【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、蓄電池用液面指示装置に関するもので、特に産業用鉛蓄電池に使用される蓄電池用液面指示装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
自動車用鉛蓄電池等、電槽として透明な合成樹脂を用いた蓄電池は電槽の外側から目視により電解液の状況が確認でき、所定量減少した時点で液口栓を開けて蒸留水等を補水することができる。
【０００３】
しかし、電槽が不透明な合成樹脂から成る蓄電池の場合には液口栓を外して電槽内部を覗き込みするか、或いは電極またはスポイト等の冶具を電槽内に挿入して電解液の液面チェックを実施している。
【０００４】
しかしながら、液口栓を開けて覗き込んだり、電極や冶具を挿入するチェック方法では実施に当たり不必要なセルの液口栓までも開けて点検しなければならず、無駄な時間と労力を要していた。
【０００５】
このため、メンテナンスフリーの鉛蓄電池等においては、２個或いは３個の比重の違う色違いの小球を透明栓体に封入して該栓体の上から光学的反射による色の変化を目視することにより電解液の比重と電解液面位の変化を確認する提案がなされ（実開昭５４−１４４２１７号公報等）、実用化されているが、この方法では、電解液が減少した場合に補水の必要性は判断できるが、補水量までは測定することができない欠点があった。
【０００６】
そこで、蓄電池の電槽内に封入の電解液の液量を確認する方法が例えば実公昭３０−３０４５号公報、実公昭３５−３３０７８号公報、実開昭５４−１２７２９号公報等に開示されているように、栓体の下に液面表示器を設け、該液面表示器の底面を斜めに切断して電解液の液面を観察する考案がなされているが、表示器の液面確認がし難く、またいずれも液面の減少観察は液面表示器の筒部の太さに左右され、液面の測定範囲が著しく制限されてしまっていた。
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
このように、従来の電解液の液面監視の提案は、液面のみ、或いは電解液比重と液面減少については目視可能であるが、電解液の液面減少による補水液の補給量を広い範囲で多段階に目視確認できるものはなかった。
【０００８】
本発明は従来の目視機能から一歩進め液面減少量、電解液比重、或いは電解液の液面減少による補水液の補給量をそれぞれ目視確認できる蓄電池用液面指示装置を提供するものである。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の蓄電池用液面指示装置は、蓄電池の開口を封止する栓体に、ロート状中空部を形成し、該ロート状中空部の上端拡径部には透視窓を設け、下端が開口する脚部には電解液に浮く小球の複数個を列状に収容し、該ロート状中空部に蓄電池内の電解液を導入流通させ、前記栓体に設けた透視窓からロート状中空部内を視認し、前記小球の状態を観察することにより蓄電池内の電解液の液面変位を確認しうるように構成したことを特徴とするものである。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に本発明の実施形態を図面を参照して詳細に説明する。
図１乃至図４において、１は鉛蓄電池で、電槽１１の内部が隔壁により田の字状に区画され６個のセル室に区画形成された６セルモノブロック型の鉛蓄電池である。２は液口栓兼用の液面指示装置で、各セル室に対応して電槽１１の上面（蓋）に開口された注液口に螺着され、該注液口を封止している。図２乃至図４に示される通り、該液面指示装置２は鉛蓄電池１の電槽１１の上面に開口した注液口を封止する栓体２１と、該栓体２１内に設けられたロート状中空部２２とからなっている。栓体２１はその上から覗いたときにロート状中空部２２内が見える上面に透視窓が備えられており、該透視窓は栓体２１全体を透明性のプラスチック（例えばアクリル樹脂等）で構成するか、不透明な材料で栓体を作成し、その上面を開口窓を設けてガラス等の透明板をはめ込んで構成する。
【００１１】
ロート状中空部２２は栓体２１の内に形成され、上に拡径状となる傾斜部２３と該傾斜部２３の谷部から延びる脚部２４とからなり、該ロート状中空部２２の内部には複数個の小球２５が入っている。また、図示するロート状中空部２２の脚部２４の下端は開口すると共に、下端部は小径に絞られており、該小径部２６を設けることにより前記小球２５が脚部２４から外部に落ちないようにすると共に、該小径部２６から電槽１１内に注液した電解液１２がロート状中空部２２内に入り込むように構成されている。なお、ロート状中空部２２内に挿入した小球２５の拘束は前記した脚部２４の下端部に設けた小径部２６ではなく、脚部２４内面に突起を設ける等任意の方法で拘束できることは勿論である。
【００１２】
ロート状中空部２２に入れられる小球２５は、その外径が脚部２４の内径よりやや小さく、電解液１２に浮くように構成されており、図示する実施形態では６個が１列に並ぶ様に入れられている。尚、栓体２１の側面には、小径２７の排気孔形成されている。
【００１３】
図２は電槽１１内に電解液１２が充分入っている時の液面指示装置２を示すもので、（イ）は液面指示装置２を上から見た状態の平面図、（ロ）は側面から見た状態の透視図で、小球２５は６個全てがロート２２の傾斜部２３の位置の液面上に浮いており、この小球２５を液面指示装置２の上から観察すると、図２（イ）に示すように６個の小球が５角形の幾何学模様を構成しているように視認することができる。
【００１４】
図３は電槽１１内の電解液１２が減少し補水が必要な状況な時の液面指示装置２を示すもので、（イ）は液面指示装置２を上から見た状態の平面図、（ロ）は側面から見た状態の透視図で、小球２５は６個全てがロート状中空部２２の脚部２４の位置の一列に入り込んだ状況となり、この小球を液面指示装置２の上から観察すると、図３（イ）に示すように６個の小球が恰も１個に視認することができる。このような状況では直ちに蒸留水を補水する必要がある状態を確認することができる。
【００１５】
図４は電槽１１内の電解液がやや減少している時のキャップ２を示すもので、（イ）は液面指示装置２を上から見た状態の平面図、（ロ）は側面から見た状態の透視図で、小球２５は２個がロート状中空部２２の傾斜部２３の位置にあり、３個が脚部２４に入り込んだ状況にあり、この状態を液面指示装置２の上から観察すると、図４（イ）に示すように例えば３個の小球が直線状に幾何学的に並んでいるように視認することができる。このような状態に見える時には電解液が小球２５の３個分の補水を必要とすることが視認でき、そろそろ補水の時期にきていることを確認することができる。
【００１６】
このように、小球１個分の電解液が減少すると液面指示装置２の透視窓からの小球２５は１個減少し５個の小球２５で４角形の幾何学模様的に確認でき、小球２個分の電解液減少では４個となり３角形の幾何学模様的に確認でき、３個分以下の減少では前記図４（イ）に示す直線の長さが電解液の減少に伴って徐々に減少することとなり、小球の幾何学模様を観察することにより電解液の減少量を確認することができる。
【００１７】
なお、上記実施形態では、小球６個の例につき説明したが、小球の数、ロート状中空部の傾斜部の大きさ等は、蓄電池の大きさ等により任意に選択できることは勿論である。
【００１８】
図５、図６は本発明の他の実施形態を示すもので、液面指示装置２内に入れる６個の小球の内の１個の小球３５を他の小球２５より比重を重くし、かつ色を変えて入れ込んだ実施形態である。小球６個の内、５個の小球２５の比重は電解液比重が減少しても電解液に浮いている、例えば水に浮く程度の比重のものを選択し、他の１個の小球３５については電解液１２の比重が正常な時には電解液１２に浮くが、電解液１２の比重が減少すると電解液１２に沈む比重に設定する。
【００１９】
図５（イ）（ロ）は電解液１２が充分に入っており、比重も正常な状況の時の小球の状況を示したもので、（イ）に示すように６個の小球は正５角形の幾何学模様を構成しているように視認することができる。
【００２０】
図６は電解液１２の量は充分に入っているが、電解液１２の比重が減少した時の状況を示すもので、比重の重い色の違う１個の小球３５がロート２２の脚部２４に沈み込み、液面指示装置２の上から見た小球５個の状態は（イ）に示すように４角形模様に視認でき、電解液の比重の減少を確認することができる。このような状況になった時には蓄電池を充電するか、蓄電池を取り替える必要がある。尚、比重の重い小球３５のみを６個用いても良いことは勿論である。
【００２１】
尚、上記実施形態においてはいずれも液面指示装置を液口栓にも設け、液口栓と兼用したものを示したが、液口栓とは別に専用の液面指示装置を形成しこれを液口栓とは別に蓄電池に設けても良い。この場合は、注液口より補水する場合に該液面指示装置を見ながら補水作業をすることにより所定の補水量を注水することが出来便利である。
【００２２】
上述したように、本発明液面指示装置によれば、電解液の液面監視、特に電解液の液面減少による補水液の補給量を広い範囲で多段階に目視確認でき、また、比重の相違する小球を使用すれば電解液の比重の減少をキャップの透視孔を通して目視確認でき、電解液の液面減少量、電解液の液面減少による補水液の補給量、或いは電解液比重をそれぞれ目視確認できるものである。
【００２３】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明液面指示装置によれば、電解液の液面監視、即ち、電解液の液面減少量、電解液の液面減少による補水液の補給量、或いは電解液比重を液面指示装置の透視窓を通してそれぞれ容易かつ明確に目視確認でき、点検作業に不必要な液口栓まで開ける必要がないので点検に手間を要さず、簡便に行うことができ、蓄電池の保守点検を簡単に実施できる優れた効果を有するものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】蓄電池の一実施形態を示す説明図である。
【図２】蓄電池の電槽内電解液が充分補給された時の液面指示装置の状態を示すもので、（イ）は平面図、（ロ）は透視図である。
【図３】蓄電池の電槽内電解液が減少し、補水を必要とする時の液面指示装置の状態を示すもので、（イ）は平面図、（ロ）は透視図である。
【図４】蓄電池の電槽内電解液がかなり減少している時の液面指示装置の状態を示すもので、（イ）は平面図、（ロ）は透視図である。
【図５】蓄電池の電槽内電解液が充分補給され、比重も正常な時の他の実施形態の液面指示装置の状態を示すもので、（イ）は平面図、（ロ）は透視図である。
【図６】蓄電池の電槽内に電解液が充分補給されているが、比重が下がっている時の他の実施形態の液面指示装置の状態を示すもので、（イ）は平面図、（ロ）は透視図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 蓄電池
２ 液面指示装置
１１ 電槽
１２ 電解液
２１ 栓体
２２ ロート状中空部
２３ 傾斜部
２４ 脚部
２５ 小球
３５ 比重の異なる小球[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid level indicating device for a storage battery, and more particularly to a liquid level indicating device for a storage battery used for an industrial lead storage battery.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For storage batteries such as lead-acid batteries for automobiles that use a transparent synthetic resin as the battery case, the status of the electrolyte can be visually checked from the outside of the battery case. can do.
[0003]
However, when the battery case is made of an opaque synthetic resin, remove the liquid port plug and look inside the battery case, or insert a jig such as an electrode or a dropper into the battery case to remove the electrolyte solution. A surface check is being conducted.
[0004]
However, in the checking method of opening the liquid port stopper and looking into it, or inserting electrodes and jigs, it is necessary to open and inspect even the liquid port stopper of cells that are not necessary for implementation, which is wasteful time and labor. I was
[0005]
For this reason, in a maintenance-free lead storage battery or the like, two or three small balls of different colors having different specific gravities are sealed in a transparent plug and the change in color due to optical reflection is visually observed from above the plug. Thus, a proposal has been made to confirm the change in the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution and the level of the electrolytic solution (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 54-144217, etc.), and this method has been put to practical use. Can be determined, but there is a drawback that the amount of water replenishment cannot be measured.
[0006]
Therefore, a method for confirming the amount of the electrolytic solution enclosed in the battery case of the storage battery is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 30-3045, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 35-33078, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 54-12729, and the like. A liquid level indicator is provided under the stopper, and the bottom of the liquid level indicator is cut obliquely to observe the liquid level of the electrolyte. In any case, the observation of the decrease in the liquid level is affected by the thickness of the cylinder of the liquid level indicator, and the measurement range of the liquid level is significantly limited.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional proposal for monitoring the liquid level of the electrolytic solution, only the liquid level or the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution and the decrease in the liquid level can be visually observed. Nothing could be visually confirmed in multiple steps within the range.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a liquid level indicator for a storage battery capable of visually confirming the liquid level reduction amount, electrolyte specific gravity, or replenishment amount of rehydration solution due to a decrease in the electrolyte level, one step further from the conventional visual function.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The liquid level indicating device for a storage battery according to the present invention is configured such that a funnel-shaped hollow portion is formed in a plug that seals the opening of the storage battery, a transparent window is provided at an enlarged-diameter portion at an upper end of the funnel-shaped hollow portion, and a lower end is opened. A plurality of small balls floating in the electrolytic solution are accommodated in a row in the leg portion, and the electrolytic solution in the storage battery is introduced and circulated through the funnel-shaped hollow portion. And visually observing the state of the globules so as to confirm the liquid level displacement of the electrolyte in the storage battery.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a lead storage battery, which is a six-cell monoblock lead storage battery in which the inside of a battery case 11 is partitioned into a cross by partition walls and formed into six cell chambers. Reference numeral 2 denotes a liquid level indicator that also serves as a liquid port stopper, which is screwed into a liquid injection port opened on the upper surface (lid) of the battery case 11 corresponding to each cell chamber, and seals the liquid injection port. . As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the liquid level indicating device 2 is provided in a plug 21 that seals a liquid injection port opened on the upper surface of the battery case 11 of the lead storage battery 1 and in the plug 21. A funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 is provided. The plug 21 is provided with a see-through window on the upper surface in which the inside of the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 can be seen when viewed from above, and the see-through window is made entirely of a transparent plastic (for example, acrylic resin or the like). Alternatively, a plug is made of an opaque material, an upper surface thereof is provided with an opening window, and a transparent plate such as glass is fitted.
[0011]
The funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 is formed in the plug 21 and includes an inclined portion 23 having an enlarged diameter and a leg portion 24 extending from a valley of the inclined portion 23. Contains a plurality of small balls 25. Further, the lower end of the leg portion 24 of the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 shown in the drawing is open and the lower end portion is narrowed to a small diameter. By providing the small diameter portion 26, the small ball 25 falls to the outside from the leg portion 24. In addition, the electrolyte 12 injected into the battery case 11 from the small-diameter portion 26 enters the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22. The small ball 25 inserted into the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 can be restrained by an arbitrary method such as providing a projection on the inner surface of the leg 24 instead of the small diameter portion 26 provided at the lower end of the leg 24 described above. Of course.
[0012]
The small spheres 25 to be put in the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 are slightly smaller in outer diameter than the inner diameter of the leg portions 24 and are configured to float on the electrolytic solution 12, and in the illustrated embodiment, six are arranged in a line. It is put in like. In addition, a small-diameter 27 exhaust hole is formed on the side surface of the plug 21.
[0013]
2A and 2B show the liquid level indicator 2 when the electrolytic solution 12 is sufficiently contained in the battery case 11, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view of the liquid level indicator 2 as viewed from above, and FIG. Is a perspective view of the state seen from the side. All six small balls 25 are floating on the liquid surface at the position of the inclined portion 23 of the funnel 22, and these small balls 25 are observed from above the liquid level indicating device 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 2A, six small balls can be visually recognized as forming a pentagonal geometric pattern.
[0014]
FIG. 3 shows the liquid level indicating device 2 when the electrolytic solution 12 in the battery case 11 is reduced and the water needs to be refilled, and (a) is a plan view of the liquid level indicating device 2 as viewed from above. (B) is a perspective view as viewed from the side, in which all six small balls 25 are in a row at the positions of the legs 24 of the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22, and these small balls are inserted into the liquid level indicating device. When viewed from above, six small balls can be visually recognized as one, as shown in FIG. In such a situation, it is possible to immediately confirm that distilled water needs to be refilled.
[0015]
FIG. 4 shows the cap 2 when the electrolytic solution in the battery case 11 is slightly reduced. (A) is a plan view of the liquid level indicator 2 as viewed from above, and (B) is a side view. In the see-through perspective view, two small balls 25 are located at the position of the inclined portion 23 of the funnel-shaped hollow portion 22 and three small balls 25 have entered the leg portion 24. When viewed from above, it can be visually recognized that, for example, three small balls are linearly and geometrically arranged as shown in FIG. When it looks like this, it can be visually recognized that the electrolyte needs rehydration for three small balls 25, and it can be confirmed that it is time to replenish water.
[0016]
In this way, when the electrolyte for one small ball decreases, the small ball 25 from the see-through window of the liquid level indicating device 2 decreases by one, and the five small balls 25 can be confirmed in a rectangular geometric pattern. In the case of a decrease in the amount of the electrolyte for two small balls, the number of the electrolytes becomes four, which can be confirmed in a triangular geometric pattern. When the amount of the electrolyte is less than three, the length of the straight line shown in FIG. Accordingly, the amount of the electrolyte solution can be confirmed by observing the geometrical pattern of the small spheres.
[0017]
In the above embodiment, the example of six small balls has been described. However, it is needless to say that the number of small balls, the size of the inclined portion of the funnel-shaped hollow portion, and the like can be arbitrarily selected depending on the size of the storage battery and the like. .
[0018]
FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which one of the six small balls 35 to be put into the liquid level indicating device 2 has a higher specific gravity than the other small balls 25. In this embodiment, the color is changed and the color is changed. Of the six small balls, the specific gravity of the five small balls 25 is selected from those having a specific gravity that is floating in the electrolyte even if the specific gravity of the electrolyte is reduced, for example, a degree of floating in water. The sphere 35 floats on the electrolytic solution 12 when the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution 12 is normal, but is set to a specific gravity that sinks in the electrolytic solution 12 when the specific gravity of the electrolytic solution 12 decreases.
[0019]
FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the state of the small balls when the electrolyte 12 is sufficiently contained and the specific gravity is normal, and as shown in FIG. It can be visually recognized as forming a regular pentagonal geometric pattern.
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows the situation when the amount of the electrolyte 12 is sufficient, but the specific gravity of the electrolyte 12 is reduced. One small ball 35 having a heavy specific gravity and a different color is attached to the leg of the funnel 22. 24, the state of the five small balls viewed from above the liquid level indicating device 2 can be visually recognized as a square pattern as shown in (a), and a decrease in the specific gravity of the electrolyte can be confirmed. In such a situation, it is necessary to charge the storage battery or replace the storage battery. It is needless to say that only six small balls 35 having a high specific gravity may be used.
[0021]
In each of the above embodiments, the liquid level indicating device is provided also in the liquid port stopper, and the liquid level stopper is also used. However, a dedicated liquid level indicating device is formed separately from the liquid port plug, and You may provide in a storage battery separately from a liquid stopper. In this case, when water is replenished from the liquid inlet, it is convenient to perform a water replenishment operation while looking at the liquid level indicating device so that a predetermined water replenishment amount can be supplied.
[0022]
As described above, according to the liquid level indicator of the present invention, the liquid level monitoring of the electrolytic solution, in particular, the replenishment amount of the rehydration solution due to the decrease in the liquid level of the electrolytic solution can be visually confirmed in multiple stages in a wide range, and the specific gravity If a different globule is used, the decrease in the specific gravity of the electrolyte can be visually confirmed through the through hole of the cap, and the amount of the electrolyte level reduced, the replenishment amount of the rehydration solution due to the reduction in the electrolyte level, or the specific gravity of the electrolyte can be determined. Each can be visually confirmed.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the liquid level indicator of the present invention, the liquid level of the electrolyte is monitored; Can be easily and clearly visually confirmed through the see-through window of the liquid level indicator, and it is not necessary to open the liquid port plug unnecessary for inspection work. It has an excellent effect that maintenance can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a storage battery.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show the state of the liquid level indicating device when the electrolyte in the battery case of the storage battery is sufficiently replenished. FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show the state of the liquid level indicating device when the electrolyte in the battery case of the storage battery decreases and water refilling is required. FIG. 3A is a plan view, and FIG.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show the state of the liquid level indicating device when the electrolyte in the battery case of the storage battery is considerably reduced, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the state of the liquid level indicator of another embodiment when the electrolyte in the battery case of the storage battery is sufficiently replenished and the specific gravity is normal, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a see-through view. FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a state of the liquid level indicating device of another embodiment when the electrolyte is sufficiently replenished in the battery case of the storage battery, but the specific gravity is lowered, (a) is a plan view, (B) is a perspective view.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 storage battery 2 liquid level indicating device 11 battery case 12 electrolytic solution 21 plug body 22 funnel-shaped hollow portion 23 inclined portion 24 leg 25 small ball 35 small ball with different specific gravity
