JP2011024486A - Underwater heater - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an underwater heater capable of immediately allowing a user to notice that the heater is in an abnormal heating state in the case of passing electric current in a no-water burning state such as exposure of the heater above the water surface and furthermore giving information on history of abnormal heating states. <P>SOLUTION: The underwater heater has a current cutoff function to cut electric current to heating wires 12, 13 when an inner temperature of a heater tube body 11 containing the heating wires 12, 13 is abnormally increased. The underwater heater is further provided with a temperature detecting and displaying means 26 (260) to irreversibly change the displaying mode upon sensing a preset temperature T2 lower than a temperature to actuate the current cutoff function when the inner temperature of the heater tube body 11 is abnormally increased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater heater used in an underwater immersion state in, for example, an aquarium for appreciation fish.

  Conventionally, in this type of underwater heater, generally, a heating wire is accommodated in a cylindrical heater tube closed at both ends, the heating wire is energized and heated, and a thermostat is turned ON / OFF according to the water temperature in the water tank. The water temperature is maintained at a set value by controlling power feeding by an OFF operation. And, if the underwater heater is in an empty state where it is exposed from the water and becomes abnormally hot, the temperature fuse provided in the heater tube is blown to prevent the occurrence of a heating accident .

  Conventionally, a means for detecting that the underwater heater has been exposed on the surface of the water has been provided, and an electromagnetic relay that responds to the detection operation has been provided. When the underwater heater is in an abnormally high temperature state, power supply is cut off by the electromagnetic relay. Such a technique has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-275696

  However, in the conventional technology, when the underwater heater is energized with the water surface exposed, the fuse itself may be in a deteriorated state even if the thermal fuse does not blow, and if it is used as it is, The thermal fuse may be blown in the normal use state thereafter. In that case, the user does not know that the underwater heater has become an abnormally high temperature in the past, and this is also mistakenly recognized as a product defect.

  Even in the known literature provided with a conventional electromagnetic relay cutoff means, although the power supply is cut off via the electromagnetic relay by detecting exposure from the water, there has been an abnormal temperature rise in the past that the thermal fuse has deteriorated. Since there was no history, there is a risk that a deteriorated thermal fuse will blow out during normal use.

  The present invention makes it possible for a user to immediately notice an abnormal heating state when energized in an air-sprayed state that is exposed on the water surface, and to understand that an abnormal heating state has occurred in the past. It is an issue to provide.

  The above problem is solved by the following means.

  [1] In an underwater heater having a power cut-off function that cuts off the power supply to the heating element when the temperature of the heater body containing the heating element rises abnormally, the temperature of the heater body rises abnormally. A submersible heater, comprising: a temperature detection display means that changes a display mode irreversibly in response to a set value of a temperature lower than a temperature at which the energization shut-off function operates.

  [2] The submersible heater according to item 1 above, wherein the change of the display mode of the temperature detection display means is to change color.

  [3] The submerged heater according to item 1, wherein the change in the display mode of the temperature detection display means is deformation.

  [4] The submersible heater according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the temperature detection display unit is configured as a label attached to an outer peripheral surface of the heater body.

  According to the invention described in the preceding item [1], when the underwater heater is energized in an exposed state on the surface of the water and the temperature inside the heater rises abnormally, the temperature is lower than the set temperature at which the temperature fuse is blown. The display mode changes irreversibly in response to the temperature detection display means at the set value, so that the user can immediately notice that the underwater heater is in an abnormal heating state even if the thermal fuse is not blown. Can be made.

  In addition, the display mode of the temperature detection display means is irreversibly changed, so that even if the thermal fuse is not blown, it can be seen that the underwater heater has been exposed to an abnormally high temperature in the past. Recognize that has deteriorated and can deal with it early.

  According to the invention described in [2] above, when the underwater heater is energized in a state exposed on the surface of the water and the temperature inside the heater rises abnormally, the temperature detection display means responds to the set value and changes color. Therefore, the user can easily notice that the underwater heater is in an abnormal heating state due to the discoloration.

  According to the invention described in [3] above, when the underwater heater is energized with the water surface exposed and the temperature inside the heater rises abnormally, the temperature detection display means responds to the heat by the set value. Since it is deformed, the user can easily notice that the underwater heater has fallen into an abnormal heating state due to the deformation.

  According to the invention described in [4] above, the temperature detection display means when the underwater heater is energized in an exposed state on the water surface and the temperature inside the heater rises abnormally is constituted by the label. It can be provided at a relatively low cost and can be easily mounted on a heater.

It is front sectional drawing which shows the underwater heater which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which similarly shows the underwater heater. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the part of the dashed line A of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the aspect at the time of normal use of the label for temperature detection display. It is a perspective view which shows the state which discolored the temperature detection display label at the time of going into an empty state. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the electricity supply time at the time of normal use, and each part temperature. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the energization time in each airing state, and each part temperature. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the label for temperature detection display. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the label for temperature detection display. It is a perspective view which shows the heat contraction tube whose temperature detection display means is another example. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the heat-shrinkable tube at the time of going into an empty state has heat-shrinked.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 are a front sectional view and a front view, respectively, showing an underwater heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In this submerged heater, for convenience of explanation, the side on which the power cord is drawn is referred to as the base end, and the opposite side is referred to as the front end.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a heater tube that constitutes the outer shell of the underwater heater. The heater tube 10 includes a cylindrical heater tube main body (heater main body) 11, and the heater tube main body 11. It consists of a pair of cap members (seal members) 19 and 25 for sealing both end openings in the length direction in a liquid-tight state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heater tube main body 11 is composed of a glass heater tube substrate 11A and a coating layer 11B provided on the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube substrate 11A. In this embodiment, the coating layer 11B is a coating layer formed of a black paint.

  In addition to the coil-shaped first heating wire 12 and second heating wire 13 that are formed to have the same length and constitute the built-in heating element, two temperature fuses 14, 23, etc. are provided inside the heater tube body 11. Contained. In addition, a thin plate-like heating wire support member 16 made of an insulating material is disposed inside the heater tube main body 11 in a manner along the length direction of the main body 11.

  A first heating wire 12 is arranged in a longitudinal direction on one side of the heating wire support member 16, and the base end of the first heating wire 12 is connected to a power cord 21 through one connection terminal 20a. Is electrically connected to one lead portion 21a.

  The second heat generating line 13 is arranged along the length direction on the other one surface side of the heat generating support member 16, and the base end of the first heat generating line 13 is connected to the other connection terminal 20b and the other temperature fuse. 23 is electrically connected to the other lead portion 21 b of the power cord 21 through a series body with the power source cord 23.

  The two heating wires 12 and 13 are connected in series via thermal fuses 14 and 23, thereby forming an energization circuit that goes around a power source (not shown) and the heating wires 12 and 13.

  One thermal fuse 14 is disposed on the distal end side of the heating wire support member 16, and both ends thereof are connected to the distal ends of the first heating wire 12 and the second heating wire 13 via connection terminals 20 c and 20 d. Each is electrically connected.

  A base end portion (on the power cord 21 side) of the heating wire support member 16 is cut out so as to be substantially U-shaped, and one lead portion of the power cord 21 is cut into the U-shaped notch (not shown). By inserting 21a, the power cord 21 is positioned. The tip of the heating wire support member 16 is formed in a substantially L shape, and a lead of one thermal fuse 14 is formed in a substantially horizontal V-shaped notch (not shown) formed in the L-shaped corner. Part lines are hooked and folded back to the heating wires 12 and 13 side.

  The one cap member 19 is a seal member that seals the proximal end opening of the heater tube body 11, and is made of, for example, a silicone rubber molded body. The other cap member 25 is also a seal member that seals the opening at the tip of the heater tube body 11, and is made of, for example, a silicone rubber molded body.

  A cylindrical cord lead-out portion 22 is formed to protrude from the center of the end surface of the cap member 19 on the base end side, and the power cord 21 is inserted into a hole 22 a of the cord lead-out portion 22.

  In addition, the inside of the heater tube main body 11 in which the energization circuit is formed is filled with an insulating material 18 such as insulating sand covering the heating wires 12 and 13, while the inside of the heater tube main body 11 is partitioned. A temperature fuse housing space 15 is formed by being partitioned by a member 17. The one thermal fuse 14 is disposed in the thermal fuse storage space 15.

  The partition member 17 is composed of, for example, two disc-like insulating felts 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B overlapped with each other, and is attached to the distal end portion of the heating wire support member 16.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a ring-shaped label 26 as temperature detection display means is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube main body 11 on the base end side.

  When the temperature detection display label 26 remains energized and the heater tube 10 is exposed on the water surface of the water tank, and the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 is abnormally increased (empty state), the temperature fuse 14 , 23 is melted and the display mode changes irreversibly at a set value lower than the temperature (about 300 to 400 ° C.) at which the energization cut-off function operates. In this example, the label 26 is discolored. It has become. Specifically, for example, a temperature indicating paint (temperature sensitive paint) is formed on a label base material (not shown).

  The position where the temperature detection display label 26 is provided is preferably within a corresponding region in which the heating lines 12 and 13 are arranged so that an abnormal rise in the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 in an empty state can be easily detected. .

  The temperature detection display means is not limited to a label, but if it is a label, it can be manufactured at a relatively low cost and can be easily mounted on the heater tube main body 11.

  The surface temperature T1 of the heater tube body 11 due to the heat generated by the heating wires 12 and 13 is about 60 ° C., but the temperature detection label 26 is heat resistant enough to withstand the surface temperature T1 of the heater tube body 11. It is necessary to have sex. That is, the temperature T2 at which the temperature detection label 26 starts to change color is set to be higher than the surface temperature T1 of the heater tube main body 11 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 6 and 7). The internal temperature of the main body 11 is abnormally increased, and is set lower than the surface temperature T3 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the heater tube main body 11 at which the thermal fuses 14 and 23 start to deteriorate.

  For the temperature detection display label 26, a material such as polyester is selected in consideration of ensuring the heat resistance, and in a normal use state in which the heater tube 10 is immersed in water, for example, as shown in FIG. At a temperature that is sensitive to the abnormal temperature in the sky-running state, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the color changes to red, and the color is irreversible even if the abnormal temperature decreases.

  Specific examples of the material for the temperature detection display label 26 include a polyester film.

  Next, an example of the procedure for assembling the submersible heater in this embodiment will be briefly described.

  The first and second heating wires 13 connected in series via one thermal fuse 14, the other temperature fuse 23, and the partition member 17 are arranged at predetermined positions of the heating wire support member 16, and this is arranged. It is inserted into the heater tube main body 11 and arranged.

  Next, after filling the insulating material 18 from the proximal end opening of the heater tube main body 11, the proximal end opening of the heater tube main body 11 is sealed with the cap member 19, and the power source is supplied from the hole 22 a of the power cord lead-out portion 22. Pull out code 21. Further, the end opening of the heater tube body 11 is also sealed with the cap member 25. Thereby, the insulating material 18 is filled in the heater tube main body 11 from the partition member 17 to the base end side.

  Further, the temperature detection display label 26 is wound around and attached to the outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the peripheral side wall of the heater tube main body 11.

  The underwater heater thus created is installed, for example, in a horizontal posture (horizontal arrangement) so that a part or substantially the whole of the heater tube main body 11 is immersed in water in a water tank or the like.

  Then, by connecting a plug (not shown) at the tip of the power cord 21 to a commercial power source, the power from the commercial power source is supplied with the power cord 21, the first heating wire 12, one temperature fuse 14, and the second heating wire 13. , And supplied to a closed circuit around the other temperature fuse 23.

  As a result, the heating wires 12 and 13 generate heat, and the heat is discharged into the water through the heater tube main body 11, so that the water is warmed and the water temperature rises. Then, the energization of the heating wires 12 and 13 is controlled by the external thermostat, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, and the water temperature is maintained at a set value (for example, approximately 15 to 35 ° C.). On the other hand, the heat of the heating wires 12 and 13 is transmitted to the thermal fuses 14 and 23.

  When the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 rises abnormally, for example, when it is exposed on the water surface due to a disaster such as an earthquake or careless handling, the internal temperature of the heater tube body 11 is as shown in FIG. Then, the temperature rapidly rises and the temperature of the thermal fuses 14 and 23 rises abnormally. As a result, the thermal fuses 14 and 23 reach the melting temperature and are blown. As a result, the power supply to the heating wires 12 and 13 is cut off, and safety is ensured.

  By the way, the temperature when the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 rises abnormally reaches the set value T2 of the color change start temperature of the temperature detection display label 26 before reaching the fusing temperature of the temperature fuses 14, 23. Then, the temperature detection display label 26 changes color as shown in FIG. 5 in response to the set temperature.

  For this reason, the user visually recognizes this discoloration and notices that the internal temperature of the heater tube body 11 has risen abnormally, and performs measures such as quickly returning the heater tube 10 to the water-immersed state. Can be minimized as much as possible.

  The discoloration of the detection label 26 at this time does not return even if the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 falls below the set value T2. For this reason, after that, it can be recognized that there is a history that the underwater heater has fallen into the past (abnormally heated state).

  Further, even if the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 exceeds the temperature (T3 ° C.) at which the thermal fuses 14 and 23 start to deteriorate, the user does not blow the fuses 14 and 23 from the discolored state. It is possible to recognize that an object is being damaged and to use it normally while being conscious of this.

  In this embodiment, the temperature detection display label 26 has been described as being annularly wrapped around and attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube body 11, but only one round or square label 26 is attached. There may be. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of temperature detection labels 26 may be intermittently arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube main body 11 and adhered thereto.

  Further, the temperature detection display label 26 is not limited to a separately prepared one. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an existing display label such as a rating display label for a submersible heater or a specification caution label is used as a temperature detection display label. 26 may be formed of the same temperature indicating material as that of No. 26, that is, the temperature detection display label 26 may be integrated with a rating display label or the like.

  Of course, the color (color generation) at the time of temperature detection of the temperature detection display label 26 is not limited to the above example, and can be arbitrarily changed.

  Note that the color change of the temperature detection display label 26 may be colorless or transparent, and may be changed to the opposite manner.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, when the internal temperature of the heater pipe | tube 10 raised abnormally and became temperature T2 or more, it demonstrated by the example using the label 26 which changes color as a temperature detection means to detect it, but as a temperature detection display means However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to form a temperature detection layer by applying a temperature indicating material to the heater tube main body 11.

  Furthermore, various modified examples such as those in which the pattern changes and those in which the pattern changes so as to be lifted can be adopted.

  As another embodiment, the temperature detection display means can be thermally deformed when the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 rises abnormally and becomes equal to or higher than the temperature T2. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a heat-shrinkable tube 260 may be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube main body 11. Examples of such heat-shrinkable materials include soft polyolefin.

  In that case, when the internal temperature of the heater tube 10 rises abnormally and becomes equal to or higher than the temperature T2, the heat-shrinkable tube 260 undergoes heat-shrink deformation as shown in FIG. You can notice that the temperature has risen abnormally.

  Of course, the tube 260 is not limited to the one that undergoes thermal contraction deformation, but may be one that undergoes thermal expansion deformation.

  Further, when a heat deformable material is used as the temperature detection display means, by selecting two kinds of materials having different heat deformation temperatures, when this is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heater tube main body 11, Even if it is attached to a position that does not correspond, temperature detection can be performed properly.

  In addition, the temperature detection display means is not limited to the one that is thermally deformed as a whole. When the internal temperature of the heater tube body 11 rises abnormally and becomes equal to or higher than the temperature T2, a part is peeled off. It may change to.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Heater pipe body 12, 13 ... Heating wire 14, 23 ... Temperature fuse 26, 260 ... Temperature detection display means T2 ... Setting value

Claims (4)

When the temperature of the heater body with the built-in heating element rises abnormally, the underwater heater having a power-off function that cuts off the power to the heating element,
When the temperature of the heater body abnormally rises, temperature detection display means is provided that irreversibly changes the display mode in response to a set value that is lower than the temperature at which the energization cutoff function operates. A submersible heater characterized by   The underwater heater according to claim 1, wherein the change in the display mode of the temperature detection display means is to change color.   The submersible heater according to claim 1, wherein the change in the display mode of the temperature detection display means is deformation.   The underwater heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature detection display means is configured as a label attached to an outer peripheral surface of the heater body.

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