JP2009210558A - Residual quantity detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a residual quantity detecting device capable of detecting the residual quantity of a low-temperature fluid visually well while preventing the formation of frost and dew condensation. <P>SOLUTION: The residual quantity detecting device 2 for detecting the residual quantity of the low-temperature fluid F is mounted to a storage tank having a container 11 for storing the low-temperature fluid F therein and a discharge tube for supplying the low-temperature fluid F to the outside of the container 11. The residual quantity detecting device 2 comprises a float 201 lifted in accordance with the level of the low-temperature fluid F; a rod 202 lifted together with the float 201; a display part 21 displaying the position of the rod 202; and a cover part 23 sealing the display part 21 in a space intercepted from air outside the container 11. The cover part 23 has a transparent part for visually identifying the display part 21 from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remaining amount detection device that detects the remaining amount of low-temperature fluid stored in a container based on the height of a liquid surface.

There is known a remaining amount detection device that is provided in a pressure vessel that stores liquefied gas and detects the remaining amount of gas in the pressure vessel based on the height of the liquid level of the liquefied gas (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
For example, a conventional remaining amount detection device described in Patent Document 2 is stored in a cap member attached to a cap of a pressure vessel, a hollow cylindrical body that is integrated with the plug member and protrudes upward, and can be moved up and down in the cylindrical body. And a rod to be made.

Here, the lower end of the rod extends into the pressure vessel, and a float that moves up and down in accordance with the liquid level of the liquefied gas is attached to the tip of the rod. On the other hand, a remaining amount indicator made of a magnetic material is provided at the upper end of the rod.
Further, the remaining amount detection device includes a protective cover that covers the cylinder and the remaining amount indicator. The protective cover is provided with a viewing window having a remaining amount display scale, and the remaining amount of the liquefied gas can be detected by visually checking the height of the remaining amount display tool through the viewing window.
Furthermore, the remaining amount detection device includes a sensor unit that electrically detects the position of the remaining amount display tool using a Hall element.

In such a conventional remaining amount detection device, the viewing window may become cloudy or frost may be generated due to the low temperature of the liquefied gas, making it difficult to visually recognize the remaining amount indicator. In addition, the sensor unit is cooled by the low temperature of the liquefied gas, and it may be difficult to accurately detect the position of the remaining amount indicator using a Hall element or the like.
Therefore, in Patent Document 2, it is possible to perform accurate position detection by providing a heater in the vicinity of the Hall element constituting the sensor unit.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-33380 JP-A-8-94417

  However, in the conventional remaining amount detection device described in Patent Document 2, in order to ensure the visibility of the remaining amount indicator, it is not possible to provide a heater on the viewing window itself. For this reason, cloudiness and frost on the viewing window cannot be sufficiently eliminated.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the residual amount detection apparatus which can prevent generation | occurrence | production of frost and dew condensation, and can detect the residual amount of a low temperature fluid favorably visually.

  The remaining amount detection device of the present invention is attached to a storage tank having a container for storing a cryogenic fluid therein and a discharge pipe for supplying the cryogenic fluid to the outside of the container, and the cryogenic fluid stored in the container A remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of the float, wherein the float is moved up and down in accordance with the level of the low-temperature fluid, the rod connected to the float is moved up and down together with the float, and the position of the rod is displayed. A display unit, and a cover unit that seals the display unit in a space cut off from the air outside the container, and the cover unit includes a transmission unit for visually recognizing the display unit from the outside. Features.

According to the present invention, the float and the rod are raised and lowered according to the liquid level of the low temperature fluid. And a display part displays the position of a rod.
Since the position of the rod corresponds to the liquid level of the cryogenic fluid, that is, the remaining amount of the cryogenic fluid, the operator can detect the remaining amount of the cryogenic fluid by visually confirming the display portion through the transmission portion. Can do.
And in this invention, the cover part which seals a display part and a detection part in the space interrupted | blocked from the air outside a container is provided. Since the inside of the cover part is shielded from the atmosphere and moisture does not enter, no frost or condensation occurs in the display part.
That is, according to the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of frost and dew condensation and to detect the remaining amount of the low-temperature fluid satisfactorily visually.

  The remaining amount detection device of the present invention includes a connecting portion that is provided between the display unit and the container and connects the two. The connecting unit absorbs heat of the atmosphere from the surface, and the container. It is preferable to have a heat resistance portion that suppresses heat transfer between the display portion and the display portion.

In this invention, the container and the display part are connected by the connection part which has a heat absorption part and a heat resistance part.
Since the heat absorption part absorbs atmospheric heat from the surface, the temperature drop of the display part can be suppressed. Moreover, since the heat resistance part suppresses the movement of heat between the container and the display part, the low temperature of the container is difficult to transmit to the display part.
Therefore, the remaining amount detection device of the present invention is less likely to cause frost and condensation because the display unit is difficult to cool.

In addition, as a heat absorption part, a shape with a large surface area can be employ | adopted, for example, a flange etc. are mentioned. As a thermal resistance part, a member with a large heat capacity, a radiation fin, etc. are mentioned, for example.
Here, the heat absorption part and the heat resistance part do not need to be separate parts or members. For example, the flange can act not only as a heat absorption part but also as a heat resistance part. Further, the radiating fin can act not only as a heat resistance part but also as a heat absorption part.

  In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is preferable that the display unit is mounted at a position close to the discharge pipe of the storage tank.

In conventional storage tanks, the remaining amount detection device is often mounted at a position close to the discharge pipe. In such a case, when the low-temperature fluid flows in the discharge pipe, the vicinity thereof is cooled, and frost and condensation are likely to occur in the remaining amount detection device. In particular, when the display unit is close to the discharge tube, the visibility of the display unit may decrease due to generation of frost or condensation, which is not preferable.
For example, the frosting of the discharge tube grows and spreads to the adjacent display units, which makes it difficult to see the display unit.

On the other hand, in the present invention, since the cover portion seals the display portion, it is possible to prevent generation of frost and condensation even when the display portion or the detection portion is close to the discharge tube.
Moreover, there is an advantage that good visibility of the display unit can be ensured only by providing the cover part while maintaining the positional relationship between the remaining amount detection device and the discharge pipe in the conventional storage tank.

  In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is preferable that the heat absorbing portion is a planar flange portion that intersects a direction in which the rod moves up and down, and the cover portion is placed on the flange portion.

According to such a structure, since the flange part with a large surface area absorbs the heat of air | atmosphere, the temperature fall of a display part can be suppressed. Moreover, since the flange part with a large volume and a large heat capacity suppresses the movement of heat between the container and the display part, it is difficult for the low temperature of the container to be transmitted to the display part.
In addition, since the cover portion is placed on the flange portion, for example, the other end of the cylindrical cover portion whose one end is closed is closed with the flange portion, and the display portion is easily sealed in this closed space. Can do.

  The remaining amount detection device of the present invention includes a detection unit that electrically detects and outputs the position of the rod, and the cover unit includes a space in which the display unit and the detection unit are blocked from air outside the container. It is preferable to seal.

According to such a structure, a detection part detects and outputs the position of the rod raised / lowered according to the liquid level of a low-temperature fluid electrically.
Then, the remaining amount of the low-temperature fluid can be calculated by processing the output from the detection unit with a processing device such as an electronic computer. The processing apparatus can be installed at a position away from the storage tank, and the remaining amount of the cryogenic fluid can be monitored remotely.
Here, conventionally, frost and condensation are generated in the detection unit, and normal operation is hindered, and the remaining amount of the low-temperature fluid may not be accurately detected. For example, the inside of the frosting part becomes a very low temperature of around −100 ° C., and the detection part including electronic parts such as a semiconductor IC becomes a temperature environment in which it does not operate normally.
On the other hand, in the present invention, since the cover part that shields the detection part from the air outside the container is provided, frost and condensation do not occur in the detection part.
That is, in the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of frost and dew condensation, and to detect the remaining amount of the low-temperature fluid satisfactorily and visually accurately.

  In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is preferable that the detection unit is mounted at a position close to the discharge pipe of the storage tank.

When the detection unit is close to the discharge tube, frost or condensation is likely to occur in the detection unit, which may reduce the accuracy of position detection by the detection unit.
On the other hand, in the present invention, since the cover portion seals the detection portion, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of frost and condensation even when the detection portion is close to the discharge tube.

  In the remaining amount detection apparatus of the present invention, the detection unit includes a detection object made of a metal material that is moved up and down together with the rod, and a detection body that includes a plurality of coils provided along the direction in which the rod moves up and down. A high-frequency oscillation type position sensor is preferable.

In the conventional remaining amount detection device, the position of the rod is detected by a Hall element, an optical element, a magnetoresistive element, or the like. However, since such a detection method is a discrete digital output in which the measurable range is divided by a plurality of elements and the position is calculated based on the number of passed elements, the resolution is low (for example, ± 10% F S. degree).
On the other hand, in the present invention, since the high-frequency oscillation type position sensor is used as the detection unit, the degree of influence from the detected object to the detection main body is electrically processed and converted to a continuous analog output that has not been conventionally obtained. Can do. As a result, the resolution of position detection is, for example, ± 1% F. S. Can be raised to a degree.

  In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, the detection unit includes a signal output terminal that outputs the detected position of the rod as an electrical signal, and the cover unit includes a terminal hole through which the signal output terminal is inserted, It is preferable that a seal part is provided between the cover part and the detection part to surround the terminal hole and keep the display part and the detection part sealed.

According to such a configuration, the position of the rod can be output as an electric signal to a processing device such as an electronic computer from a signal output terminal arranged outside the cover portion.
The signal output terminal and the processing device can be connected by, for example, a conventional inexpensive cable. Also, if the connection of the cable or the like is released, the work such as the movement of the storage tank and the maintenance of the remaining amount detection device will not be disturbed.
The signal output terminal is inserted into the terminal hole provided in the cover part, but since the seal part surrounding the terminal hole is provided between the cover part and the detection part, the display part and the detection part are provided by the terminal hole. The sealing is not impaired.

In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is preferable that the cover portion has a cylindrical peripheral wall portion, and a portion of the peripheral wall portion where the seal portion is provided is a flat portion.
According to such a structure, since the site | part which a seal | sticker part closely_contact | adheres is a plane part, a sealing performance can be improved.

In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, it is preferable that a protective cap for protecting the signal output terminal is detachably attached to the signal output terminal.
According to such a configuration, by attaching the protective cap to the signal output terminal, it is possible to protect the signal output terminal from dust and water droplets during conveyance of the remaining amount detection device. This protective cap is removed from the signal output terminal during operation of the remaining amount detecting device. Since the protective cap removed from the signal output terminal may be lost, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the protective cap is connected to the cover portion with a string-like connector.

In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, a safety valve is provided for escaping to the outside when the internal pressure of the cover portion is equal to or higher than the pressure that causes damage to the cover portion, and the safety valve is attached to the top of the cover portion. A configuration is preferred.
According to such a configuration, even if the internal pressure of the container rises and leaks into the cover part, the safety valve provided at the top of the cover part operates even if the internal pressure of the cover part increases. Thus, the cover part itself can be prevented from being damaged.

In the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, the detected object includes a ring-shaped main body portion having paramagnetism, and a ring-shaped surface member that is fitted to the outer periphery of the main body portion and is formed of a magnetic material. A plurality of spacers are provided between the main body portion and the surface member, and an end portion of the surface member has a retaining collar portion for preventing the main body portion from coming off toward a ring-shaped center. The formed structure is preferable.
According to such a configuration, the main body portion and the surface member are spaced apart by a predetermined distance by the spacer, and the object to be detected can be reduced in weight by the amount where the spacer is not disposed. Therefore, the detection target can be smoothly raised and lowered, so that highly accurate detection can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, since the cover part blocks the display part from the air outside the container, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of frost and condensation. Thereby, the remaining amount of the low-temperature fluid can be detected well visually.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the remaining amount detection device of the present embodiment attached to a pressure vessel as a storage tank. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the remaining amount detecting device, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the remaining amount detecting device with the cover part removed.

[Configuration of pressure vessel]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a portable pressure vessel for storing liquefied gas F as a low-temperature fluid.
The pressure vessel 1 includes a container 11 that stores the liquefied gas F therein, and a discharge pipe (not shown) that supplies the liquefied gas F to the outside of the container 11.
As shown in FIG. 1, the container 11 includes a substantially cylindrical inner container 111 and an outer container 112 that surrounds the inner container 111 via a heat insulating vacuum X.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner container 111 and the outer container 112 are integrated via a base 113 provided at the center of one end surface of the substantially cylindrical shape of the container 11.
The base 113 is a substantially cylindrical member, and connects the inner container 111 and the outer container 112, and forms a heat insulating vacuum X together with the inner container 111 and the outer container 112, and the outer side of the container 11 of the thin part 113 A. A thick portion 113B coupled to the end portion. A female screw portion 113C is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the thick portion 113B.
The remaining amount detection device 2 of the present embodiment is attached to the base 113.

[Configuration of the remaining amount detection device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the remaining amount detection device 2 includes a float 201 that is moved up and down according to the liquid level S of the liquefied gas F, a rod 202 that is connected to the float 201 and moved up and down together with the float 201, and the position of the rod 202. , A detection unit 22 that electrically detects and outputs the position of the rod 202, and a cover unit 23 that seals the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 in a space cut off from the air outside the container 11. And comprising.
The remaining amount detection device 2 is attached to the pressure vessel 1 via the connecting portion 24.

A spring 204 is attached to the rod 202 and is connected from the lower end of the plug member 241 to the spring stopper 204A above the float 201. A male screw 202A is provided at the lower end of the rod 202, and is screwed with a flange nut 204B provided at the lower end of the spring stopper 204A.
The spring clamp 204A is fixed to the rod 202 by a flange nut 204B. By rotating the flange nut 204B relative to the rod 202, the spring clamp 204A can be moved up and down the rod 202, and the spring The length of 204 can be changed.
By changing the length of the spring 204, a different buoyancy can be adjusted for each type of liquefied gas F (oxygen, nitrogen, carbonic acid, argon, etc.).

The float 201 is made of a metal such as aluminum and has a solid substantially cylindrical shape. One end of the substantially cylindrical shape of the float 201 is immersed in the liquefied gas F, and upward buoyancy acts in FIG.
The rod 202 is a rod-shaped member having one end coupled to the upper end surface of the float 201. At the other end of the rod 202, an operation tool 203 composed of a substantially cylindrical magnet is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display unit 21 includes a cylinder 211 into which the rod 202 and the operation tool 203 are inserted, a ring-shaped remaining amount indicator 212 along the outer periphery of the cylinder 211, and a cylinder 211 and a display cylinder 213 that covers the remaining amount indicator 212.
The cylinder 211 is made of a nonmagnetic pressure resistant material. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical body 211 includes a substantially cylindrical cylindrical portion 211 </ b> A whose one end is closed, and a base portion 211 </ b> B provided on the opening end side of the cylindrical portion 211 </ b> A.
The base 211B has a hole (not shown) that is continuous with the inner periphery of the cylinder 211A, and has a male screw 211C that is screwed into the display cylinder 213. In FIG. 2, an O-ring groove 211 </ b> D is provided at the upper end and the lower end of the base portion 211 </ b> B, and an O-ring 214 is inserted into each. The lower end of the base portion 211B is coupled to the connecting portion 24.

The remaining amount indicator 212 is a ring-shaped magnetic body through which the cylindrical body 211 is inserted. The detailed configuration of the remaining amount indicator 212 will be described later. The remaining amount display tool 212 is coupled to the operation tool 203 by magnetic force, and is moved up and down following the movement of the operation tool 203.
As shown in FIG. 3, the display cylinder 213 is formed of a transparent material such as resin. The display cylinder 213 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 213A whose upper end is closed, and sensor attachment portions 213B provided on the upper end side and the lower end side of the main body 213A.

A female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the main body 213 </ b> A and is screwed into the male screw portion 211 </ b> C of the cylindrical body 211.
Note that the display cylinder 213 may be inclined with respect to the cylinder 211 into which the remaining amount indicator 212 is inserted only by screwing the main body 213A into the male screw portion 211C, and the cylinder 211 and the display cylinder 213 are cross-sectioned. It cannot be arranged concentrically.
If the display cylinder 213 is inclined, it is not preferable because the distance between the position detection surface Z of the detection main body 222 described later and the remaining amount display tool 212 cannot be kept constant.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, an aperture portion 213 </ b> C having a narrow inner diameter is provided on the upper inner surface of the display tube 213. When the main body 213A is screwed into the male screw portion 211C, the upper portion of the display tube 213 is fitted to the aperture portion 213C, so that the display tube 213 can be prevented from being inclined with respect to the tube body 211.

Here, the space between the display cylinder 213 and the cylinder 211 is sealed by two O-rings 214, and the air in the display cylinder 213 is blocked from the outside.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a remaining amount display scale 213 </ b> D indicating the height of the remaining amount indicator 212 is formed in a portion between the two sensor attachment portions 213 </ b> B in the main body 213 </ b> A.
The sensor attachment portion 213B has a thick plate-like outer shape that intersects the main body 213A. The sensor attachment portion 213B has a configuration for fixing a sensor cover 225 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the detection unit 22 is provided along a remaining amount indicator 212 as a metal body to be detected 221 that is moved up and down together with the rod 202, and a direction in which the rod 202 moves up and down (vertical direction in the figure). And a detection main body 222 including a plurality of coils 223.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the remaining amount display tool 212.
As shown in FIG. 4, the remaining amount indicator 212 includes a ring-shaped main body portion 212A formed of a paramagnetic material such as a conventional plastic magnet, and an outer periphery of the main body portion 212A formed of a magnetic material such as iron or nickel. And the surface member 212B fitted into the.
The size of the main body 212A is, for example, an outer diameter of 15 mm, an inner diameter of 12 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm. As the size of the surface member 212B, for example, the outer diameter is 17 mm, the inner diameter is 15 mm, and the thickness is 5 mm.

The main body 212A is magnetized with NS poles in the thickness direction, and follows the operation tool 203 by magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling is strong enough to prevent the surface member 212B having a heavy specific gravity from falling on the lower part of the cylinder 211 due to an impact or the like, and weak enough not to affect the detection sensitivity of the detection unit 22. ing. Further, a coating such as nickel plating is applied to prevent corrosion of the surface member 212B.
The position of the surface member 212 </ b> B is detected as the detected object 221 of the detection unit 22. The surface member 212B preferably has a radial thickness of 1 mm or more in order to ensure detection sensitivity. In order to prevent corrosion such as rust, it is preferable to apply a coating such as nickel plating that does not affect the detection sensitivity to the surface. Furthermore, in order to improve the visibility as the remaining amount indicator 212, it is preferable to apply a paint with a color that is easy to see, such as yellow.

In assembling the remaining amount indicator 212, for example, after inserting the main body portion 212A into the surface member 212B, about three thin ridges (not shown) provided on the inside of the upper surface and the lower surface of the surface member 212B. A curling method that bends inward can be used. Moreover, you may fix both with an adhesive agent etc. Thus, the main body 212A is fixed so as not to move up and down with respect to the surface member 212B.
The main body 212A is fixed by magnetic coupling simply by being inserted into the surface member 212B, but the magnetic coupling with the operation tool 203 inside the cylindrical body 211 is strong and may be detached from the surface member 212B due to an impact. It is preferable to strengthen the connection between the main body 212A and the surface member 212B by some method.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detection main body 222 includes a sensor main body 224 including a plurality of coils 223, and a sensor cover 225 that accommodates the sensor main body 224 movably along the direction in which the rod 202 moves up and down.
The sensor body 224 includes a vertically long, substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 226, a substrate 227 provided inside the case 226, and a plurality of coils 223 provided on one surface of the substrate 227 along the direction in which the rod 202 moves up and down. And a signal output terminal 228 for outputting the detected position of the remaining amount indicator 212 as an electrical signal.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the detection unit.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, nuts 229 for fixing the sensor main body 224 to the sensor cover 225 are coupled to the upper end and the lower end of the inner surface of the case 226 opposite to the coil 223. Further, a hole 226A for inserting a sensor position adjusting screw 225J described later is provided at a position corresponding to the hole portion of the nut 229 of the case 226.
In FIG. 2, a substrate 227 is a plate-like member made of resin or the like.
The plurality of coils 223 are arranged on one surface of the substrate 227 as a high-frequency transmission type proximity switch. The plurality of coils 223 form a position detection surface Z that is parallel to the direction in which the rod 202 moves up and down.

2 and 5, the signal output terminal 228 is provided so as to protrude on the opposite side of the coil 223 of the case 226, and the detected position (for example, 0 to 80 mm) of the remaining amount indicator 212 is analog output. (Current or voltage). The signal output terminal 228 has a drip-proof sealed structure.
As shown in FIG. 2, the signal output terminal 228 is connected to a processing device (not shown) via the output cable 7.
The processing device calculates the remaining amount of the liquefied gas F based on the analog output received from the signal output terminal 228, and displays this on a display device (not shown). In addition, the processing apparatus can perform various information processing. For example, it is possible to warn that the remaining amount of the liquefied gas F has decreased, or to predict the time from when the remaining amount of the liquefied gas F runs out until the liquefied gas F runs out.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the sensor cover 225 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that is slightly larger than the case 226.
The display portion 21 side of the sensor cover 225 is an opening surface, from which the case 226 can be accommodated.
As shown in FIG. 5, plate-like extending portions 225 </ b> D extending to the outside of the opening surface are provided at the ends of both side surfaces 225 </ b> B and 225 </ b> C of the sensor cover 225. A total of four screw holes 225E are provided in the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the extension portion 225D. The sensor cover 225 is fixed to the display unit 21 by a fixing screw 225F that is inserted through the screw hole 225E and screwed into the sensor mounting portion 213B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the side surface 225A of the sensor cover 225 has two vertically long holes 225H and a terminal hole 225I provided between the two holes 225H and through which the signal output terminal 228 is inserted. , Is formed.
The sensor position adjusting screw 225J is inserted into the hole 225H, and the sensor position adjusting screw 225J is screwed into the nut 229. Thereby, the sensor main body 224 is fixed to the sensor cover 225.

Since the hole 225H and the terminal hole 225I are formed vertically long along the direction in which the rod 202 moves up and down, the sensor position adjustment screw 225J can be loosened to adjust the height position of the sensor body 224. Thereby, an analog output such as a zero point can be adjusted.
Note that the detection unit 22 includes the signal output terminal 228 and the case protection structure class has an IP67 drip-proof structure. And since the use temperature range is as wide as −25 to + 70 ° C., it is suitable for low temperature environment with strict liquefied gas or outdoor use.
Moreover, it is preferable that the distance between the position detection surface Z and the remaining amount indicator 212 is as short and constant as possible within 3 mm so that the detection sensitivity does not decrease.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting portion 24 includes a plug member 241 and a flange portion 242 placed on the plug member 241.
The plug member 241 is a substantially tubular member having a hole continuous with the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 211A.
A male screw is formed on the outer periphery of the plug member 241. An extension surface 241A extending in the radial direction is formed on the upper end side of the plug member 241.
The upper end of the plug member 241 is coupled to the base 211B of the display unit 21.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower end side of the plug member 241 is screwed into the female screw portion 113 </ b> C of the base 113. Further, the plug member 241 is firmly fixed to the base 113 by a substantially hexagonal column-shaped nut 241B. The nut 241B and the plug member 241 are in contact with the base 113 with a necessary minimum area in consideration of function and strength, and the heat transfer rate from the base 113 serving as a heat source is suppressed to be small. It acts as a thermal resistance part that suppresses the movement of heat between them.

  Although not shown, the base 113 is provided with a discharge pipe for the pressure vessel 1. Here, since the plug member 241 and the display unit 21 are adjacent to each other and the detection unit 22 is fixed to the display unit 21, the discharge tube is close to the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22. The discharge tube is cooled by the flow of the low temperature gas, but the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 adjacent to the discharge tube are also likely to be in a low temperature state.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flange portion 242 is a disk-shaped member placed on the extending surface 241 </ b> A. The flange portion 242 has a hole portion 242A through which the plug member 241 is inserted at the center thereof.
The flange portion 242 and the extending surface 241A are coupled by a flange mounting screw 243.
As shown in FIG. 2, the extension surface 241 </ b> A and the flange portion 242 are sealed with an O-ring 244.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a step portion 242 </ b> B having a diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the cover portion 23 and positioning the cover portion 23 and an O-ring 245 are inserted into the upper surface of the flange portion 242. An O-ring groove 242C is formed.
The flange part 242 acts as a heat absorption part that absorbs the heat of the atmosphere from the surface by increasing the contact area with the atmosphere and increasing the heat transfer coefficient with the air, and also from the container 11 to the display part 21. Heat transfer can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover portion 23 is a substantially cylindrical member whose upper end is closed. The cover unit 23 is a member that shields the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 from the outside air, and protects them by preventing a strong impact from being applied from the outside.
The cover part 23 is formed of a transparent material such as a resin, and the whole is a transmission part that allows the inside to be visually recognized. In order to ensure the strength of the member, the upper end portion of the cover portion 23 is formed in a curved shape.

Moreover, the cover part 23 has a terminal hole 231 that is formed on the peripheral surface and through which the signal output terminal 228 is inserted, and a jaw part 232 that is provided at the lower end part so as to extend radially outward.
The jaw portion 232 is placed on the flange portion 242 such that the inner peripheral surface of the cover portion 23 is fitted to the step portion 242B of the flange portion 242.
The cover portion 23 is fixed by a clamp band 233 in a state where the cover portion 23 is placed on the flange portion 242.

The clamp band 233 is a ring-shaped member that can be opened and closed with a point on the outer periphery as a fulcrum, and an inner peripheral surface 233 </ b> A is formed in a curved surface shape corresponding to the outer peripheral portions of the jaw portion 232 and the flange portion 242. The clamp band 233 is provided with a wing nut 233B for closing the clamp band 233.
The cover portion 23 can be firmly fixed to the flange portion 242 by bringing the inner peripheral surface 233A of the clamp band 233 into contact with the outer peripheral portions of the jaw portion 232 and the flange portion 242 and tightening the wing nut 233B. At this time, the O-ring 245 located between the jaw part 232 and the flange part 242 is crushed, and the space Y in the cover part 23 is blocked from the outside air.

Further, between the cover portion 23 and the sensor cover 225, a sheet packing is used as a seal portion that surrounds the terminal hole 231 and keeps the display portion 21 and the detection portion 22 sealed (that is, the space Y is sealed). A foam material 234 is provided.
The foam material 234 is formed in a flat ring shape using, for example, silicon rubber. The foam material 234 only needs to be positioned between the cover portion 23 and the sensor cover 225, but is preferably attached to either the cover portion 23 or the sensor cover 225 in order to facilitate fixing.
The O-rings 244 and 245 and the foam material 234 seal the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 in a space Y in the cover unit 23 that is shielded from the air outside the container 11.
The space in the display cylinder 213 is further shielded from the air outside the container 11 by the O-ring 214.

[Effects of First Embodiment]
According to the present embodiment as described above, for example, there are the following effects.
(1) Measures against frost formation by the cover unit 23 By installing the cover unit 23 that shields the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 from outside air, it is possible to prevent the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 from being damaged.
In addition, due to the blockage from the outside air, the inside of the cover part 23 is not easily cooled, and the detection part 22 is held within the operating temperature range, thereby enabling accurate position detection.
Furthermore, since outside air containing moisture does not enter the cover part 23, there is no condensation or frost formation on the display part 21 and the detection part 22, and the visibility of the display part 21 and the accurate position of the detection part 22 are eliminated. Detection is ensured.
In particular, when the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 are close to the discharge pipe as in the remaining amount detection device 2 of the present embodiment, problems of frost, condensation, and cooling are likely to occur. These problems can be solved.

(2) Measures for heat dissipation by the connecting portion 24 Since the flange portion 242 acts as a heat absorbing portion and absorbs atmospheric heat from the surface, the temperature drop of the display portion 21 can be suppressed. Moreover, since the flange part 242 and the nut 241B act as a heat resistance part and suppress the movement of heat between the container 11 and the display part 21, the low temperature of the container 11 is difficult to transmit to the display part 21. Therefore, in the remaining amount detection device of the present invention, the display unit is not easily cooled, and frost and condensation are unlikely to occur.
Further, since frost formation on the cover portion 23 is also reduced, there is an effect that the resin cover portion 23 is not broken by the growth of frost formation.
Further, by providing a plate-like heat radiation fin on the extending surface 241A of the plug member 241 (not shown), it is possible to obtain a higher heat radiation effect in a small space.

(3) Use of external processing device, etc. Since only the detection unit 22 is built in the remaining amount detection device 2 and the detection unit 22 is connected to the processing device via the signal output terminal 228 and the output cable 7, liquefaction It is possible to remotely monitor the remaining amount of gas F. Accordingly, for example, there is an effect of preventing a replenishment error that the remaining amount of the liquefied gas F is lost.
Further, when the connection of the output cable 7 is released, the output cable 7 does not interfere with operations such as movement of the pressure vessel 1 and maintenance of the remaining amount detection device 2.
The signal output terminal 228 is inserted into the terminal hole 231 provided in the cover part 23, but since the foam material 234 surrounding the periphery of the terminal hole 231 is provided between the cover part 23 and the detection part 22, the terminal The sealing of the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 is not impaired by the holes 231.

(4) Lightweight, compact, and always mounted in a portable manner A conventional remaining amount detection device using a Hall element as described in Patent Document 2 places a controller unit connected to a sensor unit via a flat cable on a bracket. Was. For this reason, the remaining amount detection device becomes large, a cover portion that covers the entire device cannot be provided, the strength against vibration and impact is insufficient, and transportation by a car or the like cannot be performed. In other words, since the conventional remaining amount detection device cannot be used as a portable device that is always mounted, it is necessary to attach and detach the storage tank at the place where it is used every time the storage tank is replaced, which is inconvenient and inconvenient. there were.

  On the other hand, the remaining amount detection device 2 of the present embodiment employs a lightweight and compact configuration in which only the detection unit 22 is built in and the detection unit 22 and the display cylinder 213 are integrated. Yes. As a result, it is possible to mount the cover portion 23 that covers the entire apparatus, and to withstand vibration and impact during transportation by a car or the like. Therefore, it is possible to always mount on all portable liquefied gas cryogenic containers, eliminating the need for troublesome mounting work at the time of installation, and improving the usability dramatically.

(5) Improvement in accuracy due to analog output of sensor Since the high-frequency oscillation type position sensor is the detection unit 22, the degree of influence from the detected body 221 to the detection main body 222 is electrically processed, and there is no continuous Can be converted to analog output. Thereby, the resolution of position detection can be improved dramatically.

(6) Expansion of application by drip-proof structure Since the entire remaining amount detection device 2 has a drip-proof structure, it can be installed outdoors, and there is an effect that the usage of the remaining amount detection device 2 is expanded.

(7) Fixing of the cover part 23 by the clamp band 233 The cover part 23 may be broken by an operator with a tool or the like when replacing the pressure vessel 1, and may be replaced with a new one.
According to this embodiment, since the cover part 23 is fixed using the clamp band 233, the operator can attach or detach the cover part 23 easily.
In addition, since the mounting method of the cylindrical body 211 and the like is a screw-in method, the position of the signal output terminal 228 is not determined in the rotational direction. However, according to the clamp band 233, the cover portion 23 is positioned in accordance with the position of the signal output terminal 228. The rotational position of the terminal hole 231 can be freely changed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the cover portion is removed.
In FIG. 6, the pressure vessel 1X applied in the second embodiment has the same basic structure as the pressure vessel 1 of the first embodiment, and the configuration of the base 113 is different from that of the first embodiment.
That is, in the second embodiment, the base 113 has a structure in which the cylindrical portion 113D is integrally formed on the thick portion 113B, and the nut 113E is attached on the cylindrical portion 113D.
The remaining amount detection device 2X of the present embodiment is attached to the base 113.

[Configuration of the remaining amount detection device]
The remaining amount detection device 2X electrically detects and outputs the float 201 and the rod 202 (see FIG. 1) similar to the first embodiment, the display unit 21X that displays the position of the rod 202, and the position of the rod 202. And a cover unit 23X that seals the display unit 21X and the detection unit 22X in a space cut off from the air outside the container 1X. The remaining amount detection device 2X is attached to the pressure vessel 1X via the connecting portion 24X.
At the other end of the rod 202, an operation tool 203X made of a substantially abacus ball-shaped magnet is attached.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the display unit 21 </ b> X includes a cylindrical body 211 into which the rod 202 and the operation tool 203 </ b> X are inserted, a ring-shaped remaining amount display tool 212 </ b> X through which the cylindrical body 211 is inserted, and a cylindrical body 211. And a display cylinder 213X that covers the remaining amount indicator 212X.
The cylindrical body 211 includes a base portion 211B, and the lower end of the base portion 211B is coupled to the connecting portion 24X.

The display cylinder 213X is formed of a transparent material such as resin. The display cylinder 213X includes a substantially cylindrical main body 213A whose upper end is closed, and sensor mounting portions 213B provided on the upper end side and the lower end side of the main body 213A. The sensor attachment portion 213B is formed in a U-shaped cross section. In the present embodiment, an inclination preventing member 213E is provided inside the display cylinder 213X in order to keep a distance between a position detection surface of the detection main body 222, which will be described later, and the remaining amount indicator 212X constant.
A remaining amount display scale (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) indicating the height of the remaining amount indicator 212X is formed on the curved surface portion between the two sensor mounting portions 213B of the main body 213A. A portion where the remaining amount display scale is not formed is a flat portion.
The detection unit 22X includes a remaining amount display tool 212X as a metal material to be detected that is moved up and down together with the rod 202, a detection main body 222 that is provided along the direction in which the rod 202 is moved up and down and is held by the sensor mounting unit 213B, Is a high-frequency oscillation type position sensor. The detection body 222 has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the surface of the case 226 opposite to the surface on which the signal output terminal 228 is provided faces the flat portion of the body 213A.

FIG. 8 shows the remaining amount indicator 212X. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the remaining amount indicator 212X. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
In FIG. 8, a remaining amount indicator 212X includes a ring-shaped main body 212A formed of a neodymium bonded magnet that is stronger than a conventional plastic magnet, and a magnetic material such as iron or nickel. A surface member 212B fitted on the outer periphery is provided, and a plurality of spacers 212C are provided between the main body portion 212A and the surface member 212B, and a space is formed between these spacers 212C.
The size of the main body 212A is, for example, an outer diameter of 15 mm, an inner diameter of 12 mm, and a thickness of 5 mm. The size of the surface member 212B is desired to be as thin and light as possible in order to prevent falling, and for example, the outer diameter is 17 mm, the inner diameter is 16 mm, and the thickness is 6 mm.
The main body 212A has NS poles magnetized in the thickness direction, and follows the operation tool 203X by magnetic coupling. The magnetic coupling is strong enough to prevent the surface member 212B having a heavy specific gravity from being dropped on the lower portion of the cylinder 211 due to an impact or the like, and the friction between the operation tool 203X and the inner surface of the cylinder 211 is not increased. It is said that the strength is not affected. Further, in order to prevent corrosion of the main body 212A, a coating such as epoxy is applied. In order to prevent corrosion of the surface member 212B, a coating such as nickel plating is applied.

The surface member 212B preferably has a radial thickness of 0.1 mm or more in order to ensure detection sensitivity. In order to prevent corrosion such as rust, it is preferable to apply a coating such as nickel plating that does not affect the detection sensitivity to the surface. Furthermore, in order to improve the visibility as the remaining amount indicator 212X, it is preferable to apply a paint with an easy-to-see color such as yellow.
In this embodiment, the spacer 212C is composed of four semi-cylindrical members arranged at equal intervals, and these spacers 212C are formed integrally with the main body portion 212A. The spacer 212C is formed from the same material as the main body 212A.
In assembling the remaining amount indicator 212X, for example, the main body portion 212A that is a magnet and the surface member 212B that is a paramagnetic material are strongly coupled, so the main body portion 212A only needs to be inserted into the surface member 212B. In order to prevent the main body portion 212A from coming off at one end of the surface member 212B, a retaining collar portion 212D is formed toward the center of the ring shape so as not to be detached due to a large impact.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the detection unit 22X.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the detection main body 222 includes a sensor main body 224 including a plurality of coils, as in the first embodiment. The sensor main body 224 includes a vertically long case 226 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, A substrate 227 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the case 226 and a signal output terminal 228 that outputs the detected position of the remaining amount indicator 212X as an electrical signal.
A nut 229 (see FIG. 6) for fixing the sensor main body 224 to the angle member 225X is coupled to an upper end portion and a lower end portion on the opposite side of the coil on the inner surface of the case 226, and the case 226 corresponding to this nut. Is provided with a hole 226A through which a sensor position adjusting screw 225J described later is inserted.
The angle member 225X is disposed so as to cover the upper end corner portion or the lower end corner portion of the case 226, and the horizontal piece thereof is fixed to the sensor mounting portion 213B of the display cylinder 213X by a fixing screw 225F. The front end of the fixing screw 225F abuts and fixes the upper end surface or the lower end surface of the case 226. The sensor attachment portion 213B is formed in a U shape to accommodate the corner portion of the case 226.
The sensor main body 224 includes the signal output terminal 228 and the case protection structure grade has an IP67 drip-proof structure. And since the use temperature range is as wide as −25 to + 70 ° C., it is suitable for low temperature environment with strict liquefied gas or outdoor use.
The signal output terminal 228 is provided so as to protrude on the opposite side to the coil of the case 226, and outputs the detected position (for example, 0 to 70 mm) of the remaining amount indicator 212X in an analog manner (current or voltage).
Moreover, it is preferable that the distance between the position detection surface and the remaining amount indicator 212X is as short and constant as possible within 3 mm so that the detection sensitivity does not decrease.

The structure of the connecting portion 24X is shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of the second embodiment.
In these drawings, the connecting portion 24X includes a plug member 241 (see FIG. 2) and a flange portion 242X placed on the plug member 241.
The upper end of the plug member 241 is coupled to the base 211B of the display unit 21X. The plug member 241 is screwed into a nut 113E fixed on the cylindrical portion 113D.
Although not shown, the base 113 is provided with a discharge pipe for the pressure vessel 1.
The flange portion 242X includes a disc-shaped member 242X1 provided with a cover portion 23X, a cylindrical portion 242X2 in which an upper end opening is integrally formed with the disc-shaped member 242X1 and accommodates the cylindrical portion 113D, and a lower end of the cylindrical portion 242X2. And a disc-shaped attachment portion 242X3 integrally formed in the opening.

The disc-shaped member 242X1 has a thick portion 242X4 formed on the outer peripheral edge thereof. The thick portion 242X4 is overlaid with an engagement ring 246 that engages the opening end of the cover portion 23X, and a screw 247. Attached by. A plurality of screws 247 are arranged at equal intervals, and four in the second embodiment, and a washer is interposed between these screws 247 and the engagement ring 246. An O-ring groove 242C into which the O-ring 245 is inserted is formed on the inner peripheral side of the thick portion 242X4.
And the inner side from the thick part 242X4 of the disk-shaped member 242X1 is formed in a dish shape. A drainage groove 242U is formed along the radial direction of the thick portion 242X4 for discharging water in which frost on the outer periphery of the O-ring 245 has melted to the outside.
The attachment portion 242X3 is attached to the thick portion 113B with a bolt 248. An O-ring groove 248A into which the O-ring 245 is inserted is formed on the inner peripheral side of the portion facing the thick portion 113B of the attachment portion 242X3.

The cover portion 23X has a structure in which the upper end opening of the substantially polygonal peripheral wall portion is closed with a planar polygonal plate-like member, blocks the display portion 21X and the detection portion 22X from the outside air, and gives a strong impact from the outside. Protect these by preventing the action.
The cover portion 23X is formed of a transparent material such as resin, and the entire portion is a transmissive portion that allows the inside to be visually recognized.
Moreover, since the surrounding wall part is formed in the cross-sectional polygonal shape, the surrounding wall part is made into the shape where the several plane part was connected. Among these, a terminal hole 231 into which the signal output terminal 228 is inserted is formed in one plane portion. A lower end portion of the peripheral wall portion extends radially outward and is provided with a jaw portion 232.
As described above, the jaw part 232 has a structure that is sandwiched between the thick part 242X4 and the engagement ring 246.

Further, a foam material 234 for sheet packing is provided between the one flat surface portion of the cover portion 23X and the case 226 as a seal portion that surrounds the terminal hole 231 and keeps the display portion 21X and the detection portion 22X sealed. Is provided.
The foam material 234 is formed in a flat ring shape using, for example, silicon rubber. The foam material 234 only needs to be positioned between the cover portion 23X and the case 226, but is preferably attached to either the cover portion 23X or the case 226 in order to facilitate fixing.
The O-ring 245 and the foam material 234 seal the display unit 21X and the detection unit 22X in a space in the cover unit 23X that is shielded from the air outside the container 11.

A protective cap 80 for protecting the signal output terminal 228 is detachably attached to the signal output terminal 228. The protective cap 80 includes a female screw portion that is screwed into a male screw portion formed on the outer periphery of the signal output terminal 228, and a plurality of anti-slip grooves are formed in the outer peripheral portion along the axial direction.
A top of the protective cap 80 is connected to one end of a string-like connector 81 by a fixture 82A. The connector 81 is a flexible member, and the other end is attached to the top of the cover part 23X via an attachment screw 82B. Ring-shaped metal parts 81A are respectively connected to both ends of the connector 81, and these metal parts 81A are rotatably supported by the attachment tool 82A or the attachment screw 82B.
At the top of the cover part 23X, a safety valve 83 is provided for allowing the cover part 23X to escape to the outside when the internal pressure of the cover part 23X becomes equal to or higher than the pressure that causes damage to the cover part 23X itself. The safety valve 83 is of a rubber plug type that comes out of the cover portion 23X when the inside of the cover portion 23X reaches a predetermined pressure.

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
Accordingly, in the second embodiment, the following operational effects can be achieved in addition to the operational effects of the first embodiment.
The cover portion 23X has a cylindrical peripheral wall portion, and a portion where the foam material 234 is provided on the peripheral wall portion is a flat portion. Therefore, since the foam material 234 comes into close contact with the flat portion, the sealing performance can be improved.
Further, a protective cap 80 for protecting the signal output terminal 228 is detachably attached to the signal output terminal 228. Therefore, by attaching the protective cap 80 to the signal output terminal 228, it is possible to protect the signal output terminal 228 from dust and water droplets during the transport of the remaining amount detection device.
Since the protective cap 80 is attached to the top of the cover portion 23X with the string-like connector 81, the protective cap 80 removed from the signal output terminal 228 during the operation of the device does not leave the cover portion 23X with the connector 81. Therefore, the protective cap 80 removed from the signal output terminal 228 is not likely to be lost.

Since the safety valve 83 that escapes to the outside when the internal pressure of the cover portion 23X becomes equal to or higher than the pressure that causes damage to the cover portion 23X is attached to the top of the cover portion 23X, even if the internal pressure of the cover portion 23X increases. By operating the safety valve 83, it is possible to prevent the cover portion 23X from being damaged.
The remaining amount indicator 212X includes a ring-shaped main body portion 212A formed of a magnet and a surface member 212B formed of a magnetic material and fitted on the outer periphery of the main body portion 212A, and includes the main body portion 212A, the surface member, and the 212B. A plurality of spacers 212C are provided between them. Therefore, the main body 212A and the surface member 212B are spaced apart by a predetermined distance by the spacer 212C, and the remaining amount indicator 212X can be reduced in weight by the amount that the spacer 212C is not disposed. Ascending and descending is performed smoothly, so that highly accurate detection can be achieved.
Since an end portion 212D for preventing the main body portion 212A from coming off is formed at the end of the surface member 212B, it is possible to prevent the surface member 212B from being detached from the main body portion 212A.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 11 and FIG. The remaining amount detection device 2Y of the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in the structure of the connecting portion 24Y and the length of the cylindrical portion 211A, and the other configurations are the same as those in the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG.

In these drawings, the connecting portion 24Y of the third embodiment includes a plug member 241 (see FIG. 2) and a flange portion 242Y placed on the plug member 241.
The flange portion 242Y includes a disc-like member 242X1 provided with a cover portion 23X, and a plate-like member 242Y1 superposed on the bottom surface side of the disc-like member 242X1, and the plate-like member 242Y1 is an upper edge of the tubular portion 113D. And is joined to the disk-like member 242X1 with a screw 242Y2.
An O-ring 242Y3 is provided between the disk-like member 242X1 and the plate-like member 242Y1.
Moreover, the cylinder part 211A of the third embodiment is formed longer than the cylinder part 211A of the second embodiment, and therefore the movement distance of the rod 202 is longer.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the same operational effects as in the second embodiment can be achieved.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The remaining amount detection device 2Z of the fourth embodiment is different from the second embodiment in the structure of the connecting portion 24Z and the length of the cylindrical portion 211A, and the other configurations are the same as those in the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 of the second embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a diagram corresponding to FIG.
In these drawings, the connecting portion 24Z of the fourth embodiment has a plug member 241 (see FIG. 2) and a flange portion 242Z placed on the plug member 241.
The flange portion 242Z includes a disc-shaped member 242X1 provided with a cover portion 23X, and a cylindrical portion 242X2 in which an upper end opening is integrally formed with the disc-shaped member 242X1 and accommodates the cylindrical portion 113D, and this cylindrical portion 242X2 Is joined to the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 113D with a screw 242Z1.
An O-ring 242Z2 is provided between the cylindrical portion 242X2 and the cylindrical portion 113D.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the same operational effects as in the second embodiment can be achieved.

[Modification]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, Other modifications etc. which can achieve the objective of this invention are included, The deformation | transformation etc. which are shown below are also contained in this invention.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the remaining amount detection apparatus 2 provided with the detection part 22 and the connection part 24 was illustrated, it is not restricted to this.
For example, the display unit 21 and the detection unit 22 are sealed by the cover unit 23 even when the detection unit 22 is not provided, the connection unit 24 is not provided, or both the detection unit 22 and the connection unit 24 are not provided. However, the visibility of the display unit 21 can be ensured by preventing generation of frost and condensation.
When the detection unit 22 is omitted, the expensive detection unit 22 is not provided, and a sensor mounting unit 213B for fixing the detection unit 22 to the display tube 213 and a terminal through which the signal output terminal 228 is inserted. Since the configuration for the detection unit 22 such as the hole 231 can be omitted, the remaining amount detection device 2 can be manufactured at low cost.

The material and shape of each member constituting the remaining amount detection device 2 are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cover portion 23 whose one end portion is formed in a curved shape is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The cover parts 23 and 23X should just have the permeation | transmission part for visually recognizing the display part 21 from the exterior, and can interrupt | block the display parts 21 and 21X and the detection parts 22 and 22X from external air. For example, the outer shape of the cover portions 23 and 23X may be a cylindrical shape. Further, only a part of the cover portions 23 and 23X may be a transmission portion made of a transparent material. Even in such a case, the same excellent effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

In the above-described embodiment, the remaining amount detection device 2 configured to connect the detection units 22 and 22X to the processing device via the signal output terminal 228 and the output cable 7 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, the detection units 22 and 22X may include a wireless output unit instead of the signal output terminal 228, and the wireless output unit may output the detected position of the rod 202 to the processing device.
In this case, since it is not necessary to use the output cable 7, the output cable 7 does not obstruct the work when the pressure vessel 1 is transported or when the remaining amount detecting device 2 is attached. Further, the terminal hole 231 and the like can be omitted, and the configuration of the remaining amount detection device 2 can be simplified.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the float 201 has a solid structure, but in the present invention, the float may have a hollow structure.
Also in the first embodiment, the drainage groove 242U may be formed in the flange portion as in the other embodiments (see the imaginary line in FIG. 3).
In the second embodiment to the fourth embodiment, the spacer 212C is composed of four semi-cylindrical members arranged at equal intervals, and these spacers 212C are formed integrally with the main body portion 212A. In the present invention, the spacer 212C may be formed integrally with the surface member 212B, or the main body 212A and the surface member 212B may be formed separately. Furthermore, the shape of the spacer 212C is not limited to a semi-cylindrical member, and may be a triangular prism shape or a quadrangular prism shape. The number of spacers 212C is not limited to four.
Further, the protective cap 80 may be used in the first embodiment.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a remaining amount detection device that detects the remaining amount of low-temperature fluid stored in a container based on the height of the liquid level.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is sectional drawing which shows the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the cover part from the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the residual amount display tool which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the detection part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is a perspective view which shows the residual amount detection apparatus of the state which removed the cover part. (A) is a perspective view of a remaining amount indicator, and (B) is an arrow cross-sectional view along the BB line of (A). It is a disassembled perspective view of a detection part. It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is sectional drawing which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is sectional drawing which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel. It is a perspective view which shows the state with which the residual amount detection apparatus was mounted | worn with the pressure vessel.

Explanation of symbols

1 Pressure vessel (storage tank)
2, 2X, 2Y, 2Z Remaining amount detection device 11 Container 21, 21X Display unit 22, 22X Detection unit 23, 23X Cover unit 24, 24X, 22Y, 22Z Connection unit 80 Protective cap 201 Float 202 Rod 203 Operation tool 221 Detected Body 222 Detection body 223 Coil 228 Signal output terminal 231 Terminal hole 234 Foam material (seal part)
241B Nut (thermal resistance part)
242 Flange part (heat absorption part, heat resistance part)
F Liquefied gas (low temperature fluid)
S liquid level

Claims (12)

Remaining amount detection for detecting the remaining amount of the cryogenic fluid stored in the container, mounted in a storage tank having a container for storing the cryogenic fluid therein and a discharge pipe for supplying the cryogenic fluid to the outside of the container A device,
A float that is raised and lowered according to the liquid level of the low-temperature fluid;
A rod connected to the float and moved up and down with the float;
A display for displaying the position of the rod;
A cover part for sealing the display part in a space cut off from the air outside the container,
The said cover part has a permeation | transmission part for visually recognizing the said display part from the outside, The residual amount detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 1,
A connecting portion provided between the display portion and the container and connecting the two;
The connecting portion is
A heat absorption part that absorbs atmospheric heat from the surface;
A remaining amount detecting device comprising: a heat resistance portion that suppresses heat transfer between the container and the display portion. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The remaining amount detection device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is mounted at a position close to the discharge pipe of the storage tank. In the residual amount detection apparatus of Claim 2 or Claim 3,
The heat absorbing portion is a planar flange portion that intersects the direction in which the rod moves up and down,
The said cover part is mounted in the said flange part, The remaining amount detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A detector for electrically detecting and outputting the position of the rod;
The said cover part seals the said display part and the said detection part in the space interrupted | blocked from the air outside the said container, The remaining amount detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 5,
The said detection part is mounted | worn at the position close | similar to the said discharge pipe of the said storage tank. The residual amount detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 5 or 6,
The detection unit is a high-frequency oscillation type position sensor including a metal material to be detected that is moved up and down together with the rod, and a detection body that includes a plurality of coils provided along a direction in which the rod moves up and down. A remaining amount detection device characterized by the above. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The detection unit includes a signal output terminal that outputs the detected position of the rod as an electrical signal,
The cover portion includes a terminal hole through which the signal output terminal is inserted,
A remaining amount detecting device characterized in that a seal portion is provided between the cover portion and the detection portion to surround the terminal hole and keep the display portion and the detection portion sealed. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 8,
The said cover part has a cylindrical surrounding wall part, and the site | part in which the said seal part of this surrounding wall part is provided is made into the plane part, The remaining amount detection apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to claim 8 or 9,
A remaining amount detecting device, wherein a protective cap for protecting the signal output terminal is detachably attached to the signal output terminal. In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A remaining amount detecting device comprising: a safety valve that escapes to the outside when the internal pressure of the cover portion is equal to or higher than the pressure that causes damage to the cover portion, and the safety valve is attached to the top of the cover portion . In the remaining amount detection apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11,
The detected body includes a ring-shaped main body portion having paramagnetism, and a ring-shaped surface member that is fitted to the outer periphery of the main body portion and is formed of a magnetic material, and the main body portion and the surface member A plurality of spacers are provided between the front surface member and an end portion of the surface member, and a retaining collar portion for preventing the main body portion from coming off is formed toward a ring-shaped center. Remaining amount detection device.

Images