JP2003304972A - Liquid level display structure for liquid retaining container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure that displays the amount of liquid without increasing the degree of complexity of the structure or the cost, but can clearly confirm the surface of the liquid inside a transparent pipe and can visually confirm the level of the liquid easily. <P>SOLUTION: The structure that displays the amount of liquid for an electric kettle is composed of a container 18 that houses an internal container 1 that can freely retain hot water furnished with a discharge channel 3 that connects a spout 22 located on top of the container 18 and the bottom part of the internal container 1 and is equipped with an electric pump 2 for discharging the hot water contained inside the container 1 from the spout 22 through the discharge channel 3 and a liquid level display part F that allows the level of the hot water that passes through a liquid tube 7 that runs vertically through the discharge channel 3 visible from outside. The liquid level display part F comprises the liquid tube 7 made of a pipe material of which the inside is freely visible located inside the opening part 11 formed on the container 18 and is equipped with a light guiding member (d) that collects the light that enters the opening part 11 and guides it to the liquid tube 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid level display structure of a liquid reservoir such as an electric water heater, an electric pot, or a heat-retaining pot (a thermos bottle). The present invention relates to a technique for improving the accuracy of checking the remaining amount of water or hot water and improving the speed of reading by making it easy to see.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electric pot, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-59660, a liquid volume display device for confirming the remaining amount of hot water (or water) in a tank is provided in a container body. Some are equipped with. In other words, by visually arranging the water pipe made of a transparent glass pipe inside the opening formed by notching a part of the outer case, the remaining amount of the liquid storage amount can be confirmed from the outside without opening the lid. It is convenient.

The electric pot shown in the above publication is
A liquid amount display device is provided by utilizing a vertical path portion that is in a vertical posture, out of a liquid discharge path that is provided from an electric pump below a storage tank to a hot water spout above a pot. . That is, the vertical path portion is composed of a transparent pipe made of heat-resistant glass, heat-resistant plastic, etc., and the outer case of the portion where the transparent pipe is present is vertically elongated to make an opening, and a transparent plate is fitted into the opening. By making the inside visible so that the liquid level in the transparent pipe can be seen from the outside of the container, the remaining amount can be confirmed by visually observing the liquid level in the container.

[0004]

Since water and hot water are colorless and transparent, and the position of the water surface in the transparent pipe is not so conspicuous, conventionally, a reflector is provided behind the water surface (water surface) as much as possible. ) Is easy to see, but it still tends to be difficult to see, so to see the liquid level firmly and check the remaining amount, move your face to the side of the liquid meter and close your eyes. I had to look at it.

In the electric water heater, since the liquid volume display portion is arranged in the main body container below the beak-shaped case portion projecting forward in the lid case and in which the spout is arranged, the beak-shaped case portion is Since the lower part of the eaves tends to be dark like an eaves, the liquid amount display section tends to be more difficult to see. In particular, in recent electric pots, in order to make it easier to place a round container such as a cup or glass in a space below the spout in a plan view, a lower part of the spout in the container body, that is, a liquid amount display portion is arranged. There is a structure in which a portion is concavely curved inward, and in such a model, it becomes difficult for light to reach due to the liquid amount display portion which is recessed from the surroundings, and the liquid surface becomes more difficult to see.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-292909, there is known a liquid level display tube provided with a light emitting member under the liquid level display tube so that the liquid level can be easily seen by illuminating it with light from the inside. However, this requires new storage batteries, switches, control means, etc., which complicates the structure and raises the cost, and cannot be adopted in low-priced models, leaving room for further improvement. Met.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid quantity display structure which allows the liquid level in a transparent pipe to be clearly confirmed without complicating the structure and increasing the cost, and which makes it easy to visually recognize the liquid level. In point.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid tank capable of storing a liquid, a liquid discharge portion for allowing the liquid in the liquid tank to be discharged to the outside, and a liquid remaining in the liquid tank. In a liquid volume display structure of a liquid reservoir provided with a liquid volume display section capable of visually recognizing the volume, the liquid volume display section is made of a transparent material, and is a tubular vertical path connected to the inside of the liquid tank. Is disposed inside the opening formed in the container, and a light guide member for guiding the light incident on the opening to the vertical path portion is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a container for accommodating a liquid tank capable of storing liquid is internally provided with a discharge passage for connecting and connecting a spout disposed at an upper portion of the container and a lower end portion of the liquid tank. A liquid discharge means is provided for discharging the liquid in the tank from the spout through the discharge route, and a liquid amount display section for visually confirming the liquid level of the liquid passing through the vertical path portion of the discharge route from the outside of the container is provided. In the liquid quantity display structure of the liquid reservoir provided, the liquid quantity display section is configured by arranging a vertically-oriented path section made of a pipe material, the inside of which is transparent, inside the opening formed in the container. A light guide member that guides the light incident on the opening to the vertically-directed path is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the light guide member is a tubular body having an annular cross section and made of a see-through material, and the vertical path portion is guided. It is characterized in that it is inserted through a member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the light guide member has an exterior portion located at the opening so as to be substantially flush with the outer surface of the container. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect, the light guide member has an outer portion arranged corresponding to the opening and an inner portion arranged inside the container with respect to the outer portion. In addition, the vertical path portion is inserted into the light guide member in a state closer to the inner portion than the outer portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the light guide member is disposed at the opening in a state of being substantially flush with the outer surface of the container, and the container is formed from the outer surface portion. Of a transparent material having a pair of left and right support plate portions extending inwardly of, and an up-and-down path portion is disposed between the extending end portions of the pair of support plate portions. It is characterized by being present.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the structure of the sixth aspect, the vertically extending path portion is sandwiched between the pair of extending end portions.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth or seventh aspect, the cross-sectional shape of the exterior surface portion is formed in a convex lens shape in which the right and left intermediate portions of the exterior surface portion project more outward than the left and right end portions of the container. It is characterized by that.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first to eighth aspects, the light guide member is made of a light collecting acrylic material.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an electric pot which is an example of a liquid reservoir. This electric pot has a container body 1 having a bottomed cylindrical shape that is recessed from the inside.
8 and a lid 19 that covers the upper portion of the hot water storage space 1a.

The container body 18 is a cylindrical outer case 2 with a bottom.
0 and an inner container (liquid tank) 1 that surrounds the hot water storage space 1a
And a shoulder case 21 that connects the upper ends of the outer case 20 and the inner container 1 to each other, and the outer case 20 and the shoulder case 21 are made of synthetic resin. The shoulder case 21 is formed so that the outer peripheral side thereof has a cross-sectional shape continuous with the upper end of the outer case 20 to form an upper outer body of the container body 18. A water injection case portion 21A that bulges forward is formed above the front surface side (left side on the paper surface of FIG. 1) of the shoulder case 21, and the operation portion 4 is provided on the upper surface thereof.
However, at the bottom end inside it, there is a spout (hot water outlet) 2
2 are provided.

The inner container 1 is formed by an inner cylinder 23 and an outer cylinder 24 each made of a stainless steel plate. Inner cylinder 23
Has a cylindrical body portion 23a and a bottom plate portion 23b, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape whose inside serves as a hot water storage space 1a. On the upper end side of the body portion 23a, a throttle portion 23c protruding in the radial direction is formed, and on the slightly lower side thereof, a full water scale 23d protruding inward is integrally formed. Outer cylinder 24
The upper end of the body portion 24 a of the inner cylinder is airtightly joined to the upper end of the body portion 23 a of the inner cylinder so that the closed space 2 is formed between the inner cylinder 23 and the outer cylinder 24.
5, which is a vacuum-treated closed space 2
5 is a heat insulating layer.

A bottom sensor 26 composed of a thermistor or the like is arranged on the lower surface of the central portion of the bottom plate portion 23b so as to come into contact with it from below, and detects the temperature of the hot water storage space 1a. A heater unit 27, which is a heating means using electricity, is provided so as to surround the bottom sensor 26. A heat shield plate 28 that covers the bottom of the inner container 1 from below is provided below the heater unit 27, and the electric pump 2 is arranged below the heat shield plate 28.

The electric pump 2 is provided with a suction pipe 2a provided so as to penetrate the bottom plate portion 23b and a discharge pipe 2b connected to the discharge path 3, and the bottom of the inner container 1 and the outer case 2 are provided.
It is arranged in the bottom space portion 29 between the zero bottom 20a.
An electric equipment case 30 whose upper surface is covered with a heat shield plate 30a is also installed in the bottom space portion 29, and electric equipment such as a microcomputer and a control circuit board are housed therein. The hot water discharged from the electric pump 2 is poured from the hot water supply outlet 22 to the outside through the discharge path 3 and the fall stop water valve 31.

The lid 19 is formed by integrally combining an upper plate 33 and a lower plate 34 made of synthetic resin, and can be opened / closed and detached via a hinge mechanism 35 provided on the rear end side of the shoulder case 21. A lock mechanism 36 is provided that is supported by the container body 18 and that locks the container body 18 at a closed position that covers the upper surface side opening of the inner container 1. At a substantially central position of the lid body 19, a push plate 37 for constituting a known air supply mechanism E for supplying hot water by a manual push operation is vertically slidably movable. The air supply mechanism E includes an air bellows 38, a steam hole 39, an air / steam path 40,
It functions by including the fall stop water valve 41 and the like. 5
Is a lock lever for blocking the downward movement of the push plate 37.

At the lower part of the lid body 19, there is provided a lid structure portion H for rationally providing an air supply mechanism E, an air / steam path 40 and the like. That is, the lid structure portion H includes a lid lower plate portion 42 integrally formed with the lower plate 34 and a synthetic resin stopper body 43.
And an inner lid 44 made of a stainless metal plate are integrally connected using four screws (not shown) in a state of being stacked in this order from top to bottom. In addition, 46 is a fall stop valve 4
1 valve weight.

The air / steam passage 40 has a main function of allowing steam to escape when it boils and introducing air along with tap water, and the upper space 69 surrounded by the inner portion of the plug body 43 and the lid lower plate portion 42. An outer peripheral ring space 70 surrounded by the outer portion of the stopper main body 43 and the lid lower plate portion 42, an intermediate path 55 that connects the upper space portion 69 and the outer peripheral ring space 70, a passage hole 50,
A passage 7 formed between the upper plate 33 and the plate 34
1. The upper plate 33 is formed of the vapor passage slits 72 and the like formed on the upper plate 33.

Next, the liquid volume display section F equipped on the container body
Will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the discharge path 3 includes a connecting pipe 6 connected to the discharge pipe 2b of the electric pump 2, a water amount pipe 7 made of a transparent glass pipe, and a fall stop water valve 3.
1. Water pipe 7 (an example of vertical path) and fall stop valve 3
1 and an outlet pipe 9 (an example of a liquid discharge part) having a spout 22.

The liquid volume display section F includes a substantially vertical vertical water volume pipe 7, and a liquid level display member 10 having a substantially D-shaped cross section through which the water pipe 7 is inserted (the light guide member d in claim 3). And an example). The liquid level display member 10 formed of a transparent light-collecting acrylic material includes an exterior portion 10a having a substantially horizontal surface (some of which has a gentle concave surface) and an interior portion 10b serving as a curved surface. Part 10a
Is fitted into a vertically long oval opening 11 (k) formed by partially cutting out the outer case 20 to form an outer part, and the water pipe 7 can be visually observed from the outer part 10a. There is.

The water quantity pipe 7 is arranged at the center in the left-right direction inside the liquid level indicating member 10 and at a position closer to the interior portion 10b than the exterior portion 10a (an example of the outside portion s). That is, if the distance between the inside of the exterior portion 10a and the water quantity pipe 7 is A, and the distance between the inside of the interior portion 10b (an example of the inside portion u) and the water quantity pipe 7 is B, then the relation A> B is established. Of. Further, a white printing surface 12 having a vertically long measuring scale having a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the water pipe 7 is formed on the rear side of the interior portion 10b in the left-right center.

That is, the liquid level display member 10 (light guide member d)
Has a substantially D-shaped cross section including an exterior portion 10a (substantially linear portion) and an interior portion 10b (curved portion) arranged in the opening 11, and is a transparent material (transparent light-condensing acrylic material). ), The exterior portion 10a is disposed outside the exterior case 20 (container) with respect to the interior portion 10b, and the water pipe 7 (vertical path portion) is provided in the exterior portion 10a. The liquid level display member 10 is inserted so as to be closer to the interior portion 10b.

By constructing the liquid amount display portion F as described above, the light entering from the exterior portion 10a can receive the liquid level display member 10.
It is guided through the inside to the interior portion 10b and is condensed, and it feels like the back side portion of the water pipe 7 which is the left and right center portion thereof is exposed to light, and the printing surface 12 also emits light.
The effect of brightly illuminating the water quantity pipe 7 from the back side is produced, whereby the liquid level, which is the level of the molten metal in the water quantity pipe 7, can be easily seen. The illuminating action of the water pipe 7 is as follows.
The closer to 0, the more effective it tends to be.

By the way, the exterior portion 10a and the interior portion 10
As the shape of the connecting portion with b, as shown in FIG. 5, it is conceivable that the shape of the corner portion 10c is sharp and sharply bent. However, as shown in FIG. Light is refracted, and the light is reflected at two points e, e which are perpendicular to each other in the corner 10c.
0c tends to appear to shine.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the exterior portion 10a (g) and the interior portion 10b are connected by the R portion 10d having a smooth curvature, the above-mentioned corner portion 10 is formed.
The refraction of light at c does not occur, and therefore the reflection of light is eliminated, and there is an advantage that the light can be effectively focused on the interior portion 10b.

As another structure of the liquid level indicating member 10 having this annular cross section, various structures such as the following ones are possible. That is, the liquid level display member 10 having a triangular cross section as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. Also, as shown in FIG.
In the case where the front surface portion 20b of the outer case 20 is formed into a concave shape, a liquid level display member 47 (an example of the light guide member d) having a substantially D-shaped cross section is formed on the outer surface of the outer case 20 and the substantially outer surface. The liquid amount display portion F may be configured to have the concave exterior portion 47a located in the opening 11 in the state where the liquid amount display portion F becomes one.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the liquid level indicating member 10 having an annular cross-section has a pair of left and right parts in which the exterior portion 10a is extended left and right in FIG. It may have a shape having the attachment portions 48, 48. or,
As shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), in the structure shown in FIG. 3, the exterior part 10a may be extended vertically to provide a pair of upper and lower adhesive parts 49, 49.

-First Embodiment of Liquid Quantity Display Part F (substantially .pi. Shape in section) -The liquid quantity display part F as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 may be used. That is, the liquid level display member 51 (an example of the light guide member d according to claim 6) and the exterior surface portion 51A (m) arranged in the vertically long opening 52 in a state of being substantially flush with the outer surface of the exterior case 20. ,
A pair of left and right support plate portions 51B and 51C (n) extending from the exterior surface portion 51A toward the inside of the exterior case 20.
And a water quantity pipe 7 which is a vertically-directed path portion, and is made of a transparent light-collecting acrylic material having a pair of support plate portions 51B,
The liquid amount display portion F is configured by being arranged between the extended end portions 51b and 51c (nt) of 51C.

The cross-sectional shape of the exterior surface portion 51A is formed in a convex lens shape in which the left and right intermediate portions thereof project outside the exterior case 20 more than the left and right end portions thereof so that the water pipe 7 looks thicker than it actually is. Therefore, it is designed so that the position of the liquid surface can be easily confirmed. In this case, the light incident from the exterior surface portion 51A is guided to the support plate portions 51B and 51C, and is condensed on the extended end portions 51b and 51c to illuminate the water pipe 7 from the left and right. It is possible to obtain the liquid level, which has the effect of facilitating the confirmation of the liquid level.

If the space between the pair of extended end portions 51b and 51c is made narrower, the water pipe 7 is sandwiched between the pair of extended end portions 51b and 51c. When the water pipe 7 has a bend, there is an advantage that the bend is corrected and a preferable action is exerted.

Second Embodiment of Liquid Quantity Display Part F (substantially .pi. Shape in cross section) -The liquid quantity display part F as shown in FIGS. That is, a flat panel surface 14 having a vertically long viewing window 13 formed in the central portion, and a pair of left and right restricting pieces 15, 1 extending from the back side of the panel surface 14 and guiding the water pipe 7 from the left and right.
6 is a liquid amount display portion F using a liquid level display member 17 (an example of the light guide member d according to claim 6) made of a light-collecting acrylic material, which is integrally formed. On the front side of the panel surface 14, in order to attach a thin film sheet 32 with graduations or the like, a step-like step surface 14a having a vertically lower annular shape which is the outer circumference of the viewing window 13 is formed.
Is formed, and a triangular groove 45 that is recessed forward is formed on the back side at a position close to the root of the restriction pieces 15 and 16.

The light incident on the panel surface 14 has a triangular groove 45.
It becomes possible to make the surroundings of the liquid amount display portion F brighter, and the restriction pieces 15, 1
By extending 6 to the side position of the water pipe 7, the light guided to the restriction pieces 15, 16 is condensed and reflected by the end faces 15a, 16a, and acts to illuminate the water pipe 7 for easy viewing. It is also possible to configure the restriction pieces 15 and 16 so as to sandwich the water quantity pipe 7 so that the bending of the water quantity pipe 7 can be corrected.

Other Other Embodiments << 1 >> As the light guide member d, a condenser lens, a condenser, or a pair of condenser lenses that act to collect and illuminate the light entering the exterior surface part g into the water pipe 7. Glass plate material having a C-shaped cross section in which the water pipe 7 is arranged between the open ends, a metal plate mirror-finished, a backboard having a reflector for irregular reflection, or
Light-transmissive materials such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride,
A transparent acrylic resin or other light-collecting plastic may be used, in short, as long as it has a function of guiding the light of the exterior surface portion g to the water pipe 7.

Further, by applying a predetermined treatment to Polylite TP = 100-1 manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.,
The light guide member d may be made of a plastic product of a light-collecting fluorescent plate that collects light on the end face of the product. This has a preferable effect of storing sunlight in the daytime and emitting light from the end surface by its own light emission at night.

<< 2 >> As shown in FIG. 15, the cross section is approximately π.
In the shaped light guide member d (the liquid level display member 51, etc.), the extending end portions of the pair of support plate portions 52, 52 are connected to each other by the water pipe 7.
The liquid level indicating member 53 may have a shape that is extended along the outer periphery of and is integrally connected, and it is convenient if the water level pipe 7 is leaned from the back surface and supported by the arc portion 54.

<< 3 >> The printing surface 12 may be a means for applying various paints such as silver paint, gold paint, and luminous paint such as phosphorescent paint or light-collecting fluorescent paint. The liquid discharge means 2 can be an electric pump, various types such as a manual air pump and a negative pressure pump.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a liquid reservoir such as a drinking water tank, a water tank, a fuel tank, etc. Since the liquid level position of is known, the remaining amount can be known, and the light entering the opening is guided by the light guide member to the vertical path portion, so that the vertical path portion can Can be made brighter, and it becomes easier to visually confirm the liquid surface. as a result,
By increasing the brightness by positively guiding natural light to the vertical path portion, without using a light emitting means such as an electric lamp,
It has been possible to provide a liquid amount display structure that allows confirmation of the remaining amount of liquid reliably and quickly while making the structure simple and inexpensive.

According to the structure of claim 2, an electric water heater,
In a liquid reservoir such as an air pot, by looking at the liquid surface of a tubular upward-and-downward path portion, which is a part of the discharge path for delivering the liquid in the tank to the spout, from the opening formed in the container, Since the liquid level position in the liquid tank can be known, the remaining amount can be known, and the light entering the opening is guided by the light guide member to the vertical path portion, so that the vertical path. The part can be made brighter than before, and it becomes easier to visually confirm the liquid surface. As a result, in a structure with a rational structure that also serves as a liquid amount indicator in a part of the discharge route, the brightness is increased by positively guiding natural light to the vertical direction route portion, and thus without using a light emitting means such as an electric lamp. It was possible to provide a liquid amount display structure having a large practical advantage that the remaining amount of liquid can be surely and quickly confirmed while the structure is simple and inexpensive.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the light guide member having an annular cross section is arranged with the vertically extending path portion inserted therethrough,
The light incident on the light guide member can be guided from the surroundings to the upward and downward path portion, and can be illuminated more efficiently, and the effect according to the configuration of claim 1 or 2 can be enhanced.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the light guide member is substantially flush with the outer surface of the container in appearance, it is easy to clean because it has no step, and it is easy to keep it clean and has a good appearance. Could be preferred.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the vertical path portion that is inserted into the light guide member is arranged close to the rear surface portion of the light guide member, the vertical path portion is illuminated brightly from behind. This brings about an advantage that the liquid surface can be more easily visually recognized.

According to the structure of claim 6, the light incident on the exterior surface portion is guided to the pair of left and right support plate portions, and from the extended end portions thereof, that is, the vertical path portions from both lateral sides. Since it will be possible to obtain a state as if it illuminates, the support plate parts can be prevented from protruding inward of the container from the vertical path part, so provide a liquid volume display part so as to save space. Will be possible. As a result, it was possible to make a meaningful check that the remaining amount of liquid can be surely and swiftly made while saving space and compactly.

According to the configuration of claim 7, since the vertically extending path portion is sandwiched between the pair of extending end portions, even when the vertically extending path portion is bent and deformed in the lateral direction, the extending portion is extended. By assembling and setting it between the end portions, it is possible to obtain a preferable posture correction effect that the vertical path portion is straightened without being distorted in the lateral direction.

According to the structure of claim 8, since the exterior surface portion is formed in the shape of a convex lens, the vertical path portion that can be seen through the light guide member is enlarged more than it actually is, so that the liquid surface can be easily seen. Therefore, there is an advantage that the remaining amount can be easily confirmed.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the light incident on the light guide member can be collected and supplied to the vertical path portion by the action of the light-collecting acrylic material, it is lightweight and easy to process. There is an effect that the light can be efficiently guided to the vertical path portion while using a different synthetic resin material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view showing the structure of an electric water heater.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a main part of an electric water heater showing a hot water discharge structure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid volume display unit having a liquid level display member having a D-shaped cross section.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upper end portion of the liquid level display member of FIG.

5 is a partial plan view showing a comparative example with respect to the liquid level display member of FIG.

6 is a plan view showing a first different structure of the liquid level indicating member of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a liquid level display member of a second different structure having a concave front surface.

FIG. 8 shows a third different structure of the liquid level indicating member of FIG.
Is a side view, (b) is a plan view

9 shows a fourth structure of the liquid level indicating member of FIG. 3, (a)
Is a side view, (b) is a plan view

FIG. 10 shows a first different structure of the liquid volume display unit, (a) is a front perspective view, and (b) is a sectional plan view.

11 is a rear perspective view of the liquid volume display unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view showing a second different structure of the liquid volume display unit.

13 is a rear perspective view of the liquid volume display section of FIG.

14 is a cross-sectional plan view of the liquid volume display portion of FIG.

15 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a modified example of the liquid volume display section of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 liquid tank 2 Liquid discharging means 3 discharge routes 7 Vertical path section 9 Liquid discharge part 18 containers 22 Spout F liquid volume display d Light guide member g Exterior part k opening m Exterior surface part n Support plate nt extension end s outer part u inner part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H087 KA23 LA28 PA01 PA17 PB01                       RA07 UA01                 4B055 AA34 BA37 BA42 CA17 CA65                       CA85 CB03 CD44 FB37 FC02                       FC20 FD10

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A liquid tank capable of storing a liquid, a liquid discharge part for allowing the liquid in the liquid tank to be discharged to the outside, and a liquid amount display part for visually confirming the remaining amount of the liquid in the liquid tank. A liquid amount display structure of a liquid reservoir provided, wherein the liquid amount display portion is made of a transparent material, and a tubular up-and-down path portion that is in communication with the liquid tank,
A liquid quantity display structure for a liquid reservoir, which is configured to be arranged inside an opening formed in the container, and which is provided with a light guide member that guides light incident on the opening to the vertical path portion. 2. A container for accommodating a liquid tank capable of storing liquid is internally provided with a discharge path for connecting a spout disposed at an upper portion of the container and a lower end portion of the liquid tank to each other. And a liquid discharge means for discharging the liquid from the spout through the discharge route, and a liquid amount display for visually confirming the liquid level of the liquid passing through the vertical path portion of the discharge route from the outside of the container. A liquid quantity display structure of a liquid reservoir provided with a portion, wherein the liquid quantity display section is provided inside the opening formed in the container, and the up-down direction path section is made of a pipe material whose inside is transparent. And a light guide member for guiding light incident on the opening to the up-and-down path portion. 3. The light guide member has an annular cross section, and
The liquid amount display structure of the liquid reservoir according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid storage device is configured as a cylindrical body made of a transparent material, and the vertical path portion is inserted into the light guide member. 4. The liquid quantity display structure for a liquid reservoir according to claim 3, wherein the light guide member has an exterior portion located in the opening in a state of being substantially flush with the outer surface of the container. . 5. The light guide member has an outer portion arranged corresponding to the opening and an inner portion arranged inside the container with respect to the outer portion, and the up-down path portion comprises The liquid volume display structure of the liquid reservoir according to claim 3, wherein the liquid guide member is inserted into the light guide member in a state closer to the inner portion than the outer portion. 6. The exterior surface portion of the light guide member disposed in the opening in a state of being substantially flush with the exterior surface of the container, and left and right extending from the exterior surface portion toward the inside of the container. It consists of a transparent material which has a pair of support plate parts, and the said up-down direction path part is arrange | positioned between the extended end parts of a pair of said support plate parts.
The liquid volume display structure of the liquid reservoir described in. 7. The liquid amount display structure for a liquid reservoir according to claim 6, wherein the up-down path portion is configured to be sandwiched between a pair of the extending end portions. 8. The liquid of the liquid reservoir according to claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the exterior surface portion is formed in a convex lens shape in which the left and right intermediate portions project outside the container more than the left and right end portions. Quantity display structure. 9. The liquid amount display structure for a liquid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the light guide member is made of a light collecting acrylic material.