main float 7 rises, and when the water level reaches a predetermined level as shown in FIG. The lower end opening 6a of 6 is closed and the injection of water is stopped. When the water level in the lower tank body 3 drops after the state shown in FIG. 1B is reached, the main float 7 descends while receiving the buoyancy of the sub-float 8 provided in the water injection pipe 6. The lower end opening 6a is opened, and water is injected into the lower tank body 3 through the water injection pipe 6. According to this water level adjusting device 1,
By the buoyancy obtained by combining the buoyancy of the main float 7 floating in the water in the lower tank body 3 and the buoyancy of the sub-float 8 provided in the injection pipe 6, the main float is opposed to the water pressure in the upper tank body 2. Since the structure is such that the main float 7 is raised, the size of the main float 7 can be reduced. Moreover, since the sub-float 8 is housed inside the water injection pipe 6, the provision of the sub-float 8 does not increase the size of the apparatus.

When the water level in the lower tank body 3 drops below a predetermined level, the main float 7 is lowered while the buoyancy of the sub-float 8 acts on the main float 7 to open the lower end opening of the water injection pipe 6. Since the opening 6a is configured to be open, it is possible to prevent the water from suddenly flowing down through the water injection pipe 6 during water injection. As a result, it is possible to prevent the sub-float 8 and the main float 7 from suddenly dropping, dropping water, and the like, generating loud impact noise, and preventing the sub-float 8 and the main float 7 from being damaged. In addition, tank bodies 2, 3
If the temperature of the water inside the container reaches a high temperature such as the boiling temperature, and the water suddenly flows down through the water injection pipe 6, the high-temperature water may scatter to the surroundings and pose a danger to the operator. According to this, such a danger can be prevented. In addition, since the valve seat is not provided inside the water injection pipe 6, the lower end of the water injection pipe 6 functions as a valve seat, and the main float 7 itself functions as a valve body. Therefore, the structure and configuration of the apparatus are extremely simplified. In addition, clogging of the water injection pipe 6 due to dust, mud, precipitates, and the like hardly occurs. Furthermore, the sub-float 8 moves up and down to stir the inside of the water injection pipe 6,
The clogging of the water injection pipe 6 is completely prevented.

In the above example, a case where a cylindrical straight pipe is used as the water injection pipe 6 and a substantially spherical one is used as the main float 7 is shown. The present invention is not limited to this, and it suffices that the lower end of the water injection pipe 6 is formed so as to receive the upper end of the main float 7 and to be tightly engaged therewith. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the main float 7 may have a conical shape with respect to the cylindrical water injection pipe 6. Further, as shown in FIG.
The main body 7a may have a disk shape, and a conical valve body 7b may be provided on the main body 7a. In the above example, the water injection pipe 6
The packing 10 is not necessarily required when the leakage from the space between the water injection pipe 6 and the main float 7 does not matter much. However, even in this case, the packing 1 made of an elastic body is used for the purpose of reducing the impact when the main float 7 rises and comes into contact with the water injection pipe 6.
It is desirable to provide 0. Further, the material of the packing 10 is not limited to rubber or plastic, but may be selected appropriately according to the use environment and use purpose. For example, a packing made of a heat-resistant material is used when used in a high-temperature environment, and a packing excellent in corrosion resistance is used when a corrosive liquid is used. If it is necessary to reduce the lateral deflection (horizontal displacement) of the sub-float 8 or the main float 7, a guide member that restricts the horizontal movement of the sub-float 8 or the main float 7 and allows the vertical movement. I just need to equip it. The water level adjusting device 1 described above is, for example, a water level adjusting device for irrigation for controlling water level of a paddy field to be constant while sequentially supplying water to terraced rice terraces, or a natural sea using a multi-stage flat pot manufacturing method. The present invention can be effectively applied to a water level adjusting device for controlling the level of salt water in each flat pot in a salt manufacturing apparatus.

The multi-stage flat pot production method is a method for producing natural sea salt proposed by the present inventors. The salt making device according to this method is
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of pots (in this example, four pots (tank bodies) 11-1 to 11-4 and four pots 11-1 to 11- A heat medium pipe 12 provided to heat the salt water in the batch 4 at a time, and a high-temperature (about 140 ° C. in the above case, about 340 ° C. in the case of oil) heat medium is fed into the heat medium pipe 12 and circulated. A heating medium heating device 13 to be heated and a raw material water injection device 14 for injecting salt water pumped from the sea by a pump into a top-stage kettle 11-1 are generally configured. These are stainless steel tanks of the same shape and the same size, whose height is smaller than the size and whose upper part is open, and which is firmly supported by a support structure (not shown). 4, a water level adjusting device according to the present invention between upper and lower kettles for sequentially transferring salt water to a lower kettle. -1～1-3 it is provided. Water injection tube 6 of the water level adjusting device 1-1 to 1-3, kettle 11
It is made of stainless steel like -1 to 11-4. The main float 7, the sub-float 8, and the connecting rod 9 are made of stainless steel or titanium. The lower kettle 11-1 is provided with a discharge port (not shown) for recovering contents (saturated or supersaturated salt water or salt water in a state where salt is precipitated). The contents in the pot 11-1 can be transferred to a collecting pot (not shown).

Next, a salt production method using this salt production apparatus will be described. First, salt water is pumped from the sea, and the salt water is poured into the uppermost pot 11-4 by the raw material injection device 14.
At this time, the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 of each water level adjusting device 1
Is open, the salt water poured into the uppermost pot 11-4 sequentially flows down into the lower pots 11-3 to 11-1.
First, it starts to accumulate in the lower pot 11-1. When a predetermined amount of salt water accumulates in the bottom kettle 11-1, the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 of the water level adjusting device 1-1 is closed by the main float 7
And the salt water starts to accumulate in the pot 11-2 in the upper stage. Then, when a predetermined amount of salt water accumulates in the kettle 11-2, the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 of the water level adjusting device 1-2.
Is closed by the main float 7, and salt water starts to accumulate in the pot 11-3 in the upper stage. And the pot 11
When a predetermined amount of salt water accumulates in the tank -3, the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 of the water level adjusting device 1-3 is closed by the main float 7, and salt water starts to accumulate in the uppermost pot 11-4.
Then, when a predetermined amount of salt water has accumulated in the uppermost pot 11-4, the water injection by the raw material injection device 14 is stopped, and the heat medium pipe 1 is stopped.
2. Start the heating of the brine with 2. The heat medium that has exited the heat medium heating device 13 first passes through the heat medium pipe 12 laid in the lowermost pot 11-1, and sequentially goes to upper pots 11-2 to 11-4.
Heat medium heating device 13 passes through heat medium pipe 12 laid inside
And heated again to be used in circulation.

At this time, in order to prevent the heat medium pipe 12 from being damaged due to a temperature difference between the inside and outside, the valve 1 of the heat medium pipe 12 is
2a and 12b are opened slightly, and the heating medium tube 12 is gradually heated by a small amount of heating medium. Then, when the heat medium pipe 12 is heated to a predetermined temperature, the opening degree of the valves 12a and 12b is increased, and the high-temperature heat medium flows into the heat medium pipe 12 while adjusting the flow rate, thereby heating the salt water. Then, the high-temperature heat medium flowing in the heat medium pipe 12 causes the kettles 11-1 to 11-
The salt water in 4 is heated through the tube wall of the heat medium tube 12 and starts to boil. Then, with the evaporation of water due to boiling, the water level of the salt water in each of the kettles 11-1 to 11-4 gradually decreases. At this time, since the salt water in the lowermost pot 11-1 is heated at the highest temperature, the water level in the pot 11-1 drops most rapidly. Then, when the water level in the lowermost pot 11-1 drops from the predetermined water level, first, the main float 7 of the water level adjusting device 1-1 receives the buoyancy of the sub-float 8 provided in the water injection pipe 6. The lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 is opened. Thereby, the upper stage, that is, the second stage shuttle 11 is placed in the lower stage shuttle 11-1.
-2, water is injected through the water injection pipe 6. At this time, since the salt water poured into the lowermost pot 11-1 has already been heated to a high temperature (boiling temperature), the saltwater temperature in the lowermost pot does not decrease even by the above-mentioned water injection. Thereafter, each time the water level in the lowermost pot 11-1 drops below the predetermined water level, water injection from the second lower pot 11-2 is repeated. Further, the lowering of the water level of the second-stage kettle 11-2 from the bottom is further compensated for by water injection from the upper-stage kettle 11-3. By repeating the above operation, the concentration of the salt water in the lowermost pot 11-1 gradually increases. And the lower kettle 11-
When the concentration of the salt water in 1 becomes high enough to precipitate the salt, the highly concentrated salt water in the pot 11-1 is collected in a collecting pot, and the water is further heated and evaporated by a steam pipe or the like to precipitate the salt. After that, this is transferred to a centrifugal dehydrator or the like to further remove water, bitter salt and the like.

As described above, according to the salt-making apparatus of this embodiment, the plurality of kettles 11-
1 to 11-4, the salt water in all the stages 11-1 to 11-4 is simultaneously heated by a high-temperature heat medium flowing through the heat medium pipe 12 provided in each of the stages 11-1 to 11-4. While boiling, each time the water level of the lowermost pot 11-1 drops from the predetermined water level, water is poured from the upper pot 11-2, and the lowering of the water level of the other pots is successively performed on the upper pots. Of water, the salt water is constantly boiled at the boiling temperature in the lowermost pot 11-1, and the upper pots 11-2 to 11-11 are successively boiled.
Since the salt water from -4 can be accumulated to increase the concentration of the salt water, the salt water can be efficiently boiled and the salt can be collected without requiring a large installation space. Also, by using the water level adjusting devices 1-1 to 1-3 according to the present invention as means for sequentially transferring the salt water to the lower stage kettle, a sensor or valve for detecting the water level in the lower stage kettle is provided. The salt water can be automatically injected from the upper pot to the lower pot without using any electric system such as a motor for operating the body and an electromagnetic solenoid. Moreover, when the water level of the salt water in the lower stage falls below a predetermined water level, the water level adjusting devices 1-1 to 1-1-
Since the main float 7 is lowered to open the lower end opening 6a of the water injection pipe 6 while applying the buoyancy of the sub-float 8 to the main float 7, the salt water flows through the water injection pipe 6 at the time of water injection. It can be prevented from flowing down suddenly. As a result, it is possible to prevent the sub-float 8 and the main float 7 from suddenly dropping, and a loud impact sound due to a drop of salt water, and the sub-float 8 and the main float 7 from being damaged.

Further, since the salt water in the kettles 11-1 to 11-4 has reached the boiling temperature, if the salt water flows down rapidly through the water injection pipe 6, the high-temperature salt water scatters around and poses a danger to the operator. Water level adjustment device 1 of the present invention
Since -1 to 1-3 are used, such danger can be prevented. In addition, no valve seat is provided inside the water injection pipe 6, the lower end of the water injection pipe 6 functions as a valve seat, the main float 7 itself functions as a valve body, and the sub-float 8 moves up and down. Is agitated, so that clogging of the water injection pipe 6 due to precipitated salt or the like is completely prevented. In the above-described embodiment, a description has been given of an example of a salt-making apparatus having a four-stage kettle, but the number of stages of the kettle can be reduced by increasing the temperature, flow rate, and the like of the heat medium flowing in the heat medium pipe 12. It is also possible to increase more than steps. In addition, if the restrictions such as the land area and the capacity of the heating medium heating device 13 are even greater, a configuration having three stages or less can be used. Further, in the above embodiment, the seawater pumped from the sea is used as it is in the uppermost kettle 1.
Although water is injected into 1-4, if seawater is heated and injected in advance, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the temperature of saltwater in the pot 11-4 at the time of injecting seawater, and to heat saltwater more efficiently. it can. In the above example, a rectangular kettle is used, but other shapes such as a bottomed cylindrical kettle (tank body) may be used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, the structure may be such that the heating medium tube 12 and the shuttle are integrated. In addition, by providing the heating medium pipes 12 in a plurality of stages in the kettle, the salt water in the kettle can be more efficiently heated by the high-temperature heating medium flowing in the heating medium pipes 12. Further, the above-mentioned salt producing apparatus can also be used as an apparatus for producing regenerated salt. In such a case, for example, raw salt (natural salt such as rock salt) is put into the uppermost pot, mixed with seawater so as to have an appropriate concentration, and the mixed salt water is poured into all the pots to a predetermined water level. In the same manner as described above, while the salt water in all the kettles is simultaneously boiled by radiating heat from the heat medium tubes, water is poured from the kettle one level higher every time the water level of the lowermost kettle drops by a predetermined amount. The lowering of the water level of the kettles in the other stages other than the upper stage is compensated for by the water injection from the upper stage, so that the salt water is always boiled at the boiling temperature in the lowermost stage. According to this production method, it becomes possible to add various minerals contained in seawater to raw salt and efficiently produce a high-quality regenerated and processed salt similar to natural sea salt collected from seawater.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the float is provided between the tanks which are vertically overlapped with each other, and the float is raised and lowered according to a change in the water level in the lower tank. In the water level adjusting device that injects water from the upper stage tank body to compensate for when the water level in the lower stage tank body drops, in addition to preventing the water from suddenly flowing down at the time of water injection, simplifying the device, The size can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of an embodiment of a water level adjusting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the water level adjusting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the water level adjusting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an embodiment of a salt producing apparatus including a water level adjusting device according to the present invention.

5 (a) to 5 (d) are partial cross-sectional views showing an embodiment in which a kettle and a heat medium pipe of a salt-making apparatus are integrated.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic sectional views showing an example of a conventional water level adjusting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: water level adjusting device 2: tank body 3: tank body 4: water 5: bottom opening 6: water injection pipe 7: main float 8: sub float 9: connecting rod 6a: lower end opening 10: packing (seal member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water level adjusting device which is provided between tank bodies superposed in the vertical direction and injects water from an upper tank body to compensate for a decrease in water level in a lower tank body. A vertically extending water pipe connected to a bottom opening of the upper tank body for guiding water in the upper tank body to the lower tank body, and below the water pipe. A main float that moves up and down in accordance with water level fluctuations in the lower tank body, a sub-float provided in the water injection pipe, and the main float and the sub-float are integrally movably connected to each other. When the water level in the lower stage tank body rises to a predetermined water level, the lower end opening of the water injection pipe is closed by the main float, and the water level in the lower stage tank body from the predetermined water level When lowered, the buoyancy of the sub-float While acting to Nfuroto water level adjusting apparatus characterized by being configured so as to open the lower end opening of the water injection tube. 2. The water level adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end portion of the water injection pipe is formed so as to receive an upper end portion of the main float and closely engage with the upper end portion. 3. The water level adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a seal member is provided at a lower end portion of the water pipe so as to border a contact portion with the main float.