JP2005263251A - Liquid suction port, and method for operating liquid recovery system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid suction port unnecessary for any control valve by automatically stopping the suction when liquid is not sucked. <P>SOLUTION: When air is sucked from a suction port 14, air flow toward a discharge port 16 through a second passage generates upward air flow in a first passage 18, and a suction control ball 22 is raised to close an opening part of a ball storage passage 18a communicating with a discharge side communication passage 18c. When ATF is sucked from the suction port 14, ATF is gradually stored in an upper part of a suction control ball 22 to be raised/lowered through the ball storage passage 18a by repeating application/stop of the suction force to the discharge port 18 several times, the suction force is further applied to the discharge port 16, and the ATF stored in the upper part of the section control ball 22 suppresses the rise of the suction control ball 22 to allow the ATF passing through a second passage 20 from the suction port 14 to flow toward the discharge port 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid suction port suitable for recovering ATF that flows down to the lower part of an assembly line of an automatic transmission of an automobile, for example, and a method of operating a liquid recovery apparatus.

  In the assembly line of the automatic transmission of the automobile described above, ATF (automatic transmission fluid) supplied during the assembly flows down to the lower part of a plurality of assembly devices constituting the line. Since the work environment deteriorates when the floor surface becomes dirty due to the flow of ATF, an ATF pool is provided under each assembly device. Then, the ATF accumulated in each ATF pool is collected by an oil collecting device.

The oil recovery device includes a suction device such as a vacuum pump, a plurality of oil suction ports arranged in each ATF reservoir and connected to the suction device via a suction pipe, and a recovery unit for recovering the ATF sucked by the suction device Etc.
As an oil suction port, for example, one having a structure shown in Patent Document 1 is known. This oil suction port is arranged in the ATF reservoir described above, and the suction device connected to the hose connection coupler via the suction pipe is operated, so that the ATF accumulated in the ATF reservoir is sequentially sucked and collected in the collecting section. Yes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-157688

  By the way, the oil recovery device is usually configured to limit the number of suction devices in order to reduce the cost of oil recovery and to connect a plurality of oil suction ports to one suction device. However, if the ATF is continuously collected with such a configuration, the suction operation of the oil suction port is continued even if ATF is not accumulated in a predetermined ATF reservoir, so that the suction capability of the suction device is reduced. . Therefore, in the conventional oil recovery apparatus, a switching valve is provided in the middle of the suction pipe connected to each oil suction port, and the operator confirms the ATF accumulation state of each ATF accumulation, and the ATF accumulation where the ATF is not accumulated. If there is, the oil suction port is stopped by closing the switching valve to prevent a reduction in the suction capacity of the suction device. When ATF accumulates in the ATF pool, the switching valve is opened and the oil suction port is set to the suction state. Yes.

However, the conventional oil recovery apparatus having a plurality of switching valves always requires the operator to check the ATF accumulation state of the ATF reservoir and operate the switching valve. There is a problem in terms.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a liquid mouthpiece capable of greatly saving the liquid recovery work by automatically stopping the suction when not sucking the liquid, An object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating a fluid recovery apparatus that can simultaneously realize a significant labor saving of the liquid recovery operation and a prevention of a decrease in the suction capacity of the suction apparatus.

  The liquid suction port according to the present invention has a suction port body provided with a discharge port at the top and a suction port at the bottom, and communicated with the discharge port and the suction port extending vertically in the suction body. The first passage, the second passage communicating with the first passage in the vicinity of the suction port and the discharge port, and the first passage. The first passage is raised when a suction force acts on the discharge port. And a suction port provided with a suction control member that descends when the suction force stops.

  According to the liquid suction port according to the present invention, when air is sucked from the suction port, the air flow passing through the second passage toward the discharge port generates an upward air flow in the first passage, and the suction control member is raised. And the first passage leading to the discharge port is closed. Further, when sucking the liquid from the suction port, the suction force to the discharge port is applied several times, and the suction force is stopped repeatedly. The liquid flowing from the opening on the discharge port side gradually accumulates, and when the suction force acts on the discharge port, the liquid accumulated on the upper portion of the suction control member prevents the suction control member from rising. The liquid that has passed through the second passage from the suction port flows toward the discharge port. Therefore, the liquid suction port of the present invention can automatically perform the liquid suction operation and the suction stop, so that the switching valve used in the conventional apparatus can be dispensed with.

Hereinafter, an operation method of the liquid suction port and the liquid recovery apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ATF recovery device arranged in an assembly line of an automatic transmission according to the present invention.
The assembly line of the automatic transmission includes a plurality of devices R1 to R8 that perform assembly and inspection, and a predetermined assembly process or inspection process is performed by a specific device, which is automatically conveyed to the next device to be next. The assembly process or the inspection process is performed, and the assembly of the automatic transmission is completed by the final device R8.

In the assembly line, ATF is supplied to the automatic transmission when a predetermined process is performed, and the ATF flows down from the automatic transmission. In order to catch this ATF that has flowed down, ATF reservoirs 2a to 2h are arranged on the floors of the devices R1 to R8.
In addition, the ATF recovery device of this embodiment includes a single vacuum pump 4, a plurality of ATF suction ports 8 connected to the suction port of the vacuum pump 4 via a suction pipe 6, and a discharge of the vacuum pump 4. And an ATF collection container 10 for collecting ATF discharged from the outlet, and each ATF suction port 8 is disposed in the ATF reservoirs 2a to 2h.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ATF suction port 8 is provided with a suction port 14 provided on the lower surface of the mouthpiece main body 12 having an external cylindrical shape, and a suction pipe provided radially inward from the upper outer periphery of the suction body 12. 6, a first passage 18 that is provided at the axial center of the suction body 12 and communicates with the suction port 14 and the discharge port 16, and a first passage 18 that communicates with the first passage 18. A two-passage 20 and a suction control ball 22 which is disposed in the first passage 18 and rises when a suction force acts on the discharge port 16 are provided.

  The first passage 18 has a ball accommodating path 18a that accommodates the suction control ball 22 as an inner diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the suction control ball 22, and an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the suction control ball 22 from the ball accommodating path 18a. A suction side communication path 18b that extends coaxially and communicates with a suction space 14c (described later) of the suction port 14, and an inner diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the suction control ball 22 extends coaxially from the ball receiving path 18a. 16 is a linearly extending flow path constituted by a discharge side communication path 18 c communicating with the No. 16.

  The second passage 20 has an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the suction control ball 22, and the first opening 20a opens at one end side of the ball receiving passage 18a near the suction side communication passage 18b, and the ball near the discharge side communication passage 18c. A second opening 20b opens on the other end side of the accommodating path 18a, communicates with the first opening 20a and the second opening 20b, and extends while bending so as to bypass the first passage 18. It is a flow path. The first opening 20a is not opened in a circular shape, and the opening area is set small by providing the wall 20c.

  The suction port 14 is provided with a suction space 14c in a cylindrical portion 14b provided with a notch 14a in a part in the circumferential direction, and an inner wall that continues from the inner peripheral upper end of the cylindrical portion 14b to the suction side communication passage 18b of the first passage 18. 14 d has a tapered surface shape that gradually decreases in diameter toward the opening of the suction side communication path 18 b. Further, a dust collection net 14e that covers the opening of the suction side communication passage 18b is disposed in the suction space 14c, and a snap ring that holds the dust collection net 14e from below in an annular groove provided on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 14b. 14f is fitted.

The suction control ball 22 is a metal sphere having a specific gravity greater than that of the ATF.
Here, the mouthpiece body 12 is composed of upper and lower divided bodies 12a, 12b, and the upper divided body 12a forms the discharge port 16, the upper side of the first passage 18 and the second passage 20, The lower divided body 12 b forms the suction port 14 and the lower side of the first passage 18 and the second passage 20. Further, spot facings are provided around the opening portion forming the first passage 18 of the lower divided body 12b and around the opening portion forming the second passage 20, and the O-ring 12c is provided in these spot facings. , 12d. Then, by integrating the upper divided body 12a on the lower divided body 12b while elastically deforming the O-rings 12c and 12d, the first passage 18 and the second passage 20 of the upper and lower divided bodies 12a and 12b are formed. The ATF and air leakage of the formed connecting portion are prevented.

Next, an operation method of the above-described ATF recovery device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 7.
It is assumed that the ATF pools 2a to 2h shown in FIG. 1 include an ATF pool in which ATF is accumulated and an ATF pool in which ATF is hardly accumulated.
Moreover, the vacuum pump 4 which comprises the ATF collection | recovery apparatus of this embodiment performs the intermittent operation which repeats an operation | movement and a stop for every predetermined time.
When the vacuum pump 4 starts operation, suction force acts on the discharge ports 16 of the ATF suction ports 8 arranged in all the ATF reservoirs 2a to 2h.

3 to 6 show the suction operation of the ATF suction port 8 disposed in the ATF pool (for example, the ATF pool 2a) in which ATF is accumulated.
When a suction force acts on the discharge port 16 of the ATF suction port 8, the air present in the suction port 14 is sucked through the first passage 18 and the second passage 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the suction control ball 22 is raised by the upward air flow generated in the first passage 18, and the opening of the ball receiving passage 18a leading to the discharge side communication passage 18c is closed. ATF flows into the ball housing path 18 a, the suction side communication path 18 b, and the second path 20.

  Here, since the wall portion 20c is provided in the first opening portion 20a, when the suction control ball 22 located at the lower portion of the ball accommodating path 18a is lifted, it is in contact with and guided by the wall portion 20c. It rises. Further, when a suction force acts on the discharge port 16, an air flow from the first opening 20a toward the second opening 20b is also generated in the second passage 20, and the suction control ball 22 is drawn toward the first opening 20a. Although a force is generated, since the wall portion 20c is provided, the opening area of the first opening portion 20a is set small, and the force for attracting the suction control ball 22 is reduced. Therefore, the suction control ball 22 rises smoothly by providing the wall 20c in the first opening 20a.

  Then, when the vacuum pump 4 stops after a predetermined time from the state of FIG. 3, the suction force of the discharge port 16 stops as shown in FIG. 4, so that the suction control ball that has closed the opening of the ball accommodating path 18a. 22 descends and closes the opening of the ball accommodating path 18a leading to the suction side communication path 18b, and the air in the discharge port 16 is returned to the ball accommodating path 18a and the second path 20. At this time, a part of the ATF that has flowed into the second passage 20 flows from the second opening 20 b to the ball accommodating path 18 a and accumulates on the upper portion of the suction control ball 22.

When the operation and stop of the vacuum pump 4 are repeated several times, the amount of ATF accumulated on the upper portion of the suction control ball 22 increases as shown in FIG.
Then, when the vacuum pump 4 is operated again, the ATF accumulated on the upper portion of the suction control ball 22 suppresses the rise of the suction control ball 22 even when a suction force is applied at the discharge port 16, and the second passage 20. Since the ATF whose flow rate has been increased flows into the opening of the ball accommodating path 18a that communicates with the discharge side communication path 18c, the blockage of the ball accommodation path 18a that communicates with the discharge side communication path 18c by the suction control ball 22 is released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the ATF that has passed through the second passage 20 flows into the discharge port 16 and is recovered from the vacuum pump 4 to the ATF recovery container 10.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the suction port 14 has a structure in which a suction space 14 c is provided in a cylindrical portion 14 b in which a notch 14 a is provided in a part of the circumferential direction, and therefore communicates with the first passage 18. The suction space 14c is in a negative pressure state, and the ATF accumulated outside the cylindrical portion 14b is sequentially guided to the suction space 14c through the notch 14a, so that the ATF suction operation is performed smoothly.

Further, the inner wall 14d that continues from the inner peripheral upper end of the cylindrical portion 14b of the suction port 14 to the suction side communication passage 18b of the first passage 18 has a tapered surface shape that is gradually reduced in diameter toward the opening of the suction side communication passage 18b. Therefore, the ATF introduced into the suction space 14c flows along the inner wall 14d having a tapered surface shape, and the flow velocity is increased, so that the ATF suction amount increases. Therefore, the ATF suction efficiency of the suction port 14 is increased. Is increased.
Further, since the suction control ball 22 has a spherical shape with a small contact surface with the inner wall of the ball accommodating path 18a, no catching or the like occurs when the ball accommodating path 18a is raised or lowered.

  Then, when the ATF in the ATF reservoir 2a almost disappears, if the suction force acts on the discharge port 16 of the ATF suction port 8 by the operation of the vacuum pump 4, the air in the suction port 14 flows into the second passage 20, and further The two passages 20 flow from the second opening 20b of the two passages 20 to the discharge port 16 through the ball housing passage 18a that leads to the discharge-side communication passage 18c. At this time, an upward air flow is generated in the first passage 18 and the suction control ball 22 rises, closing the opening of the ball housing passage 18a that leads to the discharge-side communication passage 18c. Thereby, the suction operation of the ATF suction port 8 is stopped.

On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a suction state of the ATF suction port 8 arranged in the ATF pool (for example, the ATF pool 2e) in which ATF is hardly accumulated.
When a suction force acts on the discharge port 16 of the ATF suction port 8 by the operation of the vacuum pump 4, the air in the suction port 14 passes from the second passage 20 and the second opening 20b to the discharge-side communication passage 18c, and the ball housing path 18a. And flows into the discharge port 16, an upward air flow is generated in the first passage 18, the suction control ball 22 rises, and the opening of the ball receiving passage 18 a that leads to the discharge-side communication passage 18 c is closed.

When the vacuum pump 4 stops after a predetermined time, the suction force of the discharge port 16 stops, so that the suction control ball 22 that has closed the opening of the ball accommodating path 18a descends and communicates with the suction side communication path 18b. The opening of the ball accommodating path 18a is closed.
Even if the operation of the vacuum pump 4 is performed again, the air in the suction port 14 is sucked, and the suction control ball 22 rises to close the opening of the ball housing path 18a leading to the discharge side communication path 18c. .
As described above, the ATF suction port 8 disposed in the ATF pool 2e in which almost no ATF is accumulated, the suction control ball 22 rises and closes the opening of the ball accommodating path 18a leading to the discharge side communication path 18c. Stop operation.

In the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(A) When the ATF suction port 8 sucks air from the suction port 14, the air flow that passes through the second passage from the suction port 14 and passes through the ball housing path 18 a leading to the discharge side communication passage 18 c is An upward air flow is generated in one passage 18 to raise the suction control ball 22 and close the opening of the ball accommodating passage 18a leading to the discharge side communication passage 18c. Therefore, when the ATF is not sucked, the suction operation is automatically performed. Can be stopped. When the ATF is sucked from the suction port 14, the suction and suction stop of the discharge port 18 are repeated several times, and the ATF is accumulated on the upper portion of the suction control ball 22 that raises and lowers the ball housing path 18a. When the suction force acts on the discharge port 16, the ATF accumulated on the upper portion of the suction control ball 22 suppresses the rise of the suction control ball 22, so that the ATF that has passed through the second passage 20 from the suction port 14 is discharged. 16, the ATF suction operation can be performed automatically. Therefore, since the ATF suction port 8 of the present embodiment can automatically perform the ATF suction operation and stop the suction, the switching valve used in the conventional apparatus can be dispensed with. Corresponding).

(B) The suction port 14 has a structure in which a suction space 14c is provided in a cylindrical portion 14b provided with a notch 14a in a part in the circumferential direction, and the suction space 14c communicating with the first passage 18 has a negative pressure. In this state, the ATF accumulated outside the cylindrical portion 14b is sequentially guided to the suction space 14c through the notch 14a, so that the ATF suction operation can be performed smoothly (corresponding to claim 2).

(C) A tapered surface shape in which the inner wall 14d continuous from the inner peripheral upper end of the cylindrical portion 14b of the suction port 14 to the suction side communication passage 18b of the first passage 18 is gradually reduced in diameter toward the opening of the suction side communication passage 18b. As the ATF introduced into the suction space 14c flows along the tapered inner wall 14d, the flow rate is increased and the amount of ATF suction increases, so that the ATF suction efficiency of the suction port 14 is increased. (Corresponding to claim 3).

(D) Since the suction control ball 22 has a spherical shape with a small contact surface with the inner wall of the ball housing path 18a, problems such as catching of the suction control ball 22 moving up or down the ball housing path 18a are prevented. (Corresponding to claim 4).
(E) Since the wall portion 20c is provided in the first opening portion 20a, when the suction control ball 22 located at the lower portion of the ball accommodating path 18a is lifted, it is in contact with and guided by the wall portion 20c. It rises. Therefore, by providing the wall portion 20c in the first opening portion 20a, the raising operation of the suction control ball 22 can be smoothed (corresponding to claim 5).

(F) When the vacuum pump 4 is intermittently operated, the ATF suction port 8 disposed in the ATF pool in which the ATF is accumulated automatically performs the ATF suction operation, and is disposed in the ATF pool in which the ATF is not accumulated. Since the ATF suction port 8 automatically stops the suction operation, the ATF recovery work can be greatly reduced in labor compared with the operation method of the ATF recovery device that requires a conventional switching valve ( (Corresponding to claim 6).

(G) Since the ATF suction port 8 that does not suck ATF among the plurality of ATF suction ports 8 automatically stops the suction operation, it is possible to prevent the suction capability of the vacuum pump 4 from being lowered. .
(H) A great amount of labor can be saved in the ATF recovery work in the assembly line of the automatic transmission of the automobile, and a reduction in the suction capacity of the vacuum pump 4 can be reliably prevented (claim 8).

It is a figure which shows the outline of the ATF collection | recovery apparatus installed in the assembly line of the automatic transmission of the motor vehicle based on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the ATF suction mouth currently used with the ATF collection | recovery apparatus based on this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st suction preparation operation when the ATF suction mouth which concerns on this invention sucks ATF. It is a figure which shows the 2nd suction preparation operation | movement when the ATF suction mouth which concerns on this invention sucks ATF. It is a figure which shows the 3rd suction preparation operation | movement when the ATF suction mouth which concerns on this invention sucks ATF. It is a figure showing the state where the ATF mouthpiece concerning the present invention has started suction operation of ATF. It is a figure showing the state where the ATF mouthpiece concerning the present invention has stopped suction operation.

Explanation of symbols

2a-2h ATF pool (liquid pool)
4 Vacuum pump (suction device)
6 Suction piping 8 ATF suction port (liquid suction port)
10 ATF collection container (collection unit)
12 Suction port body 14 Suction port 14a Notch 14b Cylindrical part (suction cylinder part)
14c Suction space 14d Inner wall 16 Discharge port 18 First passage 18a Ball housing passage 18b Suction side communication passage 18c Discharge side communication passage 20 Second passage 20a First opening portion 20b Second opening portion 20c Wall portion (lifting guide means)
22 Suction control ball (suction control member)

Claims (8)

  A suction port body provided with a discharge port at the top and a suction port at the bottom; a first passage extending in the vertical direction inside the suction port body and communicating with the discharge port and the suction port; and A second passage communicating with the first passage in the vicinity of the suction port and near the discharge port, and is accommodated in the first passage, and rises when a suction force acts on the discharge port, and descends when the suction force stops. A liquid mouthpiece comprising a suction control member that performs the above operation.   The suction port is formed by cutting out a suction cylinder part that opens toward a lower surface and has an inside that is a suction space communicating with the first passage, and a part of a lower end of the suction cylinder part. The liquid suction port according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid introduction port that guides the liquid existing outside the liquid to the suction space.   3. The inner wall around the opening that communicates with the first passage defining the suction space has a tapered surface shape that is gradually reduced in diameter toward the opening. 4. Liquid mouthpiece.   The liquid suction port according to claim 1, wherein the suction control member is a spherical body having an outer diameter substantially the same as an inner diameter of the first passage and having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid to be sucked. .   Ascending guide means for guiding the suction control member located at the lower part of the first passage on the suction port side ascending toward the discharge port when a suction force acts on the discharge port The liquid mouthpiece according to claim 1, wherein the liquid mouthpiece is provided. An operation method of a liquid recovery apparatus that uses the liquid suction port according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to recover the liquid accumulated in the liquid reservoir,
A suction device, a collection unit for collecting the liquid sucked by the suction device, and the liquid suction port disposed in the liquid reservoir and connected to the suction device via a suction pipe. ,
An operation method of a liquid recovery apparatus, wherein the suction device sucks the liquid accumulated in the liquid reservoir through the liquid suction port by performing intermittent operation that repeats operation and stop every predetermined time. .   The operation method of the liquid recovery apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the liquid suction ports are connected to the suction device, and each liquid suction port is disposed in each of the plurality of liquid reservoirs.   The liquid reservoir is an ATF reservoir disposed in a lower part of an assembly device constituting an assembly line of an automatic transmission of an automobile, and the suction device passes the ATF accumulated in the ATF reservoir through the liquid suction port. The liquid recovery apparatus operating method according to claim 6, wherein the liquid recovery device is suctioned and recovered by the recovery unit.

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