JP2008185573A - Sensor attachment structure and hot water storage tank unit with this structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an attachment structure in which a sensor can be easily and appropriately attached to and detached from an attachment area of the sensor even if an obstacle is present in front of the area. <P>SOLUTION: The structure in which a sensor S1 is attached to an attachment object 1 so as to be close to or in contact with the surface 10 of the object includes: a sensor holder 5 for holding the sensor S1; and a bracket 6 attached to the attachment object 1 and that forms a space part 62 with at least one end open between the bracket and the surface 10 of the attachment object 1 so as to be able to insert and remove the sensor holder 5 along the surface 10, wherein, a narrow part 62A that is narrower than other parts of the space part is formed in the other end part of the space part 62, and, a guide part 63 is provided that moves the sensor holder 5 nearer to the surface 10 of the attachment object 1 by guiding a tip part of the sensor holder into the narrow part 62A when the sensor holder 5 is inserted into the space part 62. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for attaching a sensor such as a temperature sensor close to or in contact with the surface of a hot water storage tank or other desired attachment object.

  Conventionally, as a means for attaching a temperature sensor in contact with the surface of a desired attachment object, there is a means described in Patent Document 1. In the means described in this document, a sensor holder is attached to the surface of an attachment object, and the temperature sensor is held by the holder. The holder has a pressing member having a spring property, and the elastic force of the pressing member can be used to press the temperature sensor against the surface of the attachment object.

  However, in the prior art, there is a case where a problem occurs as described below.

  That is, the temperature sensor may be desired to be removed from the surface of the object to be mounted for the purpose of parts replacement or other maintenance. On the other hand, in order to remove the temperature sensor in the prior art, an operator has to reach out to the place where the temperature sensor is attached and hold the temperature sensor. However, depending on the installation state of the object to be attached, an obstacle may exist in front of the object to be attached, and the operator may not be able to reach the location where the temperature sensor is attached. In the prior art, in such a case, there is a problem that it is difficult to remove the temperature sensor. For example, in a cogeneration system including a hot water storage tank, for example, a temperature sensor is attached to the surface of the hot water storage tank so that the hot water temperature in the hot water storage tank is detected and the amount of stored heat is monitored. The prior art can be adopted as means for attaching the temperature sensor of such a system. However, the hot water storage tank is often housed in an outer case together with other devices and devices constituting the cogeneration system. Therefore, there are other devices / equipment in front of the temperature sensor attached to the hot water storage tank, and it may be difficult for an operator to insert his / her hand from the inspection port of the outer case to the temperature sensor attachment location. . In such a case, if the temperature sensor is attached to the hot water storage tank using the means of the prior art, it will be difficult to remove the temperature sensor.

Japanese Patent No. 3138167

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances as described above, and even when an obstacle is present in front of the location where the sensor is to be attached, the sensor can be easily attached to and detached from that location. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor mounting structure that can be appropriately performed, and a hot water storage tank unit having this structure.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

  The sensor mounting structure provided by the first aspect of the present invention is a structure for mounting a sensor close to or in contact with a surface of a desired mounting object, and a sensor holder holding the sensor; The sensor holder is attached to the attachment object, and a gap is formed between the surface of the attachment object so that the sensor holder can be inserted and removed in a direction intersecting the facing direction of the surface. A narrow portion narrower than the other portion of the gap portion at the other end portion of the gap portion and the sensor holder when the sensor holder is inserted into the gap portion. A guide portion for guiding the tip of the holder so as to enter the narrow portion, and for moving the sensor holder closer to the surface of the attachment object.

  According to such a configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

  First, the operator grasps the sensor holder and inserts it into the gap from a position avoiding the front of the surface of the object to be attached, so that the sensor held by the sensor holder is placed on the surface of the object to be attached. It can be attached close to or in contact with. The removal work can also be performed by gripping the sensor holder from a position avoiding the front of the surface of the attachment object. Therefore, even if an obstacle is present in front of the sensor mounting location (front), the sensor can be attached and removed easily and appropriately.

  Second, when the tip of the sensor holder enters the narrow part of the gap, the sensor holder is moved closer to the surface of the object to be mounted, but the narrow part is provided at the other end of the gap. Until the tip of the sensor holder enters the narrow portion, the sensor holder and the sensor held by the sensor holder are not guided near the surface of the object to be mounted, and the sensor and the surface do not rub strongly. Can be. Therefore, the sensor and the surface can be protected.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a screw body is inserted through the base end of the sensor holder and the bracket in a direction in which the sensor holder is inserted into and removed from the gap, and the sensor holder and the bracket Are provided with screw holes.

  According to such a configuration, the tightening operation of the screw body for fixing the sensor holder and the bracket and the operation of loosening the screw body can be appropriately performed from a position avoiding the front of the sensor mounting location. Of course, the sensor holder and the bracket are fixed using a screw body, so that the sensor can be securely attached.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by fixing the sensor holder to the bracket using the screw body, a portion near the base end of the sensor holder is also arranged near the surface of the attachment object and fixed. It is possible.

  According to such a configuration, since the portion near the base end of the sensor holder can be arranged near the surface of the object to be mounted, the sensor is provided in the portion near the base end of the sensor holder, or the sensor In the case where a plurality of sensors are provided near the front end or the base end of the holder, it is more suitable for bringing them closer to or in contact with the surface of the object to be attached.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor is attached to the sensor holder via an elastically deformable support member, and when the sensor holder is inserted into the gap and fixed to the bracket. The support member is elastically deformed, and the sensor is configured to be in pressure contact with the surface of the attachment object by its elastic force.

  According to such a configuration, it is ensured that the sensor is brought into contact with the surface of the object to be attached.

  The hot water storage tank unit provided by the second aspect of the present invention is a hot water storage tank unit comprising a hot water storage tank and a temperature sensor provided in contact with the surface of the hot water storage tank, the hot water storage tank being As a means for attaching the temperature sensor to the tank, the sensor attachment structure provided by the first aspect of the present invention is used.

  According to such a configuration, the same effect as described for the sensor mounting structure provided by the first aspect of the present invention can be obtained when the temperature sensor is mounted on the hot water storage tank.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a main part of a cogeneration system including a hot water storage tank unit to which the present invention is applied. The configuration of the cogeneration system S shown in the figure will be briefly described. This system S is a hot water storage tank 1, a plurality of temperature sensors S1, S2, and a back-up provided on the front surface (right side of FIG. 1) of the hot water storage tank 1. Water heater 2 and an outer case 3 surrounding them. The sensor mounting structure A to which the present invention is applied has a structure in which two temperature sensors S1 are mounted on the hot water storage tank 1 on the back side of the water heater 2, and the details thereof will be described later. Although not shown in the drawing, a device for generating high-temperature exhaust heat, such as an engine generator or a fuel cell, is provided outside the outer case 3, and the high-temperature exhaust generated in this device is provided. The hot water heated by heat flows into the hot water storage tank 1 from the upper part through the piping part 4a. Moreover, low temperature hot water in the hot water storage tank 1 is sent from the lower part of the hot water storage tank 1 to the said apparatus via the piping part 4b. At the time of hot water supply, the hot water in the upper part of the hot water storage tank 1 reaches the hot water outlet 40 to which the pipe portion 4c, the hot water heater 2, and the pipe portion 4d are connected. At that time, the water supplied to the water supply port 41 is supplied to the water heater 2 through the pipe portion 4e, so that it is mixed with the hot water flowing out of the hot water storage tank 1, and the hot water temperature is adjusted to a desired target hot water temperature. Then, the hot water is discharged from the hot water outlet 40. When hot hot water does not exist in the hot water storage tank 1, the hot water heater 2 is driven to generate hot water at the target hot water temperature, which is discharged from the hot water outlet 40.

  2 to 6 show a sensor mounting structure A and a configuration related thereto. 2 and 3, the sensor mounting structure A is fixedly mounted on the sensor holder 5 holding the two temperature sensors S1 and the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1. As shown in FIG. A bracket 6 is provided. The temperature sensor S1 is for detecting the temperature of hot water in the hot water storage tank 1, and is configured using, for example, a thermistor.

  As shown well in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sensor holder 5 is connected to a main body portion 50 extending in a certain direction in a substantially U shape in a plan sectional view and a base end portion (upper portion in FIG. 4). And a fixing flange 51 provided. Two temperature sensors S <b> 1 are attached to a portion of the main body 50 that faces the side surface 50 a. As a means for attaching the temperature sensor S1, a support member 52 (see FIG. 5) formed by bending a thin metal plate is used. One end portion 52a of the support member 52 is fixedly attached to the main body portion 50 using means such as spot welding, for example. The other end 52b of the support member 52 has a configuration capable of fitting and holding the temperature sensor S1. The support member 52 can be elastically deformed so that the temperature sensor S1 can change in a direction facing the side surface 50a of the main body 50 (the direction of the arrow N1 in FIG. 5). According to such a configuration, it is possible to press the temperature sensor S <b> 1 against the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1 using the elastic force of the support member 52. The wiring cord 90 connected to the two temperature sensors S <b> 1 extends upward along the side surface 50 a of the main body 50 and extends upward from the upper portion of the main body 50.

  The bracket 6 includes a main body portion 60 extending in a certain direction, and a fixing flange 61 connected to the upper portion of the main body portion 60. The main body 60 has a substantially U-shaped portion in plan sectional view, and has a form in which a pair of contact plate portions 60a are bent at the tip. The bracket 6 is fixedly attached to the hot water storage tank 1 by a pair of contact plate portions 60a being in contact with the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1 and spot-welding, for example, to the contact portions. On the front surface of the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1, a gap 62 is formed that is surrounded on three sides by the main body 60 of the bracket 6. The gap 62 extends in the vertical direction, and has openings 62a and 62b formed at the upper and lower portions thereof.

  A guide portion 63 in which a part of the main body portion 60 is close to the hot water storage tank 1 is provided at the lower end portion of the bracket 6. Of the gap portion 62, the portion defined by the guide portion 63 is the other portion. The narrow portion 62A having a width L2 narrower than the width L1 is formed. The upper portion of the guide portion 63 is formed as an inclined surface portion 63a that gradually decreases the width of the gap portion 62 as it goes downward. On the other hand, the lower end portion 53 of the sensor holder 5 is also inclined in a direction corresponding to the inclined surface portion 63a, and is configured to be smoothly guided when the lower end portion 53 contacts the inclined surface portion 63a. The fixing flanges 51 and 61 for fixing the sensor holder 5 and the bracket 6 are provided with a screw insertion hole 55 and a screw hole 65 for inserting the screw body 80 from above and fixing them with screws. ing.

  Next, the operation of the sensor mounting structure A and the hot water storage tank unit including the sensor mounting structure A will be described.

  First, when attaching the temperature sensor S1 to the hot water storage tank 1, the sensor holder 5 is inserted into the gap 62 formed by the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1 and the bracket 6 from above. The gap 62 is formed with a width that allows the sensor holder 5 to be inserted in a loose state, except for the narrow portion 62A at the lower end thereof. Therefore, the sensor holder 5 can be inserted below the gap 62 so that the temperature sensor S1 and the surface 10 do not rub against each other. Therefore, the temperature sensor S1 and the surface 10 can be protected. Such an effect can be similarly obtained when the sensor holder 5 is pulled out from the gap 62.

  In the state where the sensor holder 5 is lowered to the height as shown in FIG. 6, when the sensor holder 5 is further lowered, the lower end portion 53 abuts on the inclined surface portion 63 a of the guide portion 63. Then, the lower end portion 53 is guided by the inclined surface portion 63a so as to shift toward the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1, and enters the narrow portion 62A. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the screw body 80 is inserted into the hole 55 and the screw hole 65 of the fixing flanges 51 and 61 from above and tightened from above using a screwdriver. That's fine. This tightening is performed such that the upper portion of the sensor holder 5 is disposed near the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1 in the gap 62. As a result, each of the two temperature sensors S1 can be properly brought into contact with the surface 10 of the hot water storage tank 1. As described above, the temperature sensor S1 is supported by the support member 52 and can be brought into pressure contact with the surface 10 using its elastic force. Therefore, it is certain that the temperature sensor S1 is separated from the surface 10. To be prevented.

  As described above, in the sensor mounting structure A of the present embodiment, both the operation of inserting the sensor holder 5 into the gap portion 62 and the operation of fixing the sensor holder 5 to the bracket 6 using the screw body 80 are both hot water storage. This can be done from above the tank 1. Further, when removing the two temperature sensors S1 for the purpose of maintenance or the like, the screw body 80 may be loosened and the sensor holder 5 may be pulled out from the gap 62, but these operations are also performed on the upper side of the hot water storage tank 1. Can be done from. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the water heater 2 is present in front of the two temperature sensor S1 mounting locations, and an operator inserts his / her hand into the location from the front inspection port (not shown) of the outer case 3. Even if this is difficult, the attaching / detaching operation of the temperature sensor S1 can be suitably performed from this portion by removing the top plate portion 30 of the outer case 3 or the like. In addition, about other temperature sensor S2, since it is not hidden behind the water heater 2, and can be attached or detached from the inspection port, the mounting structure of the present invention is not applied.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiment. The sensor mounting structure according to the present invention and the specific configuration of each part of the hot water storage tank unit provided with the sensor can be varied in design in various ways.

  As the sensor referred to in the present invention, various sensors other than the temperature sensor can be used. Further, the object to be attached to the sensor may be other than the hot water storage tank. For example, the present invention can be applied to a structure in which a temperature sensor is attached to the surface of a burner case covering a burner (combustor), or a structure in which a vibration sensor for detecting a water level is attached to the surface of a hot water storage tank. Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the sensor holder 5 is inserted / removed from the upper part with respect to the space | gap part 62, the direction to which the sensor holder 5 is inserted / removed is not limited to this. For example, when an inspection port is provided on the side of the exterior case 3, the sensor holder 5 may be inserted into and removed from the gap 62 in the horizontal direction from the inspection port. In short, if there is an obstacle in front of the sensor mounting location, the sensor holder can be inserted and removed in a direction that intersects the facing direction of the surface of the attachment object so that the obstacle can be avoided.

  The sensor holder only needs to hold the sensor, and its specific shape and material are not limited. In the above-described embodiment, two sensors are held in the sensor holder, but the specific number is not limited. The bracket is only required to form a gap that allows the sensor holder to be inserted into and removed from the surface of the attachment object, and the specific shape thereof is not limited. The guide portion only needs to form a narrow portion in the gap portion and exhibit a function of allowing the lower end portion of the sensor holder to enter the narrow portion, and may be configured using a member different from the bracket. The hot water storage tank referred to in the present invention is not limited to that for a cogeneration system. For example, what stores hot water heated with the heat pump etc. is included.

(A) is a top view which shows typically an example of the cogeneration system containing the hot water storage tank unit to which this invention was applied, (b) is the side view. It is principal part side surface sectional drawing which shows an example of the attachment structure of the sensor to which this invention was applied. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an exploded side sectional view of the sensor mounting structure shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing a state during assembly of the sensor mounting structure of FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

A Sensor mounting structure S1 Temperature sensor (sensor)
1 Hot water storage tank (object to be installed)
5 Sensor holder 6 Bracket 10 Surface of hot water storage tank (surface of the object to be mounted)
50 Body (Sensor holder)
52 Support member 62 Cavity 62a Upper opening (gap)
62A Narrow part 63 Guide part 65 Screw hole 65 (hole part)
80 Screw body

Claims (5)

A structure for mounting the sensor close to or in contact with the surface of a desired mounting object,
A sensor holder holding the sensor;
A gap is formed between the surface of the mounting object and the surface of the mounting object, and at least one end is opened so that the sensor holder can be inserted and removed in a direction crossing the facing direction of the surface. Brackets, and
At the other end of the gap, a narrow part having a width smaller than the other part of the gap is formed, and when the sensor holder is inserted into the gap, the tip of the sensor holder is A guide part for guiding the sensor holder to enter a narrow part, and for moving the sensor holder closer to the surface of the attachment object;
A sensor mounting structure characterized by comprising:   A screw body is inserted through the base end portion of the sensor holder and the bracket in a direction in which the sensor holder is inserted into and removed from the gap portion, and the sensor holder and the bracket can be fixed. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided.   The sensor holder is fixed to the bracket using the screw body, whereby a portion near the base end of the sensor holder can be arranged and fixed near the surface of the attachment object. 2. The sensor mounting structure according to 2. The sensor is attached to the sensor holder via an elastically deformable support member,
When the sensor holder is inserted into the gap and fixed to the bracket, the support member is elastically deformed, and the sensor is configured to be pressed against the surface of the attachment object by its elastic force. The sensor mounting structure according to claim 2 or 3. A hot water storage tank unit comprising a hot water storage tank and a temperature sensor provided in contact with the surface of the hot water storage tank,
A hot water storage tank unit, wherein the sensor mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is used as means for attaching the temperature sensor to the hot water storage tank.

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