JP2010249698A - Liquid level gauge and water level gauge for transparent liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid level gauge and water level gauge for a transparent liquid, in which the position of a pipe portion for visual observation is easily adjusted and a liquid level is easily observed even if the outer circumference surface on the backside of the pipe portion for visual observation is dirty. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid level gauge for a transparent liquid includes the hose pipe portion 10 for visual observation connected with a liquid storage tank of a transparent liquid and formed of a material at least having a transparent part so that the liquid level is viewed. The pipe portion 10 for visual observation is integrally provided with one or two or more of colored lines 11 extending in the length direction. The pipe portion 10 for visual observation is formed of a resin material with flexibility by, for example, extrusion molding. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is for a transparent liquid provided with a hose-like visual tube part at least partly formed of a transparent resin material so that the height of the liquid level can be visually observed by being connected to a liquid storage tank of the transparent liquid. It relates to liquid level gauge and water level gauge.

  In the conventional liquid level gauge and water level gauge for transparent liquid, when the hose-like visual pipe part 100 is disposed on the side surface 300 of the liquid storage tank, as shown in FIG. The side surface 300 is provided with a colored line 310 extending in the vertical direction. As described above, when the transparent visual tube portion 100 overlaps with the color line 310 before the color line 310, the colored line 310 is enlarged in the width direction by the refraction action of the portion filled with the transparent liquid 200. It is visually observed. According to this, the boundary surface (liquid level 210) between the portion filled with the transparent liquid 200 and the unfilled portion can be clearly seen, and the liquid level can be measured appropriately.

  However, in this case, it is necessary to precisely adjust the mutual position so that the visual tube 100 and the colored line 310 overlap appropriately. In the case of the visual observation tube portion 100 provided with flexibility in order to increase the degree of freedom of attachment, the adjustment is a more laborious operation. In addition, the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the viewing tube portion 100 is likely to become dirty, and the colored line 310 may be difficult to see.

  On the other hand, in order to observe the liquid level more reliably, the outer diameter surface on the rear side of the transparent and cylindrical tube communicating with the container is colored over the entire length, and the inside has the same length as the tube. There has been proposed a liquid level gauge tube containing a prism rod (see Patent Document 1). According to this, the visual tube (cylindrical tube) and the colored line (coloring with an appropriate width) can be appropriately overlapped.

  In this embodiment, when the transparent liquid is not filled, the prism rod is fixed to obtain an angular orientation about its axis so that the coloring is not seen through from the front surface of the cylindrical tube. Yes. Since it is configured in this way, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the angular orientation of this cylindrical tube. Further, the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the cylindrical tube is likely to be dirty, and the coloring may be difficult to see.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 02-148424 (first page)

The problems to be solved regarding the liquid level gauge and water level gauge for transparent liquids are that it takes time and effort to properly adjust the position including the adjustment of the angle of the visual tube, and for visual inspection. The outer peripheral surface (rear surface) on the rear side of the tube portion (cylindrical tube) is easily contaminated, and therefore, it is difficult to see the colored line (coloring with an appropriate width).
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily adjust the position of the visual tube part, and even if the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the visual tube part is dirty, the liquid level meter for transparent liquid that can easily be seen and To provide a water level gauge.

The present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.
According to one aspect of the liquid level gauge for transparent liquid according to the present invention, at least a part of the liquid level gauge is formed of a transparent material so as to be connected to a liquid storage tank of the transparent liquid so that the height of the liquid level can be visually observed. In the liquid level gauge for transparent liquid provided with a hose-like visual tube, the visual tube is integrally formed with one or a plurality of colored lines extending in the length direction.

Further, according to one mode of the liquid level gauge for transparent liquid according to the present invention, the viewing tube portion is formed in a cylindrical tubular shape, and the odd number of three or more colored lines are uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction. It can be characterized by being provided with a gap.
Further, according to one mode of the liquid level gauge for transparent liquid according to the present invention, the width of the colored line of the visual tube portion is formed in a line shape narrower than the width of other transparent portions. It can be characterized by being.
Moreover, according to one form of the liquid level meter for transparent liquid which concerns on this invention, the said colored line can be characterized by being transparent.

  Moreover, according to one form of the liquid level meter for transparent liquid which concerns on this invention, the said visual pipe part can be formed by the extrusion molding of the resin material which has a softness | flexibility, It can be characterized by the above-mentioned. .

  Moreover, according to one form of the water level meter which concerns on this invention, it has the structure of the liquid level meter for transparent liquids, is a water level meter which measures a water level, Comprising: The water cooled by the refrigeration cycle apparatus is stored It can be characterized by being connected to a water tank.

  According to the liquid level gauge and the water level gauge for transparent liquid according to the present invention, the position of the visual pipe part can be easily adjusted, and even if the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the visual pipe part becomes dirty, the liquid level It has a special advantageous effect that it is easy to see.

It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the example of the liquid level meter for transparent liquids concerning this invention. It is a part of the end view and side view which show the example of a form of the visual observation pipe part which concerns on this invention. It is a part of the end view and side view which show the other form example of the visual observation pipe part which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an attachment form of the water level meter which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an apparatus with which the water level meter which concerns on this invention was attached. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the example of the form of the conventional liquid level meter for transparent liquids.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a best mode example of a liquid level meter and a water level meter for transparent liquid according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings (FIGS. 1 to 5).
This liquid level gauge for transparent liquid is a hose-like visual tube part that is formed of a transparent material so that it is connected to a liquid storage tank for transparent liquid so that the height of the liquid level can be visually observed. 10 is provided. The transparent liquid is, for example, water or oil. The liquid storage tank is, for example, a water tank, a water storage container, or an oil tank. The transparent resin material includes a colored and transparent material.

The viewing tube portion 10 is integrally formed with one or a plurality of colored lines 11 extending in the length direction. The visual pipe portion 10 is provided in a hose shape by extrusion molding of a resin material, for example, and a transparent portion 12 formed of a transparent resin material and a colored line 11 of a colored resin material are integrally formed. ing. The colored line 11 may be any color other than colorless and transparent, and may be red or blue, for example. Moreover, when the transparent liquid used as object is colored, the color of the colored line 11 should just be selected suitably according to the color.
As shown in FIG. 1, the visual pipe portion 10 of the present embodiment has an open upper end and is arranged in an upright state. Further, the lower end side (not shown) of the visual tube 10 is connected to and communicates with a liquid storage tank that is not hermetically sealed, and the liquid level in the visual tube 10 is stored according to Pascal's principle. It is the same height as the liquid level in the liquid tank. In addition, the upper end of the visual pipe part 10 may be formed so as to communicate with the upper part of the liquid storage tank.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the viewing tube portion 10 provided in this way, the portion filled with the transparent liquid 20 is visually observed with the colored line 11 enlarged in the width direction by its refraction action (lens action). (See the dotted line in FIG. 1). According to this, the boundary surface (liquid surface 21) between the portion filled with the transparent liquid 20 and the unfilled portion can be clearly seen, and the liquid surface 21 can be appropriately visually recognized. Since the colored line 11 is integrally formed, the observer sees the colored line 11 on the inner peripheral surface of the viewing tube portion 10. For this reason, even when the rear outer peripheral surface (rear surface) on the rear side of the viewing tube portion 10 is dirty, the colored line 11 is easy to see because it is not easily affected. In addition, since the colored line 11 is integrally formed, unlike the case where the outer peripheral surface on the rear side of the viewing tube portion 10 is colored, there is no fear that the colored line 11 is erased. Therefore, reliability can be improved.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the visual tube portion 10 is formed in a cylindrical tubular shape, and an odd number of three or more colored lines 11 are provided at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. That is, the colored lines 11 are arranged at equal circumferential positions so that the center of the colored line 11 is located at the apex of the regular polygon. FIG. 2 shows an end face of the visual tube portion 10 when five colored lines 11 are formed by extrusion molding. Further, FIG. 3 shows an end face of the visual tube portion 10 when three colored lines 11 are formed by extrusion molding. These colored lines 11 have the same width over the entire length of the viewing tube portion 10 and are provided alternately with the other transparent portions 12 in the circumferential direction. The other transparent portions 12 are not limited to colorless and transparent, and may be transparent colored in a color different from the colored line 11.

Thus, by having an odd number of colored lines 11 of 3 or more, the liquid surface 21 can be visually observed from all directions. Since it can be seen from all directions as described above, it is not necessary to perform angle adjustment around the axis of the viewing pipe part 10 in particular, and the liquid level can be suitably seen. That is, as shown in the prior art of FIG. 6, the work of positioning the visual tube portion 10 so that the colored line is located on the back surface is not necessary. Therefore, there is no problem even when the viewing tube portion 10 is formed of a relatively flexible material and is easily misaligned. Further, there is no particular inconvenience when the viewing tube portion 10 is twisted, and the liquid level can be suitably visually confirmed.
And since the colored line 11 is an odd number, when it sees from arbitrary one directions, the colored line 11 does not overlap easily, and the liquid level 21 can be visually observed suitably.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the width of the colored line 11 of the viewing tube portion 10 is formed in a line shape narrower than the width of the other transparent portion 12.
According to this, the other colored lines 11 are not easily overlapped with the image of the colored line 11 whose width is enlarged by the lens action, and it is easy to see. Therefore, the liquid level can be suitably visually confirmed.
Further, the width of the colored line 11 of the viewing tube portion 10 appears to always have a transparent portion 12 when the viewing tube portion 10 is viewed from an arbitrary lateral direction, as shown in FIGS. It is preferable to form as follows. According to this, even if the colored lines 11 whose widths are enlarged by the lens action overlap each other below the liquid level, the transparent portion 12 always appears above the liquid level, so the liquid level is changed. It can be visually recognized more suitably.
In addition, what is necessary is just to set the number and the width | variety of the colored line 11 suitably with a hose diameter. 2 and 3 has an outer diameter of, for example, 22 mm, an inner diameter of 18 mm, and a colored line 11 having a width of 3 to 5 mm.

Further, the colored line 11 is preferably colored and transparent. Since the colored line 11 itself can be seen through, the image can be seen even when it overlaps an image of another colored line 11.
According to this, when the viewing tube portion 10 is viewed from the side, the transparent portion 12 does not necessarily remain visible. Since the colored line 11 itself can be seen through, a portion that overlaps the image of the other colored line 11 appears darker than the colored line 11 that does not overlap. Below the liquid level, the width of the colored line appears to be enlarged by the lens action, so that there are many parts that appear to overlap with other colored lines.
Therefore, the liquid level 21 can be more suitably viewed by the dark portion of the colored line 11, and the liquid level can be suitably viewed. In addition, there is an effect that the light permeability to the inside of the hose of the visual pipe section 10 is increased and the internal visibility is improved.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the visual tube portion 10 is formed of a flexible resin material such as soft vinyl chloride. According to this, the visual pipe part 10 can be bent and arranged as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 (a) is a front view showing a water tank 30 to which a water level meter 15 having the configuration of the liquid level meter for transparent liquid is connected, and FIG. 4 (b) is a diagram of FIG. 4 (a). It is a side view. In addition, 31 is a connection port pipe, 32 is a hose coupling.
According to this, the freedom degree of the installation position of the visual pipe part 10 and the water tank 30 increases, and construction efficiency can be improved.

  Further, the present invention can be suitably used as a chiller water level gauge 15 as shown in FIG. The water level gauge 15 has the configuration of the liquid level gauge for the transparent liquid, and is connected to and communicated with a water tank 30 that stores water cooled by the refrigeration cycle apparatus 40. As shown in FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a cooler, which is a part that cools water of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 40. One of the coolers 41 communicates with the water tank 30 through the pressure pump 42, and the other communicates with the cold water outlet 43. 44 is a water pressure gauge, 45 is a water temperature sensor, 46 is a bypass valve, and 47 is a return pipe 48 for circulating cold water.

In addition, the water supply is adjusted by a ball tap 33 disposed in the water tank 30, and the amount of water is managed by a float switch 34. 35 is a water supply pipe, and 36 is a pipe that causes overflow. 37 is a water tank lid and 38 is a water tank drain. Note that a known technique can be used for the refrigeration cycle apparatus 40, and a description thereof will be omitted.
In addition, if the mark which shows the water level upper limit and lower limit in the water tank 30 is displayed on the wall surface of the water tank 30 located on the back surface of the water level meter 15, the water level can be visually recognized by the water level meter 15, and the water level is not less than the lower limit and not more than the upper limit. It is possible to confirm whether the amount is appropriate.
Moreover, if the scale which converted the volume of the water tank 30 is displayed on the wall surface of the water tank 30, while being able to visually recognize a water surface level with the water level meter 15, the approximate amount of water in a water tank can be measured.

  As described above, the present invention has been described in various ways with preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. That is.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tube part for visual observation 11 Colored line 12 Transparent part 15 Water level meter 20 Transparent liquid 21 Liquid level 30 Water tank 40 Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Claims (6)

In a liquid level gauge for transparent liquid, which is provided with a hose-like visual tube part formed of a transparent material so that the height of the liquid level can be visually observed by being connected to a liquid storage tank of transparent liquid ,
The liquid level gauge for transparent liquid, wherein the visual tube portion is integrally formed with one or a plurality of colored lines extending in the length direction.   2. The transparent liquid for a transparent liquid according to claim 1, wherein the visual tube portion is formed in a cylindrical tube shape, and the odd number of the three or more colored lines are uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction. Level gauge.   The liquid level gauge for transparent liquid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a width of the colored line of the visual observation tube portion is formed in a line shape narrower than a width of other transparent portions. .   The liquid level meter for transparent liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the colored line is transparent.   The liquid level gauge for transparent liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the visual pipe part is formed by extrusion molding of a resin material having flexibility.   A water level meter for measuring a water level, comprising a level gauge for a transparent liquid according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and connected to a water tank for storing water cooled by a refrigeration cycle apparatus. A water level meter characterized by

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