JP2001289699A - Lealed oil sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sense an oil by a float body irrespective of the existence of water. SOLUTION: In a cylindrical body 1 into which a liquid can flow, a first float body 2 which generates a buoyancy with reference to the water and which sinks with reference to the oil to be sensed and a second float body 3 which generates a buoyancy with reference to the oil and which is situated in the upper part of the first float body 2 are housed so as to be up and down movable, A sensor 17 which outputs a signal at a time when the first float body 2 and the second float body 3 are separated by a definite length is installed. At a stage at which the oil is stored on the surface of the water up to the thickness of the definite length, the first float body 2 and the second float body 3 are separated, and a signal is output from the sensor 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a leaked oil detector for selectively detecting oil mixed with water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inflow of oil into recesses such as pits and manholes is usually achieved by installing a floating body such as a float so that it can move up and down.
It detects by detecting the rise of the liquid level. However, rainwater or the like easily penetrates into pits and manholes located below the ground, and there is a problem that a rise in the liquid level due to water is erroneously detected as an oil leak. In order to solve such a problem, a leak oil detector is provided on the float, which is provided with an oil detecting means that swells due to oil and changes its electrical characteristics, and can selectively detect oil regardless of a rise in the liquid level due to water. Has been put to practical use in some parts.

[0003]

However, since such an oil detector normally utilizes the swelling property of a polymer oil component positively, it takes a long time from contact with the oil component to swelling. There is a time delay in the output of the detection signal, and even if a very small amount of oil is used, the detection signal is output for a long time, and it is irreversible. Since it is impossible, there is a problem that a running cost is required. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a leaked oil detector using a floating body capable of detecting oil by a change in liquid level regardless of the presence of water. It is to provide.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a buoyancy is generated for water and a sedimentation for oil to be detected is caused in a case into which liquid can flow. The first floating body and the second floating body that generates buoyancy with respect to oil and are located above the first floating body are vertically movably accommodated, and the first floating body and the second floating body are fixed. Detecting means for outputting a signal when a long distance is provided is provided.

[0005]

When the oil accumulates on the upper surface of the water to a certain thickness regardless of the presence of the water, the first floating body and the second floating body are separated from each other to activate the detecting means.

[0006]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a leaked oil detector according to the present invention, in which openings 1a and 1b are formed on a peripheral surface and a bottom surface so that liquid can flow therein, and also serves as a protective body and a guide member. The cylindrical body 1 accommodates a first floating body 2 and a second floating body 3 so as to be vertically movable so as to be in a vertical relationship, and the second floating body 3 is provided with an extendable main cable 4 serving also as a lead wire. Has been suspended.

[0007] The first floating body 2 is formed in an annular shape,
The magnetic material 6 is embedded outside the guide hole 5 to generate buoyancy with respect to water, but the overall density is adjusted by the ballast 7 so as to settle with respect to the oil to be detected.

On the outer periphery of the first floating body 2, at least two projections 2a are formed which engage with upper limit position restricting portions 1c which also serve as guides such as grooves or slits formed in the lower region of the cylindrical body 1. Have been. The upper limit position restricting portion 1c locks the projection 2a and restricts the rising of the floating bodies 2 and 3 when the water enters a predetermined place or the like to a predetermined level.

The second floating body 3 is provided with a sleeve 8 projecting downward so as to penetrate the guide hole 5 of the first floating body 2, and has a circular cross section having a volume sufficient to generate buoyancy against oil. It is configured as a container. The second floating body 3 has annular convex portions 3a, 3b at least on the outer periphery of the upper end and the lower end.
Are formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the second floating body 3 has a tapered portion 9a at the tip and a notch 9b for restricting the movable plate from rotating in the circumferential direction, which will be described later. A tubular cable housing 9 is formed. Notch 9
The movable plate 10 whose amount of movement in the circumferential direction is restricted by b is provided so as to restrain the central portion 10a, and the main cable 4 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion 10b by the fixture 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main cable 4 has at least two insulated lead wires 12 and 13 formed of a resin layer 14 such as polyester, polyurethane, Teflon, or vinyl chloride having a thickness that can ensure relatively flexibility. Coated,
The outer side is thicker than the layer 14 and is covered with an outer skin 15 made of a resin layer of polyester, polyurethane, Teflon (registered trademark), or vinyl chloride to the extent that rigidity and elasticity can be exhibited.

In the cable 4 having such a configuration, the outer skin 15 is curled by winding the coil around a coil having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 1 and heat-treating the same. It is formed so as to function as a coil spring.

The main cable 4 is pulled into the second floating body 3 after the outer skin 15 has been peeled off at the tip of the fixture 11, that is, on the floating body side to ensure flexibility (FIG. 2).

The sleeve 8 provided on the second floating body 3
The main cable 4 is connected to a sub-cable 16 for ground connection which is wound in a direction opposite to that of the main cable 4. The sleeve 8 houses a sensor 17 for detecting that the magnetic body 6 of the first floating body 2 is opposed, in this embodiment, a reed switch. The sensor 17 has its terminals connected to the lead wires 12 and 13 of the main cable 4 and has a first terminal.
When the gap between the floating body 2 and the second floating body 3 becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, the magnetic body 6 located opposite thereto is detected and a detection signal is output to the outside.

Reference numeral 18 in the drawing denotes a stopper, which is fixed to the sleeve 8 so as to restrict the movement of the first floating body 2 at a position where the magnetic body 6 faces the sensor 17.

In this embodiment, when the above-described leaked oil detector is installed in the area to be detected, in a dry state where water or oil does not exist, the first floating body 2 is placed on the cylindrical body 1 as shown in FIG. Since the second floating body 3 is seated on the bottom surface and the second floating body 3 is seated on the upper surface of the first floating body 2, the magnetic body 6 of the first floating body 2 is separated from the sensor 17, and the sensor 17 does not output a detection signal. .

In this state, the main cable 4 and the sub-cable 16 are in a state of being extended to the maximum.
Since both are wound in the opposite directions, they are prevented from entering the respective gaps as much as possible, and do not become entangled even when the floating body rises or descends and contracts or extends. Also, the weight of the second floating body 3 is apparently reduced by the upward biasing force of the main cable 4, so that the second floating body 3 is not affected by the own weight of the second floating body 3 and the weight of the sensor 17 and the like.
Large floating force, that is, buoyancy that can rise following the rise in the oil level without increasing the volume.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the water flows into the detection area to the water level L1, the first floating body 2 is buoyant by the water, and the second floating body is buoyant by the buoyancy and the elasticity of the main cable 4. In response to the rise together. In this process, the cable is contracted in order from the lower region of the main cable 4 and guided by the tapered portion 9a of the cable container 9 to be tightly wound and stored.

In the state where the liquid level rises only by the infiltration of water, the magnetic material of the first floating body 2 maintains the state separated from the sensor 17 as described above, so that the sensor 17 outputs a detection signal. do not do.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the first floating body 2 and the second floating body 3 are in close contact with the water at the water level L2 via the projections 3c on the bottom surface of the second floating body 3 and float. Cylindrical body 1
When the oil flows into the water, the first floating body 2 rises to a position corresponding to the liquid level L2 of the water, while the second floating body 3 rises to the upper surface of the oil having the thickness L3 existing on the water. .

As a result, the first floating body 2 becomes the second floating body 3
Descend relative to. When the oil layer thickness exceeds the predetermined value in this way, the first floating body 2 and the second floating body 3 are separated from each other by the distance ΔG, and the magnetic body 6 of the first floating body 2 faces the sensor 17. Therefore, the sensor 17 outputs a signal,
Notifies that the leaked oil has reached a predetermined amount.

This signal can be sent to an independent indicator or to a device installed above the recess, such as the indicator of a refueling device,
It is output to an independent display attached to the refueling device, and further to a monitor installed in the office. When the oil or water is removed based on the display or the warning, the floating bodies 2 and 3 lose buoyancy and return to the above-described initial state, and the detection signal from the sensor 17 stops.

On the other hand, when water of a predetermined level L4 or more accumulates in the recess due to heavy rain or long rain, as shown in FIG.
Floating body 2 and second floating body 3 rise, while first floating body 2
Is locked at the upper end of the upper limit position restricting portion 1c, the first floating body 2 is forcibly stopped below the liquid level, and the second floating body 3 holds the sleeve 8 and the retaining stopper 18. First through
The ascent is stopped by the floating body 2.

For this reason, the magnetic body 6 of the first floating body 2 faces the sensor 17 of the sleeve 8, and a signal is output from the sensor 17. Inspection of the recess based on this signal reveals that water has accumulated above a predetermined level, so the water is discharged.

Needless to say, if only oil flows in the absence of water, only the second floating body 3 rises, so that the first floating body 2 and the second floating body 3 are separated from each other at a distance ΔG. As described above, the magnetic body 6 faces the sensor 17, and the sensor 17 outputs a signal.

As means for biasing the second floating body 3 upward, the elasticity of the outer cover 15 of the main cable 4 is used in the above-described embodiment, but another cable such as a piano wire is used for the cable. The same effect can be obtained by enclosing the elastic material and forming a curl shape, or by using a coil spring different from the cable.

Further, a pulley is provided on the upper portion of the cylindrical body 1,
A similar effect can be obtained even if the second floating body 3 is connected to the counterweight by a string via a pulley to urge the second floating body 3 upward.

In the above-described embodiment, the projections 3c are provided on the bottom surface of the second floating body 3 to prevent the first floating body 2 and the second floating body 3 from sticking to each other. A similar effect can be obtained even if a projection is provided on the upper surface of the floating body 2 or a small-diameter coil spring is inserted into the sleeve 8 so as to be located between the two.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, a first floating body which generates buoyancy with respect to water and sinks with respect to oil to be detected is provided in a case into which liquid can flow.
A buoyancy is generated with respect to oil, and a second floating body located above the first floating body is vertically movably accommodated, and a signal is output when the first floating body and the second floating body are separated by a predetermined length. The first floating body and the second floating body are separated from each other when the oil accumulates to a certain thickness on the upper surface of the water, regardless of the presence of water, and the detecting means is operated. It is possible to detect oil intrusion with low running cost and high reliability without causing a time delay or detection error, and without requiring replacement of the detection means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing one embodiment of a leaked oil detector of the present invention in a state where a floating body is lowered to a bottom.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of an upper surface of a second floating body.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a main cable.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which only water has flowed below a prescribed level into the leaked oil detector.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which water and oil enter the leaked oil detector.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which only water has flown into the leaked oil detector at a level higher than a specified level.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cylindrical body 1a, 1b Opening 1c Upper limit position regulating section 2 First floating body 2a Projection 3 Second floating body 4 Main cable 5 Guide hole 6 Magnetic body 8 Sleeve 9 Cable housing 9 is formed. 16 Sub cable 17 Sensor 18 Preventing the first floating body 2 from falling off

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first case in which buoyancy occurs with respect to water and sediments with respect to oil to be detected, in a case where liquid can flow in.
And a second floating body that generates buoyancy with respect to oil and that is located above the first floating body is vertically movably accommodated in the first floating body.
A leaking oil detector provided with a detecting means for outputting a signal when the floating body and the second floating body are separated by a predetermined length. 2. The first floating body protrudes downward from the second floating body.
The detecting means is accommodated in a sleeve for guiding the floating body, and a lower end of a coiled main cable connecting the detecting means and an external device is fixed to the second floating body.
2. The leaked oil detector according to claim 1, wherein said floating body is urged upward by said main cable. 3. A movable plate extending in the circumferential direction is provided at a center of an upper end of the second floating body, and a lower end of the main cable is fixed to a terminal end of the movable plate. Leaked oil detector. 4. A member for regulating the elevation of the first floating body is provided at a predetermined position of the case, and a signal is output from the detection means when water reaches a predetermined level or higher, regardless of the presence or absence of oil. The leaked oil detector according to claim 1. 5. The case according to claim 3, wherein the case is configured as a cylindrical body that guides the second floating body, and a convex portion that is in contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical body is formed on an outer periphery of the second floating body. The leaked oil detector as described.