JP2005201537A - Automatic draining apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic draining apparatus making no loud suction sound from between a liquid suction port and a liquid suction port opening/closing valve even when a liquid inflow quantity is small. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic draining apparatus is provided with a float 12 disposed in a liquid storage tank 2; a liquid suction nozzle 5 connected to a liquid suction operating source 7 and having the liquid suction port 6 opened into the liquid storage tank 2; the liquid suction port opening/closing valve 11 linked in operation with the float 12 to open the liquid suction port 6 following the upward displacement of the float 12 with the rise of liquid level height in the liquid storage tank 2 and to close the liquid suction port 6 following the downward displacement of the float 12 with the fall of liquid level height in the liquid storage tank 2; and a liquid quantitative feeding means 17 for storing inflow liquid W and automatically feeding every predetermined quantity into the liquid storage tank 2. As the liquid quantitative feeding means 17, it is suitable to use a so-called "Shishi-odoshi (deer scarer)" type. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic drain device for automatically discharging a liquid from a liquid storage tank. This automatic drainage device can be used as a drainage drainage device that drains drainage such as a ceiling-embedded air conditioner or a fresh food showcase in a building air conditioning system.

As an automatic liquid drainage device as described above, the applicant of the present application has a drain tank that receives drain generated by a drain generation source such as an air conditioner, a float disposed in the drain tank, and a liquid suction port thereof. A liquid suction nozzle that opens into the drain tank and is connected to a liquid suction source such as a decompression tank, and the liquid suction port is opened in accordance with the upward displacement of the float as the liquid level in the drain tank rises. A liquid inlet opening / closing valve operatively linked to the float so as to open and close the liquid inlet in accordance with a downward displacement of the float as the liquid level in the drain tank is lowered. (See Patent Document 1).
ACT 7-22101

  By the way, the amount of drain generated from the air conditioner varies depending on the weather, temperature, humidity, operating time of the air conditioner, etc. of the day. Usually, at the start of cooling, the room temperature and humidity are high, so a lot of drainage is generated. However, as time passes from the start of cooling, the temperature and humidity in the room decrease, and the amount of drain generated from the air conditioner decreases.

  When the amount of generated drain is reduced, the drain flows into the drain tank little by little. Therefore, the rise of the drain water level in the drain tank is little by little. Therefore, the amount of upward displacement of the float floating on the water surface of the drain becomes very small, and the liquid suction port on / off valve is not separated from the liquid suction port of the liquid suction nozzle. Even if it is closed, it becomes unstable. For this reason, a slight drain is forcibly sucked by a strong liquid absorption force by the liquid absorption nozzle from a slight gap that opens and closes between the liquid absorption opening and the liquid absorption opening / closing valve. As a result, a large suction sound may occur at this time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an automatic liquid drain device that does not generate a large suction sound between the liquid suction port and the liquid suction port on-off valve even when the amount of liquid inflow is small. It is something to be offered.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an automatic liquid drainage apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid storage tank, a float disposed in the liquid storage tank, and a liquid suction port that opens into the liquid storage tank and absorbs the liquid. A liquid absorption nozzle connected to a liquid action source, and opening the liquid absorption port in accordance with an upward displacement of the float accompanying an increase in the liquid level in the liquid storage tank, and a liquid level in the liquid storage tank A liquid inlet opening / closing valve operatively linked to the float so as to close the liquid suction opening in accordance with a downward displacement of the float as the height is lowered, and an inflowing liquid is stored to store the liquid every predetermined amount. Liquid constant supply means for automatically supplying into the liquid storage tank (claim 1).

  According to the present invention, the liquid flowing into the liquid storage tank is temporarily stored by the liquid fixed amount supply means, and after a predetermined amount is stored therein, it is automatically supplied to the liquid storage tank every predetermined amount. The For this reason, the liquid is intermittently supplied to the liquid storage tank every predetermined amount, and the liquid level in the liquid storage tank is repeatedly changed, rapidly increased, lowered, unchanged. become. Therefore, unlike the conventional one, the liquid suction port on / off valve does not move away from the liquid suction port of the liquid suction nozzle and does not enter an unstable state even if the liquid suction port is completely closed. Therefore, the suction sound generated in that case is eliminated.

  In the automatic drain device, the float and the liquid suction opening / closing valve are not necessarily connected to each other. For example, the float and the liquid suction port on / off valve are configured separately, the liquid suction port of the liquid suction nozzle is configured to face upward, and the float of the float is moved by a vertical movement of the liquid level in the liquid storage tank. The upward liquid suction port can be opened and closed by the liquid suction port opening / closing valve by the vertical movement. Further, the liquid suction port is configured sideways, and the float and the liquid suction port on / off valve are operated in such a manner that the liquid suction port on / off valve opens and closes the sideways liquid suction port by the vertical movement of the float. It can also be connected to each other.

  As a preferred embodiment, the liquid quantitative supply means can be changed in posture to a posture at the time of receiving the liquid and a posture at the time of discharging to discharge the stored liquid into the liquid storage tank, When the liquid storage amount in the liquid receiving posture reaches a predetermined amount, the weight balance is changed to change the posture from the liquid receiving posture to the liquid discharging posture, and the liquid stored in the liquid discharging posture. It is also possible to provide a liquid storage container that changes its weight balance by discharging and returns from the posture at the time of liquid discharge to the posture at the time of liquid reception (Claim 2).

  In this case, when the liquid accumulates in the liquid storage container in the liquid receiving posture and the liquid storage amount reaches a predetermined amount, the liquid storage container is released from the liquid receiving posture due to a change in weight balance. The posture is changed to a liquid posture, and the liquid is supplied into the liquid storage tank. When the discharge of the stored liquid ends in the liquid discharge posture, the liquid storage container returns from the liquid discharge posture to the liquid reception posture due to a change in weight balance. In this way, the liquid supply to the liquid storage tank is reliably performed by the positional energy of the liquid and the change in the weight balance of the liquid storage container without requiring any special energy input from the outside.

  As a preferred embodiment, the liquid storage container has a liquid inlet / outlet at one end and the other end is closed so that both ends can swing up and down due to a change in the amount of liquid stored. It can also be set as the cylinder supported so that rocking | fluctuation is possible (Claim 3). In the present embodiment, the cylindrical body acts like a well-known “Shishidoshi”. For this reason, the constant supply of the liquid to the liquid storage tank is reliably performed by the potential energy of the liquid and the swing balance of the cylindrical body without requiring special energy supply from the outside.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The automatic liquid draining device according to the present invention is a case where the liquid flows continuously or intermittently into the liquid storage tank, and the liquid level in the liquid storage tank does not exceed a predetermined level. It can be widely used in situations where it is desired to automatically discharge liquid from the liquid tank.

  The automatic drainage device according to the present invention automatically collects drains generated by the operation of, for example, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner in a building air conditioner, a showcase for keeping cold and moisturizing fresh food such as fresh vegetables and fresh fish, etc. It can be used as a drain drainage device. In the following, as an example, a drain generated from a ceiling-embedded air conditioner in a building air conditioner or the like is automatically discharged from the drain tank as the liquid storage tank. Such an automatic drain device will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of an automatic liquid drainage apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along the arrow II-II in FIG.

  A drain drainage device 1 as an automatic drainage device according to the present embodiment includes a drain tank 2 as a liquid storage tank. The drain tank 2 is disposed in the vicinity of the air conditioner 3 disposed on the ceiling of each floor or room of the building. The drain tank 2 is fixed to the back surface of the upper floor with a suspension bolt, or is fixed to the air conditioner 3 using a mounting bracket, or is mounted on the floor surface behind the ceiling. It is provided by an appropriate method such as direct installation.

  The drain tank 2 is connected to the air conditioner 3 as a drain generation source by a flexible duct hose 4 or the like, and drain (liquid) generated by the operation of the air conditioner 3 passes through the flexible duct hose 4 to the drain tank 2. It is designed to naturally flow into the inside.

  In the drain tank 2, a water absorption nozzle 5 as a liquid absorption nozzle is provided. In the illustrated example, the water absorption nozzle 5 is supported downward by a tank lid 2 b that is detachable from the main body 2 a of the drain tank 2. A downward water absorption port 6 of the lower end of the water absorption nozzle 5 is located in the drain W in the drain tank 2.

  A drain suction pipe 8 that sucks and moves the drain W accumulated in the drain tank 2 to the recovery tank 7 is connected to the upper end portion 5 a of the water absorption nozzle 5.

  The drain suction pipe 8 is constituted by a flexible pipe such as a copper pipe or a nylon tube having an outer diameter of about 6 mm, which has been subjected to a heat retention treatment to prevent surface condensation. The recovery tank 7 serving as a liquid absorption source is always maintained in a predetermined reduced pressure state by a vacuum pump 9 or the like. For this reason, due to the vacuum suction action of the recovery tank 7, the water absorption nozzle 5 always acts to suck in the drain W in the drain tank 2.

  A manual ball valve 10 is interposed in the middle of the drain suction pipe 8. The ball valve 10 is provided for convenience during maintenance and inspection of the drain tank 2.

  In the drain tank 2, a water inlet opening / closing valve 11 that opens and closes the water inlet 6 of the water absorbing nozzle 5 is provided. A float 12 having a large buoyancy is placed in the drain tank 2, and the float 12 floats on the water surface of the drain W in the drain tank 2. The water inlet opening / closing valve 11 opens the water inlet 6 of the water absorbing nozzle 5 in accordance with the upward displacement of the float 12 as the water level (liquid level height) in the drain tank 2 rises, and the drain. The float 12 is operatively linked so as to close the water inlet 6 as the float 12 moves downward as the water level in the tank 2 falls.

  In the present embodiment, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 and the float 12 are connected to each other via a swing arm 13 whose both end portions 13a and 13b can swing up and down. The swing arm 13 is pivotally supported via a horizontal arm pivot shaft 15 at a lower end portion of a downward bracket 14 fixed to the tank lid 2b. The water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is fixed to one end 13a of the swing arm 13, and the float 12 is connected to the other end 13b.

  When the water level of the drain W in the drain tank 2 is at a predetermined set level L1, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is configured to absorb the water absorption of the water absorption nozzle 5 by the load of the float 12 and the suction force of the water absorption nozzle 5. Mouth 6 is closed. When the water level of the drain W in the drain tank 2 rises from the set level L1, the float 12 is also displaced upward, so that the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is connected to the arm via the swing arm 13. It moves in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 about the pivot shaft 13 and opens the water inlet 6 of the water nozzle 5. Thereby, the drain W in the drain tank 2 is sucked from the water inlet 6. When the water level in the drain tank 2 is lowered due to the suction of the drain W, the float 12 is also displaced downward. Therefore, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is configured to move the arm pivot shaft 15 via the swing arm 13. As a center, it moves clockwise as viewed in FIG. Eventually, when the float 12 is displaced downward to the set level L1, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 closes the water inlet 6 of the water absorbing nozzle 5.

  Since the water absorption nozzle 5 is in communication with the recovery tank 7 that is always kept in a reduced pressure state and is always provided with a liquid absorption action, the above process is continuously repeated, and the drain W in the drain tank 2 is Is maintained at the set level L1.

  The operation direction of the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is regulated by the swing arm 13 as a guide member pivoted by the arm pivot shaft 15, so that the water absorption by the water suction nozzle 5 is always performed. It can operate regularly in the direction away from the mouth 6 and the direction approaching the water inlet 6.

  An overflow detection sensor 16 is provided in the drain tank 2. The overflow detection sensor 16 is interlocked with the air conditioner 3, and when the water level in the drain tank 2 rises to a predetermined abnormal level L2, the operation of the air conditioner 3 is stopped and an alarm is given to the outside. It is a mechanism that emits.

  Further, the drain drainage device 1 stores a drain fixed amount supply means 17 that stores the drain W flowing into the drain tank 2 from the air conditioner 3 and automatically supplies the drain W to the drain tank 2 every predetermined amount. I have. In the present embodiment, the liquid fixed amount supply means 17 is a liquid receiving posture P1 for storing the drain W (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1), and a liquid discharge for discharging the stored drain W into the drain tank 2. At the time posture P2 (illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 1), a liquid storage container 18 whose posture can be changed is provided. The liquid storage container 18 changes its posture from the liquid-receiving posture P1 to the liquid-releasing posture P2 by changing the weight balance when the drain storage amount in the liquid-receiving posture P1 reaches a predetermined amount. By releasing the stored drain W in the liquid discharge posture P2, the weight balance is changed and the liquid discharge posture P2 is returned to the liquid reception posture P1.

  Specifically, the liquid storage container 18 is a cylindrical body that is swingably supported so that both end portions 18a and 18b can swing up and down due to a change in the drain storage amount. The oscillating cylinder 18 is pivotally supported on the upper end of a support column 19 erected in the drain tank 2 via a horizontal cylinder pivot shaft 20. A drain inlet / outlet 21 is formed at the one end 18 a of the swinging cylinder 18 in the shape of a receptacle. On the other hand, the other end portion 18 b of the swinging cylinder 18 is closed, and the drain W flowing from the drain inlet / outlet 21 is stored inside the swinging cylinder 18.

  The oscillating cylinder 18 holds the liquid-receiving posture P1 in which the one end 18a is higher than the other end 18b until the drain W is stored in a predetermined amount. Due to a change in the weight balance due to the inflow of drain W from the drain inlet / outlet 21, the liquid discharge posture in which the one end portion 18a swings downward from the liquid reception posture P1 about the cylindrical pivot shaft 20 is the center. P2. When the internal drain W flows out from the drain inlet / outlet 21 in the draining posture P2, the swinging cylinder 18 returns to the liquid receiving posture P1 due to a change in weight balance.

  A drain introduction cylinder 22 to which the flexible duct hose 4 is connected is attached to the drain tank 2, and an inner end 22 a of the drain introduction cylinder 22 protrudes into the drain tank 2. The swinging cylinder 18 receives the drain W flowing down from the drain introducing cylinder 22 from the drain inlet / outlet 21 in the liquid receiving posture P1.

  The drain drainage apparatus 1 configured as described above operates as follows.

  The drain W generated by the operation of the air conditioner 3 passes through the flexible duct hose 4 and the drain introduction cylinder 22 and flows into the oscillating cylinder 18 in the liquid receiving posture P1. When the drain storage amount in the oscillating cylindrical body 18 reaches a predetermined amount, the one end 21a is centered on the cylindrical pivot shaft 20 due to a change in the weight balance before and after the cylindrical pivot shaft 20. The swinging cylinder 18 swings so as to face downward, and the posture is naturally changed to the draining posture P2. As a result, a predetermined amount of drain W stored in the rocking cylinder 18 is discharged into the drain tank 2, and the water level in the drain tank 2 is changed from the set level L1 to the predetermined amount of drain. It rises by a corresponding predetermined vertical width δ.

  As a result, the float 12 in the drain tank 2 is also displaced upward by the same amount as the predetermined vertical width δ, so that the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is opened, and the drain tank from the water inlet 6 of the water inlet nozzle 5 is opened. The drain W in 2 is inhaled. When the water level in the drain tank 2 is lowered to the set level L1 due to the suction of the drain W, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 closes the water inlet 6 of the water absorbing nozzle 5.

  When the stored drain W is discharged into the drain tank 2 in the liquid discharge posture P2, the rocking cylinder 18 naturally returns to the original liquid reception posture P1 due to the change in the weight balance.

  When a large amount of drain is generated from the air conditioner 3, the swinging cylinder 18 continues to take the draining posture P2 due to the flow down pressure of the drain W against the swinging cylinder 18, and the drain A large amount of drain continuously flows into the tank 2.

  As described above, according to the drainage device 1 according to the present embodiment, the drain W generated in the air conditioner 3 is temporarily stored in the swinging cylinder 18 when the amount of the generated drainage W is small. Then, the water is discharged into the drain tank 2 for each predetermined amount, and the water level in the drain tank 2 is instantaneously increased from the set level L1 by the predetermined vertical width δ. For this reason, when the generation amount of the drain W from the air conditioner 3 is small, the drain is intermittently supplied to the drain tank 2 every predetermined amount. The water level of W repeats the invariant, the sudden rise by the predetermined vertical width δ, the fall to the set level L1, the invariant. Therefore, unlike the conventional one, when the amount of drain W generated from the air conditioner 3 is very small, the water inlet opening / closing valve 11 is not separated from the water inlet 6 of the water absorbing nozzle 5, Even if the water inlet 6 is completely closed, there is no unstable state. Therefore, a large suction sound from the water nozzle 5 which has conventionally occurred in that case is eliminated.

  Further, since the drain W is discharged from the swinging cylinder body to the drain tank 2 every time a predetermined amount is collected, the opening / closing frequency of the water inlet 6 by the water inlet / outlet valve 11 is less than the conventional one. Become. Therefore, the frequency of occurrence of inevitable minute vibrations of the drainage drainage device 1 due to the opening and closing of the water inlet 6 is reduced, which is preferable.

  According to the drain drainage device 1, since no noise is generated from the inside of the drain tank 2, the drain tank 2 is made of a lightweight and inexpensive plastic instead of the conventionally used stainless steel or the like. Etc. Therefore, the cost of the drain drainage device 1 as a whole can be reduced, which is more preferable.

  Furthermore, according to the drain drainage device 1, the constant supply of the drain to the drain tank does not require any special energy input from the outside, and the change in the potential energy of the drain and the weight balance of the swinging cylindrical body This is even more preferable.

It is a vertical side view of the automatic drain apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an II-II arrow top view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Liquid storage tank (drain tank)
5 Liquid absorption nozzle (Water absorption nozzle)
6 Liquid inlet (water inlet)
7 Absorption source (vacuum recovery tank)
11 Liquid inlet opening / closing valve (Water inlet opening / closing valve)
12 Float 17 Liquid metering means 18 Liquid storage container (oscillating cylinder)
18a One end 18b Other end 21 Liquid inlet / outlet P1 Receiving posture P2 Discharged posture W Liquid (drain)

Claims (3)

  The liquid storage tank (2), the float (12) disposed in the liquid storage tank (2), and the liquid suction port (6) open into the liquid storage tank (2) and absorb liquid. The liquid suction nozzle (5) connected to the source (7) and the liquid suction port (6) along with the upward displacement of the float (12) as the liquid level in the liquid storage tank (2) rises. ) And the float (12) so as to close the liquid suction port (6) with the downward displacement of the float (12) as the liquid level in the liquid storage tank (2) is lowered. The liquid inlet / outlet valve (11) operatively linked to the liquid and the liquid metering supply means (17) for storing the inflowing liquid (W) and automatically supplying it into the liquid storage tank (2) every predetermined amount. And an automatic drainage device.   The liquid fixed amount supply means (17) is a liquid receiving posture (P1) for storing the liquid (W) and a liquid discharging posture (P2) for discharging the stored liquid (W) into the liquid storage tank (2). ), And when the liquid storage amount in the liquid receiving posture (P1) reaches a predetermined amount, the weight balance changes, and the liquid receiving posture (P1) is changed to the liquid discharging posture (P1). The posture is changed to P2) and the weight balance is changed by discharging the stored liquid (W) in the discharging posture (P2) to change the posture upon receiving (P2) to the receiving posture (P2). The automatic drainage device according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid storage container (18) that returns to P1).   The liquid storage container (18) has a liquid inlet / outlet (21) at one end (18a) and the other end (18b) is closed, and the both ends (18a, 18b) are caused by a change in the amount of liquid stored. The automatic drainage device according to claim 2, which is a cylindrical body (18) supported so as to be swingable up and down.

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