JP2001221703A - Liquid leak detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid leak detector easy and inexpensive to install and handle, requiring no other power supply and wiring. SOLUTION: This liquid leak detector includes a leak sensor having a plurality of electrodes arranged in approximately parallel relationship, an abnormality detection circuit for detecting and indicating any abnormalities concerning the value of insulation resistance among the plurality of electrodes due to leaks, a power supply for driving the abnormality detection circuit, and a casing for enclosing at least the abnormality detection circuit. The power supply comprises a battery built into or attached to the casing. The casing has a fastening part for easily detachably fastening the leak sensor thereto.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid leak detector for detecting leakage of a non-insulating liquid, and in particular, does not require a separate power supply or wiring, is easy to install and handle, and is inexpensive. It relates to a liquid leak detector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid leakage detector is provided with a liquid leakage detection line on a floor of a computer room or the like, and the insulation resistance between the lines is monitored by an abnormality detection circuit or the like. (See Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 64-5241 and 6-29824) are well known.

[0003]

This type of liquid leak detector is used in offices, factories, vending machines and the like, and reduces the insulation resistance between the electrodes of the liquid leak sensor due to leakage of liquid such as water. Normally, an AC power supply is used as the power supply for the abnormality detection circuit to be detected, and in many cases, it is rectified by a rectifier circuit and converted to DC, and the AC power supply is connected to the main body of the detector containing the abnormality detection circuit etc. in the housing. A power cord was required, and various measures were required to find the leaking point.

On the other hand, even in ordinary households, if water is noticed late, such as water leakage due to damage to a water pipe, overflow due to removal of a water supply pipe and a drain pipe of a washing machine, and melting of ice due to a malfunction of a refrigerator, water is wasted. This has led to the risk of waste, furniture and condominiums, etc., which may cause inconvenience due to outflows downstairs. However, the above-mentioned conventional one has problems that handling and installation are complicated and expensive for general household use, and the appearance of a simpler and less expensive liquid leak detector has been desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to meet the above-mentioned demand, and the invention of claim 1 provides an inexpensive liquid leakage detector which is easy to install and handle without requiring a separate power supply or wiring. As an issue. The second to fourth aspects of the present invention provide, in addition to the object of the first aspect, a liquid leak detector that can be easily mounted, moved, replaced, repaired, or the like on a liquid leakage monitoring target. Further, in addition to the problems of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the invention described in claim 5 can be easily adapted to any liquid leakage monitoring target, and can be laid so that the liquid leakage can be reliably detected. It is an object to provide a liquid leak detector which is easy to perform. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid leakage detector having a function of easily checking a battery and an abnormality detection circuit.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is a liquid leakage sensor having a plurality of electrodes arranged substantially in parallel, and an abnormality detection circuit for detecting and displaying an abnormality due to leakage of the insulation resistance value between the plurality of electrodes. And a power supply for driving the abnormality detection circuit, and a liquid leakage detector including at least a housing incorporating the abnormality detection circuit, wherein the power supply is a battery and is built in or attached to the housing, The housing is a leak detector, wherein the housing has a fastening portion for easily fastening the leak sensor. Since the power supply is a battery, and the liquid leak sensor, the abnormality detection circuit, the battery and the housing are integrated, no separate wiring is required and the handling is easy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the liquid leakage detector according to the first aspect, further comprising a mounting means that can be easily attached to and detached from a liquid leakage monitoring target that may cause liquid leakage. This facilitates attachment / detachment to / from the liquid leakage monitoring target, and facilitates attachment / movement / replacement / repair.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the liquid leakage detector according to the second aspect, the liquid leakage monitoring target is a tubular body, and the mounting means is capable of being wound around the tubular body. It is characterized by comprising a sensor and a fastening portion provided in the housing and for easily fastening at least one end of the liquid leakage sensor to and from the housing. Since the liquid leakage sensor is formed so as to be wound around the tubular body, and the housing is provided with a fastening portion for easily attaching and detaching at least one end of the liquid leakage sensor,
No additional mounting means is required, and mounting is easy.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid leakage detector according to the second or third aspect, at least the surface of the liquid leakage monitoring object is made of a magnetic material, and the mounting means is attached to the housing. It is characterized in that the magnet is worn. Since the liquid can be easily attached to and detached from the liquid leakage monitoring target by the magnet attached to the housing, mounting, moving, replacement, repair, and the like can be extremely easily performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid leakage detector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the liquid leakage detection sensor is obtained by applying a conductive paint on a non-hygroscopic plastic tape. It is a tape-shaped sensor in which a plurality of electrode strips are formed, and a liquid-absorbing material tape is stuck thereon. Since the leak sensor is a tape-shaped sensor, it can easily be applied to any leak monitoring target, whether wound on a tubular body or placed on a flat surface, so that it can reliably detect leaks. Easy to lay.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid leakage detector according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a test circuit comprising a push button switch for checking a battery and an abnormality detection circuit is provided. And Thus, the battery and the abnormality detection circuit can be easily checked simply by pressing the push button switch.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded plan view showing an outline of the liquid leak detector 1, and FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view showing an inner surface of a lid 52 of a housing 5 in which the sounding body 26 is set.
(b) is a plan view showing the main body 51 of the housing 5, the liquid leakage sensor 2 fixedly connected to one side thereof, the abnormality detection circuit 3 and the battery 4 built in the main body 51. 2 (a) is a front view, FIG. 2 (b) is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an abnormality detection circuit 3, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of another embodiment, and FIG. 5 (a) is a partially omitted view taken along the line XX of FIG.
FIG. 2B is a plan view. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing examples of use of the liquid leak detector.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a leak sensor 2 is
For example, a conductive paint is applied on a non-hygroscopic plastic tape 11 to form a plurality of strips of electrodes 12 (12a, 12b), and a liquid-absorbent tape (for example, nonwoven fabric) 13 is adhered thereon. Is done. An eyelet 15 (15a, 15b) or the like is attached to one end of the electrode 12 as necessary to facilitate connection with a detection terminal of the abnormality detection circuit 3 described later. Then, the base end 2a of the liquid leak sensor 2 is inserted from a liquid leak sensor insertion hole 61 provided on one side of the main body 51 of the housing 5 and is fixed to an inner surface of the side wall by an appropriate fastener (not shown).
Fixed. A detent 14 is formed at the tip 2b of the liquid leak sensor 2 so as not to come off when inserted and stopped in a fastening portion 62 described later.

The housing 5 is the same as the main body 51 shown in FIG.
(a) is composed of a lid 52, and a ridge 53 provided on the inner surface of the upper lid is provided so as to be fitted to the main body 51. Body 51
When the cover 52 is put on the cover 52, the notch 54 (54a, 54b) provided on the upper edge of both sides of the main body 51 and the fitting portion 55 (55a, 55b) provided on the inner surface of the cover 52 are fitted. Cutouts 58a and 58b are provided on the other side upper edge of the main body 51 to facilitate opening the lid 52.

The housing 5 contains the abnormality detection circuit 3 and the battery 4. The abnormality detection circuit 3 includes a detection circuit 21, a determination circuit 22, an output circuit 23, and a display circuit 24. The display circuit 24 includes a display lamp d composed of a light emitting diode, a melody IC 25, and an audio display body composed of a sound generator 26. It is configured.

In FIG. 3, a detection circuit 21 includes a detection terminal 2 connected to the electrodes 12a and 12b of the liquid leakage sensor 2.
1a and 21b, and a detection resistor R ₁ connected in series with it.
Consists of The voltage V supplied from the battery 4 is
a-12b between the insulation resistance R _X and the detection resistor R ₁ by being divided is output as voltage V ₂₁ follows. V ₂₁ = V × [R ₁ / (R _X + R ₁ )] (1) The judgment circuit 22 includes a transistor Tr 1 and a resistor R ₂ ,
R ₃ and R _{4. When} the insulation resistance R _X between the electrodes of the liquid leak sensor 2 decreases due to liquid leakage, the detection circuit 21
Higher output voltage V ₂₁ of. When the value exceeds the gap voltage Vg of the transistors Tr1, the current flows I _D, the output voltage V ₂₂ of the decision circuit increases.

The output circuit 23 is composed of a delay circuit and a transistor Tr2 Metropolitan to prevent malfunctions due to noise or the like comprising a capacitor C and a resistor R _5, the output voltage V ₂₂ of the decision circuit 22 increases, the output voltage V of the output circuit ₂₃ drops to ground potential, indicating lamp d and melody IC
Since the power supply voltage V is applied to 25, the display lamp d is turned on, the melody IC 25 is operated, an electric signal is output, and a melody of, for example, "Kako Waltz" flows from the sounding body 26.

The test circuit 27 includes detection terminals 21a-21
The contacts b are connected via the push button switch 7, and the contact 7b is closed when the operation section 7a of the push button switch 7 is pressed. When the contact 7b is closed, the detection terminals 21a-21b are short-circuited, and as in the case where the electrodes of the liquid leakage sensor 2 are short-circuited, R _x =
0, and the output voltage V ₂₁ of the detection circuit 21 becomes the power supply voltage V
Becomes If the battery is exhausted, the malfunction detection circuit will not operate even if it is normal, and even if the battery holds the specified voltage,
If any part of the abnormality detection circuit has failed, it will not operate properly. Therefore, the test circuit 7 checks whether both the power supply voltage and the abnormality detection circuit 3 are normal.

As described above, in the liquid leakage detection of the present invention, since the power supply is composed of the battery 4 and is built in the housing 5 (or may be attached outside the housing), the AC power supply can be used with a cord. There is no need to connect, and installation and handling are simple. Further, the abnormality detection circuit, so except when the inter-electrode resistance R _X may leak sensor 2 is lowered no current flows, consumption of the battery is extremely small. In addition, since the test circuit 27 is provided, it is possible to check whether the battery is consumed and whether there is any abnormality in the circuit simply by pressing the push button switch 7 occasionally.

Returning to FIG. 1, a hole 5 provided in the lid 52 is provided.
Reference numerals 6 and 57 denote holes for allowing the display lamp d and the operation portion 7a of the push button switch to be exposed on the surface of the housing 5 when the cover 52 is put on the main body 51.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of the integrated liquid leakage detector 1. Reference numeral 58 denotes a ventilation hole for facilitating the flow of the sound emitted from the sounding body 26 set inside thereof to the outside. Reference numeral 62 denotes a fastening portion, which is provided with slits 62a and 62c through which the liquid leak sensor 2 is inserted, and is formed of a rectangular column-shaped cylinder having a crosspiece 62b formed by the slits. Here, the liquid leak sensor 2 itself is in a tape shape, and the fixed connection portion 61 and the fastening portion 62 described above are used.
Together, they constitute the mounting means 6 of the present invention.

Liquid leak detector 1 having such mounting means
Is leakage monitored object as shown in FIG. 6 are suitable for attachment of the case is a tubular body W ₁ as water pipes. That is, winding a leakage sensor 2 fixed to one end to a fixed connection unit 4 to the water pipe W ₁ as shown in FIG. 6,
The tip portion 2b is inserted through the slit 62b, folded, only tighten inserted through the slit 62d, the detent 14 is engaged with the slit 62d, leak sensor 1 is mounted firmly on the water pipe W ₁ You. Further, even if the diameter of the tubular body W ₁ is changed, it can be locked into the slit 62d in accordance with the pitch of the detent 14.

The liquid leak detector 1 constructed and mounted as described above operates as follows. 6, occurs damaged in any way to the water pipe W _1, the water droplets p began dropped on the surface. When the water droplets p reaches leakage sensor 2, the insulation resistance R _X is reduced between electrodes becomes small denominator of Equation (1), V ₂₁ is increased. Hereinafter, according to the above-described principle, the light emitting diode d is turned on, and the melody flows, so that it can be understood that water leakage has occurred. Fig. 4
Nonwoven 13 inward as shown in, that idea toward the side in contact with the tubular body W _1, the sensitivity is good. However, if the sensitivity is too good and there is a risk of malfunction, the opposite direction is recommended.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 is different from the above-described liquid leak detector 1 in that the connection structure at the start end of the liquid leak sensor and that a magnet 6 is added as a mounting means are provided. Since they are the same, they are denoted by the same reference numerals. That is, the connection part of the base end 2a of the liquid leakage sensor 2 has a side wall 63a, like the connection part (fixing part) 62 of the front end 2b, and is provided with slits 63b and 63d for inserting the liquid leakage sensor 2,
It consists of a rectangular column-shaped cylinder having a crosspiece 63c formed thereby. The same applies to the fastening portion 62. By doing so, the base end 2a of the liquid leak sensor 2 can be easily attached and detached similarly to the distal end 2b, so that attachment / detachment, movement, repair and the like are further facilitated. Also, depending on the mounting location, an appropriate liquid leakage sensor 2
It is convenient to select and exchange. Of course, if the base end portion 2a is previously attached to the easily attachable / detachable fastening portion 63, the liquid leakage detector 10 also includes the liquid leakage sensor 2, the abnormality detection circuit 3, the battery 4, the housing 5, and the like. Can handle
It is convenient for handling.

When the fastening portion is made of a hook-and-loop fastener or a magnet, the coupling force is reduced, but attachment and detachment are further simplified. As described above, when the liquid leakage sensor 2 is easily attached to and detached from the housing 5, it becomes even easier to replace the liquid leakage sensor with a tape-shaped liquid leakage sensor having a different sensitivity depending on the monitored object.

The liquid leak detector 10 has a magnet 6 attached to, for example, a bottom surface of the housing 5 thereof. The liquid leakage monitoring target is, for example, an electric washing machine 70 shown in FIG.
Is made of a magnetic material, the liquid leak detector 10 can be easily mounted by the magnetic force of the magnet 6. In this case, the liquid leakage sensor 2 is bent so that at least the tip 2b is disposed so that it can detect when water flows on the floor F. If the tap B via the hose 72 is water in the water supply hole h _1, hose 72 for some reason out from the water supply hole h _1, when water flows through the side surface or the floor face F of the housing 71,
It can be detected. Further, the drainage tube 73 is disengaged from the drain hole h _2, are the same when the water overflows to the floor F, consumption and waste water by flooding, Yogoshi furniture, trouble like dropping downstairs This can be prevented beforehand. Further, if the above-described liquid leak detector 1 is placed at an appropriate position on the floor F, the detection target range is further expanded. The mounting means 6 can be appropriately selected such as a hook-and-loop fastener or an adhesive tape according to the monitoring target.

Further, in the above example, the tape-like liquid leak sensor 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a liquid-absorbing thread is provided around the electrode wire. A string-like body having the used braided body may be used, and can be selected according to the monitoring target. However, a thing which can also serve as the mounting means 6 to be mounted on the tubular body is preferable.

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the power supply is a battery, which is built in or attached to the housing, and the housing makes it easy to attach and detach the liquid leakage sensor. Since the liquid sensor, the abnormality detection circuit, the battery, and the housing are integrated with each other, there is no need for separate wiring, so that it is easy to handle and inexpensive.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mounting means which can be easily attached to and detached from a liquid leakage monitoring object which may cause liquid leakage. There is an effect that mounting, moving, replacement, repair, and the like to the liquid leakage monitoring target are easy.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the liquid leakage sensor is formed so as to be wound around the tubular body, and the housing has at least the liquid leakage sensor. Since the fastening portion for easily attaching and detaching one end is provided, when the liquid leakage monitoring target is a tubular body, there is an effect that separate mounting means is not required and the mounting can be easily performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the second or third aspect, the magnet can be attached and detached to and from the liquid leakage monitoring object very easily by the magnet attached to the housing.
There is an effect that mounting, moving, replacement, repair, and the like can be extremely easily performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects, since the liquid leakage sensor is a tape-shaped sensor, it may be wound around a tubular body. Even if it is placed on a flat surface, it is easy to adapt to any liquid leakage monitoring target, so that there is an effect that it is easy to lay so as to reliably detect liquid leakage.

According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5, the battery and the abnormality detection circuit can be easily checked simply by pressing the push button switch. There is an effect that you can use it with your heart.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a developed plan view showing an outline of a liquid leak detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a liquid leakage sensor 2.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an abnormality detection circuit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a liquid leak detector.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a liquid leak detector.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of use of a liquid leak detector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 10 Liquid leakage detector of the present invention 2 Liquid leakage sensor 3 Abnormality detection circuit 4 Battery 5 Housing 6 Mounting means 7 Push button switch 11 Plastic tape 12 Electrode 13 Liquid absorbing tape 14 Detent 21 Detection circuit 22 Judgment circuit 23 display circuit 25 voice IC 26 sound 62 and 63 secured portion W _1, W ₂ leakage monitoring object d display lamp

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G060 AC01 AC02 AE12 AF07 AG08 AG10 FA01 HC07 HC10 HC15 HC22 HC24 HD02 HE02 2G067 BB11 CC02 DD23

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A liquid leakage sensor having a plurality of electrodes arranged substantially in parallel, an abnormality detection circuit for detecting and displaying an abnormality caused by leakage of insulation resistance between the plurality of electrodes, and the abnormality In a liquid leakage detector including a power supply for driving a detection circuit and a housing containing at least the abnormality detection circuit, the power supply is a battery and is built in or attached to the housing. Is a liquid leakage detector characterized by having a fastening portion for easily attaching and detaching the liquid leakage sensor. 2. The liquid leak detector according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting means that can be easily attached to and detached from a liquid leak monitoring object that may cause a liquid leak. 3. The liquid leakage detector according to claim 2, wherein the liquid leakage monitoring target is a tubular body, the mounting means is a liquid leak sensor that can be wound around the tubular body, and the casing. A liquid leakage detector, which is provided on a body and includes a fastening portion for easily attaching and detaching at least one end of the liquid leakage sensor. 4. The liquid leakage detector according to claim 2, wherein at least the surface of the liquid leakage monitoring target is made of a magnetic material, and the mounting means is a magnet attached to the housing. A liquid leakage detector characterized by the following. 5. The liquid leakage detector according to claim 1, wherein the liquid leakage detection sensor applies a conductive paint on a non-hygroscopic plastic tape to form a plurality of electrode strips. A liquid leakage detector formed as a tape-like sensor having a liquid-absorbing tape adhered thereon. 6. A liquid leakage detector according to claim 1, further comprising a test circuit for checking a battery and an abnormality detection circuit.